Germany Government Gains From Greece
The Greek debt crisis has saved the German government some €100bn (£70bn; $109bn) in lower borrowing costs because investors have sought safety in German bonds, a study has found.
Even if Greece defaults on all its debt, Germany would still benefit, says the German IWH institute.
Greece is hoping to reach a third bailout agreement, worth up to €86bn, with its creditors this week.
Germany has funded €90bn so far and wants tough conditions for a new deal.
Starwars.co.uk owner strikes back against Disney
A fancy-dress retailer is appealing against a ruling it must surrender its starwars.co.uk web address to Disney.
For more than a decade, the Berkshire-based company has used the address to direct shoppers to a Star Wars section of its Jokers' Masquerade store.
But in July, Nominet, which oversees .uk domains, backed Disney's ownership claim.
The last time anyone successfully appealed against a Nominet ruling was in 2013.
The costume store's parent company, Abscissa, was also told to give up a further six domain names used for the same purpose:
starwars.uk
star-wars.uk
star-wars.co.uk
starwarsco.uk
starwarsco.co.uk
star-warsco.co.uk
Chief executive Mark Lewis said Abscissa had used two of the addresses for more than 12 years without being challenged.
"I can't believe that over the last two decades that someone from either Lucasfilm or Disney did not do a WhoIs [search] and find that that starwars.co.uk and star-wars.co.uk were not registered to them," he told the BBC.
"There has to be a point in time, surely, where a registrant has to be able to hold some title."
He added that Lucasfilm had owned star-wars.co.uk for a time prior to 2003, but had chosen not to renew it.
Source: BBC
Wimbledon 2015: Serena Williams crushes Sharapova to reach final
One of the most enticing rivalries in all of tennis continues to be one of the most lopsided.
Together, Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova have earned more than $100 million in prize money, with the glamorous duo boosting that lofty total through endorsements -- especially the latter, who is habitually named the world's richest female athlete.
They are also considered the two most mentally tough active players in women's tennis.
But when Williams crushed Sharapova 6-2 6-4 in southwest London on Thursday to reach the Wimbledon final against Gar-bine Mu-gu-ru-za -- a 21-year-old who hadn't advanced past the second round in two prior visits to SW19 -- it was her 17th consecutive victory over the U.S.-based Russian.
"Whenever I know I have to play Maria, I know I have to be focused because she wasn't the best in the world for no reason," Williams told reporters, referring to Sharapova’s former ranking of No. 1.
Sharapova last defeated Williams at the year-end championships in 2004 and has dropped the past 14 sets to her.
"I expect myself to be a champion of these events, and it's disappointing to come out as a loser because I know my level can be there, and my level can be at the point of holding these championship trophies," the fourth seed told reporters. "I know that that's what keeps me going forward."
Having brushed aside Sharapova, Williams can now focus firmly on Saturday's final, when she will attempt to overcome Mu-gu-ru-za to complete the "Serena Slam" for a second time and land a 21st major.
The 20th seed earlier edged 2012 finalist Ag-nie-szka Rad-wan-ska 6-2 3-6 6-3 in a less talked about but ultimately more compelling semifinal to become the first Spanish woman to make a grand slam final since Conchita Martinez -- her Fed Cup captain -- at the French Open 15 years ago. The Spanish men, led by Rafael Nadal, have no such drought.
Mu-gu-ru-za is bidding to become the second Spanish woman to triumph at Wimbledon after Martinez in 1994.
Only two other Spanish women, A-rant-xa Sanchez-Vi-ca-rio and Lili de Alvarez -- in the 1920s -- have ever contested the final of the most prestigious event in tennis.
Drug abuse council launches ganja education campaign
THE National Council on Drug Abuse (NCDA) says it is taking action to stem the prevalence of drug use among young people by educating them.
Executive Director of the NCDA, Michael Tucker told the Jamaica Observer that their primary responsibility right now is protecting young people from the negative consequences of using drugs.
This comes on the heels of reports that students were ingesting marijuana in candies and the recent legislative amendment to the Dangerous Drugs Act, which created several opportunities for the use of marijuana in Jamaica because of the de-criminalization of small amounts of the weed.
The NCDA, with the support of the Ministry of Health, yesterday launched a public education campaign themed "Ganja: Know the Facts, Know How to Act".
Speaking at a press conference yesterday, Tucker told journalists that the campaign is expected to inform the public on the boundaries of the legislation, an individual's rights and liabilities under the Act, behavioural responsibilities in the new legislative environment and the NCDA's role in supporting and protecting vulnerable populations.
"The council will be taking a multi-tiered, collaborative approach to managing and preventing or reducing harm to high risk groups through a public health strategy, which includes mass media; advocacy and regulations; education programming and surveillance," Tucker said.
