PABA Teams raises the bar ahead of All-Star Games
As the PABA All Star weekend draws closer, action continues to burn up the PABA Basketball league in Provo.
In the first game, the Five Cays Knights defeated the Steelers 62-48 while in the second game the Stallions galloped all over the HAB Sonics with a 88-52 blowout game.
Wesley Cherry top scored with 15 points, 9 rebounds, 1 block & 2 steals. He was supported by Alex Fortunate with 11 points, 4 rebounds, 1 block and 1 steal for the Steelers. Andujar Gardiner scored 16 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist and 4 steals; he was assisted by Petrallo Russell with 17 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists and 6 steals for the Knights.
Mark Handfield and Andy John were the top re-bounders for the Knights with 10 and 12 rebounds apiece.
In game two, the trio from TCIPS led the way again for the Sonics. Ranguel Suero scored 10 points, 6 assists & 3 steals, Darly Francois had 15 points & 5 rebounds while Jose de las Santos had 9 pts and 10 rebounds for the Steelers Sonics.
Stallions new addition to their team Enrico Smith made a grand entrance with some dunks and overall excellent play which earned him 16 points, 5 Rebounds and 3 assists, Tamaurrii Lightbourne scored 12 points, 10 rebounds and had 4 assists while Levard Missick scored 13 points, 6 Rebounds and 2 assists.
Closing out the scoring tally for the Stallions was Ray Harris with 9 points and 10 rebounds for the Stallions total. Games continue this Wednesday night when the undefeated 7 -0 Police Badgers will face the 4-4 flyers and the 6 -1 Predators will challenge the 2-4 Shottas.
Ray J's Girlfriend Princess Love Is Reportedly Arrested After Beating Him Up
Ray J's girlfriend Princess Love was arrested in New Orleans on Wednesday, February 11 after she beat him up, TMZ reported. Law enforcement sources told the site that the incident occurred when Ray J got back to his hotel after spending the night with TV producers at a strip club.
According to the site, the 34-year-old singer told police that his girlfriend "went ballistic and attacked him, cracking several ribs, busting his lip open and tearing his ACL." A person staying in the hotel allegedly heard Princess scream, "I'm gonna kill you." A security guard who saw Ray J bleeding after running out of his room then called cops.
Police confirmed to Mail Online that Princess was charged with domestic abuse and battery. However, sources claimed that Ray J bailed her out of jail and paid $10,000 for her lawyer.
On the day the incident happened, the "I Hit It First" singer posted on Instagram a photo of some sexy women at a nightclub along with caption, "Hmmmm #NewOrleans." Despite the severity of the report, Ray J didn't appear to show any sign of injury in his recent Instagram photos.
Source-AceShowbiz
Bobbi Kristina Will Not Be Taken Off Life Support
Contrary to circulating rumors, Bobbi Kristina Brown will not be taken off life support this week, according to Bobby Brown's lawyer Christopher Brown. Christopher told E! News on Monday morning, February 16 that the rumors were "false stories," before adding that there was "nothing happening."
Earlier on the day, Radar Online reported that Bobby decided to keep his daughter on life support until the end of this week" and continued to "pray she survives." A source told the site that Bobby "decided to set a timetable to remove her life support Friday after discussions with Whitney Houston's family."
As Bobbi begins her third week at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta, her boyfriend Nick Gordon has gotten a tattoo tribute to her. Nick posted on Facebook on Sunday afternoon, a photo of his newly inked arm with Bobbi's name. Nick and Bobbi previously got matching "WH" tattoos in honor of her late mother.
On Saturday, TMZ reported that some of Bobbi's organs were shutting down and her family agreed if Bobby withdrew his daughter's life support because she's dying. The report was then debunked by an unidentified family member, saying it was overblown. "There hasn't been a change in the past week," the source told PEOPLE, "Nothing at all. It's not like her kidneys are shutting down or anything. There hasn't been any change."
Of Nick, the source said, "We don't talk about him. Bobby doesn't mention him at all, ever. We're trying to give positive energy around Krissi, and Nick is not positive energy."
Source-AceShowbiz
Greece is set to request a loan extension, reports say
Greece is expected to request a six-month extension of its loan agreement on Wednesday, according to reports.
The loan would not be an extension of the current bailout agreement, which includes strict austerity measures, Greek government officials were quoted as saying.
On Monday night, Greece rejected a plan to extend its €240bn (£178bn) bailout, describing it as "absurd".
Without a deal, Greece is likely to run out of money.
The eurozone has given Greece until Friday to decide if it wants to continue with the current bailout deal.
Greece wants to replace the bailout with a new loan that it says would give it time to find a permanent solution to the debt crisis.
Greece's current bailout expires on 28 February. Any new agreement would need to be approved by national governments, so time is running out to reach a compromise.
Earlier Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras called for a vote to scrap its austerity programme on Friday, the same day as the eurozone deadline.
