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It was reported that filmmaker, Tyler Perry, used his own private jet to transport relief supplies to the Bahamas to help the thousands who were devastated by Hurricane Dorian.

The writer, actor, director and producer, who, himself, owns a 25-acre island in the Bahamas, was also said to have seven people, including children and a pregnant woman, rescued to receive medical attention.

The Category 5 storm, which destroyed homes and properties, was said to have claimed some 50-plus civilians, with anywhere of up to 70,000 people who became homeless.

Noted for films and TV shows including; ‘Why Did I Get Married?’ ‘Diary of a Mad Black Woman’ and ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows’, was so moved by the plight of the people of the Abaco Islands that he posted on his Instagram feed;

“To all the incredible people of the Bahamas who have welcomed me and called me an adoptive son, I want you to know that I am watching closely, and as soon as I can, I will be there to do whatever I can to help you rebuild stronger and better. You’re not only in my heart and my prayers, you’re in my blood. God bless you. Stay Bahamas strong. The sun will shine again [sic]”.

After posting the message, Perry, 50 - who Forbes list as the highest paid man in entertainment - sent his Gulfstream III jet plane made several trips, carrying necessities such as water, juice, diapers, sleeping bags, hygiene products, and much more.

Having initially lost contact the Vikram lander module from the Indian Moon mission was finally located on the lunar surface.

The Vikram lander of Chandrayaan-2 (Sanskrit for ‘Moon Vehicle) was due to land in the lunar South Pole region, but the space agency lost touch with it on Saturday as it made its final approach to deploy a rover to search for signs of water.

After a lengthy in-depth search, ISRO (Indian Space and Research Organisation) chair, K. Sivan, was quoted as saying that cameras from the Moon mission's orbiter had located the lander. He added that: “It must have been a hard landing.”

The lunar rover was supposed to help scientists better understand the origin and evolution of the Moon through studying the area's topography and minerals.

This was India's second mission – the first lunar mission in 2008 (Chandrayaan-1) did not land on the Moon, but it did detect ice in the frigid shadows of craters at the lunar poles.

A successful landing would have made India just the fourth country to land a vessel on the lunar surface, and only the third to operate a robotic rover there.

The space agency said the lander’s descent was normal until 2 kilometres (1.2 miles) from the lunar surface.

The roughly $140m Chandrayaan-2 mission was intended to study permanently shadowed moon craters that are thought to contain water deposits that were confirmed by the Chandrayaan-1 mission in 2008.

As our hearts goes out to the people of Bahamas, Hurricane Dorian have been catastrophic on the Island of Bahamas killing at least seven people, destroying as many homes during its path of dark destruction through the Bahamas this past weekend.

Despite been downgraded to a category 2 Hurricane, it came to a grinding halt on Tuesday morning as the Bahamas came to a virtual standstill after days of howling winds of up to 175mp with fierce rain where it battered the Island with a Category 5 status the strongest in history of a Atlantic hurricane. The hurricane battered the islands of Abaco, Grand Bahama and left The Grand Bahama airport under 6 feet of water. Fear gripped residents as the wind tore roofs off and had houses or what remained of houses under siege. Dorian has been unleashing torrents of rain, as the entire area continues to endure devastating and flooding in its wake.

The scale of the catastrophe and intensity of damages in the Bahamas is just beginning to unfold as a large mass of area is still under complete water.

Now that there is the calm after the storm, the water has risen so high that many are forced to wait out the storm by taking refuge at shelters and or in their roof spaces.

Literally, everything is under water, fire trucks, police vehicles therefore posing a situation where not much help can be done thus staying put and no one can leave where they are presently to go anywhere to help. With the streets impassible due to rising waters, stranded vehicles on top of each with pounding rain still falling islanders are devising actions to be taken once it is safe to do so.

Dozens of individuals were attempting to rescue those nearby that are trapped along with animals however this is proving quite exhausting after spending the last few days under water clinging to their lives.

The Prime Minister of Bahamas, Mr Hubert Minnis, spoke yesterday in the aftermath of the hurricane said “We are in the midst of an historic tragedy.” As he added: “The devastation is unprecedented and extensive.”

It is estimated that over 70,000 people in both Abaco and Grand Bahama will need food and supplies following the destruction on the island as swiftly as possible especially with babies, toddlers and the elderly that requires the help.

