Police arrest man outside Justice Kavanaugh's home
A California man who allegedly made threats against Justice Brett Kavanaugh and showed up near his Maryland home has been charged with attempted murder of a U.S. Supreme Court justice. Federal court records show 26-year-old Nicholas Roske of Simi Valley, California, was angry over the recent mass shooting at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, and the leaked draft of the Supreme Court's decision impacting Roe v. Wade.
The affidavit states Roske called the Montgomery County Emergency Communications Center to say he wanted to kill a Supreme Court justice. He was carrying a Glock 17 pistol, two magazines, pepper spray, zip ties, a hammer, screwdriver, nail punch, crowbar, pistol light and duct tape were in the backpack, per the affidavit.
The charge of attempted murder of a Supreme Court justice carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison.
Source-ABC
Cardi B says she's not dropping new music next week, despite report
After reports that new music from Cardi B would drop next week, the rapper took to social media to set the record straight.
"BARDIGANG I don’t wanna gas y’all and put a battery in yall back ….so I’m going to be the one to tell y’all what @PageSix wrote is not true," the "Bodak Yellow" rapper tweeted Wednesday. "I actually wish but if y’all been checking in with me on Centerfold y’all know what’s been the issue."
The tweet came shortly after Page Six reported that Cardi was gearing up to drop a new single next Friday, June 17. According to the post, their source also claimed that the new track would feature a "top male artist in the hip hop game" who is currently very "relevant."
The news comes as Cardi prepares for the release of her sophomore album. While she hasn't shared a release date or name for the new project, during an appearance on Playboy's Centerfold platform over the weekend, the 29-year-old confirmed that 2020's Megan Thee Stallion-assisted hit "WAP" and 2021's "Up" will be included.
Source-ABC
MIXED WEATHER FOR REGATTA WEEKEND IN SOUTH
GENERAL SITUATION: A HIGH PRESSURE RIDGE CONTINUE TO SUPPORT A MODERATE TO FRESH BREEZY ACROSS THE BAHAMAS
WARNINGS:
BEACH GOERS IN THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS SHOULD REMAIN VIGILANT DUE TO POSSIBLE RIP CURRENTS ALONG EAST AND SOUTHEAST SHORE LINES … MARINERS SHOULD BE ALERT FOR POSSIBLE WATER SPOUT ACTIVITY.
ALL AREAS
WEATHER: PARTLY SUNNY, HOT AND BREEZY WITH ISOLATED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS, BECOMING FAIR, WARM AND BREEZY WITH PASSING SHOWERS TONIGHT
ADVISORY: EXPECT GUSTY WINDS AND HIGHER SEAS IN SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS, SMALL CRAFT CAUTION REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS
WINDS: SOUTHEAST AT 10 TO 15 KNOTS IN THE NORTHWEST BAHAMAS, EAST TO SOUTHEAST AT 15 TO 20 KNOTS IN THE TCI, CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS
SEAS: 2 TO 4 FEET IN THE NORTHWEST, BUILDING 4 TO 6 FEET IN THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS
DAYTIME HIGH TEMPERATURE 88°F 33°C
OVERNIGHT LOW TEMPERATURE 73°F 23°C
SUNRISE: 6:20AM MOONSET: 5:35 PM HIGH TIDE: 6:25AM 6:58PM
SUNSET: 7:52PM MOONRISE: 5:03AM SAT LOW TIDE: 12:36PM 1:22AMSAT
EXTENDED FORECAST: THE HIGH PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL DRIFT EAST ACROSS THE BAHAMAS WHILE STREAMING TROPICAL MOISTURE AND TROUGHING WILL TRIGGER UNSETTLED WEATHER ACROSS THE ISLANDS THIS WEEKEND.
FORECAST FOR SATURDAY
WEATHER: PARTLY CLOUDY, HOT AND HUMID IN THE NORTHWEST BAHAMAS AND PARTLY CLOUDY TO CLOUDY, HOT AND BREEZY IN THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS WIDELY SCATTERED SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS, EXPECTED THROUGHOUT THE ARCHIPELAGO HEAVY AND SEVERE AT TIMES IN THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHEASTERN ISLANDS.
WINDS: SOUTHEAST TO SOUTH AT 10 TO 15 KNOTS IN THE NORTHWEST BAHAMAS, SOUTHEASTERLY AT 15 TO 20 KNOTS IN THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS
SEAS: 2 TO 4 FEET IN THE NORTHWEST BAHAMAS BUILDING 4 TO 6 FEET IN THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS
FORECAST FOR SUNDAY
WEATHER: PARTLY CLOUDY TO CLOUDY, HOT AND HUMID WITH WIDELY SCATTERED SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS, HEAVY TO SEVERE AT TIMES OVER ALL AREAS.
WINDS: SOUTHEAST AT 10 TO 15 KNOTS IN THE NORTHWEST AND CENTRAL ISLANDS AND EAST TO SOUTHEAST AT 15 TO 20 KNOTS, GUSTING AT TIMES IN THE SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS
SEAS: 2 TO 4 FEET IN THE NORTHWEST AND CENTRAL BAHAMAS, 4 TO 6 FEET, HIGHER IN GUST IN THE SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS
CARICOM warns illegal firearm trafficking poses a significant challenge for the region
Chairman of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Council for National Security and Law Enforcement (CONSLE), Dr. Horace Chang, says the illicit trafficking of illegal firearms is a significant challenge for the region.
Chang, who is also Jamaica’s National Security Minister, told the Committee meeting on Hemispheric Security at the Organization of American States (OAS) on Thursday that “the Caribbean accounts for approximately 23 per cent of all recorded homicides, with an average homicide rate of 15.1 per 100,000 people, which is nearly three times the world average.
“The proliferation and increased access to illegal firearms account for the high level of armed violence and insecurity within our regions, Chang said, pointing out that “the firearm is the weapon of choice for committing homicides and other acts of crime and violence.
“In this regard, I have to underscore the need for greater collaboration and partnership to combat the scourge of the illicit trafficking of firearms.
“This is directly linked to the steps being taken by IMPACS (the CARICOM Implementation Agency for Crime and Security) to strengthen the capacity of member states in the region to successfully detect and prevent these illegal firearms from entering our shores,” Chang said, adding “the region must continue to commit to regional mechanisms that support firearm ballistics gathering and information sharing”.
Regarding the illegal drug trade, Chang said the illicit trafficking in drugs “through our regions operates in tandem with mechanisms supporting the legal trade.
“The UNODC (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime) reports that the number of new psychoactive substances emerging on illicit drug markets has increased six-fold in the past decade and reached a record high of over 1,000 unique substances in 2020.
“Specifically, annual global seizures of amphetamine-type stimulants increased by 64 per cent in 2019, while opioid use disorder deaths have gone up by 71 per cent over the past decade. To cauterise the challenges identified facing our regions, there is an urgent need to implement comprehensive coordinated responses to drug demand and illicit drug trafficking,” the CONSLE chairman said.
He said in the area of maritime security, the challenges faced have underscored the need to leverage technology, including through the use of satellite imagery, radar and surveillance systems, and other maritime domain awareness infrastructure.
“We therefore have to identify opportunities to re-engage our strategic partners to strengthen the existing maritime framework and build on the work of CARICOM IMPACS, which provides maritime data on high risk vessels on a daily basis to several countries in the region.
“Mr. Chairman, the commitment to enhancing maritime security, especially with countries in CARICOM having landmasses one-tenth of their Exclusive Economic Zones, is of paramount importance.”
Source-CMC
Working means Talking PNP Government needs to say what led to a $500,000+ financial reward to Complainants and update us on the promise to “Living our best life”
Robert Been, PDM Deputy Party Leader in his recent editorial added Turks and Caicos – I don’t know about you, but we the people need to know why over half a million dollars of public funds was awarded to persons who won their claims against the Government of the Turks and Caicos Islands.
These claims were successful that they were poorly, inhumanely or criminally handled by our system. Why haven’t we heard what will be done to avoid any repeat of what went wrong in these matters?
