News

Eleven Jamaican students will be going to China this academic year to pursue various higher degrees, having been awarded full scholarships under the Chinese Government Scholarship Program. The awardees will be studying at various universities in the areas of economics, electronics, financial engineering, biology, pedagogy tourism management and environment management. Courses run for three to four years with the first year dedicated to the study of the Chinese language. Under the full scholarship, tuition, accommodation, meals, clothing allowance, study materials and medical care are covered

Carribbean Governments are rethinking the practice of imprisoning regional immigrant criminals because of the cost involved. National Security Ministers are said to be seriously considering deporting convicted criminals so that they can serve their sentences in their home countries. According to Martin Joseph, the National Security Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, CARICOM Governments are reviewing reciprocal arrangements for deporting non-national criminals. He says it costs too much to maintain foreign prisoners in jails in the twin island republic.Regional Governments are also concerned about the United States policy of deporting foreign criminals. Several convicts of Caribbean origin have already been deported to the...

Turkey withdrew its ambassador to Israel and canceled three joint military drills on Monday after Israeli commandos killed at least 10 people and wounded dozens aboard a Palestinian aid convoy unofficially sponsored by Turkey. The convoy of six ships was led by a Turkish vessel with 600 people on board and set sail for Gaza from international waters off Cyprus on Sunday in defiance of an Israeli-led blockade of the territory. Commandos boarded the ships in international waters overnight, backed up by warships and helicopters.

Wyclef Jean was hospitalized over the weekend due to symptoms of stress and fatigue, Jean’s rep said in a press release. The musician has since been released, and his rep added that Jean “will be fine – just needs the space to recover.”

The brother of talent-show contestant Susan Boyle says the singer has left a mental health care facility and is doing better. Gerry Boyle stated Friday that his sister had been released from the London clinic. She was admitted Sunday, after coming in second place in the "Britain's Got Talent" television show. Gerry Boyle says his sister suffered from an anxiety attack but now seems "a lot more like herself." In eight weeks, Boyle went from the quiet life of a church volunteer in a small town in Scotland to global fame.

The Grammy-winning pop singer has parted ways with manager Marc Jordan and is now being managed by Jay-Z's Roc Nation Management. Rihanna told The Associated Press in a statement Wednesday that she's "so excited to take this next step in my career." The 22-year-old is also launching a new company called Rihanna Entertainment. She says it will "merge all of her businesses, including music, film, fragrance fashion and book ventures." Jay-Z signed Rihanna to Def Jam in 2005. The two won a Grammy in 2008 for the hit song "Umbrella." Earlier this year, the pair picked up two Grammys for the rap song "Run This Town," which also featured Kanye West. She's released four albums and plans to release her fifth CD, "Loud," on Nov. 16...

Bishop Eddie Long is facing allegations that he sexually abused four men who received his mentorship as a "spiritual daddy." Three of the men were older than 18, but one said he was 17 at the time of the alleged abuse. They allege that Long encouraged them to join the church's elite youth group, so he could groom them for sex; in exchange, they allege, Long gave them money, new cars, housing and took them on exotic trips. On Sunday, Bishop Eddie Long vowed to fight the accusations, by stating

KINGSTON, Jamaica (AP) Police in Jamaica say a man accused of slashing the throat of a sleeping 5-year-old boy may have done it to get back at the boy's father. Constable Ainsley Beckford says 34-year-old Jermaine Gushman has been charged with murder in the killing. He has pleaded not guilty. Police say someone broke into the boy's home May 2. They say a long-standing dispute between Gushman and the boy's father may have prompted the killing but did not release more details. The boy's father was at a nearby store when the killing occurred. It is unclear if Gushman has an attorney. The murder charge was announced Friday.

Blackstreet Entertainment, Inc., Files Trademark Infringement Lawsuit Against Two Former Work for Hire Singers with the Grammy Award Winning Group Blackstreet. There is nothing more valuable to any world renowned recording artist than legally protecting rights to their brand. “My clients icons Teddy Riley and Chauncey Black d/b/a Blackstreet Entertainment Inc., have retained attorney Duncan G. Byers of the Byers Law Group in Norfolk, Virginia to file a Trademark and Copyright Infringement Lawsuit. The “Blackstreet” brand must be protected from misuse by two former work for hire artists,” says Monica Anders PR/Media Strategist. A lawsuit was filed on December 1st, 2011 in the United States District Court in the State of Virginia...

After more than a year, Mighty Crown "The Far East Rulers" and Irish and Chin will embark on an explosive World Tour starting in October to celebrate another major career milestone, a third Nike sneaker deal. The Irish and Chin produced tour, dubbed The Mighty Crown Dynasty World Tour, after the soon-to-be released sneaker, will feature three of Mighty Crown's five members: Masta Simon, Sami T and Ninja. The Crown Dynasty Tour will represent the first time that Sami T and Masta Simon have toured together in over three years. Mighty Crown has once again collaborated with Nike to release the Dynasty High sneaker. The unique studded sneaker is an elite revamp of Nike's 1981 original Dynasty High. Blazoned with the Crown logo on the...

At least three shows featuring Jamaican artistes have been cancelled in Belize as a result of the swine flu. Owner of Synergy Promotions, Omar Vasquez, said he was given orders by Belize's Ministry of Health to cancel two shows he was promoting: Island Madness scheduled for yesterday in San Pedro, Belize, and UB Spring Fling, scheduled for tomorrow. Both Vasquez's shows had dancehall artiste Vegas as the main act. Morgan Heritage is the other Jamaican act billed for another show called Reggae Bring Back Love, which was scheduled for Saturday in Belize City. A Mexico City toddler who succumbed in Texas became the first death outside Mexico, where 160 have already died. It was the first time the World Health Organisation...

The head of Scotland Yard has travelled to Jamaica as senior officers on the island struggle to curb a spiralling murder rate. Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson is undertaking a five-day visit organised by the University of the West Indies. Sir Paul will be keen to share the success of his colleagues solving murders and suppressing violent crime. And he was also expected to discuss work to bring down Jamaican drug gangs operating between their homeland and London. The Jamaica Constabulary Force is on a recruitment drive for detectives as part of a modernising shake-up.

Grammy nominated singer, songwriter, and producer Beres Hammond’s “For The Love Of It” 2010 Tour kicked off in Florida last week and will continue throughout the U.S. and Canada making stops in 35 cities including Atlanta (July 30), Washington, DC (August 1), New York (August 6,7 & 8), San Francisco (August 27), Los Angeles (August 29) and wrapping back in Florida’s West Palm Beach (Sept 12). Joining Hammond on the tour will be Kenyatta Hill & Culture and Inner Circle. Known to many as the originator of “lover’s rock,” Hammond has been writing, producing and pouring out his smoky-sweet voice over every kind of riddim track for over three decades. He continues to top the charts, most recently with the 2008 release A MOMENT IN TIME...

Prime Minister, the Hon. Bruce Golding has suggested the possibility of Jamaica establishing its own final Court of Appeal as an option to the United Kingdom based Privy Council or the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ). Golding said, during the debate on the Charter of Rights in the House of Representatives on December 21. The Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) is the regional judicial entity established nine years ago, to be the final appellate court for member states of the Caribbean Community. While Jamaica is a signatory to the establishment of the CCJ, the country has yet to utilise the court, as cases from the island are still referred to the Privy Council.

was born in St. Ann's Bay, Jamaica, on 17 August 1887 rest in peace world wide history Happy Earth Strong Marcus Garvey YouTube - Burning Spear - Marcus garvey

Singjay Serani is gearing up for the release of his first U.S. full length album titled “No Games” later this month. The album comes hot on the heels of his international crossover hit single of the same name, and the follow up single “She Loves Me”, which has started to generate some radio buzz and is already picking up steam. No Games will feature 14 tracks, including a wealth of new material. Serani himself is the producer of a number of songs on the album, along with up & coming hot Jamaican production outfit Chimney Records and Leftside (of Keepleft Records) who represent the Jamaican sound on the album. The Miami-based Blackout Movements (Mim’s “This is Why I’m Hot”) and fast-rising new U.S. producer Canei close out the...

Actress, singer and CoverGirl spoke person Queen Latifah hosts this year's BET Awards airing live from the Shrine Auditorium in LA lastnight. Queen "Dana Owens" Latifah has had the career that the grandest of dreams are made of. For over 20 years, she has consistently conquered music, television and film. She got her start in the early days of hip-hop, becoming a pioneer for female rappers. With songs like 1990's "Ladies First," and 1993's "U.N.I.T.Y.," the Newark, New Jersey native always managed to deliver an empowering message with clever rhymes and danceable beats. 2010 BET Awards Nominees and Winners: Best Female R&B Artist Beyoncé Mary J. Blige Melanie Fiona Alicia Keys Rihanna Winner: Alicia Keys Best Male R&B Artist...

After a whirlwind week Gyptian’s new album Hold You comes in at #2 on the Reggae Billboard charts. The smash hit single “Hold You” maintains at #1 on iTunes. The album has received high praises. Spin magazine gave it three stars and The New York Times said “like his big hit, this record is spare, woozy and gently enchanting, all breezy, loping love songs.” Gyptian is currently touring internationally in support of the worldwide release Tour Info: July 29 LOS ANGELES July 30 MONTEREY August 1st- Canada (Caribana) August 5th- Jamaica Album Release Party August 6th- Miami (Album Release Party) August 7th- Mandeville, Jamaica August 14 St. Croix (USVI) August 20 POUGHKEEPSIE August 21 TAMPA, Fl. August 22nd York...

(AP) Jamaica must clamp down on trash fires because the smoke, soot and microscopic pollutants they release into the air are serious health hazards, an environmental group said Wednesday. The Jamaica Environment Trust called on the government to establish air quality testing in areas likely to be affected by dump fires and to publish the results routinely. It is also urging authorities to try to stop the open burning of trash, which is widespread. A government report released this week said alarming levels of volatile organic compounds were dispersed in the air from a fire that burned for more than a week in February at an open-air dump in Kingston. It created a plume of smoke that could be seen for miles and affected schools...

Beyonce Knowles's mother was forced to deny rumours her daughter was pregnant. But her mother, Tina Knowles, made an appearance on Ellen DeGeneres' talk show to answer the reports. In a clip released ahead of today's show, Tina tells the talk show host Ellen: 'No, no. It's not true. Not right now'