LL Cool J Announced as Grammy Host for Fourth Time in a Row
LL Cool J has secured a hosting gig at the Grammy Awards. The rapper/actor who has been hosting the annual awards show since 2012 is returning to the position at the upcoming ceremony which is taking place at the Staples Center, Los Angeles next month.
Recording Academy president and CEO Neil Portnow shared in a statement why the rapper is "perfect" choice for the hosting duty. "As both a Grammy-winning recording artist and an accomplished actor, LL Cool J's wide range of talent, dynamic personality and charismatic energy make him the perfect choice to host the Grammy Awards," he said. "His unique expertise allows him to set the right tone for the show and connect with everyone - from his musical peers to fans at home. We are honored to have him back."
The "Toys" star also expressed his excitement about returning to host the show. "I'm thrilled to again be part of music's biggest night. The performances and moments you see on the Grammy stage are nothing less than amazing throughout the years and this year's show is shaping up to be one you will never forget," he said in the statement.
The 2015 Academy Awards is taking place on Sunday, February 8 and airs on CBS. Pharrell Williams, Miranda Lambert and Sam Smith and more stars were recently announced as performers at the event, joining previously-announced stars such as Madonna and Ed Sheeran.
Source-AceShowbiz
Kim Kardashian Is Not Trying to 'Save Her Marriage' to Kanye West With Second Child
Kim Kardashian is not trying to "save her marriage" to Kanye West by having a second child. A source close to the situation tells Gossip Cop that the new report made by InTouch is "totally wrong."
The magazine previously reported that "as [Kim and Kanye's] eight-month marriage continues to fall apart and head toward divorce court, Kim is in a panic over the thought of suffering through the humiliation of a third divorce... and has devised a plan to turn everything around: Get pregnant ASAP."
A so-called Kardashian insider told the tabloid, "Kim doesn't want to be dragged to court. Kanye loves North so much, she knows her plan to have another baby to keep him from ending their sham of a marriage will work."
Another source claimed, "Kim is determined to have another child because she knows Kanye wouldn't leave her if she's pregnant. It's kind of sad, but that's how Kim thinks."
The news came after Kim revealed her struggle to get pregnant with second baby earlier this month. At the E! International Press Junket in Los Angeles on January 9, Kim told Daily Mail, "It's been more challenging to get pregnant the second time around. When you're not planning it, it happens. It's just how God works. And when you want it so bad, it's not happening."
George and Amal Clooney's Rep Denies Divorce' Rumor
A representative for George Clooney and his wife Amal Clooney has addressed rumor made by InTouch that the couple was getting a "$200 million divorce." Stan Rosenfield told RumorFix, "This story is totally made up in order to sell their magazines."
An alleged source told InTouch that George and Amal's marriage was "beset with jealousy, arguments and other relationship-wrecking behavior." The tabloid claimed, "Amal's disdain for Hollywood and many of George's pals, her increasingly diva-like behavior, as well as fights over starting a family, have friends convinced it's all gone wrong for the couple."
A so-called insider said, "I think they'll divorce. There's no way it can last. And it's going to be very expensive for George."
George was reportedly embarrassed with Amal's behavior during the Golden Globes because not only she did talk during his big moment but also "she was giving judgmental looks to some pretty big names there." A friend told the site, "He's trying hard. But behind the scenes, he and Amal are fighting."
Another source said, "Amal is extremely bossy and arrogant. She's just not much fun to be around," adding that the human rights lawyer's "sudden international fame has gone to her head. Amal believes she's the most famous woman in the world and acts like royalty wherever she goes."
InTouch reported that George and Amal planned to adopt or have a baby within the first year of their marriage. "But it seems like Amal is changing that deal now," the tabloid claimed, "She is all about her career; having a baby would ruin that right now. She's enjoying the fame and wants to wait, and it's causing a lot of tension because George wants kids now. It was part of why they got married so soon."
Source-AceShowbiz
Yemen's President & Cabinet has resigned
Yemen President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi has resigned, according to a Yemen government spokesman in Washington, throwing the country deeper into chaos days after Houthi rebels battled their way into his presidential palace.
