Forum: News & Topical Issues
Oil prices up on word US ship fired on boats in Persian Gulf
NEW YORK - Oil prices rose sharply Friday on news that a ship under contract to the U.S. Defense Department fired warning shots at two boats in the Persian Gulf. Retail gas prices as expected rose further into record territory, nearing $3.60 a gallon.
Crude prices rose on initial reports that a U.S. ship had fired on two Iranian boats; the news raised concerns that a conflict between U.S. and Iranian forces could cut oil supplies from the region. A Navy spokeswoman said the origin of the boats was unclear.
The news was enough to send light, sweet crude for June delivery up to $119.55 before the contract retreated to settle up $2.46 at $118.52 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.
The incident worried investors because at first it appeared to be the latest in a series of encounters between U.S. forces and Iranian boats in the Gulf. Early this month, the USS Typhoon fired a flare at an Iranian boat that came within about 200 yards of the ship. In January, several Iranian boats made what the Navy described as provocative moves near a U.S. ship in the Strait of Hormuz. And in December the USS Whidbey Island fired warning shots at a small Iranian boat officials said was rapidly approaching the ship.
On Friday, oil prices were already up before the report on news of a pipeline attack in Nigeria and a looming refinery strike in Scotland.
In Nigeria, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, or MEND, said its fighters hit an oil pipeline late Thursday, the fourth conduit the group has attacked in the past week. MEND said the pipeline belongs to a Royal Dutch Shell PLC joint venture. A Shell spokesman confirmed one of its pipelines had been hit, but provided no additional details.
Earlier this week, Shell said an earlier attack cut its Nigerian oil production by about 170,000 barrels a day.
Separately, workers at an ExxonMobil Corp. joint venture in Nigeria cut production by an unspecified amount to demand more pay.
Adding to the supply concerns, BP PLC said it will shut down a 700,000 barrel-a-day pipeline system that carries oil from the North Sea to refineries in the U.K. on Saturday in anticipation of a strike at Scotland's Grangemouth refinery expected to begin Sunday. The refinery supplies power and steam to the pipeline; if it shuts down, the pipeline can't operate.
Oil's rise came as the dollar strengthened. A stronger dollar typically encourages selling by making commodities such as oil less effective hedges against inflation, and by making oil more expensive to overseas investors. Analysts say the dollar's steady decline over the past year is the chief culprit behind this year's rapid rise in oil prices.
But, noted Jim Ritterbusch, president of Ritterbusch and Associates in Galena, Ill., "that connection between oil and the dollar can be broken easily by supply issues," which drove trading on Friday.
At the pump, meanwhile, gas prices rose another 2.1 cents Friday to a record national average of $3.577 a gallon, according to AAA and the Oil Price Information Service. Gas prices have been following oil futures higher, but are also rising due to concerns about whether gasoline supplies are adequate to meet peak summer driving demand.
Analysts expect gas prices to continue rising for at least another month to $3.70 to $4 a gallon. To a large extent, how high gas prices peak depends on what oil does.
Lately, analysts have recently raised their oil price predictions to $125 to $130 a barrel. Earlier this week, the expiring May crude contract rose as high as $119.90 as investors scrambled to square positions.
However, the Federal Reserve is expected to cut interest rates less sharply next week than originally thought. Because rate cuts tend to weaken the dollar, a smaller than expected cut could push the dollar higher, and send oil prices down.
In other Nymex trading Friday, May gasoline futures rose 3.51 cents to settle at $3.0537 a gallon after earlier rising to a new trading record of $3.0815, and May heating oil futures rose 4.45 cents to settle at $3.3028 a gallon. May natural gas futures rose 17.3 cents to settle at $10.963 per 1,000 cubic feet.
In London, Brent crude futures rose $2 to settle at $116.34 a barrel on the ICE Futures exchange.
WHO YOU THINK IS IN D BEST POSITION TO GET YOUNG ARTIST OF D YEAR
Grand Theft Auto IV: Trailer/commercial featuring Mavados Real McKoy
The mother who is a higgler from Central Village was granted $40,000 when she appeared before RM Lorna Errar. She is facing child abuse charges.
In applying for bail, the woman's attorney said she was fed up and "used an 18th century contraceptive method to vouch her frustration on a 13-year-old who has become uncontrollable".
The lawyer told the court that while his client's behaviour defied reason, it was an act done out of frustration after many sacrifices. He told the court that she had tried on occasions to get the assistance of the police to control the child but this was to no avail.
The RM then granted the accused bail until May 22.
Allegations are that on the day in question, the mother found out the child was having sex and said she was "loose". She allegedly told the child she was going to cool her down and later held the child and rubbed salt and pepper on her private part. She was subsequently arrested and charged.
eah man, it look like all di artistes dem haffi return to dem roots and figet di country dem whey a lick out dem lyrics. See deh Elephant Man deh pon one big street jam a Africa and it come een like sey di people dem caan wait fi log on to him performance. A Kampala biggest street jam and it name Smirnoff Rave Street Jam. Back to Africa me sey.
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Big tings a gwaan fi Mavado
Whey dem a duh, whey dem a try...Mavado a still di DJ...unno nuh hear sey dem name him 'Best New Reggae' artiste on Rolling Stone Magazine...outa a all a 125 plus people, places and tings. Yeah, unno fi know sey that is not nuh jing bang recognition. So wha if dem tun him back from States? A nuh nutten dat...tings still a gwaan fi di DJ.
A student of St Jago High School at the time of his victory, Martin is now enrolled at the University of Technology pursuing a degree in Business Management and Accounting.
Since winning the competition, he has consistently delivered memorable and interesting performances that leave crowds wanting more. Soulful and distinct, Martin has always attempted to ensure that his fans are never disappointed.
True to his current popularity status, he has made a number of appearances on shows both locally and internationally, releasing a number of singles that have received positive reviews. So Sick of Love Songs, Giving It and Take My Wings are a few of his well-known songs.
In February of this year, he released his debut album, The Evolution of Chris Martin, which featured a wide variety of songs. The album delves into different issues that affect people everyday.
Expect greater things from this talented young man who has proven that there is no limit to his musical reach and his trademark sound.
The STAR and Rising Stars have put together a 'How To' guide on reaching for the stars and making it in Jamaica's premiere talent contest. Follow these rules and you just might become Jamaica's next Rising Star.
Introduce yourself clearly and confidently. Look as though you're enjoying yourself and not as though you're in front of a firing squad.
Select two songs that you love.
Make sure you're comfortable with performing them.
Find a song that's unusual and offer up your version of it.
Don't take long to get to the "good part" of the song - start off with a verse or the chorus that can show off your voice.
Don't apologise before the audition has even started - no one wants to hear that you have a sore throat or a sinus problem.
Know the words to the song inside and out. Remember it's a capella so backing tracks can't cover any fumbles.
Image is important. Show the judges that you can play the part. Do not come to the auditions looking as though you just got out of bed.
If you don't get through, it does not mean that you're not talented. Get over it and try again. Take every audition as a learning experience that gives you more practise in achieving your goal.
what month are you???? pick your month and write what you are
> Fun to be with. Loves to try new things. Boy/girls LOVE you. You are
> very hott. Secretive. Difficult to fathom and to be understood. Quiet
> unless excited or tensed. Takes pride in oneself. Has reputation. Easily
> consoled. Honest. Concerned about people's feelings.
> Tactful. Friendly. Approachable. Emotional temperamental and
> unpredictable. Moody and easily hurt. Witty and sparkly. spazzy at
> times.Not revengeful. Forgiving but never forgets. dislikes nonsensical
> and unnecessary things. Guides others physically and mentally.
> Sensitive
> and forms impressions c arefully. Caring and loving. treats others
> equally. Strong sense of sympathy. Wary and sharp. Judges people
> through observations. Hardworking. has difficulties in studying. Always
> broods about the past and the old friends. Waits for friends. Never
> looks for friends. Not aggressive unless provoked. Loves to be loved.
> Easily hurt but takes long to recover.
> FEBRUARY = ATTITUDE
> Abstract thoughts. Outgoing.Loves reality and abstract.
