Bobby Brown claims daughter Bobbi Kristina never got married - DR. MANNY: What can happen to the brain during a near-drowning

FILE – In this Aug. 16, 2012, file photo, Bobbi Kristina Brown, left, and Nick Gordon attend the Los Angeles premiere of ‘Sparkle’ at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP, File)

An attorney representing pop singer Bobby Brown claimed Tuesday that Bobbi Kristina Brown, daughter of the late Whitney Houston, is not and has never been married. 

Brown’s attorney Christopher Brown released a statement Tuesday disputing reports that Bobbi Kristina is married to Nick Gordon. Bobbi Kristina Brown has been hospitalized since Saturday after being found unresponsive in a bathtub at a suburban Atlanta townhome. Gordon and a friend called police.

In January 2014, a representative for the family confirmed to The Associated Press that Brown and Gordon had gotten married, but did not release additional details.

WAGA-TV reported Tuesday that Bobbi Kristina Brown had been moved from North Fulton Hospital, where she had originally been taken Saturday. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that she had been moved to Emory Hospital in Atlanta. Brown’s exact condition has not been disclosed, though a statement issued by her family Monday said she was “fighting for her life.”

Authorities are investigating what caused Brown’s medical emergency. Roswell, Ga. police spokeswoman Officer Lisa Holland said detectives had interviewed everyone who was inside the house when officers arrived and had obtained a search warrant for the premises. 

The Journal-Constitution reported that police records showed that one of the men inside the home Saturday, 24-year-old Maxwell Byron Lomas of Duluth, Ga., faces drug charges stemming from an arrest last month. 

Houston, who died after she was found unresponsive in a hotel bathtub in 2012, left her entire estate to her daughter.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Bobby Brown claims daughter Bobbi Kristina never got married - DR. MANNY: What can happen to the brain during a near-drowning

WICB president rejects victimisation claims, says team selected on merit

ST GEORGE’S, Grenada (CMC) — West Indies Cricket Board president Dave Cameron has rejected claims that all-rounders Dwayne Bravo and Kieron Pollard were axed from the World Cup squad because of their roles in the controversial abandoned tour of India.

Neither player was named in the 15-man squad announced on Saturday to contest the World Cup which bowls off in Australia and New Zealand next month. They were also overlooked for the five-match series against South Africa starting Friday.

When the squad for South Africa was announced last month, St Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves wrote to Cameron to complain that the WICB had “dishonoured that undertaking” of not punishing any player involved in the India tour walk-out.

However, Cameron remained adamant the ODI squads for both the South Africa tour and the World Cup had been selected on cricketing merit.

“We have not gone back on our agreement. At the point in time we made it very clear we didn’t want to use the terminology that was being suggested, because if you made any changes to the team then that could be termed,” Cameron told CARIB UPDATE News in a radio interview here Sunday.

“And so we have been very, very firm that as a body we have entrusted that relationship and that decision making to some of the biggest legends we have in West Indies cricket and their judgement is what the board goes by.”

The task force was established by the WICB to investigate the reasons behind the abandoned tour and make recommendations on the way forward.

Like the squad in South Africa, the World Cup unit will be skippered by rookie fast bowler Jason Holder, who featured on the tour of India last October.

The 23-year-old has played just three Tests and 21 ODIs and replaced Bravo, who took over from Darren Sammy in May, 2013.

Gonsalves, who brokered an agreement between the players, the WICB and players union WIPA in the wake of the abandoned tour, also contended in his two-page letter to Cameron that the omission of Bravo and Pollard “reeks of village vengeance, discrimination and victimisation” and slammed the decision as “glaringly (lacking) cricketing merit.”

Cameron defended the squad selection, arguing that the selectors were embarking on a rebuilding process and infusing the ODI set-up with new blood.

“The team we have selected has a very good mix of experience, youth and a lot of talent. One would remember that the team four years ago didn’t do very well in the World Cup and we are ranked number eight today, so the selectors have decided they want to put some youth and build for the future and I think it is a very good balance,” Cameron said.

Pollard and Bravo boast 255 ODIs between them, and despite their unflattering statistics with bat and ball, are powerful batsmen and steady bowlers in the shorter versions of the game.

In recent years, they have become virtual fixtures in the T20 and ODI squads, but Cameron pointed out that team building was the focus at this juncture.

“The board of selectors have appointed very eminent persons to select the West Indies team and they have selected those players based on the balance and merit etcetera, and we have accepted that team,” he said.

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WICB president rejects victimisation claims, says team selected on merit

Audi claims self-drive speed record

21 October 2014 Last updated at 13:29 By Leo Kelion Technology desk editor WATCH: The RS7 took a little over two minutes to complete a lap (video filmed by Audi and edited by BBC)

Audi has claimed a speed record for a self-driving car.

The German car giant says its RS7 vehicle topped 149mph (240km/h) while driving uncrewed round the Hockenheim racing circuit, south of Frankfurt.

The car took just over two minutes to complete a lap of the Grand Prix track.

Sunday’s stunt was organised to highlight the firm’s efforts to bring “piloted driving” to road vehicles. But one expert cautioned that several hurdles still needed to be overcome.

Audi – a division of Volkswagen – also put a human behind the wheel of the vehicle for a comparison lap. He took five seconds longer to complete the circuit.

A member of the car company’s research team explained that it believed the innovation could ultimately be used by the public.

“I know accident-free driving will remain a vision. But at least we can reduce the number of accidents in the future,” said Dr Horst Glaser.

“Piloted driving defuses situations like, for example, being in a traffic jam. Whenever the driver is distracted and inattentive the car could take over.

“Additionally the driver has a chance to relax. That means they are on full alert as soon as their attention is required again.”

Computer equipment in the rear of the car used data gathered from an array of sensors

The RS7 used a combination of cameras, laser scanners, GPS location data, radio transmissions and radar sensors to guide itself around the track, with the data processed by computing equipment that filled its boot.

The experiment marked a high point after 15 years of research by the firm in the US and Europe.

However, one industry-watcher noted that a speed test on an otherwise empty racetrack was very different to the day-to-day driving conditions such vehicles would one day experience.

“I think we will see driverless cars on our roads within a decade, but there’s clearly still a lot of work to do,” said Prof David Bailey from Aston Business School.

“You need to make sure they interact with other driverless cars as well as those piloted by humans – you’ve got to make sure the software absolutely works.”

He added that the insurance industry also needed to grapple with the concept.

“One of the big issues is what happens if there is an accident,” he explained.

“Who is responsible? Is it the driver even if they are not driving? Is it the car company? Is it the software company? There are a whole load of legal issues to sort out.

Mercedes is developing a computer-driven version of its S-class car

“But there could be big savings for the economy in terms of far fewer accidents and more efficient travel.”

Audi is far from alone in this field research.

Another German manufacturer, Mercedes, showed off a rival computer-controlled version of its S-class car recently.

Other car companies including Daimler, Volvo, Toyota, Tesla and BMW are also experimenting with artificial intelligence-directed vehicles, as are other tech firms including Google, Panasonic and Autolive.

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Audi claims self-drive speed record

Illegal JPS connection claims man life

Andr? Williams, STAR Writer

A Rural St Andrew community was plunged into mourning following a freak accident which claimed the life of man who fell from a light pole during an alleged attempt to restore power to his dwelling on Saturday.

Ricardo Hamilton, 26, a gardener, died after being electrocuted while attempting to configure wires on a Jamaica Public Service (JPS) pole located on Airy Castle Road.

Reports are that Hamilton fell from the pole and fell to the ground unconscious. His body was burned burned, almost beyond recognition.

passing motorist

Residents told our news team that it was a passing motorist who spotting his body on the roadway.

After it rains

“When we rush out and reach to him, him bun up bad bad, mi sorry fi him but people nuh fi mess with currant, especially after it rains. Light did gone for a short time, I don’t know but the currant must have hit him bad because he was a black man already and when we see him, him black black black and was frothing, the only thing was to rush him to hospital and try save him,” a resident said.

Hamilton’s common-law-wife Samantha, was at work when she got the news.

She said, “I got a call minutes after 5 p.m. and when I went to the hospital I saw him. He was a trying and helpful person. I was told that he got shock and drop off the light post, but when it happened he was alone, is pass someone passing and saw him and took him to the police station and from there to the hospital”.

The Stony Hill police confirmed the death and said a thorough investigation would be launched.

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Illegal JPS connection claims man life

Vehicular crash claims two lives

Sunday, September 28, 2014 | 8:05 PM    

KINGSTON, Jamaica – Two persons were killed earlier today (Sunday, September) following a vehicular crash on the May Pen leg of Highway 2000.

Dead are Nicko Richards and Richie Richardson both 24-years-old of Hope Village, Willamsfield in Manchester.

Reports from the May Pen Traffic Department are that about 1:30 pm, Richards was driving a Honda motor car with Richardson as a passenger, on the highway towards Kingston.

It is then alleged they the vehicle crashed in a ditch.

The Police were summoned and Richards and Richardson were taken to hospital where they succumbed to their injuries while being treated.

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Vehicular crash claims two lives

Website claims ...Management team unaware of incident

Chad Bryan, Staff Reporter

News reports out of Zimbabwe say dancehall artiste Kalado got a rude awakening during his debut tour of the African nation when several missiles were flung from all directions during his set last Saturday at the Old Hararians Sports Club.

Despite his songs receiving airplay on stations in that country and on the clubbing scene, his performance was lacklustre, reports www.newsday.co.zw.

In addition, the news website reports that the artiste’s performance was reduced to some pornographic show when he got up close and personal with local female dancers one after the other.

The website also claims that the artiste believes that patrons hurling missiles in his direction was an appreciation of his performance quoting him as being impressed by the crowd.