The PNP Government saw and heard the reactions of the people of the TCI, and completely ignored the situation, and decided that once again, it was okay to not give any account to anyone. Not even to you, who voted them in office.
Our leaders must find out what measures can be put in place to avoid constantly losing cases whether it is the criminal court or the civil court. This is like a pest eating away at the harvest we should be enjoying. If improved control and preventative measures are in place and properly followed, of course it is no guarantee for a perfect winning record, but we will stand a better fighting chance at winning or possibly seeing lower claim payouts.
The seriousness and far-reaching consequences not dotting “I”s and not crossing “T”s must be clearly understood by every person employed in the public sector.
This is an age which demands greater levels of transparency, consistent and intelligent communication and the kind of maturity by senior officers of our public offices which can admit wrongs and implement strategies and procedures to right the wrongs as quickly as possible.
Yet, no one is made to account. It continues to be business as usual. Maybe because it is not directly their money and if that is true, then it will make sense for Turks and Caicos Islanders to question whether we have the right stewards over our money.
I don’t know about you, but I found those payouts from the public purse to be jaw-dropping – and I know I am not alone.
Most of us would have heard the new budget address, all we heard was the same surplus talks and millions going into the public purse, but we have yet to see Islanders economically empowered, and amongst other things, our islands continue to struggle with things like better infrastructural development that can transform our communities into areas its residents can be proud of.
Why do we still have unpaved roads in TCI? Why don’t we have more parks for families to take their children or for our people to walk, run and jog? Why don’t we have more pedestrian crossings, sidewalks and speed bumps in our communities? Why aren’t we investing in recreational centres or other family- friendly options that give our children more to do and to bring out the unique talents in them? Why isn’t more being done to better outfit our surrounding islands?
PNP, pay attention to your people, take a look at the audience you continue to address, they are not the same individuals you begged in the lower income areas for votes. This government’s focus has proven to be on one group of people when it should be country first. A new course of action must be taken to better the lives of your people – ALL of your people.
This beautiful country is in need of radical leaders who will pave a way for generations to come. Leaders with real vision that is not there for a title or to sit on a panel with no insight with what’s really going on in our country.
To the citizens of Turks and Caicos, The People’s Democratic Movement, will be ready to set that new course of action, we will continue to hold those accountable for you.
In closing, as we prepare to remember our only national hero, the Rt Excellent James Alexander George Smith McCartney, a founder of the PDM party, let’s remember his sacrifices and accomplishments for a better standard of living for the people of this country, let’s live in unity and keep the dream alive of our national hero. I stand with you Turks and Caicos to ensure that we ALL are able to have a better future for generation to come.
HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN’S BIRTHDAY AND PLATINUM JUBILEE PLANS REVEALED FOR 2022
The Office of the Governor has planned a series of events in observance of Her Majesty The Queen’s Birthday and Platinum Jubilee for the TCI, as a territory.
The Queen’s Jubilee celebration marks 70 years of Her Majesty The Queen, reigning as monarch when she became Queen upon her Father’s death in 1952.
This year, The Queen will be celebrating her 96th birthday. The Queen is now our longest serving Monarch.
The Queen’s Birthday celebration is normally held on the second Saturday in June, instead of her actual month of birth which is in April. In acknowledgement of her extensive years of service the Turks and Caicos Islands Office of the Governor, will be hosting a number of events.
Thursday, 2nd June 2022; marks the start of a fun filled extended weekend. The festivities will commence with The Queen's Platinum Jubilee Beacon which will be held to celebrate the time-honored tradition for Royal Jubilees. This consists of lighting a fire in recognition of Her Majesty The Queen's 70th year on the throne. On this date, the general public is invited to a bonfire located on Governor’s Beach in Grand Turk. There will be music, fun games, free food and much more. This event will commence at 7:30pm until 10:00pm.
