Eurozone unemployment rate begins to fall
The unemployment rate in the eurozone area has begun to fall, official figures show.
For the first time in over a year the percentage of people out of work dipped below 10%, having dropped in February to 9.9%.
However, the unemployment rate diverges widely within the 17 eurozone countries, Eurostat figures show.
Spain's jobless rate stands at 20.5%, while 4.3% of the Netherlands' population is unemployed.
Spain's unemployment rate edged up in February having stood at 20.4% the previous month.
However, in Germany the jobless rate continued to fall and now stands at 6.3%.
Eurostat, who compile the official figures, had previously estimated the eurozone unemployment rate for January at 9.9%, but this has now been revised up to 10%.
Eurostat estimates 15.8 million people are unemployed in the 17 countries that have adopted the euro.
The unemployment rate for males fell to 9.7% in February, down from 9.9% twelve months earlier.
However, during the same period, the female unemployment rate rose from 10.1% to 10.2%.
Oil price hits 30-month high on new supply fears
Oil prices jumped to their highest close in two-and-a-half years as Libya's conflict and Middle East unrest sparked fresh worries about supplies.
Brent crude for delivery in May rose $2.23 to $117.36 a barrel, its highest close since August 2008 and up 23.9% so far this year.
US crude rose $2.45 to $106.72, its highest close since September 2008, and jumping 16.8% for the quarter.
Analysts said oil trading recently was the most volatile for two years.
Fighting near Libya's oil ports heightened concerns about the country's ability to re-start production any time soon.
Energy consultants Cameron Hanover said traders are beginning to view the Libya uprising as a stand-off with little sign of resolution.
"Optimism that Libyan oil might return to the market, seen earlier this week, was dashed," the firm said in a statement.
But the oil price also rose amid optimism about the strength of the US economy, which could mean crude imports rising.
Brent crude's recovery comes after it fell below $108 in the aftermath of Japan's earthquake and tsunami on 11 March.
Brazil banks sued for Amazon deforestation
Brazil's biggest bank - the state-run Banco do Brasil - is being sued for allegedly funding deforestation in the Amazon.
Public prosecutors say the bank lent money to companies that illegally cleared the rainforest and used labour practices bordering on slavery.
The smaller state-owned Banco da Amazonia is also being sued.
Brazil says it has drastically reduced the rate of deforestation in the Amazon in recent years.
Prosecutors in the state of Para said they had uncovered 55 loans worth nearly $5m (£3m) that the Banco do Brasil approved to farms that had broken environmental and employment laws.
They also said they had uncovered 37 loans worth $11m given to farms with similar violations by the Banco da Amazonia.
The loans violated Brazil's constitution, environmental laws, banking regulations and international agreements signed by Brazil, the independent prosecutors at the Public Ministry said.
"The discovery of this this irregular financing shows that this is a generalised problem," they said in a statement.
They added that their findings supported studies that showed a direct relationship between public loans and deforestation in the Amazon.
Denial
The Banco do Brasil denied the allegations, insisting it complied with Brazilian law, but said it would look into the charges on a case-by-case basis.
The Banco da Amazonia said it would not comment until it had studied the legal documents.
Brazil's judicial branch will now have to decide whether to pursue the case.
If the lawsuits are successful the banks could have to pay compensation.
The prosecutors have also called for closer regulation and control of how loans are handed out.
Last year Brazil's government said deforestation in the Amazon - the world's largest tropical rainforest - had fallen to its lowest rate for 22 years.
Brazilian officials said the reduction was due to better monitoring and control.
Brazil says it is on course to meet its target of cutting deforestation by 80% by 2020 as part of international efforts to tackle global warming.
The cutting and burning of trees in the Amazon has made Brazil a major contributor of the greenhouse gases.
Cricket World Cup: Muralitharan set to defy injury
Sri Lanka spinner Muttiah Muralitharan is set to put his body on the line in a bid to end his career with victory over India in Saturday's World Cup final.
The 38-year-old is expected to take the field in the Mumbai showpiece despite struggling with hamstring, knee and groin problems during the tournament.
And while the majority of the 38,000 crowd at the Wankhede Stadium will be cheering on their prodigal son, Sri Lanka fans will be pinning their hopes on Muralitharan, who as a 23-year-old helped the small island nation stun the cricket world by beating Australia in the 1996 final in Lahore.
Muralitharan, who claimed a wicket with his last international delivery on home soil in the semi-final victory over New Zealand in Colombo, needs three more to equal former Australia fast bowler Glenn McGrath's World Cup record of 71 wickets.
Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara stopped short of guaranteeing Muralitharan would play, but stressed the off-spinner's importance to the side.
"He's a big-match player, he has been amazing for us," said Sangakkara.
"It's great to have him in the side and it would be great to hopefully have him on the field tomorrow and to have him play this World Cup final with us because there is no other way we can have it.
"Whatever happens we want to play for him, and play for each other and do the best that we can do."
Mathews, 23, has been ruled out with a right thigh injury suffered while fielding during Tuesday's semi-final.
Batting with a runner, he helped Sri Lanka clinch a five-wicket victory with an aggressive 14 not out.
He has been replaced in the squad by Suraj Randiv, who has 22 wickets in 21 one-day internationals and could provide spin-bowling cover for Muralitharan.
Dhoni is playing down the pressure on his team.
"We are not thinking about tomorrow's game as a final, for us every match is a challenge and just as important," he said.
"These matches are called by different names like quarters, semis and final. In the end you have to play the same way and do the right things to succeed.
"Of course we realise this is a World Cup final. It can't get bigger than this, but our preparations have to be the same."
Saturday's match will be umpired by Australia's Simon Taufel and Aleem Dar of Pakistan.
Taufel has been named international umpire of the year five times the presence of Australia in the last three World Cup finals has prevented him from officiating in the sport's biggest single match.
Meanwhile, left-armer Nehra is almost certain to miss the final after injuring the middle finger of his right hand in the semi-final win over Pakistan.
India captain Mahendra Dhoni said no decision had been made whether Nehra would be replaced in the team by an additional seamer in Sreesanth or a second spinner in Ravichandran Ashwin.
"The Mumbai wicket usually has a bit of bounce and a third seamer gives me the option to manoeuvre the attack," he said.
"But if we feel there could be turn in the wicket as the game progresses, Ashwin will come into the picture. It helps to have such good options."
Dhoni said left-handed batsman Gautam Gambhir was fit to play after recovering from a minor hamstring strain he developed while fielding against Pakistan.
In the first all-Asian final, all eyes will be on Tendulkar in his home city.
The 37-year-old is playing in his sixth World Cup, and will be desperate to help his team land the trophy it has only captured on one occasion, in 1983.
The "Little Master" scored two hundreds in the group stage and looked on course to reach the 100 century landmark in the semi-final before he was dismissed for 85 following an uncharacteristically scratchy knock in which he was dropped four times.
"Going back to Mumbai, especially for this event, is a wonderful occasion," said Tendulkar. "All I want to say is, we want to be calm, focus on our job and get the job done."
In the build-up to the final, Dhoni paid tribute to Tendulkar, who made his India debut as a 16-year-old in 1989.
"God has made Sachin to play cricket," said Dhoni. "He has been doing it for 21 years and a few more years to come."
With India the marginal favourites to win the trophy, Sangakkara is hoping the weight of expectation could tell on their players.
"Everyone in the world expects India to turn up tomorrow and win this game," he said.
"We have to understand the fact that India for the last year or two years have been tagged as the favourites by almost everyone to win the World Cup.
"I'm sure they'll be looking at themselves as favourites too."
A massive security operation has been mounted for the highest-profile sporting event to take place in Mumbai since gunmen attacked the city in November 2008, leaving 174 people dead.
"We will be overdoing it a bit," said Mumbai Police Commissioner Arup Patnaik. "But it's better to be on the safe side. The stakes are high."
India (from): Virender Sehwag, Sachin Tendulkar, Gautam Gambhir, Virat Kohli, Yuvraj Singh, Mahendra Dhoni (capt & wk), Suresh Raina, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Ashish Nehra, Munaf Patel, Ravichandran Ashwin, Sreesanth, Yusuf Pathan, Piyush Chawla.
Sri Lanka (from): Upul Tharanga, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Kumar Sangakkara (capt & wk), Mahela Jayawardene, Thilan Samaraweera, Chamara Silva, Lasith Malinga, Rangana Herath, Muttiah Muralitharan, Ajantha Mendis, Chamara Kapugedera, Thisara Perera, Nuwan Kulasekara, Dilhara Fernando, Suraj Randiv.
Umpires: Aleem Dar (Pakistan) & Simon Taufel (Australia)
Asafa Powell versus Tyson Gay
Jamaican sprinter Asafa Powell confirmed he will go head-to-head against American Tyson Gay on British soil this year.
Gay was the fastest man over the 100-metre distance last year.
The pair's first showdown will take place at the Aviva Grand Prix in Birmingham, on July 10 before they battle at the London Grand Prix on August 5 and 6.
Both events will be included on the Diamond League circuit, with the London race taking place exactly a year before the 2012 Olympic 100-metre final.
The Birmingham race at the Alexander Stadium will be the first Diamond League meet to be held in the city.
Powell, the former world record holder, looked in good form at the start of last year with a best time of 9.82 seconds in June before back and hamstring injuries cut his season shor
Warner retains CONCACAF top position
Caribbean football mogul, Jack Warner, will take charge of CONCACAF for a sixth successive term after being nominated without opposition for the post of president.
Warner, a powerful FIFA vice president and key ally of FIFA president Sepp Blatter, will be formally returned to power at the CONCACAG Congress scheduled for Florida on May 3.
CONCACAF is the continental governing body for football in North, Central America and the Caribbean and is a key voting bloc in FIFA, football's world governing body.
Warner is also Minister of Works in the People's Partnership coalition government of Trinidad and Tobago.
He acted as prime minister twice during the absence of Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bissessar from the country.
Boys champs in Jamaica
Calabar High titan Traves Smikle continued his merry ways at the Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA)/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls' Athletics Championships, smashing his own national junior record, with a mammoth 66.88m heave in the final of the Class-One boys' discus throw at the National Stadium last night.
Smikle, who in the process also erased the old Champs record of 58.86m, which was established last year by his former teammate, Chad Wright, is now the holder of the best throw by a junior in the world this year, bettering Robert Harting's (Germany) 65.94m. It is also the fourth best in history.
Along with teammate Federick Dacres, Smikle registered Calabar's first 16 points of the Champion-ships; good enough for fourth place up to press time.
Kc on 33 points
After three finals, Kingston College are motoring away on 33 points, with Jamaica College in second place on 19. Munro are third on 17 points while defending champions Wolmer's are in fifth place on 14 points.
Smikle, while speaking to The Gleaner after his performance, expressed amazement at the mark and says that he hopes it will inspire other throwers.
"I am deeply amazed and really happy seeing that it's my last year and so my victory is one that I hope will inspire the throwers to come seeing that I left a decent mark," said Smikle. "I expected at least 65m and over, so to get the 66.88m is a real thrill for me."
At press time, KC's Xavier Boland had also set a new mark in the boys' pole vault open, with a 4.46 mark, bettering the old mark of 4.45m set in 2009 by K'Don Samuels.
Akeem Powell (JC) won the Class-Three boys' high jump final ahead of teammate Clayton Brown, both athletes posting 1.85m with KC's Chevon Ramsay picking up the bronze with 1.80m.
There was also hot action in the 100m as favourite Jazeel Murphy strolled into today's second round with a 10.80 clocking with Camperdown's Bernard Brady, 11.00 posting the second-fastest time.
Defending champion Odean Skeen (Wolmer's) didn't appear to be as smooth as he usually is, but he did enough to advance to the next round along with teammate Julian Forte and Munro's Delano Williams.
The Class-Three boys' 100m is one of the most hotly anticipated event at this year's championships and protagonists Michael O'Hara (Calabar) and Rashaad Saunderson (KC) are on a collision course for a hot semi-final and final later today.
O'Hara laid down the challenge with a smooth 11.73 to win his heat while Saunderson replied with a comfortable 11.74 of his own.
TAXES FOR TCI
The 2011 Budget presentation of the Turks and Caicos Islands will be delivered at a meeting of the Consultative Forum scheduled for Tuesday April 5th and it seems like taxes are on the way for TCI residents.
News of this came out of the latest Advisory Council meeting on March 30th. The Council discussed measures to address the need to reform the revenue system and reverse the decline in TCIG’s revenue, while at the same time tackling the unsustainable growth in public expenditure.
Revenue proposals include several temporary measures which will give way in the medium term to the proposed Value Added Tax, whose introduction is expected to provide a stable source of revenue for TCIG.
They include a four percent customs processing fee; an increase in a number of fees and charges to bring them in line with inflation; and sales taxes on water, financial services and insurance premiums.
The 2011/12 expenditure measures include a ten percent reduction in the cost of the public service as a first step towards achieving a 25 percent by 2012/13 and expenditure reductions in a number areas including rents, travel, scholarships and subventions to statutory bodies
The Council supported a recommendation from the Telecommunications Commission for an amendment to the regulations governing the industry to set reduced mobile termination rate (MTR) charges in line with international trends and to make provisions for the Commission to set the MTR charges in the future.
Grace Bay Club wins “Best Beach Getaway” award
Grace Bay Club was awarded the #1 spot in the Top 10 Beach Getaways in the March/April 2011 issue of Virtuoso Life.
While the boutique resort has been honoured many times before, this award is especially important because it is selected by the top travel advisors in the countries largest market, the U.S. The famed hotel is the only property in Turks and Caicos to be included on the prestigious list.
“These things don’t happen overnight,” says Nikheel Advani, Chief Operating Officer and Principal of Grace Bay Resorts. “Receiving such an honor is the culmination of hundreds and hundreds of handmade experiences that our staff continues to create for our guests. This truly puts Grace Bay Club in the same league as the big players such as the Four Seasons and Ritz-Carlton, which gives us great pride being an independently-owned, boutique resort.”
Perched on 11 acres of immaculate beachfront, Grace Bay Club was the first luxury hotel built in Turks and Caicos and has since set the bar for luxury resorts in the region. Founded in 1993, the storied all-suite boutique resort was purchased in 2001 and reintroduced into the luxury market after a $250 million renovation and expansion.
“Its all in the details,” Advani says is the secret to success at the Grace Bay Club. He notes thanks to the devoted staff and vision of developer and owner Mark Durliat each and every detail has made the Grace Bay Club the very special place it is today. “Mark has designed the resort to ensure every facility we have in the resort from the rooms to the swimming pools, the restaurants and the bars are on the most beautiful beach in the world,” he added.
A member of Leading Hotels of the World, Grace Bay Club offers guests a uniquely hands-on travel experience with a focus on luxury and service. A quiet haven for uninterrupted relaxation, the 82-suite resort is divided into two separate sections for discerning travelers of all tastes including: the adults-only Hotel at Grace Bay Club area with private restaurant, bars and swimming pool in addition to the family-friendly Villas at Grace Bay Club with their own restaurant, bar and pool. In February 2009, the resort welcomed The Estate at Grace Bay Club, a collection of 22 lavish residence style accommodations complete with a private infinity pool, poolside cabanas, personal concierge service and gourmet restaurant Krave.
Police Marine Branch in Grand Turk completed
Reconstruction of the jetty and boat launching ramp, at the Police Marine Branch at North Creek in Grand Turk has been completed
The reconstruction of the jetty and boat launching ramp, at the Police Marine Branch, North Creek, Grand Turk, has been completed. Boaters,
anglers and outdoor enthusiasts on the island are now able to utilize a facility which has not been available for some time.
The reconstruction, funded by the Recovery Task Force, was required after the previous ramp one of the most popular that served the area, was
damaged and left requiring repairs after Hurricane Ike in 2008.
The repairs and enhancements, which include changes to the slope of the ramp, make it much easier and safer for boaters to launch and retrieve
their boats. The reconstructed ramp is some 20 feet wide and 66 feet long, made of solid concrete, is set at an appropriate angle (grade), and
the available depth at low tide is up to 3.5 feet.
The renovated facility fully meets the requirements of the Police Marine Branch, and also the wider boating community of Grand Turk; making
launching of boats even faster and safer. The renovated ramp offers improved access to North Creek, a well utilized haven for craft in poor
weather.
The site lies on property owned and managed by the Police Marine Branch.
Members of the public wishing to make use of the new facilities at North Creek should contact Inspector Bacchus at the Marine Branch in Grand Turk
at Telephone no:- (649) 946-2072; Cell no:- (649) 232-2019.