Uganda school attack: I covered myself in blood to hide
Student Julius Isingoma has told the BBC how he miraculously survived a night-time assault by suspected Islamist rebels on his school dormitory in western Uganda.
"I smeared the blood of my dead colleagues in my mouth, ears, and on my head so that the attackers would think I was dead," he said when we met him at Bwera General Hospital in Kasese district.
About 40 people - 37 of them students - died in the attack on the secondary school in the small town of Mpondwe on Friday night.
Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni blamed the attack on the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), adding that they were "possibly working with other criminals because I hear that school had some wrangles". He did not elaborate but vowed to hunt down the militants in their hide-outs across the border in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The ADF has not yet commented.
It was formed in the 1990s and took up arms against Mr. Museveni, alleging persecution of the minority Muslim population.
Its leader reportedly pledged allegiance to the Islamic State (IS) group in 2016.
But it was not until April 2019 that IS first acknowledged its activity in the area, when it claimed an attack on army positions near the border with Uganda.
This statement marked the announcement of IS's "Central Africa Province" (Iscap).
Six students are believed to have been abducted as the militants retreated to DR Congo.
Julius was among six people who managed to survive the assault which lasted for several hours.
He did not identify the attackers but said they were gun-wielding men who launched their attack at about 22:00 local time.
They came to the boys' dormitory but the students had locked it after realizing they were in danger.
"When they couldn't open the door they hurled a bomb inside the dormitory and then used hammers and axes to break down the door," he said.
Julius was standing behind many of the students who had formed a shield near the door and were shot dead when the militants got into the dormitory.
There were cries as the students were gunned down, hacked, or shot to death.
He quickly climbed to the top of a bunk bed, removed some of the wooden planks from the ceiling, and jumped inside to hide.
From there, he helplessly watched his colleagues being brutally murdered by the assailants, who then set fire to mattresses and left.
"I was overwhelmed by the smoke and dropped back down into the dormitory with a thud," he said.
The militants heard the thud and came back.
At that point, Julius knew he had to come out of the attack alive.
"I lay next to the bloodied bodies of my friends and thought very fast. Then I smeared a lot of blood into my ears, mouth, and on my head, and when the militants came, they checked my hand for a pulse and left," Julius said.
Another survivor, Godwin Mumbere, was in the same dormitory as Julius.
The 18-year-old recalled the assailants going to the girls' dormitory, dragging them out, and hacking them to death with machetes.
They then came to the boys' dormitory, broke down the door, and started attacking the students.
The bed Godwin was hiding under was overturned and his friends on top fell to the ground and were killed.
"The attackers saw me but thought I was dead," he told the BBC.
But they went out and came back into the dormitory to ensure everyone was dead.
"It was at this point that they shot me in the hand and set the dorm ablaze," he said.
Godwin was brought back to reality by the shouts of another student who said they were dying.
He ran out of the dormitory, scaled the school gate, and ran to a nearby hardware store through a cocoa plantation. He got to a lodge and hid under a vehicle until he was rescued.
Clarice Bwambare, the senior administrator of Bwera General Hospital, told the BBC they started receiving the bodies of students and residents at around 01:00 - about three hours after the attack began on Friday night.
He noted that out of the 20 bodies they received, 18 were those of students.
Five survivors are currently recuperating at the hospital. One of them is a girl who is in critical condition at the intensive care unit. A surgeon advised that she cannot be moved because of a severe head injury from being hit with a hammer by the rebels.
Mr. Bwambare said only one body had not been claimed from the mortuary.
On Sunday, grief-stricken families buried 21 of the students, according to Uganda's New Vision newspaper.
Lying on his hospital bed, Julius expressed regret that he could not attend their funerals. He said he wished he was a soldier who could fight back and save the lives of his friends and colleagues.
Source- BBC
At least 6 teens shot after Milwaukee Juneteenth celebration ends
At least six teenagers were shot Monday afternoon around where Milwaukee’s Juneteenth celebration had just wrapped up, according to police and fire officials.
The shooting happened about 4:20 pm outside Greater Philadelphia Church of God in Christ, according to witnesses and a Facebook Live video taken by a bystander in the immediate aftermath of the shooting, according to local media outlets.
Milwaukee Police Chief Jeffrey Norman said six teens were shot, including a 17-year-old who may have been a gunman himself and is in custody. Police were still seeking additional suspects who hadn’t yet been identified.
