Bob Dylan's Fender Stratocaster sells for nearly $1m
The electric guitar played by Bob Dylan at the 1965 Newport Folk Festival has been sold at auction in New York for a record $965,000 (£591,000).
The Fender Stratocaster had been in the possession of a New Jersey family for 48 years after he left it on a plane.
The pilot's daughter had it authenticated on a television programme on US broadcaster PBS.
The festival in Newport, Rhode Island, is often cited as the performance where Dylan "went electric".
Dylan's move "changed the structure of folk music", Newport Folk Festival founder George Wein, 88, told the Associated Press news agency.
"The minute Dylan went electric, all these young people said, 'Bobby's going electric. We're going electric, too.'"
But at the time, the three-song set drew boos from the crowd, who had come expecting Dylan's traditional acoustic folk performance.
Dawn Peterson said on the PBS programme History Detectives that her father, the private plane's pilot, asked Dylan's management firm what to do with the guitar but nobody ever got back to him.
Experts matched the wood grain on the instrument with a close-up colour photo taken during Dylan's set at the festival.
Recently, Dylan and Ms Peterson quietly settled a legal dispute over the instrument. Details of the settlement are not known.
Auction house Christie's had estimated the guitar would sell for $300,000-$500,000. The buyer has not been identified.
The previous record for a guitar sold at auction was a Fender owned by Eric Clapton, nicknamed "Blackie", which sold at Christie's for $959,500 in 2004.
Jazz pianist dies at the age of 86
Celebrated British jazz pianist Stan Tracey has died aged 86, his family have confirmed.
Tracey, who had a career spanning 70 years, was widely acknowledged as one of the greats in his field.
The Londoner was resident pianist at Ronnie Scott's jazz club from 1959-66 and made numerous recordings.
He also received a host of awards during his career, including the first Ivor Novello award for jazz in 2012. Tracey was awarded an OBE in 1986.
He became a CBE in the 2008 New Year Honours list.
The musician was also awarded a lifetime achievement award at the BBC Jazz Awards in 2002 and made appearances on Later... With Jools Holland.
Jazz artist Jamie Cullum said on Twitter: "He played like a demon right up until his last days on earth as an Eightysomething."
Alyn Shipton, presenter of BBC Radio 3's Jazz Record Requests, called Tracey "a towering figure in British jazz".
"He showed back in the 1960s that British themes could make a great basis for improvised jazz with his Under Milk Wood Suite, inspired by Dylan Thomas," he continued.
"His very latest work, the Flying Pig was inspired by the humour of British soldiers in the trenches in World War One, and it's a remarkable composing career, to have such acclaimed works from either end of a 50 year span.
"He'll be sorely missed," he added.
Source-BBC
WTO agrees global trade deal worth $1tn
Ministers from 159 countries have reached a deal intended to boost global trade at a meeting in Bali, Indonesia.
The World Trade Organization's first comprehensive agreement involves an effort to simplify the procedures for doing business across borders.
There will also be improved duty-free access for goods sold by the world's poorest countries.
The deal, which could add about $1tn to world trade, gives developing nations more scope to increase farm subsidies.
"For the first time in our history, the WTO has truly delivered," said WTO chief Roberto Azevedo, as the organisation reached its first comprehensive agreement since it was founded in 1995.
"This time the entire membership came together. We have put the 'world' back in World Trade Organization," he said.
Indonesian Trade Minister Gita Wirjawan said the deal would "benefit all WTO members".
UK Prime Minister David Cameron said the "historic" agreement could be a "lifeline" for the world's poorest people, as well as benefiting British businesses to the tune of more than $1bn (£600m).
However, the package was criticised by some development campaigners who said it was not going far enough.
It is worth spelling out something what is not covered by this - tariffs or taxes on imported goods.
Dealing with them has been the bread butter of past trade rounds - but not for this deal.
The core of this agreement is what is called trade facilitation. This is about reducing the costs and delays involved in international trade. It is often described as "cutting red tape".
