Lionfish Infestation continues in St.Martin
After a relatively brief lull in Lionfish activity the Nature Foundation is responding to increasing reports of Lionfish in local waters. A large specimen of 30 cm was caught on the wreck of the Fu-Sheng dive site outside of Cupecoy on Saturday at a depth of 90 ft by Nature Foundation staff and was immediately dissected while on Board the Marine Park Patrol Vessel Yellowtail.
Nature Foundation Chief Ranger Etienne Lake brought the captured specimen to the surface and it was decided to immediately dissect the specimen in order to determine what it has been eating.
A juvenile Yellowtail Snapper was recorded in a pre-digested state. This reinforces the concern that Lionfish are a significant threat to juvenile fish species in St. Maarten territorial waters. Lionfish are an invasive species that were introduced into the Caribbean in the early nineteen nineties through the aquarium trade and have invaded the marine ecosystem ever since. The fish poses a threat to local coral reef fish as local species have not adapted to protect themselves from this voracious predator. Lionfish also possess numerous venomous spines that can inflict a dangerous and harmful sting in humans.
The Nature Foundation is continuously catching and responding to reports of Lionfish in local waters.
ATTEMPTED ILLEGAL MIGRANTS INTERCEPTED BY GOVERNMENT AGENCIES
A co-ordinated effort by government agencies and departments has led to the successful detention of over 100 Haitian nationals who, in an attempt to enter the Turks and Caicos Islands illegally, reached West Caicos by boat on Monday. Medical checks confirmed that none of them were suffering from cholera.
Police and immigration officers found 116 migrants on West Caicos on Monday and another six on Tuesday. The joint police and immigration unit (SPICE) meanwhile dismissed reports that a second sloop had landed more migrants in the Chalk Sound area in Provo on Wednesday. SPICE said it conducted a thorough search after receiving reports that people were seen running through the bushes in Chalk Sound. They subsequently apprehended four Haitian males who had made their way from West Caicos to Provo. This brought the total detained over the past three days to 126.
A medical team from the Ministry of Health accompanied police for the West Caicos operation and their timely screening found no-one with any of the symptoms associated with cholera, the water borne disease which has recently spread through Haiti. The medical team was assisted by the Red Cross and the Department of Disaster Management and Emergencies.
All of those detained were provided with humanitarian support including food, water, clothing if required and personal hygiene items. The sixteen children among the group were provided with medical care and proper adult supervision.
With the full co-operation of the Haitian authorities, all the prospective migrants have now been returned to Haiti, on direct flights from Providenciales. The public are requested to remain vigilant for signs of attempts to enter the country illegally and to report any suspicious activity to the police.
Victoria's Secret 2011 Swim Shoot done in the TCI
Victoria's Secret Supermodels Candice Swanepoel, Lily Aldridge and Chicago's own Erin Heatherton as they hit the beaches of sexy Turks and Caicos for this year's swim catalogue photo shoot.
The Angels will give you an over-the-top-sexy, behind-the-scenes sneak peek at the 2011 Victoria's Secret swimsuit collection featuring the hottest looks in swimwear this season.
Also check out one on one interviews with Candice, Lily and Erin as they show us their favorite swimsuits, discuss why they love being in the Victoria's Secret swim catalogue and reveal who will be on this years coveted swim catalogue cover.
The 2011 Victoria's Secret Swim Catalogue will heat up nearly 10 million mailboxes this month.
Source: http://www.chicagonow.com
Beenie Man gets bail extension
Dancehall artiste Moses 'Beenie Man' Davis had his bail extended in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday.
which was issued for the artiste be vacated as Roderick Gordon, Davis' attorney-at-law, told the court that his client was absent for his last court date due to overseas contractual engagements.
Davis, who has been charged with assault occasioning bodily harm, is to return to court on March 2 for trial.
Davis was charged along with Jeremy Wade, otherwise known as 'Rolex', who was charged with assault at common law, for an incident involving the complainant, Horace 'LA Lewis'.
Allegations are that on June 5, Davis assaulted fellow entertainer Lewis after they were involved in a minor car accident.
Lewis told the police that he was travelling along Perkins Boulevard, near Red Hills Road, when the incident occurred.
