Fire at Venezuela's Puerto La Cruz oil refinery 'over'
The vice-president of the Venezuelan state oil company PDVSA, Asdrubal Chavez, has said the blaze at one of the country's largest oil refineries has been extinguished.
Officials say lightning sparked the fire at a storage tank of the Puerto La Cruz refinery, sending large plumes of black smoke into the sky and leading to the evacuation of the surrounding area.
The authorities say no one was injured.
An explosion at the country's largest refinery killed 55 people last year.
The Puerto La Cruz refinery can produce nearly 200,000 barrels of oil a day.
Production has not been affected by Sunday's blaze, Mr Chavez said.
Soon after a storage tank was reportedly hit by lightning at 15:15 local time (19:45GMT), authorities ordered the evacuation of residents within 1km (half a mile) of the plant on the Caribbean coast as a precaution.
Large thunderstorms are currently drenching the country, says the BBC's Irene Caselli, in Caracas.
Many residents were seen abandoning the area and posted pictures of black smoke billowing from the refinery on social media websites.
After teams on the ground fought the fire for more than two hours, President Nicolas Maduro wrote on Twitter that the fire had been "controlled".
Venezuela has the largest oil reserves in the world.
A year ago, an explosion at the country's largest refinery killed 55 people and halted production.
The Puerto La Cruz refinery is one of six PDVSA facilities operating in Venezuela.
Colombia peace talks with Farc in Cuba make progress
The Colombian government and the country's main rebel group, the Farc, have hailed progress after the end of the 12th round of peace talks in Cuba.
The government's chief negotiator, ex-vice president Humberto de Calle, said they had never got this far before.
In a joint statement, the two sides say they are "building agreement" on the rebels' participation in politics, despite a tense week in Colombia.
The five-decade-old conflict has claimed more than 600,000 lives.
Meanwhile, President Juan Manuel Santos praised the army for killing the regional Farc leader, Jesus Antonio Plata Rios, known as Zeplin, on Friday.
"Thanks to the joint work of the air force and the army, the head of Farc's western front, Zeplin, has been neutralised," he wrote on Twitter.
Mr Plata Rios led the rebels in western Colombia and was also in charge of gathering support for the rebels in the region, authorities say.
The joint statement issued by the Colombian government and the left-wing rebels in Cuba says concrete proposals have been presented and discussed by both parties.
They started building an agreement to "secure rights and guarantees for the exercise of the political opposition", it says.
Political participation is the second bloc of issues being negotiated at the talks aimed at ending more than 50 years of armed conflict.
"Never before has anyone come this far," Mr de la Calle told reporters at the end of the latest round of negotiations.
Land reform was the first item agreed on the six-point agenda of the talks, in May, after more than six months of negotiations.
Mr de la Calle's optimistic words on Saturday came after a tense week in Colombia, with strong words coming from the government.
Farc leaders criticised Mr Santos remarks on Friday, saying that rebel leaders would be tracked down and killed by government forces.
In an interview earlier in the week, the Army commander, General Sergio Mantilla, said Colombia's largest rebel group was "in agony".
But the left-wing group said they were not "demoralised" and blamed the government for pre-emptying the talks.
Despite the slow pace of negotiations, the Colombian government has insisted a peace accord can be agreed before the end of the year.
The Farc warned of the dangers of rushing into a settlement.
"It is possible [to reach an agreement by November]. But to achieve peace, you need time. A bad peace deal is worse than war," he said in an interview with Colombian network RCN.
More than 600,000 people are estimated to have been killed in the conflict, most of them civilians.
There is huge pressure in Colombia for justice for those who have perpetrated acts of violence from both sides of the conflict.
The government has promised to bring to justice those responsible.
The rebels say most of the victims were poor peasants and other civilians targeted by the army and right-wing paramilitaries for their alleged support to the rebels.
Mexico drugs lord Caro Quintero's release angers US
The US has reacted angrily to the early release by a Mexico court of a drugs lord who served 28 years in prison for the kidnap and murder of a US agent.
The court cut short Rafael Caro Quintero's 40-year sentence for the 1985 killing of US Drug Enforcement agent Enrique Camarena.
It ruled that Caro Quintero, now 60, should have been tried in a state rather than a federal court.
The Drug Enforcement Agency said the move was "deeply troubling".
The murder strained US-Mexico ties and changed the war on drugs trafficking.
Caro Quintero is still listed as one of the DEA's five top international fugitives, and the US authorities believe he has been controlling drugs money from behind bars.
"DEA will vigorously continue its efforts to ensure Caro Quintero faces charges in the United States for the crimes he committed," said the agency in a statement.
Mexico's Attorney General Jesus Murillo Karam echoed those concerns, saying his office was analysing whether there were any charges pending against Caro Quintero.
One of three founding members of the Guadalajara Cartel, Caro Quintero had been arrested in Costa Rica amid a massive manhunt for cartel leaders.
The group was thought to be responsible for transporting the majority of the cocaine consumed in the US in the 1980s, the BBC's Will Grant reports from Mexico City.
Caro Quintero could have faced other charges or possible extradition to the US, but walked free early on Friday before media were notified.
The court did not clear Caro Quintero of Camarena's death, a move that would caused significant scandal in US law enforcement circles where the murdered operative is heralded as a hero, adds our correspondent.
Many analysts believe the Camarena killing represented a key turning point in the fight against drug trafficking in Mexico.
It broke up the Guadalajara Cartel into splinter groups, which formed the basis of today's powerful drug gangs.
Source-BBC
Kerry hopeful on Mid-East talks despite settlement move
The US has urged the Palestinians "not to react adversely" to Israel's approval of 1,200 new settlement homes only days before peace talks resume.
Secretary of State John Kerry said Sunday's move was "to some degree expected", but stressed that Washington considered settlements "illegitimate".
This "underscores the importance of getting to the table quickly", he told reporters during a visit to Colombia.
Palestinian negotiators have accused Israel of trying to sabotage the talks.
An Israeli government spokesman rejected the criticism, saying every peace initiative so far had proposed that the settlements affected become Israeli territory.
Hours later, the Israeli authorities published the details of the 26 long-term Palestinian prisoners who will be freed on Tuesday.
The delay allows time for last-minute legal challenges by the families of their victims, who have been protesting against the decision.
During a visit to Colombia on Monday, Mr Kerry was asked about the implications of the Israel's decision to issue tenders for building 793 housing units in East Jerusalem and 394 elsewhere in the West Bank.
He said the announcement was "to some degree expected", but that he did not expect it would derail the negotiations, which resume in Jerusalem on Wednesday two weeks after a preparatory round in Washington.
Mr Kerry also stated that the US "views all of the settlements as illegitimate" and had "communicated that policy very clearly to Israel".
"I think that what this underscores, actually, is the importance of getting to the table and getting to the table quickly and resolving the questions with respect to settlements, which are best resolved by solving the problems of security and borders," he said.
"With the negotiation of major issues, these kind of hot-point issues... are eliminated as the kind of flashpoints that they may be viewed today."
Mr Kerry added that he had spoken with Israel's chief negotiator, Justice Minister Tzipi Livni, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is recovering from hernia surgery.
About 500,000 Jews live in more than 100 settlements built since Israel's 1967 occupation of the West Bank and East Jerusalem. The settlements are considered illegal under international law, though Israel disputes this.
44 People Shot Dead in Nigerian Mosque
Officials in Nigeria say gunmen have killed at least 44 people in an attack on a mosque in the north of the country.
The officials said men dressed in army fatigues opened fire at the mosque outside Maiduguri, the capital of Nigeria's Borno state, in an attack Sunday morning. News of the killings was first reported Monday.
Local media reports said the gunmen were suspected to Islamist militants - but there was no official identification of the attackers. The Islamist group Boko Haram has claimed responsibility for many previous attacks in northern Nigeria, including some on mosques whose clerics have spoken out against religious extremism.
Local officials also say there was another attack during the weekend in the nearby town of Ngom, in which 12 people were killed.
A new video emerged Monday by Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau. In it, he claims responsibility for several recent attacks, including in the towns of Bama, Malam Fatori and Gamboru.
Boko Haram has been blamed for thousands of deaths in bombing and shooting attacks since 2009. It is fighting to impose a strict form of Islamic law in Nigeria's majority-Muslim north and its name in the Hausa language means "Western education is sinful."
Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan sent thousands of additional troops to Borno and two neighboring states in May after a surge of attacks by Boko Haram.
Rights groups have criticized the military for a heavy-handed response they say has led to hundreds more casualties.
Bombs Kill 22 Iraqis Near Baghdad
Two bombs near Baghdad killed at least 22 people Monday in another day of violence in Iraq.
A suicide bomber killed 16 in a crowded cafe in the town of Balad, north of the capital. Another bomb blew up near a sports field in Muqdadiyah, also north of Baghdad, killing at least six. Children are believed to be among the victims.
No one has claimed responsibility for Monday's attacks. But the al-Qaida affiliated group - the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant - said it was behind a series of blasts last week during Eid, the end of Ramadan celebration. About 70 people were killed.
The group says the attacks were to avenge the arrests of Muslim extremists and threatened more violence.
Tension between Iraq's Sunni minority and the Shi'ite-led government have led to a surge in terrorism and violence this year, leaving more than 3,000 people dead.
Sunnis say the government is marginalizing them and ignoring their needs and demands.
Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.
US Crime Kingpin Bulger Guilty of Murder and Conspiracy
A jury in the northeastern U.S. city of Boston has found former crime boss James "Whitey" Bulger guilty on charges of murder and racketeering, following a two-month high-profile trial.
The 83-year-old Bulger was charged with committing or ordering 19 murders in the 1970s and 1980s while running the so-called "Winter Hill" crime gang.
He was found guilty of 31 charges and 11 murders. He faces a court sentence of life in prison.
Bulger pled "not guilty" to 32 separate criminal charges, although his lawyers acknowledged their client was an "organized criminal," drug dealer, extortionist and loan shark.
Several former friends and gang members testified against Bulger during the trial.
Bulger was one of the nation's most wanted fugitives after fleeing Boston in 1994, and was captured in Santa Monica, California, in 2011.
Family members of Bulger's victims have long waited for verdicts on the killings, and about a half dozen survivors have been a regular presence in the courtroom.
US Court says NYPD 'Stop-and-Search' Violates Rights
A U.S. judge has ruled the New York Police Department has violated the rights of tens of thousands of people by intentionally discriminating against racial minorities with its controversial "stop-and-search" policy.
But New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg says the city will appeal the decision. He says the possibility of being stopped by police acts as a vital deterrent to crime.
Police say they have made about five million stops during the past decade, mostly of black and Hispanic men.
The judge said the practice has become "a fact of daily life in some New York City neighborhoods," but is flawed because "the stopped population is overwhelmingly innocent, not criminal.'' She said she is not putting an end to the policy, but is reforming it and ordered a court monitor to oversee its use.
City lawyers argued the police department does a good job of monitoring itself.
NYPD Commissioner Raymond Kelly defended the policy by saying the notion the police department engages in racial profiling is "recklessly untrue.''
Legal experts say the ruling on the nation's largest police department may affect how other U.S. police departments operate.
Turks and Caicos Cabinet Statement 7 August 2013
His Excellency the Governor, Ric Todd, chaired the 17th meeting of the Cabinet on Wednesday 7 August 2013 at the House of Assembly Building on Grand Turk.
All Ministers were present at the meeting except the Minister for Environment and Home Affairs, who was absent for personal reasons.
At this meeting Cabinet:
· Discussed the establishment of the Audit Committee created in accordance with section 16 (9) - (13) of the Public Financial Management Ordinance 2012. The aim of the Committee will be to strengthen the independence, integrity, and effectiveness of audit activities in the public sector by providing independent oversight. Cabinet welcomed the establishment of the Committee and will consider appointment of 6 independent non-executive members (including the Chair) at its next meeting;
· Noted a paper, presented by the Premier, setting out proposals for the Government's Legislative Programme. The programme included some 66 pieces of legislation, identified in consultation with all Government Ministries, which need to be amended or developed over the next 18 months. This legislation is necessary to give effect to Government policies. Cabinet recognised that the list was not exhaustive and would be subject both to new priorities and capacity constraints. Cabinet further agreed that the three priority areas for legislation would be: measures with revenue potential; immigration and employment; and international obligations or matters with international implications. The programme will be published shortly;
· Agreed a proposal from the Finance Minister to reduce duty on insurance and freight charges to 5% for building materials, specifically blocks, steel, sand, cement and aggregate. Cabinet considered this move necessary and expedient given the bulky nature of the items relative to their value and the importance of the construction sector, which is expected to contribute significantly to the expansion of the TCI economy in 2013/14 and beyond;
· Noted with satisfaction a report from the Finance Minister setting out financial performance for the 1st Quarter of financial year 2013/14. The report shows an overall operating surplus of $2.2m and a year to date surplus of $12.8m, which is an encouraging start to the financial year. All of the key revenue streams are outperforming last year’s results, mainly from increased compliance efforts. Expenditure is performing broadly in line with expectations with a $3.2m YTD positive variance; this variance will reduce over time as planned activities are implemented. The Sinking Fund balance currently stands at $43.6m, however, this is expected to grow during July as a further $500k deposit is made;
