Over $50,000 in Undeclared Currency Seized at Fort Lauderdale Airport by CBP
United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers seized more than US$53,800 in undeclared currency from a traveller preparing to depart Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport on a flight to Kingston, Jamaica.
The seizure occurred on July 1st 2026 during routine inspections of passengers on an international flight.
Although the traveller declared they were not carrying any currency, CBP officers discovered and verified more than US$53,800 during the inspection.
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) responded, and the traveller was arrested. Federal prosecutors have since accepted money laundering charges under Title 18, U.S. Code, Section 1956.
CBP reminded travellers that while there is no limit to the amount of currency that may be transported into or out of the United States, anyone carrying more than US$10,000 must declare it by filing a FinCEN Form 105. Failure to declare funds or providing false information can result in the seizure of the money and possible civil or criminal penalties.
Spain Becomes FIFA World Cup Champions 2026
England defeated France 6-4 on Saturday July 18th, 2026 for a third-place finish in the FIFA World Cup - a high-scoring match that saw France attempt a second-half comeback and Kylian Mbappe make history for the most career goals scored in the competition.
On Sunday, July 19th, Spain won the 2026 FIFA World Cup by defeating Argentina 1-0 in extra time. The final match at MetLife Stadium (New York New Jersey Stadium) in East Rutherford, New Jersey, saw Ferran Torres score the winning goal in the 106th minute.
The 23rd edition of the tournament featured several historic milestones:
* Jointly hosted across 16 cities by the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
* The first World Cup to feature 48 teams (up from 32), resulting in a total of 104 matches.
* A record-breaking 308 goals were scored throughout the tournament.
* Spain dominated the tournament undefeated, conceding only one goal across all eight of their matches.
Tournament Awards
* Golden Ball (Best Player): Rodri (Spain)
* Golden Boot (Top Scorer): Kylian Mbappé (France)
* Golden Glove (Best Goalkeeper): Unai Simón (Spain), who recorded a record-breaking 7 clean sheets
* Best Young Player: Pau Cubarsí (Spain)
The 2026 FIFA World Cup has now concluded.
The Spanish men's national football team has won two FIFA World Cup titles. Additionally, the Spanish women's national football team holds one FIFA Women's World Cup title.
* 2010 (South Africa): Spain won its first-ever World Cup by defeating the Netherlands 1-0 in extra time, courtesy of an iconic 116th-minute goal by Andrés Iniesta.
* 2026 (United States, Canada, and Mexico): Spain secured its second world title at MetLife Stadium by defeating Argentina 1-0 in extra time, with Ferran Torres scoring the decisive goal in the 106th minute.
Women's World Cup Titles
* 2023 (Australia and New Zealand): The women's national team claimed its first global championship by defeating England 1-0 in the final.
3 DAY PUBLIC WEATHER FORECAST FROM MONDAY JULY 20TH 2026
3-DAY PUBLIC WEATHER FORECAST PUBLIC FORECAST FOR THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS FOR THE NEXT THREE DAY FROM MONDAY JULY 20TH 2026
GENERAL SITUATION: The ridge of high pressure will continue to dominate the weather pattern across the Turks and Caicos Islands maintaining hot and generally stable conditions today.
SPECIAL WARNINGS:
UV Index: The public is advised to wear protective clothing and sunscreen, and seek shaded areas while outside during peak sunshine hours (11am – 4pm), as UV indices are expected to be in the very high to extreme range.
ALL AREAS
WEATHER: Mostly to partly sunny with isolated showers possible. Fair tonight.
