FDA authorizes booster shots for Moderna, J&J vaccines
The FDA authorized booster shots for the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines for some populations Wednesday.
Moderna's vaccine can be administered at least six months after the second dose for people ages 65 and up and those ages 18 through 64 who either are at high risk of severe COVID-19 infection or have occupational exposure to the virus, the FDA said.
The J&J booster can be administered at least two months after the single-dose shot to those ages 18 and up, the agency said.
The FDA, which authorized Pfizer's booster dose last month, also said it will allow people to mix booster doses.
Also beginning Wednesday, states can start reserving vaccines for kids ages 5 to 11, though vaccines won't start shipping yet.
The government has purchased enough shots for all 28 million children ages five to 11 in the U.S.
On November 2 and November 3, a CDC committee is expected to have a public discussion and non-binding vote.
Source-ABC
Chris Brown supports NBA star Kyrie Irving's refusal to be vaccinated
As many sports commentators are slamming Brooklyn Nets star Kyrie Irving for refusing to be vaccinated, Chris Brown is coming to his defense.
Breezy, who has displayed his basketball skills in several celebrity games, is praising the NBA All-Star for his anti-vaccine stance.
"THE REAL HERO!!! I stand with my brother," the "Freaky Friday" singer wrote Wednesday in an Instagram Story over a picture of Irving. "WHOEVER DONT LIKE IT... Go live your damn life.. ITS HIS CHOICE AND A DAMN GOOD ONE. ALWAYS IN MY BROTHERS CORNER."
Kyrie, who won an NBA championship with LeBron James as a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016, has been banned by the Nets from playing because he has not received a COVID-19 vaccine. The team began the new season Tuesday night without Irving and lost 127-104 to the defending NBA champs, the Milwaukee Bucks.
The 29-year-old player explained his position on being vaccinated on October 14 in an Instagram Live session.
"It is reality that in order to be in New York City, in order to be on a team, I have to be vaccinated," Irving said. "I chose to be unvaccinated, and that was my choice, and I would ask you all to just respect that choice."
Before the Nets played Tuesday night, Charles Barkley blasted Irving for refusing to be vaccinated.
"First of all, you don't get the vaccine for yourself, you get it for other people," the NBA Hall of Famer said on TNT's Inside the NBA. "I got vaccinated. I can't wait to get the booster. You get vaccinated for your family first, you get vaccinated for your teammates second. That's what bothers me about this whole thing."
Source-ABC
PUBLIC FORECAST FOR THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT THURSDAY 21STOCTOBER 2021
GENERAL SITUATION: A MID LEVEL TROUGH ALONG WITH A TROPICAL WAVE IS ENHANCING THE WEATHER ACROSS THE BAHAMAS, WHILE A EASTWARD DRIFTING HIGH PRESSURE SYSTEM GENERATES MODERATE TO FRESH BREEZES OVER THE AREA.
BEACHGOERS AND SWIMMERS SHOULD BE ALERT FOR POSSIBLE RIP CURRENTS ALONG NORTH AND EASTERLY BEACHES…THERE REMAINS THE RISK OF WATER-SPOUT ACTIVITY.
ALL AREAS
WEATHER: VARIABLY CLOUDY, WARM AND BREEZY WITH WIDELY SCATTERED SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS BECOMING VARIABLY CLOUDY, FAIR AND BREEZY WITH ISOLATED SHOWERS OR A THUNDERSTORM TONIGHT
SMALL CRAFT CAUTION CONTINUES
WINDS: EASTERLY AT 15 TO 20 KNOTS
SEAS: 4 TO 6 FEET
DAYTIME HIGH LOW TEMPERATURE 86°F 30°C
OVERNIGHT TEMPERATURE 72°F 22°C
SUNSET: 6:35 PM MOONRISE: 7:28 PM LOW TIDE: 3:19PM 3:18 AMFRI
SUNRISE: 7:12 AMFRI MOONSET: 8:50 AM FRI HIGH TIDE: 9:12PM 9:33 AMFRI
WEATHER OUTLOOK: TROUGHING WILL ENHANCE THE TROPICAL MOISTURE ACROSS THE ISLANDS WHILE WINDS ACROSS THE NORTHWEST BAHAMAS WILL DECREASE DUE TO THE SHIFTING HIGH PRESSURE.
