iNews Briefs
Digicel responds to the proposed acquisition of Columbus International by Cable & Wireless
Thursday 6th November 2014 – Kingston, Jamaica. Digicel notes today’s public announcement in relation to the proposed acquisition of Columbus International Inc. (“Columbus”) by Cable and Wireless Communications Plc (“CWC”). Although the full details of the proposed merger have not yet been made public, Digicel is naturally concerned about the clear and obvious challenges and potential issues posed by such a proposed move from a Regulatory and Competition perspective.
Digicel understands that the proposed acquisition will require significant regulatory approvals from a number of bodies in the region; including Ministerial approvals, approvals from Regulatory Bodies as well as approvals from certain anti-trust agencies. Digicel looks forward to being provided with further details of the proposed transaction so as to allow it make considered submissions to those bodies as is appropriate and necessary.
This proposed transaction raises a considerable number of issues for telecommunications regulation and competition generally in the region. The issues that will need to be addressed include such matters as fairness in spectrum allocations, local loop unbundling, price bundling generally as well as a myriad of other likely issues which will only become apparent once Digicel and other agencies and bodies have been fully appraised of the details of the proposed transaction and the likely resultant impact on the telecoms market in the region.
Digicel is confident that the proposed transaction will be considered in the context of a transparent and fair process sponsored by the relevant agencies with responsibility for these matters and that it will be afforded a full and fair opportunity to engage in the approvals process given its status as a major telecommunications provider in the Caribbean region.
Digicel Group CEO, Colm Delves, stated; “Digicel is naturally concerned to ensure that any proposed transaction will not result in an unlevel playing field being created in the Caribbean markets in favour of the proposed enlarged entity. Digicel looks forward to engaging constructively and responsibly with all relevant agencies and bodies to the fullest extent necessary to ensure that fair and vibrant competition is maintained in the Caribbean region and that the interests of Caribbean consumers are fully protected.”
See also iNews Cayman story published November 7 2014 “Cable & Wireless shares plunge following announcement it will buy Columbus” and “Cable & Wireless Communications in big bet with $3bn acquisition” at: http://www.ieyenews.com/wordpress/cable-wireless-shares-plunge-following-announcement-it-will-buy-columbus/
El Salvador chikungunya cases near 100,000, Dominican Republic at half-a-million
By Robert Herriman From Outbreak Today
The number of reported autochthonous transmission of chikungunya virus in the Americas rose by 95,000 cases during the past week, according to new data released by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) Friday.
In June 2014, El Salvador reported locally transmitted chikungunya cases for the first time in Central America. Five months later we see El Salvador with a total of 93,000 cases. By far the biggest rise in any one country, the Central American country went from 16,443 suspected and confirmed cases the week ending Oct. 31 to 93,274 yesterday for an increase of nearly 77,000.
Elsewhere in Central America, hundreds of cases of chikungunya were reported Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama.
In the Caribbean, the Dominican Republic, which hasn’t reported a case to the PAHO in some time, reported an additional 13,000 locally acquired cases during the past week, bringing the island’s total to 499,000.
Puerto Rico, which has reported a steady increase in locally acquired cases in recent weeks, saw an additional 1,260 cases during the past week, bringing the total to nearly 19,000 cases.
Local transmission of chikungunya in the Western hemisphere first occurred on the island of St. Martin in the Caribbean last December. The current case count in the Americas now stands at 888,806.
On Thursday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advised US travelers to the Caribbean and Central and South America to protect themselves from mosquito bites while traveling in these regions as the outbreak will continue to grow during the fall and winter and beyond.
“The beginning of fall means that mosquito problems in the continental United States will be decreasing. However, travelers to areas where the chikungunya outbreak continues are at risk of becoming infected. It is important that travelers understand these risks and take appropriate actions to prevent being bitten by mosquitoes,” said Roger S. Nasci, Ph.D., chief of CDC’s Arboviral Diseases Branch.
