Shaggy Says Tessanne Chin Highlight The Radio Bias In Jamaica

Before Tessanne Chin won The Voice season five, you hardly 
ever hear her music play on the radio in Jamaica.

Now not only has she been getting a lot of love from the reggae/dancehall community, but her music has been quietly added to radio rotation across Jamaica. read more

Christmas Treat provided by The Miracle Tabernacle Free Town Church of God in Clarendon - home of miracles (PHOTOS)

Can't wait to go in the bounce a bout!

The Miracle Tabernacle Free Town Church of God in Clarendon was abuzz with excitement last Friday, December 20 at its annual children's treat. Thanks to the many sponsors the children had themselves a whale of a time.
There were long lines as some lined up for the two available rides a bounce-a-bout and a trampoleaper.
Throughout the day they were fed sandwiches, chicken and rice and peas, cakes and ice and drinks courtesy of Pepsi and Jamaica Beverages through its product Busta.

The food taste nicer
when eaten under a tree

The kids will receive their gifts at a later date as the barrels were sent off late.
Listed below are the people who ensured the day was a whopping success. A special big up to all of you and God bless you. read more

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Here's A Depressing Fact About People Who Don't Sleep Enough......Poor People can't afford much sleep...48% of people sleep 6 hours or less.

Getting enough sleep is a luxury many Americans can't afford. Nearly half of people in households making less than $30,000 a year get six hours or less of sleep each night, compared to about a third of those in households making $75,000 or more, according to a new Gallup survey..

The survey results mirror findings of a recent United Kingdom study that found wealthy people were more likely to get a good night's rest on any given night. Low-income people suffer disproportionately from sleep-related health problems and often work long or unpredictable hours. read more

WESTMORELAND, JAMAICA: COPS CUT DOWN Three reputed members of the notorious Alma Gang, also known as the Haughton Gang, were shot and killed

SPRINGFIELD, Westmoreland — Three reputed members of the notorious Alma Gang, also known as the Haughton Gang, were shot and killed during a firefight with members of a joint police/military team in this rustic community Saturday night.

Among those killed was 33-year-old Jermaine Brown, otherwise called 'Peter' and 'Yaga', who was listed as one of the most wanted by the Westmoreland police. The other two were identified as 20-year-old Nicoy Clayton, also called 'Shake Hand', of Station Road, Negril, and 24-year-old Ryan Pringle, also called 'Wackie', of Broughton, both in Westmoreland.

Police said three guns, including an M-16 and an AK-47, were recovered after the firefight. The Alma Gang, police said, has been responsible for a number of murders, robberies and shootings in this parish. Read more: 

CRAZY WINTER WEATHER: Ice, High Wind In Great Lakes... Snow In Midwest... Flooding In South... Record Highs In NYC... 440,000 Without Power... 9 Dead... Hundreds Of Flights Canceled...

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — After the first full day of winter brought everything from balmy temperatures along the Mid-Atlantic to snow in the Midwest and ice, snow and flooding in the Great Lakes, some people could be left in the dark for Christmas.

Much of the foul weather that occurred Sunday has lessened or disappeared entirely, but the harsh aftereffects were expected to linger.

Brad Hoving, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Grand Rapids, Mich., said most people were without power in some counties between Grand Rapids and Lansing, Mich. Some may not have electricity until Wednesday or even Thursday, he said.

"It's a big deal," Hoving said. "It's Christmas and we've just had a major ice storm," with trees toppling over and ice-covered power lines..

By late Sunday, ice and snow had knocked out power to 440,000 homes and businesses in Michigan, upstate New York and northern New England — about half of whom had their power back by early Monday. The storm also left more than 400,000 customers without electricity in eastern Canada. read more

PALAS- 'Helping with the education of one student at a time'. Thanks for the continued support. PALAS awarded 115 scholarships & 13 computers over the past 3 years, including 60 in 2013. Please donate at www.PALAS1.org or send check to PALAS, P.O Box 5461 Alpharetta, GA 30023. Your donation is tax deductible.

IN JAMAICA: Super Cat Returns To Find Massive Support ahead of his Sting Performance.

Iconic dancehall artiste, Super Cat, is in Jamaica ahead of his Sting performance. Super Cat has not been in the line-up in more than a decade.

