Seal, Heidi Klum Close to Settling Their Divorce
TMZ is reporting that Seal and Heidi Klum, who were married for seven years before they separated in January, are close to settling their divorce.
Sources told the website that the singer is now ready to end their marriage and recognizes that the postnuptial agreement he signed is enforceable and will be “substantially honored.”
Seal’s sudden revelation that their marriage is really over appears to be inspired by knowledge that Klum has been dating their mutual bodyguard Martin Kristen for three months. Seal was furious about the news and chastised Klum for “fornicating with the help.” The 39-year-old model responded with a statement that she has moved on from her relationship with Seal, but still cherishes all the memories they created together.
Sources tell TMZ that Seal later retracted his statements and clarified that he didn’t accuse Klum of cheating, because he didn’t want the divorce negotiations to become ugly.
Read more at http://www.eurweb.com/2012/09/seal-heidi-klum-close-to-settling-their-divorce-report/#1d9braPPP6xvcXbu.99
R Kelly to return to explicit music
R Kelly has been all about romance on his last two albums, but the self-proclaimed Pied Piper of R&B says he isn't going to abandon the explicit music that helped make him famous.
"Absolutely not, and I tell people all the time man," Kelly said in a phone interview last week. "Make no mistake about it, R Kelly is not going anywhere, it's just that R Kelly has such a unique talent, and I've been blessed to be able to do all type of genres of music ... I'm exploring my gift right now."
IMF’s listening ear
Barbados now has the opportunity to have its economic strategy clearly understood by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) which has promised it will listen to local and regional views.
This opportunity emerged yesterday at the start of the high-level forum hosted by the IMF in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance in Trinidad and Tobago and the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) at the Hyatt Hotel & Resort in Port of Spain.
And Governor of the Central Bank of Barbados, Dr Delisle Worrell, indicated he would sieze it with both hands.
“In Barbados, we are very clear about the strategy for stabilization and growth. Our beef is that it is not well understood in Washington, so we are determined that we will be conveying that message at this meeting, and we hope that they will be listening,” he told the MIDWEEK NATION during a break in the intense two-day talks.
Worrell added that deputy managing director of the IMF, Min Zhu, had indicated the Fund’s intention to listen to the region’s views on the way forward; and as a result, it was necessary for Barbados and its neighbours to articulate their economic strategies strongly during this forum entitled Rethinking Policy To Address Low Growth and High Debt In The Caribbean.
“The most important thing and what will really make this meeting valuable is the dialogue, and the point that Mr Min Zhu made, which we are going to be focusing on, is that he wants to listen to what the region believes is the way forward,” Worrell explained, adding that he had just published an article on stabilization and growth policy for small states which would be circulated to the IMF group as well.
Earlier, Min Zhu, in the forum’s opening speech, declared that while the Caribbean compared well with other countries in the Western Hemisphere in terms of political stability, sporting achievements and a business-friendly environment, there must be a focus on what could be improved in light of the looming spectre of rising food prices, delayed and insufficient policy action in the Eurozone and United States and weakened growth prospects in emerging market countries.
“How can we get policies right to deal with these challenges? First and foremost, we want to listen to your views, and also share with you what has worked in other parts of the world and could work in the Caribbean,” Zhu told the audience of over 70 participants, including regional leaders Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves, of St Vincent and the Grenadines, Prime Minister Dr Denzil Douglas, of St Kitts-Nevis, and Anguilla’s Chief Minister Hubert Hughes.
Min Zhu advised firstly that in order to boost growth and competitiveness in the region, countries needed to get to the root of why growth has been elusive, especially in tourism-intensive countries such as Barbados, Jamaica and The Bahamas.
“It will be important to ensure that growth is inclusive and does not only benefit a privileged few. Further, building on the social cohesion that prevails in the Caribbean, we need to pay attention to those that may be left behind and improve the social safety net systems. This applies especially to the high level of unemployed youth in the region,” he stated, adding that “ambitious reforms” would be needed.
He also noted that beside coping with the global crisis, the Caribbean was emerging from its own financial sector crisis, and emphasis must therefore remain on “bolstering supervision and regulation of banks and insurance companies to prevent another major crisis, as well as to avoid contagion”.
In terms of lowering debt and ensuring fiscal sustainability, Min Zhu said the high indebtedness of several Caribbean countries, despite their middle to high income status, had constrained policy options; and all parties would therefore have to discuss ways to build sustainable fiscal frameworks – including via structural reforms and fiscal consolidation – to lower debt and improve creditworthiness.
Adding that “the Fund is open for business,” he said he hoped this forum would allow more avenues to be explored for the IMF to help, alongside its longstanding support through the Caribbean Regional Technical Assistance Centre, which is one of eight such IMF agencies in the Caribbean, Pacific, Africa, Middle East and Central America.
By Ricky Jordan in Port of Spain
3 Brazil politicians charged with corruption
Four politicians were arrested and three others were being sought in an anti-corruption sting in a Rio de Janeiro town, officials said yesterday, describing it as an example of other operations that are under way.
Among the seven arrested or sought were the mayor, the leading candidate for mayor and the head of the city council in Guapimirim, a working class town of about 52,000 people in the foothills of Rio de Janeiro’s mountains.
Authorities said 11 other suspects also were indicted in a scheme that investigators allege illegally siphoned off at least $24 million in public funds over four years. The charges include fraud, corruption and racketeering.
The investigation is not an isolated case, prosecutor Antonio Campos Moreira said at a news conference.
“We have a number of similar investigations looking into city halls,” Moreira said.
Brazil, which has long ranked toward the bottom of Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index, has been taking steps to improve accountability and practices in government. In the past few years, the government has created oversight bodies such as the CGU, which audits and promotes transparency in the executive branch, and the CNJ, which oversees the judiciary.
Seven members of President Dilma Rousseff’s Cabinet have given up their posts or were pushed out following corruption allegations.
These efforts have been largely concentrated at the federal level, however, with very little happening at the state and municipal levels, said Carlos Abramo, head of Transparencia Brasil, a group not connected to Transparency International that focuses on anti-corruption efforts.
“Brazil is a very decentralized state, in which states and municipalities have total autonomy,” Abramo said. “At that level you can have total confusion. The lack of administrative competence is widespread.”
In the case of Guapimirim, one family, of which the mayor was part, has held control for years. According to court documents, city council members received monthly payments of up to $35,000 to support the reigning coalition.
During the September 7 holiday weekend, groups in dozens of cities across Brazil are planning marches to call for clean government.
Carla Zambelli, organiser of one of the group, NasRuas, or InTheStreets, says marches are expected in 69 cities.
Among their specific demands are the end to secret voting in the legislature and justice in the cash-for-votes trial involving the governing Workers’ Party that is currently before the Supreme Court. In that case, the party is accused of illegally paying legislators a monthly stipend to support government projects.
“Brazil is among the countries that pay the highest taxes, but our security, education and health services are terrible,” said Zambelli. “We agree with paying taxes, but we want to see it come back to us in services.”
Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/3-Brazil--politicians-charged-with-corruption-#ixzz25dvE3B4k
Son of US judge charged with murder in Puerto Rico
The son of a U.S. federal court judge in Puerto Rico is charged with killing his wife in a case that has been subject of intense media coverage on the island all summer.
Pablo Casellas Toro was taken into custody after surrendering in the company of his lawyers and two bodyguards in Bayamon.
He was charged Wednesday with first-degree murder and other crimes in the June 17 death of his wife, Carmen Paredes.
She was shot to death in their home in the wealthy San Juan suburb of Guaynabo. Casellas has denied killing his wife.
Casellas is part of a prominent family on the island and is the son of U.S. District Court Judge Salvador Casellas, who was appointed to the court in 1994 by former President Bill Clinton.
Pressure on T&T Prime Minister to fire Jack Warner
Members of the Congress of the People (COP) has renewed pressure on Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar to take action in relation to Minister of National Security Jack Warner from her Cabinet.
