Former Soviet Leader Mikhail Gorbachev Dies At 91 – St. Lucia Times News

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Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: St. Lucia Times News

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Former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev has died aged 91.

Mr Gorbachev, who took over in 1985, is best known for opening up the USSR and for his rapprochement with the West, but he was unable to prevent his country collapsing in 1991.

Many Russians blame him and his reformist policies for the country’s demise.

The hospital where he died said he had been suffering from a long and serious illness.

Mr Gorbachev became general secretary of the Soviet Communist Party, and de facto leader of the country, at the age of 54.

He was at the time the youngest member of the ruling council known as the Politburo, and was seen as a breath of fresh air after several ageing leaders.

His policy of glasnost, or openness, allowed people to criticise the government in a way which had been previously unthinkable.

But it also unleashed nationalist sentiments in many regions of the country which eventually led to its collapse.

Internationally he reached arms control deals with the US and refused to intervene when eastern European nations rose up against their Communist rulers.

He is seen in the West as an architect of reform who created the conditions for the end of the Cold War.

He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1990 “for the leading role he played in the radical changes in East-West relations”.

But in the new Russia that emerged after 1991 he has been on the fringes of politics, focusing on educational and humanitarian projects.

He made one ill-fated attempt to return to political life in 1996, receiving just 0.5% of the vote in presidential elections.

In recent years his health has been in decline and he has been in and out of hospital.

He will be buried in Moscow’s Novodevichy cemetery, the resting place of many prominent Russians, next to his wife Raisa who died in 1999, Tass news agency said.

SOURCE: BBC News

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QEH puts to bed unwarranted panic over 6 moved elective surgeries Loop Barbados

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Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: Barbados News

The Board of Management of Queen Elizabeth Hospital is assuring the public that the Department of Surgery continues to provide the full range of surgical services to the people of Barbados.

This response comes after an article in a section of the media caused some panic amongst citizens about the operations at the QEH as it pertains to elective surgeries and the importance placed upon such.

In an effort to help appease and calm persons especially those awaiting such surgeries, and to remotivate the staff who are diligently carrying out their duties on a day-to-day basis, the QEH explained in a release that however, there are instances when elective surgeries are temporarily postponed due to an excessively high utilization rate for the hospital’s 519 inpatient beds. The most recent example of this occurred on Monday, August 22, when the hospital’s acting Director of Medical Services made a strategic decision to temporarily postpone elective surgeries scheduled for Tuesday, August 23, due to the hospital’s high-bed occupancy. This decision resulted in the rescheduling of six elective cases, and arrangements were immediately put in place to facilitate these elective procedures between Wednesday, August 24, and Saturday, August 27. As such there was no protracted postponement of elective surgeries as was reported in the media.

And the hospital reminded or educated those who are unaware of the full procedure, that “It should be noted that after surgery, in-patient beds are required for patients to fully recover.

“[Therefore,] It would be irresponsible to admit patients for elective surgery when the in-patient bed occupancy rate remains extremely high. Therefore, priority is given to emergency procedures as persons awaiting elective surgery can be safely accommodated at a later date.”

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MTWW adds 4 signs to stop accidents at Mangrove junction Loop Barbados

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Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: Barbados News

Taking into account the recent spate of accidents at Mangrove junction in St Philip, the Ministry of Transport, Works and Water Resources will be erecting a four-way traffic stop at that location, tonight, Tuesday, August 30.

‘Reduce speed signs’ and ‘stop signs’ will be installed at Mangrove Main Road, which is the Four Roads to Airport stretch of the road. Previously, stop signs and reduce speed signs were only placed along the two minor roads at Mangrove and Market Road.

This comes after dashcam footage from a vehicle over the weekend showed a driver along the minor road failing to stop, but instead using a rolling stop technique which resulted in a major smash. According to police reports, despite the look of the accident on video, injuries sustained by those involved were minor.

Deputy Chief Technical Officer (Operations) Philip Tudor said in an effort to improve safety at this location, a decision was taken to install a four-way traffic stop. He said a similar four-way traffic stop had been erected successfully at a junction in the Ivy, St Michael where a number of car accidents had occurred.

Motorists are urged to approach all four legs of the Mangrove junction with caution and to pay close attention to the newly erected signage.

The Ministry thanks the public for its cooperation and encourages all road users to be safe on the road.

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Une infectiologue martiniquaise veut lancer une application pour avertir en cas d’IST

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Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: Martinique FranceAntilles

Une application pour avertir ses partenaires en cas d’Infection Sexuellement Transmissible, c’est l’idée qu’Olivia Son, infectiologue martiniquaise de 38 ans, veut concrétiser.

