CARIBBEAN

KINGSTON, Jamaica — The policeman who fatally shot Latoya “Buju” Bulgin in Granville, St James, on May 17 has been charged with murder.Constable Andrew Wilson appeared before the St James Parish Court on Wednesday after the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) ruled that charges should be laid following an investigation by the Independent Commission of Investigations (Indecom).The constable was denied bail and ordered to surrender his travel documents. He was also instructed not to […]

PARIS, France (AFP) — Aryna Sabalenka's bid for a first French Open title was left in tatters as she fell apart in a bizarre defeat by Russian 25th seed Diana Shnaider in the quarter-finals on Wednesday.The world number one led by a set and a double-break before exiting the tournament in a blaze of unforced errors, collapsing to a 3-6, 7-5, 6-0 loss in blustery conditions on Court Philippe Chatrier.Shnaider will face Polish qualifier Maja Chwalinska in the semi-finals on Thursday, with Marta […]

NAIROBI, Kenya (AFP) — Kenya's health minister said on Wednesday that the United States (US) funded quarantine centre would proceed, days after deadly protests erupted over the project.The US-built facility at Kenya's Laikipia Air Base was due to open last week, according to US officials, to quarantine Americans arriving from the Democratic Republic of Congo, which is battling a major Ebola outbreak.But it has been temporarily blocked by a court order, and triggered protests on Monday that […]

Steve Barrow, a respected British musicologist who wrote liner notes for the acclaimed box set, Tougher Than Tough: The Story Of Jamaican Music, died in the United Kingdom on May 30 at age 80.His death has been covered extensively by UK media, which consistently acknowledged his voluminous writing, covering the history of Jamaican music. Barrow also worked in promotions for companies such as Trojan, Island and Blood And Fire Records.He co-founded the latter in 1993 with Mick Hucknall, lead […]

The family of late Jamaican business and tourism mogul Gordon ‘Butch’ Stewart have announced that they have resolved their differences and are looking forward to the continued development and success of his legacy.The family made the announcement in a joint press release issued through the law firm LennoxPaton in The Bahamas.Following is the full text of the release:The family of The Hon Gordon “Butch” Stewart OJ, the founder of the Sandals & Beaches Group, are pleased to announce […]

KINGSTON, Jamaica — The National Works Agency (NWA) is advising motorists and residents that a section of Long Lane along Stony Hill Road in St Andrew will be closed this weekend to facilitate critical road repair works.The closure will affect the area near the Lane Landings housing complex and will take effect from 10:00 pm on Friday, June 5, 2026, until 3:00 am on Monday, June 8, 2026.According to NWA Manager of Communication and Customer Services, Stephen Shaw, investigations conducted at […]

GENEVA, Switzerland (AFP) — The World Health Organization (WHO) warned Wednesday that the Ebola outbreak confirmed to have killed 61 people in central Africa had a "big head-start", and said "blanket travel restrictions" were hindering the response.The outbreak was declared on May 15 in northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo, but the virus is believed to have been spreading under the radar for some time beforehand."The outbreak had a big head-start and we're still behind," WHO Chief […]

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Parts of Jamaica's utility sector have yet to fully recover from Hurricane Melissa as the country enters a new Atlantic hurricane season, prompting regulators to require stronger disaster planning and additional financial safeguards for critical service providers.The warning from the Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR) comes seven months after Melissa damaged electricity and telecommunications infrastructure across the island, leaving hundreds of thousands of customers […]

MARSEILLE, France (AFP) — Around 30 European and North American media outlets on Wednesday joined a coalition launched by Britain's BBC, Sky News and The Guardian, aiming to secure fair payment for news content from artificial intelligence (AI) giants.New members of the SPUR Coalition include France's CMA Media, Switzerland's Ringier and Canadian groups including The Globe and Mail and CBC/Radio Canada."The world's leading publishers are determined to open a new chapter in their relationship […]

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — United States (US) President Donald Trump on Tuesday signed an executive order creating a voluntary framework under which AI developers will share advanced models with the government before public release.The central provision allows companies such as OpenAI, Google or Anthropic to give the government access to their most powerful models for up to 30 days before planned release.The order was triggered by concerns over Anthropic's Mythos model, which the AI […]

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Opposition Spokesman on Science, Technology and Digital Transformation, Christopher Brown, is sounding the alarm about the future of the business process outsourcing (BPO) sector, whose employees are facing increasing threats from artificial intelligence (AI).Thousands of Jamaicans are employed in the sector.Brown gave the warning and accused the Government of being reactive during his contribution to the Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives on Tuesday.The […]

The long-awaited Integrity Commission report into the Firearm Licensing Authority (FLA) was tabled in Parliament on Tuesday, uncovering concerns about database records, ammunition inventory controls and information management practices at the agency.The report, officially titled the "Investigation Concerning Allegations of Corruption, Impropriety and Irregularity at the Firearm Licensing Authority", became the subject of intense political controversy in recent weeks after Opposition members […]

KINGSTON, Jamaica — With the increasing frequency of natural disasters and their devastating consequences, Opposition Spokesman on Agriculture and Fisheries, Dr Dayton Campbell, is calling for the establishment of a permanent Agricultural and Fisheries Disaster Recovery Fund that would help farmers and fisherfolk bounce back more quickly from the natural phenomena.“This fund should not be created after every hurricane, flood, drought, or major weather event. It should not depend on hurried […]

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Minister of Science, Technology and Special Projects, Dr Andrew Wheatley has announced that he will be seeking Cabinet approval for the setting up of a “House of Innovation” to convert knowledge, research, and innovation into national development outcomes.He said this would be the blueprint to drive innovation in Jamaica over the next decade.Wheatley made the announcement Tuesday during his contribution to the Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives.“I am […]

KINGSTON, Jamaica – Local law practice TWP Attorneys-at-Law has launched its inaugural “Lunch and Learn” Initiative, a professional development programme designed to foster mentorship, knowledge-sharing, and meaningful engagement between senior and junior attorneys.In a statement, TWP indicated that the initiative was developed in response to the growing need for structured mentorship opportunities within the legal profession.Drawing on observations from local practice and successful […]

Opposition Spokesman on Agriculture and Fisheries, Dr Dayton Campbell has argued that despite some progress, too many farmers and fisherfolk are still struggling to survive.Campbell made the argument Tuesday during his contribution to the Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives.“The Government has presented several figures to show growth and activity in the agriculture sector. I will not deny that work has been done in some areas. I will not deny that some progress has been made. I […]

Legendary R&B singer Peabo Bryson, known for songs including A Whole New World from Aladdin,  passed away on Tuesday, according to a statement shared by his family.“He transitioned peacefully at 5:00 pm ET on the evening of Tuesday, June 2, 2026, surrounded by the love of his family and those closest to him,” the statement indicated.Born Robert Peapo Bryson, the singer died less than a month after his 75th birthdayHis death follows news on Sunday that the singer had suffered a […]

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Six Jamaicans, including Olympic Games men’s discus record holder Roje Stona and former Commonwealth Games women’s shot put gold medalist Danniel Thomas-Dodd, are set to take part in Wednesday’s 2026 Paavo Nurmi Games, a World Athletics Continental Tour Gold meeting in Turku, Finland.In form 400m hurdler Assine Wilson, as well as long jumpers Ackelia Smith and Nia Robinson, and high jumper Lamara Distin, are also set to compete.Stona is set to go up against the top […]

PARIS, France (AFP) -- French lawmakers on Tuesday recognised the state's partial responsibility in allowing a toxic pesticide to be used in the French West Indies despite health warnings, inflicting long-term harm on the islands and their people.Chlordecone, also known under the brand name Kepone, is a pesticide that was widely used to eliminate weevils in banana plantations in France's former colonies turned overseas territories of Guadeloupe and Martinique from 1972 until 1993.France banned […]

Taxi fares have now been officially raised, but some Corporate Area taxi drivers were informally charging passengers higher fares in the face of rising operating costs, ahead of the announcement of a staggered fare hike for drivers by Transport Minister Daryl Vaz on Tuesday.The long-delayed 16 per cent rate increase owed to public passenger vehicle (PPV) operators by the Government since 2023 was officially approved in two batches of eight per cent over June and July 2026.But some cabbies told […]

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The Trump administration on Tuesday formally appealed a judge's order for refunds of the United States (US) president's global tariffs after they were struck down by the Supreme Court earlier this year.At stake is some $166 billion in revenue. A refund system handled by US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has already begun to process repayments.Last month, the CBP said in a court filing that it was on track to process about $85 billion in repayments, with […]

WASHINGTON, United States (CMC) – The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) on Tuesday said that there has been a sustained increase in measles cases both globally and across the Americas as the world prepares for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada from June 11.According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 184,489 measles cases were reported in 155 member states between January 1 and May 13, this year, of which 100,239 or 54.3  per cent had been […]

HAVANA, Cuba (AFP) — With a United States (US) deadline to sever ties with Cuba's military conglomerate GAESA fast approaching, foreign companies had by Tuesday vastly reduced their presence on the island.The departures are wreaking havoc on Cuba's already devastated economy, as the island creaks under the weight of an energy blockade imposed in January by the United States, which has piled on further sanctions since then.As President Donald Trump openly muses about seizing control of the […]

ISTANBUL, Turkey (AFP) — Turkey on Tuesday expressed alarm over a weekend gig by Kanye West in Istanbul attended by nearly 120,000 fans, saying it included elements that offended its spiritual sensitivities.The United States (US) rapper has had shows banned in several European venues over his antisemitic remarks, but Muslim-majority Turkey's objections were focused elsewhere.In a post on X, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's chief advisor Oktay Saral said the show featured "rhetoric and symbols […]

KINGSTON, Jamaica — The United States (US) dollar on Tuesday, June 2, ended trading at $158.77, up 33 cents, according to the Bank of Jamaica’s daily exchange trading summary.Meanwhile, the Canadian dollar ended trading at $115.51, up from $114.47, and the British pound at $214.84, up from $211.34.