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MANDEVILLE, Manchester JAMAICA: Making learning fun Music boosts academics at McIntosh Primary

MANDEVILLE, Manchester — Remember when you were in basic school?

The classroom was full of energy — music, songs, brilliant colours. Much of what was learnt was steeped in happy rhythms and poetic songs.

Songs like 'a, b, c, d, e, f, g... next time won't you sing with me' and 'one and 20, two and 20, three and four and five and six and 20, 27, 28, 29, 30'. A similar but more advanced programme incorporating music and song in the classroom has been reaping success at a number of primary schools.

Students at McIntosh Primary School

The First Global Bank initiative entitled 'Music — a perfect pitch for a sound education', was launched across six primary schools in 2011 to defuse the myth surrounding Mathematics and English, and to help students do better in these courses. Organisers targeted the grade three students in particular, to ensure a good showing on the Grade Four Literacy Test, which assesses primary school students' ability to read and do Math ahead of the GSAT exit exam. Read more: 

DRUG COMPANY GIVES UP KICKBACKS TO DOCTORS.....GlaxoSmithKline To Stop Paying Doctors To Promote Drugs

The New York Times, Astrazeneca, Big Pharma, Bribery, Glaxosmithkline, Glaxosmithkline Pay Doctors, Pharmaceutical Industry, Prescriptions, Reuters, Sales & Shopping, Business News

* GSK scrapping doctor payments for speaking engagements

* Ending sales reps' targets globally following U.S. move

* Comes amid criticism of aggressive industry sales tactics

* Move may pressure other drug companies to follow suit

By Ben Hirschler

LONDON, Dec 17 (Reuters) - GlaxoSmithKline will stop paying doctors for promoting its drugs and scrap prescription targets for its marketing staff - a first for an industry battling scandals over its sales practices, and a challenge for its peers to follow suit.

Britain's biggest drugmaker also said on Tuesday it would stop payments to healthcare professionals for attending medical conferences as it tries to persuade critics it is addressing conflicts of interest that could put commercial interests ahead of the best outcome for patients. read more 

Tessanne Chin: "I Have Nothing" - The Voice Highlight.......Sings Whitney Houston (VIDEO)

Banana Fungus, Insect Outbreak Threaten Global Supply

Banana lovers better satiate their appetites now. The world's supply of the fruit is under attack.

According to Scientific American, strains of a particular soil fungus -- Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense, or Foc -- have struck a key variety of banana grown for export in Mozambique and Jordan. Scientists fear that if the banana fungus spreads further, the popular Cavendish banana could become critically threatened.

The fungus, which has been found on several plantations, causes the incurablePanama disease, or Fusarium wilt, that rots bananas. In the 1950s, another strain of the banana fungus nearly wiped out the Gros Michel cultivar, once as common as the Cavendish variety. After the fungus decimated banana populations in Central and South America, producers switched to the Cavendish, which was resistant to the strain of fungus at the time.

But scientists have long feared that the Tropical Race 4 strain of the fungus -- previously confined to areas of Asia and Australia -- would eventually spread around the world and wipe out the Cavendish supply, just as a previous strain did to the Gros Michel banana. read more

Jamaicans Dominate CSEC Vocational Subjects Rankings......Jamaicans were placed in the Top 10 in 34 out of 35 subjects. Ardenne High was the top school.

Jermaine Francis, Staff Reporter

Jamaican students have dominated the technical and vocationalsubjects in the recent Caribbean Examinations Council exams, with many of the island's students outclassing their regional contemporaries to secure top-10 places in these subjects.

Thwaites, Ministry of Education in Jamaiaca

Subjects such as food and nutrition, building technology (construction), mechanical engineering, and electrical and electronic technology, at both the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) and the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Exams (CAPE), had more than five Jamaican students being placed in the top 10.

In fact, in both units of CAPE food and nutrition, Jamaican students swept the top 10, and 11 students, some tying, copped a spot in the top 10 for construction.

It is for this reason HEART Trust/NTA officials say they will be expanding their programmes to offer more appealing courses to the these top students. read more

CAN'T TESS DIS.....TESSANNE CHIN HOLDS # 1, 4 and 13 positions on iTUNES Top 100 Chart. See complete list as she will be the CHAMPION of The VOICE Tonight.

