Israel strikes Yemen for the first time following deadly Houthi drone attack. Here’s what we know

Oil tanks burn at the port in Hodeidah on Saturday. AP CNN —  For the first time, Israel has struck inside Yemen, following a deadly drone attack launched by Houthi rebels on Tel Aviv. Since the October 7 attacks by Hamas on Israel, the Houthis have been targeting shipping in the Red Sea in solidarity – they say – with Gaza. After Israel struck back on Saturday, the Houthis said they launched a fresh barrage of missiles towards Israel, promising a response that will be “huge and great.” Direct attacks on each other’s soil between the Israeli military and the Iran-backed rebel group now risk creating a new front in a conflict that already threatened to spill over into the region, with Houthi spokesperson Mohammed Abdulsalam on Sunday describing the situation as “open war.” Here’s what we know. Who are the Houthis and what is their role in the Gaza conflict? The Houthis are an Iran-backed Islamist group based in Yemen. The Houthi movement, also known as Ansar Allah (Supporters of God), is one side in a civil war that has raged in Yemen for nearly a decade. It emerged in the 1990s, when its leader, Hussein al-Houthi, launched “Believing Youth,” a religious revival movement for a centuries-old subsect of Shia Islam called Zaidism. Since a ceasefire, the Houthis have consolidated their control over most of northern Yemen. They have also sought an agreement with Saudi Arabia, a major rival of Iran, that would bring the war to a permanent end and cement their role as the country’s rulers. Houthi military academy cadets demonstrate in solidarity with the Palestinian people on June 14 in Sana’a, Yemen. Mohammed Hamoud/Getty Images The Houthis are believed to have been armed and trained by Iran. Since Hamas’s attacks on October 7 attacks and Israel’s subsequent ground and air offenses in Gaza, the Houthis say they have been seeking revenge against Israel for its military campaign by targeting Red Sea shipping. The US and UK have responded to those attacks by carrying out strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen. However, Israel has not taken part in those responses. In addition, Israel’s army spokesman says the militant group has targeted “Israeli civilians and civilian infrastructure” about 200 times in the same period. Most of those launches were intercepted by US Central Command, the spokesman said, but Israel’s air defenses have also intercepted Houthi drones and missiles inside and outside Israel’s airspace. What happened in Tel Aviv? A tipping point for Israel appears to have come on Friday, when a drone attack was launched on Tel Aviv, killing one Israeli citizen and injuring several others. The attack was claimed by the Houthis, with spokesperson Yahya Sare’e saying the operation was performed by a new drone capable of “bypassing the enemy’s interception systems.” “We will continue to strike these targets in response to the enemy’s massacres and daily crimes against our brothers in the Gaza Strip,” Sare’e said. “Our operations will only cease when the aggression stops and the siege on the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip is lifted.” Israeli police investigate after a drone attack in Tel Aviv on Friday, which Houthi rebels claimed responsibility for. Oded Balilty/AP The attack marked the first time Tel Aviv, Israel’s commercial center, has been struck by a drone in an attack claimed by the Houthis. Israel authorities are investigating the circumstances and potential security failures around the deadly drone blast. Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesman Daniel Hagari said that the military suspects the drone was an Iranian-made Samad-3 model, launched from Yemen, which had been upgraded to extend its range. A second drone was intercepted outside of Israeli airspace to the east at the same time as the attack, he said, adding that Israel is now upgrading its air defenses and increasing aerial patrols of its borders. How did Israel respond? Israel’s response came a day later, when Israeli aircraft hit the Yemeni port of Hodeidah. The attack, which marked the first time Israel has struck Yemen, killed at least six people and injured scores more, Yemeni officials said. The Houthi-run Al Masirah TV said the strikes targeted oil facilities in the port on Yemen’s west coast. Houthi spokesperson Mohammed Abdulsalam said the strikes had also hit civilian targets and a power station. He slammed what he said was “brutal Israeli aggression” aimed at increasing the “suffering of the people of Yemen” and pressuring the group to stop its support of Gaza. Houthi military spokesman Yehya Saree speaks at a rally against Israel and the US on Friday. Osamah Abdulrahman/AP Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the port was used by Iran to bring arms into Yemen. “The port we attacked is not an innocent port. It was used for military purposes, it was used as an entry point for deadly weapons supplied to the Houthis by Iran,” he said in a statement on Saturday. Netanyahu also said the operation, which hit targets 1,800 km (1,118 miles) from Israel’s borders, showed Israel was serious about responding to threats. “It makes it clear to our enemies that there is no place that the long arm of the State of Israel will not reach,” Netanyahu said. How big an escalation is this? Neither side have suggested they are ready to back down. “It’s not in the Houthi ‘DNA’ to de-escalate with Israel,” Charles Lister of the Middle East Institute wrote on X. Houthi army spokesperson Yehya Saree said the Houthis have “prepared for a long war” with Israel and that Tel Aviv is still not safe. Israel’s Defense Minister, Yoav Gallant, warned that the “blood of Israeli citizens has a price,” and that if Israelis are attacked, the “result will be identical” to that which has been seen in Lebanon and Gaza. On Sunday, Israeli military said it had intercepted a missile approaching Israeli territory from Yemen while the Houthis said they launched a “number of ballistic missiles.” The war in Gaza has already been accompanied by significantly heightened tensions between Israel and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah. The two sides have been trading cross-border fire since October 8, when Hezbollah fired at three Israeli border posts “in solidarity”

Israel strikes Yemen for the first time following deadly Houthi drone attack. Here’s what we know Read More »

Europe turns to conscription as threat of wider war with Russia grows

Members of the Norwegian Army participate in a military exercise called “Cold Response 2022” amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, near Bjerkvik in the Arctic Circle, Norway, March 24, 2022. Yves Herman/Reuters CNN —  Before Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, many, including Kyiv, were skeptical that a major war could return to Europe. More than two years on, another shift once unthinkable is underway on conscription. Several European nations have reintroduced or expanded compulsory military service amid Moscow’s mounting threat, part of a range of policies aimed at boosting defenses that are likely to be scaled up even further. “We are coming to the realization that we may have to adjust the way we mobilize for war and adjust the way we produce military equipment and we recruit and train personnel,” said Robert Hamilton, head of Eurasia research at the Foreign Policy Research Institute, who served as a US Army officer for 30 years. “It is tragically true that here we are, in 2024, and we are grappling with the questions of how to mobilize millions of people to be thrown into a meatgrinder of a war potentially, but this is where Russia has put us,” he said. The risks for a larger war in Europe have been rising after Russian President Vladimir Putin “finally resorted to open conflict” in Ukraine, pursuing his aim to “recreate the Soviet empire,” said Gen. Wesley Clark (Ret.), who served as NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Europe. “So we’ve now got a war in Europe that we never thought we would see again,” said Clark, who led NATO forces during the Kosovo War. “Whether this is a new Cold War or an emerging hot war is unclear,” he continued, but “it’s a very imminent warning to NATO that we’ve got to rebuild our defenses.” Those efforts include conscription, he says. Return of conscription underscores new reality A number of European countries halted mandatory conscription after the end of the Cold War, but several nations – particularly in Scandinavia and the Baltics – have reintroduced it in recent years, largely because of the Russian threat. Failure to enlist can result in fines or even jail time in some countries. Latvia is the latest to implement conscription. Compulsory military service  was reintroduced on January 1 this year, after being abolished in 2006. Male citizens will be put up for the draft within 12 months of reaching the age of 18, or graduation for those still in the education system. “At first there was a lot of pushback,” said Arturs Pīlācis, a 20-year-old student. He’s yet to go up for the draft but voluntarily went on a month-long military course. But ultimately, “the need for a state defence service was clear,” he said. “There wasn’t really an option where we can stand by and think things will go on as they were before because of the unprovoked aggression in Ukraine.” Latvian army servicemen with a M109A5 howitzer attend a military parade to celebrate the anniversary of the independence declaration in Riga, Latvia on November 18, 2022. Ints Kalnins/Reuters In April, Norway presented an ambitious long-term plan that will nearly double the country’s defense budget and add more than 20,000 conscripted soldiers, employees, and reservists to the armed forces. “We need a defense that is fit for purpose in the emerging security environment,” Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre said. Conscription in Norway is mandatory and in 2015 it became the first member of the NATO defensive alliance to conscript both men and women on equal terms. RELATED ARTICLE‘Everyone will fight.’ Ukrainian men weigh their options as new draft law comes into effect Economics student Jens Bartnes, 26, completed his military training at the age of 19. “I am happy I did it, I learned a lot from that year that I wouldn’t learn otherwise – about myself, about my physical and mental limits and abilities I suppose, but also about teamwork. It’s a whole different way of life,” he said. “I am willing to fight for my country if need be, because I believe in the values that the Norwegian society is built on and I believe those values of inclusion and equality and democracy are worth fighting for,” Bartnes added. Max Henrik Arvidson, 25, was conscripted into the Norwegian military for one year between 2019 and 2020. Like Bartnes, he sees military service as an essential duty. “I know the only way we can stand against more Russian aggression is by keep supplying Ukraine with weapons and aid, while standing strong together with NATO as a whole and the European Union.” ‘Big mental shift’ Debates about conscription have also been taking place in other European countries that currently don’t require it. In the UK, the Conservatives floated the idea of military service in their ill-fated election campaign. But perhaps the most surprising transformation is underway in Germany, which since the end of World War II has had an aversion to militarization. In another first since the Cold War, Germany this year updated its plan should conflict erupt in Europe, and Defense Minister Boris Pistorius presented a proposal in June for a new voluntary military service. “We must be ready for war by 2029,” he said. Boris Pistorius, Federal Minister of Defense, visits the air base in B’chel and talks to soldiers on 18 July 2024. Thomas Frey/picture-alliance/dpa/AP “We are seeing the debate now raging. And that’s the first step,” said Sean Monaghan, a visiting fellow in the Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. “This doesn’t happen overnight, it’s a big mental shift.” Not everyone is ready to answer the call. In Lithuania, for instance, opinions about military service among students vary, said Paulius Vaitiekus, president of Lithuania’s National Students’ Union. Since the country reintroduced compulsory military service in 2015 due to a “changed geopolitical situation,” about 3,500 to 4,000 Lithuanians between the ages of 18 and 26 are enlisted each year for a period of nine months. Vaitiekus said students have launched initiatives to send supplies to the Ukrainian frontlines. There was “a shift in the mindset

Europe turns to conscription as threat of wider war with Russia grows Read More »

Biden’s top brass signals intent to press forward, even as calls grow for the president to step aside

From CNN’s MJ Lee and Dana Bash President Joe Biden’s high command is projecting a determination to press forward with the president’s reelection campaign, even as Democrats’ public calls on Biden to drop out of the race grow by the day. Those calls were joined Sunday by independent Sen. Joe Manchin, who echoed other lawmakers in encouraging Biden to “pass the torch” to a new generation of leadership. But when the co-chairs of the president’s campaign held a call Saturday, there was no discussion at all of the president leaving the race, sources said. Among those on the call was Rep. Jim Clyburn, who on Sunday told CNN that Democrats need to look for ways to “coalesce” around Biden. Some background: CNN reported Thursday night that senior-most West Wing advisers have not discussed — among themselves or with the president — the possibility of Biden abandoning his candidacy. A senior adviser told CNN that still remained true as of Sunday afternoon. But in interviews with CNN, more than two dozen sources familiar with the dynamics inside the West Wing and campaign said there is now privately widespread acceptance that Biden remaining in the 2024 race is wholly untenable. The president has been isolating at his home in Rehoboth Beach as he recovers from Covid-19. His longtime aide Steve Ricchetti is among the advisers in Delaware this weekend, per a White House official. More from Biden’s team: Biden campaign co-chair Cedric Richmond reiterated Sunday that the president intends to accept the Democratic nomination and see his reelection bid through. “I want to be crystal clear. He’s made a decision, and that decision is to accept the nomination and run for reelection, win reelection. I think there are those out there that need to hear it again that he made a decision. He’s going to be the candidate and he’s going to be the next president and now it is time to focus on the threat that Donald Trump poses and what the extreme agenda is on other side,” Richmond said on CBS’ “Face the Nation.” CNN’s Ebony Davis contributed reporting to this post.

Biden’s top brass signals intent to press forward, even as calls grow for the president to step aside Read More »

Biden drops out of the 2024 presidential race

Biden announces he will not seek reelection From CNN’s Sam Fossum President Joe Biden announced he will not seek reelection amid continued pressure following a disastrous debate performance last month that left many in his party questioning whether he should continue to seek reelection. He will serve out the remainder of his term. “And while it has been my intention to seek reelection, I believe it is in the best interest of my party and the country for me to stand down and to focus solely on fulfilling my duties as President for the remainder of my term,” Biden wrote in a letter he posted on his X account. He added: “I will speak to the Nation later this week in more detail about my decision.” “It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve as your President,” he wrote.

Biden drops out of the 2024 presidential race Read More »

Is my daughter being inappropriate and mean?

Hi, My name is Julie, and I have a sixteen year old daughter. I also have two other children by a different man. Here is the story . My daughter doesn’t understand the concept of child support and how it is supposed to be distributed and I feel as if her father has been putting things in her head. She feels as if she’s entitled to the money I’m getting, and she doesn’t understand the concept of paying bills, sending her to school, and buying food for the house directly or indirectly benefit her. Recently she wrote me a letter which reads. Dear Mom, I really love you, and I do not want to be disrespectful, but my dad tells me how much he pays you in child supporting he showed me. I just don’t understand how my dad pays $1900.00 in child support, and when I ask for something, you say no. I also know that you use the money my dad sends to take care of Michelle and Thomas. If I ask for something, it is always a problem, and you threaten to take away my phone when I do things you don’t like. If it wasn’t for me being here and my dad paying, I know you wouldn’t be able to keep the house. I feel like you are taking advantage of me living here because I don’t benefit from my father paying child support, and I want to go live with my dad. I hope you don’t make it into a big deal. I do love you, but I believe it’s very unfair . I am very sad and disappointed that my daughter is thinking this way, and I’m sure she is way better off living with me . How should I handle this situation? Is my daughter being ungrateful and rude ? Am I taking it the wrong way ? What’s your take ?

Is my daughter being inappropriate and mean? Read More »

India’s Modi casts his vote as giant election reaches half-way mark

AHMEDABAD, India, May 7 (Reuters) – Prime Minister Narendra Modi voted early as India held the third phase of a massive general election on Tuesday, and called for a strong turnout although he warned of the scorching summer heat. The world’s most populous nation began voting on April 19 in a seven-phase election in which nearly one billion people are eligible to vote, with ballots set to be counted on June 4. Modi is seeking a rare, third straight term in a vote which pits his Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) against an alliance of more than two dozen opposition parties. Surveys suggest he will win a comfortable majority. Advertisement · Scroll to continue “I urge all citizens to vote in large numbers and celebrate the festival of democracy… To all those working in the heat, I urge you to take care of your health and drink adequate water,” he said shortly after voting in his home state of Gujarat. Modi cast his ballot in the Gandhinagar constituency where his number two, Home Minister Amit Shah, is the BJP candidate. Clad in saffron and white, Modi was surrounded by hundreds of supporters and party members, signing autographs and talking to children on the way to the polling booth. Advertisement · Scroll to continue He was received by Shah as people beat drums and rang bells. Modi’s campaign began by showcasing his economic record, welfare measures, national pride and personal popularity. Item 1 of 11 India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi walks alongside Amit Shah, Indian Home Minister and leader of India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on the day he casts his vote, outside a polling station during the third phase of the general election, in Ahmedabad, India, May 7, 2024. REUTERS/Adnan Abidi [1/11]India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi walks alongside Amit Shah, Indian Home Minister and leader of India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on the day he casts his vote, outside a polling station during the third phase of the general election, in Ahmedabad, India, May 7, 2024. REUTERS/Adnan Abidi Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab But it changed tack after the first phase of voting on April 19 and focused more on firing up BJP’s Hindu base by attacking rivals as pro-Muslim, even as surveys say jobs and inflation are the main concerns of voters. In an interview with broadcaster Times Now aired on Monday, Modi said he does not oppose Islam or Muslims and wants the community to think about their future growth as they vote. Advertisement · Scroll to continue Tuesday’s polling covers 93 seats in 11 states and territories, with Gujarat and Maharashtra in the west and Karnataka in the south accounting for 50 seats. That would complete voting for 283 of parliament’s 543 elected seats. In the 2019 elections, the BJP won more than 70 of 93 seats up for grabs on Tuesday, but faces tougher contests this time as the main opposition Congress party has gained strength in Karnataka and a regional partner has split in Maharashtra. Voter turnout of 66.14% and 66.71% respectively in the first two phases has been marginally lower than corresponding phases five years back, with analysts blaming the summer heat and the lack of a single strong issue to motivate voters. The Election Commission has since stepped up a campaign to encourage people to vote while consulting with weather officials and health and disaster management agencies to deal with the impact of the heat wave on Tuesday’s vote. “Weather conditions are predicted to be within normal ranges,” it said in a statement on the eve of the vote, calling on voters to “turn out in greater numbers at polling stations and vote with responsibility and pride”. It is also pushing voter awareness to raise participation through messages and songs during Indian Premier League cricket matches, Facebook alerts, announcements at train stations and on flights, messages on train tickets, milk pouches, at gas stations, and films and songs at cinema theatres, among others. Music app Spotify has created an “election playlist” to motivate voters, and celebrities are being used to make appeals through radio and TV commercials, it said.

