Topic: Jamaica

2012 Spelling Bee champ wins with 'guetapens' (+video)

Snigdha Nandipati is the fifth Indian-American in a row to win the Scripps National Spelling Bee. The 14-year old spelled 'guetapens,' which means ambush or trap.

What's that word? National Spelling Bee ready for finals

The winner will take home $30,000 and a scholarship.

Obama decision on gay marriage ripples through Latin America (+video)

Gay marriage is legal in parts of Latin America, but is still controversial with much of the population. Obama's statement may reignite debate.

How 5 young black men see the Trayvon Martin case

The Monitor approached, at random, five young black men in Boston, Los Angeles, Coral Gables, Fla., and Louisville, Ky., and asked them to talk about the Trayvon Martin case, race relations, hoodies, and, of course, their own life experiences. Here's what they had to say.

Support for crime boss 'Dudas' Coke still strong in Jamaica

'Dudas' Coke reportedly helped poor people in his neighborhood pay for food and school fees, making him wildly popular despite international charges of brutality, writes guest blogger Hannah Stone.

International Women's Day: How it's celebrated around the globe

International Women's Day has served for more than a century as a day to honor the achievements of women globally. Here are some ways people are celebrating:

From Wilt Chamberlain to Jeremy Lin: 10 NBA 'firsts'

Jeremy Lin's rise on the NBA radar provides the impetus to look back at Wilt Chamberlain's highest-scoring game and nine other NBA 'firsts.'

Women's history month: 10 women making history today

March is known as Women's History month, meant to recognize the contributions and progress of women across history and around the world.  Women today are playing some significant roles, from making peace to crafting economic policy in the midst of a crisis.  Here are 10 women who are making history, today.

Brazil's Petrobras names first female CEO

Women rise in Latin America: the Petrobras board meets today to confirm Maria das Gracas Foster as first female CEO for Latin America's largest firm.

Queen Elizabeth II celebrates 60 years on throne (+video)

Queen Elizabeth II: Dressed in a Tiffany-blue hat and colorful overcoat against the winter cold, she was greeted by well-wishers in the snow-covered town of King's Lynn at an event planned to mark Accession Day, the anniversary of the day she became queen in 1952.

How an 18-year-old murder verdict reflects a racially changed UK

The 1993 murder in London of black teenager Stephen Lawrence revealed systemic racism in Britain, spawning sweeping efforts to root it out.

Sing Your Song: movie review

'Sing Your Song' shows the energy and optimism Harry Belafonte gave to civil rights work – around the world.

In surprise landslide, Jamaican opposition wins back power

Former Prime Minister Portia Simpson, Jamaica's first female prime minister, handily beat Andrew Holness, the nation's youngest prime minister, in yesterday's election.

Job of Jamaica's youngest prime minister ever is up for grabs

Jamaica heads to the polls today in a vote that will decide whether it's youngest prime minister, Andrew Holness, stays on.

Venezuela nabs Colombian cartel leader Maximiliano Bonilla, a.k.a. 'Valenciano'

On the eve of a meeting of the Venezuelan and Colombian presidents, police seized Maximiliano Bonilla and plan to extradite him to the US, where there is a $5 million reward for his capture.

In debate, Romney, Perry warn of Islamist terrorists in Latin America. Are they right?

In last night's Republican presidential debate on foreign policy, Mitt Romney and Rick Perry warned that Hezbollah and Hamas are operating in Latin America and pose a major threat to the US.

Will police officer's manslaughter trial bring greater accountability in Caribbean?

Trinidad has set a date for the trial of a police officer accused of killing a civilian in 2003 – a rarity in the Caribbean, where cops under pressure to stop crime are usually not charged for on-the-job slayings.

Statue of Liberty birthday celebrations include Sigourney Weaver, 'La Marseillaise,' and 125 new Americans

Alabama immigration law leaves schools gripped by uncertainty

A judge upheld a provision in the Alabama immigration law that forces public schools to check the immigration status of new students. Schools are scrambling to determine the impact.

Labor Day: 5 things you probably didn't know about the end-of-summer holiday

Labor Day: From a debate surrounding the holiday's founder to an enigmatic social rule, the history of Labor Day offers plenty of material to keep you reading on your time away.

Jamaican drug lord 'Dudus' Coke pleads guilty. Why did his arrest take so long?

While Coke's plea wraps up a long pursuit by US and Jamaican authorities, an examination of the efforts to prosecute him implicate several parties – including Jamaican officials and a US law firm.

The Sugar Barons: Family, Corruption, Empire, and War in the West Indies

A rich narrative looks back at an era when sugar merchants were the power brokers of their day.

Fine art of hurricane tracking: Push is on for the 7-day forecast

NOAA currently forecasts the paths of storms five days ahead. But scientists hope to identify storm systems sooner and better predict when one is poised to intensify – thereby improving hurricane preparedness.

London riots: Residents demand tougher policing after third night of burning, looting [VIDEO]

London riots continued for a third night Monday and spread to other cities, causing Prime Minister David Cameron to cut short his holiday and hold crisis talks.

Liberate liberal arts from the myth of irrelevance

Today’s employers want workers who are thinkers. To meet the demands of the 21st century student and economy, a new model of liberal arts is emerging – one tied to hands-on experience.