Honduras buries victims of deadly Comayagua prison fire
Relatives of the victims of Tuesday's prison fire in Comayagua, Honduras have been mourning the dead.
Funerals have been held across the country for those whose bodies were released by forensic investigators.
Officials said the number of dead had risen to 358 after two badly burned victims died in hospital.
Honduran President Porfirio Lobo has ordered a safety review of all prisons as experts try to establish the causes of the blaze in the Comayagua prison.
Pathologists continue to try to identify the bodies of the victims, but said many were so badly burned they could only be identified through DNA testing.
So far, only 18 bodies have been released to their families for burial.
Deadly conditions
Of the 358 people who died, all but one were inmates. The other was the wife of a prisoner who had come to visit her husband.
Forensic experts from Chile, El Salvador, Guatemala and Mexico have joined their Honduran colleagues to try to speed up the identification process.
The United States has sent a team from its Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) to help with the investigation into the causes of the fire.
ATF team member Jose Oquendo said they would stay "until the investigation is concluded, however long that may take".
The Honduran Ministry of Public Affairs said there had been 852 people inside the prison when the fire broke out on Tuesday.
The prison was at double its capacity and there were only six guards on duty.
Survivors described how they desperately struggled to save themselves as firefighters tried to find the guards who had the keys to the cells.
The prison had no emergency evacuation plan.
President Lobo said he would ensure measures would be taken to improve the situation in the country's 24 prisons, which hold more than 13,000 inmates.
Latvia rejects making Russian an official language
Latvians have resoundingly rejected the option of making Russian the country's second official language, results from a referendum indicate.
About two-thirds of those registered voted, the election commission said, many more than in previous polls.
The referendum, initiated by a Russian speakers' movement, has exposed deep fault-lines in Latvia.
Ethnic Russians, who make up about one-third of Latvia's population, have long complained of discrimination.
But many ethnic Latvians believe the referendum was an attempt to encroach on the country's independence.
It was initiated by the Russian-speakers' movement, Native Tongue, which collected signatures from more than 10% of voters to force a ballot.
Officials said that with more than 90% of votes counted, 75% of votes cast in Saturday's referendum were against the proposal.
Turnout was about 69%, which officials say was considerably higher than expected.
'Absurd' referendum
Learning Latvian was a prerequisite for citizenship in the years after the country split from the Soviet Union two decades ago
But many Russian-speakers resisted, and some 300,000 remain without citizenship, which means they cannot vote in elections, hold public office or work in government institutions, the Associated Press reports.
"I think that over the past 20 years Russian residents of Latvia have been humiliated by authorities, by endless attempts either to assimilate or make them second-class citizens," Vladimir Linderman, co-chairman of Mother Tongue, told AP. "So this is our answer."
The referendum has been described as "absurd" by Latvian President Andris Berzins, who said most people were more concerned with the country's recovery from a severe recession.
He pointed out that the government funds own-language schools for minority groups such as Russians.
"There's no need for a second language. Whoever wants, can use their language at home or in school," he said.
Latvia gained independence from Moscow in 1991 after half-a-century of Soviet rule. It joined the European Union in 2004.
Stars mourn Whitney Houston at hometown service
Stars, family and friends mourned Whitney Houston in a spirited funeral service at her hometown church on Saturday, a week after the sudden death of the singer whose spectacular voice made her one of the biggest pop stars of her era.
A choir had guests swaying to gospel music in the crowded New Hope Baptist Church in Newark, where Houston first honed her wide vocal range as a young choir singer with her mother Cissy Houston, a backup singer for Aretha Franklin.
"Whitney returns home today to the place where it all began," said actor Kevin Costner, who starred opposite Houston in the 1992 hit film, "The Bodyguard." He urged those around the world to "dry our tears, suspend our sorrow -- and perhaps our anger -- just long enough, just long enough to remember the sweet miracle of Whitney."
Houston, who died in a Beverly Hills hotel room last week, recorded stirring love songs and vibrant dance tunes during a 30-year career that peaked with her 1992 signature hit "I Will Always Love You" and paved the way for a generation of singers that followed her.
During the service her cousin and famed soul singer Dionne Warwick introduced a host of soul, gospel and pop music greats from the past and present, including Alicia Keys who said "it was so obvious the way she just crept into everybody's heart" before performing the song "Prelude to a Kiss."
