Train smashes into homes in Brazil, killing 8
Officials say a cargo train laden with corn derailed in southeastern Brazil, smashing into houses and killing at least eight people and injuring another six.
Rescue workers say more victims may be buried under the wreckage.
The accident occurred Sunday afternoon as the train was passing through a residential district of the city of Sao Jose do Rio Preto.
Police inspector Marcelo Goulart tells reporters some of the nine train cars that derailed smashed into four houses. Killed were two children, four women and two men.
Police are investigating the cause of the accident. News reports quoted eyewitnesses as saying the train appeared to be speeding.
Source-AP
DomRep deportations to Haiti increase after killings
A spokesman for a Haitian migrant advocacy group reports more than 100 additional people have been deported from neighbouring Dominican Republic after an elderly Dominican couple was killed.
Josue Michel of the Group for Repatriates and Refugees said Monday that the number of Haitians and people of Haitian descent who've been expelled has reached 354. Authorities reported 244 people expelled as of Sunday.
The expulsions follow violence that engulfed a town in the southwestern corner of the Dominican Republic. The couple was slain last week during in an apparent burglary near the border between the two countries and a Dominican mob retaliated by killing a Haitian man.
Migrant advocates say many of the deported people went to a police station seeking refuge while others were rounded up in the streets.
One Direction Wins Pop/Rock Album at the AMA's 2013
Young stars One Direction and Ariana Grande shone at the ongoing American Music Awards. Both artists have nabbed one award each at the show, where they were also billed as musical performers.
The British/Irish boyband, who performed their new ballad "The Story of My Life" earlier that night, won Favorite Album - Pop/Rock with "Take Me Home". They defeated Taylor Swift and Justin Timberlake, who had won Favorite Soul/R&B Female Artist and Favorite Male Artist in Pop/Rock at the event.
Swift and Timberlake later added more trophies their own shelves. The former was chosen as Favorite Country Female Artist, while the latter won Favorite Soul/R&B Male Artist and Favorite Soul/R&B Album. JT beat out Rihanna and Robin Thicke for the Soul/R&B Album prize.
Nickelodeon star Grande who rocked a sparkly red dress was dubbed New Artist of the Year. Other contenders in the category included rising stars Florida Georgia Line, Imagine Dragons, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis and Phillip Phillips.
Losing the New Artist award, Imagine Dragons claimed victory in another category, Favorite Alternative Rock Artist, presented by Joan Jett. Also vying for the award were The Lumineers and Mumford & Sons.
Rihanna, who had nabbed the Favorite Soul/R&B Female Artist, was honored with the Icon Award announced by Bill Maher. Her mother stepped out to hand out the trophy to the "Diamonds" songstress as Jay-Z congratulated her in a video message.
Other winners included Marc Anthony who was named Favorite Latin Artist and Florida Georgia Line whose collaboration with Nelly, "Cruise", won Single of the Year.
Katy Perry Brings Big Book, Lady GaGa Brings Horse on the Red Carpet AMA's2013
Katy Perry was one of the music stars to walk on the red carpet of American Music Awards on Sunday, November 24. The "Roar" singer wore a flowing black gown from Oscar de la Renta and made a statement with her yellow big book clutch and a big floral ring. She was scheduled to open the show with "Unconditionally".
The girls of "Glee" showed major cleavage with their ensemble. Jenna Ushkowitz wore a sleeveless orange gown with plunging neckline while Naya Rivera stunned in a black Michael Kors dress with long tail, Jimmy Choo shoes and vintage YSL gold cuff clutch.
Another highlight from the red carpet is the appearance of Kelly Clarkson who debuted her baby bump for the first time since announcing the pregnancy last week on Twitter. She walked the red carpet with husband Brandon Blackstock. Actress Emma Roberts chose silver Lanvin's Ete 2014 Women's Collection by Alber Elbaz and paired it with satin maroon clutch.
