Istanbul has ordered 15 people detained on suspicion of spying for Israel
A court in Istanbul has ordered 15 of 34 people detained on suspicion of spying for Israel to be held in prison awaiting trial.
The suspects were arrested last week Tuesday for allegedly planning to carry out activities that included “reconnaissance” and “pursuing, assaulting and kidnapping” foreign nationals living in Turkey.
Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc said in a social media post that 26 suspects were referred to the court on a charge of committing “political or military espionage” on behalf of Israeli intelligence. Eleven were released under judicial control conditions and eight were awaiting deportation.
Israel’s foreign intelligence agency Mossad is said to have recruited Palestinians and Syrian nationals inside Turkey as part of the operation against foreigners living in Turkey, state-run Anadolu news agency reported.
The agency cited a prosecution document as saying the operation targeted “Palestinian nationals and their families … within the scope of the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict.”
One suspect allegedly collected information about Palestinian patients recently transferred to Turkey for health care. Turkey has accepted dozens of Palestinian patients from Gaza since the start of the Israel-Hamas conflict.
The suspects were detained in raids on 57 addresses in Istanbul and seven other provinces.
Turkey and Israel had normalized ties in 2022 by reappointing ambassadors following years of tensions. But those ties quickly deteriorated after the Israel-Hamas war, with Ankara becoming one of the strongest critics of Israel’s military actions in Gaza.
Israel initially withdrew its diplomats from Turkey over security concerns and later announced it was recalling its diplomats for political reasons, citing “increasingly harsh statements” from Turkish officials. Turkey also pulled its ambassador from Israel.
Source-VOA
Apple pays out claims it deliberately slowed down iPhones
Apple has begun making payments in a long-running class action lawsuit over claims it deliberately slowed down certain iPhones in the US.
Complainants will receive a cut of a $500m (£394m) settlement which works out to around $92 (£72) per claim.
Apple agreed to settle the lawsuit in 2020, stating at the time it denied any wrongdoing but was concerned with the cost of continuing litigation.
A similar case underway in the UK is seeking £1.6bn in compensation.
The US case dates back to December 2017, when Apple confirmed a long-held suspicion among phone owners by admitting it had deliberately slowed down some iPhones as they got older.
It said that as batteries aged, their performance decreased, and so the "slowdown" lengthened the phones' lifespan.
However it was accused of throttling the performance of certain iPhones without telling its customers, and the uproar resulted in Apple offering a cut-price battery replacement to fix the problem.
It led to the US legal action. At the time of the settlement, it was estimated that each person might receive as little as $25 each but the actual pay-out appears to be almost four times that sum.
In the UK, Apple lost a bid to block a similar mass action lawsuit last November.
The case, first brought by Justin Gutmann in June 2022, represents an estimated 24 million iPhone users.
Apple has previously called the lawsuit "baseless" and said, "we have never - and would never - do anything to intentionally shorten the life of any Apple product, or degrade the user experience to drive customer upgrades".
Mr Gutmann told the BBC he was pleased to hear about payments being made in the US, but warned it does not have any bearing on the UK case.
"It doesn't advance our position here, they haven't admitted anything - they've settled," he said.
"It's a moral victory but not much use to me. I've got to plow on and pursue the case in the UK jurisdiction."
He said Apple was "fighting tooth and nail" against the UK class action, which will next appear at the Court of Appeal who will consider a call from the firm to halt the case.
He said it was difficult to put a timeline on what would come next but hopes it will go to trial in late 2024 or early 2025.
New appointments at Experience Turks and Caicos.
Experience Turks and Caicos welcomes two more locals to its staff complement... Trina Adams as Chief Marketing Officer effective January 2nd, and Courtney Robinson as Strategic Development Manager effective January 3rd, 2024.
Adams comes to Experience Turks and Caicos with over 15 years of experience in marketing and management.
She recently held the role of Acting Chief Executive Officer of Invest Turks and Caicos Agency and held the position of Vice President, Marketing and Promotions at the agency for seven years.
Before that, she held the position of Head of Marketing for Digicel and Digicel Play.
Adams holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Nova Southeastern University in the United States and a Bachelor of Commerce Degree in Entrepreneurial Management from Royal Roads University in Canada.
In her new position as Chief Marketing Officer, Adams will be responsible for leading the Experience Turks and Caicos’ marketing department to develop and implement marketing strategies to promote the Turks and Caicos Islands as a premiere luxury/lifestyle multi-island tourism destination.
And then Courtney Robinson, the new Strategic Development Manager, comes with a wealth of knowledge and skills having worked previously as a Marketing Executive for the United Kingdom and the European Union for the former Turks and Caicos Tourist Board and holds a Master of Science (MSc) in Media and Communications Regulations and Policy from the London School of Economics and Political Science and a Bachelor of Arts (BA) Degree in Media Studies and Public Relations from the University of Westminster, London.
