Buju Banton Put Studies On Hold Pending Verdict In Case
Buju Banton place his studies on hold while behind bars but the dilemma might be worth it.
A juror misconduct breathe new life into Buju Banton ongoing fight for freedom.
Hope For Buju Banton, Judge Ordered Probe Into Juror Misconduct
Less than a year after being sentenced to 10 years in prison, Buju Banton’s legal team saw an opening when juror Teri Wright told a South Florida journalist that she researched aspects of the case during the trial. That is a direct violation of court orders.
Buju Banton, who was pursuing a Masters Degree in Political Science while serving his sentence in Miami, have since being relocated to the Pinellas County Jail in Tampa while awaiting a judge ruling on the new development.
“He was, in fact, pursuing his education but that has been put on hold since he is now in a Tampa jail awaiting the outcome of this latest development,” Buju Banton lawyer Kwame Lumumba said.
Last week Federal Judge James Moody ordered a full investigation into the alleged misconduct of the juror. US Marshals have since confiscated the juror computers as part of their investigation.
Moody will decide whether or not to grant the Grammy-winning singer a new trial in the coming weeks.
UrbanIslandz
Britney Spears will not return as judge on X Factor
Britney Spears will not be returning to the US version of The X Factor.
The singer spent one series with the show, sharing the judging panel with Simon Cowell, Demi Lovato and L.A. Reid.
She is thought to be taking time to work on new material, but also faced some criticism for her performance as a judge on the show.
Fellow judge L.A. Reid is also stepping down from The X Factor USA.
Last year much of the cast was updated after the first series did not do as well as expected.
British presenter Steve Jones was replaced as the host by Khloe Kardashian and Mario Lopez.
Paula Abdul and Nicole Scherzinger also left the judging panel at the end of the first series.
That was the same series that featured Cheryl Cole in the original line-up, before she was replaced by Nicole Scherzinger, who was moved from her former position as co-host.
The second series of The X Factor USA was won by country music singer Tate Stevens, who was mentored by L.A. Reid.
--BBC
Superman: Warner Bros secures commercial control of hero
Warner Bros have won an important legal victory over the heirs of one of the creators of Superman, giving it total commercial control of the superhero.
An appeals panel unanimously ruled that Jerome Siegel's heirs must abide by a 2001 letter accepting Warner's offer for their 50% share of Superman.
Though the five-page letter was never formalised into a contract, the appeals court said it was still binding.
The latest Superman film, Man of Steel, is due to be released this summer.
In his ruling, Judge Stephen Reinhardt, of the 9th US Circuit of Appeals, wrote both parties "had resolved the last outstanding point in the deal during a conversation on Oct 15, 2001".
He added the letter "accurately reflected the material terms they had orally agreed to on that day,"
The ruling undoes a 2008 court decision ordering Warner Bros. to share an undetermined amount of money earned since 1999 with the heirs, and to give the family control of key components of the Superman story, including his costume.
Superman's co-creators, Joe Shuster and Jerry Siegel, battled for higher compensation for the comic book creation throughout their lives.
"The court's decision paves the way for the Siegel finally to receive the compensation they negotiated for and which DC has been prepared to pay for over a decade," said a statement from Warner Bros, on behalf of its DC Comics division.
"We are extremely pleased that Superman's adventures can continue to be enjoyed across all media platforms worldwide for generations to come."
Second case
While the Siegel family have yet to issue any comment, lawyer Marc Toberoff - who also acts for the heirs of co-creator Joe Shuster, has indicated that the Shuster heirs will appeal a different court decision from October 2012, which awarded Warner Bros all rights to the Superman character.
In 2010, DC Comics sued the brother and sister of Shuster, the artist responsible for the superhero, on the basis that they relinquished their ability to reclaim the copyrights in exchange for annual pension payments from DC Comics.
US District Judge Otis Wright ruled that Shuster's sister's decision to accept higher annual payments created a new agreement which cancelled any previous contract, adding the families of both creators have been paid in excess of $4m (£2.5m) since 1978, plus undefined bonuses and medical benefits.
Superman has generated more than $500m (£310m) for Warner Bros with five films at the US box office and billions of dollars more from television, toys and games, and comic books spanning 74 years.
British actor Henry Cavill takes over the role of Superman in the latest big screen instalment, with Oscar nominee Amy Adams as Lois Lane. It is expected to hit cinemas across the world on 14 June.
UK economy 'contracted in fourth quarter'
The UK economy contracted by 0.3% in the last three months of 2012, according to the National Institute of Economic and Social Research (NIESR).
The NIESR blamed it on artificially strong growth in the third quarter.
If the figure is confirmed by official data later this month, it will mean that the economy returned to growth for only a single quarter.
It would also mean the economy saw zero growth for the whole of 2012.
All tickets for the Olympics and Paralympics were considered in the official statistics to have been bought in the third quarter of 2012, when the games took place.
That flattered the economy, which registered growth of 0.9% in the three-month period.
It meant that without the one-off factor the economy would have had to find considerable growth from elsewhere to avoid a contraction in the final three months of the year.
The NIESR said that without the one-off factors the economy would have been basically flat for the third and fourth quarters.
The conclusion from the NIESR is supported by some gloomy official figures released earlier in the day.
The index of production grew 0.3% in November, compared with October, but had been expected to grow more as some North Sea oil and gas production resumed following maintenance.
Construction sector output contracted 3.4% in the month.
But both sectors are much smaller than the service sector, which posted 0.1% growth in October compared with September.
Official figures for the service sector for November have not yet been released, but the widely-watched Markit/CIPS purchasing managers' index showed the sector growing at its slowest pace for two years in the month.
Ford to hire 2,200 extra US staff to meet growing sales
Ford plans to hire 2,200 new staff in the US this year, in response to the continuing rise in American car sales.
The country's second-largest carmaker by sales, it said it would hire engineers, computer programmers and other office workers.
Ford's US car sales totalled 2.3 million last year, 5% higher than 2011.
Industry-wide US sales in 2012 came in at 14.5 million, a five-year high. Ford predicts this figure will rise to between 15 and 16 million this year.
Honda and Nissan have also recently announced that they will be taking on extra staff in the US.
Nissan is hiring an additional 400 people over the next two years to make its Murano sports utility vehicle in Mississippi, while Honda is adding 50 new jobs in Ohio where it will build its new hybrid Accord sedan car.
US car sales are rising as the country's economy continues to grow. More cheap loans are becoming available as the banking sector recovers from the turmoil caused by the credit crisis of recent years.
By contrast, car sales in Europe are falling because of continuing recession in southern European nations that are battling to reduce their sovereign debt levels.
On Friday, Honda said it was planning to cut 800 jobs at its factory in Swindon, UK, blaming weak demand across Europe.
Japanese government approves $116bn stimulus package
The Japanese government has approved a fresh 10.3 trillion yen ($116bn; £72bn) stimulus package in an attempt to spur a revival in its economy.
The package will include infrastructure spending, as well as incentives for businesses to boost investment.
Tokyo estimates that the stimulus will boost Japan's economy by 2% and create 600,000 jobs.
Japan's economy has been hurt by a dip in exports amid slowing global demand and subdued domestic consumption.
The world's third-largest economy is currently in a recession, having contracted for two quarters in a row.
"Unfortunately, the previous administration failed to work out how to boost growth and expand the economic pie," Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said.
"It is vital that we have an economic strategy that can create jobs and raise incomes to sustain growth."
Included in the spending package are plans to rebuild areas devastated by the earthquake and tsunami of 2011, support for regional economies, and more investment in education and social security.
Weaker currency
Mr Abe, who took office in December, has promised to take aggressive measures to help put the economy back on a growth track.
Among those has been a pledge to take measures to weaken the yen.
A weaker Japanese currency bodes well for the country's exporters as it makes their goods less expensive to foreign buyers and also helps boost their profits when they repatriate their foreign earnings back home.
The yen has weakened nearly 12% against the US dollar since November last year on hopes of such moves. It was trading close to 88.97 yen against the US dollar in Asian trade on Friday.
The government said that it would continue to keep a watch on the currency's movements and "respond as appropriate".
Japanese shares rose on the news of the stimulus with the Nikkei 225 index gaining 1.4%.
The Japanese government also hopes the latest stimulus spending will help to tackle deflation. Japan has been fighting deflation, or falling prices, for many years. It has been a big hurdle in policymakers' attempts to boost domestic demand because consumers tend to put off purchases in the hope of a better deal in the future.
US trade deficit widens as imports increase
The US trade deficit widened unexpectedly in November, after a rise in the import of consumer goods.
Figures from the Commerce Department showed that the gap widened by 16% to $48.7bn (£30.1bn). The markets were expecting the deficit to shrink.
The deficit was the widest recorded since April last year.
Imports increased by 3.8%, the largest rise in eight months, to $231.3bn. The value of exports increased by 1% to $182.6bn.
Imports of consumer goods rose by $4.6bn. Analysts say this is a sign that the US retail sector is growing stronger, with rising consumer spending.
Dreamliner plane review ordered by US regulators
US regulators have ordered a review of the 787 Dreamliner plane after a series of incidents put a question mark over the safety of Boeing's flagship plane.
The review by the Federal Aviation Administration will look at the design and manufacture of the planes.
It is not clear whether the planes in the air at the moment will be grounded.
An electrical fire, a brake problem, a fuel spill and cracks in the cockpit's windshield have affected Dreamliner flights in the past week.
"We are absolutely confident in the reliability and performance of the 787," Boeing spokesman Marc Birtel said. "We are working with the FAA and our customers to ensure we thoroughly understand any introductory issues that arise.
The Boeing 787 Dreamliner is one of the most advanced aeroplanes ever created. Much of it is made from very strong, light carbon-fibre composite material.
However, a spate of technical issues has hurt its image. On Friday, two new problems were found, adding to Boeing's woes.
- On Friday, All Nippon Airways reported a crack in the window on the pilot's side of the cockpit. It caused no problems for the 237 passengers and nine crew on a flight from Tokyo's Haneda airport to Matsuyama, but the return flight was cancelled
- The same airline said another Dreamliner flight, shuttling between Haneda and the southern Miyazaki prefecture, experienced a delay due to an oil leak from a generator inside an engine
- On Wednesday, ANA cancelled a 787 flight from Yamaguchi to Tokyo because of a brake problem
- On Tuesday, Japan Airlines cancelled a Boston to Tokyo flight after about 40 gallons (151 litres) of fuel spilled
- An electrical fire broke out on board a Japan Airlines Dreamliner on Monday shortly after it landed in Boston, following a flight from Tokyo
- Last year, a United Airlines flight was forced to make an emergency landing because of an electrical problem
- In December, Qatar Airways grounded one of its 787 Dreamliners after several manufacturing faults caused electrical problems similar to those that affected the United plane.
Last month, the head of Qatar Airways criticised Boeing in an interview with the BBC over several manufacturing faults that have resulted in the grounding of one of its three 787 Dreamliner aircraft.
Boeing has delivered 50 of the 787s, starting in late 2011, and has orders for nearly 800 more. To get through the backlog, Boeing is increasing production to build 10 of the planes per month by the end of the year.
--BBC
Sportsman, Sportswoman Of The Year Award Ceremony Tonight - Bolt, Fraser-Pryce Favourites For Titles
Superstar athletes Usain Bolt and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce are expected to add to their post-season accolades, as the RJR Sports Foundation names the top Sportsman and Sportswoman of the year at tonight's 52nd staging of the glitzy award ceremony.
Set for The Jamaica Pegasus, the National Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year Awards - the island's premier sporting tribute, is expected to follow in the path of the recently staged Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association Golden Cleats Award, which was claimed by the two Olympic stars.
