Grenadian-Trinidadian calypso icon Slinger Francisco, more popularly known as Mighty Sparrow, has died at age 91. He died on Sunday in New York following a brief period of illness, his family has announced. "It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Trinidad and Tobago's Calypso icon, Slinger Francisco, known to the world as 'The Mighty Sparrow'. He was 91 years old," his daughter Karen Francisco said in...

KINGSTON, Jamaica—Member of Parliament (MP) for Manchester North West, Mikael Phillips, has joined the call for an increase in the Constituency Development Fund (CDF), arguing that MPs are being asked to fill roles where State agencies have retreated. He made the call on September 22 during his contribution to the State of the Constituency Debate in the House of Representatives. Phillips joins at least three other Opposition MPs and one...

KINGSTON, Jamaica—Member of Parliament (MP) for St Andrew West Rural, Juliet Cuthbert-Flynn, is imploring both the National Works Agency (NWA) and parish councils (municipal corporations), to ensure that construction is undertaken in a way that does not put lives at risk. She made the call as she opened the 2026/27 State of the Constituency Debate in the House of Representatives on September 22. “We must build, but we must build...

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP)—United States (US) President Donald Trump said Sunday that he expects talks with Iran to resume in the coming week, despite his rejection of a truce proposal put forward by Tehran. Iranian officials brought with them to the UN General Assembly in New York a plan for a seven-day truce followed by the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz shipping channel. Trump dismissed the plan and has...

Defending champions Portmore United (PMU) will make their first appearance in the 2026-27 Jamaica Premier League (JPL) on Sunday, when they host Humble Lion FC at the Ferdie Neita Park. The game is set for kick-off at 3:30 pm. PMU missed the first two rounds of the competition to focus on their Concacaf Caribbean Club games and, after securing a place in the semi-finals, along with Mt Pleasant FA, can...

Jamaica's Brandon Brown won gold in optoelectronic technology at the WorldSkills Shanghai 2026, sharing the top honour with the competitor from South Korea. This was announced by the HEART/NSTA Trust in a social media post on Sunday. "This is a landmark moment for Jamaica and a powerful reflection of what can be achieved through skills, preparation, dedication and teamwork. Brandon’s achievement is the culmination of the hard work of the...

The Island Traffic Authority (ITA) is reporting that 39 people were killed in 33 fatal crashes during the month of August. This represents an increase of 18 per cent in fatalities and an increase of 10 per cent in fatal crashes when compared with August 2025. With six, St Catherine parish recorded the most fatalities during the month under review. St Ann and St James came next with five fatalities...

KINGSTON, Jamaica—Attorney-at-law and Government Senator Christian Tavares-Finson is cautioning against any substantial changes to the Firearms Act which came into effect in November 2022. Tavares-Finson said in a statement that, while, in principle, he is not opposed to a review of the Act, substantial changes to its provisions would be ill-advised. He is also expressing his full support for the mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years under the Act, which...

KINGSTON, Jamaica—Restaurants of Jamaica Limited (ROJ), operators of KFC and Pizza Hut, is reinforcing its commitment to Jamaica’s agricultural sector, by way of a $1 million sponsorship of the 20th Caribbean Week of Agriculture (CWA) being hosted here in Jamaica. The sponsorship underscores ROJ’s role as a major supporter of agriculture - not only through its longstanding partnership with local suppliers, but also through investing directly in one of the...

ST ELIZABETH, Jamaica— A man who police say was before the courts for several cases of larceny and break-ins plaguing south St Elizabeth was fatally shot during what the police say is an intelligence-driven operation in Seaview district near Junction, Sunday morning. Police named the suspect as Ian Vassell, otherwise called “Papa”, a resident of Seaview district in the parish. Police said that about 5:15 am, personnel executed a warrant...

UNITED NATIONS (CMC) – Jamaica has called for sweeping reforms of the international system, warning that the shortcomings of multilateralism cannot be addressed by abandoning it at a time when small states are confronting climate shocks, security threats and growing economic pressures. Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Minister, Senator Kamina Johnson Smith, addressing the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly, said wars, geopolitical tensions, climate change and rapidly...

TEHRAN, Iran (AFP)—Iran stood firm Sunday on its conditions for reopening the Strait of Hormuz, despite United States (US) President Donald Trump's rejection of the proposal, leaving the Middle East war locked in a stalemate. The waterway is key to the world's energy supply and is now central to the conflict between Washington and Tehran, which was triggered nearly seven months ago with deadly strikes on Iran. Iran's plan called...