Viewpoints: The minimum wage has put a floor under workers’ wages since taking effect 75 years ago on Oct. 24, 1938. But at $7.25 an hour, today’s federal minimum wage is the same as it was in 1950, after adjusting for inflation. Comment

People: When the West Indies faces India in November their task will be a huge one particularly in bowling. If West Indies batsmen concentrate and play their specific roles it should not be a difficult task for them because all of these batsmen have played many times against the Indian bowlers. Comment

Sports: Mustaffa Bey is pointing toward the city-wide Public Schools Athletic League Individual and Team Cross Country Championships and a possible trip upstate. On a recent Saturday when his team took a break from league competition, he and his teammates were entered into the Reebok Manhattan Interscholastic Invitational Meet at Van Cortlandt Park in The Bronx. Comment

New York: More than one million homeowners have so far registered for STAR according to Governor Cuomo. All homeowners receiving the Basic STAR benefit (available on the primary residence of homeowners who earn less than $500,000) must register with the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance by Dec. 31 to continue receiving STAR exemptions in 2014 and subsequent years. Comment

Movies: Jason DaSilva was vacationing on the Caribbean island of St. Maarten in 2006 when he fell down on the beach and could not get up. The 25-year-old filmmaker was diagnosed with primary progressive Multiple Sclerosis, an incurable inflammatory disease eventually leading to blindness, as well as a loss of balance and muscle control. Comment

Health: (StatePoint) No one wants to think about breast cancer often, but there’s definitely one person with whom you should discuss the topic annually -- your doctor. From innovative detection tests to new prevention research, your physician can be a great source of information on new ways women are protecting themselves from this life-threatening illness. Comment

Harry Belafonte, the original king of calypso will return to the stage to deliver his incomparable performance on Nov. 15. Comment

Haiti: Hundreds of Haitian-Americans on Oct. 17 protested a Dominican Republic court ruling stripping people of Haitian descent of Dominican citizenship. Comment

Travel: By Lennox Honychurch Comment

National: Widespread use of the terms “Affordable Care Act” and “Obama Care” by the media, advocates and opponents of the Affordable Care Act has caused substantial public confusion, including among potential beneficiaries. Therefore, while a lot of the confusion about this landmark Act is understandable, much of it is also being deliberately caused by its opponents. Given all of the confusion, It is unlikely now that there will ever be universal acceptance of one term. Comment

Queens: During a recent Job Information Meeting at Robert Ross Johnson Family Life Center organized by Assemblyman William Scarborough in collaboration with NYC Business Solutions (NYCBS), Corporate Account Manager Huan DeRiggs, guest speaker, discussed the many jobs he recruits for businesses. Comment

Montserrat: Reiterating its conviction of the need for the eradication of colonialism, the United Nations Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization) has approved decolonization for several Caribbean territories. Comment

Caribbean: A new report released in Buenos Aires, Argentina on Sept. 26 says family farming has key role to play in food security in the Caribbean and Latin America. Comment

The government of Grenada has reported significant progress in its discussions with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which concluded a mission to the island on Sept. 13. Comment

Movies: Blue Is the Warmest Color (NC-17 for explicit sexuality) Homoerotic romance drama about a 15-year-old virgin (Adele Exarchopoulos) whose satiates her carnal cravings in the arms of the blue-haired art student (Lea Seydoux) she’s been fantasizing about. Supporting cast includes Salim Kechiouche, Aurelien Recoing and Catherine Salee. (In French with subtitles) Comment

Trinidad and Tobago: The Trinidad-based Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) has called on CARICOM to amend or interpret their immigration laws to properly facilitate the free movement of regional nations through individual member states. Comment

Business: Is the decline in the number of bankruptcy filings a good sign for consumers? Comment

Trinidad and Tobago: A Brooklyn-based Trinidadian fashion consultant plans to bridge the gap between Caribbean designers and the U.S fashion industry by providing sales and promotion opportunities in the U.S. and helping designers overcome problems that may arise due to lack of knowledge and funding. Comment

Sports: A bicycle ‘race,’ better known as a fun ride, for anyone wishing to do so and the usual crowded field of close to 400 runners highlighted action in the Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Plaza event last Sunday morning, Oct. 13. The weather was just tremendous for the festivities. One could not ask for a better day. Comment

The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) recently announced that the Regional Super50 Tournament has been awarded to Trinidad and Tobago for three years. This follows a commitment from the government of Trinidad and Tobago through the Ministry of Tourism to play a major role in the execution of the tournament during the period 2014 to 2016. Comment

Sports: Panama shattered its dreams of making its first World Cup appearance when it surrendered a 2-1 lead to the USA in the last seven minutes of its last World Cup qualifier last Tuesday night in Panama City. The 3-2 loss seemed to cast a pall over the Rommel Fernandez Stadium as the World Cup hopes and dreams of the over 40,000 plus spectators and millions in Panama vanished in a mere seven minutes. Comment

Jamaica: By Chudi Chukwudi Comment

Queens: comedy show: “No Name... & A Bag O’ Chips” Comedy/Variety presents talents of comics Liz Miele (Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart”), Hari Kondabolu (FX Network’s “Totally Biased with W. Kamau Bell”) comedian/writer Selena Coppock (“The New Rules for Blondes”), illusionist Lee Alan Barett, and a few surprises. The show starts at 7:00 p.m, will feature “No Name” house band The Summer Replacements” including Carl(BabyFreak) Fortunato and Fernando (Dr. Sandman) Morales Gonzalez. Comment

Jamaica: WASHINGTON (AP) — Starting in about a decade, Kingston, Jamaica, will probably be off-the-charts hot — permanently. Other places will soon follow. Singapore in 2028. Mexico City in 2031. Cairo in 2036. Phoenix and Honolulu in 2043. Comment

Viewpoints: For the governor of New Jersey, Chris Christie, it was clearly all about politics when he pooh-poohed any suggestion of scheduling the special U.S. Senate election to fill Frank Lautenberg’s seat on Election Day, when he’s up for re-election. Comment

Sports: India’s star batsman Sachin Tendulkar will retire from Test cricket after he plays his 200th Test in November against the West Indies. This would be the second Test match, which is scheduled to begin Nov. 14 in Tendulkar’s hometown, Mumbai. Comment

Guyana: Two esteemed former Guyana pilots, Beverley Drakes and Cheryl Leanna Moore were honored on World Post Day, Oct. 9, with the unveiling of $20 and $80 postage stamps bearing their images. Comment

St Vincent: St. Vincent & The Grenadines Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves is slated to keynote the opening session of Institute of the Black World’s (IBW) conference during a symposium on the “Future of Democracy and Development in Africa and the Caribbean” when it convenes on Oct. 17 at the Metropolitan AME Church in Washington, D.C. Comment

KINGSTON, Jamaica (AP) — The struggling country of Antigua & Barbuda has joined other tiny Eastern Caribbean islands in selling citizenship to wealthy international investors to drum up revenue, officials said Monday. Comment

Movies: From its inception, the Caribbean Cultural Theatre pledged to deliver quality presentations and a diverse menu of cultural treats to devour, contemplate and digest. Through each season, the group attempts to honor that pledge by presenting theatrical, literary and artistic weekend offerings. Comment

Health: (StatePoint) The numbers are staggering -- 25.8 million people, representing 8.3 percent of the U.S. population, have diabetes, according to the most recent data available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That’s one in every 12 people, and the numbers may have soared even higher since these statistics were gathered. Comment

“Serafina’s Promise” by Ann E. Burg Comment

Movies: All Is Lost (PG-13 for brief profanity) Robert Redford stars in this seafaring adventure revolving around an ancient mariner’s solo voyage across the Indian Ocean which turns into a desperate struggle for survival when his yacht collides with a shipping container adrift on the high seas. Comment

Travel: BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, (Oct. 7, , 2013) - A leading US security official will present some of the innovative methods the agency responsible or travellers’ safety employs to keep airline passengers safe, while enhancing the experience, when he addresses the region’s premier tourism gathering next week. Comment

Queens: On Saturday, Sept. 21, 50 scouts and adult leaders awoke to an overcast and windy day. This scenario may seem normal for “junior woodsmen,” but considering that their morning was accompanied by the sound of Q4 traffic instead of chirping birds it makes you do a double take. Comment

Movies: Haitian-American/African-American actor Saul Williams has a deep resonate voice that can hypnotize, a great combo with his well-honed acting skills. The lead in the Senegalese film “Tey” [Wolof for Today], Williams is the first non-African to win the Golden Stallion (best actor award) at the FESPACO Film Festival–the Cannes of African films. “I am African,” he protested at the film’s premiere screening, Sunday, Oct. 6 at MIST Harlem. “Tey” is screening at MIST Harlem, 46 W. 116th St., through Oct. 13. Comment

Music: The Bed-Stuy Alive! Collective is proud to present the 9th Annual Bed-Stuy Alive! Week celebration takes place from Sat., Oct. 12 - Sat., Oct. 19. Comment

Movies: Reel Sisters of the Diaspora Film Festival and Lecture Series returns to downtown Brooklyn’s LIU Kumble Theatre to celebrate its sweet 16 on Oct. 12 & 13 with cinematic, features and shorts both narratives and documentaries written and/or directed by women of color from around the world. Comment

Music: National, cultural, performers -- Jamaican Folk Singers – plan a three-day, whirlwind tour of New York that will enlighten, educate and introduce initiatives to benefit the Caribbean island and also raise awareness about the potential of Jamaican talent. Comment

Sports: Expectations are high at the start of the basketball season for the Brooklyn Nets. Comment

Former West Indies cricketers have lauded their colleague Curtly Ambrose on his 50th birthday. Comment

Arts & Theater: ART-IN-MOTION Dance Company (AIM) will be staging its only show for the season entitled “Experience our Culture,” which includes a dance concert and cocktail at Holy Cross Church Auditorium, 2530 Church Ave. between Bedford and Rogers on Saturday, Oct. 12 starting at 6:00 p.m. Comment

Caribbean: West Indies selectors have named a 15-member team to tour India for the two Test matches starting Nov. 6. Following the two test matches will be three One-day Internationals. Comment

It is the 13th season of Great Women In Music celebrating phenomenal women. The month-long festival kicked off its series on Sept. 28, 2013 with a salute to Robin Richie, producer and host of “Imagine That” a multi-faceted cable talk show that has aired for 15 seasons and has featured some of the most memorable names in music, theatre and sports. Comment

Brooklyn: A nationwide push to jumpstart immigration reform drew more than 100,000 participants across the country to demonstrate this weekend. Comment

Queens: Registration Migration services: Catholic Migration Services would like to welcome you to register for their free Citizenship Workshop on Oct. 19 at St. James Cathedral in downtown Brooklyn from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. In order to attend, you must call 646-597-8797. A CMS employee will take some basic information to determine whether you are eligible to apply. In order to be eligible, you must: Be at least 18 years old, and have been in the United States for at least five years (three years if you are married to a U.S. citizen). Our immigration counselors and legal staff will be providing step by step assistance in each individual’s application process. Comment

Viewpoints: You get the impression GOP tacticians must have devoted lots of time to instructing the cacophony of talking heads among them what the best spin language choices might be, after they failed to stop the inmates’ takeover of the asylum. So here was John Cornyn, the senator from Texas, regaling folks this past weekend with talk about the country having long ago rejected the notion of a king as ruler. President Obama, you see, has been lording it over Cornyn and his benighted confederates in a manner that has the feel of a royal snub. Or something like that. We hadn’t heard that one before, but it was indicative of how much they’ve been working overtime to come up with whatever is believed saleable for a public, most of whom, thank heavens, apparently see the crappy posturing for what it is. Comment

Immigration: The conditional Green Card is a permanent resident card that is issued to a spouse of a United States citizen if the marriage is less than two years. The couple is expected to jointly file Form I-751, petition to remove the condition 90 days prior to the end of the two-year period. The couple is expected to provide evidence that the marriage is a good faith marriage. The conditional Green Card cannot be renewed. The couple can only apply for the conditions to be removed. In order to establish good faith marriage, they will need to show. Comment

Guyana: The top 10 largest hotel groups in the world, are, Intercontinental Hotel Group, Wyndham Hotel Group, Marriott International, Hilton Hotels, Accor Group, Choice Hotels, Best Western, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Carlson and Global Hyatt (tourism-review.com). Comment

Viewpoints: Will Congress ever get its act together? That question is likely on the minds of many Americans, but the latest impasse should actually serve as a reminder that we need to redouble our efforts to make sure Congress focuses on the right priorities and moves the country forward. As a former educator, I do not believe in giving up on anyone, even a Congress that always seems to be at loggerheads. Here are a few key budget lessons that Congress should heed. Comment

Movies: All the Boys Love Mandy Lane (R for sexuality, nudity, profanity, violence and pervasive drug and alcohol use, all involving teens) High attrition-rate horror flick about a 16 year-old blossoming beauty (Amber Heard) invited by classmates intent on taking her virginity to a wild weekend party at a remote ranch in Texas where kids start disappearing one-by-one. With Anson Mount, Edwin Hodge and Michael Welch. Comment

Books: “Harlem Nocturne: Women Artists & Progressive Politics During World War II” by Farah Jasmine Griffin Comment

St Kitts and Nevis: The United States has congratulated Belize and St. Kitts and Nevis on their respective independence anniversaries. Belize celebrated its 32nd anniversary on Sept. 21, while St. Kitts and Nevis celebrated its 30th anniversary two days before. Comment

Given the vastness of the New York City public school system, there are many students that often slip through the cracks of public school bureaucracy, however, there are some that are able to prevail against the odds. Randy Joseph, age 19, exemplifies the latter example—a student of endurance and strong will. His arduous journey to success is one he and his family will never forget. Comment

Queens: Domestic Violence walk: Face My Abuse Domestic Violence Walk will take place at Wingate Park field. (Corner of Brooklyn Avenue and Rutland Road) Brookyln, New York 11203 at 11:30 a.m. This walk is to raise awareness in our community concerning domestic violence, not just to the victims but also to their families and friends. Registration and breakfast from 11:30 - 12:00 p.m. Community Leaders & Guest Speaker 2:00 - 3:00 p.m. The Letting Go Ceremony as a symbol of becoming “FREE” releasing all Pains/Hurts for “Power & strength.” The walk begins 3:30 - 6:00 p.m. Comment

St Vincent: Newly-appointed St. Vincent and the Grenadines ambassador to the United Nations, Rhonda King, says that despite its size and small mission staff, her country has become a “respected voice” within the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) caucus at the U.N. and “well beyond.” Comment

Music: More than 400 books have allegedly been written about Robert Nesta Marley, the Caribbean’s first superstar. Recently a documentary film about Marley made the point that his rejection by the white segment of his family inspired his song “Corner Stone.” Comment

Music: Stephanie McKay, singer, songwriter, and musician opens the fourth season of the Apollo’s Music Café Series on Friday, Oct. 4. Presented in the upstairs soundstage, the audience will have an opportunity to experience the artistry and talent of Ms McKay in an intimate setting at the famed Apollo Theatre. Comment

Music: To have a single with an iconic multi-platinum pop artist is the dream of most Jamaican recording artists. Mr. Vegas is standing on the brink of record-breaking milestones. Currently, his collaboration “Fruit Juice” with Snoop for Snoop Lion’s “Reincarnation” album and the remix of “Standing On The Sun” with Beyoncé rumored to be considered the lead single off her upcoming album had him poised for his own album release “Bruk It Down 2.0.” Comment

Sports: After a pleasant display of batting by the West Indies “A” team in India against India “A,” the West Indies bowlers took control and bowled splendidly in the first three un-official Test matches with each Test schedule for four days. Comment

Movies: caribBEING a non-profit organization is a vibrant cultural and artistic hub committed to building community through the lens of Caribbean cinema culture and art, presented Flatbush takeover free pop-up series for the second year in the row, on the busy steps of Flatbush Reformed Church at Flatbush and Church Avenue. Comments (2)

Travel: We at the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) salute the World Tourism Organization for asking us to focus on Tourism and Water - Protecting our Common Future. Comment

Trinidad and Tobago: Trinidad and Tobago National Team defender Akeem Adams was up to this evening battling for his life after suffering a massive heart attack on Wednesday night following a training session with his club Ferencvárosi TC, in Hungary. The 22-year-old player who made his senior international debut at age 16 under ex-head coach Francisco Maturana in 2008, was undergoing his third surgery up to late Thursday afternoon. His mother Ancilla Adams and brother Akini are currently in Budapest. Comment

Sports: First-year head coach Mike Petke and his New York Red Bulls have come a long way since their first MLS win back on March 30 - a 2-1 home defeat of Philadelphia Union - to last Sunday night’s 1-1 draw at Western Conference leader Seattle Sounders. In between, it has been a roller coaster ride until a month ago, when that ride became much smoother with an undefeated run in the last five games. Comment

Manhattan: Two brothers whose father originally came from Cuba, once again really tested the Fifth Avenue Mile course in Manhattan on an almost perfect day for the running sport. Comment