Raúl Castro steps down as Cuban Communist Party leader
Raúl Castro says he is resigning as Cuban Communist Party leader, ending his family's six decades in power.
Mr Castro, 89, told a party congress that he is handing over the leadership to a younger generation "full of passion and anti-imperialist spirit".
His successor will be voted in at the end of the four-day congress.
The move, which was expected, ends the era of formal leadership by him and his brother Fidel Castro, which began with the 1959 revolution.
"I believe fervently in the strength and exemplary nature and comprehension of my compatriots," he told party delegates in Havana on Friday.
"And as long as I live I will be ready with my foot in the stirrups to defend the fatherland, the revolution and socialism."
Although Mr Castro has not endorsed a successor, it is widely believed the party leadership will pass to Miguel Díaz-Canel, who took over as the island's president in 2018.
Raúl Castro has been the party's first secretary since succeeding his older brother, Fidel, in 2011.
Fidel Castro led the communist revolution that toppled the Cuban government in 1959, when Raúl served as one of his commanders.
Fidel Castro led the country until falling ill in 2006 and in 2008 handed over the presidency to his brother. Fidel Castro died in 2016.
Source-BBC
Eight dead in Indianapolis FedEx facility shooting
Eight people were shot and killed and several others injured in a mass shooting Thursday night at a FedEx facility in Indianapolis, according to local authorities.
Officers arrived at the scene just after 11 p.m. local time to find an active shooter situation, according to Indianapolis Metropolitan Police officials, who said the alleged shooter had ultimately “taken his own life.” Multiple victims were transported to various area hospitals, at least four in critical condition and three others with various gunshot injuries. Police said some hospitals also reported multiple walk-ins from the incident.
The identity and possible motive of the alleged shooter have not been released.
An internal briefing from the DHS Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency says the shooting location is “the second largest FedEx Express Hub in the world; only the FedEx SuperHub in Memphis, Tennessee surpasses its cargo traffic.”
There is no indication at this point that the shooting is connected to terrorism, two law enforcement officials told ABC News.
TCI Commonwealth Games appoints Rosalie Ingham-Hall as Chef de Mission to lead Team TCI into Commonwealth Games (2022).
The Turks and Caicos Islands Commonwealth Games Association (TCICGA) has appointed Mrs. Rosalie Ingham-Hall as the Chef de Mission to lead Team Turks and Caicos into the Commonwealth Games (2022). The Games will be hosted by the United Kingdom in the city of Birmingham from 28th July to 8th August 2022, where Team Turks and Caicos is expected to participate in three (3) sporting disciplines, namely Aquatics Swimming, Athletics and Road Cycling.
Mrs. Ingham-Hall is not new to the role of Chef de Mission, having served as Chef de Mission for Team TCI at the Commonwealth Games (2014), held in Glasgow and the Centro Caribe Sports formerly Central America and Caribbean Sports Organizations (CACSO)-2018, held in Barranquilla, Colombia. She currently holds the position as General Secretary of the Turks and Caicos Islands Amateur Athletic Association (TCAAA) as well as the General Secretary for the Turks and Caicos Islands Commonwealth Games Association (TCICGA). In addition, she is the former Board Member for the Turks and Caicos Islands, to the Caribbean Regional Anti-Doping Organization and a member of Women in Sports TCI. She has travelled on several occasions as Team Manager for the CARIFTA Games, North American Central American and Caribbean Athletics Association (NACAC) under 23 Championships, World Junior Championships and World Championships.
Mrs. Ingham-Hall has an illustrious athletic background spanning five (5) years at the HJ Robinson High School where she had the distinct pleasure of being Champion Girl for four (4) consecutive years. She remained undefeated in the 100m, 200m and 400m sprints. She also held the National female records for the 200m and 400m for a number of years. In 2016 her twenty-three (23) year old record for the 200m was finally broken. She had the honor of representing the Turks and Caicos at various International Events: CARIFTA, Central America and Caribbean Games and Pan-Am Championships. Over the years, she has had the opportunity to attend various Regional and International Training Seminars. Mrs. Ingham-Hall is certified as an IAAF certified level- 3 Track and Field Coach and also IAAF certified Track and Field Technical Official.
Rosalie is much involve in the day to day running the of the TCAAA and also in promoting the athletes of the Turks and Caicos Islands. In her expression of thanks and appreciation to the TCICGA on the occasion of her appointment, Mrs. Ingham-Hall stated, ”..sports have played a very important role in my development - most importantly it helped me to cope with the highs and lows of life and to build character, resilience, respect and patience. It is always a privilege and honor to lead Team Turks and Caicos to any Championships Event or to be away from the spotlight getting things done. My task is an important responsibility which I take on whole-heartedly".
TCICGA President, Mr. Godfrey Been, describes Mrs. Ingham-Hall as an individual who is dedicated to sports and who will go the extra mile to get the task done. He added that, regardless of her quiet demeanor, she is no push over and he has the utmost confidence in her abilities.
All for You: Janet Jackson's blockbuster 2001 album turns 20
April 16 marks the 20th anniversary of the release of Janet Jackson’s blockbuster seventh studio album, All for You. In honor of the milestone, here are five fascinating facts about the album.