India’s Modi casts his vote as giant election reaches half-way mark Read More »

Palestinians seek UN General Assembly backing for full membership

UNITED NATIONS, May 6 (Reuters) – The United Nations General Assembly could vote on Friday on a draft resolution that would recognize the Palestinians as qualified to become a full U.N. member and recommend that the U.N. Security Council “reconsider the matter favorably.” It would effectively act as a global survey of how much support the Palestinians have for their bid, which was vetoed in the U.N. Security Council last month by the United States. An application to become a full U.N. member needs to be approved by the 15-member Security Council and then the General Assembly. Advertisement · Scroll to continue Report this ad Diplomats say the 193-member General Assembly is likely to back the Palestinian bid. But changes could still be made to the draft after some diplomats raised concerns with the current text, seen by Reuters, that also grants additional rights and privileges – short of full membership – to the Palestinians. Some diplomats say this could set a precedent for other situations, citing Kosovo and Taiwan as examples. Advertisement · Scroll to continue Israel’s U.N. Ambassador Gilad Erdan on Monday denounced the current draft General Assembly resolution, saying it would give the Palestinians the de facto status and rights of a state and goes against the founding U.N. Charter. “If it is approved, I expect the United States to completely stop funding the U.N. and its institutions, in accordance with American law,” said Erdan, adding that adoption by the General Assembly would not change anything on the ground. US CONCERNS Under U.S. law, Washington cannot fund any U.N. organization that grants full membership to any group that does not have the “internationally recognized attributes” of statehood. The U.S. halted funding in 2011 for the U.N. cultural agency (UNESCO)after the Palestinians became a full member. “It remains the U.S. view that the path toward statehood for the Palestinian people is through direct negotiations,” said Nate Evans, spokesperson for the U.S. mission to the U.N. Advertisement · Scroll to continue Report this ad “We are aware of the resolution and reiterate our concerns with any effort to extend certain benefits to entities when there are unresolved questions as to whether the Palestinians currently meet the criteria under the Charter,” he said. The Palestinians are currently a non-member observer state, a de facto recognition of statehood that was granted by the U.N. General Assembly in 2012. The Palestinian mission to the U.N. in New York did not immediately respond to a request for comment on its push for action in the General Assembly. The Palestinian push for full U.N. membership comes seven months into a war between Israel and Palestinian militants Hamas in the Gaza Strip, and as Israel is expanding settlements in the occupied West Bank, which the U.N. considers to be illegal. The United Nations has long endorsed a vision of two states living side by side within secure and recognized borders. Palestinians want a state in the West Bank, east Jerusalem and Gaza Strip, all territory captured by Israel in 1967.

Palestinians seek UN General Assembly backing for full membership Read More »

Judge warns Trump of potential jail time for violating gag order

By Jack Queen, Luc Cohen and Andy Sullivan NEW YORK, May 6 (Reuters) – The judge in Donald Trump‘s criminal trial fined him $1,000 and held him in contempt of court for a 10th time on Monday for violating a gag order and warned that further violations could land the former president in jail. Justice Juan Merchan said the nine $1,000 fines he had imposed so far did not seem to be deterring the wealthy business mogul from violating the order, which bars him from speaking publicly about jurors and witnesses in the first criminal trial of a former U.S. president. Advertisement · Scroll to continue “I do not want to impose a jail sanction and have done everything I can to avoid doing so. But I will if necessary,” Merchan said before the jury entered. Imprisonment would be an unprecedented step in the historic trial, which stems from a hush money payment made to porn star Stormy Daniels in the final weeks of the 2016 election. After Merchan’s ruling, jurors heard testimony from a former Trump employee that could bolster prosecutors’ case that Trump falsified business records to cover up the hush money payment. Advertisement · Scroll to continue Trump has pleaded not guilty and denies wrongdoing. As he imposed the fine, Merchan said he considered jail time “truly the last resort” as it would disrupt the trial, pose extraordinary security challenges and complicate the 2024 presidential election, in which the Republican Trump seeks to win the White House back from Democratic President Joe Biden. But he said Trump’s “continued, willful” violations of the gag order amounted to a “direct attack on the rule of law.” Merchan imposed the 10th $1,000 fine on Monday for an April 22 broadcast interview in which the former president said: “That jury was picked so fast – 95% Democrats. The area’s mostly all Democrat.” Merchan found that other statements flagged by prosecutors that mentioned witnesses Michael Cohen and David Pecker did not violate the order. The gag order prevents Trump from making statements about jurors, witnesses and families of the judge and prosecutors if meant to interfere with the case. Violations are punishable by fines of up to $1,000 or jail time of up to 30 days. Advertisement · Scroll to continue Report this ad Last week Merchan fined Trump $9,000 for nine social media posts that he ruled had violated the gag order. Trump complains frequently that the gag order limits his ability to make his case to voters in his comeback White House bid. “He’s taken away my constitutional right to speak,” Trump told reporters outside the courtroom before the start of the 12th day of trial. PAYMENT RECORDS DISPLAYED Prosecutors on Monday later showed jurors business records that documented payments totaling $420,000 from Trump to Cohen, his former fixer and personal lawyer. Those payments were listed as legal fees, but prosecutors say they were actually meant to reimburse Cohen for paying $130,000 to Daniels to keep quiet about a sexual encounter she says she had with Trump in 2006. Trump denies ever having had sex with Daniels. Prosecutors say the $420,000 paid by Trump was meant to cover the $130,000 Cohen paid to Daniels, along with $50,000 in other expenses he had incurred. Trump doubled that total to account for taxes and also included a $60,000 year-end bonus, they say. A former controller in Trump’s organization, Jeffrey McConney, testified that he was not aware of any other instance in which the Trump Organization reimbursed someone so generously. He said he was told by the company’s top finance official Allen Weisselberg that the payments were reimbursements, not legal fees. He said he never spoke with Trump about the payments. Prosecutors also showed jurors ledger entries that payments to Cohen had not been listed among legal expenses the company paid to outside lawyers. Most of the jurors appeared to look intently at the email messages displayed on the screens in front of their seats as McConney testified. Prosecutors say Trump’s payment to Daniels corrupted the 2016 election by keeping the news from voters, at a time when his treatment of women was a central issue in his campaign against Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton. They say the altered business records covered up election-law and tax-law violations that elevate the 34 counts Trump faces from misdemeanors to felonies punishable by up to four years in prison. If found guilty, Trump could face up to four years in prison, though defendants typically face fines and probation. The main players in the case have yet to testify, including Cohen and Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford. The case features sordid allegations of adultery and secret payoffs, but it is widely seen as less consequential than three other criminal prosecutions Trump faces. It is the only one certain to go to trial before the Nov. 5 presidential election. The other cases charge him with trying to overturn his 2020 presidential defeat and mishandling classified documents after leaving office. Trump has pleaded not guilty to all three.

Judge warns Trump of potential jail time for violating gag order Read More »

The U.S. is reviewing Hamas’s ceasefire response, officials said

The United States is studying Hamas’s response to a ceasefire proposal and will discuss it with allies in the Middle East in the coming hours, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said. “I can confirm that Hamas has issued a response. We are reviewing that response now and discussing it with our partners in the region,” Miller said on Monday afternoon, confirming that a response was received in the last hour or 90 minutes and that discussions would take place in the coming hours. CIA director Bill Burns is in the region “working on this in real time,” Miller said. The Hamas announcement came hours after Israel ordered the evacuation of parts of Rafah, the city on Gaza’s southern edge that has served as the last sanctuary for around half of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents. That appeared to signal that an operation on Rafah will go ahead, despite Washington’s repeated warnings, including by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on a visit to Israel last week, where he also focused on increasing humanitarian aid to Gaza.Miller reiterated that the United States could not support an operation in Rafah “as it is currently envisioned” by Israel. “A Rafah operation would make it incredibly difficult to sustain the increases in humanitarian assistance that we have been able to deliver over the past few weeks,” Miller said. White House spokesperson John Kirby told reporters: “We want to get these hostages out, we want to get a ceasefire in place for six weeks, we want to increase humanitarian assistance,” Kirby said, adding that reaching an agreement would be the “absolute best outcome.””

The U.S. is reviewing Hamas’s ceasefire response, officials said Read More »

Biden pushed Netanyahu not to attack Rafah, the White House said

Displaced Palestinians, who fled Rafah after the Israeli military began evacuating civilians from the eastern parts of the southern Gazan city, ahead of a threatened assault, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, travel in a vehicle, in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip May 6, 2024. REUTERS/Ramadan Abed The White House said on Monday it was reviewing a response by Hamas to a ceasefire and hostage release deal, and continued to press Israel not to launch a large-scale military offensive in the southern Gaza city of Rafah. White House spokesperson John Kirby declined to provide any details of what had been agreed, saying he did not want to jeopardize any deal. Kirby said U.S. President Joe Biden spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for about 30 minutes about Rafah and the hostage and ceasefire proposal, before the Hamas response was received. He described it as a constructive discussion. “It wasn’t a pressure call, it wasn’t about twisting his arm towards a certain set of parameters,” Kirby said. He said CIA Director William Burns was discussing the Hamas response with Israel. “We are at a critical stage right now,” he said. “It wasn’t like we had a heads up about it.” Kirby told reporters Biden reiterated his clear position to Netanyahu that the United States does “not support ground operations in Rafah,” adding that Israel should not proceed with an invasion plan unless it shows how to protect hundreds of thousands of Palestinian civilians there. CIA Director William Burns was in the region having discussions with Israel about the Hamas response. “We are at a critical stage right now,” Kirby said. “It wasn’t like we had a heads up about it.” Kirby told reporters Biden reiterated his clear position to Netanyahu that the United States does “not support ground operations in Rafah,” adding that Israel should not proceed with an invasion plan unless it shows how to protect hundreds of thousands of Palestinian civilians there.

Biden pushed Netanyahu not to attack Rafah, the White House said Read More »

Violence among youth in Jamaica: a growing public health risk and challenge

Violence among youth in Jamaica: a growing public health risk and challenge The recent surge in violent incidents among students in Jamaica is alarming and demands immediate attention. This trend not only affects the educational sector but also has far-reaching consequences for the country’s social and economic development. Violence among youth is a complex issue, stemming from various factors such as – Social and economic inequalities – Family dynamics and parenting styles – Access to weapons and substance abuse – Mental health and trauma – Societal norms and cultural influences. What are some reasons that you believe are causing this level of violence Amongst our children And, what can be done to stem this increasing violence? We must come together and join forces to stop this trend from getting worse. Share your thoughts and suggestions so we can have a robust debate

Violence among youth in Jamaica: a growing public health risk and challenge Read More »

I NEED ADVICE PLEASE

Sarah*, 32, has been with her fiance for four years, and they are meant to be getting married this fall But, there’s a fairly fundamental part of their relationship missing. Intimacy. ‘I’m struggling and need advice,’ Sarah said. ‘I’m a very sexually expressive person who loves fun, spontaneous, and kinky intimate interactions. ‘It’s a part of who I am and how I express myself. Most people wouldn’t know this meeting me – like a lady in the streets but a freak in the sheets. ‘Well, I’ve had to give up all that with my fiance.’ For many people, sex goes hand-in-hand with an intimate relationship, especially if you’re about to be husband and wife, although this isn’t the case for Sarah.‘He has a fear of intimacy, no desire for it, performance problems, and so on,’ she explained . ‘He… doesn’t even masturbate or watch porn as much, as I encourage him to, so he can figure out what he likes. ‘It’s been the core of our relationship issues since we started dating.’ Despite the lack of intimacy being a major issue for Sarah, she hasn’t wanted to ‘give him up’ because she loves ‘absolutely everything’ about her husband-to-be. She loves his ‘kind soul, big heart’ and his work ethic, but now the wedding is nearing, Sarah has realised she’s lost a part of who she is. ‘I’ve sacrificed a part of who I am for years. I thought maybe after a year or two, it would subside, but it hasn’t,’ she said. ‘We go three to eight months without being intimate, and it’s hurting me so bad. ‘We’ve tried therapy, medication, scheduled times, everything, but nothing works.’ She branded her husband ‘vanilla’, and wrote: ‘When we get the opportunity it’s like we just get it done, quick in missionary, before it goes away for him, which I’m happy to do to make him happy and confident.’ ‘He even admits he’s vanilla. Since we started dating, I first asked him about swinging because that’s my kink level, and that was shot down. ‘I’m just at the point where I don’t know what to do anymore, and it’s affecting me so much emotionally and physically.’ I need some advice, I’m drowning here!

I NEED ADVICE PLEASE Read More »

US sues to block Tapestry’s Capri deal citing handbag market domination

Retail space under refurbishment which will be opening soon as a new Michael Kors store on Bond Street on 14th August 2023 in London, United Kingdom. Mike Kemp/In Pictures/Getty Images The US Federal Trade Commission said on Monday it was suing to block Coach parent Tapestry’s $8.5 billion deal to buy Michael Kors owner Capri, saying it would eliminate competition. This comes at a time when several US lawmakers have sought increased scrutiny from the FTC of several multi-billion dollar deals that might risk higher prices and affect consumers. US antitrust enforcers had also come out with new merger guidelines in December, in a bid to encourage fair, open and competitive markets. “The proposed merger threatens to deprive millions of American consumers of the benefits of Tapestry and Capri’s head-to-head competition, which includes competition on price, discounts and promotions, innovation, design, marketing and advertising,” FTC said in a statement. Tapestry had offered to buy Capri in August, hoping to create a US fashion behemoth that could effectively battle bigger European rivals such as Louis Vuitton parent LVMH and potentially get more share in the global luxury market. But the FTC requested more information from the firms on their deal in November. “Capri Holdings strongly disagrees with the FTC’s decision,” the company said in a statement. “The market realities, which the government’s challenge ignores, overwhelmingly demonstrate that this transaction will not limit, reduce, or constrain competition.” Tapestry, in a statement, also said “there is no question that this is a pro-competitive, pro-consumer deal and that the FTC fundamentally misunderstands both the marketplace and the way in which consumers shop.” Earlier in April, the companies had received regulatory clearance from the European Union and Japan for their deal, that would bring top luxury labels such as Kate Spade and Jimmy Choo under one roof.

US sues to block Tapestry’s Capri deal citing handbag market domination Read More »

Columbia University main campus classes will be hybrid until semester ends; NYU students, faculty arrested during protests

Columbia University, the epicenter of pro-Palestinian protests at US college campuses in recent days, says all classes at its main campus will be hybrid — technology permitting — until the spring semester ends. The last day of classes is April 29, according to Columbia’s academic calendar. “Safety is our highest priority as we strive to support our students’ learning and all the required academic operations,” the university said in an announcement Monday night. The turmoil at the Ivy League school ramped up Monday as simmering tensions on campus halted in-person classes and officials scrambled to ease security fears. That unrest has spread to a number of other schools, including Yale University, where dozens of pro-Palestinian protesters were arrested Monday, and nearby New York University. Earlier Monday night, NYU students and faculty members were arrested during protests on the school’s campus, the New York City Police Department confirmed to CNN. NYU asked the NYPD to enter campus and “enforce the law,” according to a police spokesperson. The spokesperson would not confirm how many people have been arrested. CNN has reached out to NYU for comment. At Columbia’s main campus, classes were already virtual Monday due to security concerns as Passover was set to begin. In a clear sign of the spiraling crisis, Columbia University President Minouche Shafik announced the extraordinary step in a statement posted shortly after 1 a.m. ET, citing a desire to “deescalate the rancor and give us all a chance to consider next steps.” As the New York Police Department has built up a “large presence” around Columbia, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul visited the campus to address security concerns. “Students are scared,” Hochul said in a video posted on X. “They are afraid to walk on campus. They don’t deserve that.” Jacob Schmeltz, a senior at Columbia, told CNN he was going home instead of celebrating Passover, a major Jewish holiday, on campus as he has done in previous years. “Jewish students have had enough and it’s gotten to the point that we feel safer off campus than on it,” he said. RELATED LIVE-STORYProtests at Columbia and other schools escalate Even the US president has weighed in. “I condemn the antisemitic protests,” Biden said when asked about the situation at Columbia. Shafik is under pressure from all sides. Some faculty members are slamming her decision to call in the NYPD last week to disperse a pro-Palestinian protest, even as others are demanding she invite police back to clear a revived encampment of protesters. US House GOP Conference Chairwoman Elise Stefanik and fellow New York Republicans wrote a letter to Shafik on Monday blaming her for the situation on campus and urging her to step down after less than a year at the helm of the prestigious university. “Over the past few days, anarchy has engulfed the campus of Columbia University,” the lawmakers wrote. Billionaire Robert Kraft, the owner of the New England Patriots and a prominent Columbia graduate, called for school officials to immediately end the protests and suggested he is withholding donations to the university because he’s “no longer confident that Columbia can protect its students and staff.” “The school I love so much – the one that welcomed me and provided me with so much opportunity – is no longer an institution I recognize,” Kraft, founder of the Foundation to Combat Antisemitism, said in a statement on X. “I am not comfortable supporting the university until corrective action is taken.” Columbia spokesperson Samantha Slater responded to Kraft by telling CNN in a statement that the university is “grateful to Mr. Kraft for his years of generosity and service to Columbia.” “This is a time of crisis for many members of our community and we are focused on providing the support they need while keeping our campus safe,” the Columbia spokesperson said. Schmeltz, who is vice president of the Jewish on Campus Student Union, said the campus was “an absolute disaster” in recent days. “Jewish students are extremely scared and extremely frightened,” he added. A man walking his dog stops to look at pro-Palestinian protesters at Columbia University in New York on Monday. Caitlin Ochs/Reuters Organizers of the campus protest – Columbia University Apartheid Divest and Columbia Students for Justice in Palestine – said in a statement, “We have been peaceful,” and distanced themselves from non-student protesters who have gathered outside the campus, calling them “inflammatory individuals who do not represent us.” “We firmly reject any form of hate or bigotry and stand vigilant against non-students attempting to disrupt the solidarity being forged among students – Palestinian, Muslim, Arab, Jewish, Black and pro-Palestinian classmates and colleagues who represent the full diversity of our country,” the statement continued. Demonstrations are also taking place at other campuses. Pro-Palestinian students at Boston’s Emerson College and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology set up protest encampments as an act of solidarity with students at Columbia University, according to The Boston Globe. And in addition to Yale and NYU, solidarity rallies have also taken place at Harvard, the University of Michigan. the University of North Carolina, Boston University and the University of California, Berkeley. Protests and counter protests continue As Columbia students moved to virtual learning, scores of protesters were camped out on the university’s West Lawn Monday morning, opposite the lawn where the original encampment took place. More than a dozen tents were pitched and tables were stocked with supplies of clothes and food. Signs along the perimeter include ones reading, “End the siege on Gaza now” and “Welcome to the People’s University of Palestine.” The encampment is only open to those affiliated with campus. Activities are being held inside the encampment, including teach-ins, dances, poetry readings and film screenings. On Monday, some students were quietly finishing assignments, while others were painting posters. The inside of the encampment was quiet as most of the noise came from protestors outside the gates of campus, who were chanting, “I believe that we will win” and “Long live the Intifada.” There was a smaller group of pro-Israeli protesters, who chanted back “Down with Hamas” and “Victory to Israel.” Meanwhile, one professor criticized the protesters outside the gates

