Euro 2016 qualifying draw: Top teams untroubled in new format
With more teams than ever playing at football's Euro 2016, the chances of a powerhouse not qualifying are even slimmer than before. But the expanded field -- from 16 to 24 -- means there could be a few debutants in France in two years.
Sunday's qualifying draw didn't produce a group of death, and the likes of two-time reigning champions Spain, the consistent Germans and always dangerous Italy shouldn't be sweating it out come the end of qualifying.
Spain landed in a group with Ukraine, Luxembourg, Belarus, Macedonia and Slovakia -- and of the latter quintet, only Ukraine features in the top 50 in the FIFA world rankings.
Instead of simply the group winner and best second-place finisher automatically qualifying, now the top two in the nine groups and best third-place finisher will automatically progress.
The playoffs decide the final four places.
Gibraltar, population 30,000 and about to embark on its first qualifying campaign, drew the mighty Germans along with Ireland, Poland, Scotland and Georgia.
England was paired with, among others, Switzerland -- the nation England boss Roy Hodgson used to guide.
As host, France is guaranteed a berth in the tournament but will be placed in a group where it will essentially play friendlies. In this case, Les Bleus can look forward to facing Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal.
"Now we know the 10 games we have to play," France coach Didier Deschamps was quoted as saying by UEFA. "It's pretty good to play a team like Portugal, as they will be prestigious matches."
UEFA president Michel Platini said Germany and England were two of the three member associations who opposed increasing the Euro 2016 field but the Frenchman wasn't fussed. He didn't name the other member association against the move.
"In any democracy, when the vast majority are in favor, you go forward with it even if England or Germany aren't for it," he told reporters this week. "The five or six biggest teams don't have much to worry about, but for the others it will be very competitive.
"So 24 teams will be as good as 16 teams."
In another change, teams contesting two matches in one qualifying round will either play on a Thursday and Sunday, Friday and Monday or Saturday and Tuesday as part of UEFA's "week of football" initiative.
Currently, international matches are mostly played on Fridays and Tuesdays.
"It was a political decision," Platini, a former European footballer of the year, said. "We took it to try and promote the football of national teams.
"Clubs play on almost every day of the week and as a result, international football has been pushed out of the limelight and we would like to see it take that limelight again."
Qualifying starts in September, two months after the World Cup in Brazil concludes.
Full draw:
Group A: Netherlands, Czech Republic Turkey, Latvia, Iceland, Kazakhstan
Group B: Bosnia-Herzegovina, Belgium, Israel, Wales, Cyprus, Andorra
Group C: Spain, Ukraine, Slovakia, Belarus, FYR Macedonia, Luxembourg
Group D: Germany, Ireland, Poland, Scotland, Georgia, Gibraltar
Group E: England, Switzerland, Slovenia, Estonia, San Marino, Lithuania
Group F: Greece, Hungary, Romania, Finland, Northern Ireland, Faroe Islands
Group G: Russia, Sweden, Austria, Montenegro, Moldova, Liechtenstein
Group H: Italy, Croatia, Norway, Bulgaria, Azerbaijan, Malta
Group I: Portugal, Denmark, Serbia, Armenia, Albania, France (host)
Source-CNN
Openly gay player Jason Collins plays in the NBA
Jason Collins became the first openly gay man to play in the NBA on Sunday night, wearing a Brooklyn Nets uniform in a game against the Los Angeles Lakers.
Collins, who lives in Los Angeles, signed a 10-day contract with the Nets on Sunday. He entered the game with 10:28 left in the second quarter, receiving a round of applause from the L.A. crowd at the Staples Center.
Brooklyn won the game 108-102, and Collins played 11 minutes, not scoring any points but pulling down two rebounds and making one steal.
When Collins took the court, he became the first openly gay athlete in any of the major American team sports -- baseball, football, basketball and hockey.
But in a post-game interview, Collins talked like a jock, not a history maker.
"It felt fun," Collins said. "It felt good to get back out there on the court."
"Jason told us that his goal was to earn another contract with an NBA team. Today, I want to commend him on achieving his goal," said NBA Commissioner Adam Silver. "I know everyone in the NBA family is excited for him and proud that our league fosters an inclusive and respectful environment."
Last year, the center, who was a free agent at the time, made the disclosure about his sexuality in an April column that appeared in Sports Illustrated magazine.
"I didn't set out to be the first openly gay athlete playing in a major American team sport. But since I am, I'm happy to start the conversation. I wish I wasn't the kid in the classroom raising his hand and saying, 'I'm different.' If I had my way, someone else would have already done this. Nobody has, which is why I'm raising my hand," he wrote.
Collins, 35, is a big, end-of-bench bruiser who can harangue opposing centers. Over 12 seasons, he has a career average of 3.6 points per game, and he hasn't averaged more than 2 points a games since his 2006-07 season as a Net when the team called New Jersey home.
Collins received a congratulatory tweet from Michael Sam, the all-American football player from the University of Missouri who recently came out. Sam tweeted, "Congratulations to my friend @jasoncollins34 - excited to see you do work out there #Brooklyn."
Collins said he didn't expect to create such media stir in the coming games.
"There's only so many questions you guys can ask," he said.
Source-CNN
HON. MISSICK COMMENTS ON THE ONGOING CHALLENGES AT THE CLEMENT HOWELL HIGH SCHOOL IN PROVIDENCIALES
“THE SAFETY OF OUR TEACHERS AND STUDENTS ALIKE AT CLEMENT HOWELL HIGH SCHOOL IS PARAMOUNT”- DEPUTY PREMIER, MINISTER OF EDUCATION, YOUTH, SPORTS AND LIBRARY SERVICES HON. AKIERRA MISSICK.
Those were the sentiments expressed by the Deputy Premier and Minister of Education, Youth, Sports and Library Services, Hon. Akierra Missick, speaking earlier today to the ongoing challenges being faced at the Clement Howell High School in Providenciales.
“The concerns that were recently raised by the parents, teachers and students of the institution and presented to officials in the Ministry of Education, are also of major concern to the Ministry and the Government, and the safety of our teachers and students alike, at the Clement Howell High School is paramount. We are taking specific measures to address those concerns in the short term while we continue to work on finding a permanent solution in the near future,” said Hon. Akierra Missick.
The Ministry has since, engaged the relevant agencies and key stakeholders of the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force, the Department of Education, the Department of Social Welfare, the Office of Public Service Management, Public Works Department, the Deputy Governor’s Office, The Office of the Premier and the teachers and faculty of the school and have come up with key actions that will be taken to ensure the safety of the faculty and students alike at the school.
The Ministry was informed by the Principal of the Clement Howell High, Mr. Gerald Persaud, that the teachers will not be teaching for the next two days and parents are asked to be guided accordingly. These two days, however, will be utilized to enact the action plan devised today to address the immediate concerns raised.
Clement Howell High School is the largest secondary school in the country, with over a thousand students registered today. The Government remains concerned about the over-crowding at the institution, and the resulting social issues that are arising and is committed to resolving these issues for a safer environment and to improve productivity in the school.
PDM visits Clement Howell again after a 'Sit In' by Teachers.
Following new developments at the Clement High School in Providenciales, the PDM issued a release to RTC News after visiting the school compound today.
"Today, February 24th, members of the PDM and the Official Opposition visited the Clement Howell High School during the staged "Sit In" by the teachers. With the newly enacted policy that requires the Opposition to have to obtain the Minister's permission before entering and with no prior arrangements made due to the morning’s development, Hon Sharlene Robinson, Hon Sean Astwood, Hon Clarence Selver and Hon Goldray Ewing stood outside the compound with a few concerned members of the community including the President of the Christian Council.
Hon Goldray Ewing, Representative for Blue Hills said, "I am committed as are my colleagues, to working with the government in the best interest of our children. I will not interfere with the workings of the ministry but will support where I can and offer ideas for solving the problems identified."
Hon Sean Astwood, Deputy Leader of the PDM, said too, "These are all of our children and as the largest School, it represents a major portion of our future. Therefore, we must take steps to protect them and by extension, our future."
Said Hon Cartwright Robinson, "We believe that "enough is enough" and we support the teachers fully.”
The present environment is not conducive to learning and teaching. The practice of seemingly ignoring the problem with the hopes that it goes away must cease. We urge the government to accept the assistance and work along with the Opposition, the community and the police to address this pressing issue. We have given the government more than one year to manage this situation. It is not in our children's or their teachers' best interest to sit by when we can do so much more.
Therefore, we offer the following measures for immediate consideration:
1. Increased security presence;
2. A better reinforced gate at the entrance;
3. A more secured parameter/repairing of breaches in the fencing;
4. A concerted effort to ensure expulsions are coupled with alternative arrangements for rehabilitation;
5. Partnership role of the Commissioner of Police with the Ministry, as was done between the Late Michael Taylor with Angela Andrews, former Principal of CHHS;
6. An ambitious Anti Gang campaign;
7. An aggressive Boot Camp Program;
8. A Mentoring Program;
9.Ultimately, the splitting of the school into more manageable numbers. This can no longer be lip service. It requires –demands- immediate attention. We are worried about the safety of our children, our teachers and the security officers.
We, the PDM, remain committed to working in the best interest of our people."
That was the official PDM stance on the Clement Howell High School.
“THE SUCCESS OF TOURISM IN OUR ISLANDS MUST BE DEFINED BY ITS ABILITY TO POSITIVELY IMPACT THE SMALL BUSINESSES IN OUR COMMUNITIES”- PREMIER, HON. DR. RUFUS EWING
Premier Ewing, as the Minister of Tourism, attended a Small Island Developing States Conference, in Nassau Bahamas, this week, as he and his Government continue to explore and develop plans for the diversification of the Tourism Product in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
The two-day conference, held under the theme: TOURISM AS A KEY FACTOR FOR DEVELOPMENT IN ISLAND STATES at the Melia Resort on Cable Beach in Nassau Bahamas was hosted jointly by the Ministry for Tourism of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, the Inter-American Development Bank, and the World Tourism Organization on February 19-20, 2014.
The Official Opening Ceremony was complete with all the pomp and pageantry that The Bahamas is greatly known for and attended by many stakeholders in the Tourism Industry, including other Ministers of Tourism from neighbouring Caribbean Countries. The Rt. Hon. Perry Christies, Prime Minister of The Bahamas, brought the Key Note Address during the opening celebrations and cautioned attendees on the need to preserve the elements of our tourism product for future generations to enjoy.
Panellists were invited to participate in hot button discussions on a whole range of relevant issues for island destinations like The Turks and Caicos Islands, from the competitiveness and sustainability perspectives, to regional integration, air connectivity, travel facilitation and risk management, to identifying specific challenges and vulnerabilities and examples of relevant actions. The Conference focused mainly on the Caribbean scenario but attendees were also given the opportunity to share with the International Community, at the ministerial and expert levels, further knowledge and lessons learnt for tourism in Small Islands Developing States, worldwide.
The World Tourism Organization (Specialized agency of the United Nations) which was represented by the Secretary General, Mr. Taleb Rifai, among other initiatives, will comprise and disseminate a report on the Challenges and Opportunities for Tourism in Small Island Developing States as a follow-up to the RIO+20 Conference, while the Inter-American Bank hopes to consolidate a joint agenda highlighting tourism development priorities in Small Island Developing States and the next steps for the strengthening of positive impacts of tourism on the local economies and communities within the Caribbean.
Premier Ewing was honoured to have been invited to attend the Conference. He commented, “This Conference is very timely, not only for the Caribbean, but especially for the Turks and Caicos Islands, as we strive to rebuild our economy and strengthen our tourism product. We are proud of the performance of our tourism industry as it continues to be the bread basket for the country, and will embark on the diversification into new areas such as eco-tourism and agri-tourism as the way for the future. This conference however, is critical to us now, as it gave us the tools and insight that we need to enable tourism as a stimulus for growth in our communities, because we firmly believe that the true success of our tourism industry should be defined and measured by how well it positively impacts the small businesses in our communities. Yes, we have achieved the one million visitors, but how can we turn that into dollars and cents for the average businessman. That is our challenge, but as a Government, we are committed to doing just that, and so the tools and lessons learnt that were shared over the past two days will go a long way in helping us achieve that very important objective.”
Among the Turks and Caicos delegation attending the Conference, was Dr. Kingsley Been, Chairman of the Tourist Board, and Mr. Brian Been, Senior Product Development Officer also of the Tourist Board.
Other highlights during the stay in Nassau included cultural performances, musical renditions by the Royal Commonwealth of the Bahamas Police Band and the presentation of the “Open Letter” to the Prime Minister Christie, by the United Nations at the Government House, and hosted by the Governor General, Sir Arthur Alexander Foulkes and Lady Joan Eleanor Foulkes, his wife.
PREMIER EWING MET WITH SEVERAL KEY STAKEHOLDERS WHILE ATTENDING THE SIDS CONFERENCE IN NASSAU, BAHAMAS
Premier Ewing, during his time in Nassau, Bahamas this week, as he attended a two-day Conference for Small Island Developing States, also took the time to meet with key stakeholders in the Government of The Bahamas on critical issues facing the Turks and Caicos Islands.
As a follow-up to recommendations made following the fact-finding mission that the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Immigration of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, the Hon. Fred Mitchell led, under the direction of the Caricom Heads of Government, to the Turks and Caicos Islands in June 2013, on the state of governance, the judiciary system and the economic and social systems imposed during the interim administration under direct rule and subsequent to the return to internal self-government, Premier Ewing met with the Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. Perry Christie to discuss the progress made in the Turks and Caicos Islands in the past year.
The critical areas of focus were the depth of control still maintained by the UK Government over the financial management of the Government’s operations, SIPT and its’ funding and the challenges faced to fund educational, health and other social programs desperately needed for the sustainable development of the economy of the Turks and Caicos Islands.
During this unilateral meeting of heads, the very serious matter of illegal immigration was also discuss, in an effort to gain The Bahamas’ support for forging a partnership among the two countries, to tackle the very critical issue of illegal immigration through the improved protection of our borders.
Like the Turks and Caicos Islands, The Bahamas has long since suffered from the tides of illegal migrants penetrating their borders to escape the hardships of Haiti. Together, the Governments will aim to thwart the arrival of suspect vessels in our waters thereby eliminating, or at the very least, greatly reducing the high costs of repatriation.
Premier Ewing was also invited to meet with the Management and Staff of Pan America Health Organization (PAHO). This meeting saw the reaffirmation of the relationship that PAHO and the Turks and Caicos Islands has and PAHO’s recommitment to providing its continued support. The support of PAHO over the years has been instrumental in the facilitation of vaccines and other programs for the prevention of communicable diseases.
Key experts, also attending the Small Island Developing States Conference also took the opportunity to conduct break-out meetings with Premier Ewing, on the areas of sustainable development of small and medium enterprise sector (SME), renewable alternative energy and national trust activities.
FIRST TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDER APPOINTED AS ATTORNEY GENERAL
The Governor of the Turks and Caicos Islands, His Excellency Peter Beckingham, today announced the appointment of Hon. Rhondalee Braithwaite-Knowles as the new Attorney General for the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Hon. Braithwaite-Knowles served in the capacity of Acting Attorney General from October 2013, following the departure of her predecessor, Mr. Huw Shepheard from the territory.
The position of Attorney General, since its inception, has historically been held by Foreign Nationals and this latest appointment makes Hon. Braithwaite-Knowles the first Turks and Caicos Islander to hold this prestigious position.
The Premier, Hon. Dr. Rufus Ewing, on receiving word from the Governor of the appointment, made the following comment, “Today is a significant day, and a historical one, for us as Turks and Caicos Islanders with Hon. Braithwaite-Knowles as the first local to be appointed to the position of Attorney General. It is our hope that this is just the beginning and that over time we can see more Turks and Caicos Islanders being appointed to critical roles both within the public and private sectors. I offer congratulations to Hon. Braithwaite-Knowles and look forward to working with her.”
As the Attorney General, Hon. Rhondalee Braithwaite-Knowles will be the legal advisor to the Government and the House of Assembly, according to Section 41 of the 2011 Constitution.
Most Wanted Drug Kingpin Captured in Mexico
The world's most wanted drug lord, Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, is behind bars after Mexican and U.S. agents captured him Saturday at a hotel in the Mexican resort of Mazatlan.
Agents had been tracking Guzman for weeks after Mexican police arrested other top members of his Sinaloa drug cartel.
They believe Guzman had been able to avoid capture through a series of hideouts and escape tunnels before arresting him without a shot being fired.
Guzman is wanted in the United States on a number of charges including smuggling tons of cocaine, marijuana, and heroin across the Mexican border.
His Sinaloa drug cartel stretches across North America and as far away as Europe and Australia.
U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder calls Guzman's arrest a victory for U.S. and Mexican citizens. He says the criminal activity Guzman has allegedly directed contributed to the deaths and destruction of millions of people through drug addiction, violence and corruption.
The Sinaloa cartel has been at the center of a bloody turf war with other cartels over drug trafficking routes in northern Mexico.
About 80,000 people have been killed in drug-related violence since the early 2000's, including murders and beheadings. Former president Felipe Calderon sent in the army to try and quell the violence.
Forbes magazine lists Guzman among the world's most powerful people, saying he is worth more than $1 billion.
Source-AP
Maria von Trapp, last member of Sound of Music family, dies
The last surviving member of the Trapp Family Singers, the group whose story inspired The Sound of Music, has died at the age of 99, her family say.
Maria von Trapp died at her home in Vermont on Tuesday, her brother, Johannes von Trapp, told the Associated Press.
He said she was a "lovely woman who was one of the few truly good people".
Von Trapp and her family fled Nazi-occupied Austria in 1938 and ended up performing around the US.
Their story eventually inspired the 1959 Rodgers and Hammerstein musical, The Sound of Music, and subsequent 1965 hit film.
It tells the tale of a young woman who leaves an Austrian convent to become a governess to the seven children of a naval officer widower, Georg von Trapp.
Maria von Trapp was the second-oldest daughter of Capt von Trapp - with his first wife - and was portrayed as Louisa in the musical.
Source-BBC
Late start to Calypso Fiesta ...but performances deliver
Hundreds of patrons chanted in protest of the late start of the 72nd Annual Calypso Monarch semi-finals, with many demanding a refund from show organiser the Trinbago Unified Calypsonians Organisation (TUCO) yesterday.
The large crowd, which had lined the streets around Skinner Park, San Fernando, hours before the scheduled midday start, clapped and protested for the show to begin, while Master of Ceremonies Wendell Etienne begged for patience, citing technical difficulties.
Shouts of “We want we money back”, and “What is the matter?”, were heard continuously for almost two hours until the competition kicked off, much to the relief of the patrons, many of whom stood in the uncovered stands in the blistering heat.
The first cotestant, Snakey (Heaven Charles) ,subdued the crowed with his energetic performance of “The Dhoti Song”.
The eagerly awaited performance of Body Guard (Roger Mohammed’s) song “False Papers” went down well with the crowd, as they sang along to his controversial ditty about people in executive positions who have false resumes.
Body Guard made headline news earlier this month after he was allegedly criticised by Sugar Aloes (Michael Osouna) for his controversial song.
Osouna, a two-time national calypso monarch, who opted to stay out of the competition, was backstage during the performance.
The crowd cheered Body Guard on and raised placards with “Big Yard Song”, “Thank you Lord/No Sugar Aloes” and “Aloes Take Dat”.
Body Guard left a trail in his wake but other forceful performances saw Rondell Donawa’s “Yes We Can”, King Luta (Morel Peters) with “No Guns No Weapons”, Heather McIntosh with “Nutten Eh Good”, Amrika Mutroo with “Doh Judge Meh”, Bunny B (Neville Brown) with “Milk” and Mistah Shak (Selvon Noel) with “Bois” also mustering a ripple effect with the several posses in varying colours.
Opposition Leader and political leader of the People’s National Movement Dr Keith Rowley mingled with patrons throughout the evening.
From the 40 competitors, 11 will challenge reigning Calypso Monarch Pink Panther Eric Taylor at the Dimanche Gras on Carnival Sunday night for a chance to take home the first prize of $1 million.
Source- Trinidad Express