Egypt is building a wall near its border with the Gaza Strip
Egypt is building a wall and is leveling land near its border with the Gaza Strip ahead of a planned Israeli offensive targeting the border city of Rafah, satellite images analyzed Friday by The Associated Press show.
Egypt, which has not publicly acknowledged the construction, repeatedly has warned Israel not to forcibly expel the more than 1 million displaced Palestinians now in Rafah into its territory while Israeli troops battle the militant group Hamas for a fifth month.
Israel's defense minister said Friday that Israel has “no intention” of pushing Palestinian civilians across the border into Egypt. However, the preparations on the Egyptian side of the border in the Sinai Peninsula suggested that Cairo is preparing for such a mass ejection, a scenario that could threaten a 1979 peace deal with Israel that's been a linchpin for regional security.
The satellite images, taken Thursday by Maxar Technologies, show ongoing construction on the wall, which sits along the Sheikh Zuweid-Rafah Road some 3.5 kilometers (2 miles) west of the border with Gaza. The images show cranes, trucks and what appear to be precast concrete barriers being set up along the road.
Those satellite images correspond to features seen in a video released by the London-based Sinai Foundation for Human Rights on Feb. 12. The video shows a crane lifting concrete walls into place along the road.
The construction “is intended to create a high-security gated and isolated area near the borders with the Gaza Strip, in preparation for the reception of Palestinian refugees in the case of (a) mass exodus,” the foundation said.
Haiti launches investigation into the deaths of 16 individuals
Authorities in Haiti are launching an investigation into the deaths of 16 individuals whose bodies were discovered at a residence in the mountain town of Sequin, located in the southern part of the country.
The unsettling discovery came just a day after the family had attended a funeral.
Jude Pierre Michel Lafontant, the top official in Haiti’s South East Department, confirmed that law enforcement officials and health authorities had been deployed to the area to initiate a thorough investigation into the incident.
Authorities are diligently working to ascertain the cause of death and gather crucial evidence that may shed light on the tragic events that unfolded.
Despite the prevailing atmosphere of gang violence that has gripped Haiti, particularly following the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in July 2021, authorities have not yet connected these deaths to the rampant gang activity plaguing the nation.
Amazon founder Jeff Bezos completes $8.5bn share sale plan
Multi-billionaire Jeff Bezos has sold another 14 million Amazon shares, worth around $2.4bn (£1.9bn).
The latest sale brings the total number of shares he has sold in the firm over the last nine trading days to about 50 million, with a value of around $8.5bn.
The tech giant had previously said Mr Bezos would sell up to 50 million shares by the end of January 2025.
His sales of Amazon stock come after they have risen by more than 76% in the past year.
Mr Bezos, who is the firm's founder and executive chair, had previously last sold Amazon shares in 2021.
He has also given away shares in Amazon as part of his philanthropy, most recently in 2022.
As Mr Bezos moved to Miami in Florida from Seattle in Washington last year, he will save almost $600m in tax on the $8.5bn worth of stock he has sold.
Gains above $250,000 from the sale of shares or other long-term investments are taxed at 7% in Washington state. Florida does not have state taxes on incomes or capital gains.
However, he will still be liable to federal taxes as a result of selling the shares.
When Mr Bezos announced his move to Florida it prompted speculation over whether it was because of a potential tax bill he would have faced in Washington after the state approved a new tax on large stock sales.
Mr Bezos said in November that his parents had recently moved back to Miami where he spent some of his childhood and that he wanted to be close to them and to his Blue Origin space project, which was "increasingly shifting to Cape Canaveral".
"Lauren and I love Miami," he wrote on Instagram, referring to his fiancée Lauren Sánchez.
"For all that, I'm planning to return to Miami, leaving the Pacific Northwest," he added.
Mr Bezos remains Amazon's biggest shareholder and is one of the richest people in the world, with an estimated fortune of more than $190bn.
Ministry of Health partners with United Kingdom to assess health needs
The Ministry of Health and Human Services has partnered with a team from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) UK Overseas Territories (UKOTs) Public Health Programme to conduct a health needs assessment for communities in informal settlements throughout the TCI.
This project was funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and has taken place through a series of consultations and meetings in order to assess health needs and propose recommendations to address gaps in access to health care.
A steering committee supported the preliminary discussions on developing the scope and direction for the assessment and included representation from the TCI in the persons of, Dr Dawn O’Sullivan, Dr Camelia Clarke (Director, Health Promotion and Advocacy Unit), Aldora Robinson (Former Director, Health Promotion and Advocacy Unit) and Dr Nadia Astwood (Chief Medical Officer).