WINDS: Easterly at 10 to 15 knots with higher gusts
SEAS: Smooth to slight with wave heights of 3 feet or less nearshore, building up to 5 feet offshore
DAYTIME HIGH TEMPERATURE 93°F 34°C
HEAT INDEX 103°F 40°C
OVERNIGHT LOW TEMPERATURE 81°F 27°C
SUNSET: 07:33 PM
NEXT HIGH TIDE: 02:10 PM (2.6 FT)
NEXT LOW TIDE: 08:38 PM (1.0 FT)
EXTENDED FORECAST: Generally stable and breezy conditions will persist through Tuesday. By midweek, the high pressure ridge will gradually weaken as a surface trough approaches the islands, increasing the chance of shower activity across the Turks and Caicos Islands.
TUESDAY: Partly cloudy, with a high near 93°F (34°C).
TUESDAY NIGHT: A low (10 percent) chance of isolated showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 80°F (26°C).
WINDS: Easterly at 10 to 15 knots, becoming northeasterly at 10 to 20 knots in the evening
SEAS: Smooth to slight with wave heights of 3 feet or less nearshore, building up to 4 feet offshore
SUNRISE: 06:17 AM
SUNSET: 07:33 PM
HIGH TIDE: 02:26 AM (2.0 FT) 03:10 PM (2.6 FT)
LOW TIDE: 08:36 AM (1.0 FT) 09:47 PM (1.0 FT)
WEDNESDAY: A low (10 to 20 percent) chance of widely scattered showers. A mix of sun and clouds, with a high near 91°F (33°C).
WEDNESDAY NIGHT: A low (10 percent) chance of isolated showers and isolated thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 80°F (26°C).
WINDS: Northeast to east at 10 to 15 knots
SEAS: Smooth to slight with wave heights of 3 feet or less, building up to 5 feet offshore
SUNRISE: 06:17 AM
SUNSET: 07:32 PM
HIGH TIDE: 03:26 AM (2.0 FT) 04:09 PM (2.6 FT)
LOW TIDE: 09:30 AM (1.0 FT) 10:52 PM (1.0 FT)
Tropical Weather Outlook For the North Atlantic...Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of America:
Active Systems: Tropical Depression Two is located over the northeastern Gulf of America and is expected to become a tropical storm later today. The depression will move near or along the northern Gulf coast during the next several days.
Tropical cyclone formation is not expected during the next 7 days.
FORECASTER: H. HAMILTON
AUDIO VERSION BELOW:
Team TCI Returns Home from FIBA AmeriCup Caribbean PreQualifiers
The last time the Turks and Caicos Islands competed in the Caribbean Basketball Championship (CBC)-the predecessor to today's FIBA AmeriCup Caribbean Pre-Qualifiers-was in 2004.
That pioneering team, consisted of Murrick Neal Campbell, Jarrett Dion Forbes, Mervin Michael Forbes, Marcusson Lewellelyn Lightbourn, Levard Sinclair Missick, Alvarado Parker, Trevor Saunders, Lamar Eldrek Skippings, Ira Lawrence Taylor, Michael Sydney Taylor, Stanley Edward Taylor, Toriono Delano Williams, Deanza Macmardo Wilson, and Kano Canard Wilson.
Although they finished 0-4, placing 7th overall, they laid the foundation for everything we are witnessing today.
22 years later, history has come full circle.
Led by Head Coach Slavoljub "Lale" Gorunovic and Assistant Coach Mervin Forbes-himself a member of that 2004 team-the current squad of Travante Garland, RJ Lacossade, Dylan Morris, Omarii Harvey, Levard Missick Jr., Jessey Maximin, Dwaine Simmons, Alvarado Parker, Mike Estimond, Carlens Louis, and Justin Forbes wrote their own chapter.
RTC spoke with Head Coach "Lale" upon their return.
We also spoke with Assistant Coach Mervin Forbes, who is a very integral part of youth basketball in the TCI and was a memeber of this squad 22 years ago.
Team Captain, Alvarado Parker, who first represented the country as an 18-year-old in 2004, has returned more than two decades later to once again wear the national jersey.
RTC also spoke with President of the Basketball Federation Trevor Cooke to find out why it is important for Turks and Caicos to compete at events such as this one.
