A rapper affiliated with the Wu-Tang Clan is in an L.A. area hospital after ......Rapper Andre Johnson, Aka Christ Bearer, Severs Penis And Jumps From Balcony: Police

Police The Huffington Post  | by  David Moye Email RSS  Posted: 04/16/2014 7:27 pm EDT Updated: 04/16/2014 7:59 pm EDT

A rapper affiliated with the Wu-Tang Clan is in an L.A. area hospital after allegedly attempting suicide by cutting off his penis and jumping from a second floor balcony.

Police said Andre Johnson, who performs under the name "Christ Bearer" with the Wu-Tang affiliated group Northstar, attempted the self-dismemberment early Wednesday morning at an apartment building in North Hollywood.

Cops arrived on the scene around 1 a.m. and saw Johnson lying on the sidewalk with critical injuries. Johnson, 40, was rushed by ambulance to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, TMZ reports. Details about what triggered the incident were not available, according to CNN.

Two members of Northstar who live in the same apartment building said Johnson cut off his penis and leaped without warning, according to Fox News. By the time they got downstairs he was running around screaming.

The musicians told TMZ they hadn't used "any hard drugs that would cause him to do such a thing."

Johnson jumped less than 24 hours after the release of "OOOH!", a new video with Rugged Monk as Black Knight. Although Johnson has collaborated with Wu-Tang Clan producer and leader RZA, the band's website now has a statement seemingly denying any ties to Johnsonwithout naming him, according to RawStory.com.

The statement reads: “Parental Advisory: Don’t Believe The HYPE. This Mother F*cker Ain’t Got Sh*t to do with The WUTANG Brand.” more

Wu-Tang-Affiliated Rapper Cuts Off His Own Penis, Jumps Off Balcony in Suicide Attempt - Watch More Celebrity Videos or Subscribe

JAMAICA Government To Develop Programmes For Homosexual Youth.....Youth Minister Lisa Hanna made the announcement to address issues affecting various sections of the youth population including Lesbians, Gays, Bisexual and Transgendered (LGBT) individuals.

Lisa Hanna

The Government says it is in the process of developing new services, initiatives and programmes to address issues affecting various sections of the youth population including Lesbians, Gays, Bisexual and Transgendered (LGBT) individuals. 

Youth Minister Lisa Hanna made the announcement while speaking yesterday morning at the Panos Caribbean Stakeholder Conference. 

She says new targeted intervention is necessary, if the Government is to adequately and effectively address the challenges, concerns and needs of the different types of youth her ministry serves. 

Some of the other groups include Men who have sex with Men (MSMs) and youth with sexual orientation and gender identity issues. 

Hanna explains that given the lack of data on LGBT youth, today's stakeholder consultation is timely as it will provide the youth ministry with a better understanding of what the issues are. 

She insists that the Government’s duty is not only to provide shelter and protection for abandoned and abused children but also therapeutic intervention to address the physical and psychological harm they have suffered. 

Hanna says it is clear that there will also have to be what she calls a resetting of the mind and of the way in which people are treated. more

Hapilos awards off :According to the New York Post, Kevin Reynolds — CEO of 21st Hapilos Digital Distribution — was arrested at the John F Kennedy International Airport last Sunday

Wednesday, April 16, 2014    

SATURDAY'S 21st Hapilos Anniversary and Digital Awards has been postponed. The event was scheduled for the Chinese Benevolent Association of Jamaica Centre in St Andrew.

No reason was given for the postponement. Neither was a new date announced.

Johnny Wonder, 21st Hapilos’s executive
 vice-president (Photo: Pawty Central)

In a statement yesterday, Johnny Wonder, 21st Hapilos's executive vice-president, apologised "for any inconvenience the postponement may have caused".

"We at 21st Hapilos Digital Distribution would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone associated with the event; the Jamaican recording fraternity, our sponsors, fans, supporters and those who were slated to perform," said Wonder.

The awards recognise achievements of artistes and producers in digital distribution as well as their contributions to the music industry.

