Former Olympic, World and Commonwealth 400m champion Christine Ohuruogu was on Tuesday named captain of Britain’s squad for the World Championships in Moscow. …read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at Fox World News
The birth of a royal baby boy is a cause of celebration for Britain and the Commonwealth but it may remove the sense of urgency around a historic change in the law on female succession, say academics. …read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at Fox World News
Commonwealth monarchies and the United States led the international congratulations to Britain’s Prince William and his wife Kate on the birth of their first baby, a boy destined to become king. …read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at Fox World News
By The Huffington Post News Editors
As people around the world watch news of the birth of Kate Middleton and Prince William’s baby boy, the priests and parishioners of Westminster Abbey, the Anglican church where the royal couple was married, are taking celebrations to another level.
Church bells will ring consecutively for three hours and fifteen minutes to observe the new arrival, for whom the 600 worshippers said prayers on Monday evening while the Middleton was still in labor. A ten-person team — with substitutes in case of sickness or fatigue — will helm the bells for a full peal in a method of ringing called the Cambridge Surprise Royal. In city squares around the United Kingdom, churches are also ringing their bells.
“This is a time when the example of a royal baby focuses the attention on the importance of every baby and child,” said the Rev. John Hall, the dean of the abbey who officiated at the couple’s wedding. “It’s a time of looking forward, of great hope. The truth is that every birth is a sign of new hope and new life, but the birth of this baby brings joy throughout the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth and many other places, including the United States.”
Read More…
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Source: FULL ARTICLE at Huffington Post
By Wayne G. McDonnell, Jr., Contributor
With Major League Baseball’s 84th All Star Game at Citi Field in his rear view mirror, Commissioner Selig can now pause for a moment to reflect on several noteworthy observations. This year, 39 ball players heard their names announced for the first time as all stars and it surpassed the previous record of 35 that was established in 2011 when the Arizona Diamondbacks hosted the Midsummer Classic at Chase Field. The All Star Game rosters were comprised of 25 foreign born ball players from eight countries and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Four of the game’s brightest stars were born during the 1990s and are on the cusp of being bona fide superstars for the next decade. …read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at Forbes Latest
An abortion clinic in the Commonwealth of Virginia known for being the “busiest” abortion clinic in the state has closed down. …read more
Source: The Christian Post
Cathedral High School
Boston, Massachusetts
12:35 P.M. EDT
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you. Thank you, everybody. Well, listen, we just had a wonderful interfaith service, and I want to thank Governor Patrick for helping to organize that. I want to thank both the Governor and your extraordinary Mayor, Tom Menino — (applause) — for the incredible leadership and cool under pressure, the organization, the mobilization and the courage that they have shown reflective of this great city and reflective of this great Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Now, I’m not going to speak long. I’m just — he started calling me Reverend Obama, so I know — (laughter) — I know I was — I don't want to go on any longer than I need to. The main message, in addition to just giving — having a chance to shake some hands and give some hugs, is just to say how proud the whole country is of you — (applause) — how grateful we are — how grateful we are that in the face of chaos and tragedy, all of you displayed the very best of the American spirit.
You displayed grit. You displayed compassion. You displayed civic duty. You displayed courage. And when we see that kind of spirit, there’s something about that that's infectious. It makes us all want to be better people. You’ve inspired the entire country. You’ve inspired the world. And for that, you should be profoundly proud.
But as Deval and I were talking as we were driving in from the airport, the key is that we hang on to a little bit of that, because it’s right there under the surface every day. And it expresses itself, obviously, in the Marathon. It expresses itself in Patriot’s Day. It expresses itself in all the small interactions, the gestures of kindness and generosity and tolerance and compassion that make up the fabric of our lives. And we don't always pay attention to it, and we don't always celebrate, and it’s certainly not usually on a television screen, it’s not always reported on. But that's who we are.
And if there’s anything that was a theme in that interfaith service it’s that out of these ashes, out of the blood that's spilled and the injuries borne, out of that, we get a chance to see and highlight and appreciate that spirit. And we’ve got to sustain it, because in all of our lives at some point there are going to be some troubles, and there’s evil in the world, and there’s hardship. But if that spirit is evident and manifest, and that's what we’re teaching our kids and that's what we’re embodying in our own lives, then who can stop us? Who can touch us? (Applause.)
So thank you, everybody. I’m proud of you. I’m proud of Boston. And as I just said, I’m looking forward to the 118th
By Kelly Phillips Erb, Contributor It’s not just software companies managing glitches this tax season. Following a day in which TurboTax reported outages as volumes hit “unprecedented” numbers, news was trickling in that some taxing authorities were experiencing troubles, too. Chief among them: the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
By Business Wirevia The Motley Fool
Filed under: Investing
Macquarie Infrastructure Company Generates Performance Fee in First Quarter of 2013
NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Macquarie Infrastructure Company (NYS: MIC) announced that its management company, Macquarie Infrastructure Management (USA) Inc. (“MIMUSA“), has earned a performance fee of $22.0 million for the first quarter of 2013.
Based on the Management Services Agreement (“MSA“) between MIC and MIMUSA, the management company is entitled to a performance fee equal to 20% of the value of MIC‘s total return in excess of its utility-based benchmark. The fee is subject to MIC‘s total return being positive and in excess of any prior underperformance.
The performance fee for the quarter reflects an average closing value of the MIC accumulation index for the last 15 trading days of the first quarter that was 15.5% above the average closing of the accumulation index for the 15 trading days ended December 31, 2012.
MIMUSA will reinvest the performance fee in additional shares of MIC. In accordance with the MSA, the price at which the additional shares are to be issued will be calculated using the volume weighted average price of MIC‘s shares over a 15-day period following the release of the Company’s financial results for the first quarter of 2013.
About Macquarie Infrastructure Company
Macquarie Infrastructure Company owns, operates and invests in a diversified group of infrastructure businesses providing basic services to customers in the United States. Its businesses consist of a gas processing and distribution business, Hawaii Gas, a controlling interest in a District Energy business in Chicago, and a 50% interest in a bulk liquid storage terminal business, International-Matex Tank Terminals. MIC also owns and operates an airport services business, Atlantic Aviation and two solar power generation facilities, collectively MIC Solar. The Company is managed by a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Macquarie Group. For additional information, please visit the Macquarie Infrastructure Company website at www.macquarie.com/mic. MIC-G
MIC is not an authorized deposit-taking institution for the purposes of the Banking Act 1959 (Commonwealth of Australia). The obligations of MIC do not represent deposits or other liabilities of Macquarie Bank Limited ABN 46 008 583 542 (MBL). …read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at DailyFinance
By Business Wirevia The Motley Fool
Filed under: Investing
Macquarie Infrastructure Company Reports Acquisition of Shares by CEO
NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Macquarie Infrastructure Company (NYS: MIC) announced that Company CEO James Hooke has acquired 13,327 shares of MIC from Macquarie Infrastructure Management (USA) Inc. (“MIMUSA“).
MIMUSA, the external manager of MIC, facilitated the arrangement to further align Hooke’s interests with those of other MIC shareholders. The acquisition of the shares is being funded via a loan from Macquarie Group.
Hooke was pleased to announce the purchase, noting that “I am grateful to have been able to work with MIMUSA to create an arrangement that allows me to have more skin in the game. We have taken this step in direct response to shareholder requests, and I look forward to continuing to enhance the value of MIC shares.”
About Macquarie Infrastructure Company
Macquarie Infrastructure Company owns, operates and invests in a diversified group of infrastructure businesses providing basic services to customers in the United States. Its businesses consist of a gas processing and distribution business, Hawaii Gas, a controlling interest in a District Energy business in Chicago, and a 50% interest in a bulk liquid storage terminal business, International-Matex Tank Terminals. MIC also owns and operates an airport services business, Atlantic Aviation and two solar power generation facilities, collectively MIC Solar. The Company is managed by a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Macquarie Group. For additional information, please visit the Macquarie Infrastructure Company website at www.macquarie.com/mic. MIC-G
MIC is not an authorized deposit-taking institution for the purposes of the Banking Act 1959 (Commonwealth of Australia). The obligations of MIC do not represent deposits or other liabilities of Macquarie Bank Limited ABN 46 008 583 542 (MBL). MBL does not guarantee or otherwise provide assurance in respect of the obligations of MIC.
Macquarie Infrastructure Company
Investor enquiries:
Jay A. Davis, 212-231-1825
Investor Relations
or
Media enquiries:
Paula Chirhart, 212-231-1310
Corporate Communications
KEYWORDS: United States North America New York
INDUSTRY KEYWORDS:
The article Macquarie Infrastructure Company Reports Acquisition of Shares by CEO originally appeared on Fool.com.
Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe …read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at DailyFinance
Malala Yousafzai, the Pakistani teenager shot in the head by the Taliban as she returned home from school, is writing a book about the traumatic event and her long-running campaign to promote children’s education.
Publisher Weidenfeld and Nicolson announced it would release “I am Malala” in Britain and Commonwealth countries this fall. Little, Brown and Co. will publish the 15-year-old’s memoir in the United States and much of the rest of the world.
“Malala is already an inspiration to millions around the world. Reading her story of courage and survival will open minds, enlarge hearts, and eventually allow more girls and boys to receive the education they hunger for,” said Michael Pietsch, executive vice president and publisher of Little, Brown.
A Taliban gunman shot Malala on Oct. 9 in northwestern Pakistan. The militant group said it targeted her because she promoted “Western thinking” and, through a blog, had been an outspoken critic of the Taliban’s opposition to educating girls.
The shooting sparked outrage in Pakistan and many other countries, and her story drew global attention to the struggle for women’s rights in Malala’s homeland. The teen even made the shortlist for Time magazine’s “Person of the Year” in 2012.
Malala was brought to the U.K. for treatment and spent several months in a hospital undergoing skull reconstruction and cochlear implant surgeries. She was released last month and has started attending school in Britain.
Malala said in a statement Wednesday that she hoped telling her story would be “part of the campaign to give every boy and girl the right to go to school.
“I hope the book will reach people around the world, so they realize how difficult it is for some children to get access to education,” she said. “I want to tell my story, but it will also be the story of 61 million children who can’t get education.”
Publishers didn’t reveal the price tag for the book deal.
By Kelly Phillips Erb, Contributor
I once spent about 15 minutes wandering up and down the aisles of the Superfresh grocery in Society Hill looking for a bottle of wine. No, I’m not picky. I just didn’t realize that you couldn’t buy wine in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania outside of the state-operated liquor store system (there is an exception for wineries). That wasn’t the case in my home state of North Carolina. In fact, Utah is the only state in the country that controls wine and liquor sales as much as Pennsylvania. …read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at Forbes Latest
By Business Wirevia The Motley Fool
Filed under: Investing
Aqua Pennsylvania Plans $239 Million in Infrastructure Improvements in Pennsylvania for 2013
Continues 2012 improvement program
BRYN MAWR, Pa.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Just in time for the first day of Spring, Aqua Pennsylvania, Inc. (Aqua) today announced it plans to make $239 million in infrastructure improvements in Pennsylvania throughout 2013.
Aqua’s planned capital spending across its Pennsylvania operating divisions includes:
“Aqua’s 2013 infrastructure improvement projects underscore our continued efforts to renew and rehabilitate our water and wastewater systems and replace the aging areas of our distribution systems that deliver water to our customers throughout the Commonwealth,” said Aqua Pennsylvania President Steve Tagert. “These types of investments are critical to ensuring that we are maintaining our systems and protecting public health by complying with state and federal water quality regulations and providing reliable water and wastewater service to our customers in the most efficient way possible.”
This year’s program comes on the heels of the company’s 2012 capital program, which included $259 million in similar improvements throughout the Commonwealth.
Aqua Pennsylvania serves approximately 1.4 million people in 31 counties throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Visit www.aquaamerica.com for more information.
WTRG
Aqua Pennsylvania, Inc.
Donna Alston, 610-645-1095 or …read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at DailyFinance
By Business Wirevia The Motley Fool
Filed under: Investing
Manager of Macquarie Infrastructure Company Concludes Sales of Stock
NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Macquarie Infrastructure Company (NYS: MIC) announced that the Manager of the Company, Macquarie Infrastructure Management (USA) Inc. (“MIMUSA“), has informed the Company that it has concluded a previously announced program of sales of the Company’s shares.
On February 25, 2013, MIMUSA filed a notice on Form 144 with the Securities and Exchange Commission alerting the market of its intent to sell shares in MIC. In the filing, MIMUSA indicated that it could be in the market selling shares over the period February 25 through March 15. MIMUSA has advised the Company that it has concluded the sales process.
About Macquarie Infrastructure Company
Macquarie Infrastructure Company owns, operates and invests in a diversified group of infrastructure businesses providing basic, everyday services, to customers in the United States. Its businesses consist of three energy-related businesses including a gas production and distribution business (Hawai’iGas), a controlling interest in a district energy business (District Energy), and a 50% interest in a bulk liquid storage terminal business (International-Matex Tank Terminals). MIC also owns and operates an aviation-related airport services business (Atlantic Aviation). The Company is managed by a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Macquarie Group. For additional information, please visit the Macquarie Infrastructure Company website at www.macquarie.com/mic. MIC-G
MIC is not an authorized deposit-taking institution for the purposes of the Banking Act 1959 (Commonwealth of Australia). The obligations of MIC do not represent deposits or other liabilities of Macquarie Bank Limited ABN 46 008 583 542 (MBL). MBL does not guarantee or otherwise provide assurance in respect of the obligations of MIC.
Investor enquiries
Macquarie Infrastructure Company
Jay A. Davis
Investor Relations
212-231-1825
or
Media enquiries
Macquarie Infrastructure Company
Paula Chirhart
Corporate Communications
212-231-1310
KEYWORDS: United States North America New York
INDUSTRY KEYWORDS:
The article Manager of Macquarie Infrastructure Company Concludes Sales of Stock originally appeared on Fool.com.
Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Copyright © 1995 …read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at DailyFinance
Last year, a 27 year old elected Democrat who represents Scottsville in the Albermarle County Virginia Board of Supervisors was charged with a serious sexual crime. As the charges go, while he was a law student, Christopher Dumler committed the vilest type of criminal sexual assault on a fellow female law student. Both were at the University of Virginia Law School at the time.
Court records show that Democrat Supervisor Dumler was accused of committing an act of forcible anal sodomy “by threat or intimidation upon the victim.”
The police in Albermarle County investigated the charge and say Democrat Supervisor Dumler knew the victim and that they are “working closely with the commonwealth attorney’s office” in their investigation. Denise Lunsford, the Commonwealth’s Attorney for Albermarle County, is an elected Democrat, so what do you think happened?
When the case was settled, Dumler was convicted of “sexual battery” which is the crime of sexually abusing a complaining witness against his/her will, by force, threat, and/or intimidation, as a Class 1 misdemeanor. In Virginia, conviction of a Class 1 misdemeanor calls for a jail sentence of up to “twelve months and a fine of up to $2,500, either or both.” He was sentenced to thirty days in jail with no mention of a fine.
The worst part of this plea bargain was that when the news of his arrest went public, two more women came forward to allege they too were victimized by the Democrat Supervisor.
Every report of this case describes Dumler as a “rising star in the Democrat Party.” He is a young lawyer, an Army Reserve Captain, and has already been elected to a county-level position.
Now the Democrat voters of Albermarle County aren’t so pleased with Dumler, whom they voted for 54/46 without really knowing. He had lived in the county just three years before winning his Board of Supervisors position, but being a Democrat was all they needed to know about him. An angry female resident of Albermarle County asked when he will “just go away?” She said “He’s an embarrassment to our community. Why doesn’t he just resign? We don’t need a sex criminal to hang on to his office here just because he legally can.”
It goes without saying Democrat Dumler is refusing to resign even in the face of his ridiculous thirty day jail sentence. Democrats just don’t have to face the same punishments the rest of us do.
Photo Credit: DonkeyHotey (Creative Commons)
By Josh Archambault, Contributor
Hundreds of healthcare journalists will be attending the Association of Health Care Journalists’ (AHCJ) conference in Boston this week to hear from many speakers with rose-colored ideas about both the 2006 Massachusetts overhaul law. Yet all is not well in the Commonwealth. State officials now predict “extreme premium increases” for many small businesses under Obamacare. …read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at Forbes Latest
By Business Wirevia The Motley Fool
Filed under: Investing
Net Element International to Acquire Unified Payments, a Leading Provider of Payment Services Recognized by Inc. Magazine as the Fastest-Growing Company in the U.S. in 2012
Proposed Acquisition Expected to Broaden Net Element International’s Suite of Payment Processing Solutions and Position the Company for Continued Global Growth
MIAMI–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Net Element International (NASDAQ: NETE), a technology-driven group specializing in electronic commerce and mobile payment processing, and Unified Payments, a leading provider of transaction processing services and payment-enabling technologies that was recognized by Inc. Magazine as the fastest-growing private company in the U.S. in 2012, today announced that they have entered into a binding term sheet for Net Element International to acquire Unified Payments and operate it through its newly formed subsidiary and holding company, TOT, Inc. (TOT).
The acquisition is expected to position and diversify Net Element International‘s TOT Money business and expand its global presence in the payments market. When the acquisition has been completed, Net Element International plans to aggressively begin deploying Unified Payments‘ products and services in Russia and other emerging markets, while Unified Payments provides a strong foundation of recurring revenues in the U.S.
Both companies consider the acquisition a major win-win that will create a strong, driven and innovative force in the mobile and transaction processing markets. Their robust global networks and top-tier business relationships, combined with their shared commitment to payment technology innovation, are expected to help Net Element International spread its technology and business to a broader range of users in Russia and other emerging markets while expanding and diversifying its business base in North America.
“We became motivated to acquire Unified Payments after learning about its remarkable success, as it is very rare to see a young company with such an impressive growth track record,” said Net Element International Chairman Kenges Rakishev, himself a noted global business leader and strategic technology investor named one of the 50 most influential people in Kazakhstan. “This acquisition is extremely synergistic, as Net Element will leverage its deep industry relationships in Russia and Commonwealth of Independent States markets to introduce Unified Payment‘s unique business model and technologies in these growth markets. Indeed, the combination of these two cutting-edge companies resulting in the formation of TOT is expected to build a strong, technology-driven company in the global mobile and transaction processing markets.”
By Business Wirevia The Motley Fool
Filed under: Investing
DEADLINE ALERT: Rigrodsky & Long, P.A. Reminds Shareholders of Commonwealth Bankshares, Inc. of Upcoming Deadline
WILMINGTON, Del.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Rigrodsky & Long, P.A.:
Rigrodsky & Long, P.A. reminders shareholders of Commonwealth Bankshares, Inc. (OTC GREY: CWBS) (“Commonwealth” or the “Company”) of an upcoming deadline involving a securities fraud class action lawsuit commenced against the Company.
A complaint has been filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia on behalf of all persons or entities that purchased the common stock of Commonwealth between May 9, 2008 and September 23, 2011, inclusive (the “Class Period“), alleging violations of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 against the Company and certain of its officers (the “Complaint”). If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than March 25, 2013.
If you purchased shares of Commonwealth during the Class Period, or purchased shares prior to the Class Period and still hold Commonwealth, and wish to discuss this action or have any questions concerning this notice or your rights or interests, please contact Timothy J. MacFall, Esquire or Peter Allocco of Rigrodsky & Long, P.A., 825 East Gate Boulevard, Suite 300, Garden City, NY at (888) 969-4242, by e-mail to info@rigrodskylong.com, or at: http://www.rigrodskylong.com/investigations/commonwealth-bankshares-inc-cwbs.
A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation. In order to be appointed lead plaintiff, the Court must determine that the class member’s claim is typical of the claims of other class members, and that the class …read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at DailyFinance
By The Huffington Post News Editors
Queen Elizabeth II is expected to sign a new charter for the Commonwealth, a document which many have interpreted as a nod to gay rights.
On Monday, Queen Elizabeth will sign the Commonwealth Charter which lays out the core values of the 54 member states, NPR notes. One particular line in this document is making headlines around the world because people have interpreted it as the first time Queen Elizabeth will openly support gay rights in her 61-year reign.
Via the Daily Mail:
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More on Queen Elizabeth II
By Business Wirevia The Motley Fool
Filed under: Investing
Starwood Hotels & Resorts to Open 50 New Hotels in Europe in the Next Five Years
The World’s Most Global Hotel Company Pursues Aggressive Growth Plans in Europe and Invests More Than $200 Million to Enhance Existing Luxury Portfolio
Starwood Announces Addition of the Celebrated King George Hotel in Athens to its Luxury Collection Portfolio Later this Year
BERLIN–(BUSINESS WIRE)– From the International Hotel Investment Forum (IHIF) in Berlin, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYS: HOT) today announced plans to open 50 new hotels in Europe over the next five years, increasing its European hotel portfolio by 30%. This year, Starwood will open nine new hotels across the continent, primarily in fast-growing markets, a key focus of Starwood’s long-term development strategy in Europe. At the same time, Starwood and its partners are making significant investments to restore and enhance some of the company’s most iconic European hotels.
“Europe continues to be home to many of the world’s most sought-after destinations and to attract travellers from markets around the globe,” said Simon Turner, President of Global Development for Starwood. “There is strong demand for all of our brands on the continent and, after years of tight supply, we are seeing great deal signing momentum in Europe both in established and rapidly growing markets.”
Starwood Expands European Footprint
Since 2009, Starwood has added 25 new hotels to its European portfolio of now 163 hotels in 32 countries. This year alone, the company will open nine new hotels in established as well as fast-growing markets such as Russia, the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and Turkey. Highlights include:
