CARIBBEAN

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP)—Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates was set to face questioning Wednesday from US lawmakers over his relationship with late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, whose network of wealthy and powerful associates has fueled years of scrutiny and conspiracy theories.Gates, one of the world's richest men and a leading philanthropist, was due to appear before the House Oversight Committee for a transcribed interview about the disgraced financier, who died in a New York jail […]

Texas teen Karmelo Anthony was sentenced to 35 years in prison Tuesday, just hours after being found guilty of murder in the death of a fellow high school student at a track meet.The 19-year-old had faced a maximum of 99 years imprisonment for the April 2025 fatal stabbing of 17-year-old Austin Metcalf.Even though Anthony was just 17 at the time of the incident, Texas law allowed him to be charged as an adult. READ: Texas teen Karmelo Anthony found guilty of murder in death of Austin […]

ST ELIZABETH, Jamaica—Some residents of the Hurricane Melissa ravaged seaside community of Parottee are adamant that they will not leave the area following an announcement of relocation by Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness recently.During the National Housing Trust’s (NHT’s) handing over of 27 service lots in Malvern, St Elizabeth last Thursday, Holness pointed to the coastal community of Parottee, which was among the areas hard hit, as one of the areas to benefit from relocation and […]

KINGSTON, Jamaica—Opposition Spokesperson on Tourism and Linkages Andrea Purkiss has accused Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett of remaining “completely silent” on the state of the cruise shipping sector, which she said, has shrunk over 28 per cent since 2019.Purkiss, the Member of Parliament for Hanover Eastern, said the world is experiencing a boom in cruise shipping while Jamaica is losing business. She addressed the matter on Tuesday during her maiden contribution to the Sectoral Debate […]

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP)—The United States (US) Congress on Tuesday passed a $70 billion bill funding President Donald Trump's hardline immigration crackdown through the rest of his term, ending months of bitter partisan fighting over the future of deportations and border enforcement.The measure -- approved roughly along party lines in the House after clearing the Senate last week -- now heads to Trump's desk and gives the Republican leader a major victory on one of his signature […]

ST JAMES, Jamaica— The Western Regional Health Authority (WRHA) has announced the reopening of the Catherine Hall Health Centre in St James following the completion of rehabilitation works due to significant damage sustained during the passage of Hurricane Melissa.The reopening represents another significant milestone in the authority’s ongoing recovery and restoration efforts across the western region.Since the hurricane, the WRHA has worked diligently to restore healthcare services, […]

KINGSTON, Jamaica—Twelve of the just over 30 Jamaican student-athletes who have qualified for individual finals at the NCAA Division 1 outdoor track and field championships that are set to start on Wednesday at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon, were finalists last year.Led by Ralford Mullings of the University of Oklahoma, who won the men’s discus throw last year, and Dejanae Oakley of the University of Georgia, who was second in the women’s 400m, the Jamaicans will be eyeing honour for […]

KINGSTON, Jamaica—Opposition Spokesperson on Tourism and Linkages, Andrea Purkiss has charged that Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett is promoting a “diversification myth” over his frequent promises of expanding Jamaica’s tourism dependence to other markets other than the United States, from which Jamaica gets over 80 per cent of its visitors.Purkiss made the charge on Tuesday during her contribution to the Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives.She cited that the tourism […]

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP)—United States (US) forces carried out strikes against Iran on Tuesday in what President Donald Trump said was retaliation for the downing of an American helicopter a day earlier by the Islamic Republic.Trump, in a telephone interview with ABC News, said the United States was responding "in a strong manner" to "what they did with our helicopter last night.""And I believe the response should be very strong, very powerful, and that's what this one is," he said.US […]

KINGSTON, Jamaica—CIBC Caribbean Bank has launched Google Pay in Jamaica, but local customers will initially be limited to using credit cards, even as customers in four other Caribbean markets are able to add both debit and credit cards.Google Pay is a digital service offered in the Google Wallet mobile application which allows users to add their debit or credit cards to conduct transactions with their mobile devices. This service enables users to pay online or make contactless payments with […]

TRELAWNY, Jamaica—A growing rivalry between motorsport drivers Doug Gore and Raynor King will take centre stage on Sunday, June 14, when the highly anticipated Skate Revenge event unfolds at the Trelawny Multi-purpose Stadium.The event, organised by the Montego Bay Racing Association (MRA), gets underway at 10:00 am with gates opening at 6:00 am and promises a thrilling day of speed and competition featuring some of Jamaica's top rally, circuit, drift, and drag racing competitors.The name […]

An American teenager was found guilty of murder Tuesday in the death of another teen in a high profile case that sparked debates over self-defense, race and school safety.Now 19, Karmelo Anthony, who is black, was convicted over the fatal stabbing of 17-year-old Austin Metcalf, who was white, at a school stadium in a Dallas, Texas suburb in April 2025.According to the Associated Press, Prosecutors argued that the stabbing of Metcalf was an unjustified attack related to a dispute over whether […]

KINGSTON, Jamaica— The Hadeed family have become the second-largest shareholder in General Accident Insurance Company Jamaica Limited (GENAC) following the sale of Trinidadian-based Beacon Insurance Company Limited.In a release published on May 28, it was revealed that CGH Limited was allocated 150,021,478 new GENAC ordinary shares and 9,700 new GENAC redeemable preference shares. These shares were issued as consideration for the acquisition of general insurer Beacon, which was acquired by […]

KINGSTON, Jamaica—Any Jamaican who moves onto Crown lands as of Tuesday, June 9, with a view to squatting, will not be considered for any type of settlement programme by the Government.Minister with responsibility for Land Titling and Settlements Robert Montague gave the warning in the House of Representatives on Tuesday during his contribution to the Sectoral Debate.“If you’re there already yuh there already, but we not dealing with the new people,” he said.Montague, the Member of […]

KINGSTON, Jamaica — The United States (US) dollar on Tuesday, June 9, ended trading at $158.93, up 42 cents, according to the Bank of Jamaica’s daily exchange trading summary.Meanwhile, the Canadian dollar ended trading at $114.14 up from $114.02 and the British pound at $213.03 up from $211.24.

WASHINGTON, United States (CMC)–Two Jamaicans are among 17 naturalised citizens set to be stripped of their United States (US) citizenship after being accused of serious offences, including sexual abuse of a minor, wire and bank fraud, and distributing drugs wholesale without a licence.According to the Department of Justice, the Caribbean nationals are from Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago and Haiti.According to the US authorities, prior to naturalising in 2011, Rodger George Gurdon, a native of […]

SAN  SALVADOR, El Salvador (AFP)—Four Central American countries hunkered down Tuesday as Tropical Storm Cristina approached with potential for heavy rain and storm surges.El Salvador's education ministry closed schools and universities on Tuesday and Wednesday due to the risk of landslides, flooding, and other hazards.Fishermen in La Libertad, 35 kilometers (20 miles) south of the capital San Salvador, were ordered to remain in port, which was lashed by strong waves.Dozens of seafront shops […]

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP)—The head of the White House Task Force for the World Cup on Tuesday defended the decision not to grant visas to a Somali referee and some support staff for the Iranian team."To this point we've had 35 teams that have come into the United States," Andrew Giuliani, the executive director of the task force, said at an event hosted by the Atlantic Council in Washington."No players, no coaches have been denied," Giuliani said. "There have been some officials that […]

KINGSTON, Jamaica—Children, parents, educators, community leaders and residents gathered at the Grants Pen Peace Park in Kingston recently for a family fun day aimed at strengthening peace, promoting healthy lifestyles and fostering greater community engagement.The event, organised by the Violence Prevention Alliance (VPA) in collaboration with the Grants Pen Community Policing Management Committee, featured football competitions involving five basic schools, an arts and crafts corner for […]

KINGSTON, Jamaica — VM Investments Limited (VMIL) says it is accelerating efforts to build a more diversified earnings model as it seeks to reduce its exposure to market swings and create a more stable platform for long-term growth.Speaking at the company's annual general meeting on June 4, Chairman Michael McMorris said the investment company is deliberately repositioning its business around fee-based income, wealth management and alternative investments such as private equity and real […]

KINGSTON, Jamaica—Tax Administration Jamaica (TAJ) is reminding customers and members of the public to exercise caution when conducting business online and to remain vigilant against fraudulent schemes designed to obtain personal information or payments through illegitimate channels.TAJ said this advisory follows a recent scam attempt involving a fake website falsely claiming to facilitate the payment of traffic ticket fines and another attempt to mislead customers during the income tax […]

ST CATHERINE, Jamaica — A major shooting incident Tuesday afternoon has forced the closure of the Bog Walk Gorge in St Catherine.Senior Superintendent of Police, Hopeton Nicholson confirmed the shooting but was unable to immediately provide further details.Unconfirmed reports reaching Observer Online are that police and gunmen were involved in a shootout resulting in several persons being injured.More details to come.

MEXICO CITY, Mexico (AFP)—Thousands of demonstrators blocked an avenue leading to Mexico City's Azteca Stadium on Tuesday, just days before the 2026 World Cup kicks off at the venue, an AFP journalist observed.The protest, led by a breakaway group of the CNTE teachers union, follows a week of chaotic demonstrations in the Mexican capital.The stadium will host the tournament opener pitting Mexico against South Africa on Thursday.Speaking earlier Tuesday, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum […]

LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP)—Serena Williams made a winning return to tennis after four years in retirement as the American legend partnered Victoria Mboko in a first-round doubles victory at the Queen's Club on Tuesday.Williams rolled back the years alongside Canadian teenager Mboko in a 7-6 (7/2), 6-2 win over third seeds Erin Routliffe and Nicole Melichar-Martinez at the grass-court tournament in west London.It was like she had never been away as the 44-year-old produced her trademark […]

KINGSTON, Jamaica — As market risks heighten in the global landscape, Pan Jamaica Group Limited (PJAM) has placed greater emphasis on governance and diversification to weather what is turning out to be an unprecedented year.“At Pan Jamaica Group we’ve stepped back at this moment in time and taken account of the risks in the environment. This, in some respects, is not an ordinary time, and if you’re going to put your capital with us, we feel it is particularly important that we […]