DECR WARNS OF MEGA ONE TRITON – SAFETY HAZARD
The Department of Environment and Coastal Resources (DECR) would like to advise that members of the public are to keep a safe distance from the Mega One Triton wreck, on Governor's Beach, Grand Turk.
The vessel, a former cargo ship which ran a ground during Hurricane Sandy in 2012, poses a serious hazard to individuals climbing or entering the wreck, due to the deterioration in its condition.
"The public is urgently reminded to keep a safe distance from the Mega One Triton wreck. The condition of the vessel is deteriorating and the marine conditions in this area are unpredictable, subjecting any person who may access or come into close contact with the vessel, to significant harm," said Deputy Director of the DECR Ethan Gries-bach.
A press release from the DECR will be conducting regular patrols in the area of the wreck. Anyone caught climbing or entering the wreck will be charged under the Wreck and Salvage Ordinance and will be subject to a penalty.
PUBLIC FORECAST FOR THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT MONDAY 3RD JULY 2017
GENERAL SITUATION: AN UPPER-LEVEL LOW OVER CUBA ALONG WITH A SURFACE TROUGH JUST WEST OF THE BAHAMAS WILL SUPPORT ISOLATED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS... WHILE A SURFACE RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE GENERATES MODERATE TO FRESH BREEZES MAINLY ACROSS THE TURKS & CAICOS.
SPECIAL WARNINGS: MARINERS AND BEACHGOERS SHOULD REMAIN ALERT FOR THE RISK OF RIP CURRENTS ESPECIALLY ALONG THE EASTERN SHORELINES IN THE SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS.
ALL AREAS
WEATHER: MOSTLY SUNNY, HOT AND A BIT BREEZY THIS AFTERNOON WITH ISOLATED SHOWERS AND A FEW THUNDERSTORMS...TURNING MAINLY FAIR AND WARM TONIGHT WITH THE CHANCE OF A FEW STRAY SHOWERS OR THUNDERSTORMS.
ADVISORY: A SMALL CRAFT CAUTION IS IN EFFECT FOR THE TURKS & CAICOS.
WINDS: EAST TO SOUTHEAST AT 10 TO 15 KNOTS OVER OPEN WATERS IN THE NORTHWEST & CENTRAL BAHAMAS...& EASTERLY AT 15 TO 20 KNOTS IN THE SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS.
SEAS: 2 TO 4 FEET OVER THE OCEAN IN THE NORTHWEST & CENTRAL BAHAMAS...& 4 TO 6 FEET IN THE SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS.
DAYTIME HIGH TEMPERATURE 92 °F 33 °C
OVERNITE LOW TEMPERATURE 76 °F 26 °C
SUN MOON TIDES
SUNSET: 8:04PM MOONRISE: 3:33PM HIGH TIDE: 4:55PM 5:05AM TUE
SUNRISE: 6:25AM TUE MOONSET: 3:08AM TUE LOW TIDE: 11:17PM 11:17AM TUE
WEATHER OUTLOOK: MOSTLY SUNNY, WARM AND A BIT BREEZY WITH ISOLATED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS.
U.S. auto sales fall for fourth straight month
Major automakers on Monday reported a fourth consecutive month of lower U.S. new vehicle sales for June and came in below analyst expectations, despite hefty consumer discounts and looser loan terms, providing fresh evidence that 2017 will fall short of last year's record year for the industry.
Automakers' shares rose, however, as retail sales to consumers were relatively stable at the U.S. automakers, with General Motors Co (GM.N) asserting that the industry was set for a stronger finish to the year.
Industry consultant Autodata put the industry's seasonally adjusted annualized rate of sales at 16.51 million units, which was the lowest rate since February 2015. It came in below Wall Street expectations of 16.6 million vehicles and 2 percent lower than the June 2016 figure.
U.S. consumers continued to shun passenger cars in favor of larger pickup trucks, SUVs and crossovers. Passenger car sales were also hurt as some automakers, including GM, have moved to reduce relatively low-margin sales to rental agencies.
The U.S. auto industry has been bracing for a downturn after hitting a record 17.55 million new vehicles sold in 2016. A glut of nearly new used vehicles poses competition for new vehicle sales and automakers have relied increasingly on consumer discounts and loosened lending terms.
Car shopping website Edmunds said the average length of a car loan reached a record high of 69.3 months in June.
Source-Reuters
Jamaicans hit in Phone Scam
JAMAICA is the latest country to have been affected by the 'Wangiri Scam', which resulted in hundreds of phone customers receiving missed calls from the +48 area code, originating in Poland, over the weekend.
