Hilary Swank 'sacks manager' after Chechen appearance
Actress Hilary Swank has sacked her manager after appearing at a birthday event for Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov earlier this month, reports say.
The Oscar winner fired her manager of eight years, Jason Weinberg, and her management team, Deadline said.
It comes after human rights groups criticised the star for being paid to attend the event.
Swank later apologised, saying she was unaware Kadyrov has been accused of abusing his opponents.
The actress, 37, also promised to distribute her reported six-figure attendance fee to "various charitable organisations".
In addition to axing Weinberg - who also manages Madonna and Demi Moore - Swank has also severed ties with her talent managers Amie Yavor and Josh Lieberman at Creative Artists Agency (CAA) who reportedly made the Chechen booking.
Swank's representatives were contacted for further comment but have yet to reply.
Action star Jean-Claude Van Damme, violinist Vanessa Mae and singer Seal also attended the celebrations, which was to mark the leader's 35th birthday on 5 October.
Celebrities have been criticised for attending the event, with Human Rights Watch saying: "Ramzan Kadyrov is linked to a litany of horrific human rights abuses. It's inappropriate for stars to get paid to party with him.
"It bolsters his image and legitimises a brutal leader and his regime," they added.
After footage of Swank at the event appeared online - in which she appeared on stage giving birthday wishes to Kadyrov - the actress issued an apology saying: "I deeply regret attending".
Human Rights Watch urged all the celebrities to return any money or gifts they received.
So far none of the others have apologised or offered to return their fees.
Seal hit back at critics on Twitter writing: "I played music for the Chechen people. I'm a musician and would appreciate if you leave me out of your politics.
"You sit there under the umbrella of democracy and never once stop to think how it keeps you dry."
Australia lowers rate to 4.5% in a bid to boost growth
The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has cut interest rates in a bid to boost growth amid fears of a slowdown in the global economy.
The central bank lowered its key rate to 4.5% from 4.75%, the first cut since April 2009.
The move comes amid fears that the debt crisis in Europe and slowdown in the US may hurt global economic growth.
RBA said it was concerned about the impact of global uncertainty on its economy,
"Information about the Australian economy suggests moderate growth overall," the bank said in a statement.
"The terms of trade have now peaked and will decline somewhat in the near term," it added.
Domestic Factors
Apart from the global pressures, the central bank has also had to deal with a slowing domestic demand.
While Australia's resources and mining sector have been booming, other areas of the economy such as retail sales have witnessed a slowdown in recent times.
"In other sectors, cautious behaviour by households and the high exchange rate have had a noticeable dampening effect." the bank said.
According to the latest data by the Housing Industry Association, new home sales in Australia fell to their lowest level in 11 years in September.
Analysts said that as fears of a global slowdown gather pace, the central bank is worried that demand may fall further.
"The RBA's decision to cut rates by 0.25% is an admission that domestic demand is feeling the pressure," said Peter Escho of City Index.
"Clearly, the RBA is using its toolbox to cushion the impact," he added.
China manufacturing activity slows amid growth concerns
China has reported an unexpected drop in manufacturing activity raising fresh concerns about the impact of a global slowdown on its economy.
China's Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) fell to 50.4 in October from 51.2 in the previous month, the first drop in three months.
The data comes amid fears that a slowdown in the global economy may dent demand for Chinese goods.
Authorities warned that growth may slow even further.
"Future export and investment growth is expected to continue to decline," said Zhang Liqun of the China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing.
Slowing momentum
China's economic growth has been powered by the success of its manufacturing and export sector.
However, fears of a slowdown in the US and Europe, two of the biggest markets for Chinese exports, have raised concerns on whether the sector can sustain its growth.
The fears have been deepened further by today's data, which showed that the new orders index fell to 50.5 in October from 51.3 the month before.
Analysts said that as those regions grapple with economic problems, the effect was being felt by the Chinese manufacturers.
"The biggest concern is that the manufacturing sector's momentum is slowing," Rajeev Biswas of the IHS Global Insight told the BBC.
"The new export orders index is actually contracting and that is worrying as it highlights that the slowing demand from the US and Europe is starting to feed through to the Chinese export sector," he added.
Stock markets fall as eurozone debt fears persist
Bank shares and the euro fell on Monday as fears over the eurozone persisted.
European stock markets slumped about 3%, as the value of the big banks retraced much of the gains they had made since a new rescue deal was agreed by eurozone leaders last Wednesday.
The euro fell 1.5% against both the dollar and the pound.