Some analysts suggest the benefits could be large. An influential Washington think tank has put the potential gains to the world economy at close to $1tn and 20m million jobs.
It also estimates the cost of administrative barrier as double the cost of tariffs.
The rich countries have agreed to help the poorer WTO members with implementing this agreement.
Another important aspect of the Bali package is about enabling poor countries to sell their goods more easily. This part is about tariffs, and also quota limits on imports.
Rich countries and the more advanced developing countries have agreed to cut tariffs on products from the poorest nations.
EU trade commissioner Karel De Gucht told the BBC that if the poorest nations "have more trading capacity it will also result in more investment in logistics and infrastructure".
But campaigners describe the plan as weak.
Nick Dearden of the World Development Movement said: "If the US and EU really wanted to tackle global poverty, they would have made the least-developed-countries package much stronger."
Source-BBC
Russia-Ukraine 'closer on gas price' after Sochi talks
Russia says differences with Ukraine on reducing the price of Russian gas have been narrowed after talks in the Black Sea resort of Sochi.
Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the talks would continue at a later date.
Ukraine's President Viktor Yanukovych and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin had been expected to debate Kiev joining a Moscow-led customs union.
But both Russia and Ukraine said the issue had not been discussed.
Street protests have continued in the Ukrainian capital Kiev, where a new call was made for the resignation of the government.
Last month Mr Yanukovych shelved a partnership deal with the EU, triggering angry protests in Ukraine's capital Kiev.
Russia was unhappy with the deal and Mr Putin has been urging Ukraine to join a Russian customs union with Belarus and Kazakhstan.
The two neighbours have also been trying to resolve a long-running dispute over energy supplies.
Ukraine depends on imports of Russian gas, but the supplier, Gazprom, has recently complained that Kiev had fallen behind in payments.
Disputes over supplies to Ukraine before 2009 saw Gazprom temporarily cutting off supplies.
Pipelines passing through Ukraine also pump Russian gas to many EU member states.
Mr Peskov told Interfax news agency that "great attention [had] been devoted to the co-operation in the energy sphere".
"Both sides narrowed the gap between their positions as a result of the discussion," he said. "However, no final agreement has been reached."
The issue of Ukraine joining the customs union was not discussed during the meeting in Sochi, according to both Mr Peskov and a statement from Mr Yanukovych's office.
Correspondents had earlier speculated that an agreement on Ukraine joining the customs union might be reached in return for reduced energy prices.
Many Ukrainians were furious that Mr Yanukovych refused to sign the association agreement with the EU, which had followed years of negotiations.
On Saturday, several thousand supporters of the EU deal braved snow and swirling winds as they maintained control of Kiev's Independence Square for the seventh successive day.
Protest organisers say they expect up to 300,000 people to turn out on Sunday for fresh demonstrations.
Protest leaders have set out three conditions for any negotiations with President Yanukovych: the resignation of his government, the release of protesters arrested during clashes in Kiev and the punishment of those responsible for beating demonstrators.
Source-BBC
Jaguar, Land Rover confirms Brazil car factory plans
Jaguar Land Rover has confirmed plans to build a car plant in Brazil capable of producing 24,000 vehicles a year.
The UK car company had been in talks about the project with authorities in Rio de Janeiro for months.
JLR, the luxury car unit of India's Tata, said that it would invest £240m (750m reais) in the factory, which would begin production in 2016.
JLR, which is also building a plant in China, is targeting the new rich in emerging economies.
Dr Ralf Speth, chief executive of JLR, said: "Brazil and the surrounding regions are very important. Customers there have an increasing appetite for highly capable premium products."
JLR's sales in Brazil for the first ten months of 2013 have increased by more than 40% to 9,549 vehicles. The company's best-selling models in the country are the Range Rover Evoque, Freelander and Discovery
Producing cars locally means JLR will avoid Brazil's high import tariffs. Nor does JLR have to form a partnership with a Brazilian company, as it had to in China.
As part of its joint venture in China with the Chery Automobile Company, JLR is building a manufacturing plant at Changshu.
