The Reuters Daily Briefing Friday, February 18, 2022 by Rossalyn Warren Hello Here’s what you need to know. Pro-Russian rebels accuse Ukrainian forces of new shelling Storm Eunice batters England and Ireland Trump is ordered to testify under oath. Today’s biggest stories

Militants of the self-proclaimed Luhansk People’s Republic walk in a trench at combat positions near the line of separation from the Ukrainian armed forces outside the settlement of Molodizhne (Molodezhnoye) in the Luhansk region, Ukraine February 17, 2022. REUTERS/Alexander Ermochenko WORLD Ukrainian government forces and pro-Russian rebels reported increased shelling in eastern Ukraine for a second straight day on Friday, an escalation that Washington and other Western allies say could form part of a Russian pretext to invade. Today, diplomatic efforts will continue when U.S. President Joe Biden hosts a call with the leaders of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Romania, Britain, the European Union and NATO. An Atlantic storm battered England and Ireland, with winds of up to 100 miles per hour. Millions of people were advised to stay at home in England and Ireland, while Britain’s weather office warned that Storm Eunice could sow significant disruption and danger to life. In the early hours of this morning, hundreds of people were rescued from a ferry that caught fire between Greece and Italy. The Greek coastguard said 239 passengers and 51 crew members were on board. There were no immediate reports of deaths or severe injuries, and the cause of fire was not immediately known. An Indian court has sentenced 38 Muslim men to death and ordered life in prison for 11 others for a series of bomb blasts in 2008 in the city of Ahmedabad that killed more than 50 people. Canadian police are poised to clear out hundreds of truck drivers from Ottawa who have staged a three-week-long protest against pandemic restrictions that has crippled the capital and prompted Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to assume emergency powers.

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump stands with his son Donald Trump Jr. (R) and daughter Ivanka Trump during a news conference in the lobby of Trump Tower in Manhattan, New York City, U.S., January 11, 2017. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson U.S. Former U.S. President Donald Trump and two of his adult children have been ordered by a New York judge to answer questions under oath in the state attorney general’s civil probe into their family company. Trump describes the order as part of a “Witch Hunt.” The FBI is launching a digital currency unit for blockchain analysis and virtual asset seizure. U.S. regulators under President Joe Biden have been ratcheting up their scrutiny of the crypto industry in the wake of a series of high-profile cyber attacks last year. Ransomware groups often demand their fees in bitcoin. A grand jury in Austin, Texas, has indicted several police officers for using excessive force during racial justice protests in 2020. The city of Austin also announced a total of $10 million in settlements with two people badly injured by beanbag rounds fired during those protests. A Colorado elections clerk has been sued after passing on voting data. The clerk copied data from voting machines, with the help of two men with ties to groups supporting the false conspiracy theory that the 2020 election was stolen from former Republican President Donald Trump. A New York state trooper who accused former Governor Andrew Cuomo of sexual harassment has sued Cuomo and a top aide, stating that she was subjected to discrimination and retaliation after making the allegations.

BUSINESS French luxury group Hermes said sales grew by 11% in the fourth quarter of 2021, a touch below market expectations, as self-imposed production caps meant the group could not keep up with demand for its prized handbags. Tesla has changed an advertisement about the driving range for its Model 3 in South Korea after an antitrust regulator found that the automaker exaggerated the specifications of its batteries. Australia’s New South Wales state has ordered employers of freelance delivery drivers such as Amazon.com to pay a minimum rate, a decision hailed by a union as making it the world’s first jurisdiction to compel the retailer to follow laws on such payments. A group representing publishers such as News Corp and National Public Radio wrote to leaders of the Senate Judiciary Committee to back two bills targeting Big Tech, including one that would open up smartphone app stores to more competition. The next head of the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration will face challenges overseeing Boeing and a series of reforms mandated by Congress in the wake of two fatal 737 MAX crashes. The best-selling airplane was grounded for 20 months after two crashes killed 346 people in the space of five months.

WINTER OLYMPICS See our full coverage of the Beijing Games

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Some migrants arrived from countries such as Afghanistan, Armenia, Canada, China, Ethiopia, Ghana, Italy, Pakistan, Somalia, Russia, Switzerland and Turkey.