Mr Hubert Minnis tweeted that "There are many difficult days, weeks and months ahead of us as a people and as a country." "Relief and rapid assessment teams are standing by and will be deployed to Abaco and Grand Bahama as soon as possible."

As Hurricane Dorian will remain a powerful hurricane during the next couple of days the exact toll of the devastation is not known at this stage and rescue crews cannot as yet execute their plan of actions on the ground. Dorian battered the Bahamas since landfall over the weekend and it is expected to be one of severe damages.

Dorian is now moving north however there is evidence of miles of debris from houses that were pulled apart and have left the island in disrepair as life will start all over again for those who have survived.

During this very difficult time for those in Bahamas our thoughts and prayers are completely with them and profound condolences to the families to whom have lost their loved ones.

By Dee Burrowes, Life Coach/Author.

Zimbabwe's first post-independence leader and Prime Minister, Robert Mugabe ruled the southern African country - first as Prime Minister, from 1980 to 1987 and then as President from 1987 to 2017- as a revolutionary and politician.

He embraced Marxism and joined African nationalist protests calling for an independent state led by representatives of the Black majority. After making anti-government comments, he was convicted of sedition and imprisoned between 1964 and 1974. On release, he fled to Mozambique, established his leadership of ZANU, and oversaw ZANU's role in the Rhodesian Bush War, fighting Ian Smith's predominantly white government.

As independent Zimbabwe's first leader, he promised democracy and reconciliation, following years of British rule of what was called, by many, the ‘bread basket’ of Africa.

Dominating Zimbabwe's – and the continent’s - politics for nearly four decades, Mugabe was a controversial figure who was praised as a revolutionary hero of the African liberation struggle who helped free Zimbabwe from British colonialism, imperialism, and white minority rule.

Mugabe reluctantly took part in the peace negotiations brokered by the United Kingdom that resulted in the Lancaster House Agreement. The agreement ended the war and resulted in the 1980 general election, at which Mugabe led ZANU-PF to victory. As Prime Minister of the newly renamed Zimbabwe, his administration expanded healthcare and education and—despite his professed Marxist desire for a socialist society—adhered largely to mainstream, conservative economic policies.

The hopes, however, that followed independence in 1980 dissolved into violence, corruption and economic disaster with President Mugabe becoming an outspoken critic of the West, most notably the United Kingdom, the former colonial power, which he denounced as an "enemy country" – at the same time brutally treating his political opponents and economically mismanaging a once prosperous country.

Whilst reportedly doing so, he continued to attract the support of other African leaders who saw him as a hero of the fight against colonial rule. Critics, on the other hand, would accuse Mugabe of being a dictator responsible for widespread corruption, anti-white racism, human rights abuses, and crimes against humanity.

In 2000, he lost a referendum, after which pro-Mugabe militias invade white-owned farms and attack opposition supporters. His calls for racial reconciliation failed to stem growing white emigration, while relations with Joshua Nkomo's Zimbabwe African People's Union (ZAPU) also declined.

In 2008 he came second in the first round of elections to former trade union leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, who pulled out of a run-off amid nationwide attacks on his supporters but, amid economic collapse, in 2009 Mugabe swears in Tsvangirai as prime minister, who serves in uneasy government of national unity for four years. In 2017, he sacked his long-time ally Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa, paving the way for his wife Grace to succeed him.

Defiant to the end Mugabe refused to resign. But, on 21 November, as a motion to impeach him was being debated in the Zimbabwean parliament, the speaker of the House of Assembly announced that Robert Mugabe had finally resigned.

Born to a poor Shona family in Kutama, Southern Rhodesia, he was 95.

On the heels of a phenomenal 24.9% growth in arrivals for the 2018 Carnival Season, Grenada records a 7.7% increase in arrivals for the 2019 festival of 13,327 compared to 12,379. This figure is a measure of the visitors and diaspora arriving in the destination, prior to Carnival Monday. Of the 13,327 stayover visitors, 10,505 were tourists and 2,822 were Grenadians residing abroad. Part of this growth is attributed to additional airlift including 3 extra flights from LIAT, increased marketing and the global recognition of Grenada’s artistes, culture and music.

