Is Rihanna in a league of her own?
With the constant comparison to Beyonce, Rihanna finally set the record straight in an interview with Look Magazine. Talking about her competitors and not surprising of her confidence when she stated that she’s in a league of her own
“There’s nobody really in my league. But there’s competition everywhere. The whole music industry is competition. There are people who like other artists, those who like me and others who like both. Beyonce is a great artist and I feel honored to be mentioned in the same sentence, but we’re different performers with different styles.”
Having being name the Top 10 Selling Digital Artists of All Time, Rihanna might have a point that there is really no one in her league.
When asked what artist she admires, Rihanna replied,
"Madonna. She reinvented her style and music with success every single time, and at the same time remained a real force. She’s fantastic.”
Nicki Minaj maybe getting her own Fashion Line
After coming out with a line of lipstick and a nail polish collection, Nicki Minaj maybe venturing into fashion, this according to The New York Times
Nicki's manager Cortez Bryant revealed he is trying to is to negotiate a deal with a fashion house so Nicki can sell her own line of clothes
Would you buy Nicki Minaj's Clothing?
IMF approves US$3.1 million disbursement to Dominica
The executive board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has approved a disbursement of an amount equivalent to SDR 2.05 million (US$3.1 million) under the rapid credit facility (RCF) for Dominica to help manage the economic impact of a series of natural disasters from July-September 2011. The Board’s approval enables the immediate disbursement of the full amount.
Dominica was hit by a number of natural disasters during the summer and fall of 2011, with major flooding and landslides damaging infrastructure and housing. The cost of reconstruction and rehabilitation is expected to be high at 6 1/2 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) and will weaken Dominica’s balance of payments.
The RCF, which provides rapid financial assistance for low-income countries with an urgent balance of payments need, does not require any program-based conditionality or review. However, economic policies are expected to address the underlying balance of payments difficulties and support policy objectives including macroeconomic stability and poverty reduction. Financing under the RCF carries zero interest (until end 2013), has a grace period of 5½ years, and a final maturity of 10 years. The Fund reviews the level of interest rates for all concessional facilities every two years.
Following the executive board’s discussion of Dominica, Min Zhu, deputy managing director and acting chair, stated:
“Dominica suffered significant infrastructure damage following torrential rains, flooding and landslides in the second half of 2011. The recovery and rehabilitation costs will be high, putting pressures on the fiscal and balance of payments positions.
“Fiscal policies will partially accommodate the near-term increase in spending following the natural disasters, while underlying policies are being appropriately refocused towards medium-term consolidation objectives. The authorities are committed to returning to robust primary surpluses over the medium term to ensure downward debt dynamics, by tackling pressures on current spending and strengthening the revenue base and collection. A strengthened fiscal policy framework will support the adjustment effort.
“Structural reforms are key to supporting the fiscal effort, improving growth prospects, and increasing Dominica’s resilience to external shocks. Reforms to boost external competitiveness and enhance the business climate will be necessary to promote private sector activity. Stronger financial sector policies will help tackle vulnerabilities in the regional and domestic financial systems, both in terms of financial institution health and their supervisory and regulatory environment.”
Caribbean News Now
St Kitts-Nevis police commissioner appeals to local media to be more responsible
Commissioner of the Royal St Christopher and Nevis Police Force, C. G. Walwyn, is urging the media in St Kitts and Nevis to be responsible and balanced in their reporting of crime in the Federation.
“I became concerned when I read an internet radio station’s website report of ’17 tourists robbed in the Federation’,” said the police chief in a statement on Wednesday.
Walwyn said the headline is very alarming if the report was true but the fact is that 17 tourists were not robbed in the Federation.
“Some members of a ship were dropped off in New Town to play soccer. While they were playing soccer and involved in the game, a young man believed to be from the area walked over to the unattended bags, took one and left. He was observed by one of the players leaving the area with the bag, but that player said he was so involved in the game, he did not alert the other players,” said Walwyn, adding: “There was no confrontation between the suspect and the owner of the bag. Because there was no confrontation (actual or implied) there was no robbery. The charge then would be larceny, based on the dollar value of the contents.”
