Apple releases iPad Pro, new Apple TV and iPhone 6S handsets
Apple has unveiled a larger iPad tablet, a TV box with its own app store and new iPhones that can detect how firmly their screens are being pressed. The firm suggested the iPad Pro was suited to work tasks, video games and both editing and watching movies.
Sales of the company's earlier iPads had been on the decline. Apple said the "3D touch" feature of its new phones "transformed" the experience of using them by making it easier to use and switch between apps.
Huawei demonstrated its own version of the feature - which it called "force touch" - at its own launch event last week.
Fire on British Airways
Passengers have been describing the terrifying moment a fire broke out on board their London-bound British Airways plane at Las Vegas airport.People started screaming and rushing to the front of the plane after its take-off on Tuesday was abruptly halted due to the fire, some eyewitnesses said.
All 170 people were quickly led to safety, some with minor injuries. Aviation officials have started an investigation into why the left engine of the Boeing 777-200 caught fire. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) says it has sent a team of investigators to the scene.
General Electric said the plane was powered by two of its GE90 engines and it would also send two of its technical experts to join the investigation.
The company said it was not aware of "any operational issues that would hazard the continued safe flight of aircraft powered by these engines," stressing that it had an "outstanding safety and reliability record since entering service in 1995"
Nicole Kidman pays tribute to father in Photograph 51
The Oscar-winning star plays pioneering British scientist Rosalind Franklin in the play Photograph 51. Franklin was the only woman involved in the discovery of DNA's double helix in 1953, but only received recognition years after her death. The play, by Anna Ziegler, opens at the Noel Coward Theatre next week.
Speaking at the theatre in London on Monday, Kidman said that 12 September - the date of the play's final preview performance - will be the first anniversary of her father Dr Antony Kidman's death.
"This is my way of acknowledging him but also acknowledging the people in science who quietly do things and aren't acknowledged a lot of the time. "He knew I was going to do this. I like to think he'll still be somewhere offering support."
Kidman recalled how as a child she spent time with her sister playing in laboratories with "test tubes and microscopes" while her father worked. She said that it had been "really emotional" being back on stage at Saturday's first preview. According to press reports, she received a standing ovation and was greeted by more than 100 fans at the stage door. It is her first stage role since she appeared in David Hare's The Blue Room at the Donmar Warehouse in 1998. Her performance was famously described as "pure theatrical Viagra".
"I think nerves get more as you get older. I would love to say they get less, but they don't," Kidman said. "My heart was pounding and that rush of adrenaline is an extreme feeling.
"Getting out there on the stage is the big thing, but once I was out there it was unbelievable."
Kidman said that Franklin, who died aged 37 from ovarian cancer in 1958, had made a "massive contribution" with her work on DNA. She said it was "an injustice" that she wasn't recognised at the time.
Cecil the lion killer, Walter Palmer, to return to work
The US dentist who sparked an international outcry after killing a lion in Zimbabwe has said he did nothing wrong and is planning to return to work this week.
Speaking in his first interview since the July killing of Cecil the lion, Walter Palmer said he had been unaware of the animal's significance. He also revealed that there had been "some safety issues" for his family. Zimbabwe has said it wishes to extradite and prosecute Mr Palmer.
Speaking publicly for the first time about the incident, he told the Associated Press and Minneapolis Star Tribune that he had acted legally, but said that if he had known who the animal was he would not have killed it.
"If I had known this lion had a name and was important to the country or a study obviously I wouldn't have taken it," Mr Palmer said. "Nobody in our hunting party knew before or after the name of this lion."
The Minnesota dentist admitted that he wounded the lion with an arrow but denied that it had subsequently taken 40 hours to track down and kill it. He also denied claims by the Zimbabwean authorities that it had been killed by a gun, saying that an arrow had been used.
The 55-year-old is believed to have paid $50,000 (£32,000) to hunt a lion in Zimbabwe's largest game reserve.
Emergency Management Accreditation Program Assessment
The Turks and Caicos Islands Government, through the Department of Disaster Management and Emergencies (DDME), has applied for Emergency Management Accreditation Program (EMAP) Accreditation.
During the week 14th – 18th September 2015, five (5) Assessors from EMAP will be in country to conduct an on-site assessment of the DDME and the Emergency Management Programme in the Turks and Caicos Islands against 64 industry Emergency Management Standard by EMAP. The Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) has provided sponsorship for this initiative.
EMAP is the only accreditation and assessment process that exists for emergency management programmes worldwide. The assessment will examine all phases of the disaster management cycle (preparedness, prevention, mitigation, response and recovery) and will involve reviewing documents, and interviewing stakeholders/partners in disaster risk reduction to ensure that policies and procedures that govern operational activities are clearly defined and documented. Full accreditation can only be achieved if all 64 standards are met.
It is the expectation of the DDME that by conducting this assessment and seeking to adhere to EMAP Standards, the institutional and operational capacity of the department and TCIG will be further strengthened. Hence, the department’s ability to carry out its mandate to the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands will be enhanced. With this expectation, the DDME aims to be the second territory outside of the United States and Canada to be granted international accreditation for its disaster management programme. Presently, the British Virgin Islands (BVI) is the only British Overseas Territory (OT) to achieve Accreditation, which was granted in April 2015 by the EMAP Commission.
For additional information see biographies for EMAP Assessors attached or visit the EMAP website at http://www.emap.org/
For further information please Contact: Andrea Been
Email Address: ASBeen@gov.tc
Telephone #: 649 338 3672
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TCI.DDME
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DDMETCI
Skype: ddmegt
PROGRESSIVE DEMOCRATIC MOVEMENT PRESS RELEASE- 2015 IMMIGRATION LEGISLATION
This Progressive Democratic Alliance is hereby registering its dissatisfaction with and rejection to the pending Turks and Caicos Status Bill that is currently before the House of Assembly. This bill gives a clear indication that the Turks and Caicos is about to start a new thriving industry, an Immigration Status Citizenship Industry. This bill is saying, "whosoever will may come, the doors are wide open and the eyes of the political directorate of the Turks and Caicos are tightly closed".
Progressive Democratic Alliance leader Oswald Skippings said, "this bill is screaming, come everybody, even those that are stateless, oppressed, dangerous and desperate from anywhere, everywhere and we will give you refuge, prosperity and prominence as we ourselves suffer from poverty and marginalization, and most of all, we will give you political sovereignty over us, because there will be more of you that can vote than of us that can vote, I have to ask what in God's name has gotten over our elected officials?"
This Status Bill indicates that we are a country that is suffering and dying from the lack of Citizens and that we are craving to enlarge the franchise so that the indigenous makeup of Turks and Caicos Islands would henceforth and forever be a thing of the past.
This bill says that we are desperate to be further diminished and dis-empowered as a people who has already lost everything that we are entitled to, from our constitution, our top ranking civil service jobs, to our menial jobs on the street.
Why is there such a desperate rush to broaden the franchise and thereby take away our franchise as Turks and Caicos Islanders? Don't we like to belong, don't we want to belong, don't we have a right to belong, or are we all under some demonic spell that has us senselessly duped into accepting our national demise? It is so obvious that we are extending the immigration red carpet that is making Turks and Caicos Islanders carpet beggars.
If this government does not have the will nor the skill to produce sensible Immigrations bills that will protect us as a people, there are patriotic others in this country that have the common sense and ability to fashion sensible immigration bills that allow for however many thousands of immigrant workers that are needed to work here to fuel our economy without giving away our birthright. As a developing country, we are definitely in the business of welcoming and helping our less fortunate neighbors and others by offering them much needed jobs but we are not in the business of offering random citizenship or status that would further alienate us, our children and our grandchildren in our own country.
We as a country are offering jobs that would help these expatriate workers, help their families back home and help to build their own country's economy through tens of millions of dollars in remittances sent through banks, money transfers and individual carriers. While we often get caught up in anthems or cliches like God Bless America and God save our gracious Queen, it's about time that we reach out to God and ask for his blessings on the Turks and Caicos as we say, "God Save Our Gracious Turks and Caicos," because nobody has been more gracious than us toward other nations and peoples.
The PDA leader said, "It is a little wonder that we are perceived as being so passive and directionless, while people come from distant lands are not afraid or ashamed to show their patriotism and love for their country, their indigenousness and their culture of their homeland, and I have no problem with that, we as the legitimate custodians at home in our homeland, are too intimidated to cherish and protect ours rights and our heritage here at home for fear of being labeled as anti-foreigners".
Mr. Skippings continued by saying, "So I appeal to the lawmakers in this country, the politicians for whom we stood in the heat of the sun for up to six hours and voted for to represent us, our interest and that of our country, to show some kind of patriotic loyalty, vision, common sense and intestinal fortitude, to kill these immigrations bills before they kills us as a Turks and Caicos people.
MINISTERIAL GOVERNMENT HOST PUBLIC TOWN HALL MEETING ON MAJOR CURRENT ISSUES
Meanwhile, a Public Town Hall meeting, hosted by the Premier, Dr. the Hon. Rufus W. Ewing and his Ministerial Cabinet, has been scheduled for on Monday September 7th, 2015 at 7:00 pm at the Gustavus Lightbourne Complex in Providenciales and on Wednesday September 9, 2015 at 7:00 pm at the HJR High School’s auditorium in Grand Turk.
High among the Agenda Topics for the evenings' discussions will be:
- The UK's refusal of the HOA recommendations for Constitutional Review
- The UK's Appropriation of additional funding for SIPT
- The Immigration Bill 2015, as well as other matters of national importance.
The general public is invited to attend to hear their Government's views and plans of action, as well as to share their opinions and views on these critical matters and how they impact the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Deputy Premier sends heartfelt best wishes to Students and Staff for the new Academic School Year 2015/2016
The Minister of Education, Youth, Sport and Libraries Services, Deputy Premier Akierra M D Missick, sends heartfelt best wishes to Students and Staff for the new Academic School Year 2015/2016, commencing September 7 2015.
The start of this academic school year will see many changes not only in staffing but also programs offered at our schools. We are looking forward to the introduction of the Caribbean Vocational Qualification in our high schools, which will provide another avenue for students to succeed in obtaining certification and qualifications preparing them for the working world.
We also send a warm welcome to the new staff joining us this year at the Department of Education. During the year we expect to be joined by a new education psychologist who will replace Mr George Pratt who is commencing study leave. Similarly, Ms Dara Thomas will proceed on one years's leave to pursue a Masters in Educational Leadership in the United Kingdom. Accompanying Ms Thomas' departure will be the transfer of Mr David Bowen Principal of Marjorie Basden high-school to the Department of Education. This is a significant change and it is expected that Mr Bowen will bring with him his over 15 years of leadership to the position of Education Officer High Schools. Mr Rodney Cox will take the reins as Acting Principal at Marjorie Basden high school. The Ministry celebrates these changes and see them leading to improvements in teaching and creativity in the sector, and wish Mr Pratt and Ms Thomas the greatest success during their studies aboard.
According to the Honorable Minister, "We are looking forward to the opening of our campuses doors, and welcoming our students and staff to an exciting school year. No doubt some of the infrastructural changes such as new science labs, home economics labs and woodwork rooms at various schools will enhance the teaching and learning environment in our sector."
The Ministry and Department of Education have worked tirelessly over the summer break to ensure all campuses and staff are ready for the new academic year. We ask that Parents and Guardians be prepared to work with their child's school administrators to ensure that this academic year is a safe and healthy one. We advise that parents become actively involved in their schools Parent and Teachers Associations (PTAs) so we can take a joint and coordinated approach to matters that may arise during the school year. We urge Parents to remind their children that their schools belong to them and should be treated as such.
The Ministry and Department team will be conducting site visits during this month to all of the campuses and look forward to welcoming all students and staff to academic year 2015/2016; and towards celebrating the many successes that will be accomplished over this academic school year in a spirit of partnership and making it the best one yet!
2,000 cast members, youth empowerment and Samoan celebration at heart of Samoa 2015’s Ceremonies
2,000 young cast members and teachers from 13 different Samoan schools feature in the Vth Commonwealth Youth Games Ceremonies, which started tonight with an immersive and uniquely Pacific-style Opening event. The joyous celebration of impactful sporting performance, personal development and international friendship will feature 904 athletes from 66 Commonwealth countries, mostly aged 14-18, aiming for 107 Gold Medals in 9 sports over 5 days of competition.