> Intelligent and clever. Changing personality. Attractive.Fun to be
> around with. sexiest out of everyone.A real speed demon. Has more than
> one best friend. Able to cheer anyone up and make them laugh. Amazing
> smile. An awesome kisser.
> Temperamental. Honest. A very good girlfriend/boyfriend and loyal.
> Determined to reach goals. Loves freedom. Rebellious when restricted.
> Loves aggressiveness. Too sensitive and easily hurt. Gets angry really
> easily but does not show it. Dislikes unnecessary things.
> Loves making friends Daring and stubborn. Ambitious. Realizing dreams
> and hopes. Sharp. Loves entertainment and leisure. Romantic on the
> inside not outside. Superstitious and ludicrous. Spendthrift. Tries to
> learn to show emotions.
MARCH = FLIRTATIOUS
> You've got the best personality and are an absolute pleasure to be
> around. You love to make new friends and be outgoing.
> You
> are a great flirt and more than likely have a very attractive partner, a
> wicked hottie. Like somebody with an August brithday. It is also more
> than likely that you have a massive record collection. When it comes to
> films, you know how to pick them and may one day become a famous actor/
> actress y ourself - heck,
> you've got the looks for it!!!
> APRIL = PIMP
> APRIL means that your really good looking. Stubborn and hard-hearted.
> Strong-willed and highly motivated. Sharp thoughts.
> Easily
> angered.
> Attracts others and loves attention. Deep feelings.
> Beautiful physically and mentally. Firm Standpoint. Needs no motivation.
> Shy towards opposite sex.
> Easily consoled. Systematic (left brain). Loves to dream. Strong
> clairvoyance. Understanding.Everyone loves to be around you. You always
> attract attention. You are definitely the most sexiest and good looking
> of them all. You know how to get what you want. Sickness usually in
> the ear and neck. Good imagination. Good physical. Weak breathing.
> Lovesliterature and the arts. Loves travelling. Dislike being at home.
> Restless. having many children. Hardworking. High spirited.
> MAY = PORNSTAR
> Suave and compromising. Funny and humorous. Stubborn.
> Very talkative. Calm and cool. Kind and sympathetic. Concerned and
> detailed. Loyal. Does
> work well with others. Very confident. An awesome kisser. Sensitive. A
> very good girlfriend/boyfriend. Amazing Smile.
> Positive Attitude. Thinking generous. Good memory. Clever and
> knowledgeable. Loves to look
> for information. Able to cheer everyone up and/or make them laugh.
> Able to motivate oneself and others. Understanding. Fun to be around.
> Outgoing. Hyper. Has All The Characteristics of John Carrico Bubbly
> personality. Suducti ve. Boy/girl crazy. Loves sports, music, leisure
> and
> traveling. Super sexy. Extremley hot but has brains.
> JUNE = SEXY
> Loves to chat. Loves those who love them. Loves to takes things at the
> center. Inner and physical beauty. Lies but doesn't pretend. Gets angry
> often. Treats friends importantly. Brave and fearless.
> Always making friends. Very easily hurt but recovers easily.
> Daydreamer.
> Opinionated. Does
> not care to control emotions. Unpredictable.
> Understanding. Fun to be around. Nympho-and an awesome lover
> too....makes u happy so that makes them happy...Outgoing. Hyper. Bubbly
> personality. Secretive.
> Boy/girl crazy. Loves sports, music, leisure and travelling.
> Systematic. Hot but has brains. >
> JULY = HOTTIE
> outgoing personality. takes risks. feeds on attention.
> no self control. kind hearted. self confident. loud and boisterous.
> VERY
> revengeful. easy to get along with and talk to. has an 'every thing's
> peachy' attitude. likes talking and singing. loves music. daydreamer.
> easily distracted. Hates not being trusted. BIG imagination. loves to be
> loved. hates studying. in need of 'that someone'. longs for freedom.
> rebellious when withheld or restricted. lives by 'no pain no gain'
> caring. always a suspect. playful. ysterious. 'charming'
> or 'beautiful' to everyone. stubborn. curious.
> independent. strong willed. a fighter.
> AUGUST = THUG
> You a strait up 'Gangst a' Attractive personality. Very!
> sexy.Affectionate & Secretive. Naturally honest, generous and
> sympathetic.Chatterbox! Loves to talk alot! Loves to get their way! ..
> Unbelievable kisser! Easily angered. Very stubborn in the most way
> possible! Loves to get noticed! Willing to take risks for others. Makes
> good choices. Has a great fashion sense! Maybe a little too popular with
> others * wink*! Outgoing and crazy at times! Intelligent. Can sometimes
> be a heartbreaker! Can love as much as possible! Hates insults. Loves
> compliments! A very big flirt! Trustworthy. Appreciative and returns
> kindness. The best in bed out of ANY of these months!!
> Hardly shows emotions. Tends to bottle up feelings. Observant and
> assesses others.
>
> SEPTEMBER = LOVER
> Active and dynamic. Decisive and haste but tends to regret. Attractiv
> e and affectionate to oneself. Strong mentality.
> Loves
> attention. Diplomatic.
> Consoling, friendly and solves people's problems. Brave and fearless.
> Adventurous. Loving and caring. Suave and generous.
> Usually you have
> many friends. Emotional. Stubborn. Hasty. Good memory.
> Moving, motivates
> oneself and others. Loves to travel and explore.
> Sometimes sexy in a way that only their lover can understand.
>
> OCTOBER =PERFECT
> Trustworthy and loyal. Very passionate a nd dangerous.
> Wild at times. Knows how to have fun. Sexy and mysterious. Everyone is
> drawn towards
> your inner and outer beauty and independent personality.
> Playful, but secretive. Very emotional and temperamental sometimes.
> Meets new people easily and very social in a group. Fearless and
> independent. Can hold their own. Stands out in a crowd. Essentially very
> smart. If you ever
> begin a relationship with someone from this month, hold on to them
> because their one of a kind.
> NOVEMBER = GORGEOUS
> Loyal and generous. Absolutely beautiful. Is easy to fall in love
> with. True and honest. A fabulous listener. Alway there for friends. Is
> very spontaneous and exciting- a lot of fun to be with.
> Never gets old. Patriotic. Competitive in everything. Active in games
> and interactions. Ambitious. Influential in. very sexy and very
> flirtatious. beautiful inside and out. respectful to everyone, very
> excepting. talented, a good public speaker. sexiest out of everyone.
> lovable and engaging. very opinionated! organizations. Fun to be with.
> Easy to talk to, though hard to understand. Thinks far with vision, yet
> complica ted to know. Easily influenced by kindness. Polite and
> soft-spoken. Having lots of ideas. Sensitive. Active mind. Hesitating,
> tends to delay. Choosy and always wants the best.
> DECEMBER = FREAK IN BED
> Loves to chat. Loves those who love them. Loves to takes things at the
> center. Great in bed. Inner and physical beauty. Doesn't pretend. Gets
> angry often. A meaningful love life partner. Treats friends importantly.
> Brave and fearless. Opinionated. Does not care to control emotions.
> Intelligent and clever. Changing personality.
> Attractive. ..A real speed demon. Has more than one best friend.
> Temperamental. Quiet, shy and humble. Honest and loyal. Determined to
> reach goals. Loves freedom. Rebellious when restricted. Loves
> aggressiveness. Too sensitive and easily hurt. Gets angry really easily
> but does not show it. Dislikes unnecessary things
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- A 50-year-old man is arrested on child pornography charges after police say they've found thousands of inappropriate photos inside a Jacksonville home.
Police said they were even surprised by how much child pornography federal agents discovered inside Robert Bricker's Northside home.
Investigators said they were tipped off to the alleged crimes during an online chat with the suspect.
"It's really surprising to me because I didn't know this," said Bricker's neighbor, Claudia Bryant.
Bryant said she had no idea that Bricker, who lives right across the street, is in police custody.
Investigators said they seized 7,000 images of child pornography from inside his home.
They said Bricker was downloading and distributing mass quantities of sexually explicit images of children over the Internet -- a secret that Bryant told Channel 4 she never would have guessed.
