'Green Book' Wins the Best Picture Oscar
The 91st annual Academy Awards were presented Sunday night at ceremonies at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, broadcast live in ABC. Here are the winners in key categories. Find the complete list of winners at Oscars.org:
Best Picture
Green Book
Best Actor
Rami Malek -- Bohemian Rhapsody
Best Actress
Olivia Colman -- The Favourite
Best Supporting Actor
Mahershala Ali -- Green Book
Best Supporting Actress
Regina King -- If Beale Street Could Talk
Best Director
Alfonso Cuarón -- Roma
Best Adapted Screenplay
BlacKkKlansman -- Charlie Wachtel, David Rabinowitz, Kevin Willmott, Spike Lee
Best Original Screenplay
Green Book -- Nick Vallelonga, Brian Currie, Peter Farrelly
Best Animated Feature
Spider--Man: Into the Spider-Verse
Best Original Song
"Shallow" from A Star Is Born -- Lady Gaga, Mark Ronson, Anthony Rossomando, Andrew Wyatt
Best Foreign Language Film
Roma
Best Documentary Feature
Free Solo
UPDATE ON ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SOLID WASTE SITE IN PROVO
The Environmental Health Department (EHD) is an arm of the Ministry of Health, Agriculture, Sports and Human Services that is concerned with all aspects of the natural and built environment that may affect human health. One of the functions of the EHD is solid waste management which includes the solid waste disposal sites throughout the Turks and Caicos Islands.
The Environmental Health Department would like to inform the general public especially the residents of Wheeland, that the fire that was intentionally lit on Saturday February 2nd, 2019 at the Providenciales Solid Waste Disposal Site has been completely extinguished effective Tuesday, February 19th, 2019.
The following upgraded measures were implemented at the site:
- Security Patrol the site every half hour (previously security patrolled hourly)
- Repairs to the fence
- Additional Nightly Monitoring by Equipment Provider/Operator and EHD
EHD along with its stakeholders has worked around the clock to address and extinguish all fires at the Providenciales Solid Waste Disposal Site.
The Tender Notice for the Management and Operations of the Providenciales and Grand Turk Landfills is currently out and the Department should have a contract signed and implemented by April 1st, 2019.
EHD would like to thank domestic and Providenciales International Airport Fire Services, DECR, equipment providers, equipment operators and other stakeholders who assisted in bringing the fire under control and extinguishing same. We also would like to thank the general public for their assistance.
We wish to assure the public that we are committed to safeguarding public health while also creating an environment that is healthy and aesthetically pleasing to both residents and visitors to enjoy.
CIVIL SERVANTS INCREMENTS TO BE REINSTATED IN 2019
DENTAL CLINIC VISIT TO KEW, NORTH CAICOS
The public of North Caicos is hereby advised, that the Dentist will be visiting the Island of North Caicos on Wednesday 13 th March 2019. Services will be provided from the Kew Dental Clinic. All persons wishing to be seen can attend the clinic during normal working hours.
For more information, contact the Dental Department on 338-5134, 338-5135
COLD FRONT ON THE WAY FOR THE TCI
GENERAL SITUATION: HIGH PRESSURE ACROSS THE AREA CONTINUES TO SHIFT EASTWARDS AHEAD A COLD FRONT THAT IS EXPECTED TO MOVE INTO NORTHWEST BAHAMAS THIS AFTERNOON.
SPECIAL WARNINGS: BEACHGOERS AND MARINERS SHOULD REMAIN ALERT DUE TO THE RISK OF RIP CURRENTS.
AREA: TURKS & CAICOS
WEATHER: PARTLY CLOUDY, WARM AND BREEZY WITH ISOLATED SHOWERS THROUGH TONIGHT.
ADVISORY: A SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT.
WINDS: SOUTHEAST TO SOUTH AT 15 TO 25 KNOTS, FALLING TO 15 TO 20 KNOTS THIS AFTERNOON OVER OPEN WATERS.
SEAS: 5 TO 8 FEET, DECREASING TO 4 TO 6 FEET OVER THE OCEAN.
