Will Tesla's cybertruck recover?
The last time Tesla boss Elon Musk took the stage to promote the electric car company's planned "cybertruck", its window ended up being smashed.
It was a shattering debut for the vehicle, meant to stake Tesla's claim to the lucrative US truck market.
Four years later, as the company started delivering the futuristic product to buyers, that problem was fixed.
But questions linger over whether the truck's unusual design will help or hurt its chances of success.
Mr. Musk has said the truck - which is angular and made of rocket-like, bullet-proof steel materials - might be the company's "best product ever".
But speaking to Wall Street analysts last month he also said he wanted to "temper expectations", warning there would be "enormous challenges" before the company was producing the vehicle in big numbers and turning a profit.
"It is going to require immense work," he said. "It's not a demand issue, but we have to make it, and we need to make it at a price that people can afford - insanely difficult things."
The "bells and whistles" of the truck, which starts at a higher-than-promised list price of roughly $61,000 (£48,320), have complicated manufacturing and added to cost, he added later.
"We dug our own grave with the cybertruck," Mr Musk said.
Trucks are among the most popular vehicles sold in the US - with traditional sedans so out of favor that some carmakers have stopped making them for the country.
But Tesla's offer is entering the market at a difficult moment - some two years behind schedule - as the highest interest rates in decades dampen buyers' ability to make new purchases.
In recent months, rivals such as General Motors and Ford have said they will ramp up production of electric vehicles more slowly than initially planned, citing the weakness in the market.
Mr Musk has said the company has more than one million reservations for the cybertruck.
But it is unclear how many will translate into sales.
Since the cybertruck's inauspicious 2019 launch event, rival companies have rolled out their electric truck offerings, while Mr Musk's controversial social media presence has, according to critics, tarnished the car company's brand.
Questions have already been raised about whether the truck will be as functional as some of the other pickups available.
"It's not going to have the market to itself," said Stephanie Brinley, an associate director at S&P Global Mobility.
"For some, the draw of Tesla, the draw of a futuristic product will be more meaningful than some of the functional issues," she added. "But for the majority of pickup truck buyers, functionality is what's going to win the day."
At an event in Austin, Texas to celebrate the first deliveries, the company put the truck's windows to another shatter test - this time without incident - and promoted its hauling power and speed.
"It's an incredibly useful truck - it's not just some grandstanding showpiece, like me," Mr Musk joked. He added: "This is going to change the look of the roads."
Interested buyers face a wait. Only about 10 trucks were handed off to buyers on Thursday,
Mr Musk said last month that it would take until 2025 for the company to be producing the truck at a rate of 250,000 a year.
Ms Brinley said that provides time to resolve other issues that have clouded electric vehicle sales - like the need to expand charging infrastructure - and for Tesla to win people over to the truck's "different" look.
"There's time to grow interest in the product," she said, adding: "Love it or hate it, it's better than being boring."
Sean Tucker, senior editor at the auto research publication Kelley Blue Book, said that for Tesla, the launch of the truck is less about sales than about maintaining buzz around the brand, which has seen its dominance of the electric vehicle market shrink.
On a recent visit to a Tesla showroom, he noted that he encountered people queuing for the chance to take a photo with the distinctive-looking truck.
"It's always going to be a relatively rare sight and what in the industry they call a 'halo car' that gets people into the dealership," he said. "It's a hype exercise - it's just a question of, is it too expensive a hype exercise."
Source-BBC
Meta takes down China-based network of thousands of fake accounts
Meta says it recently removed a network of thousands of fake and misleading accounts based in China.
The users posed as Americans and sought to spread polarising content about US politics and US-China relations.
Among the topics the network posted about were abortion, culture war issues, and aid to Ukraine.
Meta did not link the profiles to Beijing officials, but it has seen an increase in such networks based in China ahead of the 2024 US elections.
China is now the third-biggest geographical source of such networks, the company said, behind Russia and Iran.
The recent takedowns were outlined in a quarterly threat report released on Thursday by the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp.
The China-based network included more than 4,700 accounts and used profile pictures and names copied from other users around the world.
The accounts shared and liked each other's posts, and some of the content appeared to be taken directly from X, formerly Twitter.
In some cases the accounts copied and pasted verbatim posts from US politicians - both Republicans and Democrats - including former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, Reps Matt Gaetz and Jim Jordan, and others.
The network displayed no ideological consistency.
