Forecast for 2013 Atlantic Hurricane Season lowered
Weather forecasters at Colorado State University (CSU) have lowered their prediction for the 2013 Atlantic Hurricane Season.
“We continue to anticipate an above-average season in 2013, although we have lowered our forecast slightly due to anomalous cooling in the eastern subtropical and tropical Atlantic,” said Philip J Klotzbach and William M Gray in their latest prediction.
“We expect an above-average probability of United States and Caribbean major hurricane landfall.”
Klotzbach and Gray said information obtained through July 2013 indicates that the remainder of the 2013 Atlantic hurricane season will be “more active than the average 1981-2010 season.”
They estimated that the remainder of 2013 would have about eight hurricanes (average is 5.5), 14 named storms (average is 10.5), 75 named storm days (average is 58), 35 hurricane days (average is 21.3), three major (Category 3-4-5) hurricanes (average is 2.0) and seven major hurricane days (average is 3.9).
“The probability of US major hurricane landfall and Caribbean major hurricane activity for the remainder of the 2013 season is estimated to be above its long-period average,” the two forecasters said.
--CMC
Former administration was eavesdropping on citizens -- Grenada PM
Grenada Prime Minister Dr Keith Mitchell told legislators that equipment capable of intercepting communications had been purchased by the previous administration.
“We found one piece that has the ability to monitor a person’s home from as far a half a mile away. All they needed to do was zoom into the house and listen to whatever was being discussed,” Mitchell told legislators, as Parliament debated the 2013 Interception Communications Bill.
Mitchell, whose New National Party (NNP) won all 15 seats in the February 19 general election, said he is convinced that there were some people close within the Tillman Thomas administration who engaged in illegal interception of communication.
--CMC
British naval vessel to help with Jamaica's drug fight
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Jamaica’s effort to tackle the perennial problem of drug-trafficking in her waters will be getting a much
needed boost from Britain's Royal Navy.
Come early next week, Her Majesty's Ship Lancaster, which is currently docked at the Kingston Harbour, will set out in search of drug-runners, Commander Steve Moorhouse told reporters who were given a tour of the 400-foot-long vessel on Friday.
Moorhouse described the effort as a "strengthening of bonds" with Jamaica and said that the exercise is a joint-effort with a number of countries — including the United States of America — to "stop the flow of narcotics" in the region.
Highlighting the benefits of having such a vessel in the drug fight, Moorhouse said that his ship, during an exercise in the eastern Caribbean recently, inter-cepted a yacht and go-fast boat carrying a "sizeable amount" of ganja and cocaine.
He said that five people were arrested in that incident, but declined further details about the operation.
The ship, which is equipped with two 20-foot speedboats and a multi-purpose Lynx helicopter, will end its tour in December, Lieutenant Oliver Bekier told reporters.
The authorities have reported an increase in the quantity of narcotics seized in Jamaican waters since the start of the year. In all of 2012 some 5,713 pounds of marijuana was intercepted by Jamaica's Marine Police. Up to July this year, the Marine Police had already seized 5,908 pounds of ganja and 44 high-end boats
Woman detained in Curacao politician murder probe
Authorities in Curacao have detained a 43-year-old woman in their investigation into the May slaying of a lawmaker who led a major political party.
Helmin Wiels was hit by five bullets as he socialised on a Curacao beach on May 5. Two assailants sped off in a gold-covered car after fatally shooting the leader of the leftist Sovereign People Party, a big player in Curacao's coalition government.
A brief Saturday statement by police identifies the detained suspect by her initials, MAB. Detectives also searched two homes on the island, confiscating several items.
Police have not released further details.
In June, police spokesman Reginald Huggins said two suspects had been identified in Wiels' murder. One of them was Raul Jacinto Martinez, who was found decapitated on the island.
Baha Mar Names Three Hotel Managers
BAHA Mar has announced its senior operating executives for the Rosewood, Grand Hyatt and Mondrian hotels.
#The newly appointed Rosewood at Baha Mar general manager, Luis Fernandes, is a hotelier with proven international experience in managing and operating some of the world’s best hotels and resorts.
#Mr Fernandes rejoins Rosewood, and was the former managing director of the world-acclaimed Las Ventanas al Paraiso in Los Cabos.
#He most recently served as chief operating officer for Longevity Wellness Worldwide in Portugal, after holding positions such as chief operating officer at Ty Warner Hotels & Resorts, and executive vice-president of hotel operations at Viceroy Hotel Group.
#The Grand Hyatt at Baha Mar will be led by Greg Saunders, a senior executive with 32 years of experience with Hyatt Hotels Corporation, Marriott International and MGM Mirage.
