Caribbean Drug Trafficking On The Rise

 KINGSTON, Jamaica (AP) — Assault rifles at the ready, police in a speedboat scan the coastline as they slice through the slate-gray water, aware that the rocky shorelines and fishing villages that line parts of southern Jamaica are not always very sleepy these days.

Seizures of South American cocaine in Jamaica have doubled since last year, and that has prompted island authorities to step up their game, dispatching more patrols to locations that haven't seen such sustained law enforcement activity in years.

"All these areas are constantly monitored for illegal contraband. We keep our ears close to the ground," said Det. Cpl. Orville Welsh, the lead officer in the patrol boat, after his team searched a fisherman's canoe and a village of wooden shacks for drugs and guns.

It's not just Jamaica that's on alert. The central Caribbean as a whole seems to be coming back into favor with transnational drug cartels, with authorities reporting sharp increases in cocaine seizures and scrambling resources to contain the apparent surge. read more

Rob Ford, Toronto Mayor, Admits Having Smoked Crack Cocaine (VIDEO)

Toronto mayor Rob Ford admits having smoked cocaine, CBS reports on Tuesday.

According to the Associated Press, Ford admitted to using crack "probably a year ago" during a "drunken stupor." He made the revelations to reporters at City Hall.

"I answered your question," Ford added, according to The Globe and Mail. "You ask the question properly, I’ll answer it. Yes, I’ve made mistakes. All I can do now is apologize and move on.”

More from the Associated Press:

TORONTO (AP) — Rob Ford said Tuesday he loves his job and will stay on as mayor of Toronto despite admitting for the first time that he smoked crack.

Ford earlier acknowledged he smoked crack "probably a year ago" when he was in a "drunken stupor," but balked at growing pressure on him to resign.

"I was elected to do a job and that's exactly what I'm going to continue doing," Ford said. "On Oct. 27 of 2014, I want the people of this great city to decide whether they want Rob Ford to be their mayor." read more

Tessanne Chin - Many Rivers to Cross - The Voice USA 2013 (Top 20 Live Round)

ENTER CHAT, LISTEN & WATCH BROADCAST LIVE 24/7

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To listen, click PLAY icon above then unmute speaker icon at bottom left on player after a brief commercial. Enjoy the sweet music.To chat below, please sign in with your RBN account. Scheduled shows are PALVS & SSSJamz w/ RULA BROWN, Sir ROCKWELL w/ Golden Sundays, Foundation Radio Networkw/ CLINTON LINDSAY is broadcast daily. WINSOME BENJAMIN w/ Winsome Benjamin Showcase every Mon-Fri. Pleasesupport the scholarship program by considering to donate at least $10.00 at www.PALAS1.org. Thank you very much.

Oils And Fats -Which One Should I Choose?

Is there a difference between all the fats and oils that are on the shelves in the supermarket? Yes, there is a difference. Some fats will be solid or semi-solid at room temperature or on the counter top, while others will remain or become liquid or melt if left at room temperature.

The amount and type of fat that is consumed can make a difference in our bodies. The dietary recommendation for fat is to consume:

Less than 35 per cent of total calories from fat, with an emphasis on fats and oils from plant sources. Less than 300 milligrams of cholesterol per day. Less than 10 per cent of fat intake should be from saturated fat. read more

Morgan Heritage Backs Shaw - Group Produces Dubplate For 'Reggae Bring Back Love'

Morgan Heritage (from left)
Mr Mojo, Una, Gramps, Lukes and Peetah.

The Audley Shaw campaign has turned to music to continue its promotion of the shadow minister of finance as the next Jamaica Labour Party leader.

The song, a dubplate from the hit track, Reggae Bring Back Love, has been changed to reflect some of Shaw's promises. The vocals of Peetah Morgan are heard in the introduction to the popular track.

"Blessed love massive, this a Morgan Heritage and Audley Shaw, wi duh dis one fi Jamaica," Peetah says. Audley Shaw bring back love,

To the Jamaican people bring back sweet sweet love, Oh yeah.

