Czech Republic

Saba Rock opens doors

admin — Sat, 11 Dec 2021 11:10:01 +0000

Saba Rock opens doors

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admin Sat, 12/11/2021 - 11:10

Friday, October 22, 2021

Original Publisher

Business – The BVI Beacon

Original Article

Saba Rock opens doors

Saba Rock Resort has been through more than a few storms since the 1960s, when scuba diver and treasure hunter Herbert “Bert” Kilbride used it as his laid-back North Sound hideaway, attracting sailors, divers and other travellers who still remember it fondly.

In the past four years, the storied property was totalled by hurricanes Irma and Maria, faced the challenges of rebuilding during a pandemic, and mourned the death earlier this year of one of its owners, Czech billionaire Petr Kellner.

But on Friday, General Manager Alain Prion officially threw open the resort’s doors following a ribbon-cutting ceremony in front of more than 100 guests, including VI government and tourism officials, hospitality partners, and other residents.

“The reopening of Saba Rock is a great day of pride for everyone involved in its rebuilding and transformation process,” Mr. Prion said.

“The new Saba Rock experience is a true reflection of our destination that celebrates our storied past and the lifestyle that attracts visitors from all over the world.”

Design

Czech-based ADR Architects was brought in to create a sturdy design concept that can withstand future storms while keeping “the fun-loving vibe and charm that Saba Rock was known for,” according to a press
release from the resort.

The release added that the offerings now include seven guestrooms and two suites, an open-air main restaurant, a lounge, two bars including a
rooftop sunset bar, a spa room, and a retail space that also serves as a museum with artefacts from nearby shipwrecks.

Saba Rock’s daily tarpon feedings are also back, alongside new
and returning activities like diving, snorkelling, standup paddleboarding, waterfront yoga, kiteboarding, and glass-bottom boat tours, according to the resort.

Premier Andrew Fahie was among the dignitaries who spoke at the opening.

“Saba Rock really lights up the North Sound and lights up our tourism product,” he said.

“This project brings hope that tourism is back on the rise in the BVI and that the economy of the BVI will start coming back stronger than ever.

This is not just the reopening of Saba Rock; this is ensuring that we plant a rock steady and firm in the middle of our economy.”

‘Bottom-up’ rebuild

In November 2020, Mr. Prion, who joined the team in 2019, told the Beacon that Irma had totally devastated the island, and that the resort had to rebuild “from the bottom up.”

“People are really, really excited about the reopening, and we want to keep that excitement going and we want to keep that vibe,” Mr. Prion told the Beacon.

He also said at the time that the resort was purchased after Irma from its second owners, the McManus family, by Mr. Kellner and VI developer Doug Riegels — who also spearheaded the post-hurricane revitalisations of properties including Nail Bay Sports Club, Anegada Beach Club, and De Loose Mongoose.

Mr. Kellner died in a helicopter crash in Alaska in March.

The resort is offering roundtrip ferry transfers from Gun Creek and Leverick Bay, with nightly rates starting at $750.

The post Saba Rock opens doors appeared first on The BVI Beacon.

Caribbean

Business

KPMG the ‘clear choice’ for excellent service

admin — Sat, 09 Oct 2021 17:10:01 +0000

KPMG the ‘clear choice’ for excellent service

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admin Sat, 10/09/2021 - 17:10

Thursday, September 30, 2021

Original Publisher

Business – Barbados Today

Original Article

KPMG the ‘clear choice’ for excellent service

Professional services firm KPMG has announced some changes in leadership within its Barbados and Eastern Caribbean operation. In a release, the organisation said it retained many of its long-time partners – Baldwin Alcindor, Lisa Brathwaite and Christopher Brome.

“Jan Martinek and Grant McDonald, partners who have most recently joined, are highly qualified to lead our Audit and Tax and service lines, respectively, with over 65 years of combined experience serving KPMG clients around the world.

