iNews Briefs
Shaggy visits the Cayman Islands on a great vibe
From Hype Life Magazine
Shaggy was recently partying with Maples and Calder’s offshore specialist lawyers in the Cayman Islands.
Shaggy visits the Cayman Islands to a Great Vacation Vibe
Jamaican reggae fusion singer and deejay Shaggy was recently partying with Maples and Calder’s offshore specialist lawyers in the Cayman Islands.
Shaggy pulled a large crowd on the stingray island, where he performed songs like “I Need Your Love” and “Fight This Feeling” on the night of January 9.
After the event, the “Hey Sexy Lady” artist shared an appreciative message on Instagram to his corporate fans and friends from Grand Cayman:
“Thank you Grand Cayman … Great vibes #lawyersgonewild #corperateshoq #blameitonthealchol #turntup” – Shaggy via Instagram.
Shaggy and Rayvon partying with Maples and Calder’s offshore specialist lawyers in the Grand Cayman
Barbadian Reggae/Hiphop/Pop artiste and songwriter Rayvon also performed at the event.
Maples and Calder is a leading international law firm advising financial, institutional, business and private clients around the world on the laws of the Cayman Islands, Ireland and the British Virgin Islands.
Sir Ben Ainslie rescued after yacht experienced mechanical problems in Caribbean
From Yachting & Boating World
The Olympic sailor was recently on his honeymoon after marrying Georgie Thompson a few weeks ago
Olympic sailor Sir Ben Ainslie had to be rescued during his honeymoon after his yacht Rita experienced mechanical problems in the Caribbean.
Ainslie and his wife Georgie Thompson had been sailing past Sir Richard Branson’s Necker Island when the furling system broke on the main sail.
After calling for help, three of Branson’s watersports team attended the gold-medallist to find the sail twisted and unable to go up, down, in or out.
Writing on his Virgin blog, Branson said: “The only way to avoid going onto the reefs was for Marco to go to the top to cut the sail to pieces, whilst George and Ben were winching Marco up and down and Georgie helping in the boat.
“Unsurprisingly Ben kept an amazingly cool head whilst directing operations – he just needed more hands to sort out the mess.
“Together, the team helped to stop the boat from wrecking on the Moskito reef. With no harm done, Ben was able to see the funny side – after all, stranger things have happened at sea.”
The newlyweds stayed on Necker Island for a few days before returning to the UK where Ainslie is due to make an appearance at the London Boat Show on Wednesday.
Cayman Islands judge questions jewel thieves ‘genuine’ remorse
Cayman Islands Grand Court Judge, Charles Quin, has questioned the ‘genuine remorse’ by the three men who were charged and convicted of the high profile daylight Diamonds International jewellery store robbery on New Year’s Day last year.
Even the social enquiry report described the remorse of the three men as ‘genuine’ but the judge queried this due to the failure of the robbers to identify the fourth man, who escaped during the chase.
The judge said although was well aware of the reasons why people would not necessarily want to identify a criminal accomplice but their failure to name the fourth man could “reduce the value” of the remorse.
Justice Quin adjourned the case until Monday 19th January, when he said he would deliver his sentence.
Pareto Securities Downgrades Royal Caribbean Cruises to Hold (NYSE:RCL)
Posted by Jim Brewer on Jan 12th, 2015 From WKRB
Royal Caribbean Cruises logoRoyal Caribbean Cruises (NYSE:RCL) was downgraded by equities research analysts at Pareto Securities from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note issued to investors on Friday.
Shares of Royal Caribbean Cruises (NYSE:RCL) traded down 0.68% on Friday, hitting $83.35. 584,118 shares of the company’s stock traded hands. Royal Caribbean Cruises has a 1-year low of $47.04 and a 1-year high of $84.73. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $78.90 and a 200-day moving average of $66.46. The company has a market cap of $18.560 billion and a price-to-earnings ratio of 28.27.
Royal Caribbean Cruises (NYSE:RCL) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 23rd. The company reported $2.20 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.19 by $0.01. The company had revenue of $2.39 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.41 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $1.71 earnings per share. The company’s revenue for the quarter was up 3.3% on a year-over-year basis.
Several other analysts have also recently commented on the stock. Analysts at Handelsbanken downgraded shares of Royal Caribbean Cruises to an “accumulate” rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 24th. Analysts at Stifel Nicolaus raised their price target on shares of Royal Caribbean Cruises from $88.00 to $96.00 in a research note on Monday, December 22nd. They now have a “buy” rating on the stock. Finally, analysts at Zacks reiterated a “neutral” rating on shares of Royal Caribbean Cruises in a research note on Friday, December 19th. They now have a $83.00 price target on the stock. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eleven have issued a hold rating and eleven have assigned a buy rating to the company’s stock. The stock has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $73.52.
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (NYSE:RCL) is a cruise company.
John Besson studying in the Cayman Islands
From North Augusta Star
John Besson, of Aiken and a student at Wofford University, is studying in Cayman Islands as part of the Interim 2015.
Wofford’s Interim is a time for exploration and experiential learning away from the rigors of traditional academic courses for students and faculty alike. Students may choose from a variety of on-campus courses, professional internships and research projects, study abroad opportunities or their own independent study project, approved and guided by a faculty advisor. More than 200 students chose to study abroad during Interim 2015.
For more: http://www.northaugustastar.com/article/20150109/AIK0407/150109460/-1/feed&source=RSS
Australia child deaths: Thousands at Cairns funerals
From BBC
Thousands of people have been attending the funerals of eight Australian children found dead in the north-eastern city of Cairns last month.
The service is called Keriba Omasker, which means “our children” in the ancestral language of the children.
Attending is Prime Minister Tony Abbott, who tweeted: “Today in Cairns. Sad beyond words. Keriba Omasker.”
The mother of seven of the children has been charged with their murders. The other victim was her niece.
The four boys and four girls were aged between 18 months and 14 years.
Almost 5,000 people heard prayers and tributes to the children at a memorial service.
Mr Abbott and other Australian political leaders laid wreaths.
Hearses are taking the children’s bodies to Martyn Place Cemetery, where they will be laid to rest.
The mother, Mersane Warria, 37, is being treated in hospital. She is not reported to be attending the funeral.
There are plans to demolish the house where the children died, to be replaced with a public memorial.
For more: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-30757210
See iNews Cayman related story: “Australia Cairns: Mother charged with eight murders” at: http://www.ieyenews.com/wordpress/australia-cairns-mother-charged-with-eight-murders/
Cayman Airways has emergency on Miami flight on Sunday (11)
The Cayman Islands National Fight Carrier, Cayman Airways, executed emergency descent on their midday flight from Miami to Grand Cayman KX103 on Sunday (11 January).
The reason for the emergency descent from cruise altitude of 32,000 feet to 10,000 feet was because the aircraft had experienced “lower than normal cabin pressure levels”.
The aircraft landed safely at Owen Roberts Airport and was immediately taken out of service for repairs.
This resulted in flights KX104 and KX105 from Miami being cancelled.
Greenock Ocean Terminal passengers to hit 100k
By Dominic Jeff
Fred Olsen cruises will operate the first direct sailing from Scotland to the Caribbean.
GREENOCK Ocean Terminal expects to become the first Scottish port to welcome 100,000 passengers in 2015 following investment in facilities for cruise ships.
This year will also see the first direct sailing from Scotland to the Caribbean, provided by cruise operator Fred Olsen.
Greenock’s owner peel Ports said 56 ships are expected to call at the port this year, bringing almost 109,000 passengers – a 14 per cent increase on last year.
Over the past eight years passenger numbers calling at Greenock have more than quadrupled. In 2007 just 20,253 passengers passed through the port, compared to 92,678 in 2014.
The cruise terminal is due to welcome visits from popular ships such as the 4,610-passenger Royal Princess and Regal Princess.
The Queen Mary II liner will also call at Greenock as part of Cunard’s 175 year anniversary celebrations, reinforcing the terminals close historical links with the iconic cruise operator.
For more: http://www.scotsman.com/business/greenock-ocean-terminal-passengers-to-hit-100k-1-3657374
Cayman Islands Turtle Farm to celebrate National Heroes Day with Family Fun Day
Monday 26th January is Cayman Islands National Heroes Day. To help celebrate this day the Cayman Turtle Farm: Island Wildlife Encounter is hosting a Family Fun Day.
In an effort to make the popular attraction accessible to as many residents as possible, the Farm is offering special pricing for National Heroes Day at half-off regular resident rates – CI$5 for adults and CI$2 for children aged 5 to 12. Children aged 4 and under are admitted free or charge.
Visitors will have access to the entire park, including the Turtle Twister waterslide, and the popular Wading Pool and Touch Tanks, where guests can interact with yearling turtles. They can also join the entertaining and informative park tours, swim with turtles and other marine life in the saltwater Turtle Lagoon, hand-feed exotic birds at the Caribbean Free-Flight Aviary, and catch the feeding shows at Predator Reef. Guests can also visit Smiley’s Saltwater Lagoon where the Farm’s 9-foot hybrid crocodile resides.
Chief Marketing Officer Tina Trumbach, said: “The purpose of this event is to showcase the entire park to the local community as there is so much to experience here that many residents may still not know about. The Cayman Turtle Farm is the number-one land-based attraction with visitors to the Cayman Islands, and we want residents to see and experience all that we have to offer.”
Opening hours on National Heroes Day, Monday 26 January are from 8am to 5pm.
For more information visit www.turtle.ky, call 949.3894 or email [email protected].
Switzerland millionaire hit by record speed fine
From BBC
The tycoon was reportedly driving a Ferrari 57km/h (35mph) over the limit
A Swiss millionaire has been handed down a record speeding fine of $290,000 (£180,000) by a court.
The man was reportedly caught driving a red Ferrari Testarossa at 137km/h (85mph) through a village.
The penalty was calculated based on the unnamed motorist’s wealth – assessed by the court as $22.7m (£14.1m) – and because he was a repeat offender.
It is more than double Switzerland’s previous record speeding fine – handed to a Porsche driver in Zurich in 2008.
In the latest case, the motorist was clocked speeding 57km/h (35mph) faster than the limit, according to the cantonal court in St Gallen, eastern Switzerland.
“The accused ignored elementary traffic rules with a powerful vehicle out of a pure desire for speed,” the court said in its judgement.
Swiss media reported that the man owns a villa with five luxury cars, including the Ferrari.
For more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8446545.stm
China to launch direct air route to Caribbean
From Global Post
BEIJING, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) — China will launch its first direct air route to the Caribbean on Sept. 28, according to an announcement by Air China.
Operated by Air China three times a week, the new route will fly from Beijing to Havana, with a stop to refuel in Montreal, marking a huge cut in travel time between China and the Caribbean.
Famous for their beautiful beaches, Caribbean countries have attracted more Chinese visitors in recent years. However, the long distance has forced Chinese travelers to transfer in Europe or Canada.
In 2013, the number of Chinese visitors to Cuba surpassed 22,200, up 18 percent compared with the previous year.