“It was my first time performing in Zimbabwe and I was impressed by the crowd. On the cans, I thought it was a form of appreciation since I don’t understand the Zimbabwean language,” Kalado said.

NewsDay continued that the artiste was not affected by the behaviour of Zimbabwean fans and if invited again he would return for a second show.

A disc jockey rushing to Kalado’s defence says the Zimbabweans should be patient with foreign acts. He also said that while dancing with the girls would have been acceptable elsewhere, the environment in Zimbabwe would not have called for that kind of behaviour.

Publicist for the artiste, Ray Alexander, when contacted, said the artiste being bottled was news to him. He therefore could not deny or confirm that he had been bottled.

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Website claims ...Management team unaware of incident

Controversial research claims blacks age faster than whites

Differences in biological age between blacks and whites appear to increase up until ages 60-65 and then decline. (File)

CALIFORNIA, United States, Friday July 25, 2014 – A controversial new study in the United States claims that black people age more quickly than white people.

Published in the journal Social Science and Medicine, the study found that the difference in age can be up to three years and could shed new light on higher mortality rates in blacks.

The study used data on 7,644 black and white participants, aged 30 and over, from the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Each participant’s body-mass index, level of education, and whether they were present or former smokers were also noted.

The research team calculated each participant’s “biological age” by looking at 10 biomarkers that have been linked to aging, including C-reactive protein, serum creatinine, glycosylated hemoglobin, systolic blood pressure, and total cholesterol.

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The researchers then compared biological ages of blacks and whites as indicated from the biomarkers.

“Our results showed that, on average, blacks tend to be more than three years older biologically than whites,” Morgan Levine and Eileen Crimmins of the University of Southern California’s Davis School of Gerontology wrote.

“Blacks experience morbidity and mortality earlier in the life course compared to whites,” they continued.

“This is consistent with findings from previous studies reporting that blacks tend to have levels of biological risk factors that are indicative of someone significantly older chronologically.

“Such premature declines in health may be indicative of an acceleration of the aging process,” the gerontologists said.

Differences in biological age between blacks and whites appear to increase up until ages 60-65 and then decline.

The University of Southern California gerontology researchers said the cause for the biological age differences by race could be stress-related.

“Everyday stressors associated with being black may negatively impact physiological functioning and, under chronic exposure, accumulate over the lifespan and contribute to growing disparities in biological risk,” they wrote.

“Furthermore, if such environmental, behavioural, and mental factors contribute to an acceleration of the aging process, we would expect that persons who are aging the fastest should have the highest risk of mortality, and thus lower life expectancy.”

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Controversial research claims blacks age faster than whites

Trinidad newspaper investigating claims journalist benefitted from LifeSport programme contracts

PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad, Monday July 7, 2014, CMC – The Newsday newspaper Monday said it had launched an investigation into reports that one of its journalists had benefitted from contracts under the controversial LifeSport programme.

“Newsday has taken note of a story in …the Express newspaper in which one of our staff members is reported to have benefitted from a contract under the Life Sport programme.

“To the extent that this constitutes a serious conflict of interest, Newsday has begun its own inquiries into the matter,” the paper’s editor in chief, Jones P Madeira said in a statement.

The Sunday Express said that the journalist, through his company, had received a contract from the LifeSport programme.

The paper said the journalist had written stories about the death threat on the life of Ruth Marchan, the deputy director of Physical Education and Sport at the Ministry of Sport and the corruption she exposed about how TT$34 million (One TT dollar =US$0.16 cents) was paid from LifeSport funds Maths and English lessons to a well known educator, but no work was done.

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The coalition People’s Partnership government has initiated an audit into the controversial programme in which millions of dollars have been spent to get young people to turn away from a life of crime and be involved in social work and other programmes.

Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bissessar has removed the programme from under the portfolio of Sports Minister Anil Roberts and placed it under the Ministry of National Security.

The Minister of National Security Gary Griffith has said that the contracts awarded under the programme were the key to unraveling how millions of tax payers’ dollars were spent.

Giving one person tens of thousands of dollars in a brown paper bag with claims of handing it over to invisible participants because they have no bank account has to be a sick joke.

“If that is not a sign of financial mismanagement, questionable activity and incompetence, then I don’t know what is,” Griffith told the Sunday Express newspaper.

Madeira said Newsday remains confident that its approaches to related stories it has published on the Life Sport issues have not been compromised, “and assures its readers that the newspaper remains committed to the highest journalistic principles in the conduct of its editorial affairs”.

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Trinidad newspaper investigating claims journalist benefitted from LifeSport programme contracts

Kiprich, Danielle deny sex rumour - Refute Twitter claims of act during video shoot

CURTIS CAMPBELL, STAR Writer

Danielle DI (left) and KipRich. – Contributed

Dancehall artistes Danielle D.I and Kiprich have denied allegations made by a Twitter account called Kiprich Sting King, which claims that the artistes had sexual relations while filming the music video for their recent collaboration.

