Travels And Aviation NEWS: GCC Q1 PC shipments to hit 1.5m

Former state senator Dianne Wilkerson...

Middle East and Africa, increased demand from the education sector is expected to increase PC imports into the GCC markets by 7.86% to 1.51 million during the first quarter of this year, compared to 1.40 million last year, Gulf News has reported. Total desktop shipments to the Gulf is expected to climb 4.43% to 254,357 units in the first quarter against 243,549 units from a year ago. Re-exports from the UAE are growing faster than domestic purchases, with more than 50% of the laptops re-exported to Iraq, Iran, Syria, Pakistan, CIS and some African markets. Shipments to the UAE are expected to rise by 14% to 642,661 units from 563,729 units. PC shipment revenues would jump to $1.14bn from the $1.06bn recorded during the first three months of 2010.

2. Wilkerson says black ministers worked with FBI against her

A former Massachusetts state senator convicted of corruption says two black ministers were FBI collaborators against her.

Dianne Wilkerson, scheduled Friday to report to federal prison in Danbury, Conn., said at a forum last weekend that Rev. Ray Hammond of Bethel AME Church and Bishop Gideon Thompson of Jubilee Christian Church reported her to federal agents. She also accused Darnell Williams, Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts president, of saying she was under investigation before her arrest.

The Dorchester Reporter first reported the comments. A video of her speech also was posted on UStream.

Wilkerson, once the state’s highest ranking black politician, pleaded guilty to accepting $23,500 in bribes and was sentenced in January to 3 1/2 years in prison.

In a statement, Hammond, Thompson, and Williams called Wilkerson’s charges untrue.

3. Bishop: AME Conference ‘on target’

The 125th Session of the Bermuda Annual Conference of the AME Church ended on a high note Sunday at the Fairmont Southampton Princess Hotel with the Presiding Bishop, Rt. Rev. Dr. Richard F. Norris fulsome in his praise for everyone in authority and positions of leadership for making what he termed a conference that was “spiritually on target” and highly successful.

Bishop Norris singled out Presiding Elder Betty L. Furbert Woolridge for completing “her year number one in grand style.” She is the first female to be Conference Presiding Elder in the whole of the century and a quarter of the denomination’s history in the island. He also thanked God for the loyal laity and other conference leadership, citing particularly the music department, conference choir, liturgical dancers, and creative arts ministry.

He was applauded when he returned all pastors to their former charges for another year. Bishop Norris singled out former Presiding Elder Conway Simmons, as ‘the sage of the Conference,’ sending him back to Richard Allen in St. George’s; and returned the Rev. Mrs. Ruth Van Lowe Smith to St. John’s AME in Bailey’s Bay ‘the Mother Church’ in Bermuda.

Bishop Norris personally presented $1,000 cheque to Rev. Dr. Lynel Guyton towards the cost of his beautifully renovated St. Paul AME Church, Hamilton which is deemed to be the cathedral of African Methodism in Bermuda. Dedication of the renovations was one the pre-conference events engaging the bishop and his wife Mother Mary A. Morris during the momentous week.

A major highlight of the closing on Sunday was unanimous adoption of a Report on Special Resolutions that took note of the effects on Bermuda of the global economic recessionary crisis and how it has impacted the state of the local economy resulting in businesses downsizing, layoffs, redundancies and closures leaving more people seeking jobs in order to support their families.

The rapid increase in violent crimes specifically that of firearms and antisocial behavior was another matter of great concern to the Conference. The violence not only hurts the persons directly involved, but the wider society, “fragmenting families that did not have the benefits of the village that raises its children”.

Taking note that “sexual orientation is anticipated to once again become a topic of debate in the House of Assembly, the Conferenced affirmed “the God-given worth of every person while remaining totally opposed to any changes of legislation, forms of entertainment and activity (including substance, sexual and spousal abuse) that further undermines the traditional family structure and eventually Bermuda society as a whole.”

“The AME Church commits to focus on methods of ministry and missions that are relevant to the needs of our neighbours and community. It was resolved that the Church commits to partner with Government and other community organizations to help where ever the Church can.”

The Resolutions Committee comprised Rev. Lorne Bean, Rev. C. Maureen Clemendour, Sis. Donna-Lee Chandler, Sis. Valerie Smith and Sis. Elizabeth Smith.

4. Ametek (AME) Showing Bullish Technicals But Could Break Through $43.52 Resistance
Posted: Tuesday, March 08, 2011 8:45 AM EDT

Ametek (NYSE:AME) closed Monday's negative trading session at $41.97. In the past year, the stock has hit a 52-week low of $25.33 and 52-week high of $44.83. Ametek stock has been showing support around $40.80 and resistance in the $43.52 range. Technical indicators for the stock are Bullish. For a hedged play on this stock, look at the Jun '11 $40.00 covered call for a net debit in the $38.67 area. That is also the break-even stock price for this trade. This covered call has a duration of 102 days, provides 7.86% downside protection and an assigned return rate of 3.44% for an annualized return rate of 12.31% (for comparison purposes only). Ametek has a current annual dividend yield of 0.57%.

By
Neha Jain

Air Tickets Car Rental Cruises Golf Vacation Romantic Getaways Vacation Packages Honeymoon