CARIBBEAN

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP)—United States (US0 President Donald Trump on Tuesday posted a map graphic on his Truth Social platform depicting Venezuela with an inset American flag and the label "51st State."The provocative post -- published while Trump was en route to China for a high-stakes summit -- comes a day after Venezuela's interim president, Delcy Rodriguez, said her country had "never" considered becoming the 51st state, even after US forces captured deposed leader Nicolas Maduro […]

With consumers now paying more for non-alcoholic sweetened beverages, manufacturers are being urged to pivot by reformulating their products to provide consumers with more affordable and healthier options while maintaining taste profiles.This call is coming from executive director of the Scientific Research Council, Dr Charah Watson, who says the SRC is willing to work with manufacturers to help them meet the new sugar regulations without compromising on customer experience.“We're supporting […]

KINGSTON, Jamaica—The Auditor General’s Department (AGD) has flagged the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) over its financial management of donated and national disaster funds and the implementation of the Restoration of Owner or Occupant Family Shelters (ROOFS) Programme.According to the audit report, which was tabled in the Parliament on Tuesday, “weaknesses were found in ODPEM’s financial management, governance and programme accountability”.It […]

Visa has launched a new tap-based identity verification system with fintech company Keyno and Fidelity Bank (Bahamas), allowing customers to activate cards and confirm identity by tapping their physical Visa card against a mobile phone instead of using passwords or one-time passcodes.The payments giant said the technology, called Tap to Confirm and Tap to Activate, uses the EMV [Europay, Mastercard, and Visa] chip embedded in Visa cards alongside Visa’s Chip Authenticate service to verify […]

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP)—United States (US) President Donald Trump on Tuesday said US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) chief Marty Makary was leaving his post, a resignation that follows weeks of political tumult at the powerful agency.During his tenure atop the sprawling body responsible for overseeing vaccines, medicine and food, Makary managed to upset figures across industry, politics and public health over a range of issues, and most recently faced pressure from the Republican […]

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Minister with responsibility for Works, Robert Nesta Morgan, has rejected what he described as misleading and politically convenient claims made by representatives of the Opposition regarding the Government’s SPARK Programme.Morgan in a Monday afternoon statement said the Opposition is attempting to convert legitimate community concerns about road conditions into a false narrative that the SPARK Programme has failed.“The Government will not capitulate to a misleading […]

Only four years after his release from prison on drug trafficking charges, dancehall artiste Flippa Moggela is once again in hot water with United States federal authorities.The self-styled 'Flossing King', whose real name is Andrew Kendrick Davis, has been charged in a New Jersey federal drug conspiracy case, alongside co-defendants Damion Jones, Clifford Brown, and James McBride.Prosecutors noted that the four men are accused of conspiring to possess and distribute at least 500 grams of "a […]

Jamaican recording artiste T-Drive is celebrating a major milestone in his musical journey after his single Fly Away climbed to the number two spot on the Island Gold Radio Top 10 Reggae Chart in West Palm Beach for the week of May 1.Born Trevor Hewitt, the artiste says the achievement represents years of hard work, dedication, and belief in his craft.“I felt honoured and privileged to be featured alongside many established artistes on the Captain Kirk Island Gold reggae chart,” T-Drive […]

KINGSTON, Jamaica — The United States (US) dollar on Tuesday, May 12, ended trading at $159.13, up by 22 cents, according to the Bank of Jamaica’s daily exchange trading summary.Meanwhile, the Canadian dollar ended trading at $115.89, down from $117.60 and the British pound at $214.16, down from $214.33.

KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Ministry of Health and Wellness has established an International Recruitment Unit (IRU) as part of its broader Human Resources for Health Strategy.Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr Christopher Tufton, said the dedicated IRU has been set up in the ministry’s Corporate Services Division with the approval of Cabinet.He made the disclosure on Tuesday during his contribution to the Sectoral Debate at Gordon House. He explained that the unit will serve as the central […]

ANNOTTO BAY, St Mary—A 19-year-old hairstylist and a 30-year-old construction worker were arrested and charged on Tuesday after allegedly attempting to smuggle contraband into the Annotto Bay police lock-up.Police reports indicate that lawmen on the compound of the Annotto Bay police station observed suspicious activities involving the two individuals. While investigating, inmates were seen pulling an item through a cell window.The item reportedly fell to the ground and was found to be a […]

Established producer Kemar “Flava” McGregor is using the momentum surrounding his latest release, the Kiss Of Judas Riddim, to spark conversation about the current direction of Jamaican music and the role he and his creative colleagues play in shaping its future.Released on May 8 through Billboard King Records, the Kiss Of Judas Riddim has already been making waves internationally, reportedly racking up more than 500,000 Spotify streams within days while also securing the number one […]

KINGSTON, Jamaica—The number of prescriptions under the National Health Fund (NHF) has increased from less than one million in 2016 to approximately three million per year, serving more than 770,000 Jamaicans.This was stated by the Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr Christopher Tufton, on Tuesday as he made his contribution to the Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives.Tufton said the number of Jamaicans covered under the NHFCard Programme has increased from 241,897 to more than […]

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Member of Parliament (MP) for St Mary Central, Omar Newell, has raised concerns about the implementation of the Government’s SPARK programme, questioning delays, budgeting and the selection of roads in the constituency.Speaking during a special press briefing on Tuesday titled “Uncovering the Facts on the SPARK Road Programme”, Newell said several communities in St Mary Central continue to suffer because of poor road conditions despite promises made under the […]

NASSAU, Bahamas (CMC)—The Aircraft Accident Investigation Authority (AAIA) in The Bahamas on Tuesday said an aircraft en route to the Grand Bahama International Airport with 10 people on board had crashed off the coast of Fort Pierce in Florida.In a statement, the AAIA said the Beechcraft 300 King aircraft with registration HP-1859 had previously departed the Leonard Thompson International Airport in Abaco.“While en route, the pilot in command declared an emergency with air traffic control, […]

Jamaica's public health system saw 1,155,949 patient visits in hospitals and 1,596,871 patient visits in health centres in 2025 according the Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr Christopher Tufton.Tufton provided the statistics on Tuesday as he made his contribution to the 2026-27 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives.“We completed 44,116 diagnostics tests, conducted 75,889 surgeries and some 770,000 patients in the public sector were serviced by the National Health Fund Drug Serv […]

KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Government of Jamaica has signed a new agreement launching a $1.42 billion project, funded by the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), to transform land administration locally.The Korea-Jamaica partnership is expected to facilitate secure land rights, stronger institutions and sustainable development through easier and more transparent land ownership.Speaking at the event, Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness noted that: “A land title is more than a document, […]

ST MARY, Jamaica — Two Chinese women who operate a supermarket in Port Maria were robbed of an undetermined sum of cash and assaulted during an early morning break in on Tuesday.According to the St Mary police, the incident occurred between 2:00 am and 4:00 am when four masked men gained entry to the establishment by removing sections of concrete that secured a metal grill to the building.The gunmen reportedly forced the women downstairs, ransacked the premises and escaped with an […]

UNITED NATIONS (CMC)—The United Nations (UN) Office for Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is reporting an “alarming” surge in gender-based violence in the first three months of this year.The UN Deputy Spokesperson, Farhan Haq, said humanitarian partners have recorded almost 2,000 incidents of gender-based violence, or about 21 cases per day.Haq said that more than 70 per cent of the gender-based violence cases involved rape, “a dramatic increase from the previous quarter, when 49 per cent of […]

Jamaican attorney, Tamar N Hamilton, has announced her candidacy for Broward County Circuit Court Judge for Group 52. She is one of three candidates to replace Michael G Kaplan who retired recently after 24 years in the post.The election takes place on August 18 when 20 Circuit Court judges will be elected in Florida. Hamilton, who is from Kingston, has lived in that state for over 25 years.A special magistrate, she has offices in Cutler Ridge and Lauderhill, South Florida. A former president […]

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Member of Parliament for St Ann South East, Kenneth Russell, has criticised the Government’s Shared Prosperity Through Accelerated Improvement to Our Road Network (SPARK) Programme, arguing that it has failed to deliver meaningful improvements to roads in his constituency.Speaking during a special press briefing on Tuesday titled “Uncovering the Facts on the SPARK Road Programme”, Russell pointed to several communities still struggling with deteriorating road […]

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Following a successful debut staging in 2025, the central parishes of St Catherine, Manchester and St Elizabeth are intensifying efforts to make an even greater impact in the 2026 Mini Miss Jamaica Heritage Queen Pageant.With anticipation building around the national competition, parishes across the island have begun actively recruiting contestants to select representatives who will wear their parish titles and compete for the coveted national crown.The central parishes […]

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — United States (US) President Donald Trump went on an extraordinary social media spree into the early hours of Tuesday, posting dozens of conspiracy theories and crude memes attacking his opponents.The intense outburst on Truth Social came amid growing public scrutiny of the 79-year-old Republican's health.As Trump deals with the economically damaging impasse with Iran and prepares to fly later Tuesday for a summit in China, his attention was elsewhere in the […]

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AFP) — All 26 passengers who landed in the Netherlands on the first evacuation flight from the hantavirus-hit MV Hondius cruise ship have tested negative for the virus, Dutch authorities said Tuesday.The flight from Tenerife landed on Sunday night, carrying passengers and crew from the Hondius, which has been at the centre of global concern over the virus after three people died during its voyage.All 26 underwent "thorough medical screening", according to the Dutch […]

CARACAS, Venezuela (AFP) — Veteran Dutch coach Dick Advocaat, who led Curacao to World Cup qualification, will return as coach for the tournament after his successor Fred Rutten resigned."Advocaat is returning," President of the Curacao Football Federation (FFK), Gilbert Martina, told AFP in a phone message.Advocaat, 78, was in charge when the Caribbean island reached the finals but resigned three months later because of his daughter's health.His fellow Dutchman Rutten took over, but Curacao […]