CARIBBEAN

CASTRIES, St Lucia (CMC) -The Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Monday kicked off its 45th anniversary celebrations, saying that the event marks a significant milestone in the journey of collective resilience that has defined the organisation since the signing of the Treaty of Basseterre in 1981.The OECS was established on June 18, 1981, when seven Eastern Caribbean countries – Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the […]

Two-time national men’s long jump champion Carey McLeod has been banned for two years by World Athletics’ Athletes Integrity Unit (AIU) for a whereabout violation, it was reported on Monday.McLeod, who was a bronze medalist at the World Athletics Indoor Championships in 2024 in China, was reported to have admitted the anti-doping rule violation and accepted the sanction after missing three tests in a 12-month period.Athletes are obligated to make them selves available for random testing but […]

CLARENDON, Jamaica -- Three rums from the Monymusk Plantation portfolio were awarded Gold Medals at the 2026 Beverage Testing Institute (BevTest) World Spirits Championship, manufacturer National Rums of Jamaica has announced. The company noted in a press release that its Monymusk Plantation White Overproof Rum scored 93 points; the Classic Gold Rum scored 93; and the Special Reserve Rum scored 92. All three earned Gold Medals from the Chicago-based competition, one of the longest-running […]

HANOVER, Jamaica — A man believed to be the holder of a United States passport is currently in police custody for questioning regarding the death of his spouse at a house being used for rental in Hanover.The couple and a young baby believed to be their child were staying in the Bulls Bay area of the parish for approximately a year at the time of the incident.While the slaying of the woman was confirmed by the head of the area one police, Assistant Commissioner Glenford Miller, he said it was […]

LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) -- Serena Williams confirmed her return to tennis after an absence of nearly four years on Monday, with the American great set to play women's doubles at Queen's club later this month.The 44-year-old, a 23-time Grand Slam singles champion, has not played since a third-round loss at the 2022 US Open.The former world number one posted the message, "Good news travels fast" along with a video of her on court in an all-white Nike tennis dress and with her phone buzzing […]

ST ELIZABETH, Jamaica — Police are awaiting a ballistics report as they continue their investigation into a fatal shooting which left a car dealer and a suspected thief dead at an auto mart in Longwood near Santa Cruz, St Elizabeth on Sunday.Detectives spent hours combing the auto mart as they pieced together the sequence of events which led to the deaths of 64-year-old businessman and car mart dealer Melvin Blythe as well as 34-year-old Romele Johnson, otherwise called “Cutty” or “Cow […]

ST CATHERINE, Jamaica – The Cedar Grove Academy community has been plunged into mourning following the death of a grade eight student in a suspected suicide over the weekend.The deceased has been identified as 14-year--old Davian Armstrong, of a North Greater Portmore address.It is understood that Davian was at home about 4:30pm on Saturday, when he went missing. During a check of the premises to determine his whereabouts, he was found hanging.He was taken to hospital where he was pronounced […]

ST CATHERINE, Jamaica -- A policeman died as result of injuries he suffered in a traffic crash in Ewarton, St Catherine on Monday morning.The deceased has been identified as Constable Shanki Gordon of the St Catherine North Operations Team.Observer Online understands that sometime after 2am, Gordon was driving his motorcycle when he crashed into another vehicle.He suffered serious injuries and was rushed to hospital where he was pronounced dead.

LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) -- Oil prices jumped and equity markets diverged Monday as Middle East peace talks stalled and investors continued to pour into AI-linked stocks.Crude futures won more than three percent after the United States and Iran traded strikes and Tehran again insisted that any deal must cover Israel's escalating offensive into Lebanon.European stock markets traded mixed after gains for main equity indices in Asia.The dollar firmed against main rivals as focus fixed on the […]

LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) -- Former England midfielder James Milner has announced his retirement from football at the age of 40 after 24 seasons in the Premier League.The Brighton player began his career at boyhood club Leeds and went on to win three Premier League titles -- two with Manchester City and one with Liverpool, where he also won the Champions League.Milner broke the record for the most Premier League appearances this season, ending his career with a total of 658 games."After 24 […]

SHANGHAI, China (AFP) -- Almost 50 per cent of young adults in six major economies think AI romantic companionship will improve human happiness through emotional support in the next decade, the results of a large survey suggested Monday.The percentage dropped progressively across older age categories to just a quarter of people aged 55 and over, according to the research shared exclusively with AFP.Leaps in AI development have seen people turn to chatbots as confidants and lovers, while […]

LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) -- Former England and Newcastle manager Kevin Keegan has revealed he has stage four cancer.Keegan's family said in January that he had been diagnosed with the disease after being admitted to hospital for evaluation of "ongoing abdominal symptoms".The 75-year-old provided an update on his health during an appearance at the Tyne Theatre and Opera House in Newcastle at the weekend."They said we have a top doctor with this new way of fighting what you have got, which is […]

ST ELIZABETH, Jamaica— Police are now on a homicide scene in Longwood near Santa Cruz, St Elizabeth where two men were found dead Sunday night at a car mart.Detectives are trying to determine the circumstances leading to the death of both men. One of the men has been identified as 64-year-old businessman and car mart dealer Melvin Blythe.Residents reported hearing loud explosions early Sunday morning. Subsequently Sunday evening, checks were made at the car mart where the bodies of both men […]

KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSAMC) says it is taking steps to address the growing homeless population in Justice Square and other areas of downtown Kingston, following increasing concerns from members of the public.Acting Inspector of the Poor Relief Department, Donna-Gaye Brady, said the initiative will focus on improving conditions in affected areas while connecting vulnerable individuals with the support services they need.Speaking following a […]

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Red Stripe Flavours has officially launched the 2026 staging of the Netball Jamaica Elite League, reaffirming its commitment to women's sports, youth development and the growth of Jamaica's sporting landscape.The launch was held on Friday at the National Arena, bringing together organisers, players, sponsors and other stakeholders ahead of what is expected to be another competitive season of the country's premier domestic netball competition.Organised by Netball Jamaica […]

A Virgin Atlantic flight bound for Jamaica was forced to divert to Ireland on Saturday after experiencing an engine failure while crossing the North Atlantic.The airline's VS165 service, operated by an Airbus A330-900neo, departed London Heathrow on Saturday afternoon with 246 passengers and 13 crew members on board for Montego Bay. The flight was proceeding normally at a cruising altitude of 34,000 feet when the crew detected a problem with one of the aircraft's engines nearly three hours into […]

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Minister of Labour and Social Security, Pearnel Charles Jr, has arrived in Geneva, Switzerland, to represent Jamaica at the 114th Session of the International Labour Conference (ILC), which runs through June 6.In a statement released on Sunday, the Ministry of Labour and Social Security said Jamaica’s participation highlights the country’s continued influence in shaping regional and global labour policy at one of the world’s leading labour and social policy […]

New real estate dealer different Capital Limited is reporting that, within its first five months of operations, the firm has secured approximately J$3.5 billion in accepted offers across the Jamaica and Cayman Islands markets.“This milestone reflects the strength of different's focused real estate service, which is built on sourcing quality assets, delivering best-practice investment property analysis, and maintaining patient relationships with clients,” the company said in a press […]

World Athletics Championship silver medalist Tina Clayton produced a season’s best performance of 10.85 seconds to lead a Jamaican sweep of the medals in the women’s 100m at Sunday’s Meeting International Mohammed VI d’Athlétisme de Rabat in Morocco, the third stop on the Wanda Diamond League circuit.Clayton, who got out quickly and controlled the race from the start, finished just shy of the meeting record 10.83 seconds set by Elaine Thompson-Herah in 2022.Lavanya Williams placed […]

LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) — Pop star Dua Lipa and Fantastic Beasts actor Callum Turner married in London on Sunday, according to media reports, which said the low-key nuptials may be followed by a three-day party in Sicily.The Sun and Daily Mail tabloids showed photos of the couple leaving Old Marylebone Town Hall following a civil ceremony with just a handful of family and friends.Dua Lipa, 30, wore a white hat and dress designed by the Schiaparelli studio for the wedding, reports said. […]

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — A meteor crashing toward Earth exploded over the northeastern United States (US) on Saturday, NASA said, setting off booms that echoed over the region with a blast equivalent to 300 tonnes of TNT.The fireball broke up over northeastern Massachusetts and southeastern New Hampshire at 2:06 pm (1806 GMT), the US space agency's Deputy News Chief Jennifer Dooren told AFP in a statement."This fireball was not associated with any currently active meteor shower, but […]

KINGSTON, Jamaica — President of the Jamaica Coffee Exporters Association (JCEA), Dr Norman Grant, is calling for urgent investment and mental health support for coffee farmers as Jamaica’s Blue Mountain coffee industry struggles to recover from devastating weather events and rising production costs.In a release, Dr Grant said the sector has suffered major setbacks from Hurricanes Beryl (July 3, 2024) and Melissa (October 28, 2025), extreme rainfall and increased costs linked to the […]

NAIROBI, Kenya (AFP) — More than 1,100 people were suspected of having contracted Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo and neighbouring Uganda, the head of the African Union's health agency said on Sunday in a commentary for the Financial Times.Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention Director General Jean Kaseya said there were 263 confirmed cases in both countries as of Saturday, with 43 confirmed deaths.More than 1,100 suspected cases were still being investigated, he wrote […]

Some collaborations feel calculated, while others feel destined like the creative partnership between reggae star D’yani and producer Kareem “Remus” Burrell, son of legendary Xterminator Records founder Phillip “Fatis” Burrell, which is becoming one of the most exciting emerging stories in Jamaican music.Now they're ready to take things to another level.The duo's latest offering, Journey, arrives June 5 as the lead single from D’yani’s highly anticipated debut album Live Life […]

BRASÍLIA, Brazil (AFP) — Two patients who recently arrived in Brazil from African countries have been put in isolation after showing symptoms linked to Ebola, officials said, raising concerns about the deadly virus spreading beyond the African continent.A 37-year-old man who recently travelled to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where the outbreak has been concentrated, "exhibited symptoms such as fever, meeting the definition of a suspected case" of Ebola, the Sao Paulo state […]