"We will not succumb to psychological blackmail," Mr Tsipras told parliament.
"We are not in a hurry and we will not compromise."
Earlier, Germany's Finance Minister, Wolfgang Schaeuble, said that Greece needed to make up its mind whether it wanted to extend the bailout programme.
"None of my colleagues so far understands what Greece wants... whether Greece itself knows is not clear either," he said.
Mr Tsipras criticised Mr Schaeuble, saying that the German finance minister had lost his cool on Monday.
"Not because he spoke up against the Greek government, because that is his right, but he spoke condescendingly towards the Greek people," he said.
The Greek stock exchange closed down by 2.45%, having fallen by as much as 4% earlier in the day.
US investment bank JP Morgan claimed over the weekend that €2bn worth of deposits was flowing out of Greek banks each week and estimated that if that were to remain the case, they would run out of cash to use as collateral against new loans within 14 weeks.
JP Morgan's estimate is based on a calculation that a maximum of €108bn of deposits is left in Greek banks.
The most up-to-date figures from the Greek central bank show deposits dropped 2.4% month-on-month in December to €160.3bn from €164.3bn, marking the third monthly fall in a row.
IS May Be Selling Human Organs, Iraqi Diplomat Says
Iraq’s U.N. ambassador warned Tuesday that Islamic State militants might be trafficking human organs to help fund their campaign of terror.
In a briefing to the U.N. Security Council, Ambassador Mohamed Ali Alhakim said Islamic State was carrying out the most serious of crimes against Iraqi people of all ethnic and religious backgrounds.
“These are, in fact, crimes of genocide committed against humanity that must be held accountable before international justice,” he said.
Many of the crimes of the Islamic State have been well-documented, often by the group itself. But in a shocking new allegation, Alhakim said he had reports that IS militants were dealing in human organs.
The Iraqi ambassador told reporters that the government discovered evidence of the possible organ trafficking in recent weeks in shallow mass graves containing 10 to 20 bodies each.
“When we discover mass graves, we look at the bodies," he said. "Some of those bodies are killed by bullets, some of them by knives. But when you find pieces of the back is [sic] missing and the kidneys is [sic] missing, you will wonder what it is.”
He said IS has access to airports in Mosul and in the Syrian city of Aleppo, from which it could transport the illicit organs to international middlemen and buyers.
The envoy also alleged that in recent weeks Islamic State militants had executed at least a dozen doctors in Mosul because they refused to remove organs from victims.
The U.N.’s top envoy to Iraq, Nickolay Mladenov, said his office had seen the reports about the organ trafficking but could not confirm them without further investigation.
Such reports are difficult to confirm, especially with a third of Iraq’s territory in the hands of the militants.
Similar claims were raised five years ago related to possible organ trafficking during the Balkan war in the late 1990s. Allegations were made that the Kosovo Liberation Army ran detention centers along Albania's border with Kosovo, where captives, including Serbs, were killed and their organs were sold on the black market. Those allegations have never been proved.
Source-VOA
More in the case of Haitian hanged in Dominican Republic
The theft of money which slain Haitian national Jean Claude Harry, 23, charged Annerys Masiel Núñez to move furniture from the house of her sister-in-law’s –who also was allegedly murdered- is apparently the motive for his murder by two compatriots who then hanged him at Santiago’s Ercilia Pepin park, Elcaribe.com.do reports.
The two Haitians, who are being held, had allegedly confessed, outlet elcaribe.com.do reports. “There’s talk that RD$2,000 were stolen from the victim.”
Harry reportedly helped transport the stolen items from the apartment of senior citizen Altagracia Diaz Ventura, to Núñez’s apartment.
Elcaribe.com.do say Hurry’s companions killed him to avert his revealing where the furniture ended up or Diaz’s murder.
The National Police said it will reveal more details of the investigation in the next few hours, after their report rendered in a meeting Monday afternoon with police chief Manuel Castro.
Denial
National Police spokesman Jacobo Mateo Moquete denied that the authorities released any further information on the case.
Source- DominicanToday
Minster of Border Control and Labour updates the country on Illegal Migrants
RTC News learned today that an illegal sloop made its way on the shores of the Turks & Caicos islands.
In a release to the media a short while ago, the Minister boast that his team has already apprehended some of the illegal immigrants.
Minster of Border Control and Labour of the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) Government, the Hon. Ricardo Don-Hue Gardiner, said:
“I am pleased to announced that we have already apprehended four illegal immigrants who attempted to gain access to the TCI in the early hours of this morning, Tuesday, 17 February 2015. Their sloop, which could have held 30-40 persons, whom we are presuming were illegal Haitian migrants, came ashore on the Island of Providenciales at approximately 2.00am today.
