IN JAMAICA: Partying To Debt - Sprint Financial Services Sees More Patrons Taking Loans For Events

Partygoers attending some of the priciest events this summer will once again be able to benefit from loans being offered by one lending agency expressly for this purpose.
A section of the crowd at last year's Smirnoff XClusive, one of the events at Smirnoff Dream Weekend. - FILE
A section of the crowd at
 last year's Smirnoff XClusive,
 one of the events at
Smirnoff Dream Weekend
Sprint Financial Services started offering loans to patrons attending some of the most expensive parties in the west of the island in 2012 and is doing the same this year.
Founder and CEO of the company, Christopher Barrett, pointed out that the number of persons accessing these loans is on the increase.
"An increase is putting it mildly. It has actually more than doubled since then. As a matter of fact, even throughout the year for all the other little expensive parties for which happen, people take out loans. This is the time of year when it is a little more than usual," Barrett said.
He added that ATI (not on this year) and Dream Weekend were among the most popular parties for which individuals take out loans for.
Barrett mentioned that persons can get loans for any kind of party costing more than $6,500 per person. He also said that persons have between either one or two months to repay the loan at 6.5 per cent per month and that no collateral was necessary. Read More...

Abuse Files Reveal Priest Had Sex With Over 100 Boys: Los Angeles Catholic Church Sex Abuse Files Released Including Files On Ruben Martinez Who Abused 100 Boys

163682931LOS ANGELES -- Hundreds of pages of secret church files released Wednesday shed light on the troublesome careers of a dozen religious order priests, brothers and nuns accused of sexually abusing children while working in the nation's largest Roman Catholic archdiocese.
The files include one case of a priest who later admitted to having sexual contact with more than 100 boys while serving in several Southern California parishes for years.
The papers, which were released under the terms of a $660 million settlement agreement reached in 2007, are the first glimpse at what religious orders knew about the envoys they posted in Roman Catholic schools and parishes around the Los Angeles area. The archdiocese itself released thousands of pages under court order this year for its own priests who were accused of sexual abuse, but the full picture of sex abuse in Los Angeles remained elusive without the religious orders' records. Several dozen more files are expected to be released by the fall. Read More...

REPORT: LIFETIME BAN FOR NEW YORK YANKEES ALEX RODRIQUEZ (A-ROD)

SHARE 1044 1504 24COMMENTMORE
Commissioner Bud Selig is prepared to levy a lifetime suspension on New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez, while suspending about eight others before the weekend, two people with knowledge of the negotiations told USA TODAY Sports.
The people were unauthorized to speak publicly because no announcement is expected until Thursday or Friday.
Rodriguez, according to his attorney, David Cornwell, will appeal any suspension, regardless of the severity. The other players are expected to receive 50-game bans, and most are considering accepting the discipline without appealing,  Read More...

Ridin' Dirty: Cops Stop George Zimmerman For Speeding, Find Gun In His Car (VIDEO)

UPDATE 6:30 PM EST
Robert Zimmerman, Jr., George Zimmerman's brother has released a statement regarding George's traffic stop and his need to carry a gun.
George Zimmerman
Read more: 

Children To Get Therapy After Witnessing Murder At Church - 5-Y-O Girl Shot Twice, Hospitalised

Members of the Victim Support Unit will be heading to a section of Bull Bay, St Andrew, later today to offer counselling to children who witnessed a brazen daylight murder while attending Bible school.
The altar did not save the man, Chad Telfer, from the deadly attack. A five-year-old girl who was also shot and injured during the incident is currently in hospital.
The Gleaner understands that the children were attending Vacation Bible School at the Church of God of Prophecy, when gunmen chased and shot a man who sought refuge on the church compound.
The shooting took place some minutes after noon when the children were on their lunch break, according to pastor at the church, Conrad Atkinson. Read More...

