A Chicago-based speakers bureau is suing the Rev. Jesse Jackson for $100,000, saying the civil rights leader reneged on a contract to appear at a political rally in the island nation of Trinidad two years ago. Read more.

Citizens of Tobago Head to the Polls
Tobago, part of the Caribbean’s Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, is set to hold elections Monday. The vote will determine if the ruling People’s National Movement (PNM) would win a third consecutive term. The party is up against the new Tobago Organization of the People (TOP), a group led by minority leader Ashworth Jack. Both sides believe they’ll win and bring positive changes to Tobago. The PNM promises to encourage economic diversification, and the TOP hopes to reduce wasteful spending. About 45,000 voters are expected to come out to the polls.
Opposition Won’t Back Down From Mugabe
Zimbabwe opposition leaders will meet with longtime leader Robert Mugabe in an attempt to finalize plans for a unified government, reports CNN. The opposition won’t settle for anything but equal power, with the ability to help citizens of the struggling nation. “We cannot go into position of authority without the attendant and consequent power to enable us to deliver on change, food and jobs…. We cannot commit political suicide by entering into a government limping and in pain. It’s like swallowing poison and we become the victims,” opposition spokesman Nelson Chamisa told CNN. Mugabe has said publically that Monday’s meeting will be the last one, and that he would form a government without the opposition if the meeting didn’t produce an agreement. The two sides, Mugabe and Movement of Democratic Change leader Morgan Tsvangirai, actually signed a power-sharing deal last September (following two elections, and accusations of government-sponsored violence and political intimidation) but have since been unable to come to agreement with specifics about cabinet appointments. Back then, the talks were mediated by former South African President Thabo Mbeki. He along with current President Kgalema Motlanthe and Mozambique leader Armando Guebuza will also attend Monday’s meeting to aid the negotiations

Egyptian teacher is tried for student’s death. The Egyptian teacher who allegedly beat a student to death for not doing his homework, recently appeared in court to face charges, reports the BBC. The 23-year-old teacher, Haitham Nabeel Abdelhamid, allegedly took the 11-year-old boy outside of the classroom and hit him hard in the stomach. The boy, Islam Amr Badr (shown above), died at the hospital later after suffering heart failure as result of the injury to his stomach that dropped his blood pressure, according to testimony from the medical staff who examined him. He also had two broken ribs. The court also heard from classmates, who said Badr was hit as punishment for not doing his math homework. The teacher says he didn’t mean to hurt his student and that he only wanted to discipline him. The incident, at Alexandria’s Saad Othman Primary School happened back in October and shined a spotlight on the nation’s struggling state education system. The nation’s education minister will be called to the stand. And Islam’s father, Amr Badr Ibrahim, feels the whole system should be held accountable for his son’s death. “The minister of education should be the first person to be accused – how can he agree to let such a young man teach children?” he asked. “The problem is the teaching and the teachers because they cannot find good teachers,” he said. Young and inexperienced teachers in the state education system have a hard time in the classroom, many often trying to get control of 60 to100 students, reports the BBC. The government says it’s introducing reforms such as new teacher tests and banning corporal punishment.

Trinidad’s Prime Minister is doing well after surgery. Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Patrick Manning reportedly is doing well after his cancer surgery at the Cimeq hospital in Havana, reports Caribbean Net. Manning underwent the surgery last Wednesday to remove a malignant tumor from his kidney. He called his office Friday, telling employees that he was doing well and was supposed to be removed from the Intensive Care Unit soon, reports the Trinidad Express. He also told his secretary that he was up and walking a day after his surgery. Manning will stay in the hospital for at least one more week for care.

Truck crash in Jamaica leaves 14 dead. A truck crash this weekend killed 14 people in Portland, Jamaica, reports the Jamaican Gleaner. The truck, which was transporting merchants, along with produce, to Kingston’s Coronation market, overturned and fell into a precipice, trapping several who were on board under the heavy vehicle. A 10-year-old boy is among the deceased. The truck reportedly had been trying to back up on a narrow round to let a car pass. Rescue teams from the police, Ministry of Health, Port Antonio Hospital, Pihl Construction Company and some residents worked together for 15 hours to remove bodies from the wreckage. Seven of the truck’s passengers were rescued. Jamaican Prime Minister Bruce Golding flew to the accident scene by helicopter along with a local Portland official. “This is a major catastrophe,” Golding said. “My condolence goes out to the bereaved families, and I have to thank the brave citizens who used bottle torches so as to see access to the pathway down to the precipice to render assistance to their fellow men,” he continued. The government will make arrangements to help the families of the deceased. Police are still looking for the truck’s driver.