In a series of controversial posts, the Twitter account claims that the two recording artistes have been dating and even implies that Kiprich was the person who led to Danielle D.I’s failed relationship with former Jamaica and Stoke City star footballer, Ricardo Fuller.

“A me slap har wey from Fuller. Who a di reaaal baller now,” one of the tweets from Kiprich Sting King read.

The WEEKEND STAR contacted Kiprich for clarification and he said persons have been targeting his social network pages since the start of the year.

“This is a fake Twitter account, my real account is Kiprich Nuh Behaviour. I wouldn’t guh mek another twitter account fi talk things bout people. A just some mischievous people, me and D.I just do a song and video called Hear The Pree, and we bring out the concept in the video. When a man a guh call people name dem thing deh nuh good, me wouldn’t do that. That’s not my style,” he continued.

Get a grip

“The last time dem target mi Facebook a try get money from people and now this. Some people just idle and need something to do. Get a grip, get a hold a yu life man. I am a private person, I am more the sneaky type,” Kiprich said.

Danielle D.I also criticised the creators of the Twitter page, claiming that they were trying to hamper the progress of Hear The Pree.

“Are you serious, sex on set of a video? What kind of groupie business dat dem a pull off pan mi? This pass devastating. I woke up in such a good mood, I don’t know why people come up with this right now. Imagine you are trying to move forward and people are trying to drag you backwards. I have a very private life and I have moved on with my life, so I am deeply hurt to hear comments like this. Just stop being malicious and stop hating … oh God,” she said.

Danielle D.I and Kiprich recently released a raunchy trailer for their video for Hear Di Pree that will be officially released in July. She also has a new single titled, Heads Up produced by Sly and Robbie. Kiprich is also promoting the single Loyalty Over Royalty and will soon be leaving for Canada alongside Outaroad Records label mate Berri.

The Kiprich Sting King account now has over 2,000 followers, while Kiprich’s original account Kipponubehavior has over 25,000 followers.

Curtis.campbell@gleanerjm.com

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Kiprich, Danielle deny sex rumour - Refute Twitter claims of act during video shoot

Restaurant operator Brian Lumley claims ... Stylysh wasn"t banned

Curtis Campbell, STAR Writer

Restaurant operator Brian Lumley has denied allegations made by some websites that he banned dancehall artiste Stylysh from performing at his restaurant-entertainment venue ’689 By Brian Lumley’.

According to Lumley, whose restaurant is located on Trinidad Terrace, New Kingston, Stylysh and her team made arrangements to host her ‘Stylysh and Friends Concert’ at the venue via a third party, however, the nature of the event does not complement the goals of ’689 By Brian Lumley’.

The restaurant operator says he has no problems with dancehall music, but his restaurant is not the right place for a hardcore event.

misled

“The show wasn’t banned. They had an arrangement with a third party. They were misled by the third party, and they should be careful because I don’t want anybody calling my name. I am a typical Jamaican who loves every genre of music, but there is a time and a place for everything. There are guidelines which I have to follow as a corporate citizen and with my obligations, and I cant promote that show here,” he said, seemingly disturbed by the allegations.

Stylysh, on the other hand, told THE STAR that Lumley pulled the plug on her concert because of her promotional flyers.

“Everything was agreed on and we started promoting. However, when the flyer started to circulate, Brian Lumley started to complain … . But that’s just how he feels. He said he don’t want it in his venue, so we just moving it to a next venue,” Stylysh said.

The deejay, who is also signed to Tommy Lee Sparta’s Guzu Music, said she made changes to the flyer to satisfy the operators of the restaurant, but that didn’t work.

Stylysh’s concert will now be held on July 10 at Gentry Mingle and Mellow, located at Clock Tower Plaza, 10 Half-Way Tree. The show will also feature performances from Tommy Lee Sparta, Destiny Sparta, Tabeta Cshae, and Ishawna.

The event will commence at 8 p.m. and patrons will be charged $1,000.

Curtis.campbell@gleanerjm.com

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Restaurant operator Brian Lumley claims ... Stylysh wasn"t banned

Restaurant operator Brian Lumley claims ... Stylysh wasn"t banned

Curtis Campbell, STAR Writer

Restaurant operator Brian Lumley has denied allegations made by some websites that he banned dancehall artiste Stylysh from performing at his restaurant-entertainment venue ’689 By Brian Lumley’.

According to Lumley, whose restaurant is located on Trinidad Terrace, New Kingston, Stylysh and her team made arrangements to host her ‘Stylysh and Friends Concert’ at the venue via a third party, however, the nature of the event does not complement the goals of ’689 By Brian Lumley’.

The restaurant operator says he has no problems with dancehall music, but his restaurant is not the right place for a hardcore event.

misled

“The show wasn’t banned. They had an arrangement with a third party. They were misled by the third party, and they should be careful because I don’t want anybody calling my name. I am a typical Jamaican who loves every genre of music, but there is a time and a place for everything. There are guidelines which I have to follow as a corporate citizen and with my obligations, and I cant promote that show here,” he said, seemingly disturbed by the allegations.

