In Haiti, another earthquake was the last thing needed. Yet today, another Haiti earthquake/aftershock struck with nearly as much force as the last one. In fact, the aftershock rated a 6.1 on the Richter scale, just .9 less than the 7.0 that battered the nation. The death toll and damage can't be as bad as last week's quake, especially since there's much less to destroy now. But in Haiti, another earthquake continues the seemingly unending nightmare.

Since this was a mere aftershock, and not a full fledged earthquake, the damage shouldn't be as extensive. Yet considering how Haiti has barely cleared the damage from the last earthquake, more tremors are not welcome - especially ones that rate a 6.0.

There are no official totals yet on the damage and in how many more may have been killed. According to Yahoo News, this time the center was 35 miles west-southwest of Port-au-Prince. If there is any consolation, it's that another Haiti earthquake occurred farther away from the battered capital.

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic — A devastating earthquake struck Haiti late Tuesday afternoon, causing the collapse of the National Palace, leveling countless shantytown dwellings and bringing even more suffering to a nation that was already the hemisphere’s poorest and most disaster-prone.

The earthquake, the worst in the region in more than 200 years, left the country in a shambles. As night fell in Port-au-Prince, Haiti’s capital, fires burned near the shoreline downtown, but otherwise the city fell into darkness. The electricity was out, telephones were not working and relief workers struggled to make their way through streets blocked by rubble.

In the chaos, it was not possible for officials to determine how many people had been killed and injured, but they warned that the casualties could be substantial.

The physical toll was easier to assess. The headquarters of the United Nations mission collapsed, the United Nations said in a statement, and many employees were missing.

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – A group of promoters and entertainers say they plan to write the State-owned Telecommunications Services of Trinidad and Tobago (TSTT) asking it to withdraw its sponsorship of the February 18 concert featuring the American singer Beyonce.

Former chief executive officer of the Caribbean Prestige Foundation, Gregory Fernandes, who is among those involved in the effort to get TSTT to rescind its decision, said that they intend submitting the letter to the company’s CEO, Roberto Peon, on Wednesday.

Fernandes, speaking on local radio here, said that TSTT has already indicated that it would be reducing its funding to activities for the Carnival celebrations this year.

“Bringing Beyonce at this time puts more pressure on the industry,” he said, adding “Carnival activity is a very high risk and a lot of bands suffer high losses”.

First, reggae singer Buju Banton was in the news this month because of his best reggae album Grammy nomination. More on that later.

Now Banton, a Jamaican performer whose real name is Mark Anthony Myrie, is in federal prison in Miami, the Miami Herald reports.

He's been in custody since Thursday, arrested on a charge of conspiracy to possess, with intent to distribute, more than 5 kilograms of cocaine, a DEA spokesman said.

NASSAU, The Bahamas - Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs the Hon Brent Symonette will participate in the Commonwealth Foreign Ministers meeting in Port of Spain , Trinidad and Tobago from November 25 to 26, 2009.

The meeting is a forerunner to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) from November 27-29.

Mr. Symonette is accompanied by Frank Davis, First Secretary at the Bahamas High Commission in London.

Foreign Ministers will consider global development, taking into account the global economic situation, climate changes and its effects on Commonwealth nations, initiatives to include youth in mainstream, among other matters.

The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting is held every two years and brings together Commonwealth leaders to discuss global and Commonwealth issues, and to agree upon collective policies and initiatives.

The Commonwealth is a voluntary association of 53 countries that support each other and work together toward shared goals in democracy and development.

Prime Minister Patrick Manning could not hide his feeling of vindication and national pride as he opened the $480 million controversial National Academy for the Performing Arts yesterday.

There was vindication over his strategy of using UDeCOTT, its executive chairman Calder Hart and Chinese contractors, such as Shanghai Construction Group, in pursuing Government’s massive construction programme; and pride over what this has accomplished thus far.

Delivering the feature address at yesterday’s opening of the National Academy for the Performing Arts, Manning spoke of the ’slings and arrows’ he endured, the public scepticism and cynicism. But, he noted triumphantly, all this was changing to pride as the facilities were being completed.

Singer Rihanna is to talk for the first time about being assaulted by her ex-boyfriend Chris Brown in an interview being screened in the US this week.

The 21-year-old will tell ABC's Diane Sawyer what happened on the night of the attack in February, a statement from the TV network said.

Brown was sentenced to five years probation and six months community service in August over the attack.

The interview will be screened on Good Morning America on Thursday and Friday.

Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Inc. will be expanding its reach into the Caribbean, with plans to open 14 shops over five years in the Dominican Republic.

The company said yesterday that it has reached a franchise-development agreement with Dominspec, S.A., which also operates Burger King and Papa John's restaurants in that country.

"Having an experienced and successful franchise partner like Dominspec, S.A. introduce Krispy Kreme in the Dominican Republic is a great opportunity for Krispy Kreme," said Jeff Welch, the president of Krispy Kreme's international division.

Isabel Turull, the managing operator for Dominspec, said that adding Krispy Kreme franchises will "strategically complement and widen" Dominspec's food and beverage operations.

Once Krispy Kreme begins operating in the Dominican Republic, it will have shops in 19 countries -- the United States, Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Indonesia, Japan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mexico, the Philippines, Puerto Rico, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates and United Kingdom.

PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad — Authorities barred Jamaican rapper Bounty Killer from entering Trinidad for a weekend show where he was scheduled to appear, a concert promoter said Sunday.

Verne Extavour, spokesman for Jacho Entertainment, told The Associated Press that Bounty Killer was turned away upon arrival and flew back to Jamaica.

No explanation was given, Extavour said. Immigration officials did not immediately return a call seeking comment.

The last time Bounty Killer was in Trinidad, he was arrested on stage and charged with using obscene language. Authorities in Jamaica arrested him for the same reason during last year's Reggae Sumfest.

Best known for the album "My Xperience" and for collaborating with No Doubt on the song "Hey Baby," Bounty Killer was one of a number of musicians scheduled to perform at Saturday's concert.

Among them was Vybz Kartel, with whom Bounty Killer has a long-standing rivalry that has led to violence between their fans.

Promoters had said the concert would represent a truce.

Trinidad and Tobago has a new Miss World delegate.

Last evening, eleven young ladies vied for the title and the chance to take part in the pageant, which will be held this December in South Africa.

The women started off the night at Queen's Hall in swimwear from the Inn Collection before being grilled during the personal interview.
 
Finally, the Miss T&T delegates showed off their evening gowns before the judges decided that Ashana Arthur was the best of the best.

Judges at last night's event included Miss World 1986 Giselle Laronde-West, ex-priest turned Minister of Public Administration, Kennedy Swaratsingh and well-known journalist Andy Johnson.

Ashana Arthur, who also won Miss Photogenic, now begins an intense, three-month training period, before flying to South Africa where she will vie with over 100 other contestants for the crown.