"Wi waa Jamaica how it used to be," Morgan Heritage's lead singer blares. read more

Latest News : Fraser-Pryce Named Among IAAF Athlete Of The Year Finalists

Latest News »

Fraser-Pryce Named Among IAAF Athlete Of The Year Finalists

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, who won World Championships gold medals 

in the 100m, 200m and 4x100m, will come up against Czech hurdler

 Zuzana Hejnova and New Zealand thrower Valerie Adams.

Richie Incognito Threatened Jonathan Martin, Used Racial Slur To Refer To Dolphins Teammate: REPORTS

Miami Dolphins guard Richie Incognito used a racial slur to refer to teammate Jonathan Martin in threatening text messages, as first reported by Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com. Martin, a second-year offensive lineman, abruptly left the team last week to reportedly receive help for emotional issues.

Richie Incognito

Citing a source with knowledge of text messages that Martin made available to his parents, the Dolphins and the NFL, La Canfora reported that Incognito called Martin, who is biracial, a "half-n*****" and threatened his family. ESPN's Adam Schefter obtained the transcript of a threatening voicemail that Incognito allegedly left Martin. Citing sources multiple sources who confirmed the authenticity of the transcript,Schefter reported that the NFL and the Dolphins have heard the message. read more

Bounty Killer Talks about Tommy Lee, Mavado and Sting (+playlist)

Bounty Killer Talks about Tommy Lee, Mavado and Sting (+playlist)
http://www.youtube.com/v/03Du8q1HkRQ?version=3&list=UL03Du8q1HkRQ&autohide=1&showinfo=1&autoplay=1&attribution_tag=R0yLTS9j1wzAiaeSeya5fQ&feature=share

THE GLEANER: JAMAICA NEWS MINUTE....THE GLEANER MINUTE: Abduction probe deepens... Police beat inmate.. Bolt nominated...

Richard Shoop, New Jersey Mall Shooting Suspect, Found Dead

The man suspected of opening fire in a New Jersey mall on Monday night has been found dead, CNN reported.

According to The Star-Ledger, the body was discovered inside a Foot Locker store at the Westfield Garden State Plaza in Paramus, N.J. Law enforcement sources told the newspaper that the suspect had a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

The shopping center was placed in lockdown for hours while police officers searched for the gunman and evacuated patrons and store employees.

No one else was injured in the shooting. Although witnesses said they heard multiple shots, only one bullet casing was found at the scene.

MORE FROM THE ASSOCIATED PRESS: read more

KERRY WASHINGTON on SNL Highlight - "My Girl"

Tessanne Chin Thrills The Voice Again

#TeamTessanneChin and #TeamBreadandButta once again dominated the social media platforms as Tessanne Chin blasted her way into the live rounds of The Voice. 

With US $100,000 and a record deal with Universal Music Group on the line, members of Team Adam Levine and Team Blake Shelton each showcased their vocal ability with songs selected by the coaches. 

Having survived the blind auditions, the battle round and the knock-out rounds, Tessanne stated "I definitely feel like I'm getting closer to the artiste I want to be." With nine contestants before her, they certainly saved the best for last as Tessanne closed the show. The song, "Many Rivers To Crosss".

The 'Jamaican Powerhouse', as she is called, performed a cover of Jimmy Cliff's 'Many Rivers To Cross' which once again earned her a standing ovation from coach Adam. read more

ENTER CHAT, LISTEN & WATCH BROADCAST LIVE 24/7

               FOR AUDIO ONLY (No Commercials) - CLICK PLAYER ABOVE on RIGHT

                                                                              OR

                  FOR USTREAM VIEWING & RBN CHATROOM CLICK ON PLAYER BELOW    

To listen, click PLAY icon above then unmute speaker icon at bottom left on player after a brief commercial. Enjoy the sweet music.To chat below, please sign in with your RBN account. Scheduled shows are PALVS & SSSJamz w/ RULA BROWN, Sir ROCKWELL w/ Golden Sundays, Foundation Radio Networkw/ CLINTON LINDSAY is broadcast daily. WINSOME BENJAMIN w/ Winsome Benjamin Showcase every Mon-Fri. Pleasesupport the scholarship program by considering to donate at least $10.00 at www.PALAS1.org. Thank you very much.

