Robin Thicke and Pharrell Asking for New 'Blurred Lines' Trial
The war between Robin Thicke and Marvin Gaye's family over "Blurred Lines" isn't over yet. After a jury ruled in March that the 2013 hit infringed on the late musician's "Got to Give It Up", lawyers for the 38-year-old singer and his collaborator Pharrell Williams are now pushing for a new trial.
In a new motion presented on Friday, May 1, according to The Hollywood Reporter, Thicke and Pharrell's legal team argued that there were errors in jury instructions, improper testimony from a musicologist and insufficient evidence in the original trial. They also added that the jury's verdict was inconsistent since T.I. was not found guilty in the case.
Additionally, the lawyers wanted to reduce the monetary award given to the Gaye children, stating that $7.4 million was double the profit Pharrell made from the song. They said that since "the elements of ['Got to Give It Up'] claimed to have been copied amount to less than 5% of the ['Blurred Lines'] composition," the award should be slashed to under $680,000.
Also on Friday, the Gayes filed motions of their own, asking for Interscope Records, UMG Recordings and others labels to be held accountable. They also wanted to halt the distribution of the song, and if the request wasn't granted, they demanded for over 50% of all future revenues.
The judge will consider the motions at a hearing scheduled for June 29.
Source-AceShowbiz
Windies defy odds, wearing pitch to complete series-levelling win
West Indies defied the odds and a wearing pitch to complete a series-levelling five-wicket victory over England on the third day of the third and final Test yesterday.
Set a daunting target of 192 after the tourists were dismissed for 123 in their second innings, a 108-run fifth-wicket partnership between Darren Bravo and Jermaine Blackwood tilted the match decisively the Caribbean side's way.
It was their first victory over England since the opening match of the 2009 series in Kingston, Jamaica.
Bravo's controlled knock of 82 ended when he attempted to make the victory hit off Ben Stokes as Stuart Broad pulled down the catch at mid-off.
It was left to Blackwood to finish off the match in the next over, hoisting Moeen Ali's off-spin over long-on to complete a team and personal triumph following his first innings top score of 85 out of a total of 189.
West Indies seemed on the verge of another capitulation when veteran Shivnarine Chanderpaul, who endured a poor series, played on to James Anderson without scoring to leave the home side uncomfortably placed at 80 for four.
However, Blackwood capitalised on a significant moment of luck -- a missed stumping by wicketkeeper Jos Buttler off Joe Root when only on four -- to stay with his senior partner.
Gradually they wore down the England bowlers before unfurling the attacking shots that sped the West Indies to the target that seemed beyond them at the start of the chase given the state of the pitch and the low-scoring nature of the match.
Openers Kraigg Brathwaite and Shai Hope saw off the early assault from Anderson and Broad, although not without a few anxious moments.
However the introduction of Chris Jordan into the attack brought the breakthrough that England craved as the debutant fell leg-before for nine.
In the very next over, Jordan's brilliance at slip throughout the series was again in evidence as he held on to a sharp chance left-handed to remove Brathwaite off Ali's off-spin for 25.
England had started the day brightly, putting on 51 in the first hour for the loss of just one wicket from a perilous overnight position of 39 for five.
Gary Ballance was that early casualty after England resumed in the perilous overnight position of 39 for five.
England won the second Test in Grenada by nine wickets while the opening game of the three-match series in Antigua was drawn.
Scoreboard
England 1st Innings 257 (A Cook 105, M. Ali 58)
West Indies 1st Innings 189 (J Blackwood 85; J Anderson 6-42)
England 2nd Innings (overnight 39 for 5)
A Cook c Brathwaite b Gabriel 4
J Trott lbw b Taylor 9
G Ballance c Bravo b Permaul 23
I Bell lbw b Taylor 0
J Root c Bravo b Holder 1
M Ali b Permaul 8
B Stokes c Chanderpaul b Permaul 32
J Buttler not out 35
C Jordan lbw b Holder 2
S Broad b Holder 0
J Anderson lbw b Taylor 2
Extras (b4, lb2, nb1) 7
Total (all out, 42.1 overs) 123
Fall of wickets: 1-11 (Trott), 2-13 (Cook), 3-18 (Bell), 4-28 (Root), 5-39 (Ali), 6-62 (Ballance), 7-95 (Stokes), 8-98 (Jordan), 9-98 (Broad), 10-123 (Anderson).
