CARIBBEAN

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 […]

FOXBOROUGH, United States (CMC) – Haiti has been forced to change the design of its World Cup kit three days before their opening match against Scotland.According to FIFA, the illustration on the shirt, which depicts a war scene, fails to comply with its rules, which prohibit the use of any “political, religious, or personal messages or slogans” on kits.The design pays tribute to the Battle of Vertieres in 1803, which secured Haiti’s independence. It had also been embedded on the […]

NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — Elon Musk's SpaceX on Thursday confirmed it will begin trading on the Nasdaq exchange on Friday in the biggest initial public offering in history, a blockbuster market debut that could propel the entrepreneur to trillionaire status.In a filing with the United States (US) markets regulator, the company priced more than 555 million shares at $135 each, placing SpaceX in the top 10 of Wall Street's biggest companies with a valuation of just under $1.8 trillion.It […]

KINGSTON, Jamaica — The National Housing Trust (NHT) is urging members of the public to remain vigilant and exercise caution as it has taken note of fraudulent social media accounts pretending to represent the organisation and advertising NHT houses for sale.In a statement on Thursday, the trust reminded the public that NHT housing solutions are not sold through social media platforms.“The allocation of NHT housing developments is governed by established policies and procedures, and […]

ST ELIZABETH, Jamaica – The National Water Commission (NWC) officially broke ground Thursday on a $148 million Santa Cruz By-pass Mains Replacement Project in St Elizabeth, marking the latest phase of the broader Santa Cruz Water Supply Improvement Programme.The project will replace the ageing three-inch cast iron pipeline installed over fifty years ago with a durable six-inch ductile iron pipeline.Minister of Water, Environment and Climate Change, Matthew Samuda, was on site for the upgrade, […]

KINGSTON, Jamaica—Flow has officially launched Jamaica's first 5G mobile network, opening the door to faster downloads, clearer calls and improved connectivity for thousands of customers already equipped with 5G-ready devices.The telecommunications provider announced on Thursday that the network is already available across Kingston, Portmore, Spanish Town, May Pen and the North Coast, with coverage reaching about 70 per cent of the population.Additional communities, including Mandeville, […]

MEXICO CITY, Mexico (AFP) — The World Cup kicked off on Thursday as co-hosts Mexico took an early lead against South Africa in front of 80,000 fans in the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City.Julian Quinones scored in the ninth minute of the opening game, confirming Mexico's early dominance in a stadium that hosted the 1970 and 1986 finals.The kickoff launched a sprawling tournament of 48 teams that will last nearly six weeks.The extravaganza hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada is the […]

MEXICO CITY, Mexico (AFP) — Shakira and Nigerian singer Burna Boy had the spectators out of their seats in the opening ceremony for the 2026 World Cup in the Estadio Azteca on Thursday, ahead of the opening match between co-hosts Mexico and South Africa.The 48-team tournament is also being hosted by the United States and Canada and will feature 104 games, culminating in the final in New Jersey on July 19.Dancers twirled around a giant model of the World Cup trophy while fireworks went off in […]

KINGSTON, Jamaica – Leoda Bradshaw will possibly head to trial for the alleged murder of parliamentarian Phillip Paulwell’s 10-month-old daughter Serayah Paulwell and the child’s mother, 27-year-old Toshyna Patterson, after plea discussions collapsed on Thursday in the Supreme Court. The breakdown in discussions clears the way for the high-profile case to proceed, with a plea and case management hearing set for June 24 that could determine, among other things, a trial date.Earlier […]

KINGSTON, Jamaica—A man was arrested in connection to the seizure of a firearm and several rounds of ammunition during a police operation on Sandy Park Road in Kingston 6 on Wednesday, June 10.The identity of the man is being withheld pending further investigations.Reports are that the team conducted a search of the premises, during which a 9mm pistol, two magazines, and thirteen 9mm rounds of ammunition were found.