KINGSTON, Jamaica — What began as a Labour Day encounter with children at the Strathmore Gardens Children’s Home has blossomed into a mission of giving back for Jodie Bowes-Morrison, who recently spearheaded a back-to-school treat for 70 children from the facility. The initiative saw the children treated to a day at Hope Zoo, where they participated in several activities, including a tour, face painting and animal petting, ahead of the...

KINGSTON, Jamaica — The United States (US) dollar on Monday, September 28, ended trading at $159.49, up 34 cents, according to the Bank of Jamaica’s daily exchange trading summary. Meanwhile, the Canadian dollar ended trading at $113.14, down from $113.33, and the British pound ended at $212.94, up from $211.21.

MANCHESTER, Jamaica — Police have released the identity of the man who succumbed to injuries sustained in a crash on the Porus main road in Manchester Monday morning. He is 39-year-old delivery man Damion Reece, a resident of Seaview Gardens phase 1. READ: Man dies in Porus crash Preliminary reports are that shortly after 5:00 am the driver of a Toyota Hiace minibus lost control of the vehicle causing it...

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — The Miss Universe Organization has reaffirmed its continued support for Dr Gabrielle Henry, Miss Universe Jamaica 2025, and its commitment to the safety and well-being of its delegates following her accident during the 74th Miss Universe competition in Thailand. According to a release from the  organisation, it is aware of recent media reports regarding legal action related to the incident, but has not been formally...

NEW YORK, United States — The American Friends of Jamaica (AFJ) will host its 2026 Hummingbird Gala on Friday, October 16 at The Plaza Hotel in New York City, where it will honour individuals who have made significant contributions to Jamaica and its people. According to a release from the AFJ, Prime Minister Andrew Holness will attend the gala, which will celebrate the enduring ties between Jamaica and the United...

Reggae artiste Tilibop has joined forces with Sizzla Kalonji on “Dem nuh ready,” a new single about conviction, preparation and holding firm when others underestimate you. For Tilibop, recording with Sizzla marks a milestone. “I’ve long admired the conviction in his music,” he said. “To bring our voices together on one record meant a great deal. We came with different perspectives, but the message and the energy met naturally.” The...

Two former Porus Primary School students have been recognised for their outstanding performance in the Primary Exit Profile examinations, receiving surprise gifts as part of a wider effort to support children in Manchester. Azzurr Tomlin, who now attends Hampton High School, and Maligue Lawrence, who is enrolled at DeCarteret College, were honoured by Hudson Valley Dynamic Counselling (HVDC) LCSW PC in association with Friends of Porus. One student received a...

KINGSTON, Jamaica — A fourth-form Wolmer’s Boys High School student has died following a medical emergency at the school on Monday, the school has confirmed. In a statement, the Wolmer’s Joint Board of Management indicated that the student collapsed during class and was rushed to hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. The board expressed profound sorrow at the passing of the young man, describing it as a deeply painful...

  TRELAWNY, Jamaica — A Regional Centre of Excellence for Agricultural Innovation is to be established in Jamaica, Director General of the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), Dr Muhammad Ibrahim, announced Sunday night. The centre, being championed by Agriculture Minister Floyd Green, will form part of IICA’s efforts to strengthen agricultural innovation and resilience across the Caribbean. Ibrahim made the announcement at the opening of the 20th Caribbean...

Veteran deejay Lieutenant Stitchie has died. Observer Online understands that the entertainer, whose given name was Cleveland “Cleve” Laing, died at hospital on Monday, just one day before he would have celebrated his 61st birthday. The tragic news comes less than 24 hours after the entertainer’s wife, Sophia Laing confirmed that he had been hospitalised with a low blood count and was receiving treatment at the Kingston Public Hospital. READ:...

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Jamaica has been listed as the country with the second-longest average work week in the Americas and the longest in the Caribbean for 2026, according to a report shared by the World Population Review. Eclipsed only by 28th-placed Honduras, whose population works an average of 44.20 hours per week, Jamaica placed 35th on the list, with locals working an average of 43.45 hours per week. Men put...