Wreckage of small plane found off St Maarten
From ABC News
(AP) Authorities said Sunday they have recovered wreckage of a small cargo plane that crashed more than a week ago off the tiny Dutch Caribbean territory of St. Maarten.
But the head of Puerto Rico’s emergency management agency, which has been assisting with the search off St. Maarten since the Oct. 31 crash, said the body of one of the two people on board remains missing.
The Skyway Enterprises twin-engine SH36 plane was en route to Puerto Rico at the time of the sea crash, which occurred shortly after takeoff from St. Maarten. The company based in Kissimmee, Florida, was operating under contract with FedEx.
The body of one pilot was recovered by rescuers on the day of the crash. The body of the second has not been found by divers.
In a Sunday statement, Puerto Rico emergency management chief Miguel Rios Torres identified the missing pilot as Rigoberto Lopez Colon of the U.S. Caribbean territory.
Aviation authorities in St. Maarten will conduct an investigation into the plane crash with assistance from experts from the U.S., where the plane was registered, and Britain, where it was manufactured.
For more: http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/wreckage-small-plane-found-off-st-maarten-26794056
Cayman Islands Court of Appeal hears closure of West Bay Road case
The Cayman Islands Court of Appeal judges heard last Thursday (6) an appeal claiming the judge was wrong when he rejected the legal action filed by four West Bay ladies over the closure of a piece of the West Bay Road because they were out of time.
Lawyer for the ladies, Anthony Akiwumi, argued the judge shouldn’t have begun his calculation on the date that the National Roads Authority agreement was signed in December 2011 as that was a secret deal between the NRA and DART. None of the details were made public until after road was formally closed.
After five hours of hearing the arguments the Appeal Judges said it would reserve its decision until 21st November.
Russia stokes fears of a European invasion
From Newsmax
A disclosure that Russia launched a simulated attack on NATO member Denmark is raising concerns that President Vladimir Putin could be preparing an invasion of Europe, according to a new report.
The simulated attack took place on Bornholm, a Danish island in the Baltic Sea, the Danish Defense Intelligence Service (DDIS) has revealed, stating that Russia sent military jets equipped with live missiles to Bornholm in June.
DDIS did not release further details but said the simulated attack was the largest Russian military exercise over the Baltic Sea since 1991.
Russia has been testing NATO defenses in recent weeks, the news website Inquisitr reported. In a period of 24 hours, Russia dispatched 19 combat aircraft to test the defenses of neighboring countries and also test-launched a ballistic missile in the Barents Sea, an arm of the Arctic Ocean.
The Inquisitr article was cited by Johnson’s Russia List, a project of the Institute for European, Russian and Eurasian Studies at The George Washington University’s Elliott School of International Affairs.
With relations strained between Russia and NATO over Russia’s involvement in Ukraine, retired U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. David Deptula told the Daily Beast: “It is not farfetched that at some point within the next two years Putin makes a more aggressive move in Eastern Europe and uses a nuclear threat to deter a NATO response.”
Washington Post columnist George Will recently theorized that Putin could be aiming to destroy NATO by invading one of the Baltic states, Latvia, Lithuania, or Estonia, which like Ukraine have Russian-speaking minorities.
“Putin invades one of these NATO members,” he wrote. “NATO invokes article 5 — an attack on any member is an attack on all — or NATO disappears and the Soviet Union, NATO’s original raison d’etre, is avenged.”
For more: http://news.newsmax.com/?ZKOvatSZQdn2EAWf1tvNx-L7RQyfbLIAZ
Tickets for Caribbean Cup in Jamaica now on sale
Tickets for this year’s Caribbean Football Union Men’s Caribbean Cup competition are now on sale
In a release issued by the Jamaica Football Federation last Wednesday (5), it said access to the regional championships that will begin on November 11 at the Montego Bay Sports Complex, will cost $1,500 for the Upper Grandstand, $1,000 for Lower Grandstand, and Bleachers $500.
Eight teams divided into two groups are set to feature in this year’s tournament, which will be used as a qualifier to the CONCACAF Gold Cup.