You still have up to 11am EST to vote.
See the top 100 iTUNES Download list. 
You may vote  HERE

Vote for TESSANNE CHIN (855-864-2301) on The VOICE to # 1......SHARE & VOTE for TESSANNE as THE VOICE.

JAMAICA: Dr. Henry Lowe on the Bissy - A New Potential Anti-Cancer Agent

The Jamaican bissy, also known as cola nut (cola acuminata), which is well known as a Jamaican remedy for the management of poisoning, may have yet another very important use.

Jamaica Bissy, popular for making tea

Recent research data have revealed the significant anti-cancer activity of an extract from the Jamaican bissy. This research-and-development activity grew out of the anti-cancer work being spearheaded by Dr Henry Lowe, founder and executive chairman of the Bio-Tech Research and Development Institute. The main focus of the institute is the development of pharmaceutical and nutraceutical products from Jamaica's indigenous medicinal plant resources.

In November 2011, Lowe and Dr Charah Watson, technical director of the Bio-Tech Research and Development Institute, took the plant extract to the School of Medicine at the University of Maryland, Baltimore, where Lowe's major research work is being done. There, they teamed up with Dr Joseph Bryant and Dr Ngeh Toyang and investigated the possible anti-cancer activity of the bissy-plant extracts against four cancer celllines: two prostate (PC-3 and DU-145), one breast cancer (BC), and onemelanoma (B16). read more

IN JAMAICA: EDUCATION MINISTER THWAITES..... Hunger Pains: Underfed Children Fill Public Schools - In-Need Students Take Lunch Home For Dinner

The Government, through the Education Ministry and Ministry of Social Security, is currently saddled with a heavy financial burden to provide at least one meal per day to hungry children within the island's public school system.

Thwaites

For this year, the Government has budgeted $4 billion to feed publicschool students, 30 per cent of whom often count the State-sponsored meal services their only chance to eat.

Addressing members of the media and stakeholders last week, Education Minister Ronald Thwaites said many of the children, especially at the primary levels, were eating only half of the meal at school while taking home the other half for dinner. read more

Carlene Davis, KipRich Laud Mandela In Song

With former South African President Nelson Mandela passing less than two weeks ago, at least two Jamaican artistes have decided to pay their respects through song.

Dancehall artiste KipRich has recorded Mandela Tribute, while gospel artiste Carlene Davis has done Thank You, Mandela.

Carlene Davis

In an interview with The Gleaner, KipRich said he decided to pen the song because he thought Mandela was quite the world leader.

"I see Mandela as a world icon, like the greatest black leader. This man has been through tribulation to stand up for what he stood for. When me see a man like that, it motivates me. We haffi show appreciation fi a man like that weh trod earth and do weh him do," KipRich told The Gleaner, noting that the song was recorded on the night of Mandela's death and was complete by the following day. read more

VYBZ KARTEL MURDER TRIAL: Expert can’t say if text messages came from Kartel’s phone

AN expert from telecoms giant Digicel testified on Friday that he was unable to say whether text messages recovered by the police were sent from devices owned by murder accused Vybz Kartel or his co-accused.

Mario Ghantous Assaad, Digicel's group chief technology officer, testified under cross-examination in the Home Circuit Court that it was possible for a SIM card to be cloned.

Vybz Kartel

Under questioning from attorney Michael Lorne, Assaad said that it was possible for a mobile phone's unique identification number to be hacked and for a phone call to be placed or a message sent from a cloned mobile phone, making it appear as if the original owner of the phone number was placing the call or sending the message.

Due to these factors, Assaad said he was unable to say if messages reportedly recovered from Digicel's system were actually sent from the original devices which the police are alleging were confiscated from Vybz Kartel and his co-accused. Read more: 

The Voice: Final tess Tessanne Chin goes for Voice top prize tonight

JAMAICAN singer Tessanne Chin goes into the finals of The Voice tonight with the support of a nation eager to see her make another historic step in a career that has just started to blossom internationally.

Chin, who moved into the finals with the most votes earned by her scintillating performance of the Simon and Garfunkel classic Bridge Over Troubled Water on December 9, is the in the NBC television talent show. Her performances on the show so far have pleased and energised Jamaicans and have, at times, left her coach Adam Levine speechless.

Competing coach Blake Shelton, whose charge Cole Vosbury was eliminated last Tuesday, has said he believes Chin will win the contest against her Team Adam mate Will Champlin and 16-year-old Jacquie Lee from Team Christina. Following tonight’s show, Chin’s fans can vote for her by downloading the song she performs from iTunes.  

Obamas Attend Christmas Benefit Concert For Children's National Health System

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Obamas got into the holiday spirit Sunday evening with a little help from Hugh Jackman, Sheryl Crow and Janelle Monae.

President Barack Obama and his family attended the 32nd annual "Christmas in Washington" concert, a benefit for the Children's National Health System. After an evening of Christmas carols at the National Building Museum, the president said Americans should remember Jesus Christ's lessons of charity and compassion.

"Through his example, he taught us that we should love the Lord, love our neighbors, as we love ourselves. It's a teaching that has endured for generations. And today, it lies at the heart of my faith and that of millions of Americans, and billions around the globe," Obama said.

"No matter who we are, or where we come from, or how we worship, it's a message of hope and devotion that can unite all of us this holiday season," he added. read more

IN JAMAICA: Iris "Goddy" Jacques, 101 y-o, believes in giving to those in need.....the lady who would stand outside her gate, bag in hand, looking for someone, anyone, to give that bag to....One of the best stories ever.

ASK relatives and neighbours about Iris Jacques and they will tell you about the lady who would stand outside her gate, bag in hand, looking for someone, anyone, to give that bag to.

Inside the bag would be a piece of meat, a live chicken or even a piglet. "One thing about 'Goddy' you know, she nuh want to have anything that gives anybody trouble," one of Jacques' many godchildren, Paulette McIndoe said.

Iris Jacques would give away any
animal she had that would give trouble.
 (right) Iris Jacques and her son Earl Jacques

 

"If she have a fowl - sometimes you see Goddy at the gate with something in a bag. And you hear her say 'you want this fowl yah?' and I would ask her why she giving it away and she would whisper 'it start to give trouble'," McIndoe said. "Goddy, give away the fowl.

"Sometimes mi pass and mi seh 'Goddy how you stand up out here so? Goddy have a little bag in her hand. Guess what Goddy have? A piece of meat, looking for somebody to give it to. And sometimes she say 'is not you mi want to see today enuh. You see Cherry?' And I will go and call Cherry and Cherry come and get her parcel. She always try to give more than what she ask for. Goddy don't ask for anything, she always try to have something to give. She don't ask. You have to feel like giving Goddy something. But she always have something to give. She just wants to give something," McIndoe said. Read more: 

QUNU, SOUTH AFRICA: Nelson Mandela Buried After State Funeral

Military escort

The ex-wife of Nelson Mandela,
 Winnie Mandela Madikizela,
and the widow of Nelson Mandela,
 Graca Machel at graveside.

QUNU, South Africa (AP) -- Big guns fired a salute in the rural village where Nelson Mandela grew up and military servicemen marched stiffly behind his casket on a winding dirt road Sunday as South Africa said goodbye for the last time to the man who reconciled the country in its most vulnerable period.

Several thousand guests, some singing and dancing, gathered in a huge tent at the family compound of the anti-apartheid leader, who died December 5 at the age of 95 after a long illness.

Guests included senior South African officials, veterans of the fight against white rule and foreign diplomats, including US Ambassador Patrick Gaspard. Britain's Prince Charles, entrepreneur Richard Branson and former Zimbabwean Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai were also there.

Mandela's portrait was placed behind two rows of candles in the white, dome-shaped marquee. Outside, South African honour guards from the army, navy and air force marched in formation. Mandela's casket, covered by a national flag, was transported on a military vehicle to the tent, where pallbearers carried it on a red carpet into the tent where guests awaited. Read more: 

THE POPE: I'M NOT A MARXIST, BUT..... Read more at www.RulaBrownNetwork.com

In a new interview with the Italian newspaper La Stampa, Pope Francis responded to allegations that he is a Marxist, after he recently criticized 'unfettered capitalism.'

The Pope told La Stampa that “Marxist ideology is wrong. But I have met many Marxists in my life who are good people, so I don’t feel offended ... there is nothing in the exhortation that cannot be found in the social doctrine of the church.”

The Pope

He was referring to an apostolic exhortation from November, in which he wrote, "As long as the problems of the poor are not radically resolved by rejecting the absolute autonomy of markets and financial speculation and by attacking the structural causes of inequality, no solution will be found for the world's problems or, for that matter, to any problems."

Another passage read, ""Just as the commandment 'Thou shalt not kill' sets a clear limit in order to safeguard the value of human life, today we also have to say 'thou shalt not' to an economy of exclusion and inequality. Such an economy kills." read more

4 y-o Kai and His Girlfriend, Ellen.....The adorable 4-year-old crooner was back to put the moves on our host, and to make everybody in the audience melt. This kid is too adorable!

TESSANNE CHIN in the FINALS on The VOICE NEXT WEEK.....LIKE, SHARE & VOTE for TESSANNE to # 1. Call your friends & neighbors and encourage them to VOTE for TESS. How many votes do you think TESS will win with?

MONTEGO BAY, JAMAICA: A City Under Siege - 12 Killed As New Wave Of Criminality Rocks MoBay

Adrian Frater, News Editor/Western Bureau:

Montego Bay, St James, is on the edge again.

Residents cower in the wake of the latest violence, which is reminding them of several similar periods of bloodletting they had to endure in the past decade.

Twelve persons' lives have been snuffed out by ruthless criminals in several incidents, including a triple murder and two double murders in the past week.

Policemen making their way to a crime
 scene along Union Street
in Montego Bay. - File

In the latest incident, a 36-year-old woman, Monique Watson of Rose Heights in St James, was shot and killed by a gunman who reportedly walked into her hairdressing parlour and shot her at point-blank range.

That followed 15 minutes of raw brutality last Wednesday morning, when four persons were slaughtered gangland-style in two incidents in North Gully, downtown Montego Bay, and Hibiscus Drive, Norwood. read more

Beenieman and Patrick Roberts for Ghetto Splash......which was last held in 1996, takes place at the Waterhouse Stadium.

ON Tuesday, the Ghetto Splash live show returns after a 17-year break. Promoter Patrick Roberts, who first staged the event in 1989, says while top dancehall acts will be present, it is much more than a stage show.

Beenieman and Patrick Roberts

Ghetto Splash will also be used to bring peace to crime-riddled communities. "We have gone into areas such as Tel Aviv, Rema and Southside and had dialogue. This will be the ultimate tool of peace for uniting the communities," said Roberts, a councillor for the Molynes Gardens division of the Kingston and St Andrew Corporation..

Ghetto Splash, which was last held in 1996, takes place at the Waterhouse Stadium. Read more: 

IN JAMAICA: Pregnant mother and child hit by JUTC bus Learner driver, female passenger also injured

Sophia Banton, who assisted the
 injured, demonstrates how she
 tried to remove the child from
the wreckage. (PHOTOS: J
OSEPH WELLINGTON)

 

A pregnant woman and her 19-month-old child were yesterday hospitalised after they were hit down by an out-of-control Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) bus in downtown Kingston. The driver and a female passenger also received injuries...

Police reported that about 10:30 am, the driver of the State-owned bus was travelling in South Parade when the vehicle got out of control and slammed into a sidewalk, hitting the woman and her child, and causing panic among shoppers and other persons in the busy business district.

While some people were trying to get the police on their cellphones, a desperate attempt was made by vendors and other persons to rescue the mother and her child who were pinned under the vehicle. Read more: 

chop him up with machete: my girl caught me cheating (video)

Post by Oneil Stewart.

Caribbean International Network (CIN) tops Fox, CBS, ABC and Discovery for Caribbean viewership in New York

TELEVISION cable company, Caribbean International Network (CIN) headed by Jamaican Stephen Hill has, according to a survey conducted by Hope Research Group, scored a higher viewership among people of English-speaking Caribbean heritage residing in the New York area than established television cable networks, Fox, CBS, ABC and the Discovery Channel.

Caribbean International Network
boss Stephen Hill (second right) with
New York City mayor-elect Bill de Blasio
and wife Chirlane (left).
Also pictured is Hill’s assistant.

 

CIN came out ahead with 57.2 per cent of the survey, followed by ABC with 56.0 per cent, and coming in at third place was Fox at 38.4 per cent. Then came CBS with 32.7 per cent followed by Discovery at 32.7 per cent.

The US 2012 Census has declared that the English- speaking Caribbean audience (by households) in New York totals 450,589. CIN has a minimum viewership of 238,812. When extrapolated to include other persons watching together, viewership could increase to as many as 558,025. Read more:

NEW SCHOOL SHOOTING ONE YEAR AFTER NEWTOWN.....Arapahoe High School Shooting Leaves 2 Injured, 1 Dead [UPDATE]....15-Year-Old Girl In Critical Condition... Congress's Record Since Newtown: Pathetic... At Least 194 Children Shot To Death In Last Year... Americans Decry Washington Inaction On Gun Control

At least two people were injured in a shooting at Arapahoe High School in Centennial, Colo. on Friday.

One student was taken to a hospital with serious injuries, according to KDVR. The second student suffered a minor gunshot wound...

At a 1:45 p.m. MST press conference, County Sheriff Grayson Robinson said the suspect, who was a student, died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Authorities “found his body in the internal portion of the school in a classroom,” Robinson said at a 3 p.m. press conference. The shooter is believed to have acted alone. read more

Thamsanqa Jantjie, 'Fake' Mandela Interpreter, Was Reportedly Accused Of Murder was within arm's length of President Obama and other world leaders

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — South Africa's government was confronted Friday with a new and chilling allegation about the bogus sign language interpreter at Nelson Mandela's memorial: He was reportedly accused of murder 10 years ago.

Officials said they were investigating the revelation by the national eNCA TV news station. But they were unable, or unwilling, to explain why a man who says he is schizophrenic with violent tendencies was allowed to get within arm's length of President Barack Obama and other world leaders.

Investigators probing Thamsanqa Jantjie "will compile a comprehensive report," said Phumla Williams, the top government spokeswoman. But she did not say how long the investigation would take and insisted details would not be released until it was completed.

"We are not going to sweep it under the carpet," Williams said. "We want to own up if there is a mistake, but we don't want to be dishonest" to Jantjie. read more

MONTEGO BAY, JAMAICA: Hairdresser shot dead in MoBay......She has been identified as 36-year-old Monique Watson of Rose Heights St James

ST JAMES, Jamaica — A hairdresser was shot and killed during a daring attack at her business establishment at a popular plaza along Barnett Street, Montego Bay Friday afternoon.

She has been identified as 36-year-old Monique Watson of Rose Heights St James.Reports are that about 2:45 a lone gunman walked into Watson's hairdressing parlour and shot her at point-blank range..

She died on the spot. Detectives assigned to the St James police division are investigating. Read more: 

HOUSE SPEAKER, BOEHNER "Not taking it anymore"

 Speaker John Boehner is fed up with relentless criticism from outside conservative groups questioning his leadership and blasting a bipartisan budget proposal. FULL STORY

More: 

• Pelosi to Dems: Embrace the suck   
• House approves budget 
• 5 things that got lawmakers to say yes 
• Deal could up airline travel cost   
• What's next?  

The 14-year-old son of former national football coach, Theodore 'Tappa' Whitmore, was killed by a vehicle registered to the St James Parish Council......Investigation Complete

THE ST JAMES police have completed their investigation into the incident in which Jouvhaine Whitmore, the 14-year-old son of former national coach, Theodore 'Tappa' Whitmore, was killed by a vehicle registered to the St James Parish Council.

Theodore Whitmore

"We have completed our investigations and a file will be sent to the courts office for the clerk of courts to decide if anyone should be charged in connection with the incident," said Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Egbert Parkins, the commanding officer for St James.

Young Whitmore, a student of Cornwall College at the time of his death, was reportedly mowed down by an out-of-control Sports Utility Vehicle, which the parish had only recently sold to a councillor. The transfer of documents from the parish council to the councillor was incomplete at the time of the accident. read more