Cuba reviews law on foreign investment
Cuba is working on changes of the law on the participation of foreign capital, Yamila Fernandez, director for Finances of the Foreign Ministry for Foreign Trade and Investment (MINCEX), said on Thursday in Havana.
Fernandez pointed out that a new law should be enacted before December, 2012, while addressing participants in a panel on the Cuban economic model, held in the final session of the 8th International Meeting on Accountancy, Audit and Finances.
Likewise, she said that efforts are being made for the preparation and updating of the portfolio of projects and businesses with foreign capital, with adequate studies of pre-feasibility.
In this regard, she insisted that foreign investment will continue to be supported, as a complement to national investment efforts, with emphasis on prioritized sectors. This activity should favour access to technologies, contribute financing and access to markets, and generate jobs, she added.
The official also stressed that concentration of purchases started in 2011, in order to improve this capacity in the country and favourably influence the balance of trade, by way of reduction of imports. On the other hand, she reiterated that, for the island, food production is a strategic issue, so suburban development of agricultural and livestock production and credit opportunities for farmers are vital, among other steps.
(ACN)
Andy Murray beaten by Roger Federer & Serena beat Radwanska in final of Wimbledon 2012
Andy Murray's bid to win Wimbledon was ended by Roger Federer as the Swiss claimed a record-equalling seventh SW19 triumph and 17th Grand Slam title.
Murray, 25, was aiming to become the first British man since Fred Perry in 1936 to lift a major singles trophy.
But 30-year-old Federer won 4-6 7-5 6-3 6-4 on Centre Court to match the mark set by Pete Sampras and reclaim the world number one ranking.
A tearful Murray has now lost all four of his Grand Slam finals.
He was the first Briton to contest the Wimbledon men's singles final since Bunny Austin in 1938, but fell just short of the ultimate goal.
"Everybody always talks about the pressure of playing at Wimbledon, but it's not the people watching - they make it incredible," said a tearful Murray in the wake of his defeat.
"There are mixed emotions. Most of them are negative. The reaction from the crowd was great. I felt like I was playing for the nation and I couldn't quite do it."
Federer fully deserved his victory, which not only sees him level Sampras on seven Wimbledon titles, but also secures him a record 286th week as world number one.
He is the second-oldest man to occupy top spot, goes away with a cheque for £1.15m and will head to the Olympics - also being staged at the All England Club - as clear favourite.
Murray, who collects the £575,000 runner-up prize, now shares his coach Ivan Lendl's unenviable record of losing his first four Grand Slam finals.
Having made poor starts in each of the previous three - all of which ended in straight-sets defeats - Murray knew it was vital to secure the early momentum.
All was going to plan as a couple of pummelling backhands down the line, a tactic many highlighted pre-match, helped Murray break in the opening game and then consolidate the advantage for a 2-0 lead.
Federer looked uneasy with the pace his opponent was setting and began deploying sliced groundstrokes to slow things down.
A backhand landed on the baseline to engineer a break-back point in game four, and he converted it when Murray found the net.
Both men needed to serve their way out of trouble as the pressure mounted and, crucially, Murray produced a sensational volley at his feet to save the second of two break points in a 13-minute game eight.
He then struck with the help of a forehand pass that Federer ducked to avoid being hit - reminiscent of the aggression shown by Lendl during his career - and comfortably served out the first set.
Statistically, Murray actually improved in almost every area during the second, but the key difference was that he could not take his chances.
Whereas the 25-year-old converted both break points that came his way in the first set, he let two slip at 2-2 and another two at 4-4.
Federer held for 6-5 before going on the attack, and he came from 40-15 down to level the match with a sensational backhand drop volley.
Heavy rain arrived at at 16:14 BST with Federer 40-0 up in game three of set three, and the prospect of further downpours saw the roof closed. wiss, who destroyed world number one Novak Djokovic indoors on Friday, was vastly superior and put Murray under the cosh in a marathon game five.
Murray was reeled in from 40-0, Federer moving to deuce when the Scot took a heavy tumble at the net, and he slipped again before finally succumbing on a sixth break point.
Federer served out with a crunching ace and averted danger early in the fourth set before striking for 4-2 with a cross-court backhand pass.
He wrapped up his first Grand Slam title since the 2010 Australian Open when Murray hooked a forehand into the tramlines.
"This fortnight was a step in the right direction. I won't go back on the court until my mind is right and I am over the loss," added Murray of his future plans.
"The Olympics is a special event and I want to make sure I am ready. If I play like I did this week I have a good chance of winning a medal."
