Computer glitch dashes hopes of Caribbean nationals
A computer glitch is being blamed for dashing the hopes of Caribbean and other foreign nationals worldwide who thought that they had won the chance to become permanent residents of the United States.
The US Department of State says it has been forced to cancel the visa lottery results informing more than 22,000 foreigners that a 'computer programming problem'; was the reason.
"The results were not valid because they did not represent a fair, random selection of entrants, as required by law," the Department said in a statement, adding that a new lottery drawing will be made on July 15.
"The entire pool of applicants would have been unfairly disadvantaged," said Rosemary Macray, a spokeswoman for the department's Bureau of Consular Affairs.
"The error was found and corrected, and we are going forward with a new drawing that will be in full compliance with the law," she added.
But the aspiring immigrants have filed a class action lawsuit in federal district court here, seeking to force the State Department to return to the first lottery results and restore their chance at the visas. "
State Department officials hoped the terse message they posted about the computer glitch would bring a quiet end to the botched lottery selection.
But in the age of social media, the foreigners who were spurned found one another on the Internet and banded together.
They have been placing Skype calls to lawmakers in the US Congress and flooding American news media Web sites with pleas for help.
Under a separate link, more than 18,000 of them have joined a registry with their contact information. They even overwhelmed the comments on the State Department's Faceboog page.
"We welcome people's views, but you are all basically taking over the site. We have other issues we are trying to promote, like the safety and welfare of American citizens."
Following a letter of complaint from their lawyer, Kenneth White , the State Department's inspector general said he would examine the failed lottery.
The State Department runs an annual Diversity Visa Lottery to offer permanent resident visas, known as green cards, to foreigners from countries that have sent few immigrants to the United States.
Because the American immigration system is based on family ties, people from countries with more immigrants already here have a better chance at gaining green cards, for which there is an annual numerical limit.
The lottery randomly selects a pool of 100,000 applicants to proceed to the next step in the process, with 55,000 visas granted each year.
State Department officials said that about 19 million people from across the globe submitted electronic applications during the official 30-day period last year.
Venezuela says Chavez recuperating well
Venezuelan officials said Friday the stability of the country was not in question following President Hugo Chavez's admission that he was undergoing cancer treatment in Cuba.
The government, which had repeatedly said that Chavez had simply undergone a simple procedure and was recuperating as expected, on Friday amended its message to an upbeat assessment of the president's health.
In an interview on state-run television, the country's top general, Henry Rangel Silva, said he visited Chavez in Cuba and that the president was active and his normal self.
"Let's raise our spirits. This is hard news, but it is also a reality that the recovery has been effective," he said.
The general added that the military will maintain peace and continue to take orders from Chavez as commander-in-chief, despite him leading from another country.
"The members of the armed forces have the democratic conviction that has led us to maintain our role as the protectors of the national Constitution," he said.
Doctors in Cuba detected and removed a cancerous tumor from Chavez's body, Chavez announced Thursday night on national television.
Chavez said he was continuing treatment, but did not specify what that treatment entailed, where the tumor was located or when he would return to Venezuela.
The "abscessed tumor with cancerous cells" was discovered after doctors had already operated and treated a pelvic abscess, he said. Doctors operated again without any complications and removed the tumor, he said.
Chavez said he was "receiving complementary treatments to combat the different types of cells found," and that his condition continued "evolving satisfactorily."
"I wanted to speak to you with the sun of the dawn ... I think we have achieved it, thank God," he said.
Chavez appeared steady but subdued as he spoke, flanked by a large portrait of South American independence hero Simon Bolivar on one side and the Venezuelan flag on the other. He frequently glanced down at his prepared text during the 15-minute speech .The performance showed none of the combative energy that normally characterizes his addresses, where he'll speak extemporaneously for hours on end, skewering his opponents with gusto and sketching out the vision for his "21st-century socialism."
"Throughout my life, I've been making the fundamental error of neglecting my health and being reluctant to get checkups," he said, explaining how health concerns began to pop up earlier this month while he was in Cuba on a state visit.
Chavez closed his speech by saying, "Now and always, we will live and we will overcome. Thank you very much. Until my return."
He gave no indication of any plans to delegate power during his treatment in Cuba.
Venezuelan Vice President Elias Jaua appeared on state television shortly after Chavez's speech.
"There is no time for sadness, but time for reflection, for courage and for work," he said, standing beside a group of government ministers. "Unity is what is required at this time."
Thursday's speech was Chavez's first on the state-run network since doctors in Cuba performed emergency surgery on the Venezuelan leader nearly three weeks ago.
The Venezuelan president's typically frequent live television appearances have been absent from the country's airwaves since doctors in Cuba first performed surgery to treat a pelvic abscess June 10.
His lengthy stay in Cuba and notable low profile have fueled rampant speculation about his health.
Concerns about the seriousness of his condition intensified Wednesday after Venezuelan officials announced the postponement of a high-profile summit of Latin American leaders originally scheduled to take place in Venezuela next month. The government cited Chavez's "strict process of recovery and medical treatment" as the reason behind the decision, but provided few details about his health.
Over the weekend, several allies of Chavez denied that he had cancer.
On Tuesday and Wednesday, VTV broadcast video of Chavez walking and talking with former Cuban leader Fidel Castro in Havana.
The video showed Chavez, wearing his trademark track suit, talking with Castro and looking at Tuesday's edition of the state-run Granma newspaper. But while the video showed the pair acting chummy as they talked, neither leader addressed the Venezuelan president's medical condition.
The images reaffirmed what Venezuelan officials have been saying, Jaua told state-run VTV Wednesday. Chavez deserves to have the time he needs to recover from surgery, he said.
Gas pipeline from ‘T&T’ up the islands resurfaces
The proposal of a gas pipeline from T&T to the Eastern Caribbean is “under discussion” and has engaged the attention of Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, says Foreign Affairs Minister Suruj Rambachan. “I'm sure in a short while from now there will be some statement on that matter, but it has engaged the attention of the Prime Minister,” Rambachan added, speaking just before yesterday's (THUR) opening ceremony of the 32nd Caricom Summit here in St Kitts. Rambachan did not specify whether the pipeline plan - first raised by the Manning PNM administration - will be among topics discussed by regional leaders during the four day Summit, or if the hinted “statement” on the initiative will be made at the summit.
But he did confirm that two other plans by the previous PNM Government were completely off the table - southern Caribbean political union and sharing of T&T's radar system with neighbouring southern states. The T&T delegation led by Rambachan arrived yesterday morning. Prime Minister Kamla Persad- Bissessar arrives at the St Kitts summit this morning at the conclusion of the Women’s Conference in T&T yesterday. The summit is expected to demonstrate the PM's commitment to the regional integration process in light of perceptions created by her comments at last year's summit when she took a strong line against the possibility of T&T being stuck in “godfather” status for the region.
The summit was launched last night with addresses from new regional leaders including from Haiti, Suriname, Barbados and St Vincent and the Grenadines. Former longstanding Caricom Secretary General Edwin Carrington, now with the T&T Government, was also honoured. Carrington is part of T&T's delegation to the summit. Leaders’ agenda is expected to review progress on assistance for earthquake ravaged Haiti since international help has been “tardy” in arriving. They are also expected to consider a short list of names of people who have been interviewed for the post of Caricom Secretary General. Lolita Applewhaite is currently acting. Rambachan said Persad-Bissessar will reaffirm T&T's commitment to Caricom and regional integration:’
“She will also reaffirm the fact that T&T realises its responsibility to Caricom and the people of the region. She’s very concerned about youth development and sustainable jobs for youths and she’s concerned about children. She hopes to make early childhood education a Caribbean vision.” “She's relating what she's doing at home to regional needs,” Rambachan added. He said: “A lot is always expected of T&T as an energy-gas economy and the Prime Minister understands that. She always says T&T is aware of its responsibility to its neighbours and will always maintain this. If one country is weak, all states will be weak.” He said Persad- Bissessar will raise regional food security with leaders in view of some countries decision not to export certain foods such as grain. This will have a significant impact on the Caribbean region.
He added: “We’ll suffer regarding prices and availability, so she wishes to have consensus on this and will raise the issue of food security at the summit.” Rambachan said indebtedness of certain states will also be discussed. Rambachan referred questions on the REDjet issue—involving Jamaica and Barbados - to Transport Minister Devant Maharaj. He said current availability of air transport will make discussions on this aspect inevitable. Persad-Bissessar will also participate in climate change discussions. However, Rambachan said a southern state political union—such as was suggested by the Manning administration —is out and it was also unlikely that the T&T-based radar system proposed by the PNM for southern states like Grenada, was also off the table.
Rambachan noted that the US has invested $75m (US) in security systems for the southern Caribbean.
Trade Minister Stephen Cadiz said some issues from Caricom's 2010 summit pertaining to T&T/Jamaica manufacturing sectors remain unresolved. He said there have been some new appointments in the Jamaica Government and T&T's point persons were no longer there. He said T&T may have to renegotiate some issues. Last year Jamaican businessmen had accused T&T of giving local businessmen an advantage with subsidised fuel prices—a concession which they did not have.
The issue caused tensions to rise. Cadiz said some headway had been made on the issue, but it has not yet been resolved.
He said other issues including an impending cement dispute and Jamaican trade into T&T is being dealt with. Cadiz also said Caricom had to be prepared at this point to change and decide where it wants to go to be competitive with nearby regions: “Caricom has to rethink its position and see if it can take advantage of its much wider market.” Cadiz said the CA/Air Jamaica arrangement could also serve the region in that regard. He noted that travellers sometimes leave one island and take a day to reach another. He said discussions on a fast ferry into the southern Caribbean islands is an “excellent idea and can work.” He said it was on the agenda of a recent conference and Caricom needed to examine it.
More Air Jamaica job cuts
Another set of Air Jamaica workers are expected to be jobless as of today.
This as Caribbean Airlines takes over all operations at the airline.
The positions likely to go include ground handlers, information technology, flight operations and stores.
The airline’s reservations department is also being relocated to Trinidad and Tobago.
Up to news time, it was unclear as to how many persons would be out of a job.
The latest round of job cuts follows the termination of 54 positions in May and a long list of dismissals since Caribbean Airlines took over a year ago and promised a leaner operation.
Highly placed sources at the airline told our news center that the takeover has seen the majority of customer service staff having their positions downgraded to part-time.
At the same time, they have had to accept a cut of 50 per cent in salary.
Those who were retained from the previous cut were given two-month contracts which reportedly expired on Wednesday.
Those who signed Caribbean Airline contracts in May were given six-months’ probation, but it is not clear what is their current fate.
However, those kept on staff after today will now have to wear uniforms bearing the name Caribbean Airlines.
Meanwhile, the National Workers Union (NWU) which represents air Jamaica employees said the latest job cuts is unfortunate.
NWU Vice President Granville Valentine is also outraged at the salary cuts.
Valentine urged Labour Minister Pearnel Charles to intervene and ensure that a commitment given by him to protect Jamaican jobs is not jeopardised
Lil Wayne, Eminem Go Into Guinness World Records on Social Media Day
World famous rappers Lil Wayne and Eminem have made the Guinness World Records, the company announced today (June 30th), to coincide with Social Media Day.
According to Guinness, Lil Wayne's Facebook page has the Most "Likes" on a Facebook Item.
The rapper's fans posted 668,198 comments, in response to a post made on February 15, 2011, challenging the previous record set by Oreo cookies.
Lil Wayne's fans took the award away from the iconic cookie brand by posting over a half-a-million comments, in less than 24 hours.
Eminem's official page is in the Top 5 pages on Facebook, with 42.5 million "Likes," alongside major brands like Facebook's own page, YouTube.com, Zynga and pop artist, Lady Gaga.
