Beyoncé, Kelly Rowland and more send messages of support to Houston
Many celebrities have sent messages of love to residents of Houston following the devastating aftermath of Hurricane Harvey in Texas over the weekend, including widespread flooding.
Houston natives and Destiny's Child groupmates Beyoncé and Kelly Rowland both shared notes on Instagram, with Bey posting a black-and-white picture of what appears to be her holding up the Texas flag in concert, with the message "Texas You Are In My Prayers" emblazoned across the photo.
Other artists, including Common and Drake, have also sent prayers and messages of hope to Houston via social media. Along with screenshots of contact info for the U.S. Coast Guard, Houston Police and the American Red Cross, Common tweets, "Praying for #Houston. Please share to help our brothers and sisters in Texas impacted by #HurricaneHarvey."
Drake shared two separate Instagram messages: one showing an image of the state of Texas alongside a personal note, and another picture of several hotline numbers for anyone in need of help in Houston.
"I am praying for the safety of all those affected. Houston has truly been a home to me over the last 8 years," writes Drake.
Kelly Rowland's 's Instagram picture shows cars and a major interstate highway all submerged underwater, with the words "Pray For Houston" displayed across it. In the caption, she writes, "Houston has, and always will be the city that changed my LIFE! Everyone please send out prayers for H-Town!"
Source-ABC
US Coast Guard apprehends Dom Rep nationals suspected of drug smuggling
The United States Coast Guard says four Dominican Republic nationals were arrested when they were interdicted by the Coast Guard Cutter Joseph Napier in the Mona Passage waters off Puerto Rico.
On Friday, the Coast Guard said the crew of a Coast Guard maritime patrol aircraft detected a suspicious go-fast vessel traveling towards Puerto Rico from the Dominican Republic, about 38 nautical miles west of Desecheo Island, Puerto Rico.
Watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector San Juan diverted the Joseph Napier to interdict the suspect vessel – “which failed to heave to and performed aggressive maneuvers to avoid interception.”
During the pursuit, the Coast Guard said the Joseph Napier boarding team members “observed the suspects jettisoning objects overboard, and one of the suspects brandishing a knife at them.”
“The Joseph Napier forced the non-compliant vessel to a full stop by employing disabling fire to the suspect vessel’s engines,” the Coast Guard said.
“Following the interdiction, a Coast Guard boarding team conducted an at-sea boarding and removed the suspected smugglers.
Miguel Rivera-Cuadrado, Coast Guard Investigative Service Resident Agent in Puerto Rico, said it was “a successful interdiction thanks to the great interagency coordination communication and execution between the Coast Guard units involved.
“The Coast Guard’s shared resolve with our federal and local law enforcement partners is to protect the citizens of Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands by stopping and keeping these maritime threats from entering our shores,” he said.
Source-CMC
VW engineer jailed for emissions scandal
A former Volkswagen engineer who helped develop a device that enabled cars to evade US pollution rules has been sentenced to more than three years in prison and ordered to pay $200,000.
James Liang, 63, was the first person prosecuted in the emissions scandal.
The US investigation has led to charges against seven others in the US and sparked probes in other countries.
Volkswagen has admitted guilt, agreeing to spend as much as $25bn to address US claims.
Liang co-operated with prosecutors, who argued that his help with the investigation warranted a reduction in the possible punishment to three years in prison and a $20,000 fine.
But US District Court Judge Sean Cox opted for a harsher penalty of 40 months and a $200,000 penalty, saying he wanted to send a message to others in the car industry.
"This is a very serious and troubling crime against our economic system," he said.
Volkswagen has admitted that it used software installed in diesel vehicles to deceive environmental regulators in the US and Europe between 2006-15.
The German company sold about 11 million such vehicles globally, including almost 600,000 in the US.
The devices, which allowed vehicles to perform better in test conditions than they did on the road, came to light after a study of emissions by researchers at West Virginia University.
In a memo submitted to the court last week, prosecutors acknowledged that Liang did not "mastermind" the plan, but argued that he abdicated his responsibility to speak out.
They wrote: "Unless individual actors are also punished, future corporate employees and contractors may be tempted to justify their criminal behavior as just 'doing their jobs' or 'following orders'.
"Sentencing Liang to a three-year term of imprisonment will deter others from making similar rationalizations."
Liang's lawyer had urged the judge to consider a lighter penalty in recognition of his assistance with other cases.
Liang, who is still employed by Volkswagen but does not work as an engineer, can appeal.
Source-BBC
'Catastrophic' flooding expected to worsen as a result of Harvey
"Catastrophic" flooding in the US state of Texas is only expected to worsen in coming days as waters rise following a storm of historic proportions.
A record 30in of rain (75cm) has already fallen on the city of Houston in the wake of Hurricane Harvey, turning roads into rivers.
But forecasters say that number could nearly double later this week.
On Monday President Donald Trump also approved an emergency declaration for neighbouring Louisiana.
Harvey made landfall as a category-four hurricane late on Friday, bringing flooding described by officials as "unprecedented". It was later downgraded to a tropical storm.
Up to 2,000 people have been rescued in and around Houston, the fourth-largest city in the US, where about 6.6m people live in the metropolitan area.
The area is expected to have received a year's rainfall within a week. Five people are reported dead. Helicopters have plucked victims from rooftops.
Governor Greg Abbott has activated the entire Texas National Guard - some 12,000 so-called "civilian soldiers" - to assist national forces in search and rescue operations.
Local recording artist Jak Nasty added that this was like something out of a movie, he added that waters rose quickly and that alligators were seen swimming around as water rose. He added that he has been checking on neighbors as well as family members being affected from the Turks & Caicos Islands visiting.
Meanwhile, army engineers have begun releasing water from two dams controlling water flowing along a major river into the heart of Houston.
Officials said they were opening the Addicks and Barker dams to stop water spilling into neighbouring communities, but that this could cause further damage down the Buffalo Bayou.
GOVERNOR CONTINUES TO SUPPORT DDME’S HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS EFFORTS
With the 2017 Atlantic Hurricane Season well upon us, His Excellency the Governor has begun a programme of visits to hurricane shelters throughout TCI to establish that the country is as prepared as possible to protect the inhabitants of the islands in the event of a hurricane or tropical storm hitting TCI.
The programme of shelter visits will run throughout the hurricane season and will include a general inspection of the shelters by His Excellency, accompanied by staff from the Department of Disaster Management & Emergencies (DDME) who will update the Governor on shelter preparations.
HE the Governor commented: “With so much potential storm activity already this season, it is vital that we ensure that shelter facilities are equipped and ready for the public to use in the event of an emergency. I would like to commend the work of the DDME in preparing for this year’s hurricane season and in raising public awareness of steps that every family can take to ensure their safety at this time. I have been reassured by what I have seen of the shelters that I have visited so far. But we cannot be complacent. I intend to visit as many shelters as I can during the hurricane season and hope to see the same level of readiness across all the islands.”
The programme of shelter visits began on 3 August with a visit to the Enid Capron Primary School.
Holder keeps Windies on top
Captain Jason Holder's telling all-round contribution kept West Indies with their noses in front, but opposite number Joe Root was leading an England fightback as the second Test at Headingley remained fascinatingly poised ahead of today's penultimate day.
At the end of an absorbing third day here yesterday, England were 171 for three in their second innings — a lead of two runs after conceding a first-innings deficit of 169.
Root was unbeaten on 45 and partnered by Dawid Malan on 21, while opener Mark Stoneman struck 54 to gather his first Test half-century in his second match at his level.
Seamer Holder proved the Windies talisman, grabbing the key wickets of veteran opener Alastair Cook (23) and Tom Westley (8) to end with two for 44.
The 25-year-old Holder had earlier helped lead a Windies rally as the Caribbean side were dismissed for 427 in their first innings after resuming the day 329 for five.
He produced a cameo 43 off 54 deliveries, while Jermaine Blackwood crunched a typically aggressive 49 in a 75-run, eighth-wicket partnership which proved invaluable after West Indies lost wickets off the first two balls of the day.
Shai Hope, unbeaten on 147 overnight, failed to add when he nicked seamer Jimmy Anderson behind, and wicketkeeper Shane Dowrich followed without scoring to a catch at second slip by Root off the next ball.
