Mexican influencer killed on livestream

Mexican authorities said the fatal shooting of influencer Cesar Gastelum in Culiacan may have been retaliation for social media posts linked to a criminal group. He was killed during a livestream in Sinaloa, a state wracked by cartel violence, underscoring how online figures in Mexico can become entangled in gang conflicts.

By Jamaica Observer

Retrieved 15 minutes ago

Funeral service underway for former Cabinet Minister Dean Peart

Hundreds of mourners, including PNP President Mark Golding, Health Minister Dr Christopher Tufton and former colleagues, gathered at Manchester’s Kendal Conference Centre for the funeral of former Cabinet Minister Dean Peart, who died last month at 77. Peart served as MP for Manchester North Western, held several ministries, and was a former mayor of Mandeville.

By Jamaica Observer

Retrieved 35 minutes ago

‘Come to Ghana, Asafa!’

Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama invited retired Jamaican sprinter Asafa Powell to visit Ghana and inspire young athletes, highlighting the cultural and sporting ties between Jamaica and Ghana. Mahama made the remarks in St Ann during his state visit, which officials say could also advance talks on trade links between Africa and the Caribbean.

By Jamaica Observer

Retrieved 35 minutes ago

JTA president blasts slow pace of $24.8b school repair programme

The Jamaica Teachers’ Association says the Ministry of Education is moving too slowly to repair hurricane-damaged schools before the September reopening, risking unsafe classrooms for some students. JTA President Mark Malabver criticized the shortage of National Education Trust inspectors and weak contractor oversight, while Education Minister Dana Morris Dixon has said not all repairs will be finished by September 6.

By Sashana Small

Retrieved about 1 hour ago

Jamaica plants 100 Kenyan Wambugu apple trees in import substitution drive – Green

Jamaica has planted 100 Wambugu apple trees from Kenya across agro parks in Amity Hall, Ebony Park and Parnassu to test the crop’s suitability for local farming and reduce apple imports. Agriculture Minister Floyd Green said the effort could help farmers diversify income, noting Jamaica spent more than J$260 million importing apples last year.

By Jamaica Observer

Retrieved about 1 hour ago

JTA blasts slow pace of Hurricane Melissa school repairs

Jamaica Teachers’ Association president Mark Malabver says the Ministry of Education is moving too slowly to restore schools damaged by Hurricane Melissa, warning that weak oversight and a shortage of inspectors could delay a $24.8 billion repair programme. The NET says it needs at least 40 inspectors and is trying to recruit 15, while the education minister says not all schools will be ready for the September 6 reopening.

By Jamaica Gleaner

Retrieved about 1 hour ago

TAJ to discontinue use of cheques by March 2028

Tax Administration Jamaica will phase out cheques by March 2028, starting September 1, 2026, when it stops accepting government and manager’s cheques of $1 million or more. Refund cheques will also end by March 2028, with all refunds paid by bank transfer, as TAJ shifts customers to digital payment options.

By Jamaica Gleaner

Retrieved about 1 hour ago

INTERPOL joins IDB task force to support security in Latin America and the Caribbean

The IDB and INTERPOL have launched a partnership to expand rapid security and justice support across Latin America and the Caribbean, with Brazil chosen for the first pilot project. The task force has already been used in Jamaica, Peru and Guatemala, and aims to help governments respond faster to organised crime and other security threats.

By Jamaica Gleaner

Retrieved about 2 hours ago

Applications open for Scotia Insurance Headstart scholarship

Scotia Insurance has relaunched its Headstart Scholarship, offering up to J$150,000 for secondary or tertiary education to eligible ScotiaELEVATE and ScotiaMINT policyholders. Applications are open until August 10, 2026, and up to 28 students will be selected, a move the company says aims to ease education costs for Jamaican families while promoting long-term financial planning.

By Jamaica Observer

Retrieved about 2 hours ago

Appleton Estate invites Jamaica to get ‘On the Rum’ this August

Appleton Estate Jamaica Rum is marking August as Rum Month with islandwide tastings, education sessions, live entertainment and exclusive prizes under the theme “On The Rum.” The 21-stop tour and Bartenders Competition aim to showcase Jamaica’s rum heritage, premium cocktail culture and the limited-edition Sherry Cask expression.

By Jamaica Observer

Retrieved about 3 hours ago

US announces $242 million in new Ebola funding

The United States has added more than $242 million to fight the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, bringing its total direct aid to over $500 million. The WHO says the outbreak is spreading at an “exceptional pace,” with 3,874 confirmed cases and 1,751 deaths reported, while Washington has also imposed travel restrictions tied to the crisis.

By Jamaica Observer

Retrieved about 3 hours ago

Woman arrested as four men stabbed in central London

Four men were stabbed in Covent Garden, central London, on Wednesday in what police say is a suspected mental health-related incident. A 47-year-old woman was arrested and scissors were seized at the scene, while the injured men, aged 34 to 52, were taken to a major trauma centre. The attack highlights ongoing concern over knife violence in the UK.