"Direct sales and streams are used to determine the winners," Wonder told the Jamaica Observer.

Categories include Top Selling Single of the Year, Lifetime Award and Producer Buzz Award. The awards were previously held in 2011 and 2012.

According to the New York Post, Kevin Reynolds — CEO of 21st Hapilos Digital Distribution — was arrested at the John F Kennedy International Airport last Sunday, after being on the run from United States law enforcement since 2002. more

Dread and Terrible lie about CHRONIXX in Paris, FRANCE....event was a success and saw great performances from Chronixx as well as Dre Island, Kelissa, Barrington Levy, Cham and Patrice.

BY CECELIA CAMPBELL-LIVINGSTON Observer reporter livingstonc@jamaicaobserver.com  Wednesday, April 16, 2014    

ANTONIE Missir — producer of Chronixx's Dread and Terrible Tour French leg -- is dismissing rumours that the artiste was assaulted by security guards at La Cigale in Paris on Sunday, April 6.

"I guarantee that there is no truth to the story," said Missir, in an email response to the Jamaica Observer yesterday.

Chronixx

According to the producer, Chronixx and his team were on stage when a minor incident happened backstage between a security guard and an unauthorised person.

"Chronixx and crew behaved very professionally and didn't clash with any security [personnel]. Nobody got injured, there were no weapons, no police," he said, adding that there are no longer any chateauxs in Paris.

Missir said the event was a success and saw great performances from Chronixx as well as Dre Island, Kelissa, Barrington Levy, Cham and Patrice.

According to a Platinum Camp email release, Chronixx and his party refused to wear the armbands and proceeded to rough up the security guards.

"After his performance, a group of guards with high-powered weapons and baseball bats were waiting in the wings for them. It was reported that the beating that Chronixx and his posse suffered was horrendous, they ran for their lives and sought refuge in a chateau. The occupants of the chateau hid them and had to call for the French authorities in order to save them," the release continued.

Chronixx Music Group, managers and booking agents for Chronixx dismissed the alleged altercation between the artiste's team and security providers. more

The Final Trailer For 'X-Men: Days Of Future Past Is A Traveler Of Both Time & Space.....X-Men: Days of Future Past | Official Trailer 3 [HD] | 20th Century FOX

Bonded by war. United by hope. See the X-Men face their greatest challenge together in X-Men: Days of Future Past.

The ultimate X-Men ensemble fights a war for the survival of the species across two time periods in X-MEN: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST. The beloved characters from the original "X-Men" film trilogy join forces with their younger selves from "X-Men: First Class," in an epic battle that must change the past -- to save our future.

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Teen’s Video About Wearing Suit & Ties To Defy Black Male Stereotypes Goes Viral.....“we are not gangsters and thugs,” “we are employees and volunteers,” “we are scholars” and “we are athletes.”

This is an inspiring story of a few teens who got tired of constantly seeing the negative stereotypes that the media has a habit of attributing to young, black males so they decided to do something about it! Check it out below…

Suited and Booted! Roland Martin spoke with high school student Hayden Hinton and counselor Tiffany Gholson about an inspiring video making the rounds on the Internet.

Black male students at Illinois’ Central High School put together “Suit & Tie in the 217″ to offer a counter-narrative for young black men. For Black History Month, they released a video of students dressed to the nines with the messages “we are not gangsters and thugs,” “we are employees and volunteers,” “we are scholars” and “we are athletes.” “The negative stories told daily in the media and in our culture about our young African-American men tend to ignore their successes and don’t tell the full story about how young Black men are becoming leaders within our community schools,” said Central High counselor Tiffany Gholson, who worked with the students on the effort. “In this video, our students reclaim the narrative of who they are and inspire other students to follow in their footsteps.” – Via NewsOne more

'Jamaica In Better Place' than it was 12 months ago... But This Fiscal Year 'Won't Be Any Less Of A Fight', Says Richard Byles.....Jamaica's reaching its primary balance target "is a very significant development for Jamaica,"

Published: Tuesday | April 15, 2014  

"There is no doubt that the Jamaican economy is in a better place today than it was 12 months ago," said Richard Byles, co-chairman of the Economic Programme Oversight Committee (EPOC).