Bowling: Taylor 11.1-1-33-3, Gabriel 7-4-16-1 (1nb), Holder 9-3-15-3, Permaul 11-3-43-3, Samuels 4-1-10-0.
West Indies 2nd Innings
K Brathwaite c Jordan b Ali 25
S Hope lbw b Jordan 9
D Bravo c Broad b Stokes 82
M Samuels b Broad 20
S Chanderpaul b Anderson 0
J Blackwood not out 47
D Ramdin not out 0
Extras (b5, lb6) 11
Total (5 wickets, 62.4 overs) 194
Did not bat: Jason Holder, Veerasammy Permaul, Jerome Taylor, Shannon Gabriel.
Fall of wickets: 1-35 (Hope), 2-35 (Brathwaite), 3-70 (Samuels), 4-80 (Chanderpaul), 5-188 (Bravo).
Bowling: Anderson 13-4-35-1, Broad 13-5-29-1, Jordan 11-5-24-1, Ali 12.4-1-54-1, Root 8-4-16-0, Stokes 5-0-25-1.
Toss: England
Result: West Indies won by five wickets
Series: 1-1
Umpires: Billy Bowden (NZL), Bruce Oxenford (AUS)
TV Umpire: Steve Davis (AUS)
Match Referee: Andy Pycroft (ZIM)
Two gold, one silver for Jamaica in World Relays
Jamaica added three more medals, including two gold on last night's second and final day of the 2nd IAAF World Relay Championships at the Thomas A Robinson Stadium in the Bahamas and went a far way to redemption after just two silvers on Saturday's opening session.
The men's 4x200m team without World Record holder Usain Bolt retained their title while the veteran Veronica Campbell Brown rolled back the clock to anchor the women's 4x100m team to a close victory over the Americans, avenging last year's loss.
The women's 4x400m were second again as Jamaica finished with five medals after winning two on Saturday -- in the men's 4x100m and the women's 4x200m.
Jamaica were second in the points tables with 46, behind the USA's 63 with Poland third with 34, followed by Australia (25), rounding out the top four teams.
The Jamaican men made up for their loss Saturday night in the 4x100m by retaining the 4x200m despite the absence of Bolt, who watched the race from the stands.
Nickel Ashmeade, who replaced Jermaine Brown who ran in the semi-finals earlier in the day, Rasheed Dwyer, Jason Livermore and Warren Weir got away with an iffy baton change to run 1:20.97 minutes to get to the line first.
As their women did a night earlier, the American men had issues with their baton changes and were disqualified after another great run by Justin Gatlin, this time on the anchor leg, crossing the line third.
France were second in 1:21.49, while Germany were promoted to third after running 1:22.65.
The Jamaican men ran faster in the semi-finals with a World Leading 1:20.19 to win their heat with Dwyer, Livermore, Brown and Weir on anchor beating France (1:21.41) and Germany, who ran a National Record 1:21.46.
Campbell Brown replaced Natasha Morrison, who had anchored the women's 4x100m in the semi-finals and chased and caught American anchor leg runner Carmelita Jeter, getting to the line a stride and half ahead of her.
Simone Facey, Kerron Stewart and Schillonie Calvert had kept the Jamaicans in the race with strong legs and left it up to Campbell Brown to lead them to victory in a world-leading 42.14 seconds.
The USA were second with 42.32 seconds and Great Britain third in 42.84 seconds.
In the semi-finals run earlier in the afternoon, they had clocked a then world-leading 42.50 seconds to win the first semi-final heat, beating Canada (42.94 seconds) and Nigeria (43.56).
