Usher, Gunna and Lil Baby join the Super Bowl weekend entertainment lineup
More stars are lining up to perform during Super Bowl Weekend including Usher, Gunna and Lil Baby.
Usher will sing at the invitation-only Chairman's Party on Saturday, February 12 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, site of the Super Bowl to be played on Sunday, February 13. The eight-time Grammy winner performed with the Black Eyed Peas during the Super Bowl 45 halftime show in 2011.
Gunna, whose new album, DS4Ever, debuted last week at the top of the Billboard 200 chart, will hit the stage with Lil Baby at the DirecTV/Maxim party on Friday, February 11 at City Market LA.
As previously reported, Drake will headline the h.wood Group "Homecoming" party on February 12 at the Pacific Design Center. The Champagne Papi will perform one night after his mentor, Lil Wayne, who signed him to the Young Money Entertainment label in 2009, headlines Shaquille O'Neal's "Shaq's Fun House" party on February 11 at the Shrine Auditorium.
The shows by Usher, Gunna, Lil Baby, Drake and Lil Wayne will lead up to the main event, Super Bowl 56, featuring Dr. Dre, Eminem, Snoop Dogg, Kendrick Lamar and Mary J. Blige performing for the first time together during halftime.
Source-ABC
Holder grabs historic four-in-four to seal series win
ll-rounder Jason Holder became the first West Indies bowler to capture a hat-trick in Twenty20 Internationals and only the fourth player of all time to grab four wickets in as many deliveries, as the hosts trounced England by 17 runs in the decisive fifth match here Sunday.
With England requiring 20 runs from the final over in pursuit of 180 at Kensington Oval, Holder knocked over Chris Jordan (7), Sam Billings (41), Adil Rashid (0) and Saqib Mahmood (0) to send the innings crashing to 162 all out with a ball spare and hand West Indies a precious 3-2 series win.
Holder, whose two previous overs went for 25 runs, started with a no-ball but then kept Barbados-born Chris Jordan scoreless from the next delivery before getting him to hole out to mid-wicket off a low full toss.
In a sensational end to the contest, Billings then carted the very next delivery down the throat of substitute Hayden Walsh at mid-wicket again before Adil Rashid skied the hat-trick ball to Odean Smith at deep square.
For good measure, Holder bowled Saqib Mahmood off the inside edge with a full length delivery to finish with five for 27 as West Indies clinched only their second multi-game series win over England.
Predictably, Holder was voted Man-of-the-Match and Man-of-the-Series, and said the performance was redemption for a below-par game in the fourth T20 International 24 hours earlier.
“A classic finish. It probably wasn’t the best of starts for myself but for me, I always try to stay in the game and you never know how this game can go,” said the 30-year-old.
“Last night was a topsy-turvy [game] for me as well, starting well but not being able to finish but it’s the total opposite today, not starting well but being able to close the game out.”
Holder was supported by new-ball partner, outstanding left-arm spinner Akeal Hosein, who claimed four for 30, and set England back by removing dangerman Jason Roy for eight with the fifth ball of the innings, the right-hander edging a sweep into his pad to be caught by wicketkeeper Nicholas Pooran running around to short leg.
James Vince put England back on course with 55 off 35 balls, striking seven fours and a six, and putting on 32 for the second wicket with Tom Banton (16) and 46 for the third wicket with captain Moeen Ali (14).
Hosein returned for his second over in the 12th to engineer a slide which saw for wickets tumble for 33 runs in 31 balls and though Billings, who hammered a four and two sixes in a 28-ball cameo, added 43 for the seventh with Jordan, the advantage was with West Indies at the start of the final over.
“It’s wonderful. I thank the Almighty for giving us this victory but having said, I think every single one in that dressing room, we rallied together throughout everything,” said captain Kieron Pollard, who was confronted with media reports of disunity in the squad ahead of the game.
“Every time we won a game there was something negative against us but we came out today and the guys really rallied so well, well done to every single one of them and all the supporters who supported us.”
Pollard had earlier top-scored with an unbeaten 41 off 25 balls as West Indies, opting for first knock, posted 179 for four off their 20 overs.
West Indies were going nowhere at 113 for four at the end of the 16th over before Pollard combined with Rovman Powell, who belted a 17-ball 35 not out with a four and four sixes, to plunder 66 from the last four overs in an unbroken fifth wicket stand worth 74.
Opener Brandon King chimed in with 34 off 31 balls with two fours and two sixes, laying the foundation for the innings in a 59-run, second wicket partnership with left-hander Kyle Mayers whose 31 came from 19 deliveries with three fours and two sixes.
Source-CMC
Cuba, Honduras to deepen bilateral relations
The government’s of Cuba and Honduras have announced plans to deepen bilateral relations.
This was the outcome of a meeting between Cuban vice president Salvador Valdes Mesa and Honduran president Xiomara Castro.
According to Cuba’s foreign ministry, during a recent meeting, both authorities confirmed their interest in expanding economic-commercial ties, as well as cooperation in health, sports and education.
According to the report, Valdes Mesa highlighted the historical ties between the two nations, and ratified Cuba’s willingness to support Honduras in confronting the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Cuban wrote on Twitter that in the meeting he conveyed to the Honduran president the greetings from Army General Raul Castro and the president of Cuba, Miguel Diaz-Canel.
In another tweet he said that he expressed to the new Honduran head of state the willingness to resume and expand bilateral relations between the two countries, and move forward in economic and trade cooperation.
The agreement follows the recent inauguration of Honduran president Xiomara Castro.
Source-CMC
2023 BMW 8 Series Debuts With Attractive Updates
BMW revived the 8 Series for 2018 and now it's time for a midlife refresh. Introducing the 2023 BMW 8 Series Coupe, Convertible, and Gran Coupe, revealed together for the first time today. Bear in mind that since this is a refresh and not a complete redesign the changes are not major. Nothing has been altered under the hood.
Beginning with the exterior, designers gave the 8 Series a new illuminated kidney grille with redesigned U-shaped vertical bars. The illumination is activated once the car is unlocked or a door is opened. Drivers can switch them off manually. Five new exterior colors are also on hand: Skyscraper Grey metallic, San Remo Green metallic, Portimao Blue metallic, BMW Individual Frozen Tanzanite Blue metallic, and Frozen Pure Grey. Two new 20-inch wheel designs are also available.
For 2023, there's a newly optional M Sport Package Professional which tacks on Shadowline trim with a black kidney grille, black calipers for the M Sport brakes, M Shadowline headlights, and a black M rear spoiler exclusively for the M850i xDrive coupe. As part of the M division's 50th anniversary, all M850i xDrives can be equipped with the class BMW Motorsport logo on the hood, trunk, and wheel hub covers. This is a tribute to the M emblem first used back in 1973.
Elon Musk SpaceX rocket on collision course with moon
A rocket launched by Elon Musk's space exploration company is on course to crash into the Moon and explode. The Falcon 9 booster was launched in 2015 but after completing its mission, it did not have enough fuel to return towards Earth and instead remained in space. Astronomer Jonathan McDowell told BBC News it will be the first known uncontrolled rocket collision with the Moon. But the effects will be minor, he says.
The rocket was abandoned in high orbit seven years ago after it completed a mission to send a space weather satellite on a million-mile journey. It was part of Mr Musk's space exploration programme SpaceX, a commercial company that ultimately aims to get humans living on other planets. Since 2015 the rocket has been pulled by different gravitational forces of the Earth, Moon and Sun, making its path somewhat "chaotic", explains Prof McDowell from the US-based Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics. "It's been dead - just following the laws of gravity."
It's joined millions of other pieces of space junk - machinery discarded in space after completing missions without enough energy to return to Earth. "Over the decades there have been maybe 50 large objects that we've totally lost track of. This may have happened a bunch of times before, we just didn't notice. This would be the first confirmed case," Prof McDowell says.
Falcon 9's projected demise was identified by journalist Eric Berger on the space website Ars Technica and by data analyst Bill Gray in his blog. The collision is due to happen on 4 March when the rocket will explode as it makes contact. "It's basically a four-tonne empty metal tank, with a rocket engine on the back. And so if you imagine throwing that at a rock at 5,000 miles an hour, it's not going to be happy," Prof McDowell says. It will leave a small artificial crater on the Moon's surface.
Bill Gray, who uses software to track near-Earth space objects, projects that it made a close fly-by on 5 January. On 4 March it's likely to hit the Moon's far side, he says. In 2009 Prof McDowell and other astronomers performed an experiment in which a similar-sized rocket was crashed into the Moon. Sensors gathered evidence of the collision so they could study the crater. That means scientists are unlikely to learn anything new from this crash, Prof McDowell explains. He adds that while there are no consequences now to space debris left to drift and occasionally crash, there could be in the future. "If we get into the future where there are cities and bases on the Moon, we want to know what's out there. It's much easier to get that organised when there is slow traffic in space, rather than waiting until it's a problem." And what happens between now and 4 March? Well the rocket will continue to follow the laws of gravity, careering through space, before it ends its days smashing into the Moon.
