iNews Briefs
Former head of Cayman Islands private bank charged with giving data to WikiLeaks
By Katharina Bart From Chicago Tribune News
Reuters, ZURICH— A Swiss prosecutor brought charges against former Julius Baer private banker Rudolf Elmer on Wednesday for allegedly handing over confidential data to WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange and attempting to pass on files to German officials.
The former head of Baer’s Cayman Islands office has been under investigation by Zurich prosecutors since 2011, when he was arrested for giving Assange what – according to Elmer – were two discs containing confidential information on about 2,000 offshore banking clients.
“The Zurich prosecutor for economic crime brought charges against Rudolf Elmer on July 9, 2014, for breaching banking secrecy and for forgery,” the prosecutor said in a statement.
The charges refer to data passed to Assange during a news conference in London and to alleged attempts by Elmer to pass on confidential client data to German officials in 2009 and 2010.
In the past, some German states have bought data leaked from Swiss banks in order to get at names of their citizens who evade taxes, but it is not clear if Elmer’s case has any connection to this.
Elmer, who in past has said he wants to draw attention to financial abuses, could not be immediately reached for comment by Reuters on Wednesday. The Zurich prosecutor said Elmer denies having acted criminally.
WikiLeaks has angered U.S. authorities by publishing hundreds of secret diplomatic cables.
For more: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/sns-rt-us-switzerland-tax-elmer-20140709,0,4238089.story
Cayman high school teacher pleads guilty to assaulting young boys
Delroy Anthony James (32), a public high school teacher on Grand Cayman, appeared in Grand Court last Friday (4) on a 10 count indictment.
He pleaded guilty to two counts of indecent assault and one count of possession of an indecent image of a child.
James’ attorney, Nicholas Dixey, said additional evidence had been submitted and requested an adjournment before pleas were considered for the other charges that included child cruelty and misuse of the Internet.
An adjournment was granted to August 1st.
Scientists: Scottish independence may hit research
From Miami Herald
LONDON (AP) — Several leading British academics say scientific research could suffer if Scotland votes for independence in a September referendum.
The presidents of the Royal Society, the British Academy and the Academy of Medical Sciences — Paul Nurse, Nicholas Stern and John Tooke — argued that independence could endanger the links and collaborations between Scottish scientists and those elsewhere in Britain.
“We believe that if separation were to occur, research not only in Scotland but also the rest of the U.K. would suffer,” they wrote in letter published Saturday in the Times of London newspaper.
They also said Scottish taxpayers would have to pay “significantly more” to maintain current levels of research funding.
Scotland votes Sept. 18 on whether to break up the 300-year-old alliance with England. Much of the debate has focused on the economic risks and benefits of independence.
Nurse, a geneticist who shared the 2001 Nobel Prize for medicine, said Saturday some academics were wary of expressing an opinion about independence “because of fear of retribution in relation to future funding.”
The pro-independence Scottish government dismissed the academics’ warning. It said in a statement that it was committed to “providing levels of public investment in university research which enable our universities to remain internationally competitive.”
For more: http://www.miamiherald.com/2014/07/05/4219709/scientists-scottish-independence.html#storylink=cpy
One of Bolt’s records broken by Caymanian!
Cayman Islands runner Jamal Walton won the Under-18 400-metres at the Central America and Caribbean Junior Championships last weekend with a time of 47.01 seconds and received a gold medal.
And that was not all he broke the 12 year old meet record of 47.12 seconds held by Usain Bolt!
At the last CARIFTA games he won bronze.
Cayman at CAC Juniors
Jamal Walton
1st 400-metres 47.01
12th 200-metres 21.45
Tiffany Cole
4th 1,500 5:27.53
4th 3,000-metres 12:28.12
Tahj Lewis
9th 800-metres 2:07.75
9th 1,500 4:39.54
Daneliz Thomas
6th Javelin 39.02 metres
Lacee Barnes
7th Shot Put 13.2 metres
Kiara McLaughlin
DNF 1,500 –
Most restaurants don’t use real eggs
By Josh Bezoni From Biotrust Nutrition
I know it’s shocking, but the truth is that many restaurants use processed commercial eggs (from a carton) that contain “obesity additives” such as artificial ingredients, chemicals, preservatives, and even gluten-like fillers and compounds. That’s BAD news for anyone trying to lose flab fast, as these ingredients can slow down your weightloss efforts and increase your body’s toxicity levels.
Even worse, if you are someone consuming a gluten-free diet, eggs are one of those foods you rely on to be gluten-free. That said, almost all of these commercial egg products contain a substantial amount of gluten, so beware.
The take home message: You MUST ask for real eggs.
