TikTok sets 60-minute daily screen time limit for under-18s
TikTok is setting a 60-minute daily screen time limit for users who are aged under 18.
If young people hit the new limit, they will have to enter a passcode to continue to use the service that day.
But they will be able to opt out of the new measure, which TikTok says will be rolled out "in the coming weeks".
The video app, which is owned by Chinese firm ByteDance, said it is introducing the feature to help people "stay in control" of their use.
TikTok said the new limit comes after it brought in a prompt last year to encourage teens to manage their screen time. It said this helped "increase the use of our screen time tools by 234%".
Users of the platform have to be at least 13, and, as part of this new feature, anyone under the age of 18 will receive a weekly notification with a "recap of their screen time".
Users affected will receive their new time limit passcode on a screen in their app as the changes take effect.
Anyone who opts out of the new 60-minute restriction, but goes on to use the app for 100 minutes a day, will receive a prompt from TikTok to set their own screen time controls.
Parents of children using the Family Pairing option on the app will also be able to set screen time limits, as well as access a dashboard that would give a breakdown of app usage.
Cormac Keenan, head of trust and safety at TikTok, said the company had worked with researchers in developing the new limits.
"While there's no collectively endorsed position on the 'right' amount of screen time, or even the impact of screen time more broadly, we consulted the current academic research and experts from the Digital Wellness Lab at Boston Children's Hospital in choosing this limit," he said.
Critics of the video app welcomed the screen time limit but described it as the "tip of the iceberg" when it comes to TikTok's response to young users' exposure to the platform.
Users affected will receive their new time limit passcode on a screen in their app as the changes take effect.
Anyone who opts out of the new 60-minute restriction, but goes on to use the app for 100 minutes a day, will receive a prompt from TikTok to set their own screen time controls.
Parents of children using the Family Pairing option on the app will also be able to set screen time limits, as well as access a dashboard that would give a breakdown of app usage.
Cormac Keenan, head of trust and safety at TikTok, said the company had worked with researchers in developing the new limits.
"While there's no collectively endorsed position on the 'right' amount of screen time, or even the impact of screen time more broadly, we consulted the current academic research and experts from the Digital Wellness Lab at Boston Children's Hospital in choosing this limit," he said.
Critics of the video app welcomed the screen time limit but described it as the "tip of the iceberg" when it comes to TikTok's response to young users' exposure to the platform.
Source-BBC
57 dead, dozens more injured in greek train derailment
At least 57 people were killed and more than 80 others injured in a head-on collision between a freight train and a passenger train in Greece late Tuesday, in what is now being blamed on human error, officials said.
The two trains that crashed into one another were running on the same line for 12 full minutes, and a distance of about 11 miles, Greek state TV said Wednesday. The passenger train was traveling at a speed of about 103 mph when it hit the freight train, according to the Greek Fire Service.
In the wake of the tragedy, the Greek Transport Minister announced his resignation on Wednesday after visiting the crash site, saying he felt it was his "duty" to do so "as a minimum sign of respect" to the victims and the Greek government has declared three days of national mourning in the wake of the tragedy.
The majority of those killed were between the ages of 20 and 30 years old.
Source-ABC
Angela Bassett and Quinta Brunson among TIME's Women of the Year
Twelve women were selected to be on TIME's Women of the Year list, and among them are actresses Angela Bassett and Quinta Brunson.
Angela's career spans over three decades and includes an Academy Award-winning role as Tina Turner in What’s Love Got to Do With It. Most recently, she earned another Oscar nomination for portraying Queen Mother of Wakanda in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Having played characters who embody so much at once, she tells TIME it's important for people to take care of themselves first.
“Women are called upon to be wives, sisters, friends, mothers, community leaders, activists, and we have it in our core to be these things,” she says. “But it’s important to give to yourself first, and then you have more to share with the world.”
Quinta, on the contrary, is making her name in Hollywood as the creator, executive producer, co-writer and star of ABC's Abbott Elementary. The show's been a big hit this awards season, winning Emmys, NAACP Image and SAG awards. The actress tells TIME that she hopes she's showing Black children they can accomplish anything. She also hopes people learn to appreciate themselves and the hard workers in their lives by watching the show.
“Through Janine and the rest of the characters, I hope to be able to help people love themselves a little bit more,” she says. “And give themselves grace and appreciate the hardworking people in their lives.”
Cate Blanchett, Phoebe Bridgers, Megan Rapinoe, Ramla Ali, Ayisha Siddiqa, Masih Alinejad, Olena Shevchenko, Makiko Ono, Verónica Cruz Sánchez and Anielle Franco were also named as TIME's Women of the Year.
