PUBLIC FORECAST FOR THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT
THIS IS THE PUBLIC FORECAST FOR THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT WEDNESDAY 28TH JUNE 2017 ISSUED BY THE BAHAMAS DEPARTMENT OF METEOROLOGY.
GENERAL SITUATION: A SURFACE TROUGH ACROSS THE NORTHWEST BAHAMAS WILL CREATE UNSTABLE WEATHER OVER THE NORTHWEST AND PARTS OF THE CENTRAL BAHAMAS THROUGH FRIDAY.
TURKS AND CAICOS
WEATHER: A MIX OF SUN AND CLOUDS WITH SCATTERED SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON. PARTLY CLOUDY TONIGHT WITH FEW SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS POSSIBLE.
ADVISORY: SMALL CRAFT OPERATORS SHOULD CONTINUE TO EXERCISE CAUTION.
WINDS: EAST TO SOUTHEAST AT 15 TO 20 KNOTS OVER OPEN WATERS.
SEAS: 4 TO 7 FEET OVER THE OCEAN.
DAYTIME HIGH TEMPERATURE 91°F 33°C
OVERNITE LOW TEMPERATURE 78°F 26°C
SUNSET: 8:04 PM
SUNRISE: 6:23 AM THU
MOONSET: 12:02 AM THU
MOONRISE: 12:03 PM THU
LOW TIDE: 6:19 PM 7:02 AM THU
HIGH TIDE: 12:33 AM THU 1:10 PM THU
TROPICAL WEATHER OUTLOOK: TROPICAL CYCLONE DEVELOPMENT IS NOT EXPECTED DURING THE NEXT 5 DAYS.
OECS stakeholders meet in Barbados to discuss public procurement reform
Reforming the public procurement process within the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) could allow governments to better manage the use of scarce public funds. Such reforms also have the potential to contribute to inclusive growth by encouraging the participation of small- and medium-sized local businesses. However, many OECS countries have not yet fully implemented the necessary measures to foster reform, which has sometimes led to delays in project implementation and optimum value for money outcomes not being realised.
From June 20 to 21, 2017, the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) hosted a workshop to support and advance public procurement reform in the OECS, at its headquarters in Barbados. The workshop provided a forum for representatives from OECS countries, the OECS Commission and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) to review the current state of public procurement and to facilitate agreement on a unified approach to procurement reform within the OECS.
“In the OECS, public procurement makes a significant contribution to GDP activity and this, combined with the challenges presented by the fiscal constraints most states faced after the recent global economic downturn, provides an appropriate context to consider possibilities for the enhancement of public procurement. We acknowledge the progress that a number of the OECS states have made in terms of procurement reform, with a number of new procurement acts and institutions being rolled out in recent years,” said
Daniel Best, Director of Projects, CDB.
He noted that the workshop represented the first time that OECS states have come together to discuss public procurement.
“Given many commonalities in circumstances and challenges we hope this will provide a forum for the sharing of knowledge and best practice, and an opportunity to consider future procurement reform prospects,” he said.
The workshop aligns with CDB’s strategic objective to further good governance in the Region. CDB’s work in public procurement has included the development of an online procurement course for Caribbean stakeholders and, in collaboration with the World Bank, support for the establishment of a Caribbean regional procurement centre, to be hosted at the University of Technology Jamaica.
The workshop was hosted in collaboration with the World Bank and attended by DFID and the Inter-American Development Bank. Participants were from Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, the British Virgin Islands, Dominica, Montserrat, Saint Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and St. Kitts and Nevis.
Germany to create new emissions watchdog
Germany will create a new emissions organization in the wake of the Volkswagen diesel crisis, Reuters reports.
The watchdog agency will aim for greater accuracy and transparency in emissions tests and will partner with environmental and consumer groups, in addition to government ministries and automakers. Until now, the KBA arm of the transport ministry has been tasked with vehicle testing -- the KBA will keep the role of certifying new vehicle models, while ceding emission policing duties to the new organization.