This project culminated in an in-country visit.
The visit, which began on January 21st, 2024, and concluded this week, saw several in-person consultations with key stakeholders across sectors, as well as community focus groups conducted in Providenciales and Grand Turk.
Following the visit, the team paid a courtesy call to the Minister of Health and Human Services, Hon. Shaun D Malcolm, and the Executive Team from the Ministry of Health and Human Services, to provide a high-level debrief and presentation of the preliminary findings of the assessment.
Following further analysis of the findings of the visit, a final report will be submitted to the Ministry of Health which will provide some conclusions as well as evidence-based recommendations for consideration by the Government.
Xbox games coming to Nintendo Switch and PS5 named
Four games that were formerly exclusive to Microsoft will soon be available on rival consoles.
Hi-Fi Rush and pirate game Sea of Thieves are coming to Sony's PS5 only.
Meanwhile, the narrative adventure game Pentiment and the co-op game Grounded will be on PS5 as well as Nintendo Switch.
It follows Microsoft's announcement in February that four Xbox exclusives would soon appear on rival platforms, in what some considered a major change of direction for the industry,
Until now, it had not been known what those titles were.
Two of the games were revealed on Wednesday in a Nintendo Direct, an online showcase for the firm before Microsoft confirmed the full list in a blog post.
"These multiplayer titles available will bring more people together and continue to grow their communities of players," said the head of Xbox game studios Matt Booty.
Neil Watton, editor of TheXboxHub, said fans would not be too surprised by the names of the games that were chosen to appear on other consoles, after several weeks of rumors.
"It's those jumping into Grounded and Sea of Thieves who will ultimately be rewarded, with full cross-play across platforms building the player base immediately on launch in April," he told the BBC.
"When you consider the depth of the cooperative play found in those titles, the moves make complete and utter sense."
Several other upcoming titles for the Nintendo Switch were also revealed during Nintendo's event, including a new Endless Ocean game, Monster Hunter Stories, and a remake of the 2010 Disney hit Epic Mickey.
Viewers were also surprised by the developers of the 2017 hit, Sonic Mania, unexpectedly announcing their latest game.
Penny's Big Breakaway, made by Evening Star, is a platform game with a distinctively 1990s look.
"I think the 3D platformer genre at the moment is actually in a bit of a renaissance", the developer's director Christian Whitehead told the BBC.
"There's a lot to choose from, even just on Steam and Nintendo Switch", he added.
Source-BBC
TCIFA’s partners with Carlisle Supplies
On Tuesday, the Turks & Caicos Islands Football Association, or TCIFA informed RTC Sports about a new partnership with Carlisle Supplies.
As a proud community member, Carlisle Supplies recognizes the importance of investing in initiatives that contribute to the growth and well-being of the Turks and Caicos Islands.
The TCIFA grassroots football development program plays a pivotal role in nurturing young talent, fostering sportsmanship, and instilling valuable life skills in the youth of Turks and Caicos. Carlisle Supplies is thrilled to be associated with the grassroots program of Providenciales and believes in the power of sports to bring communities together.
"We are incredibly proud to support the TCIFA grassroots football development program," said Pierre Magnier, Managing Director of Carlisle Supplies. "As a dedicated member of the community, we understand the significance of empowering the younger generation through sports. The TCIFA is an integral part of the local community, and we are honored to contribute to its mission of promoting football at the grassroots level."
This collaboration underscores our mutual commitment to fostering youth sports, developing talented young athletes, and promoting healthy lifestyles among youth in our community. By supporting the TCIFA grassroots football development program, Carlisle Supplies aims to inspire the next generation of athletes and contribute to the overall well-being of the Turks and Caicos community.
TCIFA General Secretary Oliver Smith also shared his thoughts, “I want to express my gratitude for the sponsorship provided by Carlisle Supplies. This sponsorship helps our association purchase player kits and equipment for developing players and sends a message to the players that the community believes in them and their talents and is willing to invest in them. Therefore, I thank Carlisle Supplies for their generous support and belief in our youth.”
Carlisle Supplies is a Providenciales-based distribution company of electrical, plumbing, lighting, appliance, and water purification products, with a strong focus on community engagement, Carlisle Supplies actively participates in initiatives that contribute to the well-being and development of the Turks & Caicos youth.
"Destiny awaits": Kevin Hart, Cate Blanchett and Jamie Lee Curtis rock out in new Borderlands trailer
On Wednesday, Lionsgate dropped the snarky, shoot-'em-up trailer to Borderlands, the action-comedy movie based on the bestselling video game franchise.
For the big-screen bow, Kevin Hart and Oscar winners Cate Blanchett and Jamie Lee Curtis team up, respectively, as the franchise's mercenary Roland, Lilith the Siren and archeologist Dr. Patricia Tannis.
Joining their party are Ariana Greenblatt — a veteran of Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame, Barbie and Ahsoka — as demolitions expert Tiny Tina. Creed II heavy Florian Munteanu plays her mysterious masked protector, Kreig, and Jack Black voices the game's wise-cracking robot companion Claptrap.
Set to Electric Light Orchestra's "Do Ya," the trailer shows the hunt for a mysterious vault located on the wasteland Pandora.
Blanchett's character calls it "the weirdest, most dangerous dumpster fire of a world in the universe." But for all of its monsters, ravaging bands of marauders and gulleys apparently filled with urine, Pandora's vault hides real treasure: a jackpot of alien tech and other assorted priceless loot.
The problem is, pretty much everybody in the universe is willing to kill to get their hands on it.
"Well, destiny awaits," Hart's Roland sighs.
Horror director Eli Roth directs Borderlands, which also features Édgar Ramírez as the heavy.
The Borderlands games have sold more than 66 million units worldwide, according to Gearbox Software, which co-produced the movie. The sneak peek says the film is "coming soon" to theaters.
Source-ABC
Russia's Putin gifts luxury car to North Korea's Kim
Russian President Vladimir Putin has given North Korean leader Kim Jong Un a luxury Russian-made car.
Pyongyang's state media said the limousine was delivered to Mr Kim's top aides on Sunday.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov later confirmed the gift, saying it was an Aurus, a full-sized luxury sedan of the type used by Mr Putin himself.
The two internationally isolated countries have forged close relations since Russia invaded Ukraine.
North Korea is thought to be supplying Russia with artillery, rockets, and ballistic missiles for the war, despite international sanctions on both countries. Both sides deny breaching sanctions.
Mr Putin welcomed Mr Kim to the Vostochny Cosmodrome in the Russian Far East last September, in what was his first trip abroad in four years.
During that visit, the North Korean leader inspected Mr Putin's own Aurus Senat limousine and was invited to get in the back seat. They also swapped guns as gifts.
Kim Jong-un is believed to be a car enthusiast and to have a collection of luxury foreign vehicles.
Kim's sister Yo Jong said the "gift serves as a clear demonstration of the special personal relations between the top leaders" of the two countries, in remarks quoted by North Korean state news agency KCNA.
But South Korea's Foreign Ministry said the gift breached UN Security Council sanctions against North Korea, which prohibit supplies of certain categories of vehicles including luxury cars.
Source-BBC
Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police provides updates
The Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force responded to reports of a motor vehicle incident along the Millennium Highway.
At 8:20 am on Monday, February 19th, the Police Control Room received a call that two persons were struck by a white vehicle near Rubis Gas Station.
Medical personnel and officers arrived at the scene and rendered assistance.
The victims were rushed to the Cheshire Hall Medical Centre and treated for several injuries sustained from the incident.
The RTCIPF can confirm the victims are a 27-year-old female and a 38-year-old male.
The Traffic Enforcement Unit is continuing investigations into the circumstances.
Detectives of the Serious Crime Unit are actively investigating three woundings and two robbery incidents that occurred within hours in Providenciales.
At 4:54 pm Sunday, February 18th, officers responded to a report of a 28-year-old male seeking medical attention at the Cheshire Hall Medical Center.
Upon arrival, officers spoke with the victim, who indicated that someone attacked him, resulting in several injuries. The incident occurred in Dock Yard.
At 8.20 pm, officers received information and went to the Cheshire Hall Medical Center. Whilst there, officers interviewed someone who indicated that at 7.20 pm, a group of armed men wielding weapons entered the yard and attacked a 26-year-old male. The suspects fled the scene while the victim was rushed for medical treatment. This incident occurred in Dock Yard.
Additionally, officers are seeking the public's assistance for information following a call to the Police Control Room at 10:03 pm. A male who identified himself reported that someone attacked him with a machete while in Kew Town. Officers and medical personnel were dispatched to the given location. A comprehensive search was conducted, but the victim was not found.
The Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force are asking persons to be cautious of their surroundings when entering their vehicles.
