Kim Kardashian and Kanye West are divorcing
Kim Kardashian and Kanye West are ending their marriage after more than six years together, a representative for the reality star confirmed to ABC News on Friday.
Kardashian, 40, and West, 43, married in 2014 and have four children together: North, 7; Saint, 5; Chicago, 3; and Psalm, 1. The couple had reportedly been living apart for some time, with West apparently spending time in Wyoming and Kardashian West staying in California.
According to E! News, Kardashian has requested joint legal and physical custody of their kids.
Last summer, the Keeping Up with the Kardashians pleaded for "compassion and empathy" as the rapper made headlines for displaying increasingly erratic behavior during his failed presidential run. Explaining that West has bipolar disorder, Kardashian West said that she'd never discussed it publicly before because she's always felt "very protective of our children and Kanye's right to privacy when it comes to his health."
"I understand Kanye is subject to criticism because he is a public figure and his actions at times can cause strong opinions and emotions," she wrote, calling her husband a "brilliant but complicated person."
She continued that he has the "pressures of being an artist and a Black man," on top of the pain of losing of his mother in 2007.
"Living with bi-polar disorder does not diminish or invalidate his dreams and his creative ideas, no matter how big or unobtainable they may feel to some," she added. "That is part of his genius and as we have all witnessed, many of his big dreams have come true."
This was the first marriage for West and the third for Kardashian West.
Gun violence cost America nearly $300 billion in 2018
Gun violence in the U.S. does not only just cost people their lives -- it costs the nation billions of dollars.
A new study found that, between 1992 to 2018, gun violence in the U.S. cost roughly $860 a person, meaning that the overall cost is $280 billion.
The report, from Everytown for Gun Safety, arrived at the number by researching economic costs in five separate categories: medical, police and criminal justice, employer related, work loss and quality of life.
Quality of life, specifically, targets what a person loses after a gun-related death or disability -- such as pain and suffering -- and how that relates to lawsuit settlements. It is deemed one of the most important factors when determining the overall cost of gun violence.
Says Ted Miller, of the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation who helped develop the report, said, "You can't go out and buy quality of life."
Quality of life costs resulted in the nation losing $214.2 billion, while work-loss costs came second with a price tag of $51.2 billion.
The survey also found that $34.8 million is spent each day by federal, state and local governments to combat gun violence -- such as paying first responders and criminal justice services.
Everytown Director Sarah Burd-Sharps hopes the study will spark conversations on how to properly deal and, hopefully, eliminate gun violence because of how much it is costing the nation each year.
"It's critical that you have data on the billions that are going out, particularly at a time when municipalities and families are stretched because of COVID," she said.
Burd-Sharps furthered that, in Louisiana, which has the highest level of firearm-related deaths -- it costs the state an average of $1,793 per person each year.
Versus Massachusetts, which has stricter gun laws that contribute to a lower rate of gun deaths, the average cost per person drops to $261.
Said Burd-Sharps, "It's pretty clear that states that have strong gun-safety laws have a far lower costs than states with lax gun laws."
Source-ABC
POLICE INVESTIGATING FAKE NEWS RELATING TO THE TCI ELECTIONS
On February 19th, 2021 a Criminal Complaint was made to the RTCIPF regarding, what purports to be, a communication between His Excellency Governor Nigel Dakin and the Hon. Premier Sharlene Cartwright-Robinson. This matter is now subject to a Criminal Investigation as ‘fake news’.
Commissioner of Police Trevor Botting said, “Free, open and fair elections are the cornerstone of any democratic society, and any attempt to affect the outcome of an election on the TCI is a criminal act. This morning, the matter referred to me will be thoroughly investigated, and I would ask that anyone with any information to please come forward and tell me what they know at anti.corruption@tcipolice.tc”
TCI RECORDS ITS THIRTEENTH (13TH) COVID-19 RELATED DEATH
The Ministry of Health reports its thirteenth Covid-19 related death. On Saturday February 13 2021, a flight en route to the United States declared a medical emergency on board, and was diverted to the Providenciales International Airport.
On arrival the passenger was found to have succumbed to illness, and out of an abundance of caution a COVID-19 test was done which has since returned positive. Immediate relatives and other stakeholders have been notified.
The thoughts and prayers of the Ministry of Health are with the family and friends of this individual.
The Ministry of Health wishes to remind the general public to practice the relevant public health measures in order to prevent the spread of Covid-19 throughout the TCI.