In his new role with Experience Turks and Caicos, Robinson is responsible for developing a supporting service for all tourism businesses, identifying their needs and carrying out specific technical assistance and training activities that will help tourism businesses be more competitive and enhance the visitor experience.
Robinson will manage the Strategic Development Unit to ensure all stakeholders are compliant with regulations, customer service training and technical training for e-commerce/online transactions for their businesses and work with the Product Development Unit to identify immersion experiences for tours in all Sister Islands to develop day tours and to increase spend within the Turks and Caicos Islands to achieve inclusive economic growth.
Congratulations Trina and Courtney we wish you all the best in your new roles!
Man found unresponsive in Car on Airport Road
On Friday, January 5th, the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force confirmed to RTC News that a male was found unresponsive in a parked vehicle along Airport Road, Providenciales.
According to preliminary police reports, around 11.18 am, a call was placed to the Police Control Room alerting officers that a grey Suzuki Swift was parked along Airport Road, with a male inside, who appeared unresponsive.
Police Officers and a medical team were dispatched to the given location. Upon arriving at the scene and examining the male, it was confirmed that he had passed.
Investigators are awaiting the results of an autopsy report to classify this cause of death.
Golden Globes 2024 winners
The 81st Golden Globe Awards aired on Sunday night, with Jo Koy hosting from the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California.
Here's a list of the winners:
Best Motion Picture – Drama
Oppenheimer
Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy
Poor Things
Best Motion Picture – Animated
The Boy and the Heron
Cinematic and Box Office Achievement
Barbie
Best Motion Picture – Non-English Language
Anatomy of a Fall
Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama
Cillian Murphy, Oppenheimer
Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama
Lily Gladstone, Killers of the Flower Moon
Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy
Emma Stone, Poor Things
Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy
Paul Giamatti, The Holdovers
Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role in Any Motion Picture
Robert Downey Jr., Oppenheimer
Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role in Any Motion Picture
Da’Vine Joy Randolph, The Holdovers
Best Director — Motion Picture
Christopher Nolan, Oppenheimer
Best Screenplay – Motion Picture
Justine Triet, Arthur Harari, Anatomy of a Fall
Best Original Song – Motion Picture
“What Was I Made For?” Barbie, Music and lyrics by Billie Eilish, FINNEAS
Best Original Score – Motion Picture
Ludwig Göransson, Oppenheimer
Best Television Series – Drama
Succession
Best Television Series – Musical or Comedy
The Bear
Best Television Limited Series, Anthology Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
Beef
Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Series – Drama
Sarah Snook, Succession
Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Series – Drama
Kieran Culkin, Succession
Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy
Ayo Edebiri, The Bear
Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy
Jeremy Allen White, The Bear
Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Limited Series, Anthology Series or a Motion Picture Made for Television
Ali Wong, Beef
Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Limited Series, Anthology Series or a Motion Picture Made for Television
Steven Yeun, Beef
Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role on Television
Elizabeth Debicki, The Crown
Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role on Television
Matthew Macfadyen, Succession
Best Performance in Stand-Up Comedy on Television
Ricky Gervais, Ricky Gervais: Armageddon
Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce graced the pages of Essence magazine’s January/February 2024 issue
Jamaica’s renowned sprinter Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, winner of five World Championships 100m gold medals, has proudly graced the pages of Essence magazine’s January/February 2024 issue.
Sharing the exciting news with her impressive following of over 932,000 on Instagram, Fraser-Pryce highlighted that the article in this prominent American lifestyle publication delves into both her athletic journey and her life beyond the track.
In her Instagram post on Thursday, Fraser-Pryce expressed her gratitude for being featured in the magazine’s edition celebrating Black Women in Sports, acknowledging Malaika Jabali, Senior News and Politics Editor, for conducting a thoughtful interview.
This isn’t Fraser-Pryce’s first appearance in Essence magazine. She was previously featured when she secured a partnership with the luxury watch brand Richard Mille in November of last year.
Silver Airlines plane collides with parked plane
In a bizarre incident at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, a Silver Airlines plane inadvertently collided with a parked aircraft from the same airline on Friday morning.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the incident occurred shortly before 8 am, while the Silver Airways plane was being towed at FLL.
The incident occurred in an area not under air traffic control, the FAA reported.
A spokesperson from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport confirmed that neither of the planes had any occupants at the time of the collision.
Officials also said the incident had no impact on airport operations.
Guyana’s government invests in the water sector
Guyana’s government investment in the water sector has yielded remarkable results, extending access to potable water to over 35,000 citizens across the nation in the past three years.
During a recent press conference, the Minister within the Ministry of Housing and Water, Susan Rodrigues, presented a comprehensive overview of the progress made within the water sector.
