Amendments to the Immigration Ordinance Passed to Allow Advance Passenger Information System Implementation in the Turks and Caicos Islands
The Deputy Premier and Minister of Border Control and Employment, Honourable Sean R. Astwood, successfully took the Immigration Amendment Bill 2017 through its second and third readings when the House of Assembly resumed this morning with its ninth meeting to allow the introduction of an Advance Passenger Information System in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Advance Passenger Information System (APIS), once implemented, will capture passengers’ biographic data and travel details which will be shared with Border Control Officials prior to the arrival of passengers in the TCI.
This electronic database of passenger details, which will be shared among cooperating countries of the United Kingdom, the United States and members of the Caribbean Community CARICOM, is an undertaking in collaboration with the Joint Regional Communications Center JRCC, a sub agency of CARICOM IMPACS and the United States Government.
The benefits of APIS will be the improvement in crime perception and detection, and deterrence to engagement in the smuggling of drugs, humans, weapons and other contraband, thereby making the borders of the TCI safer while improving the overall passenger experience by reducing congestion and delays at the ports.
During his delivery in the House of Assembly, the Deputy Premier noted:
"Mr. Speaker, thanks to globalization and the advancement in communication we now live in a world that, in essence has shrunk, and one that has led to one global integrated community without boundaries. And Mr. Speaker, while there is much to be gained from the exposure to world markets, trade and commerce, such as a thriving and healthy tourism industry, as a small island developing state we cannot continue to ignore the increased exposure to threats that this growth brings and we cannot return to a day and time when we had very little exposure to threat, nor should we want to, as our days of less exposure and less threat were also our days of less success as a country and as a people."
"Instead Mr. Speaker, small island developing states, like our beloved Turks and Caicos Islands, must find the balance to embrace the opportunities of globalization and a shrunken world, while capitalizing on the power of an integrated world community to mitigate against the inherent threats that comes with it."
The Deputy Premier added:
"Mr. Speaker, there is also the threat of international terrorism, that is not only a concern for Border Control, it should also be of concern to the Airports Authority as well as our Airline Carriers. Mr. Speaker, not only has security inspections intensified in light of these risks but one has to wonder if there is also the need to reinstate border control checks on departure, which will create further delays in the check-in process as we have already seen in the arrivals and entering of passengers."
"Mr. Speaker, the threat of drug trafficking, passenger and gun smuggling along with that of other illegal contraband also present increased compliance risks that require greater vigilance and intensified inspections by both Border Control and Customs Department."
"Mr. Speaker, together these risks have brought greater demands on an already stretched human resource and ultimately lowers the quality of the passenger experience on arrival and departure at our ports and this bill, once passed by this honourable House will facilitate the implementation of an Advance Passenger Information System that will allow us to systematically address the concerns and risks that I have outlined above."
The Immigration Amendment Bill 2017, which also includes provisions for the streamlining of the process for intransit passengers, was tabled for its first reading at the July meeting of the House of Assembly and will come in to force on a day as consented to by His Excellency the Governor, Dr. John Freeman, having been published in the Gazette.
Tropical Storm Emily: Power outages, rain, fishermen rescued
Tropical Storm Emily weakened to a tropical depression Monday afternoon as it slogged eastward across the Florida peninsula, spreading drenching rains, causing power outages and leaving two fishermen to be rescued from Tampa Bay.
The National Hurricane Center said Emily made landfall late Monday on Florida's Gulf Coast south of Tampa Bay and then began moving east toward the Atlantic coast. Emily spent only a few hours as a tropical storm, losing strength as it marched inland across the central Florida peninsula toward the Atlantic coast.
Florida Gov. Rick Scott said at an afternoon news briefing in the state capital of Tallahassee that about 18,000 homes and businesses lost power, mostly in hard-hit Manatee County. Scott, who was on vacation in Maine and returned to the state when the advisory changed, said the storm was a reminder that severe weather can strike the state at any time.