5. Janet made All for You after divorcing René Elizondo Jr., whom she’d secretly married in 1991. He's the guy whose hands were covering her breasts on the cover of Rolling Stone in 1993. Despite the split, her producer, Jimmy Jam, said Janet was optimistic about the future, which is why the album was carefree, fun and upbeat.
4. Janet said All for You is “a suite of songs that helped me move from one emotional level to another.” She added, “I feel free, and there’s nothing more wonderful than freedom.” As MTV noted, the album's two themes were "the liberation that comes with ending a bad relationship, and sex."
3. All for You debuted at number one with the biggest opening sales week of Janet’s career, selling more than 605,000 copies. It’s since sold more than seven million worldwide and is one of the best-selling albums of the decade.
2. All for You spun off the number-one title track, and the follow-up hits “Someone to Call My Lover” and “Son of a Gun (I Betcha Think this Song Is About You)." The latter is based around a sample of Carly Simon's 1972 hit "You're So Vain," and Simon added a new spoken-word part to it. A remix added Missy Elliott.
1. The song “All for You,” spent seven weeks at #1, making it Janet's most successful single since 1993's "That's the Way Love Goes." It also made radio airplay history and won a Grammy for Best Dance Recording. To date, it's Janet's most recent Billboard Hot 100 number-one hit.
Source-ABC
US pledges to work with new Haitian prime minister
The United States says it is looking forward to working with the new Prime Minister of Haiti, Claude Joseph, who has pledged to continue efforts for the staging of referendums and the organisation of new elections in the French-speaking country.
“The US looks forward to continued cooperation with Prime Minster Claude Joseph, the government of Haiti and all Haitian stakeholders and international partners working to hold free and fair legislative and presidential elections in 2021,” said Julie Chung, acting assistant secretary for US Department of State's Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs.
Joseph was inaugurated on Wednesday at a Council of Ministers meeting held at the National Palace, and reiterated his desire to continue government actions, according to the wishes of President Jovenel Moïse.
He said he is aware of the challenges ahead of him, but was prepared to mobilise all the necessary resources in order to remedy the problems linked to the insecurity confronting the country.
He said that he is committed to working towards restoring peace and security, as one of priorities of the government, while also renewing his commitment to continue the process that would allow the referendum to be held and the organisation of elections.
Joseph replaces Joseph Joute, who on Wednesday took to social media to announce that he had submitted his resignation to Moise. His resignation came after only year in the job. He was appointed prime minister in March 2020 by presidential decree and without a political agreement with the country's vocal opposition.
His appointment came two months after Moïse began ruling by executive order after the terms of most members of parliament expired.
Source-CMC
Jamaica asks residents tom report vaccine side effects longer than 72 hours
Jamaica's Ministry of Health and Wellness is urging persons to contact their health provider if side effects from the coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine persist beyond 72 hours.
Speaking in an interview with JIS News, Director of Family Health Services in the Ministry of Health and Wellness, Dr Melody Ennis, said that the expected side effects usually last for 24 to 48 hours.
“You might go up to 72 hours, but after that you should be okay. If your symptoms persist beyond that, we are asking for you to contact your health department or doctor and state what is happening to you and we will document,” she said.
Dr Ennis said the side effects, though uncomfortable, are actually a good sign.
“It says that the body is working well and we are developing the antibodies or the germ-fighting tools that we are actually going to be using when the real germ comes in,” she pointed out.
In highlighting the possible side effects, the family health director said that “more than one in 10 persons who get the AstraZeneca vaccine may develop a fever. They may develop joint pains, muscle ache, feel very fatigued, and may develop a headache”.
The one-in-10 statistic also applies to the possibility of individuals having a flu-like illness such as cough, sore throat, runny nose and vomiting. “Then there are some symptoms which are a little rarer. They occur in one in 100 persons. They may have abdominal pain, decreased appetite, they may get a rash, they may also have some vomiting,” Dr Ennis noted.
Additional cases of the UK Variant COVID-19 B.1.1.7. identified in TCI
The Ministry of Health received the results of genomic sequencing which was conducted through the Caribbean Public Health Agency on samples from the TCI.
These samples were shipped by the National Public Health Laboratory in the TCI from positive samples identified through PCR testing locally. Sequencing was undertaken in order to identify whether any of the variants identified internationally, were in circulation in the TCI. The results of previous testing were received on 27th February 2021, where one case of the B.1.1.7. variant was identified from four samples sent for testing.
An additional 10 (ten) samples were sent for analysis from which an additional 5 (five) cases of the U.K. B.1.1.7. variant was identified. This represents 50% of samples sent in this last batch testing positive for the variant. All of the individuals completed quarantine and have recovered.
The B.1.1.7. variant was first detected in the UK and was first sequenced in the UK in September 2020. This variant includes a mutation in the 'spike' protein. Changes in this part of the spike protein may result in the virus becoming more infectious and spreading more easily between people. The COVID-19 virus like any other virus, can undergo mutations. This is well documented in viruses such as the seasonal influenza (flu).
Today's results were not unexpected due to the TCIs borders being open to international and regional travel as well as the spike in the number of confirmed cases which took place at the end of 2020 into early 2021. This evidence of COVID-19 variants being detected locally does highlight the need for all TCI residents to remain vigilant in protecting themselves and one another through the use of face coverings, social distancing and getting vaccinated.
The Pfizer vaccine, which is being rolled out in the TCI to residents, has been shown to be effective against this variant; however, the general public is reminded to be vigilant in adhering to all public health protocols to prevent the spread of the virus throughout the community.
All residents are urged to be vigilant in practicing the public health measures at all times in light of the ongoing pandemic and surges being experienced in a number of countries both regionally and internationally.
US agencies call for pause in Johnson & Johnson vaccine
US health authorities are calling for a pause in the use of the Johnson & Johnson Covid-19 vaccine, after reports of extremely rare blood clotting cases.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said six cases in 6.8 million doses had been reported and it was acting "out of an abundance of caution".
Johnson & Johnson said it was also delaying vaccine rollout in Europe.
The US move follows similar rare cases in the AstraZeneca vaccine, which has prompted some curbs in its use.
The US has by far the most confirmed cases of Covid-19 - more than 31 million - with more than 562,000 deaths, another world high.
The picture for the virus in the US is complicated, though, with some areas in the north seeing surges in infections, the south less, and with the figures not always reflecting inoculation numbers.
The Johnson & Johnson jab was approved in the US on 27 February and its use has been more limited so far than that of the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna doses.
In a joint statement, the FDA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said they were "reviewing data involving six reported US cases of a rare and severe type of blood clot in individuals after receiving the J&J vaccine".
Source-BBC
PUBLIC FORECAST FOR TODAY AND TONIGHT TUESDAY 13TH APRIL 2021
WEATHER: VARIABLY CLOUDY AND WARM WITH A FEW ISOLATED SHOWERS MAINLY IN THE VICINITY OF THE FRONT THROUGH TONIGHT
WINDS: NORTH TO NORTHEAST AT 10 TO 15 KNOTS
SEAS: 2 TO 4 FEET OVER THE OCEAN
DAYTIME HIGH TEMPERATURE: 82°F 28°C OVERNIGHT TEMPERATURE: 66°F 19°C
SUN
SUNRISE: 6:49 AM SUNSET: 7:30 PM
MOON
MOONRISE: 7:50 AM MOONSET: 9:01 PM
TIDES
HIGH TIDE: 9:30 AM LOW TIDE: 3:37 PM
HIGH TIDE: 9:50 PM LOW TIDE: 4:13 AM WED
EXTENDED FORECAST FOR THE NEXT TWO DAYS: HIGH PRESSURE IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE TO BUILD ACROSS THE ISLANDS OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS GENERATING MOSTLY PLEASANT CONDITIONS
FORECAST FOR WEDNESDAY
WEATHER: MOSTLY SUNNY, HOT AND A BIT BREEZY WITH THE SLIGHT CHANCE OF A PASSING SHOWER, BECOMING FAIR AND WARM AT NIGHT.
Warren Buffett-backed BYD sells more electric cars March
Chinese automaker BYD offered more than twice as many battery-powered electric cars as start-up Nio delivered in March.
BYD, which is backed by U.S. billionaire Warren Buffett, disclosed Tuesday that gross sales of its battery-powered passenger cars totaled 16,301 models final month.
That’s more than double Nio’s deliveries in March of seven,257 cars. Rival start-up Xpeng delivered even fewer automobiles, at 5,102 models final month. Both corporations nonetheless beat analysts’ expectations with these figures.
In the brand new vitality car class, which incorporates hybrid in addition to pure-electric cars, BYD offered more than 23,000 models in March — that brings the whole within the first quarter to 53,380 cars.
BYD additionally offered practically as many oil-fueled automobiles within the first quarter, at 49,394 models.
The gross sales of electric cars come as China’s auto market recovers from the coronavirus pandemic, which hit the nation the toughest within the first quarter of 2020.
New motorized vehicle registrations within the first quarter of this year climbed to a file excessive of 9.66 million, China’s Ministry of Public Security stated Tuesday. New vitality automobiles accounted for 466,000, or simply over 6% of newly registered cars, the information confirmed.
The proportion of recent vitality cars nationwide which might be pure electric was 81.5% within the first quarter, about the identical because the ratio in 2020, in keeping with public safety information.
When it involves the worldwide market, China’s electric automakers nonetheless have a big hole to shut.
Electric automotive market chief Tesla stated final week it delivered 184,800 cars worldwide within the first quarter. While the U.S. electric automotive maker didn’t get away figures for China, the company famous in a launch: “We are encouraged by the strong reception of the Model Y in China and are quickly progressing to full production capacity.”
Elon Musk’s automotive company started deliveries of a China-made Model Y in January. The automotive was the third best-selling new vitality car in China in February, in keeping with the China Passenger Car Association.
Tesla has put in annual manufacturing capability for 200,000 Model Y models at its manufacturing unit in Shanghai, according to an investor presentation in late January.