China's big global success story on social media has run into trouble in the United States.
Popular video-sharing app TikTok has agreed to pay $5.7 million to settle allegations that it illegally collected personal information from children under the age of 13, such as names, email addresses and their location.
The US Federal Trade Commission said in a statement Wednesday that the TikTok fine is a record for a child privacy case.
TikTok, which belongs to $75 billion start-up ByteDance, has more than half a billion users worldwide, giving it an international edge over other Chinese-owned social media platforms, which have struggled to expand outside their home market.

​Bouyon Enthusiast Val Cuffy wants Bouyon to be celebrated in Dominica as much as Soca is celebrated in Trinidad.
Yesterday recognized Bouyon Day.
The day is celebrated annually, and Cuffy is pressing for recommendations and the interest of persons integral to the success of the craft.

​The Dominica Reparations Committee in collaboration with UWI Public Library Services, House of Nyabinghi and the National Youth Council say they are  very pleased with the activities thus far for the celebration of Black History Month.
The opening activity held on February 1st  was reportedly well attended with a series of presentations on poetry, songs and discussions.
The main focus for the month has been on the schools.
Chairman of the Dominica reparations committee is Dr Damien Dublin.

​Chairman of the Dominica reparations committee Dr Damien Dublin

Ophthalmologist, Dr. Hazel Shillingford-Ricketts, is encouraging all citizens that they can still seek consultation at her office in Roseau, where she legally does her private practice.
 
Dr.  Shillingford-Ricketts spoke to Q95 FM on Tuesday, stating that she is very optimistic, that her application for a government contract will be granted, to allow her the right to provide services in the Princess Margaret Hospital.

Ophthalmologist, Dr. Hazel Shillingford-Ricketts.

Speaking on another edition of the program Patriots Voices, executive member of the Concerned Citizens Movement of Dominica (CCM), John Blanchard, said that Dominicans should give to the government their walking papers next general election.

​Executive member of the Concerned Citizens Movement of Dominica (CCM), John Blanchard.

​Leader of the United Workers Party, Lennox Linton, has made clear his party’s position on Cannabis, while presenting at a recent UWP Press Conference held at the DPSU building in Roseau, recently.
 
Linton says the UWP supports all of the recommendations recently published by the CARICOM Cannabis Commission, for legalization and implementation of the herb.
 
The parliamentary opposition leader stated, that contrary to the statements of the Prime Minister on the economic value of Cannabis in Dominica, the Herb is currently positioned around the world as a multi-billion dollar industry.

​Leader of the United Workers Party, Lennox Linton.

Results of the Ronald Charles Roseau Valley Basketball League are in, the two games played were held on Sunday 24 February 2019 in Trafalgar,
Game 1 saw the Benchers score 72 points against the Police S.C who scored 69,
 
Top scorers for the Benchers, Thomas Felix scored 28, Douglas scored 12, Javeed Joseph 11 & Samuel St. Jean scored 10.
 
And for the Police Basketball team, Edmund Williams jr scored 31, Nathan Sebastian scored 19 & Daniel Ormond scored 11.
 
In Game 2, the R.I.C basketball team scored 80 points and S.W.O.T ended with 68 points.
 
For R.I.C - McCray Edwards scored 31, Kelsey Guye scored 26 & Davidson Toulon 17. For S.W.O.T basket ball team - Tilon Birmingham  scored 23, and Kiefer Francis scored 15. Q95 news will provide updates on the Ronald Charles Roseau Valley Basketball League, as soon as it is made available.

Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley Tuesday warned that the future of multi-lateralism is being threatened at the "very time it is needed more than ever and urged Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries to put aside their differences and further develop the much heralded CARICOM Single Market & Economy (CSME).
The CSME allows for the free movement of goods, skills, labour and services across the 15-member grouping and Mottley, addressing the two day CARICOM intercessional meeting, said that the two-day special CARICOM meeting on the CSME in Trinidad and Tobago last December had achieved much in a way of putting the initiative back on the front burner.
She said small states such as those in region "will only survive, not just economically, but in the world of diplomacy in the context of strengthening democracy and that more than ever we need to stay together whether it is in fighting the European Union with respect to the blacklisting issue...whether it is in respect to our position on Venezuela which ironically has become predominately the mainstream position of the world in that six weeks ago people were not calling for dialogue."

Venezuela's self-declared interim president Juan Guaido says he will exercise his "duties as president" as soon as he returns to Venezuela from Colombia where he met Monday with US Vice President Mike Pence.
In a message posted to Twitter, Guaido said he will provide "an audio with the next instructions."
"I ask you to massively spread our message," he wrote on Twitter. "Nothing will stop us."
Guaido, the head of Venezuela's opposition-led legislature, declared himself acting president of Venezuela in January and is battling President Nicolas Maduro for control of the country.
Guaido met with Pence and Colombian President Ivan Duque this week in Bogota, Colombia, where a meeting of the Lima Group -- a diplomatic body created to help mitigate the Venezuelan crisis -- was taking place.
The meeting followed a weekend of violent clashes in Venezuela, where the military has blocked aid convoys from entering the country.

​Mother’s Queen Pageant contestant Kimara Lugay has apologized for her unseemly behavior at the Show on Saturday February 23, at Windsor Park Sports Stadium Forecourt. Lugay represented Roseau Central. Live video recordings show her exhibiting obvious displeasure through her body language and otherwise, after the result for ‘best talent’ was announced. She was not the winner of that award. However, she received the award for ‘Best Spectacular Creation’.
 
Lugay said this was the first time she participated in a national pageant and had failed to prepare for the disappointment and dissatisfaction that can occur where the judges’ decision is concerned.
 
In a Facebook post, she said, “I sincerely apologize to my entire chaperone team, my sponsors; Lindo Mart & Archipelago and my family & friends for my displeasing behaviour at the Mother’s Queen Pageant. I realize now, that my behaviour was offensive; not only toward my sponsors, but also to the other contestants in the pageant.”
 
Lugay said her actions have put a cloud over the efforts she made throughout the show, and created an unnecessary distraction from the most significant segment of the pageant. She added, “Furthermore, I would like to state that it was not my intention to humiliate myself or anyone who supports me. Regrettably, my emotions got the best of me, and the manner in which I expressed my feelings was very inappropriate.”
 
Lugay finally extended “proper” congratulations to Sarah Leatham and Zayna Elizee for winning the runner-up positions, and Omean Charles for winning the Mother’s Queen title. Lugay added, “Again, I humbly apologize for my actions and wish you all the very best”.
 
Lugay said going forward, she is determined to do better for herself and for her beautiful daughter. “She deserves the very best from me, now and in the future!”