The best performing markets for Spicemas 2019 were:

• United States, 21%, a total of 6,818 visitors
• Trinidad & Tobago, 7%, with a total of 1,973 visitors

Grenada’s soca, groovy and calypso music coupled with its authentic and distinctly unique offerings of Jab Jab and Monday Night Mas, served to wow visitors and highlight what sets Spicemas apart from other Carnivals. 2019 also saw a marked increase in participation with twelve (12) bands parading for the Monday Night Mas street party. The masqueraders reveled to the rhythms of carnival and lit up the night sky with a plethora of colourfully branded t-shirts, lighted hats and wands. Fancy Mas on Carnival Monday and Tuesday also saw increased participation from bands (11) and masqueraders with bejeweled costumes, pageantry and storytelling.

Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation Hon. Dr. Clarice Modeste-Curwen thanked all the contributors to Spicemas 2019 including the artists, bandleaders and service providers. She said, “The numbers speak to the growing interest in Spicemas as one of the best Carnivals to visit in the Caribbean. Our people make the experience memorable and enjoyable with their warm hospitality and visible pride in their music and culture. Grenada for Spicemas 2020 promises to be a spectacular event, I encourage you to book early.”

Grenada’s Spicemas Carnival 2020 is carded for August 10 and 11.

The Islands Of The Bahamas have once again proved to be a favorite destination for all types of travelers. The Bahamas was included in Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best Awards, featured in Bloomberg as the most visited destination by private jet and named the Top Meeting Destination in the Caribbean by CVENT. With exciting events in the pipeline, it’s no surprise The Bahamas continues to see visitor growth month-over-month.

NEWS

The Bahamas’ Impressive Start to 2019 – The July ForwardKeys survey showed international arrivals to The Bahamas increased 13.9% in June with arrivals up 9.4% in the first half of 2019. The forward booking situation for July to September remains positive, with bookings 9.8% ahead for international arrivals.

Bahamian Islands Recognized in Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best Awards – The Exumas, Harbour Island and The Abacos were named some of the top islands in the Caribbean, Bermuda and The Bahamas in Travel + Leisure’s 2019 World’s Best Awards. The World’s Best Awards are among the most prestigious in the travel industry and are selected by the publication’s readers.

The Bahamas Is The Leading Destination For High Flyers – In a study published by Bloomberg, The Bahamas was the top destination for travelers arriving by private jets. More than two-thirds private jet arrivals to The Bahamas originated in the U.S. or Canada.

Nassau, Bahamas Takes Top Spot in CVENT’s Top Caribbean Meeting Destinations – Nassau, Bahamas was named the top meeting destination in the Caribbean and Latin America by CVENT. The list was compiled by analyzing meeting and event booking activity through CVENT.

Atlantis, Paradise Island Welcomes The P1 AquaX Bahamas World Championship – November 8 – 10, 2019, Atlantis, Paradise Island will play host to the top 40 professional watercraft competitors, representing 12 countries for the P1 AquaX Bahamas World Championship. Additional festivities include a nearby Race Village with live music, local bands, food and activities for all ages.

PROMOTIONS AND OFFERS

For a complete, up-to-date listing of deals and packages for The Bahamas, visit www.bahamas.com/deals-packages.

Bahamasair, Orlando to Freeport For $295.72 – Take advantage of Bahamasair’s Orlando to Freeport deal, visiting The Bahamas second largest city, for under $300 roundtrip.

The Exumas Day Tour – Explore the beauty of the Exuma Cays on the 5-star rated Day Trip. The excursion takes guests to Staniel Cay, Compass, Cay, Thunderball Grotto and more. Save up to 25% with the code BAHAMAS2019 at checkout.

Exuma Marathon 2019 at Grand Isle Resort – Stay at Grand Isle Resort for the Exuma Marathon on November 9, 2019 and save up to 35% on your reservation.

FESTIVALS AND EVENTS

Stay up-to-date with the latest events and happenings in The Bahamas: www.bahamas.com/events

Goombay Summer Festival (August 11 – August 31) – Experience live Bahamian music, great local cuisine, authentically Bahamian Arts and Crafts, Junkanoo and lots more at the annual Goombay Summer Festival. Celebrate on Exuma on August 11 – 17, Central Andros on August 16, Long Island on August 24 and Eleuthera on August 31.

Junkanoo Summer Festival at Smith’s Point (August 3 – August 17) – For three consecutive Saturdays in August, Freeport will vibrate with the rhythms of the goatskin drums, cowbells, brass horns and whistles as six Junkanoo groups compete against each other. The Junkanoo Summer Festival will feature Bahamian music, performances, demonstrations, Arts and Crafts and a kids’ corner of entertainment.