He said that through the campaign, the council is hoping to reduce by 30 per cent the number of persons arrested for the possession of more than two ounces of ganja in public places and the caseload of criminal courts for ganja possession. He said the council was also hoping to see a decrease in the number of students ages 13-18 who start smoking ganja while still in school.
The director said the NCDA was working outside of the public education programme to inform the youth.
The minister of health, Dr. Fenton Ferguson, has given his stamp of approval to the campaign as he lauded the work of the NCDA to target vulnerable populations.
"The youth population, persons with mental illness, pregnant women and other vulnerable populations are being specifically targeted. The general population needs to be made aware and to be encouraged to know all they can about the new legislation such as the boundaries of the legislation, individual rights and liabilities under the Act and most importantly, behavioural responsibilities in the new legislative environment," Dr. Ferguson said.
According to the Jamaica Secondary School Survey of 2013, the overall lifetime prevalence of marijuana use in the youth population is 20 per cent, with the average age of marijuana first use being 13 years.
The minister urged parents to acquaint themselves with the information on the new legislation in order to protect themselves and their children.
CHTA LINES-UP LEADING INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS FOR CARIBBEAN HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY EXCHANGE FORUM (CHIEF)
The Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association (CHTA) has tapped leading tourism industry professionals to engage members during the general sessions of the association's Caribbean Hospitality Industry Exchange Forum (CHIEF). CHTA members will learn valuable business practices which can be implemented to generate revenue, reduce costs and become more efficient.
CHIEF, scheduled for Oct. 2-4, 2015 at El Conquistador Resort, A Waldorf Astoria Resort, in Puerto Rico, will bring together global experts with regional expertise to share insight with Caribbean hoteliers and other tourism and hospitality providers.
"We are bringing together the best tourism professionals as CHIEF panelists and moderators so all of our members can exchange ideas that lead to a more successful and profitable business model," said Emil Lee, president of CHTA. "Members who participate in CHIEF will return home with the tools and contacts to help them implement strategies in their businesses right away," Lee noted.
The general session Peering Into The Future: Turning Knowledge Into Dollars provides insight into global and regional economic performance, industry and travel trends, and other factors that must be considered when making sound business decisions such as currency fluctuation, taxes, fuel prices and technological changes. Leading that session will be John Fareed, principal, John Fareed Hospitality Consulting, LLC; Gary Brough, managing director, KPMG Turks and Caicos and Head of Caribbean Leisure Tourism Unit; Greg Oates, senior editor, Skift; and Nicola Madden-Greg, president, Jamaica Hotel & Tourist Association, and group director of marketing and sales, for The Courtleigh Hotel.
The Future of Travel Distribution: Are You Tuning Into the Right Channels? panel explores the ever-changing dynamics of consumer buying behavior and travel distribution. Hoteliers will look at how best to tap into the channel trends and the pros and cons of each as well as become better equipped at generating sales through the various available travel channels. The panel will be led by Clayton Reid, president & CEO, MMGY Global. Joining Reid will be Karen Cardwell, senior revenue manager, RockResorts; Demetrius Canton, director, market management - Caribbean, Expedia; Andrew Von Luchene, CEO, JackRabbit Systems Inc.; and Manny Melendez, director strategic sales, Travelclick.
Cuba: Opportunity or Threat? will examine how the U.S./Cuba normalization will impact CHTA members' businesses and provide solutions for minimizing the potential downside from the displacement of U.S. based business. The session will also present the opportunities Cuba offers for CHTA member hotels and the region. This session will be moderated by Anton Edmunds, president & CEO, The Edmunds Group, joined by Vincent Vanderpool-Wallace, principle partner for the Bedford Baker Group.
Travel + Leisure's Editor Nathan Lump, CHIEF's keynote speaker, will define the future of the hospitality and travel sector from the consumer's perspective,particularly as it relates to leisure travelers to the Caribbean.
CHIEF offers three days of value-packed and engaging exchange sessions focused on helping businesses to generate revenue, reduce costs and become more efficient. CHIEF incorporates a variety of educational tracks so attendees can walk away with practical business tips. Peer-to-peer opportunities will be provided to allow hoteliers to learn from one-another's best practices and their success in tackling operational and marketing challenges. The educational tracks will be led by experts from a variety of travel, tourism and hospitality industry segments featuring roundtable panels with one-one-one discussions in Operations, Sales & Marketing, and Sustainability. An interactive tradeshow format, featuring an open floor plan, has been designed so participants and exhibitors can interact through live demonstrations of new products. Exhibitors will offer exclusive discounts on services and products to CHIEF attendees.
TURKS AND CAICOS POST CABINET MEETING STATEMENT
His Excellency the Governor, Peter Beckingham, chaired the 21st meeting of the Cabinet on Wednesday, 5th August 2015 at the Hon. Hilly Ewing Building in Providenciales.