The scam, translated in Japanese as 'one ring and cut', literally means that the caller calls once, then hangs up. By leaving the missed call message on the user's phone, the scammers hope that the users will call back, and when they do, they pocket the revenue from the call. This fraud method was said to have originated in Japan and has caused millions of dollars in losses globally.
Yesterday social media users were first to report the scam, with hundreds of people using Facebook and Twitter to voice their experiences.
Two Digicel customers told the Jamaica Observer that they had returned the calls from their postpaid numbers, only to hear music when they called. They await their bills to see how much money they have lost.
Others reported on Facebook and Twitter to getting calls in the wee hours of Sunday morning, some calling back and losing their credit.
Digicel, whose customers seemed to have been most affected, said yesterday that it has been blocking some overseas calls from numbers it believes are involved in the scam.
The company also urged customers not to return the calls.
Source-Jamaica Observer
Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. wins Coke Zero 400
Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. took the checkered flag Saturday in Daytona, winning the Coke Zero 400.
David Ragan was leading going into the three-lap overtime finish, but Stenhouse jumped into the lead at the end, robbing Ragan of the victory.
Stenhouse was the only driver who began the race in the top ten, and also finished in the top ten. He was helped by a series of wrecks during the race that sidelined a good bit of his competition, including Dale Earnhardt Jr. and his #88 Chevy.
Here are the current Monster Energy NASCAR Cup standings after Saturday's race:
1) Kyle Larson -- 667
2) Martin Truex, Jr. -- 649
3) Kyle Busch -- 559
4) Kevin Harvick -- 557
5) Brad Keselowski -- 535
6) Chase Elliott -- 524
7) Jimmie Johnson -- 504
8) Jamie McMurray -- 504
9) Denny Hamlin -- 498
10) Clint Bowyer -- 469
Source-ABC
Despicable Me 3 takes down the competition with $75.4 million debut weekend
Despicable Me 3 nailed down the top spot at the weekend box office with an estimated $75.4 million haul, but the news wasn't all good for the latest film in the franchise. The animated feature fell $10 million shy of the debut of its predecessor, Despicable Me 2.
It was a different story for Baby Driver, Edgar Wright's comedy/thriller starring Ansel Elgort, Kevin Spacey and Jamie Foxx. The film, which opened on Wednesday earned $9 million and beat expectations, earning an estimated $21 million over the three-day weekend.
Transformers: Last Knight took third place with an estimated $17 million take. It's total earnings currently stand at over $102 million stateside and $327.8 worldwide.
Wonder Woman, in fourth place, wasn't finished shattering records. It added another $15.57 million, bringing its total to over $346 million domestically and $708 million worldwide. It's now the third-largest release among all DC Comics-based features and one of the top 100 films globally.
Rounding out the top five is Disney's Cars 3, raking in another $9.5 million, for a total of $120 million here in the states. It tacked on another $53 million worldwide. ABC News is owned by Disney.
The House, starring Will Ferrell and Amy Poehler, debuted outside the top five, with just $9 million. It's on a course to becoming the lowest debut for a film in which Ferrell has starred.
Here are the top 10 movies from Friday through Sunday, with estimated weekend gross ticket sales:
1. Despicable Me 3, $75.4 million
2. Baby Driver, $21 million
3. Transformers: Last Knight, $17 million
4. Wonder Woman, $15.57 million
5. Cars 3, $9.5 million
6. The House, $9 million
7. 47 Meters Down, $4.68 million
8. The Beguiled, $3.25 million
9. The Mummy, $2.78 million
10. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales, $2.4 million
Source-ABC
US foreign relations to be discussed at CARICOM meeting
Community (CARICOM) leaders will be discussing CARICOM- US foreign relations at the 38th meeting of the conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community being held on July 4-6, 2017.
The discussion comes in lieu of new foreign policies articulated by US president Donald Trump.
In a news release today in Grenada where the summit will be held, CARICOM Secretary General Irwin LaRocque said.
“Our foreign affairs ministers will be having an encounter in the margins of the meeting here in Grenada this week with the Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, Thomas Alfred “Tom” Shannon Jr specifically to address CARICOM US relations and of course I am sure out foreign ministers will then report to the heads”.
LaRocque also said that the region is “very encouraged by the recent passage of the United States-Caribbean Strategic Engagement Act,” which is aimed at consolidating Washington's engagement with the Caribbean.
