October 10 - 16, 2015
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TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
World News
Murdoch: Carson would be a ‘real black president’
According to the Washington Post, about 6,000 prisoners will be set free around November 1, a US record for a single mass release. Most will go through half-way houses or home confinement before being freed under supervision.
US to free thousands of prisoners to relieve overcrowding THE United States is preparing to release thousands of prisoners considered at low risk of returning to crime, as part of an effort to ease prison overcrowding and redress overly harsh sentences. The measure stands to benefit petty criminals and drug users sentenced to long prison terms for minor, non-violent offenses. According to the Washington Post, about 6,000 prisoners will be set free around November 1, a US record for a single mass release. Most will go through half-way houses or home confinement before being freed under supervision.
The release comes after the US Sentencing Commission, which sets policy for federal crimes, reduced its sentencing guidelines for drug possession. Applied retroactively with effect November 1, the reform clears the way for an estimated 46,000 inmates to eventually benefit from the policy change and escape the automatic application of heavy sentences. Contacted Wednesday, the Commission would not specifically confirm that the first group would number 6,000, but said that almost 8,000 prisoners could be eligible for release from the start of next month.
RUPERT Murdoch, one of the world’s most powerful media moguls, posted a tweet Wednesday night that seemingly questioned whether President Obama is a “real black president.” The tweet ricocheted around the web and was widely denounced. Murdoch’s tweet was championing Ben Carson, a Republican who is the only African-American candidate in the presidential race. “Ben and Candy Carson terrific,” he wrote. “What about a real black President who can properly address the racial divide? And much else.” Murdoch’s use of the word “real” flabbergasted many online onlookers, some of whom concluded that the media mogul was questioning Obama’s race and identity. Obama, the first black president of the United States, has also been dogged by false accusations that he isn’t a U.S. citizen. What did Murdoch mean? “We don’t comment on his tweets,” a 21st Century Fox spokeswoman said. Murdoch, 84, is the owner of Fox News Channel and a huge portfolio of other media brands, from the Fox broadcast network to the FX cable channel. He is the co-executive chairman of 21st Century Fox. He recently handed over the CEO reins to his son James. Murdoch is an unusual user of Twitter, occasionally dashing off his thoughts about politics and world affairs without ever quite mastering
Conservative media mogul Rupert Murdoch appears to be a fan of retired neurosurgeon and presidential contender Ben Carson.
the medium. He followed the Carson tweet with one that said “Read New York magazine for minority community disappointment with POTUS.” He didn’t link to it, but he was apparently referencing a column titled “Has Barack Obama Done Enough for African-Americans?” Murdoch has been boosting Carson in tweets for months. On Tuesday he plugged Carson’s appearance on the Fox News program “The Kelly File.” Last week he wrote, “Everywhere pundits keep underestimating Ben Carson. But public understand humility as admirable, listen to the multi-faceted strong message.” Before entering the presidential
race, Carson was a paid contributor to the Fox News Channel. Way back in March, after Carson left the network, but before he announced his presidential bid, Murdoch tweeted about Carson: “Wonderful character, up from Detroit ghetto, sadly seems political naif.” As the months have progressed, Murdoch has turned more positive. Back in August he celebrated Carson’s rise in the polls, and said “his life story should make every American optimistic.” A week later he wrote that Carson’s standing in the polls is “improving every week,” and said Carson is “maybe the one to beat.” He added, “Irreproachable on background, achievements, character, vision.”
Pepsi has a Venezuela problem: $1.4 billion
The Ebola outbreak in West Africa has killed more than 11,000 people.
Ebola countries record first week with no new cases THE three West African countries at the heart of the Ebola epidemic recorded their first week with no new cases since the outbreak began in March 2014. The outbreak has so far killed more than 11,000 people in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). New cases have fallen sharply in 2015, but the WHO has warned that the disease could break out again. The epidemic is the worst known occurrence of Ebola in history.
More than 500 people believed to have had dangerous contact with an Ebola patient remain under followup in Guinea, the WHO said in a report. It also said several “high-risk” people linked to recent patients in Guinea and Sierra Leone had been lost track of. Liberia has already been declared free of the disease after 42 days without a new case. It is the second time the country received the declaration, following a flare-up in June.
PEPSI is getting hit hard in Venezuela. On Tuesday, Pepsi (PEP) reported a massive $1.4 billion charge for its business in Venezuela, citing the country’s uncertain currency, economy and political outlook. It’s another sign that Venezuela’s skyrocketing inflation, confusing currency laws and plummeting economy are weighing down major U.S. companies. Sales in Venezuela only make up 2% of Pepsi’s revenue. In the third quarter, Pepsi’s total revenue was $16.3 billion. By that math, Pepsi only got $326 million in sales from Venezuela while it took a $1.4 billion charge from its business there. The one-time charge -- or “write down” -- helps the company offer investors more certainty about its future earnings. A Pepsi spokesperson emphasised that it was a one-time accounting charge. Going forward, Pepsi will not take future charges on its Venezuela business. That doesn’t mean that Venezuelans won’t get to drink
Sales in Venezuela only make up 2% of Pepsi’s revenue.
Pepsi. The company will continue to do business there. “Despite our change in the accounting for our Venezuela operations and the related accounting charges, we remain dedicated to serving the Venezuelan marketplace,” Pepsi CEO Indra Nooyi said in a statement. Venezuela’s currency, the bolivar, has lost 379% of its value since the beginning of the year. In January, one
U.S. dollar was worth 173 bolivars. Today, it’s 829 bolivars, according to dolartoday.com, which tracks Venezuela’s unofficial currency exchange rate -- the rate most Venezuelans get for their dollars. What’s confusing is that Venezuela has four different exchange rates, not including the unofficial rate. There is a different official rate for regular folks and others for exports and government purchases.