Columbia University main campus classes will be hybrid until semester ends; NYU students, faculty arrested during protests Read More »

The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 2024 inductees are…

The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame has announced their 2024 class of inductees. In the performer category, this year’s inductees are Mary J. Blige, Cher, Dave Matthews Band, Foreigner, Peter Frampton, Kool & The Gang, Ozzy Osbourne and A Tribe Called Quest. Jimmy Buffett, MC5, Dionne Warwick and Norman Whitfield were selected as the recipients for the Musical Excellence Award. The announcement was made Sunday during the “Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Night” episode on “American Idol.” The inductees into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame were selected among nominees announced earlier this year, and have “created music whose originality, impact, and influence has changed the course of rock & roll,” according to the organization. Nominees this year included Sinéad O’Connor, Lenny Kravitz and Mariah Carey. To be eligible for nomination for induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, an individual artist or band must have released its first commercial recording at least 25 years prior to the year of nomination. The 2024 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony will happen live on Saturday, October 19 at the Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in Cleveland, Ohio. The 2024 ceremony will once again stream live on Disney+ with a special airing on ABC at a later date and available on Hulu the following day.

The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 2024 inductees are… Read More »

Donald Trump is on the verge of another $1 billion Truth Social windfall

New YorkCNN —  Former President Donald Trump is on the cusp of scoring a major financial bonanza – at least on paper. As long as Trump Media & Technology Group’s share price doesn’t spectacularly implode before Tuesday’s closing bell, Trump is on track to receive another 36 million shares as the owner of Truth Social. This milestone is on track to be hit after the market closes on Tuesday. Even though Trump Media is losing money and Truth Social is very tiny, those new shares Trump is in line to receive would be valued at about $1.3 billion at current prices. Trump’s net worth has been on a roller coaster ride ever since his social media company finalized its deal to go public late last month. The former president is the dominant shareholder in a stock that has been called a “meme stock on steroids.” Although Trump Media’s share price has been cut in half since peaking on March 27, it’s still trading comfortably above levels that would trigger certain performance provisions in the merger agreement. According to SEC filings, Trump Media can issue additional shares to pre-merger shareholders such as the former president if the dollar volume-weighted average price equals or exceeds $12.50 for any 20 trading days within any 30 day trading period beginning on March 25. The full earnout of 40 million shares would be triggered if that price metric equals or exceeds $17.50 over the same timeframe. Tuesday marks the 20th trading day and Trump Media’s share price has not traded below the $17.50 level at any point since the clock started on March 25. “It seems almost certain to me that the earnout conditions will be satisfied at this point, given how high the share price has been,” said Michael Ohlrogge, an associate professor at the NYU School of Law. Trump’s dominant stake The merger agreement calls for Trump to receive 90% of those earnout shares, translating to 36 million additional shares. Enter your email to receive CNN’s nightcap newsletter. close dialog We read all day so you don’t have to. Get our nightly newsletter for all the top business stories you need to know. Sign Me Up By subscribing you agree to our privacy policy. That would give Trump an even more dominant stake of 114.75 million shares, amounting to 65% of the total outstanding shares, according to filings. Of course, Trump Media’s share price is subject to extreme volatility, meaning the value of this stake can swing wildly. There are also practical and legal restrictions that would likely prevent Trump from cashing in this stock anytime soon. RELATED ARTICLE‘This thing is going crazy.’ Why Trump Media stock is subject to extreme turbulence According to filings, the earnout shares Trump appears to be in line to receive are subject to the lock-up restrictions that prevent insiders from selling or borrowing against their stock for months after the merger closed. Even if Trump was able to get around this lock-up agreement, experts say it would be practically difficult for him to sell a sizable chunk of his stake without causing a crash in the share price. After all, Trump is the largest shareholder, chairman and most popular user on Truth Social. ‘Grossly overvalued’ Even though Trump Media’s share price has retreated since spiking to $66 last month, experts warn it remains overvalued based on fundamental metrics. One common way to value stocks is to compare its price relative to its revenue. The average social media stock trades at a price-to-sales ratio of roughly 10x, according to Matthew Kennedy, senior IPO strategist at Renaissance Capital. That peer group includes Facebook owner Meta, Pinterest, Snap, Reddit and Rumble. By comparison, Trump Media is trading at north of 1,200 times sales, according to Kennedy. “The stock appears to be grossly overvalued,” said Jay Ritter, a finance professor at the University of Florida. Ritter, who has been studying IPOs for four decades, expects Trump Media’s share price to eventually plunge to just $1 or $2 per share. Trump Media gives short-selling prevention tips Ohlrogge, the NYU professor, said Trump Media’s share price is “responding primarily to non-rational factors.” For instance, Ohlrogge pointed to how the stock plunged last week after the company indicated it plans to register new shares. RELATED ARTICLEPro-Trump network OAN and Smartmatic settle 2020 election defamation case “There should have been nothing surprising about that filing since it was just doing precisely what the company said it would do after it went public…There was no real rational reason to have a negative impact on the price,” he said, adding that the price reflects the “whims and sentiments of very uninformed traders, driving the price this way and that.” In a sign that Trump Media is worried about its share price, the company took the unusual step last week of telling its shareholders how to avoid their stock from being loaned to short sellers betting against it. Trump Media updated a FAQ section on its website to include the short-selling prevention tips. “That is highly unusual,” said Peter Byrne, a securities lawyer at Cooley who focuses on companies going public. “We don’t typically see companies publish information like this.”

Donald Trump is on the verge of another $1 billion Truth Social windfall Read More »

Dominic West opens up about ‘absurd’ furor over Lily James pictures

LondonCNN —  British actor Dominic West has opened up about the furor surrounding images taken in 2020 of him with his former co-star Lily James, calling the situation “absurd” and “deeply stressful” for his family. “The Wire” actor said in an interview with the Sunday Times that the situation was “horrible” for his wife, Catherine FitzGerald, but added that, “we do joke about it sometimes.” In 2020, images emerged of West and James, who were co-stars in the television miniseries “The Pursuit of Love,” at a restaurant and on an electric scooter together in Rome, Italy. After the photos were published, West and FitzGerald posed for the press outside their home, holding a piece of paper with the handwritten message: “Our marriage is strong and we’re very much still together. Thank you.” “Whenever we went out together, the papers would always say we were ‘putting on a show of unity.’ Even if we’d just been rowing about parking the car or whatever, even if that couldn’t be further from the truth,” West told the Sunday Times. “And so when we go out, we do sort of say, ‘Shall we go and have a show of unity up in London?’” “It was an absurd situation. It was deeply stressful for my wife and my kids, but there were lighter moments,” West told the British newspaper. West said that he was able to use his experience of the media frenzy surrounding the pictures in his professional career, channeling it when portraying then-Prince Charles in Netflix’s “The Crown.” RELATED ARTICLE‘The Crown’s’ cast draw the curtain on Netflix’s royal ‘soap opera’ “I’d had a very acute understanding of what it’s like to feel the horror of your name or your photograph coming up in the newspapers,” he said. “There is that dreadful freezing moment when something is being revealed about you.” “I’d been through it a couple of years previously [to filming ‘The Crown’] and it must have informed how I approached it,” the actor continued. “That gut feeling of horror isn’t something you get inured to.” In a 2022 interview, James also seemed to address the media frenzy, telling Rolling Stone magazine: “Women in the public eye at some point experience some sort of difficult situation in that relationship between privacy and your life being in the tabloids,” adding that “it was a lot. It’s a story as old as time.” West is set to star in Arthur Miller’s “A View from the Bridge” at London’s Theatre Royal Haymarket this summer.

Dominic West opens up about ‘absurd’ furor over Lily James pictures Read More »

Opinion: I’ve been a criminal attorney for decades. Here’s what I think about the case against Trump

It was a little more than a year ago, on April 3, 2023, that Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg announced a 34-count criminal indictment against former President Donald J. Trump. Now the trial against Trump is set to begin, with opening statements scheduled to get underway Monday at 9:30 a.m. Joey Jackson Jeremy Freeman/CNN Trump stands accused of falsifying invoices and business ledgers and sending reimbursement checks to his then-attorney Michael Cohen under the pretext that they were payments for legal services rendered. Prosecutors say they were no such thing, but were rather reimbursement to Cohen for a $130,000 payment he made on Trump’s behalf to former adult actress Stormy Daniels. Daniels was paid, they say, to keep her from outing Trump ahead of the election in order to conceal their liaison and thereby enhance his election prospects. In New York state, falsifying business records is a misdemeanor carrying a penalty of up to a year in jail. However, if it can be demonstrated that the reason for the falsification was to commit some other crime, as prosecutors say is the case here, it becomes a felony punishable by up to four years in jail. That means that prosecutors have two orders of business in their bid to secure a conviction against the former president. First, they must establish the fraudulent nature of the business records which underlie the alleged scheme. Secondly, they must demonstrate that Trump’s intention in falsifying the records was related to the 2016 presidential election. That, in the simplest terms, is the prosecution’s case against the former president. RELATED ARTICLEOpinion: Trump followers were asleep at the switch One cannot help but wonder what’s going through the minds of the jurors — the statements they made during the jury selection process notwithstanding. Are they starstruck? Intimidated? Biased for or against Trump? We really won’t know until after the proceedings are over and the jury speaks with their verdict. At that point, the jurors may or may not choose to publicly provide an explanation regarding their decision. Trump has said that prosecutors have “no case” against him. We will soon find out whether that’s true. Prosecutors most certainly will take a very different position when opening statements get under way. But each side will be mindful to tailor their opening arguments to the target audience: the jury. They are the ones whose opinions matter most in this trial. The court has seated an 18-member panel consisting of 12 jurors and six alternates who are critically important, since one or more of them might be called to step in should one of the jurors need to be excused — for instance if they have a personal emergency or simply beg off the case. The longer the trial goes on, the more likely that that could happen. With regard to the primary jury panel of 12, I am struck by how many professionals have been seated. It includes two lawyers, a tech worker, a software engineer, finance professionals, a teacher and a salesperson, among others. In my view, that’s a group that’s going to zero in on facts, logic, documents and evidence. That could be very good for Trump because they likely would not be inclined to base their verdict on politics — his or theirs. It could also work against him, however, since the jurors may turn out to be dispassionate, unemotional and otherwise unpersuaded by defense claims of prosecutorial unfairness, governmental overreaching or witch hunts. Enter your email to sign up for CNN’s “Meanwhile in China” Newsletter. close dialog What’s happening in China and what does it mean for the rest of the world? Sign Me Up By subscribing you agree to our privacy policy. Opening statements are not evidence, but are designed to provide a preview of what the evidence will show, and I expect them to come out swinging. We can anticipate a logical rendition of the proof they intend to present, consisting of ledgers, invoices, checks, text messages, emails, audio recordings and other documents. RELATED ARTICLEOpinion: Mike Johnson is testing to see if the MAGA Republican fever can be broken We can also expect them to differentiate the message from the messenger. Cohen, for instance, is a convicted felon and perjurer, as many people know. Daniels has led a life that some would find unsavory. Expect prosecutors to talk about that freely, as they did during jury selection. But they will also condition the jury by making the point that jurors need not rely upon the word of any one witness. Prosecutors instead will ask the jury to focus on documentary evidence that corroborates and buttresses witness claims. That means you can expect them to focus first and foremost on the documents that they say lay out the hush money scheme. The witnesses are just “messengers” underscoring facts that have already been established by compelling hard evidence. Prosecutors will attempt to lessen the sting of defense attacks on the credibility of their witnesses by arguing that the message itself — the evidence relating to Trump’s guilt — is unmistakable. The texts, emails and documents irrefutably prove his guilt, they will insist. On the issue of Trump’s intent, prosecutors will note that it defies common sense and logic that he would have paid the hush money for any other reason than to hide it from voters. Not only will they point to the timing of the payment just days before the 2016 election, but they will almost certainly point to communications and statements in meetings in which they say the scheme and its purpose were discussed. I don’t expect prosecutors to get into the weeds on Monday with respect to what the evidence will show, but I do expect that their overview will be organized, focused and tethered to a meticulous timeline of events, facts and participants. The defense team’s opening arguments are more of a wild card fraught with challenges, but they have a few options. The first would be to commit to an actual defense. But what might that look like, and will

Opinion: I’ve been a criminal attorney for decades. Here’s what I think about the case against Trump Read More »

Biden administration tightlipped on Israel strike as US looks to maintain distance from decision

The Biden administration on Friday adopted a tightlipped approach that reflected US officials’ desire to keep a level of distance from Israel’s decision to strike back against Iran in what appeared to be a limited retaliation for last weekend’s attack. Israel has not commented on the strike, which was reported after three explosions were heard close to a major military airbase near Isfahan, state media reported early Friday morning. Iranian officials have said air defenses intercepted three drones and there were no reports of a missile attack. American officials, who said they received warning from Israel of their plans, neither endorsed nor condemned the counterstrike. Israel had told the US on Thursday that it would be retaliating against Iran in the coming days, a senior US official said, adding that the US “didn’t endorse the response.” Instead, the US sought to make clear the choice was Israel’s alone. “We were not involved,” one official said. Israel informed the US through a variety of different channels ahead of its counterstrike against Iran, a person familiar with the matter said, adding that the warning did not come far in advance but did not catch the US off-guard. Speaking at the G7 foreign ministers’ summit in Capri, the Italian foreign minister said the US received word from Israel at the “last minute” of its plans to retaliate. The person familiar said the heads-up came on Thursday. In his first public remarks since the counterstrike, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken declined nearly all comment on the matter while speaking at a G7 meeting in Capri, Italy. But, he said, G7 countries were committed to Israel’s security while seeking to avoid the conflict from further spiraling. ”We’re also committed to de-escalating – to trying to bring this tension to a close,” Blinken said during a news conference. He also said the countries shared “a commitment to hold Iran to account.” US anticipated limited Israeli response Even though President Joe Biden counseled restraint last weekend in a phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu – suggesting to his counterpart that because of the successful interception of nearly all of Iran’s missiles and drones, a counterattack might not be necessary – there were few inside the White House who believed Israel would do nothing. Instead, officials believed what Israel was planning would be limited in scope and designed to send Iran a message. Officials had asked Israel for advance warning of the plans. Enter your email to sign up for CNN’s “Meanwhile in China” Newsletter. close dialog What’s happening in China and what does it mean for the rest of the world? Sign Me Up By subscribing you agree to our privacy policy. Senior US officials spent a good part of Thursday in virtual conversations with top Israeli officials to discuss, among other topics, the attack last weekend by Iran and efforts to boost Israeli security. The talks, led by US national security adviser Jake Sullivan, included Israeli Minister for Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer, a top confidante of Netanyahu, and Israeli National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi. Before expanding to a larger group of senior officials, the US and Israeli sides discussed in a smaller format last weekend’s attack, as well as Biden’s decision to apply new sanctions on Iran. The sanctions, applied in conjunction with other Western nations, appeared designed to send a message that retaliating against Iran didn’t necessarily require a military component. It’s not clear how much the Israeli side briefed the American officials on the plans to respond to the Iran attack. The larger meeting focused on another topic of disagreement between the Biden administration and the Israeli government: plans for a ground invasion of Rafah to go after Hamas. The White House said afterward that American officials “expressed concerns with various courses of action in Rafah, and Israeli participants agreed to take these concerns into account.” The disagreement was an indication even amid the back-and-forth with Iran that the war against Hamas in Gaza continues apace – with negotiations for a ceasefire stalled and with a humanitarian crisis worsening. The latest counterstrike adds to increasing tensions in the Middle East following Iran’s unprecedented strike against Israel last weekend, in which it lobbed more than 300 drones and cruise missiles toward Israel, nearly all of which were intercepted. That attack was retaliation for a suspected Israeli strike on Iran’s embassy compound in Syria earlier this month.

