Anguilla conducts island-wide fogging to eradicate mosquitoes
Residents of Anguilla are being urged to do their part to prevent the spread of mosquitoes as the Environmental Health Unit (EHU) embarks on an island-wide fogging exercise.
This will be done from October 30 to November 7, 2023. Nightly sessions will commence at 5:30 p.m.
The Unit says householders should take all necessary precautions to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes which cause illnesses, such as Dengue Fever, Yellow Fever, West Nile virus and Encephalitis.
The Vector Control Squad is urging householders to eliminate all breeding sites from in and around their homes. It says such measures will go a long way in controlling and preventing the breeding of mosquitoes, as no containers equal no water, no water equals no mosquitoes and therefore no mosquito bites.
The EHU wishes to emphasize that fogging only kills adult mosquitoes and is urging all householders to eliminate all potential breeding sites from, in and around their premises; drain all stagnant water areas, remove unwanted containers, and screen cisterns.
The Environmental Health Unit is recommending that during the fogging exercise, householders should cover all potable water, food items and utensils. Open all windows to allow the fog to pass through the premises to kill any adult mosquitoes present. Persons likely to be affected by the fog (especially the sick, allergic, asthmatic, very young and elderly) should relocate during the fogging time in their locality.
If any breathing complications arise as a result of the fog, persons should consult a physician.
All motorists are asked to observe the strobe lights and be cautious when driving behind the fogging vehicle.
The Environmental Health Unit is urging the general public not to interfere with Vector Control Officers during the fogging exercise.
Tentative FOGGING SCHEDULE for the week of Monday, October 30 to Tuesday, November 7, 2023:
Monday, October 30
West End, Long Bay, Cove Road, Rendezvous, Blowing Point, Cul De Sac
Tuesday, October 31
Lower South Hill, Upper South Hill, Sandy Ground, North Hill
Wednesday, November 1
Swing High, Water Swamp, Old Ta, George Hill, Statia Valley, Little Harbour, Long Ground, Forest, Corito, and Rey Hill
Thursday, November 2
Rock Farm, Sachasses, Katouche, Roaches Hill, The Valley North Valley, South Valley
Friday, November 3
North Side, May Pen, Cedar Village, True Eyes, Tackling
Saturday, November 4
Stoney Ground, Shoal Bay, Little Dix Cauls Bottom, Wattices and The Quarter
Sunday, November 5
The Farrington, Long Road, Sandy Hill, Sea Feathers, Church Gate, The Copse, East End, Pond Site, Pond Ground
Monday, November 6
Bad Cox, Deep Waters, Chalvilles, Welches, The Sea Rocks Island Harbour
Tuesday, November 7
The Keys, Garlin Bottom, Harbour Ridge, White Hill and Mount Fortune
Source- Caribbean Loop News
Matthew Perry cause of death inconclusive pending toxicology tests
The cause of Matthew Perry's death is unknown and has been "deferred" pending further investigation.
The LA Times and TMZ, which first reported the Friends actor had died, said the star was found unresponsive in a hot tub at his house on Saturday.
Perry's post-mortem examination was inconclusive, while officials await the results of toxicology tests.
There were no obvious signs of trauma, an LA Police spokesperson confirmed to CBS News, the BBC's US partner.
The LA County Medical Examiner's Office updated its file on Sunday to say the case had been deferred.
This usually means that the post-mortem is complete but more detail is needed.
A Los Angeles Fire Department spokesperson told the BBC on Sunday that first responders went to an address in the Pacific Palisades area, regarding a "water emergency" of an unknown type, but did not name Perry.
The Friends star, who died at the age of 54, was best known for playing wisecracking Chandler Bing in the hugely popular '90s TV sitcom.
The show, which followed the fortunes of six young friends living in New York City, aired from 1994 until 2004.
Its final episode was watched by 52.5 million in the US, making it the most-watched TV episode of the 2000s.
But while at the height of his fame, Perry was battling with addiction to painkillers and alcohol and attended rehabilitation clinics on multiple occasions.
In 2016, he told BBC Radio 2 that he could not remember three years of filming during Friends, because of drink and drugs.
Source- BBC
H- Friends, Comedy, Television, Matthew Perry
Chiefs beaten in Denver and 49ers lose third in a row
Defending champions the Kansas City Chiefs suffered a shock 24-9 defeat at the Denver Broncos on another intriguing NFL Sunday.
The Philadelphia Eagles own the league's best record after grinding out a seventh win, but the San Francisco 49ers lost their third game in a row.
The Miami Dolphins and the Dallas Cowboys enjoyed blowout wins, while the Carolina Panthers finally got their first victory of the season.
A win at the Pittsburgh Steelers means the Jacksonville Jaguars are the form team in the league, rookie quarterback Will Levis made a spectacular NFL debut for the Tennessee Titans, and veteran Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins may have had his season ended by injury.
Denver had lost 16 games in a row against the Chiefs but broke that streak in style, becoming the first team to score more than 21 points against the impressive Kansas City defense this season.
Patrick Mahomes failed to throw a touchdown pass for the first time in 30 games in a bad day all around for the Chiefs, with their star quarterback suffering from illness in frigid conditions at Mile High Stadium.
The Broncos forced five turnovers as they secured their first win over Mahomes in 13 attempts and first win over their divisional rivals for 2,965 days - and they could not resist sending Travis Kelce and his team off the field to the sound of Taylor Swift's Shake it Off.
The defeat leaves the Chiefs on 6-2 and tied at the top of the AFC with the Baltimore Ravens, Jaguars, and Dolphins, all of whom won in week eight.
A 20-10 success in Pittsburgh made it five wins in a row for the Jaguars, who started their run with two victories in London.
The Ravens' 31-24 success in Arizona was their third in succession thanks to a strong defensive display and three rushing touchdowns for Gus Edwards, with Lamar Jackson not at his best.
The 49ers were the best team in the league after a 5-0 start, but they have now lost three straight games after a 31-17 home defeat by the Cincinnati Bengals.
Christian McCaffrey scored for the 17th consecutive game to tie Lenny Moore's NFL record from the 1963-64 season, but that was as good as it got as the 49ers stuttered on both sides of the ball.
In contrast, Cincy is heading in the opposite direction with a third straight win after Joe Burrow, who looks to be over a calf injury, threw three touchdowns.
Jalen Hurts suffered a knee injury but still threw four touchdowns as the Eagles again did just enough to beat the Washington Commanders 38-31.
AJ Brown made a stunning one-handed touchdown grab as he carved out a slice of NFL history with six straight games recording at least 125 yards, helping Philly to 7-1 and the best record in the league.
Bill Belichick has won 300 games as a head coach, but he cannot find a way to beat Tua Tagovailoa, the fourth-year quarterback who led Miami to a 31-17 victory to move to 6-0 against the New England Patriots.
The Cowboys emerged refreshed from their bye week to smash the Los Angeles Rams 43-20 behind four touchdown throws from Dak Prescott and some smothering defense that included DaRon Bland running back his third pick six of the season.
At 5-2 and with the 49ers struggling, the Cowboys are back in the conversation about who will be the biggest challengers to the Eagles in the NFC.
Source- BBC
Shein buys Misguided brand from Mike Ashley firm
Chinese clothing giant Shein is buying the Missguided brand name from Frasers Group a little more than a year after the British firm rescued the business.
Frasers announced that it was selling Missguided's intellectual property and trademarks to Shein.
But it is retaining the real estate as well as Missguided's employees, both of which "have now been integrated into Frasers' fashion division".
Shein pledged to use its e-commerce expertise to "reignite" the brand.
Retail analyst Catherine Shuttleworth said Shein would use Missguided to "increase its foothold in the West and drive sales in the UK".
She said Missguided appealed to a targeted market of younger shoppers, which Shein would be looking to tap into.
Frasers bought Missguided out of administration last June for £20m.
Michael Murray, the chief executive of Frasers Group and the son-in-law of the firm's founder Mike Ashley, said the company wanted to rationalize its business to focus on fewer brands. The company did not reveal how much it sold the brand for.
Frasers owns a huge and diverse number of retailers such as Sports Direct, Flannels, Jack Wills, Evans Cycles, and sofa.com.
It has also built stakes in the likes of Boohoo, where Frasers Group is the largest shareholder, as well as Asos.
Frasers has other fast-fashion, online brands such as I Saw It First and Missy Empire. Mr Murray said that the company had been in discussions with Shein about potential collaboration across both companies.
Missguided was founded in 2009 by Cheshire-born Nitin Passi and grew to become one of the UK's biggest online fashion businesses, focusing on younger women.
On its site, Missguided declares that "babe power is at the heart of our brand" and "we believe in championing young talent and real women".
After suffering from supply chain issues, rising freight costs, and increasing competition from rivals, Missguided fell into administration in May 2022 before being bought
Commenting on the deal, Shein executive chairman Donald Tang, said: "Shein aims to reignite the Missguided brand, capitalizing on its unique brand personality, and fuelling its global growth through Shein's on-demand production model, unparalleled e-commerce expertise and global reach."
Source- BBC
Facebook and Instagram launch ad-free subscription tier in EU
Facebook and Instagram are launching subscriptions in most of Europe that will remove adverts from the platforms.
People using the Meta-owned platforms will be able to pay €9.99 (£8.72) per month for an ad-free experience. It will not be available in the UK.
In January, Meta was fined €390m for breaking EU data rules around ads.
The regulator said at the time the firm could not "force consent" by saying consumers must accept how their data is used or leave the platforms.
The subscription tier will be exclusive to people in the EU, European Economic Area, and Switzerland from November.
But it will only be accessible for people aged over 18 at first, with the firm looking into how it can serve ads to young people in the EU without breaking the rules.
Meta said its new subscription was about addressing EU concerns, rather than making money.
"We believe in an ad-supported internet, which gives people access to personalized products and services regardless of their economic status," the firm wrote in a blog.
"The option for people to purchase a subscription for no ads balances the requirements of European regulators while giving users choice and allowing Meta to continue serving all people in the EU, EEA, and Switzerland.
"We respect the spirit and purpose of these evolving European regulations, and are committed to complying with them."
Users will be given the choice either to continue using the platforms for free - and have their data collected - or to pay and completely opt out of targeted ads by removing them.
But they could end up paying more than the initial monthly fee.
The service will cost an additional €3 per month if paid for on iOS or Android, to account for the additional fees taken by these platforms.
But this extra charge can be avoided by paying for the platform via the Facebook and Instagram websites, rather than the mobile apps.
Meanwhile, from March 2024, users must pay more money for each additional account they have on the platforms - such as having both a business and personal account.
The announcement comes after Elon Musk's X, formerly Twitter, introduced an ad-free Premium+ service priced at £16 per month.
There is also a much cheaper subscription tier on X that will still feature ads but give people the option to edit posts, as well as the standard premium tier that grants people a blue checkmark amongst other benefits.
TikTok has also been testing a monthly subscription to remove ads - priced at $4.99 - but there is no indication yet that this will be rolled out globally.
Source- BBC
How far would the US go to defend Israel?
The US has pledged its unwavering support to Israel and backed that up with military aid. But with the scars of past entanglements in the region still being felt, where is the limit to US involvement?
In his first reaction to the attack on Israel by Hamas, President Biden made clear whose side he's on: "The United States has Israel's back," he said.
"To anyone thinking of taking advantage of the situation, I have one word: Don't," he added.
This warning was clearly aimed at Iran and its allies.
US troops in Iraq and Syria have been attacked several times in recent days, the Pentagon says, and a US destroyer in the Red Sea intercepted missiles fired from Yemen that were "potentially" aimed toward Israel.
The US already has a carrier strike group in the Eastern Mediterranean, soon to be joined by another in the region. Each aircraft carrier has more than 70 aircraft on board - considerable firepower. Mr Biden has also placed thousands of US troops on standby to move to the region if required.
The US is Israel's largest military backer, providing about $3.8bn of defense aid a year.
The Israeli jets bombing Gaza are American-made, as are most of the precision-guided munitions now being used. Some of the interceptor missiles for Israel's Iron Dome air defense system are also produced in the US.
The US was sending re-supplies of those weapons even before Israel requested them. And on Friday President Biden asked Congress to approve $14bn funding for its Middle Eastern ally's war chest as part of a $105bn (£87bn) military aid package.
The following day, the Pentagon announced it would send two of its most potent missile defense systems to the Middle East - a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery and additional Patriot batteries.
But would a US president really be willing to become embroiled in another war, especially in an election year? Recent US military adventures in the region have proved costly - politically, economically, and in terms of American lives.
Michael Oren, a former US Israeli ambassador to the US, believes President Biden has already taken a first step by moving US aircraft carriers into the region. "You don't take that kind of pistol out unless you're willing to use it," he says.
But Seth G Jones, director of International Security at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, says the US would be reluctant to get directly engaged militarily in a war in Gaza.
The presence of the carrier strike groups, he says, could be useful "without firing a shot", not least because of their ability to gather intelligence and to provide air defenses. Any engagement would be "a last resort", he says.
It is primarily the threat from Israel's north, and specifically from the militant group Hezbollah, which now worries both Israel and the US.
The Iranian-backed group is a much greater threat than Hamas in Gaza. It has an arsenal of around 150,000 rockets which are more powerful and accurate than the ones used by Hamas. And it has already exchanged fire with Israel, its sworn enemy.
Mr. Oren fears Hezbollah could intervene when Israel is "already deep inside Gaza and already committed and tired".
If that happens, then Mr Oren believes there is a possibility the US would commit its sizeable airpower to strike targets inside Lebanon, though he does not see a situation in which America would commit boots on the ground.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin have both asserted that the US would respond if the situation escalates and any US personnel or military are targeted.
The US has the right to defend itself, said Mr. Austin on Sunday, and it will not hesitate to "take the appropriate action".
Mr. Jones acknowledges the risk of the conflict widening, but he believes that US deterrence "does raise the costs of risks for Iran and its proxies".
He says if Hezbollah in Lebanon were to engage in a major offensive operation from the north of Israel, "they would likely face a pretty serious response". He notes US forces in the region have come under limited attacks from Iranian-linked groups before.
Nor is Israel asking for direct military support in its war with Hamas. Danny Orbach, professor of military history at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, points out that Israel's military doctrine states it should be able to protect itself independently.
President Biden's visit to Israel this week showed that US support is conditional. He wants Israel to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza, and he does not want to see Israel occupy the Gaza Strip indefinitely. He told CBS's 60 Minutes that doing so would be a "big mistake".
US support may also be time-limited. Yaacov Katz, a military analyst and a columnist with the Jerusalem Post, believes that America's support for Israel will come under pressure as soon as its military operation begins in Gaza and the civilian casualties mount.
He believes support could soften within weeks. "I don't see Israel getting more leeway from America or the world for a ground offensive that lasts much longer," he says.
The US clearly hopes that its military support for Israel and its own bolstered military presence in the region will be enough to prevent the conflict from widening.
There are few examples of the US directly intervening on behalf of Israel. The US sending Patriot batteries to defend Israel from Iraqi Scud missile attacks, ahead of its own invasion in the 1991 Gulf War, is a rare exception.
In fact, the US has more often used its military leverage over Israel as a restraining hand.
Source- BBC
Roman Catholic priest appears in court charged with rape
A Roman Catholic priest appeared in the Family Court in St Vincent and the Grenadines on Monday charged with two counts of sexual offenses.
The priest, a foreign national, was arraigned on two counts of rape and two counts of indecent assault and appeared on camera before Magistrate, John Ballah, sitting in his capacity as deputy president of the Family Court.
Media reports here said that the cleric is alleged to have committed unlawful sex acts on a teenage female and was not called upon to plead to the indictable offenses. He has been granted and was granted bail to appear before the Family Court, whose president would conduct a preliminary inquiry.
The court would then decide if there was enough evidence to send the matter to trial before a judge and a jury.