Court says INDECOM has power to arrest cops ... Buju appeals judge ruling ... Police await DNA test to confirm priest's body ... IN SPORTS: West Indies in tough pool 'B' (VIDEO)

Sumfest Sizzles ... With Smoking-Hot Performances

Damian 'Junior Gong' Marley gave a scintillating performance at Reggae Sumfest International Night 2 at Catherine Hall in Montego Bay. - Photo by Janet Silvera
Damian 'Junior Gong' Marley
 gave a scintillating performance
at Reggae Sumfest International Night
 2 at Catherine Hall in Montego Bay
Symbolic of the Lion of Judah, Damian 'Jr Gong' Marley, blazed on stage, myriad flashing lights, bass pounding music and fiery backdrop videos heralding nothing short of an electrifying performance, closing the curtains on Reggae Sumfest 2013.
Marley signalled his intention very early in his performance, staking claim that for the third time in three years he had come to take the number-one position on International Night 2.
Combined, Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights and no other artistes on the 21st anniversary festival ignited the Catherine Hall venue with such precision, energy and vibrancy, without even lighting a matchstick. Read More...

10 Black child geniuses you should know...including, By the age of 7, Loiseau spoke French, Creole, Spanish, Mandarin, Arabic and Russian. She also plays the harp, clarinet, violin, drums, guitar and piano.

Stephen R. Stafford II
Stephen Stafford
Mabou Loiseau
Mabou Loiseau
If you only watched the evening news or depended on pop culture to paint a picture of young Blacks, you would probably think that the majority of Black youngsters were only ambitious about sports and music – or caught up in crime and debauchery.
However, the face of Black success isn’t limited to the fields that are occupied by Jay-Z, Beyonce and LeBron James. There are a multitude of young Blacks who are achieving at a high level in science, math, classical music, chess and other knowledge-based areas and preparing to change society. Read More...

Surveillance Video Catches White Police Informant Planting Crack On Black Business Owner....Could have gotten 25 years imprisonment for being set up.

NEWS10 ABC: Albany, New York News, Weather, Sports
Surveilance Video Catches Informant Planting Drugs On Businessman photo
How many other Black men are in prison because of such practices?
AFRICANGLOBE – The Black male owner of a head-shop selling tobacco products in Scotia, New York seems to have been the victim of a police informant’s set-up. Surveillance video from Dapp City Smoke Shop shows an unnamed White man in a leather jacket pull what appears to be crack cocaine out of his pocket and place it on the counter. The paid, confidential informant for the Schenectady County Sheriff’s Office then photographs the drugs as “evidence.”
Head-shop owner Donald Andrews was charged with felonies — criminal sale and criminal possession of a controlled substance — that could have put him behind bars for 25 years. Forced to close his store, Andrews had spent three weeks in county jail before his lawyer insisted the grand jury view the surveillance footage.  On April 25, after authorities saw the tape, charges were dropped. Read More...

PALAS 55 new scholarships for 2013-14 school year. Award ceremony on Saturday, August 24 2013. Guest speakers Hon. Damion Crawford and Attorney Patrick Campbell. Please donate today at www.PALAS1.org

Bishop, Desmond Tutu Would Prefer Hell Over A Homophobic Heaven

desmond tutu hell
Desmond Tutu
Desmond Tutu denounced religions that discriminate against LGTB-identified people by making some very strong statements during the United Nations' launch of its gay-rights program in Cape Town this Friday, reports AFP. He leaves no doubt about his opinions regarding LGTB rights, declaring: I would not worship a God who is homophobic and that is how deeply I feel about this. He added: "I would refuse to go to a homophobic heaven. No, I would say sorry, I mean I would much rather go to the other place."  Read More...

RulaBrownNetwork (RBN): 13 Reasons to Drink Green Tea

RulaBrownNetwork (RBN): 13 Reasons to Drink Green Tea: 13 Reasons to Drink Green Tea Green tea really is a superfood extraordinaire.  Thanks to a potent plant nutrient called epigallocatechin...