Biden administration tightlipped on Israel strike as US looks to maintain distance from decision Read More »

Iran says it shot down drones as regional tensions flare. How did we get here?

An unclaimed aerial attack in central Iran on Friday comes fresh on the heels of tit-for-tat Iranian and Israeli strikes earlier this month, marking a potentially dangerous escalation of the Middle East conflict. Israel carried out the strike inside Iran Friday morning, a US official told CNN. Iranian officials have so far sought to play down the incident, and Israel has not claimed responsibility for what appears to be the latest salvo fired as a decades-long shadow war between the two countries emerges into the open – ratcheting up fears of an escalation into a wider regional war. Iranian air defenses intercepted three drones, a Tehran official said Friday, after reports of explosions near an army base in the central province of Isfahan. There were no reports of a missile attack, Iran’s National Cyberspace Center spokesperson Hossein Dalirian said on social platform X. A loud blast near Isfahan city was caused by “air defense firing at a suspicious object,” a senior Iranian military commander said, adding there was no “damage or incident,” according to the state-aligned Tasnim news agency. All facilities around Isfahan were secure, including significant nuclear sites, Iranian media reported. The United Nations nuclear watchdog confirmed no Iranian nuclear sites were damaged. The attack on Iran follows an unprecedented Iranian assault on Israel last weekend that Tehran said was retaliation for a deadly suspected Israeli airstrike on Iran’s consulate in Syria on April 1. The reprisals marked the first time the Islamic Republic had launched a direct assault on Israel from its soil. In the wake of Iran’s retaliatory attack, countries including the United States called for restraint from Israel to prevent an escalation, as Israel’s ongoing war against Palestinian militant group Hamas in Gaza has already sent tensions between it and its neighbors soaring. The US “didn’t green light” an Israeli response, another senior US official told CNN. Prior to Friday’s strike, the US expectation was that Israel would not target civilian or nuclear facilities, the second US official said. Why is this happening now? Friday’s attack follows Iran’s launch of hundreds of drones and missiles at Israel last Saturday, which triggered air raid sirens and the activation of Israel’s air defenses. That assault appeared designed to maximize spectacle while minimizing casualties as the vast bulk of the projectiles were downed by Israel and its allies. Israel last week pledged, however, that it would “exact a price” from Iran in response to that aerial barrage. Israel’s war cabinet met periodically this week without announcing any definitive action. RELATED ARTICLEIsrael has carried out a strike inside Iran, US official tells CNN, as region braces for further escalation Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian told CNN Thursday the intent of last weekend’s strikes “stayed within a minimum of frameworks” and the action was “legitimate defense” in response to what Tehran has said was an Israeli strike on its consulate in Damascus on April 1. That airstrike destroyed the consulate building, killing at least seven officials including Mohammed Reza Zahedi, a top commander in Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guards (IRGC), and senior commander Mohammad Hadi Haji Rahimi, Iran’s Foreign Ministry said at the time. The Israeli military has not acknowledged responsibility for attack in Syria, telling CNN at the time it does not comment on foreign reports. However, a military spokesperson said Israel believes the target struck was a “military building of Quds forces” — a unit of the IRGC responsible for foreign operations. The Pentagon also said the US’ assessment was that Israel had carried out that airstrike. Rescue workers search in the rubble of a destroyed Iranian consulate building in Damascus on April 2 following a suspected Israeli airstrike. Louai Beshara/AFP/Getty Images How is this related to Gaza? The tit-for-tat attacks have played out amid Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza against Palestinian militant group Hamas. The conflict in the enclave has caused a major humanitarian crisis and thousands of civilian deaths, putting the region on edge. Israel launched its war following Hamas’ October 7 attack on its territory, which Israeli officials said killed more than 1,200 people and saw around 250 taken hostage. Iran, which has a network of proxies throughout the region and is seen as a long-time backer of Hamas, has denied involvement in that attack. But since the outbreak of war in Gaza, Iran’s proxies have launched attacks on Israel and its allies and wreaked havoc on global shipping by launching missiles and drones at commercial vessels in the Red Sea. Tehran is believed to back but not fully control its proxies, including powerful Lebanese militant group Hezbollah and Yemen’s Houthi rebels. The US has been a staunch supporter of Israel during its war against Hamas. However, US President Joe Biden and senior members of his national security team have told their Israeli counterparts the US will not participate in any offensive action against Iran, according to US officials familiar with the matter, CNN reported earlier this week. What’s next? Despite calls from allies for Israel to show restraint, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday said Israel will make its “own decisions” when responding to Iran’s airstrikes. Hours before the first reports of explosions in Iran emerged Friday, Iranian Foreign Minister Amir-Abdollahian had warned that Tehran’s response would be “immediate and at a maximum level” to any further Israeli military action against it. “If the Israeli regime commits the grave error once again our response will be decisive, definitive and regretful for them,” Amir-Abdollahian told CNN. “We do not seek to create tension and crisis or increase such situations in the Middle East and we sincerely hope the Israeli regime does not repeat the previous egregious error,” he said. RELATED ARTICLEIran’s military response will be ‘immediate and at a maximum level’ if Israel attacks, foreign minister says The details of a potential “maximum response” have been planned by Iran’s armed forces, he added. Iranian media, however, appeared to downplay the severity of Friday’s attack, publishing footage and images of calm scenes in Isfahan and the northwest city of Tabriz. Israel would need significant support from Western allies to enter into a full-blown war in the Middle East, according to Maha Yahya, director of the Carnegie Middle East Center research

Iran says it shot down drones as regional tensions flare. How did we get here? Read More »

The week that life in Dubai ground to a halt

Dubai, UAECNN —  The scenes from Dubai this week seemed apocalyptic to residents who are more used to the tranquil nature of the sunny metropolis in the desert. This city hadn’t witnessed a natural disaster of such magnitude since records began, and the destruction it left behind only became apparent after the storm cleared. The United Arab Emirates, of which Dubai is part, saw the heaviest rainfall in at least 75 years, with more than a year’s worth of precipitation in 24 hours. Life for many in the glitzy tourism and financial hub came to a near halt. VIDEO RELATED VIDEORecovery efforts are underway in Dubai after historic rainfall Emergency services worked round the clock, and no deaths in the city were reported, although a 70-year-old man died after flooding swept away his vehicle in neighboring Ras Al-Khaimah emirate. The chaos that ensued was short-lived, but it showed the city’s vulnerability to natural disasters. As runways went underwater, flights were canceled at one of the world’s busiest airports. Flashy malls were soaked with rain seeping through ceilings, and elevators stopped functioning in skyscrapers, forcing residents to climb stairs up dozens of floors. Unable to return home, some motorists slept in their cars due to blocked roads. The images were shocking for the hi-tech city, a leading international tourist destination which boasts a world-class infrastructure, some of which gave in to natural disaster. Rain is scarce in the Persian Gulf region and urban planning does not account for the possibility of major storms. Abandoned vehicles on a flooded highway after a rainstorm in Dubai, United Arab Emirates on Wednesday. Christopher Pike/Bloomberg/Getty Images Dubai has a unique demographic model. Of its 3.5 million people, 92% of are foreigners who come from 200 countries to live and work in the city, lured by its tax-free status and relaxed lifestyle. It is the world’s second-best tourist destination, according to one report, with more than 17 million visitors arriving last year, drawn by year-round sunshine, gourmet eateries and luxury shopping. The disruptions this week impacted almost everyone, from tourists and migrant workers to the minority citizen population and Western expatriates. RELATED ARTICLEChaos in Dubai as UAE records heaviest rainfall in 75 years The authorities called on people to stay home, but many ventured out anyway, only to find themselves unable to return due to waterlogged streets. “The scary part is that there was nowhere you can go,” said Sofie, an expatriate resident who declined to provide her last name. She ended up stranded by the submerged roads for nearly 12 hours, some of which were spent sleeping in her car. Enter your email to sign up for CNN’s “Meanwhile in the Middle East” Newsletter. close dialog Want to understand the Middle East? Sign up for CNN’s Meanwhile in the Middle East newsletter. Sign Me Up By subscribing you agree to our privacy policy. On Sheikh Zayed Road, a 16-lane thoroughfare in Dubai lined with gleaming glass skyscrapers, motorists reported near-complete blockage in some areas, with cars going against the traffic to escape the gridlock. In the financial district, home to the regional operations of some of the world’s top banks, luxury cars were seen almost entirely underwater as the streets turned into lakes. In the man-made Dubai Marina, a popular destination for Western and Russian visitors, furniture from nearby restaurants and coffee shops was swept away by the current. Significant damage When the waters receded, streets were left strewn with debris. Images in local media showed highways with lanes of abandoned cars; in some neighborhoods, they had yet to be removed by Thursday morning. The economic damage from the storm could go into billions of dirhams, with significant impact to vehicles, properties and infrastructure, said Avinash Babur, chief executive of InsuranceMarket.ae, an insurance broker in the UAE (1 dirham is equivalent to $0.27). “The current damage is significant, with notable effects on both public and private properties, including key infrastructure,” he told CNN. “While Dubai has experienced storms in the past, the unique intensity of this event has posed new challenges.” The volume of calls and enquiries for insurance companies has jumped tenfold, he said, with a surge in demand for home insurance. People stand as flood water caused by heavy rains covers the stairs of a residential building, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates on Wednesday. Amr Alfiky/Reuters As some residents became trapped in their houses without electricity and unable to leave due to flooding outside, some opted to swim through swamps to escape. With landline use becoming increasingly rare, those without electricity relied on power banks to use their smartphones. For many, the confinement was reminiscent of Covid-19 lockdowns in 2020. Heavily reliant on foreign visitors and capital, Dubai was one of the first cities to come out of lockdowns as tourist numbers dwindled and property prices fell, and the UAE was among the first countries to achieve 100% vaccination in November 2021. Babur said the current situation presents an opportunity for Dubai “to showcase its resilience and rapid recovery capabilities, similar to its effective management during the Covid-19 pandemic.” Reliance on smartphones With food apps suspending deliveries during and after the storm, some residents had to resort to canned food, or whatever was left in their fridges, for sustenance. Those without electricity used barbeques to cook frozen food left thawing in freezers. Some fared even worse, with homes inundated with water, sometimes up to the waist, according to videos shared in local media, with belongings, furniture and appliances destroyed. The UAE has one of the highest smartphone penetration rates in the world, at 96% (the United States is at 90%, while China is at 72%). Residents rely heavily on home deliveries for everything from groceries and car fuel to ice cream and pedicures at the tap of a screen, a phenomenon that took off during the Covid-19 lockdowns. A man walks in flood water caused by heavy rains, with the Burj Khalifa tower visible in the background, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, April 17, 2024. REUTERS/Amr Alfiky Amr Alfiky/Reuters On a normal day, the city’s streets are teeming with bikers rushing to make deliveries for companies

The week that life in Dubai ground to a halt Read More »

Before and after: See Dubai flooding from space

Unprecedented, torrential rainfall plunged parts of the United Arab Emirates underwater last week, bringing life to a standstill in Dubai and elsewhere. The flooding that resulted from the UAE’s largest deluge on record was so intense that satellites were still able to see it from space days after the clouds cleared and the last drops of rain fell. A firehose of heavy rain gushed over a large portion of the UAE from late Tuesday, April 16, through Wednesday, April 17. Dubai – the country’s most populous city – recorded a year’s worth of rain in just 12 hours as areas farther east recorded nearly 2 years’ worth of rain in under 24 hours. The heaviest rain targeted areas north and east of the country’s capital city of Abu Dhabi. Rainfall totals of 4 to 8 inches (about 100 to 200 mm) were common, but a few locations recorded nearly 10 inches (250 mm). RELATED ARTICLECan this ocean-based carbon plant help save the world? Some scientists are raising red flags Floodwaters rose quickly and were slow to recede as a result of the historic deluge, which was the most extreme event in the country since records began 75 years ago. Less than two days after the rain relented, the Landsat 9 satellite passed over the UAE on Friday, April 19, and captured images of large, lingering pools of floodwater. The satellite collects detailed imagery of Earth’s surface and is operated by NASA and the United States Geological Survey. Images taken over the Jebel Ali area, located on the southern outskirts of Dubai, capture the area before and after historic flooding. NASA Pools of deep blue in the images above highlight floodwaters that stand in stark contrast against the region’s typically dry ground, which appears tan or light brown. The flooding shown is in the southernmost portion of Dubai, but the city’s highly urbanized central hub isn’t captured. These images were taken with Landsat 9’s false color products to make the presence of water stand out against the dry ground. The colors shown are not exactly how they would appear to a person peering down from space, but make differences in the land easier to spot. The satellite also captured significant flooding in Abu Dhabi. Small, shallow bodies of water appear light blue. The larger and deeper pools of floodwater are dark blue. Large sections of dry, tan ground also gain a light green tint after the rainfall. This likely shows that the ground in many areas retained a dampness from the rain, even if they did not fully flood. Satellite imagery captures Abu Dhabi before (left) and after (right) historic flooding. NASA While these images may have missed out on the absolute worst extent of flooding in the country, they provide an incredible snapshot of just how much the stormy weather left behind. The torrential rain was associated with a larger storm system last week traversing the Arabian Peninsula and moving across the Gulf of Oman. This same system also brought deadly flooding to nearby Oman. Extreme rainfall events like this are becoming more common as the atmosphere warms due to human-driven climate change. A warmer atmosphere is able to soak up more moisture like a towel and then ring it out in the form of torrential rainfall. Dry areas that lack the infrastructure to deal with intense rain are more likely to struggle with bouts of significant flooding as a result. Vehicles drive through floodwater caused by heavy rain in Dubai on Thursday. Christopher Pike/AP

Before and after: See Dubai flooding from space Read More »

Massive floods threaten tens of millions as intense rains batter southern China

Hong KongCNN —  Multiple days of heavy rains have lashed southern China, unleashing deadly floods and threatening to upend the lives of tens of millions of people as rescuers rush to evacuate residents trapped by rising waters. Guangdong province, an economic powerhouse home to 127 million people, has seen widespread flooding that has forced more than 110,000 people to be relocated, state media reported, citing the local government. The floods have killed at least four people in Guangdong, including a rescue worker, state news agency Xinhua reported Monday. At least 10 people remain missing, it added. Since April 16, sustained torrential rains have pounded the Pearl River Delta, China’s manufacturing heartland and one of the country’s most populated regions, with four weather stations in Guangdong registering record rainfall for April. The Pearl River basin is subject to annual flooding from April to September, but the region has faced more intense rainstorms and severe floods in recent years as scientists warn that the climate crisis will amplify extreme weather, making it deadlier and more frequent. Houses submerged in floodwaters in Qingyuan, Guangdong province, on April 22, 2024. Tingshu Wang/Reuters “Judging from the flood control situation in recent years, climate warming and temperature rise have intensified, and extreme heavy rainfall occurs every year, leading to torrential rains and floods,” Yin Zhijie, chief hydrological forecaster at the Ministry of Water Resources, told state-run outlet The Paper. Last year, China encountered “more intense and extreme” downpours during the flood season than in previous years, with 72 national weather stations registering record daily rainfall and 346 stations breaking monthly records, according to the China Meteorological Administration. Since last week, at least 44 rivers in the Pearl River basin have swelled above the warning line, threatening to burst their banks, according to state broadcaster CCTV. On the Bei River, which flows into the Pearl River, authorities have warned of a “once a century” flood expected to reach 5.8 meters (19 feet) above the warning limit. The tributary had already burst its banks on April 8, marking the earliest arrival of its annual flood season since records began in 1998, according to Guangdong authorities. RELATED ARTICLEAre cities ‘spongy’ enough to handle floods? New climate resilience report points to nature for solutions The “massive flood” at the Bei River is the earliest on record to hit China in the highest category of a four-tier classification system, according to Yin, the forecaster. Floods of this magnitude usually occur after late June, he said. Aerial footage aired by CCTV on the weekend showed villages inundated by murky flood waters, with only roofs and treetops visible in some places. In Guangning county, Zhaoqing city, footage shared by residents on short video app Douyin shows muddy brown water gushing through village streets and sweeping away cars. In Shaoguan, a man is seen pushing his scooter through shoulder-high flood waters. And in Qingyuan city, social media footage shows strong gales and rain felling trees and flipping over motorcycles. The heavy downpours have also triggered landslides near Shaoguan city in the province’s mountainous north, injuring six people, according to Xinhua. Authorities raised the flood control emergency response for the Pearl River Delta to level 2 on Sunday – the second highest in a four-tier system. Many cities have suspended schools and hundreds of flights have been canceled in the metropolises of Guangzhou and Shenzhen. More than 80 houses have either collapsed or been severely damaged, resulting in a direct economic loss of nearly 140 million yuan ($20 million), Xinhua reported. Further heavy rainfall is expected to hit Guangdong this week, according to the province’s Meteorological Bureau.

