Senior official arrested for scalping
A senior executive with the official World Cup corporate hospitality provider was arrested yesterday in the plush beachside hotel where FIFA President Sepp Blatter is staying, as part of a Brazilian police investigation into illegal ticket sales.
Ray Whelan, a director of MATCH Services, was arrested at the Copacabana Palace in Rio de Janeiro, the hotel used by senior FIFA officials during the World Cup.
Whelan was detained as part of a larger police investigation dubbed “Operation Jules Rimet”. He was characterised by police investigator Fabio Barucke as being the “facilitator” who allowed a large ring of scalpers to have access to tickets.
In an emailed statement, police said Whelan was heard on wiretapped phone calls negotiating ticket prices with Algerian national Mohamadou Lamine Fofana, who they accuse of being the ringleader of the scalpers.
Whelan was arrested inside his luxury suite yesterday afternoon, where police said they confiscated 82 tickets for upcoming matches, along with Whelan’s computer, cellphone and other unspecified documents.
Under Brazilian law, the 64-year-old Whelan may only be charged by prosecutors after they receive the complete police investigation, which officers have 30 days to complete. Investigators said Whelan was still being questioned inside a precinct yesterday evening – and that he would spend the night in jail.
A spokesman for MATCH Hospitality, the subsidiary in the MATCH group of companies implicated in the investigation, didn’t immediately reply to requests for comment.
Re-selling World Cup tickets for profit is illegal in Brazil and against FIFA rules. Police arrested 11 people, including Fofana, and seized 131 game tickets last week – at least 70 of them for corporate hospitality.
Police said then that Fofana had connections to FIFA or MATCH, and the original source of the tickets to be sold at hugely inflated prices was “someone higher up”. Police said they had information from 50 000 phone calls they tapped during their scalping investigation and Fofana had access to restricted areas at the Copacabana Palace.
MATCH Hospitality is the main provider of hospitality packages for the World Cup and paid $240 million for the exclusive rights to sell corporate hospitality at the 2010 and 2014 World Cups. Blatter’s nephew, Philippe Blatter, is the president of a company which is a shareholder in MATCH Hospitality.
FIFA said earlier yesterday that it had provided police with lists of telephone numbers for its staff and that of its service providers, which included MATCH, the group which runs ticketing, travel, accommodation and technology services at the World Cup. MATCH Hospitality had earlier distanced itself from the ticket scalping scandal in a statement.
“MATCH Hospitality will be fully assisting the police in investigating the matter,” it said.
Of the more than three million purchasable tickets for the tournament, 445 500 were allocated to MATCH Hospitality, according to FIFA. Any unsold or unused corporate hospitality tickets should be returned to FIFA to be made available to the public.
Police estimated last week that the scalping ring was making one million Brazilian reals ($455 000) per game by re-selling tickets on the black market. They were hoping to get $16 000 per ticket for the July 13 World Cup final in Rio, they said.
Fofana runs a company that is one of MATCH Hospitality’s customers. MATCH said yesterday that Fofana’s Atlanta Sportif Management and three other companies, two of them official MATCH Hospitality agents, had their remaining World Cup ticket allocations blocked or cancelled after some of their tickets ended up in the hands of scalpers.
Source-AP
Shakira, Wyclef to perform at World Cup closing ceremony
Colombian pop star Shakira and hip hop artist Wyclef Jean will perform at the World Cup's closing ceremony in Brazil.
Shakira will be at the World Cup for the third time and sing her ‘La la la (Brazil 2014)’ with Brazil's Carlinhos Brown ahead of the July 13 final at Rio de Janeiro's Maracana Stadium.
Wyclef, guitarist Santana and Alexandre Pires will combine on Dar Um Jeito, the main theme song for the World Cup.
Announcing the lineup, FIFA also said Brazilian singer-songwriter Ivete Sangalo "will bring a distinctive local flavor to the show" with a medley of well-known Brazilian numbers and will be joined by Pires.
Source-AP
World Bank funds for Grenada
The Grenada government says the World Bank has approved a US$15 million disbursement for the island.
It follows last week's approval by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) of a US$21.9 million structural adjustment programme.
A government statement said that the island will receive another disbursement from the World Bank as the island implements its "homegrown" structural adjustment programme with IMF support.
Prime Minister Keith Mitchell noted that the World Bank has once again "demonstrated its highly valued support for Grenada to increase resilience, enhance competitiveness and promote faster and higher economic growth.
"This is further evidence of the confidence of the international community in Grenada's policies, especially as regarding the home-grown programme," he added.
Source— CMC
St Kitts/Nevis opens embassy in Cuba, calls on US to end embargo
St Kitts/Nevis has opened an embassy in Cuba and has called on the United States to end its decade old trade and economic embargo against the only Communist country in the Caribbean.
A government statement said that Foreign Affairs Minister Patrice Nisbett told delegates to the opening of the embassy that Basseterre would continue to support the annual United Nations General Assembly vote calling on Washington to remove the embargo placed on the island when Fidel Casyro assumed power 50 years ago.
“We continue to avail ourselves of every opportunity and in every forum to appeal to the United States of America to bring to an immediate end its unfair treatment of the Cuban people who continue to suffer unreasonably as a result of the decades old embargo. Cuba is our neighbour.
“Cuba is our friend and we shall continue to exploit all possible means of speaking on their behalf in the international community on this issue,” said Nisbett.
The St. Kitts-Nevis government has noted that the majority of countries within this hemisphere has supported Cuba in its quest for “normal and constructive relations” with all nations around the world.
The United States and a handful of countries have consistently voted against ending the embargo.
Hurricane Arthur leaves thousands without power
Proving far less damaging than feared, Hurricane Arthur left tens of thousands of people without power Friday in a swipe at North Carolina's dangerously exposed Outer Banks, then brought lousy Fourth of July beach weather to the Northeast as it veered out to sea.
The weather along the narrow barrier islands — whose beaches draw scores of tourists every summer — was already clearing Friday as Arthur's outer bands scraped the Delaware and New Jersey shores. Forecasters did predict a second landfall Saturday evening in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia in Canada.
Arthur struck North Carolina as a Category 2 storm with winds of 100 mph late Thursday, taking about five hours to move across the far eastern part of the state.
About 40,000 people lost power, and the rush of water from the ocean on one side and the sound on the other side buckled part of North Carolina Highway 12 in a spot on Hatteras Island that was breached in Hurricane Irene in 2011. Dozens of workers were heading to fix the highway, and the Department of Transportation said it was confident the road would reopen Saturday as long as an underwater sonar test of a key bridge showed no problems.
No injuries or deaths were reported. After praising emergency officials and saying the state dodged a bullet, Gov McCrory noted that all of North Carolina's beaches were open outside of the Outer Banks and encouraged residents and visitors to enjoy the holiday. He was heading to the beach himself for an Independence Day parade in Southport, a welcome surprise when he expected to be stuck in Raleigh monitoring the storm all day.
"The North Carolina beaches are open for business and they're open for tourists," McCrory said. "The umbrellas are going up as we speak right now."
By 11:00 am Friday, Arthur had weakened to a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds around 90 mph, and additional weakening is expected, the US National Hurricane Centre said. The centre was about 100 miles east-southeast of Ocean City, Maryland, and the storm was moving northeast near 24 mph.
While the Northeast wasn't expected to take a direct hit, the rain from Arthur's outer bands was disrupting the holiday. Fireworks displays in New Jersey and Maine were postponed until later in the weekend. Tropical storm warnings were in effect for coastal areas as far north as Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Tropical storm watches and warnings were in effect for Nova Scotia and New Brunswick in southeastern Canada.
Neymar ruled out of World Cup with fractured vertebrae
Brazil on Friday, July 4 lost superstar striker Neymar for the World Cup after he fractured a vertebrae during his side's 2-1 World Cup quarter final win over Colombia.
Colombia defender Juan Zuniga kneed the 22-year-old Neymar in a crunching tackle and the Barcelona player was stretchered off in agony in the closing minutes of the game in Forteleza.
The injury and the suspension of captain Thiago Silva for the semi-final against Germany overshadowed a sensational David Luiz goal that sealed victory in one of the most physical games seen at this World Cup.
A hospital exam "showed he suffered a fracture of the third vertebra" in his back, team doctor Rodrigo Lasmar told reporters.
Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari fumed that Neymar has been "hunted" throughout the tournament and that no punishment was given for the tackle on him.
"I have been saying for three matches that Neymar has been hunted, but all the other countries say it is not true and it is only their players that are hunted."
Silva was booked for a second time in the tournament for impeding a clearance by Colombian goalkeeper David Ospina.
But in Zuniga's case "there was not even a yellow card and Thiago got a yellow card for nothing," Scolari said.
Brazil are in the World Cup semi-finals for the first time in 12 years, but Scolari, who has vowed his side will win their sixth World Cup, now faces a major crisis.
Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie to Shoot New Film
Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie are moving forward with their joint movie project. The couple were scouting locations for the filming in Europe last month and decided that Malta would be it.
"I'm happy that Hollywood producers have once again chosen Malta for their project, and we will be delighted to host Mr. Pitt, Ms. Jolie, and their family for the second time in just a few years," Prime Minister of Malta Joseph Muscat told Us Weekly. "I'm sure that this film will help put our beautiful sister island of Gozo on the world map."
Brangelina and their six kids stayed in the country when Pitt filmed "World War Z" there back in 2011. An insider told Us, "They'll be filming in Mgarr ix-Xini Bay in Gozo. The whole family will be staying in Malta for eight weeks, arriving at the end of August."
The project is still a mystery but sources said it will be a love story that Jolie has been talking about. Back in May, the 39-year-old actress confirmed that she was thinking of reuniting with her lover on-screen for the first time since 2005's "Mr and Mrs Smith" in a film she wrote. She then told Extra, "It's not a big movie, it's not an action movie." She added, "It's the kind of movie we love but aren't often cast in. It's a very experimental, independent-type film where we get to be actors together and be really raw, open, try things."
Source-AceShow
Jennifer Hudson Announces New Album 'JHUD'
Jennifer Hudson has revealed the title of her forthcoming third album. Speaking to WPGC in Washington, D.C., the singer announced that the follow-up to 2011's "I Remember Me" would simply be called "JHUD".
"It's different expressions of me as an artist, a girl, a music lover," she said of the album, which is a reflection of the woman she has become in the past three years. The LP is due out in mid-August via RCA Records.
The '70s-inspired "JHUD" has already spawned "I Can't Describe (The Way I Feel)", a Pharrell Williams-produced track that features T.I.; "Walk It Out", produced by Timbaland; and R. Kelly assisted "It's Your World" which the singer debuted at the 2014 BET Awards on Sunday, June 29.
In an interview with V magazine earlier this year, Hudson explained that she wanted to showcase her strength as an artist with her new full-length. "Earlier in my career I was just a soloist singing other people's songs. Now I really want to be an artist. I want to lift the people up, have fun, create a moment. I have my own visions that I want to bring to life," she shared.
Source-AceShowbiz
Turks and Caicos Cabinet Press Statement 2 July 2014
His Excellency the Governor, Peter Beckingham, chaired the meeting of the Cabinet at the Hilly Ewing Building on Providenciales on Wednesday, 2 July 2014.
All Ministers were present except Hon. Porsha Stubbs-Smith and Hon. Don Hue Gardiner.
At this meeting Cabinet:
· Received a presentation from the Complaints Commissioner setting out the role and function of her office. Cabinet welcomed the presentation and the helpful insight this provided on the Commissioners role and the relationship with other constitutional bodies charged with good governance;
· Advised HE. the Governor to approve amendments to the National Health Insurance (Amnesty) Bill, 2014 and the National Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill, 2014. The matter will proceed to the House of Assembly. The amendments proposed are as follows:
o The introduction of an Amnesty Period of ninety (90) days to allow subscribers to the National Health Insurance Plan to be exempted from the payment of additional charges which have accumulated as a result of failing to pay contributions on the day that contributions were due, provided that all outstanding contributions due at the beginning of the Amnesty Period are paid in full whether in a lump sum payment or by way of a payment plan;
o The amendment of section 37 of the National Health Insurance Ordinance to make provision for a new rate at which the additional charge will be levied on outstanding contributions. At present the rate is ten per cent of the outstanding contributions for each month or part thereof during which the contribution remains unpaid; the amendment seeks to lower the rate to three per cent. Such new rate s not intended to have retroactive effect;
· Approved the appointment of Nurse Jackurlyn Sutton to the Joint Service Review Board in accordance with Schedule 6, Section 11, part 1 of the Hospitals Project Agreement;
· Advised HE. the Governor to approve amendments to the Business License Regulations and the Business License Fees Schedule (including some professional services) and amendments to the Reserved and Restricted Categories. The revised fee schedule will be effective 1st July 2014;
· Considered amendments to the Companies (Amendment) (No.2) Bill 2014, and the Non-Profit Organisations (Amendment) Regulations. The amendments provide for revisions to the requirement for the auditing and registration of Non-Profit Organisations. Cabinet requested that further consideration be given to the representations of key stakeholders and that the matter be considered further at their next meeting. It was agreed to extend the time for a registered NPO to elect to continue as a non-profit company under the Companies Ordinance to the 31st August 2014 and extend the time for an existing NPO to register with the NPO Supervisor to 31st August 2014 so that no enforcement action should be taken against such an organisation if the organisation registers on or before that day;
· Considered a report from the Minister of Government Support Services setting out proposals for around twenty infrastructure projects in Grand Turk to be funded by the Infrastructure Improvement Account. Cabinet prioritised six projects for consideration by Carnival;
· Advised HE. the Governor to approve amendments to the Customs (Charge on Insurance and Freight) Ordinance (Legal Notice of 2013) to vary the rate of the Freight and Insurance Tax from the current 15% to 7.5% effective 1st August 2014. The matter will proceed to the House of Assembly;
· Noted the Premier will be absent from 6 July to 10 July, with Hon. Amanda Missick being Acting Premier.
Drake Drops Out Of Co-Headlining Wireless Festival
The next Drake and Kanye West collaboration will have to wait. According to Drake will no longer be co-headlining the Wireless Festival with Kanye West due to an illness.
Drake was schedules to perform at the two day festival in London and Birmingham this weekend, with him headlining one of those dates. Drake explains his sudden cancellation is due to doctor’s orders:
"I got sick a few days ago and although I am on my way to bouncing back, my doctors have made it clear that I am not physically fit to fly or deliver the performance my fans expect and deserve from me."
Kanye West, who was set to co-headline the event with Drake, will now headline both nights.
Drake is also scheduled to host the upcoming 22nd annual ESPN ESPY’s awards Wednesday, July 16, at the Nokia Theatre L.A. in Los Angeles at 9 PM EST.
Source-Allhiphop