Toyota to recall 885,000 vehicles
Toyota is recalling 885,000 vehicles to fix a problem that could cause a water leak from the air conditioning unit.
It said water could leak into the airbag control module, causing a short circuit and triggering a warning light.
In some cases airbags "could become disabled or could inadvertently deploy" and in limited cases the power steering function could be disabled, it added.
The models affected by the recall are the Camry, Camry Hybrid, Avalon, Avalon Hybrid, and Venza made in 2012-13.
Some 847,000 cars will be recalled in North America, while the rest will be in Europe, Asia and the Middle East.
A spokeswoman for Toyota told the BBC that it had received reports of two minor injuries due to the issue, but there had been no reports of any vehicles crashing.
This is the third major recall that Toyota has issued in recent weeks.
Last month, the company called back more than 780,000 vehicles in the US to address a suspension defect in its RAV4 and Lexus HS 250h models, after fears that an initial recall last year did not fix the problem.
Tobago budget shortfall discussed by Howai & London
Tobago’s budgetary allocations, financing options for the funding gap, and the increasing need for data on economic activities in Tobago were among the critical issues discussed yesterday when Finance Minister Larry Howai met with Tobago House of Assembly Chief Secretary Orville London in Port of Spain.
The meeting came together as a continuing measure to maintain close collaboration between the Central Government and the THA, a release from the minister’s office stated.
Howai said: “We discussed a number of very important issues related to development for Tobago including Tobago’s budgetary allocations, financing options for the funding gap, the increasing need for data on economic activities in Tobago, the identification of taxes paid arising from activities undertaken in Tobago, the training of staff in the Finance Division of the Tobago House of Assembly, Caribbean Airlines support for the tourism sector and several related matters.
“This meeting is one of several that will support a very strong collaborative relationship between both offices.”
Expressing his appreciation for the development requirements of Tobago as raised by the Chief Secretary, Howai said: “For 2014, the total recurrent and capital budgetary allocations requested by the various ministries and departments amounted to $113 billion.
“This compares with budgeted revenues of approximately $50 billion. In the circumstances, most ministries received on average 50 per cent of the amount requested.
“Similarly with Tobago, I have a deep appreciation for the structure of the development priorities and the needs which come from their strategies.
“That appreciation notwithstanding, the allocation had to be balanced against available resources and an alignment to medium and long term development priorities.”
He added: “The amount allocated to the THA met the requirements under the Dispute Resolution Agreement and was also in line with the overall allocations to various ministries and departments.
“We must also be guided by the need for fiscal discipline in policy implementation and the need to achieve fiscal sustainability over the long term.”
Jamaicans Branded 'Serial Sexual Harassers' - Government Mum As Farm Workers Are Dissed In Canada
There has been a deafening silence from the Government more than one month after a Canadian mayor and several of his councillors disrespected Jamaican farm workers by labelling them serial sexual harassers.
Instead of the Portia Simpson Miller administration defending the reputation of the Jamaicans, their fight has been taken up by the Canadian group, Justicia for Migrant Workers.
Attempts by The Jamaica Gleaner to get a comment from the Ministry of Labour about the vexing statements concerning the Jamaican workers have so far been unsuccessful.
Minister of Labour Derrick Kellier has failed to respond to questions sent to him more than one week ago, while other officials in the ministry have also not commented.
In August, CBC News in Canada reported that John Patterson, mayor of Leamington in Ontario, raised the issue of Jamaicans sexually harassing women at a police services board meeting.
According to CBC, Paterson claimed Jamaican migrant workers have been making inappropriate comments to women and making them feel uncomfortable.
"Not to be bigoted, not to be racist, not to be anything, it is directly related to some of the Jamaican migrant workers that are here," Paterson reportedly said.
The Leamington mayor also claimed that the aggressive and unwanted sexual advances displayed by the Jamaican migrant workers towards the town's women have been ongoing for years.
While pointing out that he doesn't want the workers to leave the town, the mayor suggested that perhaps that kind of deviant behaviour was acceptable in Jamaica.
"Maybe it's appropriate back in your hometown, but here, it's not. So stop," Patterson said, as he was supported by Councillor Larry Verbeke.
However, the Ontario Provincial Police have said they had not received any harassment complaints about Jamaican migrant workers.
This caused the all-volunteer advocacy group Justicia for Migrant Workers to rip into the mayor.
In response to the Jamaica Gleaner questions last week, Chris Ramsaroop, organiser of Justicia for Migrant Workers, said the mayor has not recanted and the advocacy group has not altered its position on the mayor's statements.
"We believe that the mayor's comments are extremely insensitive at best, at worst has the potential to further accentuate tensions between the local community and the migrant worker community. The question we have for the mayor is what steps is the local community taking to address their own racism towards migrant workers," declared Ramsaroop.
He added: "We believe that the mayor's comments reflect a larger issue of the lack of inclusive practices by the local community towards the migrant workers. The comments are dangerous as they attack migrant workers and show how racial stereotypes are used to criminalise an entire community."
Ramsaroop also categorised the mayor's comments as racial stereotypes "that are being played on by the mayor and the few councillors that support his claims".
"It is very dangerous how they are portraying migrant workers. They don't feel welcomed in the community. Where was the mayor when migrant workers complained of sexual harassment? It sends a statement that migrant workers are not welcomed in the Leamington community," said Ramsaroop, who added that the town of Leamington needed "to face its own racist problems".
While the Government of Jamaica remains mum, Ramsaroop said Justicia for Migrant Workers will continue to monitor the situation and speak out for the Jamaicans.
306 pounds of cocaine found concealed in cocoa beans from Dom Republic
The United States Coast Guard says a joint law enforcement team, comprising its members and US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers, discovered and seized about 306 pounds of cocaine concealed among a shipment of cocoa beans coming from the Dominican Republic.
On Friday, the Coast Guard said the team was conducting cargo examinations aboard the cargo ship Michaela, when they discovered three duffel bags stowed among a shipment of cocoa beans.
The bags contained 125 brick-like objects that tested positive for the properties of cocaine, the Coast Guard said.
“This is a significant seizure, with a significant street value,” said Coast Guard Captain Jeffrey Dixon, acting Captain of the Port of New York and New Jersey.
“The ongoing partnership between the Coast Guard and CBP continues to produce results that protect the American public,” he added. “This intercept prevents a large quantity of drugs from getting to the streets and into the hands of our children.”
The Coast Guard said its personnel and CBP officers commonly board vessels in joint operations in an effort to deter drug smuggling and other illegal activity from the Caribbean and other places.
The cocaine and all other evidence have been turned over to the US Homeland Security Investigations for further analysis and investigation.
It said the estimated street value of the seized cocaine is approximately US$5.5 million.
Source-CMC
Argentine train crashes into Buenos Aires Once station
A commuter train in the Argentine capital, Buenos Aires, has crashed at the end of the line, leaving at least 80 people injured.
The train failed to stop as it arrived at Once station, crashing through the buffers and ending up wedged between the floor and ceiling of the platform.
The accident happened at the same station where 51 people were killed in a similar crash last year.
The cause of the accident remains unclear.
Saturday's crash happened shortly after 07:00 local time (10:00 GMT).
The line from Moreno 40km (25 miles) west of Buenos Aires to Once station, operated by the Sarmiento train company, is normally a busy commuter line during the week, and its trains are usually packed with passengers.
Security Secretary Sergio Berni said some of those injured on Saturday had been waiting on the platform and were hurt by flying glass as the train's windows shattered.
Jorge Ramirez, a chef who got on the train nine stations before the end of the line, told the AP news agency the accident was "a tragedy".
"I saw people hurt, shouting, others thrown on the floor. The people in the first wagon ended up piled on top of each other," he said.
After the 2012 crash, the authorities revoked a local company's right to operate trains on the line and pledged to make new investments in safety.
But commuters complain of frequent delays and bad service, and it is not uncommon to see travellers crammed into trains on their way to work.
Mexico 'clown' gunmen kill ex-drug chief Arellano Felix
The authorities in Mexico have said gunmen dressed as clowns have shot dead a former leading member of a once-powerful and violent drug cartel.
Francisco Rafael Arellano Felix, 63, was killed in a beach resort in Baja California in north-western Mexico.
He and his brothers controlled the drug trade on Mexico's border with the United States in the 1990s.
But their Tijuana cartel was gradually weakened by the capture or killing of other leading members.
"He was hit by two bullets, one in the chest and one in the head," said Isai Arias, a Baja California state government official.
The motive for the attack and the gunmen's disguise were being investigated, he added.
The attack took place during a family party at a rented beach house in the tourist resort of Cabo San Lucas.
The former cartel leader was arrested in 1993 but released nearly 15 years later after spending time in prison in Mexico and the United States.
His brother Eduardo was jailed in August in the US for 15 years after pleading guilty to money laundering.
Security experts believe the Tijuana cartel is now run by his sister Enedina and her son Fernando, known as "The Engineer", according to AFP news agency.
Fire in Brazilian port of Santos burns tonnes of raw sugar
A fire in Brazil's largest port has burnt some 180,000 tonnes of raw sugar, damaging six warehouses and pushing international prices to a one-year high.
The authorities in the port of Santos said it took six hours to bring the fire under control.
The cause of the blaze is still being investigated.
Brazil is the world's main sugar exporter, accounting for nearly half of international sales.
The terminal affected by the fire belongs to Brazilian sugar giant Copersucar.
Four other sugar terminals are operating normally, port authorities said.
Analysts say Brazil has enough port capacity to carry on with its usual export levels.
"International markets react because they know there will be a temporary drop. But other terminals will certainly make up for the accident," sugar market analyst Plinio Nastari told Folha de Sao Paulo newspaper.
Sugar prices in New York future markets went up by 6% when news of the fire broke, dropping later in the day.
Port authorities said that the fire began at around 06:00 local time (10:00 GMT) on a conveyor belt taking raw sugar into one of the warehouses.
They say this is the biggest fire in the history of the port of Santos, which exported 12.8 million tonnes of sugar in the first eight months of the year.
England stunned by Italy in Rugby League World Cup
England suffered a shocking 15-14 defeat by Italy only one week before the start of the Rugby League World Cup.
Josh Mantellato kicked a drop-goal 90 seconds from time to give Italy - at 13 the second-lowest ranked team in the World Cup - victory in Salford.
England, ranked third in the world, trailed 12-4 at one stage in the first half before two Sam Tomkins tries put the home side ahead.
But a Ray Nasso penalty and Mantellato's drop settled it.
England meet Australia in the World Cup's opening match in Cardiff on 26 October with Carlo Napolitano's Italy facing Iestyn Harris' Wales at the same venue later that day.
"I'm really disappointed," said England coach Steve McNamara. "We've certainly not played anywhere near what we are capable of. That's quite clear to see."
"I just think our mentality was really wrong for this game. We were probably guilty of looking towards next week and we took our eye off this game. I don't think we were fully focused.
"I'm glad it's happened this week in a way rather than next week. I'm sure we will be a whole lot better for it next week.
Italy, coached by Salford-born and raised Napolitano, deserved their victory as England failed to impress on a rain-swept afternoon.
The only bright spot for England against Italy was provided by full-back Tomkins, who scored twice in the first half before watching his team-mates slump to defeat from the sidelines.
Source-BBC
Jorge Lorenzo wins as Marc Marquez disqualified in Australian MotoGP
Jorge Lorenzo's MotoGP world title hopes remain alive after he won a dramatic Australian Grand Prix which saw championship leader Marc Marquez disqualified.
Yamaha's Lorenzo, who started from pole and led throughout, now trails his fellow Spaniard by 18 points going into next week's penultimate race in Japan.
Riders had to change bikes mid-race because of safety concerns over tyres.
But Marquez failed to pit by the required time and scored no points.
Dani Pedrosa was second while Valentino Rossi held off the challenge of Britain's Cal Crutchlow for third.
Lorenzo described the race as "crazy" because of the compulsory bike change but his maximum return of 25 points, coupled with Marquez failing to register, means the title race has been opened up.
"We were lucky," said Lorenzo. "Without the mistake from Marc I think he would have been first or second - now the championship has changed so much.
"Before the race we had no chance - a 2% or 3% chance - and now it's 20% or 30%.
"Let's see what happens in Motegi."
World Championship standings are as follows:
Marc Marquez (Spa) - 298
Jorge Lorenzo (Spa) - 280
Dani Pedrosa (Spa) - 264
Valentino Rossi (Ita) - 214
Cal Crutchlow (GB) – 179
The venue for next Sunday's race in Japan.
Manchester United boss not blaming Sir Alex Ferguson exit
Manchester United boss David Moyes has rejected claims that the Premier League champions have lost their fear factor since he succeeded Sir Alex Ferguson.
United are eight points behind Premier League leaders Arsenal after being held to a 1-1 draw by Southampton at Old Trafford on Saturday.
"Sir Alex Ferguson has a great history and his experience will always work in charge of any team," said Moyes.
"But the fear comes from the team on the pitch."
United have only one victory from four league games at Old Trafford since Ferguson's retirement, but Moyes insisted: "The players have always been the people that have to turn out and do it."
Ferguson, who won 38 trophies during 26 years in charge, watched from the stands in his new role as a club director, but United could not build on their win at Sunderland last time out.
Moyes had looked on course to record back-to-back league victories for the first time as United boss, only for Adam Lallana's late goal to cancel out Robin van Persie's first-half strike.
It was the first time United had failed to win in successive league home matches for six years. They have 11 points after eight games and have suffered three defeats. At the same point last season United had been beaten twice but were third with 18 points.
"I am disappointed because we wanted to get a bit of momentum going today and we weren't able to do that," said Moyes.