Millions followed the dazzling Davina to Miss Universe
Davina Bennett swelled the hearts of Jamaicans worldwide with pride last night when she placed third in the prestigious Miss Universe 2017 pageant in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Twenty-one-year-old Bennett — who works with deaf students and is working on a new sign language app — had Jamaicans screaming and cheering her on from the minute she stepped onto the stage through to her selection to the top 16, 10, then the top five, and ultimately the top three.
Miss South Africa, 22-year-old Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters, was crowned Miss Universe, while first runner-up was Miss Colombia, actress Laura Gonzalez.
Bennett emerged from a field of 92 contestants to become only the second Jamaican beauty to crack the top three at Miss Universe joining Yendi Phillipps, who finished one spot higher, second place, in 2010.
Sporting her signature afro, Bennett dazzled in a buttercup yellow evening gown designed by the team from Uzuri International, whose principals, Karl Williams and Mark McDermoth are franchise holders for the local competition.
Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport Olivia Grange has congratulated Miss Jamaica Universe Davina Bennett on her third place finish in the Miss Universe Pageant last evening in Las Vegas.
“We'll take second runner up but in our hearts you are number one and our queen,” Grange said in a release from her ministry.
The minister said also that Bennett displayed poise, confidence and the true Jamaican spirit during the show.
“Our Davina left her mark on the world and is an inspiration to other Jamaican young women,” she said.
Among the other Jamaican queens who have made it to the top 10 at Miss Universe are Kaci Fennell, Christine Straw, Nicole Haughton, Sandra Foster, and Kimberly Mais.
Source-Jamaica Observer
Non-evacuees may be forced to leave area Bali as volcano erupts
People who have not left their homes around a rumbling volcano in Bali may be forcibly evicted, Indonesian authorities have said.
Tens of thousands of people stayed put near Mount Agung after an alert was raised to its highest level.
Some still felt safe while others did not want to leave livestock.
A spokesman for the country's National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) said people were checking the exclusion zone for non-evacuees.
"There are personnel doing the sweeping, if they [residents] need to be forcibly evacuated," Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said.
The closure of the island's airport was extended for a second day, leaving thousands stranded in the tourist hotspot.
Up to 100,000 people live in the area that could potentially be affected by streams of burning rock have been spotted flowing down from the mountain. But by Monday only 40,000 had left.
Mount Agung's volcanic tremors first began in September.
Since last week dark gas and ash have been billowing up to 3,400m (11,150ft) above the mountain's summit.
Source-BBC
US Indicts 3 Chinese Nationals on Hacking Charges
Three Chinese nationals were accused of hacking computers in three corporations, the U.S. Department of Justice said Monday.
Wu Yingzhuo, Dong Hao and Xia Lei were indicted Monday by a grand jury "for computer hacking, theft of trade secrets, conspiracy and identity theft" and intentionally causing damage to those computer systems.
The charges were brought by Acting Assistant Attorney General for National Security Dana J. Boente, Acting U.S. Attorney Soo C. Song for the Western District of Pennsylvania, and Special Agent in Charge Robert Johnson of the FBI's Pittsburgh Division.
Three corporations, Moody's Analytics, Siemens AG, and Trimble, Inc. were the victims of the alleged attacks, which took place between 2011 and May 2017.
Source-VOA
Prince Harry to wed in 2018: Stars were aligned when I met Meghan
Prince Harry says he and US actress girlfriend Meghan Markle fell in love "so incredibly quickly" and it seemed proof that the "stars were aligned".
The fifth in line to the throne was speaking after the couple announced their engagement and plans to marry in spring 2018.
The couple told the BBC's Mishal Husain they met on a blind date and neither had known much about each other.
Prince Harry said "beautiful" Ms Markle "just tripped and fell into my life".
He believed Ms Markle and his late mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, would have been "thick as thieves... best friends".
Prince Harry revealed he proposed earlier this month during a "standard, typical night for us" at his home in Kensington Palace as the couple were making roast chicken.
"It was just an amazing surprise. It was so sweet, and natural and very romantic. He got on one knee," Ms Markle said.
Prince Harry said: "She didn't even let me finish. She said 'Can I say yes'.
"Then there were hugs and I had the ring in my finger.
"I said 'Can I give you the ring?'. She said: 'Oh, yes, the ring'. It was a really nice moment. Just the two of us."
Turning to Ms Markle, Prince Harry said: "And I think I managed to catch you by surprise as well."
The 36-year-old star of US legal drama Suits confirmed she would be giving up acting and with her new role focus even more energy on the causes that are important to her.
She is already involved with humanitarian work and is a women's advocate with the UN.
Ms Markle said: "I don't see it as giving anything up. I see it as a change. It's a new chapter."
Turning to Prince Harry, she said: "Now it's time to work as a team with you."
The prince, 33, added: "I know that she will be unbelievably good at the job part of it as well."
The couple described how they were set up on their blind date by a mutual friend, and then met once more before going camping together in Botswana.
Source-BBC
Denzel Washington dishes on his Thanksgiving plans
Denzel Washington likes to keep his Thanksgiving holiday simple. The Oscar-winning actor says he'll be spending Thursday with family, doing three things he enjoys.
"Eating... sleeping... and football," Washington tells ABC Radio with a smile on his face. Washington, a longtime Dallas Cowboys fan, says he will be watching and rooting for his team on Thanksgiving Day.
In addition to relaxing and spending time with his family, Washington adds that he hopes to find out more about what his kids are up to.
Washington admits, "They don't talk to me about what they're doing....Maybe I'll find out over Thanksgiving."
He does know what his oldest son is doing, though.
"John David is starring in Black Klansman with Spike [Lee] and...[Jordan Peele]," he tells ABC Radio.
Washington's referring to the upcoming crime thriller, which Lee will direct and co-produce with Peele. John David will star as Ron Stallworth, a real-life police detective who infiltrated the KKK in 1978.
Washington's latest film, Roman J. Israel, Esq., is now in theaters nationwide.
Source-ABC
Kevin Spacey may be subject of new Scotland Yard investigation
London police are investigating another sexual claim that may involve Kevin Spacey.
Per their policy, the Metropolitan Police -- aka Scotland Yard -- doesn't reveal details about alleged perpetrators or victims during an investigation. However, they do confirm that the alleged crime occurred in 2005 in the London borough of Lambeth, and the alleged perpetrator is the same person already under investigation for an alleged sexual assault in 2008, also in Lambeth.
Spacey is widely considered to be the person being investigated in connection with the alleged 2008 assault, as reported earlier this month by The Guardian newspaper. Lambeth is also the location of the Old Vic Theatre, of which Spacey was artistic director from 2004 to 2015.
ABC News has been unable to confirm whether Spacey is in fact the subject of the investigations.
Late last month, actor Star Trek: Discovery Anthony Rapp told Buzzfeed that when he was 14, Spacey made a sexual advance on him. Spacey, who apologized to the actor with a controversial tweet in which he also came out as gay, has since become the target of other complaints and charges of sexual assault of varying degrees against Spacey, who has remained publicly silent since his initial statement regarding Rapp.
Since the Rapp accusation, Netflix formally terminated its relationship with Spacey, who starred in their hit drama, House of Cards. Final production of a film starring Spacey as writer Gore Vidal was cancelled, and director Ridley Scott cut all of Spacey's scenes from the fact-based film drama All the Money in the World, in which Spacey played billionaire J. Paul Getty. Those scenes are currently being re-shot with actor Christopher Plummer in the role.
Source-ABC
FORECAST FOR THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT FRIDAY 24TH NOVEMBER 2017
GENERAL SITUATION: THE COMBINATION OF STREAMING TROPICAL MOISTURE FROM THE CARIBBEAN SEA ALONG WITH PRE-FRONTAL ACTIVITY ASSOCIATED WITH A WEAK COLD FRONT IN THE VICINITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA WILL MAINTAIN UNSTABLE CONDITIONS MAINLY ACROSS THE NORTHWEST AND CENTRAL BAHAMAS TODAY.
NORTHWEST AND CENTRAL BAHAMAS:
WEATHER: PARTLY TO MOSTLY CLOUDY AND WARM WITH A FEW SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THE CHANCE OF ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS MAINLY IN THE CENTRAL BAHAMAS THIS AFTERNOON. MOSTLY FAIR TONIGHT WITH THE CHANCE OF A FEW ISOLATED SHOWERS.
ADVISORY: BOATERS SHOULD BE ALERT FOR GUSTY WINDS AND HIGHER SEAS IN OR NEAR HEAVY SHOWERS OR THUNDERSTORMS.
WINDS: SOUTH TO SOUTHWEST AT 10 TO 15 KNOTS, FALLING LIGHT AT TIMES OVER OPEN WATERS.
SEAS: 2 TO 4 FEET OVER THE OCEAN.
TURKS & CAICOS:
WEATHER: PARTLY TO MOSTLY CLOUDY AND WARM WITH THE CHANCE OF ISOLATED SHOWERS THROUGH TONIGHT.
WINDS: EAST TO SOUTHEAST AT 10 KNOTS OR LESS OVER OPEN WATERS.
SEAS: 3 FEET OR LESS OVER THE OCEAN.
DAYTIME HIGH TEMPERATURE: 85F 29C
OVERNIGHT LOW TEMPERATURE: 74F 23C
SUNSET: 5:20PM SUNRISE: 6:34AM SAT.
MOONSET: 10:33PM MOONRISE: 11:58AM SAT.
LOW TIDE: 5:56PM HIGH TIDE: 11:52PM
LOW TIDE: 5:51AM SAT. HIGH TIDE: 12:10PM SAT.
OUTLOOK FOR THE WEEKEND: THE PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED COLD FRONT WILL GRADUALLY DRIFT SOUTHEASTWARDS THROUGH SUNDAY WITH DRIER CONDITIONS IN ITS WAKE.
TROPICAL WEATHER OUTLOOK: TROPICAL CYCLONE FORMATION IS NOT EXPECTED DURING THE NEXT 5 DAYS.