IMF approves US$1.7 billion for Jamaica
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Thursday announced that its Executive Board has approved a total of US$1.7 billion for Jamaica, the majority of which will provide insurance against risks from higher commodity prices, a global slowdown, tighter-than-envisaged global financial conditions, and new COVID outbreaks.
A statement from the Washington-based financial institution said about US$968 million had been approved for a 24-month programme under the Precautionary and Liquidity Line (PLL) arrangement.
The other US$764 million has been approved under the newly created Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF) to strengthen physical and fiscal resilience to climate change, advance decarbonisation of the economy, and manage transition risks.
The RSF is expected to catalyse funding for climate-related investment from other official lenders and the private sector, the IMF said.
“Reforms in the RSF, built on Jamaica’s home-grown climate policy, were prepared in close collaboration with the World Bank and other international partners. They create incentives to switch to renewables, reduce energy consumption, develop green financial instruments, and require proper management of climate risks in the financial sector,” IMF Deputy Managing Director and Acting Chair of the Board Bo Li said.
Source-CMC
Whiskey fungus lawsuit forces Jack Daniels to halt building project
A Jack Daniels building project is to be halted after a neighbour argued she was facing a plague of whiskey fungus caused by escaping alcohol vapours.
Christi Long, of Lincoln County, Tennessee, claimed her property was coated in the fungus, which appears as a black crust on surfaces.
It is a growing issue for people in the area, her lawyer told BBC News.
The fungus, which consumes ethanol fumes, grows on surfaces near bakeries and distilleries around the world.
Mrs Long, who runs an events venue next to several Jack Daniels warehouses, including one under construction, says the invading fungus has required her to spend thousands on power washing.
She is suing the local county zoning office, arguing it did not properly approve permits for the warehouses.
Some infuriated locals are now calling for Jack Daniel's Tennessee Whiskey, which is owned by Louisville-based company Brown-Forman, to install air filters to combat the problem.
Jason Holleman, a lawyer representing Mrs Long, says whiskey companies often speak about the evaporation process - dubbed "the angels' share" - without mentioning the resulting mould that comes with it.
"If you go on one of these distillery tours they will tell you about the angels' share that goes into the atmosphere," he says.
"And unfortunately that also results in the devil's fungus."
In a court order, Lincoln County Chancellor J.B. Cox instructed Lincoln County zoning officials to order construction to be halted after he ruled that the permitting process was never fully completed.
Mr Holleman said he anticipates asking the court to order Brown-Forman to stop using six recently-built warehouses, which are commonly known as barrelhouses, that are also near Mrs Long's property.
Brown-Forman spokeswoman Elizabeth Conway told the Lexington Herald-Leader newspaper: "We respect the chancellor's ruling and look forward to working with Lincoln County on updated permits.
"The Jack Daniel Distillery will continue to comply with regulations and industry standards regarding the design, construction, and permitting of our barrelhouses in Lincoln Co."
Brown-Forman did not respond to a BBC News request for further comment.
Jack Daniels Tennessee Whiskey was founded in Moore County, which neighbours Lincoln County, in 1866.
The fungus - named Baudoinia compniacensis - is named after the director of the French Distillers' Association that discovered it growing near cognac distilleries in the 1870s.
It has led to complaints and lawsuits from Scotland to Canada and the Caribbean.
Federal agents in Tennessee used to look for the fungus as a sign that illegal alcohol - moonshine - was being made nearby, Mr Holleman says.
The whiskey industry in Tennessee is growing, along with residential development, leading to more conflicts between distillers and homeowners.
Source-BBC
LeBron James to have foot tendon injury reevaluated in 3 weeks
LeBron James suffered a tendon injury in his right foot against the Dallas Mavericks last weekend and will be reevaluated in about three weeks, the Los Angeles Lakers announced Thursday.
The announcement came after James returned to L.A. and was examined by team medical staff and physicians
The Lakers are 1-1 since the win over the Mavs without James, losing to the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday but finishing their three-game road trip with a 123-117 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday.
James, 38, was hurt in Sunday's win at Dallas following a drive on Dwight Powell in the third quarter. James could be heard on the broadcast telling the Lakers bench, "I heard a pop," after he tumbled to the floor, and he was walking with a noticeable limp following the game.
James told ESPN's Katie George during an on-court interview after the game that he thought he stepped on Powell's foot, causing the discomfort; however, replays showed it was a noncontact injury.
The Lakers are currently one game out of the No. 10 seed in the Western Conference, representing the final play-in spot, with 20 games remaining in the regular season.
L.A. hosts the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday. Point guard D'Angelo Russell told ESPN that he will miss the Wolves game because of his sprained right ankle.
