G.I. Joe: Retaliation steals Easter box office
Action film G.I. Joe: Retaliation fought off competitors over the weekend to top the US box office.
The sequel to G.I. Joe: Rise of Cobra was postponed last year to convert the film to 3D, but made $41.2m (£27m) according to studio estimates.
Last week's top earner The Croods fell to second with $26.5m (£17.4m).
In third place, drama thriller Tyler Perry's Temptation starring Kim Kardashian opened above expectations with $22.3m (£14.6m).
Another new release, the science-fiction adaptation The Host from the creator of the Twilight Saga, made a modest $11m to take sixth place.
The second instalment in the G.I. Joe series, Retaliation stars Dwayne The Rock Johnson, Bruce Willis and Channing Tatum as the military toys brought to life to fight their mortal enemy Cobra.
It opened in cinemas on at midnight on Wednesday, helping to bring its total earnings at the US and Canadian box office to $51.7m.
The sequel was postponed in May last year from its original June 2012 release date to convert the film to 3D.
The last-minute decision to delay the movie came weeks after Battleship, also based on a Hasbro toy, had a poor performance at the box office.
Paramount's head of distribution said its debut performance "certainly vindicates the decision".
"Any time you make those sorts of moves, people always assume the worst. The truth is I'd seen this movie a long time ago in 2D, and the movie worked in 2D. It's not trying to be Schindler's List," he said.
"This movie is intended to be enjoyed as a big, action spectacle,."
NORTH AMERICAN TOP FIVE
1. G.I. Joe: Retaliation - $41.2 million
2. The Croods - $26.5 million
3. Tyler Perry's Temptation - $22.3 million
4. Olympus Has Fallen - $14 million
5. Oz the Great and Powerful - $11.6 million
Source: Hollywood.com
Jury to be selected in Michael Jackson case
Jury selection has begun in Michael Jackson's 82-year-old mother's $40bn (£26bn) lawsuit against the late singer's promoters, AEG Live.
Katherine Jackson claims AEG Live were neglectful when they hired doctor Conrad Murray, who gave the singer the overdose that lead to his death in 2009.
Murray is currently in jail for accidental manslaughter.
AEG Live claim the figure is "preposterous".
Michael Jackson's death was caused by an overdose of Propofol, a drug used as a sedative to help the singer sleep.
He died three weeks before the start of his 50-show comeback tour at the London 02 Arena. Katherine Jackson believes rehearsals for the tour pushed her son too hard.
AEG Live say the singer had a long history of drug abuse before he met Murray.
The promoters also say they were not responsible for the hire or supervision of the doctor and that the $40bn in damages sought is a "preposterous" amount considering Jackson's ''descending career''.
Conrad Murray might be asked to give evidence at the trial, but he has the right to refuse. The trial is due to start this week.
Elephant Man jumps on remix of 'Freaks'
International recording artiste Elephant Man has jumped on a dancehall remix of French Montana-Nicki Minaj mash-up, 'Freaks'.
The remix features French Montana, Minaj, Edley Shine, Wyclef Jean and the bombastic delivery of the 'Energy Gadd'.
"It's an official remix. Hebrew from Hot 97 contacted me to do it, and right now it get over 500,000 spins ah farrin last week, and this week, ah over 300,000 spins; the ting look good," Elephant Man said last Thursday.
The dancehall remix treatment of the popular single was done by DJ Suss One, who teamed up with the Refix Kings to do the song which features with Wyclef Jean, Edley Shine and Elephant Man.
The Freaks single has a strong dancehall component because it features a sample of the Chaka Demus and Pliers' Murder She Wrote and Little Vicious' Freaks.
In the meantime, Elephant said the response to his Best Harlem Shake single has been phenomenal with the official video racking up over 200,000 views on YouTube since its release.
"The other day, I went to do radio promotions in Brooklyn and the thing tun up, everybody ah Harlem Shake," he said.
He said that the single is number one on various reggae charts in the US and Europe. "The Jamaican version has a great impact, everybody is doing it," he said.
Elephant Man recently released a battery of new singles such as Wata Rave, featuring Lovindeer and the gospel-tinged God Never Fails.
