PUBLIC FORECAST FOR TUESDAY, 6TH DECEMBER, 2022
WEATHER: PARTLY SUNNY AND WARM WITH LIGHT PASSING SHOWERS TODAY, BECOMING MOSTLY FAIR, MILD, AND A BIT BREEZY WITH THE CHANCE OF A FEW TRANSIENT SHOWERS BY TONIGHT.
ADVISORY: A SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT ALONG ATLANTIC EXPOSURES DUE TO SWELLS.
WINDS: NORTHEASTERLY AT 10 TO 15 KNOTS TODAY, SHIFTING NORTHEAST TO EAST AT 15 KNOTS BY THIS AFTERNOON. EXPECT GUSTY WINDS BY LATE TONIGHT.
SEAS: 1 TO 3 FEET THIS MORNING, INCREASING 3 TO 5 FEET BY THIS AFTERNOON IN NEARSHORE WATERS AND IN SHELTERED AREAS. EXPECT 5 TO 8-FOOT SEAS ALONG
ATLANTIC EXPOSURES IN MODERATE NORTHEASTERLY SWELLS.
DAYTIME HIGH TEMPERATURE: 82°F / 28°C
OVERNIGHT LOW TEMPERATURE: 72°F / 22°C
SUNRISE: 6:41 AM
SUNSET: 5:19 PM
MOONRISE: 4:15 PM
MOONSET: 6:12 AM WED.
HIGH TIDE: 6:20 AM
LOW TIDE: 12:48 PM
HIGH TIDE: 6:33 PM
LOW TIDE: 12:37 AM WED.
EXTENDED FORECAST (FOR THE NEXT TWO DAYS): PREDOMINANTLY FAIR AND BREEZY CONDITIONS WILL PERSIST. MEANWHILE, LONG-PERIOD SWELLS WILL CONTINUE TO
IMPACT ATLANTIC EXPOSURES AND SLOWLY BUILD SEAS ACROSS BAHAMIAN WATERS, AS THE LOW CONTINUES TO INTENSIFY THROUGH THURSDAY.
FORECAST FOR WEDNESDAY:
WEATHER: PARTLY SUNNY TO SUNNY, WARM AND BREEZY WITH QUICK PASSING SHOWERS.
WINDS: NORTHEAST TO EAST AT 15 TO 20 KNOTS BUT GUSTY AT TIMES.
SEAS: 4 TO 6 FEET NEARSHORE, BUILDING 6 TO 9 FEET ALONG ATLANTIC EXPOSURES IN MODERATE TO LARGE NORTHEASTERLY SWELLS.
Prime Minister Holness goes to Washington for help with crime
Prime Minister Andrew Holness is to leave the island Tuesday afternoon for Washington, where he is slated to discuss security matters with a slew of US state agencies.
Holness announced the meetings during Tuesday morning’s press conference at the Office of the Prime Minister in St Andrew, where he again declared states of emergency in several parishes.
He said that the aim of the meetings, among other things, is to try to sever the link between overseas players in the criminal underworld and those on the island, which often results in murders and bloodshed.
Holness said the meetings are to start the process of “getting a more intense cooperation in treating with the foreign actors in our local crimes”.
He is expected to meet with the Justice Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation and other state agencies.
“I’m serious. If you are overseas and you are sponsoring, directing, and soliciting; if you are financing crime in Jamaica we’re going to get you,” the prime minister said.
He said that the move is part of efforts to build the capacity to fight the level of crime within the country without resorting to emergency powers.
“Those dons, those who have migrated overseas that in this season they would be sending the bag of rice and all the other goodies in the bag but secreted in that bag of rice, wrapped up in that blanket will be a gun or ammunition or parts thereof.
“Not to your benefit but to give to another youngster to kill. They can’t feel that they are free to influence, direct, solicit and finance crime in Jamaica,” Holness said.
Source-Barbados Today
Portugal beats Switzerland 6-1 at World Cup without Ronaldo
Superstar Cristiano Ronaldo was benched,but his replacement scored a hat trick to lead Portugal over Switzerland 6-1 and into the World Cup quarterfinals on Tuesday.
Goncalo Ramos, a 21-year-old forward who only made his Portugal debut last month, made his first start for his country and demonstrated the kind of clinical finishing Ronaldo was once known for.
Ramos scored the opening goal in the 17th minute and added others in the 51st and 67th — by which time chants of “RONALDO! RONALDO!” were swirling around the 89,000-seat Lusail Stadium.
Ronaldo entered as a substitute in the 72nd minute to loud cheers, though Portugal had the game wrapped up by then with defenders Pepe and Raphael Guerreiro also scoring. Rafael Leao added a late goal in stoppage time.
Manuel Akanji scored for Switzerland.
Portugal advanced to the quarterfinals for the third time, after 1966 and 2006, and will play Morocco on Saturday.
Portugal coach Fernando Santos now has to decide whether to stick with Ramos or restore Ronaldo, the top scorer in men’s international soccer and one of the game’s greatest ever players.
Source-AP
Neymar returns from injury to help Brazil win over South Korea
Neymar returned from injury to help inspire Brazil to a 4-1 victory over South Korea on Monday as the favourites cruised through to the quarter-finals of the World Cup.
The world's most expensive player had sat out his team's last two matches with a sprained ankle suffered in their first game in Qatar, a 2-0 win over Serbia.
But he came back for this last-16 tie as Tite's team clicked into gear and delivered an ominous message to their rivals, at least before easing off in the second half.
Vinicius Junior opened the scoring inside seven minutes before Neymar added another from the penalty spot to move to 76 goals for his country, leaving him just one away from equalling Pele's all-time record tally.
Richarlison's brilliant goal made it 3-0 and Lucas Paqueta added another before half-time to leave South Korea shell-shocked.
Paik Seung-ho pulled one back but by then Brazil were thinking about Friday's quarter-final clash with 2018 runners-up Croatia.
The five-time World Cup winners had not scored four goals in a knockout game at the tournament since 1998.
Here they played at times with the joy associated with the Brazilian national team, the players coming together to celebrate each goal by showing off their dance moves, with even their coach joining in.
If they finished playing within themselves, their first-half display was superb and a fitting tribute to the great Pele.
The Brazilian legend had said he would watch the game from the Sao Paulo hospital to where he was admitted last week amid ongoing treatment for colon cancer, and supporters in Doha's Stadium 974 unfurled a banner with a get well soon message to him.
All of it was a chastening experience for Son Heung-min and South Korea, who have still never won a World Cup knockout match outside their own country.
Tite made 10 changes to the Brazil team after rotating his squad for the 1-0 loss to Cameroon, which came after qualification for the last 16 had been secured.
Danilo also returned from injury at left back while Eder Militao was the only player to keep his place and shifted across to right back.
With Alisson Becker back in goal and Thiago Silva and Marquinhos playing too, this was Brazil's first-choice defence but their forwards quickly put the tie to bed.
The opener came from their first shot on target in the seventh minute as Raphinha burst away from Kim Jin-su on the right and his ball across goal came to the feet of Vinicius who coolly picked his spot.
They then won a penalty as Richarlison was caught by Jung Woo-young and Neymar duly beat Kim Seung-gyu — his last six goals for Brazil have now all come from the spot.
Alisson was then called into action to tip over a vicious long-range effort from Hwang Hee-chan, but Brazil then scored their third in style just before the half-hour mark.
Richarlison juggled the ball on his head three times just outside the area before laying it off to Marquinhos and continuing into the box to get on the end of Silva's pass, which he slotted home for his third goal at this World Cup.
Paqueta then got their fourth nine minutes before the break with a first-time finish as he connected with a Vinicius ball held up from the byline.
They could have added more in the second half had they not taken their foot off the pedal, although Raphinha was denied on more than one occasion by the goalkeeper.
Korea, though, deserve credit as they kept going and were rewarded inside the final quarter-hour as substitute Paik brought down a headed clearance and sent in a ferocious shot from 25 metres that brushed off Silva to beat Alisson.
The Brazil goalkeeper was then taken off for the final 10 minutes to be replaced by Weverton, while Neymar was also withdrawn with Tite's mind on Croatia.
Source- AP
Jury finds Trump Organization guilty of tax fraud on all counts
A Manhattan jury has found former President Donald Trump's namesake real estate company guilty of criminal tax fraud, three weeks after Trump announced a third presidential run.
The jury found the two entities of the Trump Organization guilty as charged on all counts, including scheme to defraud, conspiracy, criminal tax fraud and falsifying business records.
The two entities — the Trump Corporation and the Trump Payroll Corporation — were accused of paying the personal expenses of some executives without reporting them as income and for compensating them as independent contractors instead of full-time employees. Each entity was charged with scheme to defraud, conspiracy, criminal tax fraud and falsifying business records.
Prosecutors believed the Trump Organization was culpable because the conduct of CFO Allen Weisselberg benefitted the company and because his position as CFO meant he was entrusted to act on the company's behalf.
Weisselberg, who testified as part of a plea deal, pleaded guilty in August to charges that he skirted taxes on nearly $2 million in company-provided perks that included the rent on his Manhattan apartment, the leases on cars for himself and his wife and tuition for his grandchildren.
Following the verdict, a spokesperson for the Trump Organization told ABC News in a statement, "Mr. Weisselberg testified under oath that he 'betrayed' the trust the company had placed in him and that he, at all times, acted 'solely' for his 'own personal gain' and out of his 'own personal greed'. The notion that a company could be held responsible for an employee's actions, to benefit themselves, on their own personal tax returns is simply preposterous."
Source-ABC
New sanctions target Russian oil
Major Western measures to limit Russia’s oil profits over the war in Ukraine took effect Monday, bringing with them uncertainty about how much crude could be lost to the world and whether they will unleash the hoped-for hit to a Russian economy that has held up better than many expected under sanctions.
The European Union is banning most Russian oil and the Group of Seven democracies has imposed a price cap of $60 per barrel on Russian exports to other countries.
Source- ABC
Bill Cosby sued by 5 new women for sexual assault; reps call action "frivolous"
Actor Bill Cosby is facing new accusations of sexual assault and battery from five women under New York's new Adult Survivors Act, according to a lawsuit filed Monday.
The lawsuit was filed in New York state court by actresses Lili Bernard and Eden Tirl, who each appeared on The Cosby Show, as well as Jewel Gittens, Jennifer Thompson and Cindra Ladd. The filling accuses Cosby of assault, battery, infliction of emotional distress and false imprisonment; the lawsuit also names NBC, the show's production company and the studio where the Emmy-winning sitcom was shot.
Cosby "used his power, fame, and prestige, including the power, fame and prestige given to him by defendants NBCUniversal Media, LLC, Kaufman Astoria Studios, Inc., and The Carsey-Werner Company, LLC, to misuse his enormous power in such a nefarious, horrific way," according to the lawsuit.
Representatives for the embattled Cosby responded to the filing in an email to ABC News. "Unwilling to accept that Actor & Comedian Bill Cosby was vindicated by the PA State Supreme Court almost a year and a half ago, five (5) previous alleged accusers have resurfaced to file a frivolous civil lawsuit against Mr. Cosby in the Supreme Court of the State of New York County New York."
The statement continued, "For the record, these alleged accusers were once represented by [attorney Gloria Allred] and were a part of parade of accusers back in 2014 through 2016. As we have always stated, and now America can see, this isn't about justice for victims of alleged sexual assault, it's ALL ABOUT MONEY."
Cosby's reps concluded, "We believe that the courts, as well as the court of public opinion, will follow the rules of law and relieve Mr. Cosby of these alleged accusations. Mr. Cosby continues to vehemently deny all allegation waged against him and looks forward to defending himself in court."
Source- ABC
Ciara, Wiz Khalifa, Halle Bailey to perform at Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2023
Ciara, Wiz Khalifa and Halle Bailey will help ring in 2023 at Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2023.
Ciara will perform her recent singles "Better Thangs" and "Jump" from the Disneyland Resort. Halle and reggae/dancehall artist Shaggy will also hit the resort stage: The star of Disney’s live-action film The Little Mermaid will sing her song “Cool People” and a cover of Janet Jackson’s “Together Again," while Shaggy will perform a pair of throwbacks: 1995's "Bombastic" and 2000's “Angel.”
Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2023 will air December 31 at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.
Also set to make an appearance on the show is Wiz, who'll be performing "Memory Lane" and "Black & Yellow" from the LA party that DJ D-Nice is co-hosting.
Pose's Billy Porter will bring in the new year in New Orleans, singing a medley of hits and serving as another co-host of the New Year’s Rockin’ Eve festivities.
Source- ABC
Ethereum change cut cryptocurrency power demand
A change in the way the cryptocurrency Ethereum works may have cut its power consumption by country-sized amounts.
The amount of electricity saved is similar to that used by Ireland or even Austria, work published in the data-science journal Patterns suggests.
Bitcoin, the largest crypto, is thought to use more electricity than Finland.
It has even been suggested emissions from Bitcoin could exceed the global savings currently made by driving electric vehicles, the article notes.
Like all cryptocurrencies, Ethereum relies on a blockchain, a giant, constantly updating database, logging every transaction.
Previously, this was maintained and verified by a system called Proof of Work, used by many cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin.
Companies and volunteers whose computers helped to run the network were rewarded with new cryptocurrency coins.
The more work they completed, the greater the chance of creating new coins.
This encouraged businesses to set up massive warehouses of computers running 24-7, often on energy derived from fossil fuels, the article suggests.
But on 15 September, in an event known as The Merge, Ethereum switched to a system called Proof of Stake, where the chance of creating a new coin no longer depends on the amount of computing work completed.
The technical complexity of the switch was compared to rebuilding a skyscraper's foundations while it remained standing.
But it cut Ethereum's electrical energy consumption by at least 99.84%, the peer-reviewed "perspective" article suggests.
The Ethereum blockchain also supports hundreds of millions of dollars' worth of other coins and crypto products such as non-fungible tokens (NFTs).
But the paper's author, Alex De Vries, a data-science and economics researcher at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, in the Netherlands, warns the computers may simply have switched to creating other cryptocurrencies.
In September 2022, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy said legal limits on energy-intensive cryptocurrency mining should be considered.
Mr De Vries said: "The Bitcoin community has been very anti-change - but the Ethereum community has shown that despite concerns and resistance, it is possible to make the necessary changes on a live blockchain, which means that the Bitcoin community may need a little bit of a nudge from the outside to actually make things happen."
Source-BBC
Morgan Stanley bank to cut 1,600 jobs
Bank Morgan Stanley is cutting about 1,600 jobs or roughly 2% of its global workforce, joining other big banks in making reductions as the economy slows.
The news comes after chief executive James Gorman warned that the bank would see "modest" job losses.
He cast the downsizing as a predictable outcome after several years of rapid growth.
Goldman Sachs bank is among the others making cuts in the sector, which is also bracing for smaller pay bonuses.
Payouts on Wall Street are expected to fall more than 20% this year, after hitting a record in 2021, said New York city government officials in October. The average award in 2021 was more than $250,000 (£205,000).
Banking is among the sectors most vulnerable to slowing down as central banks around the world make borrowing more expensive by raising interest rates, in a bid to reduce demand for loans, and ease the pressures pushing up prices.
At a banking industry conference on Tuesday, Goldman Sachs boss David Solomon warned about the economic outlook.
"Economic growth is slowing," he said. "When I talk to our clients, they sound extremely cautious."
The US economy has so far fared better than expected as consumers continue spending, buoyed by a strong jobs market and savings leftover from the pandemic.
But rapidly rising prices are eroding business and households savings, which could eventually "derail" the economy, Jamie Dimon, head of JP Morgan Chase, told broadcaster CNBC on Tuesday.
Credit Suisse in recent weeks said it planned to shed 9,000 posts over three years, part of a wider restructuring, while Barclays and Citigroup are among the other banks said to be making reductions.
Morgan Stanley, which has made a number of acquisitions in recent years, employed roughly 82,000 people globally at the end of September, up from 75,000 a year earlier.
Source-BBC