La Liga players 'outraged' over deal to play match in the United States
Footballers in Spain have not ruled out strike action over a plan to stage a top-flight league match in the United States, says the players' union.
Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos and Barcelona vice-captain Sergio Busquets were among the high-profile players to attend a meeting on Wednesday to discuss their "concern" over the issue.
La Liga agreed a 15-year deal with US media company Relevent on Friday.
The players' union - the AFE - says its members were not consulted by La Liga.
Players from all of the La Liga sides met in Madrid on Wednesday to discuss the issue with AFE president David Aganzo.
Among those in attendance were Ramos and Real Madrid team-mate Nacho, Barcelona duo Busquets and Sergi Roberto, Leo Baptistao from Espanyol, Bruno from Villarreal, and Atletico Madrid players Koke and Juanfran.
Aganzo said: "The problem is the lack of common sense, a schedule where only the export of soccer benefits - nobody counts on the fans.
"We need to fix it with the bosses. The captains are outraged, they're against it, they are unanimous.
"It does not make sense. We are talking about an agreement that has a validity of 15 years without consulting the players."
On the possibility of strike action, he added: "We will try not to reach that extreme but we are willing to go to the end if necessary."
Aganzo said the players would meet again in September.
Asked last week when the US-based match would take place, and whether it would be a regular fixture, La Liga told BBC Sport it "cannot confirm the teams, match, date or season".
The AFE said players "do not understand the unilateral decisions", adding: "La Liga is distancing the fans of the players, something that harms the show and the essence of football."
After the meeting the league said in a statement: "La Liga will meet with AFE in the appropriate forum to discuss the plans to play a match outside of Spain."
Cuba denies rumours of new customs restrictions
The customs department in Cuba (AGRC) has denied rumours about new customs restrictions, reported by foreign media and other channels of communication.
For several days now, news has been spreading, in what was described as an erroneous and malicious manner, that the AGRC will soon be putting into effect new provisions on the customs clearance of travellers and their belongings.
The official communiqué stated that rumours have even reached the point of setting dates and presenting false documents, according to the questions posted on the AGRC’s Facebook page.
“The current customs regulations have not been modified and are not intended to be modified and are the same as those that appear on its website and on its social networking sites on the Internet,” the AGRC said.
It also reaffirmed that, as is customary, the Cuban customs department will always inform travellers in advance, by all means available, of any changes that may be made to the regulations.
Cuba denies rumours of new customs restrictions
Saudi Arabia has called off Aramco float, report suggests
Saudi Arabia is reported to have cancelled its plans to sell shares in state oil giant Aramco, which had been billed as the largest flotation ever.
The group of financial advisers working on a plan to sell 5% of the company domestically and internationally has been disbanded.
The wire service quoted a source suggesting the decision was taken some time ago but is not being announced.
Neither Saudi Aramco nor the Saudi Royal Court has commented on the story.
Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince, first proposed the share sale early in 2016 as part of his economic reform agenda, to bring western regulation and scrutiny to the company, as well as raising cash to reduce the country's large budget deficit.
At the time he predicted the sale would value Aramco at around $2 trillion (£1.55 tn). The plan was to float shares on both the local stock market in Riyadh, and one of the world's leading international financial centres.
Hurricane Lane: Hawaii braces for category four storm
The US state of Hawaii is bracing for a dangerous category four hurricane which could hit the islands as early as Wednesday evening.
Lane was downgraded to a category four storm, with sustained winds of 155 mph (249km/h), but officials say it is still close to category five strength.
Forecasts say the islands will face strong winds and surging waves even if the storm does not make landfall.
The last category five storm to come this close to Hawaii was John in 1994.
The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a hurricane warning for the Big Island and a hurricane watch for the islands of Oahu, Maui, Molokai and Lanai as of Wednesday morning.
On the Big Island, the first in Hurricane Lane's path, damaging tropical storm and hurricane-force winds could pick up as soon as Wednesday afternoon or evening.
President Donald Trump urged those in the path of the storm to prepare and listen to local officials.
BAHAMAS AND TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS PUBLIC FORECAST
THE PUBLIC FORECAST FOR 6:00 AM TODAY AND TONIGHT WEDNESDAY 22ND AUGUST 2018 ISSUED BY THE BAHAMAS DEPARTMENT OF THE BAHAMAS
GENERAL SITUATION: A SURFACE TROUGH ACROSS THE NORTHWEST BAHAMAS WILL CONTINUE TO DRIFT WESTWARDS AND DISSIPATE WHILE SUPPORTING A FEW SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS TODAY AS HIGH PRESSURE DOMINATES THE REMAINDER OF THE ISLANDS
SPECIAL WARNINGS: BOATERS SHOULD REMAIN VIGILANT DUE TO POSSIBLE FUNNEL CLOUD AND WATERSPOUT ACTIVITY TODAY
FOR ALL AREAS
WEATHER: PARTLY SUNNY AND HOT WITH A FEW SCATTERED SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS TODAY. FAIR AND WARM TONIGHT WITH A STRAY SHOWER OR TWO POSSIBLE.
ADVISORY: GUSTY WINDS AND HIGHER SEAS CAN BE EXPECTED IN SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS
WINDS: SOUTHEASTERLY AT 10 TO 15 KNOTS IN THE NORTHWEST AND CENTRAL BAHAMAS AND EAST TO SOUTHEAST AT 15 KNOTS IN THE SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS INCLUDING THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS.
SEAS: 2 TO 4 FEET OVER THE OCEAN IN THE NORTHWEST AND CENTRAL BAHAMAS AND 3 TO 5 FEET IN THE SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS INCLUDING THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS.
DAYTIME HIGH TEMPERATURE 93F 34C
HEAT INDEX 106F 41C
OVERNITE LOW TEMPERATURE 78F 26C
SUN
SUNRISE: 6:47AM SUNSET: 7:36PM
MOON
MOONRISE: 5:13PM MOONSET: 4:13AM THU
TIDES
LOW TIDE: 10:49AM 11:41PM
HIGH TIDE: 5:14PM 5:29AM THU
EXTENDED FORECAST: (FOR THE NEXT TWO DAYS) HIGH PRESSURE WILL PREVAIL ACROSS THE BAHAMAS OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS.
Premier Robinson attended the VIP Opening of Outback Steakhouse TCI
Premier Robinson attended the VIP Opening of Outback Steakhouse TCI as Guest of Honor and Featured Speaker.
TCI Aquatic Swim Club and TCI Cadets were the first recipients of financial donations under the Company's Give Back Program
Science student observership at Cockburn Town Medical Centre
Science student and Grand Turk Native, Danielle Baptiste recently concluded a two-week observership at Cockburn Town Medical Centre. Danielle received first-hand insight into the daily operations of several departments. These included Laboratory, Dialysis, Radiology, Emergency, Outpatient and Inpatient along with sessions on Pediatric Advanced Life Support.
As part of her observership, she was required to conduct and present research on an area of choice. The enthusiastic learner selected Antibiotic Associated Encephalopathy, a medical condition associated with abnormal brain function due to its connection with antimicrobial resistance, which is a global health care concern.
During the presentation, the observer stressed the importance of understanding the neurotoxic effects of antibiotics, and explored several antibiotics associated with the medical condition. She also provided recommendations on management strategies and an algorithm for treatment of the condition.
Danielle is currently pursuing a Bachelors degree in Psychology with Cognitive Neuroscience at Leicester University in England. We wish her all the best in her future career.
Bahamian Govt to incur loss in resort purchase
Although the government intends to purchase the Grand Lucayan resort, it does not plan to spend the near $100 million to renovate it, according to Minister of Tourism Dionisio D’Aguilar.
D’Aguilar said the government is only interested in purchasing the hotel and finding a buyer.
“The government wants to buy it, hold it, continue to actively look for a seller to stabilize it and to sell it on,” D’Aguilar said.
“That’s what we are doing. The renovations, upgrade…that may change but right now I don’t think that’s the policy of the government.
“The prime minister has said many times, ‘I don’t want to be owning [and] running a hotel. I just don’t want it.’”
Prime Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis announced that the government has decided to purchase the property after Canadian real estate developer Paul Wynn, who had signed a letter of intent with the Hutchison Whampoa to buy the resort, pulled out of the sale.
D’Aguilar noted that two of the hotels that make up the three-piece property remain closed following Hurricane Matthew in 2016.
“It hasn’t reopened,” said the minister in a recent interview on the Peace 1075FM radio talk show “Hard Copy” with host Steve McKinney.
“Hutchison Whampoa has taken the insurance money and said they are not going to reinvest in it.”
Only Lighthouse Pointe reopened in 2016.
Wynn said that he thought the final purchase price negotiated, of $65 million, was too high.
He said it could take between $110 million and $120 million to fully open the Grand Lucayan.
D’Aguilar said the government cannot allow Hutchison to walk away from the property.
“I’ve heard a lot of noise in the marketplace that we should not buy it, that we should just negotiate a harder deal with Hutchison Whampoa,” he said.
“We have been back and forth with Hutchison Whampoa time and time again trying to drive a better deal. It’s nothing to them to say, ‘Look, we are going to stick to $65 [million] and if it has to close; it got to close.’
“The government of The Bahamas doesn’t have that choice. These are people’s lives. This is the economy and lifeblood of Freeport, Grand Bahama.
Tiger Woods: 14-time major winner says comeback has endeared him to new fans
Fourteen-time major winner Tiger Woods says he has never experienced such "warmth" from fans as he has this year.
Woods has had back surgery four times - most recently in April 2017 - and had previously questioned whether he would ever return to competitive golf.
But the 42-year-old American, who is in contention to be picked for September's Ryder Cup, says his comeback has endeared him to a new set of fans.
"I think people are more appreciative," said Woods.
"They've all gone through it - when you get to your forties you're feeling it.
"They know I'm at the tail-end of my career. I don't know how many years I've got left but I'm certain I'm not like I was when I was 22. At 42 it is a different ball game."
Woods, who made his latest comeback at the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas last November, made a remarkable return to form earlier this month at the US PGA Championships, carding a final-day 64 to finish second behind winner Brooks Koepka.
He will be back in action this week at the FedEx Cup play-offs in New Jersey and says fans can relate to his new vulnerabilities.
"I've struggled and I've had some back pain, I've been through four surgeries and I'm trying to work back and it's been tough, and people understand that," he said.
"This entire year has been so different. Go back to how everyone received me at Tampa [in the Valspar Championship in March] - that was very special.
"I hadn't received ovations and warmth like that."
Italy floods: Girl, 8, rescued after deadly flash flood
An eight-year-old girl with hypothermia is among 23 people rescued from flash flooding in the Pollino National Park in southern Italy.
At least 10 hikers died in the Calabria tourist spot after they were hit by a wall of water on Monday.
Rescuers looked for survivors into the night, with helicopters airlifting the injured to local hospitals.
Local reports say the eight-year-old was found in a state of shock by rescuers beside a dead body.
Officials believe the girl's parents are "almost certainly" among the victims, according to Pasquale Gagliardi, medical director of the regional helicopter rescue service.
He posted emotional photographs of the girl's rescue on his social media pages.
One was captioned (in Italian) "you'll make it, little one."