Source-ESPN
Flow’s 2nd Annual Leadership Conference gets high ratings from attendees
Flow TCI’s 2nd Annual John C Maxwell Leadership Summit which concluded on Monday, February 27th has once again attracted a record number of attendees including top industry leaders and organizations. The conference which has become TCI’s top leadership event seeks to develop the country’s leadership capacity across both the public and private sectors.
Flow TCI Country Manager, Joanne Missick said: “This event was designed to sharpen leaders and help build emerging leaders through sharing collective experiences, and best practices, and having the hard conversations that help us as leaders provide the clear insights that motivate our teams. It makes me proud to know that a company that has been serving this country for 125 years is furthering the company’s mission to change lives by creating a legacy of developing comprehensive leaders across every major sector in the Turks and Caicos”.
Deputy Governor, Her Excellency, Hon. Anya Williams remarked, “I want to commend Flow Turks and Caicos for honoring your commitment to make this an annual event. It is easy to start something, and it is even harder to keep it going. Leaders in every organization should be looking at what they can do now to help this organization to continue to grow develop and succeed for future generations to come.”
The conference panels helped to expand the conversation on popular industry topics surrounding Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, and Psychological Safety in the Workplace.
Adding expert perspective to these discussions were Director of People for Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC), Darron Turnquest; Director of Learn & Lead, Yolande Robinson; seasoned hospitality professional, entrepreneur and private chef, Lorraine Kenlock; Mental Health and Wellbeing Practitioner for Gracebay Wellness Centre, Tinashe Masango; Director of People, Culture & EHS for FORTIS TCI, Marcus Francis; and, People & Culture Co-ordinator for FORTIS TCI, Levenia Bishop.
Tremmaine Swann-Harvey, Partner at Missick & Stanbrook, who also attended the event in 2022 shared, “Last year I left inspired and ready to implement the strategies learned at the conference, so I knew I could not miss the 2023 conference. It did not disappoint. I was particularly enthralled by the discussions on ‘diversity, equity and inclusion’, ‘the six forms of working genius’ and ‘communication and connecting across generations’. Congratulations to the team at Flow for another successful conference. I am already looking forward to 2024!”
Distinguished guests in attendance at this year’s event included Deputy Governor, Her Excellency, Hon. Anya Williams, Deputy Premier & Minister of Finance, Hon. EJ Saunders, Minister of Infrastructure and Planning, Hon. Jamell Robinson, Hon. Kyle Knowles, and Hon. Akierra Missick.
The 3rd Annual Live 2 Lead John C Maxwell Leadership Summit has already been announced for February 24, 2024 with a new exciting lineup of speakers.
Ministry of Education, Youth, Sport and Social Services announces activities for Education Week 2023
The Ministry of Education, Youth, Sport and Social Services is pleased to announce the activities for Education Week 2023 under the theme, “Human Capital Development: Success for Every Learner”
The Education sector will commence the week of activities with an Ecumenical Service on each island on Sunday, 5 March at:
Revival Faith Centre – Grand Turk, 11:00 a.m.
Church of God of Prophecy – Middle/North Caicos, 11:00 a.m.
Community Christian Fellowship – Providenciales, 9:00 a.m.
On South Caicos the Ecumenical Service Will be held Monday, 6 March at Wesley Methodist Church at 10:00 a.m.
Hon Rachel M Taylor, Minister of Education, and her team will lead School administrators, Teachers, students and parents as they gather in corporate worship to give thanks to God for another year of success in the formal education process.
On Monday, 6 March at 6:00 p.m. the Education Symposium will convene at Beaches Turks and Caicos to address the topic, “Improving Teacher Retention in the 21st Century and Beyond Through Support and Development.” The Keynote speaker will be Hon Robert Hall, former Minister of Education and a panel of former and current educators will discuss the topic. The Minister of Education will bring the closing remarks.
Technical Vocational Education and Training is critical to labour force development and high schools across the country in collaboration with the Turks and Caicos Islands Community College will display some of the work being done in this area. On Tuesday, 7 March, the public is invited to visit schools where they will have the opportunity to speak with students about what they are learning and see samples of work that students would have completed since the commencement of the school year.
The Ministry will also launch Phase 2 of the Notesmaster Curriculum Writers Training and Content Development Project on Tuesday, 7 March 2023. The critical components of this project involves the following:
1. Stakeholder Sensitization;
2. Technical Development of a standalone MOE Turks and Caicos Islands Notesmaster Learning Management System (LMS) for stakeholder access to digital lessons.
3. Training of all teachers so that they are able to access the resources and remix the available content to suit the teaching and learning needs.
4. Professional Development in the effective use of the technology in classrooms using live classrooms in K1 to Grade 11 classes; and
5. Training of parents/guardians to help them develop a basic understanding of how the LMS platform works.
The FortisTCI Annual Science and Technology Fair will commence on Wednesday, 8 March at the Gustarvus Lightbourne Sports Complex with the National Primary School Science Quiz from 9:00 a.m. until noon and the Grand Finale of the National High School Debate from 1:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. On Thursday, 9 March the public is invited to view the Science Project and Poster Competition from 1:00 pm until 4:00 p.m. and to witness the Awards Ceremony slated to commence at 5:00 p.m. This is the first time we are staging the Project and Poster aspects of the FortisTCI Annual Science and Technology Fair since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic and the excitement has been building for what promises to be a memorable event.
On Thursday, 30 March the Ministry will recognise, celebrate and award the work of Teachers across the school system through a Teacher’s Appreciation Gala which will be held on Providenciales.
The public is invited to attend each of the activities listed and to visit schools during the week.
Department of Mental Health and Substance Dependence launches its Anti-Stigma Campaign
On February 27th 2023, the Department of Mental Health and Substance Dependence within the Ministry of Health and Human Services, launched its Anti-Stigma Campaign called “Dismantling Stigma”. Mental Health Stigma is one of the biggest barriers to mental health care. According to the American Psychological Association (APA), “mental health stigma” or “mental illness stigma” refers to the stigma attached to mental health conditions and the discrimination that can happen to people who have experienced them.
Mental health is often stigmatized because of a lack of understanding about what mental health conditions are and what it is like to live with a mental health condition.
Commenting on the launch, Director of the Department of Mental Health and Substance Dependence, Dr. Alicia Malcolm said, “our goal with the Dismantling Stigma Campaign is to shift perceptions and change the narrative regarding mental health conditions in the TCI. No one should ever feel ashamed or be discriminated against because they have a particular condition and seeking help should be as normal as seeking help for a physical ailment or any other issue”.
Minister of Health and Human Services, the Hon. Shaun Malcolm commenting on the anti-stigma campaign said, “Fear, misunderstanding, inaccurate or misleading information all contribute to stigma and discrimination towards those living with mental health illnesses.”
The Minister went on to say that as individuals we hold the power to reverse stigma through education, awareness and reframing our notions of what it means to be different.
Also in attendance was Ms. Stacy Cox, CEO of the Turks and Caicos Hotel and Tourism Association, which is the organization sponsoring the campaign. Ms. Cox noted that, “the fragility of mental health and the daily struggles we can all face came to the forefront for our industry during the pandemic, and many are still reeling in silence. The Turks and Caicos Hotel and Tourism Association is excited to partner in educating our citizens that there is no shame in needing help, and that help is available and accessible in Turks and Caicos Islands”.
As part of the launch, which took place at the Providenciales International Airport, the Department unveiled billboards depicting mental health stories of five outstanding individuals who have braved some of life’s most difficult challenges and have willingly shared how they were able to deal with the emotional and mental health aspect of those challenges.
Their stories are inspiring and gives hope to all, that you can overcome or learn to manage any mental or emotional difficulties you may face. The campaign is expected to run throughout the year and there are high expectations that its goal of dismantling mental health stigma will surely be achieved.
For further information on the Dismantling Stigma Campaign, kindly contact the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse at: 338-3613 in Grand Turk, or 338-4737 in Providenciales or visit www.facebook.com/TCIDMHSD or https://www.gov.tc/dmhsd/.
Leonecia Selver Appointed as Senior Procurement Officer
The Office of the Deputy Governor of the Turks and Caicos Islands is pleased to announce the appointment of Leonecia Selver to the post of Senior Procurment Officer in the Contracts and Corporate Performance Management (Procurement) Unit in the Office of the Deputy Governor.
Selver holds an Associates Degree in Political Science from Perimeter College in Atlanta, Georgia (2017) and a Bachelors Degree in Political Science (Hons) from Georgia State University (2019).
Following the completion of her undergraduate studies, Selver returned to the Turks and Caicos Islands to perform her civic duty and began working as an Adjunct Lecturer for the Faculty of Humanities and Liberal Arts at the Turks and Caicos Islands Community College in 2020, where she enjoyed the challenge of teaching and discussing politics, as well as many other prevalent global issues.
Within the same year, she joined the Turks and Caicos Islands Public Service in the capacity of Administrative Officer in the Human Resource Management Directorate of the Office of the Deputy Governor, where she served as the first point of contact assigned to assist members of the public service.
The government is increasing the capacity of the Contracts and Corporate Performance Management Unit to better meet the procurement needs of the government.
Congratulations Leonecia, we wish you well in your future endeavors.