HIGH TEMPERATURE: 81°F 27°C
LOW TEMPERATURE: 20°F 68°C
SUNRISE: 6:46 AM MOONRISE: 12:15 PM
SUNSET: 6:01 PM MOONSET: 1:53 AM THU.
LOW TIDE: 7:51 AM & 7:55 PM
HIGH TIDE: 1:39 PM & 2:28 AM THU.
EXTENDED FORECAST THE NEXT TWO DAYS: THE COLD FRONT WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE THROUGH THE CENTRAL, SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS & THE TURKS & CAICOS ON THURSDAY AND FRIDAY.
BACK TO OUR ROOTS” CAMPAIGN TURNS 1
The National Museum in Grand Turk came alive on February 2, 2019 as the Department of Culture under the remit of the Ministry of Education, Youth, Culture and Library Services hosted another “Back to Our Roots” event to commemorate the inaugural year of the initiative.
The event saw in attendance a wide cross section of people from the community of Grand Turk. The crowd moved to the sweet sounds of the Helena Jones Robinson High Band as they played a number of spiritual and local songs. Also giving an exciting performance were the members of the Ona Glinton Primary School Rip-Saw Band under the leadership of Teacher, Miss Jacquelyn Henry.
As the evening progressed the children and adults alike were able to engage in a range of activities such as horseback riding, face painting, hula hoop and three-legged race. Attendees were able to sample a variety of finger licking Local Cuisine served during the event.
Director of Culture, Miss Ludwina Fulford, commented on the event stating; “As we celebrate the first anniversary of the “Back to our Roots” campaign, I am pleased at how much our children have been able to learn and participate in over the past year. We have hosted a number of workshops and events which have been free to the general public. Particular mention must be made of the Boat Building Workshops and A day to Create, which brought much excitement to the participants. Today, as we commemorate the first anniversary of this program, as a Department we encourage the public to stay abreast to all that we are doing so that you can play an active role in the promotion and preservation of our culture.”
Bringing remarks on the event, Hon Karen Malcolm, Minister of Education, Youth, Culture and Library Services stated; “I am extremely pleased with the work being undertaking by the Director and her team. I encourage each of you to continue to support their efforts. The “Back to our Roots” program is one that offers us, especially our young people, the opportunity to learn the things that were done in yesteryears. It helps to give residents the opportunity to learn of our traditions and customs, and to come to appreciate why we do the things that we do. Take full advantage of the resources available to you from the Department of Culture.”
The event ended to the sweet sounds of local Ripsaw Band Nish and the Boyz. The Department will continue to host activities throughout the islands, which will be open for all to attend.
Batting collapse sends Windies Women to series defeat
Stafanie Taylor struck her 33rd one-day half-century but West Indies produced another dodgy batting effort to crash to a four-wicket defeat to Pakistan and concede the three-match ICC Championship series 2-1 here Monday.
Opting to bat first in the series decider at the ICC Academy, West Indies were dismissed for 159 in the 48th over, with skipper Taylor top-scoring with 52, opener Deandra Dottin getting 28 and Shemaine Campbelle, 26.
They were 87 for two at one stage but lost their last eight wickets for 72 runs as left-arm spinner Nashra Sandhu (3-21) and new ball seamer Diana Baig (3-42) ran through the innings with three-wicket hauls.
In reply, Pakistan overhauled their target in the 48th over, with opener Sidra Ameen top-scoring with 52, Nida Dar hitting 26 and Javeria Khan chipping in with 24.
The defeat came on the heels of Saturday's 34-run loss at the same venue, after West Indies had convincingly won the series opener by 146 runs at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
West Indies were off to a dodgy start when Kycia Knight was bowled without scoring off the third ball of the innings from Baig with just one on the board.
And further disappointment followed when Dottin, who had sent warning signs with a couple of fours and sixes in a 20-ball cameo, was run out in the eighth over with the score on 35.
Taylor faced 95 deliveries and struck four fours in notching her second half-century in three innings while Campbelle hit a single boundary in a 43-ball knock.