Richard Byles

But despite the improvements, it is important that no one feels "overconfident", Byles said, as the year ahead "won't be any less of a fight".

Byles was speaking at a media briefing at the Sagicor head office in New Kingston yesterday.

EPOC was responding to public statements from Finance Minister Peter Phillips that Jamaica had met the fourth-quarter primary surplus target and that he expects a positive International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme review for the end of March.

But Byles said EPOC's comments were on the presumption that the minister's information was accurate, as it had not yet seen the official preliminary or final results.

"I'm taking him on his word," Byles said.

Jamaica's reaching its primary balance target "is a very significant development for Jamaica," Byles said. "Not many people believed we could achieve this target."

"However, we still have a long way to go," he said. We should see "big challenges for this fiscal year." more 

GAMBIA, AFRICA Roots Homecoming Festival On Track as promoters bill some of Jamaica's top acts to perform at the show's 11th anniversary. this year's performers will include Jamaica's Sizzla Kalonji, Mutabaruka and Jah Cure, as well as soulful United States singer Erykah Badu.

Published: Tuesday | April 15, 2014

Plans for the 2014 staging of the Gambia Roots Homecoming Festival intensifies as promoters bill some of Jamaica's top acts to perform at the show's 11th anniversary.

SIZZLA

The festival, which began in 2003, will run from May 9 through to May 16 in Gambia, Africa. The festival has become known for attracting big names, and this year's performers will include Jamaica's Sizzla Kalonji, Mutabaruka and Jah Cure, as well as soulful United States singer Erykah Badu.

In addition to the impressive line-up, the festival's itinerary is also very tight.

Activities at this year's installation include an African king and queen banquet, a carnival procession of masquerades and cultural groups, and a masquerade ball.

tribute to Bob Marley

There will also be a tribute to legendary reggae artiste Bob Marley.

Patrons are asked to wear white to celebrate the day dedicated to Marley.

Titled the Reggae Beach Festival, the event will celebrate the life and legacy of the famous Marley and will include Senegalese wrestling, as well as a music sound-off between Gambian and UK deejays.

The festival, organised by the Gambian Government through the Ministryof Tourism and Culture, serves as a connecting point for Africans and those in the diaspora. more

USAIN BOLT: "I Can Break My World Records" in the 100 metres (9.58 secs) and 200 metres (19.19 secs)....."(The injury) is nothing serious ... my experience has taught me that that's just the nature of the sport," Bolt told The Gleaner.

Published: Tuesday | April 15, 2014

It has been more than five years since Jamaican superstar UsainBolt shattered his own world record marks in the 100 metres and 200 metres at the 2009 IAAF World Championships in Berlin, Germany.

Bolt

However, track and field's poster boy is convinced that he still has it in him to go even faster than the 9.59 and 19.19-second world records, and says that he is looking forward to getting up to top speed in the upcoming season, after suffering an injury recently.

The 27-year-old, who resumed training at the weekend after his manager Ricky Simms reported that his foot was sore a few weeks ago, also underlined that he is not bothered by the setback, adding that he expects to be back to his best soon.

"(The injury) is nothing serious ... my experience has taught me that that's just the nature of the sport," Bolt told The Gleaner. "Setbacks are a part of track and field. I have come to accept that a long time ago. I had mine, and (I'm) now back in training preparing for the upcoming season."

Bolt had his closest brush with his 9.58-second 100m world record in the final at the 2012 London Olympic Games, where he won the gold medal in 9.63, the only time he has gone below 9.70 since 2009, with season best times of 9.82 (2010); 9.76 (2011) and 9.77 last year. In the 200m, the sprinter ran 19.32 seconds in 2012 but has gone 19.56 (2010), 19.40 (2011) and 19.66 (2013) since running 19.19 in Berlin. more

IN JAMAICA: Education Project 1000 benefits 12 schools in Manchester.....Each school received five computers...."The placement of these computers will help in a big way to assist with the literacy and numeracy programmes in our schools,"

Sunday, April 13, 2014

TWELVE schools in northern Manchester are benefiting from computers provided through Digicel Foundation's Project 1000 initiative. Each school received five computers on February 28 at the Greenvale Computer Lab in Manchester.

Project 1000 is in keeping with the foundation's aim to meet the United Nation's Millennium Development Goal of achieving 100 per cent literacy by 2015. The ICT equipment will be used to provide additional educational resources to enhance teaching and learning in the classroom, specifically the teaching of phonics and reading. The computers are all pre-loaded with educational software and teachers are trained by the Camara Foundation to use these resources in the classroom effectively.

The handover in Manchester was carried out in conjunction with the member of parliament for North West Manchester, Mikael Phillips, who matched the computers provided by the Digicel Foundation.

"The placement of these computers will help in a big way to assist with the literacy and numeracy programmes in our schools," Phillips said. "We recognise that education is one of the main planks in growing a progressive nation and we are doing our part in North West Manchester."

The schools included in this initiative are Medina All-Age, Comfort Hall All-Age, Coley Mountain All-Age, Somerset All-Age, Fairfield Primary, Huntley All-Age, Nazareth All-Age, Bethany Primary, Harry Watch All-Age, Hatfield Primary and Jr High, Auchtembeddie Primary and Mayfield Basic School.

Samantha Chantrelle, CEO of the Digicel Foundation, emphasised the foundation's commitment to improving literacy rates across the island.

"We remain committed to ensuring the further growth and development of students across Jamaica. Since the launch of Project 1000 in April, nearly 3,000 students have benefited from this programme. We will continue to partner with communities and schools across the island until the UN target of 100 per cent literacy is achieved," she said. more

The Press Association of Jamaica (PAJ) condemns threat against journalists.....death threats were leveled against two members of the media, Karyl Walker of the Observer, and Abka Fitz-Henley of Nationwide News Network

Monday, April 14, 2014 | 7:26 PM    

KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Press Association of Jamaica (PAJ) a short while ago issued a statement condemning "misguided members of the public who believe violence should be their reaction at all times whenever there is news or opinions which they do not support".

The PAJ's statement was in relation to reports that death threats were leveled against two members of the media, Karyl Walker of the Observer, and Abka Fitz-Henley of Nationwide News Network.

The PAJ said that while threats against Jamaican journalists are not unusual, it views every threat seriously.

The organisation urged the police to investigate the threats and to take action to ensure the safety of Walker and Fitz-Henley.

The PAJ also reminded journalists to “continue doing their work without fear or favour, even as they make every effort to ensure their personal safety”.

Carrie Russell lights up UTech Classic on record-breaking night ......to an impressive 11.19 seconds to win the Women's 100m Invitational event at the UTech Classic and equalled Schillonie Calvert's 2009 record on a night when nine records were broken at the National Stadium

BY HOWARD WALKER Observer senior reporter walkerh@jamaicaobserver.com  Tuesday, April 15, 2014    

CARRIE Russell of MVP sped to an impressive 11.19 seconds to win the Women's 100m Invitational event at the UTech Classic and equalled Schillonie Calvert's 2009 record on a night when nine records were broken at the National Stadium last Saturday.

The powerfully built Russell had none other than Calvert of Racers well behind in second spot with 11.36 with Annesha McLaughin third in 11.40 seconds.

This is expected to be break out year for the promising Russell, whose time is joint third fastest over the distance behind American Joana Atkins with 11.09 and Melissa Breen of Australia with 11.11. Jamaican schoolgirl Christania Williams of Edwin Allen also share a time of 11.19 done at the ISSA Athletics Championship last month.

Russell was also part of the MVP 4x100m relay team without Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce that established a world-leading time of 43.31 seconds. American Pure Athletics Club did 43.32 in April at the Florida Relays. Edwin Allen High's world high school record of 43.95 seconds, ranked them 14th overall.