In a rather shocking appearance, Ke$ha showed off her slim legs in an elegant black dress with ruffles on the hip. With her cotton candy colored hair let loose and minimal jewelries, the "Tik Tok" singer almost looked like Lady GaGa. Speaking of which, the "Applause" crooner was head to toe Versace, the fashion house in which she is a spokesperson. However, the eye catcher was the white horse she rode on, the one that complimented her all-purple ensemble. She will perform her single "Do What U Want" with R. Kelly.
Meanwhile, Taylor Swift was leggy in a gold strapless Julien Macdonald dress and Jimmy Choo shoes. She completed her look with Lorraine Schwartz jewels and a Tod's clutch. Miley Cyrus, who has just turned 21, ditched dress for a white Versus Versace suit that bared her cleavage. She topped off the masculine look with Saint Laurent shoes and Lorraine Schwartz jewels. Cyrus is scheduled to perform "Wrecking Ball".
2013 American Music Awards is broadcast live from Nokia Theatre L.A.
Carlos Vives collects three prizes at Latin Grammys
Colombian singer Carlos Vives has picked up three awards at the Latin Grammys, including song of the year.
The star, who is making a musical comeback at the age of 52, also won best tropical song and album at the ceremony held in Las Vegas.
Marc Antony, former husband to Jennifer Lopez, walked away with best recording of the year for Vivir Mi Vida.
The show also featured a host of performances from singers including Ricky Martin and Enrique Iglesias.
Martin sang with Draco Rosa, who took album of the year. Rosa's win comes after successful treatment for cancer earlier this year.
The pair were both members of 1980s boy band Menudo.
Spanish star Iglesias performed a medley of songs with US star Pitbull, who won the award for best urban performance.
Vives, who was previously a telenovela (soap opera) actor, also took to the stage with female dancers in traditional Colombian dresses.
He dedicated his song of the year gong "to all the children of Latin America because they have made this song even bigger. And of course, to my country, Colombia."
US musician Sergio George collected two awards for best salsa album and producer of the year for Vives' winning song, Volvi a Nacer.
Spain's Miguel Bose was named person of the year by the recording academy for his musical contribution and charity work.
He said: "This award is important, it's big," when it was presented by Ricky Martin.
"I don't think all these (honours) award both first and last name. To Bose for his career, to Miguel who dedicated himself to social causes," said Martin.
Dr. Conrad Murray's first interview since being released from prison
In his first interview since he was released from prison, Dr. Conrad Murray, 60, insisted he was not responsible for Michael Jackson's death.
He also detailed his medical relationship with Jackson, saying he fit a catheter on him every night.
In his first interview since getting sprung from prison, Dr. Conrad Murray said he and the King of Pop were unusually close.
“You want to know how close we were?” Murray told The Mail on Sunday. “I held his penis every night to fit a catheter because he was incontinent at night.”
The 60-year-old Murray, released from prison Oct. 28th 2013, insisted he was not responsible for Jackson’s death.
“I did not kill Michael Jackson. He was a drug addict. Michael Jackson accidentally killed Michael Jackson,” Murray said.
“He was in crisis at the end of his life, filled with panic and misery ... By the end, Michael Jackson was a broken man. I tried to protect him but instead I was brought down with him.”
Murray says Jackson was living a life 'filled with panic and misery.' Jackson had been dragged “into the abyss” of physical and mental anguish by the pressures of his London tour, he said.
Rihanna first artist to receive first ever AMA Icon Award
Rihanna performed her single "Diamonds (in the Sky)" at the 2013 AMA Video Music Awards on Nov. 24, 2013. Its the night when the 25-year-old Barbadian superstar was honored with the first ever AMA Icon Award.
Bill Maher introduced Rihanna to the stage, where she was recognized as the best selling digital artist of all time and biggest artist on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Rihanna performed wearing an all-black ensemble and a choker made of pearls. She received a standing ovation from the audience after her performance.
Jay Z congratulated the singer in a video message before Rihanna's mother Monica Fenty came onstage to present the award to her daughter.