Rodrigues shared that national access to potable water has reached an impressive 97.3 per cent, reflecting the strides made over the last three years in enhancing water availability.
She added that last year, significant efforts were made to provide first-time access to potable water for more than 435 households along the coast, spanning Regions Two to Seven.
The hinterland regions have also seen notable improvements, with the proportion of the population having access to potable water supply rising from 75 per cent at the end of 2022 to 82 per cent at the end of 2023.
This was achieved through the construction of over 60 new wells.
Future plans to further enhance water access, include the drilling of 14 new water distribution systems along the coastland and the upgrading and construction of new water treatment plants.
These efforts aim to ensure at least 90 per cent have access to treated water by the end of 2025.
The ministry has invested billions of dollars in the past three years to guarantee access to potable and treated water for every household in Guyana.
Former Grenadian Prime Minister assumes the role of acting Governor-General
In a historic development, former Grenadian Prime Minister Tillman Thomas has assumed the role of acting governor-general.
This marks a significant milestone, as he becomes the first former head of government to hold the position, whether in a permanent or acting capacity.
At 76 years of age, Tillman Thomas brings a wealth of experience to his new role.
He previously served as the Prime Minister of Grenada from 2008 to 2013, earning recognition for his contributions during his tenure.
Thomas will serve as the acting governor-general until Cécile La Grenade returns to the country.
The Governor General’s Office has confirmed that La Grenade has left Grenada to attend to personal business.
3-DAY PUBLIC WEATHER FORECAST
GENERAL SITUATION: A SURFACE RIDGE EXTENDS ACROSS THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS WHILE A FRONTAL BOUNDARY MOVES SOUTHEASTWARD TOWARDS THE ISLANDS.
ALL AREAS
WEATHER: PARTLY SUNNY TODAY BECOMING MOSTLY FAIR TONIGHT.
ADVISORY: A SMALL CRAFT CAUTION IS IN EFFECT
WINDS: NORTHEAST TO EAST AT 10 TO 20 KNOTS
SEAS: 2 TO 4 FEET NEARSHORE, BUILDING UP TO 7 FEET OVER THE OCEAN
DAYTIME HIGH TEMPERATURE 81°F
OVERNIGHT LOW TEMPERATURE 75°F
SUNSET: 05:21 PM
NEXT LOW TIDE: 12:10 PM (1.0 FT) 11:49 PM (0.7 FT)
NEXT HIGH TIDE: 05:50 PM (2.0 FT)
EXTENDED FORECAST FOR THE NEXT TWO DAYS: THE FRONTAL BOUNDARY WILL MOVE NEAR THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS AS IT CONTINUES TO MOVE EASTWARD AND GRADUALLY DISSIPATE TONIGHT. SOUTHEAST WINDS WILL INCREASE TO FRESH TO STRONG FORCE TONIGHT. SMALL CRAFT OPERATORS ARE ADVISED TO REMAIN IN PORT AND BEACHGOERS ARE TO REFRAIN FROM SWIMMING DUE TO HAZARDOUS BEACHING CONDITIONS ON TUESDAY. WEATHER AND BEACHING CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED TO GRADUALLY IMPROVE ON WEDNESDAY.
FORECAST FOR TUESDAY
WEATHER: PARTLY CLOUDY AND WINDY WITH SLIGHT CHANCE OF WIDELY SCATTERED SHOWERS. CHANCE OF RAIN IS 20%. MOSTLY FAIR AND WINDY AT NIGHT.
ADVISORY: SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY WILL BE IN EFFECT DUE TO HIGH SWELLS
WINDS: EAST TO SOUTHEAST AT 15 TO 25 KNOTS
SEAS: 6 TO 9 FEET IN NORTHEASTERLY TO EASTERLY SWELL
SUNRISE: 06:29 AM
SUNSET: 05:22 PM
HIGH TIDE: 06:27 AM (3.0 FT) 06:36 PM (2.3 FT)
LOW TIDE: 12:58 PM (1.0 FT)
FORECAST FOR WEDNESDAY
WEATHER: PARTLY CLOUDY AND A BIT BREEZY.
ADVISORY: SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY REMAIN IN EFFECT.
WINDS: SOUTHEASTERLY AT 10 TO 15 KNOTS, BECOMING EASTERLY AT NIGHT.
SEAS: 6 TO 8 FEET IN NORTHEASTERLY SWELL
SUNRISE: 06:29 AM
SUNSET: 05:22 PM
LOW TIDE: 12:39 AM (0.7 FT) 01:45 PM (0.7 FT)
HIGH TIDE: 07:15 AM (3.0 FT) 07:22 PM (2.3 FT)
FORECASTER: H. HAMILTON