On the men's side, the Yohan Blake-led Racers without the great Usain Bolt, raced to a record 38.41 seconds for the 4x100m, which is the third world-leading time behind the University of Florida's 38.29 and Texas A&M's 38.30 seconds.

In the absence of Javon Francis, Calabar High broke both the 4x100m and 4x400m relays in 40.06 seconds and 3:10.61 minutes as they impressively warmed up for the Penn Relays to be held in two weeks' time.

Racers' Ristananna Tracey lowered the women's 400m hurdles record, and in the process, established a world-leading 55.64 seconds. Jamaica now has the three fastest time this year with Clayton Rushell clocking 56.41 last week and Janieve Russell stopping the clock at 56.50 seconds. more

36 People Were Shot In 36 Hours In Chicago......A 17-year-old girl killed Friday afternoon was among at least 36 people wounded in gun violence over the weekend in Chicago.

A 17-year-old girl killed Friday afternoon was among at least 36 people wounded in gun violence over the weekend in Chicago.

Gakirah Barnes, 17, was shot multiple times in the upper body Friday afternoon in the city's Woodlawn neighborhood. She died about two hours later at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, in what was the first of four gunshot fatalities citywide over the weekend, the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Barnes' mother, Shontell Brown, told the Chicago Tribune her daughter is the latest victim of "an ongoing war" playing out on Chicago's streets.

“This is something that has become all too normal to everybody, and it needs to stop," she told the paper.

Later Friday, 34-year-old Shannon Mack was fatally shot inside a car in South Shore, DNAinfo Chicago reports. Mack was pronounced dead at the scene.

DNAinfo reports 32-year-old Corey Brownlee and 20-year-old Joshua Martinez were fatally shot in separate incidents on the city's south and southwest sides early Sunday.

In another shooting, 24-year-old mother of two Jasmine Martinez was shot in the head and chest while driving in Humboldt Park early Sunday. Martinez was taken to Stroger Hospital in critical condition, where she remained hospitalized Monday, ABC Chicago reports. more

CBO: Obamacare Will Cost Less Than Projected, Cover 12 Million Uninsured People This Year than if Obamacare had not become law.

WASHINGTON -- The Congressional Budget Office has released updated estimates on the Affordable Care Act's impact on both the budget and the health insurance industry. The findings show that the president's signature health care law is actually growing cheaper to implement, costing the government $5 billion less in 2014 than was previously projected. The law also is projected to cover more individuals than previously believed, owing, in part, to some broader workforce trends.

But a significant portion of the population will remain uninsured even with the law fully implemented. And the costs to individuals and employers, while lower than previous estimates, still provide critics of the law with ample fodder.

Below are some additional highlights from the CBO report:

Twelve million more non-elderly people will have health insurance in 2014 than if Obamacare had not become law. CBO's projections on this crucial measure of the law's success are higher than recent surveys from the Rand Corp., which estimated a 9.3 million reduction, and from Gallup, which shows a 3.5 million decline.

For all of 2014, the CBO expects 6 million people to be covered by private health insurance policies purchased through the exchanges, fewer than the 7.5 million enrollment figure touted by the White House. That's mainly because the CBO expects people to cycle in and out of different types of coverage over the year -- perhaps by taking a new job and the health benefits that come with it -- and because some enrollees won't pay their first month's premium or will let their policies lapse during the year. more

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Deadly Virus's Spread Raises Alarms in Mideast...Saudis Defend Approach to MERS Outbreak, Even as Cases Increase...."I'm not pretty sure that they are actually seeing how big this thing is," a Saudi doctor said on Sunday at King Fahd General Hospital

Saudi Arabia on Sunday confirmed a surge of cases of a deadly virus in the kingdom over the past two weeks, even as it tried to counter criticism that it wasn't doing enough to contain the outbreak.

The United Arab Emirates over the weekend separately announced six confirmed cases of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, or MERS, among paramedics there, one of whom died of the illness. The high number of cases among medical workers raised questions about how effective Arab Gulf governments have been in controlling the 1½-year-old outbreak. "I'm not pretty sure that they are actually seeing how big this thing is," a Saudi doctor said on Sunday at King Fahd General Hospital, the large public hospital in Jeddah that has been hardest hit by a spike in the city this month....

The hospital reopened its emergency room on Friday after shutting it briefly for what authorities said was disinfection measures against MERS. But patients were avoiding the hospital, and health workers were "very worried" after the MERS death of one colleague and sickness in another, the doctor said. "What I really wish for is to shut the whole hospital down" until the spread subsides, she said.

Last week marked the biggest number of cases since the outbreak began, Dr. Ian M. Mackay, an Australian epidemiologist who has tracked the outbreak, wrote on Sunday. About 50 of the overall cases have been in health-care workers, he said, a strong warning sign about measures being taken to control the outbreak, he and others have said. "As far as we know, MERS-CoV does not spread easily from person-to-person, so these clusters suggest a breakdown in infection prevention and control." more

Attorney denies police claims about Vybz Kartel....."No meeting was ever held between Mr Palmer and any police officer nor was Mr Palmer ever asked by any police officer to give them any information.

BY PAUL HENRY Co-ordinator — Crime/Court Desk henryp@jamaicaobserver.com  Monday, April 14, 2014    ATTORNEY 

Tom Tavares-Finson has denied information in yesterday's Sunday Observer article that outlined that convicted entertainer Vybz Kartel gave the police information that led to the apprehension of wanted men and the recovery of 17 firearms.

The attorney also rubbished claims made by the police that Vybz Kartel was an influential figure in the deadly Spanish Town-based Klansman Gang, and that the gang carried out killings on his behalf.

Tavares-Finson

"That is nothing but further propaganda by the police," said the senior attorney, who described the police's comments as "highly irresponsible".

"The presentation by the Observer yesterday reflected just another attempt by the police and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions to prejudice the appeal of Mr Palmer," Tavares-Finson said.

"We note that the source of the information is reported as being anonymous, but we recognise the hand of a particular individual at the Corporate Communication Network," Tavares-Finson added.

The article said that Vybz Kartel (real name Adidja Palmer) had met with the police to give them information when he realised that detectives were closing in on him for the murder of associate Clive 'Lizard' Williams, in August 2011, over the disappearance of two illegal firearms.

"No meeting was ever held between Mr Palmer and any police officer nor was Mr Palmer ever asked by any police officer to give them any information. That is a lie," the attorney said, as he disputed other assertions made in the front page article.

Additionally, Tavares-Finson noted that the article reported the police source as saying that the police had evidence that was not used in the five-week trial. He said he's hearing about the so-called further evidence for the first time, and that the director of public prosecutions should say why that evidence wasn't put before the court. more

IN JAMAICA: Kingsley Cooper, chairman of JEAB sees Funding Troubles For Film - Entertainment Advisory Board Head Points To Industry's Money Issues

Cooper

Published: Monday | April 14, 2014

Kingsley Cooper, chairman of Jamaica's Entertainment Advisory Board, says funding is the greatest challenge that local film producers face, and argues that resurrecting and entering into treaties with foreign governments could advance the sector locally.

A 2001 study presented by Professor Rosalea Hamilton on strategies for employment growth and poverty alleviation revealed that plans were afoot to establish a film fund to facilitate the development of a co-production treaty with Canada.

co-production treaty

Cooper told The Gleaner the failure of Jamaican authorities to find matching funding led to a stillbirth for the project.

"In the end, nothing happened. The proposal was actually for a three-way co-production programme with Canada and the UK," Cooper told The Gleaner.

He revealed that Jamaica is a signatory to a co-production treaty with the UK, which makes the country party to co-production deals with all the countries with which the UK has treaties, including Canada, South Africa and others.

"The challenge is that the proposed co-productions could not be activated unless the Government of Jamaica funded the local end. It cannot be privately funded, and requires a minimum of US$1m. A local governing body also has to be in place. A number of ideas for funding were considered back then, but none bore fruit," Cooper said. more