Spokesman Mohammed Albasha announced the embattled president was stepping down via social media on Thursday.
Hadi submitted his resignation to parliament after being pressured to make further concessions to the rebels, saying he had reached a “deadlock” in talks with the militant group who rule the capital and had confined him to his home.
Yemen's Cabinet had submitted its resignation earlier Thursday.
Citing a Facebook post by Prime Minister Khaled Bahah, Reuters quoted the political chief as saying the government didn't want to be "dragged into an unconstructive political maze that is not based on law or order."
The move comes amid a political tug-of-war between the president and the Houthi Shi'ite militia that has gripped the country since Monday.
His resignation raised fears the Arab world's poorest country could again split apart.
Speaking from Sanaa on Thursday, U.N. envoy Jamal Benomar said the political crisis would only be resolved if the rival groups honor earlier agreements that call for power-sharing and an end to violence.
"I want to assert again that the crisis can't be resolved but by way of what you agreed upon through the outcomes of the NDC and the Peace and National Partnership Agreement," he said. "I call you all to have wisdom and national spirit, give priority to the national interest of Yemen and use dialogue and political action to resolve any of political disagreement, away from violence, extortion and procrastination."
Source-VOA
US, Cuba spar over migration policy at historic Havana talks
The United States (US) said yesterday it dispatched additional ships to the Florida Straits to halt Cuban rafters but rebuffed demands for broader changes to US migration rules that dominated the first day of talks between Cuban officials and the highest-ranking US delegation to the island in more than three decades.
Cuba urged the US to end immigration privileges that grant virtually automatic legal residency to any Cuban who touches US soil. Its government blames the Cold War policy for luring tens of thousands of Cubans a year to make perilous journeys by sea and land to try to reach the United States. Still, many Cubans are worried the elimination of the rules would take away their chance to have a better life in the US.
"I don't want them to get rid of it," said Mile Nieves, a 42-year-old Havana resident. "I've got my whole family there and I'm desperate to leave."
US officials reported a spike in the number of rafters attempting to reach Florida after the December 17 announcement that the countries would move to normalise ties. Those numbers appear to have slowed in recent days.
In Washington, US Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson issued a statement saying additional Coast Guard cutters have been deployed to stop Cuban and Haitian migrants from reaching the United States by boat.
America's 'wet foot, dry foot' approach, which generally shields Cubans from deportation if they touch US land, remains in effect, Johnson said. But he stressed that those trying to come by sea would most likely be interdicted and returned.
"Cuba wants a normal relationship with the US, in the broadest sense but also in the area of migration," said Cuba's head of North American affairs, Josefina Vidal. She called for the US to end "exceptional treatment that no other citizens in the world receive, causing an irregular situation in the flow of migrants".
American officials instead pressed Cuba to take back tens of thousands of its nationals whom US authorities want to deport because they have been convicted of crimes. No progress was made on that issue, according to an official present in the meeting. The official wasn't authorised to speak on the matter and demanded anonymity.
Re-Establish Embassies
The talks continue today with broader negotiations on how the US and Cuba can end a half-century of enmity - as promised last month by Presidents Barack Obama and Raul Castro. The nations hope to re-establish embassies and post ambassadors to each other's capitals in the coming months.
After meeting with the Cubans for more than three hours, State Department officials said the annual migration talks had been easier than usual because the two sides felt comfortable focusing almost entirely on migration. In past years, the migration talks served as a pretext for a wider range of bilateral disagreements.
"Today's discussions prove that despite clear differences that remain between our countries, the United States and Cuba can find opportunities to advance our mutual, shared interests as well as engage in respectful and thoughtful dialogue," said the State Department's Alex Lee, who headed the US delegation ahead of yesterday afternoon's arrival of Roberta Jacobson.
Jacobson is the top American diplomat for Latin America and most senior US official to visit Cuba in more than three decades.
Lt Cmdr Gabe Somma, spokesman for the Coast Guard's 7th District in Miami, said "aggressively" stepped-up patrols have eased the spike in rafters seen immediately after the twin announcements last month by Castro and Obama.
"We have seen a slowdown in the last two weeks," Somma said. He wouldn't say how many more US boats were patrolling the Florida Straits and Caribbean.
The Havana talks were occurring hours after Obama said US efforts to loosen the five-decade trade embargo have "the potential to end a legacy of mistrust in our hemisphere" and are a "new hope for the future in Cuba".
Source-AP
China leader gets pay raise to US$22,300 a year
Chinese President Xi Jinping's base salary is rising from about US$13,600 to US$22,300 a year under a recent general pay increase for public employees, state media reported Tuesday.
The reports gave Chinese citizens a rare glimpse into how much their leaders make, though it was far from the whole picture because it excludes extra allowances and other perquisites of power.
And, officials later declined to confirm even the base salary figures and dampened online discussion. Comments sections following online news reports about the matter were closed.
The China Daily said the base salaries of Xi and six other members of the Communist Party's powerful Standing Committee were rising from 7,020 yuan (US$1,140) to 11,385 yuan (US$1,850) a month - a 62 per cent increase. It said the pay of lowest-ranking officials would double to US$2,580 per year, that these were the first such raises since 2006, and that many lower-level civil servants have been quitting because of low pay.
Liu Bangxiu, a car assessor, reacted with sarcasm on his microblog, suggesting that government officials have plenty of other ways of enriching themselves.
"Congratulations! Haven't got a pay rise for 10 years? How could you feed your families during that period?" Liu wrote on his verified Sina Weibo blog. "Everyone knows that public servants have low pay, so why are there still so many people trying to become a public servant? Isn't that contradictory?!"
Higher salaries could also be a defence against corruption, a problem Xi has attacked since taking charge of the ruling Communist Party more than two years ago. Chinese leaders have expressed admiration for Singapore and other countries where the salaries of public servants are similar to those in the private sector as a guard against graft.
The state media reports cited a January 12 notice from the Human Resources Ministry that was circulated online. However, Vice Minister Hu Xiaoyi denied that the ministry had published the notice and declined to confirm its figures.
United States President Barack Obama earns a base salary of US$400,000 a year.
Source- AP
INTERVAL INTERNATIONAL HOST SPONSOR OF CARIBBEAN TRAVEL MARKETPLACE IN PUERTO RICO
Interval International, a prominent worldwide provider of vacation services, will be a host sponsor of the 33rd annual Caribbean Travel Marketplace. Organized by the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) in conjunction with the Puerto Rico Hotel & Tourism Association and Puerto Rico Tourism Company, the conference will be held January 28-30 at the Puerto Rico Convention Center in San Juan.
"We are delighted to sponsor CHTA's largest tourism marketing event of the year," said Neil Kolton, Interval's director of resort sales and service for the Caribbean and Florida. "Marketplace gives us the opportunity to make valuable contacts with hotel and resort owners and helps us generate additional vacation opportunities for our members."
"This conference provides a forum for us to welcome potential international buyers and showcase the variety of the region's tourism product and richness of its destinations," said Emil Lee, president of CHTA. "The ongoing support of our strategic partners, including Interval International-the longest-serving partner-has been instrumental in making Marketplace a success."
Attendees spend two days participating in pre-scheduled business meetings to discuss existing contracts, develop packages, and contract for future business. In 2014, Marketplace confirmed approximately 12,000 business meetings between suppliers and buyers, who represented 20 countries.
Grand Turk Fishing Tournament Donates Computers to the H.J. Robinson High School
Today the Governor HE Peter Beckingham, the Minister of Education, Hon. Akierra Missick and the Permanent Secretary Mrs. Cheryl Ann Jones joined the members of the Grand Turk Fishing Tournament Committee (Mr. Seamus Day, Mr. Everette Freites, Mr. Mitchell Loeb, and Mr. Jack Seerey), at the H. J. Robinson High School to officially turn over the computers donated through their Community Project.
The school received two Multi Point servers along with 30 client work stations and an additional five systems loaded with AutoCad software. Mr. Patterson Williams treated all present to a demonstration of the capabilities of the multi-point system.
This setup now gives the teachers more control over the actions of students, it also uses less energy than traditional computer arrangements and will be better able to cater to the needs of all our fifth form students and ultimately be able to begin offering Technical Drawing to students using auto CAD.
Deputy Premier, Hon. Akierra Missick Minister of Education stated; “The H. J Robinson High School and the Ministry of Education extends its appreciation to the members of the Grand Turk Fishing Tournament for the contribution made, it brings the school a step closer to the goal of integrating technology more effectively into the teaching and learning environment.
“We would also like to thank the community of Grand Turk for purchasing tickets, all those individuals that sold tickets and Mr. Carl Simmons of Tropical Shipping for shipping them free of cost to the country.”
Hon. Missick, closed with; “Our thanks also go out to the Computer Unit of the TCIG and in particular Mr. Patterson Williams who was instrumental in ensuring that the system was properly set up and ready.”
UNICEF, DFID & TCIG HOSTING WORKSHOP IN EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in collaboration with the Department for International Development (DFID) is currently hosting a Follow-up National Workshop on Administrative Data Systems for the Early Childhood Development (ECD) sector from January 22-23, on Grand Turk.
The Administrative Data System will help to monitor the survival, development, education and protection of children in the ECD sector.
The objectives of the workshop are:
Develop a draft plan with clearly defined actions
Identification of responsible persons and timeframes to support the process of strengthening systems
Closing gaps in data what exists in the Early Childhood Development Sector
Identification of the tasks to be done on a quarterly basis which will be linked to the reporting requirements for DFID
“The early childhood sector is one area that the Ministry of Education has committed to strengthening both from a human capital development standpoint and infrastructure wise” stated Deputy Premier & Minister of Education, Hon. Akierra Missick, who was on hand this morning to declare the workshop opened. “According to The Education Sector Plan, 2013-2017, Strategic Imperatives 6, some progress has already been such as the establishment of standards and guidelines for practitioners.”
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education Cherylann Jones added; “We welcome facilitators Sandra Agarrat and Frederic Unterreiner from UNICEF, as well as other local educators, and participants representing various departments and ministries who have, and continue to work collaboratively to accomplish national education goals. The Ministry extends thanks to UNICEF, DFID and UNESCO for its sponsorship and continued support.”
IMMIGRATION OFFICERS UNDERTAKE LEADERSHIP & OPERATIONAL SKILLS TRAINING
UK Immigration operational trainers, Ashley Robinson and Steve Smith joined TCI Border Control senior trainer, Tito Forbes, in delivering an intensive 2 week Leadership and Operational Skills training programme, for a select group of 6 Immigration Officers.
During the course, the officers were tested on a number of demanding activities, ranging from emergency life support to operational field deployments, technical skills such as handcuffing, restraint and searching, command training and coaching. Only those officers consistently demonstrating high levels of physical and mental competence and who passed a tough end of course ‘Knowledge Check’ examination were certified as Personal Safety Training (PST) trainers, able to support senior TCI trainers Tito Forbes and Wendy Seymour in delivering future operational skills training and refreshers to new and existing staff.
This course represents the final piece in a carefully crafted and co-ordinated programme of operational skills development for Border Control enforcement staff that, over the past 3 years, has delivered a cohort of highly skilled and professionally equipped officers, able to meet the myriad migration threats of illegal working, unlawful entrants and sloop arrivals.
This will be the latest in a series of training and development activities for the Ministry of Border Control and Labour that have been facilitated and co-ordinated by Immigration Adviser, Simon Excell and funded by the joint DFID/FCO – UK Technical Assistance Programme, which is managed by the Governor’s Office. It has seen the Ministry emerge as a regional lead in areas such as immigration intelligence, forgery detection, victim identification, human rights, citizenship processes and operational skills.
By realising this final group of immigration enforcement trainers, the programme will have delivered a lasting legacy of professionally skilled operational leaders, equipped to protect the Islands against immigration abuses, now and into the future.