In examples released by Meta, an account in the China-based network reposted the words contained in a tweet earlier this year by Democrat Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia. She criticized Texas's abortion laws and wrote: "Let's remember - abortion is healthcare." But another account in the network copied and pasted a tweet from Republican Representative Ronny Jackson, who wrote: "Taxpayer dollars should NEVER fund travel for abortions."
Meta's report stated: "It's unclear whether this approach was designed to amplify partisan tensions, build audiences among these politicians' supporters, or to make fake accounts sharing authentic content appear more genuine."
The company's moderation rules forbid what Meta calls "coordinated inauthentic behavior" - posts by groups of accounts that work together and use false identities to mislead other users.
Often the content shared by such networks is not false and references accurate news stories from major media outlets. But instead of being used for legitimate comment or debate, the posts are meant to manipulate public opinion, push division, and make particular viewpoints seem more popular than they are.
Meta said the large Chinese network was stopped before it took off among real users.
Ben Nimmo, who leads investigations into inauthentic behavior on the company's platforms, said such networks "still struggle to build audiences, but they're a warning".
"Foreign threat actors are attempting to reach people across the internet ahead of next year's elections, and we need to remain alert."
The company said it also discovered two smaller networks, one based in China and focusing on India and Tibet, and one based in Russia which posted primarily in English about the invasion of Ukraine and promoted Telegram channels.
Russian networks, which prompted the company to focus on inauthentic campaigns following the 2016 election, have increasingly focused on the war in Ukraine and have attempted to undermine international support for Kyiv, the report said.
Meta also noted that the US government stopped sharing information about foreign influence networks with the company in July, after a federal ruling as part of a legal case over the First Amendment that is now under consideration by the Supreme Court.
The case is part of a larger debate about over whether the US government works with tech companies to unduly restrict the free speech of social media users.
Source-BBC
Bahamian Government and opposition differ on latest IMF report
The Bahamas government has described as a “massive revision” a statement by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) that the country’s economy is projected to grow by 2.3 percent over its previous forecast.
“Previously they were estimating 1.8 per cent. Now they are estimating that the economy will grow in 2024 by 2.3 percent. That’s an increase of 0.5 percent. To go from 1.8 to 2.3 per cent they are raising their projected growth rate by 28 per cent. That’s a massive revision,” said Economic Affairs Minister, Michael Halkitis.
Earlier this week, the Washington-based financial institution issued a statement following a staff delegation visit, noting that the macro outlook for the Bahamas economy continued to rebound vigorously last year, with real gross domestic product (GDP) growth reaching 14.4 percent.
It said unemployment fell to 8.8 percent with a broad-based expansion that was especially strong for tourism.
However, the IMF staff report said labor force participation, particularly among men, remained below pre-pandemic levels.
The staff report, which will be presented to the IMF executive board for discussion and decision, said risks to the outlook are skewed to the downside, indicating that a fall in tourism demand, due to an economic slowdown in source markets could weigh negatively on the growth outlook.
In a statement, Halkitis said that the projection reflects that the economy of the Bahamas continues to grow and inflation is down.
He said the government’s fiscal strategy has surpassed many expectations, performing well on fiscal goals such as cutting the debt-to-GDP ratio, which exceeded 100 per cent two years ago and has now been reduced to 84 per cent.
“We have met or beat every single deficit projection that we have given over the last two years so we are very, very confident that our projections for 2024 will be realized,“ said Halkitis, noting that regarding the IMF estimates for the 2022/2023 deficit, it has consistently underestimated revenue performance.
“What you see is an opinion of the IMF that our revenue will not come in as well as we estimate that it will. We have a difference of opinion. Remember that since 2021, we have had the IMF and the rating agencies consistently underestimating how our revenue can perform.
“Our experience has shown that our revenue along with the growth in the economy has performed very well. We believe that will continue,” Halkitis added.
The government said that during the fiscal period 2022/2023, the actual deficit was US$42 million below projections.
“The reduction of inflation, from 7.1 percent in July 2022 to 2.2 percent in July 2023, has also complemented the Davis Administration’s broad revenue improvement strategy to grow the economy, improve revenue administration, and control spending. The Government has also prioritized outstanding tax collection, particularly real property tax on foreign-owned properties,” the government said.
However, the opposition Free National Movement (FNM) Shadow Minister of Finance, Kwasi Thompson, said the report by the IMF that the government spending this fiscal year will outpace revenue by almost three times its projections, underscores what the party has been saying about the government’s fiscal strategy.
