Bobby Brown Jr.'s cause of death released
It's been over four months since the tragic death of Bobby Brown Jr. and, on Monday, authorities released his cause of death.
TMZ reports that the aspiring artist, who died a few days shy of his 28th birthday, accidentally overdosed on a "lethal cocktail" of drugs and alcohol.
According to the autopsy and toxicology report from the L.A. County Medical Examiner's Office, Brown had fentanyl, cocaine and alcohol in his system when he died.
In addition, a witness told authorities they watched the "In Her City" artist drinking tequila while ingesting cocaine and half a Percocet.
Authorities ruled no foul play was involved in his death, but added no drugs were found at his residence, either.
As previously reported, Brown Jr. was discovered in his LA. home last November.
He was the son of legendary "My Prerogative" singer Bobby Brown and Kim Ward, and is survived by his sister La'Princia. He is also survived by half-siblings Landon, Cassius, Bodhi and Hendrix.
Brown Jr. was pre-deceased by half-sister Bobbi Kristina, who is the daughter of late singer Whitney Houston.
Bobbi Kristina fell into a coma after drowning in her bathtub and stayed on life support before passing away in July 2015. Authorities found cocaine and alcohol in her system.
Source-ABC
PUBLIC FORECAST 19/03/2021
TURKS & CAICOS
WEATHER: PARTLY SUNNY AND HOT WITH THE CHANCE OF A FEW SHOWERS; TURNING FAIR AND WARM TONIGHT.
WINDS: EAST TO SOUTHEAST AT 10 TO 15 KNOTS OVER OPEN WATERS.
SEAS: 2 TO 4 FEET OVER THE OCEAN.
DAYTIME HIGH TEMPERATURE 84 F 29 °C
OVERNIGHT LOW TEMPERATURE 70°F 21°C
SUNSET: 7:19PM SUNSET: 7:14AM SAT.
MOONSET: 12:54AM SAT. MOONRISE: 11:45AM SAT.
HIGH TIDE: 12:32PM & 1:05AM SAT.
LOW TIDE: 6:39PM & 7:24AM SAT.
GENERAL SITUATION: A COLD FRONT MOVING INTO THE NORTHWEST BAHAMAS, INCREASES CLOUDINESS AND SHOWER CHANCES THIS AFTERNOON; AND WILL SUBSEQUENTLY BECOME STATIONARY TONIGHT WITH A LOW PRESSURE CENTER FORMING ALONG ITS BOUNDARY OVER THE NORTHWEST BAHAMAS.
WEATHER OUTLOOK: VARIABLY CLOUDY AND MILD WITH ISOLATED SHOWERS IN VICINITY OF THE FRONT…PARTLY SUNNY AND WARM ELSEWHERE.
PREMIER ATTENDED 10 TH UK-CARIBBEAN FORUM
The Premier Honourable Charles Washington Misick attended the Tenth UK-Caribbean Forum which this year was hosted by the United Kingdom (UK) Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office on Thursday, March 2021 virtually.
The forum brings together Foreign Ministers from the UK and CARICOM which aims at strengthening cooperation between the UK and Caribbean countries; and provides an opportunity to discuss bilateral, regional and global issues at Ministerial level. Discussions this year were led by Minister of State for the Commonwealth and United Nations at the Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO), Lord Tariq Ahmad.
The three main areas of focus were the: Economy, Environment; and Values and Security. The forum heard from various country leaders and received a special message from The Prince of Wales, Charles Philip Arthur George.
The Premier, commenting on the forum stated, “The invitation to attend this Tenth UK –Caribbean Forum was a welcomed one. The representation of Turks and Caicos Islands at a meeting of this level is necessary to ensure not only that this country has an opportunity to promote our brand, but also to hear from other Ministerial Leaders their best practices and to discuss major global and regional matters, including economic growth, national security and the management of the COVID-19 pandemic.
It is important that we not only show our strength as a leading country in the Caribbean but it is equally as important to build mutually beneficial relationships with countries in the region and across the globe. The ultimate goal is to ensure that the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands can thrive and prosper.
Thank you to Lord Tariq Ahmad and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) for the invitation. It has been a very productive and insightful day of discussion. My Government will continue to work to ensure that the Turks and Caicos Islands ascends in upward growth.”
The UK –Caribbean forum is a biennial event, with the UK and a Caribbean country hosting alternatively. The UK Overseas Territories have been invited as participatory observers to the forum by the UK. Discussions during the forum was captured in a Joint Communique and an Action Plan which was signed digitally. The next forum will take place in 2023 in the Caribbean.
Premier Misick met with Clergy Members in Grand Turk
The Premier Honourable Charles Washington Misick met with members of the Clergy on Thursday, 11 March 2021 at the New Testament Church of God, Grand Turk.
Representatives from various religious denominations were invited for an introductory meeting to hear from the Premier and to discuss areas of concern as it relates to matters of the community.
During the meeting the Premier shared plans to introduce a new Department of Religious Affairs which will oversee and liaise with religious leaders to enhance the Turks and Caicos Islands Government community outreach strategy, programmes and other critical partnerships.