He said Davis had stopped his car in the road so that he could converse with another motorist.
Lewis claimed he was attempting to drive past the cars when a section of his car hit Davis' vehicle after which Davis allegedly exited his vehicle and assaulted him.
According to Lewis, Davis had the support of his entourage to aid in the assault, which resulted in him being hit in the face.
Céline Dion: Twins Tiring, But an ‘Intense Joy’
Ten weeks after delivering twin boys, Céline Dion says she’s ‘coping day by day’ with sons Nelson and Eddy.
In an interview with French magazine GALA, the singer, 42, explains that she’s thankful for the help she receives from her mother Thérèse and sister Linda, as their presence means she doesn’t have to worry about “house work, cooking or doing the shopping.”
“I didn’t have these children to not take care of them, to give myself to them 200 – 300 percent,” she explains.
“I am changing diapers and breastfeeding and that’s something where no one can take my place. It’s tiring but an intense joy.”
“I take things day by day,” Dion adds. “That’s the secret to me. In any case, breastfeeding is more difficult if you are stressed. Sometimes I find myself in comical situations I don’t know how to get myself out of. For example, when both are feeding and one has gas while the other is burping, I don’t know which position to adopt!”
After delivering the boys on Oct. 23, Dion says she experienced loss of appetite and a change in mood, which others noticed. “Some of the first days after I came home, I was a little outside myself,” the singer notes. “I had no appetite and that bothered me. My mother remarked that she noticed I had moments of lifelessness, but reassured me that this was entirely normal.”
She also experience mood swings, telling the magazine, “One moment, tremendous happiness; the next, fatigue sets in, and I cried for no reason, and then that took care of itself. It’s for things like that after having a baby that mothers really need emotional support.”
Though she will begin lightly rehearsing later this month for her Las Vegas return in March, Dion isn’t putting too much pressure on herself.
“In reality, I’ve had almost no time getting a shower and feeding myself. My preoccupation has been eating sensibly,” she shares. “My only worry has been to be able to open and close [my tops] quickly for breastfeeding. It’s been out of the question to even wear a blouse!”
As for the beauty details, “makeup can wait. There’ll be time for all that,” Dion laughs.
SOURCE:PEOPLE
T.I. Reprimanded In Prison Over Sexual Act With Tiny
T.I. was reprimanded in prison, after security guards caught the Atlanta rapper engaged in a sexual act with his wife, Tameka "Tiny" Cottle.
The rap star is serving a year-long sentence at Arkansas State Prison for violating the terms of his previous probation, stemming from an incident in September of 2010, when he and his wife were busted for possession of ecstasy in Los Angeles.
According to TMZ.com, guards caught T.I. and Tiny engaged in the sexual act during regular visiting hours at the prison, which adheres to strict guidelines when it comes to prisoners and visitors.
As a result of their sexual escapade, T.I. was sent to a "Special Housing Unit" for an undetermined amount of time.
Source:TMZ
Judge Cuts Nas' Spousal Support To $20K Per Month
Rapper Nas caught a break in Los Angeles County Superior Court recently, when a judge agreed to cut his child and spousal support in half.
In December of 2010, a judge ordered the rapper to pay Kelis $40,00 per month in spousal support, in addition to the $10,000 per month for their child, Knight.
According to TMZ.com a Los Angeles superior court judge
cut this child support in half, leaving the rap star with a bill of around $5,000 per month.
Additionally, the spousal support payments have also been sliced, leaving Nas with a $20,000 per month payment due to Kelis.
Nas and Kelis officially divorced in May of 2010, citing irreconcilable differences.
Boxing champ killed in cycling accident
JAMAICAN-born former British heavyweight boxing champion, Gary Mason, was killed in a cycling accident yesterday in Wallington, south London.
The Daily Mail reported that the 48-year-old Mason was pronounced dead on the scene after he collided with a van.
Scotland Yard said that the driver has been arrested for dangerous driving.
He fought professionally for ten years from 1984 to 1994, recording 37 wins and just one loss. He held the British heavyweight title from January 1989 to March 1991 when he lost to another boxer with Jamaican roots, a then 25-year-old Lennox Lewis.
At the time of that fight Mason was ranked fifth in the world.
After boxing he worked as a television pundit and played rugby league for London Broncos.
