CARIBBEAN

LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) — A former British pirate radio station on Wednesday apologised "for any distress caused" after accidentally announcing the death of King Charles III.The erroneous announcement was made on Tuesday afternoon due to a computer error at its main studio in Maldon in eastern Essex, Radio Caroline said in a post on social media.The error had triggered the so-called death of a monarch procedure, which all UK stations hold in readiness while hoping not to require", wrote […]

PARAMARIBO, Suriname, (CMC) — Caribbean Community (Caricom) foreign affairs ministers began a two-day meeting in Suriname on Wednesday, underscoring the need for unity to deal with a changing global environment.Suriname’s Foreign Affairs Minister Melvin Bouva, the incoming chair of the Council for Foreign and Community Relations (COFCOR) told the opening ceremony that the deliberations should further allow for the region to be “united in purpose and guided by our shared […]

ST JAMES, Jamaica —The St James Municipal Corporation has selected the Rose Heights Community Centre as the parish’s 2026 Labour Day Project.Labour Day falls on May 23 each year, but since that date is on a Saturday this year, the holiday is being observed on Monday, May 25.In making the announcement, Mayor of Montego Bay, Councillor Richard Vernon, said the project was selected after weeks of deliberations and several visits to other community centres across the parish.He said the centre […]

GENEVA, Switzerland (AFP) — The risk from a deadly Ebola outbreak in central Africa remains high, but remains low globally, the World Health Organization said Wednesday, adding that the virus had likely been spreading for months.The outbreak of the highly contagious haemorrhagic fever was declared in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo last Friday.Ebola has killed more than 15,000 people in Africa in the past half-century, and the UN health agency has declared the latest surge an […]

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Speaker of the House of Representatives, Juliet Holness is currently on a working visit to Canada where she is participating in the 22nd ParlAmericas Plenary Assembly and the 10th Gathering of the Open Parliament Network in Ottawa.The meetings, being held from May 18 to 22 under the theme “Parliamentary Leadership for Shared Prosperity: Advancing Trade, Innovation, and Security in a Changing World”, have brought together parliamentary leaders and representatives from […]

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Internationally acclaimed energy transition expert Dr Ramón Méndez Galain, widely recognised for leading Uruguay’s groundbreaking transformation into one of the world’s foremost renewable energy economies, will feature at the sixth installment of the Maurice Facey Lecture on June 10, 2026.This year's lecture is being held under the theme, “Breaking the Grid: Charting Jamaica’s Path to Renewable Energy”.Hosted at the Jamaica Conference Centre beginning at 4:00 […]

ROME, Italy (AFP) — The United Nation (UN) Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) warned Wednesday that the blockage of the Strait of Hormuz could "trigger a severe global food price crisis" in the coming months.Hormuz accounted for a fifth of global oil shipping before the United States (US) and Israel launched strikes against Iran, which prompted Tehran to effectively shut down the strait to tanker and cargo traffic.A third of the world's fertiliser supply also passed through the strait […]

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The United States (US) Internal Revenue Service (IRS) will not pursue President Donald Trump, his family or companies for back tax claims under an agreement announced on Tuesday by the Justice Department.Trump, his sons Eric and Donald Jr. and the Trump Organization filed a lawsuit against the tax-collecting agency in January seeking $10 billion in damages following a leak of his tax returns.A former IRS contractor pleaded guilty in 2023 to leaking the tax […]

WASHINGTON, (CMC) – The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) says it has signed a five-year framework agreement with Google LLC to collaborate on strategic health communication and mental health promotion across the Region of the Americas, including the Caribbean.The agreement brings together PAHO’s public health leadership and technical expertise with Google’s global digital platforms, including YouTube, to expand access to reliable, science-based health information.PAHO said with a […]

BRUSSELS, Belgium (AFP) — The risk of an Ebola outbreak in the European Union (EU) is "very low" and "there is no indication" that Europeans need to take further steps beyond the standard public health advice, a spokeswoman said Wednesday."We know that diseases do not stop at the borders, and this is also the case of Ebola," spokeswoman Eva Hrncirova told reporters.This was why the European Union was doing "everything" it could to support the central African region hit by the outbreak, she […]

KINGSTON, Jamaica – Liberty Business, formerly known as C&W Business, has renewed its commitment to help local businesses innovate faster, operate more efficiently, strengthen resilience, and compete in an increasingly digital global economy.The company was officially reintroduced on Tuesday, May 19, during a launch event at the Rose Hall Great House in Montego Bay, marking what the company says is a significant milestone in the evolution of its enterprise business across Jamaica and the […]

Opposition Members of Parliament (MPs) staged a walkout from the House of Representatives moments before tributes to former parliamentarian, the late Leslie Campbell, after attempts to continue debate over the delayed tabling of the Integrity Commission report involving the Firearm Licensing Authority were shut down by the deputy speaker of the House.The tense confrontation marked the latest development in a growing dispute over Parliament’s handling of Integrity Commission reports, […]

Agriculture Minister Floyd Green faced a second bout of grilling from attorney-at-law Hugh Wildman during the Home Circuit Court murder trial of six policemen on Tuesday, with the minister being asked to give specific details on what he said he recalled about the 2013 shooting deaths of Matthew Lee, Mark Allen and Ucliffe Dyer.Lee, Allen and Dyer, who were travelling in a blue Mitsubishi Outlander motor vehicle, were shot dead by the police during an alleged shootout on Acadia Drive very close […]

Former Minister of Education Dr Mavis Gilmour made a rare visit to the Parliament on Tuesday as a guest of Labour and Social Security Minister Pearnel Charles Jr.Charles Jr, who was making his contribution to the Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives, noted that Gilmour, who celebrated her 100th birthday last month, also served as minister of social security and consumer affairs.Charles Jr told the House that this year’s celebration of National Centenarians Day on May 20 “carries […]

KINGSTON, Jamaica — The People’s National Party (PNP) says the shooting death of Latoya Bulgin by a member of the Jamaica Constabulary Force is deeply troubling and should raise several concerns among all well -thinking Jamaicans at home and in the diaspora.In a statement on Tuesday, the Opposition said the shooting, which took place in Granville, St James, on Sunday, raises serious questions about the use of lethal force by members of the security forces.“ The unfortunate demise of Ms […]

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Dubbed ‘Access Jamaica’, the Early Stimulation Programme (ESP) of the Ministry of Labour and Social Security will be strengthened with the procurement of two mobile units to serve rural communities.Minister of Labour and Social Security, Pearnel Charles Jr made the announcement on Tuesday during his contribution to the Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives.“The Early Stimulation Programme stands as a vital pillar of our social protection framework, offering […]

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The United States on Tuesday began enforcing a law requiring tech platforms to remove sexual deepfakes and other non-consensual intimate imagery, but experts warned of shortcomings and raised online censorship concerns.President Donald Trump signed the Take It Down Act last year, criminalising the online distribution of non-consensual sexual imagery that is often created using cheap and widely available artificial intelligence tools.The Federal Trade […]

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Seven scholarships are to be established in the names of Jamaica’s seven most recent ministers of labour as part of a restructured Social Intervention Programme aimed at better serving the most vulnerable Jamaicans.Minister of Labour and Social Security, Pearnel Charles Jr, said the revamped programme will include three major elements:The establishment of the Executive Development and Growth Experience (EDGE) Internship Programme within the Ministry of Labour and Social […]

KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Jamaica Civil Service Association (JCSA) is advising the public that workers at the National Works Agency (NWA) have indicated their intention to withdraw their services if urgent action is not taken to address long-standing concerns relating to staff restructuring and reclassification.The JCSA, in a statement on Tuesday, said the concerns, raised by approximately 78 employees, include salary anomalies, non-alignment of technical officers, non-payment of eligible […]

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Olivia Grange, is encouraging Jamaicans across the island to participate in Labour Day 2026 activities under the theme ‘One People, One Purpose, In All Things Jamaica Wins’.Labour Day will be observed on Monday, May 25, as May 23, the designated date, falls on a Saturday this year.In an interview with JIS News, Minister Grange said the theme reflects the spirit of resilience and unity that defines the Jamaican […]

When Kennedy Mensah returns to Jamaica in September for his third awards ceremony, the event will have a different name, change in venue and format. Originally known as the Grammy Certificate Ceremony, it is now known as the Music In Excellence Ceremony.Scheduled for September 15, its new home is the Courtleigh Auditorium in New Kingston. It was previously held at the nearby Audi Showroom.Unlike earlier stagings in Kingston, South Florida and London, Mensah’s Back 2 Da Future Music Limited […]

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Recording artiste Beenie Man is rubbishing recent allegations that he assaulted another artiste, describing them as false, malicious and defamatory.The artiste, whose given name is Moses Davis, said in a statement on Tuesday, that he had retained legal counsel and is working on compiling evidence to show the claims are false.“We hereby demand the immediate removal of all posts, videos, stories, and other publications asserting or repeating these claims, together with a […]

KINGSTON, Jamaica —The Ministry of Labour and Social Security has signed what is being described as a “landmark memorandum of understanding” with the Jamaica Household Workers Union to support collaboration in training, occupational safety, health awareness and public education.Minister of Labour and Social Security Pearnel Charles Jr made the announcement on Tuesday during his contribution to the Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives.Noting that the union celebrates 35 years of […]

BOURNEMOUTH United Kingdom (AFP) -- Pep Guardiola said he would speak to Manchester City's hierarchy over his future after a 1-1 draw at Bournemouth ended his team's hopes of winning the Premier League.The result at the Vitality Stadium confirmed Arsenal as English champions after a 22-year wait.City are four points behind their rivals with just one game remaining and cannot catch them.Widespread reports on Monday said City boss Guardiola would stand down after Sunday's final Premier League […]

KINGSTOWN, St Vincent (CMC) – A High Court judge in St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) has sentenced a 56-year-old fisherman to 10 years in jail after he was found guilty of causing the death of his friend, Cameron Alexander, a security guard, whom he struck in the head with a rum bottle in August 2023.SVG Justice Rickie Burnett imposed the sentence on Joel Ashton also called 'Goat', deducting  the period the convicted man had spent on remand awaiting trial.The court heard that between […]