St Lucia on ‘high alert’ following suspected dengue death
St.Lucia’s Health Ministry has put the country on high alert for dengue fever and has already reported one suspected death from the disease.
Chief Medical Officer Dr. Merlyn Fredericks said her Ministry is awaiting confirmation that a child may have succumbed after suffering from dengue like symptoms.
Fredericks held a news conference on Wednesday, to express concern about the increased vulnerability of St.Lucians to the disease, following the discovery of an increase in the number of reported cases .
She noted that while there is a reported increase, the situation has not reached epidemic proportions, nonetheless the public is being urged to be cautious.
“Dengue fever is endemic in St.Lucia, which means that we do have some cases year round, but mainly during the rainy season when the unsupervised collection of water becomes breeding ground for the Ades aegypti mosquito which transmits the infection.
This year we have seen quite a significant increase for the month of September, although its not yet at the level that we realised in 2011 when we experienced an epidemic, but we do believe the public needs to placed on an alert,” she noted.
The Ministry official has advised that the most effective means of preventing the spread of the disease is to avoid breeding places for the vector that causes the illness.
-Caribbean Media Corporation
Countries urged to invest in girl’s education
The United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has called on countries to work together to invest in education so that girls worldwide can advance in their personal development and contribute to our common future.
In his message to commemorate International Day of the Girl Child, which is being celebrated today, 11th October, he said empowering girls, ensuring their human rights and addressing the discrimination and violence they face are essential to progress for the whole human family.
“One of the best ways to achieve all of these goals is to provide girls with the education they deserve”.
However, he noted that too many girls in too many countries are held back simply because of their gender.
“Those whose mother was also deprived of an education, who live in a poor community, or who have a disability face an even steeper climb. Among girls who do make it to school, many face discrimination and violence”.
This is part of the reason why the Global Education First Initiative was launched, in an effort to accelerate progress in getting every child into school, especially girls.
“We are aiming to teach more than reading and counting; we are striving to raise global citizens who can rise to the complex challenges of the 21st century. To achieve meaningful results, we need fresh solutions to girls’ education challenges and we must heed the voices of young people,” he said.
He also resolved to ensure that Global Education First mobilizes all partners to respond to their powerful call for empowerment, having heard from girls around the world through consultations for the new Girl Declaration.
“More broadly, our campaign to reach the Millennium Development Goals by 2015 and shape a vision beyond that date must address the concerns and potential of the world’s girls. On this International Day of the Girl Child, let us work together to invest in education so that girls can advance in their personal development and contribute to our common future,” he stated.
-Dominica Vibes News
Brazil landowner jailed for 115 years over landless deaths
A Brazilian landowner has been given a 115-year prison term for the killing of five landless farm workers in the south eastern state of Minas Gerais, in 2004.
Adriano Chafik Luedy, and his employee Washington Agostinho da Silva, who was sentenced to 97 years, were found guilty over the "Felisburgo massacre".
Eight other landless workers were injured in the incident in which 27 shelters and a school were burned down.
Workers from the landless movement were occupying an area claimed by Chafik.
Chafik and Silva have been told they are to remain free while a court considers their appeal.
"The defence is obeying but is not agreeing with the sentence," the defendants' lawyer, Sergio Habib, told newspaper Folha de Sao Paulo.
Another 12 defendants are awaiting trial in connection with the attack, which took place in November, 2004, and became known as the "Felisburgo massacre".
The killings took place after a group of landless farm workers connected to Brazil's Landless Workers Movement (MST) invaded an area of the Nova Alegria farm, in the region of the Jequitinhonha valley in Minas Gerais state.
They set up a camp on a piece of land that had allegedly been seized by Chafik's family years before, but later repossessed by the state.
The landowner, however, is still fighting a court battle over the ownership of the area.
In 2004, a group of armed men attacked the camp.
Violent disputes over land are common in Brazil.
Correspondents say that remote rural communities frequently complain Brazil's security forces are rarely present to intervene in rows between powerful land owners and landless farmers.
