ALERT #13 ON TROPICAL STORM BERTHA ISSUED AT 12 MIDNIGHT
…BERTHA REMAINS DISORGANIZED AS SHE APPROACHES TURKS AND CAICOS AND THE SE BAHAMAS
A TROPICAL STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS AND THE SOUTHEASTERN BAHAMAS WHICH INCLUDES ACKLINS AND CROOKED ISLAND, LONG CAY, RAGGED ISLAND, MAYAGUANA AND INAGUA.
A TROPICAL STORM WARNING MEANS THAT TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS COULD AFFECT THE MENTIONED ISLANDS WITHIN 24 HOURS.
A TROPICAL STORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE ISLANDS OF THE CENTRAL BAHAMAS WHICH INCLUDES LONG ISLAND, EXUMA AND ITS CAYS, CAT ISLAND, SAN SALVADOR AND RUM CAY.
A TROPICAL STORM WATCH MEANS THAT TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS COULD AFFECT THE MENTIONED ISLANDS IN THIS CASE WITHIN 36 HOURS.
AT 11:00 PM EDT THE CENTER OF TROPICAL STORM BERTHA WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 19.5 DEGREES NORTH AND LONGITUDE 69.7 DEGREES WEST OR ABOUT, 165 MILES SOUTHEAST OF GRAND TURK, TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS, 246 MILES SOUTHEAST OF INAGUA AND 615 MILES SOUTHEAST OF NASSAU.
BERTHA IS RAPIDLY MOVING TOWARD THE NORTHWEST NEAR 22 MILES PER HOUR. THIS MOTION IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE THROUGH TONIGHT AND SUNDAY, TAKING BERTHA NEAR OR OVER THE SE BAHAMAS AND TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS ON SUNDAY, AND MOVE EAST OF THE CENTRAL BAHAMAS LATE SUNDAY.
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS REMAIN NEAR 45 MILES PER HOUR WITH HIGHER GUSTS. LITTLE CHANGE IN STRENGTH IS EXPECTED THROUGH SUNDAY. SLOW STRENGTHENING IS POSSIBLE ON MONDAY.
TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 160 MILES MAINLY TO THE NORTHEAST OF THE CENTER.
ON THE FORECASTED TRACK AND SPEED BERTHA WILL APPROACH THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS AND INAGUA BY SUNDAY. THEREFORE RESIDENTS IN THE MENTIONED ISLANDS SHOULD RUSH TO MAKE FINAL PREPARATIONS TO PROTECT THEIR PROPERTIES, AND BOATERS ARE ASKED TO SEEK SAFE HARBOUR.
BERTHA IS EXPECTED TO PRODUCE RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 1 TO 3 INCHES WITH ISOLATED AMOUNTS UP TO 5 INCHES OVER THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT WHICH COULD RESULT IN LOCALIZED FLOODING.
THE NEXT ALERT ON TROPICAL STORM BERTHA WILL BE ISSUED AT 3:00 AM SUNDAY.
US issues new customs declaration form for Caribbean travellers
The United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agency says it has issued a new customs declaration form “in print and online” that expands the definition of family members for arriving Caribbean and other travellers.
CBP said the definition expands to “members of a family residing in the same household who are related by blood, marriage, domestic relationship, or adoption.”
The agency said it has accepted this family definition since the final rule became effective on January 17.
The new form – CBP Form 6059B – provides the expanded definition in the first paragraph.
CBP said the recent regulation change allows more returning US citizens, residents and international visitors to file a joint customs declaration for items acquired abroad.
“This produces less paperwork for people travelling together as a family and streamlines passenger processing, thereby increasing efficiency for CBP, airline personnel and the travelling public,” the statement said.
“Travellers may complete the declaration form online, print it and bring it on their trip to present to CBP when they arrive in the US or at a CBP preclearance site,” it added.
CBP said air and cruise lines also will hand out the declaration forms for travellers to complete before disembarking in the US.