KYSS ou Know Your StatuS (connaissez votre statut, en français), est une application pour avertir anonymement et gratuitement ses partenaires en cas d’Infections Sexuellement Transmissibles.

À la tête du projet, Olivia Son, infectiologue martiniquaise de 38 ans. Issue d’une famille de soignants, son père, Harry Son est médecin généraliste ayant longtemps tenu un cabinet à Basse-Pointe, et sa mère, Josiane Son, à l’origine de la création de la maison de retraite familiale : Maminou à la Jambette.

Olivia Son, infectiologue martiniquaise.

– Olivia Son

La jeune femme a quitté la Martinique il y a 20 ans pour suivre son cursus de médecine générale à Paris, puis se spécialiser en infectiologie. Elle exerce en tant que praticienne hospitalière contractuelle au Centre Hospitalier Sud-Francilien – Corbeil-Essonnes  au service des maladies infectieuses et tropicales et dans son cabinet à Paris. L’essentiel de son activité s’oriente vers des personnes sous PrEP (stratégie de prévention du VIH), personnes vivant avec le VIH ou présentant des symptômes ou de personnes venant faire un point dépistage.

C’est lors de discussions avec ses patients qui évoquent leurs relations d’un soir et la volonté de leur signaler une possible infection, qu’elle s’est intéressée au sujet. Il existe à ce jour des sites permettant l’envoi de SMS anonymes à une personne dans ce but, encore faut-il avoir le numéro de téléphone de l’intéressé.

À l’issue des trois mois d’enquête menée par l’infectiologue, 97% des personnes interrogées déclarent être  favorables à la mise en place d’une application permettant d’avertir ses partenaires en cas d’infection.  96%  d’entre elles confient ne pas connaitre l’existence d’outils similaires.

Une application à la recherche de financements

Olivia Son a alors l’idée de lancer une application simple d’utilisation : notifier ses précédents partenaires de l’exposition à une IST. L’application fonctionnerait tout en préservant l’anonymat et les données personnelles des utilisateurs. Un numéro aléatoire serait attribué à un utilisateur au téléchargement de l’application.

Un QR code serait ensuite généré aléatoirement à chaque ouverture de l’application  pour l’échanger avec son partenaire de l’instant. Chaque code est donc différent et à usage unique, rendant le traçage d’un profil plus compliqué.

Le QR code serait stocké durant 6 semaines consécutives dans l’application avant d’être automatiquement supprimé, rendant possible la notification d’une IST à tous ses partenaires des 6 dernières semaines. Une fonctionnalité serait également prévue pour les soirées privées ou les relations en groupe. L’organisateur aurait la possibilité d’imprimer un QR code à scanner à l’entrée afin que chaque participant puisse envoyer une notification à un groupe entier sans effectuer plusieurs actions.

Sauf que pour l’heure, elle n’a pas le financement nécessaire pour lancer une telle application. Le devis pour le développement de cette dernière s’élève à 36 000 euros.

Olivia Son espère atteindre cette somme par le crowdfunding sur une plateforme en ligne. Pour le moment, avec 47 contributions, KYSS a récolté 2 450?€. La fondatrice espère rapidement atteindre la somme.

À l’heure où la variole du singe (Monkeypox) se répand et la chlamydia gonocoque et syphilis persistent, l’existence d’une telle application est jugée « urgente » par la fondatrice. 

Évolution du nombre de gonococcies selon l’orientation sexuelle.

– Santé Publique France

Taux de dépistage des infections à Chlamydia trachomatis en secteur privé.

– Santé Publique France

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La 15ème édition du Festival Martinique Gourmande à partir du 30 août au Canada

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Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: Martinique FranceAntilles

Du 30 août au 10 septembre 2022 aura lieu le Festival culinaire et solidaire Martinique Gourmande au Québec (Canada), à l’initiative du Comité Martiniquais du Tourisme.

Le festival culinaire de la Martinique au Québec revient pour sa quinzième édition du 30 août au 10 septembre 2022. Le thème De cette année est : « De l’assiette au Voyage ». Ce festival a été créé il y a 15 ans par le Comité Martiniquais du Tourisme et promeut la destination Martinique via sa gastronomie. Cette année, c’est le grand retour en présentiel de ce rendez-vous du mois de septembre, et les objectifs affichés sont nombreux. À travers cette édition, le CMT compte bien reconquérir le marché québécois, promouvoir la culture martiniquaise, son authenticité et ses traditions culinaires, promouvoir Occupation Double (émission de téléréalité canadienne dans laquelle des martiniquais participent), faire preuve de solidarité et de partage envers les Québécois.e.s, en leur proposant un événement sécuritaire et convivial pour se ressourcer, offrir une vitrine de choix pour les partenaires du CMT et les médias et affirmer le positionnement de la Martinique sur la niche gastronomie et Grands Rhums.

