Electric car sales to private buyers fall sharply
Sales of new electric cars to private buyers fell sharply in September compared with the same period a year ago, the latest figures show.
The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders said sales to private buyers fell by 14%, but overall registrations of electric cars rose almost 19%.
The growth was entirely driven by company fleet buyers.
The car market as a whole showed strong growth in September, but sales are still below pre-pandemic levels.
Overall, new car registrations grew by 21% last month compared with the same period in 2022.
September is a good opportunity to gauge the health of the sector, as the issuing of new number plates significantly boosts sales.
It was the 14th consecutive month of growth. The industry has been recovering from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the subsequent shortage of parts - particularly semiconductors - which affected production and the availability of some models.
As with electric cars, the growth in the car market has been driven by company fleets renewing their stock, with registrations up 40%.
Sales to private buyers grew 5%, but the market as a whole remains significantly smaller than it was before the Covid crisis.
For company car drivers, electric cars attract a much lower tax bill than petrol or diesel models, and this has boosted their popularity. However, there are fewer benefits for private buyers.
The Plug-in Car Grant, which provided discounts on the purchase price of EVs and plug-in hybrids was withdrawn last year, while an exemption from vehicle excise duty for electric cars is due to end in 2025.
For manufacturers, this is a serious concern.
The government is pushing ahead with its zero-emissions vehicle mandate, despite its decision to defer a complete ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars from 2030 to 2035.
Under the mandate, manufacturers will be obliged to ensure that by 2030, eight out of 10 cars sold will have to be battery or hydrogen-powered. That will mean a significant increase in sales to private buyers.
"With tougher EV targets for manufacturers coming into force next year, we need to accelerate the transition, encouraging all motorists to make the switch," said the SMMT's chief executive Mike Hawes.
"This means adding carrots to the stick - creating private purchase incentives aligned with business benefits."
Source-BBC
Canada clinch T20 World Cup spot after Bermuda stumble
Bermuda’s worst fears were realized when they stumbled at the final hurdle, as Canada trounced them by 39 runs to clinch their spot in next year’s Twenty20 World Cup in the Caribbean and United States.
In a contest reduced to 18 overs per side due to rain at the National Stadium, Bermuda failed to chase down 133, collapsing to 93 all out in the penultimate over.
Bermuda entered the final fixture of the ICC T20 World Cup Americas Final in pole position after defeating Canada in the tournament opener a week ago and then playing unbeaten to top the table.
However, Canada also played undefeated since their opening loss, while racking up a superior net run rate.
The scenario left Saturday’s game as a do-or-die affair for both teams after Friday’s penultimate round of games was washed out by heavy rains associated with the passage of Tropical Storm Philippe.
Choosing to bat first, Canada battled their way to 132 for four with opener Navneet Dhaliwal top-scoring with 45 from 38 deliveries and Barbadian Nicholas Kirton blasting a ten-ball unbeaten 26.
Dhaliwal, a 34-year-old right-hander, struck four fours and a six as he put on 28 for the first wicket with Aaron Johnson (15), 28 for the second wicket with Pargat Singh (9) and a further 39 for the third wicket with Harsh Thaker (21).
When Dhaliwal perished at the start of the 16th over, Kirton picked up the slack in a cameo comprising a brace of fours and a sixes as he posted 37 in an unbroken fifth wicket partnership with Dillon Heyliger (10 not out), to rally the back end of the innings.
In reply, Bermuda suffered an early setback with the loss of Tre Manders for one in the second over with two runs on the board.
New batsman Terryn Fray, who top-scored with 30 from 35 balls with two fours and two sixes, then led a recovery in a 50-run, second-wicket stand with opener Kamau Leverock who struck a four and a six in a run-a-ball 23.
Once the partnership was broken, however, things fell apart quickly as left-arm pacer Kaleem Sala (3-4) and former Guyana first-class fast bowler Jeremy Gordon (3-6) dismantled the run chase with three-wicket bursts.
Off-spinner Nikhil Dutta supported with two for 16 as Bermuda lost their last nine wickets for 41 runs, Allan Douglas’s 13-ball 22 coming in vain.
Source- CMC
Government and opposition trade words ahead of crucial by-election
The Antigua and Barbuda government and the main opposition United Progressive Party (UPP) were trading allegations ahead of Monday’s Nomination Day for the crucial St Mary’s South constituency that the candidate of the UPP had won in the January 18 general elections this year.
The by-election will be held on October 24.
Kelvin ‘Shugy’ Simon, who stepped down in a bid to thwart efforts by the ruling Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party (ABLP) to challenge his victory at the general election, will again be the UPP’s candidate, while economist Dwayne George, a former UPP member, is the ABLP’s candidate.
There are expected to be several other candidates, but political observers say the contest will be a fight between the candidates of the two main parties Prime Minister Gaston Browne had led the ABLP to a nail-biting victory in the January 18 general elections, winning nine of the 17 seats for a third consecutive term in office.
In a statement, the Office of the Prime Minister said it had “discovered that operatives within the Opposition have become so desperate…that they have gone about creating a fake profile” of the prime minister and “using foul language and an unusual photo to vilify, slander and libel the Prime Minister”.
The statement said that the opposition has created the “fake profile in the hopes of persuading youthful electors, the people who are most likely to consume the on-line trashy material which the specific website offers, to reduce their faith in the very successful nine-year tenure of Prime Minister Browne.
“Those operatives are hoping to swing youthful voters away from the growing support won over by the ABLP candidate for St. Mary’s South, by diminishing the high standard that has characterized the Prime Minister’s appeal,” the statement said, adding that “the fake profile has been reported to the appropriate website and it is expected that it will shortly be taken down”.
But in a statement, the UPP said that it “views with contempt the latest effort of Prime Minister Gaston Browne to gain the support of the people of Antigua and Barbuda: by claiming to be the cyber victim of Opposition operatives”.
The party said that it has “no need to resort to such low tactics to disgrace the Prime Minister, when, singlehandedly, in his recent unhinged rants and unprecedented solipsism…he brought his position and the office into disrepute.
“The Prime Minister would be better advised to look within his own camp, where there is so much dissatisfaction among his comrades, for the real culprit behind this fake profile. Otherwise, he has the resources of the police at his disposal to investigate this alleged offence,” the opposition party said.
It said it has “absolutely no need to descend into the gutter politics of PM Browne,” adding “rather, it is “satisfied with, and proud of, the campaign” run by the candidate and the party “and we are confident that the voters in the upcoming by-election-will make the right choice based on performance and character”.
Source-CMC
Commonwealth launches new handbook to help countries address debt transparency issues
The London-based Commonwealth Secretariat says it has launched a new debt transparency handbook that offers member governments a clear road map to align their public debt operations with international standards.
It said that by using the guidelines in the handbook, governments can have accurate and reliable information about their debt obligations, enabling them to make informed economic decisions that ultimately will be beneficial to their citizens.
In addition, enhanced transparency will allow lenders to have full information before extending further loans while holding governments more accountable, reducing uncertainty for investors, and boosting market confidence.
Speaking at the virtual launch of the “Handbook on Public Debt Transparency,” Commonwealth Secretary-General, Patricia Scotland KC, described the publication as a practical guide for debt managers, highlighting that inflation has significantly changed public debt from concessional financing to more expensive loans.
“Achieving debt transparency can be a challenging task, but it is essential for debt sustainability. It’s for this reason we have developed this handbook to guide debt managers through the various standards and how those can be applied within their local contexts to achieve more transparent, open, and accountable public debt management while mitigating potential risks. Now is the time for proactive implementation.”
She said that 32 Commonwealth countries are carrying debt-to-GDP (gross domestic products) burdens of over 60 percent, adding that “managing these unsustainable debt levels hampers the capacity of governments to invest in essential social services for their citizens”.
Drawing upon the Commonwealth Secretariat’s 40 years of experience in debt management and recognized good practices, the handbook provides officials with an easy-to-use self-assessment tool to evaluate the transparency of their debt operations, including transactions, terms and conditions.
Where necessary, the assessment outlines specific measures that countries can take to address any shortcomings in accordance with national commitments and international standards.
The handbook also consolidates expert advice from a range of sectors, including national debt management offices and international financial institutions, to offer insights into what constitutes good practices for transparency in debt collection, recording, reporting, and servicing.
The handbook also consolidates expert advice from a range of sectors, including national debt management offices and international financial institutions, to offer insights into what constitutes good practices for transparency in debt collection, recording, reporting, and servicing.
The Secretariat said that the handbook outlines actionable steps that countries can take to ensure they cover all government liabilities, maintain accurate data records, provide consistent reports, and share information effectively with stakeholders.
Senior Director of the Commonwealth Secretariat’s Economic, Youth and Sustainable Development, Dr Ruth Kattumuri, said the launch of the handbook is timely in light of the various global shocks causing debt distress in many developing nations.
