CARIBBEAN

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Scotiabank Caribbean Holdings Limited is moving to take Scotia Group Jamaica Limited (SGJL) private, in a transaction that would see minority shareholders bought out at $61.50 per share in cash.SGJL announced Friday that it has entered into a definitive arrangement agreement with Scotiabank Caribbean Holdings Limited, its majority shareholder, which already owns 71.78 per cent of the company.Under the proposed transaction, all SGJL shares not currently owned by Scotiabank […]

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Main Event Entertainment Group Limited (MEEG) sank deeper into loss in its second quarter as revenue fell across most of its business lines, with hurricane disruption, weaker discretionary spending and redirected event business offsetting efforts to cut costs and stabilise operations.The numbers suggest Main Event’s main challenge is not only controlling expenses, but restoring revenue in a market where events, promotions and production work have become less […]

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Jamaica’s dollar has held steady through an oil shock and a hurricane.That is not an accident.It is, in large part, the result of a financial cushion most Jamaicans rarely think about until pressure builds: the country’s foreign reserves.With inflation expected to rise further and the economy still recovering from Hurricane Melissa, the reserves have become more than a central bank number. They help determine how much room the Bank of Jamaica (BOJ) has to smooth […]

LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) — Pele's 1958 World Cup winners' medal is expected to fetch £500,000 ($670,000) when it is auctioned in England later this month.The medal, won by the Brazilian legend when he was a teenager, is part of a catalogue of 450 World Cup-related items being sold by sporting memorabilia specialists BUDDS, which estimates they will fetch £2 million in total.A Brazil shirt won by Pele in the 1958 final is estimated to sell for more than $6 million in a separate auction […]

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Leaders from sport, business, tourism, government, investment, media, technology, education and athlete development will gather in Jamaica later this month for the inaugural Made4Goal Jamaica Global Sports Summit.The two-day event, which will be held at the University of Technology, Jamaica on June 29 and 30, is aimed at exploring how Jamaica can move beyond producing world-class athletes to building a world-class sports industry.In a release, organisers said the summit is […]

KINGSTON, Jamaica — For Jamaican businesses looking for capital to expand, export or modernise production, the African Export-Import Bank’s (Afreximbank) deeper push into Jamaica could become more than another diplomatic engagement.It could give local companies another route to financing.The bank held its first Jamaica roadshow on June 2 at the AC Hotel in Kingston, bringing its trade finance, investment and advisory products directly to local businesses, financial institutions and […]

WESTMORELAND, Jamaica — A fire of unknown origin destroyed a Westmoreland businessplace and an adjoining place of dwelling in the Big Bridge area of the parish on Thursday.The variety store — which sold plumbing fixtures, hair products, detergent, food and drinks ‐-- was razed in the blaze which took place around 9:40 am.District Officer for Investigation for the Jamaica Fire Brigade, O'Neill Kerr said two fire units from the Savanna-la-Mar Fire Station responded to the call.The operator […]

Shantae Foreman of Clemson University jumped a big personal best 6.69m (0.2m/s) to place second in the long jump on Thursday’s second day of the NCAA Division 1 Outdoor track and field championships at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon.Foreman, who will start favourite to win the triple jump on Saturday, went way over her previous personal best outdoors of 6.47m and recorded the 10th best jump ever by a Jamaican woman.She had jumped 6.47m at the 2021 World Athletics under-20 championships in […]

Anti-migrant violence in South Africa has led to some citizens of other African countries using the World Cup to show their displeasure with the development in ‘The Rainbow Nation’.Months-long violent protests against foreign nationals accused of taking jobs from locals in South Africa have specifically targeted citizens from other African nations, leaving at least two dead and hundreds fleeing for their lives.On Thursday, when South Africa opened the World Cup against co-host Mexico in […]

GUADALAJARA, Mexico (AFP) -- South Korea got their World Cup campaign off to a winning start by beating the Czech Republic 2-1 Thursday after finally converting some of the many chances they created.Until the 80th-minute mark it seemed that the Czechs would punish the Koreans' wastefulness, but substitute Oh Hyeon-gyu scored the decisive goal in a Guadalajara stadium that was far from full.Son Heung-min's Koreans had dominated the first half but were unable to find the net.The former Tottenham […]

MOSSEL BAY, South Africa (AFP) -- The charred remains of torched homes scarred a crowded settlement of shacks where South Africa's anti-migrant tensions exploded into violence, leaving two Mozambicans dead and hundreds fleeing for their lives.Other homes attacked in a recent rampage in an informal area of the southern coastal town of Mossel Bay stood in ruins, already looted, or were being dismantled by locals planning to take them over."I'm taken, Xhosa" was scrawled on the thin doors of a few […]

Visa has partnered with OpenAI to enable secure payments within AI-powered commerce experiences, as the payments giant moves to position its network for a future in which artificial intelligence agents help consumers and businesses complete transactions.The companies announced the strategic collaboration on June 10 at the Visa Payments Forum in San Francisco.Under the partnership, Visa will integrate its global payments network, credentialing tools, tokenisation and security infrastructure […]

WESTMORELAND, Jamaica — Close to a month after the ordeal experienced by family members of Roy Williams, whose body they claimed could not be accounted for by Doyley's Funeral Services in Westmoreland, they are now breathing a sigh of relief after a body was presented to them on Thursday for DNA testing.However, the breakthrough has sparked a new dispute.While the family claimed a DNA test was conducted on Thursday, the funeral home has denied it. Furthermore, the funeral home insists that […]

Stranger Cole, a pioneer ska/rocksteady singer known for songs like Bangarang and Just Like A River, died at the University Hospital of the West Indies on Thursday. He was 83 years-old.His son, drummer Wilburn “Squiddly” Cole, confirmed his death in an interview with Observer Online. He said his father was admitted to hospital two weeks ago after ailing for some time, but did not disclose a cause of death.Last December, Stranger Cole did six shows in Australia, where he had a loyal […]

Senegal players, led by their captain Kalidou Koulibaly, step off their bus and arrive at their hotel in New Brunswick, New Jersey, five days ahead of their first match against France to kick off the 2026 World Cup. Greeted by fans, coach Pape Thiaw and veteran Sadio Mané received flowers upon their arrival. Senegal face a stiff test in Group I with France -- winners in 2018 and runners-up in 2022 -- Norway and outsiders Iraq.The African nation's shock win over then-champion France in the 2002 […]

Armed with a weed whacker, protective gear and a deep love for her birthplace, returning resident Michelle Jones can often be found along roadsides in St Thomas, trimming overgrown bushes and clearing public spaces, all at her own expense.For Jones, a 47-year-old former United States Navy sailor who recently returned to Jamaica, the work is not about recognition or reward. It is her way of giving back to the parish she once left behind in search of better opportunities.“I just want to see St […]

ATLANTA, United States  — Juici Patties has opened its first location in the State of Georgia, bringing the iconic Jamaican restaurant brand to Atlanta as part of its continued expansion across the United States.Located at 860 Donald Lee Hollowell Parkway, Atlanta, GA 30318, the restaurant officially opened its doors on June 1, 2026.In a statement on Wednesday, Juici Patties said the new location is owned and operated by franchisees Kevin and Murine, a husband-and-wife team whose personal […]

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Within the next few months, the Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR) will have the capacity to independently verify the quality of telecommunications services being provided to the public.Minister of Energy, Transport and Telecommunications, Daryl Vaz, said that the entity is in the final stages of procuring equipment “which will allow them to independently verify and impose the sanctions that are in the Act”.He made the disclosure during a Jamaica Information Service […]

KINGSTON, Jamaica — As the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicked off on Thursday, excitement was palpable among Jamaican football fans across the Corporate Area, with supporters backing different teams from across the globe.Afterall, there is no Reggae Boyz at the global spectacle, so respondents to an Observer Online vox pop based their choices on family heritage, favourite players or memorable past World Cup moments.Many expressed support for Brazil, noting years of loyalty to the five-time World Cup […]

MANCHESTER, Jamaica – Approximately 5,200 residents across several communities in Greater Mandeville are set to benefit from improved water reliability and service efficiency following the commissioning of the $123.8-million Hopeton Road to Waltham Road Pipeline Project.In a Thursday statement, the Ministry of Water, Environment and Climate Change says the project, implemented by the National Water Commission (NWC) under the Greater Mandeville Water Supply Improvement Programme, forms part […]

HOUSTON, United States (AFP) — Sebastien Desabre, coach of the World Cup team from Ebola-hit Democratic Republic of Congo, said he hoped his team would put up a "good showing" after they were allowed to enter the United States on Thursday.Desabre said he hoped the team could bring some pleasure to their beleaguered compatriots.The squad arrived on a flight from Paris after US authorities insisted they serve a 21-day quarantine period before entering US soil."We adapted to the situation," said […]

KINGSTON, Jamaica — The United States (US) dollar on Thursday, June 11, ended trading at $159.35, up r cents, according to the Bank of Jamaica’s daily exchange trading summary.Meanwhile, the Canadian dollar ended trading at $113.61, down from $115.59 and the British pound at $213.65, down from $214.03.

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Chapleton Maroons will be looking for a new head coach for the next Jamaica Premier League season after Donovan Duckie submitted his resignation, effective immediately, on Thursday.His stint with the Clarendon-based club lasted one season after he was appointed in August 2025.In a letter addressed to Kaycie Butler, president of Chapleton Maroons, the much-travelled coach said the decision was difficult: “This decision was not an easy one, but after careful […]

MEXICO CITY, Mexico (AFP) —Mexico ignited their World Cup party with a dominant 2-0 victory over nine-man South Africa on Thursday as the biggest ever edition of the global footballing showpiece kicked off at the iconic Estadio Azteca.Julian Quinones scored the opening goal of the tournament and veteran striker Raul Jimenez added a second as the co-hosts' bid for qualification from Group A got off to a smooth start.South Africa, meanwhile, never looked like spoiling the opening day fiesta, […]

KINGSTON, Jamaica — A 28-year-old carpenter has been charged with murder following the death of 13-year-old Kemelia Paul, who passed away in hospital on Tuesday.Kemar Mitchell of a Kingston 17 address is set to appear before the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court to answer to murder charges following the May 9 incident where Kemelia was allegedly injured while trying to break up a fight between Mitchell and her mother.The death of the grade seven student has triggered mourning across the […]