#Hyatt Hotels recognised Mr Saunders as General Manager of the Year in 2012. Grand Hyatt at Baha Mar has already booked its first convention groups 17 months before the resort is scheduled to open in December 2014. Cate Farmer has been named general manager of Mondrian at Baha Mar, Morgans Hotel Group’s boutique lifestyle hotel.
#She has previously held executive positions at Morgans Hotel Group properties including Mondrian South Beach and, most, recently, Ames in Boston.
Ms Farmer is a two-time winner of the Marriott Golden Circle Award for sales achievement, and was a member of the Diversity Council at Marriott International.
#“These talented new leaders of the senior management team at Baha Mar have a wealth of experience and a great deal of passion for their brands and the hospitality industry,” said Tom Dunlap, Baha Mar’s president.
#“They are a perfect fit with the Baha Mar brand and will be critical to shaping a world-class guest experience not only at their respective hotels, but also across the entire resort.”
#Baha Mar has recently posted more than 50 job openings, including project managers and recruitment managers.
--Tribune
West set for record seventh VMA performance
It just wouldn't be a VMAs without Kanye West, now would it?
West will perform BLKKK SKKKN HEAD at the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards, tying the rapper with Madonna for most VMA performances at seven.
West, a three-time VMA winner, made his debut performance with Chaka Khan in in 2004, doing a medley of Jesus Walks, All Falls Down and Through the Wire. The following year, he performed Gold Digger with Jamie Foxx. He did Stronger and Good Life with T-Pain in 2007, Love Lockdown in 2008 and Runaway in 2010. In 2011, West and Jay Z gave a first look at their Watch the Throne tour with a performance of Otis.
West didn't perform in 2009, but he made one of his most famous VMA appearances when he crashed the stage during a Taylor Swift acceptance speech to rave about Beyonce's Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It) video, saying, "Yo, Taylor, I'm'a let you finish, but Beyonce had one of the best videos of all time."
MTV will show the VMAs live on Aug. 25 from Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y. Lady Gaga already has been announced as a performer, and Justin Timberlake and Macklemore & Ryan Lewis lead all nominees with six each.
Before the VMAs, MTV Jams and MTV hits will run an hour-long block of West's videos and performances.
--USA.Today
50 Cent Heading To Court For Domestic Violence Charge
50 Cent is to be arraigned in court today for domestic violence and vandalism charges. The G-Unit leader is being accused by the mother of his child of attacking her and destroying $7,100 worth of property. Daphne Joy claims that 50 (born Curtis Jackson) trashed her Toluca Lake, California condo and then kicked her as she tried to hide in the bathroom.
In a strange twist, 50 Cent has been charged with domestic violence with a woman that has been deemed his child’s mother, when it has been widely know that he only has one kid.
This latest development emerges as a new report claims the multi-million dollar rapper allegedly kicked this woman Daphne Joy – and also trashed her California condo. 50 has publicly dated Joy and, reports say, has a 16-year-old son with her.
The rapper also stands accused of creating $7,100 in property damage in June 23 incident at the woman’s residence in Toluca Lake, CA, according to TMZ. He’a accused of breaking chandeliers, furniture, a TV and a lamp and ruining the woman’s bedroom closet.
The woman claims she had to hide in her bathroom the avoid 50 Cent. The police were subsequently called to the alleged scene of the crime.
50 Cent stands charged with one count of misdemeanor domestic violence and 4 counts of misdemeanor vandalism.
The rapper faces up to five years in jail and $46,000 in fines.
50 is due in court on July 22.
Whether or not 50 has another child remains in question. Publicly, he’s only had one son, Marquise Jackson, with Shaniqua Tompkins.
In July, 50 issued a statement through his lawyer denying the accusations. ”Curtis Jackson denies these allegations as made against him. It is important to note, Mr. Jackson has not been arrested and there is no warrant outstanding for his arrest.”
50 faces up to five years in prison and $46,000 in fines if convicted.
Kanye West, Usher, Mary J. Blige, Nelly & Diddy Make Billboard’s All-Time Top Hot 100 Songs List
As part of its celebration of the 55th anniversary of the Hot 100, Billboard magazine complied a list of the top 100 songs in the chart’s history. Each single’s placement on the list is based on performance on the Hot 100 chart. Several mainstream rap and R&B hits made the list.
Kanye West’s ode to female money lovers “Gold Digger” featuring Jamie Foxx came in at 58, Coolio’s “Gangsta’s Paradise” from the movie Dangerous Minds reached number 79, Nelly’s duet with Kelly Rowland “Dilemma” landed at the 75 spot, and Puff Daddy’s (aka Diddy) tribute to the Notorious B.I.G. “I’ll Be Missing You” was number 94.
“Family Affair” by Mary J. Blige (89), “The Boy Is Mine” by Monica & Brandy (63), “Let Me Love You” by Mario (53), “No One” by Alicia Keys (48), and “We Belong Together” by Mariah Carey (11) were a few of the contemporary R&B hits to make the list.
Usher had two tracks represented - “You Make Me Wanna…” at 100 and “Yeah!” featuring Ludacris and Lil Jon at 13. As did The Black Eye Peas with “Boom Boom Pow” at 51 and “I Got A Feeling” 6.
1990′s group Boyz II Men held down three spots on the list with “End of The Road” (50), “One Sweet Day” with Mariah Carey (34), and “I’ll Make Love To You” (19).
Late iconic singers Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, and Marvin Gaye all had respective classic songs recognized. Jackson’s “Billie Jean” was at 81, Houston’s “I Will Always Love You” was at 49, and Gaye’s “Let’s Get It On” was at 37.
The number one spot on Billboard’s list of the all-time Top Hot 100 songs went to “The Twist” by Chubby Checker.
To see the full list visit billboard.com.
Busta Rhymes Calls On Vybz Kartel For “Twerkit” Remix
Busta Rhymes is cooking up a major remix to “#Twerkit” with an all star team which includes incarcerated dancehall star Vybz Kartel.
The rap veteran is gearing up to drop more tracks off his upcoming album E.L.E. 2, but promises a major make over of “Twerkit” before that happen.
Speaking with MTV RapFix Live, Busta Buss says the remix is official done and will feature Vybz Kartel.
“‘Twerk It (remix)’ is officially done, so everybody could look forward to that,” Busta Rhymes said. “The remix is gonna feature the incredible Vybz Kartel, Ne-Yo, T.I. Jeremih, French Montana and myself, of course. So y’all can definitely look forward to hearing probably one of the most phenomenal remixes for all of 2013.”
Busta Rhymes also discussed his use of Jamaican patois in the original version of the song.
“I’m a direct descendant of the Jamaican culture. I was born in East Flatbush Brooklyn, and my [family is] Jamaican so I was born and raised in the environment of the Jamaican dialect and the patois.”
“The reason why I chose to do it was because I love to do things in a way that stands alone and I felt it was important to make a record that felt like it was a different, unique and new approach,” he added. “I wanted to use the Jamaican dialect as a style without making a reggae song. So ‘Twerk It’ it is not a reggae record, it’s a hip-hop record but the Jamaican dialect is being used as a style.”
Wahlberg and Washington's 2 Guns tops US box office
Mark Wahlberg and Denzel Washington's action film 2 Guns has topped the US box office over the weekend, with estimated takings of $27.4m (£18m).
The film is based on a graphic novel of the same name and sees the actors team up to battle drug traffickers.
The Wolverine, starring Hugh Jackman as the razor-clawed Marvel hero, took the second spot with $21.7m (£14.1m).
The Smurfs 2, featuring the animated blue characters, rounded up the top three with $18.2m (£11.9m).
The sequel failed to meet expectations in the US but performed well internationally, earning $52.5m (£34.2m) in 43 markets.
The Wolverine is Jackman's sixth outing in the role and has now earned $95m (£62m) in the US - and added another $38.5m (£25.1m)to its international haul.
The former US number one film, haunted house tale The Conjuring, slipped to number fourth place in the chart but has now crossed the $100m mark since opening three weeks ago.
Smaller openings for indie fare proved to be a prudent decision with films such as Sundance Film Festival favourite The Spectacular Now, starring Shailene Woodley, which earned $190,000 (£124,000) in four theatres.
The low-budget Fruitvale Station made $2.7m (£1.7m) and Woody Allen's Blue Jasmine earned $2m (£1.3m) in 50 locations.
"Summer is not just about blockbusters," said Paul Dergarabedian of box-office tracker Hollywood.com.
"It's about specialized films that challenge the audience or are just different from the traditional, cookie-cutter, summer-style movie.''
Lindsay Lohan's much talked about return to acting, opposite real-life porn actor James Deen, in the erotic thriller The Canyons made just $16,000 (£10,400) on two screens.
Its distributor IFC Films said it is performing strongly through video-on-demand services.
US BOX OFFICE CHART
1.2 Guns - $27.4 million.
2.The Wolverine - $21.7 million
3.The Smurfs 2 - $18.2 million
4.The Conjuring - $13.7 million
5.Despicable Me 2 - $10.4 million
Source: Hollywood.com