G7 Nations Agree on Cybersecurity Guidelines
Cyberattacks on financial institutions are growing more frequent, persistent and dangerous and could threaten the interconnected global financial system, according to the world’s largest industrial nations.
The Group of Seven governments published a common set of cybersecurity guidelines and principles Tuesday in an effort to reduce the threat. The G-7 nations are Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States.
The guidelines urge governments, banks, regulators and others to use the outline to craft a strategy appropriate for each institution.
The strategy is to share and use best practices to assess and monitor cyberattacks and make plans to respond to intrusions and block the theft of money or information.
The guidelines call on G-7 members to share information and lessons learned so cyber defenses are dynamic and systems are continuously learning. The hope is that most attacks will be stopped, and intrusions will be cut short and systems returned to service promptly.
The document says trust and confidence in the financial sector improves when financial instructions and nations can have the ability to assist each other.
Cyber thieves have targeted large financial institutions around the world, including America's largest bank JPMorgan, as well as smaller players like Ecuador's Banco del Austro and Vietnam's Tien Phong Bank, both Reuters and The Wall Street Journal have reported. The U.S. Federal Reserve's internal security staff detected more than 50 cyber breaches between 2011 and 2015.
Source-VOA
Pokemon Go Might Lengthen Your Life
Forget fitness trackers and fitness apps.
Researchers say the augmented reality game Pokemon Go could have added 2.83 million years of life expectancy by simply getting people off the couch to hunt for virtual monsters.
The study was done by Microsoft Research and found that Pokemon Go players, on average, increased the number of steps they took by 26 percent, with the most sedentary benefiting the most. Looked at another way, that’s 194 more steps per day taken, or roughly 160 meters.
When totaled, researchers said cumulatively, the roughly 25 million Pokemon Go-playing Americans took 144 billion more steps or the equivalent of 143 round trips to the moon.
Activity increases were seen among genders, ages, weight and general levels of health.
The researchers say that since activity lowers mortality, all the extra activity from Pokemon Go could mean 2.83 million more years of life expectancy. Players who take 1,000 steps per day could lengthen their lives by 41.4 days.
The one downside of the study is that interest in the game appeared to have peaked in the summer. Less interest and colder weather could reduce the number of players sharply.
The study was posted in the Cornell University Library.
Source-VOA
DIGICEL LAUNCHES TEXT TO DONATE LINE TO SUPPORT RELIEF EFFORTS IN HAITI
In the wake of Hurricane Matthew that destroyed 90 percent of Southern Haiti on October 5th, Digicel launched a text line that will allow its customers to donate well-needed funds towards the humanitarian relief effort that is urgently needed in Haiti.
By texting the word ‘HELP’, Digicel customers across the Caribbean can help to make a huge difference to the people of Haiti. Digicel will donate all funds it receives to three Haitian charities – Haven, Paradis des Indiens and Prodev. In addition, there is no restriction on the number of texts a customer can send, so people are free to donate as much as they like.
Digicel Haiti Chairman, Maarten Boute, said; “This is truly a sad time for Haiti and its people and my condolences go to all the families who lost loved ones. We are reaching out to everyone that can help – no donation is too small. We remained strong after the earthquake in 2010 and will continue to show our strength through these trying times as well. I would like to thank everyone for keeping Haiti in their thoughts at this time.”
Launched in 2008, Haven has built or upgraded homes and shelters for close to 20,000 people and has touched the lives of over 200,000 Haitians. The Paradis des Indiens was founded in 1975 as a school in Abricots, Haiti but over the years, it has grown to become a pillar in the south west region through its network of 12 schools and diverse community building initiatives. PRODEV is a Haitian-led education-focused non-profit organisation which operates three schools and is assisting in the post hurricane relief. PRODEV’s mission is to develop, manage and support schools in an effort to building a stronger Haiti.
To donate, Digicel customers can text 5151 except in Barbados (5152), French West Indies (9995), Guyana (1218), Jamaica (444-2452) and Suriname (2727).
Samsung Ends Production of Problem-Plagued Galaxy Note 7
South Korean electronics giant Samsung says it will no longer manufacture its troubled Galaxy Note 7 smartphone after numerous reports around the globe of overheating.
