Eminem launching Mom's Spaghetti restaurant in Detroit
Eminem is serving up more than just bars with his next venture. He's serving mom's spaghetti, literally.
The Detroit rapper has teamed up with Union Joints restaurant group to launch a brand-new restaurant in his hometown, called Mom's Spaghetti.
As fans know, the moniker comes from the famous line in Eminem's 2002 hit "Lose Yourself," where he raps, "His palms are sweaty, knees weak, arms are heavy/ There's vomit on his sweater already, mom's spaghetti."
A 30-second trailer promoting the new food joint starts off with a shot of the Detroit skyline, where Slim Shady appears and spits out a Chinese takeout container full of spaghetti. The rest of the clip reveals the menu, which includes, of course, spaghetti, with or without meatballs, and a s'ghetti sandwich.
This isn't the first time Eminem has brought his lyrics to life. He hosted a pop-up in 2017 and also donated the delicacy to front-line workers during the beginning of the pandemic in April 2020.
The Mom's Spaghetti grand opening will be held on Wednesday, September 29 at 5 p.m. at 2131 Woodward Ave. in Detroit. No word on whether Eminem will be in attendance.
Source - ABC
TCI REGIMENT TRAINS WITH ROYAL NAVY CARIBBEAN
The United Kingdom’s Caribbean based Royal Navy and the Turks and Caicos Islands Regiment have completed a four-day Humanitarian Aid and Disaster Relief Exercise (HADREx) in the Turks and Caicos Islands, practicing their rapid response to a hurricane or natural disaster in the region.
The HADREX took place 13 – 16 Sep 2021, in the Turks and Caicos Islands on the islands of Salt Cay and South Caicos. The Task Group consisted of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) Wave Knight and its embarked Wildcat HMA2 helicopter, along with the Crisis Response Troop (CR Tp) drawn from 24 Commando Royal Engineers. The Patrol Ship HMS Medway supported the Task Group Staff who were controlling the Exercise. It simulated the tasks that would be required in the first 72 hours following a natural disaster.
The Task Group carries specialist equipment and emergency supplies for use in the immediate aftermath of a disaster. In addition to training and testing the Task Group, the HADREx also provided instruction and training for the recently formed Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) Regiment. The TCI Regiment and Crisis Response Troop (CRT) focused on initial priorities following a real-life natural disaster. This included conducting road clearance drills and raising an emergency communications mast.
District Commissioner for Salt Cay, Mrs Almaida Wilson, said: “I appreciated the fact that they used Salt Cay for their training of the TCI Regiment. I am more confident that help will be on the way quickly if needed in the future however, I will still pray that we will not be in need of it due to a natural disaster.” DC Wilson was keen to acknowledge that the planning of the exercise took a number of weeks to prepare the South Shelter and work along with Mr Allan Dickenson to use his heavy-duty equipment in preparation of the exercise.
His Excellency the Governor; Nigel Dakin, Minister Hon. Arlington Musgrove and Colonel Ennis Grant flew into the island of Salt Cay on the Wildcat helicopter to monitor the Exercise. It was noted that the training in TCI, not only cemented plans for providing assistance in the event of a disaster, but also honed the skills and co-ordination of the Task Group team to the benefit of other islands across the Caribbean. Backing up the ships, there are personnel and additional equipment held at very high readiness in the UK, ready to fly into the region and support disaster relief efforts.
Captain Francis Glinton, of the TCI Regiment experienced a special training, as he embarked with the Royal Navy's HMBS Medway on the 31st of August, 2021 in Antigua and was welcomed by the Caribbean CTG (Crisis Task Group). Over a two week period he participated in numerous patrols, conducted many assessments as well as planning exercises. Captain Glinton made great advancement in the organization of HADR (Hurricane and Disaster Relief) for the Turks & Caicos Islands which took place in Salt Cay and South Caicos from the 13th-16th, of September. He commented that, this was an extremely rewarding opportunity and he looks forward to more experiences similar to this in the near future.
The Commanding Officer RFA Wave Knight, Captain Ali Clack, commented that the HADREx provided a fantastic opportunity for the task group to interact with Turks and Caicos Islands ground and maritime forces, multiplying their own organic response to a simulated natural disaster by close cooperation between regiments on board and ashore. He added: “RFA Wave Knight is highly capable and well suited to disaster relief operations, able to project aviation and surface craft support to remote areas at range. The ship’s communications suite enables command and control to commence before arriving in the area.” RFA Wave Knight’s role is to deliver food, fuel, water and other essential supplies to Royal Navy and coalition warships. Thanks to Wave Knight, these ships can remain operational for months or even years at a time.
Dr Dawn O’Sullivan, Marine and Turks and Caicos Islands Regiment Doctor, said: “We all considered that the training was excellent, relevant and also exciting. The team from the Task Group were extremely professional and led by example. The scenarios were realistic and the skills taught to us, will go a long way to preparing us for future HADR situations.”
These types of exercises are conducted regularly. The last one took place in Montserrat in July. They are designed to develop our skills and to work with our partners in the six UK Overseas Territories and other regional states to build resilience in response to national disasters, focusing on the core hurricane season and it is a valuable opportunity to develop interoperability and disaster relief capabilities.
UK Covid vaccine rules cause hesitancy - Africa health boss
The head of Africa's health agency has warned that the UK's policy of not accepting Covid-19 vaccine certificates from the continent could increase vaccine hesitancy.
Dr John Nkegasong said the UK's stance was confusing and had far-reaching implications for vaccination campaigns.
"We do not understand why the UK has taken this position," he told a virtual news briefing.
Many Africans are furious, and have called the policy discriminatory.
Last week the UK government removed several countries from its so-called "red list", from where travellers would need to quarantine if they visited England.
However, it said those who have had their vaccines in most countries outside the EU and the US would still need to quarantine because the UK would not accept the certificates. The other UK nations - Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland - set their own health policies.
Dr Nkegasong, head of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), said some people in Africa would ask why they should take these vaccines if they were not recognised internationally.
He said it was "a message that creates confusion within our population... creating more reticence, reluctance for people to receive vaccines".
He also questioned why the UK was sending vaccines to Africa but would not recognize those who have had them as vaccinated.
"This message doesn't really speak to solidarity and co-operation that we all believe are the cornerstone and ingredients for us to emerge from this pandemic together," he said.
Dr Richard Mihigo from the World Health Organization's Africa region said countries should now find a way of coming up with a mutual system that will recognise vaccine certificates from different countries.
Less than 4% of people in Africa are fully vaccinated against Covid-19, compared to around 54% in the US and 65% in the UK.
A shortage of vaccines is a problem in most African countries but in some, such as the Democratic Republic of Congo, vaccine hesitancy is a major issue and the government is trying to persuade more people to get jabs.
Source - BBC
R. Kelly won't take the witness stand as trial heads into closing arguments
R. Kelly declined on Wednesday to testify at his sex trafficking trial in Brooklyn, NY.
The New York Times reports that U.S. District Judge Ann Connelly obtained verbal confirmation from Kelly that he would not take the stand. With that decision, the defense rested its case and has ushered in closing arguments, which are expected to commence Thursday.
Kelly's attorneys spent their half of the trial trying to discredit the women and men who have accused him of sexual misconduct over the years, with some witnesses saying they have never witnessed the alleged abuse and describing the singer as a kind and caring gentleman.
The prosecution, however, painted a much different story and called upon those who either saw or endured the alleged mistreatment. The prosecution also called upon several of Kelly's former employees, who also accused the singer of retaliatory behavior, such as withholding pay and verbal abuse, over small errors.
The case has been argued in court since August 18.
Kelly, 54, whose birth name is Robert Sylvester Kelly, faces state and federal charges for sex trafficking, racketeering, coercion and other charges related to the alleged abuse and exploitation of six women -- three of whom were underage at the time -- over the course of 25 years. If convicted, he could be sentenced to up to 20 years in prison.
Source - ABC
"No one is safe. Not one of you.": Johnny Depp decries 'cancel culture'
After the one-time box office champ claimed he was being boycotted by Hollywood following his messy legal battle with ex-wife Amber Heard, Johnny Depp is speaking out again.
At a press conference at the San Sebastian Film Festival, where he was given the lifetime achievement honor known as the Donostia Award, Depp was asked about 'cancel culture.'
“Do I feel safe myself? Yeah, I do," Deadline quoted the Pirates of the Caribbean series star saying. "Because it's important when you’re faced with something as mind-bogglingly bewildering, that sort of things hits you from many angles."
The actor said the cancel culture situation is, "[s]o far out of hand now that I can promise you that no one is safe. Not one of you. No one out that door. No one is safe, as long as someone is willing to say one sentence."
Depp added all it takes is a single allegation against a person to ruin their lives, according to Deadline.
"It takes one sentence and there’s no more ground, the carpet has been pulled. It's not just me that this has happened to," Depp expressed. "This type of thing has happened to women, men. Sadly at a certain point they begin to think that it’s normal. Or that it’s them. When it's not.”
"But if you are armed with the truth, that’s all you need. It doesn’t matter if a judgement per se has taken some artistic license," Depp said, seeming to nod at his loss in court of a libel case about spousal abuse allegations made against him by The Sun.
Depp told the assembled press, "When there's an injustice, whether it’s against you or someone you love, or someone you believe in -- stand up, don't sit down. 'Cause they need you."
Source - ABC
US Haiti envoy quits over 'inhumane' deportations
The US special envoy for Haiti has resigned in protest over the deportation of Haitian migrants.
The decision to return migrants fleeing an earthquake and political instability was "inhumane", senior diplomat Daniel Foote said.
Last weekend, the US started flying out migrants from a Texas border town which has seen an influx, with some 13,000 having gathered under a bridge.
They have been waiting in a makeshift camp in temperatures of 37C (99F).
Local officials have struggled to provide them with food and adequate sanitation.
Most of those at the camp are Haitians, but there are also Cubans, Peruvians, Venezuelans and Nicaraguans present.
Since Sunday, the US has returned to Haiti 1,401 migrants from the Texas camp on the border with Mexico.
But in his resignation letter, Mr Foote said Haiti was a "collapsed state" that "simply cannot support the forced infusion of thousands of returned migrants lacking food, shelter, and money without additional, avoidable human tragedy".
Images of horse-mounted US officers corralling the migrants have evoked dark comparisons to US slavery and the country's historical mistreatment of black people.
The widely shared images, taken by an AFP photographer earlier this week, appear to show US Border Patrol agents on horseback using their reins against the migrants and pushing them back towards the Rio Grande river that divides Texas and Mexico.
That led to pressure on President Joe Biden's administration, and prompted calls from within his Democratic Party to give the Haitians asylum rather than fly them back to their home country.
Many Haitians left the country after a devastating earthquake in 2010, and a large number of those in the camp had been living in Brazil or other South American countries and travelled north after being unable to secure jobs or legal status.
This year has brought further hardship for the impoverished country. In July, Haiti's President Jovenel Moïse was assassinated - and in August it suffered another deadly earthquake.
Mr Foote said Haitians needed "immediate assistance", and criticised the US and other countries for interfering in the country's politics.
"What our Haitian friends really want, and need, is the opportunity to chart their own course, without international puppeteering and favoured candidates but with genuine support for that course," he said.
Mr Foote has served in the role since Moïse's assassination in July.
A state department spokesperson thanked the ambassador for his work, and insisted that the US remained "committed to supporting safe, orderly, and humane migration throughout our region".
Source - BBC
EU rules to force USB-C chargers for all phones
Manufacturers will be forced to create a universal charging solution for phones and small electronic devices, under a new rule proposed by the European Commission (EC).
The aim is to reduce waste by encouraging consumers to re-use existing chargers when buying a new device.
All smartphones sold in the EU must have USB-C chargers, the proposal said.
Apple has warned such a move would harm innovation.
The tech giant is the main manufacturer of smartphones using a custom charging port, as its iPhone series uses an Apple-made "Lightning" connector.
"We remain concerned that strict regulation mandating just one type of connector stifles innovation rather than encouraging it, which in turn will harm consumers in Europe and around the world," the firm told the BBC.
It added that it aims to make every Apple device and usage carbon neutral by 2030.
Most Android phones come with USB micro-B charging ports, or have already moved to the more modern USB-C standard.
New models of the iPad and MacBook use USB-C charging ports, as do high-end phone models from popular Android manufacturers such as Samsung and Huawei.
The changes would apply to the charging port on the device body, whereas the end of the cable connecting to a plug could be USB-C or USB-A.
Around half of chargers sold with mobile phones in the European Union in 2018 had a USB micro-B connector, while 29% had a USB C connector and 21% a Lightning connector, a Commission impact assessment study in 2019 found.
The proposed rules will apply to:
smartphones
tablets
cameras
headphones
portable speakers
handheld video game consoles
Other products including earbuds, smart-watches and fitness trackers were not considered for technical reasons linked to size and use conditions.
The proposal also standardizes fast charging speeds - meaning devices capable of fast charging will be charged at the same speeds.
Preventing waste
EU politicians have been campaigning for a common standard for over a decade, with the Commission's research estimating that disposed of and unused charging cables generate more than 11,000 tonnes of waste per year.
In the European Union, around 420 million mobile phones and other portable electronic devices were sold in the last year.
The average person owns around three mobile phone chargers, of which they use two regularly.
In 2009, there were more than 30 different chargers, whereas now most models stick to three - the USB-C, Lightning and USB micro-B.
"Having one common charging standard would be a victory for common sense in the eyes of consumers," Ben Wood, an analyst at CCS Insight said.
"Although Apple has made a strong argument for keeping its Lightning connector, given the one billion active iPhone users, some of its products including Mac and iPad now support USB-C.
"Hopefully it will eventually become a non-issue if Apple keeps adding USB-C to more devices."
It may be a number of years before the proposals come into effect.
The legislative proposal, known as a Directive, will be debated by the European Parliament and national governments.
MEPs and member states may suggest amendments to the proposal. Only once the EC has agreed these amendments, will the directive be enacted.
The EC hopes that will happen in 2022 - after which member states usually have two years to enact the rules into national law, and manufacturers will have 24 months to change their charging ports.
"We gave industry plenty of time to come up with their own solutions, now time is ripe for legislative action for a common charger. This is an important win for our consumers and environment and in line with our green and digital ambitions," Commission Vice President Margrethe Vestager said. "Hopefully it will eventually become a non-issue if Apple keeps adding USB-C to more devices."
It may be a number of years before the proposals come into effect.
The legislative proposal, known as a Directive, will be debated by the European Parliament and national governments.
MEPs and member states may suggest amendments to the proposal. Only once the EC has agreed these amendments, will the directive be enacted.
The EC hopes that will happen in 2022 - after which member states usually have two years to enact the rules into national law, and manufacturers will have 24 months to change their charging ports.
"We gave industry plenty of time to come up with their own solutions, now time is ripe for legislative action for a common charger. This is an important win for our consumers and environment and in line with our green and digital ambitions," Commission Vice President Margrethe Vestager said.
Source - BBC
Afghanistan's female volleyball players tell of threats and fear
Players from the Afghanistan women's volleyball team are hiding from the Taliban and one of the squad was killed last month, two former members of the team have told the BBC.
Almost 30 players are hoping to escape from Afghanistan, saying they fear for their lives.
Some of the team have been moving between provinces to avoid detection from the Taliban, who retook control of Afghanistan last month.
Zahra Fayazi arrived in the UK about a month ago after fleeing. She played for Afghan women's volleyball team for seven years before stepping into a coaching position.
Zahra told the BBC one of the squad had been killed, but said the details are unclear at present.
"We don't want this to repeat for our other players," she said.
Zahra is still in contact with her former team-mates, many of whom remain on the move.
"Our players who were living in the provinces had to leave and live in other places," she said.
"They even burned their sports equipment to save themselves and their families. They didn't want them to keep anything related to sport. They are scared.
"Many of our players who are from provinces were threatened many times by their relatives who are Taliban and Taliban followers.
"The Taliban asked our players' families to not allow their girls to do sport, otherwise they will be faced with unexpected violence."
Sophia, who is using a pseudonym to protect her family in Afghanistan, was a leading member of the volleyball team, but fled to a neighbouring country two years ago after being stabbed by two men in Kabul.
She said she had received threats from the Taliban beforehand, warning her to stop playing volleyball.
Sophia's family destroyed any medals and kit she could not take with her when she escaped because of fears it could make them a target if they fell into the wrong hands.
Sophia is in regular contact with her former team-mates. She also said one was shot dead last month, although details of the killing are unclear.
"I'm sure it was the Taliban," said Sophia. "At that time the Taliban was overtaking all of the cities and there were no other groups that would do this. She was only a player and she didn't do anything for people to want to attack her.
"We are all shocked about how it happened, we couldn't believe it. Maybe we will lose other friends."
Volleyball is one of Afghanistan's most popular sports.
The first women's national team was founded about four decades ago but was dissolved when the Taliban ruled for five years from 1996. The team restarted after the Taliban's overthrow by US-led forces in 2001.
But the lives of Afghanistan's female athletes were upended when the Taliban retook control of the country in mid-August.
The Taliban are yet to pass any firm law about sport and women but Ahmadullah Wasiq - deputy head of the Taliban's cultural commission - recently told SBS Radio Pashto "it is not necessary" for women to play sport.
Last week, female players from the junior national football team crossed the border into Pakistan after spending weeks hiding from the Taliban.
Earlier this month, members of the women's cricket team told the BBC they were in hiding, fearing for their lives.
Meanwhile, the Taliban have excluded girls from Afghan secondary schools, with only boys and male teachers allowed back into classrooms.
Zahra and Sophia called on the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) to assist the volleyball team in escaping before it is too late.
A spokesman for the IOC said it was "helping many sportsmen and women and sports administrators in Afghanistan".
"For obvious reasons we wouldn't comment on any individual cases, particularly ones that are currently being dealt with," he said.
An FIVB spokeswoman said: "The matter of helping anyone from the Afghan volleyball family is extremely sensitive and in order to respect the privacy and safety of all involved, no further details will be given."
Zahra and Sophia both hope they will be able to one day reunite with their team-mates on a volleyball court, but hold out little hope of that happening in Afghanistan.
"We have fallen in a dark period," Zahra said.
"I can't see a future for volleyball in Afghanistan. Hopefully, if we can help evacuate them, there's a possibility to have the same team outside of Afghanistan."
Sophia said: "We lost everything in one day, but we want to go further.
"We want the world to help us achieve the goals and hopes we have worked for. It is our dream, we can't give up."
Source - BBC
Cricket West Indies continues planning for Pakistan tour
Cricket West Indies (CWI) said it plans to fulfil its tour obligations wherever possible, including to Pakistan in December.
CWI chief executive officer Johnny Grave said the sport’s regional governing body will follow the same measures they did three years ago when the West indies, under Jason Mohammed, were swept convincingly in three Twenty20 Internationals in Karachi.
“At this stage, our intention is to fulfil our touring obligations,” Grave told the Trinidad Newsday newspaper. “We’ve got a pretty clear process that we go through with independent security experts, like we did in 2018.
“We will follow that process, the board of directors, WIPA (West Indies Players’ Association), as well as the players themselves will review the plans and our reports, including the independent security advice. Most of our women’s and men’s players have played in Pakistan in the last few years.”
The Caribbean’s side tour of Pakistan came into sharp focus after New Zealand abandoned its tour to the south Asian country last Friday citing security concerns and England withdrew on Monday from sending their men’s and women’s team there for similar reasons.
“We don’t have to make an imminent decision,” Grave told Newsday. “We will just go through the process first, with the PCB and the security experts.
“We’ll have a meeting with the players to answer any questions and give them all the information. We’re just at the start of that process now, with the women’s team just finishing against South Africa.”
He said: “We’re firming up our plans, with the World Cup qualifiers and, from a men’s perspective, we’re focused very much on the (Twenty20) World Cup. That’s the major operations focus.
“We’re looking at getting our T20 players to the World Cup and our Test players into Antigua for a camp, and then over to Sri Lanka. We’re not due (in Pakistan) with the men’s team until December 9, so we’ve got a bit of time.”
West Indies are scheduled to play three One-day Internationals and three T20 Internationals in Pakistan.
International sides have largely shunned Pakistan over the past 13 years following an attack on a Sri Lanka team bus heading to a match in Lahore.
The Pakistanis have played most of their home international matches in the United Arab Emirates, but they have been pushing in the past three years to host them on home soil in effort to spark further interest in the sport in the country.
Apart from West Indies, Zimbabwe, the Sri Lankans, South Africa and Bangladesh have played international matches in Pakistan with little or no trouble.
“I had a call with Wasim Khan, the Pakistan CEO, (on Tuesday) morning to find out everything that had happened during the past week, on the back of New Zealand abandoning their tour and England’s decision not to go there, and to suggest that we have another call later this week with our operational teams to discuss our women’s and men’s tours that are scheduled for later this year,” Grave told Newsday.
“We’ll speak to our independent security consultants, ESI, who we used back in 2018 when we went to Pakistan. We’ve had an initial meeting with WIPA too about it, and we’re going to follow the same process, that we have done in the past.”
Source - CMC
NADRA WILSON-KIRLEW APPOINTED AS VICE-PRINCIPAL OF CLEMENT HOWELL HIGH SCHOOL
The Office of the Deputy Governor of the Turks and Caicos Islands is pleased to announce the appointment of Mrs. Nadra Wilson- Kirlew to the post of Vice-Principal of the Clement Howell High School in Providenciales.Mrs. Wilson-Kirlew who hails from the nation's capital Grand Turk, joined the public service in November 2005 as a Graduate teacher at the Clement Howell High School in Providenciales and in 2015 was promoted to the post of Head of the Modern Languages Department.Mrs Wilson- Kirlew completed her teacher training at The Shortwood Teacher’s College in Kingston, Jamaica in 2002 and continued to pursue her studies at the University of the West Indies, Mona, where she graduated in 2005 with a Bachelor of Arts in History.Currently she is enrolled at the University of Leister studying for a Master of Science in Educational Administration.Commenting on her appointment Mrs. Wilson-Kirlew stated:“As an educator, I am committed to ensuring that each student is equipped with the tools necessary to ensure they have the best possible chance of success for their success ensures our success as a nation.I deem it a great privilege to be selected as Vice Principal of such a noble institution that is the Clement Howell High.I remain steadfast in my mission to create the change that I want to see and build young people who are resilient and visionaries who can successfully aid in nation building.”Deputy Governor and Head of the Public Service Her Excellency Anya Williams in extending her congratulations stated:“It gives me great pleasure to congratulate Mrs. Nadra Wilson-Kirlew on her appointment as the new Vice Principal of the Clement Howell High School.Nadra is a dedicated educator who is passionate about her love for education and for her students.She has done an excellent job as the Head of the Modern Languages Department and has been a constant resource to the management of the school.We are certain that she will do well in her new role and wish her all the best as she works along with the newly appointed Principal Ms. Shanta Seymour to continue to promote positive change and transformational leadership at the Clement Howell High School in Providenciales.”