While these restaurants often make their omelets and scrambled eggs with obesity-boosting processed egg product, they almost all also have real eggs in stock. I’ve also found that most waitresses will just tell you what you want to hear, so you need to specify that you must have real eggs and not eggs from a carton, instead of asking “Do you use real eggs?” Most people will just say yes without really knowing what they are talking about.
One trick is to tell them you have an allergy and must have real eggs, not eggs from a carton…in that case you’re sure to get fresh eggs 100% of the time.
For more: http://www.biotrust.com
Cayman junior squash players go to Bermuda
Cayman Islands are sending a team of junior squash players ranging in age from 12 to 17 years this week to compete in the Caribbean Area Squash Association Junior Championships, hosted by the Bermuda Squash Racquets Association.
The competition runs from Friday July 11th – Saturday 19th.
All the Cayman players are members of the South Sound Squash Club and train under coach Mark Chaloner and world ranked pro Cameron Stafford.
Several donations came from local firms with the players and their families who also worked hard to raise funds to assist with the trip’s costs, including selling raffle tickets and holding bake sales.
Chaloner said it is a constant challenge these days with so many distractions for youngsters that can lead to physical exercise not being their top priority.
The opportunity to travel to Bermuda to represent Cayman will be a life-changing experience for the youngsters, he added.
Blood tests to check for chikungunya (or dengue) in Cayman Islands ordered
Chikungunya Update as of 8 July 2014
Public Health officials are presently testing two blood samples to rule out dengue and/or chikungunya.
Officials say the symptoms presented are not classical of either illness but that the tests were done as a routine.
This news follows the confirmation on 30 June 2014, of the first imported case of chikungunya in the Cayman Islands.
Both dengue and chikungunya are transmitted by Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. Symptoms of dengue include fever, headache, muscle aches, joint pains, pain behind the eyes, and rash. Among chikungunya symptoms are fever, joint pains, muscle pain, headache, nausea, fatigue and rash.
While joint pain is predominant in chikungunya, as muscle pain is in dengue, both illnesses share some clinical signs that can be misdiagnosed. For this reason, patients with these symptoms are investigated for both dengue and chikungunya. The Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) also tests, blood samples for both viruses.
When travelling to countries with dengue and chikungunya virus, persons should use insect repellent containing DEET, wear long sleeves and pants, and stay in places with air conditioning, or that have window and door screens.
Caribbean mosquito-borne virus now identified in Kansas
By AJ Dome From kvoe
The Caribbean-based chikungunya virus has now made its way into Kansas, and health officials are warning travelers to be aware of the symptoms.
The mosquito-transmitted virus has now been identified in two Wichita-area patients who recently traveled separately to the Caribbean. Flint Hills Community Health Center – Lyon County Health Department’s Interim Director of Environmental Health Jennifer Skiles says there have been no local reports of the virus.
Symptoms include muscle or joint pain, as well as headache, fever, joint swelling or rash. Skiles says the virus is rarely fatal.
Skiles says there is no indication that the virus is being transmitted to others on the mainland, even though other cases of the virus have been reported in other U.S. states. Skiles said that would only occur when local mosquitos transmit it to people. Outbreaks of the chikungunya virus have occurred in countries in Africa, Asia, Europe and the Indian and Pacific Oceans.
HSBC to sell part of Cayman business to Butterfield
[ET Net News Agency, 9 July 2014] HSBC Holdings (00005) said it agreed to sell parts of its corporate and retail banking business in the Cayman Islands to Butterfield Bank (Cayman) Limited.
Gross assets of the business as at 31 March 2014 were about US$800 million. Total assets of HSBC Cayman at the same date were around US$1.4 billion. The transaction is expected to complete in the fourth quarter of 2014.
HSBC Cayman will commence wind down preparations, including ceasing to undertake new business with immediate effect, and will look to minimise the impact on the remaining customers during this period. (HL)
(c) 2014 ET Net Limited. All rights reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info).
MF commends St. Kitts and Nevis, says Federation is first Caribbean nation to repay institution early
From SKN Choice Times
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is commending the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis for the economic achievements made under the recent Stand By Arrangement (SBA).
The Washington-based international lending institution in its release also announced that St. Kitts and Nevis has repaid, ahead of schedule, SDR 11.1 million (about US$17.1 million) obligations to the IMF on June 24, 2014 and has become the first time a Caribbean nation has repaid the financial institution early.
“There has been a significant improvement in fiscal and debt sustainability and a strong economic recovery. St. Kitts and Nevis’ ability to repay the IMF ahead of schedule reflects the improvement in its macroeconomic balances that reflect both policy efforts and the strong inflows under the Citizenship-By-Investment programme,” said the IMF pointing out that “this is the first time that a payment of this magnitude has been repaid early to the Fund by a Caribbean nation.”
