US economy grows faster than first forecast
The US economy grew much faster than first reported during the third quarter, official figures have shown.
It expanded at an annualised rate of 3.9% between July and September, up from the 3.5% first estimated by the Bureau of Economic Analysis.
The rise, which follows a strong second quarter, means the US has seen its strongest two consecutive quarters of growth for a decade.
Consumer spending was the biggest driver of the raised estimate.
It grew by 2.2% according to the latest estimate, which was higher than the initial calculation of 1.8%.
Consumer spending is closely watched as it accounts for 70% of US gross domestic product (GDP).
The data suggests the US has shrugged off the slow start to the year when heavy snow saw the economy shrink.
Analysts are expecting growth of around 2.2% overall for the full year, matching the rate of expansion in 2013.
"The question of whether the economy is accelerating or will accelerate is no longer a question; we can say somewhat definitively that the economy has already accelerated," said Dan Greenhaus, chief strategist at BTIG.
Meanwhile, a separate survey, showed US house prices rose by more than expected in September.
The closely-watched S&P/Case Shiller index jumped 4.9% year-on-year.
The index, which measures single-family home prices in 20 cities, showed that prices were up 0.3% month-on-month on a seasonally adjusted basis.
"With the economy looking better than a year ago, the housing outlook for 2015 is stable to slightly better," said David Blitzer, chairman of the index committee at S&P Dow Jones Indices.
Source-BBC
Flight attendant guilty of money laundering
A Dominican flight attendant was on Monday fined EC$10,000 to be paid forthwith or spend 9 months in jail in connection with two money laundering charges.
Thirty-year-old Sherita Kernelle Newton, an employee of regional carrier LIAT, was charged with bringing criminal property into St. Vincent and the Grenadines, contrary to Section 123-1E of the Criminal Code.
She was also charged with being in possession of criminal property, contrary to Section 125-1C of the Criminal Code
She pleaded guilty to both charges when she appeared before Chief Magistrate Rechanne Browne-Matthias at the Serious Offences Court in Kingstown.
She had not paid the fined when court was adjourned before noon, and was taken away in an unmarked police vehicle.
Last Wednesday, Nov.21, law enforcement agents conducted a search of Newton’s apartment at Beachcomers Hotel, and questioned her in relation to monies she had in her possession, suspected to have been derived from criminal conduct.
Newton told police that she had EC$12,000, but when police counted the monies, it amounted to EC$27,000. She also had 25 euros in her possession.
Newtown told police that someone in Antigua had given her the money to take to an individual in St. Vincent and that she was paid EC$1,000 to transport the money.
She, however, did not disclose the identities of the person sending the money or the intended recipient.
Sources say that Newton had been transporting money in this way since early 2013.
She was taken into custody and the charges were brought against her after a joint investigation by the Financial Intelligence and the Narcotics Units.
The monies were forfeited to the Confiscated Assets Fund, but the court did not grant an application for confiscation of Newton’s benefit from the criminal action (namely the EC$1,000), she having been convicted of money laundering.
Source-CMC
Flyers defeats Steelers & Police arrested Coco Cola in PABA
The Flyers defeated the Steelers in a very close game 59-57 on Friday night.
New coach Alvarado Parker coached a very good game and players are buying into his philosophy of discipline and hard work.
The teams newest player, Reo Stubbs who recently returned home after a stint at a high school in the United States made a bold statement with his low post moves and soft touch with the ball. He scored 13 pts, 10 rebs, 3 blks and 2 steals. Andy Florvil scored 21 pts and had 7 steals. Welay Cherry chipped in also with 13 pts and 4 rebounds. Flyers Roddy Fulford scored 10 pts. Jordan Garland was the high point man with 15 pts and 6 rebounds. Captain Anthony Cash chipped in 10 pts, 5 Rebs and 4 steals.
The feature game of the night did not live up to much of the hype as was anticipated. The new look Coca Cola team suffered at the hands of the Police Badgers, as the Police drank the Cola Cola 68-50. Former Harbour boys players Duran Dean and Ehlo Seymour fortified front and back court of the police along with recent graduate from Tabernacle High in the Bahamas Melvin Elsie Jr.
There was balance all around scoring for the Police. Evans Dubois led the way with 17 pts and 5 asts, Melvin Elsie Jr scored 11 pts, 5 Rebs, 3 assists and 8 steals. Duran Dean chipped in with 7 pts and 8 rebs.
Coca Cola's Merlin Forbes dominated the scoring with 19 pts and 6 rebs. Dinero Harvey chipped in with 15 pts and 4 steals.
RTC Sports will have more on the leagues games next week.
Australia's Phil Hughes 'critical' after being hit by cricket ball
Australian cricketer Phil Hughes is in a critical condition in hospital after being hit by a ball during a match in Sydney.
The 25-year-old South Australia batsman, who has played for his country, collapsed after he was struck by a "bouncer" from New South Wales bowler Sean Abbott.
The game was immediately halted as Hughes received treatment. He was eventually taken from the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) to the city's St Vincent's Hospital.
"He is in intensive care after undergoing neurosurgery in theater," David Faktor, a spokesman for the hospital, told CNN. "His family are with him at the hospital."