Source-BBC
An oil spill off the Peruvian coast earlier this month was twice as big as previously reported
Environment minister Ruben Ramirez said Friday that almost 12,000 barrels of oil leaked into the sea on 15 January. Officials described the spill as an "ecological disaster" to blame for the deaths of local fish and seabirds. It happened when tanker at the La Pampilla refinery was hit by waves linked to a volcanic eruption on Tonga.
The site, about 30km (19 miles) north of Lima, is owned by Spanish oil company Repsol. Peru has demanded compensation and prosecutors have opened an investigation into Repsol's role in the incident. A judge granted a request on Friday to bar four executives from the firm leaving the country for 18 months amid the ongoing probe. In a statement to the AFP news agency, Repsol said it would "fully cooperate with any criminal investigation" and said it was already aiding in the preliminary stages. "Our main concern is cleaning up the environment. Repsol is putting all its efforts into cleaning up as quickly as possible," the company added.
Repsol said it had calculated the oil spilled to be equivalent to 10,396 barrels, after a revised government estimate that put the number at 11,900 - up from the 6,000 previously reported. In an update on Friday, the environment ministry said a third of the spilled oil has been recovered from the ocean and across 20 beaches. Some local fisherman have staged protests because they are unable to go out to sea and work because of the disaster. Repsol previously blamed the leak on unusual waves triggered by a massive volcanic eruption in Tonga, more than 10,000km away.
The Mare Doricum, the Italian-flagged tanker involved in the spill, has also been banned from setting sail. La Pampilla is built just off the town of Ventanilla in the Lima region and is Peru's largest refinery. It provides for more than half of the local fuel market.
Source-BBC
Top US General Mark Milley has said that a Russian invasion of Ukraine would be "horrific"
Gen Milley described the build-up of 100,000 Russian troops near Ukraine's border as the largest since the Cold War. But US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin said conflict could still be avoided through the use of diplomacy. Russia denies plans to invade and says US support for Ukraine is a threat.
At a news conference at the Pentagon on Friday, Gen Milley - US President Joe Biden's most senior military officer - warned that the scale of Russia's forces near its border with Ukraine meant an attack would have severe consequences. "If that was unleashed on Ukraine, it would be significant, very significant, and it would result in a significant amount of casualties," said the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff. Fighting in dense urban areas would be "horrific, it would be terrible", Gen Milley added.
US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin said the US was committed to helping Ukraine defend itself, including by providing more weaponry. "Conflict is not inevitable. There is still time and space for diplomacy," Mr Austin said, calling on Russian President Vladimir Putin to de-escalate the situation. "There is no reason that this situation has to devolve into conflict... He can order his troops away," he added.
Also on Friday, President Biden said he would send a small number of troops to Eastern Europe in the "near term", to strengthen the Nato presence in the region. He did not specify where they would be stationed or when they would arrive. Earlier this week, the Pentagon said there were 8,500 combat-ready troops on alert, ready to be deployed at short notice.
The US has rejected a key Moscow demand that Nato rule out Ukraine joining the defence alliance - but insisted it was offering Russia a "serious diplomatic path". Russian President Vladimir Putin accused the West of ignoring Russia's security concerns. But he said he would study the US response before deciding what to do, according to a Kremlin readout of a call between Mr Putin and his French counterpart.
France said the two leaders had agreed on the need to de-escalate and that its President Emmanuel Macron had told Mr Putin that Russia must respect the sovereignty of its neighbouring states. The warnings from the Pentagon come after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told reporters not to create panic over the build-up of Russian troops on his country's borders.
At a news conference in Kyiv, Mr Zelensky said he did not see a greater threat now than during a similar massing of troops last spring. "There are signals even from respected leaders of states, they just say that tomorrow there will be war. This is panic - how much does it cost for our state? The "destabilisation of the situation inside the country" was the biggest threat to Ukraine, he said.
Source-BBC
Update on Water Production – Grand Turk
The Ministry of Home Affairs, in collaboration with the Water Undertaking Department, advises the residents of Grand Turk that water production in the island is still operating at half capacity.
Due to worldwide shipping issues, the replacement part for the 250k Reverse Osmosis plant that should have arrived on Island this week is now scheduled to arrive within the next two weeks.