The women's 4x400m team of Anastasia Leroy, Novlene Williams-Mils, who replaced Natoya Goule who ran in Saturday's semi-final, Christine Day and Stephenie Ann McPherson took silver in 3:22.49 minutes behind the USA's Championship Record 3:19.39with Great Britain taking the bronze in 3: 26.38 seconds.
Yesterday, the USA and Jamaica separated themselves from the rest of the field, opening up a big lead while three teams -- Great Britain, France and Poland -- battled for the bronze.
The Jamaica women had also won the silver last year, beaten again by the USA with Williams Mills and Leroy, joining Kaliese Spencer and Shericka Jackson.
The men's 4x400m team were fourth, just missing a medal as Javon Francis failed to repeat his heroics from 24 hours earlier when he had split 44.02 seconds to take the team from fifth to second.
He managed to take the team from about sixth on the anchor leg, but failed to catch the top three as Jamaican clocked 3:00.23 seconds.
The USA retained their title with a world-leading 2:58.43 minutes, beating the Bahamas' 2:58.91 and Belgium took third with a new National Record 2:59.33.
Source- Jamaica Observer
DIGICEL LAUNCHES CONVENIENT TOP UP APP FOR CUSTOMERS ABROAD AND IN THE CARIBBEAN
Digicel today announced the official launch of its convenient Top Up App which delivers a fast, reliable and convenient way for customers from abroad to send minutes to their family and friends living in the Caribbean anytime. The new top up app also allows customers in the Caribbean to top up their own phones really easily too.
Digicel customers abroad have been calling for the launch of an easy, convenient way to top up family and friends at home, and Digicel has delivered on that call, providing a convenient, fast and reliable way to stay connected. What’s more, there are no transaction fees when sending minutes via the Digicel Top Up App.
“The response from our customers has been overwhelming,” said Declan Cassidy, CEO Digicel Diaspora. “Since our initial soft launch in November last year, we have over 200,000 downloads and our customers continue to tell us how the App fits their lifestyle – topping up themselves or sending top up to family in the Caribbean on-the-go no matter where they are, or what time it is.”
Digicel is also launching an integrated advertising campaign to ensure customers are benefiting from the great features of the App. The radio ads feature Jamaican songbird, Tessanne Chin, whimsically interacting with Caribbean nationals highlighting the various situations in which they can send minutes conveniently. French and creole versions of the radio ads have also been produced and feature popular Haitian compas band, Carimi.
The Digicel Top Up App is a free mobile application and is available for download in iTunes and Google Play.
Digicel is committed to keeping family and friends abroad connected to those at home in the Caribbean via the Top Up App, online at www.digicelgroup.com or via any Digicel branded authorized retail location across the US, Canada and the UK.
Beyonce, Jay-Z, Justin Bieber Attend Floyd Mayweather Vs. Manny Pacquiao Fight
Celebrities flocked to MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas Saturday, April 2 to witness the ring showdown between Floyd Mayweather, Jr. and Manny Pacquiao. Beyonce Knowles and Jay-Z were among them. Queen Bey was red hot while her hubby looked dapper in a suit.
They were joined by celebrities like Justin Bieber, Drew Barrymore, Anna Paquin & husband Stephen Moyer, Nicki Minaj, Lil Wayne, P. Diddy, Michael Keaton, Tom Hardy, Matthew Bomer, Claire Danes & hubby Hugh Dancy, Adrien Brody, and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau. Also spotted at the fight were "Southpaw" actor Jake Gyllenhaal and director Antoine Fuqua.
Jimmy Kimmel stole attention as he walked Pacquiao out to the ring wearing a t-shirt with a hilarious picture of a big Pac-Man eating little Floyd faces. "Disappointing result but what a fight - thank you for making me your Bieber @MannyPacquiao - you are a champion," he tweeted after the event.
Source-AceShowbiz
Morgan Heritage tops Billboard Reggae chart
For the first time in seven years, Morgan Heritage has topped Billboard's reggae album chart.
This time their latest album Strictly Roots, released on April 20, holds the number one spot.
