The World faces global wine shortage
The world is facing a wine shortage, with global consumer demand already significantly outstripping supply, a report has warned.
The research by America's Morgan Stanley financial services firm says demand for wine "exceeded supply by 300m cases in 2012".
It describes this as "the deepest shortfall in over 40 years of records".
Last year, production also dropped to its lowest levels in more than four decades.
Global production has been steadily declining since its peak in 2004, when supply outweighed demand by about 600m cases.
The report by Morgan Stanley's analysts Tom Kierath and Crystal Wang says global wine consumption has been rising since 1996 (except a drop in 2008-09), and presently stands at about 3bn cases per year.
At the same time, there are currently more than one million wine producers worldwide, making some 2.8bn cases each year.
The authors predict that - in the short term - "inventories will likely be reduced as current consumption continues to be predominantly supplied by previous vintages"
And as consumption then inevitably turns to the 2012 vintage, the authors say they "expect the current production shortfall to culminate in a significant increase in export demand, and higher prices for exports globally".
They say this could be partly explained by "plummeting production" in Europe due to "ongoing vine pull and poor weather".
Total production across the continent fell by about 10% last year, and by 25% since its peak in 2004.
US Spy Agency Broke Into Google, Yahoo Networks
The U.S. National Security Agency is facing new accusations that it secretly broke into communication networks used by Internet giants Google and Yahoo to move data around the world.
In a report published Wednesday, the Washington Post said it learned of the classified NSA program from documents leaked by former NSA contractor Edward Snowden and from interviews with "knowledgeable officials."
The report said the NSA and its British counterpart GCHQ run a project called MUSCULAR, which taps into fiber-optic cables carrying data between global facilities of Google and Yahoo. It said that allows the spying agencies to copy entire data flows, including the content of text, audio and video files.
Google and Yahoo issued statements saying they have not authorized the alleged tapping of their communication links.
The NSA already requests and obtains data from U.S. Internet companies such as Google and Yahoo by seeking court orders through a program called PRISM.
NSA chief General Keith Alexander said Wednesday the spy agency does not enter Google and Yahoo servers. Speaking to reporters at a Washington conference, he said the NSA gains access to data by "court order."
Government Sues Company that Handled Snowden Security Investigation
The U.S. Justice Department is joining a lawsuit against the company that handled the background check of National Security Agency leaker Edward Snowden.
While the lawsuit is not about the firm's review of Snowden, the Justice Department alleges the private United States Investigations Services failed to perform quality control reviews on background investigations for the White House Office of Personnel Management.
The suit originally was filed by a former United States Investigations Services employee than two years ago in Alabama.
USIS dominates the background check industry, taking in $195 million in government payments last year. The firm also vetted Aaron Alexis, the technology contractor who killed 12 people at the Washington Navy Yard last month.
The Department of Justice alleges that since 2008 the firm used software that automatically released investigations that were not yet complete, in order to meet revenue targets. The firm concealed the practice, known as "dumping," and improperly billed the government for the work.
A USIS spokeswoman said the firm is cooperating with the government's investigation and has replaced its leadership and improved its controls since it first heard of the allegations last year.
President Barack Obama takes full responsibility for website failure
U.S. President Barack Obama says he takes full responsibility for making sure the problems with the new health care website are fixed as soon as possible.
Speaking in (the northeastern city of)) Boston Wednesday, the president said the website is too slow and too many people looking to buy insurance are getting stuck. He said he is not happy about it and there is no excuse for it.
But he said the so-called Obamacare website ultimately will be the easiest way for Americans to shop for a health care plan.
Earlier, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius apologized to a congressional committee for the troubled website. She called the technical problems a "debacle."
Mr. Obama defended his health care initiative at Boston's historic Faneuil Hall -- the same place where former Republican governor Mitt Romney signed Massachusetts' state health care law in 2006.
The U.S. president said he modeled the federal law on the Massachusetts law. He pointed out that the state also had trouble getting its plan launched. But he said dire predictions that it would be a disaster did not come true.
Under Obamacare, uninsured Americans have until March 31 to buy a federally subsidized health care plan or face a financial penalty.
Mr. Obama repeatedly assured his audience that people who like their current plans will be able to keep them. Republicans accuse him of breaking his word, saying that some people have had their plans canceled because they do not comply with the new federal law.
Grenadian born Conrad Murray can apply to practise in Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago's Health Minister Dr. Faud Khan says Caribbean-born doctor Conrad Murray, who has been released from a Los Angeles jail after two years for involuntary manslaughter in the death of American pop star Michael Jackson, can return to Trinidad and appeal to the Medical Board for a license to practice.