By Jamaica Observer

Retrieved about 4 hours ago

WHO chief in DR Congo for talks on Ebola reponse

WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has arrived in Kinshasa to meet President Félix Tshisekedi as Ebola spreads rapidly in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. The outbreak has caused 1,751 deaths since May 15, and health workers say response efforts are stretched by weak infrastructure and the lack of a vaccine or treatment for the Bundibugyo strain.

By Jamaica Observer

Retrieved about 4 hours ago

Jamaica 64 celebrations to culminate with Grand Gala at National Stadium tomorrow

Jamaica’s 64th Independence celebrations will end Thursday at the National Stadium in St Andrew with the Grand Gala, themed “United in Celebrating Resilience,” featuring more than 1,800 performers, tributes to the JDF’s women, and honours for Busy Signal and Wayne Wonder. The event also marks Kingston’s 10th anniversary as a UNESCO Creative City of Music and will close with fireworks and 1,000 drones.

By Jamaica Gleaner

Retrieved about 4 hours ago

Butterflies seek new habitats as climate changes — study

A major study of more than 1,700 butterfly species in 105 countries found that climate change and extreme weather are driving most range shifts, with many species moving into new areas while others retreat. Researchers warned that warming could eventually outpace butterflies’ ability to adapt, threatening local extinctions and highlighting the need to protect habitats and limit global warming.

By Paul A Reid

Retrieved about 5 hours ago

TAJ to end cheque transactions by March 2028

Tax Administration Jamaica will phase out cheques for tax payments and refunds, ending them entirely by March 2028 as it shifts to digital payments in line with new Bank of Jamaica and commercial bank procedures. The first change begins September 1, 2026, and taxpayers are being urged to use online transfers, cards and banking apps instead.

By Paul A Reid

Retrieved about 5 hours ago

Trump says deal to reopen Strait of Hormuz could come as early as Wednesday

Donald Trump said a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz could come within days, after Iranian and Omani negotiators finalized a draft plan pending approval from Iran’s supreme leader. A reopening would ease pressure on global oil prices and shipping, but attacks in the region continued even as talks advanced.

By Jamaica Gleaner

Retrieved about 5 hours ago

104 pounds of cocaine wash ashore in Barbuda

Police in Antigua and Barbuda are investigating after cocaine worth more than US$370,000 washed ashore in Barbuda over two days. Officers found two packages near Coco Point, containing 40 vacuum-sealed parcels in total, with a combined weight of 104 pounds. Police are tracing where the drugs came from.

By Paul A Reid

Retrieved about 5 hours ago

Hundreds flee homes after Guatemala’s Fuego volcano erupts

Hundreds of residents were evacuated from the slopes of Guatemala’s Fuego volcano after a powerful eruption sent lava and ash skyward, prompting the country’s highest red alert. Firefighters moved at least 500 people to shelters near San Juan Alotenango as officials warned of dangerous debris flows in Sacatepéquez, Chimaltenango and Escuintla.

By Paul A Reid

Retrieved about 6 hours ago

Disney signs deal to let TikTok users add film extracts

Disney has struck a first-of-its-kind deal with TikTok that will let users add clips and characters from Disney films, part of the company’s push to use social media-style video to promote Disney+, Pixar, Marvel and Star Wars content. The announcement came as Disney reported quarterly revenue rose 7% to $25.2 billion, while net profit fell to $2.8 billion from a year earlier.

By Paul A Reid

Retrieved about 6 hours ago

Jamaica, Ghana working closely to achieve reparations

Prime Minister Andrew Holness said Jamaica will keep working with Ghana on reparatory justice, praising President John Mahama’s leadership on a UN resolution on slavery reparations and Jamaica’s planned petition to King Charles. The visit also advanced Jamaica-Ghana cooperation on health, defence, and culture, with new agreements aimed at deeper trade and investment ties.

By Jamaica Star

Retrieved about 7 hours ago

Moon Palace pours $1.1m in scholarships into top PEP students

Thirty-eight high-performing PEP students from St Ann, St Mary and Trelawny will receive Moon Palace Foundation scholarships worth a record $1.1 million as they move on to high school. The grants, the largest payout in the programme’s 11-year history, are meant to help prepare young Jamaicans for future skilled jobs, especially in hospitality.

By Carl Gilchrist

Retrieved about 7 hours ago

Police raid gated community, arrest four Haitians

Four Haitian nationals — two men and two women — were arrested in an intelligence-led police operation in an upscale St Catherine gated community after officers found they had allegedly overstayed their time in Jamaica. Police say two of them are also wanted for similar immigration offences elsewhere, and all four are due in court on Friday.

By Rasbert Turner

Retrieved about 7 hours ago

Community literacy initiative launched in St Thomas

A new literacy initiative launched in St Thomas with the inaugural St Thomas Literacy Forum at the Anglican Church Hall in Morant Bay, the first step in a three-part programme led by diaspora member Cleous Young. The project aims to build reading skills and support personal and community development across the parish.

By Jamaica Star

Retrieved about 7 hours ago

One-minute Reads: News from across Jamaica

Agriculture Minister Floyd Green has added $60 million to Jamaica’s drought mitigation programme to help farmers with water trucking, storage, drip irrigation and catchment ponds. The ITA is also reporting technical problems affecting electronic motor vehicle fitness certificates, while the NFA has introduced stricter deadlines for fisher and vessel licence applications. The JCF has offered condolences after the death of officer Kenroy Pitter, whose death is under investigation.

By Jamaica Star

Retrieved about 8 hours ago

Teen charged with housebreaking

A 14-year-old boy from Duncansville, Trelawny, has been charged with housebreaking and larceny after police said he was linked to a December break-in at a shop in the community. The owner reported losing $180,000 in cash, $12,000 in coins, a Samsung Galaxy S5, and grocery items, highlighting a case that has drawn local police attention.

By Jamaica Star

Retrieved about 8 hours ago

‘Mi want a farrin man’ Woman in search of love rules out Jamaican men

Clarendon vendor Shernette Smith, a mother of three from Mocho, says her TikTok plea for a “farrin man” has drawn many calls from men in Jamaica and overseas. She says she wants a foreign partner for love and financial support as she struggles to provide for her children, restock goods, and prepare for back-to-school expenses.

By Simone Morgan-Lindo

Retrieved about 8 hours ago

CPFSA shocked by accidental shooting of 1-year-old

The Child Protection and Family Services Agency says it is shocked after a one-year-old girl in St Elizabeth was shot when her three-year-old sibling reportedly got hold of their father’s police service firearm. The agency said the child’s survival is a relief, but the case highlights the danger of leaving guns unsecured and has prompted counselling and support for the family.

By Jamaica Star

Retrieved about 8 hours ago

Aroha Lynch continues family tradition in nursing

Aroha Lynch, a 20-year-old Trelawny native, has become first runner-up in the NAJ/Lasco Chin Foundation Nurse of the Year 2026 Competition while training at Knox Community College. After her family could not afford medical school, support from her parents, sisters and church helped her pursue nursing debt-free. She says compassion is central to her goal of improving patient care in Jamaica.

By Star Writer

Retrieved about 8 hours ago

KPH marks 250 years with free health fair

More than 250 people received free screenings and medical advice at Kingston Public Hospital’s Health and Wellness Fair at St William Grant Park in downtown Kingston, part of KPH’s 250th anniversary celebrations. The outreach offered checks such as blood pressure, cholesterol, vision, Pap smears and mammograms, highlighting the hospital’s focus on prevention as Jamaica faces high rates of chronic disease.

By Jamaica Gleaner

Retrieved about 9 hours ago

BACK TO AFRICA - Mahama revives right of return to motherland with Ghana citizenship proposal for Diaspora

Ghanaian President John Mahama says his government is considering a new law to create a pathway to citizenship for people of African descent, reviving calls for repatriation to Africa. Jamaican historian Verene Shepherd and Rastafari advocate Ras Iyah V welcomed the move as a major step toward reparatory justice and the long-sought right of return for descendants of enslaved Africans in the Caribbean.

By Edmond Campbell

Retrieved about 10 hours ago

Power in unity

Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama used a joint sitting of Jamaica’s Parliament to call for Africa and the Caribbean to unite in pushing reforms at the UN and international financial institutions. He said stronger Caricom-AU cooperation on climate change, trade, public health and financing would give developing countries more influence and better economic prospects.

By Paul A Reid

Retrieved about 11 hours ago

CREDIT CARD BALANCES HIT RECORD $94B

Commercial banks’ credit card balances in Jamaica have surged to a record $94 billion, more than doubling since 2017, with 435,883 cards in circulation by end-2025, BOJ data show. Economist Janiel McEwan says banks must tighten affordability checks and curb aggressive lending as high interest rates, inflation and stagnant wages are pushing more households toward debt distress.

By Paul A Reid

Retrieved about 11 hours ago

Appeal court orders FTC to revisit Supreme Ventures probe

The Court of Appeal has sent the Fair Trading Commission back to reconsider its investigation into Supreme Ventures Limited and its gaming subsidiary, ruling they were not fairly given a chance to answer allegations of anti-competitive conduct. The decision does not say whether SVL broke competition law, but it may affect the FTC’s related Supreme Court case and the future of Jamaica’s lottery market.

By Paul A Reid

Retrieved about 12 hours ago

Paramount pursues international lubricant deal

Paramount Trading is negotiating with a major international lubricant marketer to make its brands in Jamaica for local and export sales, a move that could push the company deeper into contract manufacturing. CEO Hugh Graham said the company cut some lubricant output to preserve capacity, while lubricant revenue fell 43.1% to $60.6 million in the year ended May 31, 2026.

By Paul A Reid

Retrieved about 12 hours ago