Geoffrey Owens: 'Job-shamed' Cosby Show star lands TV role

Geoffrey Owens, the Cosby Show star who was "job shamed" after being spotted working in a grocery, has taken Tyler Perry up on his offer of a TV role.

Perry's spokeswoman said Owens will appear in 10 episodes of his drama The Haves and the Have Nots, which is broadcast on the Oprah Winfrey Network.

The show follows three families based in Savannah, Georgia - two are wealthy and powerful and one is poor.

Owens played Elvin Tibideaux in The Cosby Show, which aired from 1985-92.

Writer and director Perry based The Haves and the Have Nots on his 2011 play of the same name.

He offered Owens a role after photos of the actor working as a cashier at Trader Joe's were mocked online.

A customer's snapshots of Owens bagging groceries in New Jersey were published by the Daily Mail and Fox News, leading to accusations of "job-shaming".

Actors and celebrities rushed to defend the actor, which Owens told ABC was "really overwhelming, in a good way".

Owens - who has also worked on TV shows It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia and That's So Raven - said he had worked at Trader Joe's in Clifton, New Jersey, for 15 months.


North Korean 'spy' charged over NHS cyber attack

US prosecutors have charged a North Korean man alleged to have been involved in creating the malicious software used to cripple the UK’s National Health Service.

The 2017 incident left NHS staff reverting to pen and paper after being locked out of computer systems.

Park Jin Hyok is said to be linked to the Lazarus Group.

The hacking collective is also blamed for the hack on Sony Pictures in 2014.

The US Department of Justice alleged the North Korean-backed cyber group had caused major damage.

"The scale and scope of the cyber-crimes alleged by the complaint is staggering and offensive to all who respect the rule of law and the cyber norms accepted by responsible nations,” said the Assistant Attorney General for National Security, John Demers.

“The complaint alleges that the North Korean government, through a state-sponsored group; robbed a central bank and citizens of other nations; retaliated against free speech in order to chill it half a world away; and created disruptive malware that indiscriminately affected victims in more than 150 other countries, causing hundreds of millions, if not billions, of dollars’ worth of damage.”

North Korea routinely denies being involved in hack attacks attributed to them.

Mr Park is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit computer fraud and abuse, and wire fraud.

Prosecutors said Mr Park was believed to be in North Korea.

"North Korea won't be handing over this guy any time soon," said Martyn Williams, a North Korea observer and journalist.

"So it likely won't mean much on that level, but it is a symbolic step for the US government to take.

"It helps put meat on the bones of the numerous reports that said North Korea was responsible and is a relatively rare move for the US government."


Deutsche Bank's top investor is selling out

One of Deutsche Bank's top investors is selling out at an awkward time for Germany's biggest lender.

Chinese conglomerate HNA Group plans to offload its entire stake in the bank, according to a source with knowledge of the situation. The source said the exit could take up to 18 months.

The holder of nearly 8% of the voting rights in Deutsche Bank (DB), HNA has in recent months sought to sell off many of its overseas investments.

The Wall Street Journal, which was first to report the planned sale of the investment in Deutsche Bank, said that HNA was under pressure from the Chinese government to return to its core airline business.

Representatives from HNA and Deutsche Bank declined to comment.

News of the exit comes as Deutsche Bank is trying to persuade investors that CEO Christian Sewing can turnaround the bank after three years of losses by returning to its roots as a lender to German and European companies and households.

The bank's shares slid 1.7% on Friday. Rival Commerzbank (CRZBF) closed down 1.4% while Germany's DAX index was little changed.


Tesla shares sink after key executives exit

Tesla shares have fallen sharply after two senior executives abruptly left the electric car firm headed by Elon Musk.

The chief accounting officer has left less than a month after joining, while its HR officer is also reported to have resigned a year after joining.

The resignations came just hours after the firm's controversial chief executive Mr Musk smoked marijuana live on the web during a podcast with comedian Joe Rogan.

Shares fell over 10% in early US trade.

Accounting officer Dave Morton's resignation was announced in an official filing with US regulator the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Meanwhile, its chief people officer Gaby Toledano had decided not to return to the firm after a period of absence, according to newswire Bloomberg.