Amazon workers on strike in Italy and Germany
Hundreds of Amazon workers in Italy and Germany are on strike during one of the busiest shopping days of the year.
Over 500 employees are carrying out their first ever strike at Amazon's warehouse in Piacenza near Milan over pay.
Piazcenza is Amazon's main Italian hub, employing 4,000 people.
Amazon said: "The vast majority of our employees in Italy and Germany came to work and remained focused on delivering the best customer experience."
It added: "We are proud of our record of job creation and are confident we will deliver for our customers this holiday season."
E-commerce is growing fast in Italy, but online sales account for only 10% of overall retail sales, according to consultancy EY, half the European average.
The Verdi trade union said people are also striking at six warehouses in Germany over pay and working conditions.
In a statement, Verdi board member Stefanie Nutzberger, said workers faced "high pressure to create more and more in less time, permanent performance controls and monitoring, [and] a poor leadership culture".
Luigi Giove, Secretary General of Italy's CGIL union, said those on strike are calling for shifts which are "not exhausting" and for Amazon to redistribute its profits.
Source- BBC
Porsche aims to meet EU emissions targets
Porsche expects it won't have any trouble meeting the EU's next round of CO2 emissions reduction targets because more than half of its sales by 2025 will come from electrified vehicles.
The European Commission has proposed a 30 percent reduction in fleet CO2 emissions from new cars by 2030 – equating to less than 67 grams per km when expressed under the outgoing NEDC testing cycle. Half of that must be achieved by 2025 as an interim milestone to guarantee progress.
"Technically we certainly won’t struggle with that [target]," said Porsche development chief Michael Steiner, when asked about the new emission cap.
Porsche is taking a much different stance from the rest of its German peers. The lobby organization VDA has called into doubt whether the targets were even reachable, saying it was "more than questionable from today's perspective."
In an interview with Automotive News Europe, Steiner was more concerned that politicians might regulate combustion engine cars out of existence, as some lawmakers have proposed. Steiner wants Porsche's lineup to be so attractive that owners will flock to its electrified models, while still allowing purists the chance to buy conventionally powered Porsches.
"Customers should be the ones to decide," he said, adding the result of the emissions targets should not be to favor one technology over another. "The attractiveness [of Porsche's electrified lineup] should lead to a powertrain mix that ensures we are compliant," he explained.
So far Porsche is confident that customers are slowly starting to migrate towards its more eco-friendly range. The ongoing discussion about diesel city bans is encouraging buyers to switch and go straight to an electrified vehicle to ensure access years from now. Roughly two thirds of all Panameras sold in Europe come with a plug-in hybrid powertrain.
Porsche plans to add at least one additional battery electric model by 2025 in addition to its upcoming Mission E to help achieve its target of selling more than half of its cars with an electrified drivetrain.
As part of its electrified future, Porsche will start sales of the 600-hp Mission E electric sedan in Europe in 2019 and in late 2019 or early 2020. An electric Macan "could be a possibility for us," Porsche Cars North America CEO Klaus Zellmer told Automotive News earlier this year.
Source-AutoNews
Mnangagwa sworn in as Zimbabwe president
Emmerson Mnangagwa was sworn in as Zimbabwe's president on Friday, marking the final chapter of a political drama that toppled his predecessor Robert Mugabe after a military takeover.
Mnangagwa, until recently one of Mugabe's closest allies, took the oath of office at the national sports stadium on the outskirts of Harare to an explosion of cheering from the full-to-capacity crowd.
"I Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa swear that as the president of the republic of Zimbabwe I will be faithful to Zimbabwe and obey, uphold and defend the constitution and all other laws of Zimbabwe," he said as he took the oath of office before the chief justice.
He then received the chain and sash of office, and took salutes and pledges of allegiance from the country's military and security chiefs.
Mnangagwa, 75, had said this week that Zimbabweans were witnessing "a new and unfolding full democracy", although critics say he is a hardliner in the ruling ZANU-PF who gained power in a de facto military coup.
He is known as "The Crocodile" for his ruthlessness and is accused of overseeing ethnic massacres and political violence.
"We are excited and expecting a lot from Mnangagwa. We have been under a dictatorship for a very long time," 23-year-old Sharon Mauyakufa said, referring to Mugabe.
The 93-year-old former president, who ruled the southern African country for 37 autocratic years, was ousted when the military intervened after he had sacked Mnangagwa as vice president on November 6.
"We thank you our soldier," said one banner in the sports ground. "The people have spoken," said another.
A group of elderly women dressed in blue and white gyrated in time to a big band to wild applause from the crowds ahead of the swearing in.
Snipers had taken up positions around the stadium amid tight security as jubilant Mnangagwa supporters streamed in, many dancing as music played.
Mugabe is in increasingly frail health and had been positioning his wife Grace as his successor, but the army chiefs acted to halt the plan and usher in Mnangagwa.
State-run media had earlier claimed that Mugabe may even attend his successor's swearing-in — but later suggested that after he and Mnangagwa talked about the inauguration, he agreed he "needed time to rest".
Mnangagwa also "assured him and his family maximum security and welfare" for their future as private citizens, the state-run Herald news site also reported.
Source-AFP