The Samoa 2015 Commonwealth Youth Games Ceremonies follow the overall theme for the Games with Inspiration and Empowerment of young people at their core. The Opening Ceremony was Samoa’s largest-ever cultural performance, featuring almost 1% of the entire island population, and was in two distinct parts: Traditional Samoa with a solemn and more serious re-telling of the Creation Mythology of Samoa with Tagaloalagi and the creation of the nine heavens through traditional dances and songs featuring an array of ma’uluulu, Siva Ti’a and siva afi; and Contemporary Samoa, a fun setting of Samoa today. Here the theme of contemporary Samoa highlights “icons” presented in a more informal setting, such as a local policeman directing traffic that leads to the performance of a Contemporary Ava Dance.
Dignitaries, spectators and athletes from around the Commonwealth, including the Samoan Head of State, Samoan Prime Minister, Commonwealth Secretariat Secretary General and President of the Commonwealth Games Federation, enjoyed traditional singing, dancing and Pacific entertainment. The event started with the parade of nations, with the previous Youth Games host from 2011, Isle of Man, given the honour of entering the field of play first.
Addressing the crowd, and asking the young athletes to show themselves as stars of the Young Commonwealth by raising their smartphones in to the air, Commonwealth Games Federation President Louise Martin CBE said: “It gives me the greatest of pleasure to stand here before you at the Opening Ceremony of the Vth Commonwealth Youth Games – a joyful celebration of impactful sporting performance, personal development and new Commonwealth friendships made on the level playing field of sport. Having been involved with the very first Commonwealth Youth Games back in the year 2000, I am so pleased and proud to see this very special event now taking place on your wonderful Pacific island nation”.
Speaking before the Ceremony, Producer and Artistic Director of the Ceremonies, Tuilagi Seiuli Allan Alo Va’ai, added: “The Cultural Program is a platform to highlight the value and the need for continued development of the Arts in School curriculum in Samoa - Primary, Secondary and Tertiary. I would like to thank my creative team, Music Director extraordinaire Tuilagi Igelese Ete, Andrea Torres (Aerial Samadhi Hawaii), Inipene Simanu and the Samoa Teachers Cultural group (Traditional), Eterei Salele and the USP Outreach Dance Theatre team (Contemporary) and Leua Latai and the National University of Samoa Art Agency (Props) and many others.
Finally the talents and determination of the 2,000 cast of young students and teachers from 13 different High schools selected from Government, Church and Private schools has made working on this Production an enjoyable and rewarding experience. I hope that the Cultural, Artistic and Educational program is inspiring and empowering for them.”
CARICOM Energy Programme Provides Solar Lanterns to Dominica
As part of the disaster response activities of the CARICOM Secretariat, the Energy Programme has provided four hundred Emergency LED Solar Lanterns to the Government of Dominica.
The lanterns are powered through a built in solar cell and are designed with back up battery and "hand cranking" charging options. They provide light through energy efficient LED bulbs and include a built¬ in USB port, which makes them capable of charging mobile phones and other electronic devices. The lanterns are an appropriate fit to the post disaster activities and, upon exposure to six hours of sunlight, provides lighting and power for communication devices, which can simultaneously improve the situation of residents and assist emergency field workers in the discharge of their tasks. Dominica was the most severely impacted among the CARICOM Member States on which Tropical Storm Erika unleashed torrential rains on Thursday 27 August, with continuous rainfall measuring 10 inches over a 6-hour period. This heavy, intense rainfall caused a cresting in of rivers and ravines, which caused extensive flooding and resulted in loss of life, significant damage to infrastructure and displacement of hundreds of residents. The power infrastructure was heavily affected and many areas remain without access to electricity even now. ion services were affected.
The Caribbean Community (CARICOM), together with our international partners, stand in solidarity with the Government and people of Dominica during this period of difficulty.
The Energy Programme has pledged to continue supporting Dominica and will assist with the integration of sustainable energy designs into the post disaster rebuilding process. The contributions are being supported by the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (or REETA) Project, which is being financed by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH (GIZ) and based in the CARICOM Secretariat in Georgetown, Guyana.