Police said the victims, four girls, and two boys, ranged in age from 14-19.
Norman said the shooting may have stemmed from a fight among a number of girls and young women, but he didn’t know what sparked the dispute. The injuries of those wounded varied but did not appear life-threatening, the chief said.
“Milwaukee, what’s going on with our children?” Norman wondered aloud at a news conference. He noted that he had taken part in the city’s Juneteenth celebrations for eight years without any such bloody aftermath.
“Parents, guardians, elders, we need to ensure that this violence that our children are bringing these streets ceases. No handgun, no weapons of destruction, should be in the hands of our young ones.”
“This is a story that plays out too often, and it’s getting really old. Really old,” Norman said.
The violence followed a bloody weekend of shootings across the United States.
Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson stressed that Monday’s Juneteenth observance itself was a safe and growing event, calling the subsequent violence “totally, totally unacceptable.”
“We had thousands and thousands of people here celebrating and bringing themselves together and having a sense of community. That’s a powerful thing. That’s the true story about what this day is,” said Johnson, a Democrat.
A Facebook Live video taken in the immediate aftermath of the shooting shows at least two young people with gunshot wounds being treated by paramedics on the pavement.
The person who filmed the Facebook Live said in the video that a teenage girl or young woman had suffered a gunshot wound to the neck. The Facebook user tried to comfort her sobbing friend, who was trying to contact her mother. About 20 minutes after the festival had officially ended, hundreds of people were still walking along the street.
Thousands of people packed King Drive for the festival, which ran from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Vendors selling food and wares lined the street along with community organizations offering resources, snacks, and free giveaways.
Source- Jamaica Observer
Tropical Storm Bret forms in Atlantic, with possible hurricane threat to Caribbean islands
Tropical Storm Bret formed in the central Atlantic Ocean on Monday, with forecasters saying it could pose a hurricane threat to the Lesser Antilles by Thursday and the Dominican Republic and Haiti by the weekend.
The National Hurricane Centre in Miami said the Bret had maximum sustained winds of 40 mph (65 kph) at 5 pm centre Monday as it moved west across the Atlantic at 21 mph (33 kph). Forecasters expect it to strengthen over the next two days, reaching Category 1 hurricane strength of 74 mph (120 kph) by Wednesday night. Because of wind shear, the storm is not expected to strengthen into a Category 2 storm.
Bret is “forecast to strengthen and move across the Lesser Antilles as a hurricane on Thursday and Friday, bringing a risk of flooding from heavy rainfall, hurricane-force winds, and dangerous storm surge and waves,” the center said.
There is a possibility the storm could turn north or continue west into the Caribbean and threaten the Dominican Republic, Haiti, and other islands.
"Everyone in the Lesser Antilles, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands should closely monitor updates to the forecast for this system and have their hurricane plan in place,” the center said.
Tropical Storm Arlene, the first storm of the 2023 season, formed earlier this month. It petered out after two days, never threatening landfall.
Source- Jamaica Observer
Twitter sued by music publishers for $250m
A group of 17 music publishers in the US has sued Twitter, claiming the platform enabled copyright violations involving nearly 1,700 songs.
The National Music Publishers' Association (NMPA) is seeking more than $250m (£197.7m) in damages.
In a lawsuit filed at the Federal District Court in Nashville, the NMPA claimed Twitter "permits and encourages infringement" for profit.
It says the situation has not improved since Elon Musk bought the company.
The NMPA, which represents firms - including Sony Music Publishing, BMG Rights Management, and Universal Music Publishing Group - alleged that Twitter continues to "reap huge profits from the availability of unlicensed music without paying the necessary licensing fees for it".
It added that the infringements have given Twitter an "unfair advantage" over competitors - including TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Snapchat - which pay for music licenses.
Twitter "stands alone as the largest social media platform that has completely refused to license the millions of songs on its service," NMPA President David Israelite said in a statement.
Mr. Musk, who recently reclaimed the title of the world's richest person, bought Twitter last year for $44bn.
The NMPA also said: "Twitter's change in ownership in October 2022 has not led to improvements in how it acts with respect to copyright."
"On the contrary, Twitter's internal affairs regarding matters pertaining to this case are in disarray," it added.
NMPA cited Twitter's downsizing of "critical departments involved with content review and policing terms of service violations", and the resignations of trust and safety chiefs Yoel Roth and Ella Irwin.
The NMPA also alleged that Twitter "routinely ignores known repeat infringers and known infringements".
