Defence Secretary Liam Fox quits
Defence Secretary Liam Fox has resigned after a week of pressure over his working relationship with friend and self-styled adviser Adam Werritty.
Mr Fox was being investigated amid claims he broke the ministerial code.
In a letter to David Cameron, Mr Fox said he had "mistakenly allowed" personal and professional responsibilities to be "blurred".
Mr Cameron said he was very sorry to see him go. Transport Secretary Philip Hammond will replace Mr Fox.
Labour said Mr Fox had not upheld the standards expected of ministers and his departure had been "inevitable".
Business cards
The defence secretary has been under pressure since it emerged that Mr Werritty, a lobbyist, had met him on 18 foreign trips despite having no official role.
Mr Werritty, a former flatmate of Mr Fox and the best man at his wedding, handed out business cards suggesting he was his adviser and was present at meetings Mr Fox had with military figures, diplomats and defence contractors.
Questions were also raised about who paid for Mr Werritty's business activities and whether he had personally benefited from his frequent access to the defence secretary.
No 10 sources said that the prime minister had been willing to give Mr Fox time to stay in his job - at least until the details of a report by Cabinet Secretary Sir Gus O'Donnell into his conduct was published early next week.
Mr Fox has been replaced by Transport Secretary Mr Hammond. In a mini-reshuffle caused by Mr Fox's departure, Treasury minister Justine Greening has replaced Mr Hammond - becoming the fifth woman in the Cabinet.
In a statement released on Friday night, Mr Hammond said his predecessor had done a "brilliant job".
"I look forward to picking up the baton from Liam and working closely with the prime minister, foreign secretary and international development secretary to ensure that our defences are robust and that the finances that lie behind them are equally robust," he added.
National interest
In his resignation letter, Mr Fox said he had "mistakenly allowed the distinction between my personal interest and my government activities to become blurred".
"The consequences of this have become clearer in recent days," he added. "I am very sorry for this.
"I have also repeatedly said that the national interest must always come before personal interest.
"I now have to hold myself to my own standard. I have therefore decided, with great sadness, to resign from my post as secretary of state for defence."
Responding to Mr Fox's resignation, Mr Cameron said: "I understand your reasons for deciding to resign as defence secretary, although I am very sorry to see you go.
"We have worked closely for these last six years, and you have been a key member of my team throughout that time."
He said Mr Fox, MP for North Somerset for 19 years, had "done a superb job in the 17 months since the election, and as shadow defence secretary before that" and had overseen changes that would allow the armed forces to "meet the challenges of the modern era".
The BBC's political editor Nick Robinson said the prime minister had given Mr Fox time to defend himself but the defence secretary had struggled to stem the tide of questions about his dealings with Mr Werritty.
No 10 had come to the conclusion on Thursday that Mr Fox's position was becoming untenable, he added, and Mr Fox had reluctantly reached the same view.
'Inconceivable'
Mr Fox apologised to MPs earlier this week about how his links with Mr Werritty had been perceived but he maintained there had been no impropriety.
Labour said Mr Fox had "fallen foul of the standards expected of ministers and broken the rules".
"The facts have caught up with Liam Fox and he had to resign," shadow defence secretary Jim Murphy said. "It was inconceivable that once a minister had been seen to break their own code of conduct on so many occasions that he could survive."
And former Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell said recent events had undermined Mr Fox's authority and morale at his department.
"Mr Fox has bowed to the inevitable," he said. "It had become impossible for him to draw a line under the story."
But Conservative MPs rallied behind Mr Fox, saying he had made a major contribution in his time at the Ministry of Defence and some suggested he could, one day, return to government.
Sir Malcolm Rifkind, a former defence secretary, said Mr Fox had done an "extremely good" job and his departure was "very, very distressing" as it would lead to further upheaval at the MoD.
Conservative backbencher Peter Bone told the BBC Mr Fox had made errors but they did not constitute a "hanging offence".
"He said he made mistakes and with hindsight he wouldn't have done it but I didn't think that was enough to require him to resign," he said.
"But when the story, every news item, isn't about what's happening in Afghanistan and what's happening in Libya but who said what to who then he put his country first and resigned."
David Pasley, a Tory councillor in Mr Fox's North Somerset constituency, described the MP as "hard working" and "diligent", and said he was "deeply saddened" by Friday's events.
But he added: "He's someone who you can't keep down.
"He has got such experience in his political career that I'm sure it will just be a question of time before he's back, and I hope he's back very soon in a high profile position."
'Gaddafi loyalists' and Libya NTC Tripoli battle ends
A gun battle in the Libyan capital Tripoli between forces loyal to the transitional government and gunmen they say support fugitive ex-leader Col Muammar Gaddafi has now ended.
