Supreme Court Strikes Down Texas Abortion Law
The U.S. Supreme Court upheld abortion rights Monday, ruling that states across the country had no right to curb the constitutional right of women to end their pregnancies by imposing an "undue burden" on them to limit their access to abortion clinics.
The 5-3 decision was perhaps the court's most important abortion rights ruling in a quarter century.
The majority overturned a law in the southwestern state of Texas, similar to that enacted in other states, that required abortion doctors to have patient-admitting privileges at hospitals near their abortion clinics and that their clinics be equipped with costly hospital-grade healthcare equipment.
Writing for the court majority, Justice Stephen Breyer said that the state's regulations were medically unnecessary and unconstitutionally limited a woman's right to an abortion.
"The surgical-center requirement, like the admitting-privileges requirement, provides few, if any, health benefits for women, poses a substantial obstacle to women seeking abortions, and constitutes an 'undue burden' on their constitutional right to do so," said Breyer.
President Barack Obama said he was pleased with the decision Monday, noting "every woman has a constitutional right to make her own reproductive choices."
The Supreme Court ruling, coming on the last day of the court's current term before its summer recess, could affect thousands of women in Texas alone, and many more throughout the U.S.
US, Somalia Launch New Chapter in Relations
The United States has filled a diplomatic void in Somalia, swearing in its first ambassador to that country in 25 years.
Ambassador Stephen Schwartz took his oath Monday in Washington, following his Senate confirmation in May.
Schwartz, a senior Foreign Service officer who served as deputy chief of missions in Zambia, will replace James Bishop, who left more than two decades ago as the U.S. embassy came under threat.
The U.S. pulled its diplomatic presence and forces out of Somalia in 1993, after militiamen shot down a U.S. military helicopter, killing 18 soldiers.
The al-Shabab extremist group emerged out of the country's civil chaos of that time. In recent years, the group has been ousted from Somalia's major cities, although it has continued to launch attacks.
"None of us have any illusions about the challenges that lie ahead, challenges to Somalia's political process, its stabilization efforts, its economic recovery, its fight against terrorists," said Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, as he swore in Schwartz. However, he added that Somalia has made progress because its leaders see the importance of growth, peace and stability.
But diplomats acknowledged the country needs to do more.
"It is time for Somali authorities to establish a responsive and effective Somali national army to defeat al-Shabab and unify the country," Schwartz said.
Schwartz's appointment comes a year after U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry made an unannounced visit to Mogadishu, becoming the first sitting U.S. secretary of state to visit Somalia.
During his short trip last May, Kerry showed support for the war-torn country and its efforts to restore normalcy.
Over the years, the U.S has provided millions of dollars to Somalia as it dealt with drought, piracy and the al-Shabab insurgency.
Kerry, Leaders Warn Against Punishing Britain
Britain’s crisis deepened Monday as British and EU officials scrambled to deal with the shock of British voters’ decision to leave the European Union, and ease both anger and the uncertainty that has plunged the country into what some describe as its worst disarray since World War II.
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry stopped in London Monday and reaffirmed what he said is an unbreakable bond between the United States and Britain.
Kerry assured Britain the special relationship between the two countries will not change because of the Brexit decision. Speaking after a meeting Monday with British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond, the top U.S. diplomat said that relationship is “perhaps even more important in these days of questioning on behalf of many people.” Ties, he said, remain “strong and crucial.”
British officials spent Monday working to contain the aftermath of the vote that sent markets and the British pound tumbling for another day. In his first remarks to parliament since the vote, Prime Minister David Cameron said the British economy is strong enough to deal with the turbulence. “It is clear that markets are volatile. There are some companies considering their investments and we know this is going to be far from plain sailing,” he said.
Earlier, in Brussels, Kerry appealed for calm amid the anxiety that British voters’ decision has caused in Europe, and in global markets around the world.
He also cautioned EU members against punishing Britain for its decision.