In addition to clarifying the definition of family members, the final rule also clarified the term domestic relationship, which includes foster children, stepchildren, half-siblings, legal wards, other dependents, and individuals with an “in loco parentis or guardianship relationship”.
The definition also includes two adults who are in a “committed relationship including, but not limited to, long-term companions and couples in civil unions or domestic partnerships where the partners are financially interdependent, and are not married to, or a partner of, anyone else.”
Source- Caribbean Media Corporation
Lebanon Condemns Syrian Rebel Attack
Lebanese Prime Minister Tammam Salam is calling Saturday's raid on a border town by Syrian rebels an attack against Lebanon and its people.
Salam says his government will not tolerate chaos and let matters get out of control, adding that the army is working to restore security and stability to the town of Arsal.
It was one of the most serious incursions into Lebanon in the three-year-old Syrian civil war.
Lebanese officials say the violence began when security officers arrested a member of the Nursa Front rebel group at a checkpoint.
Rebel gunmen stormed into Arsal, demanding his release. They seized the police station and briefly held a number of soldiers hostage.
Masked gunmen and Lebanese army vehicles were reported to be seen in the streets of Arsal during much of the day.
Reports say the fighting has killed at least seven Lebanese soldiers and two civilians.
The U.S. State Department is strongly condemning Saturday's attack and says it supports Lebanon's security, sovereignty and policy of staying out of regional conflicts.
Violence stemming from the fighting in Syria often spills over into Lebanon.
Lebanese-based Hezbollah extremists have fought alongside Syrian government forces against the rebels trying to topple President Bashar al-Assad.
Some information for this report comes from AP and Reuters.
China Plant Blast Kills 65
Chinese officials say 65 people have been killed and more than 100 injured in an explosion at a factory in eastern Kunshan City.
Authorities say the explosion occurred at 7:30 a.m. Saturday (1130 Friday UTC) in an automobile wheel hub grinding workshop owned by a Taiwanese firm.
A preliminary investigation showed that the blast was probably caused when dust in an enclosed room was exposed to a spark or flame.
The local city government said 45 bodies were pulled from rubble and another 20 people died later in hospitals. Many of the injured had severe burns.
ALERT #12 ON TROPICAL STORM BERTHA
…CENTER OF POORLY ORGANIZED BERTHA MOVING INTO THE EASTERN DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
A TROPICAL STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS AND THE SOUTHEASTERN BAHAMAS WHICH INCLUDES ACKLINS AND CROOKED ISLAND, LONG CAY, RAGGED ISLAND, MAYAGUANA AND INAGUA.
A TROPICAL STORM WARNING MEANS THAT TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS COULD AFFECT THE MENTIONED ISLANDS IN THIS CASE WITHIN 24 HOURS.
A TROPICAL STORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE ISLANDS OF THE CENTRAL BAHAMAS WHICH INCLUDES LONG ISLAND, EXUMA AND ITS CAYS, CAT ISLAND, SAN SALVADOR AND RUM CAY.
A TROPICAL STORM WATCH MEANS THAT TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS COULD AFFECT THE MENTIONED ISLANDS IN THIS CASE WITHIN 36 HOURS.
AT 8:00 PM EDT THE CENTER OF TROPICAL STORM BERTHA WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 18.9 DEGREES NORTH AND LONGITUDE 69.1 DEGREES WEST OR ABOUT 89 MILES EAST OF SANTO DOMINGO, 274 MILES SOUTHEAST OF THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS, 360 MILES SOUTHEAST OF INAGUA AND 727 MILES SOUTHEAST OF NASSAU.
BERTHA IS RAPIDLY MOVING TOWARD THE WEST-NORTHWEST NEAR 22 MILES PER HOUR. A TURN TOWARDS THE NORTHWEST IS EXPECTED TONIGHT WITH THIS MOTION CONTINUING THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT.
