The Weeknd sued for allegedly ripping off his triple-platinum hit "Call Out My Name"
The Weeknd is being accusing of stealing music for one of his biggest hits.
The three-time Grammy winner is being sued for allegedly plagiarizing another song for his 2018 triple-platinum single, "Call Out My Name."
Songwriters Suniel Fox and Henry Strange filed a copyright lawsuit claiming that the hit lifted elements from their 2015 track "Vibeking," according to Law 360. They also say they have records of correspondence with Eric White, the Weeknd's DJ and playback engineer, who told them that the singer described their track as "fire."
Fox and Strange are seeking all profits from "Call Out My Name" as well as legal fees, and they want to prevent The Weeknd from performing or distributing the song until a verdict is reached.
While the Canadian artist copes with the legal action, his career is being recognized by an academic institution, along with another star from Toronto.
Meanwhile, the Weeknd and his longtime friend Drake are the subjects of a new course at Ryerson University in their hometown.
"Deconstructing Drake and The Weeknd" will begin in 2022, taught by Professor Dalton Higgins.
"Why Drake & The Weeknd one might ask?," Higgins wrote on Instagram while mentioning courses taught in the United States examining the music of Beyoncé, Jay-Z, Prince and Outkast.
"It's time to get our Canadian rap & R&B icons recognized & canonized academically or otherwise," the professor maintained. "And it is CRITICAL for scholars, historians, to examine the Toronto music scene that birthed Drake/Weeknd and helped create the conditions for them to become mega successful."
Source - ABC
Government of Canada and CDB Establish New Fund to Support Disaster Risk Management
Governments in nine Caribbean countries will still be able to maintain their disaster risk management efforts even with national finances stretched by the demands of responding to the COVID-19
pandemic.
This is because the Government of Canada has partnered with the Caribbean Development Bank to offer assistance through a new CAD$20 million fund - the
Canada-CARICOM Climate Adaptation Fund (CCAF). The Bank’s Board of Directors approved the establishment of the Fund last Thursday. CCAF will be financed through Global Affairs Canada, while CDB will provide in-kind contribution valued at CAD $1.2 million.
The projects to be financed will run from July 2020 to March 2022. CDB Borrowing Member Countries (BMCs) which are eligible for CCAF assistance are Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Suriname.
The fund will support both short-term and longer-term measures to maintain and strengthen the disaster risk financial management capacity of the countries. The nine countries will have their Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility (CCRIF) insurance premium payments for either 2020-21 or 2021-22, covered through the fund.
CDB’s Director of Projects Daniel Best lauded the Government of Canada for increasing its support for the Caribbean’s climate resilience efforts in a difficult time, stating: “We know the ongoing COVID-19
pandemic has been placing severe pressure on BMCs’ public finances which could redirect resources away from planned investments in climate resilience. We are also conscious that the Caribbean is vulnerable to natural disasters; so it is equally critical that countries remain adequately protected against disaster risk. We
appreciate the intervention of the Government of Canada which recognised this and quickly stepped up to support Caribbean countries in maintaining their ongoing disaster risk reduction and climate resilience efforts.” Through risk-pooling and access to reinsurance and capital markets, CCRIF has enabled Caribbean countries to
purchase catastrophe risk insurance at 40-50% less than they would have paid had they approached the insurance market individually. Since its inception, CCRIF has made an estimated USD$ 150 million (mn) in payouts to 13 BMCs, within the guaranteed
14 days of an insurable event. A key longer-term focus of the CCAF is the support for technical expertise to help identify and design new innovative financing instruments to support disaster risk financing and climate resilience initiatives for all BMCs. The project is consistent with CDB’s policy on disaster risk management, which encourages and supports BMCs to use measures that offer protection even before an event takes place.
Ministry of Health issues warning on hand sanitizers manufactured by Eskbiochem
The Ministry of Health, Agriculture, Sports and Human Services (MoHASHS),in response to an US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advisory, is advising all local healthcare facilities, other local suppliers and the general public to discontinue the sale and/or use of any hand sanitizers manufactured by Eskbiochem SA de CV in Mexico.
The advisory results from information gathered that there is a potential presence of methanol (wood alcohol) – a substance that can be toxic when absorbed through the skin oringested – in these hand sanitizers.