Worry over the Italian government's ability to finance itself remains at the heart of the crisis, as Rome's cost of borrowing rose to new highs.
Sentiment towards financial stocks was further hurt by the failure of US brokerage firm MF Global, due to its exposure to eurozone government debts.
Banks drop back
Continental banks remain heavily exposed to the debts of troubled European governments, as well as a general flight of cash from the European banking system that emerged over the summer.
France was worst hit, with Societe Generale down 9.8% and BNP Paribas 9.6%, while in Germany Deutsche Bank dropped 8.6% and Commerzbank 8.5%.
The UK did not escape, with Royal Bank of Scotland down 7.8% and Lloyds 7.6%.
However, Europe's banks still remain well above the lowest levels seen in the last two months.
As part of the new rescue deal, European Union leaders agreed that their banks must increase their capital - their buffer against future losses - by 106.5bn euros ($150bn: £92bn).
This will likely be done by issuing new shares, either to private buyers or to the governments themselves, something that is likely to dilute the value of existing shares.
Banks were also asked by European leaders to accept a 50% write-off of the debts owed to them by Greece.
However, the Greek Prime Minister, George Papandreou, announced after share trading had closed in Europe that he would put this agreement to a referendum, raising a question mark over whether it will go ahead.
Share prices on Wall Street - including shares in European banks that are traded there, such as Deutsche Bank - did not noticeably react to the news.
However, US shares did broadly continue to slide after the close in Europe, with the Dow Jones finishing 2.3% lower. US banks Morgan Stanley and Bank of America were among the worst performers.
Market Data Last Updated at 05:41 GMT
| Market index | Current value | Trend | Variation | % variation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dow Jones | 11955.01 | Down | -276.10 | -2.26% |
| Nasdaq | 2684.41 | Down | -52.74 | -1.93% |
| FTSE 100 | 5544.22 | Down | -158.02 | -2.77% |
| Dax | 6141.34 | Down | -204.85 | -3.23% |
| Cac 40 | 3242.84 | Down | -105.79 | -3.16% |
| BBC Global 30 | 5519.85 | Up | 7.80 | 0.14% |
Self-fulfilling fear
Meanwhile, Italy's 10-year cost of borrowing in bond markets has risen to 6.1%.
That is still slightly short of the highest level since Italy joined the euro, which was seen in early August, and prompted the European Central Bank (ECB) to start buying up Italian debt.
However, markets are rattled by the fact that Italy's borrowing costs have crept up again despite the ECB's intervention, and despite a revamp of the eurozone's bailout fund, intended to assist Italy.
Moreover, Italy's shorter-term borrowing costs have risen even more sharply, to their highest euro-era levels.
Rome now has to pay 4.5% interest to borrow money for just one year, even though the German government must pay only 0.4% over the same period.
The difference reflects the potentially self-fulfilling fear of lenders that Italy may not be able to repay its large existing debtload unless it is able to reborrow the money from markets as the debts come due for repayment.
There are also fears that Europe may be sliding back into recession, which would make Italy's debts even harder to repay.
On Monday, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development became the latest international body to warn of a possible global economic downturn.
Source-BBC
World economy on verge of new jobs recession
The global economy is on the verge of a new and deeper jobs recession that may ignite social unrest, the International Labour Organization (ILO) has warned.
It will take at least five years for employment in advanced economies to return to pre-crisis levels, it said.
The ILO also noted that in 45 of the 118 countries it examined, the risk of social unrest was rising.
Separately, the OECD research body said G20 leaders meeting in Cannes this week need to take "bold decisions".
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development said the rescue plan announced by EU leaders on 26 October had been an important first step, but the measures must be implemented "promptly and forcefully".
The OECD's message to world leaders came as it predicted a sharp slowdown in growth in the eurozone and warned that some countries in the 17-nation bloc were likely to face negative growth.
OECD's forecasts on GDP growth |
||
|---|---|---|
| Country | 2011 | 2012 |
|
US |
1.7% |
1.8% |
|
Euro area |
1.6% |
0.3% |
|
Japan |
-0.5% |
2.1% |
|
China |
9.3% |
8.6% |
'Moment of truth'
In its World of Work Report 2011, the ILO said a stalled global economic recovery had begun to "dramatically affect" labour markets.
It said approximately 80 million net new jobs would be needed over the next two years to get back to pre-crisis employment levels.
But it said the recent slowdown in growth suggested that only half the jobs needed would be created.