Stylysh, on the other hand, told THE STAR that Lumley pulled the plug on her concert because of her promotional flyers.

“Everything was agreed on and we started promoting. However, when the flyer started to circulate, Brian Lumley started to complain … . But that’s just how he feels. He said he don’t want it in his venue, so we just moving it to a next venue,” Stylysh said.

The deejay, who is also signed to Tommy Lee Sparta’s Guzu Music, said she made changes to the flyer to satisfy the operators of the restaurant, but that didn’t work.

Stylysh’s concert will now be held on July 10 at Gentry Mingle and Mellow, located at Clock Tower Plaza, 10 Half-Way Tree. The show will also feature performances from Tommy Lee Sparta, Destiny Sparta, Tabeta Cshae, and Ishawna.

The event will commence at 8 p.m. and patrons will be charged $1,000.

Curtis.campbell@gleanerjm.com

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Restaurant operator Brian Lumley claims ... Stylysh wasn"t banned

Malicious and false claims made to sully Wisynco brand

By Al Edwards

Sunday, February 02, 2014    

Local manufacturer Wisynco last week was the target of a malicious and vile social media campaign to denigrate its name and ruin its reputation.

Spurious and unsubstantiated claims were made that its products were laced with Aids-infected blood in an attempt to cause panic and prevent the public from purchasing Wisynco goods.

The Group has made strenuous efforts to reassure the public that all its products are of the highest standard and comply with rigourous hygiene and quality tests and can be safely consumed. Wisynco is conducting a thorough investigation into the matter.

Assistant Commissioner of Police Justin Felice, who is head of the Financial Investigation Division (FID) said: “I have not heard of this incident but it possibly could be a criminal offence. Wisynco should get its lawyers to write a letter of complaint and send it into DCP Carl Williams on the 8th Floor of the South Tower on Hope Road.”

It is not established whether this act was done as corporate sabotage, or by a disgruntled employee or for retaliatory purposes to avenge a perceived wrong or slight.

On Friday, the Constabulary Communication Network issued a news release which read: “The Police are at this moment denying reports on social media that they are investigating reports of contaminated products at Wisynco Group Limited.

“At no time was the police ever called in to investigate any such case at Wisynco. There is also no report on any of our records from anyone about any issue concerning the consumption of any Wisynco products. The attribution to the Police involvement in investigating this rumour is malicious to both the Police and Wisynco.”

Former Deputy Police Commissioner and now head of Shields Crime & Security Consultants Limited, Mark Shields said: “If a criminal investigation were to be pursued the burden then becomes establishing beyond a reasonable doubt that this act was committed in order to attempt to deprive the company of money, or to blackmail it, or that violence was threatened, or there was some kind of extortion. There is certainly a case for civil action where the burden is proof is perhaps not so high. It is clearly wrong and actionable to maliciously seek to damage a company’s reputation.”

Wisynco has been operating in Jamaica for almost fifty years and is one of the stalwarts of the local manufacturing sector. It has the largest warehouse and distribution centre in the country. It produces local brands such as Wata, CranWata Bigga and Boom. It manufacuturers under licence Coca-Cola, Schweppes, and for Dr Pepper the Hawaiian Punch brand.

The Group employees 2,000 employees and is one of the largest taxpayers in Jamaica, re-investing all its profits in the country. It is getting set to make a $1 billion investment in a production and energy operation, which will be a game changer. It is renown for being one of the best sponsors of cultural and social events.

This attempt to malign and discredit Wisynco would jeopardise jobs from one of the largest local employers in Jamaica and one of its best corporate citizens.

Chairman of Wisynco, William Mahfood, speaking with Sunday Finance said: “If there ever were problems with any of our products, services or operations, we would be the first to go to the public, not just through social media but the formal media and be upfront and forthright about what we are being confronted with. We take our obligations to Jamaica and all our customers very seriously.”

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Malicious and false claims made to sully Wisynco brand

Claims of concern

CHIEF Technical Director in the Labour and Social Security Ministry Errol Miller says the entity will be looking into allegations of Jamaican migrant workers harassing women in the town of Leamington in Ontario, Canada, made in a media report on Monday.

While it also fingers seasonal workers from other countries, the National Post report makes specific mention of Jamaican workers.When contacted yesterday, Miller told the Jamaica Observer that he was unaware of the claims.“The report you indicated is a report I am hearing for the first time and it is a report that we would have to investigate first of all, to ensure the authenticity and, also, to see what we could put in place to obviate those claims,” he told the Observer.“They (claims) are ones of concern and it is something that we will definitely look into,” he added, noting that the investigations would involve speaking to the ministry’s own liaison officers in Canada.“That’s the first place we would have to start to ensure that the claims are, in fact, true,” Miller said.The Observer was told that Labour Minister Derrick Kellier as well as Permanent Secretary Alvin McIntosh were off the island.According to the article, Jamaicans and other nationals from the eastern Caribbean make up 20 per cent of five to six thousand migrant workers who arrive in Leamington to help the area live up to its reputation as the “tomato and greenhouse capital of Canada”.It said the lion’s share of the workers come from Mexico, while there are also Filipino, Mexican Mennonite, and nationals from various parts of Asia in the mix.“And every year, according to Leamington Mayor John Paterson, local women in the rural lakeside town of about 28,000 have complained of sexual harassment on the part of the seasonal labourers — unwelcome sexual invitations, persistent queries about relationship status, comments about physical appearance. Some women even reported workers grabbing their genitals and making lewd gestures at them,” the National Post reported.The report said the harassment has led women to avoid downtown and certain stores, particularly on weekends, “when the workers are more likely to be cashing their cheques, doing laundry and shopping for groceries”.According to the report, there were more complaints than usual this year, which led Paterson “to ask the police services board in late August how to address sexual comments and aggressive tendencies” of some migrant workers employed in Leamington.Paterson is reported as saying that he had worked quietly with the previous Jamaican liaison officer for temporary foreign workers to address the issue, “but nothing changed”.Meanwhile, the report stated that Vernon Melhado, deputy chief liaison officer with the Jamaican liaison office in Leamington, did not return calls to the National Post, “but told the Windsor Star his office had not received one complaint about sexually aggressive behaviour”.Meanwhile, it said Jamaica’s chief liaison officer for Foreign Agricultural Management Services, Larkland W Stone, did not offer a comment on the matter.

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Claims of concern

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

Minnesota dad claims third of US$448m Powerball jackpot

ROSEVILLE, Minnesota. (AP) — A Minnesota man claimed his third of a US$448 million Powerball jackpot on Thursday, wasting no time before revealing his good fortune to the world and saying he had “been waiting for this day my entire life.”

Paul White, 45, a project engineer from Ham Lake, said his family often gave him a hard time for frequently playing the lottery — and he had a tough time convincing many of them earlier Thursday that he had won.“The only person who didn’t feel I was “BSing” them was my mother,” a beaming White said at a news conference where he was joined by his girlfriend, brother and two colleagues.White said he’ll take a lump sum, which will amount to US$58.3 million after taxes. Despite the minuscule odds of a jackpot win, White said he often daydreamed about how he’d spend his winnings if he ever won.“I’ve totally been waiting for this day my entire life,” he said, lamenting that he has to wait two weeks for his money. “Start the clock right now,” he said, eliciting laughs.The other two winning tickets were sold in New Jersey, including in a coastal community that is still recovering from Superstorm Sandy. But no one had stepped forward to claim either of those two shares as of Thursday afternoon.White said he learned of his life-changing luck Thursday morning after his girlfriend called to say a winning ticket had been sold in Minnesota. He checked the 10 he bought and was elated to find one that matched all six numbers.Mega-jackpot winners often wait days or weeks before claiming their prizes, giving them time to prepare and make legal arrangements. White said he had an attorney and financial adviser in mind, and wasn’t afraid of the publicity — noting the New Jersey winners hadn’t stepped forward yet.“I hope I’m yesterday’s news as soon as possible,” he said.White said he is divorced and has a 16-year-old son and 14-year-old daughter. He said he always worried about taking care of his children’s college and medical costs, and was happy to leave those worries behind. “All those things gone, period. You don’t have to worry about that again.”White works for a Minneapolis electrical contractor that had worked on major projects around the area including the Twins’ Target Field and the University of Minnesota’s TCF Bank Stadium. White said his working days “are over,” although he said he planned to help his boss, Ron Bowen, finish some projects before quitting. Referring to Bowen, who was sitting nearby, he quipped: “He started the day my boss. He’s going to end the day my chauffeur.”The New Jersey tickets included one sold in a supermarket in a Little Egg Harbor, NJ, a coastal community hit hard by Superstorm Sandy last year.“Hopefully, it’s somebody who lives in the area, and this is their reward for having gone through this,” said Carol Blackford, a retiree whose home in Little Egg Harbor was flooded with knee-high water during Sandy last October. “And if they want to share, we’re here.”But even if the winner wasn’t someone devastated by the storm, the community will benefit from the jackpot.Phil Weber, director of the Acme Markets store where the winning ticket was sold, said Thursday that the store would donate $10,000 in gift cards to local charities. Weber said some of the store’s employees are still out of their homes more than nine months after the storm. The store itself has been making donations since Sandy, Weber said.He said he has not learned yet what the store’s share will be.The third ticket was sold in a Super Stop & Shop store in South Brunswick, NJ.The winning numbers drawn Wednesday night were: 05, 25, 30, 58, 59 and Powerball 32. During the telecast, Powerball officials announced the jackpot that was pegged at US$425 million previously in the day had grown amid a buying frenzy.Each winning ticket was worth US$86 million before taxes, or $58.3 million after taxes, if taken in a lump sum. They are worth US$149.4 million over 30 years if the winners choose the annuity option.

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Minnesota dad claims third of US$448m Powerball jackpot

CPL: Al Hasan claims six as Barbados Tridents defeat TT Red Steel

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC) — Bangladeshi all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan melted the Trinidad Red Steel with a sensational spell of left-arm bowling which set-up a four-wicket victory for Barbados Tridents in their CPL T20 match at Kensington Oval Saturday night.

Al Hasan grabbed six wickets for six runs in a four-over spell that mesmerised and crippled the opposition, before the Tridents were made to fight off  West Indies paceman Fidel Edwards , who took five for 22, and threatened to spoil their celebrations.Batting first after winning the toss, the Red Steel scored a less than adequate 52 off 12.5 overs. The Tridents wobbled and responded with 53 for six off eight overs.Edwards, with a lively burst of speed and accuracy, rattled the Trident’s top order as he picked up the wickets of openers Dwayne Smith (6) and Johnathan Cater (14) and middle-order batsmen Kyle Mayers (3), wicketkeeper Umar Akmal (0) and Shakib Al Hasan (1) before captain Keiron Pollard and Ashley Nurse stemmed the mid-pitch drama and guided the Tridents to their third win in three matches.Before an expectant capacity crowd, the Red Steel never showed signs of controlling the match. They seemed uninspired for the encounter and once openers Davy Jacobs and Justin Guillen were sent back with 15 runs on the board off three overs, wickets tumbled regularly as the Tridents ripped apart the opposition.They were 25 for three by the fifth over, with pacemen Jason Holder and Shannon Gabriel sharing the early wickets, before man-of-the match Al Hasan began his demolition job.Producing bounce and turn on a wicket that offered assistance, the left-arm spinner exposed the shortcomings of the opposing batsmen as they groped uncertainly and the Red Steel struggled to post 50 runs on the board.The last eight wickets perished for just 27 runs and the innings collapsed when Sulieman Benn lofted the fifth ball of Gabriel’s third over to Johnathan Carter.Chasing what appeared to be an easy target, the Tridents were off to a flying start as aggressive opener Johnathan Carter hit 14 off six balls, including two big sixes off left-arm spinner Sulieman Benn, but once he was sent back by Edwards, the Tridents struggled to close out the match.From 25 for one in the second over, the Tridents slipped to 39 for six in the sixth over, losing five wickets for the addition of 14 runs.Pollard and Nurse brought some stability to the innings and Nurse sealed the victory for the Tridents as he whipped the last ball of Edwards’ fourth over for a boundary.Like our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/jamaicaobserverFollow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/JamaicaObserver

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CPL: Al Hasan claims six as Barbados Tridents defeat TT Red Steel

Probe into Lamont injury claims

Claims by former Scotland full-back Rory Lamont that players are pressured to play through injuries is to be investigated by his home rugby union.

Lamont says treatment of concussions in particular is a ticking health time bomb waiting to explode worldwide.

But Scottish Rugby chief executive Mark Dodson expressed surprise at the suggestions by the now-retired Lamont.

“We’re right at the cutting edge of medical care and we mean to stay in that position,” said Dodson.

“We have a world-leading medical team led by Doctor James Robson, who is respected throughout the world and who’s a British Lions doctor.

“We look after our players extremely well and ensure these people are fit, looked after properly and only reintroduced to the field when they’re fit enough to do so”

Mark Dodson SRU chief executive “I’ll have a look at it and I’m sure James will.

“We look after our players extremely well and ensure these people are fit, looked after properly and only reintroduced to the field when they’re fit enough to do so.

“Moreover, we’re talking to the RIB at the moment about concussion protocols that exist and the experiment that’s taking place.”

Lamont failed to fully recover after breaking his leg against France in a 2012 Six Nations match and the 30-year-old former Glasgow Warriors full-back announced his retirement from rugby in April because of the injury.

He recalled the autumn Test against New Zealand in 2010 when he started the match nursing a hamstring injury and failed to finish the match.

“I didn’t feel that I could withdraw myself from that match,” he said.

“I was unsure if I was going to be able to make it through the game. I felt that I didn’t really have a choice if I wanted to keep on trying to be picked for Scotland and keep a good relationship with the coaches.”

Lamont said he had witnessed players cheating concussion tests in a bid to be back in action before they are safely ready.

“Unless people identify the issues and come out and actually speak about it then things aren’t going to change,” he said.

“At the moment, it’s a ticking time-bomb with the concussions. Sometimes you can be put under a huge amount of pressure, where you feel you have no other choice but to take the field, when you know there are possible consequences.”

Perthshire-born Lamont won 29 caps for Scotland after making his debut against Wales in 2005.

His first spell with Glasgow was from 2004 to 2007, when he scored 19 tries in 55 games before moving to Sale Sharks and then Toulon.

He left the French club to rejoin Glasgow in 2011 but only made six appearances in his second stint.

“I spent a whole season with a broken scaphoid when I was at Toulon and I was refused a scan on it,” added Lamont. “They just kept playing it down as something insignificant, whereas effectively I was running the risk of arthritis in later life by not having it fixed.”

