’Possible’ US will partner with Taliban against ISIS-K
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley, asked about the relationship between the U.S. and Taliban going forward, given their recent and uneasy cooperation during the evacuation mission, offered a pragmatic view, without sugar-coating the militant group.
"We don't know what the future of the Taliban is. But I can tell you from personal experience that this is a ruthless group from the past, and whether or not they change remains to be seen," Milley said. "And as far as our dealings with them at that airfield or in the past year or so, in war, you do what you must in order to reduce risk to mission and force, not what you necessarily want to do."
Asked whether the U.S. might coordinate with the Taliban against ISIS-K, the terror group responsible for a suicide bomber attack last week which that killed 13 U.S. service members and 170 Afghans, Milley said, "It’s possible."
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin then chimed in, "I would not want to make any predictions."
Milley also vowed that the Pentagon will continue it counterterrorism efforts despite not having troops on the ground in Afghanistan, echoing President Joe Biden's remarks from Tuesday in saying the U.S. mission has changed over time.
Milley said that as of Wednesday morning, approximately 20,000 Afghans have arrived at eight different military bases in the continental U.S. and more refugees are on the way. Since the evacuation mission began, he said 124,334 people were airlifted out of Afghanistan by the U.S. and partners.
Source-ABC
The Weeknd drops sexy alternate version of "Can't Feel My Face" video
Let's all go back to 2015, when The Weeknd was enjoying his second number-one hit with "Can't Feel My Face." Why? Because the Canadian superstar has released a new, much sexier version of that song's video.
A rep tells Variety that this "alternate" version is actually the original version, which was then replaced with a different one due to a "shift in creative direction." The new version features The Weeknd frolicking in bed and in the back of a cab with a lingerie-clad blonde. They're also seen dirty dancing in a club, intercut with shots of strippers grinding onstage. The same woman is also seen making out with another girl in a bathroom stall.
Drugs aren't seen, but it's heavily implied that the woman and perhaps The Weeknd are both taking them. There are also a few shots of an octopus, whatever that means.
In the original video, The Weeknd is seen performing at a nightclub; a patron throws a lighter at him and he goes up in flames, but continues to perform until he eventually just runs out of the club.
Variety notes that the six-year anniversary of the release of The Weeknd's album Beauty Behind the Madness, which includes "Can't Feel My Face," just passed last weekend.
The singer recently released "Take My Breath," the first single from his forthcoming album. Meanwhile, his song "Save Your Tears," from his 2020 album After Hours, is still hanging around on the upper reaches of the chart.
Source-ABC
New COVID restrictions are in effect officially as of September 1st,2021.
New COVID restrictions that were approved at last Cabinet meeting held on 25 August are set to come into effect officially tomorrow, 1 September.
The measures include the following:
• No person shall host an event consisting of 50 persons or more without approval from the Chief Medical Officer or Chief Environmental Health Officer. (Definition of Event: Something that happens at a given time and place including Hotels, Bars, and Restaurants – e.g. show, party, karaoke, music festival, house party, private banquet, ball, dance, etc.),
• Work permits/temporary work permits should not be granted to performers for the purposes of hosting or performing at social events,
• All night clubs and bars should reduce occupancy to 50%,
• Patrons at night clubs and bars must provide proof of being fully vaccinated,
• Bars/clubs to be responsible for verifying the identification and vaccination status of all participants and a logbook kept with the same, and shared with the Ministry of Health and the Environmental Health Department every Monday
The government also approved a requirement for the introduction of a customer tracking system (manual or electronic) be implemented for all events going forward from 14 September 2021.
These restrictions follow on top of the government’s vaccine mandate for all tourist 16 and over.
Despite Health Minister, Honourable Jamell Robinson, seeking to calm public concern and some backlash, many residents remain upset about the new measures saying that it shows a lack of care or concern on the part of the government for the people. However, the government has continued to insist that such measures are necessary to protect the people of the TCI as the country is in its own third wave of the virus.
The matter remains a contentious one but the real results of the government’s new policy will only be seen in the coming days once they have taken effect.
At that same 25 August meeting, Cabinet also approved several planning applications, in particular one application in relation to the development of a Farmers Market on Providenciales.
Cabinet approved a COVID works Program Policy under the Ministry of Physical Planning and Infrastructure Development to come into effect on 1 September.
There were also discussions and approvals in relation to several ordinances; and approval of appointments of members to several boards.
Delta variant threatens to slow the jobs recovery in the U.S.
The US jobs recovery is about to get a reality check.
It was a strong summer, with nearly 2.5 million jobs added back between May and July even as the Delta variant started to increase Covid-19 infections — but economists are now growing cautious that August may not have been as strong.
Economists polled by Refinitiv still predict 728,000 jobs were added last month. But that forecast was revised down from 750,000 early Wednesday after a disappointing reading from ADP Employment Reports, which looks at private sector payrolls.
It was the second time in a row that the ADP report was significantly below expectations: 374,000 jobs were added in August, compared with 613,000 predicted, according to Refinitiv.
The two measures of the labor market aren't correlated — but the ADP report, which comes out first, is seen as a barometer for the jobs data later in the week.
And all this is happening just as the unprecedented stimulus that helped the economy during the worst of the pandemic is coming to an end.
Three US government programs designed to help the jobless during the past year and a half are ending this month. About two dozen states have already ended at least one of the federal unemployment benefits programs, opting to close them early this summer.
Last week, 340,000 Americans filed for initial jobless benefits, adjusted for seasonal swings, a new pandemic-era low. Claims under the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program, which provides benefits to workers such as the self-employed, slipped to 102,405, according to the Labor Department. PUA benefits will run out in a matter of days. Without the seasonal adjustments, a total of 390,156 claims were filed under both programs last week, still well above pre-pandemic levels.
Both investors and the Federal Reserve will be watching Friday's jobs report closely.
Source-CNN
TCI Hospital prepares to implement "MyCareCorner" patient portal
Turks and Caicos Islands Hospital is preparing to implement a secure online portal that provides enrolled patients with convenient 24-hour access to certain personal health information within their medical records from anywhere on the internet.
MyCareCorner is an interactive user platform that is desktop-based and downloadable as a mobile application on the Apple Store and Google Play to access health information on the go. The hospital will manage the data, and enrolled patients can access specific health information such as recent doctor visits, discharge summaries, medications, immunizations, allergies, and lab results. The hospital is currently reviewing the type of information that will be made available to enrolled patients. In July, an online community survey entitled 'MyCareMatters' was launched to canvass feedback on several service areas, including the patient portal.
The platform is private and is accessed on a secure connection via an encrypted, password-protected logon to protect patients' health information. The hospital is seeking to complete the implementation stage of the patient portal by the end of the year. Following this stage, information about the enrolment process will be provided.
Patient portals can add significant value to the patient experience with faster access to essential medical information. This platform empowers patients to be more actively involved in their care and their family members' health, based on patient consent and guardianship.
MyCareCorner also connects with specific everyday home health and fitness devices like blood pressure cuffs, blood glucose devices, and weight scales. This feature eliminates the need to enter readings manually and ensures that subscribers' medical records always have accurate, consistent on-time data.
Patient portals implemented in other health care facilities have reflected improvements in medication adherence, disease awareness, self-management of disease, a decrease in the number of medical office visits, an increase in preventative medicine, and increased patient satisfaction. Patients can utilize the portal to accomplish tasks that generally require a phone call or even multiple phone calls.
Commenting on the platform, Dr. Denise Braithwaite-Tennant, Chief Executive Officer at TCI Hospital, stated: "InterHealth Canada - The Turks and Caicos Islands Hospital, is continuously exploring innovative ways to enhance the experience of the patients and families. We believe that engaging patients in their health care can improve health outcomes and patient satisfaction. Digital information storage systems such as electronic medical records provide a space where patient information can be securely stored and accessed within a timely manner."
She continued: "The increasing adoption of electronic medical records by hospitals has given patients wider access to their clinical information. Seamless access to medical records can positively affect communication between the patient and their health care team. It also empowers patients and enhances their involvement in their care. All of our patients are encouraged to enroll when the patient portal enrolment process is announced."
Visitors bowled out for 60 in losing first Twenty20
New Zealand were bowled out for 60 to equal their lowest Twenty20 total as Bangladesh won the first of their five-match series by seven wickets.
The visitors won the toss in Mirpur and opted to bat, but their top four fell for just nine runs.
Tom Latham and Henry Nicholls, both with 18, were the only players to score double figures.
Bangladesh lost both openers for one before Mushfiqur Rahim and captain Mahmudullah led them to victory.
New Zealand were last bowled out for 60 in their World Twenty20 defeat by Sri Lanka in Chittagong in 2014.
The second match in the series will take place at the same venue on Friday.
Source-BBC
Barbados to re-open all schools online on Sept 20
The Barbados government Tuesday said that all classes will be fully online when the new school term begins on September 20.
“We believe, and after discussions this morning with the various representatives of the trade union movement, as well as the PTA's (Parent Teacher Associations), we believe that the time has now come for us as we approach the start of the September term to go fully online,” Education Minister Santia Bradshaw said in a video statement.
“Therefore I want to announce that all classes will begin for both students at the public and private schools on the 20th of September but they will now be fully online now,” she added.
The announcement comes as the island deals with a surge in the coronavirus (COVID-19) cases and some schools being used as isolation centres.
The authorities said on Tuesday that the number of people in isolation is 339 and Bradshaw said over 100 people now in isolation across the various centres and that as the surge of COVID-19 cases continues more schools may be drafted to assist the Ministry of Health.
“In order to be able to get ahead of this particular virus, there may be other sites in the coming weeks that may have to be used. Some of our schools may have to be used.
“It is not a measure of first resort, but the truth of the matter is that many of our schools have in fact been upgraded and the bathroom facilities and showers lend to being able to be considered as an adequate facility to be able to host persons who may be sick.
“In the past few days, we've had to set up the Blackman and Gollop (schools) as an isolation facility and I know that there are some who believe that we shouldn't be using these schools, but the truth of the matter is that this facility has been able to serve the Ministry of Health and Wellness well.
“In the past, we've been able to hand it back over to the school at the appropriate time, and I think the situation now warrants that we're able to provide additional facilities for the Ministry of Health and Wellness,” Bradshaw added.
THREE MEN IN CUSTODY FOLLOWING GRAND TURK ROBBERY
Police Officers on the Island of Grand Turk are investigating a Robbery that took place on Tuesday, August 31st, 2021 around 12:00 p.m.
Reports to the police control room are that a bar and restaurant located along Front Street was robbed of cash and other items.
According to reports, two masked men wearing all black, one armed with a machete, while the other suspect held a gun entered the business establishment and demanded money.
The suspects stole an undisclosed amount of cash and a purse containing a cellular phone and other personal items.
Three men are in custody in relation to this incident.
Further information will be provided as the investigation progresses.
POSTPONEMENT OF EFFECTIVE DATE FOR BAN OF USED RETHREADED TIRES AND VEHICLES OLDER THAN 10 YEARS
The Ministry of Home Affairs, Transportation, Broadcasting, Energy and Utilities and Telecommunications Commission, in collaboration with the Ministry of Immigration and Border Services and the Office of the Premier in a release to RTC News has informed us that the effective date for the ban on the importation of used and rethreaded tires for motor vehicles, as well as a ban on the importation of motor vehicles aged beyond ten (10) years will no longer take effect on the 1st of September 2021.
RTC News was told that the new effective date for the ban is set for the 15th of October 2021.
The Government remains committed to ensure environmental protection, consumer safety, and proper waste management within the Turks and Caicos Islands. It is therefore critical that all measures and processes are properly executed to ensure the greatestand most effective results.
We thank you for your patience and understanding!
Former R. Kelly worker claims singer used to make women fight each other as punishment
R. Kelly's sex trafficking trial continued Tuesday with Suzette Mayweather, former employee, taking the stand to testify against the singer, alleging he would force his live-in girlfriends to fight one another as a form of punishment.
New York Daily News reports that Mayweather, who is no longer employed by Kelly but worked for him for several years, claims women were forced to fight each other at Kelly's 2016 birthday party.
"He didn’t like an incident where they were twerking for cake... He had to have them get on each other. I think they were fighting," Mayweather recalled, but admitted she did not see the chaos and only heard the racket upstairs.
Mayweather also recalled another time when one of Kelly's live in girlfriends allegedly came to her, revealing red marks where the singer allegedly spanked her. She also revealed Kelly became enraged when she broke one of his strict rules by speaking to one of his live-in girlfriends, noting, "It was the first time that I’d ever seen Rob really upset... It wasn’t the tone, it was the look in his eyes."
She also backed up claims made by other witnesses that Kelly would withhold employees' pay over small mistakes, saying he used to call it a "fine." Mayweather also claimed Kelly would confine women to their rooms for days at a time.
Kelly, 54, whose birth name is Robert Sylvester Kelly, faces state and federal charges for sex trafficking, racketeering, coercion and other charges related to the alleged abuse and exploitation of six women -- three of whom were underage at the time -- over the course of 25 years. If convicted, he could be sentenced to up to 20 years in prison.
Source-ABC