MURDER INVESTIGATION UNDERWAY – BLUE HILLS, PROVIDENCIALES
Officers of The Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force responded to Dako Yard, along the Millennium Highway in Blue Hills, Providenciales after reports to 911 that a body was seen on the ground.
According to the Police Control Room on Friday, December 31, 2021 a male complainant reported that he had heard gunshots fired overnight and found the body of a male with what appeared to be gunshot wounds shortly after 6:00 a.m. this morning. This is an active investigation by Officers of the Serious Crime Unit.
The RTCIPF is appealing to those who may have witnessed this incident or have information to please call 911 or confidentially call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-8477(TIPS).
TCI Forecast for the rest of 2021
GENERAL SITUATION: PLEASANT AND STABLE CONDITIONS WILL CONTINUE ACROSS THE BAHAMAS AS HIGH PRESSURE REMAINS THE DOMINANT FEATURE THROUGH TONIGHT.
SPECIAL WARNINGS: BEACHGOERS IN THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS SHOULD EXERCISE CAUTION ALONG EAST COAST BEACHES DUE TO POSSIBLE RIP CURRENTS.
FOR ALL AREAS
WEATHER: PARTLY TO MOSTLY SUNNY, WARM AND A BIT BREEZY ACROSS THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS WITH FEW PASSING ISOLATED SHOWERS POSSIBLE. TURNING MOSTLY FAIR TONIGHT.
ADVISORY: A SMALL CRAFT CAUTION IS IN EFFECT ACROSS THE SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS.
WINDS: SOUTHEAST TO SOUTH AT 10 OR LESS IN THE NORTHWEST BAHAMAS. EAST TO SOUTHEAST AT 10 TO 15 KNOTS IN THE CENTRAL BAHAMAS BUT 15 TO 20 KNOTS IN THE SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS.
SEAS: 1 TO 3 FEET IN THE NORTHWEST BAHAMAS. 2 TO 4 FEET IN THE CENTRAL AND 4 TO 7 IN THE SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS.
TODAY’S HIGH TEMPERATURE 84 °F 29 °C
OVERNIGHT LOW TEMPERATURE 68 °F 19 °C
SUNRISE: 6:54 AM SUNSET: 5:29 PM
MOONSET: 2:35 PM MOONRISE: 4:31 AM FRI
LOW TIDE: 10:43 AM HIGH TIDE: 4:30 PM
LOW TIDE: 10:41 PM HIGH TIDE: 5:12 AM FRI
EXTENDED FORECAST: (FOR THE NEXT TWO DAYS) HIGH PRESSURE RIDGING WILL CONTINUE TO MAINTAN PLEASANT AND STABLE CONDITIONS OVER THE ISLANDS OF THE BAHAMAS INTO THE NEW YEAR.
FORECAST FOR FRIDAY
WEATHER: PARTLY TO MOSTLY SUNNY, AND WARM WITH THE SLIGHT CHANCE OF A STRAY SHOWER. BREEZY IN THE SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS.
WINDS: LIGHT AND VARIABLE OVER THE NORTHWEST BAHAMAS. EASTERLY AT 10 TO 15 KNOTS IN THE CENTRAL BAHAMAS AND 15 TO 20 KNOTS IN THE SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS.
SEAS: 2 TO 4 FEET IN THE NORTHWEST AND CENTRAL BAHAMAS. 4 TO 6 FEET OVER THE OCEAN IN THE SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS.
FORECAST FOR SATURDAY
WEATHER: PARTLY TO MOSTLY SUNNY, WARM AND BREEZY IN THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS.
WINDS: SOUTHEAST TO SOUTH AT 10 TO 15 KNOTS IN THE NORTHWEST BAHAMAS. EAST TO SOUTHEAST AT 15 TO 20 KNOTS IN THE CENTRAL BAHAMAS BUT HIGHER GUSTS IN THE SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS.
SEAS: 2 TO 4 FEET IN THE NORTHWEST AND CENTRAL BAHAMAS. 4 TO 7 FEET OVER THE OCEAN IN THE TCI
Tesla to recall 475,000 cars in the US
Tesla is to recall more than 475,000 cars in the US, according to documents filed with the US safety regulator.
The electric vehicle firm announced it was recalling 356,309 vehicles because of potential rear-view camera issues affecting 2017-2020 Model 3 Teslas.
A further 119,009 Model S vehicles will also be recalled because of potential problems with the front trunk, or boot.
The total recall figure is almost equivalent to the 500,000 cars Tesla delivered last year, Reuters reports.
A safety report, submitted this month, estimates that around 1% of recalled Model 3s may have a defective rear-view camera.
Over time "repeated opening and closing of the trunk lid" may cause excessive wear to a cable that provides the rear-view camera feed, says a Safety Recall report submitted by Tesla to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in the US on the 21 December.
If the wear causes the core of the cable to separate "the rear-view camera feed is not visible on the centre display", the report notes.
The loss of the review camera display may "increase the risk of collision", it adds.
The Model S recall involves vehicles manufactured between 2014-2021, some of which may have a problem with a "secondary latch" on the front trunk, or boot.
In another Safety Recall report, also filed on 21 December, Tesla notes the fault could mean, if the primary latch is inadvertently released, the front trunk "may open without warning and obstruct the driver's visibility, increasing the risk of a crash".
Around 14% of recalled Model S's may have the defect, the report notes.
In both cases, the reports state that "Tesla is not aware of any crashes, injuries, or deaths" relating to the potential faults.
The latest recall is not the first safety issue to have prompted action from the electric vehicle firm.
Last week Tesla agreed to make changes to its Passenger Play feature, which allows games to be played on its touchscreen while the car is in motion.
It took action after an investigation was launched by the NHTSA.
The feature will now be locked and unusable while the car is moving.
Tens of thousands evacuated in Colorada
Tens of thousands of people have been evacuated and hundreds of homes have been destroyed as wildfires spread through the US state of Colorado.
The fast-moving fires are burning in Boulder County, north of Denver, and officials say deaths and injuries are likely as the blazes spread further.
Some 30,000 people in the towns of Louisville and Superior were told to leave their homes on Thursday.
Meanwhile, a state of emergency has been declared by Governor Jared Polis.
"This fire is not so much a question of resources," he told a press conference. "This fire is a force of nature."
"We hope that the winds die down, that the weather changes," he added. "But for those who are directly affected, know that you don't stand alone."
Winds of up to 105 mph (169 kph) are sweeping flames across the region following a historic drought.
And while previous fires in Colorado have been in rural areas, these latest blazes are taking place in more suburban parts of the state.
At least some were sparked when power lines were toppled by strong winds, and they have quickly become the most destructive wildfires in the modern history of the state.
Some 370 homes went up in flames west of Superior and 210 were lost in the Old Town area of Superior, Boulder County Sheriff Joe Pelle said.
A shopping complex and hotel were also fully engulfed.
At least one first responder and six others were injured, Sheriff Pelle said, adding that more casualties were likely.
One video taken outside a supermarket showed a dramatic scene as winds ripped through the car park.
Colorado has been experiencing extreme droughts in recent years. Climate change increases the risk of the hot, dry weather that is likely to fuel wildfires.
The world has already warmed by about 1.2C since the industrial era began and temperatures will keep rising unless governments around the world make steep cuts to emissions.
Source-BBC
Barbados confirms first case of Omicron variant
Chief Medical Officer Dr. Kenneth George Thursday evening disclosed that Barbados has recorded its first case of the Omicron variant of COVID-19.
Health authorities here received confirmation from the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) Laboratory, he said.
“To date, that is the only confirmed case we have. However, I must couch that by saying that we have been doing testing, preliminary sequencing at the [local] Best-Dos Santos Laboratory and there is also preliminary evidence is Omicron is established in Barbados,” Dr. George said, although declining to disclose where the person who tested positive for the variant was from.
“We do not need to panic. We have come this road before,” he added.
The Chief Medical Officer suggested it was no surprise that Barbados had now joined the list of countries recording the presence of Omicron.
“We have been consistently saying to the public within the last two to three weeks that the likelihood of Omicron being within our borders was high. We had a reason for saying this because the experience in several other countries across the globe indicated that the virus spreads extremely rapidly within communities and therefore Barbados was not going to be spared,” he pointed out.
Dr. George added that the Ministry of Health has sent “carefully selected” samples to CARPHA lab and the results are expected in seven to ten days.
“Once we have this information we will share it with the public,” he said.
Meantime, the CMO expressed concern that cases of COVID-19 in Barbados are trending upwards.
He, therefore, urged residents to continue to protect themselves by wearing masks at all times in public spaces and when in close quarters with others; observe physical distancing; sanitize frequently; and get vaccinated and/or booster shots.
Source-CMC
New Year's Eve concerts: Rick Ross headlines in Las Vegas, 50 Cent performs in Miami & more
The Omicron COVID-19 surge is not stopping the New Year's Eve concerts in Las Vegas and Miami.
Rick Ross is headlining at Drai's Nightclub in Sin City as part of a big NYE weekend. The celebration begins Thursday night when Jeezy performs. Following Ross on Friday night, 2 Chainz will hit the stage Saturday, and Tory Lanez will close out the holiday weekend on Sunday.
50 Cent is performing Friday night at E11Even in Miami. The club kicked off the weekend early with a performance by Roddy Ricch Wednesday night. Tyga is set for Thursday, and following 50 Cent on Friday, Ludacris is ready to jam on Saturday night.
Lil Wayne is headlining the Day One 22 show Friday night in Coachella, California, featuring NBA legend Shaquille O'Neal spinning music as his alter ego, DJ Diesel.
Ashanti and Goodie Mob were scheduled to perform at the annual NYE Peach Drop in Atlanta, however, the event was canceled due to the pandemic, according to ABC Atlanta affiliate WSB-TV. As previously reported, Diddy also canceled his annual New Year's Eve party in Miami due to COVID-19.
Source-ABC
The Year in Music 2021: Hip-hop's craziest moments
There was no shortage of wild moments in 2021. From the ongoing feud between Drake and Kanye West to Nicki Minaj's claims about the COVID-19 vaccine, some of the biggest names in hip-hop got people chatting.
Here are three of the craziest moments in hip-hop this year.
--Kodak Black throws money overboard: The 24-year-old rapper posted a video of himself throwing money off of a yacht and into the ocean. And it wasn't small change, either. The money tossed overboard added up to approximately $100,000, according to My Mixtapez, which re-posted the clip.
--Drake and Kanye West beef: The feud originally ignited in 2018 after Pusha T accused the Certified Lover Boy of using a ghostwriter in the song "Infrared," which West produced.
The beef continued this year when Drake dissed Kanye on Trippie Redd's track, "Betrayal, with the lyrics, "All these fools I'm beefin' that I barely know / Forty-five, forty-four (burned out) let it go." Kanye responded by posting, and then deleting, Drake's home address on Instagram.
Drake and Kanye two finally squashed their beef in November and performed together in December at the Free Larry Hoover benefit concert.
--Nicki Minaj and the COVID-19 vaccine: After the "Super Bass" rapper revealed that she didn't attend the Met Gala because she wasn't vaccinated, she later made claims about a cousin of hers refusing to get the vaccine after "his friend" got the shot and suffered an alleged reproductive side effect.
"My cousin in Trinidad won’t get the vaccine cuz his friend got it & became impotent," Nicki tweeted. "His testicles became swollen. His friend was weeks away from getting married, now the girl called off the wedding."
Medical experts stress the COVID-19 vaccine does not cause impotency, nor does the booster.
-- DaBaby gets cancelled: The rapper came under fire for making controversial HIV/AIDS remarks at the Rolling Loud festival in Miami over the summer. He was dropped from a bunch of other music festivals after that, including Lollapalooza and New York's Governors Ball. The rapper issued an apology and later met virtually with Black leaders from HIV organizations.
Source- ABC
Memphis Grizzlies beat Los Angeles Lakers as Morant drops 41
Ja Morant scored 41 points as the Memphis Grizzlies came from behind to beat the Los Angeles Lakers and record a third straight win.
Morant made a career-high six three-pointers in a 104-99 victory.
LeBron James scored 37 points for the Lakers, while Russell Westbrook added a triple-double with 16 points, 10 rebounds and 12 assists.
But the Grizzlies - inspired by 22-year-old Morant - fought back from a 14-point deficit in the third-quarter.
Lakers coach David Fizdale, standing in for head coach Frank Vogel at the FedExForum in Memphis, described Morant, who scored 40 points against the Lakers in October, as a "true superstar".
It was a sixth defeat in seven games for the Lakers after they ended a five-game losing run against Houston Rockets last time out.
Elsewhere, the Phoenix Suns beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 115-97 to move level with the Golden State Warriors at the top of the Western Conference.
Devin Booker scored 38 points as the Suns matched the Warriors' record of 27-7, becoming the seventh-youngest player to reach 10,000 career points.
The Chicago Bulls earned a 131-117 victory against an Atlanta Hawks team missing 15 players because of Covid-19 and injuries.
Zach LaVine scored 25 points for the Bulls, who extended their winning streak to five matches.
The Los Angeles Clippers beat the Boston Celtics 91-82 as Eric Bledsoe scored 10 of his 17 points in the fourth quarter to seal victory.
Chimezie Metu's buzzer-beating three-pointer gave the Sacramento Kings a thrilling 95-94 victory over the Dallas Mavericks, while Alec Burks scored 34 points to help the New York Knicks to a 94-85 victory over the depleted Detroit Pistons.
The Miami Heat's game against the San Antonio Spurs was postponed because Miami could not field the eight players required because of Covid and injuries.
Source-BBC
Riot Games to pay $100m in discrimination case
Riot Games, the studio best known for League of Legends, has agreed to pay $100m (£74.3m) to settle a 2018 class-action gender discrimination case.
The settlement will "remedy violations against approximately 1,065 women employees and 1,300 women contract workers", California's Department of Fair Employment & Housing (DFEH) wrote.
DFEH said the firm engaged in "systemic sex discrimination and harassment".
Riot Games said it must "take responsibility for the past".
The company will pay $80m (£59m) to members of the class action suit and about $20m (£15m) will cover legal costs.
The 2018 case followed investigations by the Los Angeles Times and the news website Kotaku.
According to the original complaint against the company, Riot was accused of fostering a "bro culture" and faced a range of allegations.
These included that women had been sexually objectified, with an email chain that rated the company's "hottest women employees", and that unsolicited images of male genitalia had been shown to workers by their bosses and colleagues.
As part of the settlement, Riot agreed to workplace reforms, independent expert analysis of its pay, hiring, and promotion practices, and to be monitored for instances of sexual harassment and "retaliation" at its California offices for three years.
The company must also set aside $18m (13.2m) to fund diversity, equity and inclusion programmes and create 40 full-time positions in engineering, quality assurance or art-design roles for its former contract workers.
DFEH Director Kevin Kish wrote that, if accepted by the court, the settlement would lead to lasting change at Riot Games and "send the message that all industries in California, including the gaming industry, must provide equal pay and workplaces free from discrimination and harassment".
Riot had initially agreed to settle the case for $10m in 2019, but the DFEH and another agency had blocked the deal arguing that the amount to which victims were entitled was much higher.
The company said it had to face the fact that it hadn't always lived up to its values, telling the Washington Post: "While we're proud of how far we've come since 2018, we must also take responsibility for the past".
Source-BBC
Bank hands out £130m in Christmas blunder
Tens of thousands of people awoke on Christmas morning to a surprise from an unexpected benefactor - Santander.
The bank mistakenly deposited £130m into 75,000 accounts on 25 December.
Santander's staff are now rushing to claw back the money, although the job is being made more difficult because much of it was deposited in accounts at rival banks, according to The Times.
The error occurred when payments from 2,000 business accounts were made twice.
"We're sorry that due to a technical issue, some payments from our corporate clients were incorrectly duplicated on the recipients' accounts," the bank said in a statement.
"None of our clients were at any point left out of pocket as a result and we will be working hard with many banks across the UK to recover the duplicated transactions over the coming days."
It said the mistake may have meant that some people were, in effect, paid twice from their employer's account, although the second payment was funded by Santander.
One payroll manager, who asked not to be named, told the BBC the blunder had cast a shadow over Christmas and Boxing Day.
"It ruined my holiday period because I thought I'd paid out hundreds of thousands in error - I thought I had done something wrong," they told the BBC.
"I thought it was just me and that I was going to get in trouble at work."
They said that Santander had not given any information about how firms should explain the second payment to staff or about how it should be repaid.
"It's just a complete shambles," the payroll manager said. "How they are going to recover it, I just don't know."
The bank stressed that it had already begun speaking to the rival banks - which The Times said included Barclays, HSBC, NatWest, Co-operative Bank and Virgin Money.
Santander said those banks would "look to recover the money from their customers' accounts."
However, it was not clear how the banks would respond if their customers had already spent the money, meaning returning it would push them into overdraft.
Santander indicated that it may contact people directly to get the money back.
Source-BBC