Ex-Smash Mouth singer Steve Harwell dead at 56
Former Smash Mouth frontman Steve Harwell has died at age 56.
The group confirmed the news in an Instagram post on Monday, September 4.
"Steve Harwell was a true American Original," Smash Mouth writes. "A larger-than-life character who shot up into the sky like a Roman candle. Steve should be remembered for his unwavering focus and impassioned determination to reach the heights of pop stardom."
"The fact that he achieved this near-impossible goal with very limited musical experience makes his accomplishments all the more remarkable," the post continues. "His only tools were his irrepressible charm and charisma, his fearlessly reckless ambition, and his king-size cajones. Steve lived a 100% full-throttle life. Burning brightly across the universe before burning out."
TMZ previously reported that Harwell had entered hospice care with liver failure. An official cause of death has not been announced.
Harwell co-founded Smash Mouth in 1994. The group's debut album, 1997's Fush Yu Mang, spawned the single "Walkin' on the Sun" and was certified double-platinum by the RIAA, but they broke even bigger with their 1999 triple-Platinum album Astro Lounge and its single "All-Star."
"All-Star" hit #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 -- a career-high for Smash Mouth -- and was memorably featured on the soundtrack to the 2001 animated film Shrek. Smash Mouth also covered The Monkees' "I'm a Believer" for Shrek, and has remained inextricably tied to the movie since its release.
Following Astro Lounge and Shrek, Smash Mouth's mainstream popularity began to wane, though the band continued to tour. However, their later tours were marred by bizarre incidents, such as during a 2015 concert when Harwell began yelling at the audience after they reportedly threw pieces of bread at him.
Then, during a 2021 show, Harwell was filmed yelling obscenities at the crowd and slurring his speech. Shortly thereafter, Harwell announced his retirement from touring, citing his health, which had been impacted by his cardiomyopathy heart condition.
"Ever since I was a kid, I dreamed of being a Rockstar performing in front of sold-out arenas and have been so fortunate to live out that dream," Harwell told TMZ at the time.
Smash Mouth has continued on with a new lead singer, Zach Goode.
Source-ABC
Female Body found in Blue Hills
The Royal Turks & Caicos informed RTC News that on Wednesday 30th August 2023, they received an anonymous call to the Police Control Room.
The caller reported that the body of a female was found in the Blue Hills area of Providenciales.
Upon receipt of that report, Officers were dispatched to an area known as “Daco Yard” in Blue Hills, Providenciales, where they were assisted by a male who confirmed the report.
A search of the area was conducted by the Police and the lifeless body of a female was found. The body was later pronounced dead by a medical doctor.
An investigation has been launched by the Serious Crime Unit, which is seeking the public’s assistance in identifying the deceased female. Initial inquiries have suggested that the female arrived in the Turks and Caicos Islands on an illegal migrant vessel on Tuesday 29th August 2023. At this time, the death is unexplained in terms of cause of death, there are so far no suspicious circumstances.
Investigative officers are seeking information in connection with this investigation, the public is encouraged to contact 911 or the RTCIPF Serious Crime Unit on 232-8752.
Bermuda being affected by outer bands of Hurricane Franklin
The outer bands of Hurricane Franklin were affecting Bermuda on Wednesday causing dangerous surf and rip current conditions along the eastern seaboard.
“As Hurricane Franklin approaches, I urge everyone to heed the safety guidance that is being shared. Stay informed by regularly monitoring updates from the Bermuda Weather Service (BWS) and the Bermuda Government,” said National Security Minister, Michael Weeks.
The BWS in its latest bulletin said that Hurricane Franklin, with maximum sustained winds of nearly 105 miles per hour (mph), closest point of approach is forecast to be 122 miles to the north, northwest at approximately 5.00 pm (local time) on Wednesday.
“So it’s got a tiny bit closer and has speeded up,” the BWS said, adding “However, this system may move closer to Bermuda after this time period depending upon its track.”
The government has issued a statement urging motorists to exercise extreme caution when traversing the roads during their afternoon commutes and has told residents and visitors “to avoid swimming or engaging in any reckless water-related activities prior to, during, and after the passage of the storm.
“Government services and offices remain open, with the government dedicated to maintaining essential services throughout this period,” the statement said.
