Baby among five survivors found drifting after plane crash in the Bahamas
An eight-month-old baby boy was among the five people who survived when their plane crashed in the Bahamas yesterday evening.
The Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF) said the Cessna 172 aircraft was believed to be flying from Crooked Island to New Providence when it went down in waters south of New Providence.
After an almost three-hour search by the RBDF and the United States Coast Guard, the survivors – 26-year-old pilot Anthi-que-ko Gibson; Lorenzo Moss, 47; Au-to-ria Moss, 27; Andre Gibson, 22; and 18-month-old Andrew Gibson – were found drifting on a life raft near New Providence, nine miles southeast of Nassau.
They were transported by ambulance to the Coral Harbour Base to receive medical attention.
The RBDF said all passengers appeared to be in good health.
While the RBDF did not say what was the cause of the crash, the Tribune quoted Transport and Aviation Minister Glenys Hanna Martin as saying that the pilot had reported engine problems before the single-engine plane went down.
Mainland Chinese shares down after MSCI delay
Mainland Chinese shares headed lower after US index provider MSCI said it would hold off including China-listed shares in one of its key benchmark indexes.
The delay to include the shares was seen as a setback in China's attempts to open up its financial markets and attract foreign capital.
Trading of mainland shares have been volatile but continue to hit new highs.
The Shanghai Composite was down 1.6% to 5,033.61 in early trade.
Even though MSCI said the decision around China-listed shares would remain on its 2016 review list, the delay shows that global asset managers still have reservations about Beijing's willingness to fully open up its capital markets, according to analysts.
"The early morning announcement suggests that China needs to step up its efforts to liberalise the A shares (Shanghai) market, in particular, increasing foreign participation," said Bernard Aw, market strategist at IG Markets in a note.
Shares in China National Nuclear Power (CNNPC) jumped 20% in their Shanghai debut after raising $2.1bn (£1.3bn) in the country's largest initial public offering since 2011.
Hong Kong's Hang Seng index traded in the opposite direction and was up 0.4% to 27,082.49.
Japan's Nikkei 225 was up 0.4% at 20,171.27 on strong economic data.
Core machinery orders unexpectedly rose in April by 3.8% from the previous month, much higher than expectations of a 2% decline and up from a 2.9% increase in March.
This is a sign that business spending is gaining strength, according to analysts, who said a weaker yen was supporting exporters and the manufacturing sector.
The dollar was at 124.37 yen, compared with 124.31 yen in New York.
In Australia, the S&P/ASX 200 index was up 0.1% to 5,474.60 points.
Shares of Westpac were down 0.4% after one of the country's biggest banks said that it was splitting its most profitable retail and business banking division to simplify the organisation and improve accountability.
It also announced that the manager in charge of the combined group - Jason Yetton - would leave the bank and position he has held since November 2011.
South Korean shares traded flat with the benchmark Kospi index at 2,064.64.
Source-BBC
HP to pay $100m to settle lawsuit
Technology giant Hewlett-Packard has agreed to pay $100m (£65m) to some of its shareholders to settle a claim over its ill-fated acquisition of Autonomy.
Dutch pension fund manager PGGM led the class action lawsuit, which claimed HP had misled shareholders with the acquisition.
HP said it believed the claim had "no merit" but that it was "desirable and beneficial" to settle the case.
"Further litigation would be burdensome and protracted," it said.
HP paid $11.1bn (£6.8bn) for Autonomy but a year later said it was worth $8.8bn less - sending its shares plunging.
HP's $100m payout will be used to compensate shareholders which bought shares between 19 August 2011 and 20 November 2012, and saw their value fall after the writedown.
Other lawsuits relating to the Autonomy acquisition are still continuing.
Separately HP is pursuing a $5.1bn (£3.6bn) lawsuit against Autonomy, accusing its founder Mike Lynch and ex-chief financial officer Sushovan Hussain of artificially inflating the company's revenue before HP bought the firm.
Both executives have denied the claims.
Source-BBC
A 2-year-old girl first in the Caribbean to contract the Zika virus
The mosquito-borne Zika virus, also referred to as ZIKV, has now reached the Caribbean, with a 12-year-old girl in the Dominican Republic becoming the first person to contract the virus.
The pre-teen has been hospitalised in a private clinic.
This development comes a month after cases were reported in Brazil, prompting the Pan American Health Organization to issue a warning about its potential to spread to other countries.
Caribbean countries subsequently put their residents on alert.
The Zika virus is transmitted by the bite of an infected Aedes aegypti mosquito, the same mosquito that transmits Chikungunya and dengue.
The virus is similar to dengue with symptoms that include fever, joint and muscle pain, conjunctivitis, headache, weakness, rash and swelling of the lower limbs.
After the bite of an infected mosquito, symptoms usually appear following the incubation period of three to 12 days. They last for four to seven days.
No deaths due to the Zika virus have been recorded worldwide to date.
The Zika Virus was first isolated in 1947 in a Rhesus monkey in the Zika Forest in Uganda. It was first isolated in humans in 1952 in Uganda and Tanzania.
Australia crush Windies by nine wickets in first Test
Australia completed a comprehensive nine-wicket victory just before stumps on the third day of the first Test against the West Indies at the Windsor Park Stadium in Dominica on t e weekend after the home side's second innings resistance crumbled.
A 144-run fourth-wicket partnership between Shane Dowrich and Marlon Samuels frustrated the visitors, who led after the first innings by 170 runs. However, Dowrich's dismissal for a well-played 70 ten minutes before the tea interval triggered the collapse which saw the last seven wickets tumbling for 35 runs and the West Indies sliding from 181 for three to 216 all out.
Mitchell Starc led the rout with four wickets, the last two off successive deliveries with the second new ball.
Needing just 47 runs for victory, Australia wasted no time in knocking off the runs in gathering gloom in just five overs for the loss of the rampant David Warner, who plastered 28 off 20 deliveries before falling to Jerome Taylor.
In his first Test match, Dowrich's defiant knock in over four hours at the crease was an admirable effort given the state of the match, the condition of a wearing pitch and the perseverance of the Australians in seeking to turn the screws on a West Indies side that looked completely deflated at the end of the second day when Adam Voges' debut unbeaten hundred swung the match completely around.
Samuels, the most experienced West Indian player following the omission of Shivnarine Chanderpaul ahead of this two-match series, punctuated long periods of defiance with fluent stroke-play, occasionally taking on the challenge presented by front-line spinner Nathan Lyon to reach the top-score of 74.
But he was among the clatter of wickets following the debutante's demise, top-edging an attempted hook off Mitchell Johnson to be caught at fine leg in a manner that was a carbon copy of his first innings dismissal.
Their partnership had stretched the limit of Australia's bowling resources, Michael Clarke trying his hand for a couple of overs along with Voges as the visiting captain searched for options to break the stubborn stand.
Yet once the opening came via Shane Watson's low catch at short mid-on off Josh Hazlewood to get rid of Dowrich, the floodgates opened.
Jermaine Blackwood charged down the pitch to be stumped off Lyon, and after Samuels's familiar demise, captain Denesh Ramdin played on to give the consistent off-spinner his 141st Test wicket, drawing him level with 19th century player Hugh Trumble as the most successful off-spinners for Australia in Test cricket.
Asafa wins in France
Former World Record holder Asafa Powell continued his preparation for the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) National Trials after he ran 10.05 seconds into a strong head wind of negative 2.4 metres per second to win the 100m at a regional meet in Marseille (MAR-SAY), France Saturday.
The time broke the six-year-old record of 10.17 seconds set by Dwaine Chambers of Great Britain in 2009.
Wil-fried Koffi of Ivory Coast was second in 10.29 seconds and Lethoso’s Me-sito Le-hata was third in 10.30 seconds just ahead of France’s Christophe Lemaitre 10.31 seconds. Winston Barnes was seventh in 10.48 seconds.
Meanwhile, Kerron Stewart and Sherone Simpson were second and third respectively in the women’s 100m behind Ivory Coast’s Marie Jose Ta Lou who ran 11.32 seconds.
Stewart ran 11.34 seconds and Simpson had a season’s best 11.42 seconds.
The 2015 Fast Pitch Softball League has begun
The fast pitch softball league has begun!!! Both male and female.
On Saturday MEOCO Angels of the men's league started off the season with a win against the Soakers. Also on Saturday afternoon, the Catz of the female league took home a big win against Rulay, 21-7.
On Sunday afternoon, the Silver deep Sharks of the male league won an intense game against the Islandcom Braves, 6-5. Following that game, Rulay came back with a win against the Flyers of the female league, with a score of 11-10.
President Godfrey Been is inviting lovers of sports & softball in particular, to come out and support. He added that games will be played on Saturdays & Sundays at 3 pm and again at 5 pm.
GOVERNOR’S CUP GOLF TOURNAMENT HELD ON GRAND TURK
Sixteen Turks and Caicos Islanders, residents and visitors took part in the Governor’s Cup golf competition at Waterloo Golf Club, Grand Turk today, Saturday, 6 June 2015.
In an ironic twist, Governor Peter Beckingham, a keen golfer, whose office supported the event, won the men’s competition. Sharon Simons won the women’s event and one of the closest to the hole competitions, with Simon Baker winning the other.
“We had a terrific day’s competition. Today’s competition raised around $160, which will help the club towards its ultimate aim of restoring the course and clubhouse to its former glory,” said Club Treasurer Estelle Watts.
Unfortunately, the clubhouse and course were badly damaged by hurricane Ike and a fire several years ago, and while the club has continued, its small size and limited resources has made refurbishment a slow process.
In a further move to try and bring forward the necessary improvements, the Club is planning to try and market the course to the thousands of visiting cruise ship passengers and tourists.
The club has also opened a temporary reception at the security kiosk at the Governor’s official residence which sits on the course. Anyone wishing to play can approach the guard and borrow a bag and clubs for a minimum donation of $10 a round. All monies raised will go towards the maintenance and refurbishment of the course.
The small nine-hole golf course was designed and built by former Governor, John Kelly, and Waterloo Golf Club was formed in 1997.
Full results:
Men
1. Governor Peter Beckingham
2. Larry Coalbrooke
3. Tom Saunders
Closest to the hole – Simon Baker
Women
1. Sharon Simons (won closest to the hole also)
2. Florence Bennett
3. Danzella Jennings
Makeshift memorial for woman shot, run over
Balloons, flowers, candles and a message spray-painted on the road make up a growing memorial for a South Florida mother of two who was shot and run over, Saturday.
It happened early Saturday morning, in the area of Northeast 149th Street and Sixth Avenue in Northeast Miami-Dade. According to Miami-Dade Police, shots were fired Saturday just after 2 a.m. They later identified the victim as 31-year-old Lou-ku-cha Joseph.
Witnesses said, a silver four-door car was seen speeding out of a nearby gas station. Witnesses also reported to police that Joseph was struck by that vehicle, and then the driver sped away.
One good Samaritan, who attempted to render aid, said it is too sad that so many innocent people are dying for nothing.
Police later found the silver car, which has now been impounded. They have detained one person for questioning but no arrests have been made.
Joseph, who also went by the name Keisha, leaves behind two children.
Police are trying to determine whether Joseph was the subjects' target or was simply caught in the middle of a chaotic scene that broke out.
Source-WSVN
Ex-SC officer indicted for murder in shooting of black man
A grand jury today affirmed the state of South Carolina's murder charge against a white former North Charleston police officer who fatally shot an unarmed black man trying to run from a traffic stop.
The shooting on April 4 was captured on video by a bystander, showing officer Michael Slager firing eight times as 50-year-old Walter Scott ran away, enflaming a national debate about how black people are treated by white police officers.
Slager was charged with murder by state law enforcement agents and fired from the police force immediately after the video surfaced.
7 News 10 reported Prosecutor Scarlett Wilson announcing the indictment, which represents at least the fourth time in less than six months that a sitting grand jury in South Carolina has agreed that white officers should stand trial in the shootings of black men.
"The jury will make up its own mind after it sees the video and hears the other testimony," Wilson said. No trial date has been set.
Walter Scott's brother Rodney Scott said the family is "very happy and pleased" with the indictment of Slager.
In South Carolina, the investigating agency typically presents the case to a grand jury, not the prosecutor. Wilson said the investigating officers had the video when they went before the grand jury but couldn't say for certain if they saw it.
The 33-year-old Slager, who has been jailed since his arrest, faces 30 years to life in prison if convicted. Wilson said the death penalty does not seem to apply because there were no aggravating circumstances such as robbery or kidnapping as required under state law.
Slager's lawyer didn't want to comment on the indictment.
Source-AP