CARIBBEAN

TEHRAN, Iran (AFP)—Iran's army warned on Tuesday it would "open new fronts" against the United States if it resumes attacks, after United States (US) President Donald Trump said he had held off launching a new offensive in hopes of striking a deal.The warning came amid a shaky ceasefire in place since April 8, with Washington and Tehran exchanging proposals in an effort to end the Middle East war, which began on February 28.In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump said Gulf leaders had […]

Dancehall artiste Flippa Moggela appeared briefly before a federal magistrate judge in Camden, New Jersey, last week as proceedings continue in a sprawling narcotics conspiracy case in the United States (US).The entertainer, whose real name is Andrew K Davis and who is also known as the “Flossing King” and Flippa Mafia, attended the detention hearing before US Magistrate Judge Ann Marie Donio, where discussions centred primarily on legal representation and procedural matters rather than the […]

Dancehall king Vybz Kartel has earned his second entry on Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart thanks to his collaboration with R&B singer Chris Brown, titled ** and Party.The song, which is among the tracks from Brown's self-titled album BROWN, debuts at #39 on the chart. It is Kartel's first time on this particular Billboard chart, since Kartel and Spice's Ramping Shop topped out at #76 in 2009.The collaboration also debuted at #22 on Billboard's R&B Songs chart.In the […]

ROSEAU, Dominica (CMC) — Cuba’s Ambassador to Dominica, Miguel Manuel Fraga Gonzalez, has brushed aside a United States offer of a US$100 million humanitarian aid package, reiterating Havana’s decades-old call for Washington to lift the trade and economic embargo on the Caribbean island.Earlier this month, the Donald Trump administration offered an aid package to help the Cuban people amid an energy and fuel crisis, stipulating that the funds would be distributed through the Catholic […]

GENEVA, Switzerland (AFP)—The World Health Organization (WHO) said Tuesday it was examining whether any candidate vaccines or treatments could be used to rein in what it warned could be a lengthy Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo.The WHO has declared the surge of the highly contagious haemorrhagic fever, suspected to have killed 131 people and infected more than 500, an international health emergency."At the international level, (we are) looking at what candidate vaccines or […]

KINSHASA, DR Congo (AFP)—The World Health Organization chief voiced concern on Tuesday about the "scale and speed" of an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which has killed an estimated 131 people.The WHO has declared the surge of the highly contagious haemorrhagic fever an international health emergency and called an emergency meeting on the crisis on Tuesday.No vaccine or therapeutic treatment exists for the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola responsible for the latest outbreak of […]

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Confirming receipt of five reports from the Integrity Commission, Parliament said they are being addressed in accordance with its internal processes and under the guidance of the presiding officers, emphasising that the Integrity Commission Act does not specify a specific timeline for the tabling of reports.A statement from The Houses of Parliament on Monday confirmed that the reports have not yet been tabled in either the House of Representatives or the Senate.“Having […]

HAVANA, Cuba (AFP) — It's the middle of the night in Havana, but Alejandro Benitez is just getting down to work.The power is back on for the first time in 15 hours and Benitez, a fourth-year architecture student, needs to get his assignment in fast before the electricity cuts out again.Desperate times call for desperate measures in crisis-hit Cuba, where a United States US fuel blockade -- part of a pressure campaign which Havana fears will culminate in a military intervention -- has […]

ST JAMES, Jamaica — Project STAR has trained more than 140 residents in Salt Spring, St James, through its skills training and job readiness programmes aimed at boosting residents’ employability across various industries, including hospitality and customer-facing roles, according to Kelly Griffith, the project’s training and job placement team lead.According to a release from Project STAR, Griffith said 110 people have gone through job-readiness sessions covering résumé writing, […]

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Satellite internet provider Starlink has increased the monthly price of its residential internet service in Jamaica to $7,450 from $7,000, marking a 6.4 per cent increase that will take effect from June 18.In an email sent to customers, the company said the higher rate would apply “beginning with your next billing cycle on or after June 18”.Starlink said the increase comes as it continues expanding network capacity, coverage and reliability to meet growing demand for […]

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil (AFP) -- Brazil superstar Neymar was handed a dramatic recall to the country's World Cup squad on Monday, returning to the national team after a near three-year absence.The inclusion of Neymar, Brazil's all-time leading goalscorer with 79 goals in 128 appearances, was the biggest surprise in the 26-man squad named by coach Carlo Ancelotti.Ancelotti announced Neymar's selection at a gala ceremony in Rio de Janeiro, with loud cheers ringing out as the veteran attacker's […]

INGLEWOOD, United States (AFP) — Workers at Los Angeles' SoFi Stadium vowed Monday to go on strike if federal immigration enforcement agents are deployed at the venue when it hosts World Cup matches next month.The UNITE HERE Local 11, representing around 2,000 hospitality employees, is demanding federal guarantees that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) will not be used in any of the eight World Cup matches scheduled to take place at the stadium.Workers at the world's most expensive […]

Jamaican producer and JUNAVILL Records founder Collin “JUNA-VILL” Clarke is continuing his mission of creating meaningful reggae music with the upcoming release of the Di Regulator rhythm, a culturally driven compilation set for worldwide release on May 22.Built around themes of order, awareness, discipline, and cultural responsibility, the project reflects Clarke’s ongoing commitment to preserving the essence of reggae while expanding its global reach.“The title represents order, […]

GEORGETOWN, Guyana (CMC) – The 15-member Caribbean Community (Caricom) grouping Monday expressed “serious concern” at the continued hostilities in the Middle East, marked by military action in the Strait of Hormuz.“Caricom is alarmed by the severe loss of life, threats to civil infrastructure, and the instability in global markets that have resulted from the ongoing conflict,” the grouping said in a statement.United States (US) President Donald Trump has warned Iran the “clock is […]

KINGSTON, Jamaica — The United States (US) dollar on Monday, May 18, ended trading at $158.55, down 47 cents, according to the Bank of Jamaica’s daily exchange trading summary.Meanwhile, the Canadian dollar ended trading at $115.83, up from $115.78, and the British pound at $213.34, up from $213.08.

MANCHESTER, United Kingdom (AFP) — Pep Guardiola is set to bring his trophy-laden decade in charge of Manchester City to an end this weekend, according to multiple reports on Monday.Guardiola, 55, has won six Premier League titles and City's first Champions League title among 20 trophies since arriving in England in 2016.He could add one more to his tally if City win their final two matches of the season against Bournemouth and Aston Villa and Arsenal fail to beat Crystal Palace on Sunday's […]

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Dancehall and Reggae stars Yaksta and Bellwetha have released a very controversial collaborative effort entitled Farmer and Banger, which has many musical pundits talking.In the track, Bellwetha is presented as the "banger," while Yaksta is presented as the "farmer."This oxymoron creates a very entertaining track, which is quickly captivating the underground dancehall scene. According to Bellwetha, he has no problem with controversy."Music is art and art imitates life […]

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Human rights organisation Jamaicans for Justice (JFJ) is raising questions about the proportionate use of force following the killing of Latoya Bulgin, known as “Buju,” by a member of the Jamaica Constabulary Force in Granville, St James, on Sunday.In a statement on Monday, JFJ noted it has reviewed the widely circulated videos and CCTV footage of the incident and said while the full facts must be allowed to emerge through a thorough and independent investigation, the […]

LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) — Arsenal are on the brink of ending a 22-year wait to win the Premier League after beating Burnley 1-0 on Monday to open up a five-point lead at the top.Kai Havertz headed in the only goal but was also lucky to avoid a second-half red card that could have swung the title race back in Manchester City's favour.The Gunners could be crowned champions as early as Tuesday should City fail to win at Bournemouth.Even if City do end the Cherries' 16-game unbeaten run and […]

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Minister with responsibility for Works, Robert Nesta Morgan, has expressed disappointment at what he says are contradictory and misleading statements made by Mayor of Kingston and Chairman of the Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSAMC), Andrew Swaby, regarding the establishment of the One Road Authority.Morgan described as “factually misleading” a May 13 statement made by Swaby at a KSAMC, where he claimed: “It is still not clear how the establishment of […]

Dancehall King Vybz Kartel emerged the big winner at the 2026 staging of the International Reggae and World Music Awards (IRAWMA), which took place on Sunday night at the Lauderhill Performing Arts Center in Lauderhill, Florida.The event recognises and honours entertainers from reggae, dancehall, Latin, Caribbean and Africa.Vybz Kartel won nine awards, including two shared wins.Among his awards were Entertainer of the Year, Recording Artiste of the Year and Album of the Year for Heart and […]

KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Jamaica Umbrella Groups of Churches (JUGC) is decrying what it says is the shameful treatment of the body of Latoya Bulgin by lawmen over the weekend after she was shot and killed by police.In a statement on Monday, the organisation noted that it was deeply grieved by the fatal police shooting, which took place in Granville, St James on Sunday citing security footage reportedly of the incident which has been circulating online.“What the footage appears to show is not […]

 Despite growing unrest by public passenger vehicle (PPV) operators over the government’s unfulfilled promise to apply an outstanding 16 per cent fare increase, the government on Monday has requested a two-week extension to finalise its decision, promising a response by June 1.Speaking at a press conference at the Transport Centre in Half-Way-Tree, St Andrew, Transport Minister Daryl Vaz announced that his ministry will return to the Cabinet later today to discuss the issue.“I am happy to […]

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Anthony Hylton, the Opposition spokesman on trade, industry and global logistics, is calling on the Government to immediately provide an account of all hurricane-donated goods that remain uncollected at ports and cargo facilities.Hylton's call follows an Auditor General’s Department report tabled in Parliament on Tuesday, which revealed that after receiving $1.44 billion in donations by February 23, 2026, to assist Jamaicans devastated by Hurricane Melissa, the Office of […]

KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Opposition People’s National Party (PNP) has condemned as a “wicked act” the findings of an auditor general report that the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) had only spent $26.2 million, or 1.8 per cent, of the $1.44 billion donated following Category 5 Hurricane Melissa as of February 23, 2026.Speaking at a People’s National Party (PNP) press conference on Monday, Opposition Spokesperson on Social Protection and Social […]