Mr Morton, who joined Tesla on 6 August, resigned on 4 September.

He said his decision to quit was due to the higher-than-expected "level of public attention placed on the company, as well as the pace within the company."

"I want to be clear that I believe strongly in Tesla, its mission, and its future prospects, and I have no disagreements with Tesla's leadership or its financial reporting," he added.

The fallout comes as the firm is under renewed scrutiny due to the erratic behaviour of Mr Musk.

In July he shocked investors by announcing on Twitter that he had funding secured to take his car firm Tesla private. He later said the firm would stay public.

He also tweeted that he might suffer from bipolar disorder but then said "maybe not medically".

In August he told the New York Times that he worked "120-hour weeks" and took sedatives.

His brother Kimbal Musk told the newspaper that the reason Mr Musk "seems to attract drama" is because he is "so transparent, so open, in a way that can come back to bite him".

Since Mr Musk announced his plan to delist Tesla, its share price has dropped by 20%.

Some analysts have urged the firm to appoint another senior leader.

James Albertine, an analyst at Consumer Edge, said it had previously called for a co-chief executive or chief operating officer to help balance the leadership structure.

"We think this is further evidence that the time is now for management and the board to address these issues," he added.


Syria war: Russia rejects Turkey's calls for Idlib truce

Russian President Vladimir Putin has rejected Turkey's calls for a truce to prevent a "bloodbath" in north Syria.

At a trilateral meeting with Iran and Turkey, Mr Putin said Russia would continue its fight against "terrorists" in Idlib province.

Idlib is the Syrian opposition's last major stronghold, with almost three million residents.

Syrian military forces, backed by Russia and Iran, are poised to launch a major offensive there soon.

The three-way meeting in Tehran had been seen by many as a final chance to prevent a large-scale battle in Idlib.

Syria has been in a civil war since 2011, after a peaceful uprising against President Bashar al-Assad turned into a conflict that has killed more than 350,000 people.


MULTIPLE SYSTEMS IN THE ATLANTIC

September 7th 2018 – The Bahamas Department of Meteorology has been issuing advisories for multiple systems in the Atlantic. Residents are encouraged to pay close attention to the Atlantic and are encouraged to continue with preparations as we move further into the peak of the season.

ACCORDING TO BAHAMAS DEPARTMENT OF METEOROLOGY FORECAST OFFICE SECTION,…FLORENCE WEAKENS A LITTLE MORE BUT STILL EXPECTED TO RESTRENGTHEN OVER THE WEEKEND.

AT 5:00 AM EDT, THE CENTER OF HURRICANE FLORENCE WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 25.1°NORTH AND LONGITUDE 50.7° WEST OR ABOUT 925 MILES EAST-NORTHEAST OF THE NORTHERN LEEWARD ISLANDS OR 1590 MILES EAST-SOUTHEAST OF BERMUDA.

FLORENCE IS MOVING TOWARD THE WEST AT 7 MPH. A TURN TOWARD THE WEST NORTHWEST IS EXPECTED BY THE END OF THE WEEKEND.

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS HAVE DECREASED TO NEAR 65 MILES PER HOUR (MPH) WITH HIGHER GUSTS. FLORENCE IS FORECAST TO RESTRENGHTEN AND BECOME A HURRICANE AGAIN OVER THE WEEKEND.

At present current projections from the Bahamas of Meteorology take this system further north where it should not pose a threat to the Turks and Caicos Islands.

(1) AN AREA OF LOW PRESSURE ABOUT 500 MILES WEST OF THE CABO VERDE ISLANDS HAS A 90% CHANCE OF CYCLONE DEVELOPMENT WITHIN THE NEXT DAY OR TWO.

(2) A TROPICAL WAVE ACCOMPANYING A LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM NEAR THE WEST AFRICAN COAST HAS A 90% CHANCE OF CYCLONE DEVELOPMENT LATER TODAY OR OVER THE WEEKEND.

The Department of Disaster Management and Emergencies (DDME) will continue to monitor the systems and provide updates accordingly. Now is a good time to review family emergency plans to ensure that you have the necessities.
You can also visit the DDME’s webpage at www.gov.tc/ddme.com or like us on Facebook atwww.facebook.com/TCI.ddme.com.