"We have reached the moment of truth. We have a brief window of opportunity to avoid a major double-dip in employment," said Raymond Torres from the ILO.
The group also measured levels of discontent over the lack of jobs and anger over perceptions that the burden of the crisis was not being fairly shared.
It said scores of countries faced the possibility of social unrest, particularly those in the EU and the Arab region.
Loss of confidence
Meanwhile, in its latest projections for G20 economies, the OECD forecast growth in the eurozone of 1.6% this year, slowing to 0.3% next year.
In May, it had forecast growth of 2% per year in both 2011 and 2012.
It also cut its growth forecasts for the US to 1.7% in 2011 and 1.8% in 2012. It had previously expected growth of 2.6% and 3.1% respectively.
The organisation called for G20 leaders, who meet on Thursday and Friday, to act quickly.
"Much of the current weakness is due to a generalised loss of confidence in the ability of policymakers to put in place appropriate responses," the OECD said.
"It is therefore imperative to act decisively to restore confidence and to implement appropriate policies to restore longer-term fiscal sustainability."
It also called for the eurozone to cut interest rates.
About 1.7 million still without power as Northeast recovers from storm
Widespread power outages and transit delays marked the start of a challenging week for millions of residents of the Northeastern United States, where a freak October snowstorm dropped more than 2 feet of snow in some places.
Close to 1.7 million customers in five states remained without power Monday evening, and officials warned it could be Friday before power is back on everywhere.
Utilities throughout the region reported significant progress in restoring power, but the cold, snowy conditions and house-by-house nature of the damage was slowing work, officials said.
At least 13 deaths have been blamed on the weekend storm, which prompted emergency declarations from the governors of New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Massachusetts, and also put Halloween trick-or-treating plans in jeopardy.
President Barack Obama signed an emergency declaration for Connecticut on Monday, ordering federal aid to supplement state and local response efforts.
About a dozen Massachusetts cities have postponed Halloween celebrations, according to CNN affiliate WGGB.
At least 20 Connecticut cities and towns, including the capital city of Hartford, canceled events or asked parents to wait until later to take their kids trick-or-treating, according to CNN affiliate WFSB-TV. Even Gov. Dannel Malloy and his wife, Cathy, said they will be leaving the lights off.
"No amount of candy is worth a potentially serious or even fatal accident," the governor said in a statement.
In Worcester, Massachusetts, officials asked residents to postpone celebrations until Thursday, when temperatures are expected to climb to 60 degrees. Trick-or-treating, the city said, would "put families and our youth in harm's way as they negotiate piles of snow and downed limbs."
In Springfield, Massachusetts, school officials announced classes would be canceled for the week.
Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick said some roads in the state are expected to ice up again after dark, and he warned that downed power lines continue to pose a threat.
"It was a particular challenge not just because it comes unseasonably soon, but because there are leaves on many of the trees, which caused a number of limbs to come down on power lines," he said.
Some of the heaviest snow fell in Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Jersey and New York, but snowfall amounts of at least a foot were recorded from West Virginia to Maine. The Berkshire County community of Peru, Massachusetts, received 32 inches of snow during the storm.
"I never have seen this, and I've lived here all my life, and that's more than 90 years," 92-year-old Genevieve Murphy of Westfield, Massachusetts, said in an interview with CNN affiliate WWLP-TV.
Aaron Kershaw in Mahopac, New York, about 50 miles north of Manhattan, told CNN he was using a 4,000-watt generator to provide power for his family of five.
The wet, heavy snow brought down a number of trees while coating the area in a thick blanket of white.
"Thank God no homes, cars, people, etc. were harmed," he said. "But Mother Nature left us beautiful scenery."
About 1,300 people were staying in Massachusetts shelters, state officials said. In Connecticut, 50 shelters were open, Malloy said.
With no electricity and no heat at home, Jessica Taylor took her six children and spent the night in a shelter in the Hartford area.
"We've been eating meals here," she told CNN affiliate WTIC-TV. "They've been serving us, taking good care of us."
Connecticut power officials said Monday that about 748,000 people were still without power, down from a peak of more than 900,000.
"It's all hands on deck," said Mitch Gross, a spokesman Connecticut Light and Power, the state's largest utility. "We have a lot of work to do."
Power crews from across the country are converging on the state to help restore power, according to Gross, who said every town that Connecticut Light and Power serves was adversely affected in some way by the storm.
