Mazda Miata designer Shunji Tanaka dead at 75
Shunji Tanaka, a key designer of the iconic Mazda Miata, has died at 75.
Tanaka led the exterior and interior design of the Mazda MX-5 Miata, a lightweight Japanese roadster inspired by postwar-era British sports cars. The car went on sale in the U.S. in May 1989 with a starting price of $13,800 and a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine with 116 hp.
The roadster, which featured a lightweight aluminum hood, weighed a feathery 2,116 pounds and could hit 60 mph in less than nine seconds.
U.S. sales peaked in 1990, the car's second year on the market, at 35,944. The 1 millionth Miata rolled off the line in 2016.
Though annual U.S. sales have declined as convertibles have fallen out of favor with consumers, the car remains a key part of Mazda's identity. In 2019, Mazda celebrated the MX-5's heritage with a 30th anniversary special edition.
Following his stint at Mazda, Tanaka joined Kawasaki, where he designed motorcycles.
Source - Automotive News
Tesla has agreed to make changes to its Passenger Play feature
It follows an investigation launched by the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
The agency said it had been informed by Tesla that a software update would disable the feature while driving.
Elon Musk's car firm had faced criticism that the feature was dangerous.
The New York Times reported that Tesla had contacted the NHTSA directly.
"Passenger Play will now be locked and unusable when the vehicle is in motion," the agency told the paper.
Tesla has not issued any formal statement on the matter.
Announcing its inquiry, which opened earlier this week, the NHTSA said that Passenger Play "may distract the driver and increase the risk of a crash".
Although the ability to play games on the car's touchscreen was not aimed at drivers, and asked the person playing to confirm they were a passenger, there was nothing to prevent a driver using it.
Initially the feature was only usable when the car was stationary, but this was changed in December 2020 to allow gameplay when the car was moving.
The change was noticed by one Tesla owner, Vince Patton, who filed a complaint with the NHTSA describing it as "recklessly negligent".
When it opened its inquiry, the NHTSA noted that the feature "may distract the driver and increase the risk of a crash".
Its guidelines state that in-car devices have to be disengaged so that they cannot be used by the driver "to perform inherently distracting secondary tasks while driving".
This month, it reported that 3,142 road deaths in 2019 were attributed to distracted drivers.
In August, the agency launched an investigation into Tesla's Autopilot system after a dozen cars using the feature crashed into parked emergency vehicles.
And it is also reviewing other accidents involving the system.
Source - BBC
Unless the UK government intervenes, Energy bills will soar to 50% next year.
Energy bills will soar another 50% next year unless the government intervenes, the industry has warned.
Supplier EDF said the situation was "critical" as customers, already seeing record bills, are hit with more rises due to surging wholesale gas prices.
Emma Pinchbeck, head of trade body Energy UK, said rising prices were now starting to hurt the economy.
The government said it had measures to protect consumers, but she told the BBC tax cuts and green levies would help.
Other European governments, also hit by the global rise in energy costs, were doing more, Ms Pinchbeck said.
"We've had record-breaking gas prices since September, and over the last couple of weeks prices have spiked again," she said. "They are at levels that, frankly, we have not seen before.
"It's looking pretty serious for the spring. Domestic energy bills are going to go up 45-50%."
Wholesale costs hit another record this week of 450p a therm, which experts predict could take average annual bills to about £2,000 next year.
Source - BBC
Home Alone actor Devin Ratray arrested on domestic assault charges
Home Alone actor Devin Ratray was arrested in Oklahoma Wednesday after allegedly assaulting his girlfriend earlier in the month during an argument, E! News reports.
The 44-year-old, who played Buzz McCallister in the Christmas classic, was booked on a felony charge of domestic assault and battery by strangulation, as well as a misdemeanor charge of domestic assault and battery. He reportedly posted his $25,000 bond and was released in fewer than 15 minutes.
Ratray was accused of punching and trying to strangle his girlfriend in an Oklahoma City hotel room on December 9.
After playing Macaulay Culkin’s older brother Buzz in 1989’s Home Alone, Ratray reprised his role in the 1992 sequel Home Alone: Lost in New York and most recently appeared in this year’s Disney+ reboot, Home Sweet Home Alone.
Source - ABC
IDB provided nearly US$20 billion in funding in 2021
The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) Monday said together with its private-sector arm, IDB Invest, they expect to close this year with US$19.5 billion in new financing for Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) as they helped countries recover from the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic while ushering an era of sustainable and inclusive growth.
The Washington-based financial institution said that the financing is the second-highest annual total in the history of the IDB and IDB Invest and helps countries invest in priorities ranging from COVID-19-era healthcare and digitalization to climate change action, supply chains and education.
It said the funding will also help reduce gender inequality, expand entrepreneurial ecosystems, and empower small and midsize companies, which account for over two-thirds of the region’s jobs.
The combination of IDB loan approvals ($14 billion) and expected IDB Invest financial commitments ($5.5 billion) and private-sector mobilizations ($2.8 billion) totalled $22.3 billion.
The IDB said that Latin America and the Caribbean is the region hardest hit by the pandemic. It said home to about eight per cent of the world’s population, the LAC accounts for almost a third of all COVID-19 deaths – over 1.5 million people. The region also continues to face high inequality and serious economic and social challenges.
“This year, we demonstrated how a 21st-century IDB can empower countries to overcome unimaginable challenges and pave the way to a new decade of prosperity.
“We did so by listening carefully to our clients and member countries and by leveraging our exceptional human capital to create innovative financing and private-sector partnerships that will accelerate the region’s recovery,” said IDB President Mauricio Claver-Carone.
“The pandemic created unprecedented challenges, but it also opened historic opportunities for Latin America and the Caribbean to grow, especially in areas including digitalization, near shoring and supply chains – and we are proud to be there, focused on helping countries seize those opportunities,” he added.
In total, the IDB approved 103 sovereign guaranteed projects in 2021 for a total of US$14 billion, while disbursements are expected to reach US$12.1 billion.
The bank said in the context of COVID-19, financing helped countries secure life-saving vaccines and increased access to credit so that small and midsize companies, the main drivers of employment, can expand their businesses.
It said new projects and financing will accelerate digitalization so countries can improve public services, expand educational access, increase transparency and combat corruption. Funding will also help improve digital-skills training to enrich the region’s human capital.
Amid a historic reconfiguration of international trade, the IDB approved US$2.3 billion to strengthen regional supply chains, nearly doubling the average amount of the three years before the pandemic. “This will help countries take advantage of a tangible new opportunity, amplified by the pandemic and the global supply-chain crisis, to attract foreign direct investment and increase exports of goods and services.”
The IDB said it also worked with 16 countries to identify critical export and supply-chain advantages, including.
In 2021, the IDB continued to make it easier for countries to accelerate pandemic recovery, while simultaneously addressing critical, longstanding issues, such as climate change and gender inequality.
The IDB launched its Amazon Initiative and approved about US$4.5 billion in resources for climate-related operations, the highest amount ever. It also took a leading role among multilateral development banks at COP26, the annual United Nations conference on climate change, announcing a plan to fully align operations with the Paris Agreement and provide $24 billion for climate and green finance over the next four years.
Of all projects approved in 2021, the IDB said nearly 70 per cent included one or more components to tackle climate change, while 75% addressed gender issues, almost 40 per cent of approvals went to small and vulnerable countries.
The IDB said it also piloted a streamlined process for projects that slashed approval times by 30%, enabling the bank to quickly meet the needs of its 26 regional member countries.
“The IDB stepped up and delivered the second-highest level of approvals for sovereign guaranteed operations in the Bank’s history in response to the pandemic, natural disasters and multiple other crises,” President Claver-Carone said.
“I am confident that as we implement new initiatives and roll out ongoing operational efforts, the IDB will be even more productive in 2022 to meet the needs of Latin America and the Caribbean as the region’s partner of choice.”
In addition, the IDB dramatically scaled up its engagement with the private sector by creating the Private Sector Partners Coalition.
The Coalition began with 40 of the world’s leading companies and has since expanded to over 160 of the world’s most innovative firms. Its activities span 13 working groups in areas including nearshoring, climate change, women’s empowerment and digital transformation. The Coalition is creating a resource-mobilization platform to identify investment opportunities and channel new technology, know-how and other private-sector resources to the region.
To further catalyze investment, the IDB also hosted a series of investment-promotion forums in Belize, Brazil, Ecuador and Miami, as well as 12 trade promotion forums, which drew almost 100,000 participants. The events generated $55 billion in expected business deals. In 2022, the IDB plans to hold another round of investment and trade forums in Jamaica, Panama and Paraguay, among other countries.
IDB Invest provided a total of US$8.3 billion in financing in 2021 including US$5.5 billion in short- and long-term commitments, and a record-breaking US$2.8 billion in mobilizations.
IDB Invest has mobilized one dollar for every dollar closed on its own account in long-term financing, a 50 per cent increase over the previous year.
At COP26, IDB Invest announced the first blue bond in Latin America and the Caribbean, highlighting the IDB’s commitment to designing innovative financial solutions for climate action.
Source-CMC
CCCCC says COP 26 outcome puts more pressure on CARICOM’s position on global warming
The Belize based Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC) says the decisions reached at United Nations Conference on Climate Change (COP26) in Glasgow last month “only afford a very narrow window of opportunity” to keep the Caribbean Community’s (CARICOM) position of maintaining global warming below 1.5 degrees centigrade.
In a statement issued here Monday, the CCCCC which is mandated to coordinate CARICOM’s response to climate change, said its board of governors discussed the implications of the outcome of the COP26 for CARICOM.
“The Board noted that while the Glasgow Pact signalled a reckoning with the urgency of raising ambition around greenhouse gas emissions reduction and accelerating implementation of actions to maintain global warming below 1.5°C, in line with the best available science, the decisions reached at COP26 only afford a very narrow window of opportunity to keep that goal within reach.”
The CCCCC said moreover, the ongoing process required for keeping global warming below 1.5°C will demand strong and global political commitment towards achieving this goal.
The CCCCC board said that “the COP26 outcomes did not meet, in the main, the region’s preCOP26 expectations.
“With increasing climate impacts already being felt worldwide, particularly so among Small Island Developing States (SIDS), and the findings of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Sixth Assessment report that these impacts will worsen with every fraction of a degree of warming, CARICOM States expected major emitters to step up their near-term 2030 emissions pledges and to do so in line with the science of 1.5°C and the pursuit of the net zero target by 2050.
“In addition, CARICOM expected major emitters to urgently scale up their support to enable the far-reaching systemic transformation of economies and societies toward low emission climate resilient development pathways.”
The CCCCC said that more than 140 countries at COP 26 announced net zero goals, but without strengthened 2030 targets, 1.5°C of global warming “will be ‘locked in’ for this decade with devastating implications for CARICOM member states and all SIDS.
“Given current policies, global warming is still projected to surpass the 1.50C by 2030, and to reach 2.7°C within this century.”
The CCCCC said regarding adaptation and finance, it acknowledged that pledges to the financial mechanisms of the UNFCCC do not come close to the US$70 billion per annum needed now to build climate resilience in the region.
“Furthermore, the demand for climate financing is projected to quadruple by 2030 based on impacts associated with climate change and slow onset events. Still more concerning is the fact that the pledge for a US$100 billion floor by 2020 was not achieved at COP26, with developed countries indicating that they may not be able to meet this target, even with the most creative accounting matrix adopted, until 2023.”
The CCCCC said based on these indicators, the mitigation, adaptation and finance gaps are set to widen, unless immediate action is taken to scale and make climate finance more available to the most vulnerable.
It agreed with the notion that the Glasgow Climate Pact consolidates a new pre2030 climate agenda which has been described as a bridge to ambition.
“Thus, from a process standpoint, COP26 completed work around the Paris Rulebook, inclusive of transparency, common timeframes, while Article 6 maps out the framework for the operationalization of a carbon market. Taken together, these processes could yield results consistent with 1.5°C ambition but how much and how fast is not yet known.”
The CCCCC said it wanted to emphasize the urgent need for the region’s effective engagement in the programmes currently underway based on strong effective leadership, continued advocacy, greater partnership with the private sector and civil society, and other key stakeholders to define deliverables in line with regional interests and priorities.
“Even more critical will be support for regional efforts to advance climate action and bolster access to affordable finance,” the statement said with the CCCCC being encouraged to advance its strategic work plan moving forward and encouraged early engagement with policy makers, member states and the donor community to ensure its adequate resourcing.
Source-CMC
PUBLIC FORECAST FOR WEEKEND -17TH TO 19TH DECEMBER 2021
THIS IS A PUBLIC FORECAST FOR TODAY AND TONIGHT FRIDAY 17TH DECEMBER 2021 ISSUED BY THE BAHAMAS DEPARTMENT OF METEOROLOGY AT 6AM
GENERAL SITUATION: A ROBUST HIGH PRESSURE SYSTEM CENTERED NORTH OF THE AREA WILL CONTINUE TO PRODUCE BRISK WINDS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
SPECIAL WARNINGS: BEACHGOERS ARE ADVISED NOT TO ENTER THE WATERS WHILE SMALL CRAFT OPERATORS IN THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS SHOULD NOT VENTURE FAR FROM PORT DUE TO HAZARDOUS BOATING AND BEACHING CONDITIONS.
ALL AREAS
WEATHER: PARTLY TO MOSTLY SUNNY, WARM AND BREEZY TO WINDY WITH A FEW QUICK PASSING SHOWERS TODAY. MOSTLY FAIR AND BREEZY WITH THE CHANCE OF A FEW ISOLATED SHOWERS TONIGHT.
ADVISORY: A SMALL CAUTION REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE NORTHWEST BAHAMAS AND SMALL CRAFT OPERATORS IN THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS SHOULD NOT VENTURE FAR FROM PORT.
WINDS: EASTERLY AT 15 TO 20 KNOTS IN THE NORTHWEST BAHAMAS AND 20 TO 25 KNOTS OVER OPEN WATERS IN THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS.
SEAS: 4 TO 7 FEET IN THE NORTHWEST BAHAMAS AND 6 TO 9 FEET OVER THE OCEAN IN THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS.
DAYTIME HIGH TEMPERATURE 82°F 28°C
OVERNIGHT LOW TEMPERATURE 70°F 21°C
SUNRISE: 6:48 AM SUNSET: 5:22 PM
MOONRISE: 4:18 PM MOONSET: 6:20 AM SAT.
HIGH TIDE: 6:29 AM & 6:41 PM
LOW TIDE: 12:58 PM & 12:43 AM FRI.
EXTENDED FORECAST: (FOR THE NEXT TWO DAYS) THE ONCE DOMINANT HIGH PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL FINALLY WEAKEN AND MIGRATE EASTWARDS LATE SUNDAY AHEAD OF A FRONTAL BOUNDARY ALONG WITH ITS ASSOCIATED ACTIVITY THAT IS EXPECTED TO INCREASE RAIN CHANCES ACROSS THE NORTHWEST BAHAMAS SUNDAY THROUGH MONDAY.
FORECAST FOR SATURDAY
WEATHER: PARTLY CLOUDY, WARM AND BREEZY TO WINDY WITH A FEW SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THE CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS MAINLY ACROSS THE NORTHWEST BAHAMAS.
WINDS: SOUTHEASTERLY AT 15 KNOTS IN THE NORTHWEST BAHAMAS AND EAST TO SOUTHEAST AT 15 TO 25 KNOTS IN THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS.
SEAS: 3 TO 5 FEET IN THE NORTHWEST BAHAMAS AND 5 TO 8 FEET IN THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS.
FORECAST FOR SUNDAY
WEATHER: VARIABLE CLOUDINESS AND WARM WITH SCATTERED SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS MAINLY ACROSS THE NORTHWEST AND CENTRAL BAHAMAS…SOME SHOWERS MAY BE HEAVY AND THUNDERSTORMS STRONG TO SEVERE AT TIMES.
WINDS: SOUTHEAST TO SOUTH AT 10 TO 15 KNOTS IN THE NORTHWEST BAHAMAS AND EAST TO SOUTHEAST AT 15 TO 20 KNOTS IN THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS.
SEAS: 2 TO 4 FEET IN THE NORTHWEST BAHAMAS AND 4 TO 7 FEET IN THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS & TURKS & CAICOS ISLANDS.
Dane Ritchie appointed as New Technical Director of TCIFA
The Turks and Caicos Islands Football Association (TCIFA) is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Dane Ritchie as its new Technical Director commencing January 3, 2022.
Mr. Ritchie replaces Andrew Edwards who returns to Jamaica. In light of this, The TCIFA would to thank Mr. Edwards for his contribution during his time spent in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
As Technical Director, Mr. Ritchie will be responsible for overseeing the Technical Department with the responsibility for all the football programs ranging from Grassroots to all Youth and Senior National Teams.
Additionally, Mr. Ritchie will craft the introduction of a system of play, be responsible for the creating and instituting the TCIFA’s football philosophy, and lead the drive to achieve the objectives under the current Strategic Plan.
“A good football administrator takes his love for the game and instills it in you. Guiding the coach, he molds one the player he sees inside of you and watches your talent and dedication grow into a skill that both of you can be proud of”. This has always been Mr. Richie’s belief, which led him to forming his own guiding philosophy, since being involved in coaching football since 2002.
Mr. Ritchie’s coaching-education journey unfolded in earnest with a FIFA Women’s Coaching Course in September 2011. He went on to complete the Concacaf D License Course within one of the first batch of coaches in our region to do so in 2013, and then he tackled the US Soccer E License. In 2014, he was appointed Head Coach of the Academy Jaguars, competing in the Provo Premier (TCI local men’s) League, winning the championship title in 2014, 2015, 2016 and again in 2018. During this time, Mr. Ritchie also established a reputation within the national football programme as he was assigned Head Coach of the TCI National U20 Men’s Football Team that competed in two consecutive CFU U20 tournaments (2014 and 2016).
In 2015, he participated as Assistant Coach of the TCI Senior Men’s National Football Team. Mr. Ritchie’s coaching career development included educational opportunities including the Concacaf Beach Soccer Coaching Course, FIFA Futsal Coaching Course, and FIFA Advanced Coaching Course. In 2017, he was selected by TCIFA as one of the TCI representatives for the FIFA/CONCACAF “Train the Trainers” Course, where he completed an intensive training program resulting in his being certified as a Coaching Educator.
This certification continued in 2018, and in that year he also completed his US Soccer D License. In 2019 upon completing the FIFA/Concacaf Coaching Educators Course, he was appointed Head of theTCIFA’s Coaching Education Department. He continues to perform this role at present.
Most recently, Mr. Ritchie’s involvement in the national programme included the position of Assistant Coach of the TCI Girls U14 National Football Team and the TCI Senior Women’s National Football Team. He continues to make headway as he trails the final stage of his Concacaf B License
requirements. Mr. Ritchie’s remarkable strides in football is one that is distinguished, as he shares three on-field perspectives; that of a player, a coach, and a Referee.
His contribution to the Turks and Caicos Islands Referee Association involves a 9-year journey where he played instrumental roles as Fitness and Technical Instructor. His successes in this area, landed him on the 2017 and 2018 FIFA International Referee’s List, as an Assistant Referee.
TCIFA President Sonia Fulford commented, “Dane has been a part of the TCIFA family in excess of a decade, working with our grassroots programme, youth and senior male and female national teams, in coaching education and as part of our referee’s department. Having touched so many areas of our organization, it’s almost a natural matriculation to the role of Technical Director.
We are delighted that he is able to take on this position, and we anticipate nothing but continued excellence on his part, as he continues his contributions to the growth and development of football in the Turks and Caicos Islands.”
BUSINESS LICENSE WRITE-OFF
The Ministry of Finance would like to inform the public that the House of Assembly at its sitting on 13thDecember, 2021 passed Government Resolution No. 3 of 2021- Write Off of Business License Arrears (Penalties) in the following categories:
|
Category |
ID |
Activity |
|
Automotive |
106 |
Motor Vehicle Rental |
|
Agriculture, Manufacturing & Processing |
136 |
Native Art and Craft Specialty Stores (Wholesale/Retail) |
|
Personal Care Services |
352 |
Hair Braiding (Beach) |
|
179 |
Spa/Massage Parlors and Body Works |
|
|
Transportation Services |
185 |
Bus Services – Mass Transport |
|
193 |
Taxi Services |
|
|
196 |
VIP Transport |
|
|
Entertainment, Recreation and Events |
226 |
Event Planning and Coordination |
|
Tourism, Real Estate & Hospitality Services |
242 |
Eco-Heritage Tours and Camping Site Operations |
|
248 |
Land Based Tour Operation |
|
|
256 |
Provision of Tourism Services - Other |
|
|
357 |
Water Sports |
|
|
358 |
Water Sports Equipment Sales and Rentals |
|
|
263 |
Water Tours – Less than 30ft. (Per boat) |
Businesses located on the Island of Grand Turk that fall within the aforementioned categories, are encouraged to visit the Inland Revenue Department (“IRD”) at Hibiscus Square to remit payment on their outstanding licensing fee only or alternatively to advise of the current status of their business.
The Ministry of Finance advised the public that the penalty write-off is only for the period until 31st December, 2021; penalty will therefore begin to once again accrue on 1st January, 2022.
TCIG & Court Christmas/New Year Holiday Period
NOTICE is hereby given that the Christmas Recess shall commence on Thursday 23rd December, 2021 and end on Monday 3rd January, 2022. During the Christmas Recess the Chief Justice will be available to deal only with matters that are urgent or require prompt attention.
The first term in the 2022 legal year will commence on Tuesday 4th January, 2022.
Court Business During the Christmas Recess
A person who wishes to have a matter listed for hearing during the recess must file a certificate of urgency along with an affidavit, which must set out the reasons why the matter is urgent or requires prompt attention. The matter will not be listed during the recess unless the Court deems it fit for urgent hearing.
Opening Hours During the Christmas/New Year Holiday Period
The Supreme Court’s last sitting day for 2021 is Wednesday 22nd December. The Court will officially resume sittings on Wednesday 5th January, 2022.
The Court Offices in both Grand Turk and Providenciales will continue to operate while the Court is not sitting during the recess.
During the Christmas and New Year period, the Court will be closed on the following public holidays:
- Monday 27thDecember 2021 (Christmas Day observed) CLOSED
- Tuesday 28thDecember 2020 (Boxing Day observed) CLOSED
- Monday 3rdJanuary, 2022 (New Year’s Day observed) CLOSED
On Friday 24th December, 2021 (Christmas Eve) the Court Office will close at 12:00pm.
After the Christmas holidays, the Court Office will return to regular business hours on Wednesday 29th December, 2021
On Friday 31st December, 2021 (New Year’s Eve) the Court Office will close at 12:00pm and will re-open for regular business at 8:30am on Tuesday 4th January, 2022.
We wish you Joy and Peace for the Season and New Year!
END