Bahamas Hoopfest (November 27 – November 30) – Save the date: The NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Thanksgiving Classic will be hosted in Nassau this year. This will be the first women’s basketball event of its kind to be hosted in The Bahamas. View fan packages here.

Jamaica 0121 is on us today as the free outdoor festival will bring a fusion of Jamaican and British culture featuring live bands, performing artists, DJs, workshops, the finest cuisine and a variety of exciting stalls and demonstrations to ‘wet’ everybody’s appetite.

It’s a weekend-long celebration marking the country’s 57th year of Independence of the sunshine island with the free outdoor family festival providing the perfect visual demonstration of the strong links that have been established between Birmingham and Jamaica.

The ‘Jamaica 0121 Festival - One Love, One Vibe, One City’, in Victoria Square, in Birmingham, promises to be another exhilarating dazzling display of Jamaica’s influence on today's culture engaging everyone that attends and encapsulating the diverse spirit of Birmingham with a variety of stalls providing the very and original jerk chicken, rum punch, music, crafts, miscellanies goods and a wide choice of business opportunities and a wide array of entertainment for the whole family.

The party in the Square finish on Sunday, August 4.

Leaders in the Caribbean tourism industry have been advised to embrace and develop the strengths of their people to keep the industry among the most competitive in the world.

The charge came from the acting secretary general of the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) Neil Walters speaking at the Grenada Tourism Authority’s inaugural awards ceremony held at the Spice Island Beach Resort in Grenada.

“Yes, we can have the most beautiful properties, the best airports, the best seaports, but it is the people who make the Caribbean tourism product what it is. It is your welcoming and hospitable spirit which encourages visitors to return,” said Walters.

The acting SG said demands from visitors for experiences beyond the traditional ‘sun, sea and sand’, only served to enhance the need for the industry to equip the hospitality workforce to perform at the highest level.

“If we took a snapshot of tourism at this point in time, we will see that one of the strongest reasons for the continued growth in the number of persons visiting our shores is the spirit exuded by the amazing individuals who get up and go out and work on the front line every day.  The individuals who don’t just see it as a job but see the value of the service they are giving. That is the thing success stories in this industry are made of,” said Walters.

He said the trends towards experiential tourism call for the industry to shift away from excessive standardisation and embrace the unique culture of the destinations in the Caribbean.

The acting SG admonished tourism leaders to leverage the natural beauty and infrastructural edge the region has to develop emerging areas such as community-based tourism.

“In all the examples of community-based tourism I have seen, the key selling point for the visitor has been the chance to come and be in that community, to experience that community, to experience the people of that community. These communities create the unified voice necessary to market and sell the product, and, in turn, sustain the community’s project,” said Walters, who emphasised such an approach must build on the existing model of hotels which form the bedrock of the thriving Caribbean tourism industry.

“What we have to strive for is stronger links between this model with its sea and sand and the experiences which lie sometimes unlocked, away from the sea shore. As we change to match the demands of the times and embrace the treasures of experiences which exist inland, we must re-educate ourselves to see the value that we often overlook. Facets of traditional life that we may see as less than noteworthy, visitors may see as fascinating,” said Walters.

Walters said the Caribbean must embrace its identity and take pride in elements of its culture that can also serve to boost the attractiveness of destinations to the modern day visitor.

“I know that in recent times, across the Caribbean we have seen food festivals emerging which promote indigenous cuisine, which are popular with visitors. Well, let’s not hold back on the traditional delicacies which we are sometimes hesitant to unleash on visitors. I am sure many of our visitors would love those experiences. Some of our countries have communities skilled in pottery. We may need to move away from just selling pottery to giving pottery lessons.  These are just a couple examples of the ways the things we do and how we live can become added value as we enhance our tourism industry” said Walters.

The acting CTO SG said the direction of the tourism industry calls for a rethink of how we maximise the value of our natural and intrinsic assets to create better selling points for the destinations and to do this people must be empowered to keep driving the industry forward.

Calls are being made for the Nigerian Government to bring the age of consent in the country in line with other civilized countries.

With the country’s current age of consent at 11 years, many are saying that at this rate it “will make Nigeria a playground for paedophiles”.

People are saying that the government there has a responsibility to protect minors from harm with children up to the age of 16 rendered not yet physically or mentally mature enough to consent to sexual relationships.

With young people there under the age of 18 still registered as minors, and as such need to be protected from sexual exploitation and abuse, there are also calls for there to have a limit on the age gap - Presently, it is illegal for someone aged over 21 to have sex with someone under 16.

UNICEF, the world's leading organisation working for children in danger, defines gender equality as “a state of equal ease of access to resources and opportunities regardless of gender, including economic participation and decision making, and the state of valuing different behaviours, aspirations, and needs regardless of gender.”

Many in Nigeria are saying that; “If you are too young to fight for your country then you are too young for the age of consent”.

The age at which you can voluntarily join the military is 18 years, the same as for voting, so, the question is asked; “Why would you have such a large disparity between the ages?”

“How would an 11 year old girl be able to look after a baby or a boy for that matter?”

A petition has been started to highlight that the Nigerian Government be made to see how they will be viewed globally should they continue with the age of consent at 11 years.

The 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Section 23 of the 2003 Nigerian Child Right's Act says; “A person under the age of 18 is incapable of contracting a valid marriage. If such a marriage does take place, it should be declared null and void and of no effect." 

Section 29 (4b) of the Act states that; “Any woman who is married shall be deemed to be of full age.” 

Gender equality is something Nigerians say needs to be worked towards – especially where there are institutionalized systems which many feel, aims to keep women subservient to men.

A 62-year-old fined for dressing up as a black and white minstrel at a works party "didn't know it was racist", a court has heard.

Brian Davies was ordered to pay a total of £450 earlier this year for racially harassing a Black colleague after blacking up his face and performing a "racist" song and dance routine at their Christmas do.

The maintenance engineer appeared in court to appeal against his conviction of causing racially aggravated harassment, alarm or distress to head chef Loretta Doyley, denying he knew the television show from which his routine derived from was today seen as "derogatory and demeaning to Black people".

Cardiff Crown Court was shown mobile footage from the incident in December 2017 at the city's Cooper's Carvery, with Davies wearing black face paint, white paint around his eyes and mouth, a straw boater hat, and swinging around a cane while dancing and singing the song Mammy in the direction of Mrs Doyley.

Prosecutor Suzanne Payne said to Davies: "You could see as you were dancing and singing around her she was upset by you.

"You knew by dancing around singing that you were being abusive to her.

"And you should've been aware it would be. Because it's insulting and humiliating what you did.

"And that was your intention."

Davies said he had a prior conversation with colleagues including Mrs Doyley about The Black And White Minstrel Show, which appeared on British television in the 1960s and 1970s, which gave him the idea for his stunt.

He told the court: "It didn't even cross my mind. I didn't even think of anything racist.

"Just thought I was dressing up as something that used to be on telly on a Sunday night."

Ms Payne told Davies the show had not appeared on British television for years as it was deemed "derogatory and demeaning to Black people".

Davies said: "I didn't know it was racist."

Mrs Doyley, who worked with Davies at Ty Catrin, a facility run by mental healthcare provider The Priory Group in Cardiff, said Davies had repeatedly asked her to go the Christmas do after she had initially declined.

She told the court: "I felt humiliated and wanted the floor to open up and swallow me.

"I felt because everyone was laughing I went into shock and I felt myself laughing as well, not because it was funny, I just didn't know how else to act."

Tom Roberts, for Davies, told the court it needed to be sure his client's behaviour was "intentionally" abusive towards Mrs Doyley.

He said: "It was clearly ill judged. He accepts he was "stupid and naive".

"But that does not equate to him using abusive behaviour towards Mrs Doyley. It is of course not politically correct behaviour.

He added: "At most this was an ill judged and disreputable incident. Did he display hostility? I would say he didn't."

Judge David Wynn Morgan and Justices Robin Coombes and Sharon Winter adjourned the appeal before making their decision on its outcome.

The region's leading culinary professionals are gearing up for the much-anticipated Taste of the Caribbean event hosted by the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association's (CHTA) at Hyatt Regency Miami, June 21-25, 2019.

Held in conjunction with the association's annual industry conference, the Caribbean Hospitality Industry Exchange Forum (CHIEF) from June 21-23, and the Caribbean305 culinary and cultural consumer celebration (June 22), Taste of the Caribbean features culinary teams from 14 Caribbean destinations in a friendly but intense battle for cooking supremacy.

Participating destinations include Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bonaire, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Curaçao, Grenada, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, St. Lucia, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, and Turks and Caicos.

Trinidad and Tobago are defending team champions, and this year marks Grenada's return to the competition following an 11-year absence.

Taste of the Caribbean is the region's premier culinary competition, food and beverage educational exchange, and Caribbean cultural showcase. Since 1993, the Caribbean's best chefs and culinary teams have gathered at Taste to compete, demonstrate their skills, learn from each other, and offer diners a scrumptious exhibition of the most delectable culinary treats of the islands.

Taste of the Caribbean is also a rich forum for food and beverage professionals to exchange practical information, develop skills, sample and purchase, strengthen and establish supplier relationships, and meet new vendors. Innovative and exciting professional development sessions enhance individual skills and increase the value of culinary enterprises.

Competitions focus on culinary themes, including chocolate, "mocktails," rum- and vodka-based cocktails, and beef-based dishes. Other competitions include "mystery baskets," in the style of popular Food Network show, Chopped.

At the end of the five-day affair, the Caribbean Chef of the Year, Caribbean Junior Chef of the Year, Caribbean Bartender of the Year, Caribbean Pastry Chef of the Year, and Caribbean Culinary Team of the Year are crowned.

"The Trinidad and Tobago National Culinary Team is very excited and moving full speed ahead as we prepare for this year's Taste of the Caribbean," said team captain Jeremy Lovell, who disclosed that the twin island republic will this year field an all-student team.

"The team is determined to put their best efforts forward and we applaud our young, aspiring culinarians, mixologists and pastry chef as they create history and make Trinidad and Tobago proud. The Taste of the Caribbean experience provides enormous opportunities for Trinidad & Tobago Hospitality & Tourism Institute students to gain a better appreciation of the value and reach of careers in the hospitality industry."

This year's host sponsor is Interval International, while House of Angostura® is the Bartender of the Year sponsor. Event sponsors include The Best Dressed Chicken, Certified Angus Beef®, Figment Design, Food Export USA - Northeast, Marketplace Excellence, MasterCard, OBMI, RAK Porcelain, U.S. Meat Export Federation, U.S Pork, and the United States Virgin Islands Department of Tourism. Product sponsors include Angostura® Orange Bitters, Certified Angus Beef®, Food Export USA - Northeast, Halperns' Purveyors of Steak and Seafood, PromiseLand, RAK Porcelain, Superior Farms, U.S. Meat Export Federation, and U.S. Pork.

ICAEW’s new President for 2019/20, Fiona Wilkinson, will use her role to be an ambassador for inclusion in accountancy and to ensure the profession is fit for the future.

Fiona has spent her career as an advocate for diversity in the profession, spreading the message that accountancy is inclusive and open to all, no matter what their background.

After qualifying as an ICAEW chartered accountant in 1980, Fiona worked for Deloitte in locations such as London, Milan, and Canada, before going on to start her own practice, working as a technical consultant to firms. She became President of the ICAEW South West District Society in 2004 and focused on encouraging younger members, women and student members to become involved. During the last 13 years she has also served as chair of the Professional Standards Board, ICAEW Board Director, chair of the Ethics Advisory Committee and chair of the Diversity Advisory Group.

One of her aims during her year as President is to celebrate the centenary of Mary Harris Smith, who was the first woman ever to become a chartered accountant and a member of ICAEW in 1920.

Fiona said: “Mary Harris Smith applied several times to join the Institute and was turned down before finally being accepted. I want to celebrate her resilience and determination to achieve the qualification she wanted.”

A number of events are planned to mark the centenary, including the commissioning of a portrait of Harris Smith, and events being held to celebrate female members not only in ICAEW District Societies in the UK, but throughout the world.

Fiona also wants to play her part in working with government and regulators to ensure the profession is fit for the future.

Fiona said: “We need to look forward to the future and make audit something that is valued and useful. We need to ask what the users of accounts actually want from us, be positive about change, and ensure a bright future for the profession.”

Fiona will serve as ICAEW President from 5 June 2019 to 3 June 2020, when she will hand over to David Matthews.

Gladstone couple, Terry and Kym Purcell, today vetoed the daily housework to “hail” the world's first rideshare submarine experience on the Great Barrier Reef.

Three days after watching the launch of scUber on the Australian news, avid diver Terry Purcell surprised his wife of 32 years with the once-in-a-lifetime experience. His mission was to show her the underwater world that he passionately loves.

“I've been diving on the Great Barrier Reef since I was seven years old and the reef around Heron Island is the most wonderful spot in the world,” said the 54-year-old owner of Purcell's Engineering in Gladstone.

“Today is really about my wife. She does not have a diver's certificate. She snorkels but it's not the same. With this (scUber), she can experience the reef first-hand and see it close up.”

“Besides, who else do you know who can say, 'I hailed a submarine'?”

Terry set his alarm clock early and was on the Uber app by 7:30 am to request the On Demand ride when it opened to the public for the first time.

Within minutes of entering “Great Barrier Reef” into the Uber app, a submarine icon popped up on his screen followed by the arrival of a colourful Great Barrier Reef-branded Tesla. The Tesla transferred the couple to Marine Helicopters at Gladstone Airport for a scenic flight to Heron Island and the one-hour underwater scUber experience.

Commenting on the experience and the $3000 price tag, Terry said “It's an absolute bargain. You can't put a cost on this. For my wife to be able to see the reef at 18 metres below sea level and to see the bottom of a true coral atoll like I do when I dive was just magic.”

When asked what else he would have been doing if he wasn't on scUber, the retired company owner said, “probably the housework.”

Tourism and Events Queensland, in partnership with Uber, announced the launch of scUber, the world's first rideshare submarine experience on May 23.

For a limited time only, scUber riders will have the opportunity to immerse themselves in the exquisite beauty of the Great Barrier Reef – all without the need for a snorkeling mask or a diving license!

The scUber experience will be available starting on Heron Island, off the coast of Gladstone in the Southern Great Barrier Reef region from May 27, before moving to Agincourt Reef off the coast of Port Douglas in Cairns & the Great Barrier Reef region from June 9. Availability is strictly limited.

Congratulations poured in from around the world following the birth of the son of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

Following the birth of the newborn – which was delivered at 05:26 BST yesterday (Monday), a beaming Prince Harry said the baby boy was "absolutely to die for". The Palace said the Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh and the Prince of Wales were all "delighted with the news", with Meghan's mother, Doria Ragland, said to be "overjoyed".

Former US First Lady Michelle Obama said she and Barack were "thrilled".

The baby, who has not been named yet, is seventh in line to the throne, behind the Prince of Wales, the Duke of Cambridge and his children - Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis - and Prince Harry.

He is the Queen's eighth great-grandchild.

Speaking after the birth, Prince Harry said, after the birth, that they planned to present the baby to the media shortly, "so everyone can see" him.

He said Meghan and the baby were doing "incredibly well", adding that they were still thinking about names for the infant.

The baby weighed 7lbs 3oz (3.2kg). Buckingham Palace said the Duke was present for the birth.

A statement stated that Meghan's mother was "overjoyed at the arrival of her first grandchild" and was with her daughter at Frogmore Cottage - the Sussexes' home on the Windsor Estate.

Kensington Palace said the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were "delighted" and "looking forward" to meeting him.

Prime Minister Theresa May, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon were among the politicians to offer their congratulations to the royal couple on Twitter.

A Commonwealth group has been appointed to observe the 2019 Malawi Tripartite elections. It will be led by Thabo Mbeki, the second post-Apartheid South African President.

Voters go to the polls on 21 May to elect a president as well as members of the national assembly and local government councillors.

The Commonwealth Observer Group (COG) is being deployed by Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland following a request from the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC).

The group includes politicians, diplomats and experts in law, human rights, gender and election administration from across the Commonwealth.

The Secretary-General said: "Conducting credible elections through which citizens can choose their leaders and representatives freely in a peaceful environment is a fundamental part of a healthy democracy and is a collective strength of Commonwealth member states.

“The Commonwealth will be present to witness and observe the elections and to work in partnership with Malawi as it consolidates its democracy and strengthens and embeds good practice.”

She added: “The responsibility for conducting elections with integrity falls on all stakeholders in the process - from the election management body, to political parties and their leaders, to civil society, security agencies, the media and the voters. Each and every one has a rightful role to ensure a credible process and outcome.”

The observer group will examine preparations for the elections, before observing the voting process, vote-counting procedures and the announcement of results.