While these records were impressive Guinness world records is community manager Dan Barrett said that more records would be broken over the next five years.
"There's still a world of possibility in the social media space for new records as services emerge and existing ones increase their penetration," Barrett told AllHipHop.com in a statement. "There are a few landmark figures which will surely be passed in the next few years, who will be the first Twitter user to amass 100 million followers? Which Facebook page will be the first to reach 100 million likes? Whoever it is, you can be sure that Guinness World Records will be there to recognise all of these milestone achievements."
To check out more records, http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com.
Police On High Alert For Rick Ross Show In A.C. This Weekend
A Fourth of July weekend celebration featuring rapper Rick Ross is making headlines in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
Hundreds of security guards and police officers have been hired to handle security for the Summerfest 2011 concert, which is expected to draw over 7,000 people at Sandcastle Stadium on July 2nd.
Promoters cleared the concert with high-ranking Atlantic City police officers, who will be monitoring the event.
In addition to Ross, opening acts for the concert include Meek Mill, Jim Jones and Juelz Santana of rap group The Diplomats.
“We’re well aware of everything involving these guys,” Atlantic City Deputy Police Chief Henry White told the Press of Atlantic City. “We don’t anticipate any problems. If something does happen, we will be prepared.”
According to Deputy Chief Ernest Jubilee, the police officers are taking the same types of precautions for the Rick Ross concert that they employed last week for a Dave Matthews band concert - which drew over 70,000 people.
“People are nervous,” Officer Jubilee told the press of Atlantic City. “But it’s not with the lineup. Whenever you have a whole lot of people gathered in one spot, there are those concerns whether it’s a hip-hop concert or Dave Matthews.”
Doors to the five-hour concert are scheduled to open at 5:00 PM.
One of Eddie Long’s Accusers Arrested on Drug, Gun Charges
One of the four men who accused Bishop Eddie Long of sexual misconduct was arrested this week in Florida on suspicion of being a drug dealer, reports the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Jamal Parris, 24, was driving a white 2011 BMW in Miami Beach Tuesday evening when a Florida Highway Patrol officer noticed that it had no tags. Sgt. Seth Dubinsky stopped the car. When he approached it, he smelled marijuana, he told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Thursday.
Dubinsky searched the car and said he found 181 grams of marijuana, which is worth about $1,000 on the street. He said he also found 50 clear plastic baggies and a Taurus semiautomatic handgun. He said Parris also was carrying $1,250 in cash.
The gear was “indicative of a drug dealer,” Dubinsky said. Parris was arrested and jailed. He was charged with two felony counts: possession of marijuana with intent to distribute and possession of a firearm while committing a felony. He also was charged with operating a motor vehicle with no registration, a misdemeanor. It was unclear late Thursday whether he was still in custody.
The car was seized, and passenger Jeremy Jouvanni Gordon, 20, of Miami was arrested on a drug paraphernalia charge.
Parris and three other men sued Long, the Longfellows Youth Academy and New Birth Missionary Baptist Church of Lithonia, accusing the bishop of using his influence, trips, gifts and jobs to coerce them into sexual relations. The parties settled the case in May without disclosing the terms.
Parris, who is still using his Stockbridge address, immediately demanded a lawyer, but still said a few things to Dubinsky according to the paper.
“He kept telling me he bought that BMW with the settlement money,” Dubinsky said. Parris also told the cop he’d been accepted to Miami-Dade College. “He said, ‘you guys are getting the wrong impression of me.’”
Amber Rose Explains the Naked Pics Leak
After those peek-a-boo pictures got out, she was supposedly distraught that her goodies made it to the big time without her consent. So she got on Twitter and screamed her outrage at bloggers and rumor starters. Then she showed how happy she is with her boo, Wiz Khalifa. Then the other night she opened up about the photos and how they got out.
“I trusted someone that worked 4 me & allowed them to use my laptop a million times, I caught this person sending my pics to themselves and I fired this person immediately Wiz & I & both of our families have known about this for 2 months now. We tried to prepare ourselves for this day. Those pictures r 2 1/2 years old just sitting in my computer. I’m really hurt & embarrassed because I have so many young girls that look up to me. I would never put those pics out of myself,” she said.
She said the leak affected her cash flow.
She continued, “The company that I was working with no longer wants to work with me because of these pics and that prevents me from getting money to take care of my family. Its a messed up situation when someone so evil comes into ur life and tries to destroy it. I know I’m not the only girl in the world that has taken pics like that but they were very private. I’m sorry for letting my young Rosebuds down. Pls understand this was a result of trusting a person that didn’t deserve my trust. I have cried for the past 2 days but I know this to shall pass. Thank u for all of ur support.”
John Legend Targets High School Dropouts in P&G Promotion
As part of his support of education reform, John Legend will headline a Procter & Gamble Co. promotion to benefit dropout prevention.
The crooner has filmed commercials that will air ahead of P&G coupon insert booklets with him on the cover alongside schoolchildren that will be in Sunday newspapers on July 31. The promotion by the Cincinnati-based consumer products giant will include Facebook and other online efforts to raise money for the Communities in Schools organization’s efforts to keep children in school.
Legend has focused much of his charitable work on improving education, which he calls “a civil rights issue for our time.” He said there’s a dropout crisis in some impoverished communities, making it harder to break the cycle of poverty. He’s also concerned about what he sees as politically motivated efforts to weaken teachers’ unions in his native Ohio and other states.
“I believe that making sure that every kid has a quality education is the key to making sure that every kid has the opportunity to pursue the American dream,” Legend told The Associated Press.
P&G’s Jim Leish, director of U.S. operations, said Legend is a good choice for the promotion. “At the end of the day, he has a history of helping this cause,” Leish said. “We’re more focused with his ability to drive awareness of what we can do to keep millions of kids in school.”
BIS warns low rates may create 'financial distortions'
The Bank for International Settlements (BIS) has warned that low interest rates across the globe are a threat to world financial stability.
The BIS warned low cost of borrowing had resulted in a credit and property price boom that was fuelling inflation, especially in emerging economies.
Central banks across the globe have cut interest rates in an attempt to boost growth after the 2008 financial crisis.
However, BIS warned that the policy may prove to be counterproductive.
"The prolonged period of very low interest rates entails the risk of creating serious financial distortions, misallocations of resources and delay in the necessary deleveraging in those advanced countries most affected by the crisis," the bank said in its annual report.
'Inflation fighting credibility'
While loose monetary policies and availability of easy credit have triggered growth, there has been a flip side to it as well.
Emerging economies, especially in Asia, have had to deal with rising prices for food and other essential commodities.
This has pushed up the cost of living and has threatened to derail growth in many developing nations.
The BIS warned that the central banks needed to change their policies in order to deal with the situation.
"Tighter global monetary policy is needed in order to contain inflation pressures and ward off financial stability risks," it said.
"It is also crucial if central banks are to preserve their hard-won inflation fighting credibility," the bank added.
One of the biggest concerns that economists and analysts have about low interest rates is the formation of asset bubbles.
They have warned that availability of easy credit and low interest rates are driving up property prices to unsustainable levels.
"Property prices in a number of emerging market economies are advancing at staggeringly rapid rates, and private sector indebtedness is rising fast," the BIS said.
It also warned that the trend was very similar to that triggered the global financial crisis.
"Emerging market economies managed to escape the worst of the crisis, but many now run the risk of building up imbalances very similar to those seen in advanced economies in the lead-up to the crisis," the bank said.
The BIS warned that the surge in property prices had resulted in over development in the real estate market, leaving large numbers of properties unsold.
"It will take years to absorb this overhang," the bank said.
The bank warned that if not addressed immediately, a crash in the property market may derail economic growth in emerging economies.
"All financial crises, especially those generated by a credit-fuelled property price boom, leave long-lasting wreckage," the bank said.