Once Nashra had Campbelle stumped in the 20th over, however, the innings declined quickly, and only Afy Fletcher, with an unbeaten 21 at number eight, showed any resistance thereafter.
Taylor was seventh over in the 37th over, caught and bowled by Baig.
Ameen then gave Pakistan the strong start to their run chase they needed, posting 32 for the first wicket with Nahida Khan (15) and a further 44 for the second wicket with Javeria.
The right-handed Ameen, with scores of 96 and 52 already in the series, punched five fours off 107 deliveries, also posted 46 for the fourth wicket with Dar, after Javeria and captain Bismah Maroof (5) fell in quick succession to leave Pakistan on 82 for three in the 25th over.
Ameen eventually perished in the 39th over in a slide which saw three wickets tumble for 11 runs but Pakistan steadied themselves to turn back the Windies' late bid.
Source- The Observer
German auto jobs at risk from hard Brexit
The UK leaving the European Union without an exit deal would jeopardize 100,000 jobs in Germany, many of them in the auto industry, according to a study by Halle IWH, one of the country's leading economic institutes.
The most affected areas would be Volkswagen Group's hometown of Wolfsburg, and Dingolfing-Landau, the site of BMW's largest German factory, according to Welt am Sonntag, which published the study.
"The employment effect of a hard Brexit would be felt above all in the automotive" industry, Oliver Holtemoeller, one of the study's authors, told the newspaper.
Because of Germany's reliance on exports, no other country in the EU would be more affected, according to Holtemoeller.
In total, the worldwide effect of a no-deal Brexit could hit 612,000 jobs, the study said, with 179,000 of those from the EU.
Source- Bloomberg/Auto News
Amazon reconsidering move to New York according to reports
Amazon is rethinking its decision to create an additional headquarters in New York City amid opposition from key political leaders and protests in the community, the Washington Post reported Friday.
The Post, which is owned by Amazon chief executive Jeff Bezos, cited two sources familiar with the company who spoke on condition of anonymity.
The report comes after the appointment of an Amazon critic to an oversight board with the potential to veto the deal for one of two locations selected by Amazon for its “HQ2” along with a site near Washington, DC.
Several local officials and newly elected Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, whose district borders the proposed Amazon site, opposed the Amazon deal over concerns that the promised 25,000 jobs could worsen an already overpriced housing market and strain local infrastructure.
The plan announced last year was backed by New York Governor Andrew Cuomo and the city's Mayor Bill de Blasio, but has been the object of demonstrations in the following weeks.
Critics claim the deal offers too many subsidies to one of the world's largest companies which is led by the richest man in the world.
Amazon did not immediately respond to an AFP query.
Source-AFP
Russia is considering 'unplugging' from the internet
The draft law, called the Digital Economy National Program, requires Russia's ISPs to ensure that it can operate in the event of foreign powers acting to isolate the country online.
Nato and its allies have threatened to sanction Russia over the cyber-attacks and other online interference which it is regularly accused of instigating.
The measures outlined in the law include Russia building its own version of the net's address system, known as DNS, so it can operate if links to these internationally-located servers are cut.
Currently, 12 organisations oversee the root servers for DNS and none of them are in Russia. However many copies of the net's core address book do already exist inside Russia suggesting its net systems could keep working even if punitive action was taken to cut it off.
The test is also expected to involve ISPs demonstrating that they can direct data to government-controlled routing points. These will filter traffic so that data sent between Russians reaches its destination, but any destined for foreign computers is discarded.
Eventually the Russian government wants all domestic traffic to pass through these routing points. This is believed to be part of an effort to set up a mass censorship system akin to that seen in China, which tries to scrub out prohibited traffic.
Russian news organisations reported that the nation's ISPs are broadly backing the aims of the draft law but are divided on how to do it. They believe the test will cause "major disruption" to Russian internet traffic, reports tech news website ZDNet.
The Russian government is providing cash for ISPs to modify their infrastructure so the redirection effort can be properly tested.
Source-BBC