Ballymena council agree to offer Liam Neeson freedom award
Ballymena Borough Council has unanimously agreed to offer Liam Neeson the Freedom of the Borough.
At a council meeting on Monday evening, Mayor of Ballymena PJ McAvoy proposed that the actor should be given the award.
The Oscar-nominated actor is best known for his starring roles in the Star Wars film The Phantom Menace, Schindler's List and Michael Collins.
It is expected that a ceremony could take place next year.
Ballymena Mayor PJ McAvoy was delighted that the award was to be honoured. "I am absolutely delighted that my colleagues have unanimously agreed to offer what is a very significant honour to Liam Neeson.
"This is the highest accolade that a Council can bestow on one of its citizens," he said.
Speaking from his home in New York, Liam Neeson said he was honoured and delighted to accept this prestigious award from Ballymena Borough Council.
Neeson said, "Enormous strides have been made in my native Northern Ireland in the past decade, demonstrated by political, social and economic changes that came about through a combination of courage, generosity and persistence."
Only three people have been awarded the freedom of Ballymena, they include Dr Ian Paisley, Dr Syd Millar and Sandy Spence.
It is not the first time Ballymena council has planned to grant the actor the honour.
In 2000, Democratic Unionist Party councillors objected to the proposal because of alleged derogatory remarks Neeson made about his experiences growing up in the County Antrim town.
At the time, Neeson was quoted as saying in an American magazine that he felt "second class" as a Catholic growing up in the mainly Protestant town and felt he had to stay indoors during the loyalist 12 July commemoration of the Battle of the Boyne.
Following the controversy, Neeson wrote a letter to the council.
It said: "I will always remain very proud of my upbringing in, and association with, the town and my country of birth, which I will continue to promote at every opportunity.
"Indeed I regard the enduring support over the years from all sections of the community in Ballymena as being more than sufficient recognition for any success which I may have achieved as an actor."
Jennifer Lopez's boyfriend signs confidential agreement
Jennifer Lopez has reportedly made Casper Smart sign a confidentiality agreement. The 43-year-old pop star - who has got divorced three times and recently celebrated her one-year anniversary with her 25-year-old dancer boyfriend - is said to be taking no chances about their future together and asked him to sign a non-disclosure agreement.
A source told gossip website RadarOnline: "Casper signed a non-disclosure/confidentiality agreement when he began working for Jennifer Lopez, as she requires all of her employees to do.
"Jen has been around long enough to know that anyone she dates could possibly turn on her and choose to go to the press if the relationship sours."
The insider revealed that Casper was only too happy to sign the legal document - which will prevent him for ever discussing their professional and private relationship if they split - much to Jennifer's delight.
The source said: "Casper had absolutely no qualms about signing the agreement, and has told Jen on multiple occasions that even if he didn't work for her, he would have signed the contract. Jen loves him even more for that."
The couple - who are currently in Germany on European leg of the singer's 'Dance Again' tour - began dating just months, after Jennifer, separated for her third husband of seven years, Marc Anthony, with whom she shares four-year-old twins Emme and Max.
Salma Hayek sets off alarm at boarding school
Salma Hayek used to set all the alarm clocks off in the middle of the night at boarding school. The Savages star has a mischievous streak in her, which came out when she attended a Catholic girls' boarding school in Louisiana.
She said: "I had a moment or two, like every child does, when I told silly stories to my teachers.
"But I didn't do anything really bad. I look back fondly at that period of my life, sometimes waking up in the middle of the night and making all the alarm clocks go off. We just did little things like that."
Salma, 46, hopes her impulsive tendencies rub off on her daughter, Valentina, five, who she has with husband Francois-Henri Pinault but admits she is very strict with her.
She added to the Daily Telegraph newspaper: "Definitely, I can see it. It's funny, I think I am a strict mum sometimes, but I am also quite relaxed. I am fun and I do a lot of things with my daughter. I talk to her and I listen, but I definitely set boundaries, and I think my husband and I have a very good balance, sometimes he is easier and I am harder, and vice versa."
Kartel Murder postponed
Dancehall entertainer Vybz Kartel's case involving the murder of Clive 'Lizard' Williams has been put off until next year.
The case was called up in the Home Circuit Court yesterday and postponed until January 21.
Williams was reportedly killed at Kartel's home in Havendale, St Andrew, on August 16 last year.
It's reported that Williams and another man were taken to the entertainer's house to give an account for a lost firearm.
Both men were reportedly attacked with Williams being beaten and stabbed to death while the other man escaped.
Williams' body has not been found.
The other man is expected to be the prosecution's main witness.
The police had reported that they have video and audio recordings linking Vybz Kartel and his co-defendants to the killing.
Eyewitness statements
The police also said they have eyewitness statements connecting the men to the murder.
Meanwhile, on November 12, Kartel and two other persons are to go before the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court on trial for conspiracy in relation to Williams' murder.
Kartel, who has been in custody since September last year, is also charged with the murder of businessman Barrington Burton.
That matter will again be heard on December 3.
Curacao still struggling to form coalition government
Well over two weeks after general elections in Curacao and some five days after the newly elected members of parliament were sworn in, the island’s political parties are still struggling to form a coalition government.
Initially, three of the parties, Pueblo Soberano (PS), Movimentu Futuro Korsou (MFK) and MAN, indicated a willingness to form a new coalition government, just as they have in recent years, and signed an agreement to that effect.
However, MFK subsequently withdrew from negotiations, citing disagreements with Helmin Wiels, leader of the largest party PS.
Late Monday night, PS, Partido pa Adelanto i Inovashon Soshal (PAIS) and Partido Nashonal di Pueblo (PNP) informed the official responsible for supervising the process of forming the new government, Glenn Camelia, that they have agreed to sign a “declaration of joint effort.”
The party leaders Helmin Wiels (PS), Alex Rosaria (PAIS) and Humphrey Davelaar (PNP) were due to sign the document on Tuesday.
However, according to Davelaar, “This declaration states that we will attempt to meet, using these ten seats, to form a larger majority in parliament.”
PS (5), PAIS (4) and PNP (1) together have 10 seats, which is not enough to form a majority in the parliament.
Furthermore, the declaration states that the parties stand for high integrity commitment and dedication, that the display of respect for each other is a requirement and that the people who are eligible for a portfolio also have the necessary knowledge to get started as ministers.
NBA fines Lakers’ Steve Blake for swearing at a fan
Blatant profanity is going to earn you a fine, no matter the circumstances. No matter if Chris Paul is breaking your ankles all over the court; no matter if you foul out in frustrating fashion; no matter if it’s not your fault that the guy who is supposed to be starting is out with an injury; no matter if your $100 million payroll team just fell to 0-3 on the season.
The NBA announced Tuesday that Lakers guard Steve Blake has been fined $25,000 for “directing inappropriate language toward a fan” during the closing minute of a Friday night game between the Lakers and Clippers. Blake, who fouled out of the game with eight points on 2-for-6 shooting and two assists in 39 minutes, was caught on camera shouting a profanity at a Staples Center fan as he left the court with 29.2 seconds remaining in the Clippers’ 105-95 win. After the initial profanity, Blake detoured to the sideline opposite the Lakers bench to engage directly with a fan seated courtside for an extended period of time. That conversation was impossible to miss and the league office is always watching.
It had been a frustrating night for Blake, who was starting for an injured Steve Nash. The Clippers controlled the game throughout and Paul finished with 18 points, 15 assists, six rebounds and three steals. On one late play, a Paul dribble move sent a helpless Blake crashing to the ground.
Blake, 32, is making $4 million this season.
Source-S.I
Ramdin says Windies not taking Bangladesh lightly
Vice- captain Denesh Ramdin says the West Indies would not be taking Bangladesh for granted during their tour which begins here next week Tuesday. The West Indian players are already in Dhaka and will meet the home side in the first of two Test matches next Tuesday at the Sher-e-Bangla Stadium .
Ramdin, no stranger to the role of Windies vice-captain, says winning the first Test is an important strategy for the visitors.
“(Bangladesh) are a team that on any given day can come and put up a good fight,” Ramdin told WICB Media.
“We are not going to take them lightly. They have good players, but we are going to play hard. They are favourites in their home conditions, but we are confident that all will go well for us on this tour.”
The second Test begins November 21 the Sheikh Abu Naser Stadium in the south-western city of Khulna to be followed by five One-day Internationals and a Twenty20 Internationals.
Ramdeen has described the playing conditions in Bangladesh as similar to what exist in the Caribbean.
The Windies squad includes off-spinner Sunil Narine on his first trip to Bangladesh and left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul on his debut tour with the senior squad.
“It is very important that we start well and not take them lightly,” the West Indies wicketkeeper said.
“We have some good players in the fray, like Chris Gayle, Marlon Samuels and Shivnarine Chanderpaul, and hopefully they can give us the impetus to do well in this series.
The West Indies cricketers are still on a high following their sensational win over Sri Lanka to claim the ICC World Twenty/20 title last month.
Ramdin said the players would have to overcome the diet of limited-overs cricket which they have been playing in the last few months.
“We would like to win this series, but it will depend on the weather. Hopefully, we can all prepare well and adapt quickly to the conditions. It is very important that we keep the momentum from winning the World T20 going,” said the Windies vice-captain.
“Whatever the case, we will all have to adapt to the conditions. I believe we have the capability of playing longer innings, and all of us want to get out onto the field and be successful”.
Usain Bolt named on IAAF shortlist
Usain Bolt, David Rudisha and Aries Merritt are in contention to win the 2012 IAAF male athlete of the year.
Jamaican Bolt retained his Olympic 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay titles, while Rudisha of Kenya set a world best in winning the 800m.
American Merritt won the 110m hurdles and later smashed the world record.
Britain's double Olympic champion Mo Farah has missed out on the three-man shortlist despite winning the 5,000m and 10,000m gold medals at London 2012.
Farah joined distance running greats such as Kenenisa Bekele, Miruts Yifter, Lasse Viren, Vladimir Kuts, Emil Zatopek and Hannes Kolehmainen in completing the 5,000m and 10,000m Olympic double.
However, his achievements were not regarded highly enough by the International Association of Athletics Federations to make the final shortlist.
Bolt, 26, declared himself the "greatest athlete" to have lived after becoming the first man to retain the sprint titles he won four years ago in Beijing.
Rudisha lowered his own mark over two laps to one minute, 40.91 seconds as the 23-year-old became the first man to break a world record on the track at London 2012.
The winner will be announced during the IAAF's Centenary Celebrations in Barcelona on 24 November.
Jessica Ennis up for female athlete of the year award
Great Britain's Jessica Ennis has made the three-woman shortlist to become the IAAF world female athlete of the year.
Ennis, who won heptathlon gold at the London Olympics, is up against American Allyson Felix and New Zealand's Valerie Adams for the honour.
Felix won golds in the 200m , 4x400m relay and 4x100m relay in London.
Adams retained her Olympic shot put crown after Nadzeya Ostapchuk was stripped of first place for failing a drugs test.
The nomination of Ennis, 26, comes a day after fellow Briton Mo Farah, who won 5,000m and 10,000m gold at the Olympics, failed to make the three-man shortlist for the IAAF male athlete of the year.
The International Association of Athletics Federations will announce the winners in each category in Barcelona on 24 November, 2012.
Source-BBC
Andy Murray set for Novak Djokovic test at World Tour Finals
Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic will resume what is currently the hottest rivalry in tennis at the ATP World Tour Finals on Wednesday.
The Briton and the Serb have met six times this year, with three wins each.
They include Murray's first Grand Slam title at the US Open and a victory for Djokovic in Shanghai last month.
The two men will play in Wednesday's first Group A singles match at 13:45 GMT, before Tomas Berdych takes on Jo-Wilfried Tsonga at 19:45 GMT.
Murray and Djokovic both won their opening round-robin contests and will move within sight of the semi-finals with another win.
Epic encounters in Melbourne, New York and Shanghai this year have seen the Murray-Djokovic duel, at least for now, fill the gap left by the absence of the injured Rafael Nadal, who has had a long-running rivalry with Roger Federer.
"Whether me and Novak would replace anything Roger and Rafa have done, I think that's a long way off," said Murray.
"But I think some of the matches we've had this year were high quality, fun to watch, and I'm all for playing more of those matches if I can."
Both men know they are in for a gruelling encounter when they meet, with sets regularly lasting over an hour.
"For me there's an understanding of how much you have to put into the match to win it," said the Briton. "I think that's just the nature of those matches.
"Both of us are very good retrievers so often the points will go on a lot. Sometimes you feel like you maybe need to win the point two or three times, which is tough and can be a little bit tiring.
"But we've played each other enough to know what to expect. We do practise with each other quite a lot too, but it's never quite the same as matches, that's for sure."Djokovic is exactly one week younger than Murray, and having known each other since they were 11 there are few surprises left between the 25-year-olds.
"When I play Andy I need to be ready for long rallies and a physically demanding match," said Djokovic. "We are big rivals but also very fair to each other.
"We have a very friendly relationship. I'm very glad to keep that relationship with Andy, somebody that I've known for a very long time."
Djokovic was presented with the trophy for being the year-end number one in London on Tuesday, for the second year in succession, after regaining top spot from Federer.
"It's a huge satisfaction," said the Serb. "Knowing in the back of my mind that I will end the year as number one is a huge relief for me and my team.
"Knowing how long the year was and how difficult and competitive it was with all my rivals, it just makes it even bigger."