Tesla reports record sales and profits
Electric car maker Tesla has brushed off supply chain issues and the global microchip shortage to report record quarterly sales and profits.
Revenues rose to $13.76bn in the third quarter of the year, up from $8.77bn 12 months earlier.
The company, led by billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, posted a net profit of $1.6bn and sold 241,391 cars.
"We achieved our best-ever net income, operating profit and gross profit," Tesla said.
The firm said China remained its main exporting hub and it planned to roll out a different type of battery in its standard vehicles worldwide.
The new lithium iron phosphate batteries are cheaper than traditional batteries but offer lower range, Reuters reported. Analysts said this could help keep costs down and address part shortages.
Tesla said it had faced a "variety of challenges" to keep its factories running, which included the global shortage of car microchips, congestion at ports and "rolling blackouts".
There is currently a worldwide shortage of computer chips, also known as semiconductors, which are used in millions of products including cars, washing machines and smartphones.
However, Tesla added it planned to grow its "manufacturing capacity as quickly as possible" and expected to see a 50% rise in car sales annually.
"While Fremont factory produced more cars in the last 12 months than in any other year, we believe there is room for continued improvement. Additionally, we continue to ramp Gigafactory Shanghai and build new capacity in Texas and Berlin," it said.
"The rate of growth will depend on our equipment capacity, operational efficiency and the capacity and stability of the supply chain."
The majority of Tesla's revenue came from the sales of its lower priced Model 3 and Model Y cars, which rose 87% to 232,102.
Victoria Scholar, head of investment at Interactive Investor, said Tesla's results beat analysts' expectations.
"This is an impressive set of numbers in the context of the ongoing global chip shortage headwind," she said.
Telsa said electric vehicle (EV) demand continued to "go through a structural shift".
"We believe the more vehicles we have on the road, the more Tesla owners are able to spread the word about the benefits of EVs," it added.
Source-BBC
Ray J claims prenup, requests termination of court's ability to award spousal support in his divorce
As Ray J continues to recover at home after a stay in a hospital, he's moving on with his divorce from Princess Love.
The Love & Hip Hop: Hollywood star claims in court documents that they have a prenuptial agreement, and he requests termination of the court's ability to award spousal support, according to TMZ.
As previously reported, the rapper/reality star was released from a Miami hospital last week after being treated for pneumonia. Shortly after announcing that he was taken to the hospital, Ray J filed to divorce his wife of five years, Princess Love. The "Wait a Minute" singer cited irreconcilable differences as cause for their separation. Ray J is seeking joint custody of his and Love's two children -- Melody, 3, and Epik, 1.
Cracks in Ray and Love's relationship started to show last November, when the model accused her husband of leaving her "stranded" in Las Vegas and threatened to divorce him.
This latest filing marks the third time that the pair have tried to separate. Their first separation was in May 2020, but the couple patched things up that July and Love asked the court to dismiss her request. Four months later, Ray J was the one to file for divorce.
Source-ABC
Parliament elects Barbados first ever President
Governor General Dame Sandra Mason has been elected as Barbados’ first President after she secured the support of all members of the House of Assembly and all but one Senator during a joint sitting of of the legislature chambers on Wednesday.
Opposition Senator, Caswell Franklyn walked out of the joint sitting of Parliament after objecting to the nomination of Dame Sandra as Barbados’ first President on Independence Day, November 30.
Speaker of the House, Arthur Holder, said following the secret balloting that the threshold of two-thirds support required by the Constitution had been met.