Massive floods threaten tens of millions as intense rains batter southern China Read More »

Europa’s similarity to Greenland hints that Jupiter moon could harbor life

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The uncanny resemblance between features on Europa’s frozen surface and a landform in Greenland that sits atop a sizable pocket of water are providing intriguing new indications that this moon of Jupiter may be capable of harboring life. A study published on Tuesday explored similarities between elongated landforms called double ridges that look like huge gashes across Europa’s surface and a smaller version in Greenland examined using ice-penetrating radar. Double ridges are linear, with two peaks and a central trough between them. “If you sliced through one and looked at the cross section, it would look a bit like the capital letter ‘M,’” said Stanford University geophysicist Riley Culberg, lead author of the study published in the journal Nature Communications. Radar data showed that refreezing of liquid subsurface water drove the formation of Greenland’s double ridge. If Europa’s features form the same way, this could signal the presence of copious amounts of liquid water – a key ingredient for life – near the surface of this Jovian moon’s thick outer ice shell. In the search for extraterrestrial life, Europa has attracted attention as one of the locales in our solar system that may be habitable, perhaps by microbes, owing to a global saltwater ocean detected deep beneath its ice shell. Innumerable water pockets closer to the surface would represent a second potential habitat for organisms. “The presence of liquid water in the ice shell would suggest that exchange between the ocean and ice shell is common, which could be important for chemical cycling that would help support life,” Culberg said. “Shallow water in particular also means there might be easier targets for future space missions to image or sample that could at least preserve evidence of life without having to fully access the deep ocean.” NASA’s robotic Europa Clipper is scheduled for a 2024 launch to further investigate whether this moon possesses conditions suitable for life. The shallow depth of Europa’s potential water pockets – perhaps within six-tenths of a mile (1 km) of the surface – also would place them near chemicals vital for the formation of life that may exist on its surface. With a diameter of 1,940 miles (3,100 km), Europa is the fourth-largest of Jupiter’s 79 known moons, a bit smaller than Earth’s moon but bigger than the dwarf planet Pluto. Europa’s ocean may contain double the water of those on Earth. Life first emerged on Earth as marine microbes. Europa’s double ridges, sometimes extending hundreds miles (km), generally are around 490-650 feet (150-200 meters) tall, with the peaks about three- to six-tenths of a mile (0.5-1 km) apart. Scientists have debated how they formed. Culberg was struck by their resemblance to a landform he knew from northwestern Greenland, with peaks about 6.5 feet (2 meters tall), separated by about 160 feet (50 meters) and extending about a half mile (800 meters). “The Greenland double ridge feature formed from the successive refreezing, pressurization and fracture of a near-surface water pocket. We see two ridges, rather than one, because the shallow water pocket was also split in two by a fracture filled with refrozen water,” Culberg said. The water pocket in Greenland was about 50 feet (15 meters) below the surface, likely less than 33 feet (10 meters) thick and about a mile (1.6 km) wide. If the same process spawned Europa’s many double ridges, each associated water pocket could boast a volume similar to Lake Erie, one of North America’s Great Lakes. “Between having two potential habitats and the fact that double ridges – and the near-surface water bodies they may imply – are among the most common features on Europa’s surface, it makes this moon a very exciting candidate for habitability indeed,” Stanford geophysics professor and study co-author Dustin Schroeder added.

Europa’s similarity to Greenland hints that Jupiter moon could harbor life Read More »

PwC donates $52 million to Project STAR

  AUDITING firm PwC Jamaica has committed $52 million to the work of Project STAR, a social and economic transformation initiative created by the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ) in partnership with the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF). Bruce Scott, territory leader of PwC Jamaica, said that the donation represents a commitment by his organisation to improving communities and investing in the future of Jamaica. “Project STAR aligns perfectly with our purpose of building trust in society and solving important problems, and PwC Jamaica is honoured to support the PSOJ and the JCF in this impactful endeavour,” said Scott. “We are committed to fostering lasting impact in our communities through the contribution of our time, expertise and resources. We see this as an opportunity to invest in our nation’s future and we’re only too happy to contribute to this worthwhile initiative,” added Scott. He disclosed that the commitment from PwC Jamaica includes the value of audit services beginning in 2023, community outreach, PwC internships and a financial donation of $5 million annually. Saffrey Brown, project director of Project STAR, welcomed the contribution and underscored the importance of financial support to the initiative. “We are happy for this contribution from PwC. Your support is invaluable and plays a crucial role in making our programme a resounding success,” said Brown. “Your contribution will directly impact our ability to carry out a range of activities and initiatives in the communities that we are targeting,” added Brown. Project STAR is a five-year social and economic transformation project that targets under-resourced, underserved communities experiencing high levels of crime or violence. Through a comprehensive consultation process, communities assist in determining their own needs, which are further supported by extensive data and analysis. According to Brown, in just over a year, Project STAR has accomplished a lot. In east downtown Kingston, several programmes have been rolled out including: a school feeding programme at four basic schools; sporting programmes such as weekly streetside football and basketball; community reasoning sessions; referrals to social protection programmes such as PATH and social pensions for the elderly; and psycho-social programmes such as youth camps. Community Transformation Boards have been established to provide locally-driven design and oversight of the community transformation plan. Many residents have also been trained and placed in jobs through the Project STAR Employment Programme. Meanwhile, in Savanna-la-Mar, Westmoreland Project STAR has introduced community reasoning sessions; training for job placements; and the establishment of a community infrastructure working group to address dilapidated infrastructure and drainage in the town. Among the donors that have committed support to Project STAR are Jamaica Money Market Brokers, Scotiabank, Musson Foundation, CB Facey Foundation (PanJam), National Commercial Bank, Sandals Foundation, Sagicor Foundation, Sagicor Financial Company, Digicel Foundation, GraceKennedy, Supreme Ventures, Spanish-Jamaican Foundation, Restaurants Associates Limited, Rainforest Caribbean, Barita, Richard and Diana Stewart Foundation, American Friends of Jamaica, Carreras Limited, Mayberry Foundation, and Restaurants of Jamaica.

PwC donates $52 million to Project STAR Read More »

Glorifying Mandeville robbers a sad situation, says hotelier

MANDEVILLE, Manchester — A business leader here is deeply concerned over the apparent glorification of men involved in last Friday’s brazen heist at Scotiabank in this bustling town, where five people were shot and injured. Peter Campbell, managing director of Golf View Hotel, said it was not only a sad day for the south-central town, but also a decay of morals. “… It is a further degradation of our moral standings, because you see people almost lauding this kind of behaviour,” he told the Jamaica Observer on Saturday. “It’s almost glorifying this kind of thing and it doesn’t sit well for the country. People on the international scene are looking on and they are now becoming even more reluctant to invest, to visit and to spend money in Jamaica and we all know the outcome of that kind of thing,” added Campbell. The hotelier’s comments follow footage of the robbery, which went viral, on social media where some users appeared to be applauding the criminals. “Team work mek di dream work,” said one user with the ok hand gesture on TikTok. “Mi rate the dawg (shooter) inna the black. Dawg mek de wull place a duck,” said one user on Instagram. At the same time there were users who expressed dismay at the responses. “Wow. I’m amazed at the amount of people in the comments praising how the robbery was executed,” said a user on Instagram. “Nothing bout dis nuh funny,” said another user. On Saturday, the police said a suspect was apprehended after he was seen driving one of two vehicles that was used as getaway units. Police said the suspect was travelling in a black Toyota Wish motorcar, which was intercepted about 1:30 am on Saturday on the Four Paths main road in Clarendon in the vicinity of Sunset Boulevard. Police said one 9mm magazine, one M16, two AK 47 rounds and a ski mask were reportedly recovered from the vehicle. It is understood that the vehicle, which bore mismatched registration plates, belongs to a man of a Portmore, St Catherine address. Reports suggest that a former Beryllium security guard and two bank employees were being questioned in connection with the heist. A woman who identified herself as Alice, told journalists outside the hospital on Friday night that her niece was shot in her leg while waiting in line at the Scotiabank ABM to withdraw cash on her payday.”I can’t find words to express right now. She was in the line to collect her pay with friends. They said the security guard said ‘clear the way’ and then they start hear gunshots,” said Alice.”These guys (gunmen) need to get some work. Trust me, they need to do better and stop make people have to go through all of these problems,” added the woman. The Sunday Observer was told that sometime after 5:00 pm gunmen attacked a Beryllium security team at Scotiabank. Footage, which has gone viral, believed to be that of the shootout, shows two men armed with high powered weapons making their escape with a bag presumably containing cash. Up to press time on Saturday, it was not ascertained as to how much money was stolen during the heist. The shooting incident resulted in businesses being closed early on Friday, as police cordoned off the intersection of Caledonia Road and Ward Avenue to the intersection of Caledonia Road and South Race Course Road. Campbell said the incident has far-reaching effects on the economy. “It is a sad day for Mandeville, an unfortunate incident to say the least, but it also highlights the fact that a crime plan or a strategy is absolutely necessary, not just on paper, but to be implemented as soon as possible,” he said. “In the absence or failure to implement serious crime fighting plans, we will continue to have incidents of this unfortunate nature. The ripple effect there is definitely a blow to our economy, he added. He said Jamaicans need to take the situation seriously. “We have to act swiftly, strategically and bearing in mind all the far reaching implications that this and other crimes, blatant act of the nature, can and will have on our economy and upcoming generations, because people are being terrified,” said Campbell “On the heels of back-to-school we now have to be looking to counsel kids, because they are terrified of something of this nature that can happen in broad daylight in such a prominent area,” he added. Other business leaders told the Sunday Observer that they were left outraged and shocked following Friday’s attack. President of the Manchester Chamber of Commerce Simone Spence-Johnson said the shooting incident, which unfolded in a busy section of the town, was frightening. “I think it leads more to the overall crime problem that we have in our island and we really need to have all hands on deck. We really need to look at this seriously, because having five people just being caught in the crossfire of a blatant attack such as this is very frightening. You are not sure what can happen anytime you are on the road,” she said. “We are really concerned and we are really outraged. We are crying out to all of the different stakeholders and the powers that be that we have to fix this problem. As a chamber we are totally against this and we really have to work seriously to solve this crime issue in our country,” she added. She said the incident threatens to create “a ripple effect” on commerce. “It puts a wrench in the assembly lines of how we operate as a business and you really don’t want something like this happening and… us as citizens and business owners we pay our staff probably through the banks and encourage them to use online transfers and debit cards at the point-of-sale as opposed to going to the ATM to draw cash,” said Spence-Johnson. “It does affect commerce, because if you have people out there who can’t access their funds,

Glorifying Mandeville robbers a sad situation, says hotelier Read More »

School reopening unease

MONTEGO BAY, St James — A high level of uncertainty looms over the education sector, president of the Jamaica Association of Principals of Secondary Schools (JAPSS) Linvern Wright has said. With the opening of the new school year just a week away, principals are reportedly running around in a bid to replace educators who have confirmed their resignations over the last few days, Wright explained. According to the JAPSS president, who is also principal of William Knibb Memorial High School in Trelawny, these last-minute resignations will automatically mean that there will be an influx of “inexperienced teachers” in the classrooms come September. Pointing out that he, too, has received 13 resignations at his school, Wright told the Jamaica Observer that he has also had to engage recent graduates to fill those positions. “Most of us who can fill the positions will have many inexperienced teachers who we will have to do some work with, in terms of professional development. We have issues with students where it is difficult for them to really grasp the information, and with the inexperience teachers, it will be a little more difficult, so more work will have to be done by us principals and senior teachers to help them cope much better and give the students the best chance they can at learning,” Wright explained. Just last month, Wright told the Sunday Observer that principals were sitting on the edges of their seats as a host of teachers had reportedly expressed the desire to move on to better opportunities. Though it was early days, over 272 teaching positions were being advertised across 23 high schools. Wright, however, said that the panic had heightened, as many teachers had resigned over the last week. “I saw one school yesterday that is advertising for about seven teachers. What principals are vocalising now is that teachers have waited until they got their last pay, which was between Wednesday and yesterday, and then the resignations started coming in. Some of them [may] have been waiting for answers from overseas, so it seems that they have now got the answers and they just waited on their pay. Now off they go,” said the JAPSS president. “For me, I have three positions to be filled and I have got some applications. But the real problem is the timing, so they have resigned now and we have to be advertising on the brink of school reopening. But we just hope that we will get the [replacement] teachers,” Wright added. In the meantime, Wright told the Sunday Observer that though teacher migration is not a new phenomenon, teachers have stated that their reason for leaving is based on the belief that their needs have seemingly been overlooked by the Jamaica Government. He noted that the recent salary negotiations between the Jamaica Teachers’ Association (JTA) and the Government had also left a sour taste in the mouths of educators. He also chastised the Government for that. “What is apparent is that the salary increases that teachers got are not enough to retain them, and I think it is interesting to note that the minister of finance, in justifying the salary increase for the parliamentarians, had actually said that we need more money to retain these persons and attract the best. It seems like that logic does not work for education. It seems that there is not sufficient value in retaining the best in education and educating our young minds to be the future of the country,” Wright complained. He added, “I think teachers are really just frustrated with that imbalanced logic where it works for one set, but it doesn’t work for the teachers and I think for that reason, many of them are going. It is unfortunate.” At the same time, Wright told the Sunday Observer that the Ministry of Education has been working with school principals to cushion the undeniable blow that will be caused by the departure of the educators. He stated that in addition to the new graduates, principals can engage other educators wanting to lend a hand. “We have had some suggestions from them as to how we could go about things and the truth is that the ministry has made some provisions. We can employ educators who have retired since 2018, and we can have people work for themselves…that is what is called locum tenens as a teacher going off on leave can come back to work if the area is scarce,” explained Wright. “Many of us have employed teachers who are just coming out of college to assist us and there is still that pre-trained aspect where many people are leaving universities but are not trained as teachers. Those are people we can also employ. So we are exploring all the avenues and are hoping that we can get the teachers,” he added. While he was unable to ascertain if any specific subject area will be gravely affected by these impending departures, the JAPSS president told the Sunday Observer that principals have shared concerns about the scarcity of English and technical teachers. Some principals seem to be very concerned because English is one of those areas where there might be problems, I can’t say definitively if there will be a shortage of English teachers just yet though. What I know is that in the industrial arts areas — the technical vocational subjects such as mechanical technology — those areas the teachers are very scarce,” said Wright.

School reopening unease Read More »

Bank account holders encouraged to take note of unclaimed balance advisories

JAMAICANS are encouraged to take note of the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service’s publication of unclaimed account balances. Unclaimed balances are monies that have remained in the possession or under the control of a banking institution for 15 years or more. This means they are funds in the bank account of persons who have not conducted any transactions utilising these over the 15 or more stipulated years. Economic analyst in the ministry’s Financial Regulation Division, Nadine Pryce said that under Section 126 of the Banking Services Act, unclaimed balances must be published in the Gazette and in a daily newspaper circulated in Jamaica, two times per year. “The unclaimed balances information can also be accessed on the website of the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service,” she said. Individuals seeing their names and account details published have up to one year from the date of the initial publication to retrieve their money at their banking institution. Failing this, the funds will become part of Jamaica’s revenue and be remitted to the accountant general. Thereafter, persons have up to 15 years to retrieve their unclaimed balances, once they can establish proof of ownership to the accountant general’s satisfaction. “Under the Banking Services Act, the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service is only responsible for publishing unclaimed balances in the newspaper and Gazette. It is up to the banking institutions to determine when to classify an account as dormant,” Pryce said. Queries regarding balances must be made to the relevant banking institutions or the Accountant General’s Department, from where the funds are recoverable.

Bank account holders encouraged to take note of unclaimed balance advisories Read More »

Danielle Rowe’s suspected killer named

THE female suspect held for the abduction and murder of eight-year-old Danielle Rowe has been positively identified as the alleged perpetrator of this shocking crime, the police have confirmed. The woman, who faced an identification (ID) parade on Friday, is 30-year-old dental assistant Kayodi Satchell of Padmore district, Red Hills, St Andrew and Twickenham Park in St Catherine addresses, deputy commissioner of police (DCP) in charge of crime and security, Fitz Bailey said in a video released by the police. “It is to be noted that Ms Satchell was an intimate partner of Danielle Rowe’s father. We have not yet established a clear motive, but as the investigation proceeds we expect that the real motive will be manifested,” DCP Bailey said. He said the breakthrough is a reflection of the commitment, patience, and diligence of investigators in this matter, “and I want to commend the team that was involved in this investigation”. The crime boss said Ms Satchell will be interviewed and formal charges will be laid in the coming week. The arrest of Satchell about two weeks ago was the first major breakthrough in the case, two months after Danielle’s slaying. In an interview with the Jamaica Observer earlier this week DCP Bailey said that following her arrest the woman was remanded into custody by the court for 10 days and several investigative leads were actioned. “The investigation continues. There are other lines of enquiries that are being pursued,” he said at the time. DCP Bailey had previously announced that the woman was picked up in the Corporate Area on Friday, August 11 about 2:30 pm. On June 8 Danielle was abducted after leaving Braeton Primary School in Portmore, St Catherine. She was later found on Roosevelt Avenue in St Andrew with her throat slashed. She died at Bustamante Hospital for Children two days after the ordeal. Danielle was laid to rest on July 23.

