Chinese government delegation banned from attending the lying-in-state of Queen Elizabeth II
A Chinese government delegation has been banned from attending the lying-in-state of Queen Elizabeth II, the BBC understands.
House of Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle is understood to have refused a request for access to Westminster Hall over Chinese sanctions against five MPs and two peers.
A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said they had not seen a report about the ban, which first emerged on the Politico website.
"As a host, the UK is certainly familiar with diplomatic protocols and proper manners of receiving guests," China's foreign ministry spokesperson, Mao Ning, said.
Last year, China imposed travel bans and asset freezes on nine Britons - including seven parliamentarians - for accusing Beijing of mistreating Uighur Muslims.
That led to China's ambassador to the UK being banned from Parliament - a move which has now been extended to a delegation that wanted to pay their respects at Queen Elizabeth's lying-in-state.
UK-China relations are already strained and this ban is unlikely to help.
However, China's vice-president is expected to attend Monday's state funeral which will be held across the road from Parliament at Westminster Abbey. China's President Xi Jinping is on the guest list for the state funeral but is not thought likely to attend.
British officials expect the country will instead be represented by Vice President Wang Qishan.
Queen Elizabeth will lie in state until her funeral on Monday.
Source-BBC
Less at the pumps
In Barbados, consumers will pay less for gasoline and kerosene, and more for diesel, effective this week.
The retail price of gasoline will be $4.26 per liter, a decrease of 13 cents, while kerosene will cost $2.16 per liter, a saving of 20 cents. Diesel will now sell for $3.94 per liter, which is an increase of 9 cents.
Given the high volatility associated with refined petroleum products, the Bajan government capped the retail prices of gasoline and diesel at $4.48 per liter and $4.03 per liter,
respectively.
The capping is expected to bring some level of predictability to the retail prices, and shield consumers from the full increase of refined petroleum products.
When calculated, the retail prices fell below the cap of gasoline and diesel.
Many countries in the region will be looking to their governments, to see if similar arrangements will be made.
Source-Barbados
Six Young Men receives Small Business Assistance from Invest TCI
Invest Turks and Caicos Agency (Invest TCI) is happy to announce that six Turks and Caicos men were the most recent recipients of small business assistance from the Micro Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) Programme.
The MSME Programme managed by Invest TCI has made commendable strides and has awarded over $3.1 Million in grants, technical assistance, and duty concession since its inception in 2016.
From horticulture to media production and graphic design to BBQ donuts, the six recipients received a combined total of $132,500 in assistance. The awardees have embraced their entrepreneurial spirit and demonstrated exceptional business creativity and innovation with their various small businesses. Amongst the recipients were the following businesses and owners:
Prolific Creation – Moses Carter
Caicos Pro Wash – Kristoff Malcolm
Caicos BBQ Donuts – Sean Pratt
Genesis Next Media – Gregston Been
JAWS Graphic Design Studio – Jamel Ward
Turks and Caicos Horticulture – Tevin Ramsey
Commenting on the event, Acting VP of Small Business Development, Anissa Adderley, stated, "With the recent occurrence in our country, many of our young men are feeling hopeless. We believe the success stories of these individuals will inspire other young men to consider entrepreneurship and explore the benefits of the MSME Programme.
All is not lost - we have a cadre of positive young men who are breaking barriers and achieving their dreams. We encourage our young men to consider the MSME Programme. We will take your hand and guide you through the process. We believe you can make a difference. We are here to assist you.”
Moses Carter, recipient and owner of Prolific Creation, a coin engraving business, stated, “Thank you to the Honourable E. Jay Saunders and the team at Invest TCI. Young brothers, all you need is an idea, a plan, and a $25 application fee. Apply to the MSME Programme; they will assist you and guide you through the process to make your idea a reality.” Carter further encouraged young men not to get caught up and distracted by what is happening in our communities. He encouraged young men to love themselves and to focus on their families and business.
CEO for Invest TCI, Angela Musgrove, remarked on the momentous occasion, “Most applications to the MSME Programme are female entrepreneurs, so we were delighted to see applications submitted from several young men. We are extremely impressed by the presentations these young men made to the MSME Approval Committee and the knowledge and know-how they shared about their respective businesses. Congratulations to each recipient, and we look forward to working with you and continuing to support you in your business ventures.”
TROPICAL WEATHER STATEMENT #1 FOR THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS
Met Expert Holly Hamilton RTC News that at 2PM, the center of Tropical Storm Fiona was located near latitude 16.5 North, longitude 54.8 West. Fiona is moving toward the west near 14 mph (22 km/h). A westward motion with some decrease in forward speed is expected through late Saturday, with a turn toward the west-northwest possible on Sunday.
On the forecast track, the center of Fiona is expected to move across the Leeward Islands Friday night and early Saturday, and move near the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico late Saturday into Sunday. Some slow strengthening is possible during the next few days.
POTENTIAL IMPACTS
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- Depending on the track of the storm, the Turks and Caicos Islands can experience an increase in rainfall and winds by early next week.
- Deterioration in sea state early next week due to the high likelihood of moderately high waves and swells.
RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE PUBLIC
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- Use this time to download the DDME Alert App for significant weather alerts and for useful information on how to prepare for various hazards. Click the link: http://onelink.to/qe7vn2
- Prepare yourself well in advance for potential severe weather impacts.
- Reduce hazards in and around your property, such as overhanging trees, clogged drains, and unsecured items that can become missiles during high winds.
- Review your Family Emergency Plan and your Business Continuity Plan.
- Discuss with family members what actions they should take if impacted by hazards arising from the adverse weather.
- Prepare your emergency supplies to last at least 3 - 7 days.
- Assist neighbors and the elderly in prevention and preparedness activities.
- Continue to monitor the DDME website and Social media pages for official weather updates.
The TCIAA Meteorological Department and the Department of Disaster Management and Emergencies will continue to monitor this system and advise the public accordingly.
Potential Impacts: Significant
Likelihood: Medium
Risk Level: MEDIUM
RTC will have this on our Instagram & Twitter page as well as on 89.1fm.
FIVE CAYS DOUBLE MURDER INVESTIGATION LAUNCHED
The RTCIPF investigators have launched an investigation into the double murder that occurred in the Turks & Caicos Islands.
The police report states that at 12:05 am on September 03rd, 2022), the Police Control room received a report that two persons were shot on Reese Street, Five Cays in the vicinity of Pompey’s Bar.
The report says that the Police Response Unit responded and on arrival discovered a dark-skinned male with a dreadlock hairstyle lying face-up on the ground with several gunshot wounds about the head and body. At the time the victim was breathing, but unconscious. The victim was immediately transported to the Cheshire Hall Medical Centre, where he later succumbed to his injuries at 12.38 am.
Whilst at the same scene, officers were directed to another area, where a second male victim was pointed out with gunshot wounds. The victim was also transported to the Cheshire Hall Medical Centre where he too succumbed to injuries at 12.49 am.
Meanwhile, the police have launched a separate investigation, this time into another double murder case, of a male and female.
What we are learning from the police is that at 8.27 am on Sunday, September 04th, 2022, the Police Control Room received a call that a man was shot in the vicinity of The Office Bar.
Police Response Units and medical personnel were dispatched and found the lifeless body of a male victim lying face down with several gunshot wounds about the body.
While conducting a search on the property, officers found the motionless body of a female victim with gunshot wounds.
Anyone with information about this or other crimes is asked to call 911 or Crime Stoppers privately at 1-800-8477 (TIPS.) Information provided will be treated in the strictest of confidence. All Crime Stoppers calls are answered by the Miami Dade Police and no one from the RTCIPF will know who called.
Canada defeats U.S. to capture gold at women's hockey
Canada had to find a different way to win a women's world hockey title after its Olympic triumph earlier this year and world championship gold a year ago.
This edition was a work in progress throughout the tournament in Denmark, but Canada played its best game of the tournament in Sunday's 2-1 win over archrival U.S. in the final.
The Canadian women won their third major international title in the span of a year after beating the U.S. 3-2 for Olympic gold in February in Beijing, and 3-2 in overtime in the 2021 world championship final just over a year ago.
"It wasn't smooth. It looked a lot different from our Olympic win and our last world championship win, but I think we're really reassured when things aren't as smooth we can find different ways to win," Canadian forward Brianne Jenner said. "We battled it out and got the job done."
It's Canada's 12th gold medal at the tournament and the first time in 18 years they have won back-to-back world titles.
Source-CBC
Russia blames sanctions for gas pipeline shutdown
Russia has warned that it will not resume gas supplies along a key pipeline to Europe until sanctions are lifted.
Moscow has blamed Western countries for its decision not to reopen the Nord Stream 1 pipeline after it was shut for three days for maintenance.
When asked if supplies would resume pumping if sanctions were eased, a Kremlin spokesman said: "Definitely".
Gas prices soared on Monday due to mounting concerns over energy supplies.
The Dutch month-ahead wholesale gas price, a benchmark for Europe, was up as much as 30% in early trading on Monday. Prices in the UK rose as much as 35% before settling at just under £5 per therm.
Wholesale prices have been very volatile in recent weeks. They fell sharply last week when Germany announced that its gas storage facilities were filling up faster than expected.
Europe has accused Russia of using gas supplies to blackmail European countries because of the Ukraine conflict.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Monday: "Pumping problems arose because of sanctions imposed against our country and against a number of companies by Western states, including Germany and the UK. "There are no other reasons that would lead to problems with pumping."
Last week, state energy firm Gazprom said that an oil leak in a turbine on the Nord Stream 1 pipeline was behind the closure. But this has been disputed by the European Union and Siemens itself, the German firm which maintains the turbine.
"Such leaks do not normally affect the operation of a turbine and can be sealed on site. It is a routine procedure within the scope of maintenance work," Siemens said in a previous statement.
However, UK businesses are not protected by a price cap and, last week, the British Chambers of Commerce warned firms would "close their doors this winter" if they were not given support with soaring bills.
Source-BBC
Liz Truss will become UK's next Prime Minister
Boris Johnson's successor as UK Prime Minister was revealed as Liz Truss, the next Conservative leader.
The new PM will inherit a flagging economy, with inflation at a 40-year high. They are also under pressure to cushion the blow of soaring energy costs.
Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, tipped by pollsters & have won, has promised to announce further help to shield consumers within a week of taking over.
She then plans to deliver £30bn in tax cuts through an emergency Budget later this month, arguing the UK's tax burden is behind sluggish growth.
Ms. Truss is yet to offer details of her cost-of-living support plan beyond saying she will temporarily scrap green levies on energy bills and reverse the rise in National Insurance introduced during Mr. Johnson's tenure.
Labour, the Liberal Democrats, and the SNP have all called on the government to freeze energy prices through multi-billion pound subsidies, while the Greens have suggested nationalizing the UK's five biggest suppliers.
Ms. Truss did not rule out a freeze on Sunday but has previously described the idea as a "sticking plaster" and argues more needs to be done to help the UK boost its domestic sources of energy.
Meanwhile, Mr. Boris Johnson is expected to deliver a farewell speech upon leaving office on Tuesday, before the handover of power takes place.
In a break with tradition, the next Tory leader will travel to Balmoral Castle in Scotland to be appointed by the Queen, rather than at Buckingham Palace.
The Queen has been suffering from mobility issues and it is understood the change announced last week was made to prevent the need for any last-minute rearrangements.
Source-BBC
Donald Trump holds rally
Donald Trump has called President Joe Biden an "enemy of the state" at his first rally since the FBI searched his Florida resort for sensitive files.
Speaking to thousands of supporters in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, the ex-president accused Mr. Biden of weaponizing the FBI against him.
The raid was "one of the most shocking abuses of power by any administration in American history", Mr. Trump claimed.
He was in the state to promote two Republican candidates.
Dr. Mehmet Oz is running for the US Senate, and state Senator Doug Mastriano is in the race to become Pennsylvania's next governor.
Both spoke only briefly - as always, the rally on Saturday night was really about one person: the headliner.
Mr. Trump, 76, spent the first part of his nearly two-hour speech criticizing the FBI search early last month.
FBI agents conducting the search found dozens of empty folders marked as classified, and top secret files were recovered from his personal office.
Mr. Trump, who is being investigated over his handling of classified records, denies wrongdoing.
Apart from the raid, the former president returned to familiar themes at the Pennsylvania rally: false claims that the 2020 election was stolen from him, attacks on rivals in the Democratic Party, and promises to "save our country".
Source--BBC
Crypto.com pulls out on Uefa
Crypto.com has pulled out of a sponsorship deal with Uefa for the Champions League.
The agreement, worth £428m over five seasons, is said to have fallen through at the "last moment", amid concerns about increased crypto regulation.
The cryptocurrency exchange site was set to replace Gazprom after Uefa severed links with the Russian energy provider over the war in Ukraine.
The concerns are thought to relate to potential legal trading restrictions.
Over the past few years, digital assets have moved from the fringes of the economy and have entered the mainstream, with more and more football sponsorship deals being confirmed.
Both Chelsea and Atletico Madrid signed an agreement with trading platform WhaleFin and Manchester City have OKX as their training kit partner.
Watford has previously had Bitcoin as a club sponsor and accepted the cryptocurrency at the club.
Last year, Spanish striker David Barral made football history when his move from Real Madrid to DUX International de Madrid was paid for using Bitcoin.
According to Uefa, the cryptocurrency sector has partly helped clubs to fill the revenue streams that were lost as a result of the pandemic.
Despite these lucrative sponsorship deals, Bitcoin is down almost 70% from its historic November 2021 high, Ethereum is down more than 70%, and several crypto exchanges have laid off workers en masse.
In June, Crypto.com cut almost 5% of its workforce - about 260 employees - according to chief executive Kris Marszalek.
Source-BBC