EARLY WARNING Cruz says Dems will win in "16 against GOP moderate

FILE – In this Dec. 13, 2014 file photo, Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas talks with reporters on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/Lauren Victoria Burke, File)

Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, predicted late Sunday that Democrats would keep the White House in 2016 if Republicans selected a moderate nominee next year.

Speaking at the South Carolina Tea Party Convention in Myrtle Beach, Cruz, himself a possible presidential candidate, referred disparagingly to political consultants as “Washington graybeards … telling us about the mushy middle.” Cruz has previously used the term when discussing former Massachusetts governor and 2012 nominee Mitt Romney, who is considering a third run for the highest office in the land.

“If we nominate another candidate in the mold of [1996 nominee] Bob Dole or [Arizona Senator and 2008 nominee] John McCain or Mitt Romney,” Cruz said Sunday, “the same people who stayed home in 2008 and 2012 will stay home in 2016 and the Democrats will win again. There is a better way.”

Cruz’s comments echoed criticism of Romney made by Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., who visited two early primary states, New Hampshire and Nevada, over three days last week. 

“If we try the same thing again we might get the same result,” Paul said. “So maybe we need to keep lookin’.”

Romney says he has not formally decided whether to join the 2016 race. In a speech Friday at the Republican National Committee winter meeting in San Diego, he said only that he was “giving some serious consideration to the future.” 

However, sources close to Romney have told Fox News that he has been been calling former aides, donors and supporters from his 2012 campaign — as well as GOP leaders and insiders in the vital state of New Hampshire. One longtime adviser who recently has spoken to Romney told Fox News it is “very likely” the 2012 Republican presidential nominee will announce a 2016 campaign for president in the next three to four weeks.

Another possible target of Cruz’s remarks Sunday, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, is likely to join Romney in making a bid for the White House, according to Fred Malek, finance chairman for the Republican Governors Association. 

“They’ve taken this forward a lot faster and a lot further than I would have imagined,” Malek told Fox News last Tuesday. “And I don’t think they would have done that unless they have a serious intent on moving ahead.” Malek went on to say that he guessed there was an “80 percent chance” Romney would join the race.

Romney is scheduled to speak Monday in Indian Wells, Calif. at the kickoff of the 2015 “Desert Town Hall Speaker Series,” which has drawn headliners ranging from former presidents George Bush and George W. Bush, former Vice President Dick Cheney, former Senator Bill Bradley, and other luminaries.

Fox News’ Serafin Gomez, James Rosen, Hillary Vaughn, Jake Gibson, and Lee Ross contributed to this report.

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EARLY WARNING Cruz says Dems will win in "16 against GOP moderate

Barca president calls early club elections

MADRID, Spain (AFP) — Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu has called club elections for the end of the season in a bid to ease the tension surrounding the embattled Catalan club.

Bartomeu took over as president a year ago after Sandro Rossell resigned following the controversial signing of Brazilian striker Neymar which led to the club being accused of tax fraud.

“I have called this press conference to say that we have called elections for the end of the season to reduce the tension that surrounds the club which I think is disproportionate and doesn’t correspond to the reality of the club,” Bartomeu said yesterday.

“It is better that the mandates are completed, but it is clear that in recent weeks the level of tension hasn’t been right. We will keep managing things as we had planned and will not change our programme.”

“We want to present ourselves for re-election. Things are positive, we started in 2010 and we want to continue.”

Former Barca president Joan Laporta, who oversaw two Champions League triumphs in his previous spell in charge of the club between 2003 and 2010, has been strongly linked with a return to the top job at the Camp Nou but is yet to formally declare himself as a candidate.

The current board’s mandate was due to run until 2016, but Bartomeu has come under fire in recent weeks after Barca’s appeal against a one-year transfer ban by FIFA for irregularities in the signing of players under the age of 16 was rejected by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

On Monday, Bartomeu sacked sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta, and former captain Carles Puyol resigned from his position as Zubizarreta’s assistant.

Barca’s turbulent start to 2015 on and off the pitch began with a shock 1-0 defeat to David Moyes’s Real Sociedad on Sunday after coach Luis Enrique had left nearly 300 million euros of talent, including Lionel Messi and Neymar, on the bench.

The two South American stars had only returned to Spain on Friday after being given two extra days’ holiday than the rest of the squad during the winter break.

Messi then sparked rumours he could leave the club he joined at the age of 13 when he missed an open training session with the club’s fans on Monday, citing a stomach bug, and then followed Chelsea players Thibaut Courtois and Flilipe Luis as well as the London club’s official account on the social networking site Instagram.

However, Bartomeu strongly denied claims in Barcelona sports daily Sport that a request from Enrique to discipline the Argentine for missing the training session had been rejected by the club.

“That story is completely false. Whoever sent it did so with the intention to damage the club.”

Bartomeu also dismissed suggestions that Messi could leave the club having signed a new contract to keep him at the Camp Nou until 2018 in May.

“Messi had a contract until 2018. He is happy and content, so we are calm.”

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Barca president calls early club elections

STETHS lead early qualifiers into D"Cup quarters

BY PAUL A REID Observer writer

Sunday, October 12, 2014    

SANTA CRUZ, St Elizabeth — Defending champions St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS) and six others, including former champions Clarendon College, St James High and Garvey Maceo, are the early qualifiers for the quarter-finals of the ISSA/LIME daCosta Cup football competition after wins in the Inter-zone round yesterday.

Donjay Smith’s hat-trick piloted STETHS to a 3-0 win over Edwin Allen High at the St Elizabeth Technical Sports Complex to score their second straight Inter-zone win while cruising to six points at the top of Zone Three.

Manchester High kept pace with STETHS with a 1-0 win over Holmwood Technical at Kirkvine Sports Club to be on six points, as well, but trail on goal difference.

Zhane Reid grabbed a double for Clarendon College in their 4-0 win over Christiana High in Zone Four and opened up a two-point lead over Lacovia High, who beat Mile Gully High 1-0 after missing an early penalty.

St James High and Old Harbour have grabbed their second chances with both hands. After advancing as the best third-placed teams, they have won both games and are on the verge of gaining spots in the LIME Super Cup as Inter-zone round winners.

St James High edged Glenmuir High 1-0 in their Zone Seven top-of-the-zone game at Juici Field as Neil Clarke scored his third goal in two games played.

Old Harbour High and Cedric Titus are the qualifiers from Zone Five after wins yesterday and will clash for the top place on Tuesday.

Old Harbour beat Brimmervale 2-0, while Cedric Titus made it to back-to-back quarter-final places after a similar scoreline over Fair Prospect.

Garvey Maceo High are clear leaders in Zone Eight after outscoring Ewarton High 3-2 at the Bramwell Clarke Complex in Linstead, their second win as they improved to six points.

Godfrey Stewart High rebounded from Wednesday’s loss to Frome Technical with a 6-1 mauling of William Knibb Memorial at Drax Hall in their Zone Two game. Michael Kerr scored twice for Godfrey Stewart, but Green Pond, who won their very first Inter-zone game, clipping Frome 1-0, are the leaders on four points.

Ten-man Cornwall College beat Petersfield 2-0 at Jarrett Park to take the lead in Zone One with Akeem McCarthy scoring both goals in the first half.

McCarthy scored in the 26th and 43rd minutes, the second from the penalty spot, but Cornwall College played the final 35 minutes with 10 after Kymanie Russell was sent off after picking up two cautions in a two-minute span.

In the first game of the double-header, Muschett High are in danger of not advancing after their second 0-0 draw, held by Rusea’s, who had lost their first game on Wednesday.

Rodain Murray scored twice as Dinthill Technical came from behind to beat Oracabessa High 2-1 in their Zone Six game and put themselves in a position to progress.

Kemps Hill High edged Paul Bogle 1-0 as they moved into second place in Zone Eight with four points, two behind leaders Garvey Maceo.

