CARIBBEAN

GEORGETOWN, Guyana we–King Charles III began a two-day state visit to Guyana on Thursday, with engagements spanning bilateral relations, British investment and biodiversity conservation.The British monarch was welcomed at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) by the country's President Irfaan Ali, members of his Cabinet, senior government officials and representatives of the uniformed services.Members of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) stood in ceremonial formation as Charles arrived, […]

KINGSTON, Jamaica —Jamaican reggae artiste and Rastafari advocate JahDore, whose given name is Sean McDonald, is calling for justice, accountability and a public apology following his acquittal on October 23, bringing an end to more than seven years of criminal proceedings stemming from an April 30, 2019 police incident involving his family.JahDore was found not guilty of assault, obstructing the police and malicious destruction of property. Earlier charges concerning his children's school […]

Reggae and dancehall superstar Buju Banton is hitting back at comments by Prime Minister Andrew Holness that some entertainers wave the Jamaican flag to get fans to attend their shows, while tearing down the country with their criticisms.Holness' comments follow recent criticisms by veteran entertainer Beenie Man surrounding Holness administration’s handling of millions of dollars in donations it received to assist Jamaicans devastated by the storm."It is a lie that was told on Jamaica by […]

WASHINGTON, United States (CMC) – The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) are urging countries across the Americas to strengthen long-term care systems, warning that fragmented services and inadequate public financing are leaving families to shoulder much of the burden of caring for people who need ongoing assistance.A joint policy brief by the two organisations projects that 306 million people in the Americas, or more than one in four […]

ST JAMES, Jamaica —Police inspector Jason ‘School Boy’ Wisdom captured the Class 1 title for a third consecutive year at the Jamaica Draughts Association’s fifth ‘Settle All Arguments’ tournament at Jarrett Park, Montego Bay, St James, recently.Wisdom finished ahead of veteran Worth ‘Black Panther’ Foster, who secured his first Montego Bay podium finish, and International Grandmaster (IGM) Wayne ‘Shines’ Reid, who recovered from early setbacks to place third.Host and […]

Kingston, Jamaica — Portmore United and Mount Pleasant Football Academy will contest the Concacaf Caribbean Cup final in December, ensuring that the regional crown will remain in Jamaican hands for the third time in four years.It follows Portmore’s triumph in 2019 and the successes of fellow Jamaican clubs Cavalier in 2024 and Mount Pleasant in 2025.Portmore and Mount Pleasant, having progressed to the final, also qualified for the 2027 Concacaf Champions Cup.It is the first time since […]

BOGOTA, Columbia (AFP) — Over 250 Colombians have died and almost 1,000 have disappeared while fighting in the Russia-Ukraine war, the South American country's foreign ministry reported Thursday.Colombian nationals are sought in fighting around the world due to their extensive experience of armed combat, and thousands have been pulled into this conflict.In Ukraine, 162 Colombians had died and 666 had disappeared, while on the Russian side, 94 had perished and 297 were missing, the ministry […]

If you have attended a major festival, concert or party in Jamaica or the diaspora, chances are you have spotted Oraine Freestyle Adventures capturing the excitement for his YouTube channel.From high-energy dancehall performances to some of the most anticipated events on the entertainment calendar, the Jamaican-born content creator has built a digital platform that has amassed more than 30 million views and 91,000 subscribers since its inception in 2023.For Oraine Dixon, the man behind the […]

ST JAMES, Jamaica — Deputy Mayor of Montego Bay Councillor Dwight “Debo” Crawford has hailed hotelier Christopher Issa for his role in transforming the city’s popular Jimmy Cliff Boulevard, describing a newly unveiled 62-foot monument commissioned by the businessman as a symbol of unity, resilience and renewed civic pride.The towering sculpture, titled Together We Rise, by renowned Jamaican sculptor Scheed Cole, was unveiled Wednesday evening at 5 Jimmy Cliff Boulevard, popularly known […]

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP)—Patrick Stewart, the British Shakespearean actor who became a Hollywood megastar through roles in the Star Trek and X-Men franchises, has died at the age of 86, an official statement said Thursday."We announce with great sorrow the passing of Sir Patrick Stewart yesterday at his home in Los Angeles, in the loving care of his beloved wife Sunny, following a brief and poignant journey with Alzheimer's Disease and Lewy Body Dementia," the statement said.The […]

Fifty years after Bunny Wailer planted his Blackheart Man, its roots are reaching a new generation with Fig Tree, a delightful reggae gem of a song reimagined by emerging reggae star Blvk H3ro and Wailer’s daughter, Cen’c Love, known for her stirring, soulful vocals.The song itself is a powerhouse -- a stout tribute to the enduring force of Rastafari’s vision of freedom, African identity and self-determination."The single is the first release from Rastaman 50, a conceptual album by The […]

KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Financial Investigations Division (FID) is stepping up efforts to protect young Jamaicans from being recruited into financial crimes, with a 12-week public education campaign set to begin on November 3, 2026.The Money Mule Public Education Campaign will target tertiary students and young professionals, helping them identify recruitment tactics, understand the potential legal consequences and know where to seek assistance.In a press release on Thursday, the FID […]

CARACAS, Venezuela (AFP) — Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado on Thursday thanked the government of United States (US) President Donald Trump for opening the "floodgate to freedom" by capturing president Nicolas Maduro in January.The Nobel Peace Prize laureate made her comments after returning to Venezuela from 10 months in exile."Thanks to their vision, their courage, and their action on January 3, the floodgate to freedom has been opened," Machado told a press conference, […]

FRANKFURT, Germany (AFP) — European Central Bank (ECB) President Christine Lagarde will step down in February, months before her term ends, officials said Thursday, kicking off a race to succeed her against a turbulent backdrop in the eurozone and further afield."It has been a great pride and a huge privilege to serve this institution," Lagarde posted on X, announcing that she would resign nine months before her term officially ends in October 2027."I think that I leave this institution with […]

ST JAMES, Jamaica — The National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA) on Thursday morning intensified its efforts to rid communities of abandoned vehicles, undertaking a major removal operation in Norwood, St James.The exercise, which forms part of an islandwide initiative, saw four newly acquired crane trucks deployed to remove derelict vehicles previously identified and tagged by the agency.Speaking with reporters during the operation, NSWMA Executive Director Audley Gordon disclosed […]

Spoken word artistes took the spotlight at the third Poetry Echoes Of Expression, which took place at VP Records Cultural Center in Queens, New York on October 24.Initially scheduled for September 26, it was postponed due to unstable weather. For founder and organiser, Richie Innocent, it was worth the three-week wait.“It was a day that was brilliant like all the poets who were billed for the event, and those who got a chance to present when the mic was open, otherwise known as the open mic […]

ST MARY, Jamaica — Two students from St Mary High School have been elected to lead the youth segment of the St Mary Municipal Corporation following a competition held on Tuesday under the theme, ‘Local Government: Your Voice, Your Community’.Xzavier King, representing the Port Maria Division, was elected junior mayor of Port Maria, while Chardonnay Shaw, representing the Highgate Division, secured the position of deputy junior mayor.The two emerged victorious from a group of 13 junior […]

ST MARY, Jamaica — The community of Dover in St Mary is in shock after a well-known businesswoman was found dead inside her home.She has been identified as 43-year-old Sophia Morgan of Dover District in Annotto Bay, St Mary.Her husband has reportedly been taken into police custody in connection with the ongoing investigation into her death.According to police reports, concerns were raised on Wednesday after Morgan failed to open her business establishment as usual and repeated attempts to […]

MANCHESTER, Jamaica — Detectives in Manchester are seeking to determine the circumstances surrounding the death of a woman whose body was found face down floating in a tank at her yard in Content near Williamsfield, Manchester on Wednesday.Police identified the deceased as Yvonne Smith.Police have so far classified her death as a suspected case of drowning.A police report said about 3:17 pm Smith’s body was found in the tank by residents and cops were called to the scene.Smith’s body was […]

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The United States posted strong economic growth in the third quarter, but the Fed's preferred inflation gauge also accelerated, the Commerce Department said on Thursday, in a mixed economic bag for US President Donald Trump ahead of key midterm polls next week.Real GDP increased at an annual rate of 3.4 percent in the third quarter, the department's Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) said in a statement, beating market expectations."The contributors to the […]

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AFP) — Haiti will hold elections in July and October next year, authorities said, in what would mark the first polls in the crisis-stricken country in more than a decade.Elections are seen as a crucial step to stabilising the government and tackling rampant crime in Haiti, which has been engulfed for years by gang warfare and political chaos.Its last president was assassinated in 2021 and has not been replaced, and it has previously postponed scheduled ballots.The […]

KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Ministry of Labour and Social Security has expressed condolences following the death of Rajay Baker, a Jamaican participant in the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Programme (SAWP), who sustained fatal injuries during an altercation in Ontario, Canada.According to information provided by Canadian law enforcement authorities, Baker was injured during an altercation involving another worker and was pronounced dead at the scene despite efforts by emergency responders.The […]

WASHINGTON, United States (CMC) — The Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) are urging countries across the Americas to strengthen long-term care systems, warning that fragmented services and inadequate public financing are leaving families to shoulder much of the burden of caring for people who need ongoing assistance.A joint policy brief by the two organisations projects that 306 million people in the Americas, or more than one in four […]

KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Insurance Association of Jamaica (IAJ) says it has settled 91.1 per cent of insurance claims reported across specified categories following Hurricane Melissa, with payments totalling $59.4 billion, as the industry marks one year since the devastating storm.According to statistics from the association’s latest industry report released on Wednesday, 8,450 of the 9,365 claims recorded had been settled as at October 23, 2026, leaving 915 claims outstanding.The report […]

Warning that the "clock is ticking", Energy Minister Daryl Vaz on Tuesday urged the Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS) to finalise its decision on the terms governing electricity rates that exist under its current all-island licence, which is set to expire in less than a year.Vaz made the call during his address at the 2026 Jamaica Energy Summit at the AC Marriott Hotel in New Kingston.The forum, which was hosted by JPS under the theme “Powering Forward, Rebuilding Jamaica's Energy Future […]