Facebook denies seeking users' bank data
Facebook has denied reports that it is actively asking banks for details of users' financial transactions.
The statement follows a story in the Wall Street Journal that said the social media giant had asked US banks for such data.
Facebook said some users opted in to accessing some financial information in its Messenger app.
Any data that was accessed by the company for such purposes was not used for advertising, it added.
The Wall Street Journal had reported that Facebook approached JPMorgan Chase, Wells Fargo, Citigroup, and US Bancorp to ask for information about users' account balances and card transactions.
However, Facebook said that users must opt in to linking the Messenger chat app to their bank accounts.
"Like many online companies with commerce businesses, we partner with banks and credit card companies to offer services like customer chat or account management," Facebook said.
"The idea is that messaging with a bank can be better than waiting on hold over the phone - and it's completely opt in."
Some account linking is in place on a relatively small scale at the moment - for example, Facebook users in Singapore who bank with Citi can check balances and view recent transactions.
More widely, Facebook users can connect their PayPal accounts to Messenger to track transactions and shipping updates.
German startup Sono Motors trials solar car that can charge as you drive
A Munich-based start-up has taken advantage of the strong Bavarian sun this summer to test the final development of the charging system of its Sion car, an all-electric solar vehicle that lets you charge as you drive.
Germany will likely miss its target of putting 1 million electric cars on the road by 2020 but the government said in April it was ready to offer support to companies that make batteries for electric vehicles.
Sono Motors, founded in 2016, is developing the Sion, a fully-electric vehicle that has solar cells integrated into its bodywork. It can be charged via solar power, from conventional power outlets or other electric cars.
Production will start in the second half of 2019 at one of its German plants and the company has around 5,000 orders which it aims to start selling at $18,540 next year.
Sion will have 330 solar cells attached to the vehicle's roof, roof and sides and its battery system will offer a range of around 155 miles (250 km) before it needs recharging.
Demi Lovato has been released from the hospital and entered rehab
Police Commissioner statement regarding recent shootings
“On Friday, August 3rd, 2018, around 9:00 p.m., we saw a second firearms incident, in the area of Five Cays, within 24 hours when a male lost his life and two others were injured as a result of gunshot wounds. This follows the Murder near a local bar on Aviation Drive, also by gunshot wounds.
Both incidents occurred in areas busy with lots of people and it is extremely fortunate that more persons were not injured or killed as a result of indiscriminate violence. These men of violence are a blight on Turks and Caicos and my officers are working round the clock to detect the culprits. Two man are already under arrest in relation to the Aviation Drive shooting and our inquiries continue with detectives, forensic teams and other specialist officers involved.
Members of the public can expect to see increased patrols, including armed officers and K9 patrols tonight and in the coming days to prevent or react to further incidents. I seek the active cooperation of the public in bringing offenders to justice and recover the firearms used in these and other crimes.
The suspects are hiding among us, people know who they are, and it is their public duty to come forward, in confidence, to any police officer or by calling Chalk Sound Police station on 338-5901 or 941-8082 or by calling Crime Stoppers on 1-800-8477.
We must act together to stop this violence and get guns off the street, please help us in our inquiries and keep Turks and Caicos a safe place to live.”
BAHAMAS AND TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS PUBLIC FORECAST 7TH AUGUST, 2018
THIS IS THE PUBLIC FORECAST FOR TODAY TUESDAY 7TH AUGUST 2018 ISSUED BY THE BAHAMAS DEPARTMENT OF METEOROLOGY AT 12:00 AM.
GENERAL SITUATION: THE NORTHERN EXTENT OF A WESTWARD MOVING TROPICAL WAVE ACROSS HISPANIOLA INTERACTING WITH AN UPPER LEVEL LOW ACROSS THE SOUTHERN BAHAMAS INCLUDING THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS WILL SUPPORT SOME SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS THE SOUTHEASTERN ISLANDS. HIGH PRESSURE WILL DOMINATE ELSEWHERE ACROSS THE BAHAMAS.
SPECIAL WARNINGS: THERE REMAINS THE RISK FOR RIP CURRENTS ALONG EAST COAST BEACHES IN THE SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS.
SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS INCLUDING THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS
WEATHER: PARTLY CLOUDY AND BREEZY WITH SCATTERED SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS THROUGH TONIGHT.
ADVISORY: SMALL CRAFT OPERATORS SHOULD EXERCISE CAUTION
WINDS: EAST TO SOUTHEAST AT 15 TO 20 KNOTS. GUSTY IN SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS
SEAS: 4 TO 6 FEET OVER THE OCEAN. HIGHER IN GUSTS
NORTHWEST AND CENTRAL BAHAMAS
WEATHER: PARTLY SUNNY AND HOT WITH ISOLATED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS POSSIBLE. MAINLY FAIR TONIGHT.
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 92F 33C
LOW TEMPERATURE TONIGHT 77F 25C
HEAT INDEX 103F 39C
SUNRISE: 6:40 AM
SUNSET: 7:49 PM
MOONRISE: 2:35 AM
MOONSET: 4:23 PM
HIGH TIDE: 3:14 AM 4:00 PM
LOW TIDE: 9:29 AM 10:29 PM
TROPICAL WEATHER OUTLOOK: A NON-TROPICAL LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM CENTERED A LITTLE MORE THAN 1000 MILES WEST-SOUTHWEST OF THE AZORES IS INTERACTING WITH AN UPPER-LEVEL LOW, AND SHOWER ACTIVITY REMAINS DISORGANIZED. ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS COULD
FAVOR SOME DEVELOPMENT DURING THE NEXT DAY OR SO, BUT AFTER THAT TIME, THE LOW WILL ENCOUNTER INCREASING COOLER WATERS AND DEVELOPMENT IS NOT ANTICIPATED. FORMATION CHANCE THROUGH FIVE DAYS IS LOW AT AROUND 30 PERCENT. ELSEWHERE TROPICAL CYCLONE
FORMATION IS NOT EXPECTED DURING THE NEXT FIVE DAYS.
The Deputy Premier and Minister of Border Control and Employment to Host Summit on Illegal Migration
The Office of the Deputy Premier and Ministry of Border Control and Employment, under the leadership of the Deputy Premier and Minister, the Honourable Sean Astwood will be hosting a one-day Summit on Illegal Immigration, on Thursday 9th August 2018 at the Shore Club in Providenciales.
The ministry recognizes the problems that exist with illegal migration in the Turks and Caicos Islands, with the increase of illegal sloops and overstays, which has become a national concern and has the potential to negatively impact the lives and businesses of all our citizens and those living among us. In a bi-partisan approach towards cooperation on this critical matter at the highest level, the Deputy Premier will convene a meeting with past Chief Ministers and Premiers, as well as former Ministers of Immigration and Border Control to formulate an eventual agreement for strategic approaches to effectively address and combat this challenge, and agree the pathway to the eventual stemming of illegal migration in the country.
Honourable Astwood indicated that "My ministry holds the main responsibility for migration and immigration, and continues to do its utmost to fight illegal migration, and in recent months have had numerous successes". He further stated that "However, as a country we remain cognizant that while we continue to affect our operational mandate, there is a need for a strategic direction and sustainable program in order to curb this issue for the long term."
The Department of Immigration, in recent months has led on numerous operations and through its Task Force Unit, continues to mount joint operations with the Police Department and other enforcement agencies, which resulted in a number of apprehensions of persons who are illegally residing and working within the country.
This high-level meeting is another in a series of engagements with public stakeholders that the Deputy Premier has undertaken since coming to office, as a collaborative approach to addressing major immigration and migration issues in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
CCTV site visit
On Tuesday, 31st July, members of the local media, along with private sector sponsors, were treated to a site visit of the new CCTV facility in Providenciales.
In a press conference held prior to the site visit, H.E. the Governor remarked:
"Commissioner of Police, Ladies and Gentleman. I have been asked to make some remarks at the start of this Site Visit.