Serena Williams beat Poland’s Agnieszka Radwanska 6-1, 5-7, 6-2 Saturday to win her fifth singles championship at Wimbledon.
Williams, who won her 14th Grand Slam title, dominated the opening set, breaking for a 2-0 lead when Radwanska hit a forehand wide. But Radwanska fought back to claim the second set and level the match, winning 7-5.
The 30-year-old American broke serve for the second time in the fourth game when the third seed’s forehand faltered again.
Williams let two set points slip in the sixth game, allowing Radwanska to get on the scoreboard, but she served an ace to bring up set point and followed that with another unreturnable blast to take the opener.
Boston’s Ray Allen Signs with Miami Heat (Blame Rondo)
Ray Allen has signed with the Miami Heat!
That’s right, the Miami Heat … the same team that knocked his now-former employer the Boston Celtics out of this past season’s playoffs.
Allen took less money to sign with the reigning world champions was probably due to his perception of the way Boston was not showing him respect, but most of all, it was his strained relationship Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo, according to NBA basketball writer Adrian Wojnarowski.
Rondo and Allen were non-confrontational, but much of the behind-the-back sniping to teammates and those around the team took a toll. So much of it was sandbox stuff, the kind of grating, ultimately petty issues that occur in every locker room, every workplace. Rondo didn’t chase Allen out of Boston, but their relationship did become a drain in the locker room. Their cold war was something Allen discussed with associates, something that become a concern of management and the coaching staff.
R. Kelly Says ‘The Notebook’ Led Him to Divorce His Wife
The Notebook” is arguably one of the most romantic flicks ever made.
But super star singer R. Kelly says it inspired him to divorce his wife of 12 years back in 2009.
In his new memoir, “Soulacoaster: The Diary of Me,” he reveals the film showed him that his marriage was dead.
“As the film credits started to roll, I couldn’t move. I burst into tears. People walking past me patted me on the back, trying to console me. ‘The Notebook’ was beautiful, and I was crying because its hero and heroine had died together,” the 45-year-old writes in the memoir. “But I was also crying because I remembered a Valentine’s Day — when a helicopter dropped a rainfall of roses — that had come and gone … My marriage had died. And there was nothing I could do to bring it back.”
The couple was wed after meeting in 1994 when Andrea Lee, his now former wife, auditioned as a back up dancer for the singer. They were married two years later.
He says in the book that she wasn’t happy and the relationship was in a bad place. In 2005, Andrea filed a protective order against him due to claims of domestic violence. They filed for divorce in 2006, but tried to work things out until the tragic end.
Usher’s Stepson (Kyle Glover) Declared Brain Dead
There’s horrible and sad news to report on Usher’s stepson, Kyle (aka: Kile) Glover.
11-year-old Kyle has declared brain dead by doctors following an accident yesterday when he was struck by a jet ski, TMZ is reporting.
According to our sources, Kyle Glover (son of Usher’s estranged wife Tameka Foster) has not experienced any brain activity since he was admitted to the hospital. We’re told there has been no decision yet as to whether or not to take him off life support.
Our sources say Usher arrived at the hospital last night and Tameka has not left the hospital since she got there.
Young Glover was struck in the head by a passing jet ski while riding on an inner tube on Lake Lanier in Atlanta, GA.
Skinny Fabulous walks away with the 2012 Soca Monarch crown
Gamal "Skinny Fabulous" Doyle was this morning crowned the 2012 Soca Monarch King in St.Vincent and the Grenadines, as that country continues its Vincy Mas celebrations.
His performance was enough to send into second place "a crowd favourite" Lornette "Fya Empress" Nedd.
After her performance many cornwed her, but when the judges made the announcement they placed her one step down (2nd position).
In 3rd place was Shaunelle McKenzie with Carry on and 4th Antonius "Baddy" Simmons - Road Calling.
The social network was buzzing from start to finish, as persons watched and listened to what you can refer to in most cases as "under-standard songs."
It was a step down from what Vincentians and visitors are used too, but it was not reflective in the turn out, as carnival city was packed, as one facebook user said "packed like a slave ship."
Some asked "Is this a rehearsal?" .
Many of the performers with their annual roll calling shouted "Anybody from St.Vincent?" No one moved. Maybe there were more visitors then!
If am to sum it up I would say that in 2013 the criteria needs to change, maybe some judges. Set the bar real high that the practice session last night will not make it to the big city, the big stage.... CARNIVAL CITY VICTORIA PARK!
Bunny Wailer to 'Simmer Down' Sumfest
The living legend, Bunny Wailer, is slated to close the 20th staging of Reggae Sumfest.
This privilege has been granted to the only living Wailer amid the 50th anniversary of not only Jamaica's independence, but the formation of the original Wailers.
Bunny Wailer has made a tremendous contribution to the Jamaican music industry, helping to spread the genre across the globe.
The singer/songwriter gained initial acclamation from being a part of The Wailers alongside the late Bob Marley and Peter Tosh.
The group began its journey 1962 with members Bunny Wailer, Bob Marley and Peter Tosh, as well as Junior Braithwaite, Beverly Kelso, Cherry Smith-Grant and Constantine Walker.
The group was officially welcomed to the Jamaican diaspora with their first, hit single, Simmer Down.
legendary group
In commemoration of the formation of this legendary group, Bunny Wailer compiled a CD in accordance with a Wailer 50th anniversary campaign.
Included on the CD is the re-recording of Butterfly, an original Wailer song, now with the voices of Ky-Mani Marley and Andrew Tosh, offspring of the late Bob Marley and Peter Tosh, respectively.
Bunny Wailer left the group to pursue a solo career a year after the release of his first solo single Searching for Love in 1973.
Prior to his departure from the historical group, Bunny started his own label, Solomonic, between 1972 and 1973, which grew as he developed along his journey.
His first album, Black Heart Man, was released in 1976, and, to this day, is dubbed one of the best reggae collections of all time.
The veteran will bring a double-entendre to life as he sings in the name of Jamaica's 50 years of independence and the once live Wailers.
Bunny Wailer will look back amid his forward movement through the preparation for a 2012-2014 tour. Sumfest patrons can expect a very symbolic performance from the living legend.
The week of activities kicks off with a beach party on Sunday, July 15 and resumes on Thursday, July 19 with the hard-hitting Dancehall Night.
Reggae Sumfest is sponsored by Digicel, Red Stripe, Iberostar, Jamaica Tourist Board, The Gleaner Company Ltd and Pepsi and takes place in Montego Bay, Jamaica from July 15 to 21.
Oscar-Winning Actor Ernest Borgnine Dies at 95
Hollywood actor Ernest Borgnine, who could play heartbreaking sensitive roles as easily as he portrayed hulking bullies, has died at 95 in a Los Angeles hospital.
Borgnine entered dramatic school after serving in the U.S. Navy in World War II. He nearly gave up acting after failing to make much money with small parts on the stage and early television in New York.
After moving to Hollywood, Borgnine won attention for his role as Fatso Judson — the mean-spirited sergeant who beat Frank Sinatra to death in the film From Here to Eternity.
But Borgnine's portrayal of Marty, a sad lonely and homely butcher pestered by his worried mother, won him the 1955 Academy Award for Best Actor and made him a major film star.
Borgnine also won millions of fans as star of the popular television comedy series McHale's Navy from 1962 until 1966, and the 1980s adventure series Airwolf.
Early Libyan Election Returns Good for Jibril Alliance
Early vote-counting from Libya's first multi-party elections in 60 years indicates Western-leading parties with an edge over their Islamist rivals.
Final tallies from Saturday's election are not expected for days. But partial counts from Libya's big cities give the lead to an alliance of parties led by former rebel prime minister Mahmoud Jibril. He called Sunday for a national dialogue of all parties to form a new government.
Libyans voted for members of a 200-seat National Assembly that will form a temporary government and draft a constitution ahead of full parliamentary elections next year.
Libya's Electoral Commission put the turnout in the election at about 60 percent.
A spokesman for United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon issued a statement Sunday congratulating Libya for what he called a “well-conducted and transparent” election. U.S. President Barack Obama also issued a statement of congratulations.
Libya's revolution last year was one of the central events in the pro-democracy uprisings that became known as the Arab Spring.
Putin Demands Answers After Deadly Floods
Russian President Vladimir Putin demanded answers Sunday after severe flooding in southern Russia killed more than 150 people.
“I have asked the head of Russia's Investigative Committee to come here, the Investigative Committee will check the actions of all the officials, how the notification (of people) went, when the news came in, when it could and should have happened and who acted in which way.”
State television showed Mr. Putin speaking with emergency ministry officials, who assured him the flood was not caused by problems at a nearby dam, as alleged by locals.
Residents in the hard-hit town of Krymsk were not warned before a flash flood hit in the middle of the night Saturday, flooding houses, flipping cars and tearing up pavement. Many residents drowned. Much of the city remains without power and drinking water.