“Our handbook outlines public debt management principles for disseminating timely, comprehensive, accurate, accessible, and intelligible debt data reporting, policies, and operations to enhance debt transparency practices.
Source-CMC
“This enhanced transparency is important because it not only helps countries address the unsustainable levels of public debt but also allows them to make full use of the borrowed funds to improve social services, support efficient fiscal management, raise living standards and achieve sustainable and resilient development,” she added.
The handbook is part of a package of resources developed by the Commonwealth Secretariat’s Debt Management Unit to support countries in strengthening their debt management systems, including Meridian, which is being used by 47 countries.
Regulator sues Musk to force testimony in X probe
Financial regulators in the US are suing Elon Musk after the billionaire said he would no longer cooperate with its investigation into his purchase of Twitter, now known as X.
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) asked a federal court to order him to comply with their request that he sit for a third session of testimony about the deal.
The move to sue followed the receipt of a letter from a lawyer for Mr Musk, which said he refused to appear as requested.
It accused the SEC of "harassment".
"Unchecked government action is dangerous and the record here is troubling. Mr Musk declines to acquiesce in the Commission's incursions and therefore refuses to appear as you demand," lawyer Alex Spiro wrote.
The lawsuit is the latest feud between the SEC and Mr Musk, who once declared on national television that he had "no respect" for the regulator.
The SEC launched its investigation of Mr Musk's $44bn purchase of X last year.
The filing in San Francisco federal court said the agency is probing whether his 2022 stock purchases before he bought the company outright and statements he made about those investments broke securities laws.
Mr Musk participated in two half-days of testimony via video conference in July, after he was subpoenaed, the SEC said. The agency said another session was necessary because nearly half of the documents it had received regarding the case came in after those meetings.
A letter from Mr Musk's attorney to the agency shared as part of the exhibit, said it was "unclear why the staff requires further time diverting Mr Musk from his significant obligations to companies and shareholders...Enough is enough".
The SEC has locked horns with Mr Musk before.
In 2018, it charged him with defrauding investors by claiming in a Tweet that he had "funding secured" to take Tesla, the electric car company he leads, private.
He later settled the charges, stepping down as chairman of the firm's board and agreeing to accept what was dubbed a Twitter sitter - limits on what he could write on social media about the company.
Mr Musk has repeatedly gone to court to have those limits removed, including most recently in February.
Separately, a judge in New York ruled this week that Mr Musk must face a lawsuit from former Twitter investors who claim he defrauded former shareholders by failing to promptly disclose his share purchases, but an insider trading claim was dismissed.
Source-BBC
Simone Biles wins sixth world title, becomes most decorated gymnast in history
Simone Biles has made gymnastics history.
On Friday, the gymnastics superstar, 26, won her 27th world championship medal when she earned the gold for the individual all-around title at the world championships in Antwerp, Belgium, with a score of 58.399 in the women's all-around. The win was her sixth all-around title, the most in history (man or woman).
In competition Sunday, Biles tacked on three more medals with a gold performance on the balance beam and gold in her floor routine, plus a silver on vault.
"Ten years ago I won my first worlds so it was emotional. It means everything to me, the fight, everything that I've put in to get back to this place, feel comfortable and confident enough to compete," Biles said after the competition.
Biles has won a record 37 world and Olympic medals, making her the most decorated gymnast in history.
Shilese Jones, Biles' Team USA teammate, earned bronze in the women's all-around category while Rebeca Andrade of Brazil won silver.
Source-ABC
Gabrielle Union on why waiting to become a mom was "worth it" for her
Gabrielle Union is opening up about becoming a mom to daughter Kaavia [Kah-Vee-Uh] at the age of 46.
The Bring It On actress, now 50, recently shared a video to Instagram in which she responded to those who ask her if it's worth it to have kids later in life.
"There's a lot that goes into that answer, but in a nutshell, hell yeah it's been worth it," she began. "It's changed my life in so many wondrous ways that it does make me wish I had done it earlier just so I have even more time with Kaav, I have even more time as a mom."
Union said that Kaavia, her 4-year-old daughter with Dwyane Wade, came at the right time for her.
"For me, I became a mom at the right time because I was healed and I had committed to healing eternally, so I didn't pass all that generational trauma onto Kaav," she continued. "I wasn't in a place to even take care of myself [before], much less our little miracle, so for me it's absolutely worth it."
Union ended her video calling Kaavia "the best thing that's ever happened to me.
Source-ABC
PUBLIC FORECAST FOR THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS
GENERAL SITUATION: A WEAK PRESSURE PATTERN WILL MAINTAIN LIGHT TO GENTLE BREEZES TODAY, WHILE A DRIER AIRMASS OVER THE AREA WILL LIMIT SHOWER ACTIVITY.
ALL AREAS
WEATHER: PARTLY SUNNY WITH ISOLATED SHOWERS POSSIBLE IN THE AFTERNOON…FAIR TONIGHT
WINDS: LIGHT AND VARIABLE, LESS THAN 10 KNOTS
SEAS: 3 FEET OR LESS
DAYTIME HIGH TEMPERATURE 90°F 32°C
OVERNIGHT LOW TEMPERATURE 77°F 25°C
SUNSET: 6:32 PM
NEXT LOW TIDE: 2:07 PM (2.6 FT)
NEXT HIGH TIDE: 8:48 PM (1.0 FT)
EXTENDED FORECAST FOR THE NEXT TWO DAYS: WEAK HIGH PRESSURE WILL GRADUALLY BUILD ACROSS THE FORECAST AREA MAINTAINING FAIR WEATHER CONDITIONS.
NO SYSTEMS ARE NEAR THE TURKS & CAICOS, WE ARE HOWEVER MONITORING OTHER SYSTEMS OFF THE COAST OF AFRICA.
Attacks in Israel
At least 700 people have died and over 2,000 have been injured in Israel and hundreds more fatalities have been reported in Gaza after rockets were fired from Gaza into Israel by Hamas militants over the weekend, Israeli authorities said.
The Palestinian Health Ministry said 370 are dead and 2,200 others are injured in Gaza. The Israeli Defense Forces have declared “a state of alert for war,” according to a statement issued by the IDF.
The Israeli government has also confirmed that several civilians and soldiers have been taken hostage.
Early Saturday morning, in a surprise attack, Palestinian militants fired at least 2,200 rockets toward Israel, the IDF said. Hamas claimed at least 5,000 rockets were fired, all landing in southern and central Israel.
The U.S. is sending a carrier strike group to the eastern Mediterranean to bolster deterrence in the region and “will be rapidly providing the Israel Defense Forces with additional equipment and resources, including munitions," according to a statement from Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Sunday.
President Joe Biden spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday and informed him the U.S. was providing “additional assistance for the Israeli Defense Forces” was already on its way “with more to follow over the coming days,” according to the White House.
Biden delivered an address Saturday afternoon condemning the “unconscionable” actions by Hamas over the weekend, which coincided with the 50th anniversary of the Yom Kippur War.
House Speaker Pro Tempore Patrick McHenry tweeted, in part, “the vicious attack on our most sacred ally by Hamas terrorists cannot stand.” Both Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell released statements condemning Hamas and supporting Israel.
New Jersey Senator Corey Booker was actually in Jerusalem at the time of the initial attacks but was able to safely depart on Sunday.
Source-ABC
US moves warships closer to Israel after Hamas attack
The US says it is moving an aircraft carrier, ships, and jets to the eastern Mediterranean and will also give Israel additional equipment and ammunition.
It follows the Hamas attack on southern Israel, which President Biden called an "unprecedented and appalling assault".
The US was also working to verify reports its citizens were among those killed and taken captive, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said.
Israel says more than 700 people have been killed and 100 kidnapped.
In Gaza, more than 400 people have been killed following retaliatory Israeli air strikes, according to Palestinian officials.
US defense secretary Lloyd Austin said the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier, a missile cruiser, and four missile destroyers were heading to the region. US fighter jets would also be sent.
Further military aid to Israel would be sent in the coming days, the White House said, adding that the US was working to ensure that Israel's enemies would not try to seek advantage from the situation.
Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi has expressed support for the Hamas attack, saying Israel needed to be held to account for endangering the region.
Hamas has said assistance from Iran helped it carry out its attack, which involved rockets, drones, and militants on paragliders and saw hundreds of fighters break through Israeli border fortifications around the Gaza Strip.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the US had not seen evidence of direct Iranian involvement, but that Iran had been helping the Gaza-based group for years.
"Hamas wouldn't be Hamas without the support that it's gotten over many years from Iran. We haven't yet seen direct evidence that Iran was behind this particular attack or involved. But the support over many years is clear," he told US TV.
At a UN Security Council meeting, Iran denied involvement in the attack on Israel, Reuters reported.
Source-BBC