However, Blackwood and Holder took the attack to England in an enterprising stand that took the total past 400.
Blackwood, dropped at mid-on by Moeen Ali off seamer Stuart Broad in the day's second over before he had added to his overnight 21, stroked seven fours in a breezy 63-ball knock, while Holder also counted seven boundaries.
Holder matched his partner for audacity, taking three consecutive boundaries from a Broad over. The first was a pull to backward square and the last two, exquisite off-side drives.
With the score ticking over, Holder holed out down the ground off seamer Chris Woakes in the fourth over following the first drinks break, and in the next over Blackwood misjudged a second run and was run out at the striker's end.
Last men Shannon Gabriel and Kemar Roach further frustrated the English in a 23-run partnership before being separated, six minutes into an extended morning session.
Anderson finished with five for 76, while Stokes picked up two for 63.
England were then given a solid start in their second innings by Cook and Stoneman who put on an important 58 for the first wicket.
The left-handed Cook played cautiously in a 63-ball knock that included two fours, while Stoneman struck seven fours in a 124-ball knock.
Source-CMC
Holder, whose nine overs on the trot before tea cost just 10 runs, got the breakthrough about 20 minutes before the interval when he beat Cook on a couple of occasions before finding the edge through to wicketkeeper Dowrich.
Unbeaten on 35 at tea with England on 68 for one, Stoneman reached his half-century about half-hour after tea with a boundary to fine leg off Holder.
Westley, on four at tea, escaped being run out when West Indies bungled an ideal chance with the right-hander stranded mid-pitch, but he perished in the next over, nicking a drive at Holder to Dowrich at 81 for two.
Fast bowler Gabriel then returned to remove Stoneman with a superb delivery that angled in, straightened and rocked off-stump as the left-hander defended, leaving England stumbling at 94 for three.
Windies had their tails up at this stage but Root, dropped on 10 by Kyle Hope at gully off pacer Kemar Roach, anchored an unbroken 77-run, fourth-wicket partnership with Malan to steer England safely to the close.
The right-handed Root has so far faced 82 deliveries and counted nine fours.
Source-CMC
Storm causes billions in damage
Many refineries have shut and almost a fifth of oil and gas production in the Gulf of Mexico has been suspended amid the largest storm to hit in the US in more than a decade.
Hurricane Harvey has produced high winds and extensive flooding forcing thousands of people from their homes.
The closures are expected to cause a temporary spike in US gas prices.
Analysts expect the economic impact of the storm to hit $40bn (£31bn; 33bn euros), with direct losses of $20bn.
The storm's path through southeast Texas and the Gulf of Mexico has hit the heart of the US energy industry, an area home to almost half of US refining capacity and a fifth of its oil production.
Houston, where water has overwhelmed the streets, is also the base of one of America's largest ports.
US gas prices rose around 10% ahead of the storm, said Joseph Brusuelas, chief economist at RSM US.
He expects prices to jump by another 20-30% over the next two weeks in the Texas region, with less significant increases elsewhere, he said.
Food prices could also be affected, as shipments of wheat and soybeans are delayed, he added.
Globally the impact is likely to be smaller, since the US is not a major source of energy exports and supplies remain historically high.
US economic growth could slow by about a tenth of a percentage point in the quarter as a result of the storm, said Mr Brusuelas. The economy should rebound in the following six months, as spending increases on reconstruction and other efforts.
So far, oil and gas companies are focused on the immediate emergency and the safety of their personnel, without reports of major damages, said Bruce Jefferis, chief executive of Aon Energy, who is based in Houston.
About 18% of oil and natural gas production in the Gulf has stopped, according to the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement.
About 11% of all US refining capacity has also shut down, with others operating at reduced rates according to the most recent update from the US Department of Energy. Goldman Sachs put the figure higher at almost 17%.
Source-BBC
Stocks recede after fiery rally by President Trump
US markets closed lower on Wednesday, sliding back after President Donald Trump gave a fiery speech suggesting more political drama lies ahead.
At a rally in Arizona on Tuesday, Mr Trump said he would be willing to shut down the government if Congress resists funding a border wall.
He also said he was still considering terminating the North American Free Trade Agreement.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.4% to 21,812 points.
The wider S&P 500 index fell 0.35% to 2,444 points, while the Nasdaq fell 0.2% to 6,284 points.
Consumer stocks led the losses, while real estate and energy firms enjoyed a bounce.
The losses came after a broad market rise on Tuesday, when share prices regained some of the ground lost in recent weeks.
After share prices touched record highs earlier this summer, investors have been cautious, rattled by rising tension with North Korea and domestic controversy surrounding the President.
Terry Sandven, chief equity strategist for US Bancorp Wealth Management, says he expects stock gains to remain in check in coming weeks, part of a regular seasonal dip.
Investors are also concerned about the prospect of political fights next month, when Congress will be considering a budget proposal and are likely to be asked to raise the debt limit.
"Conditions seem ripe for equities to hover in 'pause mode', with risks seemingly on the rise," he wrote. "Political uncertainty remains ongoing, valuations are full and technical trendlines are showing signs of modest deterioration."
In 2013, a fight over the debt limit led to a government shutdown that disrupted the US economy, particularly in states closely tied to the federal government and its contractors.
Economists say scrapping Nafta would also hurt business in the US, which counts Canada and Mexico among its biggest trade partners.
Retailer Lowe's fell 3.7% after reporting lower than expected growth in the quarter.
United Technologies bounced 1.1% after a report suggested that it may be the target of activist investors.
Source-BBC
UK car production revs up in July
The number of cars built in the UK last month rose by almost 8% compared with July 2016, new figures show.
Just over 136,000 vehicles were made in British factories, up 7.8% on July last year, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) said.
Many carmakers increase production in July ahead of new models going on sale in September and summer shutdowns.
However, the number of cars made in the UK in the first seven months of the year fell 1.6% to about one million.
Almost four out of five cars that roll off British production lines are exported.
SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes said: "As the timing and length of these manufacturing pauses can shift each year, market performance comparisons for July and August should always be treated with caution.
"But as long as the economic conditions at home and abroad stay broadly stable, we expect new car production to remain in line with expectations for the rest of 2017."
The number of cars built for the UK market rose by 17.7% to almost 30,000 in July, reversing seven consecutive months of decline.
The vehicle production total for domestic sales is down 6.5% to 212,700 compared with the first seven months of 2016.
The slowdown comes as the number of new cars registered in the UK fell almost 10% in July - the fourth month of declines. About 162,000 vehicles were sold last month.
Samuel Tombs of Pantheon Macroeconomics said the slide in sales showed consumers were becoming more reluctant to splash out on expensive purchases.
It was the first time that the SMMT had blamed uncertainty over Brexit for the decline in consumer confidence.
"Government must act quickly to provide concrete plans regarding Brexit," Mr Hawes said earlier this month.
This week, Ford became the latest carmaker to introduce a scrappage scheme, offering drivers a £2,000 discount for cars more than seven years old.
While Ford said the move was a bid to improve air quality by taking older, more polluting vehicles off UK roads, it would also help to boost sales.
The US company remains Britain's biggest-selling carmaker, but its sales in the first seven months of the year fell by almost 8,200 to 185,250 vehicles.
Taylor Swift announces new album, 'Reputation,' out Nov. 10
Now, the snake makes sense.
Tayor Swift's new album is called Reputation, and it'll be out November 10. The first single will be out Thursday night. Swift unveiled the information on her social media feeds Wednesday morning.
Taylor's team tells ABC News that "tomorrow night" means means 12:01 a.m. ET, Friday August 25.
As for the snake videos she's been posting: Taylor's "reputation" was certainly damaged last year, due to her feud with Kanye West and some comments her ex-boyfriend Calvin Harris made about her. Haters called her a "snake" and flooded her Instagram feed with snake emojis.
Reputation is spelled out in Gothic-style letters, like the font The New York Times uses, and the artwork shows Taylor in black and white, superimposed in front of what looks like a newspaper front page. It's a safe bet she's taking aim at the endless stories about her.
Reputation will be Taylor's follow-up to her 2014 worldwide smash album, 1989.
Source-ABC