Chavaz fights Cancer in Cuba
Cubans who were tuned in to the nightly soap opera on a recent Saturday received a sudden burst of bad news, from the other side of the Caribbean.
State TV cut to the presidential palace in Caracas, Venezuela, where President Hugo Chavez revealed that his cancer had returned. Facing his fourth related surgery in 18 months, he grimly named Vice President Nicolas Maduro as his possible successor.
The news shocked not only Venezuelans but millions of Cubans who have come to depend on Chavez's largesse for everything from subsidised oil to cheap loans. Venezuela supplies about half of Cuba's energy needs, meaning the island's economy would be in for a huge shock and likely recession if a post-Chavez president forced the island to pay full price for oil. --AP
Despite the drama, the news likely wasn't a surprise to Cuba's Communist government, and not only because Chavez has been receiving medical care on the island.
Havana learned important lessons about overdependence when the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union threw the country into a deep crisis. Trying to avoid the consequences of a similar cut, the Cuban government has been diversifying its portfolio of economic partners in recent years, looking to Asia, Europe and other Latin American nations, and is only about half as dependent on Caracas as it was on the former Soviet Union.
Cuba is also working to stimulate its economy back home by allowing more private-sector activity, giving a leg up to independent and cooperative farming, and decentralising its sugar industry. A stronger Cuban economy would in theory have more hard currency to pay for energy and other imports.
Also getting off the ground is an experiment with independent nonfarm collectives that should be more efficient than state-run companies. And next year, another pilot programme is planned for decentralised state enterprises that will enjoy near-autonomy and be allowed to control most of their income.
"This could have good results," said a Cuban economist who spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasn't authorised to talk to the foreign media. Cuba "is also thinking of boosting foreign investment in areas of the national economy, including in restricted areas like the sugar industry".
One of the country's top goals has been to make the island's struggling economy less dependent on a single benefactor.
Under the leadership of Chavez, who regularly calls former Cuban President Fidel Castro his ideological father and has followed parts of the Communist leader's governance playbook, Venezuela has sent billions of dollars a year to Cuba through trade and petro-aid.
Bilateral trade stood at a little over $8 billion last year, much of it in Cuban imports of oil and derivatives. In return, Havana primarily provides Venezuela with technical support from Cuban teachers, scientists and other professionals, plus brigades of health care workers. Analysts say those services are overvalued by outside standards, apparently costing as much as $200,000 per year per doctor. Experts peg the total Venezuelan subsidy to Cuba at around $2 billion to $4 billion a year.
While business with Venezuela makes up 40 per cent of all Cuban trade, it's still a far cry from the days when the Communist Eastern Bloc accounted for an estimated 80 per cent.
Christmas limers shot dead
Red alert issued for volcano on Chile-Argentina border
Chilean authorities on Sunday issued a red alert -- the most severe in their warning system -- that the Copahue Volcano, high in the Andes mountains on the border with Argentina, might be poised for a significant eruption.
In a statement, Chile's Geological and Mining Service stressed that no mandatory evacuations have been ordered around the remote volcano, which lies about 280 kilometers southeast (175 miles) of Concepcion, though the closest roads to it are in Argentina.
Even though the seismic activity suggests a minor eruption, the agency decided to raise the alert level because it could not rule out a major eruption. The service warned specifically about potentially dangerous mudslides within a 15-kilometer (9.3-mile) radius of the crater.
Alto Biobio, a community about 60 kilometers (37 miles) east of Copahue, is under the heightened alert. The governor and emergency officials in Biobio province met Sunday afternoon to discuss possible scenarios, including establishing a plan in case a mass evacuation is deemed necessary.
Seismic stations first detected increased activity Saturday, according to the Volcano Observatory of the Southern Andes, which is part of Chile's Geological and Mining Service.
In addition, more gas than normal has been detected coming from the volcano. The black, ash-filled gas has soared as 1.5 kilometers (almost 1 mile) above Copahue and extended 13 kilometers (8 miles) out from it, toward the southeast.
Known in South America as Volcan Copahue, this volcano formed about 500,000 years ago and contains a string of nine craters in this stretch of the Andes, according to the Smithsonian's Global Volcanism Program. Its summit is just less than 3000 meters, or 9,830 feet, above sea level.
Mild to moderate eruptions have been recorded here since the 18th century, and some in the 20th century spewed volcanic rocks and chilled liquid sulfur fragments from its 300-meter wide crater lake, the Global Volcanism Program reports.
After at least three eruptions during the 1990s, Copahue's last significant eruption occurred from July to October 2000. That incident caused damage, mudslides and spurred evacuations.
--CNN
Syrian Delegation in Russia For Talking on Ending Unrest
A Syrian delegation led by Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Maqdad has begun talks in Moscow on resolving Syria's 21-month-old uprising.
The group arrived on Thursday for meetings with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. The delegation is expected to discuss proposals made by peace envoy Lakhdar Brahimi.
Brahimi met with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Monday and is due in Moscow on Saturday for talks with Russian leaders.
