Daily Archives: January 27, 2020

15 Luxurious All-Inclusive Resorts In The Caribbean (That Are Cheaper Than You Thought) – TheTravel

Posted: January 27, 2020 at 1:06 am

Can we all just put winter on pause, please? The holidays have come and gone, and it will be months before we start getting those warm rays of springtime.

We need a vacation stat.

The Carribean is the perfect place to chase those winter blues away. There are so many islands and options to choose from. Which one will make the perfect getaway? That depends on what a traveler is looking for.

Some vacationers are in search of rest and relaxation while others seek out adventure and exploration. No matter what travelers are searching for; the Carribean has them covered.

These fifteen Carribean resorts are luxurious, all-inclusive, and far cheaper than we would have guessed! Nothing makes a vacation sweeter than discovering it is much more affordable than you first predicted.

Score.

This adults-only inclusive getaway is located on the affordable island of The Dominican Republic. The Punta Cana paradise is quiet, remote, and casual. It's definitely not for those who are looking for a party scene. Vacationers can enjoy private hot tubs and pools right outside their hotel room, and at prices starting under$500, this place is a steal.

Just outside of Montego Bay, sits the exclusive Excellence Oyster Bay. With prices starting at $650 a night, it's not cheap, but it's totally doable, and the perks here are out of this world. If you really want to splurge here, the Excellence Club Rooms offer guests spaces and amenities that aren't available to just anyone.

Zoetry Agua in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, caters to adults and couples who really want to escape it all. The resort sits on a relaxed, private beach and has top-shelf drinks, 24 hours room service, and plenty of dining options. Guests can take part in yoga, spa treatments, and even horseback riding. All of this for only$500 a night!

The Sanctuary Cap Cana in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, has earned a reputation as one of the nicest all-inclusive resorts on the entire island. Guests at the property can take advantage of the six pools, a top-notch spa, several dining spaces, and romantic and elegant grounds. You would think this place would be unaffordable, but at$500 a night, it's an attainable dream.

The Explorean in Cozumel, Mexico, is small by comparison with only fifty-six guest rooms encompassing the property. It sits in the middle of lush foilage with private balconies, a large pool, and a swim-up bar. The best part? Uvas Beach is never crowded since it's underdeveloped, so this place is literally all yours for under $500a night.

A week atSanta Barbara Beach & Golf Resort, Curacao will rejuvenate even the weariest of souls. This place is excellent for couples and families alike and offers activities like meditation, hiking, paddle boarding, golf, and more for under $300 a night. It's paradise at a fraction of the price you would expect to pay here.

This beautiful resort gives its guests pools, swim-up bars, sandy beaches, and tons of fun in the sun for nearly half the price of many other luxury tropical getaways. At only $350 a night, travelers can enjoy activities likesailing, rock climbing, nightly entertainment as well as as much food and drink as your belly can handle.

Yes, Mon! Hyatt Ziva Rose Hall in Montego Bay, Jamaica, is a little pricier ataround seven hundred dollars a night, but it's going to be worth it. This resort, which caters to couples and families, offers dining on the beach, plenty of pool options, and incredible amenities to guests.

Nisbet Plantation Beach Club was ranked as one of the top hotel resorts in all of St. Kitts by the U.S. News. It is spread across thirty acres of perfectly manicured lawns and beaches and it has pools, white sands, suite options, and tennis courts. The best part is, this island retreat starts at around five hundred dollars a night.

Now, THIS looks like a vacation. The Marigot Bay Resort and Marina in St. Lucia really brings it. Here, guests can enjoy four restaurants and bars, a gym, a spa, yoga instruction, and two pools. With a price tag of$500 a night, this place feels like a steal. We would have thought it far pricier.

The Dominican Republic is known for its resorts aplenty, and Casa de Campo reminds us why people seek this island out each year for their retreat needs. For a few hundred bucks a night, the seven luxurious eateries, six bars, fantastic golf courses, spa services, and pools can be at your suntanned fingertips.

The Buccaneer is set in the most sought after part of St. Croix. Guests who are lucky enough to stay here will enjoy the spacious rooms, old-world charm, golf, several pools, and beaches, and so much more. While it's not fully inclusive, it does treat guests to free breakfast and a weekly cocktail reception.

Everything you could ever want in a vacation is waiting for you at Secrets in Montego Bay, Jamaica. For five hundred dollars a night, you can swim in any of the resort's pools, dine in whichever of the nine restaurants you desire, and relax in the uniquely large hotel rooms. You'll never want to leave.

Get ready for a party! The Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Punta Cana is not the place to catch up on some zzz's in the sun. This is the place you go to let loose and turn up. It's enormous, with thirteen pools and a shuttle service that takes you from point A to point B on the property. This party is affordable, too, with rooms starting at $350 a night.

There are a ton of amazing places to vacation in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, but Solmar makes the top of that list. It's smaller than many but hits hard in the spacious room department. Guests can also enjoy an infinity pool, a swim-up bar, beach access, and a spa at an affordable price.

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15 Luxurious All-Inclusive Resorts In The Caribbean (That Are Cheaper Than You Thought) - TheTravel

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Buy Royal Caribbean Even Though Coronavirus Fears Are Slamming the Stock, Scott Black Says – Barron’s

Posted: at 1:06 am

In this final segment of this years Barrons Roundtable, our remaining five panelists share and defend 32 promising investments for 2020.

The investment pros spend more than half of their daylong meeting each January proposing stocks, bonds, and funds that they believe will race ahead of the crowd or fall on their faces, and this year was no different. Our other five participants picks appeared last week.

Weighing in below is Scott Black of Delphi Management.

Barrons: Scott, whats your first recommendation?

Scott Black: Science Applications International [ticker: SAIC]. Its based outside Washington. They provide technical engineering and enterprise information-technology to the U.S. government on large, complex projects. Overall, the mix of business is 54% Department of Defense, 16% to the intelligence area, 28% to federal civilian, and 2% all other. They compete against CACI International [CACI] and Booz Allen Hamilton [BAH]. Their long-term strategic plan is to grow revenue by the mid- to high-single digits, including bolt-on acquisitions. Their growth and earnings target over the next five years is 10%-plus, with a range of 10% to 15%. They want to increase operating margins, from 8.2% to 9%.

Mario Gabelli: What about the backlog?

Black: Theyve got about 1,500 contracts in place. I asked, Do you make bidding mistakes? [They answered:] Not often. The core skills that they require are software developing, network engineering, electrical engineering, and data analytics.

We do all our own models, and we talk to management. For the pro forma fiscal year ending in January 2021, we have the revenues growing 4.7% to 5.5%. Theyre going to improve profit margins, and they made an acquisition in 2018, Engility [a systems engineering company that also provides other services], and that deal closed in January 2019. The acquisition has slightly higher margins than the regular business. The midpoint of our earnings estimate is $6.25. So, the stocks a little more expensive than I normally like; 14.1 times earnings. We normally buy at 13 times or below. But this is a very fine company.

Could you give us a price target for the stock?

Black: I dont do price targets. I will tell you that Booz Allen is selling at 23 times forward earnings, and CACI at 20 times. Theres plenty of room for expansion on this one. My next pick is Royal Caribbean Cruises [RCL]. If you watch sports, they have a lot of ads on NFL games. Sales for 2019 will be just under $11 billion. Theyre going to add some more capacity this year, about 8%. That takes you up to about $11.9 billion. The net income per share is $10.75 in 2020. Its an investment-grade credit, with a $3.12 dividend, 2.3% yield. Its selling at 12.2 times expected earnings. The return on equity for this year is 17.9%. We like to buy stocks with high ROEs.

Does the Wuhan coronavirus affect your thinking? [Editors note: We asked about the virus after the Roundtable.]

Black: No. This will pass, too.

Thanks, continue.

They will have slightly negative free cash flow this year. Previously, theyve been free-cash- flow positive. But the reason is because theyre spending $4.5 billion on ships. If you looked at the record over the past five years, theyve had straight-up earnings, no breaks in any quarter. Theyre going to have a slight break. Its temporary, has to do with a hurricane, and theyre dry-docking a few ships. But there should be a normal resumption in growth.

Meryl Witmer: The aging population loves this stuff, right? And kids like cruises.

Read the picksand pansfrom these panelists

Black: I was going to point that out. They have four global brands. And the first is Royal Caribbean, which basically goes for adults and children and some singles. Its more moderate to upper. Then they have Celebrity Cruises, which has 13 ships. Its a little bit higher. And then they have Silversea Cruises; its at the high end. The fourth brand is Azamara Club, a specialty line.

Whats next?

Black: The next ones sort of obscure. Its EnerSys [ENS]. Its an energy-storage company for industrial applications. The company basically has these different markets. Reserve power, motive power, and aerospace and defense. The biggest business now is forklifts because you cant use internal combustion engines. Youd kill everybody at an Amazon. com [AMZN] distribution center with carbon-monoxide poisoning. Thats 44% of sales. They want to bring it down. Uninterruptible power source is 29% of sales; that will go up. They benefit from things like 5G installation. As Mario knows, we have roughly 300,000 cell towers nationwide. But as you go to 5G, youre going to have smaller towers.

Gabelli: They dont own the towers. Right?

Black: The towers arent theirs. Im talking about in total in the U.S. But with the installation of 5G, there will be five million mini-towers, and theyre all going to have to have backup batteries. These people are the leader in that backup-battery business. Theyre also involved with broadband, like Comcast [CMCSA]. Theyre in the cloud. They sell to people like Amazon.com [AMZN] and Microsoft [MSFT]. And also sell to the electric-utility grid. So, its the kind of business where, irrespective of whether we have a recession or not, earnings will grow at a double-digit rate.

Is it costly to produce the batteries?

Black: Yes. They have a new oneits a thin-film lithium-type battery. They do make lithium ion. They make traditional lead batteries, as well. There are economies of scale, and thats why the profit margins will lift. The stock is $75.17, for a $3.2 billion market cap. It pays a 70-cent dividend, for a 0.9% yield. It can generate roughly $6.23 in earnings. Its a 12.1 P/E multiple.

Youre also a fan of a home builder, but one that not many have heard of.

Black: In the past, Ive recommended home builders like D.R. Horton [DHI]. But Ive got to be different this year, and this ones the cheapest of the really good ones. Its M/I Homes [MHO], based out of Columbus, Ohio. Ive known the management for a long time. It has two regions. They have the northern market: Columbus, Cincinnati, Indianapolis, Chicago, Minneapolis-St. Paul, and Detroit. And then the southern market, which is 61% of their homes sold: Charlotte [N.C.], Raleigh [N.C.], Tampa [Fla.], Orlando [Fla.], Sarasota [Fla.], Houston, San Antonio, Austin [Texas], and Dallas. U.S. housing starts are 1.37 million, up 14% year over year, and the S&P/Case-Shiller housing price index is up about only 2%. Theres good demand for housing, albeit the mix is shifting toward slightly smaller homes, which are roughly 28% of their mix.

Gabelli: Their average home price has to be about $400,000.

Black: It was about $388,000 for the first nine months of 2019. M/I does a little over 6,000 homes a year. Theyll come in this year at about $2.7 billion in sales, up 5.5%. They will do $5.28 in earnings, so at a stock price of $40.01, its a 7.6 P/E multiple, which is much cheaper than Lennar (LEN), which we happen to own, and Horton, which we also own.

Any more picks?

Black: The last is one I used last year. But I think its still good. You have a lot of readers looking for income. Its a well-run company. Its a business-development corporation, or BDC, based in Palo Alto. BDCs basically provide growth-stage venture capital. Its called Hercules Capital [HTGC]. The stock is $14. Theyve got a $1.28 dividend, so youve got a 9.1% yield.

Have they been hurt by the correction in the private-equity market in Silicon Valley?

Black: It doesnt hurt them because theyre basically senior secured lenders. Their basic earnings run rate is about 35 to 36 cents a quarter. So, thats $1.40 to $1.44 a year. Now, net new commitmentsbecause you have people paying off loansare 11 cents a share. So, you have $1.51 to $1.55 in per-share earnings. The P/E ratio is 9.1 times. They have 95 portfolio companies they lend to. Their cost of debt is about 5.2%. And their effective interest rate is north of 12%. Theyve been in business for over 15 years, and they dont have to borrow to cover the yield. The return on equity, which is really good for a BDC, will be 14.5% this year.

Thank you, Scott.

Write to Leslie P. Norton at leslie.norton@barrons.com

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Family of toddler who fell to her death off a cruise ship says Royal Caribbean provided a ‘false narrative’ – Wink News

Posted: at 1:06 am

(CNN)

The family of an Indiana toddler who fell from her grandfathers arms to her death off a cruise ship is challenging what it calls Royal Caribbean Cruises false narrative of how it happened.

Eighteen-month-old Chloe Wiegand fell from the open window of a cruise ship docked in Puerto Rico in July.

Her grandfather, Salvatore Anello, was playing with her near a window on the 11th floor when she fell, and he has been charged with negligent homicide. Prosecutors allege he negligently exposed [his granddaughter] through one of the windows, according to the Puerto Rican Department of Justice. He was released on bond and is back home in Indiana.

As part of a wrongful death suit, the Wiegand family filed against Royal Caribbean in December, their attorney released reenactment photos this week, saying they are evidence the grandfather couldnt physically lean out of the window from which the toddler fell, as the company has alleged.

The familys latest legal claim is in response to the Royal Caribbeans motion to dismiss the December lawsuit.

The photos were taken this month on the Freedom of the Seas cruise ship from which Chloe fell. In a legal filing, the family accuses Royal Caribbean of creating a false narrative of the incident and providing footage of only two of the 13 available cameras in the area.

We went to re-enact what happened on the same ship, same window where Mr. Anello stood with Chloe. What we found completely backs up his story. Pictures of the reconstruction are included in our filing, family attorney Michael Winkleman said.

Earlier this month, Royal Caribbeans filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit, claiming Anello knew the window was open and held his granddaughter out the window before she fell to her death.

The cruise lines motion alleges surveillance video shows Anello walking up to a window and appearing to lean his upper body out of the window for several seconds.

Anello is seen in the video picking up Chloe and holding her out of the window for 30 to 40 second before losing his grip and dropping her, the motion alleges.

Royal Caribbean submitted the surveillance video and still images into evidence in its motion to dismiss.

In the latest filing, the Wiegand family attorney identified at least 13 cameras in the area of the incident after inspecting the vessel in January, about six months after the toddlers death in July.

Royal Caribbean has demonstrably lied to this court and, in so doing, Royal Caribbean has created a false narrative to accompany Royal Caribbeans carefully selected CCTV video upon which Royal Caribbean bases its motion to dismiss, the filing claims.

The family filed a motion last week to compel Royal Caribbean to produce footage from all of the cameras at the time of the incident.

In a statement to CNN on Thursday, Royal Caribbean said Chloes death is undeniably a heartbreaking tragedy that has prompted a criminal prosecution of Chloes step-grandfather and a civil lawsuit brought by the Wiegand family attorneys.

Last year, Anello told CBS News that he initially blamed himself for Chloes death. Now, he blames the cruise line.

I just want them to fix the boat. Just fix it. Just fix the boat.

The reenactment photos show a man with similar measurements as Anello holding a doll by a window on the cruise ship from several additional angles that differ from the surveillance released by the cruise line.

One reenactment photo is taken two steps to the right of the CCTV camera that the family says shows a deceptive angle. That photo shows the man couldnt lean out of the window frame because of the 18-inch distance between the railing and the window frame, the Wiegand family alleges.

The man had to lift his feet at least seven inches off the ground, to touch the window with the top of his head, the legal filing says.

In fact, it would have been physically impossible for Mr. Anello to have had his head out of the window frame with his feet on the deck, court papers say.

Anello would have required much longer arms than he had to hold Chloe out the window, Wiegands family attorney alleges.

The familys lawsuit claims Anello lifted Chloe up onto the railing and held her as she leaned forward to bang on the glass. There was no glass pane and she slipped from Anellos arms, falling 150 feet below to the pier, resulting in her death, the suit says.

Anello was not aware that some of the glass panes could be opened, the suit said.

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Harry Potter Star Reportedly Eyed To Lead Pirates Of The Caribbean Reboot – We Got This Covered

Posted: at 1:06 am

Back in late 2018, it was revealed that Disney was letting Johnny Depp go from thePirates of the Caribbeanfranchise and was looking to reboot it with a new female-led series. Initially,Deadpoolscribes Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick were on hand to write, but they ultimately left the project, to be replaced byChernobylcreator Craig Mazin and original screenwriter Terry Rossio. The planss still going ahead, then, but Disney just needs to find its new star.

We Got This Covered has previously reported that Karen Gillan is in the running for the lead role, and according to our sources the same ones who told us about theBambilive-action movie months ago, before it was confirmed this week Gillan is still being looked at, but another British actress has recently entered the fray, too. From what we understand, Disney is now reportedly considering former Harry Potterstar Emma Watson to take over the sea-faring franchise from Depp as well. Its unknown which of the actresses is the favorite or if there are any other major contenders in consideration at this time, but its been said that both of them are being eyed.

Gillan makes a lot of sense as a prospective lead, considering her background in action-adventure movies, while Watsons a slightly left-field choice. Of course, shes been a major player in another successful fantasy-flavored franchise before now, but she didnt have to do a whole lot of action and generally piratical behavior as Hermione Granger. Still, Watsons a versatile performer, so theres no reason she couldnt pull off such a different role.

If youll recall, our sources the same ones who told us about anAladdinsequel andNational Treasure 3being in the works before they were both confirmed have also said that Disney is entertaining a separate idea for a reboot alongside this one. In case you missed it, we reported earlier this week that Zac Efron is one actor being looked at to play a young Jack Sparrow in aPiratesprequel TV show, which would land on Disney Plus.

With all that in mind, are we about to get an MCU-like Pirates of the Caribbean universe made up of various spinoffs and sequels? That remains to be seen, but for now, it certainly sounds like the franchise is alive and well and fans will have much to look forward to over the coming years. Even if many are still upset that Depp is no longer involved.

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Sally’s: The Team Behind Sally Roots Brings Asian-Influenced Caribbean Food to Bed-Stuy – BKLYNER

Posted: at 1:06 am

The weathers been a little inconsistent lately, but the powerhouse team behind Sally Roots, a Caribbean American barbecue joint in Bushwick, just gave Bed-Stuy denizens a new place to warm up whenever they want Sallys.

Sallys, which offers Asian-influenced Caribbean food and cocktails, is the latest project from partners and good friends James Freeman, Johnny De Piper, and James Beard Award-nominated restaurant designer Matthew Maddy. The interior was designed by Maddy who, along with his partner at American Construction League, Nico Arze, designed for some of the biggest names in the Brooklyn dining scene: Lilia, LaLou, and Colonia Verde. Hes also responsible for the Sallys teams first two projects, Weather Up and Sweet Science.

The team wanted to expand the concept behind Sally Roots into a section of Bed-Stuy where, they said, there wasnt much competition from other bars, and they fell in love with the particular space, located at 151 Tompkins Avenue near the Myrtle-Willoughby subway station. The new spot feels like someones sunlit dream of a vintage rum bar with a murmur of Brooklyn creeping in through the windows all ivory and white with lush greenery lining the walls. A repurposed greenhouse panel on one wall presents a faint beach scene, compounding the escapist vibe even further.

Its the perfect place to crush one of De Pipers easy-drinking cocktails, many of which are rum-based. De Pipers signature Irie is a blend of juice from the tropical guanabana fruit which tastes like something between a strawberry and a pineapple as well as lime, cucumber, poblano, and rum from Bushwick-based Owneys distillery. Irie is the Jamaican English term for alright or, generally, the state of feeling good. Other cocktails include the Ya Mon a Japanese-leaning drink made with lemon, yuzu sake, and yet more rum and the sky-blue Fuhgeddaboudit, made of coconut, Blue Curacao, and all the rums, according to the menu. All of the drinks, whether crisp or sugary, are meant to play well with the spiciness of the food.

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The food goes down just as easily. De Piper designed the menu with Natalie Nera-Raab, the manager at Sally Roots, inspired by the unique melding of cuisines that comes from a long history of Asian immigration to the Caribbean. Dumplings are filled with either an oxtail-short rib blend, or with jerk veggies a humble but delicious mish-mash of cabbage, carrots, and guandules, or pigeon peas, combined with jerk sauce.

Theres also a version of Crab Rangoon, which De Piper and Natalie spike with curry powder for a gentle nod to the Caribbean, and which comes with a Thai sweet chili sauce and mango chutney.

Chinese-style steamed buns were served at Sally Roots for only a hot minute, but they worked so well there that they made it onto Sallys menu. Both options, the pork and the mushroom, come with a duo of sauces a homemade mojo, which combines garlic with herbs like parsley and cilantro, and hoisin. Rice bowls form the menus centerpiece, with five options: curried vegetables, curried chicken, pork fried rice, mushroom fried rice, and oxtail.

Ramen will join the menu as soon as Freeman and De Piper can nail down a provider for their noodles. When it finally hits, they plan to have three or four ramen varieties, each with a different Caribbean flavor profile, like braised oxtail or curry chicken.

Listening to Freeman and De Piper recount the birth of Sally Roots and, simultaneously, their friendship, is like hearing two old college buddies gleefully recounting antics from back in the day.

[James] is one of my best friends in the world, De Piper said.

Sallys is a happy marriage of both De Pipers and Freemans backgrounds. Freeman, who grew up moving back and forth between New York and St. Croix, was reared on Caribbean dishes like curry chicken and roti. De Piper was born in Italy and has lived all over Europe. The two of them together make an excellent team they bounce ideas off each other like theyre doing a jam session, Freeman sporadically breaking into a lilting St. Croix accent.

While the food and drink are the centerpieces, Freeman and De Piper ultimately wanted Sallys to be a gathering place.

We try to create spaces that are friendly and welcoming to everybody, De Piper said. We dont care who you are. Young, old, doesnt matter who you are. We treat you exactly the same and we try to get you to take shots with us.

So far, that goal has been a success.

We have neighbors that are coming to us saying Oh my god, weve been waiting for something to come here! Freeman said. The restaurant held a soft opening last month, and since then, De Piper said, the neighborhood has really, really come out.

Sallys is open every day of the week, and is located at 151 Tompkins Avenue, corner of Willoughby Ave, in Bed-Stuy.While it doesnt open until 5 p.m., the team plans to begin offering brunch starting in the warmer months, when they can count on better business. Happy hour is every day from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. The kitchen closes at 12 a.m., while the bar stays open until 2 a.m.

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Zac Efron Rumored To Play Jack Sparrow In "Pirates of the Caribbean" Reboot – Inside the Magic

Posted: at 1:06 am

It wasnt that long ago that Disney fans everywhere had learned about the reboot of the popular film franchise, Pirates of the Caribbean.

The last film of the franchise was only released a few years ago, in 2017, but this hasnt stopped Disney from deciding to make a reboot!

This isnt surprising as the first film was very well-received by critics and fans and was an overall success. Fans were extremely excited each and every time Disney announced another Pirates of the Caribbeanfilm so it only makes sense to keep the buzz going by creating another film.

Overall, the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise grossed $4.5 billion worldwide, with each individual film performing very well at the box office.

But with the reboot happening, it has left a lot of fans wondering what characters would be involved as well as who would portray these characters? Well, heres what we know so far.

The reboot of the Pirates of the Caribbeanis already in the process and it looks like it will involve new characters as well as original characters.

According to some reports, Zac Efron is in talks of portraying the one and only, Jack Sparrow. Yes, theHigh School Musicalactor may be filling the shoes of Johnny Depp and taking on the role of the clever pirate.

The directors of the Pirates of the Caribbeanfilm includes the creator of Chernobyl, Craig Mazin, who you also may know from The Hangover 2and3. Also returning is Ted Elliott, who is the veteran Pirates of the Caribbean screenwriter. Previously the writers of Deadpooland Zombieland, Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick, were on the project but they decided to back out.

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15 Under-The-Radar Caribbean Destinations Better Than Turks And Caicos – TheTravel

Posted: at 1:06 am

Its about that time of year again, when the holidays are over, and the world is starting to freeze over. That hump of winter right after Christmas and New Year can bring a lot of depression to a lot of people. There are no holidays to look forward to, and all we are left with is cold, wet weather that seems like it will never leave.

There are some islands that are more popular than others when it comes to getting away. Turks and Caicos is one of the most popular tourist destinations, and thousands of people flock there every year.

However, there are a lot of other islands out there that dont get the same attention, and they should. We have uncovered 15 Caribbean islands that no one is really talking about, and we tell you why they should be.

Guadalupe may be located in the Caribbean, but it is actually a region that is owned by France, bringing a European flair to the island.

There is a lot to do on the island, that a tourist would never be bored. There is swimming in hot springs, climbing an active volcano and many historic sites to see.

Barbuda is an island that is often forgotten about, and that is because people are more familiar with its sister island, Antigua.

What draws people to Barbuda is that it has a small andrelaxed feeling to it. The island is small, and only has about 1, 600 people, but it has some of the most beautiful beaches.

Grenada has a great tag line, The Spice of the Caribbean. The reason it has this tag line is that it is one of the largest producers of nutmeg and mace.

Grand Anse Beach is a world-famous beach located there that has a 2-mile stretch of soft, white sand and very calm waters for wading in.

If you are thinking of travelling to Trinidad, you may also want to skip it for Tobago, the smaller part of the island.

Tobago is a divers dream, as there is a lot to discover under the sea. They have 3 underwater shipwrecks to explore and a lot of tropical fish. There is also a ton of shopping and dining experiences.

If Martinique has a French sound to it that is because this is another Caribbean island that is owned by France. This is one of the largest islands found in The Lesser Antilles.

There are tons of things to do there, including exploring a volcano. They also have a wide array of beaches, including one that has grey and black sand.

Anguilla is an island that is located near Saint Martin in the middle of the Caribbean sea. It is a British territory, so that means that cars will drive on the left side of the road.

It is a smaller island, but there are still tons of things to do. The Travel Channel actually named this the number one in the world for best overall beaches. The island has 33 of them!

The Dominican Republic is well travelled and known, but Dominica is one that is often forgotten about. This island is located in the southern part of the Caribbean sea and is called the nature island.

The island is known for its many waterfalls, springs, rivers and a huge rainforest. This is the perfect island for nature lovers out there to explore.

Vieques is definitely a place that should be on your bucket list of Caribbean islands to visit. It is actually located in Puerto Rico.

It is home to Mosquito Bay, but dont let the name fool you, it is one of the brightest bays in the whole world. It is also home to some of the most secluded towns in the country.

The Bahamas may not be the most under-the-radar islands in the Caribbean, but they have a lot more to offer than a lot of people realize.

The Bahamas is home to one of the most beautiful pink beaches in the world. It is due to a small organism that has a reddish-pink shell. It is definitely one of the most fascinating things you will ever see.

Iles Des Saintes may technically be another Caribbean island that belongs to France, but it is a great destination in the Caribbean.

It has been described as a small slice of paradise, and it is often overlooked for the larger islands. This location is actually a small string of islands, and they have some of the best cafes in the world.

Jamaica is definitely still a popular vacation spot, but has the world forgotten about Montego Bay? If they have, then it is time that they book a trip.

Swimming is one of the most popular activities for tourists to do when they are in the Caribbean, however, Montego Bay offers something special. You can swim with horses!

One of the best parts about going on vacation is eating. A lot of people look forward to trying the delicious food and letting their diet go out the window for a week or two.

Saint Martin is where you want to go if you are looking for good food. They are famous for their skilled chefs and fine cuisine. The food is heavily influenced by French and Creole cooking.

Barbados is another island that is being neglected, and it shouldnt be if you are a surfer.

The island has the most consistent surf conditions. It is a coral island, which means that it has a coral reef that stretches all around the islands coastline. There is always a place to surf on this island.

Belize is one that you dont hear too often, but it is a dream for anyone out there who is itching to explore something.

Belize is home to Mayan ruins and lush jungles, perfect for anyone who wants to explore. They also have a lot of perfect beaches and caves, meaning there is something for everyone to do.

Cuba tends to get a bad reputation, and not a lot of people choose it as the first choice for their vacation. This may be a mistake because it is a great island to explore.

The 16th-centurytown of Old Havana is one of the most interesting and unique destinations in the world. The architecture is stunning, and the culture of the island will have you see the country in a new light.

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PAHO Director urges Caribbean to Prepare for Early Detection of Coronavirus – caribbeannationalweekly.com

Posted: at 1:06 am

WASHINGTON, United States (CMC) The director of the Pan-American Health Organisation (PAHO), Dr Carissa Etienne, is urging countries in the Americas, including those in the Caribbean, to be prepared to detect early, isolate and care for patients infected with the new coronavirus.

Etienne said that was necessary in the event of receiving travellers from countries where there is ongoing transmission of novel coronavirus cases.

Health services need to be prepared, because they will most likely be the entry point where cases of the new coronavirus will be detected, as has already happened with previous epidemics, said Dr Etienne told ambassadors of the Americas to the Organization of American States (OAS) at a PAHO briefing on Friday.

The Dominican-born PAHO official said the UN agency stands ready to support the Americas because detecting cases early can prevent the spread of the disease.

PAHO said up until Friday, there had been 846 confirmed cases of infection by Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCov) globally, including 830 cases from China.

It said 177 cases were severe and 25 people had died.

Etienne said PAHO has activated its incident management system, stating that, since the beginning of January, it has shared information with ministries of health through the International Health Regulations channel and through its country representatives.

She said PAHO will continue to update information on what countries can do to effectively respond to this new virus, about which there is still uncertainty.

Earlier this month, the World Health Organisation Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus convened the Emergency Committee to advise on whether the outbreak in China constitutes a public health emergency of international concern.

Ghebreyesus decided not to declare a public health emergency at this time, according to PAHO, but stressed it is an emergency in China, and that the outbreak poses a high risk at the regional and global levels.

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Trump impeachment: Live coverage of the trial – NBCNews.com

Posted: at 1:05 am

Frank Thorp V and Kyle Stewart

5d ago / 4:32 AM UTC

If that short break was used to try to reach a deal to move the proceedings along, it appears it didn't work.

McConnell resumed the trial, and then Schumer immediately introduced his fifth amendment, which seeks to subpoena certain Defense Departmentdocuments and records.

They will go into up to two hours of debate on the amendment. Several senators looked tired an hour ago, as Jeffries made the case for why Mulvaney should be called as a witness.

As Jeffries spoke, some senators appeared to be eating snacks. A few chatted quietly. Most watched the screens as the videos were played, although a few looked around the room and up at the galleries.

As the clock approached 9 p.m., a few senators rested their heads against their hands as they sat listening, and Senate pages walked through the room refilling water glasses.

Frank Thorp V and Liz Johnstone

5d ago / 4:38 AM UTC

The fourth Schumer amendment, to call Mulvaney as a witness, was defeated along party lines, 53-47 just like the previous three.

McConnell, after remarking that he had observed a "certain similarity of all of these amendments," asked Schumer whether he would be willing to stack the votes on the remaining Democratic amendments into one to speed the evening along. Schumer did not agree and told him he would be willing to hold amendment votes Wednesday if senators wanted to go home now.

"The bottom line is verysimple," Schumer said. "As has been clear toevery senator in the country: Webelieve witnesses anddocuments are extremelyimportant and a compelling casehas been made for them.We will have votes on all ofthose.We will also the leader, without consulting us made changes, a number of significant changes thatsignificantly deviated from the1999 Clinton resolution.We want to change those.So there will be a good numberof votes."

McConnell put the trial into a quorum call, or a break but moments later, the trial resumed with the reading of Schumer amendment No. 5 into the record.

Rebecca Shabad

5d ago / 2:25 AM UTC

Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., one of the seven House managers and the chairman of the House Democratic Caucus, argued in favor of the Democratic amendment that calls for a subpoena of acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney.

Mulvaney, who also leads the Office of Management and Budget, played a key role in the president's efforts to freeze nearly $400 million in U.S. security assistance to Ukraine and withhold a White House meeting.

"Based on the extensive evidence that the House did obtain, it is clear that Mulvaney was crucial in planning the scheme, executing its implementation and carrying out the cover-up," said Jeffries.

"Emails and witness testimony show that Mr. Mulvaney was 'in the loop' on the president's decision to explicitly condition a White House meeting on Ukraine's announcement of investigations beneficial to the president's re-election prospects," he added. "He was closely involved in implementing the president's hold on a security assistance, and subsequently admitted that the funds were being withheld to put pressure on Ukraine."

Mulvaney is one of four witnesses that Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., would like the Senate to subpoena. The House issued a subpoena compelling Mulvaney's testimony during the impeachment inquiry last year but he defied it at the direction of the White House.

Jonathan Allen

5d ago / 2:10 AM UTC

President Donald Trump's defense failed him at the opening of hisSenate impeachment trial Tuesday.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., had one job. He just had to collect 51 votes forthe trial rules he had written, in close consultation with White House officials, to deliver Trump an acquittal quickly, quietly and with as few surprises as possible.

He couldn't do it.

The other half of Trump's squad,his legal team, chose not to defend his actions with a cogent explanation for them. Rather than rebutting hours of evidence presented by House Democratic impeachment managers, White House lawyers opted to repeat Trump's attacks on the process and the disjointed set of rejoinders he's delivered to Democrats in public.

Read more of the analysis here.

Hallie Jackson and Hans Nichols

5d ago / 2:22 AM UTC

SO WHAT DID PRESIDENT TRUMP THINK OF TODAY? He was absolutely engaged in the impeachment proceedings today, getting "minute-by-minute" updates on the process, according to Rep. Mark Meadows, one of the presidents closest allies and an impeachment team member. Legislative Affairs head Eric Ueland backed that up, telling reporters that the president is "very impressed" with whats been happening on the Hill. But take all that with a grain of salt: the president likes to see impressive TV performances, and we have reason to believe that he may have more mixed feelings than what aides are letting on. And the president is also someone who likes to gauge the reviews so his opinion may end up shaped by the tone from his preferred cable news shows. (An early guide: Sean Hannity, in his opener, is adopting a bored affect and introducing the networks Congressional correspondent as someone whos been "suffering through a lot of this tediousness.")

WILL THE PRESIDENTS DEFENSE TEAM FILE A MOTION TO DISMISS BY 9AM WEDNESDAY?Its possible, but the chances seem less-than-likely. Ueland didnt shut the door on it tonight, but Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas sounded more definitive, telling reporters he believes a motion to dismiss is unlikely: its "not nearly as good an outcome for the president and for the country as will be a final judgment on the merits." Again, its kind of a moot point regardless since Senate Republicans dont think there are the votes to support such a motion.

IS THE DEFENSE GOING TO PUSH BACK ON THE APPARENT SATURDAY START FOR THEIR OPENING? Seems doubtful. Two sources familiar with the thinking suggest its not likely the White House team will put up much of a fight on the expected Saturday start to opening arguments (thats if House managers take up their allotted three days.) Thats subject to change, as always. But weekend arguments would, in theory, let the presidents defenders get in their first word before the Sunday political talk shows, and then have a weekday audience for the rest of their arguments Monday and, if needed, Tuesday.

Haley Talbot

5d ago / 1:32 AM UTC

As Rep. Adam Schiff spoke on the floor, Sen. Chuck Schumer smiled and laughed while talking to the aides seated next to him a strikingly different demeanor from Majority Leader Mitch McConnells stoic posture across the aisle.

In a brief moment of bipartisanship, Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., walked over to the Republican side behind the last row of senators. As he was passing by Sen. Ben Sasse, R-Neb., he crouched down and the two chatted and laughed briefly. A packet of gum was being passed around that back row between Sasse, Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and others.

While the table on the prosecution side with the managers was full of open binders, notebooks and laptops the Trump defense team's table looked neat. Their binders were not open while Schiff and Rep. Jason Crow, D-Colo., spoke, and their laptops also remained closed.

During the arguments, Sens. Amy Klobuchar and Elizabeth Warren took notes on occasion, andRepublican Sens. Amy Murkowski and Susan Collins watched Schiff intently for the duration of his remarks. In the final few minutes of Schiff's comments, Sen. Jim Risch, R-Idaho, tapped on his watch to indicate the California Democrat was nearing the end of his time. Schiff seemed to look in his direction but did not pause or stop.

When Crow was speaking, the other House managers watched him intently, turning in their chairs to face him. Rep Jerry Nadler, D-N.Y., was the one exception; he took notes throughout and referred back to binders and notes.

Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., read during most of the proceedings, while Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., yawned several times. Cruz slumped back in his chair, scowling, while Schiff and Crow spoke. Sen. Lindsay Graham, R-S.C., had a similar posture and didnt take notes or read.