The transport ministry indicated that the new agency will test approximately 70 car models a year in real-world conditions rather than in static tests, Reuters notes, and will publish fuel consumption and emissions data to consumers.
The creation of a new agency in Germany follows several concurrent crises that have diminished the public and the government's faith in automakers and the transport ministry, with the latest being the probe into Mercedes-Benz diesels supplied to the U.S.. The announcement of a new emissions-testing organization also follows Germany's ongoing spat with the government of Italy in regards to a number of Fiat models sold in the EU, which has resulted in threats of EU court action aimed at the government of Italy.
Source- Auto Week
Germany to create new emissions watchdog
Germany will create a new emissions organization in the wake of the Volkswagen diesel crisis, Reuters reports.
The watchdog agency will aim for greater accuracy and transparency in emissions tests and will partner with environmental and consumer groups, in addition to government ministries and automakers. Until now, the KBA arm of the transport ministry has been tasked with vehicle testing -- the KBA will keep the role of certifying new vehicle models, while ceding emission policing duties to the new organization.
The transport ministry indicated that the new agency will test approximately 70 car models a year in real-world conditions rather than in static tests, Reuters notes, and will publish fuel consumption and emissions data to consumers.
The creation of a new agency in Germany follows several concurrent crises that have diminished the public and the government's faith in automakers and the transport ministry, with the latest being the probe into Mercedes-Benz diesels supplied to the U.S.. The announcement of a new emissions-testing organization also follows Germany's ongoing spat with the government of Italy in regards to a number of Fiat models sold in the EU, which has resulted in threats of EU court action aimed at the government of Italy.
Source- Auto Week
Tax software blamed for cyber-attack spread
A global cyber-attack that affected companies around the world may have started via corrupted updates on a piece of accountancy software.
Fingers are increasingly pointing to a piece of Ukrainian tax-filing software, MEDoc, as the source of the infection, although the company denies it.
Malware generally infiltrates networks via email attachments that users click on in error.
Microsoft described the method as "a recent dangerous trend".
The cyber-attack has caused disruption around the world and infected companies in 64 countries, including banks in Ukraine, Russian oil giant Rosneft, British advertising company WPP and US law firm DLA Piper.
Shipping giant Maersk said it was unable to process new orders and was expecting delays to consignments, while one of Europe's largest port operators in Rotterdam said that it had to use manual processes, and Dutch global parcel service TNT said it was operating with restrictions.
A Cadbury's factory on the island state of Tasmania ground to a halt when computer systems went down, according to Australian Manufacturing and Workers Union state secretary John Short.
Ukraine was hit hardest, suggesting the attack might be politically motivated.
According to anti-virus vendor ESET, 80% of all infections were in Ukraine, with Germany second hardest hit with about 9%.
A growing number of security experts, including the British malware expert Marcus Hutchins - credited with ending the WannaCry ransomware outbreak - claim to have logs that reveal MEDoc as the source.
In email correspondence with the BBC, Mr Hutchins said: "It looks like the software's automatic update system was compromised and used to download and run malware rather than updates for the software."
It was not yet clear how it had been compromised, he added.
MEDoc has denied the claims, in a Facebook post - but in a blog post analysing how the infection had taken hold on Windows machines, Microsoft also points the finger at the accounting software.
"Active infections of the ransomware initially started from the legitimate MEDoc update process," it writes.
Source-BBC
Brexit 'will blow hole in budget', EU commissioner notes
The UK's departure from the EU will leave a budget shortfall of at least €10bn (£8.8bn; $11.4bn), the budget commissioner has warned.
Günther Oettinger said the bloc must either spend less or find new money to fill the gap, equivalent to an estimated 16% of the entire budget.
Among the options on the table could be less generous payments to farmers or a tax on financial transactions.
"A big country, a net contributor is leaving," Mr Oettinger said.
"That must have consequences."
Mr Oettinger said each euro spent must have a positive impact on people's lives, as he presented a discussion paper on the EU's future.
