Boeing checks 787 Dreamliners for wing cracks
Boeing is checking Dreamliner planes being produced in the US for potential "hairline cracks" in their wings.
The move came after Japanese supplier Mitsubishi Heavy Industries warned Boeing that a change in its manufacturing process may cause cracks.
Boeing said the issue may affect nearly 40 planes and there may be "some delays in deliveries".
However, it added that it was confident "the issue does not exist in the in-service fleet".
"The affected areas are very small and the time required to address the issue will vary between one and two weeks," the company said in a statement.
"There may be some delays in deliveries, but we expect no impact to 2014 delivery guidance."
The firm's shares fell 1% in after-hours trading on the news.
The 787 Dreamliner is considered to be one of the most advanced planes in the industry. However, the jet has been hit by a series of issues.
Last year, its entire fleet in operation was grounded by regulators amid safety concerns.
If followed a fire that broke out in one of Japan Airlines' 787 Dreamliners, and a battery fault which forced an All Nippon Airways (ANA) flight to make an emergency landing.
The planes have since been given the permission to fly again and Boeing has redesigned the battery system. However, the precise cause of the problem was never conclusively proved.
The plane has also suffered other issues over the past few months.
In July last year, a fire broke out on a 787 jet operated by Ethiopian Airlines while it was parked at London's Heathrow Airport. It was traced to the upper rear part of the plane where a locator transmitter is placed.
In August, ANA said it had found damage to the battery wiring on two 787 locator transmitters during checks.
US carrier United Airlines also found a pinched wire during an inspection of one of its six 787s.
Later in the year, one of the two engine-protecting anti-ice systems failed on a jet operated by Japan Airlines.
Despite these issues, the plane continues to remain popular and Boeing has received orders for more than 950 jets since its launch.
The aircraft-maker has forecast sales of 3,300 planes by the year 2030.
Source-BBC
Trini hotels score big with Carnival
Major hotels and guest houses in and around Port of Spain, Trinidad were booked solid for the Carnival season.
The staff at the Hyatt Regency hotel, Capital Plaza, Carlton Savannah and several smaller guest houses said they had no room to spare.
Neema Persad-Celestine, marketing manager at the Hyatt Regency, Port of Spain, in a brief telephone interview, said they had reached their occupancy levels.
"The hotel has 428 rooms. We are fully booked for the Carnival period and it is similar to what we did last year."
She added that some of the rooms were double occupancy so that the average number of guests this Carnival season was at least 856 people.
"It may be more than that because we also have a triple occupancy rate so some people may have also booked triple occupancy rate," she added.
Calls to the reservations desk at Capital Plaza yielded similar results.
"We have a total of 243 rooms, all of which were booked for the Carnival season," an employee said.
Things were not much different at the Carlton Savannah where employees said all of their 120 rooms, which are double occupancy were booked. This, they said, meant that they would be servicing approximately 240 guests over the Carnival period.
And while Hilton Trinidad said they could not divulge information on their occupancy status, calls to smaller guest houses found them singing the same tune as the hotels who gave information on their reservations -- all their rooms were booked.
Monique's Guest House was one such guest house. With a total of 20 rooms, all of them were grabbed up by visitors to the island for the Carnival season.
A brief telephone interview with head of corporate communications at Caribbean Airlines, Clint Williams, confirmed the influx of travellers to the island for this year's Carnival celebrations. He described the trends as "very positive".
"Travel into the island from key ports of New York, Miami and Toronto were very strong. We put on additional flights particularly on New York, all of which were quickly picked up by passengers in the system and the trend looks to be an increase year over year, not an increase I can put numbers to right now but we have seen an increase."
Among the thousands of foreign arrivals were several well-known American celebrities, including Tahiry Jose, star of VH1's reality show Love & Hip Hop New York; actor and writer Anthony Anderson, actor, screenwriter, producer and director Damien Dante Wayans; writer, television producer, director and actor Craig Wayans; Salim Akil, an executive from Sony, and Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt.
LIAT Airlines cutting unprofitable routes
The regional airline, LIAT, says it will take “decisive action” to deal with unprofitable routes as the Antigua-based airline seeks to make its operations financially variable.
“We have been trying, before going the harsh route, to persuade people to invest. We have met with a number of governments and Prime Ministers... we have expressed to them that we will have no other option but to cut the service,” LIAT chairman Jean Holder told a news conferenceThursday evening.
“I think we have reached the point, after a lot of challenges, where we need to do as we say that we will do. That may after all be more effective than the persuasion route,” Holder said after a meeting of the shareholder governments.