As with all COGs, this mission to Malawi will operate impartially and independently, according to the standards expressed in the International Declaration of Principles for Election Observation, to which the Commonwealth is a signatory.

In the run-up to the elections, the Commonwealth partnered with the Government of Malawi to help prepare women to stand as candidates and to campaign in the elections, and trained media managers and editors in the process of fair and balanced election coverage.

Malawi was the 19th country to join the Commonwealth. These are the country's second tripartite elections, and a COG was also present when the first were held in 2014.

The observer group will be supported by a Commonwealth Secretariat staff team led by Linford Andrews, Political Adviser in the Governance and Peace Directorate.

New research from eco-cleaning brand Ecover, which uses plant-based and biodegradable ingredients, reveals that parents are obsessed with the scent of their babies. In a survey of 1,000 UK parents, released to mark Allergy Awareness Week, over three quarters (77 per cent) believe that their baby has the best smell in the world.

In fact, 62% said they loved the smell of their baby so much they would want to bottle the scent, with some 70% rating their baby’s natural fragrance as being better than their favourite perfume or aftershave, and even preferable to the smell of freshly baked bread (70%).

And it appears that parents are biologically biased, believing that their baby smells better than other babies (80%), with some 78% believing that the smell of their baby helps them to bond.

The research marks the launch of Ecover’s Zero expanded range of cleaning and laundry products which contain zero added fragrance and zero colourants. The Allergy UK approved range is formulated to minimise the risk of allergies for those with sensitive skin, whilst the vegan-friendly ingredients are from renewable, plant-based sources and are biodegradable.

While some might think new parents have gone ‘gaga’ smelling their babies all the time, scientific studies support Ecover's findings. Dr. Sophie Forster, Senior Lecturer in Psychology at University of Sussex comments, “There is evidence showing that the smell of a newborn baby stimulates pleasure areas of the brain. The smell and association is so positive that parents proactively smell their babies’ heads throughout the day for that feel-good hit.

The smell is so addictive that parents go out of their way to smell their baby, doing so on average 6 times a day, most commonly during cuddles (63%), after a bath (48%), and at bedtime (47%). One in eight would give up a £1,000 a year pay rise so they could bottle their son or daughter's scent and keep it with them (16%), while 14% would be willing to miss out on a huge £10,000 pay rise.

And it’s not just parents who enjoy the newborn smell – six in ten (62%) parents have had someone else ask to smell their baby including family (50%), friends (28%), and strangers (2%).

Dr. Forster continues, “Sense of smell can become a parent’s super-power; whilst 69% of the parents surveyed by Ecover felt confident that they would be able to identify their baby by smell alone, evidence suggests that more like 87% would be able to do it, even just 2-3 days after birth – this just shows that you can underestimate how powerful the human sense of smell can be! Smell may also be one way that older siblings can recognise their new born brother or sister.”

The smell of baby also has the power to calm us; almost three-quarters of mums (74%) smell their baby’s head when they’re feeling stressed, with 85% admitting that the smell makes them feel relaxed. Mums miss the smell the most when they’re at work, with 72% saying they would smell their baby’s natural fragrance at work if they could carry it with them, compared to 55% of Dads.

Sarah Tuke, Head of Communications at Ecover UK, says, “Our research proves that nothing in the world smells as good as new born babies, and yet as a nation we’re in the habit of surrounding babies with overly fragranced laundry products that have the potential to irritate delicate skin. That’s why we’re championing babies’ right to smell like babies and have access to clean ingredients with zero added fragrance. Since its creation in 1979, Ecover has campaigned for a ‘cleaner’ world, and our latest launch makes no exception”.

To mark the launch of Ecover Zero, Ecover has created a spoof perfume advert called L’Eau de Bébé to highlight that babies don’t need ‘added fragrance’ – they already smell amazing. Ecover have also gone a step further and created a real L’Eau de Bébé fragrance, celebrating the amazing scent of new born baby. This will be available to the public via a social media competition.

A spokesperson from Allergy UK commented, “Fragrances and preservatives in washing detergents and cleaning products can sometimes trigger skin irritations in those affected by skin allergies or sensitive skin. A product with no added fragrance that is specially formulated to minimise the risk of allergies may be better suited for those who experience skin sensitivities or find that traditional washing detergents aggravate their skin.”