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KINGSTON, Jamaica — The United States (US) dollar on Thursday, September 4, ended trading at $161.25, up 9 cents, according to the Bank of Jamaica’s daily exchange trading summary. Meanwhile, the Canadian dollar ended trading at $118.84, up from $118.70, and the British pound ended at $216.91, down from $217.10.

MIAMI, United States (AFP) — A US appeals court ruled on Thursday that a Florida migrant detention centre known as "Alligator Alcatraz" can remain open for now. A lower court judge had barred the Trump administration and Florida officials last month from bringing any new migrants to the facility and for much of the site to be dismantled, effectively shutting it down. But a three-judge panel of the 11th Circuit...

TORTOLA, British Virgin Islands (CMC) — The Governor of the British Virgin Islands (BVI), Daniel Pruce, has described gun crime as one of the most pressing security concerns facing the territory and said it must be addressed with urgency. Speaking during a recent press conference, Pruce said illegal firearms continue to threaten public safety and confidence. “Gun crime is a good illustration, I think, of an area where a number...

KINGSTON, Jamaica — With the Opposition People’s National Party (PNP) securing 29 seats in the 2025 General Election, Dr Lloyd Waller, professor of digital transformation policy and governance at the University of the West Indies, Mona, says the parliamentary dynamic is bound to change. “The flexibility that the Government of Jamaica, the prime minister in particular, had, the flexibility doesn't [quite] exist anymore. So, certainly, there have to be some...

SOFIA, Bulgaria (AFP)-Spain kicked off their World Cup 2026 qualification campaign with an emphatic 3-0 win in Bulgaria on Thursday. The Euro 2024 champions eased to a comfortable victory at the Vasil Levski Stadium in Sofia with first-half goals from Mikel Oyarzabal, Marc Cucurella and Mikel Merino. Spain coach Luis de la Fuente was able to bring on Rodri Hernandez and Dani Carvajal for their first international appearances in several...

LILLE, France (AFP) — A French couple kept Louise, a playful black panther, in an apartment in northern France, triggering panic when she was spotted roaming nearby rooftops. The pair were handed suspended jail sentences on Thursday for illegally keeping a wild animal, despite protesting that they saw Louise as their baby. The ruling follows a September 2019 incident when the months-old feline was seen roaming a rooftop in Armentieres after...

KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Government and political parties will have to use information and appeal to civic responsibility to combat voter apathy in the country, after Jamaica recorded just 39 per cent voter turnout for the recently concluded General Elections, says Professor Dr Lloyd Waller. “The solution is going to have to be ethics. People need to understand the importance of participation and its impact, and the implications of lack of...

KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Jamaica Labour Party’s (JLP) Dana Morris Dixon says the party, under Prime Minister Andrew Holness’ direction, executed a clean political campaign in the run-up to their victory in the General Elections on Wednesday. “Third terms are really, really hard, and this campaign was hard, but the prime minister did set the groundwork, and that’s why I am even more proud to be a part of this...

KINGSTON, Jamaica—The Minister of Education, Youth, Skills, and Information, Senator Dana Morris Dixon, says he is elated at the number of women who are set to enter the House of Representatives following Wednesday’s general election. “I am also very happy about the women in Parliament. Based on last night’s count there are 19. We will see what happens with the final counts; that is a very big. It is a...

British reggae band UB40 earned a triple platinum certification in the United Kingdom (UK) last week, when the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) certified its 1983 cover of Red Red Wine for sales and streaming exceeding 1.8 million units. Red Red Wine was recorded in August 1983 but it wasn't until the following year that the song topped the UK Singles chart and rose to #38 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in America....

Four Men Charged with Breaches of the Firearms Act in St. James

KINGSTON, Jamaica — While it is confident that it has retained the 34 constituencies awarded to it on election night, after the preliminary count, the ruling Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) says there are several seats that the party will be paying keen attention to as the official count takes place. “Clearly, Central Kingston and South East St Mary, won and lost by 12 and 11 votes based on the preliminary, we will...