Plusieurs actions seront menées à travers Montréal et le Québec, le programme est le suivant :

– 30 Août : Lunch Conférence de presse au Château Frontenac, 4 Mains avec Jérémie Jean-Baptiste

– 30 Août : 5 à 7 Agents de voyage au Château Frontenac

– 1er Septembre : Souper Prestige au Sofitel , 4 mains avec Nathanaël Ducteil

– 3-4 Septembre : Marché Créole: 15 stands, compétition de mixologie, ateliers de cuisine pour enfants, vente de plats martiniquais, compétition de dominos, concours de création florale, cours de zouk, Dj martiniquais, etc.

– 6-7-8 Septembre : Souper à 4 mains dans les restaurants participants, masterclass, ateliers, avec les Chefs de Martinique.

Une délégation menée par la Présidente du Comité Martiniquais du Tourisme, Madame Bénédicte di Géronimo se rendra à Montréal ce week-end. Elle intégrera 5 chefs cuisiniers de la Martinique ainsi que le vainqueur des « Talents de la Martinique », William Grand.

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Three men charged for burglaries, 30 August Loop Cayman Islands

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Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: Cayman Compass

The Royal Cayman Islands Police Service (RCIPS) reported that three men appeared before the court this week, after being arrested over this past weekend, in relation to burglary incidents that took place this month, August, 2022.

Saturday arrests

On Saturday, August 27, a 48-year-old man of George Town was arrested in relation to a burglary incident that took place at a business on Shedden Road in George Town. The man has since been formally charged with Burglary and Failing to Provide a Specimen of Urine. He appeared in court yesterday, Monday, August 29, where he was remanded until September 6.

On the same day, the RCIPS responded to a report of a burglary that took place at a business located on North Church Street in George Town. While in attendance, the officers were provided with a description of the burglar and made checks in the surrounding areas. A 45-year-old Cuban National was located a short distance from the scene of the burglary and subsequently arrested on suspicion of burglary. The man appeared in court yesterday, Monday, August 29 and was also remanded until August 31.

Sunday arrests

A third man, age 22, of George Town, was arrested on Sunday, August 28, in relation to three separate burglary incidents that took place at a business in George Town on August 15, August 20 and August 28.

On Sunday, August 28, police arrived at the location and the man fled on their arrival. Officers apprehended the man after a short foot pursuit and he was arrested on suspicion of burglary.

The 22-year-old-man of George Town has since been formally charged with three counts of Burglary. He is expected to appear in court today, August 30.

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Hylton wants gov’t to do more for small businesses Loop Jamaica

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Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: Jamaica News Loop News

Opposition Spokesperson on Industry, Investment and Global Logistics Anthony Hylton is calling on the government to do more to assist the struggling micro small and medium enterprises (MSME) sector.

Consumer and business confidence fell recently and pollster Don Anderson said some consumers and business operators are bracing for continued difficult economic conditions — expressing a lack of confidence in overall growth over the next 12 months.

Against this backdrop, Hylton outlined in a statement that the so-called business-unfriendly environment — increased interest rate, high energy prices and tightening access to capital in the wake of the global pandemic — has rendered a large segment of the MSME sector failing or struggling to survive.

According to Hylton, there is evidence that indicates that some 40 per cent of the MSME businesses have either been teetering on bankruptcy or have already shuttered their businesses as the temporary measures put in place during the pandemic by government and financial institutions are coming to or have already ended.

“The environment has turned even more hostile for the majority of MSME businesses which were already reeling from the effects of COVID-19 and supply disruption, only to be hit by these increases and the threat of decreased demand for their goods and services,” Hylton said.

The former commerce minister noted that the situation is further exacerbated by the fact that the Insolvency Act 2014 has neither been promoted in the sector nor reviewed by the current administration, as required by law. The Act was put in place by the PNP Administration to protect firms from becoming bankrupt once they were able to come to an agreement with their creditors.

“The result has been that many firms/entrepreneurs are unaware of the opportunity to put forward proposals to their creditors to save their businesses and livelihoods and to avoid liquidation,” Hylton said.

The Opposition Spokesperson is therefore calling on the government to act now to save these struggling businesses and the many jobs they provide.

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GraceKennedy to acquire Scotia Insurance Caribbean Loop Jamaica

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Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: Jamaica News Loop News

GraceKennedy (GK) is set to acquire 100 per cent of Scotia Insurance Caribbean Limited (SICL). The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions.

