Viola Beach claim posthumous number one album
Indie band Viola Beach have scored a number one album chart, six months after they were killed in a car crash. The self-titled debut was compiled by the band's families, using live sessions and studio recordings, many of which were originally bound for an EP.
It outsold the number two album, ELO's All Over The World, The Very Best Of, by about 6,000 copies, said the Official Chart Company. "I'm in shock," said Finn Reeves, whose brother River was the band's guitarist. "I think they'd be absolutely thrilled. I can see the smiles on their faces.
"They made this happen. They did the hard work." Viola Beach consisted of singer Kris Leonard, guitarist River, bassist Tomas Lowe and drummer Jack Dakin. All four members of the Warrington band and their manager Craig Tarry died when their car plunged into a canal in Sweden in February.
Wasteful Employment of Police
39 year-old woman charged with wasteful employment of Police
On Wednesday 3rd August 2016, officers arrested and charged a 39-year-old female of Blue Hills Providenciales with Wasteful employment of Police.
The woman reported to police on Saturday 25 June 2016 around 8 am that a man known to her, beat her about the body, pointed a gun at her and made threats to shoot her. Police immediately responded to the report, where the man was arrested after a high-speed chase along the Millennium Highway in Blue Hills Providenciales.
A few days later, the woman told police that the report she made was false and due to the nature of such incident, the man was charged and taken to the court for Possession of Imitation firearm with intention to cause fear and Assault Occasioning Actual Bodily Harm. However, the case was withdrawn because the woman informed the court that the report was false.
According to sections 6 (2) of the Criminal Law Ordinance Chapter 3.01, “ Where a person causes any wasteful employment of any police officer, knowingly making to any person a false report tending to show that an offence has been committed, or to give rise to the apprehension for the safety of any person or property, or tending to show that he has information material to any police inquiry, he or she shall be liable on summary conviction to imprisonment for six (6) months or to a fine of $2,000 or both imprisonment and fine.
The woman will appear to court on Wednesday 10th August 2016.
BAHAMAS PUBLIC FORECAST FOR THIS AFTERNOON
BAHAMAS PUBLIC FORECAST FOR THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT FRIDAY 5TH AUGUST 2016
GENERAL SITUATION: A HIGH PRESSURE RIDGE WILL REMAIN ANCHORED NORTH OF THE AREA WHILE A MID TO UPPER LEVEL LOW LINGERING OVER THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS MAY TRIGGER SOME UNSETTLED WEATHER OVER THESE ISLANDS.
SPECIAL WARNINGS: BEACH GOERS IN THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS SHOULD CONTINUE TO EXERCISE CAUTION DUE TO THE RISK OF RIP CURRENTS MAINLY ALONG THE NORTHERN AND EASTERN SHORELINES.
ALL AREAS
WEATHER: MOSTLY SUNNY AND HOT WITH FEW ISOLATED SHOWERS OR THUNDERSTORMS BECOMING PARTLY CLOUDY TONIGHT WITH THE CHANCE OF ISOLATED SHOWERS.
ADVISORY: SMALL CRAFT CAUTION REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS
WINDS: EAST TO SOUTHEAST AT 10 TO 15 KNOTS IN THE NORTHWEST BAHAMAS AND EAST TO SOUTHEAST AT 15 TO 20 KNOTS IN THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS.
SEAS: 2 TO 4 FEET IN THE NORTHWEST BAHAMAS AND 4 TO 6 FEET IN THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS.
DAYTIME HIGH TEMPERATURE 93 °F 34 °C
OVERNITE LOW TEMPERATURE 79 °F 26 °C
SUNSET: 7:52 PM MOONSET: 9:49 PM
SUNRISE: 6:40 AM SAT MOONRISE: 10:01 AM SAT
LOW TIDE: 4:27 PM LOW TIDE: 5:00 AM SAT
HIGH TIDE: 10:37 PM HIGH TIDE: 11:02 AM SAT
OUTLOOK: 11:00 AM (FOR TOMORROW/WEEKEND) MOSTLY SUNNY AND HOT WITH FEW BRIEF SHOWERS OR ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS.
