Novak Djokovic pulls out of China Open with elbow injury
World number one Novak Djokovic has withdrawn from next week's China Open in Beijing because of an elbow injury.
The Serb, a six-time champion in Beijing, last played in the US Open final on 12 September, when he was beaten by Stan Wawrinka.
Djokovic is next scheduled to play at the Shanghai Masters from 10 October.
"I am extremely disappointed not to be able to compete at the China Open this year," said the Australian and French Open champion.
"I'm still recovering from my elbow injury and have been advised not to play until my condition improves.
"I will continue with my rehabilitation and hope to be able to return to the ATP Tour as soon as possible."
Andy Murray, Rafael Nadal and Angelique Kerber are among those scheduled to feature in the combined ATP/WTA event in Beijing.
Former Australia fast bowler dies at the age of 68
Former Australia fast bowler and sports commentator Max Walker has died at the age of 68.
Walker, who had cancer, played 34 Tests between 1972 and 1977, taking 138 wickets at an average of 27.47.
Cricket Australia chief executive officer James Sutherland said: "The cricket world will be deeply saddened to hear of Max's sudden passing.
"He was a great character, with a big smile and positive approach to life. He will be sadly missed."
Nicknamed "Tangles" because of his unorthodox bowling style and known for his trademark handlebar moustache, Walker also played in 17 one-day internationals and was among the players who featured in Kerry Packer's breakaway World Series Cricket which transformed the modern game.
He made his last international appearance in 1981, and became a successful commentator and author.
Deutsche Bank fall drags down US stocks
US stocks finished lower on Thursday after Deutsche Bank shares tumbled in New York following a report that some funds had withdrawn money.
The German lender fell nearly 7% after Bloomberg reported some hedge funds had taken out cash and withdrawn positions held with Deutsche's investment bank.
It added that the majority of Deutsche Bank's trading clients made no changes.
The report still unsettled other bank stocks, sending Goldman Sachs down 2.8% and JP Morgan 1.6% lower.
Deutsche Bank said in a statement: "Our trading clients are among the world's most sophisticated investors."
The bank added: "We are confident that the vast majority of them have a full understanding of our stable financial position, the current macro-economic environment, the litigation process in the US and the progress we are making with our strategy."
There has been speculation that Deutsche Bank may struggle to pay a $14bn US fine for mis-selling mortgage-backed bonds during the financial crisis.
The fall in Deutsche Bank and other finance stocks helped to push the Dow Jones Industrial Average index down 200 points, or 1.1%, to finish at 18,143 points.
The more tech-heavy Nasdaq was down 1% to 5,269 and the broader S&P 500 index was also 1% lower at 2,151 after making tentative gains in early trading.
Oil firms Chevron and Exxon Mobil fell 0.9% and 0.5% respectively as traders questioned whether an output cut agreed by the Opec oil cartel would be binding.
On Wednesday, they benefited from a surge in the oil price after reports emerged that Opec nations had agreed to the first production cut in eight years.
Source-BBC
Trump accused of Cuba embargo breach
Hillary Clinton says presidential rival Donald Trump appears to have violated US laws, after a report said he broke a trade embargo with Cuba.
Newsweek reports that Mr Trump's company secretly conducted business in Cuba, violating the US trade embargo against the country.
The company allegedly spent at least $68,000 (£52,300) in Cuba in 1998.
Mr Trump's spokesman Kellyanne Conway said the money was not paid, and that he was against deals with Cuba.
Mr Trump has also repeatedly said he had rejected offers to invest in Cuba.
The Newsweek report says Mr Trump's company funnelled the cash through a US consulting firm to make it appear legal.
Mrs Clinton said: "We have laws in our country, and the efforts that Trump was making to get into the Cuban market - putting his business interests ahead of the laws of the United States and the requirements that businesses were operating under with sanctions shows that he puts his personal and business interests ahead of the laws and values and the policies of the United States of America."
"This is something they're going to have to give a response to," said Marco Rubio, the Cuban-American senator from Florida who has endorsed Mr Trump. "I mean, it was a violation of American law, if that's how it happened.
"I hope the Trump campaign is going to come forward and answer some questions about this, because if what the article says is true - and I'm not saying that it is, we don't know with 100% certainty - I'd be deeply concerned about it," he told a podcast hosted by ESPN and ABC.
Cuban-Americans who fled the island after the revolution historically have been a reliable voting bloc in Florida for Republicans because of the party's hard-line anti-communist stance. While new generations of Cuban-Americans have been less rigid on the issue, Republican presidential candidates continue to pay deference to their interests in this presidential swing state, where every vote is precious.
Earlier this week, the Republican nominee was making nice with Cuban-Americans in Miami's Little Havana and ordering coffee at the famous Versailles Restaurant - much like his predecessors had before him. His efforts, however, may be undone by his past actions.
Source-BBC
PUBLIC FORECAST FOR TODAY AND TONIGHT THURSDAY 29TH SEPTEMBER 2016
GENERAL SITUATION: A MID TO UPPER LEVEL TROUGH ACROSS THE NORTHWEST BAHAMAS CONTINUES TO ENHANCE SHOWER AND THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY ACROSS THE ISLANDS.
SPECIAL WARNINGS: BOATERS AND RESIDENTS SHOULD REMAIN ALERT FOR THE RISK OF FUNNEL CLOUDS OR WATERSPOUTS.
AREA: NORTHWEST AND CENTRAL BAHAMAS
WEATHER: PARTLY SUNNY AND HOT TODAY WITH CLOUDY INTERVALS OF SCATTERED SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS TURNING PARTLY CLOUDY TONIGHT WITH ISOLATED SHOWERS AND A FEW POSSIBLE THUNDERSTORMS.
ADVISORY: SMALL CRAFT SHOULD BE ALERT FOR GUSTY WINDS AND HIGHER SEAS IN OR NEAR HEAVY SHOWERS OR THUNDERSTORMS.
WINDS: SOUTH TO SOUTHWEST AT 10 TO 15 KNOTS BUT FALLING VARIABLE AT TIMES IN THE NORTHWEST BAHAMAS…EAST TO SOUTHEAST AT 10 TO 15 KNOTS IN THE CENTRAL BAHAMAS OVER OPEN WATERS.
SEAS: 2 TO 4 FEET IN OVER THE OCEAN.
AREA: SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS
WEATHER: PARTLY SUNNY AND HOT TODAY WITH ISOLATED SHOWERS AND A FEW THUNDERSTORMS TURNING MAINLY FAIR TONIGHT WITH A STRAY SHOWER OR TWO.
ADVISORY: SMALL CRAFT CAUTION IS IN EFFECT.
WINDS: EAST TO SOUTHEAST AT 15 TO 25 KNOTS OVER OPEN WATERS.
SEAS: 5 TO 8 FEET OVER THE OCEAN.
HIGH TEMPERATURE TODAY 92 °F 33 °C
LOW TEMPERATURE TONIGHT 74 °F 23 °C
SUNRISE: 7:01AM MOONSET: 6:23 PM HIGH TIDE: 7:25AM 7:43PM
SUNSET: 6:58PM MOONRISE: 6:38AM FRI LOW TIDE: 1:38PM 1:59AM FRI
EXTENDED FORECAST: (FOR THE NEXT TWO DAYS) THE MID TO UPPER LEVEL TROUGH IS EXPECTED TO SHIFT WESTWARD BUT RICH TROPICAL MOISTURE ACROSS THE AREA WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT ISOLATED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS.
FORECAST FOR FRIDAY
WEATHER: PARTLY SUNNY AND HOT WITH ISOLATED SHOWERS AND A FEW THUNDERSTORMS.
WINDS: EAST TO SOUTHEAST AT 10 TO 15 KNOTS IN THE NORTHWEST & CENTRAL BAHAMAS… EASTERLY AT 15 TO 25 KNOTS IN THE SOUUTHEAST BAHAMAS.
SEAS: 2 TO 4 FT IN THE NORTHWEST & CENTRAL BAHAMAS…5 TO 8 FT IN THE SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS.
FORECAST FOR SATURDAY
WEATHER: A MIX OF SUN & CLOUDS AND HOT WITH SCATTERED SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS.
WINDS: EAST TO SOUTHEAST AT 10 TO 15 KNOTS IN THE NORTHWEST BAHAMAS…15 TO 20 KNOTS IN THE CENTRAL BAHAMAS…15 TO 25 KNOTS IN THE SOUTHEST BAHAMAS.
SEAS: 2 TO 4 FEET IN THE NORTHWEST BAHAMAS… 4 TO 6 FEET IN THE CENTRAL BAHAMAS… & 5 TO 8 FEET I THE SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS.
National Youth Policy Is Needed say PDM Deputy Leader
We must reintroduce a National Youth Policy that is aimed at ensuring that the youth play their role, alongside adults, in the development of the Turks & Caicos Islands. This policy should promote youth participation in community and civic affairs and ensure that youth programmes are youth centred. This policy should propose guidelines and strategies that can be used to facilitate participation of the youth in national development. Although the number of organizations dealing with young people has increased over the years, the lack of a comprehensive policy makes it difficult for these groups to effectively address these challenges.
Through this new National Youth Policy, we will assist in fostering a culture of positive youth development and participation in decision-making around activities that affect the lives of youth, and increase the capacity of service providers to provide accessible, relevant and high quality services for young people and their families.
This new National Youth Policy will facilitate a multi-sectoral approach to youth development, including the strengthening of mechanisms for coordination and collaboration among youth-serving organizations. The multi-sectoral approach requires services that are coordinated, meeting to the degree possible, the complete needs of each young person. The response must be tailored to different subgroups of the youth population, including young men and young women and youth of different ages. This approach will facilitate and promote active youth and stakeholder participation throughout the process.
This Policy will accept that a coordinated and collaborative response represents the most suitable strategic response in order to effect positive youth development, while fostering the active participation of TCI’s youth in the process. Youth development is a multidimensional process through which young persons are assisted to meet their basic developmental needs, and to build individual assets and competencies, which will assist them to function and succeed as adults. It will embrace the process of human growth and development, as well as, activities, programmes and services provided to assist young people in the overall development process, and in making the transition to adulthood easier and more productive.
This new National Youth Policy, while targeting youth, recognizes the need to utilize the life-cycle approach to strengthen the development of TCI’s human capital. It accepts that there is a continuum between the stages of physical, emotional and psychological development of human beings. These changes are most pronounced in the early stages of life. Hence, positive and productive adulthood is the result of a process of development that passes through three major (dependent) phases; childhood, adolescence and youth. Positive youth development focuses on addressing the broad developmental needs of the young person, needs which are linked to cognitive, social, physical, emotional, and moral growth. In contrast, deficit-based models tend to focus solely on youth problems.
It is generally agreed that every young person needs a core of 5 basic things to survive and develop. These are: “At least one adult who is irrationally committed to his or her well-being (parent, mentor, etc) A safe place for sleeping, playing, learning, working and being, A healthy start and a healthy lifestyle, The chance to contribute and serve others, Opportunities to learn values and marketable skills for adulthood. No one organization can successfully guarantee continued access to these five basic ingredients for all TCI’s youth. It is therefore important that this Policy adopts and endorses a multi-sectoral approach to youth development in The Turks & Caicos.
Consultations would be held country wide and include youth, government representatives and members of the public in general. The priority areas of the new Policy should take into consideration the numerous issues affecting our youth today. A list of these issues would be identified through research. We must also seek the critical input of our young people, who will substantiate that unemployment and education-related issues (including treatment by teachers and relevance of what is taught) as the most critical issues affecting them. Other commonly cited issues to me from a number of young people include crime and violence, gender disparities, lack of national unity, the illicit drug trade and drug use, teenage parenting, ignorance of culture, and the need for activities and opportunities for youth.
This new National Youth Policy will be our country’s blueprint for our young people and we must ensure that it is much more than a document that we can say for the record that we have a policy.
Hon Sean R. Astwood
Rep. Five Cays
PDM Deputy Leader
National Heritage Month 2016
On the 1st October, Turks & Caicos Islands will commence celebrations in observance of National Heritage Month 2016. The Department of Culture within the Ministry of Tourism, Environment, Culture, Heritage and Gaming will be hosting several activities throughout the islands under the theme "Our Culture, Our Heritage, Our Turks and Caicos".
A number of activities will be undertaken. One special feature will be a "Rep Your Island" Logo Competition which is open to all residents throughout the islands. Competitors will be given the opportunity to design a logo that best represents an island of their choice.
"My team and I are excited to be hosting the activities for this year's National Heritage Month. It is an opportunity for all residents to come together and engage in showcasing their diverse skills and abilities", said Director of Culture, Ludwina Fulford
"Throughout the month, we look forward to meeting with persons from the various communities and we encourage as many persons as possible to participate in the planned activities, as we celebrate and pay homage to our rich cultural heritage."
Minister of Culture, Hon. Porsha Stubbs-Smith commented; "I am thrilled once again to celebrate National Heritage Month. Our heritage is embedded in who we are, we ought to stand proud and embrace what the month signifies. We have a full slate of activities from cultural shows, local food, and entertainment. I am confident the month long activities will showcase the very essence of who we are, Turks & Caicos style!"
We wish to extend a Happy Heritage Month to all! Let's make Turks and Caicos proud.
MATTHEW MOVING WESTWARD THROUGH THE EASTERN CARIBBEAN
THIS IS A NEWS ITEM ON TROPICAL STORM MATTHEW ISSUED BY THE BAHAMAS DEPARTMENT OF METEOROLOGY FORECAST OFFICE SECTION, AT 6AM, THURSDAY, 29TH SEPTEMBER, 2016.
… MATTHEW MOVING WESTWARD THROUGH THE EASTERN CARIBBEAN SEA …
AT 5AM DST, THE CENTER OF TROPICAL STORM MATTHEW WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 14.0° NORTH AND LONGITUDE 64.7° WEST OR ABOUT 320 MILES SOUTH-SOUTHEAST OF SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO.
MATTHEW IS MOVING TOWARD THE WEST NEAR 16 MPH, AND A GENERAL WESTWARD MOTION IS EXPECTED WITH SOME DECREASE IN FORWARD SPEED DURING THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS. ON THE FORECAST TRACK, THE CENTER OF MATTHEW IS FORECAST TO PASS TO THE NORTH OF ARUBA, BONAIRE, AND CURACAO ON FRIDAY.
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 65 MILES PER HOUR (MPH) WITH HIGHER GUSTS. GRADUAL STRENGTHENING IS FORECAST DURING THE NEXT 48 HOURS, AND MATTHEW IS FORECAST TO BECOME A HURRICANE THURSDAY NIGHT.
THE NEXT NEWS ITEM WILL BE ISSUED AT 12PM.
LARGE SCHOOLCHILDREN PARTICIPATION IN FOOTSTEPS4GOOD
Over 800 schoolchildren from Grand Turk took part in Footsteps4Good on Friday, 24 September, the walk started in 2014 by Jill Beckingham, the Governor's wife, to raise money for local schools and NGOs.
"It was wonderful to see such enthusiastic participation from the youth of Grand Turk in Footsteps" said Jill, " with every main public and private school taking part, as well students from the Community College. In addition to the schools, a number of Grand Turk NGOs, including the Soroptimists, Red Cross, Cancer Foundation and the National Museum, will receive funds from Footsteps."
On Saturday 25 September a group of mainly adults took part in a walk or run from the gazebo outside the House of Assembly to the Cruise Centre, where local businesses and individuals provided a welcome drink and refreshments.
"One of the highlights for me" said Jill Beckingham "was the relaxed atmosphere, with people from all parts of Grand Turk's community taking part and enjoying themselves in a healthy start to the day."
On Sunday, 26 September, Footstep4Good continued its island-wide journey to Salt Cay, with 25 visitors from Grand Turk joining with members of the local community and schoolchildren to walk or swim around part of the island, followed by a lunch of the local delicacy of whelk soup and sandwiches prepared by Miss Pat.
After walks in South, North and Middle Caicos during the week, Footsteps4Good culminates with a walk on Youth Day with schoolchildren from Clement Howell to the National Stadium, and the final 10km walk or run from the IGA to Blue Haven on Saturday morning 1 October.
Police Investigates Burglaries and Attempted Robbery
Officers of the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force are investigating a number of burglaries that occurred last week on Providenciales. During the burglaries, the culprits were able to get away with a number of items. Stolen from several victims were a number of Flat Screen televisions, cellular phones, printers, and an undisclosed amount of cash. Two vehicles were also reported missing and had since been located.
Investigations are also ongoing into an attempted robbery which occurred on Friday 23rd September 2016 at 12:04 PM when a complainant contacted 911 central and reported that a male was inside of CAM MONEY transfer located at Morris Plaza Airport Road with a knife and demanding money. As a result of this, police officers visited the scene where information received that a dark skin five ft tall male dressed in a black t-shirt, black pants and a green shirt covering his face entered the establishment when he ordered a customer to put up the closed sign on the door. He then proceeded to make that customer give the teller a shopping bag to place money. However, the clerk ran to the back of the office and contacted the police. The culprit then fled the scene. No one was injured, and nothing was stolen.
Investigators are also investigating an attempted burglary that occurred earlier this morning (Monday 26th September 2016) at La Vista Azul hotel located on the Lower Bight Providenciales that left a man with injuries about his head.
The victim reported to police that around 3 AM as he was making his rounds on property three men dressed in long dark clothing and hoodies over their head rushed and beat him about his body with a gun and another object before smashing a glass for the property’s front office. The three males then ran leaving him on the ground. The scene was visited by police officers, and a search was conducted for persons fitting the description, no one was seen.
Police are seeking the assistance of persons who may have information about any of the incidents or may have seen someone in possession of items that is suspected to be stolen to please call Crime Stoppers on 1-800-8477 or use the Crime Stoppers online reporting page: www.crimestoppers.tc, Chalk Sound Police Station 338-5901/941-8067. The information you provide will be treated in the strictest of confidence. We remind people they should not report crime information via our Facebook and Twitter page.