The hand sanitizers in question have been identified below:
- All-Clean Hand Sanitizer (NDC: 74589-002-01)
- Esk Biochem Hand Sanitizer (NDC: 74589-007-01)
- CleanCare NoGerm Advanced Hand Sanitizer 75% Alcohol (NDC:
74589-008-04)
- Lavar 70 Gel Hand Sanitizer (NDC: 74589-006-01)
- The Good Gel Antibacterial Gel Hand Sanitizer (NDC: 74589-010-10)
- CleanCare NoGerm Advanced Hand Sanitizer 80% Alcohol (NDC:
74589-005-03)
- CleanCare NoGerm Advanced Hand Sanitizer 75% Alcohol (NDC:
74589-009-01)
- CleanCare NoGerm Advanced Hand Sanitizer 80% Alcohol (NDC:
74589-003-01)
- Saniderm Advanced Hand Sanitizer (NDC: 74589-001-01)
Methanol is not an acceptable ingredient for hand sanitizers and should not be used due to its toxic effects. Therefore, consumers who have been
exposed to hand sanitizers containing methanol should seek immediate treatment. Immediate treatment is vital to reverse potential toxic effects
of methanol poisoning. Symptoms associated with methanol exposure/poisoning include nausea, vomiting, headache, blurred vision, permanent blindness,
seizures, coma, permanent damage to the nervous system or death.
The MoHASHS therefore implores all local healthcare facilities and other local suppliers to:
1. Stop supplying the brands listed above immediately.
2. Notify your overseas suppliers.
3. Quarantine all remaining stock(s) of the identified brands for disposal by the Environmental Health Department.
Additionally, the MoHASHS wishes to implore members of the public not to flush or pour these products down the drain and recommends that consumers
dispose of them immediately in separately labelled containers. Persons may contact the Environmental Health Department at 338-2142 for more
information on how best to dispose of these hand sanitizers.
The MoHASHS further reminds consumers to wash their hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially:
- after going to the bathroom
- before eating
- after coughing, sneezing, or blowing one’s nose.
If soap and water are not readily available, the MoHASHS recommends that consumers use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60%
ethanol or 70 % isopropyl alcohol.
The MoHASHS’ top priority is to ensure public health safety and will therefore continue to monitor this situation as investigations continue.
WATER SERVICES GRAND TURK, SALT CAY AND SOUTH CAICOS
The General Public of Grand Turk, Salt Cay and South Caicos are hereby
informed of the recent changes made within the Water Undertaking
Department, which was passed at the House of Assembly on 22nd June 2020.
It was necessary for the government to increase the efficiency of the Water
Undertaking office and establish a legal framework that would allow a more
effective operation and service delivery.
Therefore, on the coming into effect of the Bill, the legislation will
support the following:
*(a) *the functions and powers of the Director who shall be responsible for
the management and administration of the Department;
*(b) *the powers to abstract water, to fix rates, fees and charges
to collect rates, fees and charges, to require the installation of
meters and to enter premises to provide services;
*(c) *the ability of the Director to diminish, withhold, suspend stop,
turn off or divert the supply of water when the Director thinks fit to
conserve water or to repair the water undertaking;
*(d) *the prohibition of customers from willfully injuring or fraudulently
altering any meter and to prohibit customers from fraudulently connecting
to the water undertaking;
*(e) *the power to disconnect when customers are in arrears;
*(f) *the Director to allow for the payment of large arrears by
installment by agreement in writing, where large arrears owed are—
· over $500 for residential customers; (ii) over $1000 for
commercial customers.
· to provide for a penalty of 5% where any bill remains unpaid;
*(g) *the establishment of a Complaints Board to resolve disputes arising
from a complaint between the Director and a customer.
Customers are also reminded that with effect from 1st July, 2020, the
provision of *“free water”* services under the Government Stimulus Plans in
response to Covid-19 will have expired and water supply will attract a
charged in the normal manner.
As we continue to provide more efficient services, we seek your cooperation
in adherence to the provisions detailed in the Ordinance, and to make every
effort to conserve water, where possible.
Please contact 649-338-3520 Water Undertaking Department for any inquiries
you may have as the relates to the above changes.
This week's NFL Round-up
Rookie Michael Badgley kicked a 29-yard field goal with no time left Sunday night to give the visiting Los Angeles Chargers a 33-30 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers.
At the game’s end, Badgley missed a 39-yard attempt and had a 34-yard try blocked, both with no time left, but the Steelers were offside both times.
The Chargers (9-3) erased a 16-point halftime deficit to win for the eighth time in nine games. The Steelers (7-4-1) have lost two straight following a six-game win streak.
Philip Rivers threw for 299 yards and two touchdowns for the Chargers. Ben Roethlisberger passed for 281 yards for Pittsburgh, with scoring passes to Antonio Brown (10 catches, 154 yards) and Jaylen Samuels, and James Conner ran for two touchdowns before leaving in the fourth quarter with a lower right leg injury.
Cardinals 20, Packers 17
Green Bay’s home loss to Arizona cost coach Mike McCarthy his job. The Packers (4-7-1) fell at Lambeau Field despite being 14-point favorites over the Cardinals (3-9).
Josh Rosen led the Cardinals to the go-ahead field goal, a 44-yarder by Zane Gonzalez, with 1:41 remaining. On third-and-23 earlier in the drive, Rosen scrambled to his right and found timeless veteran Larry Fitzgerald, who made a diving, 32-yard reception.
Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers subsequently converted a fourth-and-5 with a 7-yard pass to Jimmy Graham, moved the chains with a completion to Robert Tonyan and gained 11 on a scramble. That got the Packers into field-goal range, but Mason Crosby was wide right from 49 yards out as time expired.
Rams 30, Lions 16
Todd Gurley rushed for 132 yards and two touchdowns as Los Angeles clinched the NFC West title by pulling away from host Detroit.
Jared Goff completed 17 of 33 passes for 207 yards and a touchdown for the Rams (11-1) while getting picked off once. Robert Woods caught five passes for 67 yards and a score.
Matthew Stafford completed 20 of 33 passes for 245 yards with a touchdown and an interception for the Lions (4-8).
Patriots 24, Vikings 10
Tom Brady threw for 311 yards and the tiebreaking touchdown as New England retained the No. 2 seed in the AFC playoff picture by subduing Minnesota in Foxborough, Mass.
Brady, who completed 24 of 32 passes, found Josh Gordon over the middle for a 24-yard scoring strike with 35 seconds left in the third quarter that made it 17-10. James Develin added his second short scoring run on the next drive for the Patriots (9-3), going 2 yards with 10:54 remaining in the game to set the final margin.
Kirk Cousins completed 32 of 44 passes but for just 201 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions for Minnesota (6-5-1).
Texans 29, Browns 13
Ka’imi Fairbairn kicked five field goals, and host Houston converted all three Baker Mayfield interceptions into points in a victory over Cleveland.
The Texans (9-3) extended their franchise-best winning streak to nine games by capitalizing on the Browns’ error-prone rookie quarterback. By the time Mayfield engineered a 75-yard touchdown drive to open the second half, the Browns (4-7-1) trailed 23-0.
Deshaun Watson completed his opening 11 pass attempts as Houston scored to conclude its first two possessions. Watson passed for 224 yards but was sacked four times. Mayfield opened the second half 10 of 10 for 219 yards and finished 29 of 43 for 397 passing yards and a touchdown pass.
Giants 30, Bears 27 (OT)
Odell Beckham Jr. threw one touchdown pass and caught another score, and New York held on for an overtime win over Chicago in East Rutherford, N.J.
Aldrick Rosas kicked a tiebreaking field goal from 44 yards on the Giants’ first possession of overtime. New York (4-8) then relied on its defense to stop the final drive from the Bears, who forced overtime by erasing a 10-point deficit in the final 75 seconds.
Adam Shaheen, Akiem Hicks and Anthony Miller scored touchdowns for Chicago (8-4), which had its winning streak snapped at five games. Tarik Cohen took the ball on a reverse and tossed a 1-yard touchdown pass to Miller to even the score on the final play of regulation.
Seahawks 43, 49ers 16
Russell Wilson threw four touchdown passes, and Bobby Wagner returned an interception 98 yards for a score as Seattle defeated visiting San Francisco.
The Seahawks (7-5) won their third straight game while the 49ers (2-10) took their third consecutive loss.
Wilson completed 11 of 17 passes for 185 yards. The Seahawks, who have the league’s top rushing offense, added 168 yards on the ground. Chris Carson had 13 carries for 69 yards, and first-round draft pick Rashaad Penny had 65 yards and a touchdown on seven carries.
Jamaica big winner at 2018 World Travel Awards
Jamaica and Jamaican companies emerged the big winners at the just concluded World Travel Awards (WTA) Grand Final Gala Ceremony held in Lisbon, Portugal last night, by winning eight of the coveted awards.
Notably, Jamaica received the World's Leading Beach Destination and World's Leading Cruise Destination for 2018, a release from the tourism ministry disclosed.
In highlighting the significance of the awards, Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett who along with Chairman of the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB), John Lynch were present at the Gala, said: “I am truly proud to have been able share in this moment which highlights that Jamaica's tourism product is of the highest quality and remains top of mind for millions of visitors who come to our shore.
“Jamaica competed with the best of the best across the globe and has emerged a global winner acknowledged for the hard work and innovation being done in the sector.”
Delano Seiveright, senior advisor/strategist in the ministry noted that several Jamaican entities received the remaining awards, to include, "the World's Leading Luxury Hotel Villa, 2018 - Fleming Villa at GoldenEye, Jamaica; World's Leading Villa Resort 2018 - Round Hill Hotel & Villas, Jamaica; World's Leading All-inclusive Company 2018- Sandals Resorts International; World's Leading Family Resort Brand 2018 - Beaches Resorts; World's Leading Caribbean Attraction Company 2018 – Island Routes Caribbean Adventures and World's Leading Adventure Tour Operator 2018 - Chukka Caribbean Adventures."
The ministry said the event marks the climax of the WTA Grand Tour 2018 — an annual search for the finest travel and tourism organisations in the world. Government and industry leaders, luminaries and international print and broadcast media from across the globe were in attendance.
The WTA was established in 1993 to acknowledge, reward and celebrate excellence across all sectors of the tourism industry.**********************************
“Jamaica is poised for exponential growth in tourism and with this growth we will seek to be more innovative and provide more to our discerning visitors who come to get a taste of all the things we have to offer,” Bartlett pointed out.
Bartlett will travel to Istanbul, Turkey to speak at the third UNWTO/UNESCO World Conference on Tourism and Culture: For the Benefit of All, which will be hosted by the Government of Turkey, during the period December 3- 5, 2018.
Bartlett returns to the island on December 06.
Deputy Premier announces delay of 100% service charge
The Deputy Premier and Minister of Border Control and Employment Services announced on Saturday, the delayed commencement of the Hotel and Restaurant (Service Charge) Ordinance 2018.
The delay is being carried out to enable further public education and readiness for the new regime as well as to make any required legislative clarifications by way of amendments to avoid ambiguity and ensure proper understanding of and compliance with the Ordinance.
In the meantime, service charge will continue to be collected as currently provided under existing law.
Deputy Premier Astwood responded further in a release today which reads and I quote:
The decision to delay the Service Charge (Hotel and Restaurant) Ordinance start date was an important one to safeguard the rights of our workers and to achieve a smoother implementation whilst protecting the objective of the Bill which is to ensure that the largest work force are greater benefactors of our most lucrative Industry. We wish to assure all workers in the Hospitality Industry that this is by no means a denial but a short delay of this benefit.
We have passed a Bill that achieves this, and also one that protects the Operators from what would have been loss revenue with the implementation of a facility fee for up to 5% which is more than the 4% of the service charge split under the current law.
We are pleased that even ahead of the official start date, registrations were being received by my Ministry who has the responsibility for labour and is properly placed with its management and oversight.
We are however disappointed by the actions of a number of our people and PNP operatives who continue to try to undermine the implementation of this benefit and encouraging operators of Restaurants in particular to not cooperate.
We remained baffled by the few members of the House of Assembly who thought the benefit too good for the hard workers in the Industry and who continue to fight something that is good for our people and in the most underhanded way.
The Hospitality Sector employs the majority of workers in the Turks and Caicos; it is a lucrative sector and those who work hard in the Industry must be further incentivized. We are not asking Ors to but guests who no doubt believe that workers are already receiving the service charge. I wish to remind us all, that all Laws are always under review and we maintain that the Bill is not flawed but certainly will be improved following the consideration of these final submissions.
Despite the consultation on this matter beginning in 2015, we have received some late submissions including from the diverse villa rental sector, that we believe are worthy of consideration and which will help to tighten the Bill to ensure its objective is achieved and there must be further education and clarification on these new proposed inclusions.
Despite the criticism that we know was sure to come, as a mature Government it is important that we allow additional time to complete this process and to include any further ideas that will help to enhance the Bill.
We recognize that persons are disappointed with the delay but also wish to further clarify that there would not have been a major increase seen in pay slips in December if at all as the December 1st deadline was in respect of bookings made after this date and TCI has a history of the average bookings being made 30 to 90 days before travel.
We wish to remind everyone that despite the rhetoric and attempts to change facts, the record accurately reflects that not one amendment was made or suggested on the floor of the House save for those by the Government and furnished to the Clerk the day before the Debate for circulation. During the Debate not one member of the Opposition or Independent members made any substantive motion to amend and to suggest otherwise is to mislead the people of this country.
The PNP were largely calling for the exclusion of the expatriate workers from the scheme and we remain oppose to this as it is important to compensate all that work hard in this Industry as we expect all to perform to high standards. We remain concerned about those who contributed opposing arguments to the Debate and who continue to have a vested financial interest.
We are committed to the full implementation of the Service Charge (Hotel and Restaurant) Ordinance and its new start date of February 1, 2019 which will allow any proposed amendments to be debated and passed in the House of Assembly.
Massive fire at Grand Turk dumpsite
In breaking news, RTC has learned that there is a massive fire at the Grand Turk dumpsite.
It’s being reported that the fire has caused explosions and falling debris.
The Ministry of Health has informed us that they are aware that there is a fire at the Grand Turk dumpsite and that they are working closely with the fire department to contain the fire.
A ministry of health spokesperson said, “In the interim, we advise all residents and businesses in close proximity to the dumpsite to stay indoors, keep windows and doors closed and if anyone experience any breathing problems they should seek medical attention from their health care provider.”
It’s being reported that the fire is burning in the area where vehicles are dumped.
A reliable source told RTC that a firetrack did arrive on the scene to provide assistance.
We will provide further updates as it becomes available surrounding this breaking story.
26th Meeting of Cabinet
His Excellency the Governor, Dr John Freeman, chaired the 26th meeting
of the Cabinet on Monday, 19 November 2018, at the Hon. Hilly Ewing Building on Providenciales.
All Ministers were present except the Minister of Education, Youth,
Culture and Library Services
At this meeting Cabinet:
· Agreed to the "Treatment of All-Inclusive Resorts”
paper to advance the Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism (Taxation) (Amnesty)
Bill 2018 to the House of Assembly.
· Received a paper presented by the Hon. Premier, as
Minister of Finance, on the draft consultancy report on the
redevelopment and modernization of South Dock, Providenciales. Cabinet
noted the recommendations of the Board of Directors of the TCI Ports
Authority in relation to the report;
· Approved the appointment of Mr. Ricardo D. Gardiner as
the Opposition’s appointed Member on the Local Government Review and
Modernization Committee;
· Approved the draft Home Owner’s Policy which includes
incentives to first time and existing homeowners to be implemented with
effect from 1 April 2019;
· Approved the appointment of the Commissioner of Labour as
the Registrar of Trade Unions in accordance with Section 5 of the Trade
Unions Ordinance;
· Agreed to the Jury (Amendment) Bill 2018 for advancement
to the House of Assembly.
· Received as up-date from the Hon. Premier on the TCI
National Disaster Recovery Task Force on the work of the Task Force;
· Advised His Excellency the Governor to agree to execute
the framework agreement on compensations for compulsory acquisition of
land by the Government.
· Noted the financial performance of the TCI Statutory
Bodies for the period April – June 2018 as reported by the Accountant
General in the 1st Quarter Financial Report 2018/19 submitted in
accordance with Section 148 (1) of the Public Finance Management
Regulations;
· Agreed for Invest TCI and Attorney General’s Chambers
to commence negotiations, on a conditional basis, between TCIG and
Windward Long Bay Ltd. on the proposed South Bank Resort and Marina
Project;
· Approved a draft TCIG Increment Policy paper governing
the implementation of increments for the TCI Public Service;
· Received an update from the Premier and the Ministry of
Finance on the critical work outstanding with regards to the EU Code of
Conduct Group: the COCG's response to TCIG's latest correspondence,
policy decisions made and the upcoming legislation to be presented to
Cabinet;
· Received an update from Her Excellency the Deputy Governor on
the visit of the EU Ambassador visit last week.
Aretha Franklin's Detroit mansion sells for $300,000
Aretha Franklin's mansion in Detroit has reportedly been sold for $300,000 (£233,964).
The late singer died of pancreatic cancer in August in her Detroit riverfront apartment at the age of 76.
According to public records, her former 5,600-square-foot 1927 brick home, adjacent to the Detroit Golf Club, was sold last month, The Detroit News reports.
The newspaper says Franklin bought the home in 1993 but nearly lost it in 2008 due to unpaid property taxes.
Her 4,148-square-foot Colonial-style house in suburban Detroit's Bloomfield Township is still listed for $800,000 (£623,904).
Franklin estate personal representative Sabrina Garrett-Owens said "there are no other properties" that were owned by the Queen of Soul.
Tributes flooded in for the "boundary breaking" soul legend after her death, with Barack Obama and wife Michelle describing her as "divine and unmatched".
Another former US president, Bill Clinton, said in a joint statement with wife Hillary that Franklin was "one of America's greatest national treasures".
In a statement, her family labelled her as "the matriarch and rock of our family", and said her death was "one of the darkest moments of our lives".