Earlier this month, Linda Yaccarino, the former head of advertising at media giant NBCUniversal, became the new boss of the troubled social media firm.
Ms. Yaccarino oversees business operations at the platform, which has been struggling to make money.
Since buying Twitter, Mr. Musk has cut 75% of its workforce, including teams charged with tracking abuse, and changed how the company verifies accounts.
Source- BBC
New Nio EL6 to take on electric luxury SUV market
Alongside the new ET5 Touring, Nio has unveiled its latest SUV, called the EL6. It’s a premium SUV with pure-electric power and takes on the likes of the Audi Q8 e-tron and Mercedes EQE.
Chinese brand Nio hasn’t disclosed its intentions for the UK market, but we expect the EL6 and the ET5 in saloon and estate form to arrive here sometime in 2024. We’ve already driven the new ET5 and the EL6 will share the same EV architecture.
It’s also clear the EL6 shares plenty of the ET5’s design. The EL6 carries over much of the ES6’s exterior style, with slim headlights and a flush grille area an obvious trait of Nio’s cars. There’s smooth surfacing throughout and pull-out door handles, but the EL6’s body style is that of a traditional SUV. At 4,854mm long, 1,995mm wide and with a height of 1,703mm, the EL6 is comparable in size to the BMW iX.
On the inside, there’s a clear evolution of the layout found in the old ES6. There’s a large central touchscreen, a new driver’s display and a head-up display, but overall it’s a minimal design with a small number of physical switches. Nio says the glass sunroof is the largest in its class providing an opening of one square metre. Nio also says comfort has been a priority with the EL6; the 20-way adjustable seats were developed in-house and feature three-zone heating, ventilation and various massaging functions.
Alongside a comfortable ride, the EL6 features flexible storage space with a three-layer trunk offering a maximum volume of 668 litres. The rear seats can be split and folded in a 40/20/40 layout, generating further storage space of up to 1,430 litres.
Sitting on the same architecture as the ET5, the EL6 uses a dual-motor four-wheel-drive system with a 100kW battery sending power to both axles resulting in 483bhp and 700Nm of torque. The 0-62mph sprint is covered in 4.5 seconds - half a second slower than the ET5 Touring.
The EL6 comes with nine driving modes, varying from a comfort-oriented approach to a sportier drive. There’s damping control which can electronically make up to 500 adjustments per second and braking force can also be automatically adjusted for the environment.
UK sales haven’t been finalised yet, but the Chinese brand could make a stir in the EV sector by offering battery-swap infrastructure to reduce charging waits – technology the firm has already rolled out in Europe.
Source- AutoExpress
Spotify podcast deal with Harry and Meghan ends
Spotify's deal with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex for the couple to produce podcasts has ended.
A joint statement from Harry and Meghan's company and the streaming giant said they had "mutually agreed to part ways".
Spotify confirmed it was not renewing Meghan's podcast Archetypes, which ran for 12 episodes from August 2022, for a second series.
The contract was estimated to be worth $25m (£18m) in late 2020.
The podcast deal was one of the major commercial agreements the couple entered into after quitting royal duties and relocating to the US in 2020.
When it was announced in late 2020, the prince said it would "bring forward different perspectives and voices that perhaps you haven't heard before".
Archetypes saw Meghan speak to high-profile figures like Serena Williams and Mariah Carey about stereotypes leveled against women.
A statement from Spotify and Archewell Audio, the couple's content creation label, said they were "proud of the series we made together".
In December, Archetypes won the top podcast award at the People's Choice Award in Los Angeles.
At the time, Meghan wrote: "I loved digging my hands into the process, sitting up late at night in bed, working on the writing and creative.
"And I loved digging deep into a meaningful conversation with my diverse and inspiring guests, laughing and learning with them. It has been such a labor of love."
The Wall Street Journal quoted an Archewell spokeswoman as saying Meghan was "continuing to develop more content for the Archetypes audience on another platform".
When the agreement with Spotify was first announced, it was billed as a relationship that would produce several series - but in the end, only one materialized.
American media reports suggest the royal couple failed to meet the productivity benchmark required by Spotify, and therefore wouldn't be receiving the full value of the contract.
Since splitting from the royal family, Harry and Meghan have looked to capitalize on their global fame in order to become financially independent.
That has included a multi-million dollar content deal with Netflix, and Harry's huge contract with Penguin Books, which has already produced his autobiography Spare.
It follows Spotify's announcement last week that it was cutting 200 jobs in its podcast division after a period of heavy investment in the medium, saying it was embarking on a "strategic realignment".
The headline and first paragraph of this article were changed on 16 June to make it clear that - as stated in the article - the published statement said there was a mutual agreement between Spotify and the royal couple to end the deal.
Source- BBC
TCIG Signs Agreement with Hamilton Education Foundation
On June 15, 2023, the Government of the Turks and Caicos Islands signed a development agreement with the Hamilton Education Foundation for the construction and operation of the Hamilton University School of Medicine and Hamilton University Medical Center in the Turks and Caicos Islands, to be located in Grace Bay, Providenciales.
The signing ceremony was attended by the Premier of the Turks and Caicos Islands, Hon. Charles Washington Misick, The Acting Governor, Her Excellency Anya Williams, the Director and Chairman of The Hamilton Education Foundation, and Hon. Dr. Rufus W. Ewing.
Legal Counsel for Invest Turks and Caicos, Ms. Judith Garland, and the Legal Counsel for The Hamilton Education Foundation, Ms. Yvette Marcelin.
The Hamilton University School of Medicine and Hamilton University Medical Center will be housed in a purpose-built 46,000 square feet five-story state-of-the-art building in Grace Bay. The institution aims to address the current and emerging health challenges and will provide medical education and training to meet the growing demand for physicians and healthcare professionals in the Turks and Caicos, the Caribbean region, and globally.
In addition, through the University Medical Center and community-based health programs, the university will enhance equitable access to health services through specialist medical programs, medical tourism, transnational education, and collaborative research. The Hamilton University School of Medicine, the Hamilton University Medical Center, and its affiliated Hamilton University Research Institute will drive health innovation and global health equity, and socio-economic transformation of the Turks and Caicos Islands.
The Premier in his remarks expressed that the development of the Hamilton University School of Medicine and the University Medical Center will go a long way in achieving his government's commitment to the diversification of the TCI economy through social and economic transformation, while also addressing the health challenges of the Turks and Caicos Islands and beyond. The Acting Governor in her remarks stated that the university through its health and research programs will enhance Turks and Caicos visibility on the global stage and recognition as a major player in addressing the global health challenges.
TCI POST CABINET STATEMENT
Her Excellency the Acting Governor, Anya Williams, chaired the 16th meeting of Cabinet on Wednesday 14 June 2023 at the Bellfield Landing on North Caicos.
All Members were present with the exception of the Hon Minister for Health.
At this meeting Cabinet:
Was updated on the recent spate of murders and actions going forwards, in particular with the imminent arrival of recently trained RTCIPF officers to strengthen ongoing investigations.
Discussed the Treatment Abroad Program and agreed on the next steps.
Discussed proposed capital-related projects for utilities and multisector regulation under the Fortis G15 Project and agreed on the next steps.
Approved a business case for the redevelopment of the Howard Hamilton Airport on Providenciales with consideration for procurement via Public Private Partnership, the amendment of related ordinances and instructions to facilitate procurement for Cabinet approval and for these to be submitted to the House of Assembly before the end September 2023 for consideration.
Approved amendments to the National Physical Development Plan preserving Water Cay as an uninhabited island and with Little Water Cay maintained and studied for environmental protection and sustainability.
Approved an implementation strategy of three short-term programs under the National Housing Policy, coving concessions for residential developers, home improvement programs for existing homeowners, and, community renewal and infilling.
Approved amendments to the National Investment Policy 2023, influencing greater Foreign and Domestic Direct Investments and policy formation aimed at removing barriers to local business expansion, and support in marketing and promotion work.
Approved for the TCI Government to conclude negotiation on a development agreement with Hamilton Education Foundation Ltd for the development of a medical school and connected facilities on Providenciales.
Approved an adjustment to the Financial Services Commission’s salary structure, bringing this in line with local and regional comparators and improving the effectiveness of the Commission.
Approved a contract extension and amendment for Economic Substance Consultancy to provide advice, assistance, and an IT portal strategy in regard to the removal of the Turks & Caicos Islands from an EU list (“EU blacklist”) of non-cooperative jurisdictions for tax purposes. Members also approved funding for the IT Portal Strategy.
Was updated on the outstanding asylum cases and the responses that will be given by the TCI Government and H.E. the Governor. Members discussed lessons learned and steps being taken to manage this issue.
Further information on these matters will be provided by Ministers in due course.
Illegal Firearm and Robbery
Illegal Firearm Recovered; Four detained
The Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force Response and Operations Team, this morning arrested four males and seized an illegal firearm and ammunition.
According to police reports, while on patrol, the officers noticed a white vehicle, with four occupants parked in the vicinity of a financial institution located in Downtown Providenciales around 3:30 a.m.
The officers conducted a stop search and discovered a firearm containing a magazine with ammunition.
The suspects ages 31 and 37 are from Haiti, while the remaining two - ages 52 and 27 are from the Bahamas and are currently in police custody assisting with investigations.
Commenting on the illegal firearm and ammunition found, Commissioner of Police Trevor Botting said: “There has been a renewed effort on the part of RTCIPF, to rid the streets of illegal firearms, given that for the year, of the seven homicides, six were committed, with illegal firearms. The number of illegal firearms in the country is fueling violent crime. The RTCIPF has recovered four firearms for the year. I wish to point out and warn criminals that the RTCIPF will not cower from our responsibilities, and we will not be shying away from enforcing our duties. To my officers who on a daily basis place their lives on the line to protect and defend the law abiders of the TCI, I salute you. Thank you for your dedication, commitment, and service.”
Robbery Accused Charged
A man who allegedly robbed a business place has been charged by detectives of the Serious
Crime Unit of the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force.
The accused, Spencer Missick, 68, of Nassau, Bahamas, was charged on June 15, with
Robbery; Contrary to Section 3 of the Offences Against the Person Ordinance Chapter 3.08.
The charge stemmed from a June 07th, incident that occurred in the Long Bay district.
In an unrelated matter, a 33-year-old Haiti national has been charged with Illegal Entry.
Daniel Jean was charged on June 11th by the Serious Crime Unit.
The charge against Mr. Jean state that on May 19th, the said offense was committed, in
Contravention of Section 34(1) of the Immigration Ordinance Chapter 3.08.
Both accused are expected to appear in Court next week.
Hon. Josephine Connolly, celebrates the Grand opening of the Carlton Williams Promenade
Minister of Tourism, Hon. Josephine Connolly, celebrated the opening of the Carlton Williams Promenade in Bottle Creek, North Caicos, on Tuesday, June 13th, 2023.
The promenade is named after Mr. Carlton Williams, who, as a child, assisted his father in establishing the sisal industry. Carlton, the only son of Mr. Claudius Williams, was essential to the family enterprise. To the extent that young Carlton regrettably lost his fingers to the heavy equipment used to facilitate the laborious work.
The Carlton Williams Promenade features artifacts from the Sisal era. These items were conserved to demonstrate the history of the island. The mid-19th century Turks and Caicos Islands' sisal industry was significant. Mr. Stubbs carried sisal from The Bahamas' Crooked Island. Due to the climate and soil, this was a profitable crop.
Sisal was cultivated for its valuable fiber, which was utilized to create cords, twine, carpets, and other handicrafts. The East Caicos Company and the West Caicos Fiber Company founded the industry. Kew, North Caicos, and Bellevue Plantation each produced 150 acres of sisal in 1907. Despite its decline, the Turks and Caicos Islands' sisal industry has sustained livelihoods and contributed to the economy.
In her remarks, Hon Connolly highlighted the significance of the promenade to the development of the Turks and Caicos economy, most notably in the mid-nineteenth century, which produced a bountiful crop.
She then noted the historical significance and contributions of sisal remains, although the industry has waned. Stating that it played a 'crucial role in supporting livelihoods, generated revenue, and drove economic development during its peak.'
Although Mr. Carlton Williams was not in attendance, his son, Claudius Williams, was on hand to receive the honor on his father's behalf and stated that the promenade would be one of his father's first stops upon his return to Turks and Caicos on July.
Mrs. Lormeka Williams hosted the evening, and welcome remarks were made by the district Commissioner of North Caicos, Mr. Jas Walkin.
Remarks were also made by Hon Charles Washington Missick, MP for North Caicos and Middle Caicos, Hon. Arlington Musgrove, as well as Acting Governor H.E Anya Williams.
The festivities ended with the prayer and blessing of the promenade by pastor Winston Gardiner and a ribbon cutting by Hon. Josephine Connolly.
Hon. Josephine Connolly was sure to extend her heartfelt gratitude to crucial collaborators such as her staff at DECR and Mr. Jas Walkin for his warm welcome to North Caicos.