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STETHS lead early qualifiers into D"Cup quarters

GOJ to reduce public debt by one per cent by early 2015

The Government of Jamaica is to reduce guaranteed debt and other public debt by at least one per cent or $16 billion by early next year.     
That’s the indication given in the latest update on the country’s programme with the IMF.  
The report says the scheduled reduction in the public debt through asset swaps and sales as well as a reduction in guarantees are progressing in line with expectations.     
The IMF says the Government has so far established the legal and administrative processes involved in carrying out the plan

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GOJ to reduce public debt by one per cent by early 2015

GOJ to reduce public debt by one per cent by early 2015

The Government of Jamaica is to reduce guaranteed debt and other public debt by at least one per cent or $16 billion by early next year.     
That’s the indication given in the latest update on the country’s programme with the IMF.  
The report says the scheduled reduction in the public debt through asset swaps and sales as well as a reduction in guarantees are progressing in line with expectations.     
The IMF says the Government has so far established the legal and administrative processes involved in carrying out the plan

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GOJ to reduce public debt by one per cent by early 2015

I finished early — A delicate flower gone at 39

Alicia Sutherland

Sunday, January 26, 2014    

AT only 39 years old, illness took aesthetician Sheryl Althea Whyte away from her family.

While the pain of her loss was evident and tears flowed freely at the service of thanksgiving for her life on Saturday, January 11, her family has come to terms with the realisation that her untimely passing does not quite mean that her life was cut short.

“I finished early, I did it my way, and then God had his way,” said Roxanna Harriott as she read the eulogy for her cousin affectionately known as Tracey.

Born August 9, 1974 Harriott told the gathering Whyte received her education at the Christiana Moravian Primary school, Edwin Allen Comprehensive High and a number of other institutions that supported her interests.

She is remembered as free-spirited with a love for her family, her only child John-Ross Greaves, and a passion for fashion.

In a tribute done by Yanique Hall-Harriott, on behalf of family members overseas, Whyte is described as a delicate flower.

“Externally she personified immense strength. However, her life’s anthem was built on songs of tenderness. She was blessed with physical beauty, equally impressive were the elements of her character,” she said.

“Tracey will give her everything,” said Linnette Campbell of the House of Styles clothing store where the deceased spent a period of her working life.

Whyte’s aunt, Gladys Harriott, said that she was at her 75th birthday party in December and she did not know that she would have attended Whyte’s father’s funeral, her mother’s funeral and now her funeral.

Family members and friends believe that one of the most significant achievements for her was accepting the lord and symbolising it through baptism at the Refuge Temple Church of Jesus Christ Apostolic Faith in George Reid, Manchester, before she passed on.

“Death doesn’t look at the colour of your skin; it doesn’t look at how pretty you are or how handsome you look…. Don’t wait on your friends to come (to the Lord), let your friends follow you,” one church member told the congregation.

General secretary of the Jamaica Council of Churches and Whyte’s cousin Reverend Gary Harriott prayed for the family.

Among the loved ones she left behind are her siblings Jamaica Observer photographer Gregory Bennett, Joy Whyte and Oneil Whyte.

Whyte was interred at the Oaklawn Memorial Gardens.

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I finished early — A delicate flower gone at 39

Li, Radwanska win early to avoid rain at US Open

NEW YORK, USA (AP) — Li Na got her work done quickly yesterday at the US Open, so when the rain started falling, she had little to worry about.

The fifth-seeded Li defeated Sweden’s Sofia Arvidsson 6-2, 6-2 in the day’s first match at Arthur Ashe Stadium to advance to the third round. Shortly afterward, heavy rain came and Li’s only concern was finding an umbrella.“It’s tough for them,” she said, referring to the 58 players who still had singles matches to complete yesterday. “For me, just relax all day and do whatever I want.”Five matches were wrapped up before the rain, including 18th-seeded Carla Suarez Navarro’s 6-3, 6-4 victory over American CoCo Vandeweghe and third-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska’s 6-0, 7-5 victory over Maria-Teresa Torro-Flor of Spain.Radwanska dropped only seven points during a 21-minute first set, but the second lasted 66 minutes. Long, but not too long.“Sometimes it’s good to play first, even when I have to wake up really early,” Radwanska said, referring to the rain.Other early winners were 32nd-seeded Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova and, on the men’s side, one-time top-10 player Marcos Baghdatis.Serena Williams’ match was scrubbed from yesterday’s schedule.After a rain delay ate up most of the afternoon, tournament officials postponed eight women’s singles matches but kept others on the slate, including the night session involving defending men’s champion Andy Murray and American Sloane Stephens.With the storm bearing down, video monitors around the Billie Jean King Tennis Center warned fans to seek shelter and avoid trees because of potential lightning, though thousands of ticketholders were milling about without much concern for severe weather.Many are used to this scene.The season’s last Grand Slam tournament has finished a day late for five straight years because of rain delays.This year, the US Tennis Association announced plans to build a roof over Arthur Ashe Stadium as part of a renovation project that will cost $550 million. The roof could be ready by 2016, or 2017 at the latest.Even that wouldn’t have alleviated a first-week logjam the likes of which the tournament faced yesterday, with a full slate of matches in singles along with men’s, women’s and mixed doubles.During a brief halt to the storm, 2009 men’s champion Juan Martin del Potro made it onto the court, earned an early break against Guillermo Garcia-Lopez of Spain, then had to go back to the locker room when the rain returned. Next door, at Armstrong Stadium, Venus Williams played two points against Zheng Jie, then went inside again.Li was among the few who could plan on watching those matches from her hotel room.NEW YORK, USA — Venus Williams of the US throws a towel over her shoulders as rain begins to fall during her match against Jie Zheng of China during their US Open 2013 women’s singles match at the USTA Billie Jean King National Center here, yesterday. (PHOTO: AFP)

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Li, Radwanska win early to avoid rain at US Open

Li, Radwanska win early to avoid rain at US Open

NEW YORK, USA (AP) — Li Na got her work done quickly yesterday at the US Open, so when the rain started falling, she had little to worry about.

The fifth-seeded Li defeated Sweden’s Sofia Arvidsson 6-2, 6-2 in the day’s first match at Arthur Ashe Stadium to advance to the third round. Shortly afterward, heavy rain came and Li’s only concern was finding an umbrella.“It’s tough for them,” she said, referring to the 58 players who still had singles matches to complete yesterday. “For me, just relax all day and do whatever I want.”Five matches were wrapped up before the rain, including 18th-seeded Carla Suarez Navarro’s 6-3, 6-4 victory over American CoCo Vandeweghe and third-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska’s 6-0, 7-5 victory over Maria-Teresa Torro-Flor of Spain.Radwanska dropped only seven points during a 21-minute first set, but the second lasted 66 minutes. Long, but not too long.“Sometimes it’s good to play first, even when I have to wake up really early,” Radwanska said, referring to the rain.Other early winners were 32nd-seeded Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova and, on the men’s side, one-time top-10 player Marcos Baghdatis.Serena Williams’ match was scrubbed from yesterday’s schedule.After a rain delay ate up most of the afternoon, tournament officials postponed eight women’s singles matches but kept others on the slate, including the night session involving defending men’s champion Andy Murray and American Sloane Stephens.With the storm bearing down, video monitors around the Billie Jean King Tennis Center warned fans to seek shelter and avoid trees because of potential lightning, though thousands of ticketholders were milling about without much concern for severe weather.Many are used to this scene.The season’s last Grand Slam tournament has finished a day late for five straight years because of rain delays.This year, the US Tennis Association announced plans to build a roof over Arthur Ashe Stadium as part of a renovation project that will cost $550 million. The roof could be ready by 2016, or 2017 at the latest.Even that wouldn’t have alleviated a first-week logjam the likes of which the tournament faced yesterday, with a full slate of matches in singles along with men’s, women’s and mixed doubles.During a brief halt to the storm, 2009 men’s champion Juan Martin del Potro made it onto the court, earned an early break against Guillermo Garcia-Lopez of Spain, then had to go back to the locker room when the rain returned. Next door, at Armstrong Stadium, Venus Williams played two points against Zheng Jie, then went inside again.Li was among the few who could plan on watching those matches from her hotel room.NEW YORK, USA — Venus Williams of the US throws a towel over her shoulders as rain begins to fall during her match against Jie Zheng of China during their US Open 2013 women’s singles match at the USTA Billie Jean King National Center here, yesterday. (PHOTO: AFP)

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Li, Radwanska win early to avoid rain at US Open

Title talk too early - Hamilton

By Andrew Benson Chief F1 writer at the Hungaroring Lewis Hamilton says it is “far too early” to talk about challenging for the championship this year after his win in Sunday’s Hungarian Grand Prix.

Hamilton, 28, dominated at the Hungaroring despite the high temperatures, which have tended to trigger tyre problems for Mercedes.

“I know the guys [at the team] are working hard… but we’ve got a lot of tough races coming up.”

Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes

“When you have a win like this, you get excited and think anything is possible and this shows it is,” said the Briton.

“But it is still too early to say whether or not we can challenge.”

Hamilton is still fourth in the title race following his first win of the season, but he has reduced the deficit to leader Sebastian Vettel to 48 points, with 225 still available over the remaining nine races.

Kimi Raikkonen finished second in his Lotus in Hungary to move up to second in the standings, 38 points behind Red Bull’s Vettel, who was third at the Hungaroring.

Raikkonen is now one point ahead of Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso, who finished fifth on Sunday.

Hamilton, world champion in 2008, said: “I know the guys [at the team] are working hard so that we can close the gap and I hope today is the first step in doing so, but we’ve got a lot of tough races coming up.

“I just hope that’s not the last time my tyres work for me.”

Mercedes have been suffering with heavy tyre usage all season, experiencing problems at nearly every race.

Hamilton joy at first Mercedes victory

But the hot weather in Hungary, where the track temperature was more than 50C in the early part of the race, has given the team encouragement they might finally have got on top of the problem.

The introduction of a new design of tyre in Hungary to prevent the multiple failures at the British Grand Prix – one of which robbed Hamilton of a potential win – is also thought to be a factor.

Hamilton said: “If we can be quick here in a race with these track temperatures, then I’m very hopeful that we can be competitive everywhere else, so this could be a really good turning point for us.”

Alonso, meanwhile, insisted he can take the title fight to the end of the season despite Ferrari’s disappointing form in Hungary.

The double world champion, who has not won since the Spanish Grand Prix in May, insisted his title chances were “not gone” after Vettel could only finish third in Hungary, but he admitted Ferrari needed to “win three or four consecutive races”.

Alonso coy on Red Bull rumours

The Spaniard added: “Lotus, Red Bull and Mercedes are quicker than us and it is extremely difficult.

“But it’s no different to other years in which we fought until the last race, so I’m sure we will fight until the last race.”

Alonso, who sources claim has approached Red Bull to say he is available to drive for them next season, admitted Ferrari had been struggling to develop their car.

New parts were introduced for the British Grand Prix two races ago, but these were removed after they failed to work.

Following more problems in Germany, the car was reverted to what Alonso described as a specification from “some races ago”.

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Title talk too early - Hamilton

Jamaica post early wins at Caribbean Squash Champs

Sport

Tuesday, July 23, 2013

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad — Jamaica’s squash team yesterday started its campaign at the 2013 Caribbean Area Squash Association (CASA) Junior Championships on an encouraging note with several wins across the board.Jamaica’s two Under-15 boys registered victories with All Jamaica champion Tahjai Lumley beating Trinidadian Carl Miller 3-0, while Jonathan Walker defeated Alex Cheeks of Guyana 3-0.Similarly, All Jamaica Under-13 Boys’ champion Adam Ardito posted an easy win over Anthony Islam, beating the Guyanese player 3-0. And in the Girls’ competition, Under-15 contender Sarah Conway beat Savannah Mendes of Guyana 3-1.Reigning All Jamaica and Caribbean Under-15 champion Alyssa Mullings was set to begin her title defence last night; while All Jamaica Under-19 champion Julian Morrison, Under-17 champion Jake Mahfood and team captain Ashante Smith will bow into action today.The 2013 Caribbean Area Squash Association (CASA) Junior Championships will run until July 28.

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Montesso, Gama quit national programme — Burrell

MVP athletes for JAAA camp

Powell, Simpson request testing of ‘B’ samples

Jamaica in 4 finals at Caribbean Junior Squash Champs

Bravo under pressure as Windies seek to square ODI series

Jamaica bow out of contention

Martinique dethrone Trinidad

Young Girlz begin quest for U-20 WCup

‘Phanso’ denied

Watson, Foster claim TT crowns

Samuels says he has conquered Pakistan bowling

Jamaica post early wins at Caribbean Squash Champs

Melbourne, St Thomas eliminated from Wray & Nephew Masters T/20 cricket

Barbados win, Windwards, Jamaica take first innings

Knights, Spartans take early lead

Under-15 cricketers facing defeat against Windwards

Bolt among 29 Olympians for London Diamond League

MVP commits to JAAA’s World Games camp

US, Honduras advance to Gold Cup semis

Tanto misses bronze, as Hudson, Brascoe stumble

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Jamaica post early wins at Caribbean Squash Champs

Knights, Spartans take early lead

Sport

BY GERALD REID Observer writer Tuesday, July 23, 2013

NATIONAL champions Urban Knights and Spanish Town Spartans have taken 1-0 leads in their best-of-three semi-final matches in the 2013 Flow/National Basketball League at UTech last Saturday.The second games will be played today at the National Stadium Basketball Courts with Tivoli Wizards against Spanish Town Spartans at 6:30 pm, and Urban Knights playing Pembroke Hall at 8:15 pm.Knights went into an early 17-10 lead at the end of the first quarter, before increasing it to 36-24 at half-time.The Knights scored only 10 points in the third quarter, but Pembroke Hall could do no better than score just nine points.The national champions then pulled away in fourth and final quarter as they outscored their opponents 20-10. Dave Blackwood was the leading scorer for Knights with 14 points and four rebounds, Kwame Lawrence added 13 points and 11 rebounds, and Fernando Young netted 12 points and grabbed eight rebounds.For Pembroke Hall, Andrew Whilby scored 14 points, and a game-high 25 rebounds, and Andrew Bell added 10 points.In the other semi-finals, Spanish Town Spartans defeated Tivoli Wizards 88-68. The Spartans through Damion Johnson, Christopher Jennings and Adrian Forbes gave their team a 20-12 lead at the first quarter break.It was a runaway going for the Calvin Martin-coached Spartans in the second quarter as they scored 26 points to their opponents’ 21, for a 46-33 lead at half-time.It was 74-46 at the end of the third quarter, and though the Edward Marshall-coached Wizards had their best moment in the fourth and final quarter by outscoring Spartans 22-14 points, it was too late to close the wide margin.Johnson scored 17 points and had three rebounds, Jennings 16 points, six rebounds and four steals, Forbes with 14 points and 12 rebounds for the Spartans, while Duken Brown scored 14 points and 12 rebounds, Andy Smith added 13 points and three rebounds for the Wizards.
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Jamaica bow out of contention

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Young Girlz begin quest for U-20 WCup

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View the original article here

Knights, Spartans take early lead

Specials demand overdue early retirement incentives

RUNAWAY BAY, St Ann — A number of retirees from the island Special Constabulary Force have not been paid funds owed to them under a scheme approved by Cabinet in 2011 to facilitate the early retirement of members.

The disclosure was made Thursday by head of the Special Constabulary Force Association, Inspector Andrew Johnson, as he addressed the association’s 29th joint conference in Runaway Bay. He said members are being told that, although hey have been approved, there is no money to pay them.But he wants those who have already retired to be paid what is due to them as many need the money to take care of expenses, including medical bills.“This is cruel and appears to be very uncaring. [This is no way] to treat those who have given years of selfless service to their country,” Johnson said, arguing that it should have been properly communicated to the retirees that the money was not available.“We are insisting that those who have gone off already under this scheme be paid,” he said, noting that members are being asked to work another two years due to the inability of the money being paid over.Responding, Minister of National Security Peter Bunting blamed the delay on an administrative glitch.Bunting explained that each year a certain amount is allocated for the early retirement incentive, but those responsible for approving early retirement were not aligning approvals with the ministry’s budget which has resulted in the problem.“They were not reconciling the number of approvals against the budget,” he said.This, he explained, has led to the approval of more retirees than those budgeted for, resulting in a carry-over into this financial year.However, the money allocated for incentive payment is not enough to cover the backlog, forcing the ministry to suspend approvals for now.He confirmed that due to the financial constraints, some members who have been approved, and who are willing and able to work, are asked to consider working for another two years.“Persons in extreme situations will be given priority,” he added.In the meantime, he urged the group to sign a wage restraint agreement with the Government, citing that there are benefits to be had from doing so.He also encouraged them to place their concerns on the table when they meet shortly with minister with responsibility for the public service in the Ministry of Finance, Horace Dalley.

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Specials demand overdue early retirement incentives