CARIBBEAN

Every finance team has the ritual. The books close, the Excel pack is updated, and then someone loses a day to the deck: copy the chart, paste it into PowerPoint, resize it, fix the font that changed itself, repeat fourteen times, and rename the file “Board_Deck_June_FINAL_v4.” The analysis was finished on Tuesday. The rest of the week went to moving it between two programs that sit next to each other on the same taskbar.This column has so far used AI in a chat window — you bring the file […]

SAN FRANCISCO, United States (AFP) — Apple on Friday sued OpenAI, accusing the AI company of orchestrating a campaign to steal the iPhone maker's trade secrets as it tries to develop its own consumer hardware device.The lawsuit, filed in a federal court in California, paints a picture of an aggressive effort by OpenAI to poach Apple employees and extract confidential information to build its own device."At every level, from members of its Technical Staff to its Chief Hardware Officer, and in […]

MANCHESTER, Jamaica — A day after newly minted head of the Manchester division Odean Dennis vowed to tackle lottery scammers in Manchester, a strong contingent of police personnel swooped down on several premises across Mandeville and its environs detaining at least eight people on Friday.Operations Officer for Manchester Deputy Superintendent Valdin Amos said the operation is part of an assault on criminal activities in the parish in search of prohibited weapons and a clampdown on lottery […]

World leader Oblique Seville bounced back from last week's runner-up finish in Eugene to capture the men's 100m title at the Meeting International d'Athlétisme Herculis in Monaco on Friday, clocking 9.88 seconds (0.2m/s) at the 10th stop of the Wanda Diamond League series.Competing in Monaco for the first time, Seville held off American Jordan Anthony, who finished second in 9.92 seconds, while Cameroon's Emmanuel Eseme was third in 10.00 seconds.Wayne Pinnock also delivered an impressive […]

HAVANA, Cuba (AFP) — Cuba on Friday suffered its second nationwide blackout in five days as twin energy and economic crises, worsened by a six-month United States (US) fuel blockade, cause the electricity grid to crumble.Writing on X, the state UNE electricity company said that a "total collapse of the national electric system" occurred at 4:30 pm local time (2030GMT).It did not immediately give an explanation for the ninth nationwide power outage on the island since late 2024, and the fourth […]

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — A United States (US) judge said Friday the preliminary hearing into the killing of right-wing influencer Charlie Kirk will be taken up again in September, delaying a decision on whether there is enough evidence to hold a murder trial.The move comes after a week of evidence being presented in the case against Tyler Robinson in a Utah court.The 23-year-old faces the death penalty for allegedly killing Kirk, who was shot in the neck on September 10 while […]

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Spain beat Belgium 2-1 on Friday to move into a blockbuster World Cup semi-final against France after a hectic game decided by a goalkeeping error from Senne Lammens.The unfancied Belgians had fought back from going a goal down to Fabian Ruiz's strike on the half-hour mark at a boiling SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, with Charles De Ketelaere bringing them level on 41 minutes.It was the first goal that Spain have conceded at this tournament.As an increasingly […]

KINGSTON, Jamaica—Tax Administration Jamaica (TAJ) is reminding businesspersons that the employers’ monthly statutory deductions for June 2026 (S01) are due on Tuesday, July 14, 2026.TAJ, in a press release on Friday, also reminded employers that they can benefit from the employment tax credit if they make their payments on time.“To qualify, eligible persons must file and pay their monthly statutory payroll deductions (S01) on time. Such employers may claim the total amount of payroll […]

LONDON, United Kingdom(AFP)—King Charles III and his wife Camilla on Friday met his son Prince Harry, his wife Meghan and their two children for the first time in four years, British media reported.The Press Association news agency said Harry's family had travelled from an unspecified destination in Europe for the meeting.Harry arrived in the UK on Monday in a visit to mark the one-year countdown to next year's Invictus Games for wounded veterans, which he founded.Meghan, seven-year-old son […]

ST ANN, Jamaica — Police in St Ann have intensified their search for 66-year-old Owen Hamilton, otherwise called "Teacha" or "OG", who has been missing for the past six days.Hamilton, of Steer Town in St Ann, was last seen on Saturday, July 4, while participating in a grave-digging exercise in Bamboo in the parish.He is approximately six feet tall, weighs about 170 pounds, and has grey hair and brown eyes.Anyone with information on Hamilton's whereabouts is being asked to contact the St Ann's […]

SAO PAULO, Brazil (AFP)—Vinicius Junior apologised to Brazilian fans on Friday for the "enormous frustration" caused by their World Cup elimination by Norway and promised to "fight" to restore the might of the Selecao.The five-time world champions were knocked out by upstarts Norway in a shock 2-1 Round of 16 rout."I know how much I prepared, how much I focused, how much I wanted" the World Cup "for you, for my family," Real Madrid superstar Vinicius said in an Instagram message to fans."The […]

SANTIAGO, Chile (CMC)—The Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) on Friday warned that the average price of oil this year will be higher than in 2025, which means that six channels of impact on the region remain in effect.In a special report released in Chile, ECLAC examines the channels through which the global economy – and Latin America and the Caribbean in particular – have been affected by the hostilities initiated on February 28, 2026, in and around the […]

The Jamaica Observer can confirm that a new Reggae Boyz head coach will be appointed at the start of 2027 with Rudolph Speid set to remain in charge on an interim basis until the end of December. The decision was made during a recent Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) board meeting where the technical committee recommended to extend the process to January to allow a thorough interview process of all applicants. It means the search for a permanent head coach for the national senior men’s team […]

Jamaicans led the qualifying in three of the four age groups in the 100m as the NACAC Under-18/23 Championships got underway on Friday in Apizaco, Mexico.Bouwahjgie Nkrumie and Lavanya Williams led the men and women’s under-23 while Kai Kelly led the boys’ under 18 section for the final set for later on Friday.Nkrumie ran 10.22 seconds (-1.0m/s) to win his semi-final heat while Damor Miller was second overall with 10.26 seconds (0.5m/s).Kelly ran 10.52 seconds (1.4m/s) in his heat and Tyler […]

Jamaican-British actor Micheal Ward, known for his role in the Netflix drama series Top Boy, has been cleared of rape and assault charges.Ward was found not guilty of two counts of rape and three counts of sexual assault when he appeared in a London court on Friday.The charges stem from an incident between Ward and a woman at a nightclub in East London in January 2023, where the woman alleged Ward assaulted her in the back of his car.According to a report by BBC News, Ward had met the woman at […]

KINGSTON, Jamaica — A man and a woman were fined $100,000 or 30 days in prison in connection with illegal lottery activities in Jones Town, Kingston 12, when they appeared in the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court recently.This follows a joint illegal lottery deterrence operation in the area by the Betting, Gaming and Lotteries Commission (BGLC) Enforcement Department and members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) on Friday, May 29, 2026.Reports are that during the operation, the man […]

A regular visitor to Jamaica as a child, Kaysia Earley says those trips made a lasting impression on her. When she started the Seeds Of Manna organisation over one year ago, giving back to her father’s homeland became one of its priorities.An American attorney based in South Florida, Earley’s latest contribution took place in June in the Martha Brae region of Trelawny, where she has a home. Residents in that area received care packages which were issued by her team.“Long before any […]

KINGSTON, Jamaica—Student-athletes from high schools across Jamaica have been invited to apply for the Pocket Rocket Foundation’s 2026-2027 scholarship programme.Founder and chairwoman of the Pocket Rocket Foundation, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, said one of the most rewarding parts of the programme is watching scholars blossom into well-rounded students.“We know there are many talented young people across Jamaica who simply need the right support and encouragement to flourish and realise […]

CLARENDON, Jamaica— A 32-year-old police constable succumbed to injuries he sustained in a crash on the Bustamante Highway in Clarendon on Friday morning.He has been identified as Constable Shavaine Davy, assigned to the Public Safety and Traffic Enforcement Branch (PSTEB) in the Corporate Area.Davy, a native of Craighead in northern Manchester, previously worked with the Department of Correctional Services.Preliminary reports are that shortly before 5:00 am, Davy was driving a Toyota Premio […]

SHENZHEN, China (AFP)—Their metallic frames covered in supple, lifelike skin, a posse of new Chinese robots meant for companionship can offer users AI-generated conversation or a hand to hold, complete with manicured nails.The company UBTech says its "U1" robot — equipped with eye cameras, chest sensors, and listening microphones — is the world's first full-sized, ultra-realistic humanoid designed for mass production.Touted as an antidote to loneliness, the robots are priced at 119,800 […]

KINGSTON, Jamaica — State Minister in the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Delano Seiveright, has hailed the launch of Rich Rum, the new premium spirits brand founded by cricket icon Chris Gayle, as a significant boost for brand Jamaica and a powerful example of the kind of bold entrepreneurship capable of creating globally recognised Jamaican businesses.Speaking at the official launch held at the AC Hotel Kingston on Wednesday evening, Seiveright said Gayle's transition from […]

KINGSTON, Jamaica—Research has found a strong correlation between painful periods and high rates of depression, anxiety and suicidal thoughts among women living with sickle cell disease.The study, conducted by Research Fellow at the Sickle Cell Unit, Caribbean Institute for Health Research, University of the West Indies (UWI), Dr Zachary Ramsay, was presented at the 16th Annual National Research Conference held earlier this year at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston.He said that the […]

EL ALAMEIN, Egypt (AFP)—Hundreds of euphoric supporters welcomed home Egypt's national football team on Friday after the country's best-ever performance at the World Cup, which ended with a thrilling last-16 exit to Argentina.A sea of fans dressed in red, white and black filled the grounds outside the airport in El-Alamein, where the Pharaohs boarded an open-top bus for a parade through the coastal city."We are very happy with the team," supporter Mohamed Gehad told AFP at the airport where […]

KINGSTON, Jamaica —Opposition Leader Mark Golding has appointed Member of Parliament for Clarendon South Western Lothan Cousins as Opposition spokesperson on land and works.It follows the decision of Richard Azan, Member of Parliament for Clarendon North Western, to step down from the works portfolio to concentrate on other political duties for the People's National Party (PNP), the PNP announced in a press release Friday."The newly consolidated portfolio brings land administration and public […]

GENEVA, Switzerland(AFP)—The United Nations warned Friday that at least one million women and girls had lost access to vital support due to dramatic cuts to foreign aid spending since January 2025.The UN Women agency decried a collapse of women's organisations at a time when needs are soaring.US President Donald Trump slashed foreign aid after taking office last year, while other key donor countries have also tightened their belts.As a result, "at least one million women and girls affected by […]