Grenada's PM Concerned About New EU Policy

Grenada's PM Concerned About New EU Policy

The new EU external aid policy makes provision for a graduation mechanism in the way CARIFORUM countries access EU resources and Grenada's Prime Minister, Dr Keith said this will affect member states. -11 minutes ago

• Man faces trial for murder of JUTC chairman 2 minutes ago
• Woman accused of beheading 4-y-o child for court today 4 minutes ago

Navy Commander Sold Secrets For Prostitutes, Lady Gaga Tickets: Feds.....Michael Vannak Khem Misiewicz, Navy Commander, Accused Of Selling Secrets For Prostitutes, Lady Gaga Tickets

NAVY SCANDAL: Commander Accused Of Selling Secrets For Sex

SAN DIEGO -- SAN DIEGO (AP) — Nicknamed "Fat Leonard," the gregarious Malaysian businessman is well known by U.S. Navy commanders in the Pacific, where his company has serviced warships for 25 years.

But prosecutors in court papers say Leonard Francis worked his connections to obtain military secrets by lining up hookers, Lady Gaga tickets and other bribes for a U.S. commander, in a scandal reverberating across the Navy. readmore

AP

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• | Military

WATCH: A Fascinating Peek Into A Baby's Brain

WATCH: A Fascinating Peek Into A Baby's Brain

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MORE TED WEEKENDS

Your Brain Creates False Memories.. Top Time Saving Tech Tips.. Secrets Of Relationship Success

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• | Babies

Attackers Kill More Than 30 In Wedding Convoy

Attackers Kill More Than 30 In Wedding Convoy

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Mayor's Crack Video.. Epic Photoshop Fail.. Best Halloween Pics.. Chavez's Ghost.. Expat Paradise

• Comments (32) 
• | Nigeria

VANESSA CAMPBELL: The rise of PALAS, 3 yrs ago commemoration event on SSSJamz via www.RulaBrownNetwork.com 11/17/13

Sultry Sunday Slow Jamz (SSSJamz) w/ RULA BROWN and Vanessa Campbell (R.I.P) 
commemoration show for Sunday November 17, 2013 as 3 years since 
VANESSA CAMPBELL was murdered on Nov 19. 3-7 pm ET, see you in the chat room. 
Come to the chat room at www. RulaBrownNetwork.com to hear about the positive
 things since she passed. The Rise of PALAS.

IN JAMAICA: Brutally Beaten - Mentally Ill Man Battling For Life After Jailhouse Whipping

It is a case which evokes memories of Michael Gayle, the mentally ill man who was beaten to death by members of the security forces in 1999.

This time the victim is Kamoza Clarke, a 31-year-old mentally ill man of Bunker's Hill, Trelawny. However, he is hanging on to his life by the thinnest of threads.

Kamoza Clarke in his hospital bed.

Clarke is now lying on a hospital bed in a vegetative state because of what is believed to be "repeated blunt-force trauma to the head".

That would indicate that Clarke was badly beaten, but the police, in whose custody he was at the time of the incident, claim that Clarke "fell and hit his head on a wooden bench".

The police's explanation is not being accepted by the family, and they are calling for a full investigation into the incident that has left a young man, who everyone knew has mental problems, facing almost certain death. read more

WHY JLP LOST - Election Autopsy Report Blames Bruce, Andrew And Others For 2011 Defeat

WHY JLP LOST - Election Autopsy Report Blames Bruce, Andrew And Others For 2011 Defeat

Poor, ineffective and disconnected leadership and disunity within the ranks of Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) were among 25 reasons cited by the strategic review commission which was tasked by party leader Andrew Holness to explain its 2011 general-election loss.

The report, which Holness commissioned in May 2012, is finally slated to be released to officers of the party this week, but The Sunday Gleanermanaged to get a sneak peek at the more than 150-page document in advance of the release.

The report paints a picture of a party in total disarray in 2011, and the five-member review team found that the timing of the general election was the final nail in the party's coffin. read more

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL: Jamaican pleads guilty in international lottery scheme

FORT LAUDERDALE (CMC) - The United States Department of State (DOJ) says a Jamaican national has pleaded guilty in connection with a Jamaica-based international lottery scheme.

The DOJ said that Oneike Mickhale Barnett pleaded guilty on Friday in the US District Court for the Southern District of Florida here to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

It said Barnett was charged in the scheme that “fraudulently induced elderly victims in the US to send Barnett and his co-conspirators thousands of dollars to cover fees for lottery winnings that victims had not won”.

“This prosecution is part of the Department of Justice’s effort, working with federal and local law enforcement, to combat fraudulent lottery schemes in Jamaica preying on American citizens,” the statement said. According to the US Postal Inspection Service, Americans have lost tens of millions of dollars to fraudulent foreign lotteries and sweepstakes. Read more:

IN JAMAIACA: Goat Island is going....going...by this time next year the Goat Islands will be virtually in the hands of China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC)

IT'S almost a certainty that by this time next year the Goat Islands will be virtually in the hands of China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC), and well on the way to becoming the first Chinese-owned transshipment port and logistics hub in the region.

The coast on Big Goat Island

That conclusion became clear after the statement to the House of Representatives last Tuesday by minister of transport, works and housing, Dr Omar Davies, as well as the opinions expressed by the newly appointed chief executive officer and president of the Port Authority of Jamaica (PAJ), Professor Gordon Shirley, at a press briefing at his new office last Wednesday afternoon. read more

IN JAMAICA: Garbage clogs drain in West Kingston.... Massive amount of moquitos... health hazard (VIDEO)

6 Apps To Help You De-Stress In Minutes :....Health through Breath: Pranayama Lite....Zen Space.....Zen Wisdom...Buddha Board & more

There's no doubt that technology can be stressful. While 24/7 connectivity certainly makes some things more convenient, a plugged-in life can take a toll on our well-being. Scientists have linked heavy tech use with decreased focus and productivity, increased stress, disrupted sleep and stunted creativity, among other concerns. But one of the great ironies in our always-connected world is that technology can also be leveraged to help us de-stress (as we know first hand from the creation of HuffPost's GPS for the Soul app)...

In that spirit, the HuffPost Healthy Living editors tested out a handful of well-being apps that promise to promote a more balanced, zen life. Check out our thoughts below, then tell us in the comments what apps you swear by. read more Health through Breath: Pranayama Lite

WATCH: Try These Yoga Poses For A Better Night's Rest

ZUCKERBERG: INTERNET WILL SAVE THE WORLD! GATES: 'IT'S A JOKE'........Bill Gates: Prioritizing Worldwide Internet Access Over Malaria Research Is A 'Joke'

Technology is "amazing," Bill Gates told the Financial Times in a recent interview, but it's not going to save the world.

Speaking with the Times' Richard Waters about what it's going to take the make the planet a better place, the Microsoft co-founder said that though improvements in technology may have their benefits, they won't meet the needs of the world's most desperate.

"I certainly love the IT thing," Gates said. "But when we want to improve lives, you've got to deal with more basic things like child survival, child nutrition." "PCs are not, in the hierarchy of human needs, in the first five rungs,” he later added.

Gates' comments come just a few months after Facebook co-founder Mark Zuckerberg and a group of other tech moguls -- positioning Internet connectivity as a humanitarian concern -- promised to bring Internet access to the entire world. read more

The Most Breathtaking Photos From Around The World This Week

Welcome to "Moving Image," our roundup of the best photos from around the world this week.

2. This potter preparing for Diwali in India.

3. This boy in the Philippines.

The following images tell the story of the past seven days' most compelling events, capturing happenstance moments and monumental occurrences all over the globe.

Our picks for this week are: read more

The Scary Truth About Sleeping Pills

What Airlines Could Do To Guarantee You Sleep Better On Long Flights

10.31.2013

Exactly no one relishes a long flight as a time to get comfortable, quality sleep. But according to new research from Airbus, just a small...

Comments

The Scary Truth About Sleeping Pills

Oct 26, 2013 9:00 AM  10.30.2013

We've all had sleepless nights -- lying in bed, staring at the ceiling, wondering why our brains keep chugging along even as the clock...

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7 Reasons You Should Listen To Music When You Work Out

Listening to music when you hit the gym to improve your workout isn't exactly a new concept. But understanding how your favorite tunes enhance your exercise is a little less obvious.

Research consistently finds that listening to music distracts athletes from their "bodily awareness" (read: pain). And a recent study found that not just listening, but controlling and creating music in time to one's pace had an even more profound effect on perceived effort during a workout.

Here are seven very good reasons to rock out during your next gym session.

1. Music is the good kind of distraction.

While the study did suggest there's more to it than distraction, working out with music did make participants less aware of their exertion. Such a distraction canbenefit athletic performance by up to 15 percent, The Guardian reported. The faster the better, according to WebMD: Upbeat tunes have more information for our brains to process, which takes your mind off of that side stitch. read more

90 Percent Of People Show Up To Work Sick

Sick day? What's that?! Nearly 90 percent of office workers surveyed by Staples this year admitted to showing up on the job even when they knew they were contagious. That's up from last year's findings that 80 percent of employees went to work when they were under the weather.

Their reasoning? They don't want to fall behind. Nearly half -- 45 percent -- said an ever-growing workload convinced them commuting in was the right decision, according to the survey. It's not that they don't know it's not the healthy decision. Compared to last year, more employees said they understand how long the flu is contagious for, where germs congregate in the office and how long the virus can live on those shared surfaces. Still, sick coworkers are coughing and sneezing -- and infecting others -- in cubicles all over the country. read more

Older Marathoners Reveal Secrets For Getting In Shape.

Here's a fact that will quash all of your excuses for not working out: Over 12,000 people over 50 will pound the pavement in the ING New York City MarathonSunday. The oldest runner is 93!

Rosen

Many of these marathoners have been running for more than half their lives.

Here's what keeps three incredible runners -- marathoners for decades -- going strong:

Ken Rosen, 64
Ken has run every single New York City Marathon since 1979. The New Jersey native started running one block at a time and eventually built up to the 26.2 mile race. He says running is part of who he is. Literally. Even his license plate reads "I Run Far." read more

ST MARY, Jamaica: Dad, community shocked by beating death of toddler....led 49-year-old Clive Barrett to beat his 22-month-old grandniece to death on Wednesday

ST MARY, Jamaica – Family and community members in Deans Pen, St Mary, are still asking what could have led 49-year-old Clive Barrett to beat his 22-month-old grandniece to death on Wednesday evening.

Twenty-two-month-old Eshauna Gardner reportedly died following injuries sustained from a beating she received on October 30. According to Ian Gardner, the father of the child, no one expected it as Barrett was very close to the child and treated her as his own daughter.

"Him treat the baby very good. Nobody at all would expect it," he told Jamaica Observer during a telephone interview. Gardner said Eshauna was his only daughter and so her death is very devastating for him.

"Mi love mi baby to the maximum. A the only girl," he explained. He said the child’s mother, who has a six-month-old baby, was finding it hard to cope. “She stress out,” he said

Gardner who is from St Catherine, did not live with his child; he said, however, that when he was there, Barrett always treated the child well. Read more: