News

Isaiah Laing, the promoter of Sting, has indicated that the 2010 staging of the show will shift from the traditional format, where clashes would be the predominant factor. Laing said: This year artists will be performing under six segments: The Thirteen Bad Girls of Sting featuring Cecile, Pamputae and Lisa Hyper; a comedy hour with Tanto Blacks and Twins of Twins, spotlight, disc jocks, starlight and the Thirteen Warriors of Sting.

Billboard reported that the duo grossed $10.8 million during the tour's opening leg in Europe, playing to 132,155 fans in 23 sold-out shows. Some of these events were festivals. That was enough to earn them a number four place on the Hot Tours chart dated September 8. That table is led by Celine Dion. The 44/876 tour supports Sting and Shaggy's much-touted collaborative album of the same name. The album has sold close to 400,000 copies worldwide. It debuted at number 40 on the Billboard 200 Albums Chart. Released by A&M Records/Interscope Records/Cherrytree Records, it is currently number one on the Billboard Reggae Albums chart. Sting and Shaggy's 44/876 USA tour starts on October 14 in Jacksonville, Florida.

Moses 'Beenie Man' Davis has announced his engagement to his girlfriend, British businesswoman Camille Lee. The entertainer praised Lee for her unwavering support during challenging times and acknowledged her profound influence on his musical journey. “She’s been my pillar, lifting me up and standing by me through every emotional upheaval. Her vibrant spirit has revitalized my music. I couldn’t have achieved this without her unwavering presence. Forever grateful for her love and encouragement,” shared Beenie Man.

In a court order released Thursday April 08 2010, the U.S. District Court in the Middle District of Florida, Tampa Division decided that the trial will now get underway on Monday, June 21. Buju's lawyers immediately demanded a status conference to discuss the trial date, as they believe that any further delay of the trial date would only put their client at a disadvantage. Attorney David Markus, who is representing Buju Banton, said that the defense team had already laid the legal groundwork and preparation in anticipation of an earlier trial date. Now, Banton's legal claims says they'll go so far as to appeal for the transfer of the case to an entirely different judge, in the hopes of moving the trial date up.

Garfield "Zebra" Vassell was sentenced to 30 years in prison with hard labor in the St. Catherine Circuit Court yesturday morning. Zebra sexually assaulted the teenaged daughter of his girlfriend. He was arrested in June last year, after eluding the police for four months. Zebra, who was represented by attorney-at-law Everton Dewar was convicted on Tuesday. He was sentenced to 20 years on the rape charge and 10 years on the carnal anal assault charge. Zebra was previously convicted on a rape charge in 2002 and sentenced to eight years of hard labor. Prior to that in 2001, he was sentenced to three and a half years prison term with hard labor after being found guilty of two counts of assault with intent to rape.

Music producer Bobby Digital, who helped guide Shabba Ranks career from hardcore dance-hall act to Grammy winner, died in Kingston, Jamaica on May 21, 2020. The 59 year-old’s death was kidney-related, according to his son, music producer Sheldon “Calibud” Stewart. Robert Digital Dixon started his career in the early 1980's as an audio engineer and understudy with producer Lloyd”King Jammy” James. He was engineer for many of Jammy's’ biggest productions including Frankie Paul’s I Know The Score and Sara, Pincher's Denise; and Admiral Bailey’s Jump Up.

An armed teenager who went on the rampage at a secondary school in southwest Germany on Wednesday, eventually shot himself when police caught up with him. He killed at least nine school students and three teachers at the school. After the school shooting, he went on to kill another three people. Is it now time for Europe to tighten its gun laws? German media report that the gunman was a 17-year-old former student at the school. Dressed in black combat gear, he entered the Albertville-Realschule in Winnenden, a town of 27,000 near Stuttgart, at around 08.30 UTC and began firing. He was eventually injured by police at a car dealership roughly 30 km (20 miles) from the school. With no where to go, he eventually turned the gun...

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...

Born: July 23, 1892 Near Harar, Ethiopia Died: August 27, 1975 Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Ethiopian emperor Haile Selassie was an emperor of Ethiopia whose influence as an African leader far surpassed the boundaries of his country. Although his popularity declined near the end of his sixty-year reign, Selassie remains a key figure in turning Ethiopia into a modern civilization. YouTube - Haile Selassie War Speech "Amharic Version"

Forty-one year old Reggae artist Lewin "Louie Culture" Brown has been shot and injured. The artist who resides in Windsor Forrest in Portland was shot in Priestman's River Portland, while at a tire shop. Police sources said that shortly after 1:30 p.m yesterday the artiste drove up to a tire shop in the area, when a blue Subaru motor car drove up, reversed and drove some distance away. According to the police, less than two minutes after the Subaru drove off, a man was spotted walking towards the tyre shop with one hand behind his back. It is reported that Louie Culture, who saw the man, became suspicious and ran towards the Priestman's River bridge but was shot in the left arm The operator of a tyre shop Anthony...

