Kanye West Launching Design Company DONDA
Hip-Hop star Kanye West has launched a new design company that will make “products and experiences” for people.
According to Kanye, the new company is called DONDA and will have 22 different divisions.
“DONDA is a design company which will galvanize amazing thinkers and put them in a creative space to bounce there dreams and ideas,” Kanye West tweeted.
The rapper/producer said that DONDA will hire architects, graphic designers, directors, producers, social media experts, publishers, lawyers, nutritionists, scientists, doctors, teachers, A&R’s, etc.
“We want to help simplify and aesthetically improve everything we see hear, touch, taste and feel.”
Kanye also clarified recent reports about his upcoming clothing line for women.
Kanye shot down recent reports that his upcoming line would be named “DW” after his mother, Dr. Donya West.
“The name of the line is Kanye West not DW,” Kanye tweeted. “The DW was a design element placed on the invite in homage to my mom.”
Kanye revealed that he was bankrolling his entire effort in the fashion world with the money he’s earned from hit albums like his latest with Jay-Z, Watch The Throne.
“You guys might think I have some type of backing for my line but I don’t,” Kanye said. “I did the first fashion show out of my own pocket and used the money I made touring to follow my passion. I’ve been working at this for 8 years now.”
The rapper has been living in multiple countries in pursuit of his passion, including Japan, France and now London, according to reports.
“For the first 16 or 17 years of my life the only thing I knew about my woman’s clothing was what my Mom would wear. I guess some critics would joke that I still don’t know anything LOL. The teachers said I couldn’t focus… I used to get kicked out of class for bringing dirty mags and drawing Nikeys in 4th grade.”
Kanye said that his worldwide fame has actually hurt him more than it has helped.
“Being a celebrity has afforded me many opportunities but has also boxed me in creatively,” Kanye revealed. “What good is fame and prestige if you can’t use it to help people… I want to help by doing what I know how to do best .. create.”
Octane breached contract, says promoter
Promoters of the Western Kite Festival are angered by the behaviour of deejay I-Octane at the show which took place on Sunday in Westmoreland.
Promoter of the show, Tia Rainford contacted The STAR yesterday following comments made by the deejay in Tuesday's publication of The STAR explaining the bottle-throwing incident which took place.
According to the story published, reports are that I-Octane's early exit from the stage during his set was what caused the bottles to be thrown. However, the artiste had a somewhat different account of what took place.
According to I-Octane, patrons had been waiting in the venue for his performance from 5 p.m. Popcaan performed earlier and so he decided to 'work' with Romain Virgo because there was only one functioning CD player. "Wi talk to the crowd and try get dem sympathy and dem a enjoy themselves. Then this one CD player stop and the crowd started asking for it to be fixed," he said. He then pleaded for the lights to be dimmed so he could see what was taking place in the crowd, but the lights were left on.
fling bottle
"Me is a man weh nuh just walk off a stage so but the tone mi neva like it. True dem vibe mi neva waan turn mi back and sup'm go gwaan. Mi just seh to dem seh since unuh nuh waan hear wah mi a seh mi a seh unuh work then. Di crowd get vex wid dem and start fling bottle," he said. The artiste said he was already on his way out of the venue when the incident took place.
Rainford, however, tells a slightly different version of the story. She said, "He was set to perform between 11 p.m., - 12 a.m. When he came to the venue he was there ready to perform at 11 and I asked him to hold off for a few. He wanted to perform before Romain Virgo and when Virgo was on stage he called him on to perform." According to Rainford, they were experiencing problems with the microphone which Octane knew about before going on stage.
Rainford said, "he went on stage and said 'who know dah selector boy yah? Him deserve a bottle fi dah mic yah." Rainford said Octane wanted a 'dark segment' but due to the set-up of the lighting system it was impossible to provide him with one. After being informed that a dark segment would not occur, Octane decided to cut his performance short. "He dropped the mic and while he was walking off bottle throw and he had to run for cover," Rainford said.
breach
She further explained that the artiste breached the contract signed when he only performed for 10 out of the 30 minutes promised. The artiste was paid in full for his performance.