Disclaimer: The Department of Disaster Management and Emergencies (DDME) is not an official Meteorological Office. The Information disseminated by the Department is gathered from the Bahamas Department of Meteorology. This information is to be used as a guide by anyone who has interest in local weather conditions. By no means can the DDME or the Turks and Caicos Islands Government be held accountable by anyone who uses this information appropriately for legal evidence or in justification of any decision which may result in the loss of finances, property or life.

 

SOURCE - DDME


10 YEARS POST HURRICANE HANNAH AND IKE AND 1-YEAR POST POST IRMA AND MARIA

September 7th, an unforgettable date in the history of the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI). Notwithstanding, there was no loss of life, Hurricanes Ike in 2008 and Irma in 2017 brought the chain of islands together to recover from nationwide devastation.

Declared ‘Disaster Areas,’ both the islands of Grand Turk and South Caicos were ravaged by Category 4 Hurricane Ike on September 7th, 2008. Ike was responsible for extensive damages to approximately 85% of physical infrastructure, with an estimated cost of USD6.3 million for reconstruction.

Still in recovery mode from the extensive devastation caused by Hurricane Irma last year, it is opportune that the people of the TCI reflect on the importance of being prepared, especially as we are currently in the peak of this Atlantic Hurricane Season. The TCI experienced the passage of two major hurricanes within a span of two weeks in 2017; Irma Category 5 (7th September) and Maria Category 3 (21st September). In addition to structural damages to critical infrastructure such as schools, hospital facilities and utilities, the emotional impact borne by our people highlights the need to become more resilient to disaster impacts.

As a nation, we remain committed to building capacity and resilience in communities across the chain of islands. Disaster Risk Reduction best practices have been reinforced in our Faith – Based, Community – Based and Non-Governmental Organizations. In fact, disaster resilience awareness continues to secure its spot on our school circulars. With climate change, gender and psychosocial centered approaches also being incorporated on the agenda of key stakeholders, the TCI is sure to maintain a solid state of preparedness.

The principles of Public Private Partnerships are also embedded in the TCI’s approach to building resilience. The TCI now serves as a sustainable model for response and early recovery within the Caribbean Region due to the existing relationships between the government and critical private sector agencies. Our experiences have also contributed to the forging of new relationships with the business community, as continuity of operations is also vital to our resilience.

Fulfilling the mandate as the national coordinating, promoting and monitoring body for Comprehensive Disaster Management (CDM) in the TCI, the Department of Disaster Management and Emergencies (DDME) can boast on improvements made as a result of the lessons learnt post impact. In addition, to building technical capacity within the Department, the National Disaster Management Plan and other key sectoral plans have either been reviewed or drafted, approximately 150 residents throughout the TCI were trained in Damage and Needs Assessments, Shelter Management and Community Emergency Response Teams operations during the months of August and September, 2018, an official Shelter List was published for all islands and public education campaigns were executed at the start of this year’s Atlantic Hurricane Season.

As we reflect on the past storms and look towards the future let us remember that the Turks and Caicos story of how we were able to rebound so quickly from such devastation is now a model for the world, and it was more than just cleaning up or reconstruction…it was our spirit! We were determined not to be out for the count. Let us all continue to play our part in building resilience in the Turks and Caicos Islands


DEPARTMENT OF REGISTRATION AND CITIZENSHIP

The Department of Registration & Citizenship within the Ministry of Border Control and Employment hosted a five (5) day in-house Seminar, during the period of Monday, August 27th to Friday, August 31st 2018.

The Seminar, included staff from the Attorney General’s Chambers, Department of Registration & Citizenship, and other colleagues from the Ministry of Border Control and Employment.

The primary focus of the training included:
- Overseas Territory Registration & Nationality
- Overseas Registration and Nationality Legislation guide
- Fraud Awareness-Guidance on examining identity documents
- British Overseas Territory Citizenship Registration Case work guide

The training was hosted by UK lecturers, Mrs. Elisa Jackson and Ms. Natalie Fearon from the UK Home Office.

The Department of Registration & Citizenship would like to extend sincere thanks to the Deputy Governor’s office, all participants and offers sincerest apologies to the general public for any delays that this training would have caused.