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS HAVE DERCREASED TO NEAR 45 MILES PER HOUR WITH HIGHER GUSTS. LITTLE CHANGE IN STRENGTH IS EXPECTED THROUGH SUNDAY. SLOW STRENGTHENING IS POSSIBLE ON MONDAY.
TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 150 MILES MAINLY TO THE EAST AND NORTHEAST OF THE CENTER.
ON THE FORECASTED TRACK AND SPEED BERTHA WILL APPROACH THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS AND INAGUA BY SUNDAY. THEREFORE RESIDENTS IN THE MENTIONED ISLANDS SHOULD RUSH TO MAKE FINAL PREPARATIONS TO PROTECT THEIR PROPERTIES, AND BOATERS ARE ASKED TO SEEK SAFE HARBOUR IN THE EVENT THAT BERTHA SURVIVES THE CROSSING OF HISPANIOLA.
BERTHA IS EXPECTED TO PRODUCE RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 1 TO 3 INCHES WITH ISOLATED AMOUNTS UP TO 5 INCHES OVER THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT WHICH COULD RESULT IN LOCALIZED FLOODING.
THE NEXT ALERT ON TROPICAL STORM BERTHA WILL BE ISSUED AT MIDNIGHT SUNDAY.
ALERT #11 ON TROPICAL STORM BERTHA AT 6PM
THE CENTER OF POORLY ORGANIZED BERTHA MOVING INTO THE EASTERN DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
A TROPICAL STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS AND THE SOUTHEASTERN BAHAMAS WHICH INCLUDES ACKLINS AND CROOKED ISLAND, LONG CAY, RAGGED ISLAND, MAYAGUANA AND INAGUA.
A TROPICAL STORM WARNING MEANS THAT TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS COULD AFFECT THE MENTIONED ISLANDS IN THIS CASE WITHIN 24 HOURS.
A TROPICAL STORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE ISLANDS OF THE CENTRAL BAHAMAS WHICH INCLUDES LONG ISLAND, EXUMA AND ITS CAYS, CAT ISLAND, SAN SALVADOR AND RUM CAY.
A TROPICAL STORM WATCH MEANS THAT TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS COULD AFFECT THE MENTIONED ISLANDS IN THIS CASE WITHIN 36 HOURS.
AT 5:00 PM EDT THE CENTER OF TROPICAL STORM BERTHA WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 18.4° DEGREES NORTH AND LONGITUDE 68.5° DEGREES WEST OR ABOUT 90 MILES EAST OF SANTO DOMINGO, 275 MILES SOUTHEAST OF THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS, 361 MILES SOUTHEAST OF INAGUA AND 732 MILES SOUTHEAST OF NASSAU.
BERTHA IS RAPIDLY MOVING TOWARD THE WEST-NORTHWEST NEAR 22 MILES PER HOUR. A TURN TOWARDS THE NORTHWEST IS EXPECTED TONIGHT WITH THIS MOTION CONTINUING THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT.
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS HAVE DERCREASED TO NEAR 45 MILES PER HOUR WITH HIGHER GUSTS. LITTLE CHANGE IN STRENGTH IS EXPECTED THROUGH SUNDAY. SLOW STRENGTHENING IS POSSIBLE ON MONDAY.
TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 105 MILES MAINLY TO THE NORTHEAST OF THE CENTER.
ON THE FORECASTED TRACK AND SPEED BERTHA WILL APPROACH THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS AND INAGUA BY SUNDAY. THEREFORE RESIDENTS IN THE MENTIONED ISLANDS SHOULD RUSH TO MAKE FINAL PREPARATIONS TO PROTECT THEIR PROPERTY TODAY IN THE EVENT THAT BERTHA SURVIVES THE CROSSING OF HISPANIOLA.
BERTHA IS EXPECTED TO PRODUCE RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 1 TO 3 INCHES WITH ISOLATED AMOUNTS UP TO 5 INCHES OVER THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT WHICH COULD RESULT IN LOCALIZED FLOODING.
THE NEXT ALERT ON TROPICAL STORM BERTHA WILL BE ISSUED AT 9PM SATURDAY.
Alert #10 ON TROPICAL STORM BERTHA
A TROPICAL STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS AND THE SOUTHEASTERN BAHAMAS WHICH INCLUDES ACKLINS AND CROOKED ISLAND, LONG CAY, RAGGED ISLAND, MAYAGUANA AND INAGUA.
A TROPICAL STORM WARNING MEANS THAT TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS COULD AFFECT THE MENTIONED ISLANDS IN THIS CASE WITHIN 24 HOURS.
A TROPICAL STORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE ISLANDS OF THE CENTRAL BAHAMAS WHICH INCLUDES LONG ISLAND, EXUMA AND ITS CAYS, CAT ISLAND, SAN SALVADOR AND RUM CAY.
A TROPICAL STORM WATCH MEANS THAT TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS COULD AFFECT THE MENTIONED ISLANDS IN THIS CASE WITHIN 36 HOURS.
AT 2:00 PM EDT THE CENTER OF TROPICAL STORM BERTHA WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 17.8° DEGREES NORTH AND LONGITUDE 67.5° DEGREES WEST OR ABOUT 110 MILES WEST-SOUTHWEST OF SAN JUAN PUERTO RICO, 150 MILES EAST-SOUTHEAST OF SANTO DOMINGO, 397 MILES SOUTHEAST OF THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS, 440 MILES SOUTHEAST OF INAGUA AND 808 MILES SOUTHEAST OF NASSAU.
BERTHA IS RAPIDLY MOVING TOWARD THE WEST-NORTHWEST NEAR 22 MILES PER HOUR. A TURN TOWARDS THE NORTHWEST IS EXPECTED TONIGHT WITH THIS MOTION CONTINUING THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT.
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS REMAIN NEAR 50 MILES PER HOUR WITH HIGHER GUSTS. LITTLE CHANGE IN STRENGTH IS EXPECTED THROUGH SUNDAY. SLOW STRENGTHENING IS POSSIBLE SUNDAY NIGHT AND MONDAY.
TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 105 MILES MAINLY TO THE NORTHEAST OF THE CENTER.
ON THE FORECASTED TRACK AND SPEED BERTHA WILL APPROACH THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS AND INAGUA BY SUNDAY. THEREFORE RESIDENTS IN THE MENTIONED ISLANDS SHOULD RUSH TO MAKE FINAL PREPARATIONS TO PROTECT THEIR PROPERTY TODAY IN THE EVENT THAT BERTHA SURVIVES THE CROSSING OF HISPANIOLA.
BERTHA IS EXPECTED TO PRODUCE RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 1 TO 3 INCHES WITH ISOLATED AMOUNTS UP TO 5 INCHES OVER THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT WHICH COULD RESULT IN LOCALIZED FLOODING.
THE NEXT ALERT ON TROPICAL STORM BERTHA WILL BE ISSUED AT 6PM SATURDAY.
ALERT #9 ON TROPICAL STORM BERTHA ISSUED AT NOON EDT, SATURDAY 2ND AUGUST, 2014.
…CENTER OF BERTHA PASSING JUST SOUTH OF PUERTO RICO...TROPICAL STORM WARNING ISSUED FOR PORTIONS OF THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
A TROPICAL STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS AND THE SOUTHEASTERN BAHAMAS WHICH INCLUDES ACKLINS AND CROOKED ISLAND, LONG CAY, RAGGED ISLAND, MAYAGUANA AND INAGUA.
A TROPICAL STORM WARNING MEANS THAT TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS COULD AFFECT THE MENTIONED ISLANDS WITHIN 36 HOURS.
A TROPICAL STORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE ISLANDS OF THE CENTRAL BAHAMAS WHICH INCLUDES LONG ISLAND, EXUMA AND ITS CAYS, CAT ISLAND, SAN SALVADOR AND RUM CAY.
