iNews Briefs
Cayman Islands: Migrants from Cuba Repatriated
Twenty-six Cuban migrants, who were all housed at the Immigration Detention Centre (IDC), were repatriated to Cuba today (Tuesday, 9 September 2014).
Supervised by Immigration and Prison officials, 25 males, and 1 female were repatriated via a chartered flight from Owen Roberts International Airport on Grand Cayman.
Remaining at the IDC are 20 Cuban migrants, which includes 13 males and 7 females; they arrived in our territorial waters Tuesday, 2 September 2014.
Former Cayman premier arraigned
Leader of Cayman Islands Opposition and former Premier, McKeeva Bush was formally arraigned Monday (8) morning when he appeared in Cayman’s Grand Court to answer 11 counts of misconduct in public office and breach of trust.
Bush pleaded Not Guilty to all charges that are from his alleged misuse of a government credit card.
Because of several legal issues between the prosecution and the defence the jury was dismissed because the trial has now been put off until these issues are resolved.
The case is expected to take place either the end of this week or early next week.
FAA proposes penalty against Mountain Air Cargo
By Robert P. Mark From AIN online
Mountain Air Cargo is the subject of a proposed FAA penalty of $132,425 for allegedly incorrectly repairing one of the company’s ATR 42s. The agency accused the Maiden, N.C.-based operator of failing to accurately follow the FAA-approved aircraft maintenance manual when it repaired a rear cargo door and then operated that same aircraft on 115 flights between Aug. 7 and Oct. 29, 2012. Mountain Air Cargo is scheduled to meet with the FAA later this month to discuss the issue.
Healthcare.gov was hacked, but none of your sensitive data was stolen
By Mariella Moon From engadget
Hack concept with the focus on the return button overlaid with binary code
Healthcare.gov might have a dedicated team looking after its welfare thanks to its disastrous launch, but it’s still not completely bulletproof. Apparently, the insurance website was hacked in July, and the perpetrator managed to slip in malware that wasn’t spotted until August 25th. Before you have a panic attack, though (the website did ask for your Social Security number, among other sensitive info), the Department of Health and Human Services says no data was stolen from the breach. According to HHS spokesperon Kevin Griffis, the compromised server didn’t contain personal information, because it’s only used for testing and should never have been connected to the internet in the first place.
Moreover, the malware wasn’t designed to steal data — the hacker slipped it in to use the server as a puppet for denial of service attacks on other government properties. These attacks constitute taking over many, many computers so hackers can use them to redirect traffic to a single website in an effort to take it down, indicating that Healthcare.gov wasn’t being targeted in particular. HHS officials say Healthcare.gov undergoes regular security scans, and they’ve “taken measures to further strengthen security” since the breach took place.
For more: http://www.engadget.com/2014/09/04/healthcare-gov-hacked-ddos/?ncid=rss_truncated
Kristina Buckeridge joins Cayman Islands JA Board
Kristina Buckeridge has been appointed to the Board of Directors of the local Junior Achievement. She said she first gained an interest in business, and in particular marketing, during her time in the JA Company Programme, in which high school students learn valuable business skills by forming and running their own company, guided by local business leaders.
Buckeridge said her passion for marketing grew after leaving the programme, which led her to pursue her tertiary education in this field and subsequently a career in marketing. She is currently employed as a marketing assistant at Campbells and is excited to bring her recent experience and insight gained on the job to the JA table.
At only 24 years old, Buckeridge said she’s looking forward to the wealth of knowledge she will gain from the existing Board members and is excited to offer the group her fresh and young perspective.
Junior Achievement has been active in the Cayman Islands since 1991 and is the world’s largest not-for-profit educational organisation offering in-school and after-school practical business programmes.
See iNews Cayman related story: “New 2014 Cayman Islands Junior Achievement Board elected” at: http://www.ieyenews.com/wordpress/new-2014-cayman-islands-junior-achievement-board-elected/
Number of chikungunya cases increases in USVI
From Caribbean News Now
ST THOMAS, USVI — Health Commissioner Darice Plaskett has reported that the Department of Health is monitoring a recent uptick in the number of confirmed/probable cases of chikungunya in the US Virgin Islands. As of Friday, there have been a total of 30 confirmed/probable cases in the territory.
“In St Thomas we have 28 cases, and on St John there are two confirmed cases. Since the first confirmed case in May 2014; no cases have been confirmed on St Croix, or Water Island. However, we are investigating 22 reported suspected cases on St Croix and we have no reported suspected cases on Water Island to date,” Plaskett said.
Chikungunya is a viral disease that is transmitted to people by infected mosquitoes. Symptoms usually begin three to seven days after being bitten by an infected mosquito and include fever and severe joint pains, often in the hands and feet.
There is no specific anti-viral treatment and care is usually supportive to ease symptoms. On Thursday, the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) warned the Caribbean to be prepared for the “full impact” of the mosquito-borne chikungunya virus eight months after the first case was detected.
CARPHA executive director Dr James Hospedales said that almost all Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries have now reported cases of the virus.
Dr Marc Jerome, Territorial Medical Director for the Department of Health, stated that anyone who thinks they may have chikungunya should first seek medical care at a local health clinic to reduce any potential overburdening of the emergency rooms.
For more: http://www.caribbeannewsnow.com/topstory-Number-of-chikungunya-cases-increases-in-USVI-22700.html
Cayman Islands JA Announces the first Entrepreuneru Forum Saturday Oct. 18th @ UCCI
By jacayman
For the first time Junior Achievers (JA) Cayman is hosting a business conference for students, the JA Entrepreneur Forum. This will be an exciting fun filled day for all the new JA students enrolled in the Company Programme for 2014-15 school year. Leadership, Time Management, skills building exercises, The Importance of Social Media and much, much more! In order to attend this conference students must register for the Company Programme by September 26th, 2014. Registration can be obtained on the JA website, jacayman.ky under the programmes/company programme tab.
JA Company Programme Registration is now Open at: http://jacayman.ky/ja-announces-first-entrepreuneru-forum-saturday-oct-18th-ucci/
The 9th Annual Caribbean Tales Film Fest brings Caribbean Voices to the “big screen”
By Lisa West from Reggaemania
With the endless summer breeze and the sweet sound of steel pan Toronto’s Royal Cinema opens its door as host of the 9th Annual Caribbean Tales, a calabash full of pulsating Caribbean cinema from Trinidad and Tobago, Grenada, Jamaica, Barbados to name a few.
Opening the Fest is none other than the legendary ” Mighty Sparrow”. The iconic Calypsonian will sit as panelist for feature of Geoffrey Dunn’s “The Glamour Boyz Again! Sparrow and Superior On The Hilton Rooftop”, reminiscing and celebrating a friendship spanning five decades, and unforgettable performances of course.
Jamaican director Mary Wells brings “Jamaican Paradise” to the fest. In this rough and raw docudrama one travels the ghettos of Kingston through the eyes of a street hustler “with a picture and a dream”.
The Fest Runs from September 7 – 14, 2014 and also host the “Incubator”, a screen writers forum. With Sparrow as spectacular opening Alison Hinds will bring the Fest to a close with sizzling on screen appearance in Shakirah Bourne & Ricky Redmans’ “Too Smart”.
This is a Fest not to be missed. More to come…
NTSB Cites Methane Gas as Culprit in Oil Rig Accident
By Robert P. Mark From AIN online
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) believes methane gas expelled from an offshore oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico caused the partial power failure on a Bell 206-L3 helicopter departing the MP61A platform on March 24, 2011. The pilot experienced the power failure at about 4:55 p.m., shortly after liftoff. The NTSB attributed the power loss to an engine compressor stall after it ingested methane gas during takeoff.
The Board issued five safety recommendations on August 26, one of which was addressed to the American Petroleum Institute about platform gas.
The helicopter pilot told investigators he believed he had cleared the boom safely, but heard a loud bang as he passed abeam the structure and immediately noticed an increase in torque and turbine outlet temperature before the power loss. Although he initiated an autorotation and extended the float system, the helicopter rolled inverted after contacting the water. The pilot and two passengers received only minor injuries but the helicopter was destroyed.
The NTSB said that while the platform has a windsock to determine prevailing wind, it does not have a system to alert pilots when the flare boom is venting methane gas. The investigation discovered that the volume of gas vented through the platform’s boom was 20 times higher on the day of the accident than on the second highest day recorded that same month.
Cayman Islands Port Authority has no role in proposed new port
“One of our observations around the port development is the governance is a bit strange. The board has to have some sort of role in terms of oversight here because they are responsible for the port and accountable for delivering services ultimately.
“The fact that they don’t have any idea what’s going on in terms of a major capital project makes it very difficult for them to fulfill their role effectively.”
These were the words spoken by Cayman Islands Auditor General, Alastair Swarbrick, after it was revealed by Errol Bush, chairman of the board of directors of the Port Authority, that neither he nor his fellow directors have any current role in the proposed new port.
“The board really has nothing to do with that project,” Bush said at a hearing of the Public Accounts Committee. “It is run by a steering committee. Our representative on that committee is the port director and his deputy, but the board has no part to play in the planning or implementation of plans on that project.”
Source: http://www.compasscayman.com/caycompass/2014/09/09/No-pier-role-for-port-board/
NTSC issues final report on Lion air crash
By Robert P. Mark From AIN online
The final report by Indonesia’s National Transportation Safety Committee (NTSC) on the April 13, 2013 crash of a Lion Air Boeing 737 in Bali cited the airliner’s pilots and their loss of situational awareness as the primary cause of the accident. Four people were seriously injured when the aircraft crashed into water just short of the runway although no lives were lost.
Investigators found fault in the pilot-in-command (PIC) for continuing an instrument approach below minimums when both pilots had lost sight of the runway environment. The second-in-command (SIC)–the pilot initially flying the approach–flagged up this lack of situational awareness to the captain at two different times during the final moments of the approach. The SIC disengaged the autopilot and autothrottles at minimums but continued the approach below minimums, apparently because the PIC said he saw the runway end flashing lights.
The captain later told investigators that he took control of the aircraft from the SIC and decided to continue the approach past minimums because he expected to break through a band of rain into the clear in sufficient time to safely land the aircraft.
The report said, “at 150 feet agl, the SIC called that he could not see the runway, but the approach was continued until after the enhanced ground proximity warning system called ‘twenty [feet].’”
In the final moments before impact and after autopilot disengagement the Boeing’s rate of descent increased to as much as 1,136 feet per minute. The captain issued a “go-around” command one second before impact.
For more: http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/ainsafety/2014-09-08/ntsc-issues-final-report-lion-air-crash
Apple will add extra security measures to iCloud, says Tim Cook
From Techcrunch
Apple has added extra security measures to iCloud, including alerts if someone tries to change your account password, download iCloud files to a new device, or a log a new device onto an account. Users can then change their passwords immediately or notify Apple security. The alerts will start in two weeks, CEO Tim Cook told the Wall Street Journal.
In addition, Apple will also increase its use of two-factor authentication, expanding it to cover access to iCloud accounts from a mobile device when it releases its iOS update later this month.
The changes come in the wake of the recent leak of a large number of photos from celebrity accounts, allegedly from hacked iCloud accounts. Apple previously released a statement denying any breach within its systems, but admitting that celebrity accounts were compromised by attackers using standard phishing techniques.
In his interview with the WSJ, Cook reiterated that point and said that Apple could have done more to make people aware of hackers potentially targeting their accounts or how to create more secure passwords.
“When I step back from this terrible scenario that happened and say what more could we have done, I think about the awareness piece. I think we have a responsibility to ratchet that up. That’s not really an engineering thing,” he said.
Apple also said it will take more steps to make people aware of two-factor authentication, since most users currently don’t use it. Apple told WSJ that if the celebrities whose accounts here hacked had used two-factor authentication, then hackers would not have been able to guess the currect answers to their security questions.
Related to above:
There’s something phishy about those nude photos you might be looking for
By Chris Smith From BGR
Unless you’ve been living under a rock this week, you’ve probably heard that quite a few celebrities have had their personal iCloud accounts hacked into, with thieves being able to retrieve compromising pictures and videos from existing cloud backups. Some hackers apparently did it just for the fun of it, while others did it for the money. Other hackers, meanwhile, might be trying to profit from the increased interest in celebrities’ nude photos by attempting to use their notoriety to engage in phishing attacks.
Security researchers from Trend Micro have already spotted such initiatives that are meant to trick the user into downloading malware on their computers.
It all starts as a message on social media, such as Twitter, that directs the user to a site promising him or her access to pictures and/or videos of, say, Jennifer Lawrence. Once there, the user is directed to download a “video converter” to view the leaked celebrity video.
Furthermore, in a different version of this attack, the users have to share the video via Facebook – thus enticing others to fall for the same malware-installing scheme – in order to view the video.
At the end of either procedure, the unsuspecting user has installed a program on his or her machine that can be used for malicious purposes, and access to the video isn’t actually given.
It’s not clear what the program does after being installed on a computer, but it certainly isn’t good. It’s also not known how many users may have been affected by these malware/phishing tactics, but Trend Micro says bout 70% of the users affected are from the U.S.
Images showing such malicious threats follow below, while Trend Micro’s detailed post is available at the source link, complete with more information about the malicious programs installed on PCs via this bait-and-switch maneuver.
Ex-Virginia governor, wife guilty of bribery
By Larry O’Dell From Tampa Tribune
RICHMOND, Va. — Former Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell and his wife were convicted [last month] of taking bribes to promote a dietary supplement in a corruption case that derailed the career of the onetime rising Republican star.
A federal jury in Richmond convicted Bob McDonnell of 11 of the 13 counts he faced; Maureen McDonnell was convicted of nine of the 13 counts she had faced. Both bowed their heads and wept as the court clerk read a chorus of “guilty” verdicts.
Widely considered a possible running mate for Mitt Romney in the 2012 presidential campaign, McDonnell was all but abandoned after the scandal and lived alone in a church rectory during the trial. Now he and his wife face up to 30 years in prison on most counts. Sentencing was scheduled for Jan. 6.
The couple’s defense strategy depended in large part on convincing jurors that their marriage was a fraud and that they were unable to speak to each other, let alone conspire to accept bribes. They left the courtroom separately.
Bob McDonnell seemed ashen as he was mobbed by cameras before climbing into a waiting Mercedes. “All I can say is that my trust remains in the Lord,” he said.
The couple was convicted on nearly all the counts involving doing favors for wealthy vitamin executive Jonnie Williams in exchange for more than $165,000 in gifts and loans that they admitted taking.
For more: http://tbo.com/ap/ex-virginia-governor-wife-guilty-of-bribery-20140904/
Island Shop: The art of underwater sculpture in the Caribbean
By Sarah Greaves-Gabbadon from Caribbean journal
Divers and snorkelers swarm artist Jason De Caires Taylor’s underwater sculpture gardens off the coasts of Grenada and Cancun, Mexico with good reason: His installations of life-size cement figures anchored to the sea floor are hauntingly beautiful, making you instantly regret not buying that underwater camera.
But Taylor’s marine forms also serve a function: Treated with a pH-reducing additive to make them coral-friendly, they act as artificial reefs. Over time, their smooth chalky surfaces transform from green to brown and sprout coral polyps, offering sanctuary for small fish and other sea life while simultaneously attracting fascinated divers, snorkelers and glass-bottom boat tourists.
And now, with the release of The Underwater Museum: The Submerged Sculptures of Jason deCaires Taylor you don’t need a mask and flippers to appreciate his otherworldly work.
Released earlier this year in hardback and for Kindle by Chronicle Books, the tome features mesmerizing images of this unique collaboration between art and nature, and documents the British dive instructor and former graffiti artist’s creative process – a painstaking labor that requires patient models willing to be encased in cling wrap; tons of ph-neutral cement; and inordinate amounts of Vaseline.
So if you didn’t pull off that diving vacation to Mexico or Grenada this summer, fret not. Put this at the top of your holiday gift list and pretend you did.
For more: http://www.caribjournal.com/2014/09/04/island-shop-the-art-of-underwater-sculpture-in-the-caribbean/