“It’s absolutely essential that we stay focused on how, in this transitional period, nobody loses their head, nobody goes off half-cocked, people don't start ginning up scatterbrained or revengeful premises,” Kerry said.
PAHO says it has strong strategy to support countries affected by Zika
The long-term outlook for the Americas resulting from the Zika virus outbreak is uncertain and the number of people affected is difficult to gauge, but the Pan American Health Organization is responding with a strong, four-tiered strategy to support its countries, according to Dr. Sylvain Aldighieri, PAHO’s incident manager for Zika.
In a briefing to members of PAHO’s Executive Committee, which met this week, Aldighieri said that PAHO has sent 88 experts on 53 missions to countries and territories, focusing on priority areas of detection, prevention, response and research in Zika.
He said much work remains to be done in research to define the absolute risk for congenital malformations and to describe the clinical spectrum of Zika congenital infections.
PAHO Director Dr. Carissa F. Etienne assured members of the committee that PAHO will continue to provide leadership and coordination of the Zika response.
“Our challenge will continue in the medium and long-term on Zika. Aedes aegypti is a very elusive vector with high infestation rates, but we are fully committed to our Member States as far as Zika is concerned,” she said.
Cuba awards 8 medical scholarships
EIGHT young Jamaicans have been awarded medical scholarships to study in Cuba for the 2016-2017 academic year, under the Cuba-Jamaica Cooperation Programme.
Cuban ambassador to Jamaica Bernardo Guanche Hernandez presented the scholarships to the awardees on June 24 at the Embassy of the Republic of Cuba in St Andrew.
In his remarks, Guanche said the programme has helped to strengthen the friendship and cooperative ties between Cuba and Jamaica over the years.
He noted that Cuban institutions have kept that programme going despite Cuba’s economic challenges.
UWI Vice Chancellor urges close regional unity in light of Brexit
The Vice Chancellor of the University of the West Indies (UWI), Sir Hilary Beckles says the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) should use Britain’s exist from the European Union to deepen and strengthen its internal operations and external relations with the wider world.
“CARICOM should use this development in order to deepen and strengthen its internal operations and external relations to the wider world. It’s a moment for CARICOM to come closer together rather than drift apart.
“The region should not be seen as mirroring this mentality of cultural and political insularity, but should reaffirm the importance of regionalism within the global context for the future,” Sir Hilary said.
In a statement, Sir Hilary warned that every aspect of Caribbean life will be adversely affected by the development;” from trade relations to immigration, tourism to financial relations, and cultural engagements to foreign policy”.
Caribbean leaders are still assessing the implication of the vote, noting that it is too early to say what impact it would have on their countries.
CIBC FIRSTCARIBBEAN LAUNCHES NEW MOBILE BANKING APP
Providenciales, Turks and Caicos, June 23, 2016 –
CIBC FirstCaribbean recently launched its new user-friendly mobile banking app for smartphones which is yet another innovation by the regional bank to provide customers with banking solutions that fit their lives.
“The new Mobile App joins a series of innovations introduced to help the bank’s customers determine the banking experience they want – in essence control over how and when they bank is entirely in the hands of the client,” said Trevor Torzsas, Managing Director of Customer Relationship Management and Strategy.
Mr. Torzas said the app “was something our customers have been asking for and the initial feedback since its launch has been excellent. We are giving our customers here in The Bahamas additional options when banking with us.”
Mr. Torzsas said the new app “proves that CIBC FirstCaribbean is the bank that fits seamlessly into our clients’ lives. All the enhancements that we have put in place over the past two or three years are part of our promise to deliver innovative products and services that truly meet our clients’ individual needs.”
“Banking that fits your life - that is what we are ultimately aiming to provide to all our customers and our products were the obvious place to start and our Mobile Banking App is just one of those innovations,” the bank executive noted.
He added that the bank “already offers one of the best internet banking services in this region; and this combined with the new Mobile App and the improvements we are making to our ABM fleet means that our clients need never set foot in a banking hall, unless they’ve come to apply for a loan…and even that is now possible online!”