All Ministers were present except the Hon. Minister of Infrastructure, Housing and Planning and the Hon. Minister of Home Affairs, Transportation and Communication.
At this meeting Cabinet:
·Agreed to issue an RFP for the scrapping and removal of the Mega-One Triton vessel from Governor’s Beach in Grand Turk;
·Advised His Excellency the Governor to approve in principle the draft TCI Gaming Policy to allow the necessary consultation to be conducted between August 15 - September 1, 2015 with the policy to be returned to Cabinet along with the consultation findings for ratification no later than October 15, 2015; and to grant approval for the Ministry of Tourism, Environment, Culture and Heritage to commence legislation works with the Attorney General's Chambers with regards to the Gaming Ordinance and Regulations in line with the proposed draft policy;
·Approved an increase in budgeted funds in the amount of $30,000 from the Carnival Infrastructure Fund, subject to Carnival’s approval, to facilitate the implementation of the consultancy to provide design and technical documentation suitable to tender for the reconstruction and upgrading of Lighthouse Road in Grand Turk;
·Agreed the recommendations for the relevant Government Departments to complete an analysis of the proposals for an FBO in Grand Turk and for the Investment Unit to complete due diligence and issue a full paper to Cabinet;
·Advised His Excellency the Governor to make regulations, the effect of which would waive the fees for a Birth Certificate, Marriage Certificate and a TCI Status Card for the period commencing August 15th ending December 1, 2015 for persons who are eligible to register to vote but who do not appear on a current voters list, making application to be registered as an elector under the Elections Laws.
·Agreed the Immigration (Amendment) Bill and approved it being transmitted to the House of Assembly for its consideration. The effect of this Bill is to amend the definition of "gainful occupation" and to make provision for the foreign spouses of TCI Status-holders to continue to work in the Islands in circumstances where they are no longer living together with their spouse because said spouse have treated them cruelly, causing them hardships;
·Agreed to reduce the Duty Free Royalty (DFR) rate for non-alcohol and non-tobacco goods from 10% to 4.5% from November 1, 2015 to bring it in line with competing jurisdictions. Cabinet will review the impacts of these reductions on an on-going basis;
·Agreed the appointment of Dr. Stephen Francois Bourne and The Rev. Dr Conrad Howell to the National Health Insurance Board (NHIB) in accordance with Sections 16 (1) j and 16 (1) of the National Health Insurance Ordinance;
·Considered and approved the nominations for the National Honours and Awards Recipients 2015 and agreed for the list to be published in the Gazette in accordance with the National Honours and Awards Ordinance;
·Advised His Excellency the Governor to approve the transmission of the Immigration Bill and the TCI Status Bill for consideration in the House of Assembly and for the Ministry to undertake a period of consultation on the Bills after first reading in the House of Assembly;
·Approved the proposed measure to legalise Hawaiian Slings for holders of Commercial Fishing Licenses and for this measure to be incorporated into the 2015 Amendments of the Fisheries Protection Ordinance;
·Considered the recommendations coming out of consultations on amendments to the Fisheries Protection Ordinance and agreed to the amendments to the Regulations to reflect the views which were largely submitted by the fishing community throughout the islands;
·Agreed to amend the policy which prohibited the grant of work permits to persons changing employers, to provide for the grant of work permits in these cases where the Immigration Board is satisfied that exceptional circumstances exists for the grant or the applicant meets certain other criteria as the Minister might develop, which shall include the release from the previous employer. This policy extends to public sector, statutory bodies and private sector employees;
· Noted concerns regarding the level of customer service at the Ministry of Border Control and Employment's One Stop Shop and the time delays in completing transactions as well as the Ministry's plans for restructuring that Unit and its commitment to turning around its service deliverables. Cabinet supported the request for additional funding for the improvement of service delivery and increased resources;
·Received a presentation from Professor Gilbert Morris on behalf of the Canadian Working Group on the success of the TCI mission to Canada in May 2015;
·Approved the Tobacco Control Bill to advance to the House of Assembly;
·Advised His Excellency the Governor to approve the following Bills for advancement to the House of Assembly:
- Investment Dealers (Licensing) (Amendment) Bill 2015
- Trade Marks (Amendment) Bill 2015
- Mutual Funds (Amendment) Bill 2015
- Domestic Insurance Bill 2015
- Companies (Amendment) Bill 2015 - Companies (Fees) (Amendment) Regulations Schedule II - Paragraph 5
- Company Management (Licensing) (Amendment) Bill 2015
- Companies Amendment Bill 2015
Further information on these matters will be provided by Ministers in due course.
Long Bay High taking 180 students, will be ready says Minister
The Long Bay high school will be ready for the 2015/2016 academic year, and if it is not – the Minister of Education assures she will send alerts out to parents stating otherwise.
