Kosovo Police, Nationalists Clash in Pristina, More than 20 Hurt
Kosovo police have used tear gas and pepper spray to break up a protest in the capital, Pristina, by stone-throwing nationalists opposed to European Union-mediated talks with Serbia.
Authorities said Monday's confrontation outside government headquarters injured at least 18 police officers and several demonstrators. Police briefly detained several lawmakers of the ultranationalist Self Determination party who joined the protest.
The nationalist demonstrators denounced Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci for meeting with Serbian Prime Minister Ivica Dacic last Friday in Brussels, where EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton acted as a mediator. It was the highest-level meeting between the two sides since Kosovo seceded from Serbia in a 2008 move rejected by Belgrade.
Self Determination party members said it was shameful and criminal for Mr. Thaci to engage in talks with Serbia, which they said refuses to apologize for waging a two-year war against ethnic Albanian separatists in Kosovo in the 1990s. A NATO bombing campaign pressured Serbia into stopping the offensive in 1999.
The Thaci-Dacic meeting was aimed at easing tensions between Kosovo and Serbia and helping them to achieve their aspiration of joining the 27-nation EU bloc. Belgrade already has earned EU candidate status, but Brussels has told both sides to make progress in normalizing their relations before proceeding with their EU membership bids.
Kosovo is recognized as an independent state by around 90 nations, 22 of them from the EU. But five EU members refuse to grant recognition to Pristina. Belgrade insists that Kosovo remains a Serbian province.
VAT on all food items will be removed by Nov 15th 2012
Trinidad and Tobago's Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has announced that Value Added Tax (VAT) on all food items will be removed, effective November 15, as part of measures tabled in tomorrow’s 2012/2013 Budget presentation.
Addressing a massive crowd of supporters during the People’s Partnership’s “Pre-budget Rally” yesterday she announced her Government’s initiatives to reduce food prices.
"From November 15, 2012, VAT on all food prices will be removed,” Persad-Bissessar said, before repeating, “VAT on all food items will be removed.”
Adding the initiative had been contained in a contribution she had made in 2008 while on the Opposition benches during debate on the high cost of food, she said, “Check the Hansard, you will see.”
She noted that currently, some 59 food items were “zero rated” while on all others the 15 percent VAT was applied.
However, she was quick to add the measure would not be applied to alcoholic beverages and luxury items such as caviar and champagne.
“No luxury items will be zero rated, such as caviar, champagne, and no alcoholic beverages,” she reiterated to the crowd.
The Prime Minister said among the items which would witness a reduction would be pig tail and all types of beans, including canned pigeon peas, baked beans and red beans.
She also announced that a committee comprising various government ministries, including the Finance, Food Production and Trade and Industry Ministries, together with the TT Manufacturers’ Association (TTMA) and the Supermarkets Association, will also look at review of those food items which attracted import duties, with a goal of reducing such food items.
She said, however, that this would be done on a phased basis so as not to harm the local food production industry.
Newsday
New OT minister heads to BVI on first OT visit
Mark Simmonds, the FCO’s new overseas territories minister, is heading to the Caribbean this week but he will not be coming to the Cayman Islands. The FCO said he would be visiting the British Virgin Islands on his first trip to a Caribbean territory since being given the FCO job last month following the UK prime minister’s reshuffle. “I am really looking forward to visiting the British Virgin Islands, which will be my first trip to a territory since starting my new role as Minister for the Overseas Territories,” Simmonds stated. “While I have visited the British Virgin Islands before, I am excited to be going back this time in an official capacity.
“I am interested to see how the territory has progressed and developed since I was last there. I am also delighted to have the opportunity to renew my acquaintance with the Honourable Premier and hear his plans for BVI’s future.”
Simmonds will move on to Anguilla after leaving BVI on 24 October but there has been no news yet of when the new minister will be visiting the Cayman Islands. Simmonds has already met Cayman Islands Premier McKeeva Bush when he visited the minister last month on his way to Greenland. Bush told Simmonds then that he would not be passing the Framework for Fiscal Responsibility agreement by the 30 September in accordance with the UK deadline but that he would be addressing it sometime during the next legislative session, which starts on 5 November.
The Clintons head to Haiti
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will travel to northern Haiti on Monday, where she and husband, former President Bill Clinton, will inaugurate a new $300 million industrial park.
They will be joined by Haitian President Michel Martelly and Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe, as well as several businessmen the Clintons hope will decide to expand operations to Haiti to create desperately needed jobs.
It is the Hillary Clinton’s first visit to the north and comes nearly a year after her husband, who also serves as U.N. special envoy to Haiti, helped break ground on the controversial project.
Called the Caracol Industrial Park, it is located on 600 acres in rural Haiti, just east of the country’s second largest city, Cap-Haitien. Environmentalists and others have objected to its location on once prime agriculture land and near a fragile ecosystem.
The visit comes just days ahead of the U.S. presidential elections and is expected to highlight the Obama administration’s involvement in Haiti, especially after the devastating January 2012 earthquake. It will take place on the day that President Barack Obama and Republican challenger Mitt Romney hold their final debate, this one focusing on foreign policy.
Long envisioned prior to the earthquake, the park was fast-tracked as a result sof the disaster with both the U.S. government and the International Development Bank pooling resources to create what they hope will be up to 65,000 jobs in the coming years. Just outside of the park is a new road, financed by the European Union.
To highlight what is being dubbed as aide-for-trade, Hillary Clinton will also visit a nearby housing site that is under construction and a recently built power plant that will serve the park and nearby communities. Both are financed by the U.S. Agency for International Development.
So far, about 900 Haitians, not including the construction workers still building factory shells, are employed inside the park. They recently completed the first t-shirts made there on behalf of Korean clothing manufacturer and main tenant Sae-A.
In addition to the Clintons, other attendees Monday include U.S. Labor Secretary Hilda Solis. Also taking place on Monday is a 24-person, four-day business development mission to Haiti’s capital led by County Commissioner Jean Monestime. Monestime, born in Haiti, is vice president of the county’s International Trade Consortium board of directors.
The goal of the visit is to highlight the county’s assets as an international trade hub and to pursue commercial and business opportunities in Haiti, said Gerard Philippeaux, Monestime’s chief of staff. Representatives from the Miami-Dade Aviation Department and Port of Miami also will participating in the mission.
Three women killed, four hospitalized-shooter commits suicide
A new photo has emerged showing the gunman behind massacre at a suburban Milwaukee spa on Sunday posing for the camera with an assault rifle.
Radcliffe Haughton, 45, believed to be a Jamaican national would have had to give up the weapon and all of his other guns once his estranged wife's restraining order, filed three days before the shooting, made it through the legal system.
His wife Zina is reportedly among the three women who were killed when he opened fire a Azana Spa in Brookfield, Wisconsin. Four others were hospitalized with non-life threatening gunshot wounds.
Police have not released the names of the victims in Sunday morning's shooting, but WTMJ-TV in Milwaukee quotes an anonymous source as saying Mrs Haughton was murdered in the attack.
Officers believe Radcliffe Haughton was looking for his wife when he entered the spa about 11.10am and began shooting. The two were having marital problems and she had recently moved out of their house. He committed suicide after the rampage inside the spa.
Court records show that a judge issued a order of protection against Haughton on Thursday, and said there was a credible threat against her.
Under that order, Haughton was required to turn in his guns -- though it's unclear when that part of the order would have taken effect. The protection order was filed after an October 4 incident at the salon, when Haughton slashed his wife's tires in the parking lot.
The owner of the salon was out of the country at the time of the shooting.
Daily Mail
Jamaican woman stabbed to death before wedding & giving birth
The man who was suppose to wed Vindalee Smith has been questioned by police, but not named a suspect in here killing.
Smith 38 was stabbed and killed yesterday, her body found at her apartment - she was 8 months pregnant.
Police say they found no sign of forced entry, and no weapon was recovered.
Investigators are looking for a possible suspect. They interviewed her friends and family, and spoke to her fiance.
Smith had four children in their teens and 20s, friends said. A baby shower had been planned for Saturday evening, followed by a small wedding Sunday. Friends told reporters that Smith had met her fiance about a year ago.
Venus Williams Ends Title Drought
Venus Williams won her first WTA tournament in more than two years, beating Monica Niculescu of Romania 6-2, 6-3 to take the Luxembourg Open title yesterday.
Slowed for two seasons by injuries and illness, Williams showed she still had the winning touch and played steady tennis, while Niculescu proved error-prone as she sought her first career title.
At 32, Williams won her 44th singles title in a career that includes seven Grand Slams. For Niculescu, ranked No. 70, it was the second loss in the Luxembourg Open final in a row.
Williams, now ranked No. 41, had not won a tournament since early 2010, when she took the titles in Dubai and Acapulco in short order.
early initiative
Throughout the one hour, 22-minute match, Williams rarely looked in trouble, taking the early initiative and never letting go.
For a player who relies strongly on her serve, she was successful on only 63 per cent of her first serves and didn't manage a single ace on the indoor hard-courts at CK Sportcenter Kockelsheuer. She was much more solid in her backcourt game as Niculescu looked hesitant from the start and failed to get any momentum going.
-AP
Windies to play three Day/Night matches against Bangladesh
West Indies will play three Day/Night matches among the five One-Day Internationals against Bangladesh during their tour, which starts next month.
The Day/Night ODIs are the last three on December 5, 7 and 8, all in Mirpur, which is also the venue for the only Twenty20 international under lights on December 10.
The venues for the first two ODIs on November 30 and December 2 are to be confirmed.
There will be an opening three-day match starting November 8 before the first two Tests, which begin on November 13 and 21.
Below are the fixtures:
November 8-10: TBC v West Indies, Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Protisthan Ground, Savar
November 13-17: 1st Test Bangladesh v West Indies, Shere Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur.
November 21-25: 2nd Test Bangladesh v West Indies, Sheikh Abu Naser Stadium, KhulnaVenue TBC.
November 28: Bangladesh Cricket Board XI v West Indies, Sheikh Abu Naser Stadium, Khulna.
November 30: Ist ODI Bangladesh v West Indies, Sheikh Abu Naser Stadium, KhulnaVenue TBC.
December 2: 2nd ODI Bangladesh v West Indies, Sheikh Abu Naser Stadium, KhulnaVenue TBC.
December 5: D/N 3rd ODI Bangladesh v West Indies, Shere Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur.
December 7: D/N 4th ODI Bangladesh v West Indies, Shere Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur.
December 8: D/N 5th ODI Bangladesh v West Indies, Shere Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur.
December 10: D/N Only T20I Bangladesh v West Indies, Shere Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur.
Manning 77-yarder to Cruz rallies Giants 27-23
While Robert Griffin III is quickly becoming the NFL's most exciting quarterback, there's none better than Eli Manning with the game on the line.
Manning one-upped the Washington Redskins' rookie sensation with a pinpoint 77-yard scoring pass to Victor Cruz with 1:13 to play and the New York Giants overcame a late touchdown toss by Griffin to defeat the Washington Redskins 27-23 on Sunday.
''With our offense and Eli at the helm, we're never too worried,'' Cruz said. ''No matter what situation we're in, no matter how many points we need or a field goal we need, we have the confidence we can do it. We have a lot of confidence in each other, and in Eli.''
The winning drive was the 22nd of Manning's career in either the fourth quarter or overtime, his second this season and eighth over the past two seasons. This pass might have been one of the most improbable.
It came two plays and 19 seconds after Griffin capped what was a potential winning, 77-yard drive with a 30-yard touchdown toss toSantana Moss. The rookie had kept the drive alive with a 19-yard pass off a desperate scramble on a fourth-and-10 play deep in his own territory, and a 24-yard run on the next play.
''He has done it so many times,'' veteran Giants defensive tackle Chris Canty said of the two-time Super Bowl MVP. ''He has really bridged his performance in the 2011 season to the 2012 season. It's just more of the same. He continues to get better. He is probably the most deadly quarterback in the fourth quarter.''
Redskins coach Mike Shanahan agreed even though he was miffed that defensive backs Josh Wilson and Madieu Williams allowed Cruz to blow by them on the seam pattern.
''He sure proved it today,'' Shanahan said after his team (3-4) blew a chance to move into a tie for first place in the NFC East. ''It was a great throw. He was double- covered but (Manning) put it right on the money.''
Manning, who finished 26 of 40 for 337 yards, had to make the throw a little sooner than he wanted.
''I kind of threw it high and deep and saw the coverage and was hoping Victor saw it the same way I did,'' he said. ''I didn't see the ball get caught. I heard the cheer and that was a good sign. I got up in time to see him run into the end zone.''
Manning triumphantly pumped his fist once after the play as the more than 80,000 fans at MetLife Stadium erupted with cheers.
''He did a good job leading his team to victory today,'' said Griffin, who ran for 89 yards and passed for 258 and two touchdowns. ''When the game is on the line, you want the ball in your hand, no doubt about it. He made the play to win it.''
Griffin had Washington moving when Moss was tackled by Chase Blackburn after an 11-yard reception and rookie Jayron Hosley recovered at the Washington 43.
''There's no excuse for them, but with all that stuff, we had a chance to win at the end,'' Griffin said.
The wild finish capped a game in which both quarterbacks also made major mistakes.
Ahmad Bradshaw and Andre Brown scored on 1-yard runs and Lawrence Tynes kicked a pair of field goals for the Giants, who won despite giving up 480 yards in total offense.
Griffin was 20 of 28 with Moss catching both his TD passes. Fellow rookie Alfred Morris gained 120 yards rushing.
The Giants had 396 yards in total offense, with the biggest chunk coming on Manning's pass to Mr. Salsa.
Before the wild finish, the second half was dominated by turnovers.
Griffin was picked off by safety Stevie Brown and his 41-yard return late in the third quarter set up Bradshaw's 1-yard plow-job into the end zone, a play which was reviewed.
Griffin moved Washington into position to tie the game on the next possession, but he fumbled after being sacked by Jason Pierre-Paul and Linval Joseph recovered the ensuring fumble at the Giants 29.
On the next play from scrimmage, linebacker Rob Jackson intercepted a quick out by Manning and Forbath kicked a 45-yard field goal to narrow the lead to 20-16 with 5:21 to go.
The Giants were forced to punt on their next series and Washington got the ball back at its 23. After gaining nothing in three plays, Griffin went back to pass on fourth down, eluded Pierre-Paul and then danced around long enough to find tight end Logan Paulsen for a 19-yard gain and a first down at the 42. The 24-yard scamper got the ball to the New York 34 and two plays later Moss beat Hosley and hauled in Griffin's perfect pass as Griffin lay on his back and celebrated like a snow angel.
''He's tough,'' Blackburn said of Griffin. We played well for three downs got them into a fourth and 10, and had him. JPP had him dead to rights. Any other quarterback and he makes that sack.''
Manning and Cruz spoiled the afternoon seconds later.
There were seven offensive possessions in the first half that resulted in 439 total yards, six scores and a 13-13 tie.
Knicks' Stoudemire out 2-3 weeks with knee injury
Knicks forward Amare Stoudemire is expected to miss the start of the regular season and be out two to three weeks because of an injured left knee.
He returned to New York on Sunday for another evaluation, and an MRI revealed a ruptured benign cyst, the team said.
Stoudemire had played in only one preseason game, sitting out the first two because of a bruised left knee. He scored 18 points Friday against Toronto in 27 minutes, then sat out again Saturday against Boston in Albany. The Knicks practiced Sunday in Syracuse, where they play Philadelphia on Monday.
The Knicks open their regular season Nov. 1 against Brooklyn.
''That's tough. I hope he gets better,'' said Nets guardDeron Williams, who has known Stoudemire since high school. ''He's had some struggles with injuries, but it doesn't change how we think about the Knicks. They still have a good team.''
Stoudemire was limited to 47 games last season and averaged just 17.5 points, his worst total since his rookie season of 2002-03. He missed 15 games because of injury, though none because of knee problems.
Still, anything involving knees is a concern when it comes to Stoudemire, who had microscopic surgery on his left knee in 2005 and arthroscopic surgery on his right knee the following spring. The Phoenix Suns refused to offer him a fully guaranteed maximum contract in 2010 when he became a free agent, and the Knicks couldn't even insure his contract when they signed him.
The Knicks could start 40-year-old Kurt Thomas in Stoudemire's spot or play Carmelo Anthony as an undersized power forward, which they did with success late last season when Stoudemire missed 13 games with a bulging disk in his lower back.