February 18, 2013
Chavez back in Venezuela
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez returned home to Venezuela early Monday after more than two months of medical treatment in Cuba following cancer surgery.Chavez's return was announced in a series of message on his Twitter account, saying "we will…
February 18, 2013
US lawmakers visit Cuba
A bilateral delegation of American lawmakers led by Sen. Patrick Leahy is heading to Cuba for two days of meetings. The trip is the first to the Communist-run island by high-level U.S. politicians since President Barack Obama's re-election in…
February 18, 2013
Close finish predicted in Barbados general election
Barbados’ two main political parties are in a statistical dead heat ahead of Thursday’s general election with Barbadians giving the nod to Prime Minister Freundel Stuart over his main challenger, Owen Arthur, according to the latest opinion poll…
February 18, 2013
Bahamas To Introduce a 15% Value Added Tax from July 1, 2014
In its budget for 2012/13, the Bahamas Government has announced that it will introduce a value-added tax (VAT), to broaden the tax base, from July 1, 2014. The Government explained that VAT is to be introduced to offset the eventual reductions to…
February 18, 2013
Machel expresses regret to victims of assault outside nightclub
Soca star Machel Montano has apologised to the assault victims involved in the fracas outside a nightclub in Port of Spain in April 2007.Finally freed from the burden of competition, Montano was last weekend able to take his mind away from the stage…
February 18, 2013
Biological ‘passports’ a MUST for players at 2014 World Cup as FIFA tries to combat doping
Every player at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil will be required to have a biological profile - sometimes called a biological passport.Soccer's world governing body, FIFA, is introducing the system as part of the worldwide crackdown on doping. The…
February 18, 2013
Church ready to pay taxes
The Jamaican church said yesterday it would have no problem paying property taxes, if the Government asked it to pay up, as part of measures preparatory to an International Monetary Fund (IMF) pact. "Whatever tax the Government feels that is…
February 18, 2013
PSOJ warns of massive job losses in Jamaica
The Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ) is calling on the Government to immediately review and make changes to aspects of its new tax regime, which it said could do more harm than good to the economy. "The PSOJ is urging the Government to…
February 18, 2013
German economy to return to growth, says Bundesbank
Germany will avoid recession and return to growth in the first quarter of 2013, the country's central bank has said. The Bundesbank's monthly report for February forecast that the rest of 2013 will see a gradual pick-up in activity in Europe's…
February 18, 2013
Japan shares up as G20 statement stokes weak yen hopes
Japanese shares have risen after finance ministers of the G20 group of nations avoided singling out Japan for criticism over the recent yen weakness. The yen has dipped nearly 15% against the US dollar since November amid Japan's efforts to stoke…