CARIBBEAN

DUBLIN, Ireland — State Minister in the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Delano Seiveright, on Monday evening highlighted Jamaica’s growing international investment momentum and expanding business opportunities while addressing a high-level reception in Dublin, Ireland.The reception formed part of Jamaica’s ongoing trade and investment mission to Ireland and the United Kingdom, being coordinated by the Jamaica Promotions Corporation (JAMPRO) under the Ministry of Industry, […]

EINDHOVEN, Netherlands (AFP)—The last two evacuation planes carrying passengers and crew from the hantavirus-hit ship MV Hondius landed in the Netherlands on Tuesday, according to an AFP journalist.Travelling in the two planes were 28 evacuees from the ship, according to the Dutch foreign ministry, including passengers, crew, and medical staff.The first plane to land was transporting six former guests of the Hondius, four from Australia, one from New Zealand, and one British person who lives […]

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC)—The Trinidad-based Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) on Monday sought to reassure people in the Caribbean region that there is no need for panic in light of the recent outbreak of the hantavirus that has claimed a few lives.CARPHA Executive Director, Dr Lisa Indar, told a news conference that the rodents that carry the human-to-human Adean strain of the hantavirus are not present in the Caribbean.Hantavirus is a serious zoonotic disease transmitted to […]

NEW YORK, United States (AFP)—The top prosecutor in Texas filed a lawsuit against Netflix on Monday, accusing the streaming giant of improperly collecting users' data and designing its platform to be addictive."When you watch Netflix, Netflix watches you," reads the opening section of the 59-page lawsuit filed in state court at a Dallas-area courthouse by Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton.Paxton describes the streamer as a giant data repository where it tracks and logs users' viewing […]

MANCHESTER, Jamaica — Police have identified the two men fatally shot in an alleged confrontation last Friday in Mandeville, Manchester.They are Dantae Edward Carter, 18, a resident of Hanbury district, Manchester and Brighton district in St Elizabeth and Dave Raymond, 19, a resident of Manningfield district in Manchester.There were dramatic scenes in Mandeville during the incident. Police said two firearms were seized in the incident.READ: Dramatic scenes in Mandeville fatal shootingPeople […]

Former Arizona news anchor Kari Lake has been nominated by United States (US) President Donald Trump to be the next US Ambassador to Jamaica.If her nomination is confirmed by the US Senate, she will replace Nick Perry, whose term ended in January 2025.Lake, who ran unsuccessfully for Arizona Governor in 2022, is an ardent Trump supporter.She came to prominence after denying that Trump had lost the 2020 Presidential Election to Democrat Joe Biden.She previously served as a special advisor to the […]

KINGSTON, Jamaica — The United States (US) dollar on Monday, May 11, ended trading at $158.92, down by 1 cent, according to the Bank of Jamaica’s daily exchange trading summary.Meanwhile, the Canadian dollar ended trading at $117.60, up from $117.80 and the British pound at $214.33, down from $218.61.

WILLEMSTAD, Curaçao (AFP)—World Cup debutants Curacao have parted company with head coach Fred Rutten just one month before the tournament kicks off, the federation confirmed on Monday.Curacao, who are the smallest nation by population ever to compete at the World Cup, appointed Rutten in February after predecessor Dick Advocaat stepped down for personal reasons.However a statement from Curacao Football Federation (FFK) posted on Instagram said Dutchmen Rutten, 63, had resigned following […]

KINGSTON, Jamaica — A 29-year-old Kingston man has been charged with possession of a prohibited weapon and unauthorised possession of ammunition following an incident in his community on Thursday, May 7.He has been identified as Julian Manning of Border Avenue, Kingston 19, St Andrew.Reports from the Constant Spring police are that about 5:15 am, officers carried out a targeted operation at Manning’s residence, during which a search was conducted.The operation led to the seizure of a Glock […]

HAGUE, Netherlands (CMC) — Venezuela on Monday told the International Court of Justice (ICJ) that it will not allow the court to settle the decades-old border dispute with Guyana.“Venezuela will never endorse a violation of the Geneva Agreement and international law. There is no legal way of recognising a decision resulting from this process, whatever that may be,” said Acting President Delcy Rodriquez as the ICJ wrapped up oral submissions on the issue.The ICJ, established in June 1945 […]

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AFP) — Twelve staff members at a Dutch hospital treating a hantavirus-positive evacuee from the MV Hondius cruise ship are in preventative quarantine after procedures were not followed correctly, the hospital said Monday.Procedural errors were made in taking blood and disposing of the patient's urine, said the Radboud University Hospital in the east of the country in a statement."Due to these circumstances, twelve employees are going into preventive quarantine for six […]

ST ANN, Jamaica — A second man from Clarendon has been charged in connection with the 2024 murder of 72-year-old Allan Rattigan at his home in Pyramid Point, Ocho Rios, St Ann.The accused has been identified as 23-year-old Ashan Gallimore of Rectory Road, May Pen, Clarendon.According to reports from the St Ann’s Bay police, around 10:00 pm on Monday, November 18, 2024, Rattigan’s caregiver discovered him at his home with his hands and feet bound.The police were summoned, and Rattigan was […]

GRANADILLA DE ABONA, Spain (AFP) — A Spanish passenger evacuated from the disease-stricken MV Hondius cruise ship has tested positive for hantavirus but was not suffering symptoms, Madrid's health ministry said late on Monday.The passenger was "placed in isolation at the Gomez Ulla hospital and received a positive result from a PCR test done on his arrival", the ministry said. It added that the "final results will be known in the coming hours" and the other 13 Spanish evacuees had tested […]

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP)—United States (US) President Donald Trump said the ceasefire in the Middle East war was on "life support" Monday after rejecting Iran's latest counteroffer, which it said had included demands for the release of frozen assets and the end of a US blockade.The president's angry reaction to Iran's position -- itself a response to a US proposal -- sent oil prices soaring and dashed hopes that a deal could be quickly negotiated to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to […]

KINGSTON, Jamaica -- Tax Administration Jamaica (TAJ) is advising manufacturers of non-alcoholic sweetened beverages (NASB) that an extension has been granted to Friday, May 15, for their licensing under the new provisions of the Special Consumption Tax.The extension follows a meeting with representatives from the Jamaica Manufacturers and Exporters Association, Ministry of Finance and the Public Service (MoFPS) and TAJ, the agency said in a press release on Monday.It comes after the April 28, […]

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados — The Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) says its approach to artificial intelligence (AI) in school-based assessments (SBAs) is grounded in fairness, human judgment, and confidence in the desire of regional learners to do well in demonstrating their knowledge and competence.In a video address released on its website and social media channels on Monday, Dr Nicole Manning, CXC’s director of operations, spoke candidly about the opportunities and challenges that AI tools […]

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AFP) — Venezuela has "never" contemplated becoming the 51st United States (US) state, as suggested by US President Donald Trump following the capture of deposed leader Nicolas Maduro, the country's acting president said on Monday."That would never have been considered, because if there is one thing we Venezuelan men and women have, it is that we love our independence process, we love our heroes and heroines of independence," Delcy Rodriguez told reporters as she left a […]

LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP)—Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Monday vowed to prove his doubters wrong and stem mounting calls for him to step down after disastrous local and regional elections for his ruling Labour party.But more than 50 of his own MPs were unconvinced by his pledge to make the party bolder and better to assuage disgruntled voters impatient for change, and called for him to quit.By Monday evening, at least 55 of the 400 or so Labour members of parliament urged him to […]

MEXICO CITY, Mexico (AFP) — Mexico will reassess cutting short the school year due to the World Cup after widespread backlash from parents, think tanks and local authorities, President Claudia Sheinbaum said on Monday.On Friday, Education Secretary Mario Delgado announced that the school year would end about 40 days early, on June 5, arguing the decision was also based on a heat wave.Mexico's academic year had been scheduled to end on July 15, followed by a six-week vacation until August […]

ST JAMES, Jamaica — Several residents of Granville in St James have taken to the streets to protest the killing of a teenager, allegedly by the security forces.The teen was fatally shot on Sunday morning during an alleged confrontation with the security forces in the community.Reports are that the deceased, so far identified as 'Teejay', was killed after police personnel were in the process of leaving the community following an operation.Residents claim the killing, which they have dubbed […]

KINGSTON, Jamaica — As Artificial Intelligence (AI) rapidly reshapes education, industry, and the global workforce, the University of Technology, Jamaica, through its College of Business and Management (COBAM), has announced it will convene educators, researchers, industry leaders, and policymakers for AI Symposium 2026, under the theme: “AI Readiness in Higher Education: Research Insights and Perspectives.”Set for Tuesday, May 12, 2026, at 4:00 pm in Lecture Theatre 50 (LT50) at the […]

WESTMORELAND. Jamaica — Mayor of Savanna-la-Mar and Chairman of the Westmoreland Municipal Corporation, Councillor Danree Delancy, has pushed back against statements made by Minister of Local Government Desmond McKenzie regarding preparation works for the accommodation of shelterees in Westmoreland, describing the remarks as “both surprising and disappointing”.Delancy said the Westmoreland Municipal Corporation is only aware of responsibility for payments relating to one contractor, […]

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Jamaicans have expressed growing frustration with the increasingly high cost of living as global conflicts, supply chain disruptions and economic uncertainty continue to drive up prices worldwideObserver Online took to the streets of New Kingston, where several Jamaicans shared how increasing costs are affecting their ability to make ends meet.The concerns come against the backdrop of ongoing global conflict which has disrupted supply chains and driven up the cost of fuel […]

GENEVA, Switzerland (AFP) — A deadly hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship has spurred global concern over the potential spread of the virus among and from ship evacuees as they head back to their home countries.Here are the World Health Organization's main recommendations to limit the transmission risks and to better protect those exposed to the rare virus, which usually spreads among rodents, and for which there is no vaccine or treatment.- Quarantine -All of the nearly 150 people who were […]

MEXICO CITY, Mexico (AFP) — Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said Monday that her government was sending a new shipment of humanitarian aid to Cuba, where a United States (US) oil blockade has created a worsening economic and humanitarian crisis."Today a humanitarian aid boat leaves for Cuba," Sheinbaum said in her daily press conference, stressing that the shipment does not include oil."We're orienting ourselves to other humanitarian support," the left-leaning leader added.US President […]