CARIBBEAN

MADRID, Spain (AFP)—Pope Leo XIV on Monday promised victims of sexual violence by Catholic clergy that the Church would make "additional efforts" to change during a meeting in Madrid.The leader of the world's 1.4 billion Catholics spent an hour with six victims of sexual violence by the clergy on day three of a state visit to Spain where the issue has come up regularly.Each victim recounted "painful personal experience" and put forward proposals "for making the Church's response to such […]

KINGSTON, Jamaica—A flash flood watch has been issued for low-lying and flood-prone areas of Westmoreland, St Elizabeth, Manchester, Clarendon, St Catherine, St Thomas, Kingston and St Andrew, effective immediately until 5:00 pm on Wednesday, June 10, 2026.The Meteorological Service of Jamaica, in a press release on Monday, said an active tropical wave is currently moving across Jamaica and is interacting with an upper-level trough.It said this will produce unstable weather conditions until […]

NEW YORK, United States (AFP)—United States (US) President Donald Trump was booed ahead of the NBA Finals matchup at Madison Square Garden on Monday, as his attendance prompted ultra-tight security at the storied New York venue.Fans jeered the Republican president, who was watching the game from an executive suite, when he appeared onscreen inside the arena during the singing of the national anthem.Security measures have been hiked for the visit, with authorities barring fans without tickets […]

HAVANA, Cuba (AFP)—Cuba's president said in an interview published Monday that the United States was considering three possible scenarios for its pressure campaign against the communist-led island: fomenting social unrest, assuming control of the economy or launching a military campaign.The remarks by Miguel Diaz-Canel to Spanish digital news outlet elDiario.es come as his country faces an escalating economic crisis under US President Donald Trump's campaign, which include a fuel blockade and […]

KINGSTON, Jamaica—The Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) could secure more than $40 million in FIFA funding to drive the expansion and execution of key women’s football programmes islandwide.The JFF, in partnership with FIFA, launched its women’s strategy on Monday at the Jaguar Showroom in Kingston, outlining several key objectives to be achieved over the next five years.The strategy focuses on seven major pillars, including national teams, grassroots development, governance and […]

KINGSTON, Jamaica—The coaching staff has made five changes to the starting team for the Jamaican national senior women’s team that will face Panama in the second of the two international friendlies at Estadio Rommel Fernandez in Panama City on Tuesday.Jamaica had won Friday’s first game 1-0, thanks to a first-half free kick from Shania Hayles.Nyema Ingelton, Nikaya Small, Paige Bailey-Gayle, Trudy Carter and Natasha Thomas will start the second game.The coaching staff retained goalkeeper […]

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP)—United States (US) President Donald Trump on Monday nominated his former personal lawyer, Todd Blanche, as US attorney general on a permanent basis, setting up a potential confirmation battle with the Senate.Blanche, 51, has been serving as acting attorney general since Pam Bondi departed in April. Since then, he has pursued a number of indictments against Trump's political enemies.The former Justice Department number two also controversially defended a $1.8 […]

SAN FRANCISCO, United States (AFP)—ChatGPT-maker OpenAI on Monday took the first step toward going public, one week after arch-rival Anthropic announced its own filing, as both companies look to raise the massive sums needed to expand.In a social media post, the Sam Altman-led company said it had confidentially submitted an S-1 registration statement to US securities regulators but had "not decided on timing yet" for any potential debut.OpenAI's move follows a confidential filing by […]

ST ELIZABETH, Jamaica—The St Elizabeth police have listed several wanted persons and persons of interest who they believe can assist with ongoing investigations into several incidents in the parish.These individuals are being urged to report to the Black River Criminal Investigation Branch (CIB) immediately.The wanted persons are:• Anward Hinds, otherwise called ‘Kirkie,’ of Claremount, New Market in St Elizabeth, Maroon Town and George Reid in Manchester, who escaped custody.• […]

For country singer Wesrok, music has always been about storytelling. But with his latest single, God Knows Me Better, the country reggae crooner is telling perhaps his most personal story yet — one rooted in faith, reflection and a growing conviction that life's greatest answers are found in God.The gospel-infused ballad is already making waves, recently appearing on the United States (US) iTunes chart alongside established international acts, a milestone that has only strengthened the […]

Fresh from his silver certification in the United Kingdom for his 2015 hit song Shabba Madda Pot, dancehall artiste Dexta Daps is celebrating another chart victory.His latest single, Shine, on Monday, moved from #9 to #6 on the USA iTunes Reggae Chart.Produced by Aljero Shevon Barnett, Billy Summers, and Daniel Fuller Grossman and written by Dexta Daps and Sheldon Taylor, the track was released to immediate fanfare, quickly ascending the global chart.The music video, co-directed by Lagikz and […]

Always keen to remain current, Marcia Griffiths collaborates with producer Sean Lewis Folkes and the Code Red Band for When You Love Me, her latest song. It was released on June 5 by Lewis Folkes’ LF label.Lewis Folkes, who has produced songs by Ed Robinson, Luciano and Pressure Busspipe, said it was easy working with the veteran singer.“Collaborating with Marcia is defined by professionalism and respect for reggae music traditions. She’s prepared yet intuitive, refining melodies to serve […]

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP)—Award-winning Somali referee Omar Artan has been dropped from officiating at the World Cup after being barred from entering the United States, world football's governing body FIFA said on Monday.A FIFA spokesperson confirmed in a statement that Artan, who was refused entry to the US after arriving at Miami International Airport on Saturday, would play no part in the World Cup."FIFA can confirm that match official Omar Abdulkadir Artan will be unable to train […]

PARAMARIBO, Suriname (CMC) – Police say they have arrested two suspects, including a Cuban, who allegedly brought a woman to Suriname under false pretences and subsequently forced her into prostitution before she was able to escape.The woman raised the alarm with the Trafficking in Persons (TIP) department last week, and an investigation was launched, leading to the arrest of the two suspects.The police said that the TIP and other law enforcement agencies arrested the two suspects -Cuban and […]

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil (AFP)—Brazil said Monday it was temporarily suspending use of the world's first single-dose dengue vaccine following two suspicious deaths.More than half a million people have received doses of the vaccine this year, which was developed publicly in Brazil and approved by health authorities in November.It is the first single-dose inoculation against the mosquito-borne dengue virus, which can cause high fever, headaches, muscle pain, nausea and rashes, and in rare cases […]

In early October last year, Odean Forbes, Mental Health Officer with the Southern Health Regional Authority, delivered frightening statistics. He said there were 100 new cases monthly of patients with that illness in St Elizabeth.Having gone through a period of depression, and helped counsel others in similar situations, Ashlyn Anderson was not surprised. She addresses the sensitive matter of mental health in Reimagine Reframe Rise, her recently released book.“After going through that […]

KINGSTON, Jamaica — The United States (US) dollar on Monday, June 8, ended trading at $158.51, up 41 cents, according to the Bank of Jamaica’s daily exchange trading summary.Meanwhile, the Canadian dollar ended trading at $114.02, up from $113.80 and the British pound at $211.24, down from $215.04.

ST ELIZABETH, Jamaica — Police are reporting that 16 people were detained for questioning on Monday, and a firearm was seized during an operation in Santa Cruz and its environs.Head of the St Elizabeth police division, Superintendent Coleridge Minto, in a video release, said the operation, which started about 4:00 am, ended incident-free.“The areas targeted were largely communities in the Santa Cruz policing areas. These areas include Leeds, Goshen, Seven Corners, Providence Acres. At the […]

MORRISTOWN, United States (AFP) — Neymar is "recovering well" from the calf injury that has made him a doubt for the start of Brazil's World Cup campaign, the team said in a statement on Monday.Brazil's all-time record scorer underwent an MRI scan on Monday which showed he is "making good progress in his treatment" amid hopes that he will be able to play a part for Carlo Ancelotti's side in the United States."He will continue to follow the recovery schedule and fitness programme as planned by […]

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Residents of Jones Town in Kingston have expressed outrage over the fatal shooting of a 30-year-old man by police during an operation in the community last Tuesday, prompting protests and road blockages in the area.The deceased has been identified as Alexander Marsh, otherwise called “Choco”, of 30½ Penn Street in Jones Town.Speaking on the incident, Commanding Officer for the Kingston Western Police Division, Superintendent Brian Henry, said members of the Kingston […]

UNITED NATIONS (CMC)—The United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will travel to Haiti next Tuesday for a solidarity visit, UN Deputy Spokesman, Farhan Haq, announced Monday.He said that Guterres will meet men, women and children whose lives have been affected by violence and “will see firsthand the humanitarian and security challenges facing the country, as well as efforts by national authorities and the international community to restore stability and support the Haitian […]

KINGSTON, Jamaica — New York-based reggae artiste Brooky Danger is encouraging listeners to remain hopeful and motivated despite the challenges of modern life with his uplifting new single, Joy Within My Soul.The conscious entertainer said the inspiration for the song came from observing the realities unfolding around the world and the need for people to find strength within themselves.“The day-to-day activities that are taking place across the world inspired the song,” Brooky Danger […]

HAVANA, Cuba (AFP)—A strong earthquake struck off the coast of western Cuba on Monday, with AFP journalists in Havana reporting 20 seconds of shaking that forced Cubans out of buildings and into the streets.The US Geological Survey said that the quake was 6.1 magnitude and struck about 62 miles (100 kilometres) off the island's western tip.No injuries or significant damage were recorded.People milled around Havana's city centre, checking their phones after the tremor, which, according to […]

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP)—A United States (US) federal judge on Monday blocked President Donald Trump from imposing a $100,000 fee on employers filing visa applications for foreign highly-skilled workers.District Judge Leo Sorokin ruled in a lawsuit filed by 20 Democratic-ruled states that the move usurped taxation powers held by Congress and the fee for the H-1B visas constituted an unlawful tax."The substance and application of the $100,000 payment reveal that it is a tax, regardless […]

MEXICO CITY, Mexico (AFP)—Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said on Monday she could guarantee a peaceful World Cup opening ceremony this week, despite concern over ongoing protests.A teachers union has threatened demonstrations at Thursday's opening game between Mexico and South Africa in the capital if the government doesn't respond to demands for salary raises and pension reforms."We are going to guarantee... that the celebration of the World Cup is well-executed, in peace and […]