In Massachusetts, state officials said utility crews had come from as far as Louisiana and Texas to help. Patrick said utility crews had made a 23% dent in the number of buildings without power as of Monday morning.
"A 23% reduction overnight is pretty great, but we have a whole lot more to do and a few days yet before power will be restored to everyone," Patrick said.
About 478,000 people remained without power Monday evening, according to officials.
Elsewhere, about 202,000 customers were without power in Pennsylvania; 116,000 in New Jersey and 127,000 in New York, according to figures from emergency managers and power companies in those states. Thousands also lost power in New Hampshire, Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia.
Kimberly Lindner of Chappaqua, New York, said the family whiled away the hours by building a "jack-snow-lantern."
"It's October, and there are 12 inches of snow on the ground," she said in a submission to CNN's iReport. "But the kids think it's great. They've been playing outside all day and really don't care that there is no power. Why not make the best of things and have some family time in the snow? A snowman without a head, a jack-o'-lantern without a body ... enough said."
For others, however, the unexpected storm brought unexpected misery. Airline passengers left stranded by the storm spent a restless weekend night on cots or airport floors.
"Whatever kind of system they had, it completely and utterly broke down," said passenger Fatimah Dahandari, who spent a night in Hartford, Connecticut's, Bradley International Airport while trying to get to New York. "It looks like a refugee camp in here."
Passengers stuck on jet for hours
As of Monday, authorities reported at least 13 deaths attributed to the storm.
Three people died in Massachusetts, Patrick said, including a Lunenberg resident who died in a fire and a resident of Hatfield who succumbed to carbon monoxide poisoning, apparently from an improperly vented generator.
The third death happened in Springfield when a man in his 20s ignored police barricades surrounding downed power lines and touched a metal guardrail, which was charged, city fire department spokesman Dennis Legere said.
At least four people died in Pennsylvania -- two of them in a crash Sunday on Interstate 95 in Philadelphia, CNN affiliate KYW-TV reported. A third death happened in Temple, when an 84-year-old man was resting in his recliner Saturday and part of a large, snow-filled tree fell into his house and killed him, according to a state police report. The fourth death was blamed on carbon monoxide poisoning, after the victim in Lehigh County used a charcoal grill to heat a home, said Ruth Miller, a spokeswoman for the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency.
Four people also died in New Jersey because of the storm, police said. Two were killed in motor vehicle accidents, one in Bergen County and one in Passaic County, while two others died after trees fell on their cars.
In Connecticut, two people died, including a motorist involved in a traffic accident in Hebron.
CNN
Chinese Shenzhou craft launches on key space mission
China has taken the next step in its quest to become a major space power with the launch of the unmanned Shenzhou 8 vehicle.
The spacecraft rode a Long March 2F rocket into orbit where it will attempt to rendezvous and dock with the Tiangong-1 lab, launched in September.
It would be the first time China has joined two space vehicles together.
The capability is required if the country is to carry through its plan to build a space station by about 2020.
The Long March carrier rocket lifted away from the Jiuquan spaceport in the Gobi Desert at 05:58, Tuesday (21:58 GMT Monday). TV cameras relayed the ascent to orbit.
Shenzhou separated from the rocket's upper-stage about nine minutes into the flight. Confirmation that its solar panels had been deployed was received a short while after.
It will be a couple of days before Shenzhou is in a position to attempt the docking, which will occur some 340km above the Earth.
The vehicles will be using radar and optical sensors to compute their proximity to each other and guide their final approach and contact.
The pair will then spend 12 days circling the globe together before moving apart and attempting a re-docking. Finally, Shenzhou 8 will detach and its return capsule will head back to Earth.
This will allow experiments carried into orbit to be recovered for analysis. The German space agency has supplied an experimental box containing fish, plants, worms, bacteria and even human cancer cells for a series of biological studies.
Chinese astronauts - yuhangyuans - are expected to live aboard the conjoined vehicles for up to two weeks. There is speculation in the Chinese media that one of these missions could also include the country's first female yuhangyuan.
The 10.5m-long Tiangong-1 module was launched on 29 September and has been operating well, according to Chinese officials.
Its orbit has been lowered slightly and the vehicle turned 180 degrees in preparation for its upcoming union with Shenzhou 8.
Beijing sees the Tiangong and Shenzhou dockings as the next phase in its step-by-step approach to acquiring the skills of human spaceflight operations.
It is a learning curve China hopes will eventually lead to the construction of a space station, starting at the end of the decade.