Hosts the Reggae Boyz were drawn in Group B alongside Haiti, Martinique and Antigua and Barbuda. Group A consists of defending champions Cuba along with Trinidad and Tobago, Curaçao and French Guiana.
The Reggae Boyz will tackle Martinique in their opening game on November 12. They will then face Antigua and Barbuda two days later before closing out the group stage against Haiti in November.
The top two teams from each group will qualify for the semi-finals of the competition.
Participating teams began arriving in Jamaica on Saturday.
Young Caymanian basketball player seen on TV playing for US Mustangs
Tikko Moore (22), a Caymanian and a sophomore, joined the Mustangs this summer, transferring from Simpson University in Redding, California where he competed for the Red Hawks’ junior varsity team as a college freshman.
Moore suited up for The Master’s College on Monday against Michigan State University in a preseason exhibition game against the Spartans – a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I powerhouse.
The Big Ten Network Plus televised the contest at Michigan State’s Breslin Court in East Lansing, Michigan. Spartans beat Mustangs 97-56,
Moore played 11 minutes and registered one rebound.
USL Service Announcement 14-099: Caribbean Low Sulfur Surcharge from MIAMI
Effective December 4, 2014, US Lines will adjust its Low Sulfur Surcharge for port of loading MIAMI to the Caribbean/Mexico/Central & South America to the below levels:
Size Type Level (SD)
20′ (all types) $50/container
40′ (all types) $100/container
45′ (all types) $115/container
This charge will apply to all cargo received and moving under a US Lines bill of lading on or after December 4, 2014.
If you have any questions, please contact your USL representative.
We appreciate your continued support of USL
The Check Is In The Mail for Navajo Nation, BuckleySandler
From Jenna Greene From Legal Times
It’s almost payday for the Navajo Nation—and BuckleySandler.
The federal government on Wednesday greenlighted a payment of $554 million to settle charges that the Department of the Interior failed to properly manage, invest and account for tribal trust funds, according to Treasury Department records. It’s the biggest single settlement for any tribe in massive litigation that began almost a decade ago.
Represented by BuckleySandler and the Nordhaus Law Firm, the Navajo Nation sued the government in the Court of Federal Claims, alleging that the Interior Department breached its fiduciary duty to properly collect and manage royalties from oil, gas, coal, uranium and other minerals on tribal lands since 1946. The case is separate from the class action Cobell v. Salazar, which was brought on behalf of individual Native Americans and settled for $3.4 billion in 2009.
The Navajo Nation reached a settlement with the departments of Justice and Interior in May. On Wednesday, the feds submitted a formal payment request to the Judgment Fund, which pays out settlements and adverse judgments against the United States,.
“This money is going to be of tremendous benefit to the Navajo Nation,” said BuckleySandler chairman Andrew Sandler, who represented the tribe along with partners Samuel Buffone and Christopher Regan. “We are pleased by each and every step forward in the process of getting this money to the Navajo Nation.”
It’s good news for the 150-lawyer, D.C.-based firm as well. Sandler declined to discuss the firm’s fee arrangement but said, “We are going to be well compensated for getting a great result for our client.”
Cayman Islands: OTEC Facility Final ToR
The Cayman Islands Department of Environment is providing Notice to the Public of the publication of the final Terms of Reference (ToR) for the proposed 25 Megawatt ocean thermal energy conversion facility. The public was invited to review and comment on the draft ToR, which outlined the envisaged technical approach for the
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). A summary of the public consultation is appended to the ToR, together with written submissions received.
The result of the EIA will be an Environmental Statement (ES) which will inform future decisions and approval processes for the proposed facility.
The final ToR for the proposed project is available by clicking on the following link:
Man beaten at Ferguson protest strategy meeting
By Paul Hampel From St Louis Post Despatch
- LOUIS COUNTY • Some Ferguson protest strategists turned on one of their own Thursday night, allegedly beating a man they accused of sending out unauthorized video of a meeting at Greater St. Mark Missionary Church in unincorporated north St. Louis County.
County police confirmed that they are investigating.