· Discussed a proposal from the Finance Minister to replace the current Turks and Caicos Islands Investment Policy and a proposed draft Ordinance to establish a new investment promotion agency under the name Invest Turks and Caicos. Cabinet noted that the new investment policy updates the existing one. It aims to provide a clear, simple and fair statement of the support and incentives that the Government will provide to prospective investors. Cabinet agreed to consider these two issues again, along with a revised Encouragement of Investment Ordinance, after further consultation across Government Ministries. Cabinet further agreed to conclude discussion and take decisions on the policy and the draft ordinances in September;
· Recommended that the Governor appoint Ms. Nichola Melhado-Garland to the National Health Insurance Board (NHIB) on the nomination of the Leader of the Opposition, in accordance with the National Health Insurance Ordinance 8.10. The appointment will be for a period of three years effective from 1 August 2013 to 30 June 2016;
· Also recommended that the Governor appoint Ms Alrisa Gardiner to replace Dr Dionne Lightbourne-Regans as a member of the Service Review Board as required under the Hospitals Project Agreement Part I, Schedule 6, Section II;
· Considered and agreed a proposal from the Minister for Environment and Home Affairs to undertake an in-depth review of Protected Areas and National Parks in the Turks and Caicos Islands to determine and make recommendations as to the status assigned to them. The areas to be covered will include formalisation of navigation channels, options for allowing maintenance dredging, adding new Protected Areas to National Parks and taking some Protected Areas out of National Parks and considering ways to permit the development of Eco-Tourism within National Parks. Cabinet decided to consider the issue further when the review is completed;
· Noted a report from the Minister for Education, Youth, Sports and Culture on progress made with the School Maintenance works for summer vacation period - 2013. The budget for school maintenance in 2013 is $350,000. Cabinet agreed that a three year infrastructure development plan for schools should be developed and, subject to funds becoming available, the school maintenance allocation be increased to address critical needs such as those at the Clement Howell High School;
· Advised that the Governor should sign the draft Memorandum of Understanding with the Hothman American University relating to the establish a Medical University on Providenciales;
· Endorsed the use of the National Socio-Economic Development Strategy 2008-2017 and the Turks and Caicos Islands Development Strategy 2013-2017 as the foundation on which the new National Development Plan would be developed;
· Noted that the Governor and the Minster for Border Control and Labour would visit Haiti from 11-13 August, accompanied by the PS at the MOBC, to discuss further strengthening of joint work with the Haitian authorities to combat illegal migration and developing partnership and business and human relations between TCI and Haiti. They would, inter alia, meet President Martelly and the Foreign and Justice Ministers. Cabinet further noted that a business delegation, including officials from the MOF, would be in Haiti at the same time. It underlined the importance to TCI of the relationship with Haiti.
Further information on the issues addressed by Cabinet will be provided by Ministers in due course.
Crime Report for August 9th,2013
The Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force are investigating a Burglary which occurred at a home in Five Cays Providenciales. The Complainant stated that the home was secured on Thursday 8th August 2013 at 10:30am and on the same date at 3:30pm it was discovered where a door situated on the western side of the building broken and a room ransacked. Missing are one (1) Alcatel Cell Phone and one (1) Asus Laptop Computer.
The investigation into this matter is ongoing.
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The Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police are also investigating a Wounding which occurred in Five Cays, Providenciales on today’s date (Friday 9th August 2013) at around 1am. The complainant told police that he was at a friend’s house party when he and another male had an argument which resulted in a fight. During the fight he was stabbed on his right arm. The accused person fled the scene immediately after committing the offence. He was taken to the Chesire Hall Medical Centre where he was seen by a doctor and later released.
Investigations are ongoing into these matters.
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Charged
On Thursday 8th August 2013, the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police formally charged and caution a 43year old male of Italy, residing on Providenciales for Inflicting Grevious Bodily Harm. This charge was in connection with a report that was made on Saturday 22nd June 2013.
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Sentence
On Thursday 8th August 2013, thirty-eight (38) year old Paul Elliot of South Caicos was ordered to pay a fine of $14, 262.00 and two (2) years probation after he plead guilty in the Supreme Court for Theft.
The sentence is in connection to a report that was in January 2013 by the Chief Financial Controller of the Turks and Caicos Islands Airport Authority that a sum of money was suspected to be stolen by an employee on Grand Turk. After thorough investigations by the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force Financial Crime Unit, Paul Elliot was arrested and charged for Theft. The fine is to be paid within twelve (12) months.
If you have any information about any criminal activity, please call 911 or Crime Stoppers anonymously on 1-800-8477. Tips can also be submitted anonymously in English, French or Spanish on either www.crimestoppers.tc or on Facebook as a fan of Crime Stoppers Turks & Caicos. Crime Stoppers tips are received in the USA.