The Ministry apologizes for the inconvenience experienced by the community of Grand Turk and will ensure that every effort is taken to minimized any such re-occurrence.
Deputy Premier & Min of Finance Lays Estimates in the House for Jan 27th, 2022
Hon. Speaker,
Hon. Premier,
Hon. Members of this House of Assembly, Strangers in the Gallery, Persons tuning in via radio and streaming media, and my fellow Turks and Caicos Islanders.
Good Morning,
Before I get started Mr. Speaker, since the last time we were in this honorable house, a number of persons have lost loved ones – a few of them due to the Corona Virus. I would like to take the time now Mr. Speaker, to give my condolences to everyone who has recently lost a loved one. I feel your pain, and may you find peace at all times in the name of the Lord, and may the souls of the dearly departed Rest in Peace, and Rise in Glory.
Mr. Speaker, as this is the first time we’re meeting for 2022, I want to also take this time, for the last time, to wish everyone a happy happy New Year!
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to table the 2nd Supplementary Revised Estimates of Expenditure for Financial Year 2021/2022.
MINISTRY OF FINANCE, INVESTMENT & TRADE
Mr. Speaker, in Proverbs Chapter 3, Verse 27, King Solomon – the wise King – stated: “Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act.”
Mr. Speaker, I am standing here right now, on behalf of Our Government, Your Government, the People’s Government, for that very reason. For clarity, our Government is here to do good for those to whom it is due, which is each and every one of you.
Mr. Speaker, before I outline how we intend to do good for those to whom it is due, let me first say that these Revised Estimates of $346.4 million is cost-neutral on the supplementary estimates approved on 26th October 2021.
With that Mr. Speaker, I am going to now outline, how we intend to do good for those to whom it is due. Included in this 2nd Supplementary Estimates for Financial Year 2021/22 is a variation of $6.77 Million, of which 96% - i.e. $6.5M – will be used to specifically do good for those to whom it is due, or in the technical jargon of the Ministry of Finance, “to address urgent/critical and unforeseen priorities that have developed since the approval of the 1st supplementary estimates.”
MINISTRY OF FINANCE, INVESTMENT & TRADE
In these Estimates we’re proposing to allocate $69,000 (sixty-nine thousand dollars), to address outstanding allowances to current and former members of the House of Assembly. As you are aware Mr. Speaker, these allowances were recommended by the local branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association at its last meeting, and these allocated funds will allow those allowances to be paid.
We are also proposing in these Estimates to allocate $150,000 (one hundred and fifty thousand dollars), to facilitate consultancy in Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) to help manage the legal and regulatory framework. Mr. Speaker, Public-Private Partnerships is one of the favorite ways in which governments in both developed and developing countries build critical infrastructure. Global support for PPPs is currently stronger than it’s ever before. These funds will be used to equip TCIG to better manage these types of partnerships. Our beautiful by nature country has a number of critical infrastructures that needs upgrading, and Public-Private Partnerships is one way that we are looking at to achieve the best value for the people of the Turks & Caicos Islands.
MINISTRY OF FINANCE, INVESTMENT & TRADE
Mr. Speaker, I would now like to touch on the matter of crime for a few minutes. According to the Commissioner of Police, Trevor Botting, from April 2021 to December 2021:
• there were 1,235 crimes, an increase of 24 crimes (2%) compared to the same period in 2020.
• there were 184 serious crimes, a reduction in 63 crimes (25%) compared to the same period the year before.
Notwithstanding the 25% reduction in serious crimes, Commissioner Botting stated that “Whilst positive, we of course remain concerned about the increase in aggravated burglaries and firearms offences...” Mr. Speaker, these sentiments are shared by our Government, your Government, the People’s Government, and that’s why we’re allocating $50,000 (fifty thousand dollars) in these estimates towards Enhanced Policing Initiatives. These funds will be used on specific initiatives to further reduce the incidents of serious crimes.
Mr. Speaker, earlier I said that $6.5M (96%) will be used to specifically do good for those to whom it is due, so let me speak to that now in detail.
MINISTRY OF FINANCE, INVESTMENT & TRADE
Mr. Speaker, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) estimates that the inflation rate in thirty-eight (38) member states, of which TCI is a member, would have reached 5.21% by the end of 2021. The inflation rate in the United States, of which TCI is highly dependent, is estimated to have hit a 30-year end high of 6.2%, as of November 2021. In addition, Mr. Speaker, the Corona Virus pandemic has practically crippled the global supply chain, which is having a significant negative impact on global inflation rates.
So, Mr. Speaker, this good, good Government of the people, is allocating $6.5M to allow our people to benefit from another stimulus. This stimulus is being used to provide economic assistance to the people of the Turks & Caicos Islands that continue to experience adverse effects due to the economic hardships caused by the Corona Virus pandemic, particularly the on-going increase in inflation.
In keeping with our desire to do good for those to whom it is due, this good, good Government of the people, is proposing to give $500.00 to all eligible Turks & Caicos Islands Status Holders, and British Overseas Territory Citizens – i.e. those who are living in the Turks & Caicos Islands. Persons must be 18 years or older to qualify.
MINISTRY OF FINANCE, INVESTMENT & TRADE
Details of when the portal will be opened to accept applications will be sent out to the public by my ministry – i.e. the Ministry of Finance, Investment & Trade – and I have been assured that if this Bill passes in this Honorable house today, that all qualified applicants will receive their payments by the latest 11th March 2022. In addition Mr. Speaker, qualified applicants who are disabled, or confined to their home (in Turks & Caicos Islands), the Treasury will be provide a cheque delivery service to them.
Mr. Speaker, the Government will fund the additional expenditure through:
• a reduction in the Contingency Fund - $2.0m.
• a reduction in the allocation for property acquisition - $3.5m
• Reduction in the allocation for works programme -$1.069m;
• Reduction in the allocation for Development Finance $200k.
MINISTRY OF FINANCE, INVESTMENT & TRADE
Update on the Fiscal Performance of the Islands
Mr. Speaker, with your permission, I would like to take a few seconds to update the nation on the unaudited fiscal position of the country as at 31st December 2021.
• Recurrent and Non-Recurrent receipts totaled $282.1 million, and government expenditure excluding capital expenditure totaled $206.7 million.
• Net Operating balance totaled $75.4 million, resulting in Cash and Cash Equivalents increasing to $188.4 million at the end of December 2021.
• These figures represent a total net cash flow increase of $66.7 million over the first nine months of the financial year.
• The results to date also reflect Development Fund Expenditure of $17.3 million, debt servicing of $0.6 million, bond inflows of $0.9 million, and net receipts of $8.2 million.
Mr. Speaker, from all indications, the robust revenue performance will continue to the end of the financial year, and the forecast is to meet or exceed revised revenue targets approved in 26th October 2021 supplementary.
MINISTRY OF FINANCE, INVESTMENT & TRADE
With that Mr. Speaker, I beg leave to lay on the Table of this Honourable House in accordance with Standing Order 32, and section 115 and 116 of the Turks and Caicos Islands, Constitution Order 2011 the Government of the Turks and Caicos Islands 2nd Supplementary Revised Estimates of Expenditure for Financial Year 2021/2022.
Mr. Speaker, I move that the 2nd Supplementary Revised Estimates of Expenditure for Financial Year 2021/2022 be referred to the Appropriations Committee to be dealt with in accordance with Standing Order 115.
Thank you.
Hon. E. Jay Saunders
Minister of Finance, Investment & Trade
Janet Jackson shuts down rumors she secretly welcomed a child
Janet Jackson has personally weighed in on the rumors that she and ex-husband James DeBarge secretly welcomed a child during their brief marriage. The two were married between 1984 and 1985, but the rumors persisted that they had a child and had it raised by other members of the Jackson family.
People obtained an advance copy of the upcoming Janet documentary, which sees the hitmaker addressing the nearly 40-year-old rumor.
"Back in the day they were saying that I had a child and I kept it secret... I could never keep a child away from James. How could I keep a child from their father? I could never do that, that's not right," she said, according to People.
The Grammy winner has an idea what sparked the rumors, saying she was put on birth control at the time she was recording Fame and that caused her to gain weight. Apparently, the paparazzi took it as a sign that she was expecting.
Janet also opened up about why she and James went their separate ways, saying she was unable to overlook his drug addiction. She said she would search for him on the streets and, if she found any drugs in the house, she flushed them down the toilet, adding, "We would be rolling on the floor fighting for them. And that's not a life for anyone," according to People.
"I cared so much for him, and I saw the good in him as well and I just wanted that to take precedence as opposed to this ugliness," she added. "'Cause I knew that he needed help. But I wasn't the help that he needed."
The two-night Janet event premieres this Friday at 8 p.m. ET on both Lifetime and A&E.
Source-ABC