Persons should;
Wash their hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
Use alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available
Maintain social distancing of 6 feet between persons
Wear face coverings in public settings (covering nose and mouth)
Avoid mass gatherings or crowds
Cover your coughs and sneezes with your elbow or use disposable tissues
Comply with public health measures
Stay home where possible
If you have symptoms of Covid-19 which include; cough, sore throat, runny nose, shortness of breath, fever, diarrhea, loss of sense of taste or smell-please stay home and contact the Health Hotlines on 232 9444 or 333 0911
Do not visit health care facilities if you have symptoms or signs of Covid-19, call the Health Hotlines for guidance unless your symptoms are severe
If you are under quarantine by the Public Health Team, please remain at home and comply with the guidance provided to you.
If you are contacted by the Public Health Team as a part of contact tracing activities, please provide all of the information requested to assist them in their investigations
Refrain from speculation and spreading rumors
Stay informed with the latest information from the Ministry of Health by visiting our website on https://www.gov.tc/moh/coronavirus/
Consult with your healthcare provider regarding the COVID-19 vaccine and register.
EMPLOYERS TO ALLOW EMPLOYEES TIME TO VOTE
Polling day for General Election in the Turks and Caicos Islands will be Friday, 19 February 2021 and all Polling Stations will open from 7am and close at 7pm on all Islands except of Providenciales, and at 9pm on Providenciales.The Supervisor of Elections will like to take this opportunity to remind every employer of their obligation to allow any employee who is a registered voter time to vote.
Section 67 of the Elections Ordinance which states:
- Every employer shall, on polling day, allow to every voter in his employ a reasonable period for voting, and no employer shallmake any deduction from the pay or other remuneration of any such voter or impose upon or exact from him any penalty by reason of his/her absence during such period; and
- Any employer who, directly or indirectly refuses, or by intimidation, undue influence, or in any other way, interferes with the granting to any voter in his employ of such period for voting, as is in this section provided, shall be guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine of one thousand dollars ($1,000) or to imprisonment for six months or both
Please be guided accordingly during the upcoming General Elections.
Jaguar car brand to be all-electric by 2025
Jaguar Land Rover's Jaguar brand will be all-electric by 2025, the carmaker has said.
The company will launch electric models of its entire Jaguar and Land Rover line-up by 2030, it added.
The firm said it would keep all three of its three British plants open as part of its new strategy.
But it has dropped plans to build an electric version of its XJ saloon at the Castle Bromwich plant, meaning the site will eventually stop making cars.
Chief executive Thierry Bolloré said the plant would focus instead on "non-production" activities in the long term, without giving details.
The company plans to spend about £2.5bn a year on new technology for its cars.
Source-BBC
US will have enough vaccines for 300M Americans by end of July
The U.S. will have enough supply to vaccinate 300 million Americans against COVID-19 by the end of July, President Joe Biden said Thursday while speaking at the National Institutes of Health.
Until now, the administration has typically offered "by the end of summer" for that timeline.
Biden said Thursday the administration has been able to expedite the delivery of 100 million doses from the end of June to the end of May. Plus, 200 million additional doses the administration previously announced it planned to buy will be delivered by the end of July -- which is sooner than expected.
"That's a month faster. That means lives will be saved. That means we're now on track to have enough supply for 300 million Americans by the end of July," Biden said.
The administration has signed final contracts for those additional 200 million doses, which include 100 million doses each of Pfizer's and Moderna's vaccines, Biden also announced. These 200 million doses, plus 400 million doses the Trump administration contracted for, would be enough to have two shots of both vaccines for 300 million Americans.
For now, Biden implored Americans to continue wearing masks and doing their part to prevent more death.
"I know it's a pain in the neck, but it's a patriotic responsibility," Biden said. "Do you realize more people have died in the last 12 months than died in all four years in World War II? All four years."
Source-ABC
Impeachment trial day 3: House managers "made our case" - signal no witnesses will be called
The impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump continued Thursday with House managers further making a case why Trump incited an insurrection.
Rep. Madeleine Dean, of Pennsylvania, appeared confident that the evidence presented during the trial and signaled that witnesses may not be necessary.
"I think we've made our case," she told reporters outside the chamber.
This is a stark shift from Trump's previous impeachment trial, when in 2019 Democrats motioned to call witnesses, a move Republicans denied.
Opening arguments for the House impeachment managers appeared to wrap Thursday, after 10 hours of arguments.
Rep. Jamie Raskin, of Maryland, asked the Senate to execute "common sense" when voting on whether or not to convict the former president, saying at the end of his speech, "Let's not get caught up in a lot of outlandish lawyers' theories here. Exercise your common sense about what just took place in our country."