Friday, 3rd June; is a public holiday that will only be celebrated this year in honor of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
Saturday, 4th June; the annual Queen’s Birthday Parade will be hosted at the Parade Grounds in Grand Turk at 10:00am. The highlight of this parade will no doubt be the uniforms groups marching in tandem to the RTCI Police Force Band. The customary medal ceremony will take place to honour uniformed persons that have served 18, 25 and over 30 years of service. A special Jubilee medal will also have been issued to persons that have served 5 or more years with the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force, Her Majesty’s Prison, Turks and Caicos Islands Fire and Rescue Services in addition to Health Services.
Sunday, 5th June; a church service will be held at the St Mary’s Anglican Church on Front Street at 9:00am.
Monday, 6th June; will be the official Queen’s Birthday Holiday. The Queen’s Jubilee cricket match will be held at the Downtown Ball Park in Providenciales at 1:00pm. This sporting event will be free for all to attend and will bring the celebratory weekend to a close.
The public is invited to join in on all of the festivities taking place during this commemorative weekend, as we join the Overseas Territories, the Commonwealth and the United Kingdom during this momentous and historic occasion.
INVEST TCI HOSTED 3RD ANNUAL ECONOMIC CONFERENCE
Invest TCI hosted its 3rd Annual Economic Conference on Tuesday, 24th May. It was held under the theme: Strengthening Our Domestic Investment Landscape. The Keynote Speakers of this year’s event was Deputy Premier and Minister of Finance, Honorable Erwin Jay Saunders, Director of Tourism Linkages Network, Carolyn McDonald-Riley, and Chief Executive Officer (Acting) Invest TCI, Angela Musgrove.
The Premier of the Turks and Caicos Islands, Hon. Charles Washington Misick was also a speaker at this prestigious event. He expressed his pleasure in being able to participate in the third annual economic conference. The last economic conference which held by Invest TCI was held in 2019. He said, therefore, that it is great to be able to meet again this year until favorable circumstances.
It was mentioned in his speech that it is important to acknowledge the environment and what the challenges are. Hon Misick thanked those people who are involved in the Climate Change contract, which was signed during the Climate Change Summit, saying that it is important that those people ensure that the objectives are met.
He said that currently there are six projects which are running concurrently that create the business environment to make these islands a sustainable and successful place to invest and live. He mentioned that one project is currently investing in the airports which he said, “is literally hundreds of millions of dollars.”
The Premier added that another project focuses on the population landscape to ensure that people have a right to live here and benefit from being in this country. Additionally, there is a major project which focuses on housing and the issues surrounding the lack of housing within the country.
Premier Misick went on to say that it is his duty to level the playing field between Foreign Direct Investment and Economic Growth within the islands. The regulatory framework must consider economic fairness and level playing field, the Premier said, but it currently achieves neither. He stated that it currently frustrates foreign investors and does not support or encourage direct domestic investment.
He explained that over the last 50 years, the TCI government adopted an economic policy which focused primarily on Foreign Direct Investment. This, he said, has resulted in a flow of monies reflecting billions of dollars invested in what he termed a sleeping archipelago which has now transformed into one that is awakening.
“However, the gap between the economic growth of the islands and the development of its people requires addressing by an appropriate policy document”, Premier Misick stated. Insert 6:40 – 7:00
In Cue: there is therefore the need for an investment model…
Out Cue: the time for that must come to an end.
The Hon. Premier added that the government will draft and implement a new policy which will focus on including Turks and Caicos Islanders as investors in the growing TCI economy to access industry capital.
Hyundai to recall 281,000 North American vehicles over exploding seat belt pretensioner
Hyundai Motor America said it will recall 281,000 vehicles in North America over seat belt pretensioners that could explode and project metal fragments, causing injuries.
The recall, which comes after three injury reports, covers some 2019-2022 Accent, 2021-2023 Elantra, and 2021-2022 Elantra hybrid vehicles. In the event of a crash, front driver or passenger-side seat-belt pretensioners could explode upon deployment. Dealers will secure seat-belt pretensioners with a cap.
Seat-belt pretensioners are part of the a system that locks the seatbelt in place during a crash to provide additional protection to occupants.
