CARIBBEAN

KINGSTON, Jamaica -- Mt Pleasant FA have a slender lead over Portmore United after they won their Jamaica Premier League first leg semi-final game 1-0 on Sunday at the National Stadium.A second half goal from substitute Warner Brown gave Mt Pleasant the lead going into Wednesday’s return leg, but a controversial decision a few minutes earlier by referee Okeito Nicholson, to disallow a goal by Portmore, briefly threatened to upstage the game.After a goal-less first half, Portmore thought they […]

Racquil Broderick of the University of Southern California (USC) won the men’s discus throw with 62.80m at the Big 10 Outdoor track and field championships that ended at the University of Nebraska on Sunday.It was a major improvement for the Jamaican, who finished ninth at last year’s Big10 championships and fourth at last year’s NCAA Outdoor Championships.Meanwhile, Janela Spencer of Ohio State University was second in the 100m hurdles after she ran a wind-aided 12.52 seconds […]

Jamaica’s Jordan Scott set a personal best 17.66m (-0.67m/s), the new world lead, as he won the men’s triple jump at the Coqui International Cup, a World Athletics Continental Tour- Silver meet, held in Puerto Rico on Sunday.Scott improved on his previous best of 17.52m set in July 2025 and Sunday’s jump was the longest by a Jamaican since Jaydon Hibbert jumped 17.75m in June 2024 when he set the Racers Grand Prix meet record.-Paul A Reid

The Ministry of Transport says it has convened a meeting in response to word that public transport operators are restive in relation to their longstanding demand for a fare increase.According to the ministry in a release late Sunday, the demand has intensified following the increase in fuel prices across the globe due to geopolitical tensions.Representatives of the Transport Authority and groups representing public transport operators are expected to attend the meeting which will be addressed […]

ST JAMES, Jamaica – A member of the Jamaica Constabulary Force has been interdicted after a woman was shot and killed in Granville, St James on Sunday.The Police high Command made the announcement in a release late Sunday, stating that it is "deeply concerned about the circumstances surrounding" the incident.“The matter has been immediately reported to the Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM) and the Inspectorate Professional Standards Oversight Bureau (IPROB), which have now […]

KINGSTON, Jamaica -- Montego Bay United hold a slim lead over defending champions Cavalier after the first leg semi-finals of the Jamaica Premier League at the National Stadium on Sunday.An own goal deep into time added at the end of the second half by Adrian Reid junior gave Montego Bay a 1-0 edge going into Wednesday’s second leg at the same venue.The western Jamaica club dominated the game but failed to get past the Cavalier defence until a mistake by the midfielder tilted the game in […]

ST JAMES, Jamaica — A woman who was shot earlier Sunday, allegedly by the police, has died.READ: Woman allegedly shot by police in GranvilleShe has been identified as Latoya Bulgin, popularly known as Buju, of a Granville address in the community.The Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM) said it is currently investigating the fatal incident which occurred in Granville, St James.Bulgin succumbed to her injuries while being treated at hospital, Observer Online understands.Reports […]

MANCHESTER, Jamaica — A motorcyclist succumbed to injuries he sustained following a two-vehicle crash on the Sedburgh main road near Christiana in Manchester on Saturday night.Police identified him as Valdie Thomas, 20, a resident of Lowe River district in Trelawny.A police report said about 9:50 pm, Thomas was driving a Green 2025 Missile CG250 motorcycle on the Sedburgh main road when the bike collided with a Grey 2003 Toyota Probox.The impact resulted in Thomas being flung from the […]

ST JAMES, Jamaica — The Granville community is again tense following reports that a woman was allegedly shot by the police, a short while ago.Reports reaching Observer Online are that the woman was shot by the police in the torso after she drove a Toyota Voxy in the direction of the lawmen.She was taken to hospital by the police; her condition is currently unknown.The incident unfolded as residents were in the midst of another protest action in their bid for justice following the death of […]

KINGSTON, Jamaica—The Ministry of Agriculture has moved to take back agro-park lands from holders who have not put the properties into production.Agriculture Minister Floyd Green has informed that 120 acres were reclaimed in 2025, and an additional 280 acres have been identified for repossession, should farmers fail to bring them into active production.“It doesn’t make sense that you’re in our agro-parks, you have the land, and you’re not using it,” said Green on May 13, during his […]

KINGSTON, Jamaica—Opposition spokesman on Transport, Mikael Phillips, has asserted that “the Government’s short-sighted decision” to securitise future cash flow at the island’s two international airports to address fiscal demands, including the SPARK road programme, has “effectively mortgages the future of the next generation”.Phillips made the assertion on May 13 during his contribution to the Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives.SPARK (Shared Prosperity through […]

LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP)—Nine people were due to fly into Britain Sunday from UK overseas territories after coming into contact with a person with hantavirus, Britain's health security agency said.The UKSHA confirmed in a statement that "nine asymptomatic contacts from St Helena and Ascension Island are expected to arrive in the UK this evening".They will be transferred to an isolation facility at Arrowe Park Hospital, near Liverpool in northwest England, the statement added.A medic from […]

LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP)—West Ham's 3-1 defeat at Newcastle left Tottenham realistically only needing one more point to win the battle for Premier League survival, while Bruno Fernandes made history in Manchester United's 3-2 win over Nottingham Forest on Sunday.Spurs can avoid dropping out of the English top flight for the first time in nearly 50 years with victory at Chelsea on Tuesday, but a draw would also likely suffice thanks to their much superior goal difference over West […]

Music producer Ricco Diplomats is teaming up with a duo of young emerging production houses to release a new dancehall banger, Redemption, by emerging star Tielo Lanez on the Mercy Lap rhythm project."This Redemption song has the potential to be a big hit. I believe this song will give us the big break as young producers. We all believe in Tielo Lanez so we've come together to bring different vibes and energy to make it happen," Ricco Diplomats, whose real name is Rick Foster, said.The single […]

KINGSTON, Jamaica—Despite the announcement earlier this month by Transport Minister Daryl Vaz that Cabinet has given approval for the development of a national ride-hailing policy that will establish the foundation for a comprehensive regulatory framework necessary to guide the operations of ride-hailing in Jamaica, Opposition Spokesman on Transport Mikael Phillips remains unconvinced of the Government’s commitment to regulating the sector.Talk of necessary oversight for the sector has […]

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP)—United States (US) President Donald Trump on Sunday warned Iran "there won't be anything left of them" if Tehran does not quickly agree to a peace deal with the United States.Washington, locked in conflict with Tehran since US and Israeli forces launched major strikes on the Islamic republic beginning February 28, has struggled to break an impasse and make any progress toward ending a war that has shaken the Middle East and sent energy prices climbing."For […]

WASHINGTON, United States(AFP)—Cuba has obtained more than 300 military drones and recently began discussing plans to use them to attack the US base at Guantanamo Bay, US military vessels and possibly even Florida, Axios reported Sunday, citing classified intelligence.The report comes as tensions simmer between Washington and Havana and amid speculation that the United States may be building an argument for military action against the communist-run island.The development underscores the Trump […]

KINGSTON, Jamaica—The Jamaica Table Tennis Association (JTTA) on Monday, May 15, successfully hosted its 2026 Preparatory and Primary School League at the National Arena, bringing together players, coaches, administrators, sponsors, and supporters to celebrate the achievements of Jamaica’s young table tennis athletes and officially launch the new season.The event highlighted the continued development of grassroots table tennis in Jamaica and recognised the schools, coaches, and athletes who […]

KINGSTON, Jamaica—Agriculture Minister Floyd Green has announced Phase 2 of the Hurricane Melissa Recovery Programme in the amount of $250 million.He said Phase 1 has gone “extremely well”, allowing the country to realise the second best crop production on record.Green made the announcements on May 13 during his contribution to the Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives.“In 2025, Jamaica’s domestic crop sector produced 811,244 tonnes, representing a 5.7 per cent increase over […]

BURNT SAVANNAH, Westmoreland — Residents and business operators in Burnt Savannah staged a protest on Friday, May 15, voicing frustration over a curfew they say has crippled their livelihoods and left the community feeling abandoned by their Prime Minister and harassed by the police.According to residents, the curfew has been in place for more than two months and has severely affected their ability to earn an income, especially as many families continue to recover from the severe effects of […]

TRELAWNY, Jamaica—Three men were shot, one fatally, during an alleged confrontation with police in Hague, Trelawny on Saturday night.Reports are that sometime after 8:00 pm the men were among a group travelling in a Toyota Probox when they reportedly engaged the police in a shoot-out.When the shooting subsided, the three men were found suffering from gunshot wounds and were taken to hospital where one was pronounced dead and the other two admitted under police guard, a police source […]

KINGSTON, Jamaica—Young men are being encouraged to resist negative societal pressures, and instead focus on shaping their future while unlocking their full potential.The call came from Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Olivia Grange, in remarks delivered by Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Denzil Thorpe, during Friday’s Growth Lab 1.0: Skills Discovery Workshop for Young Men.The event was held at the Ministry’s New Kingston offices in observance of the […]

PARIS, France (AFP)—FIFA secretary general Mattias Grafstrom described as "excellent" and "constructive" the meeting held on Saturday in Istanbul with the Iranian federation to ensure Iran's participation in the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico.The Iranians are scheduled to be based and play all three of their group matches in the US in spite of the war currently being waged in the Middle East."We've had an excellent meeting, a constructive meeting together with the Iran […]

MANCHESTER, United Kingdom (AFP)—Bruno Fernandes equalled the Premier League record of 20 assists in a season as Manchester United secured third place with a 3-2 win over Nottingham Forest.Fernandes, who was recently crowned the football writers' player of the season, moved alongside Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne when his cross was turned in by Bryan Mbeumo for United's third goal.Mbeumo was also involved for the game's most controversial moment when his handball in the build up to […]

KINSHASA, DR Congo (AFP)—The World Health Organization declared an international health emergency on Sunday over an outbreak of an Ebola strain in the Democratic Republic of Congo that has killed more than 80 and for which there is no vaccine.Fears of further spread grew when a laboratory on Sunday confirmed a case in the major eastern DRC city of Goma, which is controlled by the Rwanda-backed M23 militia.A total of 88 deaths and 336 suspected cases of the highly contagious haemorrhagic fever […]