The arguments laid out on Thursday continued to bolster the timeline that led up to the January 6 seige of the U.S. Capitol and how close several lawmakers came to certain disaster.
Rep. Joe Neguse, of Colorado, was one of the last House managers to speak, reiterating the mob believed they were acting on the former president's orders and were inspired to unleash violence.
"He quite literally, at one part of that speech, pointed at us. He told them to fight like hell and if you don't fight like hell, you're not going to have a country anymore," argued Neguse. "He'd already made it perfectly clear that when he said 'fight,' he meant it."
Trump's remarks made during the rally were a central part in Thursday's arguments, as House managers tried to prove there was clear intent behind the former president's statements.
Neguse also added that Republicans were made aware that the rioters would listen to Trump, explaining how many directly implored the president to condemn the violence -- of which Trump failed to do during the assault. The argument Neguse made was that, during those moments when Republicans called on the former president to summon the National Guard or backup, they had tied Trump to the riot.
Thursday also saw the House honor the Capitol Police, who have lost three of their own as a result of the riot -- one who died during the incident and two more to suicide.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said that, because of the bravery shown by the Capitol Police, she will be introducing legislation to award the Congressional Gold Medal -- the highest honor that lawmakers can bestow.
"The service of the Capitol Police force that day brings honor to our Democracy, and their accepting this Gold Medal will bring luster to this award," Pelosi said.
U.S. Capitol Police Chief Yogananda Pittman reacted to the Thursday announcement and said the department is "humbled and appreciative" by the recognition. Pittman also acknowledged the Metropolitan Police Department, who assisted during the seige.
Source-ABC
New music from Chris Brown, Sevyn Streeter, Kelly Rowland, Lucky Daye and more
Chris Brown linked up with his frequent collaborator Sevyn Streeter on her new track, "Guilty," also featuring A$AP Ferg. The track follows Streeter's previous single, "HMU," to amp up her forthcoming album, Drunken Wordz, Sober Thoughtz.
Chris Brown also lent his R&B vocals to "Rolls Royce Umbrella," a new track from Alabama rapper CLEVER. Fans were first introduced to CLEVER on Juice WRLD's 2019 single, "Ring Ring."
Next up is Kelly Rowland with another melanated song and video for her new single, "Black Magic." It arrives a day after the singer celebrated her 40th birthday and follows her 2020 singles, "Crazy" and "Coffee." The accompanying video features touching clips of black families and children laughing, including a reveal of Kelly's baby bump being painted as a globe, with 'Love' painted over the continent of Africa.
"We bring the glow to the sun / We bring the laughter to fun / We start the new religion baby / We wooped the world and left it brainless," Kelly sings on the chorus.
Kelly's six-year-old son, Titan, makes his first video appearance in the visual to give his brother -- Kelly's newborn baby, Noah Jon -- a kiss on the cheek. Kelly shares both boys with her husband Tim Weatherspoon.
Meanwhile, Maryland native Gallant shares his new song, "Relapse" to follow last month's "Comeback" ahead of his forthcoming EP, Neptune.
New Orleans singer Lucky Daye returns with another U.S.-London collaboration for "My Window," featuring British singer Mahalia. The track is featured on Daye's new EP, Table for Two, which features duets with Ari Lennox, Queen Naija and fellow UK singer Tiana Major9.
And to top off the list, Eric Bellinger releases his 31st project, 1-800-HIT-EAZY, a joint album with his go-to-producer, Hitmaka.
Source-ABC
Ken Barton resigns amid money laundering scandal from Crown Resorts
The chief executive of Australian casino group Crown Resorts has quit amid a scandal over money laundering allegations within its casinos.
Ken Barton's departure follows that of several other company directors.
Last week an inquiry found Crown was not fit to hold a gaming licence in New South Wales, meaning it cannot operate its newly built casino in Sydney.
The report has also thrown doubt over Crown's casinos in other cities.
Crown, which is majority-owned by Australian billionaire James Packer, has been dogged by allegations of illegal activity for years at its casinos in Melbourne and Perth.
Its operations overseas have drawn particular scrutiny after allegations that its junkets (paid-for trips) for Chinese high-roller gamblers were linked to organised crime groups.
In her report last week, inquiry commissioner Patricia Bergin found Crown had been "facilitating money laundering, exposing staff to the risk of detention in a foreign jurisdiction and pursuing commercial relationships with individuals" connected to criminal groups.
She recommended an overhaul of the company's governance, beginning with the sacking of most of the board.
Source-BBC