Rodney "Bounty Killer" Pryce made headlines for his recurrent troubles with the law has been arrested by St Andrew North Police at his East Avenue home. Rodney Price already is being prosecuted on previous charges of illegal possession of a firearm, marijuana possession, and unlawful wounding and assault. Police say Bounty Killer physically abused his female companion after she decided to end their three year relationship. A report was made to the police and following investigations a warrant was issued for his arrest. Police report that while being processed at the Constant Spring Police Station, Bounty Killer was allowed to make a telephone call. Police stated the DJ used that opportunity to call the complainant and...

A federal judge on Friday rejected movie star Wesley Snipes demand for a new trial and ordered the actor to surrender to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons to begin serving a 36-month prison sentence for tax-related crimes. Wesley Snipes was convicted in 2008 of three misdemeanor counts of willfully failing to file federal tax returns.

Jamaica's government says it will provide financial assistance to hundreds of farmers who lost $1.6 million worth of crops that were destroyed by heavy rains in recent weeks. Agriculture Minister Christopher Tufton said Friday that an estimated 2,500 farmers lost crops including tomatoes, melons and lettuce. He said crews will continue to visit farmers and assess the damage. He did not specify how much money farmers would receive. The rains also destroyed roads and led to the drowning of one man earlier this month.

Jamaica (AP) Authorities in Jamaica say gunmen killed five people execution-style in a troubled area of Salt Spring community. A police statement says the attack early Sunday in Salt Spring is believed to be gang-related. Three of the bodies were burned when gunmen set fire to the house where the men lived. No one has been arrested. Police say the five killings pushed Jamaica's total number of homicides so far this year past 500, putting it on par with the record 1,680 murders during 2009. The majority of Jamaica's killings involve victims of drug and extortion gangs and occur far from the Caribbean island's trendy tourist spots.

(AP) Jamaican police say four men have been killed and four seriously wounded in a gang-related fusillade in a gritty city just outside of the island's capital. Investigators say gunmen opened fire late Saturday on a group of men playing cards at a house in Spanish Town, a southern Jamaican city where violent gangs are deeply entrenched. In a Sunday statement, police investigators link the deadly attack to a feud between the Clansman and One Order gangs, which are battling for control of extortion and drug rings. Gang-related massacres have been rare in recent months in Jamaica, where an anti-gang crackdown has been the toughest in the island's history.

Transport and Works Minister Omar Davies said a study has reviewed the natural resources of the island's largest protected area as the government advances plans for a possible Chinese-financed port in the zone. A transshipment port is proposed for the Goat Islands off Jamaica's south coast. It would be in a protected zone that is home to three fish sanctuaries and a number of threatened animal and plant species. Environmental groups have strongly criticized the plan. China Harbor Engineering Co. prefers the site for its proposed investment with a value of $1.5 billion.

More Buju Banton shows have been cancelled due to pressure from gay and lesbian activists in the United States. A short release from Live Nation Inc, the company that was putting on the shows, announced on Thursday that it has cancelled all previously scheduled concerts by Buju Banton. These include four shows that should have been held at House of Blues locations in Chicago, Las Vegas, Houston and Dallas in October. The release also said that ticket refunds are available at the point of purchase. When pressed for the reason for the cancellation, Crystal Lafata, executive assistant in communications at Live Nation Inc, was very tight-lipped. According to an article in the Los Angeles Times: 'Buju Banton's October show draws...

Michael "Bigga Boss aka Mr. Dockery" Dockery was Born and raised in Toronto Ontario, Canada from a Jamaican Parentage, The person responsible for this creative and incredibly talented individual is his mother. She recognized that he was chosen to do something great and her continued determination & encouragement, encouraged her to help him discover his true self capabilities. From a young age, biggaboss took piano lessons, studied the bass guitar, and his uncle showed him how to play records, which has carried through to his career today in Bigga boss’ ability to record, produce, perform, engineer, write, act, You could say Biggaboss is the complete musical package from start to finish! Bigga started from a very young age...

The Young, Gifted & Black Entrepreneurial Awards held their yearly event recognizing and celebrating Young Black Professionals. Media personality and President & CEO of DNZ Productions Nicole Duhaney better known as Nikki Z was honored and received an Broadcast Communications Award. Some of the distinguished recipient were Dr. Keneca Boyce, Senior Director of Program Development, Inwood House for Women in Business Award. Jeff Broom, Co-Founder, Making A Difference (M.A.D.) Team for Multi-Level Marketing Award and Gordon Chambers, Singer, Producer, & Grammy Award Songwriter. When asked what this honor mean to her, Nikki Z stated ""it was an honor to be nominated amongst so many accomplished individuals. To take home the...

A Jamaican police officer was forced into a shootout when he was attacked while he was urinating. The police inspector was driving his private vehicle through Spanish Town area Saturday night when he pull over to relieve himself. According to police reports, about 11:33 p.m. Saturday night the inspector stopped along the Spanish Town Bypass, in the vicinity of Food for The Poor, when he was attacked. The men opened fire at him. He pulled his service pistol and pointed it in the direction of the men and fired back. The men ran after the inspector return fire. Following the shooting, a man was found suffering from gunshot wounds. He was taken to the Spanish Town Hospital where he died while receiving treatment. The name of the deceased...