State emergency management officials also said that the Sunshine Skyway Bridge over Tampa Bay, which was closed for a few hours y because of high winds, had since reopened. The storm had maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (75 kph) as it crawled ashore but was down to top winds of 35 mph (55 kph) hours later.
No injuries have been reported along the Gulf Coast, although two fishermen were rescued from Tampa Bay while clinging to a channel marker light after their boat sank.
Coast Guard officials said they were called Monday morning about the two brothers, who had been out fishing when their boat engine died. While the brothers worked on the inoperable pump, the boat drifted and struck the range light, according to a Coast Guard statement. The brothers tied their boat off to the light and were forced to cling to the navigation aid and call for help when the vessel sank. A boat from Coast Guard station St. Petersburg rescued the men.
At 5 p.m. Monday, Emily was moving inland over west-central Florida about 30 miles (45 kilometers) northwest of Sebring in south-central Florida. Forecasters said Emily was expected to dump between 2 to 4 inches (50 to 100 millimeters) of rain in some areas, with isolated amounts up to 8 inches (200 millimeters) possible in spots. Lesser amounts were predicted elsewhere.
On Treasure Island, a barrier island in the Gulf of Mexico west of St. Petersburg, a normally packed beach parking lot was almost empty of tourists Monday. Only a handful of people were on the white sand beach and a few bodysurfed small waves in an area that doesn't normally get waves. Some took selfies amid a mix of clouds and patches of blue sky on the northern fringe of the storm system.
Kevin Baker, a 53-year-old retiree who takes his walks daily at Treasure Island, said he decided to venture out despite the storm "to watch the clouds to go by."
"This morning was pretty bad. It rained pretty hard. I got a little leak in my Jeep even," said Baker. But though the weather there had briefly improved at midday, he added, "we're supposed to get hit again."
A flood watch is in effect for much of the Tampa area, raising the threat of some scattered street flooding in low-lying areas. Law enforcement agencies urged motorists to drive with caution on a day that began as a miserable Monday morning commute for many. A few Tampa area communities, such as Pinellas Park and Tarpon Springs, offered residents sandbags to stave off any flooding.
Earlier Monday, Scott declared a state of emergency for 31 of the state's 67 counties as a precaution. He also headed to the state's Emergency Operations Center for a briefing on the storm and issued a news release urging those in the path of the storm to be vigilant.
Forecasters also warned of possible isolated tornadoes and offshore waterspouts spinning off of the system, which sent swirling rain bands across parts of south Florida. A tropical storm warning from Anclote River to Bonita Beach on the Gulf Coast was lifted once the storm headed inland Monday.
What's next? New Venezuela assembly has vast powers
The newly elected assembly that will rewrite Venezuela's constitution will have nearly unlimited legal power to install an even more staunchly socialist state, but its very creation has spawned opposition at home and abroad that threatens to deepen the country's political and economic crisis.
MEET THE ASSEMBLY
The 545 delegates elected Sunday are expected to convene within 72 hours after the official results are announced, which could come early this week.
Because the opposition boycotted what it considered a rigged election, virtually all the delegates are government loyalists. Many speculate they will choose Diosdado Cabello, the hard-line leader of the ruling socialist party, as their chairman.
President Nicolas Maduro made clear in a televised address Saturday that he intends to use the assembly not just to rewrite the country's charter but to govern as "a power that's above and beyond every other." He said he wants the assembly to strip opposition lawmakers and governors of constitutional immunity from prosecution — one of the few remaining checks on ruling party power.
Declaring the opposition "already has its prison cell waiting," Maduro added: "All the criminals will go to prison for the crimes they've committed."
Critics say they fear it will lead to a Cuban-style single-party state. Maduro fed some of those fears this month, appearing on television in front of a portrait of Soviet communist leader Vladimir Lenin.
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BACKLASH AND SANCTIONS FROM ABROAD
Many nations across the hemisphere announced they would not accept the election of the assembly and European Commission spokeswoman Mina Andreeva said Monday that an assembly "elected under doubtful and often violent circumstances cannot be part of the solution."
The biggest threat for Maduro and his allies is the imposition of U.S. sanctions over the election.
On Monday, U.S. officials slapped sanctions on Maduro himself, freezing any U.S. assets he might have and barring Americans from doing business with him.
The Trump administration already levied sanctions on two dozen current and former government officials since taking office, but the strategy so far has failed to alter Maduro's iron-fisted rule.
Still, U.S. sanctions against Venezuela's head of state could be a powerful symbolic measure that other nations might duplicate.
The U.S. holds another potentially potent card in its pocket: sanctions targeting Venezuela's oil sector, which is the engine of the country's economy and the chief source of hard currency.
American officials had hinted initial U.S. sanctions could affect Venezuela's oil industry, but later they said the Trump administration was holding off due to possible complications, including some involving subsidiaries. Sanctions also could mean higher global oil prices, hurting U.S. drivers at the pump.
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BACKLASH AT HOME
Independent analysts dispute the report by Venezuela's electoral authority that more than 40 percent of voters cast ballots for the assembly. Recent polls suggested 85 percent of Venezuelans opposed holding the assembly and similar numbers disapprove of Maduro's performance at a time the economy is cratering and food and medicine are so short that malnutrition is becoming a serious problem.
Many analysts believe the vote will catalyze yet more disturbances in a country that has seen four months of street protests in which at least 125 people have died.
Opposition leader Henrique Capriles urged Venezuelans to protest on the streets of Caracas on Monday and organizers are calling on Venezuelans to uphold Article 350 of the current constitution, which says citizens should "disown any regime, legislation or authority that violates democratic values, principles and guarantees upon human rights."
In a speech to supporters Saturday, opposition lawmaker Freddy Guevara warned Venezuelans to prepare for tough times ahead. "After Sunday, it won't be easy for us," he said.
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MADURO'S RISKS
The local and international outcry has cast a shadow over the assembly's election, and some believe it opens a door for dissent within the ruling party created by Maduro's mentor, the late President Hugo Chavez.
The assembly's broad powers mean it could even cause Maduro's own ouster if members of his party came to see him as a liability.
"The national constituent assembly is a very risky bet for the president, even in terms of his own coalition," said Francisco Monaldi, a Venezuela analyst at Rice University.
Sloop of 99 Illegal Hatian Migrants Intercepted and Detained in Providenciales
The Ministry of Border Control and Employment Services hereby advises the public that at approximately 2:02 a.m today Monday July 31, 2017, an illegal migrant vessel carrying 99 Haitian nationals was intercepted in the vicinity of the Bluff off Providenciales.
The vessel, later confirmed to be a "sloop" and carrying 79 males and 20 females, was first detected by the Radar Station Unit of the Ministry, as a target of interest at 12:47 a.m, following which all response agencies including the Marine Branch of the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force and the Immigration Task Force were activated.
This latest attempt by illegal migrants to breach the borders of the Turks and Caicos Islands comes mere days after the Deputy Premier and Minister of Border Control and Employment Services, during his Ministerial Statement in the House of Assembly on Wednesday July 26th, asserted his Government's commitment to improving the protection of our borders and the implementation of new initiatives to address illegal migration and tighter controls on immigration processes moving forward. Highlighted in the Deputy Premier's address was the fact the illegal migration threatens the lives and livelihood of our people and that persons found to be engaged in the trafficking of humans would be prosecuted under the law as his Government will not sit idly by and allow activities of this nature to threaten the very existence of our people.
The 99 illegal migrants are currently detained and will be processed for repatriation and entry on the Immigration Stop List. This measure nullifies any opportunity for future grant of entry into the TCI for these individuals.
The Ministry of Border Control and Employment Services hereby extends its profound gratitude to persons in the community who have assisted with this and other operations and initiatives, your contribution and support remains invaluable and critical to our success.
Investigations are ongoing by the Ministry and will continue until the eventual arrest of persons suspected of engaging in the trafficking of humans into the TCI. Any person with information that can assist the Police or Immigration Department in our efforts to eradicate human trafficking are encouraged to share that information with the said agencies or Crime Stoppers anonymously.
As a matter of caution, the Ministry of Border Control and Employment Services takes this opportunity to advise all persons to observe the immigration laws and of the Turks and Caicos Islands as anyone found in breach of same will be dealt with accordingly.
France wants to ditch gas, diesel-powered cars by 2040
France has big, bold plans for the auto sector.
The new French government wants to end sales of gas and diesel-powered vehicles by 2040 as it fights global warming.
After that date, automakers will only be allowed to sell cars that run on electricity or other cleaner power. Hybrid cars will also be permitted.
Nicolas Hulot, the government official in charge of France's "ecological transition," said the goal would help the nation's automakers "innovate and become market leaders."
"A revolution in the mobility of everyday life awaits us," he said.
The government outlined a range of initiatives to help reach its goal, including support for the development of alternative fuels such as electricity and hydrogen. It's also planning to finance new infrastructure for charging electric cars.
The government also promised a cash-for-clunkers program to pay people who give up their old, polluting vehicles and trade up to a cleaner vehicle. It did not provide details on how the scrappage program would work.
French President Emmanuel Macron has been clear about his plans to promote policies to protect the environment. In a televised speech in June, he condemned President Trump's decision to withdraw from the Paris climate agreement and called on people to "make our planet great again."
He offered refuge to American scientists, engineers and citizens who were disappointed by Trump's move.
"They will find in France a second homeland. I call on them, come and work here with us, to work together on concrete solutions for our climate," he said.
France's move to phase out vehicles that rely solely on the combustion engine comes one day after automaker Volvo announced that every car it makes from 2019 onward will have an electric motor.
Volvo is the first traditional carmaker to fully embrace electric and hybrid production.
French drivers bought just over two million cars last year. The share of cars powered by electric, hybrid and alternative fuels is small -- about 4% -- but growing fast. Sales of those vehicles were up 25% in the first quarter of 2017.
Several factors are pushing the auto industry towards electric motors, including tougher environmental regulations and the desire for self-driving cars, which will need more electrical juice for all their computing needs.
But eliminating the gas engine altogether will be difficult.
A key reason is profitability. Tesla (TSLA) has yet to report an annual profit. Traditional automakers are making billions of dollars selling millions of gasoline-powered cars each. No one has yet figured out a way to make a profit selling electric-only vehicles.
-- Karolina Rozwadowski in Paris and Chris Isidore in New York contributed to this report (CNN).
Tank Drives Over Suspect Vehicle Before Deadly Car Bomb at Egyptian Checkpoint
Seven civilians were killed after a bomb exploded at a security checkpoint in North Sinai on July 24, according to the Egyptian Ministry of Defense.
The military released a video of the attack south of al-Arish, which shows an army tank intercepting a vehicle as it approached the checkpoint. The tank drove over the vehicle, which reportedly contained four gunmen and 100kg of explosives, in an attempt to contain the blast, the military said.
The video shows the car exploding moments after being driven over. Among the dead were two children, three men and two women, the military said.
The government said the actions of the tank drivers thwarted a major terrorist operation that had the potential to kill 50 people.
Credit: Egyptian Ministry of Defense via Storyful
New 'James Bond' movie announced, but no word yet on who will star
(CNN)A new James Bond film will hit theaters in 2019, but it's not clear yet who will play the debonair spy in the franchise's latest movie.
EON Productions, the British production company behind the franchise, and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer announced on Monday that a James Bond film will be released in the United States on November 8, 2019. The new movie will be the 25th in the Bond franchise.
The New York Times reported on Monday that Daniel Craig will return for the role, but he has not signed on the dotted line yet, according to a BBC report.
MGM said in a statement on Monday that "details regarding distribution, including international release dates, the film's cast and director, will be announced at a later date."
Craig has sounded less sure of continuing his role as Bond.
In 2015, after filming "Spectre," Craig was asked in an interview if he could imagine doing another Bond film.
"Now? I'd rather break this glass and slash my wrists," he said. "No, not at the moment. Not at all. That's fine. I'm over it at the moment. We're done. All I want to do is move on."
Ministry of Education, Youth, Sports & Library Services - July 26, 2017
Mr. Speaker, I am proud to stand here today to make my first contribution to this Honorable House as Minister responsible for Education, Youth, Sport and Library Services. I give God the honor and the glory. I am thankful also to the community of the Turks and Caicos Islands for electing me as their all Island representative and thankful to my Government for entrusting me with leadership of the Ministry.
I know the task afforded me is an important one and I am confident that I have the ability, the fortitude, the stamina and the wherewithal for this awesome journey ahead. I am committed to do my best and to always use this medium to keep my people of these islands informed and updated on the progress and initiatives of my portfolio.
Mr. Speaker, my government Change document emphasizes clearly that Education, Youth and Sports Development are key priority areas. Mr. Speaker as that is the case, it is my intention to do my best to ensure that these areas receive the resources they deserve and that opportunities are created for the youth to develop their talent, skills and identity.
Mr. Speaker, during the last week, we here in the Turks and Caicos Islands have experienced several milestones in the area of Sports. Where sports is concerned, the athletes know that they have my Ministry’s full backing to be able to achieve their goals locally and internationally. My Government will be strengthening investment in sports. Sports will be given priority in order to develop individual abilities as well as foster a sporting culture at an early age. We will continue to invest in our young people skills and their future. I must pause here to congratulate:
- Mr. Colby Jennings for securing a bronze medal in the IAAF World under 18 Championships in Nyrobi, Kenya.
- Mrs. Rita Gardiner on achieving the Commonwealth Games Award of Merit.
- The TCI Rising Stars Basketball Club who finished 2nd place in the Puerto Rico Basketball Tournament 2017.
- Team TCI for winning the bronze medal in the girls’ beach soccer in the Commonwealth Youth Games in the Bahamas, and
- The team of athletes and coaches who travelled to the Bahamas for the Commonwealth Youth Games.
The education of our children is fundamental to producing decent, productive, positive and respectful citizens of any nation. Therefore, our education system must be one that ensures our students are equipped with the knowledge and skills they need to be successful in a rapidly changing society. Progress in learning is strengthened when our students, parents, teachers, principals, support staff and broader community all have a clear understanding of what must be done to achieve this chosen future for the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Mr. Speaker, please allow me, at this time, to congratulate all our students who successfully graduated from primary, high and tertiary levels in the Turks and Caicos Islands and internationally. We know how important education is to a nation’s current and future prosperity, development and growth. We owe our children a better life, and a better world and we have the opportunity to contribute to this through a quality, efficient and accountable education system.
Mr. Speaker, my Ministry in collaboration with the Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) will introduced the Caribbean Certificate Secondary Level Competence (CCSLC) to stakeholders when school reopens in September of this year. This program will demonstrate the level of competence attained while at school.
The Caribbean Examinations Council first offered the Caribbean Certificate of Secondary Level Competence in June 2007. The CCSLC curriculum is intended to provide certification for all students who complete secondary school in the participating territories. It was developed to provide the learner with the competencies that will serve as a foundation for more advanced studies, the world of work and life as a citizen of the region. According to the Caribbean Examination Council, CCSLC responds to the changing demands of education, and is designed to certify the knowledge, generic competencies, attitudes and values that all secondary school leavers should have attained.
This program will be integrated into all government secondary schools throughout the Turks and Caicos Islands. The CCSLC programme was designed for students in Forms 1 to 3. The CCSLC will be awarded if the candidate, over a period of up to three years, successfully completes a minimum of five subjects which includes English and Mathematics as compulsory subjects. This programme will also aid in the formation of skills needed to gain employment. These skills include oral and written communication, mathematical literacy, problem solving, critical thinking, informed decision making, handling conflict and social and citizenship skills.
The launch of this new examination should be seen as a milestone in the development of Turks and Caicos Islands’ education system. Its aim is to merge both the technical, general and vocational subjects, as well as develop certain competencies to give school leavers the best opportunity to move into the next stage of their development with qualifications to ensure that they are able to help and take part in the development of the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Mr. Speaker, my Ministry have revised the Scholarship Policy which came into effect this month. Through its scholarship and award schemes, the Ministry of Education continues its commitment to provide financial support for students undertaking tertiary education. The listing for the new awardees of scholarships will be announced Mid-August. The scholarship and award opportunities are being offered to promising students for both local and overseas studies. My Ministry is immensely proud of the new scholarship policy, but we also recognize that this is the continuance of a much larger process to improve the post-secondary opportunities for all Turks and Caicos Islanders.
The Scholarship Policy was modified to allow inclusiveness of different strategies to strengthen aspects of the already established 2011 Policy, making procedures and practices more relevant in today’s scholarship system.
Changes that were implemented to the National Policy 2011 are as follows:
- Enlargement of the approved Institutions list which must now be officially accredited by an established Accrediting Agency in accordance to the accreditation requirements for Higher Education Institutions in each jurisdiction (Caribbean, United Kingdom or United States).
- Establishment of a Full and Partial Scholarship Approved Institution list.
- To distinct between scholarship categories to further define the criteria of awarding amounts for Full, Partial Scholarship, Grants and Distance learning.
- Capping the number of grants received per student and the maximum awarding amounts.
- Establishing clear academic standards to determine eligibility for awarding of local and international scholarships in the various scholarship categories.
- Determine academic standards for awardees to maintain their scholarship awards.
- Regularizing standards for eligibility for scholarships, transfers and deferral of scholarship awards.
- To establish a mechanism to ensure transparency and remove any perception of biasness in the Scholarship Awarding Process.
This modified National Scholarship Policy 2017 document was implemented by the Ministry of Education and the Education Advisory Committee immediately for applicants who have applied for tertiary education scholarships during this year’s scholarship review process.
Mr. Speaker, my Ministry is in partnership with the Ministry of Border Control and Labour to help ensure that students returning to the Turks and Caicos Islands who have successfully completed tertiary level education will be awarded the opportunity of being placed where vacancies exist.
Mr. Speaker, I wish to thank you for this opportunity. God bless.
2017 MTV Video Music Award nominations announced
Nominations for the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards were announced Tuesday, with rapper Kendrick Lamar earning the most of any artist for his video "Humble."
Right behind Lamar's eight nominations were Katy Perry and the Weeknd, who were tied with five nominations each.
Videos released between June 25, 2016, and June 23, 2017 are eligible for this year's VMAs, according to the Associated Press.
In keeping with the changes that MTV instituted for the MTV Movie & TV Awards, the gendered categories of Best Female Video and Best Male Video were replaced by a more general award, Artist of the Year. One new award was also added: "Best Fight Against the System."
The MTV Video Music Awards will air live on Sunday, Aug. 27 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on MTV.
VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Kendrick Lamar – “HUMBLE.” (TDE/Aftermath/Interscope)
Bruno Mars – “24K Magic” (Atlantic Records)
Alessia Cara – “Scars To Your Beautiful” (Def Jam)
DJ Khaled ft. Rihanna & Bryson Tiller – “Wild Thoughts” (Epic Records/We The Best)
The Weeknd – “Reminder” (XO/Republic Records)
ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Bruno Mars (Atlantic Records)
Kendrick Lamar (TDE/Aftermath/Interscope)
Ed Sheeran (Atlantic Records)
Ariana Grande (Republic Records)
The Weeknd (XO/Republic Records)
Lorde (Republic Records)
BEST NEW ARTIST (Presented by Taco Bell®)
Khalid (RCA Records)
Kodak Black (Atlantic Records)
SZA (TDE/RCA Records)
Young M.A (3D)
Julia Michaels (Republic Records)
Noah Cyrus (Records)
BEST COLLABORATION
Charlie Puth ft. Selena Gomez – “We Don’t Talk Anymore” (Atlantic Records)
DJ Khaled ft. Rihanna & Bryson Tiller – “Wild Thoughts” (Epic Records/We The Best)
D.R.A.M. ft. Lil Yachty – “Broccoli” (Atlantic Records)
The Chainsmokers ft. Halsey – “Closer” (Disruptor Records/Columbia Records)
Calvin Harris ft. Pharrell Williams, Katy Perry & Big Sean – “Feels” (Columbia Records)
Zayn & Taylor Swift – “I Don’t Wanna Live Forever (Fifty Shades Darker)” (Republic Records)
BEST POP
Shawn Mendes – “Treat You Better” (Island Records)
Ed Sheeran – “Shape of You” (Asylum/Atlantic Records)
Harry Styles – “Sign Of The Times” (Columbia Records)
Fifth Harmony ft. Gucci Mane – “Down” (Syco Music/Epic Records)
Katy Perry ft. Skip Marley – “Chained To The Rhythm” (Capitol Records)
Miley Cyrus – “Malibu” (RCA Records)
BEST HIP HOP
Kendrick Lamar – “HUMBLE.” (TDE/Aftermath/Interscope)
Big Sean – “Bounce Back” (Def Jam)
Chance the Rapper – “Same Drugs” (Chance the Rapper LLC)
D.R.A.M. ft. Lil Yachty – “Broccoli” (Atlantic Records)
Migos ft. Lil Uzi Vert – “Bad & Boujee” (300 Entertainment)
DJ Khaled ft. Justin Bieber, Quavo, Chance the Rapper & Lil Wayne – “I’m The One” (Epic Records/We The Best)
BEST DANCE
Zedd and Alessia Cara – “Stay” (Interscope)
Kygo x Selena Gomez – “It Ain’t Me” (Ultra/Interscope)
Calvin Harris – “My Way” (Columbia Records)
Major Lazer ft. Justin Bieber and Mø – “Cold Water” (Mad Decent)
Afrojack ft. Ty Dolla $ign – “Gone” (Wall Recordings/Latium/RCA Records)
BEST ROCK
Coldplay – “A Head Full of Dreams” (Parlophone/Atlantic Records)
Fall Out Boy – “Young And Menace” (Island)
Twenty One Pilots – “Heavydirtysoul” (Fueled by Ramen/Atlantic Records)
Green Day – “Bang Bang” (Warner Bros. Records)
Foo Fighters – “Run” (RCA Records)
BEST FIGHT AGAINST THE SYSTEM
Logic ft. Damian Lemar Hudson – “Black SpiderMan” (Def Jam)
The Hamilton Mixtape – “Immigrants (We Get the Job Done)” (Atlantic Records)
Big Sean – “Light” (Def Jam)
Alessia Cara – “Scars To Your Beautiful” (Def Jam)
Taboo ft. Shailene Woodley – “Stand Up / Stand N Rock #NoDAPL”
John Legend – “Surefire” (Columbia Records)
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Kendrick Lamar – “HUMBLE.” (TDE/Aftermath/Interscope) (Scott Cunningham)
Imagine Dragons – “Thunder” (KIDinaKORNER/Interscope) (Matthew Wise)
Ed Sheeran – “Castle On The Hill” (Asylum/Atlantic Records) (Steve Annis)
DJ Shadow ft. Run The Jewels – “Nobody Speak” (Mass Appeal Records LLC) (David Proctor)
Halsey – “Now or Never” (Astralwerks/Capitol) (Kristof Brandl)
BEST DIRECTION
Kendrick Lamar – “HUMBLE.” (TDE/Aftermath/Interscope) (Dave Meyers & the little homies)
Katy Perry ft. Skip Marley – “Chained To The Rhythm” (Capitol Records) (Mathew Cullen)
Bruno Mars – “24K Magic” (Atlantic Records) (Cameron Duddy & Bruno Mars)
Alessia Cara – “Scars To Your Beautiful” (Def Jam) (Aaron A)
The Weeknd – “Reminder” (XO/Republic Records) (Glenn Michael)
BEST ART DIRECTION
Kendrick Lamar – “HUMBLE.” (TDE/Aftermath/Interscope) (Spencer Graves)
Bruno Mars – “24K Magic” (Atlantic Records) (Alex Delgado)
Katy Perry ft. Migos – “Bon Appetit” (Capitol Records) (Natalie Groce)
