TimesOnline Reports
A powerful Mexican drug cartel has unleashed a killing spree against the authorities in a challenge to the leadership of the President in his home state.
The bodies of a dozen federal anti-drug agents were found on a mountain highway in Michoacán, the home state of Felipe Calderón, on Monday.
The killing of the agents was the worst loss of life in a single attack since President Calderón took office in 2006, taking the war between the narcotics gangs and the Government into uncharted territory.
Their murders were the boldest of at least ten reprisal attacks since Arnoldo Rueda Medina, nicknamed La Minsa, was arrested on Saturday. He is reputedly the second-in-command of La Familia cartel in Michoacán.
The surge in violence marks a potential shift in Mexico’s drug wars, which have claimed 11,000 lives during the presidency of Mr Calderón, who ordered the army to intervene.
Ciro Gomez Leyva, a columnist for the newspaper Milenio, described the killings as a Mexican version of the Tet offensive in Vietnam in 1968.
“In the war against the narcos, Saturday, July 11, seems like a kind of Tet offensive, the synchronised action by South Vietnamese guerrillas and the North Vietnamese Army against US troops at the end of January 1968 that, despite being characterised as a military disaster, created the perception that the otherwise invincible US Army would never win in Vietnam,” he wrote.
The perception that the war against drugs is being lost is pervasive. A poll published in Milenio said that only 28 per cent of Mexicans believed that the Government was winning, and more than half thought that it was losing.
Mr Calderón said: “The criminals will not be able to intimidate the federal Government. In this battle we will not give up, we will not hesitate, because what is at stake is Mexico’s peace and safety.”
Michoacán, on the Pacific coast, has become a battleground because it controls routes into the United States. It is also one of Mexico’s main producers of marijuana, opium poppies and synthetic drugs.
Mr Rueda was arrested in the Michoacán capital, Morelia. He is allegedly the right-hand-man to the reputed boss, Nazario Moreno Gonzalez, known as El Mas Loco, or the Craziest One.
Within hours of the arrest, gunmen from La Familia, armed with rifles and grenades, ambushed federal forces in seven cities.
Some of the attacks took place near tourist sites such as the arts-and-crafts centre of Patzcuaro and Zitacuaro, which is famous for its monarch butterflies.
In the most brutal attack, eleven men and one woman agent were abducted while off duty.
Their bodies were found stacked on the highway with death threats that read: “La Familia, join its ranks or leave” and “Let’s see if you try to arrest another one”.
La Familia has penetrated the power structure, allegedly obtaining protection from police and politicians.
Seven mayors, one former mayor and a state prosecutor are being held after a federal police sweep of allegedly corrupt politicians in May.
An arrest warrant has been issued for Julio Godoy, the half brother of a state Governor. Mr Godoy was elected to Congress last week as a member of the Democratic Revolution Party.
Analysts said that the killings were not necessarily a sign of the cartel’s strength, but were an escalation of the battle to contain them.
“This marks an important change in the drug war in that they are attacking federal forces directly,” Jorge Chabat, a drug expert, said.
“It also suggests the capture of this person has affected the operations of the cartel. It was a major blow and this is a reaction out of weakness, not strength.”
In separate Mexican drug violence, six gunmen were killed on Tuesday in the northern city of Monterrey. Gunmen killed the mayor of Namiquipa in Coahuila and four police officers were kidnapped in Piedras Negras.
In Tabasco state on the Gulf coast, prosecutors charged five alleged Gulf cartel hitmen with allegedly killing two policemen and eighteen of their relatives in February and May.
A drugs trade worth billions and severed heads on the dance floor
• Every year Mexican cartels smuggle illegal drugs worth about $40 billion (£24 billion) into the United States, the world’s biggest market for narcotics. Mexico is a major source of heroin, methamphetamine and marijuana — and a key transit country for the vast amounts of cocaine that are transported over the border
• In 2008, 6,000 people died in drug violence in Mexico, according to President Calderón — almost double the 3,042 deaths that were recorded in 2007
• About 95 per cent of the killings were carried out using firearms from the US. Most of the drug violence takes place in a few cities near the US border, with drugs and people being trafficked to the north, and weapons to the south
• In December 2006, Mr Calderón announced the deployment of 36,000 troops to work with the federal police to fight the drug trade in nine states. The police are widely accused of corruption
• 53 per cent of Mexicans think the Government is losing the war with the drug cartels, according to a 2008 poll in a Mexican newspaper
• La Familia cartel achieved notoriety in 2006 when a member walked into a bar and threw five severed heads on to the dance floor
Sources: Reuters, Council on Foreign Relations
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RGF Reports
The remaining two members of Three 6 Mafia are continuing to capitalize on their crossover success with yet another unexpected new venture. DJ Paul and Juicy J have developed a new television project which will introduce the world to their love of cooking.
Cookin’ Ain’t Easy will find the two longtime friends and collaborators hosting a weekly dinner party for friends, fans and celebrity guests.
But prior to the arrival of the guests and the start of the meal, the show will also follow them as they prepare the meal to be served, giving viewers the opportunity to actually learn the week’s recipes.
“It is a completely fresh approach to a cooking show,” said veteran reality TV producer Adam Briles, who will executive produce the show. “You get much of the same take-away information that viewers expect from the genre, but it is served up in such a unique, relatable and funny way that it is just flat out entertaining.”
While DJ Paul and Juicy J’s antics are sure to keep fans attention, as they did with their 2007 MTV show Adventures in Hollyhood, the new show will also showcase Three 6 Mafia’s versatility in the kitchen.
“We’re not just cooking soul food like people might expect,” explained Juicy J. “We’re cooking Indian food, Italian, Asian, Middle Eastern food – all different inds of foods that people wouldn’t think we could cook. It’s a comedy, it’s funny and we love bringing people together for it.”
A launch date for Cookin’ Ain’t Easy has yet to be determined, as Mise En Scene Entertainment and the William Morris Endeavor Agency are shopping it to major cable networks now.
The show’s producer, Adam Briles, has produced shows like Survivor, The Contender and Out of the Wild: The Alaska Experiment.
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During happier times: Kesha Ni'Cole Nichols showed off her engagement ring as she attended an event with Richard Jefferson in New York on June 13.
It was supposed to be the best day of their lives.
Former New Jersey Nets star Richard Jefferson and onetime Nets dancer Kesha Ni'Cole Nichols were set to tie the knot at the Mandarin Oriental last Saturday, NYPost.com reports.
But in an unexpected turn of events, Jefferson bailed the night before their wedding.
The cold-footed fiancé ditched his stunning bride-to-be at such late notice that some guests had already shown up to the extravagant $2 million event that never took place.
Jefferson — who was traded to the San Antonio Spurs in June — dumped Nichols just before the weekend, according to sources.
Although Nichols, 29, immediately called her family and friends to alert them of the ill-timed news, the basketball pro waited much longer.
"He called about two hours before the wedding. It was nuts," said one Jefferson pal.
Although Jefferson never showed up to the hotel, he made sure to give his best friend his Black Amex credit card, with which the guests made good use of during the night.
A jilted Nichols, who was "not entirely caught off-guard," checked into the hotel and was upgraded to a suite on the 45th floor overlooking Central Park on what would have been her wedding night, according to a source at the hotel.
"She just wants to keep this as quiet as possible and move on," a Nichols family insider told FoxSports. "She's doing just fine."
Neither Jefferson nor Nichols have responded to requests for comment.
Source: New York Daily NewsRead more…
AllHipHop Reports
Hip-Hop legend Ice Cube has partnered with TBS to premier the TV version of Are We There Yet?
TBS secured the 10 episode contract after a bidding war with USA and BET. The network also retains the option to order 90 more episodes.
Ali LeRoi, writer of the acclaimed Everybody Hates Chris sitcom, will handle scripting duties.
Executive producer credits are split between Cube, LeRoi, and Matt Alvarez. Debmar-Mercury, which backs the Tyle Perry sitcoms (House of Payne, Meet the Browns), will distribute the series.
“When we set out to expand on the television model that Tyler Perryhas turned into a runaway success at TBS, we knew we had to be in business with Ice Cube,” explained Debmar-Mercury representative Mort Marcus.
Although Cube has confirmed that he’ll made sporadic appearances on the show, it won’t be in his movie role as Nick, the protagonist father from the films.
Replacing him will be Terry Crew, who received kudos from critics and fans for his breakout role as the father on Everybody Hates Chris.
“Terry Crews is the perfect person to replace me as Nick,” Ice Cube disclosed in a statement. “His physical comedy is undeniable. [And] no one runs a show like Ali. We are dedicated to creating a new template for family comedy.”
The first, 2005 installment of Are We There Yet? grossed $82 million in theaters.
The new show will mark the third movie to TV adaption for partners Matt Alvarez and Ice Cube, following Barbershop: The Series and the animated version of Friday.
At press time, TBS’ Are We There Yet is slated to launch in June 2010.
Additionally, Ice Cube is preparing for the release of the comedic film Janky Promoters, which also stars Mike Epps and Young Jeezy.
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AllHipHop Reports
Will Smith's son Jaden will be featured opposite Jackie Chan in the upcoming remake of the 1984 movie Karate Kid.
Chan recently signed on to play the older kung-fu master in Kung-Fu Kid.
Chan's character guides Jaden Smith's and teaches him the art of Kung-Fu to confront local bullies.
The updated version of the movie is set in China, where shooting started Saturday (July 11) in Beijing.
The film shoot was kicked off by a traditional Chinese ceremony that featured Will Smith, who is also producer of the film.
The original version of Karate Kid starred Pat Morita as "Mr. Miyagi," while Ralph Macchio played "Daniel."
Jackie Chan has starred in a number of popular movies, including Rumble in the Bronx and the hit Rush Hour franchise, which shot by Hip-Hop video director, Brett Ratner.
Will Smith's son Jaden Smith has been featured in two blockbusters.
In 2006, he starred opposite his father in The Pursuit of Happyness (2006) and actor Keanu Reeves in The Day the Earth Stood Still (2008).
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TheHollywoodGossip And Bossip Report
We have all seen enough Aubrey O'Day pictures by now that these ones below should not come as a surprise. But still, there is something about a girl getting oiled up and having glitter blown on her lingerie-clad body that jumps out.
These photos of Aubrey undergoing such treatment and posing in a very suggestive manner in the process were taken during rehearsal for O'Day's stint in the Las Vegas show Peepshow, and were of course posted by Aubrey herself on Twitter.
Here is what she twitted…
“Look at how big my booty is getting. I’m so excited! Thick white girls unite!”
BallerStatus Reports
Swizz Beatz is getting more and more into art these days. Last year, he revealed some of his art collection to the New York Post, then recently he gave Eve a tattoo of a black window. Now, just Tuesday night (July 13), he created his own art piece ... of Michael Jackson.
The superproducer created a mixed-media portrait of a young Michael Jackson in memory of the late King of Pop, and posted it via Twitter.
He then titled his work "Remember the Time," thanks to a suggestion from one of his Twitter followers.
"R.I.P. MJ the great," said Swizzy. "I took some time out to do a dedication piece tonight instead of rocking in the studio."
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KVBC Reports
He partied and gambled heavily in Las Vegas. And now, another sports figure finds himself in legal "foul trouble."
Tuesday afternoon, a Las Vegas judge issued an arrest warrant for ex-NBA star Antoine Walker. He's facing felony bad check charges for allegedly not paying back some enormous casino debts.
News 3's Steve Crupi is digging deeper into the details of this case and reports that three big casinos are involved.
According to the criminal complaint, Caesars Palace, Planet Hollywood, and the Red Rock Station gave former NBA star Antoine Walker huge amounts of gambling money.
He allegedly received $1 million in all, most of which he has not re-paid.
Walker played last year for the Minnesota Timberwolves. And before that, he was a three-time all-star with the Celtics.
And he is again racking up big numbers, but not on the scoreboard.
The criminal complaint against Walker says he received ten separate casino loans for $100,000. He has failed to pay back more than $800,000-worth of that money, lost gambling last year at Caesars, Planet Hollywood, and the Red Rock.
Walker is not the first sports figure to run up massive unpaid debts. Last year, it was former NBA star Charles Barkley who was late with his payments. He spoke about his love of blackjack back in 2007.
"I like to gamble. I'm going to gamble. I like to gamble, it's my money."
But it's not always a gambler's money: Casinos routinely "loan" players vast sums, having them sign markers that are treated like checks under Nevada law.
The Clark County District Attorney's Office sees a lot of bad check cases involving casinos.
"On a daily basis, we see large amounts of money that people don't repay," confirms prosecutor Bernie Zadrowski.
The arrest warrant for Antoine Walker comes at a time when the NBA's attention is already on Las Vegas, with its summer league in its fifth day. The event features young players, however, most of whom aren't making big money yet.
But one question people always ask is aren't the casinos just as much at fault in these cases? They hand over such big sums of money to people who may not be making the best decisions.
But this is something the casinos don't like discussing.
A court date of July 20 has been set for Antoine Walker; no word yet on whether he's made any arrangements to turn himself in.
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Mediatakeout has published a pic reported to be Michael Jackson in his casket. The pic has been slammed by many media outlets as fake. This calls into question the ethics of MediaTakeOut and other websites like it that are desperate for a big story. The picture is shown below, it may be disturbing to some.
AllHipHop
Reports
Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson has opted to have some of his very prominent tattoos removed, to better accommodate his burgeoning career in Hollywood.
“I took some of the tattoos off because on the movie set, if we got a six o’clock call time, I have to be there two o’clock the night before,” 50 Cent told AllHipHop.com. “I gotta go through four hours of make up before we go ahead and play the role. So, I just took it off my arm. My right arm."
The G-Unit founder has not completely done away with his tattoo. He still bears the two on his back, the signature “50 Cent” and “Southside” tattoos.
The move may be working for 50 Cent as he stars in upcoming film Streets Of Blood.
The drama, which stars Val Kilmer, Sharon Stone and Michael Biehn, portrays the street gangs and corrupt law enforcement in post-Hurricane Katrina New Orleans.
Outside of Hollywood, 50 Cent’s current single "Ok, You're Right" from his highly anticipated album Before I Self Destruct, continues to receive heavy radio rotation.
The rapper also recently dropped his new mixtapes, War Angel and Forever King, the latter being dedicated to the late King of Pop, Michael Jackson.
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