Clergy members expressed the desire to enhance rehabilitation outreach, programmes and increase in employment opportunities for young men. The Premier reassured that the development of rehabilitation curriculums is a priority plan for the Turks and Caicos Islands Government to function as a deterrent for crime and repeat offenders.
“Members of the Clergy play a vital role in the growth and development of our country. My Government will strengthen our relationship with religious leaders who are influential individuals in their respective communities.
Working along with the Clergy across the Turks and Caicos Islands, it is the goal that we bolster community-government engagement and partnerships to guide our policy decisions, education and training opportunity offerings; and to aid in effective and engaging programme creation,” said Honourable Charles Washington Misick.
Premier Misick further added, “This meeting was an open conversation with some of the religious leaders across the islands. I intend to hold several other meetings with members of the Clergy in the remaining islands over the coming weeks. I will hear their concerns and share my Government’s plans for the next four years.
This first meeting was a success and I look forward to engaging further, with a focus first and foremost on the well-being and betterment of the lives of the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands.”
ACTING COMMISSIONER OF POLICE EXTENDS CONDOLENCES ON THE PASSING OF SERGEANT LIGHTBOURNE
It is with deep regret, the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force acknowledge the death of our friend and colleague, Sergeant Carl Lightbourne, who passed away on the evening of March 16th, 2021.
Sergeant Lightbourne enlisted into the police service on May 2nd, 1988, at the age of 22-years- old after graduating from the Regional Police Training Centre in Barbados. He has served in several policing roles throughout his service. During the last few years of his life, he served as a supervisor on the response and operation unit on shift C on Division A in Grand Turk.
Sergeant Lightbourne had an easy-going personality and conducted himself as a true professional. He was passionate about music and was one of the founding members of the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force Combo Band, where he remained a member for many years.
Acting Commissioner of Police Rodney Adams, in expressing condolences, said, “Sergeant Lightbourne, better known as ‘Lighty’ chose as his career service to others, and for that, we all benefited. Mr Lightbourne and I were not only colleagues but terrific friends. Our friendship goes back to the 1980s while we were in high school, and later we both graduated in 1983 and again became colleagues within law enforcement.
We will miss him tremendously. I have spoken to Mrs Lightbourne and other family members and reassured them of our love and support. We ask that everyone keep his wife, children, other family members and friends in your prayers. To lose his life at an age with much more to offer is truly heart-breaking, and my deepest thoughts and sympathies are with all who knew him”.
May his soul rest in peace.
Samsung warns of 'serious imbalance' due to Chip shortage
Samsung, the world’s biggest computer-chip manufacturer, has warned of a “serious imbalance” in the semiconductor industry, as global shortages cause disruption.
It also said it might skip the launch of the next Galaxy Note smartphone, to streamline its lineup.
There are growing fears market shortages could slow economic recovery after coronavirus.
EU, US and Chinese governments are seeking to boost production.
“There’s a serious imbalance in supply and demand of chips in the IT sector globally,” Samsung's co-chief executive and mobile chief, Koh Dong-jin, said at a shareholder meeting.
"It is hard to say the shortage issue has been solved 100%."
Samsung was working with overseas partners to meet demand, he added.
The semiconductor shortage began last year, as the pandemic hit.
Suffering from poor sales, car manufacturers cut their orders from the Chinese factories making computer chips.
In response, the chip supply from factories was transferred to other sectors that had high demands.
And unable to retrieve cancelled orders when demand for cars grew, Volkswagen, Honda, Toyota and General Motors all had to reduce production.
Meanwhile, as technology sales boomed, with people staying at home, the other sectors were also affected.
New graphics cards were scarce, Apple staggered the release of some iPhones, and the latest models of Xbox and PlayStation consoles are selling out each time a new stock is announced.
"The semiconductor manufacturers are working hard to fill the gaps in supply," Counterpoint Research partner Peter Richardson said.
"But it will take time before investment translates to more supply.
"This means that shortages for some products may continue for several months - possibly even in to 2022."
However, most consumers were unlikely to feel the impact, unless buying a new car, he added.
By Cristina Criddle of the BBC
GM Working on Lithium-Metal Batteries
General Motors hasn't even launched the 2022 GMC Hummer EV full-size electric pickup truck, but the automaker is already working on next-generation batteries to give its electric vehicles more range in the future.
The potential breakthroughs mean an EV could be a customer's primary vehicle in terms of range and cost, Mark Reuss, GM's president, said.
The Hummer will be the first GM product to use the Ultium battery platform, and it will get about 350 miles of range on a full charge. But GM now says it can get about 450 miles of range for some vehicles from its Ultium batteries. The 2023 Cadillac Lyriq midsize SUV is the second vehicle due to utilize the Ultium system and is expected to get more miles per charge than the Hummer, the Lyriq being a much smaller and lighter vehicle.
