England wrap up T20 series after Windies’ batters fail again
England took full advantage of another inept batting performance by the West Indies to claim a tense three-wicket victory in the third T20I and claim an unassailable 3-0 lead in the best-of-five series.
Only three West Indies batsmen made it into double digits after they lost the toss and were sent in to bat for the third successive time, and they could only muster 145 for eight from their 20 overs.
Sam Curran and Liam Livingstone then played crucial knocks and England edged to 149 for seven from 19.2 overs to capture the series with two matches to play.
It was sweet revenge for England who lost the preceding ODI series and handed the Windies their first T20 home series defeat since 2023.
The win was set up by another outstanding display of fast bowling by England’s opening pair of Jofra Archer and Player-of-the-Match Saqib Mahmood, who put the home side on the backfoot from the get-go.
Shai Hope, who replaced Brandon King at the top of the order, inside-edged Archer to the fine leg boundary for four to get off the mark, but a miscommunication with Evin Lewis the very next ball for what should have been an easy single, saw Hope being run out by a direct throw from Jacob Bethell at square leg.
Nicholas Pooran gave fans at the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground something to shout about when he pulled Archer’s last ball over square leg for a huge six as the Windies ended the first over on 11 for one.
Mahmood didn’t take long to strike, having Lewis caught at third man by Jofra Archer for three after he attempted to hit a half volley outside of off stump through the onside.
And things got even worse for the home side when Pooran was clean bowled by Archer for seven after completely missing a wild swipe and Roston Chase edged Mahmood to first slip for Jaime Overton to take a simple catch, to leave the score 21 for four in the fourth over.
Shimron Hetmyer scored just two before he slapped Mahmood straight to Dan Mousley at deep midwicket as the Windies lost their fifth wicket inside the power play.
A 73-run partnership between captain Rovman Powell, who scored a fighting 54, and Romario Shepherd, who made 30, helped get the home side past the three-figure mark.
Overton took the wickets of Shepherd and Gudakesh Motie in the 16th over, and West Indies reached their eventual target thanks to the efforts of Powell and Alzarri Joseph, who finished unbeaten on 21 from 19 balls.
Mahmood was the pick of the England bowlers with 3-17 while Overton took 3-20.
Needing quick wickets to have any chance of winning the contest, Hosein accounted for Phil Salt for the second time in the series when he bowled him off his pads for four as he tried to give himself room to hit through the onside.
And when Hosein dismissed Jos Buttler for four and Joseph caught Jacob Bethell behind for the same score, England slipped to 37 for three in the sixth over.
A 38-run stand between Will Jacks and Sam Curran helped to steady the innings until Jacks slapped Motie straight into the hands of Powell at cover after scoring 32.
Curran and Liam Livingstone then added a further 39 runs and the pair looked set to take the visitors over the line.
However, Terrance Hinds snagged Curran for 41 to claim his maiden T20I wicket and Hosein accounted for the wicket of Mousley to leave the match interestingly poised at 123 for six in the 17th over.
Livingstone, though, proved to be England’s saving grace, launching Joseph for a four and two sixes in the 18th over that leaked 16 runs, to bring the equation down to five runs from 12 balls.
Hosein managed to pick up Livingstone’s wicket as he tried to finish the match with a six, but Rehan Ahmed punched Hinds for four off the second ball of the last over to bring an end to the contest and ensure England wrapped up the series.
Hosein was the Windies’ best bowler with 4-22 from his four overs.
Source-CMC
U.S edged Jamaica in Concacaf
The United States edged Jamaica 1-0 in the first leg of their League A quarterfinal matchup in the 2024/25 Concacaf Nations League on Thursday at Kingston’s National Stadium.
Ricardo Pepi put the reigning Nations League champions ahead five minutes into the contest, slotting home a precise finish off the left post after a perfectly weighted through ball from Christian Pulisic.
Jamaica had a golden opportunity to level the score in the 12th minute when Shamar Nicholson drew a foul in the box from U.S. goalkeeper Matt Turner, earning the hosts a penalty.
However, Turner redeemed himself with a crucial save, denying Demarai Gray’s spot-kick attempt in the 14th minute.
The Reggae Boyz pressed hard for an equalizer in the second half, with notable chances from Mason Holgate in the 66th minute and Damion Lowe just a minute later, but they failed to capitalize.
Their hopes dimmed further in the 86th minute when Holgate was sent off after receiving a second yellow card, ruling him out of the second leg.
With the victory, the U.S. takes a slim 1-0 lead into Monday’s decisive second leg in St. Louis, Missouri.
Panama earned a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Costa Rica at Estadio Nacional in San José in the other quarterfinal first-leg matchup.
Alberto Fajardo scored the game’s only goal in the 66th minute, confidently converting a penalty kick to give the visitors the edge heading into the return leg.
Vessel Landing Near Bird Rock Area
RTC News learned that on November 14th, the Turks and Caicos Islands Border Force responded to a suspicious vessel in the Bird Rock area. Upon arrival, 9 illegal migrants were apprehended near the vessel.
Upon further search of the area, the Border Force Enforcement Unit with the use of the RTCIPF drone unit located an additional 48 individuals in the nearby vicinity. A total of 57 individuals were apprehended during this operation.
Those apprehended included 45 males inclusive of two minors and 12 females inclusive of two minors all of whom are believed to be Haitian nationals. The vessel is now in the possession of the Turks and Caicos Islands Border Force.
We would like to thank the Royal Turks and Caicos Police Force and the TCI Regiment for their assistance.
Further details will be released as the investigation progresses.
The Border Force reminded the public that harboring or facilitating the entry of illegal migrants is a serious criminal offense under the Immigration Ordinance, carrying penalties of up to $20,000 in fines and up to four years of imprisonment. Authorities are committed to prosecuting any individuals found violating these laws to the fullest extent.
Special Education Needs Services (SENS) Hosts Successful Speech Camp
The Special Education Needs and Services (SENS) Department is proud to announce the successful completion of its Speech Camp, held in Grand Turk from Nov. 4th – 8th, 2024. This initiative aimed to provide targeted speech therapy support to children with communication challenges, equipping them with essential skills for personal and academic success.
The camp, facilitated in collaboration with Therapy Abroad, offered group-based activities focusing on speech and language development. Children engaged in interactive sessions designed to improve articulation, comprehension, and social communication. The department also hosted a parent-training session aimed at providing parents with strategies to reinforce these skills at home, fostering ongoing progress beyond the sessions.
The Coordinator of Assessments, Mrs. Lashaunda Skippings, who oversaw all the logistics of the camp, emphasized its importance: "This Speech Camp was a carefully planned initiative aimed at addressing the growing demand for speech therapy in Grand Turk. The success of the camp reflects the dedication of our team and partners in providing quality services. We are grateful to the parents and children for their active participation and look forward to building on this momentum in future programs."
The Minister of Education, Youth, Sports, and Culture, Hon. Rachel M. Taylor, expressed pride in the department’s ongoing efforts "The government is committed to ensuring that every child, regardless of ability, has access to the resources they need to thrive. The Speech Camp in Grand Turk is a testament to our continued investment in the well-being and development of all our children. I commend the SENS Department and its partners for their outstanding work in continuing to bring this initiative to life."
As part of its commitment to expanding services to meet the growing needs of the community, the SENS Department will welcome two speech therapy interns in January. They will serve Grand Turk and South Caicos on six-month rotations, further enhancing accessibility to critical interventions in these communities. The Director of SENS, Dr. Anya Malcolm-Gibbs, highlighted the department’s broader mission: "This Speech Camp is just one of several targeted initiatives we will run several times per year. From behavioral intervention to neurodevelopmental assessments, our camps are designed to address the specific needs of our children and provide families with tools to support them. We are proud of the impact these programs have and remain committed to expanding our services across the islands."
The SENS Department encourages all parents to register their children with the department. Registration ensures that your child can be included in future camps, therapy, and assessment initiatives, providing them with vital opportunities for growth and development. For more information, please contact sens@gov.tc and follow our social media pages @sens_tci.
SENIOR CITIZENS FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMME LAUNCHED
The Financial Assistance Programme has approved over $1.292 million in payments to 342 persons over the age of 70 years.
The Government is pleased to report that this intervention will ensure that the aged of the Turks and Caicos Islands, have a monthly FAP benefit of up to $1,000 per month. The programme was designed so that those with other sources of pensions which total less than $1,000 per month will be “topped up” to $1,000 per month and those without an alternate source will receive $1,000.00 per month.
The Honourable C. Washington Misick, Premier, in speaking about this programme said that the FAP is an investment in the well-being of the older folk of the TCI. This monthly contribution makes pension benefits more relevant to the current cost of living and assures a certain level of financial independence and a better quality of life for pensioners.
The provision of liveable pensions is a social obligation that the Government has not taken lightly; and a key component of several initiatives implemented during the past four (4) years that are intended to strengthen social programs to promote economic stability during the entire span of a person’s life in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
The FAP portal is currently closed for submissions but will reopen on Monday, November 18, 2024. To qualify you must:
Be receiving a pension that is below $1,000.00 per month from one or multiple sources or is receiving no pension at all.
Be a Turks and Caicos Islander or a British Overseas Territory Citizen.
Have attained the age of seventy (70) years old.
Be ordinarily resident in the Turks and Caicos Islands for the last 5 (five) years.
Persons who are “wards of the state” (e.g. residing in TCIG wellness centres, aged-care centres, etc.) and “wards of the court.” (e.g. in prison etc.) will not qualify for the FAP.
Residents asked to be on alert from scammers
The Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force (RT&CIPF) is alerting the public to be cautious of a new scam involving unsolicited Zoom meeting requests.
Scammers are contacting individuals, falsely claiming they are initiating a Zoom call and then sending a malicious link.
Superintendent of Division A, Willet Harvey, advises: “Do not click on any suspicious links sent to you by unknown callers. These scams are designed to trick you into compromising your devices and obtaining sensitive information stored on devices. Protect yourself by being cautious and reporting any suspicious interactions. These incidents are engaging the attention of the Force’s Forensic Digital Unit. ”
Key Online Safety Tips:
Never Accept Links from Strangers: Clicking on unfamiliar or unsolicited links can lead to data breaches, malware infections, and the compromise of your personal
information.
Verify Before You Click: If someone sends you a meeting link or a file unexpectedly, verify its authenticity before opening it, even if it appears to be from a known contact.
Report Suspicious Activity: If you receive a call or message asking you to click on a link, report it immediately to the police and do not engage further.
Stay vigilant and protect your personal information.
For more information or to report a scam, contact your nearest police station, 911 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-8477 or download the Crime Stoppers P3 app to share information on the identity of fraudsters.
Biden on Veterans Day calls for US to 'come together as a nation'
President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris observed Veterans Day at Arlington National Cemetery on Monday in their first appearance together since last week’s election.
The two participated in a full honor wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier before Biden made remarks at the Memorial Amphitheater.
Biden began by quoting President Abraham Lincoln and said this is the moment to "come together as a nation."
"The world is dependent on each of you and all of us, all of you, to keep honoring the women and the men and the families of borne, the battle," he said. "To keep protecting everything they fought for. To keep striving to heal our nation's wounds. To keep perfecting our union."
Source-ABC
Denzel Washington reveals he'll appear in Black Panther threequel
He's one of the most recognizable faces in Hollywood, but two-time Oscar winner Denzel Washington is thinking about retirement — and reveals he'll be in one of Marvel's biggest franchises before he calls it a career.
To Australia's Today program, the star of the upcoming Gladiator II revealed Ryan Coogler is writing a role for him in the third Black Panther film — and that project will be one of his final acting jobs.
"For me it's about the filmmakers," Denzel says. "Especially at this point in my career, I am only interested in working with the best. I don’t know how many more films I'm going to make." He adds, "It's probably not that many. I want to do things I haven’t done."
Washington mentioned how he got his start — performing Shakespeare — and how he'll be revisiting The Bard on Broadway opposite Jake Gyllenhaal in 2025.
"I played Othello at 22. I am about to play Othello at 70. After that, I am playing Hannibal [for Netflix]. After that, I've been talking to Steve McQueen about a film. After that, Ryan Coogler is writing a part for me in the next Black Panther. After that, I'm going to do the film Othello. After that, I'm going to do King Lear. After that, I’m going to retire."
Incidentally, it was the original Black Panther's star, the late Chadwick Boseman, who once praised his British Academy of Acting program patron Washington by saying, "There is no Black Panther without Denzel Washington."
"Imagine receiving a letter that your tuition ... was paid for by the dopest actor on the planet," Boseman said at an AFI Tribute to Washington that took place a little more than a year before Boseman's untimely death from cancer in 2020.
Source-ABC
T-Pain receives key to Tallahassee, Lil Wayne's Hall of Fame induction and more
T-Pain was celebrated in his hometown of Tallahassee over the weekend. A portion of Pasco Street was named T-Pain Lane in his honor, and he was presented with a key to the city. “He has had a tremendous impact on Tallahassee,” Tallahassee Mayor John E. Dailey said. “He’s had a tremendous impact on the kids of Tallahassee, and he’s a great role model and a great example." The celebration ended with sold-out concert at The Adderley Amphitheater at Cascades Park. “Everything that went on today was just a dream come true,” T-Pain said.
Tommy Richman is headed out on the road in 2025. His Coyote Tour will kick off its North American leg on Feb. 19 in Seattle and run through April 1 in St. Paul, Minnesota. He'll begin his international run on April 29 and wrap it all up days later on May 5. A presale starts Tuesday; general tickets will be available starting Friday.
Lil Wayne's influence and musical contributions are being recognized by Miami's Liv on Sunday. On Dec. 8, he will be the first person inducted in the nightclub's Hall of Fame.
Ice Cube has unveiled the cover art to his upcoming album, Man Down. The artwork features a Black boy walking down a sidewalk and staring at a man who is lying face down on the street. A worker is also lying on the ground behind him. "The album my fans have been waiting on. MAN DOWN drops on 11/22," Ice Cube wrote on Instagram, informing fans that it is now available to presave. Apple Music says Snoop Dogg, Busta Rhymes, E-40 and more are on the project.