This recall expands and replaces four earlier recalls. All Accent, Elantra, and Elantra HEV vehicles already repaired under the previous recalls will need to have the new recall fix completed, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said Tuesday.
The new recall includes 239,000 vehicles in the United States and about 42,000 in Canada, Hyundai said. Two injuries were reported in the United States and one in Singapore.
In September, NHTSA told Hyundai of a crash incident involving a 2021 Elantra, where the driver-side seat belt pretensioner allegedly deployed abnormally, causing metal fragments to injure an occupant’s leg. The agency had asked Hyundai to assess the incident.
Hyundai, which has extensively investigated the root cause of the issue, said it was still actively investigating Venue and Genesis GV70/GV80 vehicles that were previously recalled.
Source-Auto News
Twitter fined $150m in US for selling users' data
Twitter in the US must pay a $150m (£119m) fine after law enforcement officials accused it of illegally using users' data to help sell targeted ads.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Department of Justice say Twitter violated an agreement it had with regulators, court documents showed.
Twitter had vowed to not give personal information like phone numbers and email addresses to advertisers.
Federal investigators say the social media company broke those rules.
Twitter was fined £400,000 in December 2020 for breaking Europe's GDPR data privacy rules.
The FTC is an independent agency of the US government whose mission is the enforcement of anti-trust law and the promotion of consumer protection.
Twitter generates most of its revenue from advertising on its platform, which allows users ranging from consumers to celebrities to corporations to post 280-character messages, or tweets.
According to a complaint filed by the Department of Justice on behalf of the FTC, Twitter in 2013 began asking users to provide either a phone number or email address to improve account security.
"As the complaint notes, Twitter obtained data from users on the pretext of harnessing it for security purposes, but then ended up also using the data to target users with ads," said Lina Khan, who chairs the FTC.
"This practice affected more than 140 million Twitter users, while boosting Twitter's primary source of revenue."
"This reality shows the power that companies still have over your data and that there is a long way to go before users can be comfortable knowing that they have full control over their own digital footprint."
In order to authenticate an account, Twitter requires people to provide a telephone number and email address.
That information also helps people reset their passwords and unlock their accounts if required, as well as for enabling two-factor authentication.
Two-factor authentication provides an extra layer of security by sending a code to either a phone number or email address to help users log into Twitter along with a username and password.
But, according to the FTC, until at least September 2019, Twitter was also using that information to boost its advertising business.
It is accused of allowing advertisers access to users' security information.
In addition to the fine, Twitter must also:
-stop using the phone numbers and email addresses it illegally collected
-notify users about its improper use of security information
-tell users about the FTC law enforcement action
-explain how to turn off personalised adverts and review multi-factor authentication settings
-provide multi-factor authentication options that do not need a phone number
-implement an enhanced privacy and security programme which includes reporting incidents to the FTC within 30 days
"The Department of Justice is committed to protecting the privacy of consumers' sensitive data," said Vanita Gupta, the US associate attorney general.
"The $150m penalty reflects the seriousness of the allegations against Twitter, and the substantial new compliance measures to be imposed as a result of the proposed settlement will help prevent further misleading tactics that threaten users' privacy."
Source-BBC
GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS BEAT DALLAS MAVERICKS TO REACH FINALS FOR SIXTH TIME IN EIGHT YEARS
The Golden State Warriors beat the Dallas Mavericks 120-110 on Thursday to seal their return to the NBA Finals. After missing out the past two years, the Warriors clinched a 4-1 win in the Western Conference finals as Klay Thompson scored a game-high 32 points.
They are the first team to reach the Finals six times in eight years since the Chicago Bulls in the 1990s. The Warriors won the NBA title in 2015, 2017 and 2018, beating the LeBron James-led Cleveland Cavaliers each time, but lost the 2016 and 2019 finals and missed out on the play-offs while rebuilding their roster in the past two seasons.
The Michael Jordan-led Bulls won six NBA titles from 1991-1998, and Golden State coach Steve Kerr played in the last three of those wins.
He said that to be in the finals six times in eight years takes an enormous amount of skill, determination and work. He added to get back again is special for all of them as it's so difficult to get to the finals.