“Again and again, the opposition has warned this PLP (Progressive Liberal Party) government that its reckless and wasteful spending will worsen the country’s fiscal position at a time when rising revenues from a recovering economy should be moving the country toward a balanced budget,” Thompson said in a statement.
“Now again, the IMF, in its statement…is now projecting that the government’s deficit for this fiscal year 2023/2024 will approach US$380 million, which is almost 300 percent higher than the US$131 million deficit in the government’s budget and medium-term fiscal strategy.
“This massive projected spike in the deficit is also projected by the rating agency Standards & Poor (S&P) in its September 2023 report on The Bahamas,” Thompson added.
In its report, the IMF notes that while the objectives of the authorities’ medium-term fiscal plan are laudable, the staff assesses that more policy measures will be needed to achieve this targeted adjustment.
“In particular, based on current policies, the fiscal deficit is expected to be 2.6 percent of GDP in 2023/24, considerably larger than that expected in the budget. Over the medium term, debt would fall to 78 percent of GDP by 2027/28 but gross financing needs would remain high for the next several years (at around 20 percent of GDP).
“Even though, under this path, debt is judged to be sustainable, a faster debt reduction would be valuable in lessening the risk of sovereign stress and, in so doing, would be rewarded through a lower interest burden for the public debt.”
The report said beyond reducing the fiscal deficit, a set of comprehensive tax reforms would be valuable in both raising revenues and improving progressivity.
Thompson said that the government has not been publishing monthly and quarterly budget and fiscal reports as the law requires, with the last two quarterly reports still outstanding, as are August, September and October reports.
“It would seem that the Davis administration has been and continues to keep away the lawful reports of the shaky state of the public finances from their employer, the Bahamian taxpayer,” he added.
Source-CMC
Ministry of Health and Human Services hosts Counselling and Testing Training
In a proactive effort to address the critical issue of HIV/AIDS and public education, a wide cross-section of health professionals attended a four-day, successful Counselling and Testing (CT) training workshop in Providenciales last week.
Hosted by the Health Promotions and Advocacy Unit, the comprehensive training aimed to equip healthcare professionals and allies with the necessary skills to provide empathetic and informed counselling for individuals needing to know their status or affected by HIV/AIDS.
Expert facilitators, well-versed in both counselling and HIV/AIDS care, led engaging discussions and practical exercises. Participants explored strategies for effective communication, stigma reduction, and creating safe spaces for individuals affected by the virus.
Mrs Aldora Robinson, Director of the Health Promotions and Advocacy Unit, commenting on the training, said, "This training empowers individuals to provide valuable support to those facing challenges, contributing to the overall well-being of our community as we aim to meet the global targets of 95% of persons knowing their HIV status, 95% of persons linked to care and 95% of persons with a suppressed viral load by 2025."
The Ministry of Health and Human Services described the CT training as a cornerstone in its advocacy efforts, fostering a community where awareness, support, and early intervention converge for a healthier, more resilient society.
The Minister of Health and Human Services, Honourable Shaun D Malcolm stated, "This specialised training is pivotal in our ongoing efforts to enhance the support system for those combatting HIV/AIDS and its associated challenges. Our healthcare personnel are now better equipped to provide compassionate and comprehensive care to individuals in our community. As frontline advocates, these trained professionals are poised to make a significant impact on the well-being of affected individuals.”
The CT training is a testament to the commitment of the MoHHS to fostering a community that prioritizes awareness, compassion, and access to information and know their HIV status.
TCIG OBSERVES INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES 2023
The Ministry of Health and Human Services, through the Aged Care and Rehabilitation Department, joins the rest of the world on Sunday, 3rd December 2023 in observance of International Day of Persons with Disabilities under the theme: "United in action to rescue and achieve the SDGs for, with and by persons with disabilities".
The annual observance was proclaimed in 1992, by the United Nations General Assembly resolution 47/3. The observance of the Day aims to promote an understanding of disability issues and mobilize support for the dignity, rights, and well-being of persons with disabilities. It also seeks to increase awareness of gains to be derived from the integration of persons with disabilities in every aspect of political, social, economic, and cultural life.
The Government has focused on 5 of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals that zero in on disability. The department continues to lead and participate in achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, inclusive of and not limited to the following:
1. Guarantee equal and accessible education by building inclusive learning environments and providing the needed assistance for persons with disabilities.