A TROPICAL STORM WATCH MEANS THAT TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS COULD AFFECT THE MENTIONED ISLANDS WITHIN 48 HOURS.
AT 11:00 AM EDT THE CENTER OF TROPICAL STORM BERTHA WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 17.2° DEGREES NORTH AND LONGITUDE 66.7° DEGREES WEST OR ABOUT 90 MILES SOUTH-SOUTHEAST OF SAN JUAN PUERTO RICO, 230 MILES EAST-SOUTHEAST OF SANTO DOMINGO, 432 MILES SOUTHEAST OF THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS, 501 MILES SOUTHEAST OF INAGUA AND 868 MILES SOUTHEAST OF NASSAU.
BERTHA IS RAPIDLY MOVING TOWARD THE WEST-NORTHWEST NEAR 22 MILES PER HOUR. A TURN TOWARDS THE NORTHWEST IS EXPECTED TONIGHT WITH THIS MOTION CONTINUING THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT.
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS REMAIN NEAR 50 MILES PER HOUR WITH HIGHER GUSTS. LITTLE CHANGE IN STRENGTH IS EXPECTED THROUGH SUNDAY. SLOW STRENGTHENING IS POSSIBLE SUNDAY NIGHT AND MONDAY.
TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 105 MILES MAINLY TO THE NORTHEAST OF THE CENTER.
ON THE FORECASTED TRACK AND SPEED BERTHA WILL APPROACH THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS AND INAGUA BY SUNDAY. THEREFORE RESIDENTS IN THE MENTIONED ISLANDS SHOULD MAKE THE FINAL PREPARATIONS TO PROTECT THEIR PROPERTY TODAY IN THE EVENT THAT BERTHA SURVIVES THE CROSSING OF HISPANIOLA.
BERTHA IS EXPECTED TO PRODUCE RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 1 TO 3 INCHES WITH ISOLATED AMOUNTS UP TO 5 INCHES OVER THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT WHICH COULD RESULT IN LOCALIZED FLOODING.
THE NEXT ALERT ON TROPICAL STORM BERTHA WILL BE ISSUED AT 3PM SATURDAY.
Remy Ma And DJ Khaled Hit The Studio
Newly freed rapper Remy Ma wasted no time hitting the studio with DJ Khaled.
The pair posted several images of their work, none of which as been sonically released to the public yet.
On his Instagram account, Khaled said, “@therealremyma fresh out ! I’m telling rem GOD IS THE GREATEST! The world excited you home ! Rem back ! Bless up! @wethebestmusic.”
Under her own picture, Remy simply stated, “I had a busy first day #ImAround.”
In the mid-2000’s both Rem and Khaled were actively involved with the Fat Joe-led Terro Squad collective.
Source-Allhiphop
Usain Bolt helps Jamaica reach Glasgow 2014 4x100m relay final
Superstar sprinter Usain Bolt anchored the Jamaican 100m relay squad into Saturday's final despite a scare and insisted again that he was delighted to be in Glasgow.
Bolt has been forced to deny reports that he made a disparaging remark about these Commonwealth Games, but his long-awaited appearance was almost ruined by injury rather than controversy.
Jamaica's lead-off man Kimmari Roach appeared to hurt his thigh midway through the first leg of their heat but managed to get the baton to second man Julian Forte before Nickel Ashmeade and then Bolt took the team home.
Bolt admitted afterwards: "I looked round and thought something was wrong.
"I was kind of worried but Kimmari got the baton round, and that is the sign of a true champion. My coach always taught us to run with pain."
On Wednesday the Times newspaper claimed that Bolt had described the Games in negative terms and on Thursday published a transcript of his exchange with their reporter.
But Bolt told BBC Sport: "I can't believe they actually said that. I would never use that word. I love competing and I am here because of the fans.
"It's wonderful, just like the London Olympics. The crowd is great. I have heard it throughout the championships and watched it on the television.
"Everything's been good for me. It's just the weather. It's got cold. But I am happy to be here and I am enjoying what's going on."
Source-BBC