Robin Thicke Admits to Lying About Writing 'Blurred Lines'
Nasty truths behind Robin Thicke's 2013 mega hit single "Blurred lines" have been revealed. In a court deposition obtained by The Hollywood Reporter for his lawsuit from Marvin Gaye's family for allegedly ripping off the late singer's classic called "Got to Give It Up", the R&B star admitted he lied about writing the controversial track and said that collaborator Pharrell Williams wrote most of the song on his own.
Thicke said he lied about his involvement in the songwriting process out of jealousy. "After making six albums that I wrote and produced myself, the biggest hit of my career was written and produced by someone else and I was jealous and I wanted some of the credit," he said. "I tried to take credit for it later because [Pharrell] wrote the whole thing pretty much by himself and I was envious of that."
The 37-year-old musician went on saying that he was present at the studio when he, Pharrell and T.I. recorded the song. "I was present. Obviously, I sang it. I had to be there," he said. He was also there when the track was being made, but his addiction to Vicodin and alcohol had limited his involvement in the studio.
"I was high on Vicodin and alcohol when I showed up at the studio. So my recollection is when we made the song, I thought I wanted to be more involved than I actually was by the time, nine months later, it became a huge hit and I wanted credit. So I started kind of convincing myself that I was a little more part of it than I was and I - because I didn't want him - I wanted some credit for this big hit. But the reality is, is that Pharrell had the beat and he wrote almost every single part of the song," he explained.
Pharrell appeared to agree with Thicke in his deposition, saying, "This is what happens every day in our industry. You know, people are made to look like they have much more authorship in the situation than they actually do. So that's where the embellishment comes in."
However, he gave Thicke so much credit (Thicke receives about 18-22 percent of publishing royalties) because he believed it's Thicke's voice that holds the song together. "It's the white man singing soulfully and we, unfortunately, in this country don't get enough... we don't get to hear that as often, so we get excited by it when the mainstream gives that a shot," he added.
Source- AceShowbiz
Chikungunya tests continue — CARPHA
The Trinidad-based Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) says it has not stopped conducting tests for the Chikungunya virus but has instead "scaled up its capability" to meet increased demands.
A CARPHA statement said that contrary to media reports, the agency has stepped up its activities in light of the evolving epidemic.
CARPHA Executive Director, Dr C James Hospedales, said that the agency has scaled up its capability to meet the increased demand for testing in the Caribbean.
Last week, the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) urged Caribbean countries to eradicate the breeding sites of mosquitoes that transmit dengue and the Chikungunya virus even as it warned of a possible increase in patients suffering from these diseases.
Since the start of the year, countries in Latin America and the Caribbean have reported nearly 850,000 cases of dengue and 470 deaths from severe dengue.
PAHO said that between December 2013 and September 5 this year, 650,000 cases of Chikungunya, including 37 deaths, have been reported.
Dr Hospedales said that CARPHA adheres to public health surveillance principles, and that once several people with Chikungunya have had their diagnoses confirmed through laboratory testing in an area within a country, then testing is only carried out for certain groups of people based on clinical symptoms.
He said tests are also carried out in newly affected areas to confirm whether or not the virus is present and circulating in that community.
Additionally, if a dengue test is positive, it is unlikely that the person would be tested for Chikungunya. Given this policy, Dr Hospedales said it is not necessary to test every single case, but reiterated that the agency continues testing for the region.
Source-CMC
PM leads Jamaica’s delegation to UN General Assembly
Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller is leading Jamaica's delegation to the 69th session of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly, which starts today.
Consul officer at Jamaica's permanent mission to the UN, Kurt Davis, said that while the itinerary for the prime minister's visit was not yet finalised, she
is scheduled to address the world body on September 27.
She is also expected to hold bilateral talks with other heads of government and will be engaged in a number of other events.
Meanwhile, the UN General Assembly will conduct a special session as a follow up to the programme of action on the International Conference on Population and
Development, Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon will hold a summit on climate change during the session.
Contributor— Harold Bailey
Source-Jamaica Observer
Former WICB president honoured for service to game
The West Indies Cricket Board on Saturday honoured former president Sir Julian Hunte, for his contribution to the game across the region.
Sir Julian, served as president from 2007 to 2013 and also served as a Director of the International Cricket Council.
The function which was hosted by the WICB and attended by several local and regional dignitaries as well as West Indies cricket legends, was held at the Beausejour Cricket Ground.
Sir Julian was hailed as a “St Lucian hero” and also praised for his calm guidance and leadership during a challenging period in West Indies cricket. The 74 year old, who is a former St Lucia Foreign Minister, said his greatest joy was being on hand to see the West Indies team win the ICC World T20 trophy in Sri Lanka in October, 2012.
“I have a love for cricket – cricket at all levels from the grassroots level to the international level. I have a special love for West Indies cricket and I am happy to make a contribution to the game at all levels,” Sir Julian told the audience.
“I served because of the love of the game and I was happy to contribute in any capacity, in any way I can.
“One of my greatest privileges was to be there on that night when the West Indies team won the ICC World T20 tournament. The outpouring of emotions and the celebrations we saw filled my heart with great joy. It was a wonderful triumph and a true outpouring of West Indian joy.”
Sir Julian was presented with two special awards by Dave Cameron, president of the WICB and Clive Lloyd, the most successful captain in the history of West Indies cricket and who now serves as head of selectors.
“His service to cricket in St Lucia and in leading the growth and transformation of cricket in the Windward Islands is legendary. At the regional level he has given yeoman and dedicated service to the West Indies cricket board for 33 years, seven of which were as president of the WICB,” Cameron said.
Also in attendance were legends Sir Curtly Ambrose, Sir Richie Richardson and Courtney Walsh, as well as veteran West Indies batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Test captain Denesh Ramdin.
Source-The Daily Observer
Radisson suspends Minnesota Vikings sponsorship
The Radisson hotel chain says it is suspending its sponsorship of Minnesota Vikings, an American football team.
It comes after one of the team's players, Adrian Peterson, was charged with child abuse in Texas after hitting his son with part of a branch.
The Minneapolis team have reinstated the player after dropping him.
"Radisson is suspending its limited sponsorship of the Minnesota Vikings while we evaluate the facts and circumstances," the company said.
It added it "takes this matter very seriously, particularly in light of our long-standing commitment to the protection of children".
Radisson's sponsorship includes a banner visible to viewers watching Vikings' news conferences.
The Minnesota Vikings said it had "respectfully honoured Radisson's request", a team spokesman said.
Discipline or abuse?
Mr Peterson stands accused of using part of a tree branch to spank his four-year-old son. The player says he was using a form of discipline his father used on him as a boy.
"I am not a perfect son. I am not a perfect husband. I am not a perfect parent, but I am, without a doubt, not a child abuser," Mr Peterson said in a statement.
"I am someone that disciplined his child and did not intend to cause him any injury."
The Vikings dropped the player for Sunday's game but then reinstated him on Monday.
The team's general manager, Rick Spielman, said: "I understand that this is a very difficult thing to handle. But we also feel strongly as an organisation that this is disciplining a child.
"Whether it's an abusive situation or not, or whether he went too far disciplining, we feel very strongly that that is the court's decision to make, but we also understand the seriousness of abusing children as well.''
The charges against Mr Peterson come just days after another NFL star, Ray Rice, had his contract terminated after a video emerged in which he appeared to punch his wife.
Source-BBC
Heineken rejects takeover offer from SABMiller
Dutch brewing giant Heineken has rejected a takeover offer from London brewer SABMiller saying the proposal is "non-actionable".
Heineken said it had "consulted with its majority shareholder" before rejecting the approach.
It said the Heineken family, the founding family which still owns half of the firm, wanted to preserve the firm as "an independent company".
Heineken said it was confident it would continue to grow.
"The Heineken family and Heineken N.V.'s management are confident that the company will continue to deliver growth and shareholder value," it added.
The founding Heineken family owns just over 50% of the brewer via Heineken Holding. A further 12% is owned by Mexico's FEMSA.
Brewing speculation
Heineken's statement was prompted by a Bloomberg story suggesting SABMiller had approached the Dutch firm to protect itself from a potential takeover.
There has been speculation within the brewing industry, for months, that SABMiller has been targeted by the world's number one brewer Anheuser-Busch InBev.
Heineken is the world's third largest beer producer behind AB Inbev and SABMiller, based on volume.
"Should AB Inbev choose to make a bid, which we think is likely, the chance of success has increased," said Eddy Hargreaves, an analyst at Canaccord Genuity in London.
"SABMiller's approach may cause some short term share price excitement, but we think Heineken's decision is final," he said.
SABMiller gained 5.3% to £35.855 per share in London, while Heineken rose 1.5%.
Apart from the namesake beer - Heineken, the company also produces Sol and Strongbow Apple ciders.
Miller time
When contacted by the BBC, SABMiller declined to comment. The company is the second-largest beer maker in the world, selling about 21 billion litres of lager worldwide.
SABMiller's beer brands include Miller Genuine Draft, Grolsch and Peroni Nastro Azzurro. The company also produces soft drinks, and it is one of the world's largest bottlers of Coca-Cola drinks.
For the full financial year to March 2014, SABMiller earned $27bn (£17bn) in revenues.
SABMiller's shares are traded on the London stock exchange. The company also has a secondary listing on the Johannesburg stock exchange.
Source-BBC
UK inflation rate down to 1.5% as food and petrol costs fall
The annual rate of UK inflation fell in August as the cost of petrol, food and non-alcoholic drinks declined.
Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation fell to 1.5% from 1.6% in August, the Office for National Statistics said.
It means the Bank of England remains under little pressure to raise interest rates in order to keep CPI inflation at or below its target rate of 2%.
Retail Price Index (RPI) inflation also saw a reduction, to 2.4%, from 2.5% the previous month.
Prices of food and non-alcoholic drinks fell by 1.1%, marking their steepest fall for more than a decade.
An ONS spokesman said competition between rival supermarket chains was a factor. Food prices had also been pushed up by cold weather a year earlier.
Bucking the downward trend, clothing, transport services and alcohol all rose in price faster than the headline inflation rate.
And core inflation, which strips out food, alcohol, tobacco and energy, notched up a 1.9% rate rise.
Source-BBC
UN calls for $1bn to fight Ebola virus
More than $1bn (£618m) is needed to fight the West Africa Ebola outbreak - a tenfold increase in the past month, the UN's Ebola co-ordinator has said.
David Nabarro made the announcement as the World Health Organization (WHO) described the health crisis as "unparalleled in modern times".
It has killed 2,461 people this year, half of the 4,985 infected by the virus, the global health body said.
There has been criticism of the slow international response to the epidemic.
Later, the US president is to announce plans to send 3,000 troops to Liberia, one of countries worst-affected by the outbreak, to help fight the virus.
More Than 30 Militants Killed in Pakistan's Northwest
Pakistan's military says it has killed more than 30 militants in fighting and air strikes targeting militant hideouts in the country's restive northwest.
The military says the air strikes killed 20 militants and destroyed three hideouts in the Tirah Valley of the Khyber tribal district.
In a separate incident, it says 11 militants were killed after they launched a cross-border attack on a security post in North Waziristan.
A statement says the troops repulsed the early morning attack and captured one militant. Three Pakistani soldiers were killed.
Pakistan's army says it has killed more than 900 militants since launching a major offensive in the northwest tribal region in June.
The area is off limits to journalists, making it impossible to independently confirm military figures.
Montego Bay To Host “Soul in the Sun” 2014
Montego Bay, Jamaica’s tourism capital, long known as a destination for huge music festivals, will host an event from October 10-12, at the Aqueduct in Rose Hall.
Dubbed “Soul in the Sun,” the two-day music festival and a beach party on the Sunday will feature a number of US based R&B icons. Keith Sweat, Johnny Gill, and 90s boy groups Dru Hill and Silk will perform on the first night, Friday, October 10. On the second night, the featured acts will be Peabo Bryson, Regina Bell, Jeffrey Osborne, Freddie Jackson and Howard Hewitt.
According to Junior Taylor, Managing Director of Complete Entertainment Services, organizers of the event, the format of the festival was adopted from existing events but tweaked to suit a local audience.
“We saw how successful the Sinbad Soul Music Festival has been over the years; it was staged in Jamaica once during the 1990s and has been taken to a number of islands in the region, and we decided to stage such a festival here to offer this level of entertainment to persons who love this kind of music.”
The acts: Regarding the choice of artistes, he explained that the organizers “really wanted to bring acts that were Jamaican favorites from the 80s and 90s.”
Accordingly, he said “we went for Freddie Jackson who has the hits like You Are My Lady. Jeffrey Obsorne is so loved here in Jamaica that we just had to bring him here for tracks such as On The Wings of Love, Shine On and more. Then we had to include Peabo Bryson and Regina Belle. Then once we spoke to Keith Sweat he suggested some of the other acts with whom he tours with as part of a Men of Soul aggregation.”
The Venue: The choice of Montego Bay and The Aqueduct were obvious for this festival, he added: “Montego Bay just has a vibe. It offers Jamaicans a chance to escape to the north coast and enjoy themselves while giving visitors that taste of Jamaican hospitality with a healthy dose of great entertainment thrown in for added value. The Aqueduct offers an intimate venue in a picturesque setting with the blue seas on one side, green hills on the other, and the old sugar ruins forming an impressive backdrop.”