The United States is putting pressure on Mexican and Central American nations to curb the flow of U.S.-bound migrants. Some Latin American countries have been imposing visa requirements on travelers from other countries. read more

The INM said it had identified 741 men and 322 women, as well as 203 minors coming mostly from Colombia, Cuba, Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador.

Mexican authorities identified 33 nationalities among the migrants intercepted.

The United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) said the number of nationalities of migrants crossing Mexico increased in January, and urged authorities to offer various schemes for their regularization in the country, in addition to asylum. read more

In recent years, the number of migrants fleeing violence, poverty and other problems in their home countries has skyrocketed, and many must wait up to a year in southern Mexico for permission from authorities to cross the nation without being detained before reaching the United States.

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The Hill- Former President Trump and his two eldest children must comply with the New York attorney general’s subpoenas for their testimony in an investigation into the family’s business practices, a New York state judge ruled on Thursday.

Judge Arthur Engoron denied the Trumps’ effort to quash the subpoenas, rejecting their arguments that New York Attorney General Letitia James (D) is conducting a politically motivated investigation that is depriving them of their constitutional rights.

“In the final analysis, a State Attorney General commences investigating a business entity, uncovers copious evidence of possible financial fraud, and wants to question, under oath, several of the entities’ principals, including its namesake. She has the clear right to do so,” Engoron wrote.

The judge dismissed Trump’s arguments that James’s various comments about the former president, including campaign vows to investigate him, undermine the legal basis for the investigation.
Engoron wrote in his eight-page ruling that his own “review of the thousands of documents responsive to OAG’s prior subpoenas demonstrates that OAG has a sufficient basis for continuing its investigation, which undercuts the notion that this ongoing investigation is based on personal animus, not fact and law,” referring to the Office of the Attorney General.

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“As has often been said, that a prosecutor dislikes someone does not prevent a prosecution,” the judge added.

He ordered Trump to comply with the subpoena within 14 days. Donald Trump Jr. and Ivanka Trump have 21 days to sit for a deposition.

James applauded the ruling on Thursday.

“Today, justice prevailed,” the state attorney general said in a statement. “Donald J. Trump, Donald Trump, Jr., and Ivanka Trump have been ordered by the court to comply with our lawful investigation into Mr. Trump and the Trump Organization’s financial dealings. No one will be permitted to stand in the way of the pursuit of justice, no matter how powerful they are. No one is above the law.”

Alina Habba, one of Trump’s attorneys, said in a statement that the ruling “confirmed what we’ve already known for some time – Donald J. Trump cannot get a fair ruling in the State of New York.”

“The abhorrent statements made by Letitia leave no doubt that this is yet another politically motivated witch-hunt,” Habba continued. “It is disappointing that the Judge overlooked her egregious prosecutorial misconduct and has allowed her investigation – which blatantly violates the US Constitution – to continue undeterred. The court clearly had its mind made up and had no interest in engaging in impartial discourse on this critically important issue.”

James’s office revealed last month that it had uncovered “significant” evidence that the Trump Organization has for years been falsifying the value of its assets for financial gain, including to win tax breaks and attract investors.

That revelation came as Trump fought to block her efforts in both state and federal court, while painting the investigation as a political witch hunt in the media.

Trump’s accounting firm, Mazars, said in a letter sent to the former president’s company last week that it could no longer vouch for the business’s financial statements for the past decade given the revelations from the attorney general’s investigation.

The Trump Organization responded to the news with a statement saying that Mazars’ review of the financial statements proved that James’s civil investigation and the Manhattan district attorney’s criminal investigation were both unnecessary.

“While we are disappointed that Mazars has chosen to part ways, their February 9, 2022 letter confirms that after conducting a subsequent review of all prior statements of financial condition, Mazars’ work was performed in accordance with all applicable accounting standards and principles and that such statements of financial condition do not contain any material discrepancies,” the statement said. “This confirmation effectively renders the investigations by the DA and AG moot.”

In his ruling on Thursday, Engoron took aim at the company for releasing that statement.

“To proclaim that the Mazars’ red-flag warning that the Trump financial statements are unreliable suddenly renders the OAG’s longstanding investigation moot is as audacious as it is preposterous,” the judge wrote.

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NIA CHARLESTOWN NEVIS (February 17, 2022) — The following is an announcement from the Ministry of Human Resource in the Nevis Island Administration (NIA).

The Nevis Electricity Company Limited (NEVLEC) invites interested persons to apply for the Cedric Armbrister Scholarship in Electrical or Mechanical Engineering at the University of the West Indies (UWI). 

The scholarship is only tenable at the University of the West Indies and will only be awarded for Mechanical Engineering or Electrical Engineering studies. Scholarship awardees are given a sum of US$10,000.00 per annum.

This scholarship is open to any individual who meets the following criteria:

–       Birth Certificate or Certificate of Citizenship – must be a Nevisian by birth or citizenship

–       University Acceptance Letter

–       Certificates of qualifications; and

–       High School and College Transcripts

Kindly note that candidates will be shortlisted taking into consideration their commitment to continuous learning (consistent outstanding academic performance), as well as demonstration of a balanced approach to academics and extracurricular activities.

As part of the selection process, shortlisted applicants will also be interviewed.

Scholarship awardees will be required to provide two (2) guarantors in order to fulfil bonding obligations with NEVLEC. Furthermore, awardees must commit to working at NEVLEC for a period of three (3) years immediately following completion of studies.

To apply, persons should visit the NEVLEC website https://www.nevlec.com/get-us10000-00-per-annum-with-a-cedric-armbrister-scholarship-apply-now/ to retrieve an Application Form.

Completed applications must be received by Monday, May 16, 2022.

Kindly address applications to Mrs. Curleane Liburd, Human Resources Manager, NEVLEC, Valu-Mart Complex, Long Point Road, Nevis.

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NIA CHARLESTOWN NEVIS (January 20, 2022) — Hon. Mark Brantley, Premier of Nevis will host his monthly press conference on Thursday February 24, 2022, at 10:00 a.m. at the Nevis Island Administration’s (NIA) Cabinet Room located on the 2nd Floor of the Social Security Building at Pinney’s Estate.

During the press conference, Premier Brantley will provide updates on matters of national interest. Members of the press will have the opportunity to field questions.

The event will be broadcast live on the Nevis Island Administration’s Nevis Television (NTv) Channel 99, NevisTvOnline.com, NTv Go App, Nevis Television Facebook page and Nevis Newscast YouTube channel. It will also be available on Voice of Nevis (VON) Radio, Freedom FM and WINN FM.

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US upping vaccine help for African countries

 

© Associated Press/Matt Rourke

The Biden administration is increasing support for COVID-19 vaccinations to 11 countries in sub-Saharan Africa as part of a broader effort to boost vaccination rates.

The effort from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) will focus on getting shots into arms in Angola, Côte d’Ivoire, Eswatini, Ghana, Lesotho, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia.

Experts have urged more action on global vaccinations both for humanitarian reasons and even for the self-interest of wealthier countries like the United States, given that new variants of the virus can develop anywhere and end up threatening the whole world.

The surge in support, which was first reported by The Washington Post, comes as part of a broader effort, called the Initiative for Global Vaccine Access, that was announced in December with $315 million for vaccine delivery.

Will White House ask for more funding? Some advocates and Democrats in Congress have been urging the Biden administration to step up its efforts to vaccinate the world, including with support for $17 billion in additional funding for global vaccination efforts, as well as moves to share the know-how for making vaccines and to ramp up manufacturing.

It remains unclear whether the Biden administration will request more funding for global vaccinations from Congress, after officials signaled a need for $30 billion more in funds focused on domestic needs earlier this week.

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WHO: DECLINE IN NEW COVID-19 CASES COULD BE TIED TO DROP IN TESTING

A World Health Organization (WHO) epidemiologist said this week that the drop in new COVID-19 cases may in part be a result of changing testing rates and advised people to be cautious before celebrating downward trends.

“If you look at the overall epidemic curve, there are fewer cases that were reported in the last week than were in the previous week, but we need to look at this very carefully,” Maria Van Kerkhove, technical lead for the WHO’s COVID-19 response team, said during a live Q&A on Wednesday.

Kerkhove noted many countries have dropped testing requirements, and called it a concerning development due to the “intense level” of viral circulation that is still occurring.

Kerkhove said that while recent trends are “certainly” going in the right direction, there are still many cases that are going unreported. Apart from new coronavirus cases, Kerkhove said the continuing increase in COVID-19-related deaths is now a larger concern while noting that death rates are varying in different part of the world.

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Covid: UK NHS bosses call for free tests and isolation to remain

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NIA CHARLESTOWN NEVIS (February 16, 2022) – Mr. Elvin Bailey, Supervisor of Elections for St. Kitts and Nevis, has informed that hearings for objections to persons on the Annual Register of Voters for 2022 are being scheduled to begin late in March.

 “We will make a concerted effort to contact all the persons objected as we have done in previous years. Natural justice demands that we do so. It is a pre-active and proactive act to protect us from persons later arguing ignorance in Court.

  “When the Registration Officers hear the cases, like all good court officers, they will rely on evidence, not information. After all, it is a magisterial exercise. Therefore, it is insufficient for an objector to merely state that a person does not live where they are registered as residing; the objector must bring evidence, under oath or affidavits, that they do not live where they said; as well as evidence that they reside somewhere else. This is according to the [National Assembly Elections] Act, buttressed by case law,” he explained.

The Annual Register of Voters for 2022, published on January 31, 2022, lists persons on St. Kitts and Nevis who were registered to vote up until November 30, 2021.

 At the end of the objection period, there was a total of 590 objections for the eight constituencies on St. Kitts; 527 of those are being challenged as deceased. On Nevis there were 401 objections over three constituencies; 114 are challenged as being deceased.

“Dead persons will only be removed on documentation from the competent authority, the Registrar of Deaths,” Mr. Bailey stated.  “Alternately, a death certificate must be produced, but we are flexible and will accept a funerary programme. Note well that the burden of proof is on the objector.”

 He went on to inform that incomplete or incorrect objections will not be processed, outlining the parameters by which objections are deemed valid.

 “An objection must be based on the correct Constituency and polling division. Names being objected to must appear on the 2022 Register. Departure from the Federation in and of itself is not grounds for removal of names from the Voters List, not even for Commonwealth citizens. For registrants who never lived here but who are citizens by descent from parents or grandparents, the objector must prove that the address is not the address from which the parent or grandparent emigrated.”

  

Additionally the Elections Supervisor pointed out that by a recent amendment to the Act, persons whose address has changed have a six-month grace period to amend their information before they become “illegally” registered.

The Act does not allow any amendment to an objection after the period for objections has passed, he stressed, therefore objections that are based on incorrect information, and any that are received after the due date will not be deliberated upon.

 

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NEW YORK — After months of speculation and allegations that he played a role in the assassination of Haiti’s late president Jovenel Moïse, interim Prime Minister Ariel Henry has denied involvement.

“What I know is that I have not been part of that plot of the assassination of the president and I’m looking for justice to be done,” Henry said, in an exclusive interview with The Miami Herald.

For months, political opponents and some observers have alleged Henry was involved in either the plot or its aftermath. Last week, a recorded conversation emerged of Garry Orelien, the former judge leading the assassination inquiry, saying the prime minister helped coordinate the assassination.

Since then, multiple government officials, including Henry himself, have denied the allegations that Henry played a role in the July 7 assassination.

The attempts to accuse Henry are “desperate maneuvers” to thwart the ongoing investigation, Foreign Affairs Minister Jean Victor Geneus said in a diplomatic letter dated Feb. 10.

Henry’s connection to the assassination stems from a Haitian police investigative report, which found that suspect and fugitive Joseph Felix Badio, who used to work in intelligence for Haiti’s justice ministry, called Henry twice in the wee hours of the morning after the murder took place.

Henry said in the Herald interview that he does not remember talking to Badio and that he had no knowledge of the assassination plot. “Those who are involved have to be captured,” he said, calling for justice.

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