US band sues so it can trademark 'offensive' name
An Oregon band's bid for the right to trademark their "offensive" name has reached the US Supreme Court.
The case was brought to the Supreme Court by The Slants after their trademark was refused because the name is disparaging to Asian-Americans.
The Asian-American band acknowledges the name may offend, but say they chose it to "reappropriate" its meaning.
The ruling could impact the high-profile case of the American football team, the Washington Redskins.
In 2014 the US Patent and Trademark Office cancelled the team's six trademarks, including the lucrative team logo, after years of complaints from Native American groups.
The Slants had first attempted to register their band name in 2011, and sued after they were refused.
The Portland, Oregon "dance-rock" band, which is made up entirely of Asian-Americans, claimed that they chose the name to take back the racial epithet.
A lawyer for bandleader Simon Tam argued that his client "was following in the long tradition of 'reappropriation,' in which members of minority groups have reclaimed terms that were once directed at them as insults and turned them outward as badges of pride."
On Thursday, the US Supreme Court agreed to hear the band's case. Hearings will begin next week and are expected to last several months.
Source-BBC
GOVERNOR SALUTES TCI'S SPORTS ICON, MRS RITA GARDINER
The Governor, Peter Beckingham, presented the award of the British Empire Medal on behalf of Her Majesty the Queen to Mrs Rita Gardiner for her services to sport and women in the Overseas Territories, especially TCI, on 29 September.
At the presentation ceremony which was attended by members of Mrs Gardiner’s family and friends the Governor said:
"I am thrilled for Mrs Gardiner to receive this great distinction, and I am pleased to have the opportunity on behalf of Her Majesty The Queen to present this award to her.
"Rita has made a big contribution to society in Turks and Caicos. She has been instrumental for longer than I know in raising our profile in sport, and for ensuring our rightful place in the region and the Commonwealth.
"I saw first-hand in 2014 her enthusiasm for organising the Commonwealth Baton relay which landed in TCI on its way across more than 60 nations. Her support for Delano Williams is fantastic, and it is clear from meetings with them both that our first Olympian has benefited from her advice, guidance and enthusiasm. Rita travelled with Delano's mother, with support from the Premier's office, to Rio to watch Delano compete in the Olympic Games.
"Finally we should not forget the work Rita has done to improve the lot of women in TCI society. Her path-breaking work as Director of the Gender Unit has been important in raising the profile of women in society, and she has been actively engaged in striving to reduce domestic violence.
"We should salute Rita for what she has achieved for TCI in sport and the promotion of women. The Award of a British Empire Medal is a wonderful recognition of her work, and she and her family and friends should take great pride in this important honour."
Commenting on her award, Mrs Gardiner said: "I am honoured and delighted to be a recipient of this Award by Her Majesty. Coming in the same year as TCI's first Olympic athlete, my good friend Delano Williams, took part in the Olympic Games this is a big recognition of the strides we have made as a sporting nation competing on the world stage. I am pleased to have played a part in that progress through my work with the Amateur Athletic Association and the Commonwealth Games Association.
"I am pleased too that my work in helping to promote and safeguard the place of women in society is recognised with this Award.
"This is an important and memorable day not only for me, but also for my wider TCI family. I am grateful for all the support I have received from so many people here and overseas."
In addition to receiving the British Empire Medal Mrs Gardiner will be entitled as a member of the Order Of the British Empire to use a special chapel in St. Paul's Cathedral for baptisms of grandchildren. There is also a special service in St Paul's in November for new members, and a Ceremonial Service in Spring 2017 to mark the Order's Centenary.
Region Of The Americas Become First To Eliminate Measles
The Region of the Americas has successfully eliminated Measles, Rubella and Congenital Rubella Syndrome. The announcement was made, September 27th, 2016 at the World Health Organization for the Americas’ 55th annual Directing Council in Washington DC. It is the first region to have eradicated small pox, the first region to have eliminated poliomyelitis and now it is the first region to have eliminated Measles, Rubella and Congenital Rubella Syndrome (CRS).
The process began within the Americas in 2007 where countries were urged and agreed to work towards the elimination of Measles, Rubella and Congenital Rubella Syndrome (CRS). Measles and Rubella are highly infectious diseases which affect the respiratory system; CRS can be contracted by infants born to mothers who have not received the rubella vaccine.
The last reported case of Rubella within the Americas was in 2009, this allowed the International Expert Committee (IEC) to validate the region as having eliminated Rubella and CRS in 2015. Measles was scheduled to be a part of this validation, but because of the outbreaks in Canada, the United States, Brazil and Ecuador during the period in which the region was to be validated, the verification was withheld.
Elimination means that a region would have had to interrupt endemic transmission of Measles over a period of time. Simply put, all the countries in the Americas would have needed to have zero cases of Measles, Rubella and CRS contracted within any of the countries for a period of time. The last outbreak of Measles in the region was in 2015 in Brazil as a result of an imported case from another region.
“Today we say bye-bye to indigenous transmission of Measles. We celebrate this historic day in which the scourge has been eliminated,” said Dr. Carissa Etienne, Director of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO).
Premier Dr. The Hon. Rufus Ewing stated; “The Turks and Caicos Islands is elated to be a part of this great success. The country has always boasted of its high coverage in Measles and Rubella vaccination over the years, due to the hard work and dedication of our public health staff and public health policies over the years. We will continue to work to maintain a high coverage in all vaccines and to go even higher.”
Elimination does not mean eradication and so the work must continue to ensure that we keep the TCI Measles, Rubella and CRS free.
In attendance at the 55th Directing Council and also the conference on Medical Health Tourism is the Hon. Premier and Minister of Health Dr. Rufus Ewing, Permanent Secretary Mr. Wesley Clerveaux along with other members of staff from the Ministry of Health, Agriculture and Human Services and the office of the Premier.
Buckingham Palace maintenance boss jailed over bribes
The official in charge of maintaining Buckingham Palace, Queen Elizabeth II's London residence, was on Wednesday jailed for five years for accepting more than £100,000 OR (US$130,000) to award valuable contracts.
As deputy property manager for the Royal Household, Ronald Harper, was also responsible for maintaining St James's Palace, Clarence House and Windsor Castle until he was suspended in 2012.
Judge Nicholas Loraine-Smith at London's Southwark Crown Court sentenced the 64-yeard-old to three-year and two-year jail terms for two counts of conspiracy to make corrupt payments, a total of five years. "During his employment, Harper personally received more than £100,000 in covert payments from companies which were awarded lucrative and prestigious contracts.
Former Israeli President Shimon Peres dies
Former Israeli President Shimon Peres, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate and elder statesman of Israeli politics, has died, the Israeli news website reported last night.
He was 93.
Peres’ condition worsened following a major stroke two weeks ago.
He was one of the country’s most admired leaders at home and abroad and the last surviving link to Israel’s founding fathers.
He filled nearly every position in Israeli public life in an unprecedented seven-decade political career.
Caribbean declared measles free
The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) says the Americas including the Caribbean, is the first in the world to have eliminated measles, a viral disease that can cause severe health problems, including pneumonia, blindness, brain swelling and even death.
“This achievement culminates a 22-year effort involving mass vaccination against measles, mumps and rubella throughout the Americas,” said PAHO, adding that the declaration of measles ’elimination was made by the International Expert Committee for Documenting and Verifying Measles, Rubella, and Congenital Rubella Syndrome Elimination in the Americas.
PAHO said the announcement came during its 55th Directing Council, which is currently underway and is being attended by ministers of health from throughout the Americas.
Measles is the fifth vaccine-preventable disease to be eliminated from the Americas, after the regional eradication of smallpox in 1971, poliomyelitis in 1994, and rubella and congenital rubella syndrome in 2015.
This is a historic day for our region and indeed the world,” said PAHO Director Dr Carissa Etienne, adding “it is proof of the remarkable success that can be achieved when countries work together in solidarity towards a common goal.
“It is the result of a commitment made more than two decades ago, in 1994, when the countries of the Americas pledged to end measles circulation by the turn of the 21st century,” she added.
In the Americas, PAHO said 101,800 deaths were attributable to measles between 1971 and 1979. A cost-effectiveness study on measles elimination in Latin America and the Caribbean has estimated that with vaccination, 3.2 million measles cases will have been prevented in the region and 16,000 deaths between 2000 and 2020, PAHO said.
TCI To Host First Annual Lionfish Festival
The Turks & Caicos Islands are to host its first annual Lionfish Festival. The Festival, hosted by the Ministry of Tourism, Environment, Heritage and Culture's Department of Environment & Coastal Resources (DECR) and the Department of Culture, in conjunction with the Turks & Caicos Reef Fund, will be hosted on Providenciales and Grand Turk respectively and will include a REEF-sanctioned Lionfish Derby.
"Although it is a beautiful animal, lionfish are not supposed to be in the wider Caribbean region, but were introduced off the coast of the US and spread down through the Bahamas. Some TCI fishermen have been catching lionfish on a small scale for many years, and they know that although it's invasive, lionfish is a very tasty fish. However, these fishers do not typically target lionfish heavily because crawfish, conch, and other finfish are more profitable. So, we hope that the festival results in many lionfish being caught (and eaten) which will give our reefs a helping hand and also raise awareness about this invasive species. Above all we hope the events are fun and that many people from all walks of life come to take part. " said DECR Director, Dr John Claydon.
Provo's Lionfish Festival is slated for October 29th at Turtle Cove Marina and Grand Turk the following week on November 5th 2016, at the Library. Fishermen, watersports and dive operators are all encouraged to participate in the derby, which will kick off early in the morning. Family fun will follow with games for the kids, live music, watching of the scoring, free lionfish samples, filleting and dissection demonstrations, and a Q&A session about lionfish.
The Lionfish derbies will be a single day competition to collect and remove as many lionfish as possible. Teams will collect lionfish by spearing while free diving or snorkelling. Teams will begin competing at sunrise and will be required to bring their catch to the scoring station by 3:00 pm (South Caicos residents can participate in the Grand Turk Derby and the School for Field Studies will conduct scoring on South Caicos and report it to the organizers on Grand Turk. Each fish will then be measured, and cash prizes are awarded for teams catching the most, biggest, and smallest lionfish.
Not known to have any native predators, lionfish are greedy predators that prey on native fish and crustaceans in large quantities. Invasive predators, such as the lionfish, can pose a major threat to marine fisheries, habitats, and eco-system function. The First Annual Lionfish Festival hopes to draw attention to the Atlantic Lionfish invasion and help promote development of the commercial Lionfish market.
DIRECTOR OF TCI RED CROSS RECEIVES 2016 UK CHEVENING SCHOLARSHIP
The Governor’s Office is pleased to announce that Mrs Lormeka Williams, the Director of the TCI Red Cross, has been awarded a prestigious Chevening Scholarship for the 2016/17 academic year to study a Masters degree in Conservation Biology at the University of Kent in the UK starting in September. The award was presented to Mrs Williams by His Excellency the Governor, Peter Beckingham, at Waterloo on 10 August.
Chevening Scholarships to study in the UK are awarded globally each year to outstanding individuals with leadership potential who are committed to contribute to the future development of their home countries, in Mrs Williams case the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Mrs Williams previously worked closely with international organisations such as Joint Nature Conservation Committee, Darwin Project and the United Kingdom Overseas Territories Conservation Forum on various conservation projects and initiatives. During her tenure as Director of the TCI Red Cross she assisted in the implementation of the Disaster Risk Reduction Programme which reaches out to vulnerable communities helping them to prepare and become more resilient and able to respond to disasters.
Commenting on the award, Mrs Williams said:
“I am so happy to have been awarded the Chevening Scholarship and to have been given the opportunity to not only further my studies but to represent my country on an international level. I am looking forward to meeting and learning from other Chevening Scholars and sharing my knowledge and experience with them.”
The Governor, Peter Beckingham, said, “It is to Lormeka’s great credit that she receives this prestigious scholarship. I’m sure that she will use her experience for the benefit of the Turks and Caicos Islands when she returns to the islands, and I hope that everyone in TCI will be proud of her achievement.”
The deadline for submitting applications for Chevening Scholarhips for 2017/18 is 8 November 2016. All eligible people are encouraged to apply. For more Information, Contact the Chevening Officer- Mr Neville Misick.
Yahoo 'state' hackers stole data from 500 million users
Yahoo says "state-sponsored" hackers stole data on about 500 million users in what could be the largest publicly disclosed cyber-breach in history.
The breach included swathes of personal information, including names and emails, as well as “unencrypted security questions and answers”.
The hack took place in 2014 but has only now been made public.
In the UK it is believed data on about eight million user accounts was taken in the hack.
Stolen data includes names, email addresses, telephone numbers, dates of birth and encrypted passwords, but not credit card data, Yahoo said.
It said the information was "stolen by what we believe is a state-sponsored actor" but did not say which country it held responsible.
The FBI has confirmed it is investigating the claims.
Source-BBC
FBI considers investigation over plane claim
The FBI says it is gathering information about an alleged incident involving Brad Pitt and his children aboard a private flight last week.
It said it was evaluating whether to launch an investigation.
Pitt's wife Angelina Jolie filed for divorce on Monday citing irreconcilable differences.
Jolie has asked for physical custody of the couple's six children, asking the judge to give Pitt visitation rights.
The FBI told the BBC: "In response to your inquiry regarding allegations within the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States; specifically, an aircraft carrying Mr Brad Pitt and his children, the FBI is continuing to gather facts and will evaluate whether an investigation at the federal level will be pursued."
Pitt released a statement to People magazine after Jolie filed for divorce, saying he was "saddened", and adding: "What matters most now is the well-being of our kids. I kindly ask the press to give them the space they deserve during this challenging time."
Jolie's lawyer, Robert Offer, said the decision to divorce had been made "for the health of the family".
Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services said it could not confirm or deny whether it was investigating Pitt because of confidentiality laws.
Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) has said it is not investigating actor Brad Pitt in connection with reports of allegations regarding his children, following claims they were looking into the matter.
They told the BBC: "The LAPD is not handling any report or allegations into child abuse for Mr Brad Pitt."
Source-BBC