CARIBBEAN

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 […]

A 37-year-old Brazilian woman has been charged after allegedly posing as a 12-year-old girl in an attempt to be adopted by a family.According to Yahoo News, police said Amanda Maria Souza de Oliveira pretended to be a 12-year-old runaway named Gabriela and sought help from a church pastor, claiming she had escaped an abusive family. Members of the church community reportedly provided her with financial assistance and later introduced her to a family willing to care for her.Authorities said […]

Water Minister Matthew Samuda says full restoration can be expected by Tuesday for the 2,000 National Water Commission (NWC) customers still without service following Friday’s island-wide blackout.The minister told Observer Online in an interview on Monday that, as of 8pm Sunday, only one system in Manchester and two plants in St Elizabeth remained offline following the power outage. “Those are the only systems that were still out because of JPS (Jamaica Public Service). And our team and […]

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) —  The United Nations rights chief on Monday urged Washington to immediately lift tough sanctions imposed on Cuba this year, warning they were causing widespread suffering and endangering lives.While Cuba has been under a United States (US) trade embargo since 1962, President Donald Trump has drastically ramped up pressure in recent months, cutting off its fuel supplies and threatening to take over the island."The fuel restrictions imposed since early 2026 and […]

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Sam Bankman-Fried, the founder of the cryptocurrency exchange FTX, who is serving a 25-year prison sentence for fraud and conspiracy, has applied for a pardon from United States (US) President Donald Trump.The website of the Office of the Pardon Attorney of the Department of Justice lists a request by Bankman-Fried for a pardon and says its status is "pending."Trump, in an interview with The New York Times in January, said he did not plan to issue a pardon to […]

KINGSTON. Jamaica — In partnership with Scotiabank Jamaica, the National Gallery of Jamaica (NGJ) has announced the opening of a new exhibition, Of Wood and Water: The Scotiabank Collection, to take place next Sunday, June 14.The event is set for 12 Ocean Boulevard in downtown Kingston at 1:30pm and will feature over 40 works from the Scotiabank corporate art collection, and complemented by works from the NGJ’s permanent collection.Of Wood and Water takes its title from the indigenous […]

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 Vatican said.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 spoke of their "painful personal experience" and put forward proposals "for making the […]

NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — The World Cup final on July 19 will be broadcast in Central Park for about 50,000 people, the mayor of New York and the state governor announced Monday."The most iconic match of the most iconic tournament in the world deserves to be watched in the most iconic park in the world," Mayor Zohran Mamdani told reporters.Tickets will be free and allocated via a lottery system. Governor Kathy Hochul said the state has allocated $6 million to finance the watch […]

MANCHESTER, Jamaica — Jamalco has reinforced its commitment to education with the donation of over $2 million worth of tools and equipment to enhance the Woodwork and Electrical Laboratories at Porus High School.In a release on Monday, the mining company said the contribution is expected to significantly improve the school’s capacity to deliver hands-on training and better prepare students for external certification through the NCTVET and City & Guilds examinations in technical subject […]

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The United States (US) State Department announced Monday that it will restrict visa access for over 100 Nicaraguan officials and their family members following the death of a detained Indigenous leader.Brooklyn Rivera, a renowned 73-year-old head of the Miskito people and former member of congress, was arrested in September 2023 by the left-wing, authoritarian government of President Daniel Ortega. It never stated publicly what the charges were.Rivera's death […]

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Hundreds of mourners flocked to the Majorie Meyer Hall at the Shortwood Teachers College on Saturday to bid farewell to radio personality Daniel 'DT' Thompson of the RJR Gleaner Group of Companies.Tributes were shared by Thompson’s coworkers and other members of the media fraternity during the Thanksgiving service.https://youtu.be/QnLbZRkhvBYThompson died on April 30 after suffering a heart attack.He had dedicated 28 years to Radio Jamaica, working across every time […]