News

Usain Bolt took a few spins behind the wheel of two different Ferraris - a 458 Italia and a 599 GTB Fiorano at the Formula One team's private track monday in New Zealand. The event was arranged by Puma, Bolt's top sponsor and one of Ferrari's suppliers. Bolt says

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has apologized to the region for her statement that any aid given to Caribbean countries affected by Tropical Storm Tomas must in some measure benefit Trinidad and Tobago. Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar said:

The ex-leader of the 90's R&B group Jodeci Donald "DeVante Swing" DeGrate Jr. was arrested at a Subway in Burbank, CA this past weekend. The police received a call from a concerned citizen after DeVante was sloppily crashing into tables. When officers arrived, they arrested the 41-year-old singer for being drunk in public and took him to a nearby jail. DeVante was released after cops determined he had finally sobered up, owever he wasn't be charged with a crime.

R&B singer-songwriter Ne-Yo is a father for the first time. His girlfriend Monyetta Shaw went into early labor Friday night and had a baby girl. The baby's name is Madilyn Grace Smith. The birth took place in an Atlanta Georgia hospital. The baby was due to be born in January 2011.

Apparently, promoters have been advertising that Cecile will perform at a dancehall event in Kenya this December. However, the artist has refuted any such claims, though she hopes to tour Kenya at a future date. The following statement was issued today by Cecile:

Gyptian won another major award on Wednesday night. He beat out five other nominees Mr Vegas, Damian ‘Junior Gong’ Marley, Gramps Morgan, Jah Cure and Vybz Kartel in the Best Reggae Artiste category of the 2010 Soul Train Music Awards. The Soul Train win comes closely on the after the UK's MOBO award that the singer won a few weeks ago. Gyptian performed a medley of his current hits Hold Yuh and Nah Let Go during the Soul Train awards telecast.

Buju Banton was released from jail yesterday, on bail. He walked out of the Pinellas County lock-up in Florida after he was granted bail in an immigration court. He was granted bail in the sum of US$300,000 in the federal court last month, but an appeal of an aspect of his bail conditions set by US magistrate Anthony Porcelli by the prosecution held up his release, along with his visa issue that resulted in him having to apply for bail in the immigration court to prevent his further detention. As part of his bail conditions, Banton will have to wear a tracking device and will be under 24-hour surveillance from a security company. He has also signed an extradition waiver and will not be allowed to leave the Middle District of...

After Jay-Z took a slight jab at the rapper-minister-Cash4Gold spokesman in a verse on Kanye West’s “So Appalled,” making light of Hammer's well documented financial problems, Hammer took to Twitter and promised retaliation. In the song Jay-Z talked about Hammer losing his money, and apparently the retired rapper took it to heart even though Jay-Z is definitely not the first person to talk about MC Hammer’s financial problems. Jay-Z rapped on one of West's G.O.O.D. Friday tracks Hammer has released a new dis track and accompanying video, “Better Run Run.”

Rodney "Bounty Killer" Price trial for unlawful wounding was post poned yesterday until January 11, 2011. He is accused of using a hammer, a gold chain and mosquito zapper to beat his girlfriend. The trail was post poned because the female accuser failed to show up to court for the triail. Bounty Killer was arrested in September on a charged of unlawful wounding following an alleged incident at his Oaklands apartment in Kingston, where he reportedly attacked his 19-year-old lover, Raquel Smith. The Judge made several calls for Raquel Smith which went unanswered, As a result, the magistrate rescheduled the trial for January and issued a bench warrant for Raquel Smith.

UK’s Prime Minister David Cameron wants to send home prisoners from Jamaica and other nations, when they’re imprisoned, even if they do not consent to be sent home. About 942 Jamaicans head the list of foreigners in the British prison system followed by Nigeria with 727 and Irish Republic with 681. According to the British prime minister, it costs taxpayers £38,000 to keep someone in jail for a year. He said his administration hopes to reduce the prison population to 3,000 by 2014, rather than add 8,000 extra prison cell that the previous government said would be needed. Jamaica Government has signalled that it will not accept any plans by the United Kingdom to unilaterally change the deportee arrangements to suit its purpose...

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar made it clear on Monday "No help to anyone without benefits to Trinidad and Tobago". She said Trinidad and Tobago stands ready to assist its Caricom neighbours but she stipulated that any aid would only come after discussions with her Cabinet colleagues as well as the Opposition Leader, and must in some measure benefit the country. The Manning government had been severely criticised by Trinidad and Tobago nationals for giving assistance to Caribbean countries especially in non-emergency situations.

Usain Bolt has captured one of the top honors at the 29th annual Commonwealth Sports Awards, despite not participating at the Games last month in Delhi. Bolt walked away with the Outstanding Male Athlete accolade at the Awards ceremony at the International Convention Centre Saturday night. He opted out of the Commonwealth Games and was not present at the award ceremony.

Alcohol is more dangerous than illegal drugs like heroin, ecstasy and crack cocaine, a new study has said. Researchers rated alcohol the most dangerous substance based on the overall dangers to the individual and society as a whole. The work was led by Professor David Nutt, the former government drugs adviser who was sacked for criticising the then Labour government's decision to upgrade cannabis from class C to class B. His team analysed how addictive a drug is and how it harms the human body as well as other factors like environmental and socio-economic costs, such as health care, social services, and prison. They found heroin, crack cocaine and methamphetamine, or crystal meth, to be the most lethal to individuals. When...

Rihanna has filled a huge room in her new Los Angeles mansion with memorabilia, a giant painting of the legendary Jamaican reggae artist, gun-shaped chandeliers and a bar where she can go and relax. Rihanna explained:

Kat Stacks, whose real name is Andrea Herrera, has been on the verge of jail time twice - once for prostitution and another time for holding a concealed weapon. Kat Stacks has been arrested on immigration charges. She was arrested and charged with being an unlawful citizen in the United States, and was denied bond. It is rumored that her deportation process has begun and she could be deported back to Venezuela.

The management team for reggae singer, Beres Hammond, is livid over recent Internet reports that the singer is suffering from a rare form of throat cancer. Bere's manager, Mervys Walsh who has represented Beres for over 20 years said:

Legendary reggae matriarch Rita Marley will be the recipient of the Marcus Garvey Lifetime Achievement Award at the 17th Annual Caribbean American Heritage Awards Gala hosted by the Institute of Caribbean Studies (ICS) in Washington, DC, on November 12, 2010. Rita Marley will accept the award during the gala dinner to be held at the JW Marriott in Washington, DC.

Buju Banton retrial has been postponed from December to February. The change came at the request of Banton's defense attorney, who said in a motion that Banton hopes to make arrangements for bail for the holidays. Buju Banton's attorney says his client wants to spend the holiday season with his family.

Gregory "Cool Ruler" Isaacs has died at the age of 59 after a long battle with lung cancer at his home in London. Gregory Isaacs was born in Kingston, Jamaica on July 15, 1951. Gregory Issacs is one of the most famous of all the Jamaican reggae stars to emerge in the '70s. He never achieved the same level of commercial success enjoyed by Bob Marley, Dennis Brown or Jimmy Cliff but classic tunes like 'Slave Master', 'Down The Line', 'Cool Ruler', 'Black a Kill Black', and (of course) 'Night Nurse' place him firmly amongst the all time greats.

Makeda Jahnesta Marley the youngest child of Bob Marley will spend seven years on probation for growing marijuana in her Philadelphia-area home. The judge offered 29-year-old Makeda Jahnesta Marley a choice: a shorter prison term or a seven years of probation. She opted for probation and risks being jailed if she violates her probation terms. Marley's probation calls for her to undergo random drug tests and stay away from drug users. Makeda Marley was arrested in 2008 after police say they found her removing plants from her basement when officers arrived on a domestic-dispute call. She pleaded guilty in September.