“Managing partner Grant McDonald joins KPMG Barbados and Eastern Caribbean with over 39 years’ experience at KPMG in Canada and the United States. He is also a Corporate and International Tax Partner, serving both multinational and enterprise clients with tax compliance and planning matters.

He spent the past 10 years as Managing Partner of the Ottawa, Canada office of KPMG and over his career has served clients in a variety of industries including industrial manufacturing, technology, financial services, real estate, and government.”

Meanwhile, Alcindor, audit partner in St Lucia, has a wide range of experience in providing audit services in the Caribbean, US and Offshore Industry. He has been engaged on assignments across a diverse number of industries and business sectors including the International Financial Services (Offshore) Sector, banking, Asset Management, commercial banking, insurance, credit unions, manufacturing and retail, universities and other tertiary education institutions, finance, and hospitality.

Lisa Brathwaite, the audit partner responsible for Antigua and Barbuda, works primarily in the financial services sector but has also worked on entities in various other sectors. Working on these varied audit engagements and being actively involved in the research of specific engagement issues, has enabled Lisa to acquire a solid working knowledge of international financial reporting standards (IFRS).

Martinek, the head of Audit, first joined KPMG in 1992 and became a partner in Prague in 1999. After 20 years in the Czech Republic, he moved to Barbados and subsequently Vietnam. He worked as a mergers and acquisition director from 2016 until 2019, rejoining KPMG BEC in February 2020.

Chris Brome, who leads the advisory practice, is a partner with over 22 years of experience with KPMG in Barbados, the Eastern Caribbean and Canada. He is an experienced business leader with experience in strategic management, financial management and financial negotiations, corporate finance and complex valuations.

He brings a wealth of technical experience gained within a wide range of industries that include governmental institutions, insurance, banking, manufacturing, construction, telecommunications,
retail, hospitality, tourism and leisure, oil and gas and not-for-profit organisations. The firm also announced the departure of partners Carol Nicholls and Michael Edghill, who will be leaving KPMG on September 30, 2021, after a combined 80 years of service.

Nicholls joined the firm in 1980, and was admitted to the partnership in 1994. She held the office of managing partner from 2004 to 2017, and has the distinction of being the first female managing partner in a Big 4 firm in Barbados. She was appointed senior partner in 2017.

In her years with KPMG Nicholls also served in the roles of head of audit, professional development partner, professional practice partner, risk management partner and independence and ethics partner. She is also a former chairperson of KPMG Caricom.

Meanwhile, Edghill joined the Firm in 1982 and was promoted to manager in 1990, senior manager in 1992 and partner in 1997. During his tenure with KPMG he served as the statistical audit specialist, head of audit and leader of the financial services sector within the firm. Edghill is also an accredited IFRS reviewing partner. (PR)

The post KPMG the ‘clear choice’ for excellent service appeared first on Barbados Today.

Caribbean

Business

Offshore havens and hidden riches of world leaders and billionaires exposed in unprecedented leak

admin — Mon, 04 Oct 2021 16:00:01 +0000

Offshore havens and hidden riches of world leaders and billionaires exposed in unprecedented leak

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admin Mon, 10/04/2021 - 16:00

Sunday, October 3, 2021

Original Publisher

Every corner of the world

The Pandora Papers investigation unmasks the covert owners of offshore companies, incognito bank accounts, private jets, yachts, mansions, even artworks by Picasso, Banksy and other masters – providing more information than what’s usually available to law enforcement agencies and cash-strapped governments.

People linked by the secret documents to offshore assets include India’s cricket superstar Sachin Tendulkar, pop music diva Shakira, supermodel Claudia Schiffer and an Italian mobster known as “Lell the Fat One.”

The mobster, Raffaele Amato, has been tied to at least a dozen killings. The documents provide details about a shell company, registered in the United Kingdom, that Amato used to buy land in Spain, shortly before fleeing there from Italy to set up his own crime gang. Amato, whose history helped inspire the highly praised movie “Gomorrah,” is serving a 20-year prison sentence.