During House of Assembly debate last week; Hon Akierra Missick’s ministerial statement gave some update and during the parliamentary question and answer period, more light was shed on the coming new school which is touted to help with overcrowding in the public high school system in Provo. While it was clear the Opposition PDM doubts the school will be completed this phase one construction in time for September 7, 2015 – it was again explained that the 180 seventh grade students will not got to Clement Howell High but will instead be the first students to populate the new eastern school currently under construction.
A bus tender is also out and the new uniform, which boasts in large part a gray color has already been distributed to the various uniform stores so that parents and guardians can begin purchase.
The Minister also confessed that some people do not like the name of the institution; however there was no indication that at this stage, that would be changed.
New PDA Party charges Gov’t with public worker discrimination
The government is charged with discriminating against government staff by the newly formed Progressive Democratic Alliance, which is calling on the PNP Administration to desist.
PDA leader, Oswald Skippings in a statement to Magnetic Media said: This PNP government needs to put a stop to its blatant, persistent discrimination against local Turks and Caicos public servants.”
Skippings added that: “It is high time that our people are given equal if not better treatment in their own country and government must begin to appreciate our people and their worth and ensure that they are treated with the kind of respect that they deserve and rewarded accordingly.”
The outrage by Skippings is sparked by the fact that TCIG, he said, has issued yet another contract to Permanent Secretaries and under-secretaries without any gratuities while they continue to offer gratuities to expatriates that are on government contracts.
The PDA political party finds it extremely ‘disturbing,’ and have vowed to do more than talk on the matter. “I am putting government on notice that I will not cease to deal with this issue…”
DIGICEL ROLLS OUT “SUMMER IN THE FAST LANE” CAMPAIGN Over $10,000 in cash and prizes up for grabs!
Digicel TCI today announced details of its “Summer In the Fast Lane” campaign through which customers can enter for a chance to win their share of $10,000 in cash and prizes.
Marketing Manager for Digicel, Trina Adams, said; “We’re really excited to be launching our summer promotion which this year gives our customers the chance to win over $10,000 in cash and prizes. There will be four weekly winners of $1,000 each in cash and one lucky winner will walk away with a year of free Digicel mobile, broadband and TV services valued at $4000- plus many more.”
Other prizes in the four-week long promotion include weekly giveaways of smartphones, data plans and credit.
“What’s great about this promotion is that customers can enter to win simply by doing the things they always do – like purchasing a handset or signing up for a data plan.” Adams continued, “Entering for a chance to win couldn’t be easier. Customers are automatically entered by purchasing a featured LTE handset, signing up for a LTE postpaid or prepaid plan, activating a LTE data plan or topping up $20 or more
Winners of the summer campaign will be selected randomly each week and contacted by a marketing representative. The promotion ends on August 31st.
Nutrition in Demand held its second annual fitness and nutrition summer camp
Nutrition in Demand held its second annual fitness and nutrition summer camp Edward Gartland Youth Center in Providenciales recently (during the week of July 20th – 24th, 2015). The camp was designed so during the first half, students learned about the importance of fitness and nutrition in living a healthy lifestyle; but, there was also a practical portion of the camp where everyone was involved in making and tasting a healthy recipe and participated various forms of physical activity.
Children between ages 11 – 17 took part in Cross Fit, a fitness craze that is a core strength and conditioning program that can be adapted to any fitness level; they also were exposed to the different equipment at a gym, yoga, aerobic exercises and a hike to Bird Rock Trail.
“We thought it was important to expose the children to many different types of activities so that they could then choose which activity (ies) they like best. They could also choose based on their desired goal.” Mrs. Tamika Handfield explained.
This year, Ms. Lisa Lagace travelled from Canada to volunteer her time and expertise with Nutrition in Demand. Ms. Lagace has been working in the field of fitness for many years; she is the former owner of the Fun N’ Fit Gym, commonly known as Erebus Gym and currently works in the area of teaching communities on the importance of physical activity and nutrition.
When asked about her involvement in the camp, Ms. Lagace had this to say, “Children today are spending many hours a day in front of a screen (TV, computer or video game) and very few children are physically active for 60 minutes a day (the recommended minimum). In the Fitness component of the camp, these were some of the topics we touched upon. Our goal was to give the youth the basic tools to lead a healthy lifestyle, no matter what their size or level of fitness. They were taught about different body types and the importance of being comfortable in their own skin. They were introduced to many different activities and shown that being active is for everyone. The camp was a huge success. The participants took on every challenge we gave them and together we had a great week.”
Each year, the camp is open to 20 children but this year much more children were interested. Mrs. Handfield said, “We were ecstatic that so many children wanted to be a part of the camp because it shows that either they or their parents saw the importance of learning about health and nutrition while still young,” Mrs. Handfield said.
Nutrition in Demand would like to say profound thanks to everyone that helped to make this year’s camp a success. Ms. Lagace says she would volunteer with the camp again in a heartbeat!