CARIBBEAN

Jamaican chef Darian Bryan beat a talented field to walk away with top honours on hit American cooking TV show Next Level Chef on Thursday night.Bryan entered the finals of the TV show, which airs on Fox, competing to be named top chef against fellow contestants Connor Caine and Nicole “Cole” Lawson.The three were the finalists out of an initial field of 24, which under the show's premise, consisted of eight home chefs, eight social media chefs and eight professional chefs, all competing […]

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Jamaican football fans will receive extensive free-to-air and coverage of  the FIFA World Cup 2026 courtesy of  a broadcast partnership between IRIS Sport Media, Television Jamaica (TVJ) and Caribbean Premier Sports Ltd (CPSL) / RUSH Limited for the football event.In a statement Thursday, the groups indicated the partnership features a multi-platform broadcast partnership encompassing free to-air television, pay television, streaming and digital platforms.As part of […]

KINGSTON, Jamaica — In recognition of his ‘outstanding contribution to public service and unwavering commitment to the betterment of his community,’ Jamaica’s Consul General to the Southeast United States (US) Oliver Mair, is being awarded an honorary doctoral degree by the University of Fort Lauderdale.The degree, a Doctor of Ministry (Honoris Causa), is to be conferred on May 22 at the Faith Centre Ministries, Sunrise, Florida for ‘exemplary leadership, integrity and dedication to […]

Agriculture Minister, Floyd Green tried to hold firm during his responses to questions posed to him on the witness stand by attorney-at-law, Hugh Wildman on Wednesday during the Home Circuit Court murder trial of six cops.The minister, who is also an attorney, rejected Wildman’s many suggestions that he was not being truthful during his testimony. He insisted that he does not know any of the six cops or any of the three deceased men whose death the police are being tried for, indicating […]

LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AFP) —The biggest and most lucrative World Cup ever this summer will also set a record for the most-polluting sporting event in history, environmental experts say."Unlike the case of the Olympic Games, where the carbon footprints have been reducing over the last several editions, this is totally opposite in the case of the FIFA men's World Cup," David Gogishvili, a geographer at the University of Lausanne (Unil), told AFP.The summer's World Cup has been expanded to 48 […]

The risk of the hantavirus to the Jamaican population remains very low, according to local medical experts.The reassurance by the experts comes against the background of global concerns surrounding the outbreak of the virus aboard a Dutch cruise ship in the Atlantic Ocean, which left three passengers dead and several others severely ill.According to the World Health Organization (WHO), as of May 13, 2026, 11 cases, including three deaths, had been linked to the outbreak aboard the MV Hondius.It […]

KINGSTON, Jamaica — A 53-year-old justice of the peace (JP) has been sentenced to two years and six months imprisonment following her involvement in a multimillion-dollar real estate scam.The accused, Georgia Messam, served as a justice of the peace for Kingston and St Andrew and worked as a paralegal clerk in Village Green, St Ann.She was accused of defrauding a St Catherine businesswoman of more than $27 million during a property transaction.Reports are that between April 2018 and April […]

KINGSTON, Jamaica —Inspectors from the Ministry of Health (MOH) yesterday gave Supreme Ventures Racing and Entertainment Limited (SVREL) 30 days to correct drainage issues at Caymanas Park and clear verges of discarded beverage bottles as well as to facilitate a follow-up educational meeting with grooms and their trainers regarding maintenance of sanitary conveniences.Carlton Bernard, facilities manager, Caymanas Park, who accompanied the MOH team on a tour that started in the patrons’ […]

KINGSTON, Jamaica — As Jamaica observes Child Month, the Fi We Children Foundation is calling on policymakers, institutions, schools, and community stakeholders to move beyond symbolic participation and ensure that children and young people are meaningfully consulted on policies and decisions that directly affect their lives.In a statement on Thursday, the foundation noted that while children and youth are frequently encouraged to “use their voice,” many national and community level […]

Opposition Spokesman on Sports, Wavell Hinds has blasted the Government for not honouring its commitment to pour J$100 million into an investment fund for the development of youth cricket in Jamaica.The commitment was announced in a news release issued on September 23, 2023 by the Minister of Sport, Olivia Grange.“The Government reinforced this on March 12, 2024, when then Finance Minister Nigel Clarke announced in his budget presentation that J$40 million [of the amount] would be allocated […]

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Record label VP Records and a corporal in the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) have thrown their support behind confessed gun smuggler, Taugea 'Countree Hype' Dayes, writing sentencing support letters to federal court judge Roy Altman on behalf of the dancehall producer.A letter penned by Stephen Chin of VP Records was written in the capacity of a six-year business relationship with Dayes."Over the years, I have come to know Mr Dayes as a respectful, hardworking and […]

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Kingston’s nightlife scene is set for an international musical fusion as Belgian mother-daughter DJ duo Brooke x Taliyah prepares to make their highly anticipated Jamaica debut at Club MECA Thursday night.Staged under the theme International Night: Europe Meets Jamaica, the event is being hosted by the Marketplace Entertainment Centre for the Arts (MECA) in association with Main Event Entertainment Group Limited at Club MECA, located at 67 Constant Spring Road in […]

KINGSTON, Jamaica — During the first quarter of 2026, six people received life imprisonment for offences including stockpiling prohibited weapons, illegal possession of firearms and unauthorised possession of ammunition, according to the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF).In an update provided on Thursday, the force said 17 people were sentenced to more than 250 years combined for firearm-related offences, as police charged 80 people and seized 175 illegal firearms across Jamaica.JCF said 175 […]

KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Government is moving to implement some oversight of the business process outsourcing (BPO) sector to ensure its long-term viability.This will be spearheaded by the Standards Accountability and Fairness in Employment (SAFE) Task Force of the Ministry of Labour and Social Security (MLSS). It comes after years of complaints from current and former workers of unfair treatment in a sector that employs thousands of mostly young Jamaicans.According to the Minister of Labour […]

NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — Music streaming giant Spotify is teaming up with Universal Music Group to let users create AI-powered remixes and covers of songs by artists on the label -- for an extra fee on top of a standard subscription.The new feature, announced Thursday, will only apply to artists who have given their consent, and both the original performer and songwriter will receive a share of any revenue generated."For the first time, fans will be able to legally create covers and […]

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Reggae singer Ginjah is delivering a heartfelt message of faith, hope and perseverance through his latest single, God Is Good, featured on the Kiss Of Judas Riddim project produced by Kemar McGregor.The uplifting track sees the reggae artiste reflecting on life’s hardships while reminding listeners to remain grounded in faith despite difficult circumstances.“It’s more than just a song title, it’s a reminder that even through struggle, pain and uncertainty, […]

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Jamaica were on Thursday drawn in Group E along with Italy, Ivory Coast and Uzbekistan for the first round of the FIFA Boys Under-17 World Cup later this year in Qatar.Jamaica, who qualified for their third Under-17 World Cup after topping their group in the Concacaf qualifying tournament in Alajuela, Costa Rica in February, were drawn in pot four of the draw.Forty-eight teams will be in action, split into 12 groups, with the top two teams from each group alongside the […]

MONTREAL, Canada (AFP) — World Cup fans are wielding artificial intelligence to mass-produce viral songs supporting their teams ahead of next month's tournament.As the fan-made football anthems are raking in millions of plays across YouTube, TikTok and Instagram, experts say that the viral tunes raise questions about song ownership, artist compensation and the valuation of human creativity.But many users do not appear to mind, with some even showing a preference for the AI-generated songs […]

ST MARY, Jamaica — The 43-year-old contractor whose body was found on Wednesday behind his house in a decomposing state in what appears to be a suspected suicide was wanted for questioning in connection with an alleged machete attack on his child’s mother, the police said.Oneero Roberts, also known as “Anif” of Comsee district in Highgate, St Mary, was being sought following a domestic dispute in which he allegedly attacked the mother of his child with a machete after she reportedly […]

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — United States (US) forecasters on Thursday predicted the Atlantic hurricane season is likely to be "below normal" in 2026, but cautioned that "it only takes one."Data on the eastern and central Pacific meanwhile shows a 70 per cent chance of "above normal" activity.An expected El Nino weather pattern is largely driving the forecast, said National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) head Neil Jacobs.Atlantic hurricanes are more dangerous to human […]

MIAMI, United States (AFP) — United States (US) Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Thursday that Cuba accepted an offer of US$100 million in aid but that it was unclear if Washington would agree to Havana's terms.Cuba has publicly only said that it was reviewing the offer made by Rubio and tensions have risen after the United States on Wednesday indicted the country's influential former president Raul Castro on murder charges."They say they've accepted it. We'll see if that means it" will […]

KINGSTON, Jamaica — State Minister Abka Fitz-Henley says, following a commitment made by Prime Minister Andrew Holness in December last year, the Government is accelerating the implementation phase of using funds donated in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa to support the provision of houses to Jamaicans whose dwellings were destroyed by the weather system.Hurricane Melissa made landfall in October 2025 causing widespread destruction to the western region of the island.Minister Fitz-Henley […]

WESTMORELAND, Jamaica — An interpersonal dispute may be behind the gruesome killing of a man in Retreat, Westmoreland on Wednesday, according to police sources.“That particular murder is in its early stage of investigation. We are not yet in receipt of any information that we can give an update as it relates to that,” stated Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Charlene Gray-Morris, who added, “It seems as if it is more domestic than any other crime.”DSP Gray-Morris is the zone […]

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Approximately 924 containerised housing units are on the island as the Government presses ahead with its temporary housing relief programme to assist families displaced by Hurricane Melissa.The units are being stored at locations including Spanish Town, St Catherine, Luana in St Elizabeth, and Montpelier, St James, under the supervision of the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF), said Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Infrastructure Development, […]

A 40-foot trailer truck overturned along the main road in Central Village, St Catherine on Thursday morning after the vehicle reportedly developed mechanical problems, causing major traffic congestion in the area.Driver Fabian Cole told Observer Online that the incident happened a few minutes after 9 am while he was travelling from Kingston with the chassis attached to the trailer.“I wasn’t speeding or anything,” Cole said, explaining that the vehicle suddenly encountered difficulties […]