Archives for Friday, January 9, 2004:

Dominica's new prime minister to name Cabinet

ROSEAU, Dominica (AFP): Shortly after he took the oath of office as Dominica's youngest Prime Minister Thursday, Roosevelt Skerrit said he will announce his Cabinet in under 24 hours.  Skerrit, 31, took the oath of office, succeeding Pierre Charles, who died Tuesday... read more...

Two-day general strike starts in Haiti

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AFP): The Haitian opposition on Thursday launched a two-day general strike as part of its campaign to force President Jean-Bertrand Aristide out of office... read more...

Cuba and US at loggerheads over immigration talks

HAVANA, Cuba (AFP): Cuba and the United States traded accusations of blame on Wednesday for the failure of immigration talks that heightened tensions between the Cold War enemies.. read more...

Luxembourg authorities probe Parmalat transfers through Cayman Islands

LUXEMBOURG, (AFP): Luxembourg legal authorities have opened an investigation into suspected money laundering in connection with the insolvency of Italian food giant Parmalat, legal sources said here Thursday. A Luxembourg company called Satalux is alleged to have received several million dollars from the Parmalat group through a fund based in the Cayman Islands... read more...

"Very disturbed" Powell says Aristide should accept Haitian church plan

WASHINGTON, USA (AFP): US Secretary of State of Colin Powell said Thursday he was "very disturbed" by the deteriorating situation in Haiti and pressed President Jean-Bertrand Aristide to accept a church proposal on resolving the nation's political crisis... read more...

Cuba defends Cuban diplomat expelled by US over drug allegations

HAVANA, Cuba (AFP): Cuba on Thursday denied US allegations that expelled Cuban diplomat Roberto Socorro had links to drug trafficking or other criminal activity while working at the Cuban Interests Section in Washington... read more...

Indians target of kidnappers in Caribbean

MUMBAI, India: Kidnappers and thieves in the Caribbean are increasingly targeting people of Indian origin, according to reports in the Indian media... read more...

Bahamas fiscal deficit under control though economy remains fragile

NASSAU , Bahamas: The Bahamian fiscal deficit narrowed in the first quarter of the 2003/2004 fiscal year by almost $40 million year-on-year, which according to the Minister of State for Finance, James Smith, was thanks to the government's prudent fiscal and monetary policies... read more...

US repatriates eight Cubans rescued from boat

MIAMI, USA (AFP): US authorities on Wednesday repatriated eight Cubans who tried to take a small boat to the Florida coast, the US Coast Guard said... read more...

TRAVEL NEWS

Queen Elizabeth II formally names Queen Mary 2

SOUTHAMPTON, England (AFP): Queen Elizabeth II formally named the Queen Mary 2, the world's biggest and grandest ocean liner, on Thursday... read more...

'My Jamaica' travel network formed

KINGSTON, Jamaica: My Jamaica is a network of diverse travel-related companies -- from hotels and restaurants to attractions, tour operators and guides -- that have joined forces to deliver a travel product targeted to the nature/culture/adventure traveler. With more than 70 members across the island, My Jamaica embraces the natural and cultural diversity that defines Jamaica... read more...

SPORTS NEWS

Harmison backs Jones to make West Indies trip

LONDON, England (AFP): Stephen Harmison said Thursday he had no doubt that potential new-ball partner Simon Jones could make it into England's tour squad for the West Indies... read more...