Source: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com
Dominant England claim Ashes series victory in Australia
England's cricketers have won a Test series in Australia for the first time in 24 years to complete an historic defense of the Ashes trophy.
The rampaging visitors concluded their triumph Friday in Sydney, winning the fifth and final Test of the series by an innings and 83 runs after amassing 644 runs.
It's the highest single-innings score ever by an English team in a Test match in Australia.
England overwhelmed their arch-rivals in three Tests, winning each by an innings, the most decisive manner of victory in cricket. Australia won one Test, and the other was drawn.
The hosts started the final day with only three wickets left and needing another 151 runs to make England bat again.
Steven Smith and Peter Siddle showed some resistance with an 86-run eighth-wicket partnership before Siddle was caught off the bowling of Graeme Swann for 43.
Ben Hilfenhaus fell to James Anderson, caught behind for seven, giving the England paceman the last of his leading 24 wickets in the series.
Debutant Michael Beer was the final Australian wicket to fall, bowled by Chris Tremlett for two to spark scenes of celebration in the England camp.
Captain Andrew Strauss hailed their achievement after lifting a replica of the famous Ashes urn.
"It feels pretty special," said Strauss. "Now we have done it, I think we can give a big sigh of relief and be very proud of what we have achieved, because not many sides have come out here and won -- and certainly not many as emphatically as we did in the end. It's a dressing room full of pride."
British Prime Minister David Cameron was among those to pay tribute to Strauss' side.
"Retaining the Ashes was a fantastic achievement, but winning the series really is the icing on the cake," Cameron said.
"We've seen some great sporting moments over the series and the team have provided us with some brilliant memories that I'm sure fans will talk about for years to come. The whole country is incredibly proud of them."
In a rivalry that started in 1877, England and Australia play for the Ashes every two years, alternating between the two countries.
Because the English team had won the previous Ashes series in England in 2009, they retained the trophy once they had an unbeatable 2-1 lead in the current series with only the Sydney Test remaining.
But the English players, on top with both bat and ball, hammered home their dominance to wrap up the series with a 3-1 victory.
England batsman Alastair Cook was announced as the best player of the series. He scored 766 runs, including a double century in the drawn first Test in Brisbane and 189 runs in the first innings in Sydney.
The Ashes date back to 1882, when Australia beat England on UK soil for the first time and a British newspaper ran a tongue-in-cheek "obituary" saying cricket had died and the body would be cremated and the ashes sent to Australia.
The original urn is now displayed in the museum at Lord's cricket ground in London.
Source:CNN
Milan go five points clear as Strasser scores winner at Cagliari
Sierra Leone international Rodney Strasser scored a vital goal five minutes from time to send AC Milan five points clear as Serie A resumed Thursday after its short mid-winter break.
Strasser first goal in the Italian top-flight gave Milan a 1-0 win over Cagliari in Sardinia to increase their lead in the title race as Lazio were held to a 0-0 draw at Genoa.
In the evening kickoff, Inter Milan gave new coach Leonardo a superb start with a 3-1 win at home to Napoli, who would have cut the gap on Milan at the top to three points with victory at the San Siro.
Brazilian Leonardo, who replaced Rafael Benitez, saw Thiago Motta score twice with Esteban Cambiasso also on target.
Napoli replied through Michele Pazienza, as the win takes reigning champions Inter to within 13 points of their city rivals, but they have two games in hand.
Juventus' championship challenge hit the buffers after a humiliating 4-1 home defeat to mid-table Parma.
Juve's chances were hardly helped by the 17th minute dismissal of Felipe Melo for violent conduct.
But they were also undone by one of the own players, striker Sebastian Giovinco, who is out on loan to Parma this season.
He scored a double before defender Nicola Legrottaglie pulled a goal back for the Turin giants.
But Hernan Crespo's penalty sealed the three points before substitute Raffaele Palladino scored a fourth in added time.
The defeat leaves Juventus eight points adrift of Milan, who made their breakthrough late as new signing Antonio Cassano played in fellow substitute Strasser to net.
In other action, Roma leapfrogged Juventus into fourth after winning 4-2 against Catania, with Marco Borriello and Mirko Vucinic scoring two apiece.