Derrick Rose did not play in Saturday's preseason game
Chicago Bulls star point guard Derrick Rose did not play in Saturday's preseason game against the Washington Wizards because of soreness in his surgically repaired left knee.
Rose developed the soreness during Friday's practice. The Bulls said the decision to hold him out of the game, which was played in Rio de Janeiro, was precautionary.
"We wanted to see where he was today, but he wasn't as well as we would have liked," coach Tom Thibodeau said. "He still had the soreness. So we anticipated giving him time off. We view our training camp as the entire month. So if he needs a day, or a couple of days, we'll do that."
Kirk Hinrich started at point guard in Rose's absence and finished with eight points and three assists in the Bulls' 83-81 win.
"It's more, I think, just a precaution. He's coming off a really big injury. We're not too worried," Hinrich said. "He's been good all camp, and I'm assuming everybody is expecting him to be ready.
"Coming back from a big injury like that, you don't want to push it too hard, too fast."
Rose missed all of last season after tearing the ACL in his left knee during the playoffs in April 2012. The former NBA MVP appeared in each of Chicago's first two preseason games this month, scoring 13 points while playing at least 20 minutes in each contest.
-ESPN/AP
Kerry Leaves Afghanistan
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry left Afghanistan late Saturday after two days of talks with Afghan President Hamid Karzai.
The top U.S. diplomat and the Afghan leader said after their talks they were closer to an agreement on bilateral security, but differences remain over the question of immunity for U.S. troops.
The two officials commented in Kabul following extended talks on a possible U.S. presence in Afghanistan after the NATO-led military mission ends next year.
President Karzai said the question of which country had jurisdiction over any crimes committed by U.S. forces after 2014 would have to be resolved by the Afghan parliament and an assembly of elders.
Kerry said the U.S. could prosecute any wrongdoing by American forces.
The U.S. has been pushing for an agreement with Afghanistan by the end of this month.
The talks between Washington and Kabul have been in progress for over a year.
However, they have repeatedly stalled on issues of Afghan sovereignty, the expected role of U.S. forces, and Mr. Karzai's demand for American guarantees against future foreign intervention. If there is no agreement, U.S. forces will leave by the end of 2014.
Jamaica’s World Cup dreams end with 2-0 defeat to the US
Jamaica’s dream of qualifying for next year’s world cup in Brazil ended with a two-nil defeat against USA on Friday night.
Second half goals from Midfielder Graham Zusi and forward Jozy Altidore rocked Jamaica after both teams were tied nil all after an evenly contested first half at Sporting Park.
Jamaica pressed the attack in the opening minutes, dominating possession and pestering goalkeeper Tim Howard. But the Americans turned up the heat in the second half and finally broke through with 13 minutes left in the game. Zusi, a halftime substitute for Landon Donovan, delighted his hometown fans, cutting a low shot into the lower left corner off an assist from Alejandro Bedoya. Altidore sealed Jamaica's fate with an 81st-minute goal, easily finishing a left-footed shot into a wide open net after Edgar Castillo calmly crossed the ball in from the left side with a rolling pass just above the six-yard box.
Jamaica's best scoring threat actually came on the final shot of the game as Theo Robinson's close-range blast from the right side was batted away. It was another bitter defeat to the U.S. for Jamaica, which lost 2-1 on June 7 in Kingston when Brad Evans scored in second-half stoppage time.
The defeat means that Jamaica has now officially been eliminated from the FIFA World Cup Qualifying contention. The Reggae Boyz entered the game against the U.S. still mathematically in the running for a fourth-place playoff spot to face Oceania region winner New Zealand.
The US had already qualified for Brazil 2014, heading the CONCACAF table with 16 points while Jamaica sit at the bottom with a mere four points.
-CMC
Burrell bats for MoBay as hosts of FIFA Congress
If Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) president Captain Horace Burrell gets his wish, Montego Bay could host the prestigious FIFA Congress in 2015.
At Monday's draw for the groups and the unveiling of the logo for the 4th CONCACAF Girls Under-17 football finals held at the Hilton Hotel and Spa in Rose Hall, Burrell announced that Jamaica was one of 15 countries that were bidding for the right to host the congress of one of the most powerful sporting bodies in the world.