The priest left the court in the company of a senior member of the Diocese of Kingstown, who told CMC that he had no comments to make regarding the allegation against the priest.
Source- Caribbean Loop News
Ministry Of Health and Human Services Confirms Dengue Case
On Tuesday, 17 October 2023, the Ministry of Health and Human Services (MoHHS) received a positive confirmation from the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) on a sample from a resident of Providenciales clinically suspected to have Dengue.
The Ministry maintains active surveillance considering the ongoing outbreaks in neighboring countries within the region with which the TCI has close trade and travel links. The confirmation of this case underscores the need for heightened awareness and preventive measures to protect individuals and communities from further exposure.
The Minister of Health and Human Services- The Honourable Shaun Malcolm stated that “the Ministry of Health is actively collaborating with local health care providers to monitor the situation closely and implement necessary preventive measures to ensure the well-being of the community, and that together we can all make a difference”.
Dengue is a mosquito-borne viral infection that significantly threatens public health. Dengue is transmitted by the bite of an infected mosquito. In the Americas, Aedes aegypti is the mosquito vector that is the main source of dengue transmission. These mosquitoes are also responsible for spreading zika and chikungunya. The Aedes aegypti mosquito is present in the Turks and Caicos Islands. Dengue is characterized by moderate to debilitating fever along with any of the following symptoms:
- severe headache
- pain behind the eyes
- joint and muscle pain
- fatigue
- skin rash
- nausea
- vomiting
- any warning sign
Symptoms of dengue typically last 2–7 days. Although most people will recover after about a week, Dengue Fever can escalate into life-threatening complications without timely medical intervention. Severe dengue is a medical emergency.
Warning signs of severe dengue.
Watch out for signs and symptoms of severe dengue. Warning signs usually begin in the 24–48 hours after your fever has gone away.
Immediately go to your nearest emergency room if you or a family member has any of the following symptoms.
Belly pain, tenderness
Vomiting (at least 3 times in 24 hours)
Bleeding from the nose or gums
Vomiting blood, or blood in the stool
Feeling tired, restless, or irritable
There is no specific treatment for dengue. Rest, proper hydration, and acetaminophen can be used. Do not take aspirin or ibuprofen!
To combat this growing public health challenge, we urge the community to take the following preventive measures:
1. Eliminate stagnant water: Mosquitoes that transmit dengue breed in stagnant water. Regularly empty and clean containers that can collect water, such as flowerpots, swimming pools, buckets, and old tires.
2. Use mosquito repellents: Apply mosquito repellents containing DEET according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
3. Wear protective clothing: Cover your skin with long-sleeved shirts, long pants, socks, and shoes when outdoors, especially during dawn and dusk.
4. Use mosquito nets: Utilize mosquito nets while sleeping, particularly for infants, young children, and the elderly.
5. Stay informed: Seek guidance from local health authorities and remain informed about any updates or precautions related to Dengue Fever in the region.
6. Seek medical attention: If experiencing symptoms related to Dengue Fever, seek medical care immediately and avoid self-medication.
Jay-Z answers the question: $500k cash, or lunch with... Jay-Z
Would you rather have lunch with rapper Jay-Z or take $500,000 in cash?
That has been the theoretical viral question asked of many - pitting a large sum of money against a chance to listen to the first hip-hop billionaire's pearls of wisdom.
And now finally, Jay-Z himself has shared his thoughts on the problem that the internet has been grappling with for years.
"You got to take the money," the 99 Problems rapper said.
When asked by CBS Morning's Gayle King if he would miss out on his wisdom for the money, Jay-Z said: "You got all that in the music for $10.99. Take the $500,000, go buy some albums and listen to the albums.
"If you piece it together and really listen to the music... it's all there.
"Everything I said was going to happen, happened. Everything I said I wanted to do, I've done. There's the blueprint
"The blueprint to me and my life and my journey is there already."
Jay-Z, real name Shawn Carter, has had an aspirational rise from selling drugs on the street as a 13-year-old to selling over 140 million records.
He later turned his success into a sprawling business empire that includes investments in record labels, sports teams, clothing brands, and alcohol. It has made him a billionaire.