It was the first serious confrontation in Tripoli since the city fell to the forces of the National Transitional Council (NTC) in August.
The fighting started after a demonstration by Gaddafi loyalists.
A hospital doctor has told the BBC that nine people were seriously injured.
Although the gun battle has finished, the BBC understands that NTC forces are carrying out an operation to root out Gaddafi loyalists from the Abu Salim district at the centre of the disturbance.
The BBC's Caroline Hawley, in Tripoli, says there are reports that the green flag of the Gaddafi government was raised in other towns as well.
An eyewitness has told the BBC the green flag was also raised in the Daraa area of Tripoli, where a small group of Gaddafi supporters were on the street.
NTC forces cordoned off the area, fired warning shots and stopped cars to search them. However, the witness did not see anyone being detained.
Our correspondent says this is likely to rattle the transitional authorities of the NTC, who are trying to exert control in the midst of a political and security vacuum.
Friday's fighting took place near a notorious prison where political prisoners were held under the previous government.
The area is a stronghold of support for Col Gaddafi.
An eyewitness told the BBC he saw about 20 pro-Gaddafi fighters come out firing AK-47s.
Forces loyal to the NTC engaged them from pick-up trucks fitted with heavy machine guns, the eyewitness said.
A fighter with Tripoli's Eagle Brigade, Assem al-Bashir, told the Associated Press the shooting began after a man was spotted raising the green flag that symbolises Col Gaddafi's ousted government.
There are unconfirmed reports that between 20 and 100 pro-Gaddafi fighters were involved.
A BBC journalist in Tripoli saw over 200 NTC fighters from eight different brigades in the streets.
A doctor at the Tripoli Medical Centre told the BBC nine people were seriously injured in Friday's clashes.
There are also reports that Gaddafi loyalists have appeared on Libya's western border with Tunisia, where they have apparently attacked cars.
Source:BBC
Vybz Kartel to seek bail today
DEFENSE attorneys representing jailed Jamaican dancehall Deejay Vybz Kartel, will make a bail application when he appears in court today.
The artiste is facing charges of murder, conspiracy to murder and illegal possession of a firearm.
On Wednesday he was remanded in custody when he appeared in the Gun Court section of the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court.
Vybz Kartel was arrested two Fridays ago at a hotel in New Kingston by cops from the Flying Squad. He and three other persons who were found in his company were charged after the cops found more than four ounces of ganja.
Cops from the Caribbean Search Centre scoured through three premises frequented by the deejay, whose real name is Adijah Palmer, and seized several items.
He was subsequently slapped with the more serious charges.
Source: jamaicaobserver
Beyonce accused of copying moves from ballet
Beyonce is being accused of stealing dance moves for her new video Countdown from a famous choreographer.
The pop star admitted that a 22-second sequence was inspired by Belgian dancer Anne Teresa De Keersmaker, who created the ballet Rosas Danst Rosa.
However, Ms De Keersmaker said she had never been contacted for permission and called the pop video "pure plagiarism."
Beyonce said the ballet was "one of many references" for the video, which also pays homage to Andy Warhol.
A comparative clip on YouTube, entitled Beyonce vs Anne Teresa De Keersmaker, shows the similarities in the dance.
Beyonce acknowledged the debt, saying the original piece was "one of the inspirations to bring the song to life".
"I was also paying tribute to the film Funny Face with Audrey Hepburn."
She added: "My biggest inspirations were the 60s, the 70s, Brigitte Bardot, Andy Warhol, Twiggy and Diana Ross."
The co-director of Beyonce's video, Adria Petty, who claims to have showed the singer the contemporary ballet, has also issued a statement.
"[The original ballet] was refreshing, interesting, timeless," she said.
"Beyonce's YouTube video already has had close to two million views, so fans will discover all the tributes and then discover Audrey Hepburn, Warhol, Bardot and Rosas Danst Rosas and all the works that inspired me and shaped this video."
Filmmaker Thierry De Mey, who filmed a version of the ballet in 1997, said the plagiarism was obvious and added: "When I am doing a film or a show, the first thing to check is copyright, the rights to adapt a work of art."
Rosas Danst Rosas is one of the Belgian dance company's greatest hits and is still being performed around the world.
A spokeswoman for the dance troupe said they discovered the Beyonce video last week: "We noticed more than a few resemblances to the film. We have passed the details to our lawyer to see about our rights," she said.
Claiming legal ownership over a single dance move is difficult, although a sequence of moves could be protected if they were unique and the choreographer could prove they created them.
They would also have to show a substantial portion of the moves had been used without permission.
Gully goes to Ghana
Already boasting a long list of achievements in his career, the Gully Gad Mavado reached a personal milestone last weekend when he performed in Africa for the first time. Mavado performed for a 10,000-strong crowd at the Accra Sports Stadium in Ghana.
"Long time mi suppose to reach Africa fi sing fi di people," said Mavado. "But nothing before time. It was a great experience and I felt so at home there. Ghana reminded me so much of Jamaica. I loved it."
From the moment Mavado arrived in Ghana, it was pandemonium as crowds followed him everywhere he went, whether on foot, by bike or car, as he did the promotional rounds and hung out at various spots in Accra. Mavado had to remain in the car he was in for nearly 20 minutes when he arrived at the stadium for his performance, because of the excitement surrounding the motorcade. When Mavado finally emerged to enter the stadium's field, he was surrounded by fans who formed a massive circle around him as he walked.
The Fantasy Entertainment promotion reportedly pulled one of the largest crowds ever seen for a reggae event in Ghana. A slew of Ghanaian performers put on strong performances, from reggae to dancehall, rap, drumming and traditional genres. Samini, the Ghanian headliner, put on a great show with his band before making way for Gully Gad, backed by Anger Management band.
The large crowd erupted as Mavado ran out with So Special and he had the audience captivated for over an hour and a half, singing song after song with him. It seemed the Ghanaian people identified most with Messiah 'No Food, No Water', words from the song, were emblazoned across T-shirts for sale at the venue. Hope and Pray also got a massive response, Mavado having to sing the song several times to satisfy the crowd.
"I had to give them almost everything," said a sweat-soaked Mavado after the performance. "The people showed me crazy love and made me so welcome since I came here, so I had to give them a special performance. I can't wait to return and I look forward to performing in other African countries in the near future."
Source: JA Gleaner
Roc Nation Rapper K. Koke Stands Trial For Attempted Murder In The U.K.
The trial of Roc Nation artist K. Koke began earlier this week in the United Kingdom.
K. Koke is a popular rapper in the UK, who had just inked a deal with Jay-Z’s Roc Nation management company, when he was charged with attempted murder in April of 2011.
The rapper, born Kevin Georgiou, is accused of being part of a gang that shot a 27-year-old man during a dispute at the Harlesden train station on March 9.
The incident unfolded during an altercation between the victim, and a group of youths who were with K. Koke.
During the altercation, one of the teens associated with K. Koke retrieved a 12 gauge shotgun, chased the victim, and shot him on the train platform.
In addition to K. Koke, three teenaged boys and a 17-year-old girl are accused in the shooting as well.
Cocaine ship busted for a third time in Jamaica
Jamaican Authorities have discovered cocaine stashed away in a sealed container on board the MV Vega Azurit, a vessel which left Guyana on Sunday last. This is the third time in recent months that the same boat was busted for drug trafficking.
The discovery was made at Port Bustamante by the Jamaican Customs Contraband Enforcement Team and personnel from the Jamaican Constabulary Force, yesterday.
According to sources, the drug was said to have been concealed in a 40-foot refrigerated container declared as being empty.
This newspaper understands that the container was searched and five boxes labelled Coke, Pepsi and Canada Dry had the drug inside.
Kaieteur News was told that the drug was tested and amounted to 50 lbs (22.7kg) of pure cocaine. The estimated value is $48M Jamaican dollars (approx. US$560,000 or G$113M) Up to press time Jamaican Police had not made any arrests.
Kaieteur News understands that the street value for the drug is a whopping $40M.
Meanwhile Commissioner-General of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) yesterday told Kaieteur News that he has not spoken to any of the authorities to get information.
At the time of the call, the commissioner said that he was now gathering facts on the matter. Like the GRA head, the Customs Anti Narcotics Unit head James Singh said he too did not have information. He forwarded all questions to the GRA boss.
However source within both agencies told Kaieteur News that the vessel had been on the radar for some time now.
This newspaper was told that the vessel which is an Antigua and Barbuda registered one, left neighbouring Suriname a few days ago before coming to Guyana.
It was the same ship, MV Vega Azurit, in March, on which Jamaican authorities found 122 kilograms of cocaine in a consignment of timber from Guyana.
Several persons were questioned here in connection with the drug bust, but no charges were ever instituted.
In March, 112.5 kilos of cocaine were also seized from the ship during an operation.
On May 31, last, the GRA in keeping with the requirements of the International Maritime Organization for the exportation of products to the United States and other regions, the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) announced that its US$1M Container Scanner was fully operational.
The scanner was put into service on May 23, 2011, to meet the growing demand for thorough inspection of containers to ensure compliance with regulations regarding shipping to the United States of America and to halt the secreting of illicit substances with declared cargo.
Source:Kaieteur News
Mexico arrests alleged Zetas leader over casino fire
An alleged Mexican drug trafficker has been captured in connection with a deadly arson attack on a casino which killed 52 people, the army says.
Carlos Oliva Castillo, known as "The Frog", was presented to press at the defence ministry in Mexico City.
The 37-year-old is said to be the third highest-ranking figure in the powerful Zetas drug cartel.
The attack on the Casino Royale in Monterrey in August was one of the deadliest in Mexico in years.
Meanwhile fighting broke out between rival gangs at a jail near Monterrey on Thursday, leaving seven dead, officials said.
The authorities said the violence might have been in response to Mr Oliva Castillo's capture.
Makeshift knives
Mr Oliva Castillo was arrested at a safe house in Saltillo, in northern Mexico, along with his presumed girlfriend and another man, officials said.
A Defence Department spokesman, Col Ricardo Trevilla said there were "several pieces of evidence" to suggest Mr Oliva Castillo had ordered a subordinate, Francisco Medina Mejia, to carry out the arson attack.
Col Trevilla said Mr Oliva Castillo ranked third in importance to the two top Zeta leaders, Heriberto "Lazca" Lazcano and Miguel Angel Trevino.
He allegedly led the Zetas gang in the northern Gulf coast state of Tamaulipas, as well as in the northern states of Coahuila, where Saltillo is located, and Nuevo Leon, where Monterrey lies.
Officials said fighting broke out on Thursday morning between about 60 prisoners who burned mattresses and attacked each other with makeshift knives at a jail in Nuevo Leon, near Monterrey.
Jorge Domene, security spokesman for Nuevo Leon state, said four prisoners were burned to death and three others died from stab wounds.
The attack on Casino Royale in broad daylight shocked Mexico and led to questions over President Felipe Calderon's war on drugs, which he launched in 2006.
More than a dozen people were arrested in connection to the attack. Investigators believe the casino was torched because protection money had not been paid.
Monterrey and the state of Nuevo Leon have seen rising violence as the Zetas and Gulf cartels vie for control of trafficking routes to the US.
Source:BBC
Rio de Janeiro restaurant blast kills three
A suspected gas explosion at a restaurant in central Rio de Janeiro has left three people dead and at least 13 injured, Brazilian officials say.
The powerful blast early in the morning caused widespread damage to the restaurant, located in a multi-storey building on Tiradentes Square.
Those killed - who are believed to be staff - were flung out of the building by the force of the blast.
Among the injured, three people are in a serious condition, reports say.
The explosion happened at about 07:30 local time (10:30 GMT), the officials say.
The facade of the building was completely destroyed, and seven floors damaged, Brazilian media reported.
'Smell of gas'
Officials are now checking the building to see if there is a risk of collapse.
Rio de Janeiro Mayor Eduardo Paes said most of the injured were passers-by.
"It was not a greater tragedy because the shops had only just begun to open," he said.
The explosion showered Tiradentes Square with debris and disrupted rush-hour traffic.
The cause of the blast is being investigated, but fire officials say a strong smell of gas was reported just before the incident.
City fire official Ronaldo Alcantara said the restaurant had been closed on Wednesday, which was a holiday, the Associated Press news agency reports.
The official added that gas had probably leaked throughout the day and night, and the restaurant's employees on Thursday morning may have somehow caused a spark that led to the blast.
Syria uprising: UN says protest death toll hits 3,000
The United Nations has said the death toll in seven months of protests in Syria against the rule of President Bashar al-Assad has reached 3,000.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay said at least 187 children were among the dead and that 100 people had died in the past 10 days alone.
The UN also says hundreds of Syrians have been arrested.
Ms Pillay warned that Syria's "ruthless repression" threatened "full-blown civil war".
The government in Damascus blames armed "terrorist gangs" for the trouble, and says 1,100 members of the security forces have been killed.
Resolution vetoed
Ms Pillay said: "The onus is on all members of the international community to take protective action in a collective manner."
UN spokesman Rupert Colville added that hundreds of Syrians had been detained and tortured or had disappeared.
He said that families who supported the opposition had been targeted by the Syrian government both inside the country and abroad.
A European-drafted UN resolution threatening "measures" against the Syrian regime if it did not end its repression of the protests was vetoed this month by China and Russia.
But both Beijing and Moscow have also recently urged Damascus to adopt promised reforms swiftly - a sign, correspondents say, that they too may be losing patience with the Assad government.
Mr Colville said that the diplomatic moves so far were "not producing results and people continue to be killed every single day".
He added: "Just hoping things will get better isn't good enough, clearly."
In its reports of violence from Thursday, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights group said that at least 36 people had been killed, including 25 soldiers.
The worst violence was in the north-western town of Banash.
It said there were also deaths in Daraa, south of Damascus, and the central city of Homs, which has been one of the biggest flashpoints of the uprising.
Although there has been some trouble in its suburbs, Damascus has not been so greatly affected.
Thousands of people rallied in the capital on Wednesday to back the president.