2. Emphasising the social economic and political inclusion of persons with disabilities.
3. Creating accessible and green public spaces.
4. Promoting inclusive economic growth, full and productive employment allowing persons with disabilities to fully access the job market.
5. Underlining the importance of data collection and monitoring of the SDG’s with emphasis placed on disaggregated data on disabilities.
Hon. Shaun Malcom, Minister of Health and Human Services, stated: “My government is committed to strengthening services and programs for adults with special needs in the Turks and Caicos Islands through various programs, inclusive of establishing a residential Aged Care and Special Needs Facility in North/Middle Caicos and the enhancement of current residential homes focusing on all aspects of healthier aging.”
The World Health Organisation recognizes that a world where all people attain the highest possible standard of health and well-being is only possible if health systems are inclusive of people with disabilities and further states that countries need to shift towards a service delivery system rooted in the communities, reaching out and empowering people with disabilities.
Ms. Betty-Ann Been, Director of Aged Care and Rehabilitation stated, “We cannot leave anybody behind; this will be strengthened by the establishment of the Community Based Rehabilitation Programme in the fourth quarter of this financial year, with a two-day workshop for adults with special needs.”
Persons are encouraged to contact the Office at 649-338-2171 for inquiries or further information on the program and services.
TCISS Inter-High School Basketball 2023/24 travels to Grand Turk for away games
Search and Rescue and Marine Pollution Response” Workshop Enhances Operations for Marine Stakeholders
In an effort to ensure our maritime stakeholders are equipped to manage marine pollution from oil and improve search and rescue procedures for marine operators, the Department of Fisheries and Marine Resource Management (FMRM), the Ministry of Tourism and the UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency is hosting a three-day workshop, “Search and Rescue and Marine Pollution Response” at the Opus Conference Room, November 28th to 30th, 2023.
The primary aims of the workshop are to enhance the country’s disaster preparedness and response capabilities, improve the effectiveness of search and rescue operations, particularly given the importance of marine activities to the tourism industry, and reduce the impact of pollution on public health and the environment. The exercise involves a range of activities, including search and rescue and pollution response simulations for emergency responders.
Delivering remarks at the opening of the Workshop on Tuesday, November 28th, 2023, Minister of Tourism, the Honourable Josephine Connolly said the workshop will prepare attendees to tackle challenges that are unique to the marine industry.
“It is our collective responsibility to enhance our capabilities in responding to distress calls, conducting effective search operations, and executing timely rescue missions. Through this workshop, we aim to foster a deeper understanding of best practices, technological advancements, and international protocols that can optimise search and rescue operations in the Turks and Caicos waters,” she said.
Participants include local emergency responders, the Royal Caicos Police Force Marine Coastal Division, the TCI regiment, representatives of the Grand Turk Cruise Port, Core Resources, the Port Authority, TCI Civil Aviation Authority, South Bank Marina, Turtle Cove Marina, Customs, Immigration, the Fisheries and Marine Resource Management, and the Department of Environment and Coastal Resources.
In her remarks, Thecla Joseph, Director of Fisheries and Marine Resource Management, said the benefits of the workshop cannot be overstated.
“Search and Rescue operations are vital for ensuring the safety and security of maritime activities. The unique geographical location of the Turks and Caicos Islands makes it essential to enhance our capabilities in search and rescue to effectively respond to emergencies at sea. Furthermore, with the increasing concerns about maritime pollution, it is imperative that we come together to explore innovative solutions and best practices for preventing, mitigating, and responding to pollution incidents in out waters,” she said.
During the interactive opening sessions, participants learned about the composition of crude oil, the behaviour and environmental effects of chemicals, the impact of accidents with container ships, and the laws governing marine incidents.
The highlight of the first day was a tabletop challenge in which participants were tasked with conceptualizing a Search and Rescue strategy for an incident in which two ships collided, and injured crew members.
THROY FORBES APPOINTED AS ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF IMMIGRATION
The Office of the Deputy Governor is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Throy Forbes to the post of Assistant Director of Immigration in the Ministry of Immigrations and Border Services.
Mr Forbes joined the Immigration Department in 2016 as an Immigration Officer and steadily rose, becoming a Senior Immigration Officer in March 2021.
His educational journey commenced in the Turks and Caicos Islands, graduating from Ianthe Pratt Primary School and later from Clement Howell High School in Providenciales. Eager for higher education, he excelled at the Turks and Caicos Island Community College (TCICC), where he graduated as valedictorian with a certificate in Hospitality Management and Hotel Accounting.