“TCI immigration and police officers are on the scene, in the vicinity Five Cays Beach, and are continuing to search of the local area for these illegal migrants which will see them apprehended and repatriated in due course. I would take this opportunity to thank our immigration and police officers for their work in swiftly catching these four people, who will help us with our enquiries before being repatriated. This search for others will clearly include those areas of the TCI which are already home to legal Haitian migrants and further afield across the Islands.
“It is a matter of some concern to me that this vessel was not identified by our coastal radar station, which has previously enjoyed significant success in helping us track suspicious vessels, to apprehend, and to send home, hundreds of would be illegal immigrants from Haiti over the past two years. It is a disappointing to have this fine record tarnished in the manner. I will, of course, be investigating why this happened and will report further on this at a later time - our focus for the moment must understandably be upon the pursuit of those who arrived here illegally this morning.
“Both the TCI Governor and I have made several representations to the Haitian authorities, including their Consul-General here in the TCI, to do more to prevent their nationals travelling here illegally. We will continue to maintain this pressure.
"Anyone with information can contact the Police anonymously on 911 or Crime Stoppers anonymously on 1-800-8477. Tips can also be submitted anonymously in English, French or Spanish on either www.crimestoppers.tc or on Facebook as a fan of Crime Stoppers Turks & Caicos. Crime Stoppers tips are received in the USA.”
RTC News is tracking the story and will have more on this during our newscast.
Church Softball Returns to Provo
Church Slow Pitch Softball games return to the National StadiumThe Church Co-Ed Slow Pitch League started back on Monday night with two quick games from the roster.
First up was the 2014 Champions Jericho Baptist Church taking on the Roman Catholic Church, this was played in 30mins, in the full 5 innings.
The game saw Catholic 2 to Jericho 1 until the bottom of the fourth, when Jericho went ahead scoring four runs ending the game at the top of the fifth; Score: Jericho 5 & the Catholics 2.
In the second game of the night Bethany Baptist Church took on St Monica's Saints.
President Godfrey Been to RTC Sports last night that this was another thriller, ending in 40mins.
{mp3}../attachments/Godfrey Been{/mp3}
President of the Softball Federation Godfrey Been
US178.3M SURPLUS A REFLECTION OF TOURISM PARTNERS' MARKETING EFFORTS
The Dr. Rufus Ewing led administration recently announced its achievement of US$178.3M for the first three quarters, and the Turks and Caicos Hotel and Tourism Association – TCHTA – is commending the administration for a job well done in achieving this year to date recurring surplus of in such a challenging economy, which they say, is no easy feat.
As the leading private sector association gears up for another hectic year of promoting the destination throughout its key markets, TCHTA also congratulated its members, the Tourist Board, TCIAA and other tourism partners for being an integral part in Government's achievement of the surplus. With 2015 already seeing TCHTA's members participating in the Caribbean's largest and most important marketing event, a number of strategically selected trade shows and Sales Blitz events have already been organized for the year through TCHTA's membership body and in partnership with the Tourist Board. These events will see TCHTA's members using their own marketing funds and resources to promote, not only their resorts and companies, but TCI on a whole, in an attempt to drive more business to our destination.
In congratulating the administration on its recent announcement TCHTA's Board of Directors noted that their marketing efforts never stop and the recent news will only propel them to achieve an even greater surplus. “We also congratulate our members for their marketing strategies as they constantly network with their travel partners in an effort to sell the destination, with many having representation in our target markets which is critical in remaining "present" in our travel partners' minds. We can truly say that all members have been instrumental in the achievement of the destination's strong revenue and we encourage continued partnership between Government and our members as a united front will only bring about even better results," the Board of Directors said.
The Board also stressed that "the increase in tourism business should trickle down to most businesses in TCI, therefore allowing TCIG to not only pay down the debt, but also allowing them to work on critical Capital Projects, such as schools and infrastructure upgrades much needed."
With new airlift being negotiated for the upcoming winter season, along with an anticipated overall 80% or higher occupancy rate expected, the TCHTA sees a year of great possibilities and achievements for TCI's tourism and hospitality sector.
TCI GOVERNOR PRESENTS FINDINGS OF FSC REVIEW TO ITS BOARD
His Excellency the Governor Peter Beckingham presented a Review of the Financial Services Commission to its Chairman, Sir Eroll Allen, and Director Kevin Higgins on 10 February.
The Review was commissioned by the Governor’s Office and conducted by Steve Johnson, a former Treasury official and adviser to Overseas Territories.
Commenting on the Review the Governor said: “I am grateful to Mr Johnson for conducting a thorough and wide-ranging examination, consulting both the FSC, business and government. I am pleased he has found the FSC fit for purpose, and in better shape than it used to be.” He continued: “But he also highlights areas where more work needs to be done, and change made, notably in the FSC’s governance and management practices.
There are some other important areas for the Board to examine, including resources and consultation with business and government. I look forward to discussing with the Board all the recommendations, and agreeing how they might be implemented.”
FSC_Review_-_Executive_Summary.pdf