Strictly Roots's achievement makes it eight times the group has been on that album chart. In 2001, More Teachings reached number six, while 2003's Three in One stalled at number 13. Full Circle topped out at number 7 in 2005, while 2009's The Journey Thus Far got as far as number eight. 2013's EP The Return unpacked its travelling bags at number 15, while 2013's full length Here Come the Kings perched at number 2.
The sibling group last topped the Billboard Reggae album chart in 2008 with Mission in Progress.
Strictly Roots is released on the group's very own CTBC (Cool to be Conscious) label, and the album features collaborations with Shaggy, J Boog, Jemere Morgan, Mo Mersa Marley, Chronixx, Eric Rachmany lead singer of Rebelution, and Bobby Lee, from Santa Barbara reggae band SOJA.
Journalist: Kevin Jackson
Source-Jamaica Observer
Nepal shuts airport to big jets; more bodies found
Runway damage forced Nepalese authorities to close the main airport Sunday to large aircraft delivering aid to millions of people following the massive earthquake, but U.N. officials said the overall logistics situation was improving.
The death toll climbed to 7,250, including six foreigners and 45 Nepalese found over the weekend on a popular trekking route, said government administrator Gautam Rimal. Nepal's Tourist Police reported that a total of 57 foreigners have been killed in the April 25 quake, and 109 are still missing, including 12 Russians and nine Americans.
The main runway was temporarily closed to big planes because of damage. It was built to handle only medium-size jetliners, but not the large military and cargo planes that have been flying in aid supplies, food, medicines, and rescue and humanitarian workers, said Birendra Shrestha, the manager of Tribhuwan International Airport, located on the outskirts of Kathmandu.
There have been reports of cracks on the runway and other problems at the only airport capable of handling jetliners.
"You've got one runway, and you've got limited handling facilities, and you've got the ongoing commercial flights," said Jamie McGoldrick, the U.N. coordinator for Nepal. "You put on top of that massive relief items coming in, the search and rescue teams that has clogged up this airport. And I think once they put better systems in place, I think that will get better."
He said the bottlenecks in aid delivery were slowly disappearing, and the Nepalese government eased customs and other bureaucratic hurdles on humanitarian aid following complaints from the U.N.
"The government has taken note of some of the concerns that we've expressed to them," he said.
Kai Tabacek, a spokesman for the British charity Oxfam, said the main problem was that Kathmandu airport was too small "to deal with huge volume of traffic. Of course, there have been some delays, but these have more to do with the challenge of moving large volumes of goods than customs."
Airport congestion was only the latest complication in the global effort to aid people in the wake of the April 25 quake, the impoverished country's biggest and most destructive in eight decades. Nepal's geography of high mountains and difficult road networks "is always going to be a challenge," McGoldrick said. Airlifting goods by helicopter "right now is quite limited," he said.
People in Nepal — both in remote villages and the capital, Kathmandu — have complained about not seeing any rescue workers or international aid and about a lack of temporary shelters, with many sleeping out in the open because of fears of aftershocks bringing down their damaged homes.
U.N. humanitarian officials said that they were increasingly worried about the spread of disease. They said more helicopters were needed to reach isolated mountain villages that were hard to access even before the quake.
Source-AP
The true extent of the damage from the earthquake is still unknown as reports keep filtering in from remote areas, some of which remain entirely cut off. The U.N. says the quake affected 8.1 million people — more than a quarter of Nepal's 28 million people.
The government said Sunday that the quake had killed 7,057 people. Laxi Dhakal, a Home Ministry official, said hopes of finding survivors had faded dramatically. "Unless they were caught in an air pocket, there is not much possibility," he said.
Among the latest fatalities to be counted were the 51 people, including six foreigners, whose remains were found in the Langtang Valley in Rasuwa district, nearly 60 kilometers (35 miles) north of Kathmandu. Most of the victims were Nepalese guides, hotel owners, workers and porters.
The area, with a dozen inns near the trekking trail, was buried by a landslide after the earthquake.
Nepal has been shaken by more than 70 aftershocks following the quake, and its people remain on edge. One brief aftershock Saturday afternoon shook the only paved road in the village of Pauwathok. Residents screamed and began to run, then stopped when the tremor eased.
The small village is located in the district of Sindupalchok, where more deaths have been recorded than anywhere else in Nepal — 2,560, compared to 1,622 in Kathmandu. The U.N. says up to 90 percent of the houses in Sindupalchok have been destroyed.
Fidel Castro meets with Japanese foreign minister
An official Cuban newspaper reports that Fidel Castro joined his brother, President Raul Castro, for a rare appearance to meet with Japan's foreign minister.
The daily Juventud Rebelde reported Sunday the 88-year-old former leader spoke with Fumio Kishido about improving relations between the two nations. It did not specify when the meeting occurred.
Kishido arrived in Cuba on Friday with a delegation of business leaders. He is the first Japanese foreign minister to visit the island.
Fidel Castro handed power to his younger brother in 2006 after suffering from poor health. He has made almost no public appearances in several months. The last photo of him to appear in Cuban media was published on April 20 when the official daily Granma reported the former president had voted from his home.
Turks and Caicos post Cabinet meeting Statement
His Excellency the Governor, Peter Beckingham, chaired the 12th meeting of the Cabinet on Wednesday, 29th April 2015, at the House of Assembly Building on Grand Turk, where among other things HE the Governor was advised to approve the Revised Edition of the Laws – the Commencement Order 2015 which provides for the revision and consolidation of the laws of the Turks and Caicos Islands and for the preparation and publication of the revised laws. The order will proceed to the House of Assembly at their next meeting;
• Cabinet advised the Governor to approve TCIGs participation in the Caribbean Bank's Basic Needs Trust Fund (BNTF) 8th program of grant assistance to the islands. The BNTF is a project, jointly funded by the Caribbean Development Bank and the Government of Canada. TCIG first joined the BNTF in 1989 and has benefited tremendously from funding in the areas of education, health and skills training;
• His Excellency was also advised to approve a 5 year lease of a building in North Caicos to be used as a Police Station. The building will replace the two buildings that are currently used for this purpose and will enable the police department to better service the residents of both Kew and Bottle Creek as the station will be centralised;
• Cabinet advised the Governor to approve entering into a lease agreement for a new rental space situated in Butterfield Square, Providenciales, to accommodate the Department of Road Safety for a period of six months. The Department is being temporarily relocated to enable refurbishment works to their current accommodation;
• Cabinet noted the positive financial performance of the Turks and Caicos Islands Government for the period January to March 2015, as submitted in the Fourth Quarter Financial Report from the Accountant General and approved the publication of this report as required by section 46 of the Public Financial Management Ordinance, 2012;
• It also reviewed the Turks and Caicos Islands legislative agenda and approved the establishment of a working group to review several draft Bills; namely the Credit Union, Insolvency and Consumer Protection Bills, respectively.
Further details on these matters will be provided by Ministers in due course.
Value of imports increased by 9.6% for the 1st quarter of 2015
The Strategic Planning Policy Department (SPPD) today released some statistics that show Merchandise imports to the Turks and Caicos Islands increased by 9.6% during the first quarter of 2015 when compared to the same period last year.
It noted imports were valued at $102.7 million for the period when compared to $93.7 million in 2014. Exports from the Turks and Caicos Islands during this period were valued at $0.9 million when compared to $1.5 million during the first quarter of 2014.
This resulted in a merchandise trade
deficit of approximately $101.8 million during the first quarter of 2015. This was roughly 10.4 percent or $9.6 million above the deficit recorded during the corresponding period of 2014. The increase in the trade deficit is mainly as a result of the $0.5 million decline in the value of exports when compared to the $9.0 million increase in the value of Imports.
Given the projected growth in the tourism and construction sectors of the TCI economy and the lack of a more diversified group of exports, it is likely that the trade imbalance will continue to increase in the foreseeable future. Negative trade balance was recorded on all categories of goods.
Further details of the SPPD’s release can be found on RTC’s website www.rtc107fm.com
Turks_and_Caicos_Islands_1st_quarter_2015_Merchandise_Trade_Bulletin.pdf