The victim, identified as Chris Schaefer, an University of Missouri-St. Louis student, was chased from the church, at 9950 Glen Owen Drive, and beaten outside. He was treated for his injuries at a hospital.
Patricia Bynes, a stalwart of the protest movement who attended the meeting, blamed members of the protest group Lost Voices for the attack.
“If we’re going to hold police accountable for beating us, we need to hold ourselves accountable for incidents like this,” Bynes said. “I’m not saying all the Lost Voices were involved, but those that weren’t need to get their group under control because they have gotten increasingly violent lately.”
Cayman Islands announce DOE bi-monthly magazine available for download
The Department of Environment’s bimonthly magazine “FLICKER” Oct-Nov 2014 is now available.
This project is to inform everyone interested about what we are up to including new discoveries, helpful tips when dealing with wildlife and educational tidbits.
To download all the FLICKER magazines go to: http://www.doe.ky/information/newsletters/flicker/
Vegan Health Cruise hits the Caribbean
On this episode of Conscious Living, we ventured down to the Caribbean with Holistic Holiday at Sea for some island-hopping R&R, health education with top experts, yoga fitness and oodles of vegan deliciousness.
Conscious Living TV was founded in 2007 as a digital media platform dedicated to raising the consciousness of the planet. From the latest eco-fashion and organic vegetarian cuisine to luxury green travel, spirituality and natural health – our goal is to highlight the best in sustainable living, and feature the people, places and pioneers that are changing the world for the better.
Conscious Living TV has been honored with various awards including an Award of Excellence from National Association of Health Care Journalists, a Chicago Midwest EMMY© and Keep America Beautiful’s Chicago Green Visionary Award.
For more: http://3blmedia.com/News/Vegan-Health-Cruise-Hits-Caribbean#sthash.nARF007u.dpuf
Cayman Islands NWDA Meeting in West Bay
11 November , 2014
The NWDA, in an effort to provide improved customer service to its clients in their job seeking efforts, will have a representative at the district libraries to provide:
* Opportunities to register online with the NWDA.
* Opportunities to search the online job portal and self-referring for jobs.
* Assistance with preparing resumes.
* Assistance with preparing for an interview.
The next meeting is at the West Bay Library Branch: Tuesday, 11th Nov. 10:00am -1:00pm
New Changes to Dutch Caribbean Visa Policy
By Ludmila York-Duncan From St Maarten Island Time
PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten – The Director of the Immigration and Border Protection Service (IBP) would like to inform the general public that as November 1, 2014 new visa regulations went into effect for the Dutch Caribbean and St. Maarten in particular as efforts continued to improve travel and economic opportunities within the region as well as the necessary streamlining of policies in accordance with European and international regulations.
U.S. and Canadian Visa
Travelers from the following countries only; Bolivia, Colombia, Cuba, China (new), Dominican Republic, Guyana, Haiti, India (new), Jamaica and Peru, are exempted from the Dutch Caribbean visa when in possession of a valid, multiple entry visa from the United States and Canada.
Schengen Visa
All travelers, regardless of nationality, are exempted from the Dutch Caribbean visa when in possession of a valid, multiple entry Schengen Area visa.
These changes have implications for travel throughout the Dutch Caribbean i.e. Aruba, Curacao and the BES islands.
More information regarding the revised Dutch Caribbean visa policy and be requested by contacting the IBP at [email protected]
Cayman Islands NWDA in in North Side
The NWDA, in an effort to provide improved customer service to its clients in their job seeking efforts, will have a representative at the district libraries to provide:
* Opportunities to register online with the NWDA.
* Opportunities to search the online job portal and self-referring for jobs.
* Assistance with preparing resumes.
* Assistance with preparing for an interview.
The next meeting is at the North Side Library Branch: Wednesday 12th, Nov. 10:00am-1:00pm
Mourant Ozannes hires Singapore finance partner for Cayman expansion
By Hill Choi Lee From IFLR1000
Maples and Calder’s Singapore partner James Burch joins offshore law firm Mourant Ozannes to push forward its Cayman Island practice.
Burch specialises in corporate finance, capital markets and asset finance work. He was recently involved in a number of transactions relating to high-yield bonds, aircraft leasing and financings, and structured preference share deals.
Jonathan Rigby, Mourant Ozannes’ global managing partner, said: “James has an outstanding reputation as a leading lawyer in his field and will play an integral role in the development of our Cayman Islands corporate practice.”
Burch is Mourant Ozannes’ second significant hire in 2014 for its Cayman practice. Earlier in the year, insolvency and restructuring expert Christopher Harlowe was added to the Channel Islands’ firm from Speechly Bircham in London.
Burch previously held positions at Linklaters and Johnson Stokes & Master – now known as Mayer Brown JSM – working in London, Hong Kong and Sydney.
Captured’ by Cayman Islands Rotaract
Three Rotarians from each of the Rotary Clubs on island will be captured by the Rotaractors and held ransom. While the Rotarians are ‘Captured’ by Rotaract, they will seek contribution toward their ransom funds from fellow Rotarians, family members, friends and businesses. Donations can be made by telephone, email and in person during the event. For more details, contact [email protected]. The event is Saturday (15 Nov) from 10am until 4pm at The Crescent
Hard Rock Café to return to Cayman Islands
Just over a year ago Cayman Islands hard Rock Café closed its doors amid a legal row between the then Cayman owner, Kevin Doyle, and the US parent company.
The Hard Rock Café in the Cayman Islands operated under a franchise and went into voluntary liquidation.
Now a new management team is in place and they have announced they plan to reopen the Hard Rock Café in December.
The Jamaican based distribution company, Viking Productions will be holding a job fair this week on Tuesday and Wednesday at the Westin Hotel.
Caribbean News Desk: Caricom laying ground-work to reopen trade pact talks with Canada
By Denis Scott Chabrol From Caribbean News Desk
Caribbean Trade Ministers have agreed to set up a committee to examine ways of closing the gaps in a proposed trade agreement with Canada and so revive negotiations.
Canada had set a June 30 deadline but Caricom is yet to reach consensus on the proposed agreement.
Sources said Caricom’s Ministerial Council for Trade and Economic Development agreed that political representatives from Guyana, Belize, Haiti, Jamaica and the sub-regional Organisation for Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) would meet to discuss outstanding issues for the trade accord.
Guyana’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett tells Caribbean News Desk that the region would not return to the negotiating table with Canada unless concerns by a number of member-states are addressed.
Canada and Caricom in 2001 recognized the need to negotiate a Trade and Development Agreement that is compatible with World Trade Organisation rules. The new trade accord will replace the Caribbean-Canada Trade Agreement that was established in the 1980s.
The Wedding Singer comes to Cayman Islands
St. Ignatius School Drama Department presents, ‘The Wedding Singer’, November 20th-22nd. Shows are at 7:00 pm on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, with an additional 2:00 pm matinee on Saturday. Tickets on sale at the school office. Phone 949-9250 for further details
Shark spotted close to Cayman Islands shore
At the Cemetery Beach, West Bay, Grand Cayman, a Blacktip Sshark was filmed close to the shore but The Cayman Islands Department of Environment said these sharks are frightened of humans so would be no threat to swimmers.
They did say it was unusual.
To watch the video go to: http://www.cayman27.com.ky/2014/11/07/shark-spotted-near-the-shoreline
SOURCE: CITN
CXC launches online bookstore
From Jamaica Observer
KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) has launched its online bookstore, which now provides individuals in Jamaica and the Caribbean, preparing for external examinations, with Internet access to a wide range of academic resource material.
Speaking at Friday’s launch, CXC’s Acting Pro Registrar, Dr Carol Granston, said that the online book store’s launch “marks a significant milestone” in the organisation’s efforts to “facilitate learning that is not confined to the highly formalised structure of classrooms, but shaped by the lifestyle of the Caribbean learner, that is, learning that can be done at anytime and at any place”.