Modern policing requires, I would suggest, three key ingredients: the human factor, the technical factor and the community factor. I want to say a few words on each.
Without the human factor, i.e. well-trained, committed Police Officers under effective leadership, nothing will be possible. TCI benefits from having in the RTCIPF a local police force which is increasingly on top of its game. I am glad to have this opportunity to commend the Officers of the Force and those who lead them, not least and to his considerable credit, the Commissioner James Smith. My thanks to them and to him.
Without the technical factor, a Police Force is hobbled from facing down the criminals and would-be criminals. The RTCIPF is benefitting from increased technical capacity enabling it to be fit for the task. For that thanks - and I very much wish to say this today - are due to TCIG without whose support and significant budgetary allocations none of these improvements, including the CCTV project, would be possible.
Without the community factor, a Police Force can never deliver optimally. And community support takes many forms. A Police Force is not separate from the local community, it is part of it and relies upon it. The RTCPF needs public support if it is to deliver on public safety. The project whose completion we anticipate and the site of which we are visiting today, is a key part of community engagement. And the support provided by members of the local business community as a contribution to the setting up of the new Suite, is also a demonstration of that wider effort and I wish to acknowledge and applaud that support by the businesses and representatives here this morning.
I hope that all of us in these Islands will soon benefit from the new facility; benefit in the way that really matters, namely, enhanced security and even greater public safety."
MELANIA TRUMP MOCKED BY 'BEST' DRESSED WOMAN Who Pulled Statue of Liberty Protest
The woman who was arrested for scaling the Statue of Liberty on Independence Day to protest President Trump's immigration policy is at it again, and this time her target's Melania.
Patricia Okoumou showed up for her court hearing Friday in Manhattan wearing a green dress with the words, "I REALLY CARE WHY WON'T U?" and "BE BEST" written on her backside.
The first message is a shot at the First Lady for the tone-def jacket she wore in June that read, "I REALLY DON'T CARE, DO U?" on her way to visit child detention centers in Texas.
Okoumou's "Be Best" refers to Melania's initiative of the same name to promote online safety for kids ... which has been ripped for allegedly plagiarizing from the Obama administration.
As we reported, Okoumou was arrested for scaling Lady Liberty on July 4 to protest the separation of immigrant families. She was charged with trespassing, interference with agency functions and disorderly conduct.
Sprint Relay Gold For Jamaica's Women
Jamaica's women's sprint relay put together three smooth baton exchanges on their way to winning the 2018 Central American and Caribbean Games title yesterday as the country increased its medal tally in athletics to 17.
The team of Jura Levy, Sherone Simpson, Jonielle Smith and Natasha Morrison stopped the clock at 43.41 seconds as Trinidad and Tobago finished second with 43.61 while the Dominica Republic secured the bronze medal with 43 68.
"We are very happy that we were able to pass the baton safely. The aim was to get a good start and the other three just maintain (the lead)," Simpson said after the race
Their male counterparts were beaten into third as Barbados took the victory in 38.41 seconds. The team of Nesta Carter, Romario Williams, Rasheed Dwyer and Javoy Tucker registered 38.79 seconds.
The women's 4x400 team at one point looked set to secure the country's ninth gold medal in athletics but was denied by Cuba on the anchor leg. Derriann Hill, Tiffany James, Alesha Kelly and Junelle Bromfield finished in 3:30.63. Cuba registered 3:29.48 as Colombia finished third with 3:32.61.
Yankees unravel in ugly loss to Red Sox
Like an out-of-control snowball tumbling wildly down a mountain, the New York Yankees cascaded toward a 15-7 blowout loss to the Boston Red Sox on Thursday thanks to an avalanche of mental errors and moments of uninspired, lackluster play.
The Yankees' starting pitcher, C.C. Sabathia, wasn't very good. Their bullpen was even worse. Their defense was, at times, questionable. And oh, by the way, they still have three more games this weekend against the best team in baseball.
As they stand at a crossroads, staring at a pivotal point in their season, the Yankees can only hope they don't stay on this reckless, downhill path.
If they do, their American League East championship goals might all but disappear.