US bans sale of Huawei, ZTE tech amid security fears
The US has banned the sale and import of new communications equipment from five Chinese companies, including Huawei and ZTE, amid concerns over national security.
Other companies listed include Hikvision, Dahua and Hytera, which make video surveillance equipment and two-way radio systems.
It is the first time US regulators have taken such a move on security grounds.
Hikvision said that its products present no security threat to the US.
It said the decision "will do nothing to protect US national security, but will do a great deal to make it more harmful and more expensive for US small businesses, local authorities, school districts, and individual consumers to protect themselves, their homes, businesses and property."
Huawei and others have previously denied supplying data to the Chinese government.
The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) said its members had voted unanimously on Friday to adopt the new rules.
"The FCC is committed to protecting our national security by ensuring that untrustworthy communications equipment is not authorised for use within our borders," the commission's chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said in a statement.
"These new rules are an important part of our ongoing actions to protect the American people from national security threats involving telecommunications," she added.
Because the ban is not retroactive, the firms listed can continue to sell products previously approved for sale in the US.
But the FCC said it is seeking comment on future revisions to the rules regarding equipment already authorised to be imported or sold, meaning it is possible existing authorisations could also be revoked in the future.
The restrictions in the US are the latest levied against Chinese tech firms following spying concerns, which US officials have become increasingly wary of in recent years.
Under Barack Obama's administration, actions designed to limit Chinese telecoms firms' access to the US market first took root. They were then accelerated during the presidency of Donald Trump and have continued under current US President Joe Biden's rule.
Source-BBC
Jaguar Land Rover cuts output at UK factories due to chip shortage
Carmaker Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) is reducing output at its factories in Solihull and Halewood until the spring, due to ongoing problems obtaining enough computer chips for new vehicles.
The action is expected to affect the output of models such as the Jaguar F-Pace and Land Rover Discovery Sport.
The move is understood to be temporary, as first reported in the Guardian.
In the meantime, JLR will focus on more profitable models such as the Range Rover. Output of these cars has been ramped up in recent months.
JLR's factory in Nitra, Slovakia, is not affected.
Modern cars are heavily reliant on computer chips to control a variety of onboard systems, ranging from anti-lock braking and emissions controls to satellite navigation and in-car entertainment.
But supplies from East Asia have been heavily disrupted in the wake of the Covid pandemic, while carmakers have faced intense competition for available supplies from other industries.
In a statement, JLR said it would "continue to actively manage the operational patterns of our manufacturing plants whilst the industry experiences ongoing global semi-conductor supply chain disruption".
"We expect our performance to continue improving in the second half of the year, as new agreements with semiconductor partners take effect, enabling us to build and deliver more vehicles to our clients," it added.
UK car production still remains well below levels seen before the pandemic, despite an increase in October, figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) show.
The industry built 69,524 cars in October, up 7.4% from a year earlier, but the SMMT said manufacturers were still suffering from "turbulent" supplies of components.
"There's been real shortages in the supply chain, most obviously in semiconductors, which is leading to really erratic levels of production," the SMMT's chief executive Mike Hawes told the BBC's Today programme.
"[Production] was up in October, but we expect it to be volatile as we go forward especially when some parts come from China."
Mr Hawes said the UK was "no way close" to making enough chips for the car industry.
"Massive investments are required and some governments in the world are putting up billions upon billions of pounds to attract investment and build new fabs (semiconductor fabrication plants).
"We should be building about a million cars a year, so when you have about 1,500 chips per car you can see just how incredible the volumes of these chips you need just to support the automotive industry, let alone things like personal electronics."
Source-BBC
Germany salvages 1-1 draw with Spain at World Cup
Germany forward Niclas Füllkrug salvaged a 1-1 draw against Spain on Sunday at the World Cup.
The Germans still need to win their last group match to have a chance of advancing to the knockout stage. The four-time champions were eliminated in the group stage four years ago in Russia.
Germany will next face Costa Rica, which defeated Japan 1-0 earlier Sunday. Even a win may not be enough for the Germans, who are in last place in Group E and need the other result to go their way.
Germany has one point, two behind Japan and Costa Rica. Spain has four points and holds a big goal difference thanks to its opening 7-0 rout of Costa Rica.
The match between the pre-tournament favorites was one of the most anticipated in the group stage.
Spain tried to control the pace of the game with ball possession but wasn’t able to create many significant opportunities until Álvaro Morata found the net in the 62nd minute with a nice one-touch from close range after a well-placed low cross from Jordi Alba.
Germany struggled and only threatened sporadically in a few breakaways and set pieces, but Füllkrug finally found the equalizer in the 83rd with a shot from close range into the top of the net.
The goal kept Germany from enduring consecutive losses at the start of a World Cup for the first time.
WHAT’S NEXT
Spain’s next match is against Japan at Khalifa International Stadium, while Germany returns to Al Bayt Stadium to face Costa Rica.
Forecasters predict possible flooding in the Caribbean this Christmas
The Barbados-based Caribbean Institute for Meteorology & Hydrology (CIMH) is warning the region that recent heavy rains could continue into December and pose a risk for flooding during one of the most joyous seasons of the year.
“This year, flooding is a bigger risk in December than in other years,” CIMH climatologist Cédric Van Meerbeeck told the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) about the regional outlook for the dry season, which begins December 1.
“I’m not saying it’s going to flood in your area, but what I’m saying is keep checking the weather reports in your country to make sure that that doesn’t happen to you, without you knowing about it.”
Speaking at the Caribbean Climate Outlook Forum (CariCOF), taking place here through Friday, Van Meerbeeck cautioned that while Christmas was traditionally a period where people like to think joyous things and “might not always pay as much attention to the weather as we normally would during the hurricane season, for instance”, heavy rains in December are not unheard of.
He reminded that in 2013, Christmas Eve floods led to death and destruction in St Vincent and the Grenadines and St Lucia.
He said that the highest risk is in Guianas and in the southern parts of the islands.
“So, in the ABC islands of Aruba, Curacao, Bonaire, in Trinidad and Tobago, in Grenada, in Barbados, and then less so as you go further north.”
The climatologist said the globe is experiencing La Nina – a metrological event where surface temperatures or ocean temperatures in the Pacific are cooler than usual – which tends to “influence our weather patterns at the seasonal timescale here”.
He noted that during La Nina, the Caribbean typically experiences wetter years as well as a stronger end part of the hurricane season.
“The next thing that happens is, fortunately for us, the heat was not as tremendously a problem this year as it’s been, for instance, in 2021 when the opposite pattern occurred.”
Van Meerbeeck said this was the reason for recent flash floods in St Lucia, Dominica and other countries.
“If you look back from May until recently, you’ve really had a whole string of countries across the Caribbean that experienced flooding at some time, with, unfortunately, damage and losses to our agriculture and to other sections of our economy,” he told CMC.
However, he pointed out that La Nina will tend to result in drier weather in the northwest of the regions.
“So, in The Bahamas, in Cuba, in the Cayman Islands and sometimes also in Belize…. They are the ones who now have to look into their dry season if drought will develop. Because if that’s the case, you know that the dry season, which is from now until May, also largely overlaps with our main season, [tourism wise],” Van Meerbeeck said.
He noted that more people in the region as a result of tourism will result in increased water consumption.
So, in those areas, it might actually end up being drier than usual in the dry season – which, as the name implies, is when you get less rain. You might actually see that the water reservoirs might lower a little bit faster than usual. In our neck of the woods, which is in the southeastern Caribbean, it’s the opposite…. If our forecasts are right, we’re going to see our water reservoirs deplete slower than usual.
“So the good news is, we are not so much water stressed this time around. But we still need to pay attention to flooding because even though we’re entering the dry season, that might still play a role,” he added.
The climatologist noted that farmers in the region also had to pay close attention to the weather patterns,
“We need to prepare for flooding, we need to prepare for the chance of having locally drier conditions which might impact agriculture. But I think the bigger risk for agriculture, especially in the southeastern Caribbean, is going to be crop damage because of flooding,” he said.
Source-CMC
Barbados holds National Thanksgiving Service
A multi-denominational National Thanksgiving Service was held Sunday at the Garfield Sobers Complex in recognition of both 56 years of Independence and the first anniversary of becoming a republic.
Under the theme, By Grace Through Faith: Perseverance, Resilience, Strength, several religions were able to make their unique contribution.
The ceremony which was conducted by the Venerable Eric E Lynch Archdeacon of Barbados was attended by Dame Sandra Mason, the President of Barbados; Prime Minister Mia Mottley and a host of other dignitaries.
Prior to the official start of the ceremony attendees enjoyed musical selections by the Barbados Police Service Band. In the spirit of pomp and pageantry the presentation of the national flag of Barbados was conducted by members of the Seventh Day Adventist Pathfinders.
The service, which emphasizes inclusivity, featured an invocation by Oloye Agba Esusegun Olaifa, Priest and Chief Elder of The Orisha. A reading was done from the Holy Qur’an by Imam Aakil Bhula, representative of the Barbados Muslim Association. Margaret Bovell- Lewis of the Baha’i Faith offered a prayer for life and health.
Both governmental and non-governmental agencies participated. Prayers were also offered by Amariah Brathwaite of the Girls Guide Association of Barbados, Pamelia Brereton, President of the Barbados Alzheimer’s Association and Adona Griffith, Programme Office of the Barbados YouthADANCE Corp.
Source- BarbadosToday
New GOP House promises investigations, subpoenas
What will it mean for the Republicans to take control of the House even by a tiny margin? It can be summed up in one word. Subpoena.
They won’t be able to pass meaningful legislation, but they will take over all the committees and they’ll be in position to bedevil the Biden Administration with hearings and investigations into Joe Biden’s son Hunter, the president’s policies toward the border, American support for the war in Ukraine and many other sensitive subjects.