Tata bought Jaguar and Land Rover in 2008 and has won plaudits for the way it has re-established the two prestige marques.
In September, JLR announced plans to create 1,700 jobs at its plant in Solihull in the UK as part of a £1.5bn investment to expand its product range.
Ex-Goldman Sachs trader ordered to repay firm $118m
An ex-Goldman Sachs trader has been sentenced to nine months in prison and ordered to repay $188m ( £115m) over a botched 2007 trade.
The US Department of Justice (DOJ) accused Matthew Taylor of deliberately hiding an unauthorized $8.3bn trade from supervisors.
US Attorney General Preet Bharara said Mr Taylor pursued the trades out of "both greed and hubris".
Mr Taylor turned himself in eight months ago.
Goldman Sachs said it discovered Mr Taylor's concealment on 14 December 2007 and then spent $118m to unwind the position.
US Judge William Pauley agreed with prosecutors and ordered Mr Taylor to pay back the full amount.
However, he stopped short of granting the full 41 month prison term sought by the DOJ.
Mr Taylor has already been fined $500,000 by the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) over his trading.
Goldman Sachs was forced to pay a $1.5m civil fine last year to settle separate CFTC charges that it failed to supervise Mr Taylor.
LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION ON MANDELA’S PASSING
Leader of the Opposition, Hon. Sharlene Cartwright Robinson issued a release to the media on Friday after the passing of South African Leader, Nelson Mandela. In her release she states that Thursday, December 5th 2013 will be remembered as the day the world suffered a great human loss. It also marks the beginning of a period of celebration, great reflection and introspection.
Mandiba, Nelson Mandela, a South African has through the life he lived taught great lessons that transcended geographical and racial lines. Remembered and revered as an Apartheid Hero, he endured much in his struggle for a free South Africa. His incarceration of nearly three decades in one of his country’s toughest prisons, birthed an even greater human as he chose on his release to pursue reconciliation and to foster unity. He was angry but he triumphed over that and employed strategies for peace realizing that he could accomplish much more.
A man of vision and purpose, he understood the importance of remaining focus on the greater cause despite the distractions and the greatest atrocities. He taught through his life the importance of love and forgiveness even for those who attempted to destroy him and break his spirit.
His death reminds us of the great lessons his life has taught and it ought to inspire us to stand firm and fight for the causes that will make our individual countries and world better. As we move forward over the next few weeks trying to capture the man and the message, let us remember to keep his family who has lost him over and over and his South African People in prayer as they mourn this great loss.
A Noble Peace Prize Winner, he became the first democratically elected President of a free South Africa and his humility was shown even more when he elected to serve a sole term and not to clamor for or cling onto power. While Mandela set out only to affect his nation, he ended up inspiring his country and the world.
A great Warrior now given a well - deserved rest! A great human loss, but his spirit and inspiration for the attainment of peace and freedom will forever live on. May his soul rest in peace and rise in glory.
That was the full text from the Leader of the Opposition, Hon. Sharlene Cartwright Robinson.
CARICOM developing qualifications framework
A Caribbean Qualifications Framework, with a view to creating a seamless education and training system for CARICOM member states is being developed.
That’s according to Dr Ruby Alleyne, the new president of the Caribbean Area Net for Quality Assurance in Tertiary Education and lecturer at the University of Trinidad & Tobago Dr Ruby Alleyne who was on island this week facilitating an evaluator’s workshop hosted by the National Accreditation Board.
“This CARICOM Qualifications Framework it’s being called is going to be a ten level framework,” Dr Alleyne indicated earlier this week.
This ten level framework, she explained, spans from the basic entry level to the education system which is primary, right through secondary, including technical, vocational, education and training and going straight up to the doctoral level.
“It creates a seamless education and training system so that we can plan for and monitor the progression of any CARICOM citizen, from the entry into education right to the highest level that he or she wants to achieve”.
This Caribbean Qualifications Framework will therefore standardize the requirements for different qualifications within a country and across the region.
