Sizzla Blast Gage, Alkaline

Dancehall artiste Miguel Collins, also known as Sizzla Kalonji, has lashed out against several dancehall artistes and selectors, for what he describes as their contribution to the deterioration of the dancehall genre.

In the expletive filled rant, which has been dominating social media sites, Sizzla blasts artistes Alkaline and Gage for their overly sexual lyrics.

“Me find out say nuff tings a gwaan inna Jamaica and a unuh, the fans, a support it. Unuh as selectors, me nuh want hear no Dung Inna You Throat,” the deejay said in reference to the song from Gage. He further stated; “You see Alkaline and di whole a unuh weh a try pollute this, unuh need fi sing some other lyrics. A unuh madda unuh a dis round yah. Me nuh care a which selector or which sound. Me a bad man and nuh … … … caan do me nutten.”

He went on to say that the lyrics which glorify threesomes and oral sex were destroying our culture. He also urged artistes to “fix the content of unuh lyrics”.

The rant, which was captured at the Hotshots event in Guys Hill, St Catherine, also sees Sizzla attempting to “bun a fire” on bleachers.

“Mek me bun a fire now. You see when the woman dem bleach, after couple months unuh lose. Listen to me, unuh lose the elasticity in a unuh skin. When unuh bleach, unuh bleach out the melanin, after couple months unuh start look old before time. Stop the … … bleaching,” he said.

He went on to specifically chastise men “weh a bleach and a wear tall socks and under hoodie everyday”?.

Sizzla, known for songs such as Black Woman And Child, has been known, previously, to radically state his disapproval for several issues through his music and on performances.

He has previously lashed out at homosexuals and has had issues with gay rights groups in the United States who have pushed for the cancellation of some of his shows.

This is not the first time that Gage and Alkaline have come under fire for their songs. Alkaline was recently blasted via social media for his “anal licking” lyrics in his Touch You song, while other female artistes, including Queen Latesha, blasted Gage for degrading women with his Dung Inna Yuh Throat song.

You see Alkaline and di whole a unuh weh a try pollute this, unuh need fi sing some other lyrics.

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Sizzla Blast Gage, Alkaline

Amla, de Villiers blast tons as South Africa floor impotent Windies

CENTURION, South Africa (CMC) — Unbeaten centuries from AB de Villiers and captain Hashim Amla squashed a brief flicker of resistance from West Indies, as South Africa dominated the opening day of the first Test here yesterday.

Asked to bat in bowler friendly conditions at SuperSport Park, South Africa slumped to 57 for three just after the first hour, but recovered through the brilliance of de Villiers and Amla, who dominated the last two sessions to propel the hosts to 340 for three at the close.

De Villiers stroked an attractive 141 not out and Amla, an unbeaten 131, two innings that snuffed the life out the Windies after they conjured up an enterprising period during the morning period which had hinted at something greater.

The pair have so far added 283 for the fourth wicket — a record for South Africa.

Impressive fast bowler Kemar Roach, the Windies’ best bowler so far with two for 52, struck twice in successive overs to help cripple the top order early on.

Openers Dean Elgar, who hit 28 and Alviro Petersen, 27, added 57 without much alarm in the first hour, as West Indies bowlers struggled to get it right.

Petersen started with successive fours off the first two balls of the innings from fast bowler Jerome Taylor, stray deliveries that were clipped to the leg-side boundary.

He took a third boundary through gully off Taylor in the right-armer’s next over and Elgar joined in the fun next over, swatting a short all from left-arm seamer Sheldon Cottrell — who surprisingly shared the new ball with Taylor — through mid-wicket for four.

It was Roach who got the breakthrough on the stroke of the first hour, when he got one to straighten in his third over to Petersen, for the right hander to nick a simple catch to Devon Smith at first slip.

Petersen faced 44 balls and struck six fours.

His dismissal sparked a slide where South Africa lost three quick wickets for no runs in the space of 14 balls.

In the next over — the first after the water break — Cottrell claimed the Windies’ second wicket, getting Elgar to slash a wide long hop to Marlon Samuels at gully, after facing three balls in his 42-ball knock.

Roach then struck again in the next over, producing another delivery which pitched and straightened and clipped the outside edge of Faf du Plessis’s bat through to wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin.

With South Africa reeling, de Villiers and Amla arrived to turn the innings around in a partnership that completely deflated the tourists.

The right-handed de Villiers faced 211 balls and struck 15 fours and two sixes to post this 20th Test hundred in his 96th Test while Amla, also a right-hander, hit 17 fours off 244 balls in carving out his 23rd triple figure score.

Both started cautiously before moving quickly into stride, Amla crashing two successive fours through point off Taylor in the first over of a second spell and de Villiers stroking left-arm spinner Sulieman Benn to the cover boundary just before lunch for his second boundary.

On 102 for three at lunch, South Africa scored heavily in the next session, reeling off 115 runs as both batsmen put West Indies bowlers to the sword.

De Villiers moved into the 40s with two consecutive boundaries off Cottrrell in the bowler’s tenth over before reaching his half-century in streaky fashion, with a top edge for four off Cottrell a couple overs later.

Amla also moved into the 40s with a streaky shot over first slip off Cottrell and reached his 50th Test match half-century with a single to backward point off the ineffective Taylor.

He celebrated in the same over, whipping the bowler through mid-wicket for four before following up next ball with a superb drive to the cover ropes.

Both batsmen were in sight of their centuries at tea, with South Africa on 225 for three, and de Villiers motored into the 90s with two boundaries off Roach in the second over after the resumption.

He eventually reached three figures with a single to mid-off off Benn, off 137 balls with 14 fours and one six — a straight-ish hit off Benn.

Amla, meanwhile, whipped Roach to the ropes at mid-wicket to move into the 90s and then raised three figures in style — driving Benn to the cover boundary and then cutting the lanky spinner to the point boundary a couple deliveries later.

Scoreboard

SOUTH AFRICA 1st innings

A Petersen c Smith b Roach 27

D Elgar c Samuels b Cottrell 28

F du Plessis c wkp Ramdin b Roach 0

*H Amla not out 133

AB de Villiers not out 141

Extras (b3, lb 5, w 2, nb 1) 11

TOTAL (3 wkts, 91 overs) 340

To bat: S van Zyl, +Q de Kock, V Philander, D Steyn, M Morkel, K Abbott

Fall of wickets: 1-57, 2-57, 3-57.

Bowling: Taylor 16.1-2-77-0, Cottrell 17-1-74-1 (w1, nb1), Roach 15.5-4-52-2 (w1), Benn 30-5-82-0, Samuels 11-0-45-0, Brathwaite 1-0-2-0.

WEST INDIES — D Ramdin (captain), K Brathwaite, D Smith, L Johnson, M Samuels, S Chanderpaul, J Blackwood, J Taylor, K Roach, S Cottrell, S Benn.

Toss: West Indies.

Umpires: Aleem Dar, Billy Bowden; TV – Paul Reiffel.

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Amla, de Villiers blast tons as South Africa floor impotent Windies

IRAN NUKE BLAST Experts: Explosion proves nuclear program still alive

Satellite photos from before and after Sunday’s blast show an explosion that some experts say proves Iran’s nuclear weapons program is real. (IsraelDefense.com)

The massive blast at an Iranian nuclear plant earlier this week remains shrouded in mystery, but it cleared up one thing, according to those who track the Islamic Republic: The nuclear weapons program Tehran has long denied is real.

The massive blast Sunday night rocked buildings more than 10 miles away, and before-and-after satellite images published by the Israel Defense Force showed startling destruction at a facility Iran has repeatedly barred international inspectors from entering.

“[The] images indicate that a complete section of structures was simply eliminated by an unexplained explosion,” IDF analyst Ronen Solomon said. “The explosion wiped several testing units off the face of the earth while inflicting collateral damage on adjacent buildings.”

Iran, which initially denied an explosion took place, was forced a day later to own up to a blast, via the IRNA official Iranian news agency. The report said two people had been killed as a result of a fire at the site. The true casualty figure may never be known.

“The explosion wiped several testing units off the face of the earth while inflicting collateral damage on adjacent buildings.”

- Ronen Solomon, IDF analyst

Israel has long insisted that Iran’s charm offensive, successful in easing western sanctions, is a ruse to buy time while it pursues nuclear weapons.

“Don’t be fooled by Iran’s manipulative charm offensive,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned the UN General Assembly in New York on Sept. 29. “It’s designed for one purpose and for one purpose only: to lift the sanctions and remove the obstacles to Iran’s path to the bomb.

“Once Iran produces atomic bombs,” Netanyahu added, “all the charms and all the smiles will suddenly disappear. They’ll just vanish. And it’s then that the ayatollahs will show their true face and unleash their aggressive fanaticism on the entire world.”

As in past cases when things explode or scientists are killed in Iran, speculation centers on Israeli intelligence agencies, who, just as predictably, do not comment. Both misplaced blame and proper credit serve the purpose of burnishing their reputation within enemy and terrorist regimes. There are other possibilities, including that it was an accident or that Iranian dissident groups or western intelligence agencies played a role.

“If someone did succeed in infiltrating the Parchin site with explosives and causing the huge explosion which took place there, we are talking about an exceptional achievement,” regional terror analyst Ronen Bergman suggested in Wednesday’s Ynet.com.

Parchin, a site to which international inspectors have repeatedly been denied access since 2007 – a fact that many opponents of the P5+1 talks have long insisted in itself makes a mockery of the so-called negotiation process – is rumored to be the location of the development of the key warhead components required for making a nuclear bomb.

“Western officials suspect that at the heart of this secret development is the weapon group developing the nuclear lens mechanism,” Bergman said. “It’s a complex system of timers and explosives assembled around the core of the bomb, which explode in a way that “pushes” the enriched uranium sphere inwards and starts the chain reaction needed for an atomic explosion. If the smoking gun for the existence of the weapon group is found, it will serve as decisive evidence that Iran has been lying and that there is no point in negotiating with it.”

The assassination of a series of Iranian nuclear scientists inside Iran in recent years as the result of bombs planted on, or next to their vehicles by mysterious motorcycle-riding hitmen, together with the vicious Stuxnet computer virus that hit Iran’s key Natanz nuclear facility in 2010, has allegedly put the brakes on the Islamic Republic’s nuclear project.

According to Amnesty International, thousands of dissidents languish in Iranian jails, (including a significant number of journalists). Iran is second only to China in the number of executions it carries out each year, often following only a token trial.

 Regime support is also indicated in the September 2013 massacre of at least 52 Iranians in neighbouring Iraq at the Camp Ashraf refugee camp that had been designated a safe haven for Iranian activists, many of whom had opposed the direction of their nation’s nuclear ambitions. U.S. officials were reportedly furious at Iran’s Revolutionary Guard praising the attack, while Foreign Policy magazine reported that, “U.S. intelligence officials believe that Iranian commandos took part [in the attack].”

Paul Alster is an Israel-based journalist. Follow him on Twitter @paul_alster and visit his website: www.paulalster.com.

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IRAN NUKE BLAST Experts: Explosion proves nuclear program still alive

Mexican press blast El Tri

MEXICO CITY, Mexico (AFP) —  Mexican newspapers had little love for their national football team yesterday as “El Tri” faced the humiliating prospect of missing the World Cup finals for the first time in 24 years.

Mexico have featured in 14 of the 19 previous World Cups and have not missed a tournament since being banned from the 1990 finals in Italy.However, after losing 0-2 to the United States in Columbus, Ohio, on Tuesday, they sit in fifth place in the six-team CONCACAF regional group.With only the top three qualifying for the finals in Brazil, and the fourth-placed team advancing to a play-off against New Zealand, Mexico will be out unless they can reverse their fortunes in the final two qualifiers.“TRItanic” was the headline in Excelsior newspaper, while the Cancha sports pages said the team now need a “miracle” to book their ticket to Brazil.Meanwhile, the sports daily Record bemoaned the team’s “dreadful” showing in Ohio.“The prestige of Mexican football breaks into pieces and the dream of going to the World Cup hangs by a thread,” warned Record.The United States lead the six-team group by a point from Costa Rica, with both nations already having qualified for the finals.At the moment, the third direct qualifying spot belongs to Honduras, who have 11 points. Panama are fourth with eight points, level with Mexico, but ahead thanks to a better goal difference.In crisis mode, Mexico could be set to appoint their third coach in four days.The Mexican football federation fired Jose Manuel “Chepo” de la Torre on Saturday, one day after his side’s humiliating defeat to Honduras in Mexico City’s Azteca stadium.He was replaced by Luis Fernando Tena, who coached the team that won the gold medal at the 2012 London Olympics. The interim manager said after the loss to the United States that his future would be discussed on Wednesday (yesterday).In a section containing unfancied nations such as Panama and Jamaica, Mexico were widely expected to cruise to Brazil in 2014, especially with a team featuring stars like Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez of Manchester United, Giovani dos Santos of Villareal, Andres Guardado of Valencia.But Mexico have only won one of their eight qualifiers to date, drawing five.They now face a win-or-bust game against Panama at the Azteca on October 11 before a final showdown in Costa Rica on October 15.Mexico last missed a World Cup finals in 1990 when the federation was banned from international competitions after using over-aged players in an Under-20 championship.

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Mexican press blast El Tri

Venezuela govt claims sabotage in deadly blast

CARACAS, Venezuela — VENEZUELA’S oil minister said that sabotage caused an explosion and fire last year that killed more than 40 people at the country’s main oil refinery, saying someone deliberately loosened bolts and released highly flammable gas.

The minister, Rafael Ramirez, did not say whether anyone specifically was suspected and ruled out employees of the state-owned PDVSA oil company. Separately, President Nicolas Maduro blamed the political opposition, although without providing evidence.A former PDVSA security chief questioned Ramirez’s explanation, calling it speculative and saying it raised questions about why the leak wasn’t detected.Shortly after the August 25, 2012 conflagration at the Amuay refinery, reports emerged of faulty maintenance at the facility including dozens of accidents in the months before the disaster.Ramirez alleged the blaze was caused by the loosening of seven bolts at a pump, releasing gas that exploded when National Guard troops stationed at the refinery started up vehicles nearby to evacuate.He said the disaster caused US$1.1 billion in damage. It took four days to extinguish the fire, and 42 people died and five were reported missing by official count. Only recently has the refinery restored production to 645,000 barrels per day of crude.The former PDVSA security chief, Gustavo Benitez, said he found it difficult to believe that insurers would pay for damages caused by the disaster based on Ramirez’s explanation.Benitez said that “the pump would have had to have been damaged, the sensors (that detect leaks) would have had to have been damaged” and mitigation systems as well. He said it appeared, rather, that “maintainence had been highly inefficient”.Maduro’s claim that the opposition was involved in alleged sabotage follows his repeated blaming of political rivals for Venezuela’s ills. Since winning the election in April by a razor-thin margin, the hand-picked successor of the late President Hugo Chavez has accused the opposition of sabotaging the overstrained power grid, causing food shortages through hoarding and mounting four alleged plots to assassinate him.In no instance has Maduro substantiated the claims.Last week, he claimed opposition sabotage was behind a failure in the country’s main electrical transmission line that caused about 70 per cent of the nation to lose power for more than a half day.Maduro on Monday predicted that “a war plan against the country will increase” in coming weeks. Elections are to be held December 8 for mayors and municipal councils.Political opponents led by Henrique Capriles, who insists Maduro stole the April 14 presidential election through fraud, scoff at his claims of sabotage. They say he is making them a scapegoat for his government’s inadequacies and his waning popularity — and to cover up corruption in this country with the world’s biggest proven oil reserves.The Amuay disaster has raised questions about whether PDVSA has neglected maintenance while funnelling revenues into the social programmes that have made the socialist Chavistas popular with the poor.A report done for an insurance carrier published widely right after the disaster and obtained by The Associated Press found failures in the complex’s maintenance and listed dozens of accidents.It said the refinery had 222 accidents in 2011, including 100 fires mostly caused by breaks and leaks in pipes carrying combustible liquids.Lawmaker Maria Corina Machado, who belongs to an opposition commission that is investigating the Amuay disaster, said via Twitter on Monday that PDVSA’s accident rate is 12 times the world average.Critics say that in addition to refinery failures, PDVSA’s operations have suffered from the firing of nearly 18,000 oil workers in 2003, which was about 45 per cent of the payroll, after they joined a strike called by Chavez’s political opponents to press demands that the president resign.Chavez died in March after 14 years in power.Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro holds a small copy of Venezuela’s national constitution as he speaks during a press conference at Miraflores presidential palace in Caracas. (PHOTO: AP)

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Venezuela govt claims sabotage in deadly blast

Argentina mourning over Rosario blast

7 August 2013 Last updated at 19:46 Footage from the scene shows the devastating aftermath of the blast, as Ignacio de los Reyes reports

The Argentine government has declared two days of national mourning for the victims of a deadly gas explosion in a residential building in the city of Rosario on Tuesday.

At least 10 people died and more than 60 were injured, the authorities said. Twelve people are still missing.

The powerful blast destroyed the whole front of the 10-storey apartment block and damaged nearby buildings.

Rescue teams are continuing to search the rubble for survivors.

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I was in the bath when the explosion took place and the ceiling fell over my head”

End Quote Evangelina Fifth floor resident “We are trying to work without making a sound or creating vibrations that could provoke a collapse of the other buildings,” said Rosario Security Secretary Marcos Escajadillo.

Witnesses say the blast, which happened just before 10:00 local time (13:00 GMT), could be heard several kilometres away.

Police closed buildings and schools in a five-block radius.

More than 50 apartments were totally destroyed in the area.

Fire crews rescued dozens of residents from balconies and upper floors.

The government initially announced that 12 people had been killed in the accident, but it has since revised down the figure.

One of the 10 victims has not as yet been identified.

‘Black page’

Santa Fe provincial governor Antonio Bonfatti visited the affected area in Rosario’s city centre with Argentine Security Secretary Sergio Berni and Defence Secretary Agustin Rossi.

Continue reading the main story Mr Bonfatti said an official inquiry, headed by a judge, had been launched.

“This is the time to make a proper assessment so we can take a decision. Someone must be accountable for this.”

He described the accident as “a black page in the city’s history”.

Two gas engineers who were repairing the gas system at the Salta street apartment block shortly before the accident have been remanded in custody.

A fifth floor resident identified only as Evangelina told La Nacion newspaper that someone had tried to rob the gas meter two weekends before.

“A gas engineer was due to come to fix it today, so we were informed the gas was going to be cut off between 09:00 and 14:00,” she said.

“I was in the bath when the explosion took place and the ceiling fell over my head. I have lost everything.”

Rosario is Argentina’s third largest city, after Buenos Aires and Cordoba.

Pope Francis said he was “deeply saddened” by the tragedy in his home country.

Barcelona football star Lionel Messi, who was born in Rosario, also expressed his regret over the accident.

“Sending strength and lots of energy to the family members of the victims of today’s regrettable tragedy,” he wrote.

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Argentina mourning over Rosario blast

Mexico blast blamed on explosive mix

2 August 2013 Last updated at 21:00 ET Emergency services dug for days and used sniffer dogs in search for survivors An official inquest says the explosion that killed 37 people in January at the headquarters of state oil firm Pemex, in Mexico City, was caused by a mix of methane gas and solvent vapours.

The gas build-up in the basement rose from the soil and combined with the vapour of solvents used in maintenance.

The initial spark was caused by an electrical or mechanical source, experts say.

They also blamed faulty building design for the basement’s poor ventilation.

The methane is believed to have come up from the soil underneath.

‘Oil spills’ The 54-floor Pemex building is 214m (702 ft) tall

“[The gas came] either from oil spills by the Huasteca Petroleum Company, which occupied the site until the 1930s, or from the gas storage warehouse from Mexico City’s administration, a building which also was located there,” the report reads.

The experts say the methane would not have built up in the basement if the building had had proper ventilation.

Several lower floors collapsed in the blast, injuring more than 100 people.

Many were trapped in rubble at the base of the 54-storey tower after the explosion, that happened as shifts were changing in the afternoon.

After six months of investigation, experts found objects which could have sparked the blast: a light cable extension, a lamp and a plug.

Pemex has experienced a number of fatal accidents in recent years.

Mexico’s President Enrique Pena Nieto is expected to propose a shake-up of Pemex in his energy bill.

The reform is expected to be presented to the Mexican Congress next week.

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Mexico blast blamed on explosive mix

Memorial service after train blast

27 July 2013 Last updated at 17:43 ET People lined the streets of Lac Megantic for the ceremony Huge crowds gathered for a memorial service in the Canadian town of Lac Megantic, three weeks after a train disaster killed 47 people.

Around 1,000 mourners, including family of the victims, filled Saint Agnes church on Saturday. Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper was among them.

Hundreds more gathered outside to watch the service on a big screen.

A driverless train carrying crude oil derailed and exploded in the centre of Lac Megantic on 6 July.

‘Difficult to absorb’

An engineer had parked the train for the night uphill from the Quebec town.

Inquiries are continuing into the cause of blast, which destroyed a large area of Lac Megantic and forced some 2,000 residents to flee their homes.

Investigators have said the train’s handbrakes are one focus of their inquiries.

Quebec Premier Pauline Marois, centre, and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper were both in attendance

The town centre is being treated as a crime scene.

Saturday’s service, which saw the names of all 47 victims read out, was the first public ceremony in the town since the accident, according to local media.

Quebec Premier Pauline Marois and Lac Megantic Mayor Colette Roy-Laroche joined the prime minister and other politicians in the pews.

“This has been an emotional day followed by a very emotional period,” Prime Minister Stephen Harper said outside the church.

“It is very difficult to absorb all this when you see all of these families who have been affected.”

Rescue workers were also in the congregation.

The Canadian government has issued an emergency directive toughening rail regulations in response to the disaster.

Transport Canada said that any train carrying dangerous goods must have at least two operators and must not be left unattended on a main track.

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Memorial service after train blast