Syria's ally, Russia, has reportedly been trying to broker a peaceful transition of power in the country.
Meanwhile, Mr. Assad's government may have suffered another set-back. On Wednesday, a top military official who headed the feared military police told a pan-Arab TV station that he had “defected” and joined the Syrian opposition.
A video posted on a social media website shows General Abdul-Aziz Jassem al-Shallal saying that he left the government because the Syrian military police have strayed from their primary mission.
The U.S. State Department cautiously welcomed reports of al-Shallal's departure saying if the reports are true, it would be “yet another sign” that the Syrian regime is “crumbling from within.”
In another development, there are conflicting accounts about unrest in a northern province near the Turkish border. The opposition Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says government shelling in a village near the town of Raqqa left at least 20 people dead, including eight children.
The state-run SANA news agency says an “armed terrorist group” launched an attack in the village that resulted in the deaths of civilians, including women and children. Syria has blamed much of the anti-government related unrest in “armed groups” and “terrorists.”
Separately, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory said at least 130 people were killed in violence across Syria, on Wednesday, including 51 civilians.
Another opposition group, the Syrian Revolution General Commission, said heavy shelling continued several regions of the country, including southern neighborhoods of Damascus.
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“In the name of God E., I am General Abdul-Aziz Jassem al-Shallal, head of the military police. I have defected because of the deviation of the army from its primary duty of protecting the country and its transformation into gangs of killing and destruction, the destruction of cities and villages and committing massacres against our unarmed people who went out to demand liberty. Long live Syria free and strong.”
Tropical Storm Wukong Kills Four in Philippines
Tropical storm Wukong has left at least four people dead in the Philippines, which is still recovering from a typhoon earlier this month that killed over a thousand people.
Officials say three people were also missing as the storm cut through the central Philippines on Thursday, overflowing rivers, flooding towns, and making many roads impassable.
The national disaster agency said three people died when a tree fell on their house in Eastern Samar province. Another was killed in a landslide in Iloilo province.
More than 6,000 people fled to evacuation centers to escape the storm, which is expected to weaken as it moves over the western resort island of Palawan on Thursday.
Wukong was not as powerful as Typhoon Bopha, which hit the southern Philippines on December 4, killing more than 1,000 people and leaving hundreds more missing.
The country is vulnerable to severe flooding caused by heavy rains and tsunamis. It is hit by about 20 major storms or typhoons each year.
Government pays US$3 billion to generators
The Dominican Electricity Companies Corporation (CDEEE) has paid in full the US$3 billion that the government had committed to paying the electricity generators, of the US$7 billion it owes.
The CDEEE says that after the generating companies had completed the paperwork, they immediately started to disburse the funds, and that now “this is already history.”
The remaining debt payment is included in the 2013 budget, which will be used to pay the rest of the US$7 billion owed.
Several weeks ago the Dominican Electricity Industry Association (ADIE) expressed its concern at the long delays in paying the generating companies, which at the time had accumulated four months of expired current debts.
ADIE believes that the government should make stronger efforts to repay the debt as this is the only guarantee for ensuring the supply and sustainability of the electricity system in the short term.
According to ADIE, most of the money owed to the generators is for buying fuel to keep their generators running, as well as for paying creditors and renewing expired credit lines. The generating companies said they were having problems with their operations and with the fuel inventory due to the delays in payment.
They said that replacing fuel inventories was not an immediate action, as once the purchase order for the fuel has been placed the ships take several weeks to arrive.
Trade with China Expanded Rapidly in 2011: Seoul
A new report says North Korea's trade with China accounted for more than 70 percent of its total commerce last year, as the isolated nation deepens its reliance on its only major ally.
South Korea's national statistics office said Thursday that Pyongyang's bilateral trade with Beijing totaled over $5.6 billion in 2011. That is an increase of over 60 percent from the previous year.
Seoul says it is the first time that North Korea's trade with China has topped 70 percent of its global commerce since it began tracking trade figures in 2000.
Facing increasing international isolation, North Korea has relied heavily on China, which provides the impoverished country with economic aid and diplomatic defense at the United Nations.
The U.N. Security Council is considering tightening sanctions against Pyongyang following a successful long-range rocket launch this month. The Security Council condemned the launch as a disguised missile test banned under existing sanctions.
Worsening cross-border relations also affected inter-Korean commerce. The report said the North's trade with South Korea, its second biggest trading partner, fell to 21 percent of its global total in 2011.
Meanwhile, the economic gap between South Korea and North Korea continues to be large. The report found South Korea's gross national income per capita ($1239) was nearly 19 times that of the North in 2011.
The annual report is based on data from international research institutes, since North Korea does not release economic figures.
Maskanoo ready for Boxing day
TCHTA and the Cultural and Arts Commission are gearing up once again for another exciting Maskanoo, Providenciales' biggest cultural event.
