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Coming off a rare loss at 100 meters, Olympic and world champion Usain Bolt is cutting his season short, saying he won't race again in 2010 because of tightness in his lower back. Usain Bolt will have treatment to loosen his back and then rest, skipping IAAF Diamond League track and field meets in Zurich on Aug. 19, and in Brussels on Aug. 27. Bolt hadn't lost an individual race in two years until Friday, when Tyson Gay of the United States beat him at the DN Galan meet in Stockholm. Gay ran 9.84 seconds, and Bolt finished in 9.97

Prime Minister Bruce Golding, currently on an official visit to Colombia, met with outgoing President Alvaro Uribe, and a group of Jamaicans residing there, on Saturday August 7, 2010, the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) has reported. Mr. Golding discussed relations between the two countries and progress on bilateral agreements between Jamaica and Colombia, with President Uribe. He also thanked the Colombian President for his support in recent efforts to combat crime and violence in Jamaica, and briefed him on the achievements that have been made in the first two months. Yesturday afternoon, the Prime Minister attended the inauguration of Mr. Uribe's successor, President Juan Manuel Santos.

The Jamaica National Flag was first raised on Independence Day, August 6, 1962. It signifies the birth of our nation. Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, 234 kilometres (145 mi) in length and as much as 80 kilometres (50 mi) in width, amounting to 11,100 square kilometres (4,300 sq mi). It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about 145 kilometres (90 mi) south of Cuba, and 190 kilometres (120 mi) west of Hispaniola, the island harboring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Its indigenous Arawakan-speaking Taíno inhabitants named the island Xaymaca, meaning the "Land of Wood and Water", or the "Land of Springs". Once a Spanish possession known as Santiago, in 1655 it became an English, and later a...

One day after it was reported that Wyclef Jean would run in the next Haitian presidential election, The Smoking Gun reported Wednesday that the musician owes the Internal Revenue Service more than $2.1 million. The IRS reportedly hit Jean with a $724,332 tax lien this past May, one of multiple liens tied to Jean's individual 1040 returns dating back to 2006. The federal tax liens are against his current residence, a $1.85 million home at 8 Cameron Road in Saddle River. Jean, whose birth name was Nel Wyclef Jean, has lived in the home with his wife Claudinette and family since 1998 when he bought it.

Wyclef Jean, the former Fugees singer, formally announce his candidacy for president of Haiti yesturday. In the eight months since Haiti's devastating earthquakes, Jean has become a high-profile spokesman for the country. In 2007, Haitian president René Préval named Wyclef Jean the country's ambassador-at-large, after his help in a 2006 election campaign. Préval is not permitted to run for a third consecutive term as president. Instead, Jean's likely rivals include former mayors, prime ministers and Michel "Sweet Micky" Martelly, another Haitian musical star. Perhaps the most formidable opponent is Jean's uncle, Raymond Joseph, Haiti's ambassador to the United States, who has already announced that he is running.

Intelcan Technosystems has received a contract for the construction of air traffic control (ATC) towers at Norman Manley International Airport and Sangster International Airport in Jamaica. The new ATC towers are being built to support the increased traffic expected in Kingston and Montego Bay. The (US$19.3m) contract was approved by the Jamaican Cabinet in July and the work will be carried out in two phases over the next two years. Construction of the ATC tower at Sangster is expected to be complete in 2011, while the tower at Norman Manley should be finished in 2012.

Hulk Hogan's daughter, Brooke Hogan, used a song written by two Jamaican producers on her debut album, "The Redemption," without crediting or paying them, the producers claim in a $200,000 federal lawsuit. In early 2006, Jam 2 Productions claims Hogan and Sobe Entertainment asked Jam 2's owners, Jammy James and Camar Doyal, to write music for Hogan's upcoming album. Jam 2 says James and Doyal submitted a CD of songs, and Hogan agreed to pay and credit them if she ended up using their music. Hogan decided to use one of Jam 2's songs, "Come On, Come On," which Doyle and James wrote in 2001, according to the complaint. Jam 2 says Hogan sent it a rough version of the song, overlaid with her own lyrics and re-titled "Trust Me." Sobe...

DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES -- Citing national security concerns, the United Arab Emirates said Sunday that it will block key features on BlackBerry smartphones because the devices operate beyond the government's ability to monitor. An official in neighboring Saudi Arabia indicated that it will follow suit. The decision could prevent hundreds of thousands of users in the UAE from accessing e-mail and the Web on their devices starting Oct. 11, putting the Middle Eastern federation's reputation as a business-friendly commercial and tourism hub at risk. BlackBerry transmissions are encrypted and routed overseas, and the measure could be motivated in part by government fears that the messaging system might be exploited by terrorists...

There was no yacht or over-the-top festivities just family and close friends as Alicia Keys and Swizz Beatz tied the knot in a private ceremony Saturday in a private home on the Mediterranean Sea. The bride wore a Grecian-inspired Vera Wang dress and carried a bouquet of purple calla lilies. The groom was decked out in a Tom Ford tuxedo. The couple's friend Dr. Deepak Chopra presided over the nuptials. The couple, who are also expecting their first child together, have been together since fall 2008. It's the first marriage for Alicia Keys, who is 29 years old, and the couple's first child together: Beatz who real name is Kasseem Dean, is 31 years old, has two sons, Kasseem Jr., 3, and son Prince Nasir, 9, from previous...

After a whirlwind week Gyptian’s new album Hold You comes in at #2 on the Reggae Billboard charts. The smash hit single “Hold You” maintains at #1 on iTunes. The album has received high praises. Spin magazine gave it three stars and The New York Times said “like his big hit, this record is spare, woozy and gently enchanting, all breezy, loping love songs.” Gyptian is currently touring internationally in support of the worldwide release Tour Info: July 29 LOS ANGELES July 30 MONTEREY August 1st- Canada (Caribana) August 5th- Jamaica Album Release Party August 6th- Miami (Album Release Party) August 7th- Mandeville, Jamaica August 14 St. Croix (USVI) August 20 POUGHKEEPSIE August 21 TAMPA, Fl. August 22nd York...

This is the black couple who have amazed medical experts after their baby daughter was born with white skin, blue eyes and blonde hair. Benjamin and Angela Ihegboro's daughter, Nmachi, has flummoxed genetic experts who are unable to explain why she looks they way she does. Doctors say the white-skinned newborn is not an albino. The blonde, blue-eyed girl's Nigerian parents say they don't know of any white ancestry in either of their families. Doctors say baby Nmachi Ihegboro is not an albino and attribute her appearance to an unknown genetic mutation. Nmachi, whose name means "Beauty of God" in the Nigerian couple's homeland, has confused genetics experts because neither of her parents has any mixed-race family history. Source...

Chaka Demus & Pliers are suing Universal Music Group for unpaid royalties. Chaka Demus & Pliers, known for their smash hit "Murder She Wrote", has filed a lawsuit seeking $10 million in damages. The lawsuit claims that Universal withheld money owed them and participated in trademark infringement. Chaka Demus & Pliers signed a contract with Universal back in 1992 giving them full rights to the trademark Chaka Demus & Pliers, but Universal has not held up to their end of the agreement. Chaka Demus & Pliers have also filed an injunction to stop the sale of their music by Universal Music.

Queens, NY: Irie Jamboree, North America’s premier reggae festival will not be held this year. The executive team made the agonizing decision to forgo the seventh annual staging this year. We will instead focus our resources on planning for the 2011 festival on Labor Day Sunday and promise another spectacular, exciting presentation then. To set the record straight about why this beloved annual concert was forced into hiatus this year, we list 5 reasons that are the cold facts. There’s a well known adage in the Caribbean that “if America sneezes, the Caribbean gets a cold”. This has never been more severely evidenced than over the past few years as the economic recession being experienced by the U.S. economy has had a grueling...

Grammy nominated singer, songwriter, and producer Beres Hammond’s “For The Love Of It” 2010 Tour kicked off in Florida last week and will continue throughout the U.S. and Canada making stops in 35 cities including Atlanta (July 30), Washington, DC (August 1), New York (August 6,7 & 8), San Francisco (August 27), Los Angeles (August 29) and wrapping back in Florida’s West Palm Beach (Sept 12). Joining Hammond on the tour will be Kenyatta Hill & Culture and Inner Circle. Known to many as the originator of “lover’s rock,” Hammond has been writing, producing and pouring out his smoky-sweet voice over every kind of riddim track for over three decades. He continues to top the charts, most recently with the 2008 release A MOMENT IN TIME...

Adijah "Vybz Kartel" Palmer was freed last night, ending a two-week incarceration for the entertainer under special provisions under the State of Emergency that allow Jamaica Police to detain individuals for lengthy periods without charging them. Vybz Kartel is set to perform on Thursday night July 22, 2010 at the annual Reggae Sumfest show at Catherine Hall in Montego Bay.

The department's Special Enforcement Team, with the assistance of the police, and as part of their ongoing operations to clamp down on delinquent taxpayers, carried out the raid at O’Neil " Elephant Man" Bryan house in 3 Hillcrest Avenue, off Hope Road. Kingston. Earlier, the tax department started its operation in Haven Dale St Andrew at a house owned by Elephant Man but investigators said they found nothing of value. The tax officials along with the police then went to the Hillcrest Avenue house belonging to Elephant Man where the motorcar was seized. The Tax Department, however, declined to confirm how much money was owed by Elephant Man, but said assets are seized when individuals are 'chronically delinquent' in tax payments.

Inga "Foxy Brown" Marchand was arrested on Thursday, July 22, 2010, in Brooklyn for violating an order of protection put in place by a neighbor, Arlene Raymond. Brown apparently got into a shouting match with Raymond, in Brown’s driveway, because Raymond stared at Brown, and complained about loud music coming from Brown’s house. Brown is said to have used profanity toward Raymond and exposed herself to Raymond. When police arrived, Brown was immediately taken into custody and charged with one count of criminal contempt, for violating the order of protection dating back to a 2007 incident with Raymond. Foxy Brown was later released on $50,000 bail. The order of protection stems from an encounter Arlene Raymond had with rapper...

Merlene Joyce Ottey born May 10, 1960 in Hanover, Jamaica. She is a Jamaican-born, Slovenian track athlete. Ottey began her career representing Jamaica, but since 2002, has represented Slovenia, where she now resides. Fifty-year-old Merlene Ottey could become the oldest athlete to compete at the European Championships after Slovenia named the sprinter to its 4x100 relay team. Ottey, a naturalized Slovenian of Jamaican origin, would make her Barcelona debut in the July 31 heats. Ottey has won 29 medals at major competitions, including seven Olympics starting with Moscow in 1980. Ottey, who first raced for Slovenia in the championships four years ago, has already clocked 11.84 seconds over 100 meters this season. She was second in...

The Japanese have been making reggae almost as long as Jamaicans have been exporting it. This phenomenon could have started as early as the mid-’70s, when the film “The Harder They Come” grafted the crime drama to Kingston’s reggae scene and became an international cult classic. Or, more likely, it began sometime around 1979, when Bob Marley landed for the first time in the Land of the Rising Sun. Since then, the reggae scene in Japan has cycled through several styles and sub-subcultures, but only in recent years has one crucial aspect of its identity fully emerged: Finally, Japanese reggae stars are singing in Japanese. These days, the Japanese reggae scene is more rude boy than rasta. A vibrant roots reggae scene flourished in...

The 21st Central American and Caribbean Games is taking place in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, from July 18, 2010 to August 1, 2010. ALIA Atkinson gave Jamaica its first medal of the 2010 Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games after clocking a games record 2:30.99 minutes to claim gold in the girls 200m freestyle swimming on the opening day of the Games in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico yesterday. The 21-year-old, swimming from lane four, was almost 500th of a second faster than second place Byanca Rodriguez of Mexico (2:35.82) and Alegria Medina, also of Mexico, in 2:36.67.