TROPICAL WEATHER OUTLOOK: PLEASE SEE LATEST INFORMATION ON TROPICAL STORM EARL.A TROUGH OF LOW PRESSURE IS EXPECTED TO FORM OVER THE NORTHEASTERN GULF OF MEXICO BY NEXT WEEK.
PATRICIA WEEKS/vm
MARINE FORECAST FOR THE BAHAMAS
MARINE FORECAST FOR THE BAHAMAS FOR 24 HOURS FROM 6 AM FRIDAY 5TH AUGUST 2016 ISSUED BY THE BAHAMAS DEPARTMENT OF METEOROLOGICAL AT 1000 UTC.
WARNINGS: BEACHGOERS IN THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS SHOULD CONTINUE TO EXERCISE CAUTION DUE TO THE RISK OF RIP CURRENTS MAINLY ALONG THE NORTHERN AND EASTERN SHORELINES.
GENERAL SITUATIONS: A RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE CONTINUES TO DOMINATE THE WEATHER OVER THE ISLANDS
AREA: ALL AREAS
ADVISORY: SMALL CRAFT CAUTION REMAINS IN EFFECT IN THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS. BOATERS SHOULD BE ALERT FOR GUSTY WINDS AND HIGHER SEAS IN OR NEAR HEAVY SHOWERS OR THUNDERSTORMS.
WINDS: EAST TO SOUTHEAST AT 10 TO 15 KNOTS OVER OPEN WATERS IN THE NORTHWEST BAHAMAS, 15 TO 20 KNOTS IN THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS.
SEAS: 2 TO 4 FEET OVER THE OCEAN IN THE NORTHWEST BAHAMAS, 4 TO 6 FEET IN THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS
SWELLS: NONE
WEATHER: ISOLATED SHOWERS OR THUNDERSTORMS
MOONRISE: 9:09AM HIGH TIDE: 10:19AM 10:37 PM
MOONSET: 9:49 PM LOW TIDE: 4:27PM 5:00 AM SAT
EXTENDED FORECAST(FOR THE NEXT TWO DAYS): HIGH PRESSURE RIDGING WILL CONTINUE TO DOMINATE THE WEATHER THROUGH THE WEEKEND HOWEVER A MID TO UPPER LEVEL LOW PRESSURE CENTER MEANDERING ACROSS THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS COULD ENHANCE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY OVER THAT AREA.
FORECAST FOR SATURDAY
ADVISORY: SMALL CRAFT CAUTION IN EFFECT FOR THE SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS
WINDS: EAST TO SOUTHEAST 10 TO 15 KNOTS OVER THE NORTHWEST AND CENTRAL BAHAMAS AND 15 TO 20 KNOTS OVER THE SOUTHEASTERN ISLANDS
SEAS: 2 TO 4 FEET IN THE NORTHWEST AND CENTRAL BAHAMAS AND 4 TO 6 FEET IN THE SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS
WEATHER: BRIEF PASSING SHOWERS OR THUNDERSTORMS
FORECAST FOR SUNDAY
ADVISORY: SMALL CRAFT CAUTION REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS
WINDS: EAST TO SOUTHEAST 10 TO 15 KNOTS OVER THE NORTHWEST AND CENTRAL BAHAMAS AND 15 TO 20 KNOTS OVER THE SOUTHEASTERN ISLANDS
SEAS: 2 TO 4 FEET IN THE NORTHWEST AND CENTRAL BAHAMAS AND 4 TO 6 FEET IN THE SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS
WEATHER: BRIEF PASSING SHOWERS OR THUNDERSTORMS
TROPICAL WEATHER OUTLOOK (HURRICANE SEASON): 1: SEE LATEST NEWS ITEM ON TROPICAL STORM EARL. 2: A TROUGH OF LOW PRESSURE IS EXPECTED TO FOR OVER THE NORTHEASTERN GULF OF MEXICO LATE IN THE WEEKEND OR EARLY NEXT WEEK. SOME DEVELOPMENT OF THIS SYSTEM IS POSSIBLE AND IT REMAINS NEARLY STATIONARY. CHANCE OF FORMATION THROUGH THE NEXT 5 DAYS ARE LOW AT 20%.