"We saw a tremendous opportunity to host FIFA Congress," Burrell said in his address, adding that if the bid was successful it would see delegates from "a total of 209 countries coming to Jamaica, if ever we are given the honour, and what a tremendous boost this would be to the tourism sector of Jamaica."
The JFF and their associates, he said, were "moving full speed ahead" to try and win the bid, adding that they have the full support of the government of Jamaica and Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller.
Despite Jamaica's reputation for warmth and hospitality to its visitors, it will not be a done deal, Burrell warned.
"We all have to work very hard as 15 other countries are also trying to win the bid to host this most prestigious congress, Jamaica being one, and will take a lot of hard work and convincing to do, but we have the support of CONCACAF and others to make it possible for Jamaica," he explained.
T&T jolted by most powerful earthquake in 6 years
An earthquake with a magnitude of 6.4 jolted several Caribbean countries, including Trinidad and Tobago and Guyana on Friday night, the Trinidad-based Seismic Unit of the University of the West Indies (UWI) confirmed Saturday.
It said that the quake, which was also felt in Grenada and St Vincent and the Grenadines occurred at 10:10 pm and was located north of the Paria Peninsula in Trinidad.
The Guyana-based Demerara Waves website said that the tremor was felt as far away as Corriverton, Berbice, Linden, Bartica, Mahdia and the North West District.
There were no immediate reports of damage or death caused by the quake which had a depth of 60 kilometres and was located 10.86 degrees north, 62.12 degrees west.
Media reports in Trinidad made reference to electricity power cuts but no serious damage or injuries. The quake is the most powerful felt in Trinidad and Tobago since 1997 when an earthquake with a magnitude of 6.1 struck the twin island republic causing damage in the sister isle of Tobago.
Anti-doping official taking message to regional schools
The Caribbean Regional Anti-Doping Agency (RADO) is currently focusing on ensuring their efforts of eliminating doping in sports are successful by targeting very young athletes.
"The rationale of this project is basically to develop the anti-doping capacity among physical education teachers and coaches so that they are better able to know what constitutes doping and to work towards anti-doping efforts in schools," said Tessa Chadderton-Shaw, RADO's executive director.
Shaw spoke to CMC at the end of a UNESCO-sponsored two-day workshop Friday that brought Physical Education teachers and coaches together at the Beausejour Cricket Ground here.
She added: "Very often people assume that doping, or the preventative aspect, which is anti-doping, is something for elite athletes only but what we are aiming to do is to take the education to the youngest children within the high school levels."
The RADO official stressed that the two-day session which comprised theoretical and practical sessions as it relates to anti-doping should build the knowledge and awareness among teachers so they can pass on that information to students.
"At the end of the day we are talking about the use of drugs, and performance enhancing substances for athletes but its all about drug taking behaviour," Shaw emphasised.
Similar workshops were held last week - first in St Kitts and Shaw then travelled to Nevis before coming here. Workshops will also be held in the British Virgin Islands and Barbados.
"This is an attempt to promote the work of the World Anti-Doping Agency and by extension the Caribbean RADO. Through this effort we are also promoting the services that we provide. The challenge going forward though is ensuring that PE teachers and coaches are going to take full advantage of the material and are going to infuse it into their lesson plans,” said Shaw.
Among the participants of the workshop were former national football captain Kingsley Armstrong, former national netballer Michelle Rogers and the former first-class cricketer John Eugene.
-CMC
Car Bombing Kills 14 in Iraq
Iraqi authorities say a car bomb attack at a market has killed at least 14 people and wounded dozens of others in central Iraq.
Police officials said the Saturday night attack took place when a pickup truck exploded at the entrance of a wholesale fruit and vegetable market in the city of Samarra.
At least 30 people were wounded.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility, but al-Qaida's branch in Iraq has frequently used suicide bombers and car bombs against Shi'ite civilians in an effort to undermine the Shi'ite-led government. The group's ideology considers Shi'ites heretics.
Deadly violence has climbed to its highest level since 2008, and analysts express fears that Iraq is sliding back into a Sunni-Shi'ite civil war.