He is now valued at $2.5bn, according to Forbes.
TikTok is littered with videos of people pondering the question, on podcasts and in street interviews.
Music journalist Sowmya Krishnamurthy on X, formerly known as Twitter, declared the debate "over" after Jay-Z's answer.
But radio personality Rickey Smiley said he would take the dinner to talk to him and learn from him. "That's something you just can't buy."
Earlier this month, a viral video emerged of Jay-Z fist-bumping a fan who told him he'd rather take the $500k.
Jay-Z's comments were part of a wider interview with CBS and a tour of an exhibit at the Brooklyn Public Library celebrating the life and work of the hip-hop legend.
The rapper is married to singer Beyonce, and they have three children.
Source- BBC
Cricket World Cup 2023
Afghanistan beat Pakistan for the first time in one-day cricket by pulling off their highest successful chase in the format in a World Cup thriller.
Ibrahim Zadran made 87, Rahmanullah Gurbaz smacked 65 and Rahmat Shah struck an unbeaten 77 as Afghanistan reached their target of 283 with eight wickets and six balls to spare.
Afghanistan is up to sixth, leaving holders England bottom of the table.
Captain Babar Azam earlier made 74 as Pakistan posted 282-7 in Chennai.
Teenage spinner Noor Ahmad was the pick of the Afghanistan bowlers, taking 3-49.
It is Afghanistan's first win over Pakistan in ODIs at the eighth attempt, with their total of 286-2 seeing them eclipse their previous record successful chase of 276-8 when set 274 to beat the United Arab Emirates in 2014.
It is also only Afghanistan's third World Cup win, after victories over Scotland in 2015 and England earlier in this tournament.
The Afghanistan fans in the crowd went wild when skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi hit the winning runs, the players saluting them with a lap of honor, some draped in the national flag.
The match brought back memories of another thriller between the sides at Headingley in the 2019 World Cup, though it is Afghanistan who came out on top this time to finally beat their neighbor in this format.
It also proved Afghanistan's victory over England in Delhi was no fluke as they coped admirably under pressure during the run chase.
Openers Gurbaz and Zadran made a blistering start to ensure they stayed ahead of the required rate, putting on 130 for the first wicket, their second-century stand of the tournament.
Gurbaz top-edged to Usama Mir at third man and Zadran was caught behind off Hassan Ali 13 runs short of a century, but Afghanistan showed resilience to maintain their momentum.
Rahmat hit five fours and two sixes in his composed knock, as Afghanistan became the first chasing team in World Cup history to have their top three all make half-centuries.
He was ably supported by Hashmat, who hit 48 not out from 45 balls, in an unbroken third-wicket partnership worth 96 to see Afghanistan over the line.
After beginning the tournament with back-to-back wins, Pakistan have now lost three in a row to leave their semi-final hopes in jeopardy.
They began well with the bat and reached 56-0 after the powerplay, their best 10-over total batting first at this World Cup, but their innings ground to a halt as they were well shackled by Afghanistan's spin-heavy attack.
The star with the ball for Afghanistan was 18-year-old Noor, playing just his fourth ODI and making his World Cup debut.
The left-arm wrist-spinner took the key wickets of Abdullah Shafique, who made 58 from 75, Muhammad Rizwan, and skipper Babar to help pin Pakistan down in the middle overs.
When Babar's attritional 92-ball knock ended in the 42nd over, Pakistan were wobbling on 206-5, though Iftikhar Ahmed injected some much-needed impetus late on with a spritely 40 from just 27 balls, including four sixes.
He put on 73 for the sixth wicket with Shadab Khan, who hit 40 from 38, as they lifted Pakistan to what seemed an imposing score before both were dismissed in the final over.
Afghanistan showed tremendous maturity and calmness in the chase, though their cause was helped by sloppy Pakistan fielding, which left team director Mickey Arthur absolutely seething in the dugout.
Pakistan stay in Chennai for their next match against South Africa on Friday. Afghanistan heads to Pune to take on Sri Lanka on Monday.
Source- BBC