US Convicted Pa. AG says she’ll resign on Wednesday

Pennsylvania’s embattled attorney general said she will step down from her post effective Wednesday afternoon following her conviction earlier this week on charges that she leaked confidential investigative material to a reporter and lied about it under oath.

SOURCE: LAW360

 

Climate change causes world’s second largest lake to stop mixing

For more: http://www.thecarbonwars.com/climate-change-causes-worlds-second-largest-lake-stop-mixing/

 

Google takes you on a 360-degree tour of the Sydney Opera House

By Edgar Alvarez From engadget

Featuring a cameo from the Sydney Symphony Orchestra.

It’s never been easier to visit historic places around the world, at least virtually. And now, thanks to a partnership with Google’s Cultural Institute, the Sydney Opera House is letting people take a 360-degree video tour of its iconic arts center. The experience, which is roughly nine minutes long, features a performance from the Sydney Symphony Orchestra and views of different areas around the location. It’s perfect for those of you who haven’t been to the Sydney Opera House, especially if you’re hoping to go one day.

For more and video: https://www.engadget.com/2016/04/27/google-sydney-opera-house-virtual-tour/

 

Virgin Galactic poised to start its new spaceship’s test flights

By Mariella Moon From engadget

The first full-powered independent tests won’t begin until next year, though.

Virgin Galactic is ready to put its SpaceShipTwo replacement through a series of test fights, and according to Bloomberg, it will begin sometime in August. The private space corporation launched Virgin Spaceship (VSS) Unity in February to replace SpaceShipTwo, which crashed into the Mojave Desert back in 2014. It was named by Professor Stephen Hawking, shares a similar design with its predecessor and was created take paying customers on a short tour of outer space to the tune of $250,000 per seat.

The Unity will be attached to another aircraft when it takes to the skies next month, though: full-powered, independent test flights won’t begin until 2017. Virgin Galactic also doesn’t have a target date for its first official flight yet despite already having sold 700 tickets. Some of its earliest customers include Lady Gaga, Justin Bieber and Leonardo DiCaprio. Company VP Jonathan Firth told Bloomberg that Virgin Galactic has “thrown out so many dates in the past that [it wasn’t] able to keep to,” so it’s being more conservative this time.

For more and video: https://www.engadget.com/2016/07/09/virgin-galactic-unity-test-flight/

 

Egyptian judoka sent home over handshake refusal with Israeli

By Karolos Grohmann | RIO DE JANEIRO From Reuters

IMAGE: 2016 Rio Olympics – Judo – Preliminary – Men +100 kg Elimination Rounds – Carioca Arena 2 – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – 12/08/2016. Or Sasson (ISR) of Israel and Islam El Shehaby (EGY) of Egypt compete. REUTERS/Toru Hanai

Egyptian judoka Islam El Shehaby has been sent home from the Rio Olympics after refusing to shake the hand of Israeli Or Sasson following the end of their bout, the International Olympic Committee said on Monday.

El Shehaby, who was sent home by his own team, lost the fight on Friday and was reprimanded by the IOC for his actions.

The athlete said he did not want to shake hands with an Israeli, nor was he obliged to do so under judo rules, but the IOC said his behavior went against the rules and spirit of the Olympic Games and the rules of fair play.

“The President of the National Olympic Committee issued a statement saying they respected all athletes and all nations at the Olympic Games,” the IOC said in a statement.

After Sasson defeated El Shehaby and the pair retook their places in front of the referee, the Egyptian backed away when Sasson bowed and approached him to shake hands.

When called back by the referee to bow, El Shehaby gave a quick nod before walking off amid loud boos from the crowd .

“The Disciplinary Commission (DC) considered that his behavior at the end of the competition was contrary to the rules of fair play and against the spirit of friendship embodied in the Olympic Values,” the IOC said.

“The DC issued a ‘severe reprimand for inappropriate behavior’ to the athlete. It noted … the shaking of hands after a match is not in the competition rules of the International Judo Federation.”

“As well as a severe reprimand, the DC has asked the Egyptian Olympic Committee to ensure in future that all their athletes receive proper education on the Olympic Values before coming to the Olympic Games,” the IOC said.

El Shehaby, 32, had reportedly been pressured by fans on social media not to show up for the match with his Israeli opponent, who went on to win bronze in the +100kg category, because it would shame Islam.

This is not the first time athletes from Arab nations or Iran refuse to compete with Israeli athletes in Olympics or other international competitions.

“Shaking the hand of your opponent is not an obligation written in the judo rules. It happens between friends and he’s not my friend,” El Shehaby said after his bout.

“I have no problem with Jewish people or any other religion or different beliefs. But for personal reasons, you can’t ask me to shake the hand of anyone from this State, especially in front of the whole world,” he said.

Egypt was the first Arab power to make peace with Israel, in 1979, but the treaty remains unpopular among many Egyptians.

(Reporting by Karolos Grohmann; Editing by Ossian Shine, Andrew Hay and Frank Pingue)

For more: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-olympics-rio-judo-egypt-israel-idUSKCN10Q1WC

 

Warming oceans spread disease

From The Carbon Wars

Rising global temperatures are clearly linked to increasing waterborne food poisoning, particularly from eating raw oysters, along with other infections, according to a new study just published.

About a dozen species of vibrio bacteria make people sick from eating raw or undercooked seafood or drinking or swimming in tainted water.

Lab-confirmed vibrio infections in the United States have increased from an average of about 390 a year from the late 1990s to an average of 1,030 in recent years, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“It’s a remarkable increase on an annual basis,” said study lead author Rita Colwell of the University of Maryland, a top microbiologist who used to head the National Science Foundation.

The study examined Europe and North America, but the most consistent tracking of vibrio illnesses were in the United States. The CDC blames about 100 deaths a year on vibrio on average.

Even Alaska, where such outbreaks used to be unheard of because the bacteria needs warm water, is getting cases from people eating vibrio-infected oysters, Colwell said. Her study, published in Monday’s Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences , highlights an unprecedented wave of vibrio illnesses from swimming in northern Europe during heat waves in 1994, 1997, 2003, 2006 and 2010.

Until now, researchers had indirectly linked climate change to an increase in illnesses from the bacteria, Colwell said. Using DNA, a 50-year database of plankton, water temperatures and disease reports, she shows a more comprehensive connection.

“Now we have linked very directly the increase and the trend in number of cases, so it’s all coming together in great detail,” Colwell said.

With the giant database of plankton and DNA, the international team of scientists was able to monitor how pervasive the vibrio bacteria have become in waterways around the world by creating an index. The index doesn’t show the number of vibrio, but its relative abundance, said study author Luigi Vezzulli of the University of Genoa. That index has about tripled in many of the areas they examined, including the North Atlantic.

That type of examination of vibrio levels in plankton hasn’t been done before and “is critical to understand the regional scale of changes in climate to potential increases in human risk,” said Erin Lipp, a University of Georgia, professor of environmental health sciences. She wasn’t part of the study but praised it as exciting and important.

For more: http://www.thecarbonwars.com/warming-oceans-spread-disease/

 

Cayman Drama Society

2016 is proving to be amazing around the Prospect Playhouse! We have been busy renovating the auditorium this summer and getting ready for a smashing end to 2016!

And Yes! Its election season and what greater way to lighten the mood than coming to see the very funny, Yes Minister!

September 15,16,17,22,23,24,29,30, October 1

Yes Minister is a satirical look at the early career of Jim Hacker MP; a newly appointed cabinet minister in the fictional Department of Administrative Affairs at Whitehall. Hacker goes through various struggles to formulate and enact legislation or effect departmental changes that are continually opposed by the British Civil Service in particular his Permanent Secretary, Sir Humphrey Appleby. His Principal Private Secretary Bernard Woolley, is usually caught between the two. The British comedy, written by Sir Antony Jay and Jonathan Lynn, was fist broadcast by BBC Television in the 1980s has now been adapted to the Cayman stage by Chuck and Barrie Quappe. As the Cayman Parliamentary system is based on Whitehall, any of the situations will be undeniably familiar to all that live in Cayman!

And you do not want to miss our continuing celebration of Shakespeare’s 400th!!!

Cayman Islands Pirates Week calls for food vendors

The Pirates Week Festival Office is inviting participants for the annual Food Festival to submit their vendor applications for the below dates/times:

 

Friday 11th November	George Town	6:00pm to 2:00am
Saturday 12th November	George Town	1:00pm to midnight
Saturday 19th November	George Town	2:00pm to midnight

Vendor applications must be submitted beginning on Monday 1^st August, 2016 to the Pirates Week Office on Shedden Road, George Town (upstairs next to KFC). Vendor space is limited therefore applications must be submitted as soon as possible after the opening date above. Deadline for submission is Monday 31^st October.

 All vendors must comply with the rules and regulations set by the Pirates Week Festival Office and must present a valid Food Handling Certificate for all persons handing food by the 31^st October. Food handling certificates can be obtained from the Department of Environmental Health by contacting Mr. Gideon Simms on 949-6696 or email [email protected] .

 For application forms and more details please contact the Pirates Week Festival Office at 949-5078 or [email protected].

COMMUNITY EVENTS (Date Order)

WED AUG 17

Final Jaguar Land Rover Stroke and Stride

The final Jaguar Land Rover Stroke and Stride is Wednesday (17 Aug) at Sunset House. Log on to caymanactive.com for more details.

 Floetry

Floetry is Wednesday (17 Aug) at 630pm at Books & Books.

Clifton Hunter High School PTA’s Uniform Shop

The Clifton Hunter High School PTA’s Uniform Shop will be open this Wednesday (17 Aug) from 4pm — 6pm in the schools main office

THU AUG 18

Catch the Olympics

Catch the Olympics on a big outdoor screen on Thursday (18 Aug) at 7pm on the Crescent at Camana Bay.

3rd Annual CCUK Cayman Summer Reception Aug 18

2016 CCUK Summer Reception in Cayman

Date: Thursday 18th August 2016

Time: Workshop (5pm-6pm) & Reception (6pm-8pm)

Venue: St. Ignatius Catholic High-School Hall

Join us for an evening of networking and fun as we host our 3rd Annual CCUK Cayman Summer Reception! These receptions are historically a time for students, friends and associates who have connections to the UK to get together and share experiences. It is also an opportunity for those considering tertiary education the UK to meet others currently there, and glean some advise, tips and tricks!

RSVP BY FRIDAY 12TH AUGUST

RSVP here: http://caymanconnection.org/rsvp/

PLEASE SHARE WITH CAYMAN FRIENDS AND STUDENTS.

Humane Society Pub Quiz

The Humane Society Pub Quiz is Thursday (18 Aug) at Fidel Murphy’s at 7pm.

Cayman Islands DVDL-Restricted Hrs on Thursday 18th August

The Department of Vehicle & Drivers’ Licensing informs the public that it will be offering limited services on Thursday, August 18th, 2016 at its Crewe Road location.

The West Bay office will be closed on that day.

Hours of operation for that day will be 12:30pm to 4:00pm.

Limited services will result in there being no written/driving examinations or vehicle inspections.

Normal hours of operation will resume on Friday, August, 19th, for the Crewe Road office (8:30am to 4:00pm) and for the West Bay Office (10:00am to 6:00 pm).

This necessary closure is to facilitate a staff meeting and retreat.

The management and staff apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

Grand Court Jurors Notice

All Grand Court Jurors in the current session must now report on Thursday (18 Aug) at 945am.

FRI AUG 19

Cayman Islands Liquor Licence Holders: Remember your 19 August deadline

Liquor licence holders – including those with music and dancing licenses – are reminded of the Friday, 19 August deadline to apply for licence renewals.

They also are reminded that before they can apply for a renewal, their premises must be inspected by relevant Government agencies. Depending on licensees’ particular operations, these inspections may include the Fire Service, Department of Environmental Health, Planning Department, and Port Authority.

To help speed up the process, the Planning Department has advised that licensees must have inspections done by private, licensed plumbers and/or electricians. These inspections are then submitted to the Planning Department for approval.

The Planning Department added that there are a few exceptions. For example, package licences (for retail outlets such as stores and warehouses) do not require electrical or plumbing inspections.

Only complete renewal applications, with either inspection certificates or proof of inspection requests, that are submitted by the 19 August deadline will be heard at the Liquor Licensing Board’s annual session on 30 September.

Applications can be downloaded from the Department of Commerce and Investment’s website, www.dci.gov.ky . For more information, contact the Liquor Licensing Board through Acting Secretary Gavin Dixon on 244-3167 or DCI’s Shelise Jeffery on 244-2202.

Music Happy Hour

Music Happy Hour for kids is Friday from 3:30 — 4:30 pm at Starfish Village every Friday in August.

SAT AUG 20

Culture at the Cinema: Les Liaisons Dangereuses

Culture at the Cinema presents Les Liaisons Dangereuses on Saturday (20 Aug) at 7pm at Regal Cinemas.

Lions Tropical Gardens Diabetes Health Fair 

The Lions Club of Tropical Gardens presents a Diabetes Health Fair with free A1C testing at St. George’s Anglican Church Hall on Saturday (20 Aug) from 9 — 1.

Car Boot Sale

The DMS Gives Back Committee is organizing a Car Boot Sale for Saturday (20 Aug) in support of The Humane Society from 6 — 9am in the Regatta Parking Lot. To reserve your spot, call 749.2414

Clifton Hunter High School PTA’s Uniform Shop

The Clifton Hunter High School PTA’s Uniform Shop will be open this Saturday (20 Aug) 9am-12pm in the schools main office

MON AUG 22

Bible Reflections
22 August , 2016

The East End United Church is hosting a week of Bible Reflections under the theme ‘More Prayers, More Power’ running Monday — Friday (22 — 26 Aug) at 730pm nightly.

TUE AUG 23

Moonlight and Movies: Shrek the Third

The Moonlight and Movies series continues on Tuesday (23 Aug) featuring Shrek the Third at 7pm in Gardenia Court in Camana Bay.

WED AUG 24

Conservation Council Meeting 24 August 2016

The National Conservation Council will hold a general meeting on Wednesday August 24th, 2016, from 2pm to 5pm in the ground floor meeting room (1038) of the Government Administration Building (Grand Cayman). The Agenda of the meeting will be available at the DoE website (www.doe.ky/conservation-council). This meeting is open to observers from the public. If anyone wishes to submit comments to the Council in advance of the meeting they may do so via email to [email protected].

Post Offices Close Temporarily on Wednesday

Post Offices on Grand Cayman will be closed for two hours on Wednesday, 24 August 2016, to facilitate a staff function.
The closure, from 12noon to 2:00p.m., includes the General Post Office, Airport Post Office and all district sub-post offices.  All offices will re-open for normal business hours at 2:00p.m. that afternoon.
Post Offices on Cayman Brac and Little Cayman will NOT be affected, and will operate according to normal hours.
Desk(345)244 1764 – Cell(345)926 0173 – Fax(345)949 5936

FRI AUG 26

Music Happy Hour

Music Happy Hour for kids is Friday from 3:30 — 4:30 pm at Starfish Village every Friday in August.

Cayman Theological Institute

The Cayman Theological Institute is hosting orientation for the new semester on Friday (26 Aug) at 7pm. Call 949.9533 for more information.

 

SAT AUG 27

Theatre in the Court: Rundown

Theatre in the Court presents Rundown on Saturday (27 Aug) at 7pm in Gardenia Court.

CIIPA Running for Red 5 & 10K

The CIIPA Running for Red 5 & 10K is Saturday (27 Aug) at 630am. Log on to caymanactive.com for more details.

Cayman Car Boot Sales

Walk For The Cure charity car boot sale

Starting August 27, 2016

Join us Saturday, August 27, 2016 from 6:30-10:30am in the parking lot at CIBC FirstCaribbean Main Street Branch for a fundraising Charity Car Boot Sale!

TUE AUG 30

Moonlight and Movies: Curious George

The Moonlight and Movies series continues on Tuesday (30 Aug) featuring Curious George at 7pm in Gardenia Court in Camana Bay.

 

WED AUG 31

Pirates Week Volunteers

The Pirates Week Office is seeking volunteers to assist in the planning in its upcoming events. For more information email at [email protected] or call 949-5859.

THU SEP 1

Cayman Islands: LCCL applicants must advise TBL board of Caymanian participation

In order to ensure that the law is upheld, procedural changes for the Local Companies (Control) Licence Law (LCCL) will come into effect on 1 September 2016.

The LCCL requires foreign investors to publish ads that solicit Caymanian participation in their potential business endeavours. In these ads, Caymanians are asked to inform the foreign investor of their interest, in writing; however, as of 1 September, Caymanians also must supply a copy of that letter directly to the Trade and Business Licensing Board.

Also, when submitting their applications to the board, foreign investors must include copies of the two local newspaper ads, published in accordance with section 11 (4) (e) of the law, that solicited Caymanian participation.

‘These procedural changes will help the board to know if the applicant has complied fully with the LCCL’, said Minister of Commerce Wayne Panton.

LCCL applications must be submitted in person at the Business Licensing Counter, on the first floor of the Government Administration Building. The counter is open Mondays to Fridays, between 9:00am and 4:00pm. In addition to the two newspaper ads, applications must be accompanied by due diligence such as a police clearance, copies of passports, references, and the relevant fees.

Letters from Caymanians are to be addressed to the Trade and Business Licensing Board, c/o the Department of Commerce and Investment, Government Administration Building, 133 Elgin Avenue Suite 126, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands.

For more information, visit www.dci.gov.ky or email [email protected]

 

FRI SEP 2

Cayman Islands Golf: Weekend of Winners

We are looking forward to this years Red Cross event labels Weekend of Winners. The event will take place at the North Sound Golf Club on September 2nd.

SUN – THU SEP 4-8

URISA’s 2016 Caribbean GIS Conference in Barbados

URISA’s 2016 Caribbean GIS Conference on September 4-8, 2016 in Barbados. Check out the latest information!

• Keynotes from Chris Shedrick at What3Words and Tyler Radford from Humanitarian OpenStreetMap

• High Level Meetings and participation from UN-GGIM International Forum on Geospatial Information and Services for Disasters.

• A full-day track on Caribbean Disaster Management developed in conjunction with the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency

• Missing Maps MeetUp

• Tons of education – More than 20 comprehensive sessions with presentations from nearly 60 of your peers.

• A high-powered panel session on “Confronting Land Administration Challenges: The Key to Unlocking Economic Prosperity”

• Take advantage of free preconference workshops and training

• Networking and a Busy Exhibition – Gold Sponsors Esri and Spatial Innovision; Silver Sponsors GeoOrbis and Hexagon Geospatial; Bronze Sponsor – GeoTechVision!

Reserve your hotel room by August 15 to take advantage of discounted group rates!

Check out all of the conference details and register right away at: http://www.urisa.org/education-events/urisa-s-caribbean-gis-conference/

SUN SEP 11

CXC Education Program Registration

The CXC Education Program is inviting volunteer teachers. Registration takes place on Sunday (11 Sept) at 2 pm, at the John Gray High School Auditorium; classes begin on September 18th. For further information visit www.education.adventisteducation.org.

SAT  &  SUN SEP 18 & 19 

British Schools Fair Cayman Islands

Street: Ritz-Carlton Grand Cayman

District: Seven Mile Beach

Island: Grand Cayman

Country: Cayman Islands

Description

Ritz-Carlton

Sat 18 Sep & Sun 19 Sep

2.00-6.00 p.m.

A chance for Cayman families to meet leading UK boarding schools. If you are considering the possibility of your children having the opportunities afforded by an overseas education, this is your chance to speak to some of the top schools.

Free entry

For more information contact [email protected]

AUGUST EVENTS AT CAMANA BAY

Be part of the action and support your nation with The Games at Camana Bay – a series of festivities inspired by the 2016 Olympics. Take in cultural experiences by catching the last chance to see Rundown, getting lost in poetry readings or by supporting a local author as they celebrate their latest book.

Moonlight & Movies: Summer Series

Tuesdays until 30 August

7pm

Gardenia Court

Music Happy Hour for Kids

Fridays until 26 August

3:30-4:30pm

Starfish Village

The Games at Camana Bay: Moonlight & Movies

Thursday 11 and 18 August

7pm

The Crescent

Floetry

Wednesday 17 August

6:30-7:30pm

Books & Books

Culture at the Cinema: Les Liaisons Dangereuses

Saturday 20 August

7pm

Regal Cinemas

Theatre in the Court: Rundown

Saturday 27 August

7pm

Gardenia Court

NATIONAL GALLERY EVENTS

Early Watercolours

Rarely displayed watercolour paintings from the early collections of the National Gallery of the Cayman Islands (NGCI) and the Cayman Islands National Museum (CINM) will be on show at the National Gallery throughout summer. The temporary exhibition titled, A Legacy of Light features a wide selection of landscapes, seascapes and architectural studies by both established and lesser-known artists from the Cayman Islands. The exhibition opens to the public 1 July 2016 and ends 16 September 2016.

Take it Home

The gift shop at the National Gallery has a fabulous selection of creative gifts for all ages. Brand new watercolour paint sets, brushes and books have arrived so you can try your hand at creating a masterpiece of your own!