Education Ministry publishing information related to school repairs

Jamaica’s Education Ministry says details of hurricane school repairs, including contract values, contractors, completion dates and progress updates, will be posted twice monthly on its website and the National Education Trust’s site to improve transparency. Minister Dana Morris Dixon said some repairs may take up to 18 months because of major damage, labour shortages and supply issues.

By Horace Hines

Retrieved 24 minutes ago

Seven now confirmed dead in Falmouth two-vehicle crash

Seven people have now died after a Toyota Regius bus and a Hino truck collided on the Bogue Gate section of the highway in Trelawny, with a second injured victim dying at Falmouth General Hospital on Friday. Police have not released the identities, and investigations continue. The crash pushes Trelawny’s road deaths this year to 21, up from 15 last year.

By Jamaica Observer

Retrieved 24 minutes ago

Barbados declares national day of mourning following Sobers’ death

Barbados will observe a national day of mourning for cricket icon Sir Garfield Sobers, Prime Minister Mia Mottley said after announcing his death at 89. Flags will fly at half-mast and official functions will be suspended on July 17, with another day of mourning planned for his interment. Sobers is remembered as the West Indies’ greatest all-rounder and a national hero.

By Jamaica Observer

Retrieved 24 minutes ago

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez to attend World Cup final against Argentina

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and King Felipe VI are expected to attend Sunday’s World Cup final in New Jersey, where Spain will face Argentina. US President Donald Trump will also be there, adding a diplomatic backdrop as he and Sánchez have clashed over NATO spending, Iran and Gaza. Argentine President Javier Milei will watch from home.

By Jamaica Gleaner

Retrieved 38 minutes ago

McKenzie pepper-spraying incident highlights need for police body cameras, says PNP Patriots

The PNP Patriots is calling for a full, independent probe after Minister Desmond McKenzie said a police officer pepper-sprayed him while he tried to calm residents in West Kingston after a police shooting. The group says the incident underscores the need for mandatory body-worn cameras, public accountability, and stronger rules on police use of force.

By Jamaica Gleaner

Retrieved 38 minutes ago

Andy Burnham: ‘King of the North’ to become UK PM

Andy Burnham was chosen as Labour leader and will replace Keir Starmer as UK prime minister on Monday, after years of building his profile as Greater Manchester mayor. Known for his “King of the North” image and focus on regional issues, he now faces the challenge of restoring Labour’s support and tackling social care reform.

By Horace Hines

Retrieved about 1 hour ago

US links Taco Bell lettuce to multistate parasite outbreak

US health officials traced a cyclosporiasis outbreak affecting Taco Bell customers in five states to shredded iceberg lettuce from a single supplier in Mexico. More than 1,644 lab-confirmed cases and 94 hospitalisations were reported, with no deaths; Taco Bell has removed the lettuce from its supply chain in affected areas.

By Horace Hines

Retrieved about 1 hour ago

At least six killed in Trelawny crash

At least six people were killed and two others badly injured in a crash on the North Coast Highway in Trelawny this morning involving a minibus and a truck. Police and firefighters responded, and the area has been cordoned off while traffic is being diverted.

By Jamaica Gleaner

Retrieved about 2 hours ago

Cricket legend Sir Garfield Sobers has died

Barbados National Hero Sir Garfield Sobers has died at age 89 at his home in Highgate Gardens, prompting mourning across the cricket world. The West Indies great, widely regarded as the sport’s finest all-rounder, scored 8,032 Test runs and held the world record 365 not out for 36 years, leaving a major legacy for Caribbean cricket.

By Jamaica Gleaner

Retrieved about 2 hours ago

Two women killed in separate crashes hours apart

Two women died in separate crashes in St Catherine and St Andrew on Thursday night, raising Jamaica’s road death toll to 166 this year. The National Road Safety Council said the island had recorded 150 fatal crashes by July 16, with speeding still the leading cause, and urged road users to drive and walk more carefully.

By Andre Williams -

Retrieved about 2 hours ago

Tsunami warning as southern Mexico hit by 7.3 magnitude earthquake

A 7.3 magnitude earthquake struck southern Mexico on Friday, triggering a tsunami alert and shaking areas in Chiapas and Oaxaca, as well as Guatemala and El Salvador. Authorities had not reported any victims, but the alert raises concern for coastal communities in Mexico and Central America.

By Horace Hines

Retrieved about 2 hours ago

Foreign nationals placed in shelter for safety amid violent anti-immigrant protest

South African police arrested 69 people after an anti-immigrant protest in Jeffreys Bay, Eastern Cape, turned into looting and left one person hospitalised. The unrest is part of weeks of violence targeting undocumented foreign nationals, with police saying at least 350 people have been arrested and tens of thousands of migrants have left South Africa.

By Horace Hines

Retrieved about 2 hours ago

UPDATE: Death toll rises to 6 in Falmouth crash

Six people have now died after Friday’s head-on collision between a truck and minivan on the Trelawny section of the North Coast Highway. The crash, which happened near Bogue Gate shortly after 8:00 a.m., has pushed Trelawny’s road death toll to 20 this year, up from 15 in the same period last year.

By Horace Hines

Retrieved about 2 hours ago

Work commences to clear gullies and drains under KSAMC disaster mitigation programme

The Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation has started clearing 27 gullies and drains in nine coastal divisions under its 2026 Disaster Mitigation programme, at a cost of more than $23 million. Deputy Mayor Lorraine Dobson said the work is meant to reduce flooding, protect communities during hurricane season and spare the council from spending scarce funds on preventable drain blockages.

By Jamaica Gleaner

Retrieved about 3 hours ago

Cricket giant Sir Garfield Sobers dies at 89

Barbados National Hero Sir Garfield Sobers, widely regarded as cricket’s greatest all-rounder, died Friday at age 89 at his home in Highgate Gardens, 11 days before his 90th birthday. He played 93 Tests for the West Indies, scored 8,032 runs and took 235 wickets, leaving a major legacy for Barbados and Caribbean cricket.

By Horace Hines

Retrieved about 3 hours ago

5 dead, 3 injured in Falmouth crash

Five people were killed and three others injured in a head-on crash between a truck and a minivan on the Trelawny leg of Jamaica’s North Coast Highway on Friday morning. The collision happened shortly after 8:00 a.m., and police and fire personnel are on the scene as investigations and recovery efforts continue.

By Jamaica Observer

Retrieved about 3 hours ago

StJMC to request fresh update on CRH restoration

St James Municipal Corporation will ask Cornwall Regional Hospital’s administrators for an official update on the long-delayed restoration project, after councillors said they have received no clear report. Health Minister Christopher Tufton has now pushed the completion date to March 31, 2027, with costs rising to $23.5 billion from an original $2 billion.

By Christopher Thomas

Retrieved about 4 hours ago

Nicole Carr visits Jamaica to reclaim family history through new book

Journalist and author Nicole Carr said Jamaican archives and libraries were essential to researching her book, *The Price of Exclusion*, which explores a century of Black medical history and the impact of anti-Blackness in healthcare. While tracing the career of Jamaican-born physician Dr Lawrence St Clair Ferguson in Port Antonio, she also uncovered new details about her own family’s history, underscoring Jamaica’s role in preserving Caribbean history.

By Ruth-Ann Briscoe

Retrieved about 4 hours ago

Andy Burnham declared leader of UK’s Labour Party, poised to become Britain’s next prime minister

Andy Burnham was declared leader of Britain’s Labour Party on Friday and is set to become prime minister next week after Keir Starmer resigns. Burnham promised to restore hope, shift power from London to local leaders, and tackle economic stagnation, strained public services and the cost-of-living squeeze as Labour’s popularity has fallen.

By Jamaica Gleaner

Retrieved about 4 hours ago

Painting a new future for MoBay via Kingston Creative

Montego Bay unveiled its third public mural on Hilton’s Pharmacy, with three more planned as part of an Art Walk aimed at turning the downtown into an open-air gallery. Backed by Doctor’s Cave Bathing Club and Kingston Creative, the project is meant to boost civic pride, support local business and strengthen the city’s tourism appeal.

By Janet Silvera

Retrieved about 4 hours ago

UN warns of mass killings in Haiti

The UN says gang attacks in Kenscoff and Pétion-Ville, Haiti, killed at least 61 people, including 14 children, between July 4 and 9, and forced 5,840 residents from their homes. Haiti’s justice minister also signed an agreement with the Gang Supression Force to hand over arrested suspects and seized weapons, as the government seeks to improve security ahead of elections.

By Vanassa McKenzie

Retrieved about 4 hours ago

Paris region deaths more than doubled during June heatwave: health authorities

Deaths in the Paris region more than doubled during a record June heatwave, with France’s health agency reporting 3,000 deaths in Ile-de-France between June 22 and 28, or 1,565 above expected levels. The heatwave was part of a Europe-wide event linked by scientists to climate change, which has brought three extreme heatwaves to France in three months.

By Jamaica Observer

Retrieved about 4 hours ago

Fi We Children calls for ‘full investigation’ after Munro student drowns in St Thomas

Fi We Children Foundation is urging a full, independent investigation into the drowning of 16-year-old Munro College student Kamal Reynolds at Shallay Beach in St Thomas. The group wants authorities to examine supervision, safeguarding and the emergency response, including marine rescue protocols, after Reynolds died during a school football outing.

By Vanassa McKenzie

Retrieved about 5 hours ago

20,000 outsourcing jobs lost, but AI not to blame, say experts

Jamaica’s outsourcing sector has lost about a third of its jobs in two years, falling from 60,000 to around 40,000, according to the Global Services Association of Jamaica. Industry leaders blame low productivity, Hurricane Melissa and a tight labour market, and are pushing a recovery plan focused on marketing, upskilling and lower operating costs to regain competitiveness.

By Luke Douglas

Retrieved about 6 hours ago

Cedric Stephens | The average clause – fairness or punishment?

This opinion piece argues that Jamaica should reform the insurance “average clause,” which cuts claims when homes are underinsured, because many policyholders are misled or caught out by rising construction costs and poor disclosure. It says regulators in the UK, EU and parts of the US have softened the clause, and Jamaica should do the same to protect homeowners after hurricanes and other disasters.

By Jamaica Gleaner

Retrieved about 6 hours ago

Oran Hall | Personal financial planning like the World Cup

This opinion piece compares personal financial planning to the FIFA World Cup, arguing that both depend on long-term preparation, teamwork, strategy and protection against setbacks. It says insurance, cash reserves, budgeting and disciplined saving help families reach goals just as defence and planning help football teams win.

By Jamaica Gleaner

Retrieved about 6 hours ago

LP Azar to transform Gleaner property

LP Azar Limited plans to redevelop the former Gleaner building at 7 North Street, Kingston, into a hardware distribution centre, refurbished offices, and a trade training centre focused on youth in central Kingston. Andrew Azar says the project should start immediately and could be ready by the first quarter of 2027, building on his earlier Victoria Pier revival.

By Jamaica Gleaner

Retrieved about 6 hours ago

US to impose 25% tariff on some Brazilian imports starting July 22

The United States will impose 25% tariffs on Brazilian imports from July 22 after a Section 301 review cited unfair trade practices, including weak anti-corruption enforcement and Brazil’s own tariffs. Coffee, beef, oranges, orange juice, some energy products, and aerospace parts are exempt, limiting the impact on some key exports.

By Jamaica Gleaner

Retrieved about 6 hours ago

JEP Targets $3 Million For Child Cancer Care At Annual 5K

Jamaica Energy Partners will host its annual RAYZ for Life 5K Run, Walk and Wheel on Saturday at Shortwood Football Field, aiming to raise $3 million for cancer care for Jamaican children and their families. Since 2022, the campaign has raised nearly $6 million for oncology services at Bustamante Hospital for Children, Kingston Public Hospital, the Hope Institute and Spanish Town Hospital.

By Jamaica Star

Retrieved about 6 hours ago

Hello Mi Neighbour | The importance of compassion in a crisis

This opinion column highlights the surge of government, community, and private relief efforts in Jamaica after Hurricane Melissa, praising volunteers, churches, NGOs, and figures like Shaggy and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce for helping displaced residents. It argues that selfless aid restores dignity and builds resilient communities, while also ending with a request for donations to support neighbours in need.

By Jamaica Gleaner

Retrieved about 7 hours ago

5 Questions With Kranium

Kranium has earned a second RIAA gold certification in the U.S., with “We Can” featuring Tory Lanez passing 500,000 units, adding to the gold status of his breakout hit “Nobody Has to Know.” The Jamaica-born singer says the milestone reflects years of strategic work as he prepares for upcoming shows in Japan, Australia, New Zealand and the UK.

By Yasmine Peru

Retrieved about 7 hours ago

Peter Espeut | Back to square one

In this opinion column, Peter Espeut argues Jamaica is sliding back to “bad old days” of weak procurement oversight and environmental safeguards, citing Integrity Commission data that 70% of last year’s 34,000 public contracts used single-source or emergency methods. He warns the new NaRRA law could widen these exemptions, increasing secrecy and reducing accountability in government spending and development projects.

By Jamaica Gleaner

Retrieved about 7 hours ago

Editorial | Consensus on International Criminal Court

Caribbean leaders, especially Jamaica and The Bahamas, are being urged to resist US pressure against the International Criminal Court and instead build a common CARICOM position. The piece says the region has a stake in the ICC, given its role in shaping international justice, and warns that weakening the court would erode the rule of law and leave small states more exposed.

By Jamaica Gleaner

Retrieved about 7 hours ago

Letter of the Day | 2026 PEP awards and educational inequality

In this opinion piece, Dr. Anya Cushnie argues that Jamaica’s 2026 PEP scholarship results highlight a major gap in educational opportunity, with private preparatory schools producing most of the top awards despite enrolling a small share of students. She says the Ministry of Education should use the results to strengthen public primary schools so talented children have a fairer chance to succeed.

By Jamaica Gleaner

Retrieved about 7 hours ago

Readers’ reactions | Government boosts funding to schools to improve operations

Readers reacted to Jamaica’s added J$75 million for education and the 55% average increase in funding for public schools, with many welcoming more support for special-needs schools. Others said the real test will be transparency, early disbursement and whether the money reaches classrooms, while also calling for better teacher pay.

By Jamaica Gleaner

Retrieved about 7 hours ago