The Turks and Caicos Islands men's national basketball team finished with a historic 3–1 record at the FIBA AmeriCup 2029 Caribbean Pre-Qualifiers in Georgetown, Guyana.
Despite their impressive winning record, they did not advance to the second round. A point-differential tiebreaker in Group A favored Antigua and Barbuda, who claimed the lone qualifying spot.
Turks and Caicos played four games in the group stage:
Guyana - Won - 68–55 - Dylan Morris (9 pts, 9 reb, 3 ast)
Dominica - Won - 81–64 - Ethan Taylor (17 pts, 8 reb)
Bermuda - Won - 76–61 - Jessy Maximin (12 pts, 18 reb)
Antigua & Barbuda - Lost - 57–86 - Ethan Taylor (25 pts, 8 reb)
Congratulations Team TCI on a job well done.
The country is proud of you. This is only the beginning!
United States Postal Service Releases Barbie Forever Stamps Collection
The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) officially released its highly anticipated Barbie Forever stamps on July 11th, 2026, celebrating the iconic doll’s career evolution across six decades.
Debuting at the National Barbie Doll Collectors Convention in Austin, Texas, the commemorative sheet features 10 distinct designs highlighting historical professions Barbie has held since her 1959 debut.
The 10 Iconic Careers Featured
Each stamp showcases an era-appropriate photograph provided by Mattel Inc. alongside the release year of the outfit:
* Registered Nurse (1961)
* Surgeon (1973)
* Astronaut (1986)
* Firefighter (1995)
* Paleontologist (1996)
* Sign Language Teacher (2000)
* Robotics Engineer (2018)
* Judge (2019)
* Soccer Player (2022)
* Music Star (2025)
To properly display the full detail of the dolls' historic clothing, USPS utilized a rare layout that is the standard width but one-third taller than a traditional vertical commemorative stamp.
Art Director Ethel Kessler incorporated vibrant shades of signature "Barbie Pink" into the pane, which carries the motivational phrase "You can be anything" across the bottom.
Sold as a complete pane of 10 for $8.20, these are Forever stamps. They are valued at the current first-class mail 1-ounce rate of 82 cents and will remain valid even if postage prices increase in the future.
Minneapolis Recorded Worst Air Quality as Canadian Wildfire Smokes Blankets US
Minneapolis recorded the worst air quality of any major city in the world on Thursday as dense smoke from wildfires burning across northern Minnesota and Ontario, Canada, covered the region.
Air quality conditions deteriorated rapidly Wednesday evening, with much of the city reaching the “hazardous” category and remaining there through Thursday. In some locations, the Air Quality Index (AQI) climbed to 460—well above the hazardous threshold of 300.
Detroit also ranked among the cities with the poorest air quality globally as wildfire smoke spread across the Upper Midwest.
Health officials urged everyone to stay indoors while the hazardous conditions persist, warning that the smoke poses serious health risks to people of all ages.
The smoke is being fueled by numerous wildfires across Canada, where it has drifted south into parts of the northeastern and upper Midwestern United States. Ontario’s Ministry of Natural Resources reported that more than 183 wildfires were active on Wednesday.
Officials said the fires in northern Minnesota have spread quickly due to a combination of extreme heat, dry vegetation, strong winds, and an increase in lightning strikes. Recent temperatures in the region have soared into the 100s, far above the typical upper-70s temperatures expected this time of year.
Royal Caribbean Suspends Calls to Labadee, Haiti Through 2027
Cruise giant, Royal Caribbean International suspended calls at Labadee, its private destination in Haiti, through June 2027. Previously the line had canceled visits through the end of 2026.
Historically and according to recent company letters posted by travelers, substituted ports include Nassau, Perfect Day at CocoCay, Bimini, Grand Turk and Falmouth (Jamaica), Poncé (Puerto Rico), Samaná (Dominican Republic) and Grand Cayman.
