CARIBBEAN

CARACAS, Venezuela (AFP) — Venezuela's Foreign Minister Yvan Gil Pinto on Monday demanded the immediate release of Nicolas Maduro, who was ousted as president in a January 3 raid by the United States (US).Maduro, who autocratically ruled Venezuela between March 2013 and his capture by US forces, is in custody in New York along with his wife, awaiting trial.Maduro, 63, has pleaded not guilty to drug trafficking charges and declared that he was a "prisoner of war".Addressing the UN Human Rights […]

KINGSTON, Jamaica — A local manufacturer has donated two pallets of Vital Oxide, a hospital-grade disinfectant product, to the Ministry of Health and Wellness to support sanitation efforts across public health facilities.In a press release on Monday, Lubricating Specialities Company (LSC) and Vital Solutions said it made the donation, which was carried out in collaboration with Tile City Cares as part of the company's Hurricane Melissa relief initiatives.The disinfectant is now being deployed […]

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Jamaicans for Justice (JFJ) says it is seeking legal advice after National Security Minister Dr Horace Chang claimed that the advocacy group was “living off blood money”, labelling the allegation as “unfortunate, untrue and inflammatory.”In a statement on Monday, JFJ said the comments, which were made hours earlier by Chang in an interview on Nationwide News Network, “does little to advance constructive dialogue on public safety and accountability.”The […]

WESTMORELAND, Jamaica — Public health teams in Westmoreland inspected more than 25,000 homes in January as part of intensified mosquito control measures, identifying nearly 3,000 premises with active breeding sites.Chief Public Health Inspector, Steve Morris, reported that inspections were conducted in 2,209 localities during the month, resulting in the identification and treatment of thousands of mosquito‑breeding containers.He outlined that 72,941 containers were found, with 6,259 […]

MUMBAI, India (AFP) — The West Indies blew away T20 World Cup surprise packages Zimbabwe by a colossal 107 runs in Mumbai on Monday as Shai Hope's team opened their Super Eights campaign with a dominant victory.Only Sri Lanka, who made 260-6 against Kenya in 2007, have scored more in a T20 World Cup match.Shimron Hetmyer blasted 85 off 34 balls as the West Indies piled up 254-6, the second highest total in the history of the tournament."It does feel good to have achieved something like that, […]

TORONTO, Canada (AFP) — Canada has summoned senior leadership from OpenAI to Ottawa to explain the company's decision not to report suspicious online activity by a mass shooter who killed eight people this month.Artificial Intelligence Minister Evan Solomon told journalists in Ottawa that media reports indicating OpenAI failed to inform Canadian police about a suspicious account before the shooting were "very disturbing.""I have summoned the senior safety team from OpenAI in the United States […]

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Prominent medical doctor, Senator Dr Elon B Thompson, is urging Jamaicans to view the proposed tax on sugary drinks as more than an economic measure, arguing that it could have far-reaching benefits for public health, including sexual and reproductive wellness.In a statement on Monday, Dr Thompson expressed strong support for Jamaica’s sugary beverages tax, framing it as a preventive health strategy rather than simply a revenue-raising tool.The consultant urologist and […]

LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) — London police on Monday arrested former ambassador Peter Mandelson in a probe into allegations over his ties to disgraced United States (US) financier Jeffrey Epstein, only days after ex-prince Andrew was detained.Mandelson, a pivotal figure in British politics and the United Kingdom’s (UK) former envoy to Washington, was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office following allegations arising from the latest set of documents linked to Epstein, […]

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Minister of Foreign Affairs Kamina Johnson Smith is advising that there have been no reports of Jamaicans injured in Mexico in the violent aftermath of the killing of the reported leader of a major drug cartel.“For persons asking about Jamaicans in Mexico, our Ambassador to Mexico, HE Julia Hyatt, has advised that we have no reports of any Jamaicans injured or even present in the areas most affected by yesterday's violence,” Johnson Smith said in a post on social media […]

LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) — Tourette's sufferer John Davidson, who inspired a BAFTA-winning film, on Monday said he was "deeply mortified" after shouting a racial slur at the London awards ceremony, which he said was caused by an "involuntary tic".He was heard shouting the N-word as "Sinners" actors Delroy Lindo and Michael B Jordan, who are both black, presented an award for special visual effects at the Sunday night ceremony."I am, and always have been deeply mortified if anyone […]

LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) — United Kingdom (UK) Police said Monday they are investigating "abhorrent" racist abuse directed online at four Premier League footballers last weekend.Wolves striker Tolu Arokodare and Sunderland midfielder Romaine Mundle were the latest players to be targeted on Sunday.Chelsea's Wesley Fofana and Burnley's Hannibal Mejbri suffered similar abuse on Saturday following a 1-1 draw between their clubs.Chief Constable Mark Roberts, the head of the UK Football […]

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — A United States (US) strike on an alleged drug-smuggling boat in the Caribbean Sea killed three people on Monday, the US military said.The United States began targeting alleged smuggling boats in early September, and the latest strike brings the death toll from the campaign to at least 150.US Southern Command, which is responsible for Washington's forces in the region, said the boat was "transiting along known narco-trafficking routes in the Caribbean and […]

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Jamaica Sotheby’s International Realty has announced the release of the fourth edition of the Jamaica Live magazine.The magazine became available to the public on Saturday, February 7, 2026.In a release, the company said this issue spotlights one of the island’s fastest-growing luxury living trends: golf community real estate and lifestyle experiences.Readers can explore how Jamaica’s golf communities are redefining modern luxury living by blending residential […]

MANCHESTER, Jamaica — Placard-bearing residents and taxi operators mounted a roadblock on the Brokenhurst main road, south of Mandeville, to protest over the deplorable road conditions in their community on Monday.The protest forced some commuters to walk for miles to access transportation in the neighbouring community of Old England.The residents and taxi operators told journalists that they feel neglected by their political representatives, as they called for urgent repairs to the Patrick […]

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (AFP) — Large parts of the Dominican Republic, including the capital, were without electricity on Monday following a major fault in the power system four months after a nationwide blackout."A major failure occurred in the National Interconnected Electric System (SENI), affecting electricity services in a part of the country," the state-owned Dominican Electricity Transmission Company (ETED) said.An AFP journalist in the capital Santo Domingo confirmed that […]

KINGSTON, Jamaica — A 34-year-old man has been charged in connection with a card-switching scheme that targeted elderly citizens across the parishes of Kingston and St Catherine.He is Sean Williams of no fixed address. Williams is charged with unauthorised access to computer data, simple larceny and possession of identity information.Reports are that Williams frequented automated teller machines (ATMs) looking for elderly individuals who appeared to be experiencing technical difficulties. He […]

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Prime Minister Andrew Holness will depart the island on Monday for St Kitts and Nevis to attend the 50th Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (Caricom).Holness, who currently serves as the outgoing chair of Caricom, is expected to deliver remarks as he joins fellow regional leaders for key deliberations at the milestone meeting. The conference will bring together heads of government from across the Caribbean to discuss issues […]

NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — More than 40 million people were under blizzard warnings in the northeast United States (US) on Monday, as a winter storm dumped shin-deep snow and officials in New York enforced a citywide travel ban.The so-called "Nor'easter" pummelled the region overnight, disrupting flights and leaving hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses without power.New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani ordered nonessential drivers off the road until midday Monday and shut down […]

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — President Donald Trump threatened nations Monday with punishing hikes on import duties if they choose to "play games" after the United States (US) Supreme Court struck down his global tariffs last week."Any country that wants to 'play games' with the ridiculous Supreme Court decision, especially those that have 'ripped off' the USA for years, and even decades, will be met with a much higher tariff, and worse, than that which they just recently agreed to," […]

MUMBAI, India (AFP) — Shimron Hetmyer blasted 85 off 34 balls as the West Indies piled up 254-6 against Zimbabwe in the T20 World Cup Super Eights in Mumbai on Monday, the second-highest total in the history of the tournament.Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza won the toss and opted to bowl, then saw his bowlers flogged to all parts by a brutal Hetmyer.Only Sri Lanka, who made 260-6 against Kenya in 2007, have scored more in a T20 World Cup match.The West Indies comfortably went past Ireland's […]

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Chilly weather is to be expected for some parishes by Monday night as a cold front moves across the country, according to the Meteorological Service of Jamaica.As the island comes under the influence of the cold front, Jamaicans can expect slightly cooler temperatures and windy conditions, particularly across northern parishes and hilly areas.The forecast for Tuesday and Wednesday is cloudy conditions with intermittent showers across northern parishes; widely scattered […]

KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Jamaica Constabulary Force's Agricultural Protection Branch seized more than 500 pounds of uninspected and improperly handled meat during an operation conducted in downtown Kingston on Sunday.Charged is 58-year-old Milton Bundy, otherwise called “Corouches”, a vendor of Maxfield Avenue, Kingston 13.Bundy was arrested and charged with unlawful possession of meat, possession of uninspected meat, operating without a butcher’s licence, and operating without a food […]

LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) — The British Broadcasting Commission (BBC) apologised Monday for not editing out a racial slur during the BAFTA awards, saying it was an "involuntary" verbal tic by a Tourette's sufferer who inspired a winning film.British actor Robert Aramayo triumphed over established stars Timothee Chalamet and Leonardo DiCaprio to win the best actor prize for his portrayal of a man with Tourette's syndrome in "I Swear".The film was inspired by the real life story of […]

GUADALAJARA, Mexico (AFP) — Mexico was on high alert Monday with schools closed and travelers stranded, as members of a powerful drug cartel went on a violent rampage across parts of the country after the army announced it had killed its leader.Nemesio "El Mencho" Oseguera, leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), was wounded in a clash with soldiers in the town of Tapalpa, in Jalisco state, and died while being flown to Mexico City, the army said on Sunday.He had a US $15 million […]

Veteran manager Dick Advocaat has resigned from his position as head coach of the Curaçao national football team due to his daughter’s health issues.The 78-year-old guided Curaçao to qualification for this summer’s FIFA World Cup, making them the smallest nation ever to reach the tournament. However, they will now have to compete without him.READ: Jamaica suffer shock defeat to Curacao in WCQ“I've always said that family comes before football,” Advocaat told ESPN.“This is therefore […]