Khan, in a telephone interview with the Trinidad Express yesterday, said Murray, 60, a cardiologist, can make a case legally as Section 40 of the Constitution guarantees citizens equal rights.
“He has already paid his dues, you cannot pay for something indefinitely.
In that sense there is the possibility where he can make a case to the Medical Board and they will consider whether he can be registered,” said Khan.
Jackson hired Murray as his personal physician when he was preparing for his 2009 concert tour.
The Stallions fly to Grand Turk to challenge the Stingers
Vice President of the GTBA, Corvin Ariza told our sports desk that the GTBA season starts this weekend at the Palm Grove basketball court in Grand Turk.
PABA champions the GT STALLIONS will take on the Grand Turk champions the Good Street STINGERS.
Ariza told us that this is a great way to start the new season, he said that the games will commence this Friday November the 1st at 8pm with the HIGH SCHOOL taking on the OLD BOYS followed by the big champion teams.
David Beckham selects Miami for new MLS franchise
David Beckham has chosen Miami as the location for the Major League Soccer team he intends to set up.
The former England captain is thought to be able to buy the US franchise for a discounted $25m (£15.6m) from MLS.
The 38-year-old's option to purchase a franchise is believed to be part of the financial package he negotiated when he joined LA Galaxy in 2007 as a player.
Beckham said he was "excited" by the prospect of Miami when he visited Florida in June.
Any deal has yet to be finalised but 12 potential investor groups from around the world are said to have made contact with the former Manchester United, Real Madrid and AC Milan midfielder, who retired in May after making 10 appearances for his final club Paris St-Germain.
There are currently 19 teams in MLS, but the league hopes to expand to 24 by 2020.
Tiger Woods dropped by EA Sports
Tiger Woods has been clubbed into the long grass by EA Sports after the games manufacturer ended its association with the world's most famous golfer.
Woods, 37, won the last of his 14 major titles back in 2008, but this year returned to world No.1 after replacing Rory McIlroy at the top of the rankings.
There were 14 editions of the video game bearing his name, which was played by millions of golf fans across the world.
Writing on EA's official website, the company's vice-president and general manager Daryl Holt commented: "EA Sports and Tiger Woods have made a mutual decision to end our partnership, which includes Tiger's named PGA Tour golf game. We've always been big fans of Tiger and we wish him continued success in all his future endeavors.
Gatorade, AT&T and Accenture and Tag Heuer all withdrew sponsorship or did not renew their deals following the revelations of Woods' infidelity and subsequent divorce from Elin Nordegren -- costing him $20 million in earnings.
Source-ESPN
Miami Heats beat the Chicago Bulls
About 30 minutes before the start of Tuesday's game, Miami city police officers surrounded a table at midcourt that contained the Heat's championship rings.
It wouldn't be long before LeBron James and his teammates formed a similar barricade around Derrick Rose to restrict access to the rim in his first NBA regular-season game following 18 months of recovery from major knee surgery.
The Heat were not emotionally overwhelmed by their rings nor the return of Rose on the way to building a 25-point lead en route to a 107-95 victory at American Airlines Arena. This was more than a welcome-back moment on a marquee stage for Rose. It also served as a reality check.
LAKERS BEAT THE CLIPPERS
Shock were the faces of many after the Lakers games between the Lakers & Clippers.
Xavier Henry scored a career-high 22 points, Jordan Farmar added 16, and five Los Angeles Lakers reserves surged past the Los Angeles Clippers in the fourth quarter for a surprising 116-103 victory in both clubs' season opener Tuesday night.
With Kobe Bryant watching in street clothes behind Pau Gasol and Steve Nash on the Lakers' bench, Jodie Meeks scored nine of his 13 points in the fourth quarter as the Lakers stunned their Staples Center rivals in Clippers coach Doc Rivers' debut.
The Lakers did it down the stretch with a lineup comprised entirely of backups - including three who weren't on the team last season. Henry, the former first-round pick who burned out in Memphis and New Orleans, scored 12 points in the fourth quarter while leading a decisive 28-8 run.
The reserves were led by Farmar, the two-time NBA champion guard who returned to the Lakers from Turkey this summer, and Henry, who impressed the Lakers throughout training camp.
Coach Mike D'Antoni suggested the Lakers will use 11 players many nights to counteract Bryant's absence and Nash's fragile health - and the early results of that plan were awfully encouraging.
Clippers Blake Griffin scored 19 points and Chris Paul had 15 points and 11 assists.
Celebrity Adam Levin from the Voice tweeted that he was jumping up and down after the win while Jackson Nicolson grinned and whistled as the Lakers pulled away in the 4th.