The company announced Tuesday it was shutting down production for good in the interest of consumer safety.
Samsung announced earlier in the day that it was stopping all global sales and exchanges of the Galaxy Note 7, and advised all customers to stop using the device immediately.
The South Korean conglomerate sustained a massive eight percent loss in its share price at the end of Tuesday's stock market trading session.
The Note 7 had barely been on the market for a month when Samsung announced a global recall of 2.5 million units due to faulty batteries in early September.
Samsung offered replacement units to all of its customers, before reports resurfaced of overheating with the new devices, raising fresh doubts about the firm's quality control abilities
A number of major cellphone companies, including U.S-based AT&T and German rival T-Mobile, unilaterally announced a halt to sales and exchanges of the Galaxy Note 7 on Sunday.
The top-of-the-line Note 7 was crucial to Samsung's growth plans this year, with the company struggling to boost sales, squeezed by Apple in the high-end sector and Chinese rivals in the low-end.
Nominations for the 2016 American Music Awards Announced
Rachel Platten and Joe Jonas of DNCE appeared on ABC's Good Morning America Monday morning to announce the nominations for the 2016 American Music Awards.
Both artists found their names on the list of nominees this year: Rachel was audibly surprised when she learned she was nominated in the Favorite Female Artist in the Adult Contemporary category, in the company of Adele and Meghan Trainor.
She returned the favor moments later, announcing Jonas' DNCE was nominated in the Fave Duo or Group in the Pop/Rock category, joining The Chainsmokers and Twenty One Pilots.
Both Joe and Rachel may also be tapped to perform on the AMAs, which air on ABC in November.
Rachel has already won a Daytime Emmy, of all things, for her performance of "Fight Song" on Good Morning America last year. DNCE recently won the MTV VMA trophy for Best New Artist, as well as a Teen Choice Award for Choice Party Song.
Here's a list of the main nominees for the American Music Awards:
Favorite Album/Pop Rock
Drake -- Views
Adele -- 25
Justin Bieber -- Purpose
Favorite Female Artist - Pop Rock Category
Adele
Selena
Rihanna
Favorite Male Artist- Pop Rock Category
Justin Bieber
Drake
The Weeknd
Favorite Female Artist - Adult Contemporary
Adele
Rachel Platten
Meghan Trainor
Favorite Pop Rock Duo or Group
The Chainsmokers
DNCE
Twenty One Pilots
Artist of the Year
Adele
Beyonce
Justin Bieber
Drake
Selena Gomez
Rihanna
Twenty One Pilots
Carrie Underwood
The Weeknd
Ariana Grande
GOVERNOR'S FAREWELL MESSAGE - OPTIMISM, A NEED TO SHARPEN THE PUBLIC SECTOR
His Excellency the Governor Peter Beckingham, is optimistic about the Turks and Caicos Islands, even as he prepares to leave the country next week, upon completion of his gubernatorial responsibilities in the TCI.
“After three happy years in the beautiful country of Turks and Caicos Islands, Jill and I will be leaving with great sadness next week, on 10 October – and with great relief that the islands were, unlike others in the region, untouched by Hurricane Matthew. It hardly seems possible that it was almost three years to the day that we were in the House of Assembly for a memorable swearing-in ceremony.
We both count ourselves privileged to have lived in Turks and Caicos. Everyone, from Ministers and opposition leaders to resort owners and taxi drivers, have welcomed us warmly wherever we have gone, from shopping in Provo to walking in Middle Caicos,” His Excellency said.
The Governor said in his farewell address to the nation that it is important to look forward not back, something which he intends to remind himself of as he begins to work outside the Foreign Office.
“I am optimistic about TCI. Its economy is looking stronger than most in the region, and we have an international brand which is increasingly recognised from New York to London.
It is vital that TCI's leaders and population preserve its wonderful environment. There is plenty of space for development, and what has happened in South Caicos, for example, in the past three years with a completely new runway under construction and new resorts, is an extraordinary example of TCI's economic strength,” Governor Beckingham said.
“TCI's success is based heavily on the fruits of private enterprise, and in the future, as one senior public servant said to me just last week, the civil service needs to continue to raise its game. It's good that motivation and training is being increasingly recognised, but there are still vulnerabilities, for example in delivery and customer service, where we need to get sharper.
Similarly it is my hope, and that of Ministers in London, that whoever leads the country after the next election will retain and strengthen the open and corruption free government TCI has developed, and a rigorous and resilient economy. Our painstakingly achieved reputation, demonstrated by the fantastic achievement of a Triple B plus rating from one of the world's largest rating agencies over the last two years, can be dashed quickly. A return to the high spending extravagances of an earlier era could be disastrous,” His Excellency said.
House of Assembly Meetings for this week
The Government will resume their business next week Tuesday in the House of Assembly.
RTC News understands that the National Security Council Bill 2016 will be moved by the Hon. Attorney General for its 1st reading along with the Supplementary Appropriation (2016/2017)( No. 3) Bill 2016
(To be laid by Hon. Minister for Finance, Investment and Trade)
• National Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2016
(To be laid by Hon. Premier and Minister for Health, Agriculture and Human Services)
• Tobacco Control (Amendment) Bill 2016
(To be laid by Hon. Premier and Minster for Health, Agriculture and Human Services)
• Retiring Allowances (Former Legislative Service) (Increase) Bill 2016
(To be laid by Hon. Minister for Finance, Investment and Trade)
• Legislative Service (Special Provision) Pension (Amendment) Bill 2016
(To be laid by the Hon. Minister for Finance, Investment and Trade)
• Elections (Amendment) Bill 2016
(Hon. Premier and Minister for Health, Agriculture and Human Services)
• Consumer Protection Bill 2016
(Hon. Minister for Finance, Investment and Trade) while the Hon. Opposition Appointed Member will present his Private Member’s Bill on the Service Charge (Hotel and Restaurants) (Amendment) Bill 2016.
Other matters will be conducted in the House including second and third reading of bills in addition to question time which will see close to 30 questions being presented to the Government.
RTC will have live coverage at 10am.
2nd Annual National Honors And Awards for Grand Turk
The 2nd annual National Honor and Awards Ceremony will be held on Monday in the Nation’s Capital.
There was some skepticism as to where or not the event would be held as up to this week there were no releases nor names released. RTC understands that organizers were unsure as to whether or not Matthew would have affected the arrangements.
Some members from the Premiers office were busy today in trying to make the necessary arrangement for the staging of the awards ceremony.
Mrs. Marjorie Basden, & Mrs. Ianthe Sybil Pratt, will receive the award for ORDER OF TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS – For service with distinction in any field of discipline. Mrs. Basden Acted as headmistress on numerous occasions; assisted pupils outside hours; a disciplinarian and taught five generations of students. While Mrs. Pratt started public education in the Bight back in 1956.
THE PATRIOTIC AWARDCAYOS MEDAL – For demonstration of a keen sense of national consciousness and for rendering exceptional sacrificial service to the islands and the people will be awarded to Mrs. Elaine Clare-Brooks, Mrs. Juanita Coalbrooke, Mr. Austin Robinson OBE and Mrs. Delphine Williams Scott.
Nurse Elaine was a practitioner, supervised clinics on the Caicos Islands; delivered sterling healthcare services to the Islands for over 35 years; she was the Founder & President of TCI Diabetic Assoc. long serving President TCI Nurses Association; secured passage of the helmet law, while Mrs. Coalbrooke was the Founder of the Senior Citizens Club; she dedicated more than 16 years of sacrificial service to seniors & the challenged. Mr. Robinson served our Islands over 40 years as an Accountant at Salt Co, he joined government service, worked hard & became the Financial Secretary and later served as Speaker of the House.
Mrs. Williams contributed 35 commendable years in the education sector; served TCI with commitment to the development of fine & visual arts; exemplary service in visual arts, inspiring young TCI artist; her sacrifice & commitment continues in retirement.
THE LONG SERVICE MEDAL – For outstanding and exemplary public service to the islands and its people will be presented to a Former Deputy Governor & current politicians now serving this country. The awardees are Mr. Aswaldo Ariza, Mrs. Beatrice Burton, Mrs. Kathleen Durham, Mrs. Elaine Forbes, Gardiner, Enos, Mr. Walter Gardiner Snr, Mrs.Valeria Houseman, Mr. Lamuel Johnson, Mrs. Lillian Jolly, Inspector Claudius Lightbourne, Ms Debby-Lee Mills, Ms. Madeline Mills, The Hon. Charles W. Misick, Mrs. Carolyn Jean Outten, Mrs. Aldora Robinson, Hon. Norman W Saunders, Mrs Sarah Simmons, Hon. Oswald Skippings, Mrs. Claudia Smith, Mrs Susan Swann, Hon Derek Taylor, Mrs. Olga Taylor, Mrs. Almaida Wilson and Ms. Mahalia Wynns.
There are 4 awardees for the MERITORIOUS SERVICE MEDAL – For sacrificial and meritorious service in a field of service that is inherently challenging or for a brave or humane act in the islands or abroad and 7 selected for the NATIONAL YOUNG ACHIEVER'S MEDAL – this is for Turks and Caicos Islanders between the ages of twelve and twenty-five years who has performed exceptionally well on a national, regional or international level in the areas of culture, academics, performing arts and sports among others.
The spectacular event will be held at the parade grounds in Grand Turk and will be live on Monday on Radio Turks & Caicos.
TCI Observes World Mental Health Day
The Department of Mental Health and Substance Dependence (DMHSD) in the Ministry of Health, Agriculture and Human Services joins the rest of the world to commemorate World Mental Health Day on Monday October 10th.
The theme of this year’s World Mental Health Day is “Dignity in Mental Health- Psychological and Mental Health First Aide for All”. According to Dr. Alicia Malcolm, “This theme will enable us to contribute to the goal of taking mental health out of the shadows so that people in general feel more confident in tackling the stigma, isolation and discrimination that continues to plague people with mental health conditions, their families and carers”.
Training in this area is important because mental health problems are common, especially depression, anxiety and misuse of alcohol or other drugs”. According to the World Health Organization World Mental Health Surveys, there is a high lifetime prevalence of mental disorders across the globe.
As part of this year’s observance, the Department commenced the 3rd Annual Mental Health Conference which began earlier this morning at the Ocean Club Resort Conference Room, Providenciales and on Monday members of the Ministry will appear on Health Matters.
During the opening of this morning’s workshop, Premier & Minister of Health, the Hon. Dr. Rufus Ewing brought brief remarks.
Areas that are up for discussion includes preserving life where a person maybe at risk of harm, providing help to prevent the mental health problem from becoming more serious, promoting recovery of good mental health and providing comfort to a person with a mental health problem.
PDM Leader on the passage of Matthew
Leader of the Opposition People’s Democratic Movement (PDM), Hon Sharlene Robinson, in a press release, while expressing thanks that the Turks and Caicos Islands have been spared the wrath of hurricane Matthew, expressed the need for residents here in the TCI to render assistance to our neighbors when relief efforts do begin.
“We are indeed grateful that we have by God's mercy been spared the dangerous Hurricane Matthew that has left a trail of damage in the Caribbean.
We are ever thankful to the Staff of DDME for their updates and management and we are equally thankful to the many volunteers who stood ready to assist,” she said.
“Whilst we have been spared and rightly ought to celebrate, we must be mindful of the tragic loss of life and property and other damage in our sister countries after the passage of Hurricane Matthew. We especially think of Haiti, Cuba, Jamaica and countries in the eastern Caribbean. We also pray for the safety of residents of Florida (where we have many relatives and friends) as they brace for what their Governor has repeatedly called "a deadly killer storm" as he urged for mass evacuation from coastal areas,” said Hon Robinson.
“We are currently receiving and sharing videos from our sister country, the Bahamas, again where many of our relatives and friends reside. We are saddened by what we have seen thus far and encourage us all to pray for the residents and Government even now as many continue to feel the impact of this storm. We wish to also call on the Government to favorably consider the possibility of allowing a team from TCI to lend assistance in their recovery efforts. We must indeed be our brother's keepers in meaningful ways.
We trust that when relief efforts do begin that we as residents will recall our not too distant past experience when we too needed assistance and how our neighbour did come to our aid. I trust we consider the needs of those who in time past assisted us and will reciprocate such behavior.
May God continue to bless us and be merciful to us all,” Hon Sharlene Robinson added in her press release.