Occasionally sea days have been substituted.
Cruises reportedly haven't visited Labadee since first quarter 2025, following an eight-month hiatus in 2024.
The company said that the safety and well being of guests and crew members are most important.
The US Department of State last week reiterated its Level 4: Do Not Travel advisory for Haiti, which has been under a national state of emergency since March 2024.
Hon E. Jay Saunders Gives Public Update on New Government Measures for Electricity Costs
Minister of Energy, Hon. E Jay Saunders on Thursday morning, July 16th 2026, gave Turks and Caicos an update on measures the government is implementing to assist with increasing electricity costs. Our Danae Dennie has the story.
Puerto Rico Announces New Water Rationing Measures as Worsening Drought Conditions Intensify
Puerto Rico has announced new water rationing measures as worsening drought conditions intensify the island’s ongoing water crisis, prompting officials to take additional conservation steps under an existing state of emergency.
Beginning today Friday July 17th, thousands of residents in northeastern Puerto Rico will face 48-hour water service interruptions, according to Luis González, executive president of the Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority (PRASA).
The restrictions will impact several communities in the municipalities of Canóvanas and Río Grande, where rising temperatures and limited rainfall have strained water supplies.
“There’s simply not enough water,” González said, warning that the rationing program could be expanded to additional areas if dry conditions persist.
Officials attribute the current shortages largely to below-average rainfall. However, water service disruptions had already been affecting some of Puerto Rico’s most populated communities months before the drought intensified, and authorities have yet to determine the underlying cause of those earlier outages.
The recurring water problems led San Juan’s mayor to file a lawsuit against PRASA in late May. Gov. Jenniffer González has acknowledged that decades of underinvestment and inadequate maintenance have left the island’s water infrastructure in poor condition.
Last month, nearly 40,000 customers lost access to water, prompting the governor to activate the National Guard. Officials said that outage was unrelated to the current drought.
According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, about 14% of Puerto Rico is experiencing severe drought, while another 59% is under moderate drought conditions. The affected area has expanded significantly since late June, with an estimated 2.3 million of the island’s 3.2 million residents now living in drought-impacted regions.
Puerto Rico has faced similar challenges before. During a major drought in 2016, roughly 400,000 utility customers received running water only once every three days.
As water shortages continue, frustrated residents have staged protests, and lawmakers are pressing officials for answers. Legislators also held a public hearing this week to examine the economic impact of the water crisis, particularly in a territory where nearly 40% of the population lives below the poverty line.
Financial Services Commission Hosts Training Session for Registry Staff in Grand Turk
The Registry Department of the Financial Services Commission hosted a targeted customer service training on 10 July 2026 as part of its ongoing commitment to enhancing service delivery and fostering a culture of excellence across the department.
Facilitated by Melanie Smith of Talent Recruitment Group at the Commission’s Grand Turk branch, the session focused on the core principles of professionalism, empathy, accountability, and adopting a “service above self” approach in every public-facing interaction.
The training explored best practices for exceeding customer expectations, anticipating customer needs, providing clear and effective guidance, and strengthening positive working relationships among colleagues.
Participants were encouraged to recognise that while efficiency and accuracy are fundamental to quality service, exceptional customer experiences are created when staff consistently go beyond expectations to leave a lasting positive impression.
As the Commission’s primary public-facing department, the Registry Department continues to embed customer service excellence into its operational plans while promoting a people-centred culture founded on respect, collaboration, and meaningful engagement.
Reflecting on the training, Registrar Caulette Simons said, “Outstanding customer service is the foundation of public trust. By combining professional expertise with genuine empathy and proactive support, our team does more than process transactions—we create positive, memorable experiences that reflect our commitment to the people we serve.”
Acting Managing Director Kenisha Bacchus added, “Investing in service excellence strengthens our entire organisation. When employees support one another and share responsibility for the customer experience, we deliver more consistent, compassionate, and effective public service.”