Negotiations are under way for the UK to leave the EU by the end of March 2019, following last year's referendum vote.
It is not just Brexit giving the EU a budget headache.
"At the same time we need to finance new tasks such as defence, internal security...," Mr Oettinger writes, with regional policy commissioner Corina Cretu, in an EU blog.
"The total gap could therefore be up to twice as much."
The rebate, negotiated under former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, is a complex calculation which sees a sizeable proportion of the UK's net contribution to the EU each year returned.
Officials will now consult member states and the European Parliament, our reporter says,
They hope the "Brexit effect" will be clearer by the end of the year and a draft budget for the years 2020 and beyond will be proposed by the middle of next year.
Source- BBC
Hunt for pilot after attack on Supreme Court in Venezuela
The Venezuelan military is hunting for a rogue elite police officer suspected of carrying out a helicopter attack on the country's Supreme Court.
Oscar Pérez posted Instagram videos admitting the attack and calling on Venezuelans to rise up against the government of President Nicolás Maduro.
The officer's home has been searched as the president put the entire military on alert, citing a "terrorist attack".
The country is in the midst of a deep economic and political crisis.
Nobody was injured in the helicopter attack, which took place at around sunset on Tuesday evening.
One police source reported by Reuters said that the helicopter had been dumped in Higuerote, on the Caribbean coast, but that the pilot had not been found. The report has not been verified.
Images on social media showed two occupants, one masked.
The government said 15 shots were fired at a social event at the interior ministry. The helicopter then flew to the court and dropped four Israeli-made grenades of "Colombian origin". One failed to detonate. No-one was injured.
Many of those opposed to Mr Maduro see the Supreme Court as one of his main supporters.
Source- BBC
Italy threatens to shut ports as Migrant crisis looms
Italy has threatened to stop vessels of other countries from bringing migrants to its ports.
The warning came as Italy's EU representative, Maurizio Massari, warned in a letter to the bloc the situation had become "unsustainable".
Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni has accused other European nations of "looking the other way".
An estimated 10,000 people are believed to have attempted the journey from North Africa in the past four days.
More than 73,000 migrants have landed in Italy this year, an increase of 14% on the same period last year.
Some 2,000 have died or are missing feared drowned, the UN's refugee agency says, the vast majority attempting the crossing from Libya.
Libya is a gateway to Europe for migrants from across sub-Saharan Africa and also from the Arabian peninsula, Egypt, Syria and Bangladesh. Many are fleeing war, poverty or persecution.
An Italian government source told Reuters: "The idea of blocking humanitarian ships flying foreign flags from returning to Italian ports has been discussed. Italy has reached saturation point."
Former Prime Minister Matteo Renzi said the Italian public were "exasperated" with the issue and a new long-term strategy was needed.
Rules on disembarking are governed by international law and the EU office on migration said any changes to guidelines should give humanitarian groups time to prepare.
The International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea dictates that any ship learning of distress at sea must assist regardless of circumstances, and that the country responsible for operations in that area has primary responsibility for taking them from the ship.
It also clearly states that the relevant government "shall arrange for such disembarkation to be effected as soon as reasonably practicable."
Source-BBC
STATEMENT FROM THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS MINISTRY OF TOURISM
Detectives of The Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force are investigating the shooting of an American visitor that occurred on Friday, June 23. The report indicates that around 1:43 a.m., police responded to a report of a shooting in the Grace Bay area of Providenciales. On arrival, police established that a male victim had been shot. The male, identified as Keven Newman of Alabama, was transported to the Cheshire Hall Medical Center where he received treatment for a wound in the abdominal area. Contrary to reports, Mr. Newman sustained one shot about his body.
We are shocked and saddened by this grave incident, involving a visitor to the destination. Mr. Newman and his family continue to be in our thoughts and prayers while doctors continue to monitor his recovery.