Mother's speech
"First of all I'd liked to say all praises and honor be to God Almighty through Jesus. Rihanna I'm so proud of you tonight. I know the journey in your career has not always been an easy one but tonight I applaud and admire you for being so strong and so positive and so humble and so focused. Its amazing how you always manage to take good from all your experiences. I'm so blessed to be a part of this historic moment. I just want to say how proud I am to present to you the first ever AMA iconic award."
Rihanna Speech
"I'll just start by saying, twenty years ago is when I really started to make your life a living hell with my annoying little husky man voice you called it. I mean just disrupting the entire neighborhood. I annoyed every one of my neighbors and ten years later I was blessed enough to meet Evan and Carl and I was working with them. I auditioned for them at fifteen – my mom came and she was looking at us. You're in school uniform and you still have some stuff to finish before you can think about doing this and I literally begged and pleaded and she finally said yes and I thank you for that yes because that was the beginning of it all. Shortly after that, my demo was done and I met Jay Z and Jay Brown and those are the guys who really believed in me. So many people I have to thank for the success of keeping me sane, my friends, my brothers, my glam team, my fans I love you so much, you keep me driven. You keep this thing special. I can't believe I'm 25 years old and I'm holding an icon award. I thank you and I'm grateful. I'm only as good as my team so I love you guys so much. Thank you!"
Dressed in a an elegant black gown and her hair pinned down, she stormed through the song giving a show-stopping performance.
"The first-ever Icon Award was created to honor an artist whose body of work has made a profound influence over pop music on a global level," show producer Larry Klein told the LA Times.
"Rihanna's iconic and innovative sound has enabled her to become one of the most influential and bestselling artists of all time."
Mary J Blige also spoke about Rihanna receiving the honor to Capital FM. "She deserves that because, as an icon, she is super on point," she said.
"Like we look at her, people look at her and they admire her style, they admire her swag and who she is," she added. "So she absolutely deserves that right now."
Jamaican Teacher Launches Campaign To Boycott T&T Products
As the implications of a move seemingly aimed at blocking Jamaicans from entering Trinidad and Tobago soak in, a consumer-oriented Facebook campaign urging Jamaicans to boycott products imported from that country has grabbed the support of scores of consumers on local shores.
But not only are the local consumers ready and raring to go, influential segments of the commercial sector, as well as the Parliamentary Opposition, appear eager to come on board.
While the campaign has targeted Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados has not escaped attention.
The campaign, initiated by rural primary school teacher, Kesreen Green Dillon, was launched last week amid mounting allegations that the CARICOM neighbours are flouting the free-movement provisions of the Treaty of Chaguaramas by blocking Jamaicans from entering their shores.
With support growing, there are suggestions that Jamaicans should also boycott the famed Carnival in Trinidad even as a list is being compiled of all Trinidadian products sold in Jamaica.
Armed with her slogan, 'Boycott All Products Made In Trinidad and Tobago: Jamaicans Let Us Unite For A Cause', an obviously seething Green Dillon asserted that enough is enough.
"I am tired of seeing Trinidad and Barbados treat other member states, especially Jamaica, like second-rate citizens," she told The Gleaner. "The patty war is fresh in my mind and the number of Jamaicans turned back from their shores annually."
Even more unacceptable for Dillon is the "far from neighbourly comment" of Trinidad's prime minister, Kamla Persad-Bissessar, that countries affected by hurricanes had to show how Trinidad can benefit from those countries before they lift a finger to help.
Declaring that the conduct of Trinidad and Tobago has been anything but neighbourly, Green Dillon argued that it is time that Jamaica sends a strong message that 'enough is enough'. "How could I forget how they treated the Jamaican staff after the sale of Air Jamaica?" she added.
Karl Samuda, opposition spokesman on industry and commerce, yesterday voiced his support. "This action makes a mockery of the spirit of the Treaty of Chaguaramas and the Trinidadians must be roundly chastised for the attitude that they have adopted with respect to Jamaica and Jamaicans in particular."
Samuda predicted that Jamaica would not see any positive result in its bid to forge improved working relationships with Trinidad until that country begins to feel it where it hurts most - in its pockets.