William Maragh, more popularly known as Super Cat,
 receives a hug from a fan upon his homecoming
after arriving via helicopter at the Cockburn
Gardens Primary and Junior High School play ground.

The artiste, yesterday, gave some of his fans a taste of what they can expect at this week's staging of Sting by transforming the football field of the CockBurn Pen community into a dancehall venue and joining a few of his peers to burn some lyrical fire under the sun.

Hundreds of patrons, many of whom were seeing him for the first time, turned out to see the icon in action.

Super Cat performed songs like Wicked and Wild as well as Jamaica, which brought roars of approval. He also introduced a young boy to the audience who sang a few conscious lyrics of his own, advising his fellow youth to work for what they wanted. read more

The 11 Most Stunning Christmas Trees From Around The World......1. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 2. National Christmas Tree, Washington, DC 3. Madrid, Spain 4. Oslo, Norway 5. IJsselstein, Netherlands

Christmas trees are like snowflakes -- no two are alike. From Brazil to Norway to the Czech Republic, the holiday staples can be seen gracing town squares and towering over monuments. Yet they have the capacity to look radically different, as countries twist and twirl the tradition of showcasing trees by adding their own lights, ornaments, bells and whistles.

Now that we're all in the seasonal spirit, take a look at these 11 gorgeous Christmas trees spotted in locales across the globe. read more

1. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

2. National Christmas Tree, Washington, DC

3. Madrid, Spain

4. Oslo, Norway

5. IJsselstein, Netherlands

TEST CRICKET: New Zealand beat West Indies by eight wickets in the third and final test in Hamilton

HAMILTON, New Zealand (CMC) – New Zealand beat West Indies by eight wickets in the third and final test in Hamilton on Saturday, to claim the three-match Test series two-nil.

HAMILTON, New Zealand — New Zealand’s T
im Southee successfully appeals for
 the wicket of West Indies’
 Veersammy Permaul.

 

The win was also the hosts’ first since 2006 against the Windies. Resuming on the fourth day at six without loss, New Zealand cruised to their target of 122 with eight wickets in hand.

Despite the loss of Peter Fulton (10) during the morning session and Kane Williamson (56) on the verge of victory, the home team crawled to an historic series win. Hamish Rutherford, who shared in an 83-run second-wicket partnership with Williamson, finished the match unbeaten on 48, hitting a boundary to confirm the result, alongside Man of the Match Ross Taylor (2). Read more: 

Colombian gov't scholarships galore But Jamaicans not applying for them......"We offer 15 scholarships a year to Jamaicans to study in Colombia, but nobody applies,"

THE Colombian Government has been trying to entice Jamaicans to study in that country for several years, but there have been no takers, one of its senior diplomats has said.

"We offer 15 scholarships a year to Jamaicans to study in Colombia, but nobody applies," bemoaned Deputy Head of Mission at the Colombian Embassy in Kingston William Bush. "Now we are promoting the fact that we have these scholarships," Bush told the Jamaica Observer.

The diplomat in an interview with the Sunday Observer last week, said that qualified Jamaicans would study at various locations across the country as part of a wider arrangement of cooperation between Jamaica and Colombia that has several other education components. Read more: 

IN JAMAICA: Sex slaves - Prostitute wants Gov't to probe brothels Several under-aged girls being exploited, sex worker claims

A sex worker who has admitted to working in more than 12 sex shops in Kingston, Montego Bay, Ocho Rios and Negril, has described conditions in many of the establishments as "worse than slavery", with girls as young as age 14 working, often without pay.

The sex worker, who gave her name only as 'Diamond', wants the police to investigate the operations of the shops and the treatment of the girls. "At one place you have to work 24 hours, and if they catch you sleeping is $3,000 draw from yuh pay. If a man walk in and yuh say yuh don't want to 'catch' that man because yuh don't feel like doing business with him, is a $3,000 charge," Diamond told the Jamaica Observer.

Read more: 

Tess is home! BEAUTIFUL PHOTOS of TESSANNE CHIN BACK IN JAMAICA (VIDEO)

Jamaican songbird Tessanne Chin is now on home soil after her historic win on the NBC talent show The Voice on Tuesday night. Chin touched down at the Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston just after 7:00 last night from New York on a private jet courtesy of her sponsors Digicel, to a red carpet welcome.

Here Chin, with trophy in hand, disembarks to wild cheers as sponsorship manager at Digicel Tahnida Nunes (right) looks on. Chin's first local 
performance will be on the Shaggy & Friends charity show on January 4. (PHOTO: BRYAN CUMMINGS) Read more: 

Tessanne Chin on Kathie Lee & Hoda

Access Hollywood: Tessanne Chin's interview after winning the VOICE.

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IN JAMAICA: Police Seize Benz, Set Eyes On Drug Kingpin's Other Assets......As the half-billion-dollar empire of convicted Jamaican drug kingpin Andrew Hamilton continues to crumble

As the half-billion-dollar empire of convicted Jamaican drug kingpin Andrew Hamilton continues to crumble, the Financial Investigations Division (FID) yesterday revealed that it had identified several properties it will seek to have forfeited to the State.

Head of the FID, Justin Felice, told The Gleaner that the properties - both residential units and open lots - are valued at "large amounts".

This Mercedes-Benz motor car was seized
 by the police at the Central Sorting Office
 in Kingston yesterday.
 - Norman Grindley/Chief Photographer

Yesterday, detectives from the FID swooped down on the Central Sorting Office on South Camp Road in Kingston and seized a late-model Mercedes-Benz motor car believed to be among Hamilton's assets.

Felice explained that the car was among 19 assets restrained by the court but said the FID was having difficulties locating it. "We have been looking for that car for some time," he told The Gleaner.

COURT APPEARANCES

The disclosure by Felice came hours after Kingston-based attorney Dawn Satterswaite and two other accused linked to Hamilton appeared in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court on money-laundering charges. read more

TESSANNE CHIN IS BACK IN JAMAICA: Welcome Home! Tessanne Touches Base For Short Break

Jamaican singer Tessanne Chin, who on Tuesday was declared winner of NBC's singing competition 'The Voice', arrived on the island last evening to a waiting crowd of supporters that included politicians, family members, friends, and well-wishers.

Tess and husband, Michael Cuffe Jr.

Her plane arrived at 7:20 p.m. and she exited into the waiting arms of her husband, Michael Cuffe. The crowd cheered as she hugged her husband; her father, Richard; her sister, singer Tami Chynn; and brother-in-law, entertainer Wayne Marshall, before greeting others in the receiving line.

Thanking everyone who turned out to welcome her, and tightly grasping the trophy she received on being named winner of the contest, Tessanne joked that she wanted a Grammy award to go along with it. Cuffe said he had her dinner - red peas soup with pig's tail (which he helped prepare) - waiting for her at home.

Richard Chin hugs his daughter, Tessanne,
 upon her arrival at the Norman Manley
 International Airport in Kingston
 last night. In the background is
 Tami Chynn, Tessanne's sister.

Her father said that when Tessanne was 15 years old, he was already imagining her walking the red carpet at the Grammys. He said he told her: "You have to dream before things come true. God knows the right time."

Tessanne became teary-eyed during a press conference held at the airport when her father-in-law, Michael Cuffe Sr, spoke about the close bond she shared with her sister, Tami. read more

President Obama's Half-Brother, Mark Obama Publishes Autobiography - Addresses Domestic Abuse, Reveals Private Family Matters

President Barack Obama's half-brother is publishing an autobiography that details the domestic abuse that served as the theme for his earlier semi-autobiographical novel, which featured an abusive parent patterned on their late father.

Mark Obama Ndesandjo also recounts his sporadic-but-intense encounters with his brother over the years in Cultures: My Odyssey of Self-Discovery. The self-published book, to be released in February, also tries to set the record straight on some points in the president's bestselling 1995 memoir, Dreams From My Father. In that book, Obama seeks to learn more about their father, a mostly absent figure, after learning of his death in a car crash in 1982 at age 46. read more

Student Sam McNair Suspended For Sexual Harassment After Hugging Teacher

A petition for Sam McNair, a Georgia teen suspended from school earlier this month after hugging a teacher, is gaining steam around the Internet.

Sam McNair

The petition, which had over 4,000 signatures on Wednesday afternoon, calls on Gwinnett County Public Schools to overturn McNair’s punishment. According to the Change.org petition, which was started by a Los Angeles woman, “The punishment does NOT fit the violation.”

The high school senior was suspended until next December after a teacher claimed McNair sexually harassed her, according to CBS Atlanta. Video surveillance footage of the incident shows McNair hugging the teacher from behind before she promptly pushes him away. The teacher claims that McNair’s lips and cheek touched her neck, though McNair vehemently denies this, per CBS Atlanta. read more

Tre'viance Markese Walker Killed 5 month old Baby Who Was Crying During Football Game: Cops

News9.com - Oklahoma City, OK - News, Weather, Video and Sports |

An Oklahoma man allegedly killed a 5-month-old baby because the boy wouldn't stop crying at a football game.

Tre'viance Markese Walker, 22, is charged with first-degree murder in the death of his girlfriend's son, who has been identified only as "J.B.", The Oklahoman reported.

An affidavit states that J.B. died of head injuries he received on December 7 under Walker's care at the man's home in Norman. Walker allegedly told police that he was watching at the University of Oklahoma vs. Oklahoma State football game on TV when J.B. started crying, and Walker responded by picking up the infant so aggressively that J.B.'s head "snapped back." read more

Bus Passengers Wrestle Armed Robber To The Ground In Striking Surveillance Footage (VIDEO)

Commuters in Washington were recently interrupted from their normal evening commute when an armed man boarded a Metro bus to West Seattle and tried to rob passengers at gunpoint.

But it was what happened next that makes the situation all the more striking: Bus passengers fought back against the would-be robber.

Surveillance footage released by prosecutors Wednesday shows one commuter push the armed man away before several other passengers jump into the fray. Working together, the bus passengers wrestle the gun-wielding man to the floor.

Though the video cuts away, passengers managed to pin the man down until police could take him into custody. read more

Barbados layoffs could be beginning of a gloomy time for CARICOM

While the economic recession that began in late 2008 has abated in North America and Europe, its effects have been prolonged in those Caribbean countries whose economies are highly reliant on services, the principal one being tourism says Sir Ronald Sande

Sir Ronald Sanders

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, Thursday Decemeber 19, 2013 - The announcement on Friday 13 December by the government of Barbados that it will lay-off over 3,000 public servants in January as a first step in cutting back government expenditure and reducing national demand for goods and services has rightly rattled other Caribbean Community (CARICOM) members. 

 Concern has been greatest in neighbouring Eastern Caribbean countries, particularly the six independent ones that, with the British overseas territory, Montserrat, form the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS). 

Read more: 

Tessanne Chin First "Jamaican" Interview after winning "The Voice" season 5

Here is Tessanne Chin’s first “Jamaican” Interview after winning “The Voice” season 5.
 She discusses Jamaican food and big up her “Half Way Tree” crew.

Indian Woman Miscarries 10 Babies In One Night

©2013 MapQuest  -  Portions ©2013 Natural Earth | Terms

In what's being called a medical record in India, a 28-year-old woman in Madhya Pradesh miscarried 10 babies in one night this week.

The Indo-Asian News Service reports that Anju Kushwaha delivered nine of the babies late Sunday night before she arrived at a hospital, where she delivered the 10th. Doctors revealed Monday that all of the babies were dead at 12 weeks.

It appears fertility drugs may have contributed to Kushwaha's conception and unusually high multiple pregnancy. According to the Business Standard, doctors at the hospital said the miscarriages followed ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome -- a complication from fertility medication.

"It seems that that there was no regular follow-up of her pregnancy after [in vitro fertilization]," Dr. Sumitra Yadav, a senior gynecologist, told The Times Of India. "At least three offspring could have been saved by reducing the pregnancy." read more

BREAKING NEWS: Many casualties in London's Apollo Theatre's roof collapses (UK)

Part of a roof in the Apollo Theatre in central London has collapsed during a performance.

The theatre in Shaftesbury Avenue was packed for a performance of the Curious Incident Of The Dog in the Night-time.

An eyewitness said she heard "a crackling" noise before the collapse at about 20:15 GMT. Another eyewitness said the "entire dome roof" fell on audience members seated in the stalls. London Ambulance said there were 30 casualties including walking wounded. London Fire Brigade said eight fire engines were attending and police are also at the scene in London's busy Theatreland.

Witnesses said they saw people leaving the building, covered in dust and debris - with some people bleeding and crying.

'Strange crackling noise' read more

Jilted Scottish groom, 57, to give second chance to Jamaican bride, 24, who jilted him after 20 minutes 21 Nov 2011 00:00 EXCLUSIVE: A jilted Scots groom is giving a second chance to the runaway Jamaican bride who dumped him after just 20 minutes.

A jilted Scots groom is giving a second chance to the runaway Jamaican bride who dumped him after just 20 minutes.

Johnny Gannon, 57, admits his pals think he's crazy to have anything more to do with Patrice Chambers, 24.

But he's agreed to meet her for showdown talks in Jamaica next month.And he's already sent her hundreds of pounds for medical bills - on top of the £5000 he blew on their ill-fated marriage.

Social worker Johnny told the Record: "She has been back in contact. "My friends think I'm mad, and I understand people questioning my thinking. "But she's pleading with me to get her back over here and she says she doesn't want a divorce. "I don't know what to think. A lot will depend on her demeanour when I meet her."

The Record told in July how Johnny, who regularly travels to Jamaica, fell for pretty Patrice on the island when a pal set them up on a blind date. She suggested marriage after being turned down for a visa to come to Britain, and they wed in Jamaica earlier this year. read more

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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.

SAO PAULO, BRAZIL : Doctors Perform Cesarean On Woman Who Wasn't Pregnant

SAO PAULO (AP) — Officials in southeastern Brazil say doctors performed a cesarean section on a 37-year-old woman only to discover that she wasn't pregnant.

Simone Carvalho is a spokeswoman for the Health Department of the coastal city of Cabo Frio. She said Tuesday the woman told doctors at the city's Woman's Hospital she was 41 weeks pregnant and in pain.

Carvalho said one reason doctors believed she was pregnant was because "she had the symptoms associated with pregnancy like an enlarged abdomen and nausea." Carvalho said "doctors could not hear the baby's heartbeat and feeling its life was in danger ordered an emergency cesarean after which they discovered it was a false pregnancy."

The spokeswoman added the woman "was so convinced she was pregnant, that she altered her prenatal tests that showed otherwise because she was convinced the results were wrong." read more

Target Customers Had Credit Card Info Stolen On Black Friday: Report.......40 Millions may be affected.

Dec 18 (Reuters) - An unknown number of Target Corp customers shopping over the busy Black Friday weekend had their credit card information stolen in an "extensive" breach of the U.S. retailer's security, Dow Jones reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the matter.

The theft may have occurred through software installed at machines customers use to swipe their cards when paying, Dow Jones cited one of the unidentified sources as saying.

The Black Friday weekend after Thanksgiving is among the busiest shopping periods of the year. Target did not respond to requests for comment.

Tessanne to headline Shaggy and Friends to raise funds for Bustamante Hospital for Children in St Andrew.

TESSANNE Chin will be the headliner for charity show, Shaggy and Friends, set for the lawn of Jamaica House on January 4.

Dr Lambert Ennis (left) of the Bustamante
 Hospital for Children congratulates
reggae act and philanthropist Shaggy
 for his work in raising funds
for the hospital...
 (PHOTOS: BRYAN CUMMINGS).

 

It will be the singer's first local performance since winning the NBC talent competition, The Voice, on Tuesday night. Diamond-selling reggae act Shaggy made the announcement at the charity show's launch held at the Bustamante Hospital for Children in St Andrew, yesterday. Proceeds from the event will go towards the 50-year-old facility's cardiac wing which currently under construction and scheduled to open in February..

Shaggy said he encouraged Chin to try out for the American TV talent show as a means of boosting her career internationally. He said he had prior experience working with singer Dez Duron in the 2012 season.

"I had first hand experience and, therefore, knew what was required for someone to go all the way on The Voice and just knew Tessanne was the full package. She has that great personality plus she can sing like hell. I was confident it would work for all concerned," he said.Read more