Shirley Temple is dead
Shirley Temple, the dimpled, curly-haired child star who sang, danced, sobbed and grinned her way into the hearts of Depression-era moviegoers, has died.
She was 85.
Temple, known in private life as Shirley Temple Black, died Monday night at her home near San Francisco. She was surrounded by family members and caregivers, publicist Cheryl Kagan said.
“We salute her for a life of remarkable achievements as an actor, as a diplomat, and most importantly as our beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and adored wife for fifty-five years of the late and much missed Charles Alden Black,” a family statement said. The family would not disclose Temple’s cause of death.
A talented and ultra-adorable entertainer, Shirley Temple was America’s top box-office draw from 1935 to 1938, a record no other child star has come near. She beat out such grown-ups as Clark Gable, Bing Crosby, Robert Taylor, Gary Cooper and Joan Crawford.
In 1999, the American Film Institute ranking of the Top 50 screen legends ranked Temple at No. 18 among the 25 actresses. She appeared in scores of movies and kept children singing On the Good Ship Lollipop for generations.
Source-AP
Obama Declares Emergency in Georgia as Ice Storm Approaches
U.S. President Barack Obama has declared an emergency in Georgi,a where forecasters predict a crippling ice storm.
Mr. Obama has ordered federal funds to supplement state response to the storm that threatens to coat cities and highways with ice. The storm is expected to pull down trees and power lines and possibly knock out power to thousands.
Forecasters have posted a winter storm warning for Georgia through Thursday afternoon. Heavy rain and cold gusty winds can be expected.
Wednesday's storm also is predicted to bring ice and snow from Alabama into Virginia, while heavy snow can be expected Thursday in the mid-Atlantic through New England.
The normally temperate south is not used to fierce winter weather and sometimes finds itself unprepared. An ice storm that hit the city of Atlanta two weeks ago took authorities by surprise and paralyzed traffic.
Small Earthquake Shakes Puerto Rico
A small earthquake caused shaking in parts of Puerto Rico on Tuesday, according to the United States Geological Survey.
The 2.5-magnitude quake, which struck at around 5:19 AM, led to light shaking in western and northern Puerto Rico.
It occurred at a depth of about 17 kilometres, with an epicentre about 3 kilometres north-northeast of the city of San Sebastian — about 92 kilometres west of Puerto Rico’s capital, San Juan.
The shaking came after a similar 3.1-magnitude quake struck off the north coast of the British Virgin Islands early Tuesday morning.
There were no reports of damage or injuries.
The Caribbean region has experienced a number of earthquakes in the past month, including a 6.5-magnitude quake near Puerto Rico that was the region’s strongest in several years.
Source- Caribbean Journal
Syria Extends Humanitarian Pause in Homs
The United Nations says the Syrian government and opposition have agreed to extend a humanitarian pause in the beleaguered city of Homs for another three days.
U.N. Humanitarian Affairs chief Valerie Amos in a statement Monday welcomed the agreement that came days after she says U.N. and Syrian Arab Red Crescent workers were "deliberately targeted" in the city.
Amos says she hopes the humanitarian pause will allow them to evacuate more civilians and deliver much needed supplies to the area. More than 800 people have been evacuated from the rebel-held city since Thursday.
Meanwhile Monday, delegates from the Syrian government and the opposition opened a second round of peace talks in Geneva Monday.
U.N.-Arab League envoy Lakhdar Brahimi met separately with the two sides in an attempt to set the agenda for discussing issues such as setting up a potential transitional government and humanitarian aid in besieged areas.
Syrian opposition spokesman Monzer Akbik said his side laid out its vision of a transitional government in Syria.
"We submitted also another paper talking about our vision to the political solution by transition to a transitional governing body, this is what Geneva communique says and the vision shows that a transitional governing body should be able, with the full authority, in a neutral environment, should be able to end the violence and take the country towards reconciliation and democracy."
A spokesman for Syria's opposition National Coalition, Louay al-Safi, also denounced what he said were the government's use of "barrel bombs", which the opposition says were responsible for the deaths of more than 1,800 people last week.
"It is not acceptable that the regime would send its own delegation to talk peace while it is killing our people in Syria. This must stop, we ask the international community to do something about it. "
Monday's talks followed an initial round last month that ended with little progress, but one that Brahimi called "a modest beginning" to build on. Following the meeting with opposition delegates, Brahimi met with the Syrian government delegation, but no afternoon talks were expected.
Source- Voice Of America
Darts 2014 National Championship playoffs climaxed in the TCI
The Turks and Caicos National Darts Association held their 2014 National Championship playoffs this past Saturday at Doo Dos Rib Cage.
The following are the results:
The 2014 Men National Champion went to Mr. Brent Robinson – undefeated and runner-up was Mr. Sidney Garland.
Mr. Brent Robinson also scored 2-180’s in the tournament.
The 2014 Women National Champion went to Ms. Danzella Jennings – undefeated and runner-up was Ms. Delphine Simons
The National Darts Team for 2014 will be representing the Turks and Caicos Islands in the American Cups and the Caribbean Cup in July 12-20 2014 in Tampa, Florida which includes the following darts players
Men Team
Brent Robinson Sidney Garland
James Fulford Keith Malcolm
Henry Saunders Quentin Clinton
Tito Cox David Smith
Women Team
Danzella Jennings Delphine Simons
Chukka Skippings Sonji Williams
Villa Simons
Team Manager will be James Fulford
The Team is looking forward to representing the islands as they continue to practice every Tuesday and Thursday nights at Doo Doo Ribs Cage in Grand Turk.
South Africa considers bid to host 2022 Commonwealth Games
The South African government is to consider a proposal to host the Commonwealth Games in 2022.
Gideon Sam, president of the South African Sports Confederation & Olympic Committee (SASCOC), hopes to bring the Games to Africa for the first time.
"I do believe it is Africa's turn," Sam told the BBC.
A spokesperson from the South African department of sport and recreation said sports minister Fikile Mbalula had received the application and backs it.
Speaking with the BBC's Queen's Baton Relay reporter Mark Beaumont, Sam added: "The time is right for them [Africa] to host the Commonwealth Games.
"In South Africa, we can host these games easily. Infrastructure is there. The know-how is there after hosting so many international competitions.
"We have already submitted our documentation. Once they give the go ahead, it is all systems go."
The sports ministry will now work with SASCOC before making a presentation to the South African cabinet, who will make the final decision.
Source-BBC
Netherlands, Canada, Norway Lead Medal Count in Sochi
The Netherlands swept the men's 500-meter speed skating at the Winter Olympics Monday, tying for the lead in the medal count after three days of competition in Sochi.
Michel Mulder won the gold medal in the event, followed by Dutch teammates Jan Smeekens and Ronald Mulder, Michel's twin brother.
By day's end, the Netherlands, Canada and Norway were tied for the most medals with seven. Canada and the Netherlands lead in gold medals with three each.
Canada was aided by Charles Hamelin, who finished first in the 1,500-meter short track speed skating. It was his third career Olympic gold medal.
In women's Alpine skiing, Germany's Maria Hoefl-Riesch also won her third career Olympic gold. She took first in the super-combined, one downhill and one slalom run.
Norway's Ole Einar Bjoerndalen just missed winning a record 13th career Winter Olympic medal. He finished fourth in the men's biathlon 12.5-kilometer pursuit. France's Martin Fourcade won that event.
In women's ice hockey, the U.S. routed Switzerland, 9-0, setting an Olympic record with three goals in a 55-second span. Canada beat Finland, 3-0.
The U.S. and Canada -- fierce rivals and the consensus favorites to win the gold medal in Sochi -- will clash on Wednesday.
Canada has won three of the four gold medals since women's ice hockey became a Winter Olympics sport at the 1998 Nagano Games, beating the Americans in the finals in 2002 and 2010. The U.S. won the gold in Nagano.
Curling began for the men and women Monday. Canada's men's team, the favorite to repeat as Olympic gold medal champion, was upset by Switzerland, 5-4. The Canadians beat Germany, 11-8, earlier in the day.
Tuesday's action includes the debut of women's ski jumping in the Winter Games, with the gold medal final scheduled for late in the day. There are 98 medal events at the Sochi Games, 12 more than in Vancouver in 2010.
NFL draft prospect reveals his gay sexuality
American footballer Michael Sam could become the National Football League's first openly gay player after revealing his sexuality.
The 24-year-old completed his college football career at the University of Missouri in December and is expected to be drafted by an NFL franchise in May.
"I came to tell the world I'm an openly gay man," the defensive lineman told ESPN. "If I work hard, if I make plays - that's all that should matter."
The NFL welcomed Sam's announcement.
Should Sam be drafted as expected and make an NFL roster in the 2014 season, he would become the first openly gay player to compete in any of North America's four major professional sports leagues - football, baseball, basketball and hockey.
He had revealed his sexuality to his former college team-mates at the University of Missouri's Mizzou Tigers, but admitted doing so publicly was "a weight off his chest".
"I probably may be the first but I won't be the last. And I think only good things will come from this," he added.
In April 2013, basketball player Jason Collins came out during the sport's off-season but was not signed for the next campaign, meaning he never competed as an openly gay player.
Sam is expected to be a mid-draft pick when the NFL's teams hold their annual draft meeting, a process where players from America's college football system are signed for professional franchises.
Former players from the league have come out since retiring, but none have done so during their careers.
In a statement, the NFL said: "We admire Michael Sam's honesty and courage. Michael is a football player. Any player with ability and determination can succeed in the NFL.
"We look forward to welcoming and supporting Michael Sam in 2014."
Sam, who was born in Texas, was named Defensive Player of the Year in the Southeastern Conference before graduation.
Carolina Panthers running back DeAngelo Williams said a person's sexuality did not matter to him, adding: "I care about winning games and being respectful in the locker room."
NFL hall of famer Deion Sanders tweeted: ''Michael Sam isn't the first gay player in the NFL although he is the first to come out. Let's show him love like a family member. Truth.''
Source-BBC
Government spends $10K on football tournament in Cayman
Government again is funding an international football tournament. This time shelling out $10,000 for Cayman to host the third-annual C3 Cayman International Youth Football Tournament.
The competition pits a Cayman Islands Under-15 Select Team against academy teams from UK-based Swindon Town FC and the Houston Dynamo.
Sports Minister Hon. Osbourne Bodden says the cost to Government is more than worth the price because of the doors it can open for Cayman’s youth on the international football scene.
“This tournament in the past has produced a number of notable players who are playing in the UK at the moment,” Bodden said.
Caymanians Sebastian Martinez, Kray Foster and Nathan Borde each are part of Swindon Town’s Academy while Cameron Gray attends Reading’s Academy. All are attending thanks in part to Government grants.
“So it goes to show when you can develop football and keep it going at this level and bring the right competition to the island and allow our kids to be exposed off island, we can create exceptionally good players,” Bodden said.
The tournament consists of three matches.
Lego Movie leaves Monuments in pieces
Blockbuster toy tie-in The Lego Movie left The Monuments Men for dust at the weekend, earning more than three times as much as George Clooney's WWII caper at the North American box office.
The 3D animation, set in a world made up of plastic children's blocks, took $69.1 million (£42m) between Friday and Sunday, according to studio estimates.
Clooney's film about Nazi-looted art took $22.7m (£14m).
The critics have not generally been kind to his fact-based tale.
A spokesman for the Sony studio was upbeat about its performance, saying it was "right where we hoped to be".
Clooney, who both directs and stars in The Monuments Men, is travelling to the UK this week to promote his film ahead of its UK release on Friday.
The Lego Movie, also out on Friday in the UK and Ireland, enjoyed the biggest opening of 2014 so far. A sequel is already in development.
Will Ferrell and Liam Neeson are among the voice cast in Warner Brothers' collaboration with the popular Danish top brand.
The new arrivals at the top of this week's chart saw last week's number one film, cop comedy Ride Along, fall down to three.
Disney animation Frozen also fell two places to four, while raunchy rom-com That Awkward Moment dropped down to five.
Teen film Vampire Academy opened poorly in seventh place with a first weekend tally of $4.1m (£2.5m).
Based on Richelle Mead's young adult novels, the Weinstein Company release is set in a boarding school for bloodsuckers.
North American box office chart
1. The Lego Movie - $69.1m
2. The Monuments Men - $22.7m
3. Ride Along - $9.4m
4. Frozen - $6.9m
5. That Awkward Moment - $5.5m
Source: Rentrak