Increase in number of expected storms for 2016 Atlantic hurricane season
FLORIDA, United States, Monday July 4, 2016 – An update in predictions for the 2016 Atlantic hurricane season point to an increase in the number of expected storms. It is anticipated it will be the most active season since 2012.
The highly respected Colorado State University (CSU) on Friday released an adjusted forecast which projects 15 named storms, 6 hurricanes and 2 major hurricanes, close to the 30-year average of 12 named storms, six hurricanes and three major hurricanes.
That forecast includes Hurricane Alex, a rare January hurricane, and tropical storms Bonnie, Colin and Danielle which previously formed, so it is expected there will be about 11 more storms before the November 30 end of the season.
The CSU team, headed by Dr. Phil Klotzbach, said this forecast is based on an extended-range early July statistical prediction scheme that was developed utilizing 34 years of past data.
“The two primary factors that we think may lead to an average season are the potential development of a weak La Niña and cooler-than-normal far North Atlantic sea surface temperatures. La Niña tend to favor an environment more favorable for Atlantic hurricane formation, while cool far North Atlantic sea surface temperatures may force higher-than-normal pressures and stronger trades in the tropical Atlantic for the peak of the hurricane season,” the CSU said.
“Coastal residents are reminded that it only takes one hurricane making landfall to make it an active season for them, and they need to prepare the same for every season, regardless of how much activity is predicted,” it further warned.
The National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) issued its forecast at the end of May, calling for 10 to 16 named storms, 4 to 8 hurricanes and 1 to 4 major hurricanes.
It said at the time that while there is a 45 percent chance of a near-normal, there is also a 30 percent chance of an above-normal season and a 25 percent chance of a below-normal season.
Trinidad, region say goodbye to Patrick Manning
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, Sunday July 10, 2016 – The life of former Trinidad and Tobago prime minister Patrick Manning was honoured Saturday in a State funeral at which hundreds shed tears, but also smiled and even laughed, as family and close friends shared their memories and spoke about his accomplishments.
The tributes that began when Manning died on July 2, just a day after being diagnosed with an aggressive form of blood and bone marrow cancer, were reiterated and expanded at the three-hour service at the Holy Trinity Cathedral in the twin-island republic’s capital.
There were also calls for his legacy to be honoured through the revival of CARICOM and creation of a fund to assist CARICOM Member States.
Delivering the eulogy, his son, Brian Manning, proposed a fund in honour of his “hero”, telling the congregation that included local and regional politicians, regional officials, and supporters of the People’s National Movement (PNM) which Manning led up until 2010, that his father lived a life of love and service, not focused on the accumulation of wealth but where the world was left a better place, and no other reason.
“I would like, with the approval of the government of Trinidad and Tobago, to establish at the International Financial Centre a fund designed to finance the construction of homes for low-income earners region wide, in recognition of my father’s spirit of generosity and support for our Caribbean neighbours.
“This fund will appropriately be called the Patrick Manning Development Fund and would be made accessible to every member of CARICOM and also, include our brothers and sisters in the Dominican Republic, Haiti and, of course, Cuba,” he added.
President Anthony Carmona added that it would be a “committed gesture to his legacy” if CARICOM leaders resuscitated the integration movement “charted by Mr. Manning’s vision of the Caribbean as being a potent force on the world stage”.
For his part, Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley described Manning as one of Trinidad and Tobago’s finest sons, who made public service honourable.
St. Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, who visited Manning in hospital a few days before his death, was one of several regional leaders and dignitaries who travelled for the funeral. Others included St Lucia’s Prime Minister Allan Chastanet, Prime Minister of Grenada Dr Keith Mitchell, former prime minister of Grenada, Tillman Thomas, The Bahamas’ former leader Hubert Ingraham, and CARICOM Secretary-General Ambassador Irwin La Rocque.
Gonsalves, whose friendship with Manning began in the 1960s when they attended the University of the West Indies Mona Campus, spoke of the love he had for his “real tight political buddy” and fellow August-born, and criticized those who had turned on the man who gave decades of service to the twin-island republic and the region.
Following the service, there was a private ceremony for Manning’s family and his body was cremated at Belgroves Funeral Home in Tacarigua (TAC-CARRIGE-WA), in the East-West Corridor of the country.
Simpson Miller deplores brutal killing of 3-year-old girl
KINGSTON, Jamaica – Opposition Leader Portia Simpson Miller says as the wave of murders continue across the country, Jamaicans must be particularly incensed that children continue to be among the victims of these vile and senseless acts.
In a statement today, Simpson Miller deplored the killing of a three year-old girl in the Orange Hill Community of St Ann’s Bay, St Ann and expressed concerns about the wave of murders.
“I grieve with the parents, family members and the entire community at this senseless killing of one so young. I convey my sincere condolences to her parents at this time of great pain and loss,” Simpson Miller said.
The Opposition Leader said the killing represents a loss of potential as no one knows for sure the positive impact the young victim would have had on the society if she was given the opportunity to develop into an adult and contribute to the building of her community and nation.
“All well thinking Jamaicans must deplore and speak out against these gruesome acts of brutality against Jamaica’s children,” Simpson Miller added.
Camp Build a Boss" – Boys Camp
In an effort to continue to fulfil its mandate to develop policies and plans of action for intervention, as well as strategies that empower young boys and girls throughout the Turks & Caicos Islands; the Department of Gender Affairs under the Ministry of Home Affairs, Transportation and Communication, in partnership with the "Pine Cay Project" present its second annual boys summer camp "Camp Build a Boss" under the theme, "Explore and Create".
We believe that this camping experience will be one of a kind as it provides an opportunity for young men to 'get their hands dirty' and enjoy a week of working within various trade fields. We feel that the young men throughout Turks and Caicos Islands need more opportunities to participate in positive structured programmes that will affirm their duty to becoming productive citizens and taking their respective communities into a better tomorrow. It is our firm belief that this Camp experience would motivate them in the direction to accomplishing their goals, regardless of the task.
The main objectives of this Camp experience are to:
Create a foundation whereby, young men and boys can engage in a structured growth experience designed to aid in the discovery and enhancement of their leadership capabilities.
Provide young men and boys with a chance to work alongside trained professionals and very dedicated members of the various Construction Companies, Faith Base Organizations and members of the Civil Service, employees from the Public/Private sphere
Offer an opportunity for young men and boys to learn a skill in their area of interest - Auto Mechanics, Maintenance, Carpentry, Electricity, Home Repairs, Painting, Music, Diving, Swimming, Snorkelling, Cooking, Plumbing, Imaging, Cooking, and Woodwork Artwork etc.
The camping experience will include short sessions on:-
Physical Education
Increasing Self Awareness
Identifying and coping with feelings
Learning technical/vocational skill of interest
Communication Skills
Setting Boundaries
Overcoming Fears
Anger management
Peer pressure
There will be lots of fun and games from dominoes to marble games, kite flying etc.
Due to the resounding feedback, the department has decided to make this an annual event. The Camp is scheduled to be held in Salt Cay and North/Middle Caicos for a duration of five (5) days commencing August 8 – 12, 2016 and August 15-19 (North Caicos). It targets young men and boys ages 10 – 15 years.
Registration is FREE!! For further details please visit the Department of Gender Affairs, Clara Garland Building, Grand Turk Or call 338-2681/ 338-2686 or 247-6233
Reagan would-be assassin John Hinckley Jr to be released
John Hinckley Jr, the man who tried to assassinate US President Ronald Reagan, is to be released from a psychiatric hospital next month after 35 years. Mr Reagan and three others were injured in the shooting outside a hotel in Washington in March 1981. Mr Hinckley was found not guilty by reason of insanity but was sent for treatment to a Washington hospital. He has already been spending 17 days a month at his mother's home in Virginia under strict conditions. A judge ruled that Mr Hinckley, now 61, could reside full-time there on "convalescent leave" from 5 August.
Freddie Gray case: Last charges dropped against police
Gray, 25, died a week after sustaining a spinal injury while in the back of a police van in April 2015. Garrett Miller, William Porter and Alicia White were due to face charges including assault, misconduct in office and reckless endangerment. The move means there will be no convictions in the case. A post-mortem report found that Gray sustained his injury by slamming into a van wall during the ride. He was handcuffed but not restrained with a seatbelt. His death sparked civil unrest in Baltimore, and became part of a wider national debate on police brutality and the death of unarmed black men at the hands of police.
Japan knife attack: Suspect's home searched by police
Police have searched the home of a man accused of carrying out Japan's worst mass killing in decades, at a care home for people with mental disabilities. Satoshi Uematsu, a former employee of the facility in Sagamihara west of Tokyo, stabbed 19 people to death on Tuesday, say police. He had previously sent letters to politicians threatening to kill hundreds of disabled people. The 26-year-old turned himself into police after the attack. He was quoted by police as saying he had attacked those who were unable to communicate their feelings, broadcaster NHK reported.
Inside Tesla's gigantic Gigafactory
The chief executive of Tesla is, in a post-Steve-Jobs world, the stand-out visionary voice in Silicon Valley. There's no question about that.
But with each product launch - or, in this case, a building launch - it seems he needs both more time and more money to realise his own ambitions.
The more he achieves, the bigger the task, and budget, seems to get.During a typically scorching Tuesday afternoon in the Nevada desert, near Reno, Mr Musk told a group of journalists about his global manufacturing ambitions.
We had just had a tour of the new Gigafactory, Tesla's $5bn (£3.8bn) 3,200-acre battery-manufacturing plant that has already begun production but will not be in full swing until about 2020. At that point, it will have the largest physical footprint of any building in the world.
By making battery cells here, Mr Musk hopes he will be able to innovate faster and cut out about 30% of the cost.
The factory is a tie-up with the company that already makes Tesla's cells, Panasonic.
Apple sees iPhone sales drop again but beats forecasts
Apple has reported a second consecutive quarter of falling iPhone sales, but the 15% drop was not as bad as analysts had feared. The US tech giant sold 40.4 million iPhones in its third quarter, slightly above forecasts of 40.02 million.
Apple chief executive Tim Cook said the results reflected "stronger customer demand... than we anticipated". The firm said it expected sales to fall again in the fourth quarter to between $45.5bn (£34bn; €41.4bn) and $47.5bn. Demand for Apple's flagship product has been slowing since the second quarter when the firm reported the first drop in iPhone sales since their 2007 launch.
The iPhone makes up for around two-thirds of Apple's sales and accounts for even more of its profits. The slowdown in iPhone sales sent profit down 27% to $7.8bn in the three months to 25 June, while revenues fell 14.6% to $42.4bn.
Kendall Dean Sentenced to three years
On Tuesday 27th July 2016, 20-year-old Kendall Dean of Blue Hills Providenciales was sentenced to three (3) years imprisonment by the Supreme Court after he plead guilty to two (2) counts of Handling Stolen goods.
It was on the evening of Thursday 31st December 2015, a complainant reported to 911 that she was robbed at gunpoint by an unknown male in the area of Dako Yard in Blue Hills. Police were dispatched and investigation began. Taken from the victim was a handbag containing her cellular phone and other items.
On Saturday 2nd January 2016, during a stop and search on Mr. Dean, a cellular phone matching the exact description given by the victim was found in his possession. He told officers that he had just bought the phone from an unknown Haitian man. As a result, he was arrested and was formally charged and cautioned on Wednesday 18th January 2016 for Robbery and Handling Stolen Goods.
The charge of Robbery was withdrawn.