Speed caused the rollover car crash that left Tiger Woods seriously injured
Speed caused the rollover car crash that left Tiger Woods seriously injured, Los Angeles County authorities said Wednesday.
The accident was also due to Woods' "inability to negotiate the curve of the roadway," Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva said at a news conference.
Woods was driving at an estimated 84 to 87 mph before the Feb. 23 accident in Southern California, according to Villanueva. The car was moving at 75 mph when Woods struck a tree, the sheriff said.
Woods was speeding but the decision was made not to issue a citation. No one witnessed the crash and Woods did not receive any special treatment from police, Villanueva said. The golfing great showed no signs of impairment, he added.
Villanueva said last month that the cause of the crash had been determined and the investigation had concluded.
Woods’ team gave permission for the accident details to be released, Villanueva said Wednesday, adding that under California law, such reports are confidential unless the release is approved by those involved.
Woods, who sustained serious leg injuries in the crash, issued a statement Wednesday thanking the good Samaritans and first responders who rushed to the scene. He added, "I will continue to focus on my recovery and family, and thank everyone for the overwhelming support and encouragement I’ve received throughout this very difficult time."
Woods has been recovering at his home in Florida.
Source-ABC
World's billionaires add more to their ranks, add $8 trillion to wealth amid pandemic
A new report by Forbes finds that the world's richest individuals have profited off the COVID-19 pandemic. The publication's 25th annual billionaires list found that the globe's top earners added $5 trillion to their net worth.
In addition, a record-breaking 2,755 billionaires have been identified in 2021, adding 493 new billionaires since 2020.
When comparing last year's total earnings from those who made the billionaires list, the list has made $8 trillion more than last year's total amount. Overall, the combined net worth of all those who appeared on the list is worth $13.1 trillion.
Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos stayed in the top spot this year, with a total net worth of $177 billion. In second was Tesla CEO Elon Musk with $151 billion, rising from 31 last year.
For the first time since 1993, Warren Buffet fell out of the top five earners, now listed at number six with a net worth of $96 billion.
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg placed fifth with $97 billion while Microsoft founder Bill Gates placed fourth with a net worth of $124 billion.
The list has fueled economists concerns that the pandemic has only increased the wealth gap, citing the U.S. now having the most billionaires in the world with 724 residing in the country, and pointed to the current U.S. unemployment rate that sits at six percent.
The unemployment rate was at 3.5 percent in February 2020.
While nearly 2,000 billionaires on this year's list are described as "self made," nearly 500 new billionaires made their money via COVID-related health care, cryptocurrency, traditional IPOs and SPACs.
Source-ABC
IMF predicts global economy improving despite Covid
The roll-out of COVID-19 vaccines and vast sums of government aid will accelerate global economic growth to a record high this year in a powerful rebound from the pandemic recession, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) says in its latest forecast.
The 190-country lending agency said yesterday that it expects the world economy to expand six per cent in 2021, up from the 5.5 per cent it had forecast in January. It would be the fastest expansion for the global economy in IMF records dating back to 1980.
In 2022, the IMF predicts, international economic growth will decelerate to a still strong 4.4 per cent, up from its January forecast of 4.2 per cent.
“A way out of this health and economic crisis is increasingly visible,'' IMF chief economist Gita Gopinath told reporters.
The agency's economists now estimate that the global economy shrank 3.3 per cent in 2020 after the devastating recession that followed the coronavirus' eruption across the world early last spring. That is the worst annual figure in the IMF's database, though not as severe as the 3.5 per cent drop it had estimated three months ago. Without US$16 trillion in global government aid that helped sustain companies and consumers during COVID-19 lockdowns, IMF forecasters say, last year's downturn could have been three times worse.
Source-AP
Second batch of COVID-19 vaccines arrives in Cayman
The Cayman Islands received the last batch of COVID-19 vaccines from the UK, meaning Cayman now has enough vaccinations to inoculate 90% of its adult population.
While there are now enough vaccinations on island to surpass the government’s goal of inoculating 75-80% of the population over the age of 16, Governor Martyn Roper, in a statement released that said he is concerned that the number of people stepping forward daily to get their vaccines is slowing down.
Just over 31,000 people – or 60% of the adult population – had received their first dose of the vaccine. There are enough vaccines here for more than 45,000 people, or nearly nine-tenths of the adult population.
The Public Health department also announced that, people receiving their vaccinations do not need to provide identification to demonstrate that they are ordinarily and legally resident, although photo ID will still be required.
This means that people visiting the Cayman Islands can get vaccinated.
Source-Cayman News
Hon. Rachel Taylor & her Department observes Child Abuse Prevention Month – April 2021
The TCI today will join together with neighboring countries in recognizing the month of April as Child Abuse Prevention Month.
This year as we seek to raise awareness and consciousness in protecting and securing the welfare of all children in the TCI and around the world, we join in promoting the theme “Thriving Children and Families: Prevention with Purpose”.
This year’s theme aptly promotes children within the context of families as the most valuable part of every family, the building blocks of society, and our hope for tomorrow. Every day, sadly, children are abused, neglected, subjected to harsh living conditions and even lose their lives due to the shortcomings and negative influences of the society in which they live; this is an international loss. These are unfortunate facts that have persisted for far too long BUT this can be reversed and prevented and the time for protection and securing our children is now!!!
The Honorable Minister with responsibility for Social Development, Honorable Rachel Taylor remarked, the theme “Thriving Children and Families: Prevention with Purpose”reminds us in the Turks and Caicos Islands that within the family unit, a child’s welfare is paramount and symbiotically affects the welfare of the entire family and society at large. Hence, a healthy family gives rise to healthy children. The family is the first point of reference for every child and should be a safe haven full of love, peace, kindness, attention, learning, resources and opportunities to grow and thrive. As a nation, we must do all within our powers to safeguard our children from all forms of abuse and neglect by being intentional in our daily actions and behaviors ensuring that it is in the best interest of the child and the family unit which they are apart.”
RTC earlier this month had a discussion where it was said that Abuse has NO place in an environment hence our mission is to eliminate it by shining a light on it, reporting to the relevant authorities and seeking intervention for both the victim and the perpetrator added Tiffany Thomas.
This year we seek, not only to prevent child abuse, but to prevent with purpose. We seek to prevent child abuse by educating caregivers of alternative means of disciplining, loving and communicating with their children and bringing awareness to the matter of child abuse.
This year the Department of Social Development, TCIG will be bringing awareness via the following activities throughout the month of April:
Strategically placed outdoor and indoor displays including a pinwheel garden
Information mobile booths
Public service announcements via Radio Turks and Caicos and other social media platforms and Go Blue day: A symbol of awareness for Child Abuse Prevention month.
We look forward to the publics support on these initiatives added Brown.
Amazon's Jeff Bezos backs tax rise on firms
Amazon boss Jeff Bezos has said he supports raising taxes on US companies.
The comments by the world's richest man come as US President Joe Biden is pushing to raise the corporate rate from 21% to 28%.
The rise would help pay for a massive spending plan to upgrade America's roads, ports, water pipes and internet.
In his speech unveiling the proposal, Mr Biden singled out Amazon as an example of a company that pays too little.
The statement by Mr Bezos said Amazon supported Mr Biden's "focus on infrastructure" and called on Democrats and Republicans to "work together" and reach a compromise.
"We recognize this investment will require concessions from all sides - both on the specifics of what's included as well as how it gets paid for (we're supportive of a rise in the corporate tax rate)," Mr Bezos said in the statement.
"We look forward to Congress and the Administration coming together to find the right, balanced solution that maintains or enhances U.S. competitiveness."
Amazon's position sets it apart from that of Republicans and top business lobbies, which have already spoken out against the tax increases, which they claim would hurt economic growth.
In his statement, Mr Bezos did not say whether Amazon would support the White House's other tax proposals beyond the increase to the corporate rate.
Those are aimed at capturing more tax from profits earned by US companies overseas, including by working with other countries to establish a global minimum tax.
Analysts say changes to those rules are likely to stir stronger opposition from businesses than the rise in the corporate rate, which many companies do not face, thanks to deductions and other credits.
In 2020, Amazon paid an effective federal income tax rate of 9.4%, according to the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy.
Source-BBC
Kim Kardashian West joins billionaires' club
US reality TV star Kim Kardashian West has joined the elite club of the super-rich (in case anyone had any doubts) by achieving billionaire status.
Her net worth reached $1bn (£720m) thanks to her cosmetics and clothing interests as well as income from TV, endorsement deals and investments, Forbes business magazine says.
She is now one of the 2,755 figures on Forbes' World's Billionaires List.
Amazon founder Jeff Bezos leads the pack with a net worth of $177bn.
Other Americans added over the past year include Bumble dating app founder Whitney Wolfe Herd ($1.3bn), filmmaker Tyler Perry ($1bn) and Miriam Adelson ($38.2bn), widow of casino magnate Sheldon Adelson.
Kim Kardashian West's estranged husband Kanye West is already on the list ($1.8bn) but her half-sister, Kylie Jenner, was removed last May by Forbes. The magazine alleged her family had inflated the value of her cosmetics business.
Source-BBC
White House rules out a US vaccine 'passport'
The White House on Tuesday ruled out imposing any form of a coronavirus vaccine passport in the United States, but said private businesses were free to explore the idea.
"The government is not now, nor will be, supporting a system that requires Americans to carry a credential. There will be no federal vaccinations database and no federal mandate requiring everyone to obtain a single vaccination credential," Press Secretary Jen Psaki told reporters.
So-called vaccine passports, showing that someone has been inoculated against COVID-19, have been touted around the world as a potentially powerful tool in safely reopening countries to mass gatherings and travel.
However, the idea has prompted widespread pushback over concerns due to potential privacy or other civil rights abuses.
Psaki said that the strongest interest comes from private businesses looking to reopen sites where "there are large swaths of people," like in stadiums or theatres.
She said the government will be issuing "guidance" with "important answers to questions that Americans have in particular around concerns about privacy, security or discrimination".
"Our interest is very simple from the federal government, which is Americans' privacy and rights should be protected, and so that these systems are not used against people unfairly," Psaki said.
Source-ABC
Manchester City have reported a devastating loss of 126 million pounds
The Premier League leaders Manchester City have reported a devastating loss of 126 million pounds for the 2019-20 season which was disrupted by the coronavirus pandemic.
The club posted an 11% reduction in revenue to £478.4m but the figure does not include delayed income from player sales - including proceeds from Leroy Sane's move to Bayern Munich.
City expect an immediate return to profit for the current season.
A total loss of less than £60m per year is forecast over the two campaigns.
For Financial Fair Play purposes, the financial results of football clubs for 2019-20 and 2020-21 are to be combined into one year.
Chairman Khal-doon Al Mu-barak said the club is "fundamentally strong, with committed shareholders and with significant assets, built carefully over a decade and upon more than a century of history".
"Our long-term approach has meant that we are now not wholly dependent on income streams that have been most vulnerable to the ongoing impact of Covid-19," he added.
The Premier League season was postponed between March and June 2020 due to the pandemic, which has since prevented fans from attending games.
Source-BBC
Brazil's daily COVID death toll surpasses 4,000
Brazil registered more than 4,000 COVID-19 deaths in 24 hours for the first time Tuesday, the health ministry said, as the country reeled from a surge of infections that has made it the current epicentre of the pandemic.
The coronavirus claimed 4,195 lives in the deadliest day of the pandemic yet for the hard-hit country, whose total reported death toll is now nearly 337,000, second only to the United States.
Brazil's health system is buckling under the strain of the latest virus wave, which has forced doctors into agonizing decisions over which patients to give life-saving care and led cemeteries to hold night time burials to deal with the crush of coffins.
Experts say the surge is partly caused by a local variant of the virus known as P1 that can re-infect people who have had the original strain and is believed to be more contagious.
The country of 212 million people has registered an average of 2,757 COVID-19 deaths per day over the past week, the highest by far worldwide.