ST ELIZABETH, Jamaica — A 29-year-old construction worker of Burnt Savannah District, St Elizabeth has been charged with several incidents of reported sexual misconduct involving his stepdaughter. The man, whose identity is being withheld to protect the victim, faces five counts of sexual intercourse with a person under the age of 16, sexual touching of a child, possession of child pornography and distribution of child pornography. According to reports, the...

MIAMI, United States — Visa has appointed Jorge Salum as vice-president and country manager for Greater Caribbean Markets, placing him in charge of an expanded regional structure covering 22 markets. The newly created portfolio combines Visa’s northern and southern Caribbean operations, excluding Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. Salum, who previously served as country manager for the southern Caribbean, will oversee Visa’s operations and relationships with financial institutions, merchants, fintech...

NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — The so-called Gilgo Beach serial killer, accused of strangling and dismembering women and scattering their remains around a coastal community near New York, was sentenced Wednesday to life in prison. Rex Heuermann, 62, in April pleaded guilty to seven murders, plus an eighth that he had not yet been charged with, in a crime spree spanning 1993 to 2010 around Long Island, near New York...

ST ELIZABETH, Jamaica — A 15-year-old student of BB Coke High School has been charged in connection with the alleged assault and robbery of a fellow student in the school bathroom in May. The teen, whose identity is being withheld due to her age, has been charged with robbery with aggravation and assault occasioning bodily harm. According to reports, a 13-year-old student was reportedly in the school bathroom when she...

ST ANN, Jamaica — Dunn’s River Falls and Park has been named a 2026 TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Awards winner, placing the attraction among the top 10 per cent of attractions worldwide based on visitor reviews and ratings. In a release on Wednesday, the Urban Development Corporation (UDC), which manages the attraction, said the recognition reflects consistently positive feedback from travellers over a 12-month period and highlights excellence in customer experience,...

The Opposition People's National Party says the recent reacquisition of a controlling ownership interest in Paymaster by Cabinet Minister Audrey Marks raises legitimate questions regarding the management of potential conflicts of interest and the safeguards required to maintain public confidence in government decision-making. Marks holds responsibility for efficiency, innovation and digital transformation, a portfolio that directly shapes policy affecting Jamaica’s digital services, payments systems, and wider fintech ecosystem, the PNP...

ST MARY, Jamaica — Councillor for the Retreat Division, Daedre Moulton, is urging the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) to resume attending regular sittings of the St Mary Municipal Corporation rather than limiting its participation to Disaster Committee meetings. Moulton, a Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) councillor, said police representation has declined since the change. She noted that when the JCF attended full council meetings, the superintendent or a senior representative was...

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Opposition Spokesman on Environment and Climate Resilience Omar Newell has criticised recent comments by Environment Minister Matthew Samuda linking Jamaica's biggest mangrove threat to the illegal cutting of trees for firewood, arguing that the claims are inconsistent with findings in the Government's National Mangrove and Swamp Forest Management Plan 2023–2033. Newell's criticism follows a Jamaica Observer article on June 15 which quoted Samuda as saying, “The biggest...

FRANKFURT, Germany (AFP) — Replica World Cup shirts of several German players were temporarily unavailable due to a shortage of the letter "V" following high demand from fans, Adidas said Wednesday. The sportswear giant, which supplies kits for the German team, said supporters flocking to snap up shirts of Kai Havertz, Deniz Undav and Aleksandar Pavlovic had drained supplies of the letter. "There were short-term shortages in the availability of the...

ROME, Italy (AFP) — The United Nations (UN) food aid agency, which has been hit hard by steep European and United States (US) funding cuts, on Wednesday welcomed a US$800 million contribution from the United States. The World Food Programme (WFP), in a statement, said the funds would support "life-saving food and nutrition operations to reach more than 38 million of the most vulnerable across at least 37 countries". The Rome-based...

ST ELIZABETH, Jamaica — A teenager accused of murdering his brother and injuring his mother and younger sibling during an incident at their St Elizabeth home on Saturday has been formally charged. Lorenzo Williams, 19, of Stephenson Town, Seaview in St Elizabeth, is charged with murder and wounding with intent. The deceased has been identified as 21-year-old Travis Williams. According to reports, around 12:30 am, Lorenzo, Travis, their 43-year-old mother,...

EVIAN, France (AFP) — United States (US) President Donald Trump on Wednesday warned Iran he was ready to resume military action if Tehran did not abide by its obligations, two days ahead of the signing of an accord to end the war between the foes. "No it's not final. It's a memorandum of understanding," Trump said at the G7, referring to the agreement expected to be signed in Switzerland on Friday....