Three people were arrested in the attempted poisoning of Benin’s President Boni Yayi. (Google Images)
BBC Africais reporting that three people have been charged in a plot to poison Benin President Boni Yayi by switching out his medication with poison. The article states:
“The president’s doctor, one of his nieces and an ex-minister of commerce have been charged with conspiracy and attempted murder, officials said. Prosecutors said the president’s niece and his doctor were offered 1bn CFA francs (£1.2m; $2m) to poison him.”
Prosecutors yesterday named Dr Ibrahim Mama Cisse, the president’s niece Zouberath Kora-Seke and former minister of commerce Moudjaidou Soumanou as the three suspects. They are currently in custody.
Authorities also intend to issue an arrest warrant for businessman Patrice Talon, a former ally of Mr Yayi who fell out with the leader. Chief prosecutor Justin Gbenameto told reporters that the alleged plot started on 17 October while the head of state was on an official visit to Brussels. Kora-Seke, who was accompanying President Yayi, was to pick up the poison and put it into his medication provided by a doctor. Kora-Seke attempted to poison her uncle, President Yayi, approximately two days after their arrival in Benin. She eventually broke down and informed family members of the attempt on his life.
U.S. President Barack Obama and GOP presidential contender Mitt Romney wave to the crowd during a debate. (Google Images)
OPINION by Jasper Alexander
Imagine getting a new job where your predecessor had left a complete mess. The filing system was inadequate, clients had stopped calling and the company’s financial situation was in complete disarray. On top of these challenges, you receive very little support from your co-workers in your efforts to turn things around. After working hard for almost four years and making incredible progress in turning the company around, you have to go through an evaluation to see if you keep your job. Your employer brings in another manager from a smaller division to see if there is a potentially better fit for continuing the progress that you have created. After three rounds of interviews and countless questions, management is still split on whether you should keep your job. How would you feel about being in this situation? Would you consider this fair?
And that is where our President finds himself. When he started his “job” in 2009, President Obama inherited an economy on the brink of collapse, two wars and a global frustration with the Bush doctrine of unilaterally enforcing our country’s foreign policy agenda. And it is inarguable that he has made things better. Yet national polls such as those found here, still have the President deadlocked in a race to keep his job. It seems as if company management has forgotten how bad things really were when President Obama began working for America and how his Republican co-workers in Congress made it even more difficult to improve things either through the record setting use of the filibuster or by refusing to compromise on any proposed policies or legislation.
Now the President has to compete to keep his job with someone who on the surface seems qualified because he ran a smaller division of the company with mixed results.
Based on the rounds of interviews, it is becoming increasingly clear that the best candidate to continue moving America in the right direction is our current leader. Not only has he outperformed Romney in two out of the three debates, he also has faced the challenges that many Americans are currently facing.
Enough with the corporate model, let’s talk real-life.
If you are an American struggling to pay for your education, wouldn’t you want someone who has actually had a student loan as your advocate? If you are a poor American, wouldn’t you want a President who knows what it feels like to be poor and to have been on food stamps? If you are a middle-class American, wouldn’t you want a president that actually defeated poverty through education to become middle-class and who understands the challenges of raising a family as a middle-class American? If you aren’t convinced of President Obama, do you really want a president that has lived a life of privilege, never had any financial challenges (ever) and looks at borrowing money from your parents as the best way to solve any financial challenges that you may have? What are you to do if your parents don’t have money to lend? Suffer.
Given his qualifications, his accomplishments since taking office and his true understanding of the challenges that so many Americans face today, it is clear from the state of the national polls that even our black President may need a little affirmative action to get what he has earned — a second term as President of the United States.
Tambay A. Benson of Shadow and Act is reporting that Call Me Kuchu, a documentary chronicling the life of human rights activist Kato, Uganda’s first openly gay man and his three LGBT friends (“kuchus”) is coming to U.S. theaters. Cinedigm Entertainment Group has acquired all U.S. distribution rights to the film.
Benson reports:
“Over the course of two years, filmmakers Katherine Fairfax Wright and Malika Zouhali-Worrall documented the daily lives of the outspoken and inspiring Kato and his fellow “kuchus” as Uganda was emerging as a frontier in the battle for African LGBT rights.
An alum of Film Independent’s Artist Development Program, “Call Me Kuchu” earned stellar reviews on the festival circuit, including winning both the Teddy Award (Best Documentary) and the Cinema Fairbindet Prize at the 2012 Berlin Film Festival, the Amnesty International’s Human Rights Award at the Durban Film Festival, and Best International Feature at Hot Docs 2012.”
“Call Me Kuchu” will be released theatrically in early 2013, followed by on-demand, premium digital, DVD, and TV release.
Tambay A. Benson of Shadow and Act is reporting that Call Me Kuchu, a documentary chronicling the life of human rights activist Kato, Uganda’s first openly gay man and his three LGBT friends (“kuchus”) is coming to U.S. theaters. Cinedigm Entertainment Group has acquired all U.S. distribution rights to the film.
Benson reports:
“Over the course of two years, filmmakers Katherine Fairfax Wright and Malika Zouhali-Worrall documented the daily lives of the outspoken and inspiring Kato and his fellow “kuchus” as Uganda was emerging as a frontier in the battle for African LGBT rights.
An alum of Film Independent’s Artist Development Program, “Call Me Kuchu” earned stellar reviews on the festival circuit, including winning both the Teddy Award (Best Documentary) and the Cinema Fairbindet Prize at the 2012 Berlin Film Festival, the Amnesty International’s Human Rights Award at the Durban Film Festival, and Best International Feature at Hot Docs 2012.”
“Call Me Kuchu” will be released theatrically in early 2013, followed by on-demand, premium digital, DVD, and TV release.
The musical relationship between music legends Michael Jackson and Freddie Mercury of Queen is chronicled in the documentary “Freddie Mercury: The Great Pretender.” (Google Images)
by Christopher A. Daniel
Once upon a time in pop music, artists challenged themselves in an effort to evolve. In the process, not only were audiences and the charts blessed with memorable music, but legends were made along the way.
The flamboyant and charismatic Freddie Mercury personifies what it means to be both an iconoclast and a musical genius. The documentary, The Great Pretender, chronicles the singer, songwriter and musician’s effort to extend his identity outside of the iconic British rock outfit, Queen. The 107 minute feature is told via archived quick-witted interviews (often with a few pulls of cigarettes), music videos, unreleased recordings and testimonials from Queen band members, collaborators and related personnel.
Director Rhys Thomas — famous for his Emmy-nominated BBC documentary, Queen: Days of Our Lives — knows how to make follow up films. There is a brief retrospective into the band’s classics, but the film, beginning with 1985’s Mr. Bad Guy, unravels the inspiration behind Mercury’s solo recordings. Mercury — who created musical compositions using Broadway, vaudeville, rock, pop, opera, classical, funk, gospel, soul and baroque aesthetics – loved black music. His emotional voice and lyricism evoked love and a subversive self-deprecating sense of humor. The film reveals his admiration for guitar god Jimi Hendrix and “Queen of Disco” Donna Summer, which led to the inspiration behind albums such as Hot Space(1982). In particular, the narrative shares the often untold collaborative relationship and friendship between the rock icon and the late “King of Pop” Michael Jackson. Their demo recording for “There Must Be More to Life Than This” is featured along with the eccentric rock ‘n’ roller’s declaration of missing the landmark Thriller sessions and halting their recording sessions due to Jackson’s llama!
As with many great artists, the gaudy entertainer had his share of personal struggles, and Thomas reveals some of the forces that threatened to hinder Mercury’s career. Promiscuity leading to being a victim of a then emerging AIDS epidemic, excess and indulgences into drugs and gay culture, insecurity and reclusive behavior off stage were some of Mercury’s challenges. Yet and still, Mercury loved performing and could not have cared less about what his critics had to say. The man who had much adoration for funk also loved Luciano Pavarotti. The performer performed with the Royal Ballet , Britain’s largest ballet company, and opera soprano Dame Montserrat Caballe, who Mercury proclaims has “the most beautiful voice he’d ever heard.” He loved the singer so much, he went on to record the album, Barcelona, with her in 1988, which challenged the conventions of music in a way that had never been considered. The entertainer had never even recorded a cover record up until his 1987 rendition of The Platters’ 1956 hit, “The Great Pretender.”
Mercury, who sadly succumbed to AIDS in 1991, one day after revealing his illness to the world, often said his songs were “disposable.” However, The Great Pretender (coincidentally celebrating Mercury’s 66th birthday) reveals that the inspiration to musicians and performers across all spectrums of music couldn’t have been more wrong. He was in no way, shape or form a pretender; he is a musical legend that should be celebrated and appreciated for his willingness to stay ahead of the musical curve.
Christopher A. Daniel is a pop cultural critic and contributor to The Burton Wire. He is also a contributing writer for Urban Lux Magazine and Blues & Soul Magazine. Follow Christopher @Journalistorian on Twitter.
The musical relationship between music legends Michael Jackson and Freddie Mercury of Queen is chronicled in the documentary “Freddie Mercury: The Great Pretender.” (Google Images)
by Christopher A. Daniel
Once upon a time in pop music, artists challenged themselves in an effort to evolve. In the process, not only were audiences and the charts blessed with memorable music, but legends were made along the way.
The flamboyant and charismatic Freddie Mercury personifies what it means to be both an iconoclast and a musical genius. The documentary, The Great Pretender, chronicles the singer, songwriter and musician’s effort to extend his identity outside of the iconic British rock outfit, Queen. The 107 minute feature is told via archived quick-witted interviews (often with a few pulls of cigarettes), music videos, unreleased recordings and testimonials from Queen band members, collaborators and related personnel.
Director Rhys Thomas — famous for his Emmy-nominated BBC documentary, Queen: Days of Our Lives — knows how to make follow up films. There is a brief retrospective into the band’s classics, but the film, beginning with 1985’s Mr. Bad Guy, unravels the inspiration behind Mercury’s solo recordings. Mercury — who created musical compositions using Broadway, vaudeville, rock, pop, opera, classical, funk, gospel, soul and baroque aesthetics – loved black music. His emotional voice and lyricism evoked love and a subversive self-deprecating sense of humor. The film reveals his admiration for guitar god Jimi Hendrix and “Queen of Disco” Donna Summer, which led to the inspiration behind albums such as Hot Space(1982). In particular, the narrative shares the often untold collaborative relationship and friendship between the rock icon and the late “King of Pop” Michael Jackson. Their demo recording for “There Must Be More to Life Than This” is featured along with the eccentric rock ‘n’ roller’s declaration of missing the landmark Thriller sessions and halting their recording sessions due to Jackson’s llama!
As with many great artists, the gaudy entertainer had his share of personal struggles, and Thomas reveals some of the forces that threatened to hinder Mercury’s career. Promiscuity leading to being a victim of a then emerging AIDS epidemic, excess and indulgences into drugs and gay culture, insecurity and reclusive behavior off stage were some of Mercury’s challenges. Yet and still, Mercury loved performing and could not have cared less about what his critics had to say. The man who had much adoration for funk also loved Luciano Pavarotti. The performer performed with the Royal Ballet , Britain’s largest ballet company, and opera soprano Dame Montserrat Caballe, who Mercury proclaims has “the most beautiful voice he’d ever heard.” He loved the singer so much, he went on to record the album, Barcelona, with her in 1988, which challenged the conventions of music in a way that had never been considered. The entertainer had never even recorded a cover record up until his 1987 rendition of The Platters’ 1956 hit, “The Great Pretender.”
Mercury, who sadly succumbed to AIDS in 1991, one day after revealing his illness to the world, often said his songs were “disposable.” However, The Great Pretender (coincidentally celebrating Mercury’s 66th birthday) reveals that the inspiration to musicians and performers across all spectrums of music couldn’t have been more wrong. He was in no way, shape or form a pretender; he is a musical legend that should be celebrated and appreciated for his willingness to stay ahead of the musical curve.
Christopher A. Daniel is a pop cultural critic and contributor to The Burton Wire. He is also a contributing writer for Urban Lux Magazine and Blues & Soul Magazine. Follow Christopher @Journalistorian on Twitter.
Carolina Panthers’ Steve Smith wears 9-11 remembrance gloves to honor the victims of the 2011 terrorist attacks. (Google Images)
By Donna J. White
With election season in full swing, there is no lack of divergent issues and ideologies. However, one thing continues to unify people across political affiliations, gender, race and ideologies – sports. Even if you don’t take part in sports themselves and just follow your favourite teams, or even if you just use situs bola online to place bets on sporting events for fun, it still gives you something in common with so many other people. With people enjoying this site when watching baseball or any sport to make the sport you can imagine why it makes the game more engaging, it only raises the stakes. This helps bring every one of the different perspectives together to focus on enjoying the match. Many people are able to come together under the blanket of sports events for fun, for old loyalty’s sake, for the enjoyment of the sport itself, and also for profit. All of these are things that can help people band together, talking about who they think will win with fervor, some to keep eyes on their Pointsbet promo code, others just to have something to talk about the next day at work, and more still to experience the thrill of their favorites grabbing the victory.
The idea for this article was the result of an encounter between five people of varying ages, racial and ethnic backgrounds and history whose conversation flowed easily from politics to May-December relationships to music and finally sports. Eyes lit up, passions arose and smiles became broader as the group talked about favorite teams and filled in missing information and stats about athletes. Rarely does a topic evoke such enthusiasm as when people discuss sports.
Sports – a simple six letter word – that means so much to so many. It stirs the passion of fans. One only needs to reference the recent Packers-Seahawks Monday night football game where a controversial call by replacement refs ended in an uproar. Some say it was this call that led to the end of the NFL officials strike, because of the disgust of the fans. Fans came together to help create much needed change. Unity in sports is evident in any bar, man or woman-cave or Facebook newsfeed. Each person can be rooting for opposing teams, but there is shared community around the particular sports endeavor. We saw it during the 2012 Olympics. It is on display every Sunday during American football season. It happens in the stands of Stamford Bridge in London. Sports as unifier – a needed concept.
The examples of sports as unifier are numerous. It is evident when players drop to one knee in prayer for a player on an opposing team that is injured. The first Major League Baseball and National Football League games after September 11 brought together a country brought to its knees by unbelievable acts of terrorism. More recently, Malaysian Pandelela Rinong Pamg is being credited with unifying her country after winning a bronze medal in diving in the 2012 London Olympics. She was the first Malaysian woman to win an Olympic medal and also the first Malaysian to win in a sport other than badminton. While these heartwarming tales represent the majority of sports, it is important to remember that the love of sports can also push people to chaos.
This is evident in the countless stories of rampaging fans after a loss or win, violence and death and destruction. Earlier this year, 74 people died in Egypt after the popular football (soccer) club, Al-Ahly, lost a match. Players and fans alike were attacked. Many were left to mourn the dead, leading to the cancellation of matches. Who could forget the senseless attack on Bryan Stow, 42, at Dodger Stadium in 2011? Two L.A. Dodger fans, Louie Sanchez and Marvin Norwood, are still awaiting trial after critically injuring and causing permanent brain damage to Mr. Stow, a San Francisco Giants fan.
Clearly sports are not a panacea as they cannot cure all of society’s ill. Nonetheless, the spirit of competition and the game brings people together. Sports loyalty can be fun and feeds a multi-billion industry, but most of all, it feeds the spirit of fans, cutting across all self-created lines. It is respect for the spirit of competition and knowing that at the end of the day, we’re all in this together that the best of sports continues to prevail. Now, wouldn’t it be great if that same spirit could be carried over to politics?
Donna J. White is a contributing writer to The Burton Wire.
David McFadden of the Associated Press is reporting that the Jamaican government honored late reggae star Peter Tosh with an order-of-merit award, the nation’s third-highest honor. Tosh’s daughter Niombe accepted the posthumous award for her father who was murdered 25 years ago. Tosh, considered one of reggae’s most controversial figures, was a founding member of the Wailers, along with Bob Marley and Bunny “Wailer” Livingston. With the Wailers, Tosh co-wrote the black power anthem “Get Up, Stand Up” and penned songs like “400 Years,” a critical song about slavery.
McFadden writes:
“The always outspoken, defiant Tosh was known for forcefully denouncing apartheid, government corruption and calling for the legalization of marijuana. Musical colleagues and fans say the lanky, baritone singer and guitarist was a mesmerizing performer with a charismatic, larger-than-life personality.
Tosh is perhaps reggae’s most controversial figure. During the government-organized One Love Peace Concert of 1978, Tosh publicly accused Jamaica’s political leaders and the middle class of backing police brutality and politically charged gang warfare amid a legendary 20-minute diatribe. The Jamaican media severely criticized Tosh for the speech, delivered to an audience that included 200 foreign journalists and the prime minister.”
The award was given during an annual national awards ceremony on the lawns of King’s House, the residence of Jamaica’s governor general. Tosh’s son Andrew, a veteran reggae musician, was also present for the awards ceremony.
Peter Tosh was killed by robbers in his home when he was just 42 years-old.
President Barack Obama and Gov. Mitt Romney shake hands during round two of the 2012 Presidential Debate. (Google Images)
OPINIONby Jasper Alexander
While watching the second presidential debate and watching both candidates fervently make their respective cases to the American electorate, a thought occurred to me — should these debates really matter so much? There is as clear a delineation between these two candidates as I have seen in the eighteen years that I have had the privilege to vote. These debates now have been reduced to glorified dog and pony shows where each candidate merely tries to score points on presentation and by winning exchanges of talking points. As a result, the value-add of these debates to so-called undecided voters is minimal. Beyond that, it is apparent that facts are not a necessary requirement to being considered the “winner”.
Without facts, what is the value of these debates? Furthermore, what does it say about you if you are still an undecided voter? That you are relying on these spectacles masquerading as presidential debates to make up your mind two to three weeks before the election? That you are waiting for more information to come in? If you are still undecided, you may want to take a look at this recent skit from SNL and make up your mind. If you are an undecided voter, are you really being honest with yourself about why you will not commit to either candidate?
Let me help you if you are still an undecided voter: no more new information is coming out about these candidates. Their platforms are set and you can view President Obama’s platform here and Governor Romney’s here. It is a simple decision. You either believe that President Obama has the country on the right track or you believe that Mitt Romney’s proposed policies will grow the American economy. Spending hours watching debates and post debate commentary from pundits reduces your decision to the equivalent of choosing the winner of Dancing with the Stars or X Factor.
America, this decision is too important for that approach. Read and research the issues for yourself and look at the stances that both candidates take on the issues that are important to you. Let’s stop fooling ourselves about how these debates are helping us choose our next president and let’s be honest about what is motivating some of us to remain undecided.
Jasper Alexander is a contributing writer to The Burton Wire.
Hundreds of Haitians protest President Michel Martelly over claims of corruption and failure to deliver on campaign promises. (Google Images)
BBC News is reporting that hundreds of Haitians are protesting against the high-cost of living and demanding the resignation of President Michel Martelly. Protesters marched through Port-au-Prince accusing the president of corruption. They also said Martelly had failed to deliver on his promises to alleviate poverty.
President Martelly took office last year promising a fresh start for Haiti, devastated by an earthquake in 2010. The country which shares the Caribbean island of Hispaniola and the Dominican Republic, has been devastated by natural disasters and a cholera epidemic linked to U.N. peacekeepers.
While campaigning, Martelly, a former pop star, promised to cover the tuition of students, bridge the wealth gap and help bring down the cost of food and other resources. Protesters accuse the president of failing to address these issues while wasting money on luxury vehicles and expensive trips abroad.