Walwyn also refuted other news reports that masked men were involved in an incident on Tuesday at the Charles E. Mills Secondary School.
“It was students who were involved in the altercation,” said Walwyn, who added: “It is indeed very troubling to see media outlets publishing stories without first seeking clarification or verification.”
Walwyn said urged media houses need to be more responsible in publishing stories without having substantiated information.
“Just this week, there were three stories on one internet media outlet that publishes some stories without verifying the information,” said the police chief.
“Credibility is a word that should not be regarded lightly. Media houses that report unsubstantiated information should be concerned about their credibility,” said Walwyn.
He gave the assurance that the police have a duty to protect victims of crime and cannot give details of the incident “because it is either under investigation or the next of kin has not yet been notified.”
“As Commissioner, I want the media to be a part of the important role in fighting crime,” said Walwyn.
He said the police force’s press and public relations officer and other senior members are willing to provide any information requested as long as it does not compromise ongoing investigations.
Caribbean News Now
Grenada launches new booking engine
The Grenada Board of Tourism (GBT) and the Grenada Hotel & Tourism Association (GHTA) have jointly launched a new, and improved, booking engine on their respective websites which, it is expected, will bolster the island’s tourism industry.
The implementation of Regatta allows hotels, villas and other activity providers in Grenada to use the websites of the tourism board and hotel association to exhibit control as to exactly how they are promoted. It also comes with the capacity to attract a much higher volume of bookings through the various channels that are available.
“We have every intention of maintaining close relationships with our online travel agency (OTA) partners as well as our hotels,” commented Simon Stiell, Director of Tourism for Grenada. “But we are seeing impressive results from other Caribbean destinations that have implemented Regatta and this change in our online sales and marketing strategy makes perfect sense for us. Regatta’s powerful booking engine and destination marketing expertise is an attractive combination for any destination.”
Commenting on this development, executive director of the GHTA, Pancy Cross noted, “Our hotels are very excited about this project. Regatta has made itself very accessible and we are pleased about having a partner that can finally help us reach consumers at a reasonable cost.”
President of Regatta Travel Solutions, Ashwin Kamlani, stated, “There is much potential in Grenada, where the tourism industry is hungry for growth and waiting to take advantage of all of the new marketing tactics that are available on the internet. We are proud to have been chosen for this project.”
Caribbean News Now
Scammers, drug lords lose big bucks in Jamaica
Just under $1 billion in cash and other assets were confiscated primarily from drug dealers and persons involved in the lottery scam last year, the Financial Investigations Division (FID) of the Ministry of Finance has revealed.
Statistics released through the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) yesterday show that over the 12-month period, the FID seized 43 real estate properties, including houses and lands, valued at $588 million; 38 motor vehicles valued at $90 million; bank accounts and monetary instruments valued at $30 million and furniture and fittings valued at $3.5 million.
The assets were confiscated using the Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) and one FID insider told The Gleaner yesterday that they are being held by the State pending the outcome of a number of civil cases.
"The restraint prevents them (the assets) from being sold, transferred or in any way disposed of by an individual until these cases are completed," the FID insider explained.
However, the Government was able to keep more than $43 million in United States, British and Jamaican currencies that were seized by the FID over the same 12-month period.
The FID insider, while refusing to give details, said a majority of the real estate properties seized were located in a number of upscale communities in Kingston, Montego Bay and along the north coast.
The number and value of the assets confiscated by the FID last year exceeded 2010 when it seized 10 properties valued at $185 million and 33 vehicles valued at $85 million.
The FID was established in 2007 after POCA was passed into law, giving law-enforcement authorities the power to go after the proceeds of criminal activities.
REDjet defends flight cancellations
Low-fares airline REDjet will introduce three new routes this year, while cancelling more than 50 – a move Chief Executive Ian Burns said is not due to financial troubles.
Flights to Trinidad, Guyana, Jamaica and Barbados are among the 54 that would be affected when the changes are introduced from March 1
Burns said the airline is on budget and the adjustments would merely facilitate improved flight times.