"The selectors love God Never Fails, dem say it remind them of my other hit, Too Bad Mind, and that it come along right now, worse at a time like this with so many spiritual, emotional and economic struggles; it connects," Elephant Man said.
He is also working with producers such as Markus Myrie, Stephen Di Genius, Suku from Ward 21, DJ Frass and Andrew Blacks from UIM.
"Right now, dancehall nice again, the key is to get the spins," he said.
Judge rules digital music cannot be sold 'second hand'
A company which allowed customers to resell their digital music "second hand" breached copyright, a US judge has ruled.
ReDigi billed itself as the first legal way to resell music bought online - but soon provoked the ire of record labels.
It was sued by Capitol Records in January 2012, and on Monday a New York judge said ReDigi was making unauthorised copies of music.
The ruling could have broad implications for digital reselling.
Unlike physical music CDs, Judge Richard Sullivan ruled that the "first sale doctrine" did not apply.
The doctrine is a long-established rule which allows the reselling of goods to a new owner. In other words, selling a CD once you no longer want it.
But in the digital world, where duplication is much easier, the first sale doctrine was not appropriate, the judge said.
"It is simply impossible that the same 'material object' can be transferred over the internet," he wrote in his ruling.
"ReDigi facilitates and profits from the sale of copyrighted commercial recordings, transferred in their entirety, with a likely detrimental impact on the primary market for these goods."
ReDigi argues that their system means the original download is removed from the seller's computer.
The company asks users to download proprietary software, which verifies if a file was bought legally. If the song checks out, it is then erased from the seller's hard drive and uploaded to ReDigi's computer servers.
ReDigi's software is designed to prevent sellers from reinstalling a sold song to their computer, and offers users the chance to check their libraries for illegal music.
But the judge said: "It is beside the point that the original phonorecord no longer exists. It matters only that a new phonorecord has been created."
Wider impact
The notion of being able to sell on your unwanted digital goods is a concept that has caught the eyes of, among others, Amazon and Apple.
Both companies have been granted patents relating to the selling or transferring of digital goods - but while both offer cloud storage services for music, neither has yet set up a reselling function.
"Both Amazon and Apple have been working on patents, which are insurance policies for both of them in my view," said Joe Wikert from O'Reilly Media, speaking to Reuters.
"They have been sitting on the sidelines watching the ReDigi case."
Mr Wickert added that the ruling was "not a good first step" for the digital reselling industry.
Capitol Records, whose catalogue includes Frank Sinatra's Come Fly With Me and The Beatles' Yellow Submarine, sought $150,000 (£99,000) for each infringement.
The judge did not set an amount for damages, instead inviting both firms to submit statements regarding the next steps in the case.
--BBC
Artist Graham Ovenden guilty of indecency charges
A well-known artist from Cornwall has been found guilty of indecency against young girls.
Graham Ovenden denied the charges, which dated back about 40 years and were said to have occurred in London and Cornwall.
During the trial at Truro Crown Court the jury was shown examples of the 70-year-old's work, much of it involving children.
Ovenden was convicted on six counts of indecency and one of indecent assault.
He was cleared on three counts of indecency and two of indecent assault.
Ovenden, of Barley Splatt, near Bodmin Moor in Cornwall, was not present in court, having been taken ill last week.
Judge Graham Cottle released Ovenden on bail and adjourned sentencing for a date to be fixed at Plymouth Crown Court.
A former pupil under Sir Peter Blake, Ovenden has had work exhibited in galleries across the globe.
He had denied all the charges relating to four children - now all adults - between 1972 and 1985.
Ovenden was described in court by prosecutor Ramsay Quaife as "a paedophile" who abused children while they modelled for him.
But the artist denied the abuse ever happened. He told the court he had taken pictures of children - including those in various states of undress - but said they were not indecent.
When giving evidence, Ovenden said there was a "witch-hunt" against those who produce work involving naked children and he accused police of "falsifying" images recovered from his home computer.
--BBC
Husband & Wife found guilty of corruption
Assistant Collector of Customs, Sonji Williams and her husband Oliver Williams, were found guilty of corruption in the Grand Turk Magistrates Court today.
Both defendants were fined $5,000 each and sentenced to a 12-month suspended sentence. Both were also barred from government service for two years. Senior Customs Officer Sonji Williams and her husband were arrested on November 8th last year in a joint Integrity Commission and Police operation.
The Williams’ were both charged with corruption offences whilst in public office. The charges were based on the illegal importation of a horse on March 14th last year. Eugene Otuonye, Director of the Integrity Commission, said the significance of this prosecution went well beyond the illegal importation of a horse.
The corrupt actions of the two officials had threatened to undermine the trust and confidence that the public placed in their law enforcement officials. The restrictions placed on the importation of animals were designed to protect the economic well being and public health of the islands. An outbreak of animal disease could cause havoc on the tourist industry.
The Integrity Commission thanked the Police and other collaborative efforts in the successful prosecution.
Lobster season closes in April
The Department of Environment and Maritime Affairs is reminding all fishing interests that the 2012-2013 Lobster Season will close at midnight on Sunday April 14th. The Fisheries Protection Ordinance 2009 provides for a close season on lobster between April and July each year.
During the closed season, it is illegal for fishermen to land or trade in lobsters and for restaurants and hotels to serve lobsters. DEMA therefore urges all hotel and restaurant managers to ensure that they have NO lobsters in their possession at the end of the season. Fishers are also being reminded that in the remaining days of the season, berried lobsters, or lobsters with eggs, must be returned to the water. The Department of Environment and Maritime Affairs anticipates the compliance of the stated laws and regulations by all citizens, residents and visitors in the Turks and Caicos Islands. It’s worth remembers that under Regulation 12 (3) (b) of The Fisheries Protection Ordinance 2009: “Any person who purchases or is in possession of any marine product during a period which is a closed season for that species of marine product commits an offence.” For additional information regarding the closing of the lobster season call DEMA at 941-5122.
World Health Week begins on April 7th
World Health Week begins on April 7th as we reported earlier in the week – and events are being held all around the world to celebrate it. One of the major subjects being discussed is cardiovascular disease and its links with high cholesterol, RTC’s Health Correspondent Nurse Beatrice Burton told Nish Wilson about the dangers for people who live with high cholesterol levels.
Cabinet Meeting for March 27th,2013
The Cabinet of the Turks and Caicos Islands Government met yesterday. Members discussed the issue of reduced airline services to the island of South Caicos and the impact of subsidizing such services.
Cabinet agreed that the provision of regular scheduled airline services to South Caicos is vital to the islands economy and essential services. Cabinet agreed to further evaluate the value for money of providing such service through a competitive tender process since more than one airline is available and has expressed interest in providing the service.
Cabinet received a presentation from members of the European Union EDF 10 team who are in country meeting with the Ministry of Finance and various Government Ministries to plan for the allocation of the EDF 10 grant of 15 million dollars over a 3 year period which is to be utilized as budget support. Cabinet discussed several papers from ministers concerning the appointment of members to a number of statutory boards which expire on March 3st.
The listing of Boards and those members appointed will be gazetted prior to April 1st. The Permanent Secretary for Government Support Services and the Water Engineer along with the Minister for GSS presented a paper on improving water services in Grand Turk.
The recommendations made included the shipping of the already purchased RO plant in advance of the completion of the new building to house the new plant, but this was recommended against and also the installation of new water meters to implement a pre-metering system and the rreview and fate of outstanding bills by customer.
Cabinet discussed a paper concerning the provision of office space for the Premier and other Ministers and space for the Treasury Dept, Ministry of Finance and several other departments on Providenciales. The conclusions drawn were that the Premier and Ministers will not relocate into the proposed accommodation which would only accommodate the Treasury and Ministry of Finance, and in the interim a request for extension of lease of the Hon. Hilly Ewing Building will be made to NIB and this space will be occupied by the Premier and Governor. Additional space is being asssessed to relocate SIPT, and also space for housing of the other Government Ministers, AG Chambers and DPP.
Cabinet also received updates and requests from a number of developers concerning their development projects.
Governor Todd takes off on a break
His Excellency the Governor, Ric Todd, begins a period of planned annual leave today and will return to the Turks & Caicos Islands on Tuesday, 9th April. During his period of absence the Deputy Governor Anya Williams has been sworn in as the Acting Governor.