Frank Thorp V

5d ago / 12:42 AM UTC

McConnell moved to table the third Democratic amendment, which would have subpoenaed OMB documents related to the charges against the president and regarding the suspension of assistance to Ukraine.

Schumer introduced a fourth amendment to subpoena acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney.

Senators will now take a 30-minute recess to eat dinner. It'll be pizza for both sides, Republicans will eat Ledo's in the Mansfield room, where they usually hold their policy luncheons, and Democrats will eat Ledo's in the cloakroom.

During dinner, they will discuss what happens next. When they return from this recess they will debate, for up to two hours, the Mulvaney amendment. Then there will be another vote to kill the amendment.

On Tuesdaysbonus episode of Article II, host Steve Kornacki explains the last-minute changes that Mitch McConnell made to the impeachment trial rules in response to pressure from moderate Republican senators.

Download the podcast.

Julie Tsirkin

5d ago / 12:26 AM UTC

Some senators appear to be losing steam as the trial headed into the night.

There were many yawns, including from Sens. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., Roy Blunt, R-Mo., and Richard Shelby, R-Ala. Sen. James Risch, R-Idaho, was most definitely sound asleep for the majority of Rep. Val Demings' presentation. When Jay Sekulow took the stand, speaking audibly louder, Risch was jolted awake.

GOP Sens. Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Mike Lee of Utah and Chuck Grassley of Iowa took copious notes throughout Demings presentation. Grassley and Sen. Cory Gardner, R-Colo., were noting each piece of evidence presented on the screens. New Sen. Kelly Loeffler, R-Ga., also took notes throughout.

When Lev Parnas' interview with Rachel Maddow was shown, Sen. Lindsay Graham, R-S.C., began laughing and writing something down. Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., was smiling from ear to ear, sitting up in his chair and looking at Republicans. Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., remained still and serious throughout. Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., passed a note to Sen. Ben Sasse, R-Neb., and the two laughed and nodded.

Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wisc., passed breath mints from his desk to senators sitting nearby, including Republican Sens. Dan Sullivan of Alaska and Mitt Romney of Utah. Sen. Martha McSally, R-Ariz., sat with a blanket over her lap. Schumer appeared to be quite thirsty, with pages refilling his water glass every 10 minutes. Grassley had a sheet of paper on his desk with photo identifiers.

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Trump impeachment: Live coverage of the trial - NBCNews.com

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Letters: Newark Advocate readers speak out on subsidies, guns and polling places – The Newark Advocate

Posted: at 1:05 am

Newark Advocate Published 12:35 p.m. ET Jan. 25, 2020

A government agency can use eminent domain to take private property for a valid public cause while compensating the property owner. A government agency can through its actions devalue a piece of property by restricting access to or the use of that property.

This is called legallytaking land. This can happenwhen a road is changed or widened. When Thornwood Crossing east of Granville was built, access to Cherry Valley Road from Route 16 was cut off. This restricted access to businesses along Cherry Valley Road.

The Ohio Supreme Court recently decided, by a 4 to 3 vote, that Wendys was entitled to compensation by ODOT for the business loss. The court stated that losing access constituted taking.Wendys lawyer stated that his client had a constitutional right to theaccess point of Cherry Valley at Route 16, and ODOT closed that access point.

So is a business entitled to be compensated for the loss of profit under the legal taking clause, paid for by a public entity using public money? Should businesses then not pay for profit for access to a publicly-funded road? No business is going to locate in an inaccessible area. That mean it is fully aware of thepotential profit by having access provided by the public. In order to get compensated for the loss of profit, a business should pay into a fund for profiting by getting access paid for by thepublic. The public should not pay for building a road and then again for private business losses. It should be either both or neither.

Jurgen Pape

Granville

During the Novembervoting day Zone 2 & 4 voted at the American Legion Lodge on 6th Street.There were numerous times that you had to look for a place to park.Come March it will be the same and November has the potential of severe over crowding, making many voters not voting or illegally parking.The election boardneeds to take a serious look at separating these twozones to there own area immediately.I see everywhere on social media of bad blood between Democrats and Republicans and I see a problem especially in November.I would hope everyone would act like adults and vote with heart.Thank you for listening there is a problem that needs fixed NOW!

Mike Miner

Newark

On Monday we witnessed a gathering of Virginia citizens protesting gun confiscation by their "Democratic" government. All the proposed laws are unconstitutional because they are an infringement on their constitutional rights. Not just the Second Amendment, but also the Fourth Amendment, and the Fifth Amendment. All of these government officials have taken the oath of office swearing to preserve protect and defend the Constitution of the United States. By voting to steal lawfully owned firearms they've violated their oath of office. By sending officers out to steal lawfully owned firearms they are committing the act of treason and forcing the officers also to commit an act of treason.

No one who has ever taken an oath to support, protect and defend the Constitution can support any law that violates that oath. If you have ever taken such an oath, you are bound to not support an unconstitutional law. Thank God that most of the sheriff's in Virginia understand that and are standing up in support of the Constitution.

It's understandable the fear that an unarmed citizen has for their safety and the safety of their family. Progressives have used anti-concealed carry stickers to keep law-abiding citizens from bearing arms in posted buildings. These are the buildings madmen come to murder innocent people, because they know they're safe. If you want to keep the people safe, take down the stickers and train all that wish to carry when and how to shoot in defense of their lives and others.

John Bell

Newark

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