Brutal Bolt - Usain, Weir star at London Diamond League meet

LONDON, England (AFP) — Olympic champion and world record holder Usain Bolt stormed to victory in the 100m at the London Diamond League meeting yesterday as he returned to his brutal, stunning best.
The Jamaican superstar warmed up for his World Championships bid in Moscow next month by sparkling in front of a packed crowd at the London Olympic Stadium. He won in a season best 9.85sec despite making a lacklustre start and performed a lap of honour in front of a packed 60,000 crowd. Returning to the scene of his golden Olympic treble a year ago, the fastest man on earth blew his rivals away with at the Anniversary Games event.
American Michael Rodgers (9.98) and Jamaica’s Nesta Carter (9.99) also dipped under 10 seconds.
“I love coming here. The fans give you so much energy and this is what makes me run faster,” said Bolt. Read more: 


 

CRICKET LOVELY CRICKET: Pakistan snatch last ball win over WI in first T20

Sunil Narine (right) of the
 West Indies being run out
 by Pakistan’s Mohammad Irfan during
 the first T20 international
at Arnos Vale Sports Complex,
 St Vincent, yesterday.


 
KINGSTOWN, St Vincent (CMC) — Debutant Zulfiqar Babar struck a six off the last ball with Pakistan needing one run for victory to secure a sensational two-wicket win over the West Indies in the first of their two-match Twenty/20 International series at the Arnos Vale Playing Field here yesterday.
Chasing 153 for victory, Pakistan were helped by Man-of-the-Match Shahid Afridi, who blazed 46 off 27 balls with four fours and two sixes, and the day's other debutant Umar Amin, who topscored with 47 off 41 balls with nine boundaries. Pakistan ended the 20 overs on 158 for eight in reply to West Indies 152 for seven.
After losing Nasir Jamshed, caught by Lendl Simmons for six off Shannon Gabriel, and Ahmed Shehzad, who held out to Kieron Pollard at long on off Samuel Badree for three, the left-handed Amin played with fluent authority and propped up the early part of the Pakistani innings. Afridi then took over to give the innings the final impetus that took Pakistan to their exciting finish. When Amin went stumped by Charles off Marlon Samuels, Pakistan were 86 for five, but Afridi played positively from the moment he stepped to the crease and was severe on anything short delivered by the West Indian bowlers. Read more: 

Shelly Ann clocks world leading 10.77 in 100m semi; loses final

MONTEGO BAY, St James -- After running a world Leading 10.77 seconds in the semi-finals of the women’s 100m, defending World Champion Shelly-Ann Fraser Pryce was fourth in the finals in 10.94 seconds on today’s final day of the two day London Diamond League at the Olympic Stadium.
Fraser Pryce, who also won the Olympic 100m title on the same track a year ago, appeared to have backed off in the final as she wrapped up her preparations for the IAAF World Championships set to start in two weeks in Moscow, Russia. Kerron Stewart was sixth in 11.02 seconds as Nigeria’s Blessing Okagbare won in an African Record 10.79 seconds ahead of American Barbara Pierre (10.85) seconds and Trinidad’s Kelly-Ann Baptiste- {10.93) seconds. Schillionie Calvert also ran in the first round of the 100m clocking 11.32 seconds but failed to advance. Read more: 

Selena looks Buju Banton's way.... Selena 'walks like a champion'

Selena Gomez uses Buju Banton’s
original lines, ‘Walk like a
champion/ talk like a
champion/ ram-pa-pa-pam-pam’
for her introduction and hook.


 
AMERICAN pop sensation Selena Gomez has sampled Buju Banton's 1995 hit song Champion for her latest single, Like a Champion. The song is from Gomez' new album Stars Dance which was released this month.
The 21-year-old uses Banton's original lines, 'Walk like a champion/ talk like a champion/ ram-pa-pa-pam-pam' for her introduction and hook. Banton, who is serving a 10-year prison sentence in the United States on drug-related charges, recorded Champion for producer Donovan Germain.
The song is from his seminal 1995 album 'Til Shiloh. Germain said he heard of the Gomez remix this week. "I didn't hear about the track until Wednesday when someone sent me a YouTube link," he told Splash. "All I can say is that it is a 'good look' for the industry. While we are busy trying to copy the pop stars, they are busy trying to copy reggae, a genre that some critics say is dying," he continued. Read more:  

 

JUST IN: USAIN BOLT Runs Season's Best In London, Wins In 9.85 Seconds.