She said, "Octane and his team needs to compensate me, he breached his contract with his short performance. The sound system got damaged as a result of the bottling and I have to compensate them for it. He was complaining backstage that he had to go back to Kingston cause he was booked for another show. They asked me to book rooms for them in Negril to stay overnight, I booked three rooms and paid for them and they didn't inform me that he wouldn't be using them. Only Ray Alexander stayed over, so all that money went down the drain."
She says Octane or his team has not contacted her since leaving the venue on Sunday. "Ray (Alexander) has to call me to apologise and compensate me," she added. "The reason bottles were thrown on stage was because Octane refused to do his performance. He dropped the mic on stage and didn't show respect for the patrons and promoters," she said.
Richie Stephens, Gramps Morgan dominate NY show
At the end of 2011 in New York, a gospel concert called End of Year Celebration takes place.
The production is highly anticipated, but this year, their was a twist which turned the show on its head.
Radio host Brother Gary and his team of promoters could not have expected secular artistes to have the impact they did but they were pleasantly surprised.
Sporting the look and feel of a major calendar event, organisers promised much and delivered even more as thousands descended on the venue on Utica Avenue on a warm, snowless December night.
Richie Stephens and Gramps Morgan - commanded those thousands in a fashion that befitted the professionals they are.
Stephens, who was stylishly attired, was warmly greeted by the packed pews. The veteran crooner went to work quickly, delivering a medley of gospel favourites that brought a spiritual vibe to the presentation. For his long-time fans, Stephens crooned Fight Back - a timely classic that was recorded years ago with his friend Garnet Silk, who died tragically in a fire at his home in 1993.
He earned a standing ovation for his heartfelt rendition of A Change Is Gonna Come and then poured his heart out on Live Your Life, his current number-one hit song, which was penned after the untimely death of his son, Copper Cat. After a work horse set, which included favourites like The Lord's Prayer, Yammo be There and Father, I Love You, Stephens returned for an encore and was joined by singer Gramps Morgan.
"Wow! The gospel concert in NYC was a wonderful blessing. I could feel every note coming from deep within me and the people just could not get enough. Glory be to God," Stephens said on his Facebook page soon after exiting the stage.
Gramps was also in fine nick and had the entire congregation waving Bibles, hands, flags - whatever they could find -as he took them down memory lane with the Morgan Heritage classic Down By The River. The song struck a responsive chord with Christians in the house who sang along word for word. Down By The River made way for a heartfelt rendition of Psalm 23 that was 'livicated' (dedicated) to incarcerated reggae superstar Buju Banton.
Wash the Tears from his debut album, Two Sides of My Heart, hit the sweet spot and was delivered with a sort of reverence rarely seen at reggae events.
The dancehall-tinged The Almighty brought the curtain down on an enthralling set that had the massive dancing and skanking in their seats.
Bahamas police crackdown promised in 2012
Commissioner of Police Ellison Greenslade has promised a sweeping crackdown on minor offenders in The Bahamas in addition to committing more resources to prevent and prosecute serious crimes, according to his 2012 policing plan, which was made public on the force’s website.
Greenslade has promised that the Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF) will target drug houses and the habitats of drug traffickers and peddlers.
“The full sanctions of the law will be applied against these nefarious activities,” said Greenslade.
The commissioner said the force will also target prolific car thieves and disrupt their activities at suspected and known "chop shops”.
The crackdown will also extend to those who play loud music, as well as those who sell alcohol to minors.
Greenslade also promised to encourage restrictions on the granting of licenses for music and dancing in public places, particularly in neighborhoods.
“Applicants will be encouraged to host their events at properly regulated indoor venues such as hotels, convention centers, and selected national venues,” said Greenslade.
He also promised to refuse permits to promoters of outdoor concerts “who indiscriminately create distress to communities and fuel social strife”.
Motorists operating vehicles under the influence of alcohol and illicit drugs will also be targeted this year, the commissioner promised.
The force will also crack down on people who have cars with tinted windshields and tinted side windows, Greenslade said.
“This infraction has serious adverse implications for law enforcement and allows criminals to move about without being detected by law enforcement officers and the general public,” noted the commissioner, who said police will also focus on motorists who defy the traffic light signals and run red lights with “perceived impunity”.
He also promised that the force will crack down on underage drivers who operate vehicles without a learner’s permit, and prosecute vehicle owners who permit this type of infraction.
The force will also target people driving over the speed limit and, “operators of heavy vehicles who travel with insecure loads and who cause damage to public property”.
The force also plans to reduce the high number of traffic fatalities by “prevention advice, the targeting of speeders, focusing on people who drink and drive, and the interdiction of persons who do not fasten their seat belts while in a moving vehicle”.
At least 276 people have been killed in traffic fatalities over the past six years, according to police statistics.
For those who have been targeted by criminals, the force plans to establish a distinct victim support unit (VSU) at each divisional police station on New Providence and Grand Bahama.
“These units will be responsible for following up with victims of crime and will provide then (victims and witnesses) updates at various stages of the investigations,” the plan pointed out.
The commissioner also said the RBPF will facilitate counseling and support for children whose parents, guardians, and relatives are arrested and incarcerated for the commission of a crime.
The force will also launch a cybercrime investigations unit (CIU) at the Central Detective Unit (CDU) to focus exclusively on computer, Internet and other forms of hi-tech crimes.
By Greenslade’s own admission, the 2012 plan also echoed many of the promises put forward in last year’s plan, such as increasing mobile patrols, the number of officers on the force, the number of detectives in specialized units and a refocus on crime hot spots in New Providence, Grand Bahama, and the Family Islands.
Greenslade also sent a familiar message to criminals.
“I again ask all persons that are involved in the unlawful possession of firearms, vehicular thefts, stabbings, armed robberies, breakings, drug peddling and all other acts of criminality to cease and desist,” he warned. “To parents, family members, and acquaintances of persons involved in the underworld of crime; do all in your power to encourage these individuals to make an about turn and join all law-abiding citizens in building a better Bahamas, where we can all live without the occurrence of crime and the fear of crime.”
Greenslade was expected to give an in-depth presentation of the 2012 policing plan on Wednesday.
Source=http://www.thenassauguardian.com
Fight against crime in St Kitts-Nevis to continue in 2012
The fight against crime in St Kitts and Nevis will continue in 2012. Prime Minister and Minister with responsibility for the Police and the Defence Force, Dr Denzil Douglas, said progress is being made in the fight against crime.
Commending Commissioner of Police C.G. Walwyn and the entire police force for their determined effort to take the streets back, Douglas said the efforts of the Defence Force and law enforcement agencies including the Customs Department have helped considerably in the fight against crime.
“Of course, that battle against crime is still ongoing and law enforcement agencies will continue to intensify their activities in fighting crime. The government, through the Anti-crime Unit in the Office of the Prime Minister will continue to support the work of the security forces by providing the appropriate legal and policy framework for the effective discharge of their crime fighting functions,” said Douglas.
He said there is the need to continue to train the security forces and to empower them to carry out their very challenging functions.
During 2011, some 40 police and defence force officers benefitted from training in crime scene management provided by the United States Embassy Force Detachment Program and the United States Naval Criminal Investigative Service. In addition, four officers from the Financial Intelligence Unit received training from the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) of the United States government in financial investigation, money laundering and intelligence gathering.
Douglas said work will continue to improve the physical facilities of the security forces.
The new Dieppe Police Station that was constructed through the assistance of the government of Mexico, was handed over in November, to serve the people living in communities from Harris to St Paul’s and ground has already broken in respect of a new police station in Tabernacle to serve the people living in communities from Lodge to Belle Vue.
British Virgin Islands to grant Taiwan visa-free entry
The British Virgin Islands (BVI) will be the 125th country or region to grant visa-free entry or landing visas to Taiwan passport holders, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) in Taipei said on Wednesday.
The details and when the privilege will take effect, however, will be announced after negotiations with the BVI government, the MOFA said in a press statement.
The statement noted that the visa-waiver program will follow the one adopted by the British government in March 2009.
The BVI is the sixth British overseas territory -- after Bermuda, Gibraltar, Turks and Caicos, St Helena, and Falkland Islands -- to establish such an agreement with Taiwan, it said.
The visa-free entry scheme should boost bilateral ties, increase cultural exchanges and encourage tourism, it added.
Although the BVI consists of a small population of 25,000, its tourism and financial service industries have made it one of the most thriving economic areas in the Caribbean, according to the MOFA.
Without Wade, Heat rout Pacers 118-83 behind James
The Miami Heat hardly missed Dwyane Wade on Wednesday night. LeBron James had a lot to do with that.
Now, the Heat can only hope both superstars won't be on the bench Thursday in Atlanta.
James had 33 points and 13 assists, Chris Bosh added 22 points and Miami routed the Indiana Pacers 118-83 on Wednesday even without Wade.
James also grabbed eight rebounds and the Heat turned up the defensive intensity minus their All-Star guard. Wade sat out with a sore left foot, and his status for Thursday's game at Atlanta is uncertain.
Wade, a six-time All-Star, injured his foot in the second quarter at Charlotte on Dec. 28. He missed the first 10 minutes of the third period but played regular minutes the rest of the game and in the two that followed. He skipped Wednesday's shootaround, though.
The Heat had a scare late in the third quarter when James went down underneath the basket with a left ankle injury. He also is questionable for Thursday.
"It's been better, but it feels OK right now," James said. "We'll see how I feel in the morning."
James appeared to step on the foot of Indiana's Paul George while attempting a fast-break layup. After staying on the court for a few seconds James got to his feet, prompting applause from the sellout crowd, and resumed breaking down the Pacers.
Still, the Heat could be without two of their three big stars in Atlanta.
"We will have to see," coach Erik Spoelstra said when asked if James would play Thursday. "He has sprained that same ankle every year, he says at least one time a year."
Roy Hibbert had 16 points and 12 rebounds to lead the Pacers. Tyler Hansbrough scored 14.
Indiana, a fashionable pick to be one of the surprise teams in the East, had a miserable second quarter, going 1 for 15 from the field and committing 10 turnovers that Miami turned into 10 points.
"Lack of execution, missed open shots and their defense - it was a combination of everything," Pacers coach Frank Vogel said. "A perfect storm."
Miami took a 62-39 halftime lead thanks to a 25-6 run to close the second quarter.
Indiana's main problem, however, was that it couldn't slow Miami's transition offense. And because the Pacers shot so poorly and committed so many turnovers, all the Heat had to do was grab the ball and start running, and they did it quite successfully.
The Pacers trailed 29-27 after the first quarter. But in the second half, they never got closer than 12 points and the lead eventually ballooned to 36.
Indiana's Danny Granger scored only six points on 2-for-13 shooting. He missed six of his seven shots in the first half and committed three turnovers.
The Pacers ended up shooting 34.8 percent from the field. They committed 23 turnovers that Miami turned into 28 points.
This was Indiana's biggest test of the season after beating Detroit, Toronto, Cleveland and New Jersey.
Randolph tears knee ligament, expected to miss 6-8 weeks
The Memphis Grizzlies were the surprise of the NBA last summer, riding Zach Randolph's broad shoulders to within one win of the Western Conference finals.
If they hope to build on that momentum this season, they'll have to do it without their burly power forward and unquestioned leader for the next two months.
Randolph is expected to miss six to eight weeks after tearing a ligament in his right knee, the team announced Wednesday.
"That's life," coach Lionel Hollins said. "You have to go and play. He's not going to be here. We can't worry about what ifs and what we should do to get him back. This is where we are."
LOWE: Grizzlies lose Randolph and their identity
The 6-foot-9, 255-pound Randolph tore his right MCL in the first quarter of the Grizzlies' 104-64 loss at Chicago on Sunday. Randolph had an MRI on Tuesday, and the team learned of the prognosis Wednesday afternoon before they played at Minnesota.
It's a crushing blow to the Grizzlies, who had never made it out of the first round of the playoffs in their nine seasons before last year's remarkable run, the deepest a No. 8 seed has ever gone.
Randolph scored at least 30 points and grabbed at least 10 rebounds four times in the playoffs last season, and he also provided some toughness on defense.
The 29-year-old Randolph led the Grizzlies in scoring through the first four games of the season with an average of 14.8 points and had pulled down 7.5 rebounds per game. More importantly, they lose their emotional core and the player whose maturity and evolving game elevated one of the league's moribund franchises to a contender in the powerful West.
He was injured when he knocked knees with guard O.J. Mayo, and the Grizzlies are 1-1 since he went down, with a 40-point loss to Chicago and a victory over Sacramento on Tuesday night in which the team still managed to score 72 points in the paint.
"The way we play and attack, hopefully we'll continue that way," Hollins said.
An 11-year NBA veteran, Randolph was selected to the 2010-11 All-NBA third team after leading Memphis to the semifinals and averaging 20.1 points and a career-high and franchise-record 12.2 rebounds during the regular season.
He teamed with emerging star center Marc Gasol to give the Grizzlies one of the most formidable front courts in the league, a bruising tandem that dominated the boards and racked up the points in the paint.
"It doesn't matter what happens, we've got to (move on)," Gasol said. "Our reality is that he's not here. The truth is he's not here and we've got to play and we've got to win."
Now, with forward Darrell Arthur already out for the season with an Achilles injury, the Grizzlies will likely have to turn to Dante Cunningham and the newly acquired Marreese Speights, who came over in a trade from Philadelphia on Wednesday to fill in up front. The Grizzlies sent guard Xavier Henry to New Orleans and a second-round pick to Philadelphia as part of the three-team trade.
The 6-10 Speights has averaged 7.2 points and 3.7 rebounds in four seasons.
Greek prime minister warns of March default
Greek Prime Minister Lucas Papademos has said Greece may default on its debts in March unless unions accept further cuts to salaries.
Mr Papademos said more cuts were needed to avoid exiting the eurozone.
Analysts say the warning is to prepare Greece for more austerity measures.
European Commission, International Monetary Fund and European Central Bank inspectors, known as the troika, arrive to assess Greece's progress in cutting its deficit on 15 January.
They will decide whether to provide further bailout funds to the country.
"Without an agreement with the troika and further funding, Greece in March faces an immediate risk of an uncontrolled default," Mr Papademos said.
However, analysts said the risks of not providing the funding were too great.
"Without a firewall in place to stem contagion from a Greek default to other European banks, it is very unlikely the troika will decide to deny Greece the funds and cut the country loose," Megan Greene at Roubini Global Economics told the BBC.
"However, even if the troika does transfer the next tranche of funds to Greece, the country risks a hard default, unless a deal is agreed on private sector involvement before March."
Second bailout
Greece owes a large part of its debt to private sector investors and the majority of these loans must be refinanced by March 12.
The country is currently negotiating with the troika about a second bailout of 130bn euros ($169.5bn, £108.7bn), which was agreed in principle in October 2011, provided the country takes further steps to cut its deficit and restructure its economy.
"If we want to secure our most significant achievements - participation in the euro and avoidance of a massive, vertical income devaluation that a disorderly bankruptcy and exit from the euro would lead to... then we must accept a short-term income reduction," said Mr Papademos at a meeting with union leaders and employers' federations.
Union resistance
Union leaders, however, appeared ready to fight further cuts to their members' salaries.
"On the minimum wage of the poor worker, we are not willing to make any step back. We are not discussing [cuts] in the 13th and 14th month salary or the minimum wage," said Yannis Panagopoulos, head of the GSEE private sector union.
In Greece and some other European countries, workers are paid additional months' salaries as part of their annual pay package.
Some Greek economists maintain that the situation can be resolved through concerted efforts.
"It is possible to exit this vicious circle, but unambiguous actions are required by all in the next three months," Nikos Vettas, professor at the Athens University of Economics, told the BBC.
"Private creditors have to agree swiftly on the haircut procedures, the EU partners to deliver the support needed, the citizens to actively support a reform agenda and the politicians to reach the minimum consensus required for such reforms."
Top China airlines to ignore EU carbon tax, body says
China's biggest airlines will not pay a new European Union tax aimed at cutting carbon emissions, their trade body has said.
On 1 January, the EU brought airlines under its Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), which levies a charge on flights based on their carbon emissions.
The tax has been criticised by China, India, the US and Canada.
Chai Haibo of the China Air Transport Association said that its members would not cooperate with the ETS.
The China Air Transport Association (CATA) represents companies including Air China, China Southern Airlines, China Eastern Airlines and Hainan Airlines.
Airlines which do not comply with the new EU tax can be fined and even prohibited from flying into the region.
Last year, it was claimed the plan could cost Chinese airlines 95m euros ($124m, £79m) in extra costs.
"The CATA, on behalf of Chinese airlines, is strongly against the EU's improper practice of unilaterally forcing international airlines into its ETS," Mr Chai said on Thursday.