CARIBBEAN

NEWMARKET, Canada (AFP) -- The Canadian man who sold packages of poison to distressed people in dozens of countries pleaded guilty on Friday to 14 counts of aiding suicide, but prosecutors said he will not face murder charges.Kenneth Law, a 60-year-old former chef, ran online forums that offered people advice on how to end their lives and made fatal substances available for purchase.The details of Law's online operation have caused widespread outrage since his arrest in 2023.The list of 41 […]

BARCELONA, Spain (AFP) -- Barcelona confirmed the signing of Anthony Gordon from Newcastle United on Friday, for a fee that could rise to 80 million euros (US$93 million).Gordon will sign for "the next five seasons, until June 30, 2031," Barcelona said in a brief statement.The 25-year-old left winger netted 17 goals for Newcastle this season, 10 of those in the Champions League, and was the club's top scorer."As a kid, to play for Barcelona is the biggest dream possible, it's the biggest club […]

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) -- The heads of the International Monetary Fund, World Bank and International Energy Agency warned on Friday of the risks to fuel security during peak demand summer months if oil shipping through the Strait of Hormuz does not return to normal."Global oil inventories are being drawn down at a record pace in response to the major loss of supply through the Strait of Hormuz," the heads of the agencies said in a joint statement."If shipping flows do not return to […]

KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Supreme Court has rejected an application by the Firearm Licensing Authority (FLA) seeking access to an investigative report prepared by the Integrity Commission (IC) into allegations of corruption, impropriety and irregularities involving the storage of firearms and ammunition and the granting of firearm licences.In a ruling delivered in chambers, Justice Tara Carr held that the report remains confidential under the Integrity Commission Act (ICA) until it is formally […]

UNITED NATIONS (CMC) — The United Nations (UN) says nearly 10,000 cases of conflict-related sexual violence were documented worldwide in 2025, more than double the number recorded the previous year, as rape, sexual slavery and abduction continued to be used as weapons of war across Africa, the Middle East, Europe and the Caribbean.The UN has repeatedly highlighted the deteriorating situation in Haiti, where heavily armed criminal groups have intensified attacks since the assassination of […]

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — United States (US) President Donald Trump said he was meeting in the White House Situation Room on Friday to make a final decision on whether or not to strike a peace deal with Iran.Trump said Washington would lift its naval blockade of Iran but insisted Tehran must open the Strait of Hormuz and agree never to have nuclear weapons.Iranian sources told the Fars news agency that Trump's comments on the deal were a "mixture of truth, lies"."I will be meeting […]

KINGSTON, Jamaica — The National Works Agency (NWA) is advising motorists that temporary traffic changes will be implemented along a major roadway in St Elizabeth this weekend.A section of the Lacovia to Holland Bamboo main road will be closed on Sunday between 8:00 am and 5:00 pm to facilitate emergency infrastructure works.According to NWA Manager of Communication and Customer Services, Stephen Shaw, the closure is necessary to allow for the urgent replacement of a damaged pipe culvert at […]

WESTMORELAND, Jamaica – Members of the legal fraternity in Westmoreland have expressed deep concern over reports that the Government is reconsidering plans for the repair and restoration of the Westmoreland Parish Court.In a press release on Friday, a group of practicing attorneys in the parish noted that since Hurricane Melissa in October of last year, Circuit Court matters have been displaced to Hanover, while the Westmoreland Parish Court operates from inadequate facilities in Whithorn. […]

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Opposition Spokesperson on Labour and Sports, Wavell Hinds, is congratulating Jamaican football star Khadija “Bunny” Shaw following what he described as an outstanding 2025/26 season that further solidified her reputation as one of the world’s top footballers.Shaw recently capped a historic season by helping Manchester City secure the Women’s Super League title while earning several major individual accolades. Among her achievements were being named the Football […]

ST JAMES, Jamaica — A 75-year-old woman has died following a motor vehicle crash on the Copse main road in Hanover on Friday.The deceased has been identified as Sonia Frater, a resident of the community.Reports indicate that Frater was travelling in a Toyota Fortuner around 10:00 am along with a man believed to be her husband, who was driving the vehicle, when it collided with a tree.Both occupants sustained injuries and were transported to hospital, where Frater later succumbed to her […]

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The White House's troubled bid for a star-studded musical celebration of the 250th anniversary of US independence took yet another hit Friday after three more acts pulled out, citing political tensions.President Donald Trump's administration had publicised multiple headliners for a concert series between June 25 and July 10 on the National Mall in Washington.However, the event is floundering as one act after another withdraws.On Friday, glam rocker Bret […]

NORTH CAROLINA, United States (CMC) — A North Carolina man has been sentenced to over 10 years in prison after being convicted of running a seven-year scheme in which he victimised millions of elderly Americans by selling their personal information to Jamaican lottery fraud scammers.Assistant Attorney General A Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division said Troy Murray, 57, will also serve three years of supervised release and has been ordered to forfeit US$5,214,688.48.In […]

Producer Realjedii and dancehall artiste Frassman Brilliant have teamed up for a new single titled Defiance, the lead track from Realjedii’s upcoming third compilation album.“This collaboration with Frassman Brilliant came from a mutual place, being that we have musical chemistry working together. We spoke for a while before I sent him the instrumental, and the rest is history,” Realjedii told Observer Online recently.Defiance was released on May 29 through Jedii Musiq and is distributed […]

Jamaican-American attorney, humanitarian, author, and community advocate Kaysia Earley will be honoured by the City of Parkland, Florida, with a Juneteenth Proclamation recognising her contributions to justice, humanitarian service, education, and community empowerment.The proclamation is scheduled to be presented by Mayor Richard Walker and the Parkland City Commission at City Hall on June 3. The recognition highlights Earley’s impact as an attorney and community leader whose work has […]

ST JAMES, Jamaica — Hundreds of senior citizens turned out at Harmony Beach Park in St James on Friday for the launch of the Ministry of Health and Wellness’ Park Walker Initiative for Older Adults.The islandwide programme, which began with a group walk around the park, is aimed at encouraging older Jamaicans to become more physically active and adopt healthier lifestyles.Director of the Health Promotion and Protection Branch, Dr Simone Spence, highlighted the importance of focusing on […]

GEORGETOWN, Guyana (CMC) — France has reaffirmed its support for Guyana in the ongoing border controversy with Venezuela, saying Paris remains “particularly attached” to its partnership with the South American country amid shared regional challenges on the Guyana Shield.In a letter to Guyanese President Irfaan Ali, marking Guyana’s 60th anniversary of independence from Britain, French President Emmanuel Macron congratulated the Government and people of Guyana while underscoring the […]

NAIROBI, Kenya (AFP) — A Kenyan court temporarily halted the opening of an Ebola quarantine centre for United States (US) citizens on Friday following a petition filed by a rights group.The facility was due to open in the east Africa nation on Friday, according to US officials, to quarantine Americans arriving from the Democratic Republic of Congo, which is battling a major Ebola outbreak.Washington has defended its criticised decision not to repatriate Americans infected with the virus.US […]

GENEVA, Switzerland (AFP) — The World Health Organization (WHO) on Friday announced the first recovery of a confirmed Ebola patient in the outbreak raging in the Democratic Republic of Congo."The DRC has said that on May 27, a patient recovered and left the hospital and has been discharged into the community," the WHO's Anais Legand told reporters.She said it marked the "first" among patients who had been confirmed to have Ebola, but stressed that she expected there had been other recoveries […]

WASHINGTON, United States (CMC) — The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) says it has signed a technical cooperation agreement with the Madrid-based Mundo Sano Foundation to strengthen efforts to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of diseases and advance cervical cancer prevention in the Americas, including the Caribbean.The agreement was signed by PAHO’s Director Jarbas Barbosa and Silvia Gold, president of Mundo Sano at the foundation’s headquarters.“This partnership reflects […]

UNITED NATIONS (CMC) — The United Nations (UN) says nearly 1.5 million people in Haiti had been displaced as of May this year, with 95,000 newly displaced between December last year and May.UN Deputy Spokesman Farhan Haq said the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported that violence in the Port-au-Prince metropolitan area has pushed the number of displaced people there to more than 300,000 for the first […]

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) — Health authorities in Trinidad and Tobago say they are “actively managing several suspected and probable cases” of varicella, commonly known as chickenpox, among healthcare workers at the Sangre Grande Hospital Campus in northeastern Trinidad.The Ministry of Health said ongoing contact tracing efforts have identified and assessed exposed staff members across affected departments as part of a targeted varicella vaccination campaign.“At this time, […]

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Long jumpers Aaliyah Lindsay of Kansas State and Shantae Foreman of Clemson as well as shot putter Britannie Johnson of Purdue all punched their tickets for the NCAA National Outdoors Championships on Thursday’s second day of the Regionals.Aaliyah Lindsay produced a big personal best 6.55m (1.1m/s) on her third and final round to place fourth at the West Regionals being held at the University of Arkansas and her first qualification to the nationals to be held at the […]

Three men who sustained third-degree burns in a blast at a garage adjacent to Guardsman Group-Beryllium Limited headquarters, on South Camp Road, on Wednesday have been airlifted to hospitals overseas for additional treatment.An additional man who suffered injuries in the blast has been confirmed dead.Speaking at the Norman Manley International Airport on Thursday afternoon while the men were waiting to be transported, Chairman of the Guardsman Group of Companies, Kenny Benjamin, stressed […]

ST THOMAS, Jamaica — Attorney-at-law Josemar Belnavis, is urging Jamaicans to take estate planning more seriously, warning that the failure to prepare wills and organise assets is fueling family disputes, costly court battles and the loss of property across the island.Belnavis, a partner at Lindsay Law Chambers, addressed the issue during a presentation on estate planning to the JN Circle Morant Bay Chapter recently, where he examined estate planning as both a wellness and financial planning […]

KINGSTON, Jamaica — The United States (US) dollar on Thursday, May 28, ended trading at $158.27, up 19 cents, according to the Bank of Jamaica’s daily exchange trading summary.Meanwhile, the Canadian dollar ended trading at $115.08 up from $114.39, and the British pound at $212.12, down from $212.33.