The IMF said the early repayment will reduce the outstanding obligations of St. Kitts and Nevis to the IMF to SDR 36.3 million (about US$56 million) or about 408 percent of quota and reduce its debt to GDP ratio by about 2 percent of GDP.
“This outstanding balance is projected to be repaid during 2014-2018,” the IMF said.
The IMF said the early repayment is about one fourth (23.4 percent) of the SDR 47.4 million (about US$73.1 million) that St. Kitts and Nevis borrowed from the IMF under its Stand-By Arrangement.
Grand Cayman airport redevelopment goes out to tender
The redevelopment of Grand Cayman’s Owen Roberts Airport has gone out to architectural and engineering firms to tender their credentials.
In calling for interested firms, the Cayman Islands Airports Authority (CIAA) is entering into a pre-qualification process ahead of the publication of an official business case that will define the scope of the work required.
The request for proposals went out last week.
A business case study that is expected to be ready by the end of this month will then involve the setting up of a series of public consultation meetings.
Albert Anderson, CEO of CIAA, said it was “anticipated that tenders will be issued to the pre-qualified proponents in late August this year, leading to the first phase of construction commencing during the second quarter of 2015 and work proceeding through to 2019.”
Lion killer is killed by hyenas
From BBC
A Kenyan herdsman who fought off and killed a lion, has died after being attacked by a pack of hyenas.
Moses Lekalau, 35, was walking home in the Maralal safari area north-east of Nairobi when the lion leapt out at him.
Exhausted by his struggle, he lacked the strength to fight off a subsequent attack by hyenas.
Mr Lekalau was eventually rescued by a passing motorist who drove him to hospital. He was airlifted to Nairobi for surgery but died of blood loss.
Terrible injuries
Mr Lekalau told doctors that it took him half an hour to spear and bludgeon the lion to death.
As a Samburu, he came from a community where it is traditional for boys to kill a lion as a rite of passage on entering manhood.
He spent seven hours in the operating theatre where doctors treating his extensive injuries were at first hopeful he would survive, but he had lost too much blood.
“Hyenas are cowardly animals that usually feed on leftovers,” Kenyan Wildlife Service spokesman Paul Udot told reporters . “They must have been very hungry and realised the victim was vulnerable after the lion attack.”
National parks in Kenya are not fenced off and the wildlife roam freely so animal attacks are quite common in rural areas.
For more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7105191.stm
New “permission” status causes jump in work permits in Cayman Islands
There was an unusual increase in the number of work permits of nearly 450 persons from early April through early July rising from 19,903 to 20,360.
However, most of the increase (437) is due to the grant “permission to continue working” by the Cayman Islands Immigration Department as of July 1st.
The “permission” status, granted by the chief immigration officer or her designated staff, must be given before a non-Caymanian who has reached their nine-year term limit for residence on the islands. If it is not granted, that person would be required to vacate the territory, even if their application for permanent resident status or appeal of a work permit renewal was still being considered.
Prior to the enactment of the revised Immigration Law, 2013, in October, anyone who applied for permanent residence status or who challenged a work permit denial was entitled to remain in Cayman until their case was decided. The previous legislation referred to it as “working by operation of law.”
Brazil’s World Cup dreams end with 1-7 loss to Germany in first semi-final
Belo Horizonte (Brazil), July 9 (ANI): Brazil’s World Cup dreams ended on Tuesday night with a humiliating and brutal 1-7 loss to Germany in the first semi-final in Belo Horizonte.
Riding on a tidal wave of emotion following the exit of star striker Neymar due to injury and the suspension of skipper Thiago, Brazil was systematically cut down by Germany. The degree of humiliation can be gauged by the Germans going up five nil in the first 29 minutes of the match, leaving Brazilian fans at the Estadio Mineirao in a state of disbelief and shock.
According to the BBC, the result was their first competitive home defeat in 39 years, and the end of their hopes of making it to the World Cup final at the iconic Maracana on Sunday.
Germany will now meet either Argentina or Netherlands after today’s second final result is known.* (EDITOR: They will meet Argentina who beat the Netherlands on penalties.)
For the Germans, Thomas Muller (1), Miroslav Klose (1), Toni Kroos (2), Sami Khedira (1) and Andre Schurrle (2) scored. Klose achieved his dream of becoming the players with the highest number og goals in World Cup fixtures. For Brazil, Oscar scored the lone goal in the 90 minute of the match.
The defining insult to the Brazil team was when Brazilian fans cheered every German pass and applauded every goal that the latter scored.
Tuesday’s defeat equalled Brazil’s heaviest margin of defeat, a 6-0 loss at the hands of Uruguay in the 1920 Copa America.
The savagery of the defeat left players and fans in tears. (ANI)
