DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AFP) —United States (US) embassies in capitals across the Middle East on Saturday warned their citizens to beware of "unforeseen escalation" in the regional conflict and urged them to be ready to leave. The warning, posted online by US embassies in Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, came a day after US President Donald Trump threatened to...

MIAMI, United States (AFP) — North and Central American football's governing body Concacaf on Saturday called for a "comprehensive reckoning with" Gianni Infantino's leadership of FIFA after his aborted plan to allow private investment in the World Cup. "This recent unilateral and egregious act of poor governance and leadership follows a pattern of missteps and similar behaviour," Concacaf said in a statement. "A comprehensive reckoning with this presidency is imperative."...

Prime Minister Andrew Holness says the rebuilding efforts of Jamaicans following the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa last October reflect the spirit of our ancestors in their fight to overcome oppression. In his Emancipation Day message, the prime minister maintained that the same spirit that led our ancestors to freedom will carry Jamaicans through recovery following the Category 5 storm. "In the months since Hurricane Melissa, communities across Jamaica have borne real...

CÚCUTA, Colombia (AFP) — At least 11 people were injured Saturday when a truck packed with explosives detonated next to a Colombian police station near the border with Venezuela, six days before President-elect Abelardo de la Espriella's inauguration. AFP reporters saw the vehicle in flames, damaged building facades and police, soldiers and residents gathering around the scene of the attack in the northern city of Cucuta before local security officials...

Director of St Thomas Farms Limited, Dr Michelle Charles has defended the company’s proposed aquaculture project in Barking Lodge, St Thomas, following residents' concerns about the development's proximity to a primary school. In a statement issued in response to the concerns surrounding the project, Charles sought to clarify what she described as important facts about the development, stressing that the project is being carried out on private property and in...

PARIS, France  (AFP) —FIFA president Gianni Infantino failed to calm the stormy waters surrounding his position despite on Saturday scrapping a plan to allow private investment in the World Cup. European football's governing body UEFA had led the opposition to the plan -- saying they would boycott all FIFA competitions -- and while welcoming the withdrawal of the proposal said Infantino had lost their and other football family members "confidence"...

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Jamaica added three more medals on Saturday morning’s penultimate session of track and field at the 23rd Commonwealth Games at Scotstoun Stadium in Glasgow, Scotland. The team won two gold and a silver to take their tally to 15 medals, seven gold, three silver and five bronze as Jordan Scott and Dejanae Oakley obliged as favourites in the men’s triple jump and women’s 400m, with Fedrick Dacres taking...

Wilburn Theodore “Stranger” Cole got a ‘bangarang’ sendoff at the Ranny Williams Entertainment Centre in St Andrew on Wednesday. The reggae pioneer, who died on June 3 at age 83, was remembered by family and colleagues for his selfless contributions. Known for songs such as Rough And Tough, When You Call my Name (with Patsy Todd) and Bangarang, Stranger Cole made his name in the early 1960s when the Jamaican...

KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS) is offering free electric vehicle charging at all JPS Charge ‘n Go stations islandwide on Emancipation Day, August 1, and Independence Day, August 6. On both holidays, charging will be free from 12:00 am to 11:59 pm, giving electric vehicle (EV) owners 24 hours to power up at no cost, as they travel to celebrations, family gatherings and getaways across the...

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Jamaica’s Sunshine Girls scored a sensational one goal 46-45 win over defending champions and world number one ranked Australia in Saturday’s semi-final of the netball competition at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland. The win was revenge for an equally close loss in the final four years ago in Birmingham, UK and saw the Jamaicans qualify for back-to-back finals. In Sunday’s final, Jamaica will face New Zealand in a rematch of...