Ultium—developed by GM with LG Chem—is a technical leap forward from the tech used in the 2021 Chevrolet Bolt and the 2022 Chevrolet Bolt EUV, which are the last vehicles to use GM's older electric platform and battery system.
To take the next leap, GM is partnering with SolidEnergy Systems to jointly develop lithium-metal batteries that will power future models. Reuss announced the new joint venture at a Washington Post virtual conference. SES is a leader in lithium-metal technology and battery management software that uses artificial intelligence. GM Ventures invested in the work SES does in 2015 and this latest announcement is a further ramp-up of the companies' working relationship.
The new batteries, technically not solid-state because SolidEnergy uses liquid electrolytes, will have twice the energy density and reduce cost by 60 percent, Reuss said. Vehicles could travel 500-600 miles on a single charge.
The two companies will also build a test manufacturing facility in Woburn, Massachusetts, to make prototypes of a lithium-metal battery by 2023.
Source-MotorTrend
Kanye West is reportedly worth $6 billion
Kanye West is officially one of the richest people in the U.S., with a new report from Bloomberg stating the "Stronger" rapper is worth a whopping $6.6 billion dollars.
West, 43, earned a significant boost in profits due in part to his clothing brand Yeezy, which UBS Group AG values between $3.2 billion and $4.7 billion.
The Grammy winner also has $122 million in cash and stock tucked away, as well as a music catalogue valued at $110 million. The rest of his assets are valued at $1.7 billion.
Bloomberg also reports that Yeezy's upcoming collaboration with Gap, set to hit stores this summer, "Could be worth as much as $970 million of that total."
According to the deal West signed with Gap, it is a 10-year agreement where the rapper will be tasked to develop styles for men, women and children.
Adds the publication, they expect the line "to break $150 million in sales in its first full year in 2022."
The deal doesn't include footwear, as that department is covered with his collaboration with Adidas that runs until 2026.
West's new net worth makes him the second richest African American, putting him behind private-equity giant Robert F. Smith -- who is worth $7 billion.
Neither Adidas, Gap, UBS or representatives of the "Runaway" rapper respond to request for comment.
Source- ABC
WI need to be 'brutally honest' despite T20 series win
Former West Indies all-rounder Ian Bradshaw has warned the Caribbean side their batting has to be more clinical if they are to successfully defend their Twenty20 World Cup title in India later this year.
The 46-year-old said while West Indies defeated Sri Lanka 2-1 in the just concluded series in Antigua, the home side lacked conviction in their batting and were also guilty of irresponsible stroke-play which needlessly put the innings under pressure.
Bradshaw also urged West Indies management to be “brutally honest” with the squad in order to lift the level of performances.
“I'm disappointed by the manner of our victories,” said Bradshaw, who featured in five Tests and 62 One-Day Internationals.
“Yes we won, but the result could've easily been 3-0 to Sri Lanka and as we build towards the World Cup, our performances will have to be far more clinical.
“Like so many series with West Indies cricket, we go into it and believe that our bowling is the weak link of the two and when it comes out, it's our batting that struggles and this has been the case in all three formats.”
He continued: “If you look at Test cricket, whenever we've scored 500 runs over two innings, we've won and history will show that. When we get over 300 runs in a One-Day International, we're very competitive.
“I'm sure that Coach [Phil] Simmons and maybe chief selector [Roger] Harper will have to be brutally honest with the guys. Experienced or inexperienced, when you reach this level, your match awareness has to be a lot better.”
West Indies produced a haphazard run chase to overhaul 132 and win the first game by four wickets before crumbling for 117 in pursuit of 161 to lose the second by 43 runs.
The third was another nervy contest, with West Indies eclipsing a modest target of 132 to win by three wickets with an over to spare.
In all three matches, West Indies batsmen appeared lost against Sri Lanka's spinners and none managed a half-century in the series or finished with an aggregate in excess of 100 runs.
Lendl Simmons topped the scoring with 73 runs while his opening partner Evin Lewis finished with 55 runs and left-hander Nicholas Pooran, 31 runs.
Source-CMC
Martinique government suspends use of Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine
Government has suspended the use of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, following the lead of France and several other countries that have taken the step after some people who got the jab developed blood clots.
Health officials in the French overseas territory have indicated that so far, none of those who've been vaccinated here have had any serious adverse reactions to the vaccine.
However, the decision to temporarily halt the COVID-19 immunisation programme followed the announcement by French President Emmanuel Macron that his country would stop administering the shot as a precautionary measure.
France is awaiting a new assessment by the European Union's medicines regulator, the European Medicines Agency. A decision is expected on Thursday.
However, on Wednesday the agency's executive director Emer Cooke said that while the investigation was ongoing, “we remain convinced that the benefits of the AstraZeneca vaccine far outweigh the risks of this vaccine”.
British drug regulators and AstraZeneca executives insist there is no link between the Oxford University-developed vaccine and a higher incidence of blood clots.
AstraZeneca said a review of 17 million people in the United Kingdom and Europe who've received the vaccine found that fewer than 40 developed blood clots.
Source-CMC