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Probe into Lamont injury claims

Probe into Lamont injury claims

Claims by former Scotland full-back Rory Lamont that players are pressured to play through injuries is to be investigated by his home rugby union.

Lamont says treatment of concussions in particular is a ticking health time bomb waiting to explode worldwide.

But Scottish Rugby chief executive Mark Dodson expressed surprise at the suggestions by the now-retired Lamont.

“We’re right at the cutting edge of medical care and we mean to stay in that position,” said Dodson.

“We have a world-leading medical team led by Doctor James Robson, who is respected throughout the world and who’s a British Lions doctor.

“We look after our players extremely well and ensure these people are fit, looked after properly and only reintroduced to the field when they’re fit enough to do so”

Mark Dodson SRU chief executive “I’ll have a look at it and I’m sure James will.

“We look after our players extremely well and ensure these people are fit, looked after properly and only reintroduced to the field when they’re fit enough to do so.

“Moreover, we’re talking to the RIB at the moment about concussion protocols that exist and the experiment that’s taking place.”

Lamont failed to fully recover after breaking his leg against France in a 2012 Six Nations match and the 30-year-old former Glasgow Warriors full-back announced his retirement from rugby in April because of the injury.

He recalled the autumn Test against New Zealand in 2010 when he started the match nursing a hamstring injury and failed to finish the match.

“I didn’t feel that I could withdraw myself from that match,” he said.

“I was unsure if I was going to be able to make it through the game. I felt that I didn’t really have a choice if I wanted to keep on trying to be picked for Scotland and keep a good relationship with the coaches.”

Lamont said he had witnessed players cheating concussion tests in a bid to be back in action before they are safely ready.

“Unless people identify the issues and come out and actually speak about it then things aren’t going to change,” he said.

“At the moment, it’s a ticking time-bomb with the concussions. Sometimes you can be put under a huge amount of pressure, where you feel you have no other choice but to take the field, when you know there are possible consequences.”

Perthshire-born Lamont won 29 caps for Scotland after making his debut against Wales in 2005.

His first spell with Glasgow was from 2004 to 2007, when he scored 19 tries in 55 games before moving to Sale Sharks and then Toulon.

He left the French club to rejoin Glasgow in 2011 but only made six appearances in his second stint.

“I spent a whole season with a broken scaphoid when I was at Toulon and I was refused a scan on it,” added Lamont. “They just kept playing it down as something insignificant, whereas effectively I was running the risk of arthritis in later life by not having it fixed.”

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Probe into Lamont injury claims

Burrell dismisses claims Reggae Boy tested positive

LOCAL football boss Captain Horace Burrell dismissed claims by a local media outlet that a senior national player has tested positive for a banned substance.

Speaking to reporters at the unveiling exercise for new Reggae Boyz coach, German Winfried Schafer at the JFF’s New Kingston office on Wednesday, said there was “absolutely no truth to the ugly rumour”, which surfaced at a time when the nation is struggling to come to grips with swirling news that two of its top athletes — Asafa Powell and Sherone Simpson — were among a total of five who have reportedly failed drug tests.“I have no report of that (of a Reggae Boy) failing any drug test… there’s absolutely no truth to the claims that a player has been tested positive for a substance that is on the list of banned items,” Burrell said.The president of the JFF stated that the matter he has been made aware of, from a medical perspective, is that FIFA doctors had expressed concerns with the method an “approved medication” was administered to players on recent overseas assignments in the ongoing CONCACAF World Cup qualifying campaign.“I think the method of administering of medication by our doctor is what is in question here… some players were treated intravenously, and apparently that is not allowed.“Maybe the player was to be given a tablet rather than [being] given the same medication through the vein, so it was just a matter of method,” explained Burrell.He said that FIFA doctors, who he claims are present at international official competition matches, may not have been satisfied with the manner in which some players were treated.“As you know, there are FIFA doctors at these games who would send in their reports, so maybe realising that our doctor may have given a player, or players, fluid through the veins, thought maybe that was not right,” Burrell noted.He said that chairman of the JFF Medical Committee and a member of CONCACAF’s Medical Committee, Dr Guyan Arscott, is looking into the matter with a view of clarifying and putting the matter to rest.“In another few days, Dr Arscott should be ready with his report, as he is now meeting with all the relevant people, and I am sure he will issue a statement in due course to clear all of this up,” Burrell said.At the same time, the football boss urged the media to be very careful how they report on sensitive matters, saying it must be uncompromising in its pursuit of truth and responsible journalism.“I must say I am incensed, because our media practitioners need to be more responsible… one can’t just feel irie and send out any report you like,” Burrell said, taking a swipe at a popular local radio station that reported the story that a local-based Reggae Boy was tested positive for a banned substance.Like other athletes, footballers too are targets for random testing by anti-doping officials.

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Burrell dismisses claims Reggae Boy tested positive