This follows a report made on February 15 by a male victim who was robbed of his vehicle. Based on reports, at 9:15 pm, a 39-year-old male and colleagues were leaving the TCI Community College, West Campus, Providenciales, when a group of men surrounded his vehicle.
The male, noticing that one of the men had stooped at the rear of the vehicle, approached to investigate and was struck on the head. The men escaped in the victim's car.
The victim was transported to the Cheshire Medical Center by officers.
In a separate incident, at 9:40 pm on (February 18th), the Police Control Room received a report of a robbery along Butterfield Drive, Kew Town.
Initial investigations revealed that the 25-year-old female victim was working at a business establishment when an armed male entered, announced a hold-up, and proceeded to rob the victim. The suspect fled the scene.
The RTCIPF is seeking persons who may have any information on crimes or illegal activity, contact 911, the Traffic Enforcement Unit at 232-9645, the nearest police station, the Serious Crime Unit at 649-231-1842, contact CrimeStoppers at 1-800-8477, or you can download the CrimeStoppers P3 app.
Bahamas moves into space tourism
The Bahamas government Tuesday said it had successfully negotiated and executed a Letter of Agreement (LOA) with Space Exploration Technologies Corporation ( SpaceX) “marking a revolutionary leap for The Bahamas into the realm of space tourism”.
“The Bahamas is poised to embrace its newfound role in the global space industry, marking a pivotal moment in the nation’s history. We look forward to a future where The Bahamas stands proudly as a trailblazer in space tourism and technology in line with our Blueprint for change and our Innovate242 initiative,” said Tourism, Investments and Aviation Minister, Chester Cooper.
In a statement, the Ministry of Tourism, Investments, and Aviation (MOTIA) said that the LOA establishes a strategic collaboration that positions the country as a global destination for witnessing booster landings.
SpaceX, a pioneer in space exploration, is currently finalizing mission designs where one of the company’s autonomous drone ships will serve as a Falcon 9 landing location east of The Exumas, offering a spectacle that will be visible only in The Bahamas.
“This unique opportunity sets the stage for tourists to witness awe-inspiring space events from cruise ships, resorts, and various tourist hotspots, solidifying The Bahamas’ position as a key player in the emerging space tourism industry,” the MOTIA said.
It said that the exclusive visibility of rocket landings on an autonomous drone ship from various Bahamian islands distinguishes this destination as the only one of its kind worldwide.
”The respective Bahamian landings covered in the LOA will not only support SpaceX’s Starlink mission but also contribute to saving lives, enhancing first responders’ capabilities, and ensuring connectivity in times of disasters.”
Cooper said that the LOA with SpaceX “marks a new era for The Bahamas.
“We are honored to work with SpaceX to enable their Falcon 9 rockets to safely land on an autonomous droneship within Bahamian waters, helping to continue their rocket reusability efforts,” said Cooper, who is also the Deputy Prime Minister.
“Simultaneously, through Starlink’s high-speed internet from space, this agreement opens doors to unprecedented opportunities for our citizens, fostering long-term advantages for education, emergency response, and innovation.
“The Bahamian government aims to utilize this partnership for economic growth, job creation, and enhanced educational opportunities,” Cooper added.
MOTIA said that in tandem with the LOA, SpaceX has committed to supporting the creation of a space installation or exhibit showcasing recognizable hardware and a SpaceX spacesuit. It said this exhibit, the only one outside the United States, is expected to draw significant attention and attendance from both Bahamian citizens and international tourists.
MOTIA said that in addition to potential revenue growth, The Bahamas has secured Starlink internet connectivity at multiple locations across the Family Islands. It said these terminals, specifically designated for schools lacking sufficient internet capacity, will also bolster the capabilities and operations of first responders in the area.
”SpaceX’s commitment to educational outreach through STEM and space-focused presentations every quarter will leave a lasting impact on the growth of STEM education in The Bahamas, providing invaluable opportunities for students and teachers.”
Former NASA rocket scientist, and STEMBoard Founder and chief executive officer, Aisha Bowe, is credited with playing a significant role in the new initiative.
“In 2024, she is set to become an astronaut, marking her as the first Bahamian in space. Her inspiring journey shared globally through interviews, presentations, and a documentary, aligns with the Bahamas’ vision for innovation and education.
“In collaboration with SpaceX over the past fifteen months, Bowe’s expertise and STEMBoard’s contributions were integral in outlining procedures for space operations in Bahamian territory,” MOTIA added.