The facility, which was launched at Jamaica College in St Andrew on Friday, provides access to subject syllabuses and reports, specimen papers, and mark schemes, which can be downloaded on any mobile (mp) from the website – www.cxc.store.com, and used offline.
The initiative, which is the CXC latest undertaking with longstanding partners British entity, MacMillan Publishers, through its Caribbean office, will provide material free of cost for 29 Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) and 28 Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) subjects.
Additional materials, outside of these subjects, which date back at 2005, are also available, for people requiring these, but will incur a cost.
For more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/latestnews/CXC-launches-online-bookstore
Cayman Islands tyre dump pile may cost $3M to remove
Cayman Islands Health Minister Osbourne Bodden has admitted that despite many attempts to find a contractor to remove the mounting discarded tyres at Cayman’s capital George Town’s Dump there wasn’t much interest.
The only remedy, he said, is to purchase the proper equipment but the cost will be in the region of $3M!
Morningstar Issues “BB” Credit Rating to Royal Caribbean Cruises (RCL)
Royal Caribbean Cruises logoRoyal Caribbean Cruises (NYSE:RCL) has been given a “BB” credit rating by Morningstar. The research firm’s “BB” rating indicates that the company is an above-average default risk. They also gave their stock a four star rating.
Other equities research analysts have also recently issued reports about the stock. Analysts at Morgan Stanley reiterated an “overweight” rating on shares of Royal Caribbean Cruises in a research note on Monday, November 3rd. They now have a $83.00 price target on the stock, up previously from $80.00. Separately, analysts at Zacks reiterated a “neutral” rating on shares of Royal Caribbean Cruises in a research note on Monday, October 27th. They now have a $68.00 price target on the stock. Finally, analysts at S&P Equity Research downgraded shares of Royal Caribbean Cruises to a “hold” rating in a research note on Friday, October 24th. Nine research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and fourteen have given a buy rating to the company. The stock has an average rating of “Buy” and a consensus target price of $68.56.
Royal Caribbean Cruises (NYSE:RCL) opened at 67.20 on Friday. Royal Caribbean Cruises has a 1-year low of $42.00 and a 1-year high of $69.31. The stock’s 50-day moving average is $63.99 and its 200-day moving average is $59.46. The company has a market cap of $14.964 billion and a P/E ratio of 22.84.
Royal Caribbean Cruises (NYSE:RCL) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 23rd. The company reported $2.20 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.19 by $0.01. The company had revenue of $2.39 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.41 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $1.71 earnings per share. The company’s revenue for the quarter was up 3.3% on a year-over-year basis. Analysts expect that Royal Caribbean Cruises will post $3.48 EPS for the current fiscal year.
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (NYSE:RCL) is a cruise company.
Cayman Islands Breeze Fusion Walk/Run
The 8th Annual Cayman Islands Breeze Fusion Walk/Run took place on Saturday 1st November 2014.
The event saw 39 runners and 81 walkers take part.
This year’s race length was increased to 3 miles /5k to allow some participants to use the opportunity to train for the upcoming marathon and beat their personal best times.
The overall winners in the female category were Joanna Mansy first, Judy Rivers second and Danielle Magalhaes third. For the male division, Bruce Mangakam first, Campbell Tyson, Andrew Tyson third.
Luxury hotel in Anguilla re-opens to revitalize island’s tourism
From Fox news Latino
The iconic Malliouhana Hotel & Spa has reopened in Anguilla after three years and is expected to revitalize the economy of the Caribbean island.
The hotel, whose name refers to the Amerindian name for the island, opened in 1984 and was the economic engine of Anguilla over the next two decades, but the owners closed the establishment in 2011 with the intention of selling.
In February 2013, the hotel was bought by U.S. firm Adventurous Journeys Capital Partners, owners of the Isle de France Hotel in St. Barts.
The new owners entrusted management of the hotel to Auberge Resorts, who re-opened the Malliouhana on Nov. 1 after $80 million in renovations.
“Malliouhana has an incredible legacy in the Caribbean, and it has been a thrill to revitalize such an iconic resort,” Auberge CEO Craig Reid said in a statement.
