Malaysia Airlines MH370 Flight Incident
Malaysia Airlines humbly asks all Malaysians and people around the world to pray for flight MH370.
It has been more than 24 hours since we last heard from MH370 at 1.30 am. The search and rescue team is yet to determine the whereabouts of the Boeing 777-200 aircraft.
An international search and rescue mission from Malaysia, Singapore and Vietnam was mobilized this morning. At this stage, they have failed to find evidence of any wreckage. The sea mission will continue overnight while the air mission will recommence at daylight.
We are dispatching all information as and when we receive it. The situation in Beijing is also being monitored closely. As many families of passengers are in China, we have deployed our “Go Team” to Beijing with a team of caregivers and volunteers to assist the family members of the passengers.
Immediate families of passengers are advised to gather at Kuala Lumpur International Airport. Travel arrangements and expenses will be borne by Malaysia Airlines. Once, the whereabouts of the aircraft is determined, Malaysia Airlines will fly members of the family to the location.
Our sole priority now is to provide all assistance to the families of the passengers and our staff. We are also working closely with the concerned authorities in the search and rescue operation.
GOVERNOR BECKINGHAM COMMENTS ON TCI MURDER, AND RECENT CRIME STATISTICS
H.E. Governor Beckingham has responded to the recent murder of TCI businessman Robbie Been as well as the new data.
“ I was saddened and shocked to hear of the murder of Mr Been this week. I am in touch with the Acting Commissioner about the investigation and I hope that the Police will be successful in arresting the guilty party quickly. TCI needs to show that criminals cannot get away with abhorrent acts of this sort.”
“I discussed the 2013 crime figures with the Police Commissioner before they were released. We are obviously concerned about the increases, although we took some comfort from the fact that TCI levels of crime and violence are comparatively low against many other Caribbean islands.
“But there is clearly room for improvement and the Commissioner and I will continue to meet regularly to look at ways of ensuring – not least with more resources - TCI’s reputation remains high as a safe destination for tourists, and secure for its citizens. There is no room for complacency added Mr. Beckingham.
Turn Your Clock Forward and Happy Commonwealth Day
TCIG would like to remind the public, that Daylight Saving Time (DST) begins this weekend. Therefore, on Sunday March 9, 2014 at 2:00 am, clocks will go forward one hour. This means that 2:00 am will become 3:00am.
TCIG would also like to remind all, that government offices across the islands will be closed for the Commonwealth Day public holiday on Monday March 10, 2014. Offices will reopen for business on Tuesday March 11, 2014 at 8:00am. As is the usual, arrangements are in place for the coverage of essential services.
Drawing of the Ballots for Residential Crown Land Allocation, March 10
On Monday 10th March 2014, the Crown Land Unit – a department of the Lands Division, within the Attorney General’s Chambers, will be holding a “Drawing of Ballots” to determine the successful applicants from among the applications received for the allocation of fifteen (15) residential lots on Grand Turk.
A total of thirty-four (34) applications were received for the lots in Residential Scheme No. GDT001 in Block 10202, situated at North West Suburbs, Grand Turk. This is the second such allocation since the resumption of Residential Crown land allocations in February 2013, when lots were distributed in Block 60004, North West and North Central, Providenciales, under the revised scheme and in accordance with the New Crown Land Ordinance 2012.
The “Drawing of the Ballots” will take place at the Dillon Hall of the Saint Mary’s Anglican Church, Grand Turk starting at 3:00 pm.
The public is also being invited to attend.
Williams hunts World Indoor gold
Kimberly Williams will be looking to win Jamaica's first medal at the IAAF World Indoor Championships (WIC) in Sopot, Poland today, as Veronica Campbell-Brown makes her return to the track and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, makes her WIC debut.
Williams, who booked her spot in the women's triple jump final with minimum effort yesterday, was one of the country's bright spots on a day that included a mixed bag of results.
Kaliese Spencer and Patricia Hall secured lanes in today's women's 400m final (1:40 p.m.) after impressive showings yesterday, and Monique Morgan will compete in the women's 60m hurdles (12:10 p.m.), while Nesta Carter and Kimmari Roach will be lining up in the men's 60m semi-finals, with one eye on the final, two hours later.
Roach, ran a 6.59 personal best to finish second in his heat yesterday, while Carter, who won the silver medal at the last IAAF World Indoor Championships in 2012, eased into third pace in his heat with a time of 6.58.
"It's a good track, bouncy. I felt a bit weird today, but hopefully I feel better by tomorrow. I would like to run around 6.4. Anything can happen in sprints. There is no real favourite," said Roach after the race.
The men's 60m semi-finals are set to begin today at 12:30 p.m., with the final scheduled for 2:57 p.m.
Williams bettered the automatic qualifying mark of 14.30m, with her first attempt of 14.35m to stroll into today's final, which is set for 12:05 p.m., and is a strong favourite for a medal.
All eyes will, however, be on the women's 60m heats, where athletes face the starter at 4:50 a.m. Veronica Campbell-Brown will be looking to win her third straight 60m gold medal, days after being cleared to resume her career following a doping violation.
Source-Jamaica Star
Brazil buys drones for World Cup
The Brazil Air Force has purchased two new $12 million drones from Israel with the aim of patrolling the skies during the FIFA World Cup.
The drones are expected to provide crowd surveillance above Brazil's stadiums during the competition.
The drones are among a raft of security measures being brought in, including thermal cameras, German tanks, and stadium fly-overs by Air Force fighter jets, and helicopters kitted out with surveillance equipment including high-resolution, night-vision, and thermal cameras.
Brazil has also ordered 30 PackBot 510 robots from the United States to beef up its security measures. Equipped with cameras, the PackBots can be remotely operated. Nearly 2,000 such robots are operational in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Chris Gayle expects tough T20 World Cup defense
Superstar batsman Chris Gayle believes West Indies have a realistic shot at defending their World Twenty20 title, but admits the regional side will face a tough challenge.
The big-hitting left-hander was a key member of the side, which lifted the T20 World Cup in Sri Lanka two years ago, and is expected to be at the forefront again as the side does battle in March 16 to April 6 campaign in Bangladesh.
"It would be nice if history could repeat itself but it's going to be tough as the other teams are playing good cricket at this point in time, and they are actually in good form as well," Gayle told reporters on Friday at Kensington Oval.
"It is going to be good to get out of the first round, that's always important. We'll target that first and then look forward to the semis and hopefully the final."
Since winning the T20 World Cup, West Indies have lost five of the 10 T20 Internationals they have played. More significantly, they have lost five of the last six within the last year.
The Windies also find themselves in a tough group alongside Australia, India and Pakistan.
Gayle said it was therefore important that the West Indies use the three-match T20 series against England starting tomorrow at the Oval, to find precious momentum ahead of the World Twenty20.
"It is important for both teams even though England have been playing a lot of cricket but it's good for us to try and gain some momentum," Gayle pointed out.
"We haven't been doing well in the shorter format recently. We lost a lot of games but hopefully we can build some momentum and we can be dangerous at the T20 World Cup if we get some momentum."
Gayle will be attempting to make a comeback from injury yet again. He was ruled out of the limited over series against India, and the Test and one-day series in New Zealand late last year with a hamstring injury, and his return to action in February was curtailed by a sore back after just one T20 against Ireland.
Jamaica's Campbell-Brown Calls Press Conference On Doping Allegations
Jamaica’s two-time Olympic 200-metre champion Veronica Campbell-Brown will hold a press conference at the Jamaica Pegasus in Kingston next Friday to speak on issues regarding recent "doping allegations".
An advisory from Campbell-Brown’s legal defence and management teams says the press conference is aimed at providing a full understanding of the entire process, from charge to acquittal. The advisory further said the team would outline the pertinent issues and answer any outstanding questions relating to the disciplinary hearings, along with the International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) ruling and the final decision of the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Last year the disciplinary committee of the Jamaica Administrative Association recommended a reprimand following Campbelll-Brown's positive test for a banned diuretic. However, the IAAF rejected the recommendation and secretly banned the 31-year-old sprinter for two years. Campbell-Brown then took the matter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport which overturned by the ban.
Source-Jamaica Gleaner
Woman found sleeping in Justin Bieber's Atlanta home
Police in Atlanta have caught a woman they say was found sleeping in a bedroom at a house rented by Justin Bieber.
Sandy Springs police say 23-year-old Qianying Zhao of nearby Doraville was discovered at 5pm on Wednesday.
She told officers she was there to go to the pop star's birthday party and got in through an unlocked door.
The home, which is owned by music producer Dallas Austin, was unoccupied at the time.
Police say the party was held somewhere else, earlier in the week.
Zhao told officers she was Bieber's friend, police added, but investigators believe she's one of millions of fans who follow him on Twitter.
She faces a charge of criminal trespass.
This week police have also released a video showing Bieber urinating.
He was giving a sample for a drug test following his arrest by police in Miami Beach on 23 January on a charge of driving under the influence.
The 20-year-old musician is back in Miami for a legal deposition unrelated to his January arrest.
Source-BBC
Something Happened At Kartel's Gate, Judge Tells Jurors
Justice Lennox Campbell, the judge presiding at the Vybz Kartel murder trial has told jurors that "something happened" at the entertainer's gate in Havendale, St Andrew on August 16, 2011.
In continuing his summation in the case of the murder of Clive 'Lizard' Williams, Campbell reminded the jurors that one of the accused, Shawn Campbell, admitted that he went to the gate and left.
He also noted that another accused, Andre St John, said he was on his way out of the yard when the main witness came and a dog rushed him.
Kartel was allegedly bitten by the dog after trying to protect the main witness.
Justice Campbell has told the jurors that the defense has claimed that the main witness was lying because he couldn't remember what happened on August 16, 2011.
At the same time, he reminded jurors that the main witness and the murder victim were scared because of the situation they were in.
However, he pointed out that the men were not weak-kneed, but ones who "locked" guns.
And, the judge has asked the jury to refer to text messages in the case sent by Lizard to his girlfriend.
He said the jurors should follow the sequence of the time in the case.
According to the judge, there has been much scrutiny of the timing of the events including the time when the text messages were sent.
The High Court judge said some of the messages sent by the witness, Lizard, and others would not make sense.
However, Justice Campbell said the jurors have to decide whether the text messages are genuine.
He also sought to assure the jurors that this is their last weekend in court.
Campbell has so far reviewed the evidence of eight of the 24 witnesses called by the prosecution.
Kartel, whose real name is Adidja Palmer, is charged jointly with fellow entertainer Shawn Campbell, also called Shawn Storm, Kahira Jones; Shane Williams and André St John.
When the case adjourned today, the judge was reviewing the evidence of the main witness.
The main witness has told the court that on the night of August 16, 2011, he saw Clive 'Lizard' Williams lying motionless on the floor of Kartel’s Havendale, St Andrew house.
The Crown is alleging that Kartel and his four co-accused killed Williams over two missing guns on August 16, 2011.
Meanwhile, United States-based rap artiste Busta Rhymes was present in the Home Circuit Court downtown Kingston Thursday morning as the presiding judge Lennox Campbell did his summation in the Vybz Kartel murder trial.
Busta Rhymes and Flip Mode Squad associate Spliff Star, offering support, greeted relatives and friends of the accused men and chatted with the defence team.
Sources-Gleaner/Observer