Party officials confirmed the National Council of the party will on Sunday be called upon to pass a resolution calling on the Prime Minister to remove Warner from Cabinet over FIFA allegations against him; the findings of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in relation to a secret US fund account and the question of a police investigation in relation to FIFA allegations.
A resolution, signed by the acting COP chairman Vernon B De Lima, circulated on social network website Facebook yesterday. De Lima confirmed the authenticity of the resolution, to be tabled in his name, and went so far as to say he would resign if it does not pass.
THE RESOLUTION
“Whereas the Congress of the People’s stated position of two years ago was that Mr Jack Warner should not be a member of Cabinet until such time as he is cleared of the allegations that have been made against him by FIFA.”
“And whereas the situation is now worse than it was two years ago since the Court of Arbitration for Sport in its recent written judgment published on its website on the 24th of July of 2012 has said that Mr Jack Warner is a man who cannot be trusted, that he has secret US fund accounts, that he mingles funds periodically and that he is a man ‘who appears to be prone to an economy with the truth’.”
“And whereas Mr Jack Warner is at present under investigation by the Trinidad and Tobago Police.”
“And whereas having regard to the Congress of the People’s stated position about matters of transparency, truthfulness and decency, it must continue to be our position that Mr Jack Warner should not be a member of Cabinet at this time.”
“Therefore be it resolved that the Congress of the People call on the Hon Prime Minister to remove Mr Jack Warner from the Cabinet; failing which the Congress of the People will dissociate itself entirely from the People’s Partnership.”
The developments came as the COP prepares to hold National Executive elections in October.
Newsday
Dominican-U.S. operation nets 1,525Ks cocaine at sea
The National Drug Control Agency, the Navy and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) seized 1,525 kilos of cocaine near the coast of Saona island Tuesday, one of the biggest drug busts so far this year.
The DNCD said four people were arrested and also seized 15 tanks of gasoline. Part of the drug haul was shown at the 27 de Febrero Naval Base.
The drugs were in 60 bales seized after a pursuit conducted midnight Monday, and ended close to noon yesterday.
In a statemen, the DNCD said three speedboats were seen around 60 miles south of Saona, but fled on spotting patrol aircraft in the area.
In a separate statement, the Navy revealed that the bales were thrown into the sea from two speedboats type "Go Fast" which came to the Dominican coast from the south, whose crew fled once they spotted the operation, prompting an ensuing chase by the Coast Guards cutters Capella and Canopus and two intercept crafts. LI-167 type "ACRUX" and LI-16.
Navy Chief of Staff Edwin Dominici said the chase began at 1:30 yesterday morning and lasted several hours, around 51 nautical miles south of the Dominican coast, adding that it's the third bust at sea in the last 15 days.
England v South Africa: Amla & De Villiers help Proteas draw series
Hashim Amla and AB de Villiers hit half-centuries as South Africa cruised to a seven-wicket victory to tie the one-day series with England 2-2.
Amla stroked a majestic 97 not out and De Villiers cracked an unbeaten 75 after James Anderson (2-41) helped reduce the tourists to 14-3.
England were guilty of poor shot selection in their 182 all out.
Alastair Cook top scored with 51, while Robin Peterson took 3-37 and Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel took two wickets each.
It was fitting it was Amla who helped South Africa level the series, in a summer in which he has dominated the England bowlers.
England's total may have been inadequate but South Africa were wobbling early in their reply after Jade Dernbach induced a Graeme Smith edge to second slip, before Anderson had the nervous Faf du Plessis and Dean Elgar caught behind.
However, another assured and classy innings by Amla, complemented by a counter-attacking knock from De Villiers, saw the tourists to a comfortable victory.
After scoring 482 runs in the Test series, which South Africa won 2-0, Amla took his run tally to 335 in the one-day series and 817 for the summer.
England could only blame themselves for posting such a disappointing score in good conditions on a pitch which did nothing out of the ordinary for the bowlers.
The tone was set when opener Ian Bell, who looked in good form, missed a straight one from spinner Robin Peterson in the fourth over.
Ravi Bopara followed soon after when he was dismissed for a second-ball duck by Steyn - meaning he ends the five-match series with an average of 5.5 from his four innings.
The Essex batsman was elevated to number three in the absence of the injured Jonathan Trott, but his dismissal was one of a man shorn of any confidence as he edged a routine delivery behind while standing rooted to his crease.
Cook and Jonny Bairstow repaired some of the damage, putting on 55 for the third wicket, but, as they started to regain some momentum, they were separated.
Bairstow was beginning to dominate the Proteas bowling when he went to 29 with a lovely pull for four off Morne Morkel, but the Yorkshire youngster got carried away next ball when he flicked one deep into the leg side and watched with horror as he picked out Justin Ontong on the boundary.
It was a poor way to lose a wicket, and almost as bad as Eoin Morgan in the next over.
The Irishman came running down the track to part-time bowler JP Duminy and hit the ball straight to Amla at mid-off.
England's only hope of a big score rested with their skipper, but Cook was guilty of poor shot selection himself as he drove a full toss straight back to another occasional bowler in Du Plessis.
From there, wickets tumbled regularly as England struggled to form any good partnerships - Craig Kieswetter and Chris Woakes offering the only resistance with 33 runs each.
It appeared the total might be enough when Anderson and Dernbach exploited some early movement in South Africa's reply, but once Amla and De Villiers took control there was only going to be one winner.
Usain Bolt may play for Manchester United in charity game
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson says sprint legend Usain Bolt could play for the club in a charity match next year.
Six-time Olympic champion Bolt, 26, has joked he wants a trial at the club.
"It's interesting he says he'd like to play in a charity game," Ferguson told Inside United, the club's magazine.
"It could be brilliant and next year, when we play Real Madrid's Legends again, there could be opportunities to bring him up and see how he does."
Bolt, who won 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay gold at both London 2012 and Beijing 2008, is a big fan of the club and was paraded at Old Trafford before United's 3-2 win over Fulham.
The Jamaican sprinter called on supporters to convince Ferguson to sign him for the club as he showed off his London 2012 medals.
Bolt has previously attended United's Carrington training ground where he gave former player Cristiano Ronaldo tips on his sprinting.
"He's a bit of a character and a big United fan," Ferguson said.
"The people from these small islands, like Dwight Yorke from Trinidad & Tobago, they all play football and he probably played at school level or youth level or something like that. It'd be nice to get him up here, I think it'll be good."
Source-BBC
Cowboys most valuable NFL team at $2.1 billion
The Dallas Cowboysare the first American sports franchise worth more than $2 billion, according to Forbes magazine.
The NFL's most valuable team for the sixth consecutive year, the Cowboys saw their overall worth increase 14 percent to $2.1 billion. That's about $1 billion higher than the average NFL team value, $1.11 billion, up 7 percent.
Only Manchester United of the English Premier League, at $2.24 billion, is more valuable than the Cowboys, according to Forbes' surveys. And Man U's owners, the Glazer family, also own the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who are $1.033 billion, 18th in the NFL.
New TV contracts, the collective bargaining agreement signed last year that will last a decade, and higher premium seating revenue contributed to the increases. Every franchise except the Cincinnati Bengals increased in value; the Bengals stayed the same at $871 million, which ranks 26th overall.
With new stadiums in the works for the Vikings and 49ers, their values skyrocketed. Minnesota had a 22 percent increase to $975 million, while San Francisco moved up 19 percent to $1.175 billion.
Jimmy Haslam III bought the Cleveland Browns this summer for $1 billion, $13 million more than the value Forbes placed on the team, which ranks 21st.
Shahid Khan purchased the Jacksonville Jaguars for $770 million in January. Forbes values them at exactly that - the least valuable franchise in the league, $10 million less than the St. Louis Rams.
Rounding out the top five are New England ($1.635 billion), Washington ($1.6 billion), the New York Giants ($1.468 billion) and Houston ($1.305 billion).
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Source-: www.forbes.com/nfl