Prime Minister Mia Mottley and Opposition Leader Bishop Joseph Atherley had jointly nominated Dame Sandra, and the other 27 Members of Parliament in attendance voted in agreement.
Source-CMC
Nikolas Cruz pleads guilty to all 34 charges in 2018 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School
Nikolas Cruz pleaded guilty Wednesday to 17 counts of first-degree murder and 17 counts of attempted first-degree murder for killing 17 and injuring 17 others in the February, 2018 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.
Cruz replied "guilty" when Judge Elizabeth Scherer asked how he wanted to plea to the slaying or wounding of each victim. Parents of the slain students watched from the courtroom and wiped tears from their eyes.
Cruz said in court, "I am very sorry for what I did and I have to live with it every day. … It brings me nightmares and I can't live with myself sometimes."
Cruz said he believes the victims should be the ones to decide whether he gets the death penalty. A jury will decide if Cruz, 23, will get the death penalty or life in prison.
A prosecutor gave a timeline of the massacre, including Cruz's Uber ride to the school, which classrooms he fired into and who was shot when.
On February 14, 2018, Cruz, then 19, gunned down 14 students and three staff members at his former school, Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. He was taken into custody that day.
Last week Cruz pleaded guilty to charges in connection to his attack on a jail guard in 2018.
Jury selection for the penalty phase will begin on January 4.
Source-ABC
Delegation visits Puerto Rio Haino Port in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
The Minister of Immigration and Border Services Hon. Arlington Musgrove and Minister of Home Affairs Hon. Otis Morris, along with Ports Authority Chairman, Urban Francis and officials from their ministries, including the Acting Deputy Permanent Secretary Chawa Williams, Head of Secretariat Jenika Laporte, Director of Ports Delton Jones, and Director of EMS, Garvin Thomas returned from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic on the 17th of October 2021, following meetings with management and staff of Puerto Rio Haino (HIT) focusing on trade and ports development opportunities and prospects.
(Delegates from the Turks and Caicos Islands)
Puerto Rio Haino is a very successful twenty (20) years old port concession that facilitates global trade with the Dominican Republic. HIT is very keen to share its experience with ports in the Caribbean through port operations, collaboration and trade development, capitalizing on its comparative advantage and scale.
HIT's strategic objectives are consistent with the government's desire to transform the TCI's ports and diversify trade to reduce the cost of living and doing business in the TCI.
Reflecting on the outcomes of the meetings with HIT, Hon. Musgrove said "I am pleased with the outcome of the various meetings with the team from the HIT. The information received will undoubtedly add value to the TCI’s position in the wake of our Ports redevelopment project, and plans by my Government to diversify our Trade Sector. We are grateful to have been accommodated and anticipate fostering of an ongoing relationship of mutual exchange of information, best practices and assistance."
Hon Morris added, “I am grateful for the opportunity to have accompanied the Minister to these meetings and particularly realizing the relevance of the Ports redevelopment and its importance in cross Border Trade, and I am eager to be a part of the decisions to positively impact the lives of our people.”
Ports Authority Chairman Francis elaborated "I am thankful to both Hon. Musgrove and Hon. Morris for the opportunity to participate in these meetings. The knowledge will be helpful not only in our redevelopment project but also in our Port Security and Safety enhancement plans, and our capacity building initiatives among staff.”
Areas discussed during the visit to HIT included: staff development in areas such as port security and safety, port container scanner, port digitalization and customs single window, port certification and adoption of global standards, port dredging and environmental issues and trade development opportunities focusing on developing new source markets for the TCI to take advantage of the manufacturing sector in the Dominican Republic and its global trade volumes and links which could drive down freight rates.
Hon. Musgrove observed that the discussions during the visit highlighted a number of areas for possible collaboration between the HIT and the TCI. He proposed the formation of a Joint Working Group of officials from the TCI and HIT to prioritize areas for collaboration and develop a work plan to appraise these opportunities.
The visit also afforded the TCI delegation the opportunity to observe the operations of Puerto Rio Haino.
MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS/ DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT HOSTED A SEMINAR FOR BOYS
The Ministry of Home Affairs, Transportation and Communications, Department of Social Development and Welfare with the financial support of UNICEF Eastern Caribbean hosted an Adolescent Boys Empowerment Seminar, as part of our My Brother’s Keeper Programme, on the 5 and 7 October 2021, on Grand Turk and Providenciales respectively.
The purpose of the seminar was to inspire, encourage, empower adolescent’s boys some of whom come from broken home and humble upbringing, that there is greatness in them. Additionally, we would like the young men to reflect 5 to 10 years from now and say that someone cared enough to take time out and put on a seminar that helped me.
Juvenile delinquency has increased in the past few years. At risk youth appear to be at the center of criminal activities. School officials confirmed where young men in particular are wreaking havoc on school compound. These delinquent young boys are allegedly involved in gang related activities, using marijuana, fighting and disrespecting authoritative figures. While efforts have been diverted towards addressing juvenile delinquency by school officials and other stakeholders in the past, new developments and statistics suggest that addressing the criminogenic needs of a juvenile coupled with strong social support system is one of the most significant ways to tackling juvenile delinquency.
The theme for the seminar was " Unleashing the greatest in you." At risk young adolescent boys are normally ostracized and counted out by association. The trajectory of these boys even graduating from high school is low. Additionally, their environment characterizes and labels them.
Young men aged 12-17 who are at risk and display inappropriate behaviors at home, school and or in their neighborhoods were participants of the seminar. The schools represented included:
· Helena J Robinson High
· Marjorie Basden High
· Long Bay High Louise Thomas High honors
· Clement Howell High
· Maranatha High
· Raymond Gardiner High
· TCIPS Comprehensive High
A total of 74 Young adolescents’ boys attended the session with powerful and influential presenters.
The topic areas discussed were designed to help equip the adolescent boys with the tools necessary to cope and or lead a positive life and ultimately avoid what is attributing to their delinquent behavior through breakout sessions:
· Sex, Health and Wellness
· Goals and Value setting
· Drug use and abuse
· Relax Reflect Release and Restore
· Anger management & Conflict Resolution
The Adolescent boys were well engaged, showed keen interest, by asking and answering questions. They were so enthused that they asked to be called upon to be a part of next year's session.
The seminar also received support from Digicel with free telephone top up minutes as gift prizes during the session.
Certificates of participation were issued to the young boys along with t shirts and nap sacks.
The seminar was a true success. The Department will be having spin off virtual sessions with 5 and 6 grade boy students at the Primary school level and will address 1 or 2 topics that is applicable based on the challenges experienced, before the end of October.
SCOTIA BANK TCI GIVES BACK TO STUDENTS
On Friday (October 8) Scotiabank TCI presented a donation of $5000 US to the Turks and Caicos Youth Foundation which owns and operates the Edward C. Gartland Centre (ECG).
The donation will be used to provide support for needy students that participate in the various programmes and activities hosted by the centre.
Speaking during a brief handover ceremony on Friday, Patricia Adams, Managing Director supporter of youth, particularly through educational programmes across the Caribbean region. We also believe that a strong educational foundation is pivotal to building economic resilience school books, uniforms and stationery supplies.
Roxann Wake-Forbes, Director for the ECG Centre expressed thanks to the Bank for the timely of responsible corporate entities like Scotiabank and we are very happy they have found it fit to - Forbes said. She further explained that the donation from Scotiabank will allow the Centre to expand on the back-to-school assistance programme that was offered at the end of the summer period.
The Bank also shared that across the region it will continue to invest against its current philanthropic drive to support the economic resilience of communities by removing barriers to success for youth and disadvantaged groups. In 2020, Scotiabank made a contribution to the Home.
The Edward C. Gartland Youth Centre is a non-profit organization that offers a wide range of after-school activities for the youth of Providenciales.