The Sydney Morning Herald reported that Hughes was "intubated" by medical staff who flew by helicopter to the ground. The procedure involves inserting a tube into the body to enable that person to breathe.
They said he was now in an induced coma, though CNN could not confirm these details.
Hughes was playing for South Australia against Sydney-based New South Wales, a team he represented between 2007 and 2012.
"He received immediate treatment at the ground led by CNSW and CA Chief Medical Officer Dr John Orchard. He was then taken to hospital by ambulance and is receiving the best available care.
Source-CNN
TCI Cabinet discussed key issues at last meeting
His Excellency the Governor, Peter Beckingham, chaired the meeting of the Cabinet on Wednesday 19 November 2014 at the NJS Francis Building on Grand Turk.
All Ministers were present at this cabinet meeting.
· Agreed it was minded to increase the national minimum wage by by 25% from USD 5.00 to USD 6.25 per hour, effective 1 April, 2015. Cabinet invites views on this proposal to be submitted to tciminimumwagereview2014@gov.tc by 31 December, 2014.
· Noted the recommendation of the Procurement Board on the award of a contract for the design, supply, installation and commissioning of one 14,500 gallons per day salt water reverse osmosis plant for water undertaking on Salt Cay;
· Approved the naming of the following completed and to-be-completed Government buildings after individuals who have made significant contributions to the Turks and Caicos Islands within their profession or field of work: the new Grand Turk Customs Warehouse - The Alexander L Adams Customs Warehouse; the new Salt Cay clinic - The Evelyn G W Simmons Health Care Clinic; the new Middle Caicos clinic - The Alsada Hall Malcolm Health Care Clinic; the new Grand Turk water plant - the Hon. Louis Astwood Waterworks; the South Caicos Clinic - Nurse Madeline Mills Clinic; the South Caicos Community Clinic - Bertram Malcolm Community Clinic; the South Caicos Airport - James Bassette Airport; the Middle Caicos Causeway - Missick Williams Causeway.
· Approved the membership of Ms Charlene Higgs to the Service Review Board as required under the Hospitals Project Agreement Schedule 6, Section II, part 1;
· Agreed to develop and issue a tender for the removal of scrap metal, old vehicles and tyres from the Turks and Caicos Islands;
· Noted that there should be stricter enforcement of business and food licensing as well as abandoned vehicle removal provisions in Providenciales and Grand Turk. Cabinet undertook to contact the relevant government departments to emphasise this point;
· Agreed to explore the policy options available to reduce the amount of plastic consumable waste (including plastic bags and styrofoam containers) in the Islands;
· Agreed to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Rotaract International Youth Organisation for the upkeep and maintenance of the NJS Francis park and the use of the building located on the park as part of their Youth Service Programme;
· Approved the 2015/6 - 2018/19 Fiscal and Strategic Policy Statement for submission to the Foreign Office prior to its passage to the House of Assembly as required by the Public Financial Management Ordinance 2012;
· Agreed to revise the Magistrates' Courts Ordinance as it relates to the appointment of Justices of the Peace and to draft a Bill for a new Notary Public Ordinance. Cabinet also approved a moratorium, effective immediately, on the appointment of new Justice of the Peace and Notary Public appointments until the revisions have been enacted in law;
· Noted, as per the reporting requirement under Section21 (12) of the Public Procurement Ordinance 2012, that no waivers were granted for the period July to September 2014.
Ministers will provide further information on these matters in due course.
Jamaica to face Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay in Copa America
Jamaica’s Reggae Boyz have been drawn in a group of South American giants in their baptism to the CONMEBOL Copa America, the Holy Grail of South American football.
Jamaica, the first Caribbean team to be invited to the tournament, will go up against two of the continent’s most successful nations in the storied Copa America, which is the oldest continental tournament in football celebrating 98 years of rivalry.
The Jamaicans face Uruguay (15 titles), Argentina (14) and Paraguay (two) in Group B, it was determined at draw at Quinta Vergara in Vina del Mar, Chile, held Monday evening.
In Group A, hosts Chile, guest team Mexico, Ecuador and Bolivia will do battle, while six-time world champions Brazil, Colombia, Peru and Venezuela will cross swords in Group C.
JFF president Captain Horace Burrell, who attended the draw, said while the Reggae Boyz are against enormous odds in a group filled with teams of rich tradition and successes on the global stage, he remains upbeat at the prospects.
Burrell, who was the visionary behind Jamaica’s only qualification to a senior World Cup back in France 1998, said when he realised that Argentina were drawn with Jamaica, he saw a great opportunity for revenge.
“Argentina defeated us 5-0 in the World Cup, and though they were a great team then and perhaps a greater team now with the likes of (Lionel) Messi within their rank, we intend to as the first Caribbean team to play in the prestigious Copa America to give it the best shot at a payback,” said the veteran football boss.
The Copa America 2015, which will be hosted by eight Chilean cities, runs from June 11 to July 4.
The Boyz with their confirmed participation in Copa America 2015, the CONCACAF Gold Cup and the Copa America Centenario 2016 seem to have hit a golden patch with these high-profile championships.