Bolt, who successfully defended his 100m and 200m titles at the Olympic Games will be up against training partners and fellow Olympic medalist Yohan Blake and Warren Weir, Nickel Ashmeade, Hansle Parchment along with West Indies cricket stars Marlon Samuels and Christopher Gayle.
The sprinting legend also helped Jamaica to a world record 36.84 in the 4x100m and claimed the 100m IAAF/Samsung Diamond League prize to round out another dominant year.
His greatest challenge will come from ICC World Twenty20 Championships star Marlon Samuels, who played a major role in the West Indies triumph, scoring the third highest run total (230), the second most sixes (15) and the sixth highest individual score (78) while making valuable contributions with the ball and in the field as well.
Samuels has been one of the most consistent performers for the West Indies this year and is one of the most feared players on the Twenty20 circuit.
On the female side, last year's winner Veronica Campbell Brown, along with Diamond League 400m hurdles winner Kaliese Spencer, boxer Alicia Ashley, cricketer Stafanie Taylor and Olympian and World Short Course Championships double silver medallist Alia Atkinson join Fraser-Pryce among the nominees.
However, with a successful defence of her Olympics 100m title, a silver medal in her first 200m attempt at a major championships also at the Olympics, 4x100m silver and a Diamond League 100m title under her belt, the diminutive sprinter is a shoo-in for top honours.
Fraser-Pryce, who also posted a new 100m national record (10.70) en route to winning the 100m national title, also closed out the sprint double at the trials, powering to a win in the 200m as well.
The nominees for the People's Choice Award, which will be decided by the public are Atkinson, Samuels, André Russell, footballer Jermaine Hue and track athlete Tiffany James.
Captain Horace Burrell, president of Jamaica Football Federation, Glen Mills, president of the Racers Track Club, and Kay Wilson of the Jamaica Hockey Federation have all been nominated for the Sagicor Iconic Award. Sagicor will be donating $200,000 to the charity chosen by the winner of the award.
Other presentations that will be made on the night include certificates of merit awards and team awards.
Legendary West Indies fast bowler Michael Holding will be the guest speaker at this year's event which is scheduled to start at 7 p.m.
--JA.Gleaner
Blazers come from behind to beat Heat 92-90
The upstart Portland Trail Blazers would not allow the Miami Heat to pull out of its funk.
Wesley Matthews hit a 3-pointer to put Portland in front with 26.9 seconds left and the Blazers hung on to beat Miami 92-90 Thursday night for their fourth straight win and ninth straight at the Rose Garden.
The Blazers (20-15) are now 12-3 in their last 15 games.
"Our confidence is extremely high,'' Matthews said. "Playing hard, playing well, we're having fun out there. So that's a great combination.''
The Heat, meanwhile, have lost two straight and five of eight, yet the defending NBA champions are still 23-11 and lead the Eastern Conference by a half-game over New York.
LeBron James had 15 points, snapping his 54-game streak with at least 20 points that dated back to last season. It was his lowest point total in the last 76 regular-season and playoff contests. But James did have 10 rebounds and nine assists against Portland.
Miami led by as many as 13 points, including a 52-39 advantage at the half, but Nicolas Batum hit a layup and a free throw with 4:03 left that pulled Portland into an 82-all tie. The Blazers couldn't go ahead and Bosh made a 3 to make it 87-84 with 1:53 left.
Matthews made a 3-pointer to tie it at 88 with just under a minute to go, and after Chris Bosh dunked, Matthews hit another 3 to finally give the Blazers a 91-90 lead.
LaMarcus Aldridge missed the first of two free throws with 10.4 seconds left for the final margin.
Mario Chalmers missed a 3-pointer for the Heat as time ran out.
Batum led the Blazers with 28 points, and Aldridge had 20 points and 15 rebounds. Matthews finished with 18 points.
"It felt great,'' Matthews said about his go-ahead 3. "It looked better.''
Bosh had 29 points for the Eastern Conference-leading Heat, who were coming off an 87-77 loss to the Pacers on Tuesday night. Dwyane Wade had 18 points.
Source-ESPN