 


SEPTEMBER 6, 2018 TROPICAL WEATHER OUTLOOK ISSUED BY THE BAHAMAS DEPARTMENT OF METEOROGOLY

(1) A BROAD AND ELONGATED AREA OF LOW PRESSURE IS CENTERED SEVERAL HUNDRED 
MILES WEST-SOUTHWEST OF THE CABO VERDE ISLANDS.

A TROPICAL DEPRESSION IS EXPECTED TO FORM WITHIN THE NEXT FEW DAYS WHILE THE SYSTEM MOVES SLOWLY WESTWARD OR WEST-NORTHWESTWARD ACROSS THE TROPICAL ATLANTIC OCEAN. IT HAS A HIGH (70 PERCENT) CHANCE OF TROPICAL CYCLONE FORMATION THROUGH 48 HOURS AND HIGH (90 PERCENT) CHANCE THROUGH 5 DAYS.

(2) A TROPICAL WAVE IS FORECAST TO MOVE OFF THE WEST COAST OF AFRICA ON FRIDAY. SOME DEVELOPMENT OF THIS SYSTEM IS ANTICIPATED AFTER THAT TIME, AND A TROPICAL DEPRESSION COULD FORM OVER THE WEEKEND OR EARLY NEXT WEEK WHILE THE WAVE MOVES WESTWARD OR WEST-NORTHWESTWARD OVER THE FAR EASTERN TROPICAL ATLANTIC OCEAN. IT HAS A LOW (10 PERCENT) CHANCE THROUGH 5 DAYS.

The Department of Disaster Management and Emergencies (DDME) will continue to monitor the systems and provide updates accordingly. Now is a good time to review family emergency plans to ensure that you have the necessities.

You can also visit the DDME’s webpage at www.gov.tc/ddme.com or like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TCI.ddme.com.

Disclaimer: The Department of Disaster Management and Emergencies (DDME) is not an official Meteorological Office. The Information disseminated by the Department is gathered from the Bahamas Department of Meteorology. This information is to be used as a guide by anyone who has interest in local weather conditions. By no means can the DDME or the Turks and Caicos Islands Government be held accountable by anyone who uses this information appropriately for legal evidence or in justification of any decision which may result in the loss of finances, property or life.

 

THE PUBLIC FORECAST FOR TODAY AND TONIGHT THURSDAY 6TH SEPTEMBER 2018

GENERAL SITUATION: A MID TO UPPER LEVEL LOW WILL INTERACT WITH A SURFACE TROUGH JUST EAST OF THE AREA ALONG WITH A MOIST AND UNSTABLE AIRMASS TRIGGERING WIDESPREAD SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS THE ISLANDS TODAY…

SPECIAL WARNINGS: BOATERS SHOULD REMAIN VIGILANT DUE TO THE POSSIBILITY OF WATERSPOUTS…

FOR ALL AREAS

WEATHER: PARTLY CLOUDY TO CLOUDY AND HUMID WITH WIDELY SCATTERED SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS. SOME SHOWERS WILL BE HEAVY AND THUNDERSTORMS STRONG TO SEVERE AT TIMES.

ADVISORY: GUSTY WINDS AND HIGHER SEAS CAN BE EXPECTED IN SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS

WINDS: EAST TO SOUTHEAST AT 10 TO 15 KNOTS
SEAS: 2 TO 4 FEET OVER THE OCEAN

HIGH TEMPERATURE TODAY 91F 33C 
HEAT INDEX 103F 39C
LOW TEMPERATURE TONIGHT 78F 26C

SUN 
SUNRISE: 6:53AM SUNSET: 7:21PM

MOON 
MOONSET: 5:09PM MOONRISE: 4:26AM FRI

TIDES
LOW TIDE: 10:17AM 11:10PM 
HIGH TIDE: 4:42PM 5:06AM FRI

EXTENDED FORECAST: (FOR THE NEXT TWO DAYS) UNSETTLED WEATHER WILL CONTINUE ACROSS THE ISLANDS DUE TO A MID TO UPPER LEVEL LOW SHIFTING WESTWARD ACROSS THE AREA OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS.