State prosecutors and defense lawyers for the man accused of trying to kill Colombian songwriter Estefano told a judge Wednesday they are ready to go to trial this month.

Francisco Oliveira, 31, has pleaded not guilty to attempted murder charges in the May 2007 shooting of Estefano, who survived gunshots to the head and chest.Estefano, whose real name is Fabio Alonso Salgado, has worked with stars such as Gloria Estefan, Marc Anthony, Shakira, Ricky Martin, Jennifer Lopez and Chayanne.

If Oliveira is found guilty at the trial scheduled to start Aug. 18, he faces a maximum sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Oliveira did not attend the brief hearing Wednesday before Circuit Judge Orlando Prescott. But his lawyer, Frank Rubio, said his client was brought to the courthouse from a Miami jail. He could not explain why he wasn't brought into the courtroom.Police said Oliveira worked for Estefano for five years as a handyman and was delivering him marijuana the night of the shooting.

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The Vice President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan yesterday said he is in no way connected to the group known as “Dr Goodluck Jonathan Forum for Global Peace,” which is  purportedly using his name to ask for money from unsuspecting members of the public as well as corporate organisations.

In a statement yesterday, the Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President on Media and Communications, Mr Ima Niboro, said though the stated objectives of the group appear laudable, “The Vice President has frowned at organisations using his name to solicit for funds and assistance since this can be abused, as past evidence shows.

“For this reason, he (Vice President) has firmly discouraged the use of his name for bodies, forum associations and other such organisation. This forum can be no exception.”

The statement noted further: “The attention of the office of the Vice President has been drawn to the activities of a body called Dr Goodluck Jonathan Forum for Global Peace.

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Harbour View maintained their vice-grip hold on the Sherwin Williams Colourscape Knockout competition after brushing aside Waterhouse 2-1 at the UWI Bowl yesterday.The Vin Blaine-coached Harbour View is the only team to have its name engraved on the trophy for the five years of its existence.

The 'Stars of the East' walked away with the $50,000 winning prize for a deserving win, while Waterhouse pocketed $35,000.Defender Jennifer Williams gave Harbour View the lead in the 30th minute, converting from a corner kick in a goalmouth melee.

National captain Taniesha Vassell, playing in a more advanced role, doubled the advantage in the 57th minute after collecting a ball just inside the box and firing past the advancing Nicola Linton in goal.

Harbour View, with national players Shakira Duncan, Kimmia Parker, Peta Gaye Soman, Stacy-Ann Johnson, Natasha Douglas and Shanique Mitchell, dominated and should have killed off the game from midway the second half.

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He says, “The secret to a happy marriage is separate bathrooms. That’s essential. Whenever we stay in a hotel we always get two bedrooms just so we can have an extra bathroom. It’s vital to have your own space so you aren’t constantly in each other’s pockets.”

Agrees media professional Adrian T, “Marriage is a lot about compromise, but the essence is love. So with love being the underlying given, any altercation should be killed with a quick apology. Men need to learn to shut up about the house. The more they stay outside of the house the more they are loved. You have to stay out of your woman’s hair when in the house.”

Adrian, who’s been married for 12 years, adds that nothing is lost in tendering an apology. “Even if you don’t want to accept you are in the wrong, just say sorry.

 Women fall for that. You should never sleep over a fight. It has to be sorted out before you hit the sack,” he says.

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The Carnival Committee has printed 2,500 free programmes this year. This year’s Carnival has the theme Countries of the World in honour of the 2008 Olympics. Carnival chair Steve Clegg said there was every indication that the theme was catching the town’s imagination. At least 12 shops have stated their intention to put together a shop window display.

These will be judged on Friday, August 22, and the results will be announced on Carnival Day, Bank Holiday Monday, August 25. There have already been three entries for this year’s float procession, and Mr Clegg is hopeful there will be far more.

He said: “Entry forms are now available in the TIC and at the Blue Ridge shop in the Homend.” The procession will muster at the Rugby Club, Ross Road, and will be judged by 10am. Anyone wishing to enter a float, vehicle or fancy dress costume on the day should arrive beforehand. Mr Clegg is also appealing for extra bucket collectors this year.

They will walk the route of the procession and invite donations from the crowd, in support of the Carnival. The procession will leave the Rugby Club at noon, travel up New Street, turn left into the town centre and finish at Ledbury Primary School at 1.30pm. Up to 10,000 people are expected in Ledbury on the day. A big attraction this year will be a Madonna and Shakira tribute act.

Music renegade Live Nation may need big labels to distribute Madonna, Jay-Z, and its other star signings.
Live Nation may have signed huge deals with Madonna, Shakira, and Jay-Z, but the upstart music company is looking to the major labels to distribute its tunes.

According to a report in the New York Post this morning, Live Nation has been in talks with the likes of Warner Music Group and the other big music companies to get the music out to customers.

Live Nation has made a splash in the business, signing so-called "360 deals" to handle everything from recording music to concert tours to merchandising for music acts. C.E.O. Michael Rapino has signed Madonna, Jay-Z, Nickelback, and Shakira to the deal but doesn't have a new album from any of them due out for at least 18 months, the Post said.Last week, Live Nation dumped three industry veterans originally signed to build a label within the company.

The paper also posited the company could explore exclusive deals with major retailers such as Wal-Mart and Target.Any deal with a major music company could be awkward: for instance, distributing a new Madonna album with Warner Music, her former label.

Who’s got the biggest fan club in  Mumbai? SRK, Amitabh Bachchan, Aamir Khan, Akshay Kumar, Salman Khan? Nope, it’s the city itself, which is on the favourites list of not just  India’s biggest celebrities but  also the world’s most famous names — from Shakira to Madonna to Prince Charles...and they’re all saying  Salaam Mumbai!

Shakira sizzles but even the Latino diva admitted that she'd found something in Mumbai that was way hotter than her. "Indian food is just too hot to handle," the Grammy award-winning singer told After Hours when she'd come down for a performance in Mumbai. "I know a lot of my fans from other cities are disappointed that I performed only in Mumbai, but I'm sure there will be a next time," Shakira said.

Over the years, Mumbai has notched up so many international fans. Mick Jagger's daughter Jade loves to shop here, as does model Elizabeth Hurley; Angelia Jolie took back an experience of riding in a Mumbai local, in a second class compartment (Brad .Pitt bought the tickets for them  Charni Road to Churchgate!) and Madonna came with her whole family in tow to get a first hand feel of the wondrous city within the city, described so beautifully by Australian writer Gregory David Roberts in Shantaram.

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AC/DC will embark on an 18-month world tour in October, the hard rock band's first since 2000/2001, their agent said Monday.

Rob Light, managing partner at Creative Artists Agency, made the announcement during a panel at the Intl. Assn. of Assembly Managers' conference and trade show.

Light didn't reveal further details about the trek, which will promote the Anglo-Australian band's upcoming album, a Wal-Mart exclusive. A single is expected to hit radio in August. AC/DC released its last album, "Stiff Upper Lip," in 2000, and launched a yearlong tour of 17 countries.

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SIR MICHAEL CAINE knows the secret to a happy marriage - he never shares a bathroom with his wife SHAKIRA.The Dark Knight star has been married for 35 years, after wooing his former model wife when he spotted her in a TV advertisement.

And Caine believes to maintain married bliss, you must always have separate washrooms - even when you're staying at a hotel.He explains, "Never share a bathroom with a woman. We've always had two bathrooms."We book into hotels and we ask for two bedrooms and you see them thinking that our marriage is on the rocks, but I'm just trying to get another bathroom."

Shakira led the way for her compatriots as Colombians came out to demonstrate for the freedom of the remaining hostages held by leftist rebels.

Well over a million Colombians, clad in white and shouting 'No more kidnapping', marked their independence day with marches and concerts demanding freedom for the remaining detainees.

Demonstrators chanted Libertad! - the Spanish word for freedom - in rallies across the Andean nation and in some 40 cities abroad, including Paris, London, Miami, Beijing, Sydney and New York.It was the second nationwide mobilisation this year against the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC.

In the jungle border city of Leticia, native daughter Shakira performed after singing the national anthem at a military parade presided over by Colombian President Alvaro Uribe, with the presidents of Brazil and Peru attending.