Under the United States-Caribbean Strategic Engagement Act, the US Secretary of State and the US Agency for International Development will devise a multi-year strategy on issues of concern to the region, such as security, energy, diplomacy and increased access to educational opportunities.
“I am very much aware that the State Department has published the first strategy…so all of that will form the backdrop to the discussions”.
But LaRocque said that the region continues to be “concerned about the cuts in funds to the State Department do not impact us in CARICOM.
“We are currently receiving a significant amount of resources, individual member states and collectively under the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI), we trust that the partnership would continue and urge that the funding levels do not decrease.
Source-CMC
Windies victory another step closer
West Indies head coach Stuart Law has hailed Sunday's sensational win over India but cautioned it was just one step on a long road back for the embattled Caribbean side.
The Windies looked down-and-out when they stumbled to 189 for nine off their 50 overs batting first in the fourth One-Day International but rallied to bundle out the Indians for 178, and clinch an amazing 11-run victory.
“I believe in these boys. I believe they have got the skill,” the Australian told reporters following the result at the Vivian Richards Cricket Stadium.
“We beat Pakistan a couple of weeks ago chasing down 300 and now we've defended a reasonably small total against India – two of the best teams in the world we've gone on to beat.
“I believe they've got the skill, I believe they've got the talent. If we just improve their work ethic and they've got to play a different game than they're used to. As soon as we start realising that and start working towards that, I think we can start making progress.”
He added: “Today is one step and it's a big ladder for us but today is one step closer to where we want to end up. It's a lot of hard work and we are working hard, believe me.
“The people of the Caribbean probably don't see us working as hard as we are and I just want to let them know that we are very pleased that we've put a win on the board today for everybody in the region.”
Entering the contest down 2-0 in the five-match series and trying to avoid yet another series defeat, West Indies produced yet another limp effort with the bat as their batsmen succumbed to a series of soft dismissals.
Source-CMC
China's $9tn bond market opens up
A long-awaited scheme enabling foreign investors to buy and sell Chinese bonds has been launched.
The Bond Connect programme is Beijing's latest attempt to open up its financial markets and attract foreign capital.
China's $9 trillion bond market is the third-largest in the world, but only 2% of Chinese bonds are foreign-owned.
The launch has been timed to coincide with the 20th anniversary of Hong Kong's handover to Chinese rule.
Bonds are glorified IOUs, typically sold by governments and companies to raise cash.
Their attraction to investors is that they usually offer a fixed rate of interest and come with the promise of eventual full repayment when the bond expires.
Initially, Chinese bonds can be bought by banks, insurers and fund managers via Hong Kong.
No date has been set for Chinese investment in foreign bonds.
HSBC Holdings and an asset management unit of Bank of China became the first institutions to trade using the scheme, with about $300m worth of bonds purchased in early trading.
Buying Chinese bonds - essentially Chinese government and corporate debt - will give investors greater access to investments denominated in the Chinese currency, the yuan or renminbi.
Overseas investors have in the past been cautious about entering the market - partly over the stability of the Chinese currency as well as Beijing's perceived lack of urgency to reform its financial markets.
Source-BBC
Pakistan fuel tanker inferno death toll tops 200
The death toll from a lorry fire in Pakistan last week has risen sharply, with more than 200 people killed.
The tanker carrying fuel burst into flames near Ahmedpur East on 25 June.
Villagers had gathered, reportedly to collect fuel leaking from the crashed tanker, when it caught fire. Dozens are being treated in hospital.
The death toll in the hours after the fire hit 150, but local officials now say it is at least 206, after more victims died in hospital.
The fire was sparked by a passer-by lighting a cigarette, a rescue services spokesman told the BBC.
Some of the victims may only be identified by DNA sampling, as the bodies were so badly burned in the incident, reports said.
A mass funeral for 125 of the victims was held last week.
Police sources told Pakistani news agency APP that the tanker had been transporting 25,000 litres (5,500 gallons) of fuel from Karachi to Lahore. It appears the tanker blew a tyre while rounding a sharp bend in the road.
Police sources said that people in nearby villages had rushed to the scene to collect fuel in pots, and also made phone calls to their relatives in other villages to come to collect fuel.
Traffic police had tried in vain to keep the crowds away from the tanker as local people, including women and children, continued collecting fuel, the sources said.
A huge fire then erupted, engulfing all the people standing around the vehicle, they said.
Emergency services struggled to find burns units to treat the injured, APP reported.
Motorway police spokesman Imran Shah told the AFP news agency that a government inquiry had concluded five police officials were guilty of concealing information after the fire.
Source-BBC