Amato’s attorney did not respond to ICIJ’s request for comment.

Tendulkar’s attorney said the cricket player’s investment is legitimate and has been declared to tax authorities. Shakira’s attorney said the singer declared her companies, which the attorney said do not provide tax advantages. Schiffer’s representatives said the supermodel correctly pays her taxes in the U.K., where she lives.

In most countries, it’s not illegal to have assets offshore or to use shell companies to do business across national borders. Businesspeople who operate internationally say they need offshore companies to conduct their financial affairs.

Africa

News

LFA Congratulates Murphy Dorley For First League Goal

admin — Thu, 25 Feb 2021 04:30:01 +0000

LFA Congratulates Murphy Dorley For First League Goal

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admin Thu, 02/25/2021 - 04:30

Thursday, February 25, 2021

Original Publisher

The News Newspaper

Original Article

LFA Congratulates Murphy Dorley For First League Goal

Liberia Football Association has congratulated young Liberian attacking midfielder Murphy Oscar Dorley for his first league goal of the season.

Dorley scored his first goal for Slavia Prague that was held to a 1-1 draw away to Teplice in the Czech Liga I at the AGC Arena Na Stinadlech.

The midfielder scored in the 43rd minute but Jakub Mares ensured the spoils will be shared in the 64th minute.

It was his fourth goal in the Czech Liga, having scored three for Slovan Liberec from 2017 to 2020.

Dorley has featured in 15 of Slavia’s 20 league games and in five of their last six Europa League games.

Next up for Dorley and Slavia is a Europa League last-32 second leg against Leicester City at the King Power Stadium at 20:00GMT in England on 25 February.

Dorley was an unused substitute during a goalless draw in the first leg at the Sinobo Stadium in Prague on 18 February. The Liberia Football Association (LFA) wishes Dorley and teammates all the best.

The post LFA Congratulates Murphy Dorley For First League Goal appeared first on The News Newspaper.

Africa

News

TikTok unveiled as EURO 2020 sponsor

admin — Sat, 13 Feb 2021 08:20:01 +0000

TikTok unveiled as EURO 2020 sponsor

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admin Sat, 02/13/2021 - 08:20

Saturday, February 13, 2021

Original Publisher

Nairobi News

Original Article

TikTok unveiled as EURO 2020 sponsor

Short-form mobile video app TikTok has agreed to be the Global Sponsor of UEFA EURO 2020. It is the first time a digital entertainment platform has sponsored a major football tournament in Europe and both parties have announced the partnership represents an exciting step for both TikTok and UEFA. Through its partnership with UEFA, TikTok is looking to cement its reputation as the home for football fans to share their passion for the game. As an official partner, TikTok will provide a place where fans can follow their favourite football content creators, share the best TikTok football content, and create their own special moments, reactions, and celebrations around the tournament. "TikTok is fast becoming a place where people can enjoy a new type of experience for the beautiful game, as more and more football organisations, teams and players jump on our platform to engage directly with fans. We're delighted to be partnering with UEFA EURO 2020 and bring the spirit and passion of this tournament to its fans on TikTok," said Rich Waterworth, General Manager UK & EU at TikTok said As a Global Sponsor, TikTok will work with UEFA to launch a range of exciting features including AR effects, Hashtag Challenges, TikTok LIVEs and Sounds, in order to bring surprise and joy to its community. UEFA will also give TikTok access to its huge library of historic assets to develop highly engaging and innovative content. Guy-Laurent Epstein, marketing director of UEFA said: "Over the coming months, we are really looking forward to working closely with TikTok in order to provide fans globally, with a unique and innovative UEFA EURO experience, which will give them the opportunity to connect and share their passion around one of the world’s premier sporting events.” The UEFA European Football Championship will be held in 12 cities in 12 UEFA countries, was originally scheduled to take place from 12 June to 12 July 2020. On 17 March 2020, UEFA announced that the tournament would be postponed by a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Europe, and proposed it take place from 11 June to 11 July 2021, which was confirmed on 17 June 2020. Portugal are the defending champions of this event that has attracted nineteen other teams namely Turkey, Italy, Wales, Switzerland, Denmark, Finland, Belgium, Russia, Netherlands, Ukraine, Austria, North Macedonia, England, Croatia, Scotland, Czech Republic, England, Croatia, Scotland, Czech Republic, Spain, Sweden, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, France, and Germany.

Africa

News

Oscars: Nigeria’s ‘The Milkmaid’ fails to make official shortlist

admin — Fri, 12 Feb 2021 17:10:01 +0000

Oscars: Nigeria’s ‘The Milkmaid’ fails to make official shortlist

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admin Fri, 02/12/2021 - 17:10

Wednesday, February 10, 2021

Original Publisher

Arts & Entertainment – Premium Times Nigeria

Original Article

Oscars: Nigeria’s ‘The Milkmaid’ fails to make official shortlist

Desmond Ovbiagele’s ‘The Milkmaid’ has lost out in the Oscar run.

15 foreign films have advanced in the Oscar race and Nigeria’s official entry failed to make the first shortlist in the International Feature Film category announced Tuesday.

“The Milkmaid” is a Hausa language-based thriller on insurgency, especially as it affects women and children in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Inspired by the image on Nigeria’s 10 Naira note, the film tells the story of a Fulani milkmaid who confronts extremists in a rural African community, in a quest to locate her missing sister, and how efforts to recapture her disrupted past proved complicated

The selected films will advance to the next round of voting in the international feature film category.

Films from 93 countries were eligible in the International Feature Film category, the most in Oscars history.

Two African films, “Night of the Kings” (Ivory Coast) and “The Man Who Sold His Skin” (Tunisia) did make the shortlist.]

The other 13 films that advanced to the next round of voting from the category are, Bosnia and Herzegovina, ‘Quo Vadis, Aida?’, Chile, ‘The Mole Agent’ Czech Republic, ‘Charlatan’, Denmark, ‘Another Round’, France, ‘Two of Us’ and Guatemala, ‘La Llorona’.

Others are Hong Kong, ‘Better Days’, Iran, ‘Sun Children’, Mexico, ‘I’m No Longer Here’, Norway, ‘Hope’ Romania, ‘Collective’, Russia, ‘Dear Comrades!’ and Taiwan, ‘A Sun’.

The Executive Committee for the International Feature Film (IFF) category of the Oscars had confirmed the eligibility of Nigeria’s official submission, “The Milkmaid”, among other contenders for the 93rd Academy Awards on January 30.

ALSO READ: Oscars confirms eligibility of Nigeria’s submission, ‘The Milkmaid’

The official acceptance of the film by the Academy is a first-time feat for Nigeria at the Oscars, having disqualified “Lionheart”, the country’s first submission in 2019 for not meeting the non-English dialogue criteria.

This led to the controversy of whether or not Nigerian pidgin should not be considered a local language.

Although the Oscars has since reviewed the rule, giving approval for dialogues in pidgin, ‘The Milkmaid’, shot with Hausa, Fulfulde, and Arabic dialogues appear to have been made with the original Academy rules in mind and had not left anything to chance.

Another shortlist is expected to be released in March, ahead of the 93rd Academy Awards ceremony on April 25, 2021.

Africa

Entertainment

Leopards assistant coach Modo walks out on Aussems

admin — Mon, 08 Feb 2021 14:20:01 +0000

Leopards assistant coach Modo walks out on Aussems admin Mon, 02/08/2021 - 14:20

Monday, February 8, 2021

Original Publisher

Nairobi News

Original Article

Leopards assistant coach Modo walks out on Aussems

AFC Leopards assistant coach Anthony ‘Modo’ Kimani has resigned, citing the need for a fresh challenge.

Modo formally bid his players farewell after the team’s draw with archrivals Gor Mahia in Sunday’s league match at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani.

