CARIBBEAN

At least two Jamaicans are expected to compete in the drug-fueled Enhanced Games that are slated to begin Sunday, May 24, in Las Vegas.Sprinters Denae McFarlane and Shockoria Wallace both joined the roster of athletes earlier this year alongside runners including American star Fred Kerley and Guyana’s Jasmine Abrams in the track and field category, and swimmers including Antani Ivanov of Bulgaria, Miguel De Lara Ojeda of Mexico, and Emily Barclay of Great BritaThe Enhanced Games brands itself […]

LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) — Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes set a new outright record of 21 assists in a single Premier League season when he set up Patrick Dorgu's goal against Brighton on Sunday.The match, on the final day of the Premier League campaign, was still goalless when Dorgu powered in a 33rd-minute header from Fernandes's corner at the Amex Stadium.Dorgu's goal gave Fernandes sole possession of a record he had shared with Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne, both of […]

HAVANA, Cuba (AFP) — A shipment of 15,000 tons of rice donated by the Chinese government to Cuba has arrived at the port of Havana, the island's president said on Sunday.The shipment is the first batch of a promised 60,000 tons that China says it will donate to Cuba, which is grappling with dire shortages."That noble gesture of solidarity will reach millions of consumers throughout all the provinces and the special municipality of Isla de la Juventud, in addition to our health and education […]

WASHINGTON, United States (CMC) – Jamaican-American Democratic Congresswoman Yvette Clarke has written to United States President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio urging an end to the oil blockades imposed on Cuba.In the letter, Clarke, the daughter of Jamaican immigrants and chair of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), appeals to the Trump administration to “relieve the economic pressure on the island, which has led to an increase in infant mortality rates, the threat of […]

MONTREAL, Canada (AFP) -- Dozens of sex workers in Montreal went on strike during the Canadian Formula 1 Grand Prix, demanding better working conditions and the decriminalisation of sex work, protesters said.Around 200 people demonstrated on Saturday in the city's downtown neighbourhood, where numerous strip clubs are located, in support of the strike.Demonstrators carried signs with slogans like, "No to whorephobia" and "This slut deserves safety."One protester, Ella, who did not give her […]

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) —The United States and Iran could strike a deal to end the Middle East war as early as Sunday, Washington's top diplomat said, while Tehran insisted the agreement would do nothing to limit its nuclear programme.Washington and Tehran have observed a ceasefire since April 8 while mediators push for a negotiated settlement, although Iran has imposed controls on Gulf shipping and the US has blockaded Iran's ports.On Sunday, during a visit to India, US Secretary of […]

CLARENDON, Jamaica — A 54-year-old man has been charged after a reported housebreaking incident where he attacked another manJoseph Wynter has been charged with housebreaking with intent, assault at common law, assault occasioning bodily harm, and unlawful wounding.Reports from the May Pen Police indicate that a man was asleep at his home when Wynter allegedly forced entry through a living room window. It is further alleged that an argument developed between both men over several sheets of […]

Prominent consultant psychiatrist Dr Aggrey Irons has died.Observer Online understands that Irons passed away on Saturday evening. He was 74.Irons served as a senior medical officer at Bellevue Hospital for over 20 years and was known for his advocacy in support of mental health.He also served as president of the Medical Association of Jamaica and was a former chairman of the Jamaica Coalition for Tobacco Control.

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Caribbean Airlines says it will discontinue flights to Dominica, St Kitts and the Ogle–Suriname corridor from June 1 as the Trinidad-based carrier pursues a codeshare agreement with an unnamed regional airline partner.The airline said the move forms part of a “continued network adjustment strategy”, while flights to Martinique and Guadeloupe will be reduced to twice weekly. Caribbean Airlines said it is working toward a codeshare agreement that will provide customers […]

Reggae-dancehall icon Capleton is feeling the love from fans worldwide as buzz continues to build around his latest single, Prayers Up, featuring Derrick Sound.The spiritually charged anthem, produced by Evidence Music, is now streaming across all major platforms and serves as the second single from Capleton’s highly anticipated upcoming album, Heights Of Fire, due June 26, 2026.Known for his fiery conscious lyrics and unwavering Rastafarian message, Capleton says the track reflects […]

For reggae singer Kenne Blessin, revisiting a classic is less about nostalgia than reinterpretation. The artiste's new version of Barrington Levy’s Vice Versa Love -- the 1990s reggae favourite celebrated for its gentle groove and message of reciprocal love -- has begun drawing attention across reggae circles.Kenne Blessin is pleased with the response he is getting by introducing the song to younger listeners while preserving the warmth that made the original such an enduring masterpiece"The […]

BARCELONA, Spain (AFP) — Real Madrid ended a troubled La Liga campaign with a 4-2 win over Athletic Bilbao in Alvaro Arbeloa's last game at the helm, while Mallorca and Girona were relegated from the Spanish top flight on Saturday.In the final round of fixtures, Mallorca defeated already-relegated Real Oviedo 3-0 to reach 42 points, but it was not enough to survive.Girona were held to a 1-1 draw by Elche, which kept the visitors up and sent the Catalan side down, just one season after they […]

KINGSTON, Jamaica – A St James carpenter has been charged with fraudulent conversion after allegedly spending money entrusted to him by a relative.Jordan Ricketts, 30, was reportedly entrusted with US$10,000 between July and August 2024, and asked to safeguard the money for the complainant and his wife to use while vacationing in Jamaica.However, upon the relative's return to Jamaica in April 2026, he requested the funds from Ricketts, who was unable to repay the money.Further investigations […]

LAS VEGAS, United States (AFP) — The drug-fueled Enhanced Games have put competing athletes under scrutiny, with critics asking why they signed up for a pro-doping competition that is potentially dangerous for their health, and to young viewers who could be tempted to emulate them.Asked for their motivations ahead of this weekend's Las Vegas multi-sport event, the responses ranged from the spikily defiant to the purely mercenary -- with a smattering of caution.Retired Australian Olympic […]

ST JAMES, Jamaica — On the heels of the death of a United States citizen, who was shot in a confrontation with police at the Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay, Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett is seeking to assure that Jamaica is safe for visitors."The Ministry of Tourism is very concerned about the safety of our visitors and we want to make it very clear to the world that when you come to Jamaica, you will be safe," he told reporters during a visit to the airport on Saturday for […]

KYIV, Ukraine (AFP) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and the US embassy in Kyiv issued warnings Saturday about the risk of a major Russian airstrike in the coming hours.Their alerts came after Russian officials said the death toll from a Ukrainian strike on a college and its dormitory in a Russian-occupied town in eastern Ukraine had risen to 18.Zelensky, posting on social media, said: "Our intelligence services reported receiving data, including from American and European partners, […]

ST MARY, Jamaica - Ten people are being treated for injuries following two motor vehicle crashes in St Mary on Friday.The first crash happened around 12pm along the Rio Nuevo main road near the Rubio gas station. It involved a motor car and a truck. A woman and two children were injured in the incident, and were rushed to hospital for treatment.The second crash occurred around 8pm in Annotto Bay, when a vehicle travelling from Dover lost control near the Marking Stone beach and crashed into an […]

WESTMORELAND, Jamaica — A Negril restaurant owner was killed and a European tourist seriously injured during a gun attack and robbery at the establishment on Friday night.The deceased has been identified as 36-year-old Nashon McGibbon, otherwise known as Bubba. The businessman is from West End in Negril, Westmoreland.Meanwhile, a 64-year-old medical doctor from the Czech Republic, who was vacationing at a property in Negril, has been hospitalised in serious but stable condition.The deadly […]

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Motorists are being advised to expect delays when using the Lime Hall main road in St Ann over the next three days.This, as contractors working on behalf of the National Works Agency, through the Shared Prosperity Through Accelerated Improvement to Our Road Network (SPARK) Project, will be carrying out road excavation between the Lime Hall Baptist Church and Lime Hall Square.Manager of Communication and Customer Services at the NWA, Stephen Shaw says that as part of the […]

MILAN, Italy (AFP) — Italian double winners Inter Milan finished a triumphant Serie A season by coming back from two goals down to secure an entertaining 3-3 at Bologna 3-3.A 10th match without defeat left champions Inter 14 points clear at the top of the division, with second-placed Napoli hosting Udinese on Sunday.Andy Diouf was Inter's saviour in the 87th minute when he smashed home his first league goal for the club.The former France under-21 international had been key to Pio Esposito […]

OSLO, Norway (AFP) — Ewa Pajor and Salma Paralluelo both scored twice as Barcelona thrashed Lyon 4-0 in Saturday's Women's Champions League final to win the title for the fourth time.Polish striker Pajor opened the scoring on 55 minutes and netted again in the 69th minute, with Paralluelo's superb late strike ending the contest before she completed the rout of a stunned Lyon in stoppage time.Barca's four titles have all been won in the last six seasons and their overall tally is bettered only […]

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — United States (US) President Donald Trump told CBS in a phone interview on Saturday that the United States and Iran are "getting a lot closer" to an agreement to end the war in the Middle East.But in the interview with the TV network, Trump also warned that if the US and Iran do not come to an agreement, "we're going to have a situation where no country will ever be hit as hard as they're about to be hit."Meanwhile, Iran said Saturday that it was finalizing a […]

The stirring presentation of the Tallawah Mento Band on the coded communication messaging of folk and mento music struck a key note at the recent Marcus Garvey Symposium in Limon, Costa Rica.The venerable Colin Smith, a founding member of the South Florida band, highlighted in his half hour presentation of interactive audience engagement and performance, how the infectious rhythms of both music forms often masked and shielded pointed critique of plantation life. Lyrics, in our own dialect, that […]

KINGSTON, Jamaica— With the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season to begin June 1, the National Works Agency (NWA) says it is moving to improve the resilience of a number of waterways in St Andrew.The NWA has embarked on a $143 million effort through which sections of six major gullies will be rehabilitated.The gullies to receive attention include two sections of the Constant Spring Gully, located along Carawina Avenue, the gully that runs under the Torrington Bridge, Yoro Crescent Gully, Burgher […]

SETUBAL, Portugal (AFP) — A court in Portugal on Saturday remanded in custody a French woman and her partner, accused of abandoning her two young boys -- aged four and five -- on a roadside in the south of the country.The court in the southern port city of Setubal ordered the 41-year-old woman and the 55-year-old man to be placed in pretrial detention for the crimes of child endangerment and abandonment after a two-day hearing.The man was also charged with aggravated assault against one of […]