The Bermuda College said it will close at 4:30 pm “to allow commuting students and employees sufficient time to get home safely.
“The College campus community is advised to check emails, media, and/or their emergency notification platform for updates, if/as warranted,” it added.
The Miami-based National Hurricane Center (NHC) said that Hurricane Franklin is about 160 miles northwest of the British Overseas Territory.
It said a Tropical Storm Warning is in effect and that the center of Hurricane Franklin is moving towards the northeast near 13 mph.
“A gradual turn towards the east-northeast is expected later today or tonight, with a
slightly faster east-northeastward motion through Friday. On the forecast track, the center of Franklin is expected to pass to the northwest of Bermuda today.”
It said that there would be gradual weakening of the hurricane over the next several days.
“Life-threatening surf and rip currents generated by Franklin are affecting Bermuda and the east coast of the United States. These conditions are expected to continue during the next couple of days,” the NHC added.
Source- CMC
The Prison celebrates with graduate from the Anger Management Programme
On Thursday, 17th August at 11:00 am, a graduation ceremony was held at Her Majesty’s Prison (HMP), for nine inmates who completed the Anger Management Programme.
The anger management programme which began in 2007 has seen over 150 inmates graduating from the programme to date. Each year, two cycles are conducted to train inmates in how to resolve conflicts and control their anger. The programme is facilitated by Mr. Stanley Been, Substance Abuse Counselor within the Department of Behavioural Health Services. Remarks were received from Assistant Superintendent Ms. Meshelle Jennings, who congratulated the young men and encouraged them to utilise the tools they learned when dealing with situations that may provoke their anger. Also bringing remarks was Dr. Alicia Malcolm, Director of the Department of Behavioural Health Services who commended the participants for their consistency and determination in completing the course.
This programme continues to represent the collaborative work that is being done to aid in the rehabilitation of prisoners within the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Heineken sells off Russian beer business for €1
Heineken has finally sold off its Russian business for €1 - or 86p - nearly a year and a half after first pledging to do so.
The Dutch brewer said it will take a loss of €300m on the division, which is being offloaded to Russia's Arnest, which makes aerosol cans.
Many Western firms jettisoned their Russian operations when the country invaded Ukraine last February.
Heineken's Dolf van den Brink said: "It took much longer than we had hoped."
The chief executive and chairman added: "[But] this transaction secures the livelihoods of our employees and allows us to exit the country in a responsible manner."
For €1, Arnest will buy seven breweries and take on 1,800 workers with guarantees to employ them for the next three years.
The manufacture of the Amstel beer brand will be phased out over six months, joining Heineken lager which the company said was removed in 2022.
"Recent developments demonstrate the significant challenges faced by large manufacturing companies in exiting Russia," Mr van den Brink said.
Last month, President Vladimir Putin seized Russian assets owned by Carlsberg and French yoghurt-maker Danone.
Earlier this week, the franchise owner of Domino's Pizza signalled it would shut its Russian shops and put the business into bankruptcy.
DP Eurasia said it would no longer try to sell the operation because of an "increasingly challenging environment".
Russia has been targeted by a number of economic sanctions since its tanks rolled into Ukraine on 24 February 2022.
Many household names decided to close their operations in the immediate aftermath of the invasion. Others, such as McDonald's and Coca-Cola, faced pressure to exit Russia.
There has also been ongoing criticism for the ones that have continued business.
Yale University's School of Management has been tracking which firms have exited and which have stayed. Those that remain include the likes of UK telecoms firm BT Group, and Lacoste, the upmarket French sportswear brand.
Source- BBC
88 UK deaths linked to Canada 'poison seller'
Dozens of people in the UK died after buying a poisonous substance from a seller in Canada, who is accused of helping people to take their own lives.
The National Crime Agency (NCA) could not confirm the chemical was the direct cause of the 88 deaths but has launched a criminal investigation.
British police have been making welfare visits to hundreds of addresses to trace buyers across the country.
Kenneth Law was arrested in Toronto in May, accused of assisting suicide.
The 57-year-old is thought to have run a number of websites selling equipment to assist suicide.
Canadian authorities believe he sent 1,200 packages to customers in more than 40 countries, though it is not known how many included the poisonous substance.
BBC News is not naming the chemical allegedly sold by Mr Law.
Peel Regional Police said they began investigating the case in April following the sudden death of an adult in the Toronto area.
Alleged links between Mr Law and deaths in the UK first surfaced in an undercover investigation by The Times the same month.
Since Mr Law's arrest, police forces across the UK have been making welfare checks on everyone who ordered the substance
The NCA, which was coordinating the checks, said that 272 people in the UK had been identified as buying from Mr Law over a two-year period.
The NCA says 88 of them later died, but at this stage there are no confirmed links between the items purchased from the websites and cause of death.
NCA deputy director Craig Turner said: "Our deepest sympathies are with the loved ones of those who have died. They are being supported by specially trained officers from police forces.
"In consultation with the Crown Prosecution Service, the NCA has taken the decision to conduct an investigation into potential criminal offences committed in the UK. This operation is under way."
Tom Parfett, from Maidenhead, was 22 when he ended his own life in October 2021 after buying the chemical from Mr Law.
His father David Parfett is angry at what he sees as police failures.
"It's important for families to understand what has happened and why policing worldwide allowed this scale of deaths despite clear warning signs," he said.
Mr Parfett fears there other suppliers out there and unregulated websites promoting suicide.
"What can be done immediately to close down internet sites that prey on vulnerable young people and prosecute the people who take pleasure in helping others take their own life?" he asked.
In a separate interview with BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Mr Parfett said his son had discussed taking his own life with people he met online in communities set up to discuss the subject, and was encouraged to do so by some.
He added: "We have to accept that in the modern age, people can find like-minded people to discuss even the most difficult problems...those communities are unregulated and causing a huge amount of harm."
Mr Parfett called for stronger action from police and policymakers to crack down on people selling poison, and for online communities targeting vulnerable people to be regulated.
Source- BBC
All clear is given for the Turks and Caicos Islands
Alert #24 on Tropical Storm Franklin was issued by The Bahamas Department of Meteorology, on Thursday 24th August, 2023, at 6 am EDT.
…Franklin is pulling away from the Turks and Caicos Islands…
…Strengthening is forecast…
The all-clear is now given for the Turks and Caicos Islands; therefore Tropical Storm Warning for the Turks and Caicos Islands is discontinued.
At 5 am EDT, the center of Tropical Storm Franklin was located near latitude 21.9 degrees north and longitude 70.4 degrees west, or about 55 miles east-northeast of Cockburn Town, Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos Islands, 220 miles east-northeast of Matthew Town, Inagua and 485 miles southeast of New Providence.
Tropical Storm Franklin is moving toward the north near 13 miles per hour. A turn to the northeast and then east-northeast with a decrease in forward speed is forecast during the next couple of days. On the forecast track, the center of Franklin will continue to move farther away from the Turks and Caicos Islands and over the Southwestern Atlantic into the weekend.
Maximum sustained winds are near 50 miles per hour with higher gusts. Gradual strengthening is forecast, and Franklin is expected to become a hurricane in a couple of days.
Tropical Storm force winds extend outward up to 105 miles, mainly to the north and east from the center.
This will be the final Alert issued on Tropical Storm Franklin by The Bahamas Department of Meteorology.
Meanwhile, the Department of Disaster Management and Emergencies (DDME) wishes to advise the general Public that ALL Public Shelters on the islands of Grand Turk, South Caicos and Salt Cay have been closed as of 7:00AM today Thursday 24th August 2023.
Alert #22 on Tropical Storm Franklin on August 24,2023
DDME Message to the Public on Tropical Storm Franklin
This is a special update to the residents and visitors of the Turks and Caicos Islands on Tropical Storm Franklin from Allison Gordon, Director, Department of Disaster Management and Emergencies (DDME).
As of 2 p.m. today, Wednesday, August 23, 2023, the center of Tropical Storm Franklin was located inland over the Dominican Republic, or about 158 miles south-southeast of Grand Turk.
Franklin is now moving toward the north-northeast near 13 mph and is projected to move off the north coast of the Dominican Republic later this afternoon and travel past the Turks and Caicos Islands overnight.
Tropical storm conditions are expected to spread northward to the Turks and Caicos Islands tonight, particularly impacting the islands of South Caicos, Grand Turk, and Salt Cay. Franklin is expected to produce rainfall amounts of 1 to 2 inches across the Turks and Caicos Islands, with isolated higher amounts of up to 4 inches in the islands of South Caicos, Grand Turk, and Salt Cay. Heavy rains can produce localized flooding of roads, properties, and communities. Swells generated by Franklin can produce wave heights of 6 to 8 feet beginning tonight, impacting the coastlines of the easternmost islands. These conditions could cause dangerous surf and rip current conditions. Weather conditions will subside late Thursday morning as Franklin moves towards the Atlantic Ocean.
The DDME, on behalf of the Government of the TCI, reinforces the fact that your safety is our priority. In response to the threat of Tropical Storm Franklin, the public is advised of the following:
The DDME, on behalf of the Government of the TCI, reinforces the fact that your safety is our priority. In response to the threat of Tropical Storm Franklin, the public is advised of the following:
• Your home is your primary place of shelter, if you think your house is not safe enough, seek shelter with a relative or friend. In addition, the following Emergency Shelters on the islands of Grand Turk, Salt Cay, and South Caicos will be opened at 4 p.m. today, Wednesday, August 23, 2023, until Thursday, August 24, 2023.
Grand Turk – Eliza Simons Primary School
Salt Cay – The Club House Shelter, South District, and the George Been Memorial Methodist Sunday School, North District
South Caicos – The Community Centre, Sarah Hill, and the New Testament Church of God Creole Ministry
A team of trained and competent persons is there to provide support.
• Government offices on these islands were closed at 1 p.m. today as a precautionary measure and businesses were encouraged to release non-essential staff based on their emergency response plans.
• The subcommittees of the national operations group through the dedication and commitment of the Chairpersons are in a state of readiness for any emergency.
• The Emergency Operations Centres on the islands of Grand Turk, Salt Cay, and South Caicos under the leadership of Team DDME and experienced District Commissions will be opened at 6 this afternoon and remain open until tomorrow, Thursday, August 24.
• Operations on these islands will be supported by pre-deployed troops from the TCI Regiment.
• We ask residents on ALL ISLANDS to be prepared at all times.
• Here are a few tips:
Avoid walking or driving through flooded areas.
Avoid low-lying areas prone to high tides or storm waves
Stock up on your emergency supplies such as water, food, medication, flashlight, batteries, and first aid supplies.
Download the DDME Alert Mobile App and Stay informed.
Let us expect the best, but prepare for the worst.
May God continue to protect our Beautiful By Nature, Turks and Caicos Islands.
Stay Calm! Stay Safe!
Alert #13 on Tropical Storm Franklin
Alert #13 on Tropical Storm Franklin issued by The Bahamas Department of Meteorology, Tuesday 22nd August, 2023, at 9 pm EDT.
...LIFE-THREATENING FLOODING POSSIBLE ON HISPANIOLA THROUGH WEDNESDAY...
A Tropical Storm Watch remains in effect for the Turks and Caicos Islands.
A Tropical Storm Watch means that Tropical Storm conditions could be experienced within the Turks and Caicos Islands within 48 hours.
At 8 pm EDT, the center of Tropical Storm Franklin was located near latitude 16.0 degrees north and longitude 71.4 degrees west, or about 395 miles south of Cockburn Town, Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos Islands.
Tropical Storm Franklin is drifting toward the north-northwest near 6 miles-per-hour. The system should turn towards the north tonight, and a northeast motion is expected by Thursday. On the forecast track, the center of Franklin is expected to approach the southern coast of Hispaniola tonight, cross the island on Wednesday, and then emerge over the southwestern Atlantic waters late Wednesday.
Maximum sustained winds remain near 40 miles-per-hour with higher gusts. Little change in strength is forecast during the next couple of days while Franklin moves near and across Hispaniola. Some strengthening is possible late Thursday into Friday as Franklin moves farther northeast over the southwestern Atlantic waters.
Tropical Storm force winds extend outward up to 105 miles mainly to the east of the center.
Residents in the Turks and Caicos Islands should continue to make preparations for the possibility of Tropical Storm conditions beginning late Wednesday night.
Franklin is expected to produce rainfall amounts of 1 to 2 inches, with isolated higher amounts of 4 inches over the most easterly islands.