Transitioning to the workforce, Mr Forbes accumulated robust experience as a Personal Banker at The Bank of Nova Scotia and FirstCaribbean International Bank. His pursuit of knowledge continued with an Associate Degree in Business Management from Florida International University (FIU), leading to valuable contributions in hotel accounting at esteemed establishments like The Hartling Group and Grace Bay Resorts. His thirst for knowledge also led him to obtain certifications in UNODC – Trade-based Money Laundering, IMPACS – International Passenger Interdiction, and MIBS – Human Trafficking. Currently pursuing certification in Supervisory Management at the University of the West Indies and a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science at the Open University, Mr. Forbes remains dedicated to continuous learning.
Reflecting on his appointment, Mr Forbes echoed J.F. Kennedy’s iconic words:
“Ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.” He added, “I must thank the Almighty God to whom all my past, present and future success is attributed. Thanks to my family and friends, who have always stood by my side and encouraged me to stay the course.
This appointment indeed humbles me, and it is truly an honour to be given such a leadership opportunity in such an important department. It is my promise to continue to be the best public servant that I can be as I strive to be a better leader, aiding in the continuous development of this department and Turks and Caicos as a whole.
I challenge every Turks and Caicos Islander to contribute in some way for the good of our country.”
Deputy Governor and Head of the Public Service, Her Excellency Anya Williams, in extending congratulatory remarks to Mr Forbes, stated:
“It gives me great pleasure to formally congratulate Mr. Throy Forbes on his appointment as the Assistant Director of Immigration within the Ministry of Immigration and Border Services.
Mr. Forbes, during his years of dedicated service to the Immigration Department, has exemplified the dedication and leadership essential in public service. His commitment aligns with the values we uphold in our community.
We extend our congratulations on this significant role and eagerly anticipate his continued contributions to our nation’s advancement.
Congratulations, Mr. Forbes!”
Canadian mother and son drown at Devil’s Bridge in Antigua
According to police reports, the woman’s 38-year-old husband who is also from Canada, received cardiopulmonary resuscitation at the scene after he went into distress while trying to save his wife and son.
The incident came to a tragic end with the retrieval of the lifeless body of the 5-year-old boy and his mother.
They were pronounced dead by a doctor at approximately 9:15 am (local time).
The husband who has not yet been named said they had come to witness the sunrise at Devils Bridge, when a wave got too close to his son who was standing at the water’s edge, causing him to panic.
The child held onto his mother’s legs, and they both fell over the bridge.
Tourism Minister Charles Max Fernandez told reporters that plans are underway to get the man returned to Canada on Thursday as he wished.
This is the second instance of tourist death at Devil’s Bridge this year.
Source- CMC
Henry Kissinger, former secretary of state and presidential adviser, dies at 100
Henry Kissinger, the former U.S. secretary of state during the Nixon and Ford administrations who was said to be one of the most influential and controversial foreign policy framers in the postwar United States, has died. He was 100.
The news was confirmed by Kissinger's consulting company on Wednesday night.
Kissinger remained active in politics in the decades since his time in office and had taken on a respected elder role for some Republicans and Democrats. He met with Alaska's then-Gov. Sarah Palin in 2008, and Mitt Romney reportedly spoke by phone with Kissinger during the 2012 campaign. Kissinger met with Donald Trump shortly after Trump won the 2016 presidential election and the two later met in the White House in 2017.
Hillary Clinton, who ran against Trump in 2016, called Kissinger "a friend" and said she "relied on his counsel" when she was secretary of state from 2009 to 2013.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said in a statement on X, formerly Twitter, "Henry Kissinger was a titan among America’s most consequential statesmen. His ideas, his diplomatic skill, and his sheer force of will in service to our country changed the course of history. My thoughts and prayers are with the Kissinger family."
House Speaker Mike Johnson called Henry Kissinger "one of the most consequential figures of the 20th century." adding that his contributions to foreign policy and diplomacy are "immeasurable."
Ambassador to the U.S. Xie Feng recognized Kissinger for changing the arc of U.S.-China relations by opening up China to the world and helping to usher in an era of growth and prosperity for China.
"Deeply shocked and saddened to learn of Dr. Kissinger's passing at 100. My deepest condolences go to Nancy and her family. It is a tremendous loss for both our countries and the world," he wrote on X. "History will remember what the centenarian had contributed to China-U.S. relations, and he will always remain alive in the hearts of the Chinese people as a most valued old friend."