“He said goodbye in the dressing room and wished us well,” a player told Nairobi News off the record.

Modo whose captained both Leopards and Mathare United in the Kenyan Premier League, plus the men’s national football team during his chequered playing career has been at Ingwe since he was head-hunted by Rwandan coach Andre Casa Mbungo in 2018.

In that while, he’s also worked as an acting coach following Mbungo’s resignation.

He also served as an assistant to Czech coach Thomas Trucha who walked away after one match in charge.

His resignation coincides with the arrival of new coach Patrick Aussems.

The Belgian is already in the country and could be unveiled on Monday on a year and a half contract with a brief to lead the club a first league title since 1998.

But Aussems, formerly at Tanzania’s Simba and South Africa’s Black Leopards, will first have to pick an assistant coach to work with.

Leopards have posted an impressive start to 2020/2021 Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Premier league season and currently sit fourth on the league standings with 18 points from eight games.

The club chairman has insisted that the club is gunning to win the league this season.ends

Africa

News

OAS, Casla Institute bash Maduro

admin — Sat, 16 Jan 2021 11:40:01 +0000

OAS, Casla Institute bash Maduro admin Sat, 01/16/2021 - 11:40

Saturday, January 16, 2021

Original Publisher

News – Trinidad and Tobago Newsday

Original Article

OAS, Casla Institute bash Maduro

Accusing Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro and his socialist government of continuously engaging in crimes against humanity, the vice president of the European Parliament called on the international community to join forces to get rid of the administration.

Dita Charanzová said the Maduro-led government engages in acts of systemic and violent political repression.

"Venezuelans have suffered a lot. We need to restore democracy."

She spoke at Thursday’s presentation of the Casla Institute’s 2020 report on crimes against humanity in Venezuela. The Organization of American States (OAS) hosted the event which was streamed live on its Facebook and YouTube platforms.

In 2017 Venezuela withdrew from the OAS, accusing the Washington-based political group of being a US pawn.

Charanzová called for people to recognise opposition leader Juan Guaido as the president "until free and fair elections are held.

"Next week, the European Parliament will engage in a debate on a resolution on this issue. I will ask once again that the high representatives will realise this position in an urgent way to complete the resolution process," she said.

Last month, the Maduro administration won the National Assembly election which the Opposition boycotted. She claimed the assembly was unlawfully and undemocratically elected.

This election (Venezuela’s legislature) is held every five years. In 2015, Guaido led the Opposition to victory and, in 2019, declared himself interim president.

Charanzová said three areas require immediate attention— recognition, sanction, and justice— to peacefully pressure the ruling regime.

She complimented the Casla Institute, an NGO based in the Czech Republic, for shedding light on what is taking place in Venezuela.

She said, "I hope the report would be a warning sign to bring attention to the international population."

Casla’s executive director Tamara Suju said based on information from NGOs, the Maduro regime continues to commit crimes against humanity.

"Last night, there was an investigation against another NGO that was looking into the assassinations of several people which took place last week," Suju said.

She accused the Maduro regime of taking advantage in 2020 of the social situation caused by the pandemic, worsening the situation of human rights.

Thousands of people were protesting for dignified salaries, food, medicines, and other necessities. The authority detained many protesters, including a human rights lawyer. She said he was also tortured.

Suju shared testimonies from victims claiming they were beaten with hammers, forced to sleep in faeces and sexually assaulted.

Casla Institute’s Facebook page says the organisation aims to monitor the state of democracy in Latin America. At the same time, it seeks to sensitise public opinion about the state of human rights in the region.

OAS’ general secretary Luis Almagro denounced Maduro as a dictator. He charged there that the public security forces carried out many extra-judicial executions in addition to arbitrated tensions.

Almagro said, "Thousands of people have been victims of gross human rights violations. There are many documented cases of torture. We have to spotlight the regime responsible for this. The victims continue to wait for justice. We want justice for them."

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