“Flights are being cancelled but most are being put to a new flight time. Our market research shows that it was inconvenient for people to make it to the airport during high traffic times, especially in Trinidad and Jamaica,” Burns said.
Last November, the carrier’s largest Barbados investor, Ralph ‘Bizzy’ Williams, said excessive delays had sabotaged the airline’s progress, fuelling speculation that the low-fare model is unsustainable.
A leaked internal memo from the carrier’s customer service department stated that the flights would be cancelled for commercial reasons.
REDjet said in a statement that passengers can expect to benefit from new and more convenient flight times, and the launch of three new routes to two new destinations in time for Easter 2012.
The Barbados-based airline said it has added a third MD-80 aircraft to its fleet and hired additional pilots in preparation.
“These investments combined with the expansion of its call centre, maintenance department and operations team will enable the airline to comfortably deliver these new services and provide a safe and reliable operation for its passengers,” the airline stated.
“In addition, external factors such as traffic to and from the airport around flight times and capacity constraints at some airports around peak times of the day will be greatly improved,” it said further.
REDjet, which began serving the region in May last year, operates seven routes across the Caribbean and plans to launch up to eight new ones in 2012.
Bryant scores 40 points, Lakers beat Jazz in OT
Andrew Bynum wasn't on the court the first time the Los Angeles Lakers faced the Utah Jazz .
He made his presence felt Wednesday night, with five blocked shots, including a game-saver on Al Jefferson's short jumper with 1.9 seconds remaining in overtime as the Lakers held on for a 90-87 victory.
Kobe Bryant scored 40 points to lead the Lakers, including a pair of free throws with 0.7 seconds remaining for the final margin.
"Andrew kind of made of his own coverage on Al and we tried to keep telling him to get out of it," Lakers coach Mike Brown said. "But he didn't listen to us and whatever he did, worked. So I'm going to add it to my defensive package."
Jefferson, who was coming off a season-high 30-point effort against Cleveland on Tuesday, was held to 11 points on 5-of-17 shooting.
Paul Millsap led the Jazz with a season-high 29 points, hitting 14 of 24 shots.
The loss was the first at home for the Jazz this season and halted their five-game winning streak.
The Lakers embarrassed the Jazz in Utah's season-opener, winning by 25 even without Bynum on Dec. 27.
This one was close throughout, with Millsap's tip-in tying it at 78 with 21 seconds left in regulation.
Bryant, coming of a 48-point game Tuesday night at home against Phoenix, missed a shot at the buzzer that would have won it in regulation for Los Angeles.
Millsap then scored the first four points of overtime, but the Lakers fought back, with 3-pointers by Bryant and Pau Gasol.
"Pau's got a green light to shoot the 3," Brown said. "As you can tell, guys trust him. Kobe made a pass to him late in the game at a crucial point. To see him step and knock it down was huge for us."
Seven-foot Bynum came up even bigger.
He made just 5 of 13 shots, but his tip-in with 51 seconds left in OT put the Lakers ahead 88-87.
Millsap brought the Jazz within one, then after Bryant's miss, the Jazz found themselves with a chance to win.
Gordon Hayward had the ball and started toward the lane, only to pass it to Jefferson underneath.
Bynum was there.
"It was just a reaction," Bynum said about his block. "I'm lucky he went for the quick flip."
Hayward said he thought about shooting it himself.
"The clock's winding down, a final scramble and we didn't know what was going on," Hayward said. "There were 8 seconds left, so I got to make a play. Maybe I could have shot a 1-2 pullup, but I thought it was the right play, the right pass. We got a good look. Bynum just made a good play."
Bryant would block a long 3-point attempt by Devin Harris as the Jazz inbounded with 0.7 seconds remaining in OT.
The win was the first on the road for the Lakers (8-4), while Utah (6-4) is 5-1 at home.
"It felt good to get a road win here," Bryant said. "It's a very tough place to play and it was a huge test for us."
But even he wasn't so sure Gasol could knock down the 22-footer from the corner.