At about 60 tonnes in mass, this future station would be considerably smaller than the 400-tonne international platform operated by the US, Russia, Europe, Canada and Japan, but its mere presence in the sky would nonetheless represent a remarkable achievement.
Concept drawings describe a core module weighing some 20-22 tonnes, flanked by two slightly smaller laboratory vessels.
Officials say it would be supplied by freighters in exactly the same way that robotic cargo ships keep the International Space Station (ISS) today stocked with fuel, food, water, air, and spare parts.
China is investing billions of dollars in its space programme. It has a strong space science effort under way, with two orbiting satellites having already been launched to the Moon and a third mission expected to put a rover on the lunar surface.
Next week should see its first Mars orbiter - Yinghuo-1 - begin its journey to the Red Planet.
The Asian country is also deploying its own satellite-navigation system known as BeiDou-Compass.
Bigger rockets are coming, too. The Long March 5 will be capable of putting more than 20 tonnes in a low-Earth orbit. This lifting muscle, again, will be necessary for the construction of a space station.
UN Security Council concern over Libya arms stockpile
The United Nations Security Council has expressed "concern" over the fate of the massive weapons stockpile built up in Libya under Colonel Muammar Gaddafi.
The council called on Libya and its neighbours to stamp out the proliferation of looted arms.
It was worried they could fall into the hands of al-Qaeda and other militant groups.
Many weapons were destroyed in Nato operations, which ended at midnight on Monday.
However, officials said it was not clear how many were still in circulation.
The resolution, drafted by Russia and adopted unanimously, said that a huge stockpile of shoulder-fired missiles, which had been accumulated by Col Gaddafi, could still pose a threat to passenger aircraft.
It emphasised that the "proliferation of all arms... in particular, man-portable surface-to-air missiles, in the region, could fuel terrorist activities, including those of al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb".
The resolution also called on the new Libyan government to destroy chemical weapons in co-ordination with international authorities.
The vote came as Nato formally ended its seven-month air campaign. The mission formally came to an end at one minute to midnight Libyan time (21:59 GMT) on Monday.
Operations began under a UN Security Council mandate to protect civilians on the evening of 19 March, as Col Gaddafi's forces moved to crush the uprising in the eastern rebel-held city of Benghazi.
Overall, Nato aircraft flew more than 26,000 sorties, including nearly 10,000 strike missions. More than 1,000 tanks, vehicles and guns were destroyed, along with Col Gaddafi's command and control network.
Nato chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen - in Tripoli to mark the end of the mission - said Nato's military forces had prevented a massacre and saved countless lives.
He said Nato could help Libya's new rulers with security and the transition to democracy if requested.
Mr Rasmussen had talks with National Transitional Council (NTC) leaders about Libya's future and the roadmap for transition to democracy.
"You've acted to change your history and your destiny; we acted to protect you. Together we succeeded," he said at a news conference.
"The future of free Libya is finally firmly in your hands."
NTC chairman Mustafa Abdul Jalil expressed Libya's gratitude for the help received from Nato forces and other foreign forces, as well as the Libyan rebel forces.
'Pose a threat'
The UN resolution on preventing the proliferation of looted arms was drafted by Russia amid mounting fears they could fall into the hands of militants, including groups connected to al-Qaeda.
It expresses particular concern about Col Gaddafi's vast stockpile of shoulder-fired surface-to-air missiles.
Many are old Soviet-style rockets, but they could still pose a threat to passenger aircraft. The resolution calls on Libya's government to take all necessary steps to stop the proliferation of arms, and says neighbouring states should draw up measures to prevent smuggling.
Many - but not all - of Col Gaddafi's weapons and storage facilities were destroyed by Nato air strikes, and there is no clear idea of how many may be now be in circulation, our correspondent adds.
Last week, the Security Council heard that international inspectors were working to identify storage areas, but that hundreds of suspected sites still needed to be visited.
Fifteen US explosives experts are on the ground, with numbers expected to rise to 100.
Rivalries
Coinciding with the official end of the Nato air campaign, the transitional authorities named a new prime minister - Tripoli academic Abdurrahim al-Keib.
This comes days after the NTC declared Libya "liberated" following Col Gaddafi's death.
The NTC wants a national congress to be elected within eight months, and for multi-party elections to be held in 2013.
Mr Keib, an academic specialising in electrical engineering and based in Tripoli, beat eight other candidates to receive 26 of the 51 votes from members of the NTC.
The BBC's Katya Adler in Tripoli say Mr Keib is seen as a consensus candidate and Libyans will be hoping he can help smooth out regional and other rivalries within the NTC.