Usain Bolt (second right) wins the men\'s 100m race during the Diamond League athletics meet at The Stadium in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, London. – AP
Usain Bolt (second right) wins the
men's 100m race during the
Diamond League athletics meet
 at The Stadium in the
 Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, London
Usain Bolt wins Men's 100m in 9.85 seconds at the IAAF Diamond League athletics meet at The Stadium in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, London. 

Michael Rodgers, USA, ran 9.98 to take second place and Jamaica's Nesta Carter ran 9.99 seconds to take third place. 

Earlier Warren Weir won the Men's 200m in 19.89 seconds, Jason Young ran an impressive time of 19.99 seconds to take second place, Wallace Spearmon of the USA took third place in 20.18 seconds. 

Usain Bolt will compete in the Men's 100m later today at the athletics meet marks the anniversary of the London 2012 Olympic Games. Read More...

IN JAMAICA: 20-y-o Sasha Gay McDonald and 2-y-o daughter missing

CLARENDON, Jamaica -- Twenty-year-old Sasha Gay McDonald and her two-year-old daughter Niqehlea Taylor both of Summerfield in Clarendon have been missing since July 14.
McDonald is of brown complexion, medium build and is about five-feet-four-inches tall. Niqehlea is also of brown complexion and medium build. The police report that McDonald and Niqehlea were last seen in Spanish Town, St Catherine about 2:00 pm. 
McDonald was dressed in a white blouse and cream shorts while her daughter was wearing a pink blouse, pink jeans pants and a pair of multi-coloured shoes. Anyone with information about the whereabouts of the two is being asked to contact the Stadium Police at 946-1831, Police 119 emergency number or the nearest police station. Read more: 

USAIN BOLT says I'm clean,... says doping scandals have ‘set us back’

Bolt at Press Conference in London
The world’s fastest man stopped short of condemning Jamaican teammates Asafa Powell and Sherone Simpson or American rival Tyson Gay, whose failed doping tests have left the sport in turmoil ahead of the Worlds in Moscow next month.
“Definitely it’s going to set us back a little bit,” Bolt said in London, ahead of a Diamond League meet, his first competition in the city since his three gold medals at last year’s Olympics. “But as a person I can’t focus on this. “I still have World Championships, everyone is stepping up their game, so I have to really focus on that. ... I am just trying to work hard, run fast and hopefully help people to forget what has happened, and just move on.”
Bolt will run the 100 metres today and the 4x100 relay tomorrow at the Olympic Stadium in a meet marking the anniversary of the start of the 2012 London Olympics. In his first public comments since news of the high-profile doping cases broke, Bolt promised that he won’t be the next sprint star to be embroiled in a scandal.
“I was made to inspire people and to run, and I was given the gift and that’s what I do,” the six-time Olympic champion said. “I am confident in myself and my team, the people I work with. And I know I am clean.
“So I’m just going to continue running, using my talent and just trying to improve the sport.” Read more:  

'You Can't Sit For Justice' - DPP Blames Frightened Witnesses For Collapse Of High-Profile Cases

With at least three high-profile cases falling apart in the last four months, Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Paula Llewellyn has cautioned her critics against laying the blame on her office or police investigators.
Llewellyn
Llewelyn
Shields
Shields
Instead yesterday, Llewellyn, who was speaking with The Gleaner hours after a Supreme Court judge instructed a jury to return a not guilty verdict in one of two murder cases against popular entertainer Vybz Kartel, sought to focus attention on what she described as the country's "intimidatory environment" that is scaring away witnesses.
She said very often witnesses are refusing to go into the witness protection programme and end up returning to the same communities where the accused person resides.
Reiterating concerns expressed while speaking with The Gleaner earlierthis month, Llewellyn said in some cases, witnesses will accept money from relatives or friends of an accused person to discontinue a case or simply refuse to attend court.
"So even if the prosecutor or the investigator is a genius, if the witness refuses to testify, there is nothing we can do. We are not a banana republic, we have standards," the DPP insisted. Read More...

Ardenne High Past Student Tops Class In Ukraine Medical School

SmithTwo years ago, on the advice of a close friend, at the age of 19, Tashae Amanda Smith, despite her mother's reservations, made the decision to travel 6,000 miles from Jamaica to the Ukraine in pursuit of her dream.
Now 21, Smith is blazing the trail on her path towards becoming a medical doctor and possibly finding the cure for cancer in the near future.
She has managed the difficult feat of topping her medical science class at one of Ukraine's most prestigious and oldest higher medical institutions, Kharkiv National Medical University.
A former head girl of Ardenne High School, Smith said her friend who left Ardenne before her told her about his experience attending the same school in the Ukraine, and that sparked her interest.
"He was telling me that he was going to this college and about theopportunities - in terms of the equipment in comparison to what we have here in Jamaica and the other vast opportunities over there - so he said I should apply because I had the ability to get through," Smith recalled.
Taking her friend's advice, Smith said she began to do her research on the university and found out that the fees for international students attending schools in the Ukraine were heavily subsidised, and this further compelled her to apply.
She said in total, she pays approximately US$5,000 (J$500,000) for school fees and living expenses for the year. Read More...

Gleaner Celebrates GSAT High Achievers

Gleaner Managing Director Christopher Barnes is flanked by county scholarship winners Ashley Ricketts (left), Joanna Turner (second left) and Shanae Graham (right) during The Gleaner's Children's Own Spelling Bee Scholarship Awards luncheon held yesterday at the newspaper's North Street, Kingston, offices. Also pictured is Barrieanna Foster, the Editor's Scholar. - Ian Allen/ Photographer
Gleaner Managing Director
Christopher Barnes is flanked
by county scholarship winners 
On a day when the world celebrated Nelson Mandela International Day under the theme 'Take Action, Inspire Change', The Gleaner took time out to honour four of the country's young scholars.
As laughter and tears of joy flowed throughout The Gleaner'sChildren's Own Spelling Bee Awards luncheon yesterday, four outstanding performers in this year's Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT) were lauded with accolades and cash prizes.
Three of the winners, who were outstanding participants in The Gleaner's Children's Own Spelling Bee Competition, received awards and scholarships for being the top performers in their counties.
Cornwall's top performer was Joanna Turner from Hanover Pre and Preparatory; Middlesex's outstanding student was Ashley Ricketts from Knox Junior School; and Shanae Graham from Middleton Primary was Surrey's recipient. Barrieanne Foster was named the Editor's Scholar for 2013. Read More...

7 Embassy Scholarship Awardees Grateful, Excited About China Trip

Hunter
Hunter
Garfield Hunter was among seven students who were on Wednesday awarded with a Chinese-government scholarship during an awards ceremony held at the Chinese Embassy in St Andrew.
The 28-year-old, who will be pursuing his doctorate in urban and regional planning, told The Gleaner that his aim is to enhance the energy sector in Jamaica.
"As an urban and regional planner, and given that Jamaica is trying to kickstart its renewable energy drive, I think that doing further studies in this area will enable me to implement ways to reduce our energy bill," he said with confidence.
Hunter pointed out that the only barrier would be the difference in language but emphasised that he was eagerly awaiting the experience.
"My course will be taught in Chinese (Mandarin), so that will be my only problem. I'm in the process of learning the language, so I will not be worried too much about that," he said.
"I'm really happy for the opportunity, and I'm just going with an open mind and a positive attitude. I'm also very grateful for the support of my parents. I couldn't have done it without them," said Hunter. Read More...