FORECASTER: SHEZELLE MATHER / A.T.
EARL HEADS TO CAMPECHE
NEWS ITEM ON TROPICAL STORM EARL ISSUED BY THE BAHAMAS DEPARTMENT OF METEOROLOGY, FORECAST OFFICE SECTION, ON FRIDAY 5TH AUGUST, 2016 AT 6AM.
CENTER OF EARL NOW NEAR THE SOUTHERN COAST OF THE BAY OF CAMPECHE
AT 5AM EDT, TROPICAL STORM EARL WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 18.4° NORTH AND LONGITUDE 92.8° WEST OR ABOUT 70 MILES WEST-SOUTHWEST OF CIUDAD DEL CARMEN MEXICO.
EARL IS MOVING TOWARD THE WEST-NORTHWEST NEAR 12 MPH AND THIS MOTION IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE THROUGH TONIGHT. A TURN TOWARD THE WEST AND A DECREASE IN FORWARD SPEED ARE EXPECTED LATER TODAY. ON THE FORECAST TRACK, THE CENTER OF EARL WILL BE MOVING NEAR THE COAST ALONG THE EXTREME SOUTHERN BAY OF CAMPECHE TODAY AND TONIGHT, THEN MOVING INTO THE SOUTHEASTERN MAINLAND OF MEXICO ON SATURDAY.
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 40 MPH WITH HIGHER GUSTS. LITTLE CHANGE IN STRENGTH IS LIKELY TODAY OR TONIGHT, WITH WEAKENING EXPECTED ON SATURDAY WHEN EARL MOVES INTO MAINLAND MEXICO.
THE NEXT NEWS ITEM WILL BE ISSUED AT 12 NOON.
PREPARED BY DUTY FORECASTER: SHEZELLE MATHER
ISSUED AT 5:50 AM FRIDAY 5TH AUGUST 2016
World Breastfeeding Month
The Ministry of Health, Agriculture and Human Services encourages residents and visitors alike of the Turks and Caicos Islands to join the World in celebrating and promoting breastfeeding during the month of August 2016.
World Breastfeeding Week/Month 2016, which began 1st of August, is dedicated to demonstrating how breastfeeding, among many other actions, can support the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) established in 2015, which aim to end poverty, protect the environment and ensure prosperity through improved policies and programmes. Several countries around the world have committed to achieving all 17 SDGs by 2030. The first three goals (1) no poverty, 2) zero hunger and 3) good health and well-being) can be partially achieved by encouraging exclusive breastfeeding within the first six (6) months of life or longer.
There are several reasons why mothers should breastfeed their children. Listed below are just a few of the major benefits of breastfeeding:
• Human milk 1) provides the ideal balance of nutrients for an infant's growth and development, 2) reduces the risk of infectious and chronic diseases, 3) protects mothers' and infants' health, and 4) reduces the risk of childhood obesity.
o Breastfeeding 6 months or longer compared to no or shorter breastfeeding is associated with a reduction of childhood leukemia of 19%
o Babies who are breastfed are 60 percent less likely to die from SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) compared to those not breastfed. The effect is even greater for infants who are exclusively breastfed.
o Adults who were breastfed as children score 3.3 points higher on cognitive development indicators, which leads to more years of schooling.
o Longer breastfeeding reduces the risk of overweight/obesity by 13%, helping to fight chronic diseases caused by obesity. It also lowers the risk of type 2 diabetes by 35%.
o Women who breastfeed compared with women who don’t or who breastfeed less, have a 32% lower risk of type 2 diabetes, a 26% lower risk of breast cancer and a 37% lower risk of ovarian cancer.
o Mother-child bonding is enhanced when mothers interact with their infants while breastfeeding. Longer breastfeeding is associated with more sensitive maternal responsiveness and the security that comes with attachment.
Breastfeeding has been established as a public health imperative by the international community. WHO and UNICEF encourages all countries to take the following actions:
1. Fully implement international guidelines through legislation, monitoring and enforcement to prevent the inappropriate marketing of breast-milk substitutes, including infant formula, feeding bottles, nipples, follow-on milks and related products.
2. Institute workplace policies in support of breastfeeding. This action has shown to increase employee retention, performance, loyalty, productivity and morale.
3. Implement the “Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding” in maternity facilities.
4. Improve access to skilled lactation counselling.
5. Strengthen links between health facilities and communities to support breastfeeding.
6. Create monitoring systems that track the progress of policies, programmes, and funds toward achieving both national and global breastfeeding targets.
The Ministry’s Primary Health Care Department and TCI Hospital supports exclusive breastfeeding of infants within the first 6 months of life or longer and have been working collaboratively to strengthen our breastfeeding initiatives. For the entire month of August, all Government Primary Health Care Clinics throughout the islands will be answering frequently asked questions and sharing information about breastfeeding during antenatal and well-baby clinics. We also encourage everyone to listen to our next Health Matters Programme on Radio Turks and Caicos which will be focused on the topic of breastfeeding.
For more information about breastfeeding and activities that will take place during this month, contact the Nutritionist, Mrs. Lakeisha Wilson, at 338-5470, or a Government Primary Health Care Clinic on your island.
Cable & Wireless Reports Preliminary Q1 2016/17 Results
Network Investments Drive Broadband Subscribers up 49,000 (8%) YoY
Successful Launch of our Exclusive Flow Sports Premier Channel
Mobile Subscriber Base Grew by 148,000 YOY
Delivering Against Columbus Synergy Plan
MIAMI, FL, August 5, 2016 -- Cable & Wireless Communications Limited ("CWC") is a leading telecommunications operator in substantially all of its consumer markets, which are predominantly located in the Caribbean and Latin America, providing entertainment, information and communication services to 3.7 million mobile, 0.4 million television, 0.6 million internet and 0.8 million telephony subscribers. In addition, CWC delivers B2B services across the region and provides wholesale services over its sub-sea and terrestrial networks that connect over 30 markets.
Operating and financial highlights*:
• Delivered 14,000 subscriber additions in Q1 2016/17, as compared to 4,000 adds in prior-year period
◦ 2,000 video additions driven by our DTH business in Panama
◦ 5,000 broadband internet and 6,000 telephony subscriber adds, supported by network investment
• Mobile data penetration up seven percentage points YoY to 53%
• Further strengthened our customer proposition through launch of Flow Sports Premier in July
◦ Providing HD sporting content exclusively to Flow customers with unrivaled Premier League coverage; only Flow customers can watch all 380 games a season, beginning in August
• Investing to drive future performance, including:
◦ Completed roll-out of unified Flow brand across region
◦ Activated LTE-Advanced network in Cayman providing peak throughput > 75Mbps
◦ Launched fixed bundles in Trinidad & Tobago
◦ Strengthened B2B portfolio with launch of cloud-based call center solution
◦ Deploying new advanced video platforms in Panama and the Bahamas
Subscriber Statistics
CWC delivered a solid Q1 2016/17 performance as the organic changes for all of our fixed and mobile product categories improved year-over-year. In our mobile business, which represents roughly 40% of our total revenue, the total base increased by 148,000 subscribers or 4% year-over-year to 3.7 million. This performance was led by a 21% increase in subscribers who purchased a data plan. Mobile data penetration now stands at 53% of our total mobile subscriber base, up 2 percentage points from 51% at March 31, 2016.
Turning to our fixed-line business, we added 14,000 subscribers during the quarter, with year-over-year improvements across all three products. We reported 5,000 broadband net additions in Q1 2016/17, as we increased penetration over our improved networks. On the video front, we added 2,000 subscribers in the quarter, driven by growth in Panama DTH, where we have seen strong demand for our prepaid TV product and our DTH subscriber base rose from 16,000 to 39,000 year-over-year. Offsetting this increase, video subscribers in the Caribbean declined as a result of increased competition and challenging economic environments, however we are working to mitigate these factors by re-vamping our product offering in these markets, including the July launch of our Flow Sports Premier channel. This premium channel will feature HD content and offer the very best in sporting content, exclusively to Flow's customers across the region. The highlight of Flow Sports Premier will be unrivaled coverage of the Premier League beginning in August 2016 – the world’s most popular football league – ensuring that only Flow’s customers can watch all 380 games a season.
Rounding out our fixed-line products, we added 6,000 telephony subscribers in the quarter, as we increased penetration of our VoIP-based services through bundling across our footprint. Triple-play penetration increased 170 basis points over the year to cover 8.6% of our subscribers at June 30, 2016, still leaving ample room for growth. Finally, during the last twelve months, we have expanded our network by roughly 35,000 homes and upgraded over 100,000 homes to two-way capability.
From a regional standpoint, the following highlights the trends in our largest markets:
• Panama mobile subscribers declined 1% in the quarter as continued competition through aggressive promotional activity adversely impacted our prepaid customer base. However, this was partly offset by higher-ARPU postpaid subscribers, which were up 2%, representing the eighth consecutive quarter of growth. Our prepaid DTH product, up 22% in the quarter, continued to drive video subscriber growth in Panama. Fixed video and broadband subscribers grew by 3%, and should be further supported by the upcoming launch of re-vamped video and broadband products in the Panama market.
• In the Bahamas, we experienced relatively flat broadband and fixed voice performance but plan to launch a video product in Q2 2016/17 that we expect will strengthen our competitive position.
• Turning to Jamaica, one of the largest telecommunications markets in the region, broadband subscribers were up 2%, and mobile subscriber numbers continued to grow, with 18,000 additions in the quarter, as we continued to win back market share following the successful rebranding to Flow.
• Increased competition and challenging macroeconomic environments in Barbados and Trinidad & Tobago led to reduced video subscribers, however we are seeing encouraging early results from recently launched fixed bundles in Trinidad & Tobago.
South Africa local elections: ANC suffers major setback
South Africa's governing African National Congress (ANC) has suffered its worst electoral setback since apartheid ended in 1994. With 94% of the votes counted after Wednesday's municipal elections, the party has lost the key battleground of Nelson Mandela Bay to the opposition Democratic Alliance (DA). The two parties are in a close fight for Johannesburg and Pretoria. But the ANC is still in the lead nationally, with 54% of the vote.
India market attack: Suspected rebels kill 13 in Assam
Gunmen have opened fire on a busy market place in India's north-eastern state of Assam, killing at least 13 people, officials say. Police blamed the attacks on suspected rebels from a faction of the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB). Reports say one suspected rebel was killed in the gun battle with security forces in Kokrajhar district. The NDFB wants an independent homeland for the Bodo ethnic group to be carved out of Assam. Assam police chief Mukesh Sahay told the BBC that the attack took place in a market in Balajan, an area just outside the town of Kokrajhar. "Many civilians sustained injuries when militants opened indiscriminate fire. They also lobbed grenades," he said.
Rio 2016: Moroccan boxer held over alleged sex assault
A Moroccan boxer has been arrested by Brazilian police over allegations of sexually assaulting two female cleaners in the Rio de Janeiro Olympic village. Hassan Saada, 22, was held on suspicion of committing the assaults earlier this week, a police statement said. The boxer, who fights in the light-heavyweight category, was due to take part in his first bout on Saturday. A Brazilian judge has ordered he be detained for 15 days, pending an investigation, media reports said. His detention could mean Saada is unable to take part in the Games. Brazilian media reports quoted police as saying the boxer had pushed one of the maids against a wall, pressing her with his thighs, and tried to kiss her. He is also accused of squeezing her breast and making obscene hand gestures.