Maskanoo in its 3rd year, will be held on December 26, 2012 (Boxing Day) from 3:00 p.m., along the Grace Bay road between Salt Mills Plaza and Regent Village. Persons attending the event will enjoy a street parade directed by David Bowen, showcasing locally-made costumes and instruments; island food and entertainment from a line up of local artistes including Q-Band Linx, Five Cays Ripsaw and Rake & Scrape Band and Breeze Beach dancers. Maskanoo raffle tickets will be on sale with amazing prizes to be won including a trip for two to New York on Jetblue.
TCHTA's Association Executive Stacy Cox noted, "TCHTA is delighted with the response from vendors this year but reminds persons that illegal vending and the selling of masks will not be permitted. The Association will be working closely with the Police Force and Dove Security who will be patrolling the stretch. Persons and businesses are reminded that the selling of masks is not permitted and the Maskanoo name and logo are trademarked and permission must be obtained from the TCHTA should persons wish to sell Maskanoo-branded items (t-shirts, mugs etc). "
Sponsors for this year's event include TCHTA, Cultural and Arts Commission, ScotiaBank, Got U Covered, Sun TCI, Free Press, Dove Security, Fortis TCI, CIBC FirstCaribbean International Bank, Royal Bank of Canada, Adventurescape and HAB Group. Companies interested in becoming sponsors and persons interested in selling food, arts and craft, toys etc are asked to contact TCHTA at 941-5787.
TOURIST BOARD PARTNERS WITH EXCITING MISS TURKS & CAICOS UNIVERSE BEAUTY ORGANIZATION:
The Turks and Caicos Tourist Board announced today its partnership with the newly established Miss Turks and Caicos Universe Beauty Organization Ltd. (MTCUBO), to produce the upcoming 2013 Miss Turks and Caicos Universe Beauty Pageant, under the direction of Saint George Fashion House (SGFH).
The newly incorporated Miss Turks and Caicos Universe Beauty Organization has a board of highly educated, qualified and vibrant minds that are all dedicated to a new standard for the franchise.
They have brought to the table a plan; that incorporates a new logo for the organization, new rules and regulations for contestants, new judging criteria that mimics that of the Miss Universe franchise and strategic plans to produce a calendar of events that is not only exciting to watch, but to be a part of.
The MTCUBO Board consists of: Kazz Forbes, President and Managing Director; Tremmaine Harvey, Vice President and Legal Advisor; Shaveena Been, Financial Controller and Recruitment and Training Officer; Takara Bain, Public Relations Officer and General Secretary; Romell Phillips, Production Coordinator; Weinika Ewing, Head of Sales and Marketing and Recruitment and Training Officer; Romaine Missick, Head of Image and Beauty; Samantha Williams - Glinton, Head of Entertainment and Cynclair Musgrove, Head of Personal Development.
In a brief statement, Kazz Forbes, President and Managing Director of MTCUBO said, “The Miss Turks and Caicos Universe Beauty Organization will set unprecedented standards for the Miss Turks and Caicos Universe Beauty Pageants and our events.
We as an organization don’t want to just produce a beauty queen or an ambassador, but produce a legacy for women that will act as activists, role models and motivators for future generations of women from the Turks and Caicos Islands.” According to Mr. Forbes.
Seven Stars Resort Turks And Caicos Earns First-Time Placement On Conde Nast Traveler Gold List
Seven Stars Resort, located on the island of Providenciales, Turks & Caicos ends the year on a high note, announcing its first-time placement to Condé Nast Traveler’s coveted 2013 Gold List of the World’s Best Places to Stay.
On the heels of Condé Nast Traveler’s Readers’ Choice Survey – which ranked Seven Stars highest among all resorts on Turks and Caicos – the publication shared its list of the highest-scoring hotels in the world, Seven Stars included.
“This recognition is truly a milestone for our resort,” said Ken Patterson, Managing Director, Seven Stars Resort. “We couldn’t be prouder and we have our staff to thank for making each guest’s stay a memorable and personalized experience.”
Seven Stars Resort received high marks for its location, activities, design, food and particularly for its service. The resort, ranked among the top 10 in the Caribbean, lives up to its recent accolades by offering guests’ top-notch service and well-appointed luxury suites that are among the Island’s most spacious. In addition to the luxurious accommodations, Seven Stars’ location along one of the best beaches in the world offers guests a true island oasis. Seven Stars is also home to the Island’s only heated salt water pool and additionally offers guests private pool deck cabanas for lounging, beach butler service, on-site spa and wellness services, a resort-owned boat with accompanying excursions and award-winning top gourmet dining options.
This recent Condé Nast Traveler ranking follows Seven Stars’ recognition by Condé Nast Traveler’s reader’s as a Top 10 Resort in the Caribbean in addition to other notable accolades in 2012 including being named the World Travel Awards’ ‘Best All Suite Resort,’ receiving Travel Weekly’s Magellan Awards silver rankings in the Luxury Hotel/Resort and Beach Resort/Hotel categories, being named About.com’s 2012 “Favorite Caribbean Hotel” and being awarded TripAdvisor’s Certificate of Excellence for its consistent praise and impressive overall customer satisfaction.