"I've got children -- nieces and things -- coming around here," Bryant said.
Police said that collecting child pornography was not a new hobby for Bricker. They said they found DVDs with images dating back to 2005.
According to investigators, Bricker used the name "stratocon" on the Internet. They said they started their investigations after he sent child porn to an undercover federal agent in Seattle, Wash.
"I am a father, and this is really disturbing to think that there are grown men that you never know who it is or who they are that would do this for their own pleasures and fantasies," said Jacksonville Sheriff's Office spokesman Ken Jefferson.
For Bricker's neighbors, the accusations against the 50-year-old are a frightening reminder that you may not know what's going on behind closed doors.
"It's made me just think about what can happen next door to you, and that's just right across the street. It's pathetic," said another neighbor.
A federal grand jury indicted Bricker on 10 charges.
Discrimination is still obviously present in Jamaica, more so in the world of employment.
A report recently came to THE STAR that an employment agency in Kingston was refusing to offer employment to persons who are Rastafarians.
One victim of this act of discrimination, Mary Luisa* Rastafarian, contacted THE STAR with her story. She was quite distraught. She told us that on April 7, she went in search of a job at an employment agency - Advance Rental and Employment Agencies - on Eastwood Park Road, where she distinctly told the attendant that she did not have any computer skills and was looking for a menial job such as a cook, office helper or a chamber maid.
Luis stated that when she asked about the cooking job, the attendant told her that there was none available. However, to Luis' surprise, when she asked about other menial jobs the attendant clearly told her that "we nuh gi Rasta work." Luis went on to ask her why and was told, "nuthing, wi jus nuh gi Rasta work."
Luissaid that at that point she realised that the attendant was serious about her statement as she did not relent on her stance nor seemed apologetic. She then decided to leave the agency still maintaining her calm.
"If discriminating against a person because of their hairstyle is not wrong, what else can I say. Discrimination is a crime," Luis said.
After Luis made her report to us, THE STAR visited the agency to investigate the matter. We were also outrightly told by the attendant that Rastafarians are not permitted to sign up with the agency. The attendant said "placing them (Rastafarians) is very challenging, as employers do not want Rastafarians as workers".
When THE STAR contacted the Ministry of Labour on the issue, we were told by the administrator, Toussaint Gardener, that "no complaints have been made concerning discrimination against religious beliefs when searching for jobs and that the agency would not be at fault since it's the employers that facilitate the discrimination. However, the agency should have explained the reason behind its refusal of employment."
He also went on to say that the agency was registered with the Ministry of Labour and he wanted to apologise on behalf of the agency and would investigate the matter further.
*Names changed in article
The St. Catherine police say they are extremely concerned about the extent to which students are going to get drugs into schools.
The lawmen say that the students have found several creative ways to sneak the illicit substance onto school grounds. These include concealing the substance in school ties, inhalers, pens and even asthma pumps.
Principals of the affected institutions are also concerned about the smuggling methods.
One principal said that while drug abuse in schools is almost commonplace, the idea of students using 'tricky measures' to feed their addiction is most disturbing.
"Sad, sad, sad, these youngsters are going all out to feed their addiction ...That's what it is, they are addicted," one principal said.
Another principal, noting that the school will continue to work with the police as they try to curb the situation, pointed out: "It only makes you wonder what's next? Since we have found out these new ways, what will they come up with next?".
The police say that several students in schools in Portmore, St. Catherine, have been arrested and charged for possession and smoking of marijuana since January. Most of these arrests were made on school compounds or nearby.
Police Youth Club coordinator for the St. Catherine South Division, Constable Verdane Wright told THE STAR that drug smuggling in schools is indeed a concern for the division.
"...Where there is marijuana, guns are never far away." he said.
Constable Wright pointed to an incident where a Grade 9 student was found with numerous parcels of ganja in his bag while on his way to school and in the company of his mother.
In another recent incident, a 14-year-old student who was travelling in a taxi, was found with about thirty parcels of ganja, some of which were hidden in his tie. A pair of scissors and rolling paper were also recovered from him. The police say the items found on the teen suggest that he had been engaging in the sale of the drug.
When contacted by THE STAR, Jasper Lawrence, chief education officer at the Ministry of Education said they will support the police in ensuring that the law takes it course.
"The police will have our support...We cannot allow one student with weed to infect the other students, we would want the police to have a zero tolerance...," he said.
Inmates enjoy such comfort in jail that they are ignoring chances to escape, a prison officers' leader has claimed.
In one example, a drug dealer regularly broke into a Yorkshire jail over a six-month period, using a ladder to climb the walls and supply inmates with drugs and mobile phones. The intruder walked across the yard with the ladder and used it to climb up to a cell window, which had been pulled apart with a crowbar and covered by a dummy grille. Glyn Travis, the assistant general secretary of the Prison Officers' Association, said: "It was an extraordinary case because none of the prisoners inside tried to escape when no doubt they had the opportunity. "It tells me there's something wrong in society when people are breaking into prisons to bring in drugs, but the prisoners are quite happy to stay inside." Inmates at a top security prison recently told Jack Straw, the Justice Secretary, that conditions there were like a "holiday camp". They said they enjoyed the use of satellite television and video game consoles as well as their free bed and board. Prisoners receive wages topped up by bonuses for good behaviour, while drugs are sometimes cheaper in jail than on the streets. It is understood that there have also been examples of prostitutes being smuggled into HMP Sudbury, a Category D prison, in Derbyshire. Nick Herbert, the shadow justice secretary, criticised what he called another example of a "failing prison system". He said: "Prisons should be places of hard work and restoration, preparing offenders to go straight. "Instead we have overcrowded jails where drugs are rife, prisoners are too often idle and there is little purposeful activity. It is time for a fundamental shake-up of our failing prisons system." Mr Travis said the break-ins he described were uncovered last January at HMP Everthorpe, which holds about 700 Category C inmates. The governor, Gary Monaghan, has since moved to an office job working in IT, the Ministry of Justice confirmed. A spokesman said that inmates at Everthorpe were all in their cells at the time the drug dealer broke in. However, Mr Travis said: "The prisoners would recognise that if a man can break in so easily and regularly, the opportunity was there to break out. But they did not try." He blamed under-funding for leaving prison officers' morale at "rock-bottom", as they struggled to cope with an overcrowding crisis that meant conditions were verging on "anarchy". "Drugs are coming into prisons at a rate that's so dramatic that drugs in prisons are actually cheaper than on the outside," Mr Travis added. "Prisoners receive a wage for being in prison, they receive a bed, a TV in all cells, Sky television in most areas for recreational use, free telephones, breakfast in bed on many occasions, cash bonuses for good behaviour. "And prison staff are forced to deal with them in such a subservient way. It's ridiculous." A spokesman for the Prison Service said that it was aware of a security breach but dismissed claims of "cushy" prisons. "During the incident, at no time were prisoners out of their cells or able to access any other areas of the prison," he said. "Immediate action was taken with extra fencing, the removal of trees, extra CCTV cameras, and the transfer of the offender involved to another establishment." The spokesman added: "All prisoners are provided with a breakfast pack each evening which they eat in their cells in the morning. "If a cooked breakfast is provided prisoners have to collect it from the wing servery and take it back to eat in their cells. "Access to televisions is a condition of acceptable behaviour. "Television sets purchased for in-cell prisoner use are paid for by the weekly rental fee of £1 paid by prisoners. "The average wage for a prisoner is under £10 a week. Televisions can and will be removed from prisoners whose behaviour is deemed unacceptable." He added: "The National Offender Management Service recognises that a careful balance must be maintained between the concerns of the public that prisoners should not benefit from their criminal behaviour and the need to ensure that, wherever possible, prisoners are rehabilitated." A night in a London police cell costs almost twice as much as a room at the Ritz or the Dorchester, figures released under the Freedom of Information Act have showed. Because of the overcrowding crisis, the Ministry of Justice spends more than £1 million a month of taxpayers' money to house 50 prisoners a night in Metropolitan Police cells. The cost of holding each prisoner at a police station works out at an average of £667. A stay at the Dorchester for one person costs £395 and a king-size executive suite at the Ritz is £390.
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GIWE ABOSSA, Ethiopia, April 24 (UPI) -- A man in Ethiopia with 11 wives says he has changed his mind about polygamy and is urging others not to go the same route he did.
Ayattu Nure, 56, said he married his 11 wives as a way of sharing his wealth but the costs involved in raising his 77 children have depleted his fortune, The Daily Telegraph reported Thursday.
"I want my children to be farmers but I have no land, I want them to go to school but I have no money," he said.
Ayattu said his wives gave birth to 100 babies total but 23 of the children died at young ages. He said the size of his family makes it difficult for him to spend as much time as he would like with each of his wives and children and he often has trouble feeding them all.
"People see me as a funny man but there is no fun in my condition. I am a desperate man struggling to survive," he told The Daily Telegraph.
He said the government has refused to help him, despite his pleas for assistance in obtaining photographs of his children so they will be allowed to attend school.
Female skydiver plunges to her death after love rival was left on couch while she romped with their shared lover
Now after 17 months of police inquiries in Belgium the public prosecutor is claiming that 22-year-old Els Clottemans sabotaged the parachute out of jealousy while the couple romped in a bed upstairs.
Both Clottemans and her rival Els van Doren, 37, had fallen for a good-looking Dutchman, named as Marcel S., who was also a member of the parachute club in Zwartberg, Belgium.
On the fateful night which is alleged to have led to the murder, van Doren was in Marcel's flat when her rival phoned. Clottemans was allowed into the apartment- but not into the double bed.
The prosecution claims she was so furious at having to sleep on the couch that, blinded by jealousy, she found van Doren's parachute lying in the flat and sabotaged it.
Two weeks later when van Doren used it for the first time since the fateful night with Marcel she hurtled to the ground at a speed of 120mph and was killed instantly.
Els Clottemans, who has been released from custody on bail, has steadfastly denied murdering her rival while police have probed her background.
Detectives have reported in 2005 she sent anonymous letters to van Doren's husband, b****arded Marcel with anonymous phone calls and once tried to kill herself.
She is due to go on trial next January in Tongeren, Belgium - although her defence lawyer Vic van Aelst says the prosecutor has no concrete evidence of her guilt.
He said: "The police detectives have their eyes fixed on only one person-- my client. They are blind towards any other potential suspects.
"The prosecutor hopes to convince the jury to jail her for life. He would not get very far with his flimsy case if he had to face only a panel of judges."
JACKSONVILLE, Fla., April 23 (UPI) -- Jacksonville, Fla., police said a father has been arrested for allegedly fighting with his teenage daughters after one of them refused to pray.
Alonzo Burke, 44, told investigators that he began pushing and hitting his 18-year-old daughter while he was driving her to school in the morning because she refused his instructions to pray, WJXT-TV, Jacksonville, Fla., reported Wednesday.
"The father asked the occupants of the car to begin to pray, the daughter said she didn't want to pray," Jacksonville Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Melissa Bujeda said.
He said the 18-year-old daughter returned the violence by punching him in the face.
Burke said he pulled the car into a convenience store parking lot where his 16-year-old daughter joined the brawl by grabbing him from behind while he was chasing his elder daughter.
He told police he accidentally bit the 16-year-old while her hands were on his face.
Burke was arrested and charged with domestic battery. He has been released on bond.
What was intended as a car stunt for the YouTube video-sharing Web site horribly backfired for two Peoria teens, police said Wednesday.
The two were injured, one of them critically, in a high-speed crash, said Mike Tellef, a Peoria police spokesman.
The rollover took place about 11:30 p.m. Saturday at 91st Avenue and Beardsley Road.A 16-year-old boy, the driver of a 2002 Mitsubishi Eclipse, wanted to get a video shot with all four wheels of the vehicle off the roadway, Tellef said.
However, people in a following car, who were supposed to capture the stunt on a cellphone camera, got so scared by the speed, estimated at 70 to 85 mph, that they failed to shoot the video, Tellef said.
He said the boy lost control of the Eclipse as it roared north on 91st Avenue through the intersection.
The teen was ejected when the Eclipse went off the road, struck several trees and rolled.
The boy remained in a Valley hospital with life-threatening injuries, Tellef said.
A 17-year-old female passenger escaped with injuries that were not life-threatening, he said.
People in the following car helped pull her from the crashed vehicle, Tellef said.
They also told police that the boy had intended to post the video on YouTube.
Authorities have grown increasingly concerned about people filming outrageous stunts and then posting them online to bask in the sudden fame.
For example, several months ago in the southeast Valley, a driver had his Lamborghini sports car filmed traveling in excess of 200 mph on a freeway.
Tellef said the Peoria crash, which remains under investigation, serves as a reminder that parents should sit down with their teens and offer warnings about the serious consequences that can result from shooting YouTube stunts.
"In this case, the two injured teens are very lucky to be alive," he said.
Entertainer Andrew Martin otherwise called Lutan Fyah will return to the Spanish Town Resident Magistrate's Court on April 29 to answer to arson charges.
The entertainer appeared in the Spanish Town RM. Court yesterday when the matter was mentioned.
Attorney-at-law Lancelot Clarke Jr. who was standing in for attorney Peter Champagnie told the court that a warrant was issued for the entertainer's arrest after he had failed to appear in court. Clarke told the court he was away and was just honouring the court date.
After vacating the warrant, the entertainer's bail was extended. However, the fire victims were concerned about the length of time they were waiting for the matter to end. RM. Lorna Errar then said however that the case is still before the court and the accused is owed due process. She added that the matter was only being mentioned so they would have to wait until the next court date .
This vehicle, which was parked by the highway in the Lilliput area of St James, was partially crushed by a runaway trailer around 2 o'clock yesterday morning. The trailer ended up only a metre away from a house. - photo by Richard Morais
WESTERN BUREAU:
A craft vendor and her family in Lilliput, St James, escaped death yesterday morning when an out-of-control trailer, ploughed through her fence and stopped a metre from her bedroom.
"It was a pile of building blocks that stopped it from hitting the house," said Marcia Jacob, who was at home with her three-year-old son and spouse about 2 a.m., the time of the incident.
"I was sleeping and was awakened by the loud sound. When I looked through the window to see the vehicle on the road, it just appeared before me, it was frightening."
Pickup crushed
Dalvin Smith said his motor van that he had parked adjacent to the North Coast Highway was crushed.
"When me hear the sound and run out, me see the pickup under the trailer," he told The Gleaner.
Residents said the trailer was travelling towards Falmouth when it hit a parked truck and a car going in the opposite direction. According to them, the heavy unit then rammed into Smith's vehicle and stopped near the house.
The trailer's three occupants were taken to hospital where the driver was admitted. The Barrett Town police are investigating the incident.
Deva.jpgAll dem a talk, mi hear say Deva Brat ah return to court on May 1 and him lawyer ready this time fi file the bail application. The man say when him come a road, him a go prove him innocence and mi know say Munga dying fi him come back fi ketch a hype because him pap down since Deva gone a jail. Mi hear say Deva inna jail ah prepare fi the road like crazy, him a host concert every night, him bend him mind and mek inna him cellblock happy and all these things. Still, mi need fi say, as a woman, that the artiste dem fi lef the young girl dem alone and stop embara** dem good good woman. If Deva Brat really guilty, him fi go straight prison, no apology, Abena say so.
DJ WAYNE MISSING FROM AIR SIX WEEKS AND COUNTING?
How DJ Wayne missing offa the scene so long? People ah say him gone MFA (Missing from Air) and lef everybody fi ah wonder because dem miss one of the vibesiest selectors in radio today. We don't know if him sick, if is obeah, bad mind or him and management fall out. Where is DJ Wayne? Link we at one876entertainment@gmail.com and mek we know.
RICHIE B TAKES ON MOVIE ROLE
Special props to well-known disc jockey Richie B who brushed up on his acting skills to play a role as himself in an upcoming movie called 'Rocksteady Reunion' which chronicles the rise of the Jamaican music artforms ska, rocksteady and reggae. Mi hear say Richie B start read up all some Shakespeare and all these things from when him used to act onstage at high school, and ready up fi the role. And this week, the cameras dem tek over H0T 102 and film the scene where Richie B ah interview Ernie Anglin and Derrick Morgan. Mi hear say when the man step inna the place, him have a extra pep inna him step, go de Richie B, yu a real star inna the ting.
SOPHIA BROWN HEADS TO US EMBASSY
Sophia Brown, yu a gwaan good, yu de pon a fundraising mission. First, we see yu pon the Mediathon, then now yu a get call from the US Embassy to be a special guest performer at their benefit concert in aid of Children First Center in Spanish Town. Children First is a youth-centered non-governmental organization which operates in the heart of Spanish Town, and helps educate at risk youth children between the ages of 10 and 18. The event will be held on Saturday, April 26 at US Embassy Atrium at 8 PM. Other artistes who will perform include Voicemail, Macka Diamond, Apache and Sarge, Dean Moriah & Crawzy Chris Foster from Super Clubs, and Jay McKay.
TIDAL ON ANTIGUA EVERY THURSDAY
Big up the singer Tidal who ah show say him versatile because him get hired fi do a live 30 minute link up every Thursday with Red Hot Radio live, hosted by Kenny Nibbs. Memba Kenny Nibbs, ah him did buss the big war wid Taurus Riley when him over de, still we say big up and gwaan large up reggae music.
Entertainer Andrew Martin otherwise called Lutan Fyah will return to the Spanish Town Resident Magistrate's Court on April 29 to answer to arson charges.
The entertainer appeared in the Spanish Town RM. Court yesterday when the matter was mentioned.
Attorney-at-law Lancelot Clarke Jr. who was standing in for attorney Peter Champagnie told the court that a warrant was issued for the entertainer's arrest after he had failed to appear in court. Clarke told the court he was away and was just honouring the court date.
After vacating the warrant, the entertainer's bail was extended. However, the fire victims were concerned about the length of time they were waiting for the matter to end. RM. Lorna Errar then said however that the case is still before the court and the accused is owed due process. She added that the matter was only being mentioned so they would have to wait until the next court date .
Wesley Snipes Gets 3 Years in Jail
counts of evasion still comes with a hefty price: The actor on Thursday (April 24) was sentenced to three years in prison and fined up to $5 million, the maximum punishment possible under federal guidelines.
Though Snipes had escaped more serious charges that he'd been part of a scheme to defraud the IRS with bogus refund claims - a jury accepted his argument that he had innocently taken bad advice by questionable advisers - prosecutors urged U.S. District Judge William Hodges in Ocala, Florida, to hand out a tough sentence for the misdemeanors, and thus demonstrate to taxpayers that no one is exempt from paying up. (The IRS says Snipes had not filed taxes at all from 1999-2004.) ''The fact that Snipes was acquitted on two felony charges and convicted 'only' on three misdemeanor counts has been portrayed in the mainstream media as a 'victory' for Snipes,'' a 35-page government argument read, citing Snipes' ''brazen defiance'' of tax laws. ''The troubling implication of such coverage for the millions of average citizens who are aware of this case is that the rich and famous Wesley Snipes has 'gotten away with it.' In the end, the criminal conduct of Snipes must not be seen in such a light.''
BAD4LIFE TO THE WORLD THE ONE AND ONLY CRAFTY YUTE TO EVER WALK THIS EARTH
Dear Pastor,
I am a 26-year-old, successful female living in the US and I am pursuing a law degree. The problem is that I am from Trinidad and Tobago and I am very much attracted to Jamaican men, but all three that I have been with have hurt me tremendously.
Bowed out gracefullyI was with an entertainer in Jamaica for three years. I stuck by him even when he didn't have anything, and at the height of his career, when the money came rolling in, he found another woman. He tried to keep me as the other woman because he wanted me to have his baby. I bowed out of that option gracefully and went back to school.
The other guy that I dated was also from Jamaica. He abused me and I called the cops and he was arrested. After four years of not visiting Jamaica, I went back and once again I saw someone whom I am attracted to, but I am not certain if I should pursue this because now I have the feeling I will be treated the same way by every Jamaican man. This guy claims that it will be different, but I do not want to put thousands of dollars into a relationship that will turn out the same.
My parents hate when I date Jamaican men because of what happened, but they are very happy when I bring other guys around from other islands.
Pastor, should I put anything into this relationship with the guy in Jamaica or should I just look for someone in USA?
M., Washington, USA
Dear M.,
You should go with the man you genuinely love and if deep down in your heart you feel that he loves you, let no one, not even your parents, discourage you. It is not because these men are Jamaicans why the relationships did not work. It is because you gave them your all and they gave very little. Perhaps they used you; the entertainer surely did.
You put your life in the relationship, but he took you for granted and thought that he had arrived when he started to earn money.
ungrateful menThere are ungrateful men everywhere. Some Jamaican men treat women extremely well, while others don't.
Some men from Trinidad and Tobago will wash the feet of their women and drink the water, treating them like queens, but others don't.
Girl, hang on in there and trust the Lord. God has a good man for you. It could be this guy you met recently, but he may not be the one. So pray much about the situation before you make your decision. Let me hear from you again.
Alfredo Duran, 40, who drank four cans of Red Bull every night, collapsed and died after working a supermarket night shift.
An inquest into his death heard that he had an enlarged heart and that caffeine may have triggered an attack.
Dr Ian Roberts, a pathologist, said the amount of Red Bull Mr Duran drank could have contributed to his death.
Levels found during the post mortem examination were not fatal, but were dangerous for a man with an underlying heart condition.
He said: "For an individual with this condition, the risk of problems with the heart is increased by stimulants such as caffeine and may be triggered by levels which would have no effect on people with a normal heart.
"My feeling is, given the evidence available, it was a cardiac arrest, possibly contributed by sub-toxic caffeine ingestion."
The Oxford inquest heard that paramedics were called to help the Bolivian supermarket worker when he collapsed in an aisle in September 2006.
Mr Duran, who had two children, had worked at the Asda supermarket in Wheatley, Oxon, since 2003, for a minimum of two night shifts a week, from 11pm until 6am.
At the time of his death he would frequently work up to five night shifts a week.
Colleagues said it was not unusual to find at least four empty cans of Red Bull when Mr Duran, of Oxford, had been working.
The Oxfordshire coroner, Nicholas Gardiner, described him as a healthy man and compared his death with sudden adult death syndrome as he recorded a verdict of death by natural causes.
He added that the cause of death was unascertained.
Last year, Red Bull sold 3.5 billion cans and bottles in 140 countries.
The drink's manufacturers claim it "vitalises the body and mind" and has been "specially developed for times of increased mental and physical exertion".
It is popular among students, nightclubbers, workers and drivers attempting to say awake for long periods.
The drink contains about the same amount of caffeine as a cup of coffee, but has been banned in a number of countries amid fears it could cause an increase in *lo** pressure.
A US study last year found healthy volunteers given two energy drinks a day for a week experienced significant increases in both heart rate and *lo** pressure.
The makers of Red Bull denied it could cause harm, but recommended that no more than two cans were drunk a day.
A spokesman said clinical tests and "numerous" toxicological evaluations by independent experts had concluded it was as safe as any other drink for adults.
DELAND, Fla., April 24 (UPI) -- A Volusia County, Fla., woman who has been fined thousands of dollars for keeping 150 cats in her home said she is taking her fight to court.
Kristy Grant, who was initially fined $6,700 by the county for the unlicensed pets and fined an additional $150 per day since the county ordered to get rid of the cats in March, said her cats are well cared for and she recently installed a fence to keep her pets from wandering into the yards of neighbors, WK MG-TV, Orlando, Fla., reported Thursday.
"It is frustrating, it is nerve-wracking," Grant said. "It has been a long two years since I was first cited for having more than four pets on my property."
Grant said her home should be considered a cat sanctuary.
"I don't want to prevent anyone from doing what I do. If you want to help an animal, you should," she said.
The cat-lover said she knows every one of her pets by name.
Lisa Harrell said she normally does not deliver to the neighborhood until about 2 p.m., but she was in the area before noon Monday to deliver an Express Mail package, the Albany (N.Y.) Times-Union reported Tuesday.
She said that no sooner had she pushed a doorbell at an apartment building than she felt something hit her shoulder and instinctively shot her arms out to catch it. She said she was shocked to find a baby that had apparently fallen from a second-story window.
"I noticed the upstairs window open halfway," she said. "The baby fell right into my arms. Everything happened so quick."
Paramedics from the Albany Fire Department said the child appeared to be unharmed.
Harrell said Brenda Morales, the child's mother, ran outside and thanked her before taking the baby and running up the street to her mother's home.
"I said, 'You should never had had that window open. Your baby could be dead,'" Harrell said. "Thank God the baby was OK."
MUMBAI, April 23 (UPI) -- Police in India said they have arrested a man suspected of stealing more than 100 specimens from a sperm bank.
Investigators said Anil Punjaba Mohite attempted to sell the samples, which were taken from a Cryobank laboratory in Aurangabad, to sperm banks in Mumbai, The Times of India reported Wednesday.
"Anil Mohite turned out to be a close relative of Sunil Mohite, a Cryobank laboratory worker at Aurangabad who has been detained for interrogation," said P.S. Bolkar, a police officer investigating the case.
"It is a very different sort of theft case," he said.
Mumbai infertility experts expressed surprise that someone would attempt to sell sperm samples.
"Which doctor in Mumbai would want to buy the sperm samples? Most infertility clinics have their own sperm banks," said Dr. Aniruddha Malpani.
"Why would someone rob a commodity that is so hard to sell?" asked Dr. Aniruddha Malpani.
Richard Szymanski said he was using his sons toilet at 69 Carlton St., Johnson City, when steam started coming out the toilet after he flushed. Before he could stand up the toilet shot out hot water and he was thrown a few feet into a shower wall.
It was kind of hot there for a minute, said Szymanski.
Szymanski said he was a little dizzy, but he didnt think he was seriously injured. That was fortunate, considering he has stitches on his head from the removal of a cancerous tumor on Tuesday, he said.
The Johnson City Fire Department responded quickly after receiving the 911 call at 6:43 p.m. Fire Capt. Rob Jacyna said a hot-water line broke
HOLYHEAD, Wales, April 23 (UPI) -- A Welsh judge has issued an arrest warrant for a man who allegedly assaulted two "Star Wars" fans while dressed as the intergalactic villain Darth Vader.
District Judge Andrew Shaw issued a warrant for the arrest of Arwel Wynne Jones, who allegedly hopped a fence while dressed in a Darth Vader helmet and a black garbage bag, and attacked brothers Barney and Michael Jones while they were conducting a TV interview, The Daily Telegraph reported Wednesday.
The suspect had been seen at the courthouse before the hearing, but was not present when the judge arrived.
"I hope the force will soon be with him," Shaw said in ordering Wynne Jones' arrest.
Wynne Jones had previously denied the allegations against him.
NEW YORK, April 21 (UPI) -- A New York child genius who was 14 when she earned her bachelor's degree is the youngest college professor in history.
The Guinness Book of World Records formally announced that Alia Sabur is the youngest person to be a full-time professor, The New York Post reported Monday.
Sabur was 18 when she was hired Feb. 19 as faculty in the Department of Advanced Technology Fusion at Konkuk University in South Korea.
"It's really a great honor to be in the company of such great scientists," the now 19-year-old said.
Sabur is set to start physics studies and teaching next month at Konkuk, the Post reported.
"We are all very excited to welcome Alia Sabur. Alia is quite a unique individual and we are looking forward to her making great contributions at our university," Konkuk University spokesman Kim Choon-ho said.
DETROIT, April 24 (UPI) -- Detroit police said they believe an elderly woman has been living with the corpse of her dead sister on her kitchen floor -- possibly for the last three years.
Investigators said the corpse was partially mummified and portions of the body appeared to have been eaten by a dog and cat living at the residence, the Detroit Free Press reported Thursday.
Police said the woman -- who appeared to be suffering from mental problems -- was taken to a crisis center for treatment. They said they made a visit to the home after a neighbor phoned police to report she had not seen the deceased woman for a long time.
PATNA, India (Reuters) - Hundreds of villagers have flocked to a remote Indian village to see a baby girl who was saved by stray dogs after she was abandoned in a mound of mud by her mother, officials said on Tuesday.
Villagers in the eastern state of Bihar saved the newborn on the weekend after they saw three dogs barking near a baby covered with mud.
"The dogs removed the soil around and began to bark and the baby started crying which drew attention of the local villagers," Ram Narayan Sahani, a senior government official, said on Tuesday from Bihar's Samastipur district.
"The girl is crying but is safe in the lap of a childless couple who have adopted her."
Police said they were looking for the girl's mother, who they think had left the girl to die.
Female foeticide, though illegal in India, is widespread as boys are traditionally preferred to girls as breadwinners, and families have to pay huge dowries to marry off their daughters.
The United Nations says an estimated 2,000 unborn girls are illegally aborted every day in India.
Rescuers find helium balloons belonging to missing Brazilian priest floating in the sea
Adelir Antonio de Carli is thought to have been blown 30 miles offshore after lifting off on Sunday afternoon.
Today rescuers reached a cluster of brightly coloured party balloons floating in the ocean off Brazil's coast but did not find the priest
Scroll down for more...
Found at sea: The balloons belonging to Adelir Antonio de Carli - but still no sign of him
Ready to go: In his thermal suit (left) and then Antonio de Carli says farewell to his supporters
Using helicopters and fishing boats they have been constantly searching the waters where he disappeared.
In a helmet, thermal suit and carrying a parachute he was strapped into a chair attached to the balloons before setting off from the southern port city of Paranagua.
He is said to have reached 20,000ft before dropping to 8,200ft for the journey to Dourados, 465 miles north-west of his starting point.
He was reported missing about eight hours later after losing radio contact with the port authorities.
Scroll down for more...
Up, up and away: He takes to the sky carried by balloons
His parish treasurer Denise Gallas said Father de Carli had hoped to break a 19-hour record for flying with balloons to raise money for a rest-stop for truck drivers.
She was confident he would be found "alive and well, floating somewhere in the ocean".
Missing: The Rev Adelir Antonio de Carli gives an interview before taking off
Rampaging elephant kills three during Hindu ceremony in Indian temple
Television footage shows the adult male elephant charging through the temple compound.
It knocks down a thatched awning, tries to batter its way through a steel gate and finally tramples a man, kicking the limp body several yards through the air.
Scroll down for more...
Amok: The elephant tramples one of the festival-goers at the southern Indian temple
The elephant was being used during a ceremony for a festival in the southern Thrissur district.
It suddenly went wild, killing a man and a woman and finally a handler who was trying to bring it under control.
It was not clear what sparked the rampage, police officer Jay Prakash said.
The elephant was later brought under control.
The huge animals are routinely used in southern Indian temple ceremonies, often covered in elaborate decorations and paint.
Animal rights activists say the elephants are often kept in inhumane conditions.
Twelve months ago horrified onlookers at another ceremonial festival in southern India watched as an elephant killed its trainer.
The animal, which had just seen another elephant go wild, spun his trainer around on his tusk and injured more than 20 others.
EXCLUSIVE: NEW YORK MAKES AN EXPLICIT TAPE - AND WE'VE GOT IT!!!
January 13, 2008. MediaTakeOut.com managed to get its hands on an explicit tape of Tiffany "New York" Pollard and one of our readers. According to our reader, he and New York met up at a Miami club a few months ago and the two of them had a ... A-HEM ... romantic encounter together.
It's not clear whether New York was aware that they're encounter was being taped. To view the extraordinary tape, click http://www.zshare.net/video/647362083cae3a/
Man Swims 12 Hrs. To Shore As Companion Survives 30 Hrs. In Water
Man Swims 12 Hrs. To Shore As Companion Survives 30 Hrs. In Water
An incredible story of survival and the will to live has emerged from Australia after a man swam for 12 hours straight to safety, while another clung to a foam cooler for more than a day until help arrived.
The story began just before dawn Wednesday when the trawler three men on a fishing expedition were sailing in suddenly hit a reef and began to sink about 15 kilometres off the country's mid-northeast coast.
When the ship went down, one of them, 39-year-old Michael Williams, became separated from his two companions, and had no choice but to try and swim to shore to save his life.
Stroke after stroke, the exhausted man paddled through the water. He somehow kept it up for 12 torturous hours, until finally hitting the beach at a place called Brunswick Heads (top left), dehydrated and *lo**y - but still very much alive.
"He had pretty bad cuts and bruises to his legs and his arms, he was pretty exhausted, pretty badly sunburnt," explains Chris Gort, who aided the fisherman as he came ashore.
Meanwhile, his two companions were still out there. John Jarratt and skipper Charlie Picton managed to grab onto the only item they could find from their lost ship - that cooler known as an 'esky.' For 30 long hours, the 40-year-old Jarratt battled his own exhaustion to try and save himself and his friend.
At one point, helicopters searching for the men whirred overhead, but the tantalizing sound of the rescue party left them distraught when they failed to spot them in the darkness. Jarratt performed heroic feats, saving his own skin as he tried desperately to help Picton.
"Every time the esky got a bit too much water in it he'd have to sort of hold Charlie up in one hand and hold the esky up out of the water with the other and then put it back down so it was full of air again," family spokesman Mark McMurtrie reveals.
Finally, another chopper came by and spotted the desperate sailor, quickly ferrying him to a hospital bed. He'd been in the water for 30 hours. "I wasn't going to die out there mate," the sunburnt and dehydrated Jarratt reveals from his hospital bed.
But this amazing story still doesn't have a conclusion or a happy ending. At some point during his day-long plus ordeal, Jarratt became separated from Picton and has no idea what happened to the captain of the vessel.
The search for the final crew member of the ill-fated trip continues, with time running out. Officials note the water temperature is about 24C, and hope if they find the missing man soon, there's a good chance he may have survived, as well.
"Judging that the second fisherman survived through the night ... we can only hope that the same has occurred with the third," outlines Roger Fry of Lifesaver Rescue Helicopter. Fishing boats, police craft and others have joined the search, but so far they haven't found him.
As for the survivors, Jarratt is grateful to still be alive but the ordeal has profoundly changed him. He's already told friends he will "never" go back in the ocean again.
Following the recent staging of the inaugural Reggae Academy Awards (RAA), a number of industry players have raised concerns over what they say was the obvious bias against dancehall music.
Among the grouses is the allegation that there was an obvious bias against dancehall music, shown by which artistes were nominated and in how the performances were staged.
Well-known publicist in the business, Ray Alexander, lashed out against the organisers of the RAA saying, I have no apology, me a bun dem out, because dancehall music a poor people music, so if they want to isolate dancehall, tell us so that we can distance ourselves.
Total disrespect
Alexander says, I think it was a total disrespect to dancehall because what I saw, it showed a bias in all forms, the nominees, the categories and the performances itself where they had reggae artistes perform with bands and the dancehall artistes perform on tracks, which made them (dancehall performances) look weak.
According to Alexander, he feels that the majority of people on the board are for reggae music, they are not dancehall lovers.
Dancehall music is our music, so why should we discriminate against it? I have no problem with reggae music, its the best music in the world, but when they go out and discriminate, because the alleged rumour is that they want Mavado to clean up his lyrics first (and thats why he wasnt nominated), he said.
He continued, and if thats truth, they have no right to do that, he (Mavado) is expressing himself through music, he is singing what he lives and who knows, maybe as he grows older his lyrics will change.
Julian Jones-Griffith, Mavados manager, said being nominated or winning an award was the least of Mavados worries because he has the love of the people and thats the biggest award to him.
However, Jones-Griffith did point out that the bias was too obvious.
I was speaking to an overseas journalist and she put it the best way, she said clearly the Reggae Academy is using their award ceremony to pass judgement on the music and that shouldnt be the case.
If you are going to have Most Popular Artiste and you have like six names and Mavados name wasnt one of them, I mean, no disrespect to the other artistes, but Mavados name couldnt make the top six?
Tony Rebel, who is a part of the Steering Committee for the RAA, says he personally will definitely put certain things forward, but said he was willing to give and take because it was the first staging of the event.
However, on the issue of artistes being barred, Rebel was in total disagreement to it.
I dont think that any artiste should be barred, but as far as dancehall is concerned where the nominations are, there are other categories that should be included like male/female deejay of the year, but its the first year so Im willing to forgive, Rebel said.
Rebel, however, made it clear, that while he was not in support of barring any artiste, if a song does not fit the criteria of the Reggae Academy, then he would be in agreement for it not to be nominated.
Certain criteria
The Reggae Academy has certain criteria, so they might not accept a song that would be, for example, telling somebody to kill someone or songs that are discriminating to women. But what I would love, though, is that the winners of any category at the awards must reflect the wishes of the people, but its the first one so whatever problems, I hope that they can clean it up and come better next year, Rebel said.
However, when contacted, Rose Desouza, administrative assistant at the Recording Industry Association of Jamaica, said there was no way that there were any biases and explained again how the process worked.
Reggae Academy members make the initial nominations. So members from all over the world are invited to send in their nominations and it can be of any artiste, so long as its within the reggae genre and we have different types of categories, in reggae, dancehall and gospel. So I dont see how they can say it was heavily on reggae, Desouza said.
She continued, after weve got all the nominations, its added up and the Steering Committee will take the top four and send it out again to the Reggae Academy members who will select one from each category and the tally will determine the final winner. Everything is done online.
Source: JamaicaStar
Hi Mediazoneja I am here to share some of the cool software I use most of the times.All software are safe and run perfect.Note:some softwares may require you download it from a P2P source.
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Sexually Transmitted Diseases/Infections (STDs/STIs) are a major issue for anyone who is sexually active - some are non-curable and some even lethal! This section contains information on viruses or bacteria that are spread by, or a direct or indirect consequence of, having sexual relations with other individuals.
If you have any symptoms or believe you might have an STD, please see a physician immediately. A medical doctor will be able to diagnose your condition, give you accurate information, and prescribe correct medication to deal with any problem you may have. For information on what to expect when you go for a check-up please read the STD Testing article in the Sexual Health section.
AIDS & HIV - A debilitating and distressing infection that continues to spread across all social groups, killing millions world-wide.
Chancroid - A sometimes difficult-to-diagnose bacterial infection, with numerous (sometimes painful) symptoms; effective treatment with antibiotics.
Chlamydia - A very common STD, but often with no symptoms - so quite sinister because if left untreated it can cause infertility in women.
CMV (Cytomegalovirus) - A member of the Herpes Virus group, it infects the majority of adults by age 40 and is also the virus most frequently transmitted to a child before birth.
Crabs - Pubic lice found in the genital area of humans. Usually (but not always) transmitted through sexual contact. Not the same as head lice!
Genital Warts (HPV) - Extremely contagious and is transmitted mostly through intimate contact of moist surfaces (i.e., oral sex, vaginal intercourse, etc.).
Men usually have the symptoms of urethritis, burning on urination, and penile discharge. Women often have no symptoms and so go undiagnosed!
Herpes - Millions suffer with genital herpes, even more with labial herpes (cold sores) affecting lips/mouth/face. Both are highly contagious but the first is an STD.Molluscum Contagiosum - Mainly seen in children. In teenagers/ adults it is sexually transmitted and considered an STD. A benign disorder that usually clears up by itself.
PID (Pelvic Inflammatory) - An infection of the uterus, fallopian tubes & other reproductive organs. A common & serious complication of some STDs, especially gonorrhea & chlamydia.
Scabies - An infestation by the itch mite that burrows into the skin to produce intense itching that tends to be worse at night. Not always spread as an STD.
Syphilis - A multi-stage infection caused by a microscopic organism; often called "the great imitator" because symptoms are similar to those of other diseases.
Trichomoniasis - Most common curable STD in sexually active women. Affects both sexes, but symptoms more common in women. Men with no symptoms can be carriers!
Yeast Infections - Extreme irritation in/around the vagina caused by fungus imbalance. 75% of adult women have had at least once in their lifetime. Not usually an STD.
b careful ppl
-- Edited by Ambassidah at 15:48, 2008-04-16
And MediaTakeOut.com has discovered that the offer is extremely generous. According to a person familiar with the details of the offer- the plea would include NO JAIL TIME. The insider told MediaTakeout.com, "R Kelly would have to do community service and [he'd] be on probation for an extended period of time."
Developing...
Annalee Bernard, STAR Writer St. Elizabeth A 54-year-old mechanic and businessman, Gerald Brown, of Central Road, Black River, and Hodges Housing Scheme, was arrested and charged with illegal possession of firearm and ammunition yesterday. Reports are that about a.m. yesterday, police attached to the Organised Crime and Flying Squad conducted operations in Hodges Housing Scheme and Central Road in Black River. While there, they searched a house occupied by Brown, and one Smith and Wesson 9mm pistol with one magazine and 13 9mm cartridges was allegedly found hidden in a bathroom next to a bedroom. A female companion, Natasha Shakespeare, who was with Brown at the time, was also arrested and charged. They are booked to appear in the Black River Resident Magistrate's Court next week. | |
T.I. has been banned from speaking to students at two metro-Atlanta school districts, leading officials to cancel an upcoming appearance featuring the popular rapper.
According to Atlantas WSB-TV Channel 2, an upcoming appearance featuring T.I. at Pebblebrook was canceled due to recent gang activity involving students, as well as the recent death of a student.
Officials with the Cobb County school district said there was no permanent ban on the rapper in their district, but admitted that the timing for his appearance was off.
Representatives with The Fulton County school district said T.I. was banned from speaking to students due to his gun conviction.
In March of 2008, T.I. , real name Clifford Harris Jr., pleaded guilty to possession of unregistered machine guns and silencers, unlawful possession of machine guns and possession of firearms by a convicted felon.
He was ordered to complete 1,000 hours of 1,500 hours community service speaking to youth about gangs, drugs and violence, Additionally, the rapper was sentenced to one year in prison, starting in 2009 and fined $100,000 dollars.
Footage Vindicates Snoop; UK Ban Overturned, Officers Blamed
Snoop Dogg is free to roam the United Kingdom, thanks to a senior immigration judge who officially overturned the rappers ban in the country yesterday (April 23).
According to The Guardian, senior immigration judge George Warr based his decision to lift the ban on an earlier ruling by immigration judge Nehar Bird, who found that there was no evidence that Snoop Dogg had been responsible for any public disorder, nor did he initiate it.
The decision is in contrast with reports over an incident at Heathrow Airport in 2006 during a mass brawl between Snoop Doggs entourage and airport security.
The rapper and five members of his entourage were arrested after the brawl, which resulted in seven officers being injured.
A DVD film of the fracas features the 37-year-old Snoop Dogg entertaining young children, just before the brawl.
Snoop Dogg, who was given a caution by authorities, also did not retaliate against a police officer, who is seen shoving the rapper twice in the footage.
A constables statement confirmed that Snoop Dogg complied with instructions from the Metropolitan Police to lie face down on the floor of a shop during the brawl and did not resist when he was handcuffed.
Upon viewing the DVD, Bird concluded that the Heathrow incident was "precipitated by decisions made by BA staff and the police."
"The appellant's behavior on the DVD did show him interacting with the public," Bird said. "The children were laughing and generally enjoying either dancing or singing or playing music."
In his ruling, Warr determined that there was nothing to support the notion that Bird had overlooked evidence or made a material error of law.
Wednesdays decision served as nothing more than a verification of why the case was "an appalling waste of public money to pursue this man," Snoops lawyer Phillip Trot told The Guardian. "It is outrageous that the government is trying to exclude someone who is an innocent figure and has frequently spoken against gang culture and youths carrying guns.
In related news, Snoop Dogg recently inked a deal with Extreme Music, a production unit of Sony/ATV Music Publishing.
The rapper will produce The G-Series, a CD series of original Hip-Hop music for a number of outlets, including film, television and advertising projects.
Krista Henry, Staff Reporter
Mr Perfect
Getting a United States visa is a daunting process for the average Jamaican, but for Jamaican entertainers a viable career without a US visa can be virtually non-existent.
Travelling to the United States is not only beneficial for performance purposes but also in making links with American producers, record companies and spreading the Jamaican music to another lucrative market.
Some artistes have been denied access to the US market and its booming entertainment business for various reasons.
Singjay Mavado, whose real name is David Brooks, is the most recent Jamaican artiste to be denied a visa. In April, The STAR reported that Mavado, who had been apprehended in Jamaica recently on gun-related charges, was denied entry into New York City by the police.
In a previous interview with The STAR, Mavado claimed that he was told his visa was cancelled because he was wanted in Jamaica - which subsequently caused the artiste to miss three shows in New York.
Brooks was charged in connection with an incident where two persons were shot and injured on July 27 last year. Mavado is scheduled to return to the Gun Court on May 27. Currently, the remix of Mavado's On The Rock, which features top US rapper Jay Z, is heating up the airwaves, but whether the two will perform together or make a video for the song is questionable based on Mavado's present inability to travel to the US.
A perfect song
( L - R ) Kartel, Mavado
In Amerimaka Mr Perfect turned his denial of a US visa into a song. Perfect defiantly sings "Da one yah dedicated to the United States of America Embassy in Jamaica/Uno keep it an guh weh", he continues "They denied I a visa to travel to the USA/They say that I'm not qualified and I might run off and stay." At the time, Perfect had to miss 13 shows in the United States as a result of the denial.
Deejay Vybz Kartel is another entertainer who has been
constantly denied a visa to the United States. While Kartel has been in and out of court, his reasons for not getting a visa, according to the artiste, are not criminal.
The last time Kartel performed in the United States was on March 13, 2005, in Washington D.C. Yet, according to the deejay, this has not affected his career. "It hasn't affected me, it's just travel. Humbly speaking I'm the hottest deejay. I would put myself in the top three deejays in Jamaica," he told the STAR.
Kartel emphasised that his songs are still getting rotation on American stations and he is willing to have the patience to see his next flight to the US .
Meanwhile, he says he is a Jamaican artiste and is focused on his career in Jamaica.
However, he does have upcoming tours in Europe and the Caribbean.
According to Jerome Hamilton of Headline Entertainment, a top- flight booking agency, while the US market is an important one, not being able to travel there will not have a crippling effect on an artiste's career. "The US, is our nearest market with a strong ethnic presence of first and second generation Jamaicans, but the beautiful thing about our music is that its bigger than the US with a strong market in Central America, the Caribbean and Japan," Hamilton said.
DO U THINK RAP AND HIP HOP IS CROSSIN OVER INTO DANCEHALL SEEN HOW DANCEHALL IS MOVING UP IN THE WORLD AS ONE OF THE BES
Foxy Brown Lands Back In Court For Florida Scuffle... NOT even A Week Has past!!!!!!!!
Barley a week after she was released from a New York jail for violating probation, Foxy Brown appeared in a Florida Court today (April 23) to face assault charges stemming from a scuffle in a local beauty shop last year.
As reported earlier, Brown was arrested at Florida's Queen Beauty Supply shop in February 2007 for allegedly throwing hair glue at a store employee. She was also accused of spitting on the store employee and struggling with an officer who wanted to question her about the incident.
According to CBS 4, Brown's appearance in court Wednesday was supposed to be a status hearing but the Brooklyn bred rapper tried to work out a plea deal with the State Attorney without using her local attorney.
Due to that, Browns attorney resigned from the case and the judge gave the rapper two weeks to find a new attorney and return to court on May 8th.
Last week, Brown was released from New York's Rikers Correctional Facility after serving eight months for violating probation.
Brown was on probation for attacking two manicurists at a nail salon in 2004 but the rapper would be thrown in jail after skipping anger management classes and failing to get the courts consent before traveling outside New York.
Prior to be being tossed in jail, Brown would allegedly hit her neighbor with a Blackberry phone during an argument. She is expected back in a New York court on May 5th to face the charges from that incident.
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