“We’ll have to take a very hard look at our current schedules and the profitability of our current routes. We have brought in some experts to assist us in looking more deeply into the route analysis issues, but it is clear that LIAT cannot continue to provide essential social services to 21 countries in the Caribbean on a daily basis, offering close to 1 000 flights weekly, and only four countries put any funds into this operation,” said Holder.
Holder said that this would involve reshaping the routing system in a way that would ensure there is no longer an abundance of social routes at the expense of commercial operations.
In October 2012, then chief executive officer of LIAT, Ian Brunton, had warned that the cash-strapped airline would soon be dropping at least eight routes deemed to be consistently unprofitable.
He said that the situation would only change if the airline, whose major shareholders are Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica and St Vincent, was able to secure some kind of support from affected governments.
Holder said that the company has taking the stance that it needs to be more professional and implement the changes needed to keep the airline on an even keel.
St Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves, who is also chairman of shareholder governments, told reporters he had been putting public pressure on his counterparts across the region, particularly from those countries that benefit considerably from the operations of the airline.
“We’ve not been putting the same pressure on Dr Keith Mitchell of Grenada because I know he has just come into office... and is trying to sort himself out... We give him a break, but he too has to come to the table,” said Gonsalves.
He said that the existing contributing countries were not immune to the ravages of the global economic meltdown but, since 2008, had been demonstrating their commitment to the region.
“Despite the stresses and strains, we have come up with significant monies and I am sure that that is a factor which some governments, who have not put in, will bear in mind.
“But I also think that because some governments have [received] a free ride for such a long time... it’s always better for someone to have a free ride that for them to pay for the ride,” Gonsalves said.
The prime minister said Holder and acting chief executive officer Julie Reifer-Jones had made presentations to the meeting which outlined a plan for sustainable recovery of the airline, as well as an immediate programme for implementation.
LIAT said it would employ an expert to assess the unprofitable routes which would not only entail cutting, but rescheduling or reviewing them.
Source-CMC
UN Says Almost All Muslims Have Fled C.A.R. Capital
The United Nation's humanitarian chief says almost the entire Muslim population of the capital of the Central African Republic has fled after a campaign of violence by largely Christian militias.
U.N. Emergency Relief Coordinator Valerie Amos says about 900 Muslims remain in Bangui. That is less than one percent of the original population of more than 100,000.
Amos said Friday in Geneva that the demography of the C.A.R. is changing. Other cities in the western part of the country have seen a similar exodus of Muslims.
Amos said the U.N. hopes to work with the government to target two to four cities to make sure they retain a mixed population.
"We have to set ourselves some relatively modest tasks to achieve in the short term, just to give people a sense of stability. And I think if we are able, for example, to do that in two, three, four areas of the country where you still have mixed communities, and where you can demonstrate that people can continue to live together, side by side, in a degree of peace and harmony, that that would be a really good message for the Central African Republic right now," said Amos.
Chaos erupted in the C.A.R. last year when mainly Muslim rebels toppled the government. The rebels looted, raped and murdered civilians, giving rise to equally brutal militias made up largely of Christians and animists who have attacked Muslim civilians.
The fighting has killed tens of thousands and left hundreds of thousands homeless and fleeing for their lives.
On Thursday, U.N. High commissioner for Refugees, Antonio Guterres said the world is effectively witnessing a "cleansing" of the majority of the Muslim population in western C.A.R. He said most of the Muslims who remain in the region are under permanent threat.
U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has said that he is concerned the violence in the C.A.R. could lead to the country being partitioned.
Ban proposes sending a 12,000-member peacekeeping force to the country.
Sixteen-hundred French soldiers already are in the C.A.R., along with 6,000 African Union troops.
Source-VOA
Israel Willing to Give Up Settlements for Peace
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel would give up some settlements in a peace deal with the Palestinians.
In an interview taped for broadcast with Israel's Channel 2 television, Mr. Netanyahu said it is clear some settlements will not be part of an agreement and everyone understands that.
The prime minister said he will make sure that the number of settlements is as small as possible. He also said Jerusalem will remain under Israeli control.
The Palestinians want east Jerusalem as the capital of a future state.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas Friday refused to recognize Israel as a Jewish state -- one of Mr. Netanyahu's major demands for a peace deal.
Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary John Kerry met with Jordan's King Abdullah in Aqaba to talk about the Middle East peace process talks. No details of their talks have been released.
Russia Has About 20,000 Troops in Ukraine
The Pentagon estimates there are now about 20,000 Russian troops in Ukraine, as East-West tensions simmer over Russia's intervention in Ukraine's Crimean peninsula.
Rear Admiral John Kirby says Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel spoke with Ukrainian Defense Minister Ihor Tenyuh on Friday and discussed humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.
Meanwhile, the State Department also confirmed Secretary of State John Kerry spoke Friday over the phone with his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, as the Obama administration moves to impose sanctions on Russia.
The White House says President Barack Obama told Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin Thursday that Moscow's actions in Ukraine violate that country's sovereignty.
It was the first known direct contact between the leaders since Russian military personnel appeared in the Ukrainian territory last Saturday.
Source-VOA
Ukraine Base Under Seige in Crimea
Armed men smashed a Russian military truck through the gates of a Ukrainian missile defense post in the Crimean peninsula.
The men negotiated with the base's commanders as soldiers sheltered in their barracks Friday. No shots have been reported.
Earlier Friday, Ukraine's Interim President Oleksandr Turchynov signed a decree canceling a planned referendum on Crimea joining Russia.
A day earlier,Crimea's Moscow-backed legislature voted for the peninsula to become part of Russia and scheduled a referendum on the issue for March 16.
Ukraine's interim prime minister says that "no one in the civilized world" will recognize the referendum's results.
Arseniy Yatsenyuk says he wants to "warn separatists" and others he describes as "traitors of the Ukrainian state" that their decisions are "unlawful" and "unconstitutional." U.S. and European leaders also called the referendum illegal.
Crimean officials fired back Friday, saying the vote will go forward.
Source-VOA
Kenyan President, Cabinet Take Pay Cuts
Kenya's president says that he and his Cabinet will take pay cuts as part of austerity measures to reduce the government's wages.
President Uhuru Kenyatta said Friday that he and his deputy will take a 20 percent pay cut while his Cabinet and principal secretaries have agreed to reduce their pay by 10 percent.
President Kenyatta and Deputy President William Ruto make over $150,000 per year, while Cabinet secretaries make $110,00 per year.
The salaries of Kenya's top government officials and lawmakers have sparked anger and protests among poor Kenyans and activists for years.
Mr. Kenyatta said that he is also implementing a new policy to restrict the international travel of government officials to only essential trips.
He said Kenya is spending close to $4.6 billion in salaries each year, leaving only $2.3 billion for development.
Source-VOA
“VIOLENT CRIMES IN THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS WILL NOT BE TOLERATED” - PREMIER EWING
The Premier has decried the few recent acts of violent crimes that have been committed in the community of Providenciales, making it clear that “it will not be tolerated” and that law enforcement and the judicial system must “throw the book” at the offenders.
This statement followed the murder of local businessman, Mr. Robert Been, at his place of business in the Grace bay area sometime after eight o’clock last evening.
The Premier has condemned this latest act as being “cowardly” and “brutal,” stating, that “Even though we still boast one of the lowest crime rates in the Caribbean, these recent incidents of violent crimes, are totally unacceptable. Not only are we destroying the lives of our citizens, we are also potentially destroying the reputation of our beloved country in the international arena and damaging our bread basket tourism industry all at the same time. As Premier, I will ensure that the necessary resources at our disposal are made available to fight crime and in this vein I am calling on the Governor, the Commissioner of Police, the Judiciary and on you, the residents of our islands, let us all do our part and work together in the prevention and detection of crime and the conviction of the offenders. Together we must ensure that our country remains the safe haven that it is known to be.”
The Premier encouraged members of the community who have information that may assist the Police in their investigations, to come forward, and further stated "My Government continues to beseech the UK Government to also do their part in the fight against crime."
Premier Ewing extended condolences and deepest sympathies to the family and friends of the late Mr. Robert Been Sr. on behalf of the Government of The Turks and Caicos Islands and said "May God be your source of strength during your period of bereavement. Our country grieves with you".
Fatal shooting of a businessman in Grace Bay
The Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force (RTCIPF) are investigating the death of a man following a report of multiple shots heard being fired in the vicinity of a business place last night.
At approximately 7:57PM (Tuesday 4th March 2014), police and emergency services were called to Turkoise Point Plaza on Sand Castle Road in Grace Bay following reports of a shooting.
47 year old Robert Been, was taken to Cheshire Hall Medical Centre in a private vehicle suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Despite efforts of doctors, they were unable to revive Mr. Been and he was pronounced dead at 8:30PM.
Police established a crime scene around the perimeter of Turkoise Point Plaza, which was examined by specialist forensic officers.
Police officers from various units are conducting investigations into the shooting and have not arrested any suspects at present.
Police are urging anyone with information about this incident to call Crime Stoppers on 1-800-8477 or use the Crime Stoppers online reporting page: www.crimestoppers.tc. Information you provide will be treated in the strictest of confidence. All calls are answered by Miami Dade Police and no one from the RTCIPF will know who called. Only the information received will be provided to the RTCIPF. We remind people they should not report crime information via our Facebook and Twitter pages.