CAL, Fly Jamaica denied US rejects Fly Jamaica, CAL bids for direct Guyana-New York flights
The US Government has denied applications by Fly Jamaica and Caribbean Airlines Limited (CAL) to offer direct flights between Georgetown, Guyana and New York.
"By this order we deny the requests of Fly Jamaica Airways Limited, a foreign air carrier of Jamaica, and Caribbean Airlines Limited, a foreign air carrier of Trinidad and Tobago... for extrabilateral authority to conduct seventh-freedom combination turnaround services between New York, New York (JFK), and Georgetown, Guyana," the US Department of Transportation (DOT) said in its ruling this week.
The regional carriers filed appications for the route in July, declaring that there was underserviced demand for direct transportation between the two locations.
Both airlines already offer services between Georgetown and New York services, but no direct flights. CAL provides a New York-Georgetown service— with Georgetown as an authorised intermediate/behind point — on two flights; a Port of Spain-Georgetown-New York routing, and the other flight via Georgetown-Port of Spain- New York.
CAL cited its market share and load factors on its current flights in its application, contending that if permitted to operate "seventh-freedom turnaround" New York-Georgetown services, it can eliminate the unproductive Port of Spain-Georgetown segment, allowing it to increase its frequency, market share, and load factors, while potentially reducing fares on the New York-Georgetown route. The airline, which stated that it has been granted flag-carrier status from Guyana, also noted that its proposed service would not impact US carriers, as there is currently no US carrier offering a similar service
Fly Jamaica in its application, also asserted that there is sufficient demand for New York- Guyana services and that no US carrier currently serves the New York-Georgetown market. The airline added as well that it has been designated as a flag carrier of Guyana.
The Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) and Airlines for America (A4A) had both filed objections to the applications of Fly Jamaica and CAL, urging DOT to reject the requests.
Both groups argued that the airlines' requests were extrabilateral and that CAL's operations are being subsidised by the government of Trinidad and Tobago, asserting that such a foreign subsidy would impede the ability of US carriers to compete.
Source-Jamaica Observer.Business
Swiss regulator investigates banks over foreign exchange deals
Switzerland's financial regulator is investigating possible manipulation of foreign exchange rates at several Swiss financial institutions.
The regulator, FINMA, said several banks, including some from outside Switzerland, could be implicated.
It is coordinating the investigation closely with authorities in other countries.
It would give no further details on the investigations or the banks potentially involved.
Swiss Banking, the group that represents the nation's banks, said it had no further information.
The Swiss announcement follows reports in June that the British regulator, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), was looking into whether traders manipulated benchmark foreign-exchange rates to increase profits.
This followed an investigation by Bloomberg News that found that dealers shared information and used client orders to move the rates.
The FCA, which does not announce its investigations, only its enforcement actions, said: "We are aware of the allegations and we have been speaking to relevant parties."
London is by far the world's biggest market for foreign currency trading, with 41% of global turnover, according to the Bank for International Settlements.
New York has a 19% share, followed by Singapore, Tokyo and Hong Kong.
Switzerland accounts for 3.2% of foreign exchange trading.
2,000 local and foreign reps for 2014 competitiveness forum in T&T
Trinidad and Tobago will host about 2,000 foreign and local public and private sector representatives in Port of Spain when the country holds the Americas Competitiveness Forum (ACF) next year.
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar made the announcement yesterday at the transition ceremony of the Inter-American Competitive Network in Panama City, Panama.
She said the forum in 2014 in Trinidad and Tobago will host “some of the most influential public and private sector representatives from the Americas”. She said the ACF had become “the Western Hemisphere’s preeminent event for government and business leaders to discuss innovative methods to achieve economic competitiveness and promote innovation in our hemisphere”.
“Our expectation is that we will host 2,000 delegates comprising 1,500 international and regional participants and 500 from Trinidad and Tobago,” Persad-Bissessar added.
She said education was of special significance to us in Trinidad and Tobago “where we are investing in training a workforce that would be ready to face the challenges of the 21st century where globalisation has redefined the rules of trade and opened greater opportunities for even small states like ours”.
“When we meet in Port of Spain next year, we will continue what we have started and deal with the human imagination at work and how this is driving competitiveness and powering innovation,” she added.
Cabinet has set the dates for the eighth ACF as October 8 to 10, 2014.
“Our conference facilities are comparable with the best in the hemisphere. But even more important, coming to Port of Spain would be an opportunity to immerse yourself in our cultural mosaic that is a microcosm of our world,” Persad-Bissessar said.
“We are two islands that offer the luxuries and facilities of a bustling metropolis on the one hand, and serenity and relaxation on the other. We stand side by side, gems of the Caribbean Sea, an outstanding model to the world of harmony in diversity.”
Persad-Bissessar returns to Trinidad this afternoon.
London seeks talks with Howai over THA budget allocation
Tobago House of Assembly (THA) Chief Secretary Orville London is seeking an urgent meeting with Finance Minister Larry Howai to “discuss financing options that must now be explored” in light of the $2.4 billion allocation provided to the THA in the 2014 national budget.
A statement from the THA on Wednesday said London wrote to Howai, stating that with the recent passage of the Appropriation Bill (2014) and with no amendments made with respect to the THA allocation, he wished to “reiterate my concerns over the said allocation”.
London added: “This concern relates to several recurrent and development programme issues, but particularly to the financing of our major ongoing capital projects.”
He said the financing options were necessary to ensure major projects in Tobago were not stalled during the fiscal year, for lack of appropriate funding.
“Indeed, a failure to address this matter can have quite deleterious consequences for the performance of the Tobago economy in the coming months,” he said.
London told the weekly post-Executive Council media briefing on Wednesday that Howai has always treated the assembly with respect, and he was hoping the meeting would be held before October 24, when the allocation will be discussed at the plenary sitting of the assembly.
The assembly had requested an allocation of $4.95 billion for the year.
Derrick Rose aggressive in return
Chicago Bulls star point guard Derrick Rose returned to the court Saturday night after missing the past 17 months while recovering from knee surgery, scoring 13 points in 20 minutes in an 82-76 victory against the Indiana Pacers in both teams' preseason opener.
Rose, the 2010-11 league MVP, looked comfortable on the floor and happy to be back with his teammates as he displayed his trademark speed at various points throughout the game, including a breakaway dunk early in the third quarter.
"I've been preparing myself for this moment for a year and a half now," Rose said after the game. "So just getting prepared for this and continue to go out there and know how blessed I am to be stepping back on the court again, especially with these guys that dedicated their whole summer to trying to make this team better. I'm fortunate to be on this team and blessed to be in this organization and playing for Thibs [coach Tom Thibodeau] and the coaching staff."
The feeling is mutual within the Bulls organization. Thibodeau was pleased to see Rose back on the floor and was happy with the 25-year-old's effort.
"It was good to have him back for sure," Thibodeau said. "I think you see how he makes the game easier for everybody. And the speed with which he plays, you got to get accustomed to that, too. His teammates have to get used to it again. He has to get used to it. But overall I thought he played very, very well. Some rust, but that's to be expected. But you could see as each minute went by he got more and more comfortable, and he ran the team great."
Rose acknowledged throughout the week that he thought he'd have some rust, and he was right. He turned over the ball four times and seemed a little out of sync at times.
The good news for the Bulls is that Rose showed no hesitation while going to the rim. He attacked the basket the same way he did before the injury and didn't back down when Pacers center Roy Hibbert stood in front.
Rafael Nadal reclaims No. 1 ranking
Rafael Nadal has been No. 1 in the world rankings before. In two stints, in fact.
But it's safe to say getting to top spot for a third time is a little extra special for the Spaniard.
When Nadal reached the final of the China Open in Beijing, he was guaranteed of overtaking Novak Djokovic when the rankings are released Monday. The exclamation point for Nadal would be beating the defending champion in Sunday's title match.
"(This is) a great year, one of the best years of my career without any doubt," Nadal said on the ATP Tour's official website after Saturday's semifinal opponent Tomas Berdych retired due to a back injury at 4-2 down in the opening set.
"It sure is special be back to the top position of the rankings after more than a half year without playing tennis. I worked hard every day with the right attitude I think, and because of that, I am today in this situation. I am number one today, but it's not (assured) for the end of the season."
Not many, including Nadal, could have seen this coming.
Last year, he suffered a shock second-round loss at Wimbledon and went on to miss seven months with a knee injury.
There were whispers that he might never return to the tennis tour.
He did, however, come back and since then has been almost unstoppable, capturing two majors in 2013 to lift his tally to 13 -- a mere four behind men's record-holder Roger Federer.
"I won't go to sleep tonight feeling that I am the best player of the world. That's something that I never thought, and I don't think that now today," said Nadal. "I played a very complete season, and that's why I am the best in the rankings today."
The 27-year-old's record stands at a dazzling 65-3, meaning he's on course to put together one of the finest seasons ever in terms of winning percentage.
Nadal suffered a first-round loss at Wimbledon this year to Steve Darcis amid speculation his famous knees were bothering him again.
With his form uncertain heading into the US Open Series, though, Nadal captured the Canadian Masters in Montreal and Cincinnati Masters before finishing his North American road trip with an emphatic win at the U.S. Open.
There he downed Djokovic.
Whereas the Australian Open champion once owned a seven-match winning streak against Nadal, he has now lost six of their last seven tussles.
The Serbian reached the China final for the fourth time in five years after beating French fifth seed Richard Gasquet 6-4 6-2 in Saturday's second semifinal, and will be seeking to add to his titles from 2009, 2010 and last year.
Nadal won the tournament back in 2005, the year after it was reinstated to the ATP Tour calendar.
The only major tournament Nadal hasn't won -- apart from his majors, he possesses an Olympic gold in singles and has won multiple Davis Cups -- is the ATP's year-end championships.
But he'll likely be the favorite for the November event in London.
Although Djokovic relinquished his No. 1 ranking -- he has held it for 101 non-consecutive weeks -- he will lead Serbia when it faces the Czech Republic in the following Davis Cup final.
Source-CNN
FIFA World Cup Trophy travels to the Caribbean
This is it! The coveted FIFA World Cup Trophy is in Jamaica this weekend.
The official unveiling will take place later Sunday evening.
The Trophy arrived in Jamaica Saturday on the FIFA World Cup Trophy Tour, sponsored by Coca-Cola.
The trophy will journey to the Turks & Caicos Islands on Saturday September 13,2013 and will be on display at Club Med on the 14th September 2013.
World Cup 2014 will be held in Brazil.
US take command over Internationals President Cup
The United States have built up a five-point lead over the International team at a storm-affected Presidents Cup at Muirfield Village, Ohio.
The hosts won four of Saturday's five fourball matches and the only foursomes match to be completed to open a 11½-6½ lead as rain again interrupted play.
Four foursomes matches need completing on Sunday before the concluding 12 singles matches.
The US need six of 16 points available to win for the fifth time in a row.
"It's not over," Internationals captain Nick Price said. "We've still got a lot of golf to play."
The singles matches have been shifted to the morning in an effort to try and escape the storms which are expected to return in the afternoon and have delayed play on the previous three days.
Saturday's play started with the completion of four of Friday's foursomes and both sides collected two points to leave the US with a one-point lead at 6½-5½.
The hosts then dominated the five fourball matches with Bill Haas and Webb Simpson completing a 4&3 win over Argentina's Angel Cabrera and Branden Grace of South Africa.
Birdies from Haas at the sixth and ninth and Simpson at the seventh and 10th helped them to win their match.
Americans Keegan Bradley and Phil Mickelson won five out of eight holes from the eighth to come back from two down after seven to earn a 2&1 win over South African duo Ernie Els and Brendon de Jonge.
Canada's Graham DeLaet birdied the last hole to ensure he and Australian playing partner Jason Day pulled a point back with a two-up victory over Steve Stricker and Jordan Spieth.
But Brandt Snedeker and Hunter Mahan restored the American's three-point lead with a win over South Africa pair Louis Oosthuizen and Charl Schwartzel.
Tiger Woods and Matt Kuchar won three successive holes from the 13th on the way to beating Japan's Hideki Matsuyama and Adam Scott of Australia to round-off a dominant performance from the US in the fourballs.
In the only foursomes match to be completed, Australia's Marc Leishman and Richard Sterne of South Africa started well and were two up after six holes against Jason Dufner and Zach Johnson.
But the Americans won five of seven holes from the seventh and finished the match with an eagle three at the par-five 15th.
The International team lead two of the four matches to be completed on Sunday with the Americans up in one and the other is tied.
Els and De Jonge are two up against Woods and Kuchar after nine holes, while Oosthuizen and Schwartzel are three up after 12 holes against Simpson and Snedeker.
Haas and Stricker are two up against Matsuyama and Scott after 10 holes and Mickelson and Bradley are all square with Day and DeLaet after 13 holes.
Dwight Howard: I'm not stupid
Dwight Howard says he's not a stupid player, despite Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's criticism, and he doesn't know why the legend cares anyway.
"Dwight is an extraordinary athlete and has incredible athletic ability, but basketball is a game where the most important muscle that you use on the court is the one between your ears," Abdul-Jabbar said on ESPN's "First Take" Thursday. "Dwight's basketball IQ is not up to speed for him to be a dominant player."
Howard, who signed with the Rockets this offseason after a disappointing stint with the Lakers, fired back.
"You can't win three Defensive Player of the Year trophies and be stupid. That can't be done," he said, according to the Houston Chronicle. "And I don't think any coach that has ever coached me has said I have a low IQ for basketball.
"Have I done some dumb stuff on the floor? Yes, every player has. Have I done some stupid things in life? Yes, it's life. We make mistakes and learn from them. It is what it is. I think I am very intelligent when it comes to the game of basketball. I have been playing since I was 3 years old. Each year, I get a little smarter.
"People will have something to say. Is what it is. I'm in (Houston) now. This city has my back and we are going to ride together."
Howard is a seven-time All-Star who has averaged 18.3 points, 12.9 rebounds and 2.2 blocks in his nine-year career, all but one of the years with Orlando. He's made one appearance in the Finals, losing to the Lakers in 2008-09.
Abdul-Jabbar averaged 24.6 points, 11.2 rebounds and 2.6 blocks in a 20-year Hall of Fame career that included six championships. Howard was thought to be the next great Lakers center, but injuries and inconsistency led to Los Angeles losing in the first round of the playoffs.
"When I joined the Lakers I was the greatest center. When I left, I was the worst," Howard said, according to the Chronicle. "Mentally, I wasn't capable of playing center. I understand a lot of things are said out of emotion. I will say if he has anything to say, I am here in Houston. We can talk man to man. That's how I feel."
Howard said he had one conversation with Abdul-Jabbar in Los Angeles and asked that they don't talk about basketball.
"There is no need for me to go back and forth with him," Howard said. "One thing I would say is that he is old enough to where whatever I do shouldn't even matter. He is Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. If I'm Kareem, I'm like why? Four championships, five championships, whatever. I've been in Airplane and done movies with Bruce Lee. I am not worried about the young whippersnapper.
"I wish him good luck. People do things different and when I am done playing, I will do what I can to help the younger generations."
Source-ESPN
Halle Berry gives birth to a son
Actress Halle Berry and husband, Olivier Martinez, welcomed the birth of their first son Saturday.
A representative for Berry would not share any other details about the boy -- Berry's second child -- including where he was born or his name.
The Oscar-winner has a 5-year-old daughter with ex-boyfriend Gabriel Aubry.
Berry, 47, married Martinez, 47, in a private ceremony in France in July. It is the third marriage for the Berry, who revealed in April that she was expecting a baby with the French actor.
Berry and Martinez began their relationship last year after meeting on the set of the film "Dark Tide."
Martinez was by her side through the last months of her bitter custody battle with Aubry, the Canadian model who fathered daughter Nahla.
They reached "an amicable agreement" over custody in November, a week after a Thanksgiving Day fistfight in Berry's Hollywood driveway between Martinez and Aubry.
Berry was previously married to former pro baseball player David Justice -- from 1993 until 1996 -- and singer Eric Benet -- from 2001 to 2004.
"This has been the biggest surprise of my life, to tell you the truth," Berry told CNN when discussing her pregnancy in April. "I thought I was kind of past the point where this could be a reality for me. So it's been a big surprise and the most wonderful."
Source-CNN