Arizona smashes Mexico cartel drug smuggling network
US authorities say they have broken up a massive drug-smuggling network run by a Mexican cartel in Arizona.
A total of 76 suspects have been arrested and huge quantities of drugs and arms seized in a series of raids.
The ring used backpackers and vehicles to smuggle marijuana, cocaine and heroin across Arizona's western desert.
The network was linked to Mexico's Sinaloa cartel and generated an estimated $2 billion in profit over the last five years, officials said.
"Today we have dealt a significant blow to a Mexican criminal enterprise that has been responsible for poisoning our communities," said Arizona Attorney General Tom Horne.
"I find it completely unacceptable that Arizona neighbourhoods are treated as a trading floor for narcotics", he added.
The bust - known as "Operation Pipeline Express" - followed a 17-month investigation by multiple US law enforcement agencies.
'Monopoly'
A mix of US and Mexican nationals were arrested in three sweeps last week, earlier this month and in September, officials announced.
More than 30 tons of marijuana, 90kg (200lbs) of cocaine and 72kg (160lbs) of heroin were seized, as well as more than 100 firearms.
Operating from the Arizona towns of Chandler, Stanfield and Maricopa, the network ferried drugs across the Mexican border on foot and by vehicle to safe houses in the Phoenix area, officials said.
The drugs were then sold to criminal gangs who distributed them in other states across the US.
Officials believe the network made huge profits by securing a monopoly on smuggling routes along an 80 mile (128km) stretch of the remote desert border from Yuma to to the community of Sells in the Tohono O'odham Indian reservation.
Intelligence suggested the ring was linked to the Sinaloa cartel, led by Mexico's most-wanted fugitive drugs lord, Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman.
"We in Arizona continue to stand and fight the Mexican drug cartels, who think they own the place," Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu said.
"This is America and we shall bring a crushing hand of enforcement against those who threaten our families and our national security".
Building Materials Ltd Do it Center
Building Material Ltd Do it Center continues to work hand in hand with local contractors and international vendors to ensure cutting edge developments in the building industry do not bypass The Turks and Caicos Islands.
A steady stream of local flooring experts visited a tailor made project site near the new Building Material Ltd Drive Thru Depot for a thorough demonstration of new product by world renowned, Italian-made, Mapei.
It was an exhibition proving reliability without compromising the look of refinement islanders want for their floors as two Mapei experts demonstrated the innovation of their 75-year old company.
Sam Biondo, Jnr has been installing floors for a quarter of century, and as the National Technical Presenter for Mapei from the United States, he brings a working knowledge of what customers truly want. Mr. Biondo explained that it is all about keeping pace.
“Ten years ago, you look at the size of tiles we saw 12 by 12 and 16 by 16, they were really big tiles. Nowadays there are some even bigger tiles and with porcelain tiles and its inability to absorb, at Mapei, we’ve found that we needed to improve the bonding agents. That’s what we’ve done and we’re a global company, we do this world wide: France, Italy all over the place with our premium product.”
This new grout and thin set is not only revolutionary, it is also gearing up for a major showcase.
“We have some new product which just came out and we will be showing them at the trade shows in Las Vegas which are coming up. There are some really exciting ideas things going on with thin sets and grouts and change the way we use them currently.”
Scott Benavent has been with Mapei six years, and knows the importance of getting new products to this part of the world, fast. The Turks and Caicos is his fifth Caribbean country and as the Sales Representative, he explained that having Mapei at Building Materials Ltd proves how contemporary the offerings are at the store.
{mp3}pixies_mapei{/mp3}
“It is very exciting and we’ve demonstrated some of our new mortars and this includes some of our water proofing systems which are quick and easy, we’re also demonstrating new grout and patching compounds for difficult installations.”
The team, which was for the first time in The Turks and Caicos was impressed with the beauty and serenity of the country. Sam and Scott, over the two days of demos, found the hunger for knowledge by the openly invited clients of BML, refreshing.
“We’ve figured out a way to take some premium technology bring a decent price point to it and bring it to the people the people so that we can go ahead and have better installations with less failures,” said Sam Biondo, Jnr.
While cost of this new Mapei product does change, Scott promises it will be slight and the Mapei products tile experts have come to appreciate will remain cost effective.
“Given our new technology, there is a premium because it is a product with new technology but we can assure you will not be handing over your whole wallet. You will still be able to pay your rent, your mortgage and your car!”