Jamaica are just coming off winning the CFU Caribbean Cup in Montego Bay where they defeated arch-rivals Trinidad and Tobago’s Soca Warriors 4-3 on penalties --- an achievement which is expected to reverse their poor standing of 113th in FIFA.
Contributor- Sean Williams
Source-Jamaica Observer
Gayle, Pollard fail in Ram Slam Twenty20 League
Big-hitting Chris Gayle failed as Lions crashed to a heavy 77-run defeat to Cape Cobras in the South Africa Ram Slam Twenty20 League here on Sunday.
Chasing 155 for victory at Newlands, Lions were bundled out for 77 off 15.3 overs, to plunge to only their second defeat of the tournament.
Gayle, who has been in good form in the tournament, made just three from eight balls before falling in the second over, bowled by fast bowler Dane Paterson who finished with three for nine.
Neil McKenzie top-scored with a run-a-ball 31, while Temba Bavuma hit a run-a-ball 20, in a 34-run, third-wicket stand. Once they were separated, however, Lions lost their last seven wickets for 22 runs.
West Indies all-rounder Kieron Pollard took two for 11 with his gentle medium pace.
Earlier, Pollard had also failed with the bat, making just six from 10 balls, as Cape Cobras rallied to 154 for seven off their 20 overs.
Dane Vilas hit 51 from 29 balls and Omphile Ramela, 46 off 38 balls, in a 54-run, third wicket stand.
In the other game at SuperSport Park, Darren Sammy's Titans played to a thrilling tie with Warriors, in a contest reduced to eight overs per side because of rain.
Sammy made 16 from 12 balls as Titans made 79 for five, but Warriors ended on the same total, with no provision because of time, for the decisive Super Over.
Source-CMC
More Cosby claims keep coming
TV legend Bill Cosby has denounced the sexual assault allegations against him as "innuendo," but the claims keep coming, amid talk of the fall of an icon.
"He's trying to go on with the show, but the damage may be irrevocable," said celebrity bible People magazine, in a cover story Monday on the 77-year-old long known as the nation's favourite dad.
"It is not like he will never work again. But this has seriously compromised his future in entertainment," Robert Thompson, a professor of pop culture at Syracuse University in New York state, told AFP.
People noted that Cosby survived a civil lawsuit brought by 13 women in 2005, but renewed claims by those alleged victims have been joined by fresh allegations from other women in the last few weeks.
"The accusations keep coming, one disturbingly similar allegation after another," said the magazine under the strapline, "The Fall of Bill Cosby."
There does indeed appear to be a pattern to the claims: since the first accuser Andrea Constand in 2004, they have involved the alleged victim being drugged and then forced into having sex with Cosby.
Although he has not been charged with any crime, in all some 20 women have now made on-the-record claims of sexual assault dating back to the 1960s, including when Cosby was at the height of his fame.
While most of the accusers have been women, they were joined Monday by a male former TV worker who claimed he arranged payments for eight women when Cosby was working on landmark TV series "The Cosby Show."
Frank Scotti, 90, was a facilities manager for the New York studio where the show was filmed, and said he organized payments of up to $2,000 at a time for the women on the show, which ran from 1984-1992.
Source-
Halle Berry Takes Gabriel Aubry to Court After He Straightened Nahla's Hair
Halle Berry and her ex Gabriel Aubry have just resolved an issue about their daughter's hair in court. According to TMZ, Berry said Aubry was trying to change their daughter's appearance so that she looks less like African American by straightening the 6-year-old girl's hair and applying some highlight when she was in his care.
The "X-Men: Days of Future Past" star's lawyer Steve Kolodny as well as Aubry's showed up in court on Monday, November 24 to talk about the issue. The judge eventually decided that neither Aubry nor Berry could change the state of the child's natural hair.
Berry and Aubry decided to end their relationship in 2010 after five years of dating. The split sparked nasty custody battle over their daughter. Berry previously also wanted Nahla to stay in France with her and now-husband Olivier Martinez, a plan which was fought by Aubry. They reached agreement in the custody battle earlier this year.
Berry married Martinez last year after a few years of dating. She gave birth to their first child together, a son named Maceo, in October 2013.
Vanessa Hudgens Wins Restraining Order Against African Man
Vanessa Hudgens has been granted restraining order against an obsessive fan. A man named Junior Kabongo who flew to Los Angeles from Africa to see the "Spring Breakers" actress in person and "marry" her, has been ordered to stay at least 100 yards away from Hudgens, her sister and boyfriend.
According to TMZ, Kabongo has been sending graphic emails to the 25-year-old actress. "Hello, I love you and want to marry you," he allegedly said in one email. "God gave me a penis to make you feel like you never did everytime when we'll make love."
He talked a bit about himself, writing, "I love you and wanna marry you. I WRITE SCREENPLAYS. I wanna become a movie star." He eventually said he booked a flight to L.A. to see her and was seen around her neighborhood on November 1 and 4.
Hudgens seemingly was in good mood on Monday. She shared a photo and wrote, "A fresh start to conquer the week. I love Mondays. Let get it this week boo boos."
Source-Ace.Showbiz