Influential Hollywood actor and producer Tyler Perry talked about Houston's "grace that led her all the way to the top of the charts," before adding that now, "she is resting, singing with the angels."
Gospel singers who performed at the service included singer Kim Burrell and Donnie McClurkin who sang a powerful rendition of "Stand" while the choir and church stood and swayed.
Houston was among the greatest singers of the 1980s and 1990s, but her personal life and marriage to singer Bobby Brown was tumultuous. She admitted to heavy use of cocaine, marijuana, alcohol and prescription pills.
Her death at age 48 shocked her family, fans and the music industry. Houston was found underwater in a hotel bathtub on the eve of the music industry's Grammy Awards. A cause of death has yet to be determined.
Record producer Clive Davis, who discovered and guided Houston throughout her career spoke at the service, which Oprah Winfrey and Mariah Carey also attended.
Houston's family decided against a public memorial, as was done for pop star Michael Jackson after his 2009 death, but they agreed to allow the service to be broadcast live by television networks and on the Internet.
Many of Houston's fans in the past several days have left flowers, cards and balloons dedicated to the singer who became a global star with her 1985 debut album that included the hits "Saving All My Love For You," "How Will I Know" and "Greatest Love Of All."
There was a heavy police presence outside the funeral and streets were cordoned off. Police have urged fans to stay home and watch the funeral on the Internet or television, but some turned up early outside police checkpoints to get as close as they could to the late singer.
"She meant so much to me. I used to literally sit in my room and sing her songs," said Wendy Saunders, who drove from Detroit to pay her respects to Houston. Renee Taylor, from Baltimore, held a sign, "You gave us more love than we will ever need."
GOSPEL AND SOUL
Houston grew up surrounded by gospel and soul music legends like Franklin and Warwick. She later forged new territory for a black female artist who brought R&B and gospel touches into pop music's mainstream.
After her debut, her popularity grew exponentially with her second album, "Whitney" (1987), with all four singles - "Didn't We Almost Have It All", "So Emotional", "Where Do Broken Hearts Go" and "I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)" - hitting No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Her music videos featuring her 1980s style and innocent, fun-loving image made her wildly popular around the world. In the 1992 movie "The Bodyguard," co-starring Costner, Houston played a character not far removed from her real self: an international singing sensation coping with fame.
She made other films including "The Preacher's Wife," but the 15-year period when she was married to singer Brown coincided with a decline in the quality and frequency of her albums. The couple, who have an 18-year-old daughter, Bobbi Kristina Brown, divorced in 2007.
Houston's powerful voice suffered in recent years. On her last world tour in 2010, she struggled to hit high notes.
She spoke publicly about her struggles with addiction. In a 2002 interview, TV journalist Diane Sawyer asked Houston what was the "biggest devil" among her failings. Houston answered: "Nobody makes me do anything I don't want to do. So the bigger devil is me, I am either my best friend or my worst enemy."
-Yahoo
More emphasis on CARICOM not ALBA, says Grenada PM
Caribbean leaders should place more emphasis on the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) instead of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our Americas (ALBA), said Tillman Thomas, prime minister of Grenada.
Speaking at a press conference held at the Grenadian Consulate in Toronto on Friday, Thomas said that his country only has observer status in ALBA at the moment and he believes that a nation with strong values is more important than money.
ALBA is made up of Venezuela, Cuba, Bolivia, Nicaragua, Dominica, Antigua and Barbuda, Ecuador and St Vincent and the Grenadines and was in the news in a Caribbean context recently when leaders of all eight countries reportedly agreed to block any ships flying the Falkland Islands flag from docking in their ports.
At an ALBA summit in Caracas on February 4, participating heads of state and government approved a special agreement to back Argentina’s call for the restoration of the British Overseas Territory claimed by Argentina as Las Malvinas to Argentinean sovereignty.
The three Commonwealth Caribbean members of ALBA later backtracked on the reported agreement.
ALBA itself is perceived by some regional observers to be another attempt by Venezuela’s President Hugo Chavez to export his particular brand of socialism to the Caribbean and increasingly close ties between Venezuela and Iran have also raised some concerns about subversive and propaganda activity, terror and smuggling in what is often referred to as “America’s backyard.”
When asked about policies and programs in place to halt the problem of increasing crime that is now one of the main challenges threatening economies and livelihoods in Caribbean countries, Thomas expressed support for the Peaceful Caribbean Conference scheduled to be held in Barbados on April 20, which will bring together heads of government, criminologists, clergy, intellectuals and diplomats in order to focus on solutions to combat the ravaging influence of crime in the region.
By Rebecca Theodore
Caribbean News Now contributor
Dominican Government backs Argentina in Falklands dispute
Argentina Foreign Relations minister Héctor Timerman said his country won’t use troops to solve the century-old dispute with Great Britain over the Falklands Islands, during a meeting with president Leonel Fernandez , who stated Dominican Republic’s support to the South American nation.
Dominican par Carlos Morales, who also took part in the meeting, reiterated his country’s "firm support” for Argentina.
Timerman said his country hasn’t thought about a military solution, an instead will solve the standoff with Latin America’s support.
Timerman affirmed that Argentina will reclaim the islands it calls Malvinas peacefully, for which it has made several offers of dialogue to Great Britain, but noted that London hasn’t responded.
“Argentina is very proud of Dominican Republic’s support, we’ve just spoken on it with president Leonel Fernandez, who has said the historical support is now and will be in the future. This is an issue of colonialism and colonialism of the 19th century cannot continue in effect into the 21st century. We depart with the satisfaction to see the Dominican Republic once again working against colonialism, and for Latin America’s unity,” the official said.
-DominicanToday
First Lady’s alleged European bank account spurs media frenzy
An allegation by a Santiago TV program that the vice presidential candidate of the ruling PLD party and First Lady Margarita Cedeño has more than 43 million Euros in an European account has sparked a media frenzy Friday.
The flap over an allegation by Marcos Martinez, host of the program Diario 55 that Cedeño has that account the Denmark Bank Danske is today’s headline in very major newspaper and the buzz in social networks.
The First Lady yesterday, who announced that she’ll take Martinez to court, called the allegation a “great infamy” that will not continue and “is willing to clarify with all consequences.”
She said she expects Martinez to prove “in good faith” and in court, what he said “on television, radio and in the social networks.”
-DominicanToday
Ray J and Bobby Brown Respond to Whitney Houston’s Death; Late Singer’s Funeral To Be Held Today
A week after the death of R&B/pop songstress Whitney Houston, her close friend Ray-J has broken his silence regarding the news-making tragedy.
In a released statement, Ray J expressed his sadness over Houston’s demise while noting how close he was to the influential vocalist.
“Over the past few days, I’ve tried to process the emptiness that I am experiencing. What my heart feels cannot be expressed in words,” stated the 31-year-old entertainer, who spent time with Houston days before her death. “The world lost an icon, but I lost my close friend.”
“Nippy, I miss you so much! You were so happy and full of love,” Ray J continued. “Your smile will live in my heart forever.”
News of Houston’s death has dominated headlines this week, with mourners voicing their grief via Twitter and Facebook and a surge in sales of he 48-year-old singer’s music. Houston died last Saturday (February 11) at a hotel in Beverly Hills. Authorities concluded that there were no indications of foul play and no obvious signs of trauma to Houston’s body after an autopsy was performed on her the following day. Media sources report the Grammy winner was found submerged in her bathtub by a member of her personal staff
An official cause of death for Houston will not be determined for weeks, in light of toxicology tests currently being done by the coroner’s office.
Houston’s funeral, which will be broadcast online and on BET, will take place today (February 18) at the New Hope Baptist Church in Newark, New Jersey. Among those expected to attend the private, invitation-only service are the singer’s godmother, Aretha Franklin, Ray J’s sister, Brandy, Clive Davis, Dionne Warwick, Kim Burrell, Cece Winans, Stevie Wonder, Alicia Keys, Donnie McClurkin, Rickey Minor, Tyler Perry, and Kevin Costner, Houston’s co-star in the movie, The Bodyguard. The Rev. Marvin Winans will preside over the funeral.
Despite reports of him being banned from attending the service, Houston’s ex-husband Bobby Brown will be at the funeral. On Thursday (February 17), Brown paid tribute to Houston while performing on tour with his former group New Edition in Upper Marlboro, Maryland.
“I’d like to say thank you for your prayers…I’d like to say thank you. Period. I’m gonna throw two up for Whitney,” Brown said while throwing up a peace sign. “That’s my love.”
While his grief was apparent, Brown noted how important it is to not dwell on unpleasant events.
“Life is life. You have to move on sometimes,” he shared. “I love her like I love God.”
After paying his respects to Houston, Brown will return to the stage Saturday evening at a scheduled performance with New Edition in Uncasville, Connecticut, and Sunday (February 19) in Newark.
Machel sweeps Soca Monarch
Machel Montano retained his Power Soca Monarch crown at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port of Spain this morning. He was also crowned Groovy Soca Monarch.
Montano sang "Pump Yuh Flag" in the Power category and "Mr Fete" in the Groovy competition.
SOCA MONARCH RESULTS
Power
1. Machel Montano (Pump Yuh Flag)
2. Iwer George (No Pain)
3. Destra (Link Up)
4. Prophet Benjamin (Throw Wine) & Blaxx (Inside Ah Band)
Groovy
1. Machel Montano (Mr Fete)
2. Kerwin Du Bois (Bacchanalist)
3. Benjai (People's Champion)
4. Nadia Batson (No Pressure)
5. Kees Diffenthaller (Stress Away)
Singer Robin Thicke Busted for Marijuana Possession
R&B singer/songwriter Robin Thicke collected a drug possession charge while in New York yesterday, according to authorities.
The New York Daily News reports the vocalist was arrested early Friday afternoon (February 17) at 12:25 p.m. by patrol officers who saw him smoking a joint while sitting in a Cadillac Escalade near 3rd Ave. and E. 21st St., close to Gramercy Park.
Although there was another person in the vehicle, a police source stated Thicke was the only one arrested.
The singer was charged with possession of marijuana.
“He wasn’t driving,” a police source told the Daily News. “He was sitting in the car. He was arrested and a small amount of marijuana was recovered on him.”
Despite being arrested, another source said the 34-year-old entertainer was amiable throughout the process, adding that Thicke was taking pictures and signing autographs for officers.
Thicke was released after receiving a desk appearance ticket.
News of the singer’s run-in with the law comes as he promotes his fifth album, Love After War.
The offering, released in December, contains the hit title track as well as the Lil Wayne-featured “Pretty Lil’ Heart.”
Luciano's US visa restored
Reggae icon Luciano is finally free once more to spread his musical message in the United States. The artiste who has not set foot in the U.S., for over three years now, had his United States visa restored, and is now in Miami to do his first performance.
The Jamaican STAR spoke to Luciano's manager, Anthony Cargill, to confirm the reports of the restoration of the icon's visa, and according to Cargill, Luciano was preparing to board a flight to the U.S., at the time of the interview.
"Luciano is at the airport getting ready to board a flight to the U.S., as we speak, because we have a show in Miami," he said.
According to Cargill, the artiste is in the rebuilding process, and having the visa restored will make things easier.
"It is a great feeling that we can go out and deliver the message. The restrictions held us back but now we are ready to build back the thing. This is his first show in Miami in four years and we are going to make a good impression," he said.
Cargill also admitted that the absence of the visa was a major blow to Luciano's career; but maintains that the mission of 'the messenger' never halted globally.
"We could go other places like Europe and Africa which also have huge reggae markets, so we were able to continue spreading the positive message. But the truth is 40 percent of our shows normally come from the U.S., so on our part that was a blow, but we kept faith in the Almighty and it turned out favourable," he said.
He continued, "Luciano has a huge fan-base in America and worldwide, we have toured the 42 states already so it's just to re-ignite the positive mission now," he said.
Bottled in Nigeria
Cargill also cleared the air on reports that Luciano got bottled in Nigeria at the Rivers State Carnival, claiming the press blew the situation out of proportion.
"The issue was blown out of proportion by the press. It all had to do with wrong timing. It was a calypso festival so the youth dem did want the jump up thing, a few bottles were thrown but it was not a big thing like how the press made it look," he said.
Luciano was very busy at the time of the interview, however, he did spare a minute to comment on his current stroke of luck.
"I feel good to know that mi a guh duh Jah works because a long time dem a whol' mi back. I feel good for 2012, its Dennis Brown and Bob Marley month so right now I'm bubbling with reggae music. My fans I am not going to disappoint you. I have three new albums to release so it will be no hitching or glitching," Luciano said.
-THE STAR