Supreme Court judges urged to strike down Holyrood Brexit bill
The court is hearing arguments about whether the Brexit legislation passed by MSPs should be allowed to stand. UK law officer Lord Keen said the Scottish legislation would "undermine" Westminster's EU Withdrawal Bill.
But Scotland's Lord Advocate insists that the bill is within Holyrood's remit and should become law.The Welsh and Northern Irish assemblies will also be represented in the two-day hearing, having made submissions backing the Scottish government's stance.
The UK Withdrawal from the European Union (Legal Continuity) (Scotland) Bill - known as the "continuity bill" - was passed under emergency procedures with only the Conservatives and a single Lib Dem MSP voting against it.
It was drafted as an alternative to Westminster's EU Withdrawal Bill, which MSPs refused to give their consent to following a row over how powers currently exercised from Brussels will be used after Brexit.
But before it could become law, it was referred to the Supreme Court by UK law officers to settle whether it lies within Holyrood's competence.
The UK government's senior law officers said they wanted the Supreme Court to look at the bill to ensure there was "legal certainty" about whether it is valid.
Arguments are being heard at the Supreme Court by Lady Hale, Lord Reed, Lord Sumption, Lord Carnwarth, Lord Hodge, Lord Kerr and Lord Lloyd-Jones.
Lord Keen said it was "perfectly clear" that the Scottish bill was "directly inconsistent with the UK Act at the most basic of levels", saying "the two simply cannot stand together".
He told the court that this would create "dual and inconsistent regimes" within the UK, which would "directly frustrate the purpose" of the Withdrawal Bill, which was to create a "single cohesive body" of EU laws retained after Brexit.
He also argued that the continuity bill could have a bearing on international relations, a field reserved to the UK parliament. he said that "withdrawal from the EU is a matter for the UK parliament, and the devolved administrations do not have a parallel legislative competence" in this area.
SOURCE- BBC
Laos dam collapse: Hundreds missing after flash floods hit villages
Hundreds of people are missing and an unknown number dead after a dam under construction collapsed in south-east Laos, state media reported.
The collapse at the hydroelectric dam in Attapeu province late on Monday sent flash floods through six villages, Lao News Agency said.
More than 6,600 people have been made homeless, it added.
Pictures showed villagers stranded on the roofs of submerged house and boats carrying people to safety.
"The disaster has claimed several human lives [and] left hundreds of people missing," the agency reported.
The main Thai stakeholder in the project, Ratchaburi Electricity Generating Holding, said it had received a report from the dam's operator that a "saddle dam" had collapsed. It said continuous rainstorms had led "a high volume of water" to flow into the reservoir.
A spokesman for SK Engineering & Construction said "We still don't know the exact cause, but we believe parts of the upper part of the dam were lost... and water overflowed from the supply dam," he said.
Environmental groups have previously expressed fears over Laos's hydroelectric programme and its potential impact on communities and ecosystems downstream of dams.
Bahamian Government will address death penalty issue
Attorney General Carl Bethel revealed yesterday that the government is considering enacting constitutional changes to preserve capital punishment as an effective penalty under the law, a move that might require a referendum.
Bethel’s revelation came one day after Prime Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis reiterated his support for resumption of hangings.
On Sunday, Minnis said “I am bound by the laws; but I am a strong advocate of hanging,” he said.
The prime minister noted that Cabinet will discuss whether a referendum would be necessary.
The last hanging in The Bahamas was carried out in January 2000.
Bethel said the issue will be dealt with via constitutional reform.
“Several decisions of the Privy Council have of late rendered the penalty to be essentially ineffective in The Bahamas, impractical and ineffective,” he said.
The Privy Council, the country’s final court of appeal, ruled that the death penalty should be reserved for the worst of the worst.
This was established in the 2011 case of Maxi Tido, who had been sentenced to death for the 2002 murder of 16-year-old Donnell Conover, whose skull was crushed and whose body was burnt.
But Bethel said the resumption of hangings would not be automatic, even if the law is changed.“There is nothing that will guarantee that because it still depends upon judicial process and determinations made by the appropriate judge of those determinations,” he said.
Antigua-Barbuda PM wants all ministers to disclose their assets
Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne said he plans to discuss with his ministers the possibility of disclosing details of their assets for public scrutiny.
Browne told listeners on local radio that he wants members of his government to do as he has done and tell the public what they own on an annual basis.
Currently, only certain categories of public officials must file reports of their assets with the Integrity in Public Office Commission.
“The question is whether we should not go further to have full public disclosure, so that we publish publicly all our assets and income on an annual basis,” Browne said.
“I have gone as far as declaring my income and the amount paid in taxes,” the prime minister said, while acknowledging that “there is no legal requirement for anyone to fully disclose their assets in public.”
“The reason for that is to ensure that we can monitor the assets of politicians in particular,” Browne said.
The Antigua and Barbuda leader also called for whistleblower legislation to protect people who reveal wrongdoing in government.
The TCIFA 2018 Congress held at the Regent Village
The TCIFA 2018 Congress was held at the Regent Village Conference Center, yesterday. The annual event consisted of the review and approval of past and upcoming football activities in the Turks & Caicos Islands, the revised TCIFA constitution, financial matters, and other matters arising.
In addition to these were the election of TCIFA President, 2nd Director, and three Executive Committee Members for a term-period of 4 years. President Sonia Fulford and 2nd Director Paula Garland remained uncontested throughout the nomination process. Indrani Saunders, Tamara Hall and Benneth Williams retained their seats as TCIFA members casted their votes of confidence.
The 2018 TCIFA Executive Committee:
President - Sonia Fulford
1st Vice President - Paul Slattery
2nd Vice President- Candace Hanchell
Director of Finance - Ryan Blain
Director 1- Steve Kendrew
Director 2- Paula Garland
Director 3- Patrice Senior
Exec. Member- Indrani Saunders
Exec. Member- Tamara Hall
Exec. Member - Benneth Williams
Ritz crackers recalled over potential salmonella risk
The manufacturers of Ritz crackers - first introduced in 1934 - has announced it is recalling some of its products over a potential risk of salmonella.
Mondelez Global said it was voluntarily calling back 16 versions of its Ritz Cracker Sandwiches and Ritz Bits products in the US.
The Hanover, New Jersey-based company said the products contained whey powder, which its supplier had recalled due to the potential presence of salmonella.
The Associated Press said Mondelez said no illnesses had been reported yet. Symptoms of salmonella include fever, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. It can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in the young, elderly or those with weakened immune systems, it said.
The company said that consumers who have these products should not eat them, and should discard them.
The recall affects Ritz Bits Cheese, Ritz Cheese Cracker Sandwiches, Ritz Bacon Cracker Sandwiches with Cheese, Ritz Whole Wheat Cracker Sandwiches with White Cheddar Cheese, Ritz Everything Cracker Sandwiches with Cream Cheese, and Mixed Cookie variety.
The products have expiration dates of January 14 2019 to April 13 2019.
Salmonella worries prompt Goldfish Crackers recall!!!
Salmonella fears have prompted a mass recall of the cheese-flavoured snack Goldfish Crackers in the US.
Pepperidge Farms, owner of the brand, announced the recall of about 3.3 million units of the product on Monday.
One of its suppliers warned that the whey powder used as seasoning may contain the bacteria, which can cause illness and in some cases may be fatal.
Food giants Mondelez and Kelloggs have also recently recalled products over salmonella concerns.
In a press release,Pepperidge Farms revealed the four varieties of Goldfish Crackers affected, along with the sell by dates of the units to be recalled.
There have been no reports of illness from customers, a spokesperson said.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is also currently investigating an outbreak of salmonella linked to sliced melon. As of 19 June, 70 people across 7 states had been infected, the FDA said.
The company has posted a chart with the product codes on its website.
Bahamian Miller-Uibo breaks record in Monaco Friday
Shaunae Miller-Uibo ran a world-leading time of 48.97 seconds to win the 400 meters (m) at the IAAF Diamond League in Monaco today.
Miller-Uibo, the first Bahamian woman to run under 49 seconds, lowered the national record of 49.07s set by Tonique Williams in 2004.
New National Record
New Meet Record
New Diamond League Record
New World Lead
New Personal Best
Toronto shooting rampage leaves 2 dead, 12 wounded and a city baffled
A second victim has died after a gunman opened fire in a popular Toronto neighborhood late Sunday night.
Now, as a dozen wounded victims try to recover from their injuries, police are trying to understand what prompted the deadly shootings.
Witness Jody Steinhauer was dining with her family at a Greek restaurant called Christina's when she heard what she thought was the sound of firecrackers. Then she was told to run to the back of the restaurant.
"We started to hear people scream out front," Steinhauer said.
The crime scene stretched over a distance, the police chief said. Witnesses were taken by buses to multiple offices to speak with investigators. Police asked witnesses or anyone with information to contact authorities.
Toronto Mayor John Tory said he was "outraged that someone has unleashed such a terrible attack on our city and people innocently enjoying a Sunday evening."
Police said the second victim died Monday morning. Neither that victim nor the one who died overnight have been publicly identified. The gunman is also dead, Toronto Police Chief Mark Saunders said. It was not immediately clear whether the assailant died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound or from police gunfire.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau offered his condolences to all those affected by the catastrophe in Greektown.
Tour de France 2018: Team Sky's Gianni Moscon disqualified after hitting rider
Team Sky's Gianni Moscon has been disqualified from the Tour de France for hitting another rider.
Team Fortuneo-Samsic said Moscon had punched their rider Elie Gesbert after 800 metres of Sunday's stage, which was won by Astana's Magnus Cort.
Last year, the 24-year-old was suspended by Team Sky for six weeks after racially abusing a rival.
Team Sky principal Sir Dave Brailsford said that they "support and accept" the decision made by race organisers.
"Gianni is desperately disappointed in his behaviour and knows that he has let himself, the team and the race down," he said.
"I would like to offer my sincere apologies to both Elie Gesbert and Team Fortuneo Samsic for this unacceptable incident."
The Italian was also disqualified from last year's world championship road race after hanging onto a team car.