Anguilla is a British overseas territory located in the northeastern Caribbean and its economy depends mainly on luxury tourism, fishing and offshore banking. EFE
WuXi PharmaTech (Cayman) Inc. (ADR) : quaterly earnings release
The company will report its earnings for Q3 2014 on 11/12/2014. Generally, the company reports earnings better than estimates. In recent months, the 4 analysts from Thomson Reuters consensus have not revised their EPS estimates.
CDC: Ban smoking in subsidized housing, save $500M a year
From Newsmax
Banning smoking in all government-subsidized housing, including public housing, would save nearly $500 million a year in healthcare and housing-related costs, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Nearly 7 million multi-unit housing residents in America live in government-subsidized housing. A CDC study published in Preventing Chronic Disease estimated that prohibiting smoking in those residences would save about $310 million in secondhand smoke-related healthcare annually, plus $134 million in renovation expenses, and $53 million in fire losses attributed to smoking.
Of the 7 million in subsidized housing, 2 million live in public housing. According to the study, the first of its kind to estimate the savings, banning smoking in public housing alone would save $153 million a year, including $94 million in secondhand smoke-related healthcare.
“Multi-unit housing residents are susceptible to secondhand smoke exposure because studies have shown that secondhand smoke gets through ventilation systems and windows and spreads into units where no smoking occurs,” the CDC stated in a release.
“The potential for secondhand smoke exposure in public or subsidized housing is especially concerning because a large number of residents in these units are particularly vulnerable to the impact of secondhand smoke, including children, the elderly, and the disabled.”
The study estimated the cost savings in each state, and those savings range from $580,000 in Wyoming to $125 million in New York.
For more; http://news.newsmax.com/?ZKOvatSZQdn2EAWf1tvNx-L7RQyfbLIAZ
Cayman Islands driver has her death case expunged
Dorlisa Piercy, who was sentenced to five years in jail for causing death by dangerous driving when a car she lost control of the was driving and hit a tree just before Lover’s Wall off Sea View Road at East End, Grand Cayman, has been set free.
The Cayman Islands Court of Appeals found there was no expert evidence to prove she was driving at an excessive speed when the accident occurred.
One of the four passengers in the car died and her unborn child.
Although the Crown wanted Piercy to stand trial again on the same charges the Appeals judges said “No”.
Rich dude found guilty of counterfeiting millions’ worth of rare wines
By Laura Northrup The Consumerist
About a decade ago, Rudy Kurniawan, a young immigrant from Indonesia, began hanging out with connoisseurs of rare wine. He bought and sold collectible bottles, selling $24.7 million worth of his finds at just one auction in 2006. Authorities and wine collectors now know that many of the wines he’s sold over the years have been fake.
Lots of collectors buy and sell their finds in order to finance their hobby: there’s nothing unusual about that. They just don’t normally have a room full of reprinted wine labels, corks, corking equipment, siphons, and stamps that look remarkably similar to those used to create serial numbers and other markings on vintage wine bottles.
Interestingly, it’s not a crime to counterfeit a famous collectible wine. You can plaster fake labels on bottles and give them away to your friends as much as you like. It only becomes a crime once you counterfeit wines with fraudulent intent–for example, trying to pass them off as genuine rare vino at an auction or private sale for elite collectors. Which he did.
Federal prosecutors showed off some of the man’s alleged counterfeiting equipment, and bottles that he offered for sale. The ultimate experts testified in his trial: the owners of the prestigious family-owned wineries that those bottles purportedly came from.
His defense team countered with the argument that everyone in elite wine circles owns and sells some counterfeits, and Kurniawan, as an “outsider,” makes a convenient scapegoat. All of those corks and labels? He was “reconditioning” bottles, an accepted thing to do. And he was wallpapering a room in his home with reprinted labels. Right.
Jurors in this federal trial didn’t buy it, and convicted him. He could be sentenced to up to 40 years in prison. This was big news because it’s the first-ever federal conviction for selling counterfeit wines.
For more:
