PUBLIC FORECAST FOR THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT WEDNESDAY 19TH MAY 2021
A QUASI-STATIONARY FRONT CONTINUES TO PRODUCE WIDESPREAD CLOUDINESS AND INCREASED SHOWER ACTIVITY MAINLY OVER THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS. MEANWHILE, MODERATE TO STRONG WINDS CONTINUE TO FLOW ACROSS THE ISLANDS DUE TO BUILDING HIGH PRESSURE NORTH OF THE AREA.
THERE REMAINS THE POSSIBILITY OF WATERSPOUT ACTIVITY IN THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS…BEACHGOERS AND MARINERS SHOULD BE ALERT FOR THE RISK OF RIP CURRENTS MAINLY ALONG THE NORTHERN AND EASTERN SHORELINES.
ALL AREAS
WEATHER: MOSTLY CLOUDY TO OCCASIONALLY OVERCAST, WARM AND WINDY WITH WIDELY SCATTRED SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS MAINLY IN THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS THROUGH TONIGHT.
A SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FOR ALL AREAS…EXPECT GUSTY WINDS AND HIGHER SEAS IN OR NEAR HEAVY SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS.
WINDS: EASTERLY AT 20 TO 25 KNOTS WITH HIGHER GUSTS IN THE NORTHWEST AND CENTRAL BAHAMAS…& NORTHEAST TO EAST AT 15 TO 25 KNOTS IN THE SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS.
SEAS: 7 TO 10 FEET OVER THE OCEAN IN THE NORTHWEST AND CENTRAL BAHAMAS, HIGHER IN GUSTS…AND 5 TO 8 FEET IN THE SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS.
DAYTIME HIGH TEMPERATURE 88°F 31°C
OVERNIGHT LOW TEMPERATURE 73°F 23°C
SUNSET: 7:47PM MOONRISE: 12:54PM HIGH TIDE: 2:15PM 2:37AM THU.
SUNRISE: 6:23AM THU. MOONSET: 2:20AM THU. LOW TIDE: 8:18PM 9:10AM THU.
***FIRST QUARTER MOON @ 3:12PM***
WEATHER OUTLOOK: VARIABLY CLOUDY, WARM AND WINDY WITH SCATTERED SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS MAINLY IN VICINITY OF THE FRONT IN THE SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS.
TROPICAL WEATHER OUTLOOK: A NON-TROPICAL SYSTEM IS FORECAST TO DEVELOP A FEW HUNDRED MILES NORTHEAST OF BERMUDA BY LATE THURSDAY AND PRODUCE GALE-FORCE WINDS. THE LOW COULD THEN MOVE SOUTHWESTWARD OVER WARMER WATERS ON FRIDAY BEFORE THE SYSTEM MOVES TOWARD THE NORTH AND NORTHEAST INTO A MORE HOSTILE ENVIRONMENT BY SUNDAY. THIS SYSTEM HAS A 30% CHANCE OF TROPICAL CYCLONE FORMATION DURING THE NEXT 5 DAYS AND IS NOT EXPECTED TO POSE ANY THREAT TO THE BAHAMAS.
8 Cars are carrying Wireless Apple CarPlay And Android Auto In India
Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto have become a major trend in India and an array of popular models currently get these connectivity features. Here we have listed 8 cars that offer wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
In-car connectivity is becoming more and more popular among Indian car buyers right now.
Today a considerable number of customers opt for car variants that get connectivity features like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which are usually higher-level trims. As always, with time technology also evolves, and currently, wireless tech has become a major trend when it comes to cars, be it wireless phone charges or wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. In fact, the latter two are a fairly new addition in the mass-market segment, and we already have an array of popular car models that offer these features. Here we have listed 8 cars that offer wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
The Nissan Magnite was one of the initial models to offer wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto technology, and the first one to get it in the subcompact SUV segment. The feature is offered with the XV and XV Premium variants of the Magnite, and if you get the optional Tech Pack, you will also get a wireless charger, JBL speakers, ambient lighting, and air purifier among other features.
Like the Magnite, the Renault Kiger is based on the same CMF-A+ platform, and thus share most of its traits as well. This includes wireless CarPlay and Android Auto. However, unlike the Magnite, the Kiger only get them on the top-end RXZ variant. That said, Renault too offers an optional Smart+Pack with the Kiger which comes with features like a wireless charger, front parking sensor, ambient lighting, and air purifier among other features.
Source-
Apple Powerbeats 2 headphone customers receive payout
Apple is paying up to $189 (£133) in compensation to customers of Apple Powerbeats 2 headphones in the US.
In 2017, a class action lawsuit claimed the headphones did not retain battery life and were not sweat or water-resistant.
The firm paid $9.75m (£6.9m) to settle, but denied all allegations and said it wanted to avoid expensive legal fees.
Anyone who bought Powerbeats 2 earbuds before August 2020 was eligible to receive a payout.
Customers told the MacRumours news site they had now started to receive individual payments from the settlement.
Those users and others on social media reported receiving between $57 and $114, but the court documents say a maximum of $189 could be paid out, with proof of purchase.
But some US customers said they had missed the November 2020 deadline to apply for compensation, and complained their headphones still didn't work.
Class action lawsuits - where a legal case against a business is brought on behalf of a group of people - are commonplace in the US.
However, these are rarer in the UK.
But there are are currently several high-profile cases against Google, Facebook and TikTok open, on behalf of millions of users of the technology platforms.
"The large amount of the settlement payout by Apply is likely to be reflective of the number of members of the class action," said Jowanna Conboye, technology and intellectual property partner at law firm Spencer West.
"As the settlement agreement held anyone who bought the headphones during the relevant period is eligible for the payout this could be in the hundreds of thousands considering the popularity of Powerbeats 2 in the active earphone market.
"Tactically Apple probably did the right thing in settling the case since it gets much less negative publicity that way and any issues with its product design or manufacture that would form part of the evidence before court remains secret and protected for Apple."
IOC 'must guarantee world-class Covid-19 protections', says World Players Association
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) "must urgently guarantee world-class Covid-19 protections" if this year's Games are to be held safely, the World Players Association (WPA) says.
IOC protocols "lack the same rigour and resources" seen in professional team sports, says the WPA, which represents athletes globally.
Tokyo is set to host the Games, delayed a year by the coronavirus pandemic.
But the city is under a state of emergency because of a rise in cases.
That state of emergency is set to remain in place until the end of May, with the Olympics scheduled to start on 23 July.
Brendan Schwab, the WPA's executive director, said: "Despite having the benefit of time, knowledge and experience to prepare for this year's Olympics, it is alarming that so close to the planned opening, the IOC's measures fall so far behind the required standards.
"Given significant concerns over new and more harmful [coronavirus] variants and a vastly inconsistent global vaccine rollout, the IOC must urgently guarantee world class Covid-19 protections at the Games."
Organisers have created playbooks that lay out guidelines for the games including daily testing.
An IOC spokesman said, "We would refer you to the comments made by the Executive Director of World Health Organisation's (WHO) Health Emergencies Programme, Dr Michael Ryan, who has just recently welcomed our strict Covid-19 countermeasures.
"Acknowledging that the Games are a complex event that requires a great deal of logistics and risk management, Dr Ryan said that the WHO has "confidence that the IOC and the host city Tokyo, and the Government of Japan, will make the right decisions regarding how best to manage the risks, and are working extremely hard right now to ensure that those risks are well managed.
"We would have nothing further to add to this endorsement of our approach by the world's leading health authority."
On Wednesday, IOC president Thomas Bach said that he would ease the burden on local medical systems during the Tokyo Olympics.
He added that national Olympic committees will be asked to arrange their own medical staff where possible and that the Games will be safe for the Japanese public.
Also speaking on Wednesday, the Swedish Olympic Committee's chief executive Peter Reinebo said the Games could "become a turning point in the global pandemic".
Reinebo added: "I think that Tokyo 2020 and the IOC have done a fantastic job in creating these bubbles and the testing programme in a way that feels safe and secure."
Tokyo and several regions of Japan were under a state of emergency as a test event was staged at an empty Olympic stadium earlier this month, while a small protest took place outside, calling for the Games to be cancelled.
American sprinter Justin Gatlin, the men's 100m champion in 2004, was one of 420 athletes to take part in the test event and said: "I felt beyond safe. The bubble has been very successful."
However, the United States track and field team have cancelled their pre-Olympic training camp in Japan because of concerns over the pandemic.
Japanese tennis star Naomi Osaka said last week that rising Covid-19 levels in Tokyo are a "big cause for concern" and she was "not really sure" the Olympics should go ahead this summer.
And Japan's top-ranked men's player Kei Nishikori, speaking at the Italian Open last week, said: "This is not like 100 people like [we have at] these tournaments. It's 10,000 people in an Olympic Village. With what's happening right now in Japan; it's not doing good."
Source-BBC
Netanyahu vows more Gaza strikes despite pressure
Israel's army says it has targeted the head of Hamas's military wing, Mohammed Deif, during the ongoing strikes on Gaza.
A spokesman for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), Brig Gen Hidai Zilberman, said Israel had tried to assassinate Deif, the head of the Izzedine al-Qassam Brigades.
Deif, who has been on the Israeli army's most-wanted list for over two decades, has survived repeated attempts on his life over the years, including in the last major conflict in 2014.
Israeli news website Ynet reported that in one of the operations, Deif had been in his bunker when Israel hit the location.
He tends to stay in the background and his whereabouts remain unknown.
Hamas has not confirmed the reports.
Israel has accused a United Nations relief agency of "cynical misrepresentation" for suggesting it was preventing humanitarian aid from entering the Gaza Strip.
On Tuesday the aid agency for Palestinians, known as UNRWA, called on Israel to enable access to Gaza for humanitarian supplies and its staff.
The agency said Israel had not approved such access and was therefore failing to meet its obligations under international law.
But Israel's foreign ministry denied this in a statement on Wednesday.
It said rocket fire from Palestinian militants in Gaza, not Israel, had halted the transfer of humanitarian aid on Tuesday and Wednesday.
“UNRWA’s claim that Israel is preventing humanitarian aid from reaching Gaza is a cynical misrepresentation and simply a lie,” the statement said.
"Israel will continue its efforts to co-ordinate the transfer of humanitarian aid into Gaza, taking into account security considerations.”
Now let's turn to the UK, where Prime Minister Boris Johnson has condemned a spike in anti-Semitic incidents in the country since the Israel-Gaza conflict began.
Johnson was asked what he would do to support Jewish communities in the UK during questioning by opposition leader Sir Keir Starmer in parliament.
"I share his horror at the outbreak of anti-Semitic incidents and the government has conveyed that message loud and clear to those who are responsible for enforcing the law against hate crime," Johnson said.
He said anti-Semitism must be called out "at every stage", adding: "We will not let it take root, we will not allow it to grow and fester."
His comments came after 116 anti-Semitic incidents were reported over 11 days from 8 May in the UK - a five-fold increase on the previous period.
Those incidents were recorded by the Community Security Trust (CST), which offers safety advice to the Jewish community in the UK.
Recent incidents dealt with by the police include an attack on Rabbi Rafi Goodwin near his synagogue in north London.
The head of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) has said that Iran backs the Palestinians against what it calls the "Zionist regime" (Israel).
In a televised address, Hossein Salami said the conflict showed that "Palestinians have emerged as a missile-equipped nation."
Iran is a major supporter of Hamas, which it backs financially and militarily. The two sides fell out after Hamas refused to support Iran's ally, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, in Syria's civil war. But the two sides have since reconciled.
Following news of Joe Biden's call for a "de-escalation", a Hamas spokesman in Gaza, Hazem Qassem, has told reporters that Israel has been refusing to engage with diplomatic efforts to end the violence.
"There are no specific dates for the issue of the ceasefire, because all the international efforts that are being made, as well as the Egyptian efforts, are met with an Israeli position that refuses to deal with ceasefire initiatives," he said.
He told Reuters news agency that if Israel ended its "bombardment on Gaza... there can be room to talk about arrangements to restore calm".
Source-BBC
Pipeline boss confirms $4.4m ransom payment
Colonial Pipeline has confirmed it paid a $4.4m (£3.1m) ransom to the cyber-criminal gang responsible for taking the US fuel pipeline offline.
Its boss told the Wall Street Journal he authorised the payment on 7 May because of uncertainty over how long the shutdown would continue.
"I know that's a highly controversial decision," Joseph Blount said in his first interview since the hack.
The 5,500-mile (8,900-km) pipeline carries 2.5 million barrels a day.
According to the firm, it carries 45% of the East Coast's supply of diesel, petrol and jet fuel.
Chief executive Mr Blount told the newspaper that the firm decided to pay the ransom after discussions with experts who had previously dealt with DarkSide, the criminal organisation behind the attack.
"I didn't make [that decision] lightly. I will admit that I wasn't comfortable seeing money go out the door to people like this.
"But it was the right thing to do for the country," he added.
The US government has recommended in the past that companies do not pay criminals over ransomware attacks, in case they invite further hacks in the future.
Colonial Pipeline took itself offline on Friday 7 May after the cyber-attack.
In return for the Bitcoin payment, the company received a decryption tool so it could unlock the systems compromised by the hackers - although that was not enough to restart systems immediately, according to the newspaper.
Operations resumed on the pipeline last week, although petrol shortages seen across states such as North Carolina and Georgia have persisted, according to data tracking firm Gas Buddy.
Mr Blount added that it would take months before some other business systems are recovered, and estimated that the attack would ultimately cost the company tens of millions of dollars.
He also regrets that the company has lost some degree of anonymity, having led the firm since 2017.
"We were perfectly happy having no one know who Colonial Pipeline was, and unfortunately that's not the case any more," he said. "Everybody in the world knows."
At the time of the hack, the DarkSide criminal gang acknowledged the incident in a public statement.
"Our goal is to make money and not creating problems for society," DarkSide wrote on its website.
"We do not participate in geopolitics, do not need to tie us with a defined government and look for... our motives," the group added.
No charges for deputies in Andrew Brown Jr. shooting, district attorney says
No charges will be filed against North Carolina sheriff's deputies who shot and killed Andrew Brown Jr., a 42-year-old Black man.
Brown's family maintains that he was "executed" by authorities as he sat in his car. Brown was a father of seven.
Elizabeth City, North Carolina, District Attorney Andrew Womble said the three deputies who discharged their weapons at Brown were justified in using deadly force against him.
Womble said Brown drove his vehicle toward the authorities and allegedly made contact with one deputy twice before officers opened fire.
The decision based on the results of an investigation by the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, said Womble.
"Mr. Brown's death, while tragic, was justified, because Mr. Brown's actions caused three deputies with the Pasquotank County Sheriff's Office to reasonably believe it was necessary to use deadly force to protect themselves and others," Womble said Tuesday, saying Brown allegedly used his car as a deadly weapon.
The body cam footage from four of the investigators have since been released by the district attorney.
Womble adds deputies fired 14 shots at Brown and, according to an autopsy, Brown was struck twice, once in the head and the other in the shoulder. This contests what Brown's family has claimed in their independent autopsy, saying Brown was shot five times.
Brown's family, speaking through their attorneys, reacted to the news and accused the announcement as an "attempt to whitewash this unjustified killing. The family has since requested immediate intervention by the U.S. Department of Justice.
The then 42-year-old Brown was killed when deputies attempted to serve the warrants at his home in Elizabeth City on April 21. Details of what led to the shooting have not been released by authorities. Deputies were serving warrants related to felony drug charges when the shooting occurred, the sheriff's office said.
Source-ABC
Drake attends epic meet-up with LeBron James, Michael B. Jordan and Damson Idris
It looks like the G.O.A.T. Drake attended a party with a few of his G.O.A.T. friends.
On Tuesday, the Certified Lover Boy shared a series of photos of himself enjoying libations and laughs with a few celebrity friends, including LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers, actor Michael B. Jordan, and Snowfall star Damson Idris. Also spotted in the photos is R&B singer Giveon, who sang vocals on Drizzy's "Chicago Freestyle."
"Having our way," wrote Drake in the simple caption on Instagram, followed by Jordan in the comments, who wrote, "Facts."
Drake, LeBron, Jordan and Idris posted in another set of Instagram photos from their meet-up, where they celebrated LeBron's investment in the new Lobos 1707 Tequila.
"Congrats to my brothers nothing like some Lobos to start your Monday off right," Drake wrote in the caption.
Hopefully, those drinks won't affect LeBron's skills in tonight's NBA play-in game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Golden State Warriors. The two teams will square off for the No. 7 seed in the Western Conference playoffs at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN.
Source- ABC
Work Progresses on TCI Public Service Pension and Gratuity Program
Premier of the Turks and Caicos Islands the Honourable Charles Washington Misick and Deputy Governor and Head of the Public Service Her Excellency Anya Williams recently met to progress work on the Reinstatement of a Turks and Caicos Public Service Pension and Gratuity Program.
The meeting was also attended by the former Director of the Deputy Governor’s Office, now Permanent Secretary of National Security Mr. Tito Lightbourne, along with the Permanent Secretary of Finance, Mrs. Athenee Basden, Budget Director, Ms. Nordia Campbell, Accountant General, Hemant Sinanan and lead consultant on the program Mr. Derek Osborne of Morneau Shepell Consultancy who all attended virtually.
The Turks and Caicos Pension and Gratuity Program was discontinued in 2012 due to financial hardship at the time.
Previously, the TCI provided a public service pension to all employees that joined the public service prior to 1992. This pension program also allowed for 25% of a person’s pension to be converted to a lump sum gratuity payment.
Persons that joined the service post 1992 (the introduction of the National Insurance Scheme) were not entitled to a TCIG Pension, but upon leaving the civil service were paid a gratuity for their years of service. Under the current arrangements, persons that joined the service pre 1992 are still entitled to receive a TCIG Pension, but no gratuity. Whereas, persons that joined the service post 1992 are not entitled to a public service gratuity or a pension.
In 2019/2020 a consultancy was funded to review and provide options on the reinstatement of a TCIG Pension/Gratuity Program. The report was presented to the Civil Service Association and Cabinet for consideration.
Commenting on his government’s commitment to this program, Premier Misick said: “My Finance team and I were grateful for the opportunity to meet with the Deputy Governor and consultant Mr. Derek Osborne to review and discuss the contents of the consultancy previously carried out on the reinstatement of a TCIG Pension and Gratuity Program.
I was pleased with the options provided that would seek to provide a sustainable long term retirement plan for not only public servants, but also persons that serve in statutory bodies and other capacities.
As my Government prior to coming to office, committed to swiftly progressing the work and necessary funding to deliver on this important initiative, I am pleased to advise that $2 million in seed funding has already been approved in the new FSPS for this initiative, which will subsequently be included in the upcoming budget.
I look forward to Cabinet’s consideration of this proposal and to working to bring this program to fruition.”
Deputy Governor, Anya Williams in commenting said: “On behalf of the public service of the Turks and Caicos Islands my office is pleased to progress the work on the reinstatement of a Public Service Pension and Gratuity Program.
The discontinuation of a pension/gratuity program for civil servants post 1992 has caused significant concerns as persons that remain in the service are not only not entitled to the same benefits as some of their previous and current colleagues, but even pre 1992 employees that remain in service have expressed difficulty in being able to transition into retirement at the age of 60 as there is no longer the option to receive a lump sum gratuity payment to assist as was previously the case.
Our public servants carry out very important roles on behalf of the government and people of these islands and deserve to be adequately compensated for the roles that they do.
As it stands, the Turks and Caicos Government is the only territory that does not offer a pension or gratuity program for its staff which needs to be addressed.
As we work to progress the work on this initiative, following formal approval by the Cabinet we will undertake necessary consultations with the civil service on the design of the program so that we can progress the necessary legislation and funding request to the House of Assembly to facilitate the implementation of this vital program.”
Trinidad looking to benefit from US vaccine pledge
The Trinidad and Tobago government Tuesday said it is moving to ensure that the country benefits from the decision of the United States to share an additional 20 million doses of coronavirus (COVID-19) virus within the world in the coming six weeks.
Foreign And Caricom Affairs Minister, Dr Amery Browne, responding to an opposition question in the Senate on the issue, told legislators that he has also met with the Chargé d'Affaires at the US Embassy here, Shante Moore, to discuss the matter soon after President Joe Biden had announced the new initiative.
Biden said Monday that the doses will come from existing production of Pfizer, Moderna or Johnson & Johnson vaccine stocks, marking the first time that US-controlled doses of vaccines authorized for use in the country will be shared overseas. It will boost the global vaccine sharing commitment from the US to 80 million.
“We know America will never be fully safe until the pandemic that's raging globally is under control,” Biden said at the White House.
The announcement comes on top of the Biden's administration's prior commitment to share about 60 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine, which is not yet authorized for use in the US, by the end of June. The AstraZeneca doses will be available to ship once they clear a safety review by the Food and Drug Administration.
“Very targeted advocacy continues,” Browne told the Senate, saying Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley, who is also the chairman of the 15-member regional integration grouping, Caricom, has been leading “the advocacy with contacts such as Maxine Waters, high level influential figure in the US administration”.
He said discussions were also taking place with the Atlantic Council, a high level think tank.
Source-CMC