Every effort was made by the Turks and Caicos Islands Government, the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force, the Ministry of Tourism, and the Turks and Caicos Tourist Board to support the Newman family throughout this unfortunate ordeal. The Government sought medical evacuation for Mr. Newman; however, quick-thinking family and friends made emergency arrangements beforehand with funds raised via a Go Fund Me page. Nonetheless, tourism officials met with the medical team and Mrs. Newman to receive progress report on Mr. Newman’s condition and offer additional care to the family while on island. A member of the Turks and Caicos Tourist Board stayed by Mrs. Newman side until her husband was successfully evacuated.
Angela Aquino, CLB/United States Warden for the Turks and Caicos Islands was also on hand to give the Newman’s emotional support and lend travel assistance. Travel arrangements were made for the Newman’s son, who was also visiting the Islands, to return to the United States earlier today. He was personally escorted to the airport and through airport check-in by a member of the Turks and Caicos Tourist Board. Personnel from the Ministry of Tourism and the Turks and Caicos Tourist Board remain in constant contact with the Newman family, and will provide updates to the media as they become available.
The Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force is treating this incident as a robbery and is aggressively pursuing this matter. Whilst at this stage no arrest has been made in connection with this offence, active enquiries are being followed up to identify those responsible.
The Ministry of Tourism wishes to acknowledge the gravity of this situation, and to condemn this heinous crime. The safety of our residents and visitors remains paramount.
Although the Turks and Caicos Islands continue to be one of the safest countries in the region, if not the world, a single attack against any innocent person is unacceptable and will not be tolerated.
The Ministry of Tourism encourages persons, in the strongest way possible, to cooperate with law enforcement to report crimes which will aid in bringing the perpetrators to justice. We would especially like to appeal to anyone with information of crime against our visitors to report it to the local authorities or to crime stoppers.
Our residents and visitors should continue to enjoy all of the attributes of our Islands. We will not be intimidated by acts of cowardice.
We would like to remind Turks and Caicos Islanders, residents and visitors alike, legal or illegal, that any crime against our citizens can negatively affect our image as a low crime destination. Any crime against our tourists is an attack on our very livelihood which can contribute to the death of our tourism sector.
The Turks and Caicos Islands is known worldwide for our pristine beaches, exquisite under water sites, and friendly people. We all have a part to play in maintaining this reputation.
The Ministry of Tourism encourages all persons to exercise vigilance as we seek to restore the Turks and Caicos Islands that you have come to know and love.
IMF cuts forecasts for US economic growth
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has cuts its growth forecasts for the US economy due to uncertainty about White House policies.
It now expects growth of 2.1% in 2017 and 2018, against earlier estimates of 2.3% in 2017 and 2.5% in 2018.
The forecast is also below the 3% rate targeted by the White House.
Proposals such as cuts to spending on programmes that benefit low and middle income households could lead to even slower growth, the IMF warned.
"The consultation revealed differences on a range of policies and left open questions as to whether the administration's proposed policy strategies are best suited to achieve their intended purpose," the IMF said.
The US is enjoying its third longest economic expansion since 1850.
But the country is having trouble adjusting to the challenges produced by technology and demographic changes, the IMF said.
There are some features of this report that must make uncomfortable reading at the White House, suggestions of a struggle to agree policies and concerns about the impact on poorer Americans.
The IMF's forecasts were initially raised on the Trump administration's desire to reform taxes and boost infrastructure. Now it's a case of as you were, due to "differences on a range of policies within the administration" and IMF doubts about whether the "proposed policy strategies are best suited to achieve their intended purpose".
And as for the current budget plan, the IMF's economists say it seems to place a "disproportionate share of the adjustment burden on low and middle-income households".
The organisation said it supported ideas such as tax reform, family leave policies and investment in infrastructure as a way to boost growth.
But it cautioned against some of the other measures supported by the Trump administration.
It urged the US to preserve the current system of financial oversight, maintain a commitment to free trade and retain recent gains in health insurance coverage.
The IMF's earlier forecasts had assumed the economy would receive a boost from the Trump administration's policies, but it has now dropped those assumptions.
Source-BBC