Much like its internet banking, the new app, accessed via Android, Apple, Blackberry and Windows devices, affords users the convenience of checking their account balances, transferring funds, paying bills and locating branches and Instant Tellers™, all from their mobile device.
He said the app was a “significant step in our being able to add value for our customers who can now do their banking from the palm of their hand. Today’s individual increasingly has a lifestyle that is fast-paced that affords them little time to spend in a queue in the banking hall. Our Mobile Banking App will forever change the way they interact with the bank. Combine this with our online application process and paperless statement delivery and you have a best in class digital banking service for the tech-savvy who are always on the go.”
Mr. Torzsas noted that the bank which has almost 250 years of combined experience in the region will continue to invest in a strong line up of services such as its recently launched chip and pin technology for its merchant clients to ensure the highest standards of security.
It will also be moving to the same secure chip and pin technology later this year for all its credit card clients in order to give an even greater degree of protection against any attempts at compromising accounts.
He said the bank will also continue to invest in building a foundation to service its retail, wealth, business banking and large corporate clients by continuing to build close relationships with them as “we drive a client centric approach to everything we do”.
In furtherance of this objective CIBC FirstCaribbean recently expanded its ABM network in TCI bringing the total number of ABMs up to 10, the bank upgraded its ABM network with a new machine at the entrance of the Grace Bay Branch, and new remote machines at IGA Smart, IGA Gourmet and the TCI Cruise Port in Grand Turk. The existing machine at Grace Bay was also replaced with a new one.
In addition, a $1.4million remodeling of the Leeward Highway Branch is expected this summer, announced in April by CIBC FirstCaribbean’s Managing Director of Retail, Mark St. Hill.
Robbery at Gaming Parlor Parking Lot
Investigators of the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force are investigating a report of a Robbery that was made on Sunday 26th June 2016 in the parking lot of a Business Establishment on the Airport Road.
At 10:49 AM Police responded to the Slots of Fun Gaming Parlor located on the Airport where the complainant stated that he was about to enter his vehicle in the parking lot with a bag containing an undisclosed large sum of money when a white Honda car with three males drove in the yard. One of the males about 5’8” wearing a black shirt with white mask, the second height unknown wearing a white shirt with a mickey mouse mask carrying a silver and black pistol and the other he was unable to see. One of the males fired a shot at him while the other got out of the vehicle and took the bag containing the cash and took off.
A Crime scene was established and investigations are ongoing.
No one was injured during this incident.
If you were on the Airport Road or in the area of Airport Inn when these incidents occurred and have information that can help the police in their investigation please contact Chalk Sound Police Station 338-5901.
To remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 1- 800 8477 or use the Crime Stoppers online reporting page: www.crimestoppers.tc.
The information you provide will be treated in the strictest of confidence.
Law Enforcement conduct joint operation at Bars and Night Clubs
On Friday 24th June 2016 between the hours of 7:40 PM and 9:30 PM Police Officers, Immigration and the Integrity Commission conducted a joint operation at a number of Bars and Night Clubs on Providenciales.
The operation was conducted in search of illegal persons, illegal activities and checking the status of the bar operators liquor licenses.
During the search a total of eight (8) suspected illegal females and three (3) suspected illegal males from several bars were detained for immigration purposes and questioning.
4 charged for the death of Kenley Walters
Investigators of the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police have arrested and charged four (4) men of Providenciales for the death of Kenley Walters that occurred Saturday 27th December 2014.
On that date Police Officers responded to a report of a fight at the 2005 Night Club located on Aviation Drive, Providenciales. When the Police got there, they were informed a male who was stabbed had been taken to the hospital. Upon reaching the hospital officers were informed that 19 year old Kenley Walters succumbed to his injuries.
A Crime scene was established and the investigations began.
The 4 males ages 16, 20, 24 and 25 were taken to court earlier today where they were not allowed to enter a plea. They were remanded to custody will return to court on 5th August 2016 for a sufficiency hearing.