Danielle Rowe’s suspected killer named Read More »

Byles’ wage comment the uncompromising law of economics, says Golding

FORMER Prime Minister Bruce Golding says Bank of Jamaica (BOJ) Governor Richard Byles’ comment that private sector wage hikes could throw the country’s inflation projection off target is simply “the uncompromising law of economics”, as the point the central bank boss was making was that higher salaries must be balanced by increased productivity. “The focus, as the central bank governor sought to point out, must be on increasing labour productivity — and that is not the responsibility of the workers alone,” Golding said in a letter to the editor. Here is the full text of that letter: “The recent comments by the governor of the Bank of Jamaica ,for which he is being pilloried, is not an opinion he was expressing. It is the uncompromising law of economics. Higher wages, just like higher oil prices, increase the cost of production unless it is counterbalanced by increased productivity that mitigates that higher cost of production and results in more goods and services being produced with the same inputs, in order to match that increased spend. It has little or nothing to do with the employer’s ability to pay. The Government is the largest provider of services in the economy. In presenting the public sector wage restructuring package the finance minister stressed the importance of it being supported by improved efficiency and service delivery. If it isn’t, that too can have an adverse impact on prices and inflation. Even in high school, students of economics are taught that if more purchasing power is chasing the same quantity of goods and services the inescapable result is an increase in the price of those goods and services. The focus, as the central bank governor sought to point out, must be on increasing labour productivity, and that is not the responsibility of the workers alone. Improved management, more effective use of technology and innovation, and greater investment by employers in training have a significant part to play in increasing labour productivity. As with almost everything in life, we have choices. We can go for higher wages even if they are not backed by increased productivity. Not long after that the additional purchasing power of those wage increases will be wiped out by inflation and its twin brother, devaluation. Then we will demand more wage increases to compensate for that, and the vicious cycle picks up speed. We’ve been there and done that! Painful lessons must be learned well and misjudgements not repeated. We have come too far, sacrificed too much and at last turning the corner for us to want to frolic in that painful past.”

Byles’ wage comment the uncompromising law of economics, says Golding Read More »

Arsonists leave national netballer, nearly 50 others homeless

THERE is tension in Kingston Central Police Division following Thursday’s firebombing of three premises at 33, 33 1/4 and 33 1/2 Rum Lane, leaving roughly 30 people, including more than 13 children and a national netballer, homeless while another 17 were burnt out in an apparent reprisal, as the Darksyde and Gennasyde gang feud, which previously appeared to be on pause, is apparently heating up again. That first incident occurred approximately 12:00 am on Rum Lane. About an hour and a half later, in what appeared to be a reprisal for what had happened earlier on Rum Lane, a premises at 6 Rosemary Lane was set on fire, displacing 17 people, including eight children, close to next month’s start of the new school year. In what is believed to have been another act of reprisal, there was an attempt to torch a premises nearby at 12 Foster Lane. Luckily, quick response from residents prevented that fire from igniting anything substantial. However, residents there claimed that a message was sent that the arsonists will be back soon to “flatten everything”. One victim of the fire on Rum Lane said it was the screams from a child at approximately 12:00 am which alerted her to danger. “We just heard the child saying, ‘Daddy, fire, fire, fire.’ By the time I ran out, I see a man throwing water from a bottle in the fire. From there, everything blaze up. We had to run and jump over the back wall. I saw a lady fall three times and she cut her foot. One man cut up. I had to climb on that bench at the back of the yard to go over on Hanover Street, which is the the street behind our yard. “We had nowhere else to exit but at the back. We lost refrigerators, beds, and every furniture burn up as well as clothes and everything. We didn’t save anything. Even the shop right there burn down, flat, flat, flat. They are burning down the houses of innocent people. On my side there are 14 people, including six children; among the children is a six-week-old baby, there is also an unborn child in the belly. That babymother fell two times when she was trying to go up that wall. Even the pigeons burn up,” the victim said. She added: “Everything for back-to-school got burned; there is no birth certificates and no passports. I purchased everything for my children’s back-to-school and everything burn up. They wanted us to burn up in the fire. All this happened right after heavy rains had just ended.” National netballer Latanya Wilson told the Jamaica Observer that she lost almost everything in the fire, including the bronze medal she won with the Sunshine Girls at the Netball World Cup tournament earlier this month in Cape Town, South Africa. “I have several different emotions. I am sad but I am moreso grateful that I still have life. It is always a privilege to represent my country, myself, and my family — the joy from that is unexplainable. This just goes to show that you can be at your highest point in life and the next moment you are at your lowest,” Wilson told the Observer. “There are around five houses in my yard with 15 people, including seven children. Luckily I managed to save my passport and laptop; I will be good to travel. And in terms of school and the laptop, I will be fine. I am currently studying business at The Mico [College] University. I am a fourth-year student, pursuing business,” Wilson added. Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport Olivia “Babsy” Grange, who is at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary, sent her best wishes to Wilson and her family on Thursday. Sandra Dick, another Rum Lane resident who got burned out, said she was traumatised. “Mi feel like part of mi dead and part alive. It is bad. We bought everything for back-to-school and everything gone down the drain. It is disturbing.” At the premises torched on Rosemary Lane one woman wondered whether the people committing these acts have loved ones “I wonder if they have sense. If you don’t want people to hurt your family, why hurt someone else’s family? A lack of love is the cause of this, and badmind; there wasn’t any war going on. After 2:00 am the person in whose house the fire start came out shouting that they threw gas in his house and a bottle with fire. When we realise seh we have little water we started to throw it, but it never mek sense. The more we throw water, the more the fire escalate. “When the fire truck came, one of the firefighter said they didn’t have enough water because they were just putting out a fire on Rum Lane. When they left for more water they came back and saw that the fire had spread, and we lose everything. We are just making time take its course,” the woman said. None of the people impacted could understand why they were targeted as they claimed no gunmen live among them. Glendale Murdock, the deputy superintendent (DSP) in charge of operations for the Kingston Central Police Division, has appealed to residents to cooperate and give information to the police so as to bring an end to the violence. “In the last four weeks we have seen some activity on the ground where we had shooting and a murder; before that we had some amount of peace in the community. We have some information as it relates to the genesis of these activities and we have been reaching out to specific people to cooperate. The problem is that both sides are armed and they think that they can deal with the situation themselves [but it is] their families [who] oftentimes suffer the loss. “There are some who have a lot of reluctance to pass on the information. There are people who trust us and cooperate, but

Arsonists leave national netballer, nearly 50 others homeless Read More »

New assessment tools to benefit young people in child diversion programme

CHILDREN and adolescents in the child diversion programme of the Ministry of Justice will benefit from new assessment tools which were handed over Wednesday by UNICEF. The assessment tools are designed to help the child diversion team to formulate individualised intervention plans for each child. Expressing appreciation for UNICEF’s support, Minister of Justice Delroy Chuck said that after a period of counselling and mentorship, the programme has assisted in the recovery of children who have fallen by the wayside and thanked UNICEF for continuing its campaign for the welfare of children. “The assessment tools will help in ascertaining the key areas that need to be addressed,” Olga Isaza, UNICEF country representative explained, “and will help to determine the type of support that each child needs”. The tools consist of four tests, while child diversion psychologists and diagnosticians were trained to use them last month. UNICEF said a good clinical assessment provides a window of opportunity for family and caregivers to better support children, adding that the cognitive strengths and weaknesses of children in the programme will be determined. Coordinators, added UNICEF, will have valuable information to help them better understand the behaviours and emotions of the children. Principal director for the Social Justice Division in the ministry, Jamie-Ann Chevannes, said the new tools will go a far way in the care of young people and getting them their individualised treatment plans. She also thanked UNICEF for developing the technical capacity of the staff. The child diversion programme redirects a child between 12 and 17 years old from the criminal justice system. It is the process of implementing measures for dealing with children who are accused of or recognised as having infringed the law without resorting to formal judicial proceedings.

New assessment tools to benefit young people in child diversion programme Read More »

Residents of Mount Olivet Boys’ Home get back-to-school supplies

WITH the new school year swiftly approaching, members of Jamaica Information Service (JIS) have helped to put a smile on the faces of residents at Mount Olivet Boys’ Home. Twenty-nine residents received shoes, uniforms, books, and stationery at the annual back-to-school visit, held last Saturday at the home in Walderston, Manchester. Before the handover of the items the boys were engaged in discussions surrounding aviation, innovation, agriculture and art. The session, led by acting special projects manager at JIS Charnele Henry, gave the boys important insight into careers they can venture into, following their departure from school. “Some of you will be leaving school soon, and we want you to start thinking about the careers you would like to go into so that you can become good citizens and can give back to society in a positive way,” Henry encouraged the boys. The back-to-school visit is one of three to the home annually by JIS as part of its ongoing support for the facility. A sports day, Christmas visit, and birthday celebrations are other ways in which the State agency supports the nurturing and development of the residents. This year’s visit was sponsored by Dr Sue and You Foundation, Econo Office and School Supplies, Trade Winds Citrus, Joseph’s, and Sammy’s Shoes Jamaica. In accepting the donation, head of the board of the boys’ home, Sophia Morgan expressed gratitude to JIS for its continued support over the years, adding that a sound education is one of its priorities. “Education is one of the things that we promote highly for our residents. We know they are from different backgrounds, we know there are different challenges that they have, and so school is one area that we hope to get them a little more focused,” said Morgan. She added that the home is resolute in its efforts to provide an environment that promotes holistic development for its residents. “We have instituted a wellness programme where the boys wake up in the mornings, do their devotions, and then go outside for physical exercise. “We want to ensure that the spiritual and physical well-being [of the boys] is integrated in the whole behavioural change that we are promoting at the home,” added Morgan. In the meantime, 100 layers were donated to the home on Saturday by Jamaica Broilers Group, while a greenhouse project is set to commence soon with bell peppers acquired by the home.

Residents of Mount Olivet Boys’ Home get back-to-school supplies Read More »

Tropical Storm Franklin batters Dom Rep

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (AP) — Tropical Storm Franklin unleashed heavy floods and landslides in the Dominican Republic on Wednesday, after making landfall in the country’s southern region, killing at least one person and injuring two others. The storm was expected to swirl for most of the day above the island of Hispaniola that the Dominican Republic shares with Haiti. Forecasters warned the storm could drop up to 12 inches (30 centimetres) of rain in the Dominican Republic, with a maximum of 16 inches (41 centimetres) for the country’s western and central regions. Meanwhile, up to four inches (10 centimetres) of rain are forecast for Haiti, with nearly eight inches (20 centimetres) for the country’s eastern regions. “The population of the Dominican Republic must all be right now, without exception, in their homes, the homes of friends and family, or in shelters,” said Juan Manuel Méndez, emergency operations director. The civil defence identified the man killed as Carlos Marino Martínez, saying he died in the city of San Cristobal after being swept away by flood waters. The agency initially said he was one of its volunteers, but later corrected the information saying it misidentified a uniform he was wearing. They did not provide further details. Two women in that city also were injured following a landslide and were hospitalised, officials said. More than 300 people were huddled in shelters in the Dominican Republic, where emergency operations officials said they were looking for a 54-year-old man with mental health problems who went missing after he jumped into a creek late Tuesday. Another 280 people were evacuated from their homes to safer ground, with at least six communities cut off by heavy rains, officials said. The storm also downed several trees and at least two light posts, with dozens of homes affected by floods that turned streets into rushing rivers. Authorities said the roof of one home in San Cristobal collapsed, as did walls of various buildings around the country. “There’s a lot of damage,” Méndez said. Meanwhile, authorities in neighbouring Puerto Rico, which was also hit by Franklin’s rain, were searching for two scuba divers missing south of the US territory in waters churned up by the storm. The UN’s World Food Programme warned Wednesday that some 125,000 people in the Dominican Republic are living in areas that “are extremely vulnerable to landslides and flash floods because they live in poor, overcrowded settlements near rivers, creeks, and lagoons”. Hércules Urbáez, a 41-year-old father of six who lives in the city of Barahona, where Franklin made landfall, said he and his family went to his mother’s house for safety. “People have refused to leave,” he said. On Wednesday afternoon the storm was centred about 40 miles (65 kilometres) south of Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic, according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami. It had maximum winds of 40 mph (65 kph) with higher gusts and was moving northward at 13 mph (20 kph). Rivers were swelling across the country, with one in the southern coastal city of Barahona lapping at shacks made of tin where one resident used plastic buckets to raise his mattress above his home’s dirt floor. In the capital of Santo Domingo, José Abott, a 34-year-old graphic designer, monitored the water level of a river near his home via a WhatsApp group: “It always fills with water.” Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Harold weakened into a tropical depression Tuesday night after making landfall in south Texas, bringing strong winds and rain, leaving thousands of homes without power. Officials were most concerned about Franklin’s impact on Haiti, which is prone to catastrophic flooding given the country’s severe erosion. “Haiti is among the most vulnerable countries in the world when it comes to the effects of extreme weather,” said Jean-Martin Bauer, the World Food Programme’s director for Haiti. In June a powerful thunderstorm that unleashed heavy rains left more than 40 people dead across the country. Prime Minister Ariel Henry had urged Haitians on Tuesday to stock up on water, food and medication. More than 200,000 people in Haiti have been displaced by gang violence over the past few years; authorities checked up on some of those living on the street or in makeshift shelters. In the Dominican Republic officials shuttered schools, government agencie, and several airports, with at least 25 of the country’s 31 provinces under red alert. On Wednesday more than 400,000 customers were without power, and dozens of aqueducts were out of service because of heavy rains, affecting more than 1.3 million customers. Flooding already had been reported on Tuesday in Santo Domingo and beyond, where residents prepared for heavy rainfall. “We’re scared of the river,” said Doralisa Sánchez, a government employee who lives near the Ozama River that divides the city. She had to flee her home three times during previous storms. She hoped Franklin wouldn’t force her to temporarily abandon her home because she said people steal belongings left behind. The storm worried thousands of Dominicans who live in flood-prone areas. “When two drops of water fall here, this suddenly becomes flooded,” said Juan Olivo Urbáez who owns a small business in a community near the Ozama River. The National Hurricane Center issued a tropical storm warning for the Turks and Caicos Islands, where up to three inches (eight centimetres) of rain was forecast in some areas. Franklin is the seventh named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season which runs from June 1 to November 30. An eighth named storm, Gert, dissipated on Tuesday. On August 10 the National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration updated its forecast and warned that this year’s hurricane season would be above normal. Between 14 to 21 named storms are forecast. Of those, six to 11 could become hurricanes, with two to five of them possibly becoming major hurricanes.

Tropical Storm Franklin batters Dom Rep Read More »

Back-to-school help for almost 3,000 students in St James

MONTEGO BAY, St James – Almost 3,000 students heading back to school within St James in September will benefit from $17 million in support from the local municipal corporation. On Wednesday, the parents and guardians of more than 500 of these students assembled at Montego Bay Civic Centre to receive vouchers that can be used to purchase school supplies. It was the first of six gatherings planned over the next seven days. Vouchers will be provided for students from across the parish’s 17 electoral divisions. Each division has been allocated $1 million, about the same as those provided last year during the corporation’s Annual Back-to-School and Education Support Presentation. “The St James Municipal Corporation has dedicated approximately $17 million dollars, with the help of the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development towards educational grants for this year,” Deputy Mayor Richard Vernon told the Jamaica Observer. “Even the divisions without councillors are properly represented by the citizens’ associations. They reached out to us, asking for assistance for the youngsters in the different communities, and they’ve received assistance,” he said. According to Vernon, the support provided to students is an indicator of the local authority’s ongoing commitment to education. “This has marked approximately $80 million dollars in the last five years towards educational grants,” he said. There has also been support provided to youngsters through the summer employment programme. “Over the last five years we have spent over $100 million dollars on summer employment and approximately $80 million on educational grants, so that’s nearly $200 million in youth support,” noted Vernon. Among the grateful parents who collected vouchers on Wednesday was first-time recipient and resident of the Montego Bay South Division, Maxine Tugwell. She was obviously thrilled to receive assistance. “I am truly thankful for this support as I have been questioning myself as to how I would manage to purchase supplies to send my daughter back to high school. This support from the St James Municipal Corporation will go a far way in ensuring that the supplies are purchased and that my daughter can return to school, come September, with the necessary things needed to further her education,” she said. Spring Mount Division resident Michelle Wallace was equally grateful. “I am very thankful for this support, and all I am asking my children to do is to perform well at school. I know there are others who are in need, and in that way I am extremely grateful and thankful for what I have received,” she said. In addressing the gathering, CEO of the St James Municipal Corporation, Naudia Crosskill spoke of the significance of Wednesday’s event. “The corporation is happy to be able to host such an event as this which highlights its unwavering commitment to the development of the youth and, by extension, the parish of St James,” she said.

Back-to-school help for almost 3,000 students in St James Read More »

‘Tyrant of the deep’

RESIDENTS of Kent Village in the Bog Walk Gorge area of St Catherine say they are concerned about lilies that have blanketed a huge section of the Rio Cobre, continuing to pose a threat to them and others as it creates a habitat for crocodiles and possibly numerous other dangerous creatures. The Jamaica Observer visited the Gorge on Tuesday and in sections where the lilies are spread heavily, it is a struggle to see the water beneath. According to one resident, the water in that section, which lies between Kent Village and the Bog Walk bridge, is so deep that it can cover and hide people and vehicles with ease. What the residents want is for the authorities to be consistent in organising activities to have the affected area cleared regularly. Clifton Barrett, a resident, recalled an incident in which a man died after his car plunged into the river and was covered by the lilies. “I remember a vehicle went over there once and you couldn’t see the vehicle, and it was the same men dem from down here and Bog Walk who had to go over there. When the wrecker came, the men went down there and hooked it for the wrecker to draw it out,” Barrett said, adding that people in authority deliberately do not want to spend the money to clean it. “It is risky to get rid of the lilies. They are playing politics with it. Lily is always in there and when the river come down, it wash them away. However, when there is no rain for five to six months, the lilies just grow out of control. We cleaned them in the past and got more than 10 truckloads and we carried them away to the dump. We went in the river on about or five rafts and the water is very deep. Sometimes you have some sand out there that slow you up. They call it quicksand and you have to be careful,” Clifton said. Another male resident shared that he is concerned about the threat that crocodiles pose to fishermen and others who use the river for various purposes. “You can’t see the water at all. I have seen one big crocodile and five small ones in there. There is a place upstream where they scale and gut fish and drop it in that area. The river has not come down in a little while now to wash them away, so I know they are still there, he said.” In a short film about lilies that was aired on BBC Earth last year, the narrator described the lily as a monster that is well armed. The film was entitled: Tyrant of the deep, the green plant. The Observer sought comment from the National Environment and Planning Authority (NEPA) on Wednesday about crocodiles and other dangerous creatures possibly living in the lilies; however, experts from the authority could not be reached for feedback on the matter.

‘Tyrant of the deep’ Read More »

Suspect in Danielle Rowe’s murder to face ID parade

THE female suspect nabbed in connection to the abduction and murder of eight-year-old Danielle Rowe is to face an identification (ID) parade shortly, the police have revealed. The arrest of the woman about a week and a half ago was the first major breakthrough in the case, two months after Danielle’s slaying. Deputy commissioner of police (DCP) in charge of crime and security Fitz Bailey told the Jamaica Observer on Wednesday that she is scheduled to be placed before an ID parade on, or before, Friday of this week. DCP Bailey said that following her arrest the woman was remanded into custody by the court for 10 days, and several investigative leads were actioned. “The investigation continues. There are other lines of enquiries that are being pursued,” he said. DCP Bailey had previously announced that the woman was picked up in the Corporate Area on Friday, August 11 at about 2:30 pm. On June 8 Danielle was abducted after leaving Braeton Primary School in Portmore, St Catherine. She was later found on Roosevelt Avenue in St Andrew with her throat slashed. She died at Bustamante Hospital for Children two days after the ordeal. Speaking to the Observer on the day of the suspect’s arrest, DCP Bailey noted that Danielle’s murder, which has “touched the nerve” of Jamaicans, including members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), has been given the highest priority, stressing that every possible angle is being looked at and every lead is being pursued. The deputy police commissioner, at the same time, implored citizens to provide any information they have that they think can further assist with the investigation. Danielle was laid to rest on July 23.

Suspect in Danielle Rowe’s murder to face ID parade Read More »

Education minister blames red tape for slow repairs

Negril , Hanover – Minister of Education and Youth Fayval Williams has blamed red tape, and not a lack of funds, for the slow pace of repairs to school infrastructure. “We are not short on the funds to do the work,” she said, eliciting sounds of surprise from teachers she was addressing during the Jamaica Teachers’ Association’s 59th annual conference on Wednesday. “It takes too long for the building officer to visit,” Williams explained as educators responded with a round of applause. “It is the truth. What we need is a more accelerated process. It takes too long for the building officer to come out and look and for design work to be done. And the tender work [has] to go out and come back and then it has to go to the next level and next level. That is what is holding up the process. It is not the money,” she reiterated. Williams commiserated with school administrators who are faced with the challenge of faulty infrastructure and argued that principals should not be saddled with the responsibility of reporting on the state of physical structures. That information, she said, should be in the ministry’s database, easily accessible to officers so they can go out and help schools. “The Orlando Patterson report is calling on us to significantly invest in the infrastructure of our schools and to ensure that technology is at our schools. That is to tell you the importance of having proper, fully functioning infrastructure in our schools,” said the minister, who noted that this is an important pillar of education transformation. “We do not want classrooms in our schools in which roofs are leaking. They are infested with termites. The desks are breaking down. That is not what we want in the education sector and I am here to tell you that, that is not what we want to see,” she added before providing a breakdown of work to be done. Under the 2023/2024 critical repairs and infrastructure maintenance programme, $440 million is allocated to fund critical repairs and maintenance activities in 125 schools across the seven regions. In addition, $165 million has been budgeted to close out 23 contracts that were brought forward from last year. Also, $65 million is to be spent on maintenance and renovation projects in seven schools, while a total of $210 million has been set aside to carry out critical repairs in 95 schools for termite treatment, electrical repairs, and repairs to bathrooms and roofs. Williams also said $244 million was provided for electrical upgrading projects to carry out precontract or contract activities in 47 schools, including Tarrant High, Priory Primary and Infant, and Holmwood Technical. Bids are also being invited for Little London and Savanna-la-Mar primary schools as well as McGrath, Alston, and Seaforth high schools to name a few. In relation to the topical issue of safety and security in schools, the minister said $73 million was allocated to carry out precontract and contract activities related to the fencing of 56 schools. She again pointed to the many steps involved. “Here, again, you may think that it is easy to just come put in a fence at the school, but no, you have to go get a surveyor to make sure that the boundaries are good and proper and then we have to do the tendering process and so on,” stated Williams. In relation to furniture for schools, she told educators that high schools should have by now received funding for the procurement of furniture based on needs. She said $97 million was disbursed. At the primary level, 1,400 pieces of student desks and chairs were dispatched to regions one, two, and four based on requests made and needs. Meanwhile, 74 pieces of desks and chairs for teachers were dispatched to Region Five and 3,800 pieces of furniture are scheduled for dispatch to other regions during August. In terms of the repairing of furniture, under the ministry’s active repair programme 11 schools have been engaged to undertake this initiative. There is also an active programme for the creation of new desks and chairs for several schools. Williams said 16,000 pieces of furniture are being manufactured and are set for distribution by August 28.

Education minister blames red tape for slow repairs Read More »

‘It’s only fair’

TWO trade unionists on opposing ends are urging private sector employers to pay their workers what they can afford despite the Bank of Jamaica (BoJ) Governor Richard Byles’ warning that large salary increases could impact negatively on inflation. Both Government Senator Kavan Gayle and Opposition Senator Lambert Brown believe that workers deserve reasonable salary increases in line with the country’s current market situation. Gayle, who is also president of the Bustamante Industrial Trade Union (BITU) told the Jamaica Observer on Wednesday that while he understands the role of the BoJ in seeking to curtail inflation, he is disappointed with the governor’s suggestion encouraging employers not to pay high increases. “I am saying why? First of all, let’s agree that employers should not yield to the temptation that has been professed by the governor of BoJ because employees have been working diligently, workers have been committed and they would be achieving growth and revenue generation with organisations that would have allowed for progressive profitability and there should be a return on that investment,” he said. He argued that suggesting to employers to curtail themselves in that regard would be seeking to “create an albatross around the necks of workers at a time when they would have made sacrifices, especially during a period of pandemic, when they could not have gotten increases”. Gayle notes, however, that he understands there are some employers that may not have the ability to pay, but he is also concerned that there are some employers who will abuse the call made by the governor, by simply saying, “the governor of the BoJ in warning against this.” He noted as well that in instances in which these employees don’t have a union to represent them, they are exposed to the will of a recommendation coming from the governor without a thorough explanation to support it. The trade unionist further argued that while Byles has advised against substantial increases, he has not determined what an appropriate level ought to be or recommended a limit that would not create havoc in relation to inflation. Meanwhile, Brown, a veteran trade unionist, is of the view that the BoJ governor should allow the market to determine wage levels. “If the money is not paid in wages, where does it go? It seems to me that such money goes to profit rather than reduced prices. I think the governor got it wrong, especially in a low-wage environment as Jamaica. Workers need increased pay to meet the high cost of living and surviving in Jamaica,” he argued. He also noted that it would be useful if the Governor would publish the levels of salary granted by the BoJ to the management cadre at the central bank. In a press release on Wednesday afternoon, the BoJ sought to clarify statements made at press conferences in May and August on the potential impact of wage increase on inflation. It reiterated that large future wage adjustments in the context of the tight domestic labour market “constitute one of the potential headwinds that could result in higher-than-projected inflation in the future”. The release further stated that if large wage increases translate into increased prices, there will be a cost-push effect on inflation, but if wage increases are accompanied by commensurate increases in productivity, such wage increases will not impact the inflation rate.

‘It’s only fair’ Read More »

No space for predators!

BLACK RIVER, St Elizabeth — Police here are urging parents and guardians to be vigilant in the protection of their children amid worrying concerns stemming from the alleged buggery of a toddler and rape of a teenager in recent weeks. Head of the St Elizabeth police Acting Superintendent Coleridge Minto raised alarm following the arrest of a farmer, 26, charged with buggery against a four-year-old relative in relation to a July 22 incident. The accused made his first court appearance in the St Elizabeth Parish Court in Santa Cruz on Wednesday and was remanded to reappear on September 11. “We have found in a number of cases that the accused in the matters relating to rape are persons who are either relatives or closely related to the victims, so we [are] asking parents/guardians, particularly those who have custody and control over their children, to pay attention to any change in the behaviour of their children and to ensure that all matters are reported to the police,” Minto stressed. On Wednesday, Minto, following a series of operations in town centres in St Elizabeth, encouraged the public to report cases of abuse against children to the police. “…We have no space for persons who are preying on our children. These are children; we expect that they should enjoy their childhood life and so we are asking persons who have information relating to any child who they suspect to be abused to report it to the Black River Criminal Investigation Branch (CIB), police 119 or the nearest police station,” he said outside the Black River Courthouse. The police chief added that 14 cases of rape have been reported to the police since the start of the year. “…This is one more than in 2022, where we had 13 reported cases. The clear-up [arrests] for this year is much better than last year. We have nine matters cleared versus five for 2022,” Minto said. He reiterated the worrying trend of children being among the victims. “Of the 14 cases that have been reported, some of the matters involve children, and so we want to encourage persons who are victims of sexual offences to come forward. In this division we treat matters relating to this very sensitive but very seriously,” said Minto. He pointed out that detectives are now probing the alleged rape of a teenager. “There is another case we are treating with, which occurred earlier this week, where a 14-year-old was raped and that matter is being investigated now and the case file is being prepared,” he said. “We note at this particular time during the summer that the cases of rape tend to be higher than other periods throughout the year, and so we are asking our guardians/parents to pay special attention to our children and to report the matters to the police,” added Minto.

No space for predators! Read More »

Draft policies on grooming, education in schools to be published soon

NEGRIL, Westmoreland — The draft of a dress and grooming policy for schools, which would remove the need for male Rastafarian students to cover their locks, is to be published within a few weeks. Education Minister Fayval Williams, who made the announcement on Wednesday, said educators’ feedback would be sought on the draft ahead of implementation. Their views will also be sought on proposed changes to how devotions are conducted in schools and on the draft of a national school nutrition policy. “There have been a few times that I’ve gone to schools and I see students — maybe not more than one or two in a particular school — boys wearing tams to school to cover their locks. This is 2023; we really, really should not be doing that anymore. We need to respect other people’s religion,” Williams said in explaining the rationale behind that aspect of the grooming policy. “We are putting [the draft] out into the education sector. We want you to read it. We want you to look at it in your context. We want you to understand the framework within which the dress and grooming policy will operate. We want you to try it in our schools and give us your feedback. That’s why it’s in draft form. We could have moved to make it final but we wanted to hear from you. It’s going to take longer for us to get to that final stage, but your input is important because you may say to us this policy sounds good on paper but in implementation, here are some of the issues. We will listen,” she added. She was speaking during the Jamaica Teachers’ Association’s annual conference. “Yes, we need to say to our students you have to ensure that your hair is clean and so forth. But come on, you shouldn’t have to cover your hair unless that’s what your religion calls for,” she added. In a swift response, Rastafarian advocate Ras Iyah V welcomed the move as a “step in the right direction”. Grooming has been a hot-button topic for years, and it remains to be seen whether the proposal will be embraced by the country’s teachers. While some schools have relaxed their rules in recent years, others have adamantly stuck to tradition. The proposed changes to be made to how devotions are conducted are also expected to spark some debate. “The guidelines for devotions in schools are designed for upholding civility and teaching the core values which are milestones in the captivating of the nation. Therefore, the aim of these guidelines is to create an environment where devotions contribute effectively to the holistic development of the student,” Williams said on Wednesday. “There are going to be some rules and guidelines. There are going to be some things that will not be permitted,” she added, without providing details. Her comments come in the wake of last October’s bizarre incident involving Oberlin High School students in west rural St Andrew. Scores of them began acting abnormally during morning devotion, with many of them fainting. “We want to ensure that we don’t experience again what we experienced in one of our schools,” Williams said on Wednesday. Like the draft policies related to grooming and religion in schools, the one on national school nutrition and standards will also be circulated to stakeholders within the education sector for feedback ahead of ratification. According to Williams, the policy was developed in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Wellness. The goal is to provide guidelines for school administrators to follow in order to ensure that students are provided with healthy and nutritious meals, “along with a holistic wellness programme that involve both nutrition and physical activity”. “Again, even though we’ve gone through the rounds of consultations with different stakeholder groups, before we finalise we want to hear from you,” the education minister told the gathering of educators from across the country. “We want to hear from you as to what will work, what can be implemented. We want your input into this,” she urged.

Draft policies on grooming, education in schools to be published soon Read More »

Thrice as nice for Walker family

IT was an absolute joy for the parents of Jayden Walker who overcame a lisp which threatened to impact his academics, making him their third son in a row to earn a place at Campion College. Jayden’s parents, Margaret and Glenroy Walker, beamed with pride on Friday as they watched their youngest son collect a scholarship from the Guardian Group Foundation for being the top-performing male child of a Guardian Life policyholder. While Jayden copped the award for best-performing male of a policyholder, Aaron St John Waugh of Jessie Ripoll Primary School was selected for the prestigious National Top Boy award. He will also be heading to Campion College. Shannon-Elise Barrett of Kensington Primary School won the National Top Girl award and will also matriculate to Campion. For this year’s Guardian Foundation annual Primary Exit Profile (PEP) scholarship awards — the 17th running — the foundation disbursed $5.6 million in scholarships and grants for the 2023/2024 academic school year. Both national champions received scholarships worth $1 million each. The top-performing son and daughter of policyholders each received $350,000. There were other sectional awards. Apart from the lisp, which Jayden hasn’t yet fully conquered, the COVID-19 pandemic created a challenge for the 12-year-old. “I am the youngest of three brothers who all went to the Bright Beginnings Educational Center in Cedar Grove, Portmore. The oldest brother, Glenroy, is 10 years older than I am. The second brother Kyle is two years older than me. Both brothers did very well in their matriculation exams to high school. To me, this was more than a dare, it was a challenge. I had to respond when my time came,” Walker said, at the Guardian Group Foundation’s Annual Scholarship and Grant Awards at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel. Further, Walker said the journey to his PEP exams was no easy feat, but thankfully he had parents who were invested in his growth and teachers who could spot his weak areas and work on improving them. “The path to exams was not as easy for me as my siblings before me. I had to deal with the onset of the COVID-19. Being used to face-to-face learning, I did not do as well in grade four. Then came grade five, when face-to-face learning returned. I was fortunate to have got teachers who were able to recognise my deficiencies and took steps to correct them. It was a partnership between my parents and the school. My parents ensured that I attended all extra lessons and Saturday classes. I started to improve and my grade reflected it. “I then became aware that just like my older siblings, I could do it too. My parents never let me forget that only my best is good enough. I had only to recognise my ability and act on it. I gave the exam my best shot and when the results came around, mine was equally as good as my older brothers. I performed better than 97 per cent of the test-takers this year and earned me a place. My parents have been bombarded with inquiries of how they manged to achieve three in a row at a school like Campion College,” Walker added. His parents, Margaret and Glenroy, spoke very highly of their son and were proud of him for overcoming his challenges through determination. Margaret said, “I am very proud. I have two older sons, and he is a role model to them. I have never had to correct him more than once. I think it is the discipline at home that caused it.” His father Glenroy shared that he always reminded Jayden he could achieve success despite obstacles. “He did it and I am proud because I always told him that he has it within him, even in times when he doubted himself. His brothers did it and there was no way he couldn’t do it,” he said. Tsahai Clarke, the winner in the female category for best-performing child of a Guardian Life policyholder, also received a placement at Campion College. For Tsahai, PEP was like a video game. “My journey to PEP was like a video game. There were many obstacles and as I progressed the levels got tougher. I always had the support I needed to help me conquer each level. The Bread of Life Christian Academy, of which I am a past student, played a huge role in my success. My family, teachers, and peers encouraged and motivated me to keep going. I implore the 2023 PEP students to let us not only dream big, but let us dream grand. Let us not only reach for the mountain tops, but let us reach for the stars,” Tsahai said.