However, the Republican leader and likely speaker Kevin McCarthy has a very slim margin to work with and like previous GOP speakers John Boehner, Paul Ryan and even back to Newt Gingrich, he will be plagued by his hard right wing that is likely to make his life miserable.
Meanwhile Dems will be led by a new young and untested leadership team now that Nancy Pelosi, one of the great legislative strategists of her time, has stepped aside.
Source- ABC
Soul Train Awards 2022: The winners
The BET Soul Train Awards 2022 celebrated the best in soul, R&B and hip-hop music over the weekend. Hosted by award-winning comedian and actor Deon Cole the annual music awards show was one for the books.
Here's the complete list of winners.
Album of the Year
Renaissance, Beyoncé
Song of the Year
“Break My Soul,” Beyoncé
Video of the Year
“Smokin Out the Window,” Silk Sonic (Bruno Mars & Anderson .Paak)
Best New Artist
Tems
Best R&B/Soul Female Artist
Jazmine Sullivan
Best R&B/Soul Male Artist
Chris Brown
Best Collaboration
“Make Me Say It Again, Girl,” Ronald Isley & The Isley Brothers feat. Beyoncé
Certified Soul Award
Mary J. Blige
The Ashford and Simpson Songwriter’s Award
“Hrs & Hrs,” Muni Long
Best Dance Performance
“About Damn Time,” Lizzo
Best Gospel/Inspirational Award
Maverick City Music X Kirk Franklin
Legend Award
The Time
Lady of Soul Award
Xscape
Alleged Buffalo shooter expected to plead guilty
Alleged Buffalo supermarket shooter Payton Gendron is due in an Erie County courtroom Monday, November 28 at 9:30 a.m. for an appearance during which he is expected to plead guilty to state charges.
Gendron is charged in a 25-count indictment with carrying out a “domestic act of terrorism motivated by hate” along with ten counts of murder in the first degree, ten counts of murder in the second degree as a hate crime, three counts of attempted murder as a hate crime and one count of criminal possession of a weapon.
Gendron fatally shot 10 black people at the Topps supermarket “because of the perceived race and/or color” of the victims, the indictment said.
Gendron became the first defendant to be charged under New York’s relatively new statute “domestic terrorism motivated by hate,” which was adopted in 2020 by then-Gov. Andrew Cuomo. It followed the El Paso Walmart shooting that targeted Latinos. The statute is named for Josef Neumann, who was stabbed to death at a rabbi’s home during Hanukkah of 2020.
Source-ABC
Michael Jackson’s Thriller returns to Billboard 200 top 10
There is a very familiar album in the Billboard 200 Album chart this week. Thanks to the 40th anniversary celebration of Michael Jackson’s classic album Thriller, the album has returned to the top 10.
The 40th anniversary edition of the record moved 37,000 equivalent album units to leap from #115 to #7 on the chart, with that number consisting of 27,500 in traditional album sales, an increase of 820% from the previous week.
The last time Thriller was in the top 10 was the week of June 30, 1984. In total, it has spent 37 nonconsecutive weeks at #1, which holds the record for the most weeks of any artist. Only the soundtrack to West Side Story has more weeks on top, 54.
Source-ABC
New Zealand steps up fight against soaring prices
New Zealand's central bank has stepped up its fight against soaring prices, raising its key interest rate to the highest level in over 13 years.
The Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) increased its key rate of interest by 0.75 percentage points to 4.25%.
That was the biggest rise since the rate, known as the official cash rate, was introduced in 1999.
It comes after the country's annual inflation rate stood at 7.2% in the three months to the end of September.
Like much of the rest of the world, New Zealand has seen the cost of living rise sharply as the global economy emerges from the pandemic and the war in Ukraine has pushed up the cost of fuel and food.
The RBNZ's updated forecasts also pointed to the country's economy falling into recession in September of next year. A recession is usually defined as when an economy shrinks for two three-month periods - or quarters - in a row.
"Because the New Zealand economy is starting from a position of very high inflation and acute labor shortages, an economic contraction is likely," the RBNZ said in a statement.
"Trying to avoid an economic contraction by limiting any interest rate increases in the near term would likely lead to a longer period of high inflation. In turn, this would likely result in higher interest rates and a larger contraction eventually being required to bring inflation and employment back to a more sustainable path," it added.
Economists at the bank ANZ welcomed the move.
"Hope is not a strategy. The RBNZ Monetary Policy Committee gets that and deserves a pat on the back for facing the challenges head-on. If the facts change, they'll change their minds. But right now, the fact is that high inflation is looking increasingly entrenched, and dithering would only make the problem worse," ANZ Research said in a note to investors.
During a parliamentary hearing on Wednesday, New Zealand's Finance Minister Grant Robertson said the world economy faced a "year of reckoning" in 2023.
"Countries will either be in recession or feel like they are," Mr. Robertson added.
Source-BBC