DJ Khaled ft. Rihanna & Bryson Tiller – “Wild Thoughts” (Epic Records/We The Best) (Damian Fyffe)
The Weeknd – “Reminder” (XO/Republic Records) (Creative Director: Lamar C Taylor / Co-creative Director: Christo Anesti)
BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
Kendrick Lamar – “HUMBLE.” (TDE/Aftermath/Interscope) (Company: Timber/Lead: Jonah Hall)
A Tribe Called Quest – “Dis Generation” (Epic Records) (Company: Bemo/Lead: Brandon Hirzel)
KYLE ft. Lil Yachty – “iSpy” (Atlantic Records) (Company: Gloria FX/Leads: Max Colt & Tomash Kuzmytskyi)
Katy Perry ft. Skip Marley – “Chained To The Rhythm” (Capitol Records) (Company: MIRADA)
Harry Styles – “Sign Of The Times” (Columbia Records) (Company: ONE MORE/Lead: Cédric Nivoliez)
BEST CHOREOGRAPHY
Kanye West – “Fade” (Def Jam) (Teyana Taylor, Guapo, Jae Blaze & Derek ‘Bentley’ Watkins)
Ariana Grande ft. Nicki Minaj – “Side To Side” (Republic Records) (Brian & Scott Nicholson)
Kendrick Lamar – “HUMBLE.” (TDE/Aftermath/Interscope) (Dave Meyers)
Sia – “The Greatest” (Monkey Puzzle Records/RCA Records) (Ryan Heffington)
Fifth Harmony ft. Gucci Mane – “Down” (Syco Music/Epic Records) (Sean Bankhead)
BEST EDITING
Future – “Mask Off” (Epic Records/Freebandz/A1) (Vinnie Hobbs of VHPost)
Young Thug – “Wyclef Jean” (300 Entertainment/Atlantic Records) (Ryan Staake & Eric Degliomini)
Lorde – “Green Light” (Republic Records) (Nate Gross of Exile Edit)
The Chainsmokers ft. Halsey – “Closer” (Disruptor Records/Columbia Records) (Jennifer Kennedy)
The Weeknd – “Reminder” (XO/Republic Records) (Red Barbaza)
Republicans pull off narrow victory to move health reform forward
The Senate voted 51-50 on Tuesday to move forward with a debate on health care reform, even though it was not clear what measure the body will be considering. Vice President Mike Pence cast the tie-breaking vote.
Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska were the only two Republicans who joined Democrats in voting no on the motion to proceed.
Before the voting began, protesters in the Senate's public gallery chanted "Kill the bill" and "Shame! Shame!"
Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., who was diagnosed with brain cancer last week, returned to the Senate floor to vote in favor of moving the debate forward. His appearance was met with a standing ovation.
"I voted for the motion to proceed to allow debate to continue and amendments be offered," McCain said. "I will not vote for this bill as it is today. It's a shell of a bill right now. We all know that."
The Senate GOP has been dealt several setbacks, including not having enough votes for its original plan to repeal and replace aspects of Obamacare or for a straight repeal, but President Trump has pushed for Republican lawmakers to make progress on one of his legislative priorities.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said the debate on health care in the chamber will be "an open amendment process."
"This is just the beginning. We're not out here to spike the football. This is the long way," McConnell said after the vote. "But we'll finish at the end of the week, hopefully with a measure that can either go to the House and be taken up or go to conference" — in which differences between the chambers' bills are resolved. "And we're pleased to have been able to take the first step, and that's the direction for today."
In a statement released today, Trump said he applauded senators for "taking a giant step to end the Obamacare nightmare."
"As this vote shows, inaction is not an option, and now the legislative process can move forward as intended to produce a bill that lowers costs and increases options for all Americans," the statement said. "The Senate must now pass a bill and get it to my desk so we can finally end the Obamacare disaster once and for all."
Trump thanked McCain on Twitter for returning to D.C. "for such a vital vote."