Thrice as nice for Walker family Read More »

‘Tired and frustrated’

NEGRIL, Hanover – Issues relating to salary compensation for the nation’s public school teachers continue to be a teething pain for educators who have reportedly seen a fluctuation in their salaries each month for the past five months. According to president of the Jamaica Teachers’ Association (JTA) Leighton Johnson, the implementation of the income tax policy has made it extremely difficult for teachers to understand how income tax is calculated. “In several instances, it appears on the pay advice that the teachers’ gross taxable amount exceeds their gross earnings! How is this simpler when every month since March teachers who get a set amount for salary experience fluctuation in the amount of money deducted for taxes? We are tired and frustrated and need answers immediately,” stated Johnson. Johnson, who took over from La Sonja Harrison, was addressing his investiture ceremony during the first of a three-day JTA 59th annual conference in Negril on Monday. The conference is currently being held at the Royalton Negril Resort in Hanover. Johnson reiterated the Minister of Finance and Public Service Dr Nigel Clarke’s argument that one of the Government”s chief objectives of reviewing and modernising compensation was to simplify the process for everyone. This includes, but would not be limited to, collapsing over 30 scales down to 16, and the rolling of all allowances into salaries. However, Johnson said this is not the experience of the educators. Another contention within the compensation review process is the need for advancement in the process of applying the graduate allowance to the salaries of teachers as was agreed to in the memorandum of understanding. Johnson said this is yet to take place. Besides, the JTA president said teachers are eagerly anticipating the possibility of the Government of Jamaica paying teachers a similar salary to that of Germany. “Minister, Jamaica is known to copy many principles, strategies and initiatives from other jurisdictions. Angela Merkel, the former chancellor of Germany, is quoted as saying, “Teaching is the hardest career because it creates all other careers; therefore, teachers must be paid well, teachers must be taken care of. Teachers in Germany are the second highest paid teachers in the world. Minister, we wait with bated breath for this principle to be modelled. I assure you this concept is definitely worth a copy,” stated Johnson. The president argued that inadequate compensation is the primary reason for the teacher migration in Jamaica which has resulted in a shortfall. According to Johnson, there is a chronic shortage of teachers in the technical fields. However, he noted that while Jamaica does not have the spending power as other big countries that pay their educators well, attractive compensation would go a long way in retaining teachers. “While I understand that a small developing state like ours cannot match the salaries being paid in those realms, it is imperative that a deliberate and intentional attempt be made to adequately compensate our teachers so that we can retain the experienced and qualified ones,” stated Johnson. Johnson suggested that Jamaica, being the only Caribbean country that has over 10 institutions that focus primarily on teacher training, efforts must be made to embark on a robust programme to train teachers for the export market. “We must improve our approach in marketing the teaching profession as an attractive, viable and noble option to the youth of our nation. I suggest that we launch a national campaign to throng the teachers” colleges, many of which are undersubscribed,” stated Johnson. The JTA president is also calling on the Government to allow teachers to be the chief advisors when implementing policies as they are experts in various disciplines. “We appreciate the establishment of the Taskforce Implementation Oversight Committee but here is the challenge. Teachers should be at the forefront of crafting strategies and informing policies to drive the improvements needed in our sector. Teachers are the technical practitioners and need to be consulted on matters pertaining to educational reform,” stated Johnson. “I am proposing that the teachers of Jamaica become your chief advisors when designing the strategies for improvement. I am proposing that a significant feature of the education ministry is the establishment of think tanks comprising teachers from every level within our sector, to be engaged in policy review and strategy development. Our teachers are experts in various disciplines, therefore consult with us and use the resources that are available,” added Johnson. “I can also guarantee that our consultancy fees will be significantly less than what others are charging,” continued Johnson. The JTA president was referring to the Reform of Education Reports. In 2019 a study was commissioned, and in 2021 the highly anticipated Taskforce on Education Reform (the Patterson Report) was released. However, the report revealed many of the same issues that were highlighted in the Rae Davis Report of 2004.

‘Tired and frustrated’ Read More »

JTA president bats for special needs students, early childhood

NEGRIL, Westmoreland — Arguing that special needs students are now being foisted onto schools whose curricula are not equipped to deal with them, newly installed president of the Jamaica Teachers’ Association (JTA) Leighton Johnson is pushing for at least 28 facilities to be established across the country where these students can be assessed. He also wants to see more teachers trained to work with the country’s youngest students. These calls have been fuelled by his view that both the special and early childhood sectors have “been treated like the bastard child of the education system”. While he conceded that some work is being done to address the needs of special students, he said a lot more is required. “There is still the urgent need for additional diagnostic centres across our country. I suggest that at least two schools be identified in each parish — one at the primary and one at the secondary level — to be used as diagnosis centres,” Johnson said, even as he acknowledged the work being done by The Mico University College Child Assessment and Research in Education (CARE) Centre, and Church Teachers’ College. “Plants should be retrofitted with the necessary resources to teach students with special learning needs. This can be done, it can be done!” he insisted. He was delivering the president’s address during the official opening of the JTA’s 59th Annual Conference and investiture ceremony at Royalton Negril Resort and Spa Monday night. The issue of public schools’ readiness to accommodate students with special needs surfaced earlier this year when the families of at least two students raised concerns about them not being allowed to enroll in the high schools for which they had obtained passes. In late July, executive director at the National Education Trust (NET) Latoya Harris-Ghartey gave a commitment that all infrastructure development projects for schools will comply with the Disabilities Act. Under the Disabilities Act 2014 Accessibility Checklist, public buildings should be outfitted with the requisite amenities to enable easy access by these persons. However, Johnson is concerned about the availability of educators. “Our country is in desperate need of additional schools and programmes that are staffed with suitably qualified teachers to address these special education needs of our students. These institutions are few and far apart, thus making them inaccessible for students who are in need of specialised education. Additionally, there are those who were born with different disabilities and have to be hidden in their homes because of the lack of adequate programmes for them to be enrolled in,” he stressed. He argued that the teaching material now being used does not meet the needs of these students. “This context has resulted in students with exceptionalities of varying kinds and degrees [being] forced to operate in the regular classroom. While I am confident in our teachers’ ability to deliver the curriculum under difficult circumstances, our teachers are not necessarily equipped to treat with the delicate learning needs of these students who are often undiagnosed,” Johnson said. “These students cannot function in the regular classroom, and our teachers are held to account when these students do not perform,” he added. Focusing on early childhood education, the Muschett High School principal called for an increase in the number of trained teachers in government-run schools at that level, as well as support to get these institutions certified by the Early Childhood Commission. Accreditation, he said, can be daunting. “Meeting the standards of the Early Childhood Commission can be an intimidating process. There is the need for support, in this regard, to get every early childhood institution certified and operating under the recognised and approved standards. There must be an increase in the budgetary allocation to the Early Childhood Commission to be adequately staffed to take on the task of assisting and monitoring every basic school to meet the educational standards. This is urgent and necessary,” he said. “If we get it right from the start then many of the learning issues that persist through the years and through the grades will be addressed. …Every study that has been commissioned speaks to the importance of early childhood education. Every speech or address which is made surrounding education speaks to the importance of early childhood education — every single one. Admittedly, there have been significant gains with regards to the structure and monitoring of the sector, however we are still a far way off and we must be deliberate in our approach,” Johnson appealed.

JTA president bats for special needs students, early childhood Read More »

NWA refers matter of debris falling from trucks to police

THE National Works Agency (NWA) says it has been receiving reports from motorists in St Thomas about aggregates falling from trucks transporting these on sections of the Southern Coastal Highway Improvement Project (SCHIP), and has referred the matter to the police. NWA acting manager for communications and customer services, Stacy-Ann Delevante, told JIS News that there has been dialogue with the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) Public Safety and Traffic Enforcement Branch (PSTEB) about police presence in the area. “They [police] did agree that, where possible, they would lend their support. These truck operators have been breaching by overloading the vehicles and [having] the aggregate falling out [which is] dangerous to whoever is travelling behind them,” she said. Delevante revealed that as recent as last week, she received a report from a motorist about her windscreen being shattered by a particle falling from a truck while a child was seated in the back of the motor car. With this and other ordeals, Delevante is reiterating the NWA’s appeal for persons to utilise the corridors of the highway project as carefully and as responsibly as they can. She pointed out that truck drivers ought not to overload their vehicles and should ensure their cargo is adequately covered. Notably, the newest section of the St Thomas leg of the highway project, which was opened to motorists a few weeks ago, is an incline that crosses the Bull River. Delavante pointed out that overloaded trucks on this incline “are not just dangerous for others, but also the truck drivers”. Other motorists encountering these trucks are encouraged, where possible, to take evasive action such as allowing the units to proceed at a distance. “We are still going to appeal for some assistance for police presence in the area and repeat calls for persons to stop overloading their vehicles,” she further restated, while emphasising that the matter is fundamentally a policing one. “Once we lay down the road, the use of it becomes a police matter,” she underscored. And as more sections of the highway project are opened, the NWA has appealed to motorists not to speed. Delavante said that maintaining a moderate speed is “even more important” when there is debris on the roadway. “If there is any sort of debris on the road left by these truckers, it is certain to compromise safety. So it is absolutely important that under those circumstances, persons are driving at a moderate pace,” she said. The multi-billion-dollar SCHIP represents the largest integrated infrastructure programme of works to be undertaken in Jamaica. The project spans the parishes of St Andrew, St Thomas and Portland, and traverses the communities of Bull Bay, Mezgar Gardens, Albion, Yallahs, Morant Bay, Seaforth, Cedar Valley, Port Morant, Golden Grove, Hector’s River, Boston, and Port Antonio.

NWA refers matter of debris falling from trucks to police Read More »

NFPB starts campaign to reduce discrimination against people with HIV

THE National Family Planning Board (NFPB) has embarked on a public education campaign, titled ‘Champions for Change’, aimed at building awareness and promoting the reduction of stigma and discrimination against persons living with HIV. The campaign was conceptualised against the background that, despite stigma- and discrimination-reduction efforts, these issues remain deeply rooted in the Jamaican social construct and continue to threaten the gains being realised in the national HIV prevention and treatment response. Speaking with JIS Tuesday, director, Enabling Environment and Human Rights Unit at the NFPB, Karlene Temple Anderson explained the rationale for the campaign. “What we have found is that while we have treatment that is free, while we have health facilities across the country that allow services to be available and accessible, and while we also have a non-governmental organisation (NGO) — the Jamaica AIDS Support for Life (JASL) that also provides services for people living with HIV — persons are still afraid to access the services,” she said. The campaign has a two-pronged approach. There is a media component that includes the development of television and radio commercials as well as infographics and interviews. The second component is the engagement of three Champions for Change ambassadors who will support and promote the key messages that should lead to the reduction of stigma and discrimination. They are former political ombudsman, former CEO of the Disputes Resolution Foundation, and attorney-at-law Donna Parchment-Brown; medical doctor and musician Dr Mario Evon Guthrie; and creative director, marketer and musician Dimario McDowell. The ambassadors will act as change agents who will build awareness and motivate members of their networks to get involved in stigma- and discrimination-reduction efforts. Temple Anderson explained that while the engagement, which began in June, was for an initial six weeks, the Champions for Chnage have decided to continue their advocacy efforts. She expressed gratitude for the decision on the part of the champions to continue. “We are overwhelmed that the initiative has been so well received and at the fact that the champions would feel so strongly about it that they would want to continue. It highlights the fact that the intervention was needed and that people are willing to support,” Temple Anderson said. The NFPB will also continue to promote the message about Champions for Change and ask persons to join in at their workplaces and in their communities.

NFPB starts campaign to reduce discrimination against people with HIV Read More »

Jamaica records 2.47-million visitors up to July

ON the heels of a ninth-consecutive quarter of economic growth for Jamaica’s tourism industry, Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett says the country is on track to meet its projections of 3.8-million visitors and foreign exchange earnings of US$4.1 billion by the end of the year. According to Bartlett, the latest tourism figures show that between January and July of this year Jamaica welcomed some 2.47-million visitors. This included 1.72-million stopover visitors and 747,643 cruise visitors, more than twice the number recorded for the corresponding period in 2022, with gross earnings of US$2.59 billion. “You’re looking at a more than 24 per cent increase in gross tourism dollars earned in just those seven months. The economy continues to grow, and tourism continues to play a big role in that. Coming out of the pandemic, tourism has consistently demonstrated its resilience and, as a result, the sector’s contribution to the Jamaican economy cannot be overlooked. Now more than ever, we are focused on advancing programmes and policies that ensure this growth trajectory is sustained,” said Bartlett as he kicked off engagements in Eastern Europe with a marketing blitz to promote destination Jamaica amid the staging of the 19th World Athletics Championships underway in Budapest, Hungary. “We met with over 50 tour operators, travel agents, and media representatives at the President’s Hotel. We discussed the new way in which Jamaica will engage Central and Eastern European countries, including Poland, Georgia, Serbia, and Bulgaria, among others. The connection, of course, being through Berlin, Germany, via Condor that has a direct route between Montego Bay and Berlin. We are also in discussions with a major private sector player about their plans to operate charter flights between Bulgaria and Jamaica for Winter 2023/24,” added Bartlett. He noted that the traffic between Hungary and Jamaica is currently low but argued that the appetite for travel to Jamaica is strong and he is excited to capitalise on this. “As Jamaica doubles down on its efforts to increase visitor arrivals, this will provide a unique opportunity to leverage the power of sports tourism to promote Jamaica as an attractive and dynamic travel destination and strengthen the relationship between Jamaica and Europe,” said Bartlett. The tourism minister also highlighted that these engagements are aligned with his ministry’s Blue Ocean Strategy, which is targeted at bolstering arrivals from non-traditional markets while encouraging product differentiation locally. Along the same vein, Bartlett welcomed the recent announcement from the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) that the hotels and restaurants industry grew by nine per cent in the April to June 2023 quarter, with preliminary estimates on foreign national arrivals standing at 705,031 visitors, an increase of 14.2 per cent compared with the corresponding quarter of 2022.

Jamaica records 2.47-million visitors up to July Read More »

Teachers could take action in September, says JTA head

NEGRIL, Hanover – President of the Jamaica Teachers’ Association (JTA) Leighton Johnson has warned that public school educators may take action, after the organisation’s next gathering in September, if concerns about anomalies in their salaries are not addressed. However, he said efforts would be made to avoid disruptions to the start of the school term. “I can indicate that, having written letters, there is a particular course of action that teachers are prepared to take,” he said. “If we get no resolution by the time we have our next general council meeting then the teachers will follow a particular course.” He was fielding questions from journalists on Tuesday from the sidelines of the JTA’s annual conference. Johnson declined to provide details on what precise steps would be taken as the JTA follows its “particular process”. “We have options and, at the appropriate time, we will activate our machinery to ensure that the Government responds,” said the JTA head who noted that members of the 25,000-strong organisation are restive and determined to have their concerns addressed. Among the issues they want dealt with is what Johnson said is fluctuation, since March, in income tax paid by some educators on the new salaries hammered out in the Government’s compensation review. “Teachers want a resolution to these issues. We have written and we will continue to write. The Jamaica Teachers’ Association will leave no stone unturned; we are ensuring that every process is adhered to and followed,” he stated. At the same time, he has signalled a change in how the association will seek to have issues of concern aired in the public domain. “In many respects, the teachers’ business has been at the forefront and the subject of much criticism and conversations. I believe it is time now for us to coalesce around this common cause behind closed doors and carry out the mandates of the teachers in a manner that will not disclose to the public our direction,” said the JTA president.

Teachers could take action in September, says JTA head Read More »

Woman injured in Gregory Park firebombing dies

GREGORY Park was robbed of a matriarch on Tuesday afternoon when Naomi Gocul, the elderly woman who was badly burnt in the recent firebombing of 11 houses inside a tenement yard on Walker’s Avenue in Gregory Park, St Catherine, succumbed to her injuries at hospital. Gocul, 72, is the second person to die from the firebombing and shooting incident which occured on August 12. The first to die was 28-year-old taxi operator Raneel Haughton, after he was shot by men who came to torch the dwellings. More than 40 people were left homeless after their houses were destroyed. Gocul’s daughter, Karona, who took her from the burning house, told the Jamaica Observer on August 16 that her mother’s condition was worsening day by day in hospital and said she feared the worst for her. Karona had recounted for the Observer how, after running out of her own burning house with her children, she remembered that hat her mother was probably asleep in her house on the same property. Not seeing the elderly woman, Karona forced her way into the dwelling of her mother who was on a found on the floor, badly burned. Karona quickly rescued her from the burning building and she was subsequently taken to hospital. Karona had shared that her mother had spoken to relatives shortly after arriving at hospital, but all talking from her eventually ceased — a bad sign for the family. The Observer tried to get comments from the grieving daughter on Tuesday afternoon but efforts to contact her by telephone were futile. Member of Parliament for St Catherine East Central Alando Terrelonge told the Observer on Tuesday afternoon that the family, devastated by the loss, has assumed a sombre mood as they mourn Gocul’s death. “The attack on Walkers Avenue was an attack on our democracy and our very right to be free, to live free. Naomi turned 72 in June. She was affectionately known throughout Gregory Park and Kingston as ‘Miss Sweeny’. She was a matriarch in the community. She was well-loved; she was a mother, grandmother and somebody who opened up her heart and home to everyone in Gregory Park. She always had a passion to feed people, and she always had a place for people to stay at Walkers Avenue. It really is a very tragic day in Gregory Park, Portmore, and in Jamaica,” Terrelonge said. “The reason that caused Miss Sweeny to lose her life is a selfless act of terrorism that is based in hate. There was absolutely no reason for these terrorists to trap Miss Sweeny in her home and burn her home and prevent her from leaving her house. While we were there this morning, scores of people gathered at the premises just to pay respects to the memory of Miss Sweeny and just to give comfort to the family,” Terrelonge added, sharing that he has been visiting with the family very regularly since the incident, just to show support and provide as much comfort to them as possible at this time. “Properties can be replaced but these heartless terrorists have taken a matriarch away from her family and the community. The family is in pain and literally agonising at the loss of their mom. We were really hoping as a community that she would pull through,” the MP said.

Woman injured in Gregory Park firebombing dies Read More »