This is necessary because at the moment, “we have a situation where a certificate in Dominica by one institution may not be the same as a certificate offered by another institution in Dominica, or one offered in Trinidad & Tobago, or St Lucia”.
Thus, the CARICOM qualification’s framework “will ensure that when something called a certificate is offered in one territory, it is going to be comparable to a certificate offered in another territory”.
It will also ensure that the person who holds that certificate has the same kind of skills and competencies and is able to do the same thing.
“So that workers who are certified at each level can move freely throughout the region with the confidence that the skills that they carry have the same kind of value,” is the overall goal of the framework, Dr Alleyne noted.
Source-Dominica Vibes News
Dominica wants Europe to lift visa requirement to stimulate trade
Dominica says it is pursuing efforts to get the European Union to remove the visa requirements for nationals travelling to Europe, saying that it was important to stimulate trade under the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) signed with Europe five years ago.
Junior Foreign Affairs Minister Alvin Bernard said Dominica has joined several countries in making the request.
‘We have made some progress and we have had tremendous commitment from various representatives of the Council, but at the moment, the most recent report that we have received is that the Council is at the moment preoccupied with two other countries that have been included on the negative list.
“Apparently the consideration of the request from Dominica is still for consideration…but it has been delayed because of the countries from the Middle Eastern area included on the list”.
Bernard said Dominica was pursing the initiative “because we see the lifting of the visa requirement for Dominica and other affected countries, particularly signatories to the Economic partnership Agreement as critical.
Dominica and other countries of the Caribbean Forum (CARIFORUM) grouping signed the EPA in October 2008 that also provides substantial EU aid for trade.
According to the European Union website, the purpose of the agreement is to make it easier for people and businesses from the two regions to invest in and trade with each other and thus to help Caribbean countries grow their economies and create jobs.
“As you know we are signatories to the Economic Partnership Agreement between ACP (African Caribbean and Pacific) countries and the European Union and in order to fulfill the objectives of this agreement it is critical that we have free movement of our respective citizens because the EPA covers a number of areas including trade and in order to fulfill that it is important that we have free movement,” said Bernard.
Last year, Cecilia Malmström, the European Commissioner for Home Affairs said the Commission was putting in place measures to allow citizens from six Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries travel to the Schengen area without a visa.
She said the change is more than “just a symbolic gesture” and was intended to have a direct impact between the European Commission and Grenada.
The countries named were St. Kitts and Nevis, Dominica, Grenada, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Trinidad and Tobago.
The Schengen area includes 22 EU member states and four associated States. The visa waiver will also apply to Romania, Bulgaria and Cyprus which are not yet full members of the Schengen area.
Source-Caribbean Media Corporation
High prevalence of adolescent pregnancy in the Caribbean
Reluctance to fully implement the health and family life education (HFLE) programmes in Caribbean schools have been identified as major factors contributing to the high prevalence of adolescent pregnancy in the Caribbean, according to a United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) report.
The 2013 UNFPA’s State of the World Report indicates that continuous bombardment in the media of programmes and advertisements with sexual overtones have also contributed to the situation.
According to the UNFPA State of World Population report 2013, entitled “Motherhood in Childhood in the Caribbean”, despite the fall in total fertility rate, adolescent birth rates remain relatively high.
It said that among girls aged 15 to 19 years old, the birth rate ranges from 26 to 97 per 1,000 adolescent girls.
Guyana, Belize, Jamaica, Antigua and Barbuda and Suriname have the highest teen pregnancy rates in the Caribbean.
UNFPA’s sub-regional office Assistant Representative, Aurora Noguera Ramkissoon, said the reluctance to teach HFLE in schools stems from fear that faith-based organizations may brand the education system as promoting sex instead of empowering young people to abstain.
“There is a kind of dichotomy in the region where we’re very much influenced by our colonial past, our religious past, so there is some reluctance to fully implement the Health and Family Life Education,” Ramkissoon told regional media, at a briefing held on Friday.
Source-CMC