The announcement of the impending acquisition comes exactly one year after GK acquired another Bank of Nova Scotia subsidiary, Scotia Insurance Eastern Caribbean Limited (SIECL). The business was subsequently rebranded as GK Life Insurance Eastern Caribbean Limited (GK Life).

Scotia Insurance Caribbean is a licensed life insurance company. It offers credit protection to customers on personal loans, residential mortgages, personal lines of credit, personal and small business credit cards to customers in Barbados, Belize, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands and Turks & Caicos Islands.

GK Group CEO Don Wehby said the acquisition of SICL is another step in GK fulfilling its strategy to grow its insurance business in the Caribbean and expand the footprint of the GF Financial Group in the region.

“Along with last year’s acquisition of SIECL, the addition of SICL, and the five territories where it operates, will mean that we have expanded GK’s life insurance business to a total of 13 markets in less than two years,” Wehby said.

Wehby further noted that GraceKennedy would continue to pursue mergers and acquisitions as the key strategic driver of growth for GraceKennedy Group.

“Our M&A Unit is in discussions regarding M&A transactions locally and internationally, and we are looking forward to what the future has in store,” he disclosed.

Since 2019 GraceKennedy has steadily been strengthening its presence in the insurance market. Among the acquisitions were Key Insurance in 2020 and SIECL in 2021. In 2019 the company also entered a joint venture partnership with Musson Jamaica to launch Canopy Insurance.

Steven Whittingham, Deputy CEO of the GK Financial Group with direct responsibility for the insurance segment commented:” We are looking forward to further building out GK’s life insurance business with the addition of SICL and to serving our customers in these new markets. We are well-positioned to establish GK as a major pan-Caribbean insurer.”

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PAHO calls on businesses to re-energise immunisation drive Loop Jamaica

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Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: Jamaica News Loop News

Ian Stein, Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO)/World Health Organisation (WHO) Representative to Jamaica, Bermuda and the Cayman Islands is calling on business leaders to re-energise the country’s commitment to immunisation, one of the most cost-effective public health interventions.

He gave the charge to business leaders at the Rotary Club of Kingston recently, in response to the downward trends in routine vaccination and the substantial risks associated with this trajectory.

“We have seen a resurgence of the polio virus in Malawi, London and New York. With falling vaccination rates and large numbers of children at risk of contracting the disease, we are backpedalling on decades of tremendous work which resulted in the certified elimination of the virus in Latin America and the Caribbean in 1994,” cautioned Stein.

In 2019, the Pan American Health Organisation celebrated 25 years of the Americas being polio-free. In response to the recent identification of a case of polio in an unvaccinated individual in New York, PAHO/WHO has encouraged member states to maintain and strengthen surveillance for the detection of cases and increase efforts to achieve the necessary high levels of vaccination coverage.

Stein also encouraged the business community to advocate for adopting measures to combat NCDs and support local policy development.

“NCDs impact individuals, families, businesses, and society in general. While some may not see the impact of NCDs on businesses, I assure you that human resource departments note the increased use of health insurance by employees which results in increased premiums and, requests for time off to do surgical procedures associated with NCDs,” said Stein.

He continued, “When we consider that 80 per cent of all deaths in Jamaica are from non-communicable diseases and the return on investment is 2.1 dollars for every dollar invested, then debates on matters such as front of package labelling standards, the proposed tobacco control legislation and school nutrition are opportunities for advocacy.”

Cardiovascular diseases such as coronary heart disease and stroke, cancers, chronic respiratory diseases and diabetes are the leading causes of death in Jamaica and the region.

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Longdenville double homicide victims from Belmont

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Black Immigrant Daily News

The content originally appeared on: Trinidad and Tobago Newsday

News

Bradley “Ronnie” Benn – Photo courtesy social media

The two men shot dead in Longdenville, Chaguanas, on Saturday have been identified.

Police named them as Bradley “Ronnie” Benn and Nathan Griffith, both from Belmont.

At around 5.15am on Saturday, residents of Ravine Sable heard multiple gunshots and called the police. An unknown silver car was seen leaving the area.

The police found the bodies with gunshot wounds to their heads.

One was wearing a vest and boxer shorts and the other only boxers.

At the time, the men were unidentified, and Central Division police said they were not from the area.

Insp Jones, Sgts Elvin and Bridgemohan, Cpl Mendoza, PCs Griffith, Jaggessar and other police from the Homicide Bureau Region III spoke to several people and gathered evidence.

On Tuesday, the police confirmed that relatives later identified the bodies.

Bradley worked as a driver with TCM Ltd, a police report said.

The police were still gathering information on the victims.

Autopsies are set for Friday at the Forensic Sciences Centre in St James.

No one has been arrested, and Sgt Elvin is leading investigations.

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