"Pau's been shooting them well in practice and coach has been urging me to trust him at the 3-point line," Bryant said. "I thought about passing it to him, it seemed like an eternity. But I said, `What the hell.'
"You think Tebow prays? When that ball left his hand, I must have said 30 Hail Mary's."
Gasol finished with 14 points. He was just 5 of 14 overall, but hit his only 3-point attempt - his first of the season.
"Tonight was not a very effective game on our part, for the most part," Gasol said. "But we continued to fight through it. We forgot about everything else and we made two big plays down the stretch with the put-back and the block and I was able to make a couple plays. Hopefully we'll get the bodies that we have injured right now and it will give us a deeper rotation."
If the Lakers were celebrating a little more than usual, they say they earned the right.
"It was a tough game. It's hard to get a win here. Back to back, getting in here late last night, going to bed late. It's something to be proud of as a team," Gasol said. "Hopefully, we'll get some sleep and get ready for another back-to-back."
The Jazz also left feeling pretty good despite the loss, saying they are a different team than the one that faced the Lakers in the opener.
"We kept playing hard, didn't give up," Jefferson said. "It's one of those games at the end of the day we wish we could have won, but we could walk out with our head up. We played hard until the end. We just got to get ready for New Jersey."
The Jazz face the Nets on Saturday in a game that marks the return of Deron Williams for the first time since he was traded away last February.
"We're coming, we're getting better," Jazz coach Tyrone Corbin said. "We played against a good team tonight. They were a little bit better but our effort was great."
Australian Open 2012: Ward, Robson & Broady win in qualifying
Britain's James Ward, Laura Robson and Naomi Broady won their opening matches in qualifying for the Australian Open in Melbourne.
Ward resumed a set down against Spain's Inigo Cervantes-Huegun after rain stopped play on Wednesday, and fought back to win 6-7 (2-7) 7-6 (7-3) 6-1.
Robson began her campaign with a 6-3 6-4 win over American Melanie Oudin after converting her 10th match point.
Naomi Broady opened with a 6-4 5-7 6-3 win over Ashley Weinhold of the USA.
Ward, the 32nd seed in qualifying, had looked in trouble after losing a tight first set on Thursday but won the second when play resumed and dominated the decider. The British number two next faces Czech Ivo Minar.
Robson, seeded 14th, was cruising at 5-0 in the second set against 2009 US Open quarter-finalist Oudin before a nervous period when she twice dropped serve.
But the Melbourne-born Londoner held her nerve at the third time of asking and she will next face Italy's Anna Floris.
Players have to win through three rounds of qualifying to reach the main draw.
Andy Murray has been seeded fourth in the men's singles, while three British women have qualified as of right for the main draw - Elena Baltacha, Anne Keothavong and Heather Watson.
Former world number one Lleyton Hewitt has been given a wildcard into the main draw, which takes place at 2300 GMT on Thursday ahead of the start of play on Monday 16 January.
There are two all-British pairings in the men's doubles draw, Colin Fleming and Ross Hutchins, and Jamie Delgado and Jonny Marray.
Jamie Murray partners Australian Paul Hanley, while Ken Skupski is playing with Belgium's Xavier Malisse.
Keothavong is the only British woman in the doubles competition, playing with Germany's Mona Barthel.
Nathan Robertson & Jenny Wallwork beaten at Malaysian Open
British duo Nathan Robertson and Jenny Wallwork lost to Indonesia's Danny Bawa Chrisnanta and Yu Yan Vanessa Yeo in round two of the Malaysian Open.
The British pair had beaten compatriots Chris Adcock and Imogen Bankier in round one on Wednesday - a major boost in the battle for an Olympic place.
But they could not build on that strong start, going down 21-13 21-17 to Chrisnanta and Yeo on Thursday.
Robertson and Wallwork defend their English national title next month.
They are currently the third-ranked British mixed doubles pair, behind Adcock and Bankier and Gabby White and Robert Blair.
Only the highest-ranked British pair are guaranteed a place at this summer's Olympic Games in London, unless the second-ranked duo are also in the world's top eight.