"We should not have a situation where a country's producers are benefiting tremendously from our markets and, at the same time, breaching the provisions of the Treaty of Chaguaramas with respect to the free movement of Jamaicans throughout the region," he said.
President of the Jamaica Manufacturers' Association, Brian Pengelley, could not be reached for comment yesterday, but last week, a member of that organisation, managing director of the Wisynco Group, William Mahfood, stressed that something had to give.
Green Dillon said: "Based on the treaty, our Government cannot block imports from member states or sanction a boycott of their goods. However, if we do not buy them, they will have no choice but to either start treating Jamaicans better or find another country that will buy their goods."
Samuda, a former industry and commerce minister, also had strong words for Barbados. He was also critical of the stance taken by Foreign Affairs Minister A.J. Nicholson that Jamaicans should not ban imports from Trinidad and Tobago as a retaliatory strike.
Source-gleanerjm.com
Trinidad baby horror
A one-year-old boy was found dead in the latrine of a Maracas Valley, St Joseph, home yesterday hours after a close male relative of the boy telephoned the police and claimed the child had been abducted by three men.
The horror story began around 1 a.m., when the boy’s relative telephoned Maracas Valley police, stating he (the boy) had been kidnapped.
The 26-year-old man told officers that around 12.30 a.m. he was at his Santa Rita Trace home, located at the end of the Maracas Royal Road, with the child, Jacob Monroe.
He claimed three gunmen broke through his front door and demanded he hand over a gun they said he had. The man told officers he did not know what gun they were talking about. The man said the gunmen then made him slit both his wrists and swallow a cup of pitch oil.
The man said the gunmen then grabbed little Jacob and fled the scene.
Maracas Valley police took the man to the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex, Mt Hope, where was immediately treated for the slits to his wrists as well as the ingestion of the pitch oil. Police said he lost a lot of blood.
Later yesterday morning, a team of officers from the Maracas Valley Police Station and the St Joseph Police Station went back to the house to seek more evidence.
The Express was on the scene yesterday and witnessed one of the detectives telling his colleagues he found the man’s story “funny” and, fearing the worst, the first thing he opted to do was check the outhouse.
There, at the bottom of the pit wrapped in a burgundy-coloured piece of cloth, was the child’s tiny body.
Around 2.30 p.m., Monroe’s mother, Sherice Monroe, who lives in a village near Tyrico Bay off the North Coast Road, Maracas, arrived on the scene accompanied by her mother.
She was not allowed to speak to reporters and was kept in a police vehicle as detectives scoured the area.
Police said when they realised they were dealing with a possible murder and not a kidnapping, two officers were immediately sent to guard the boy’s male relative, who is now the prime suspect.
Neighbours told the Express the man lived in the area almost all his life, but they began seeing Sherice Monroe in the area “a couple of months ago”.
Most of the neighbours knew her face, but not her name.
As the news quickly made its way through the tight-knit community, several residents gathered near the scene.
They lamented incidents like this did not occur in their community, while several commented that whoever killed the baby may have been possessed.
“That’s real devil ting,” they were heard telling each other.
Homicide Bureau detectives are continuing investigations.
Source-Trinidad Express.
Dominicans in Houston celebrate Independence
Dominicans in Houston, Texas celebrated Dominica’s 35th anniversary of Independence on November 2nd at the Double Tree Hotel in Houston, Texas.
The Independence Gala which was staged during the observance was highlighted by a highly motivating and moving speech by Dominica’s Ambassador to Costa Rica, Dr. Damein Dublin.
In keeping with the mission and dedication to service, Dominica Houston Association (DHA) awarded three scholarships to Juliette Languedoc who attends Dominica State College, Danphil Daniel who attends Northern Caribbean University – Jamaica, and Del Laurier who attends the Texas Southern University in Houston.
The Kubuli Dancers, a cultural dance company in Houston, adored in the bright festival native dress of Dominica thrilled the crowd with many different native dances.
Children, youth and adults danced their way to standing ovations and rousing applause from the audience.