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News|Israel-Palestine conflict Israeli forces opened fire on a car in the occupied West Bank, killing a seven-month-old boy and wounding his parents. Sam Fahd Abou Haikal was killed and his parents injured in the city of Hebron on Friday “after the occupation forces opened fire on them”, the Palestinian Ministry of Health said
At New Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, India’s most famous protest strip, hundreds of mostly young people in cockroach masks and with dog-eared exam guides in hand tried to turn an online joke into a real-world force. They call themselves the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) – a satirical “people’s party” born barely three weeks ago after India’s chief justice reportedly likened government critics and unemployed youth to “cockroaches” and “parasites”
Review: Vybz Kartel’s Most Complete Post-Prison Body of Work on God and TimeAkeeile Harris11 minutes ago3 min readAt 50 years old, while having already achieved almost everything possible in dancehall, the phenomenon delivers one of his most focused and complete projects in years. From the song selection and sequencing to the production choices and overall structure, God and Time feels intentional, polished, and crafted with purposeGod and Time reinforce why Vybz Kartel remains dancehall’s defining figure (Photo: Now Or Never)Vybz Kartel delivers arguably his most complete body of work since his release with God and Time, a 14-track LP centered around themes of gratitude, faith, spirituality, romance, wellness, and reflection
Jamaican authorities are investigating a fire at Up Park Camp and a near two-hour islandwide power outage, while police and courts report developments in St Catherine and St James.
JIS published video coverage tied to the National Environment and Planning Agency’s 25th anniversary distinguished lecture, with the source material offering no further narrative details beyond the programme title.
Former President of the Court of Appeal Justice Ian Forte was on Friday lauded for his stewardship of Jamaica’s highest court and his immense contribution to national and Caribbean jurisprudence. Retired Justice Forte, the spouse of parliamentarian Marlene Malahoo Forte, died at his home early Friday
Troy, Trelawny — Arguing that it could have cost taxpayers at least 30 per cent less if completed four years ago, Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness on Friday declared there were lessons to learnt from the five-year journey to construct the $230-million Troy Bridge. According to Holness, the project hammered home the point that “good governance must mean more than following procedures” and must ultimately be measured by its ability to deliver results
Opposition Senator Lambert Brown has argued that if the Government is determined to continue withdrawing billions from the National Housing Trust (NHT), then at least $4 billion a year should be used to build homes for Hurricane Melissa victims in western Jamaica. That suggestion was made during Friday’s debate in the Senate on the National Housing Trust (Amendment) (Special Provisions) Act, 2026, which was subsequently passed without amendment, extending the Government’s authority to transfer up to $11.4 billion annually from the NHT to the Consolidated Fund for another five years
Government Senator Kavan Gayle says Jamaica has money for housing and infrastructure, but not enough skilled tradespeople to deliver projects on time. He urged stronger training links between the NHT and HEART/NSTA Trust.
Principals of two Corporate Area-based special education institutions — Marie Atkins Early Childhood and Maranatha Early Childhood Basic schools — are appealing for assistance to expand their campuses as they move to better accommodate an increasing number of students with special needs. When the Jamaica Observer visited the institutions on Friday, the school heads insisted that the upgrades are an urgent necessity that will allow for better physical and educational support of the needs of all students as the institutions strive to ensure an inclusive and more accessible learning environment
Hundreds of supporters of the Cockroach Janta Party (Cockroach People’s Party, or CJP), a satirical social media movement in India, have gathered in New Delhi after weeks of grabbing news headlines. The party, a play on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu-nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has attracted millions of online followers and widespread support among young Indians
When the European Union issued its latest tranche of sanctions against Israeli settler groups and their leaders, Regavim, founded in part by the country’s Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, these groups welcomed the measures as a “badge of honour.” Another sanctioned figure, Daniella Weiss, whose movement, Nachala, has held conferences on the Gaza border to discuss plans for settlement expansion into the occupied Palestinian territory, likewise dismissed the European penalties as “ridiculous” and “banal”. list of 4 items list 1 of 4Israeli settlers torch Palestinian homes in village near Ramallah list 2 of 4Israeli settlers are driving Palestinian shepherds from their grazing lands list 3 of 4Itamar Ben-Gvir: The face of Israel’s hard right — or the face of Israel? list 4 of 4Israel’s Smotrich announces plan for 2,162 homes in occupied West Bank end of list In total, the EU sanctioned four entities and three individuals associated with the settler movement, which includes high-profile characters such as Weiss, Regavim and its director, Meir Deutsch, and the Amana cooperative association, which offers logistical and financial support to settlements in the occupied West Bank
NEPA used its 25th anniversary distinguished lecture to press for ecosystem-based disaster recovery, stronger land-use planning and youth leadership in Jamaica’s environmental future.
The Jamaica Defence Force says a Friday night blaze in the barracks section of Up Park Camp has been put out. The cause is still unknown and an investigation is to follow.
JPS has begun returning electricity to Jamaicans after Friday night’s islandwide outage, while Energy Minister Daryl Vaz has ordered the utility to explain the failure within 24 hours.
Firefighters were responding after a fire was reported Friday evening at Up Park Camp in Kingston. Commissioner Stewart Beckford confirmed the incident, but details on the cause and damage were not yet available.
The rebuilt Troy Bridge has officially opened, restoring a key crossing between southern Trelawny and north-western Manchester after Tropical Storm Grace destroyed the old structure in 2021.
D’yani has released “Journey,” a new reggae single produced with Kareem “Remus” Burrell, while preparing more music and a 2027 Island Vybz Experience appearance.
True Pet Food used its first Inner Circle gathering at Sandals Dunn’s River to brief retailers and distributors on brand plans, recognise partners, and deepen support for Jamaica’s pet food trade.
Electricity service has been disrupted in several parishes, but JPS has not yet provided details on the cause or when supply may be restored.
Prime Minister Andrew Holness officially reopened the Troy Bridge, restoring a key connection between southern Trelawny and north-western Manchester after years of disruption.
Government officials opened the rebuilt Troy Bridge on June 5, restoring a crucial connection for residents, students, farmers and businesses between southern Trelawny and north-west Manchester.
Club MECA is staging back-to-back weekend events in Kingston, with Nigy Boy booked for Friday and Serani performing Saturday as part of his birthday celebrations.
NCB says its Falmouth operations will shift to Champion Plaza on July 6, citing easier access, more parking, stronger security and space to serve Trelawny's growing banking market.
Kingston, Jamaica — The urology service at Spanish Town Hospital has completed nearly 1,500 surgical procedures since its establishment five years ago, as the public health facility continues to expand access to specialised urological care in St Catherine and neighbouring parishes. The service, which was launched on May 3, 2021, has also provided outpatient treatment to thousands of patients and has grown into one of Jamaica’s leading public-sector urology units, according to a release issued on Friday
Jamaica is advancing major water, environmental and climate projects, including drought monitoring, non-revenue water reduction, wetland restoration and new climate legislation.
Water, Environment and Climate Change Minister Matthew Samuda has detailed major investments aimed at improving potable water access, reducing system losses, protecting ecosystems and strengthening Jamaica’s response to climate risks.
The ATL Automotive Group will be out in full force as the title sponsor for Skvnk Fest, scheduled for this Sunday, June 7, at Cinema 2, New Kingston. “The Skvnk lifestyle brand has always had a good relationship with ATL Automotive, and when you think about a company that has variety for consumers, we can only be talking about ATL Automotive,” Nick Lue, event organiser, told the Jamaica Observer’s weekly Auto magazine
Manhattan, New York — Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism and Chairman of the Tourism Supply-Side Ministerial Committee, Edmund Bartlett on Thursday addressed the launch of the Caribbean Tourism Organization’s (CTO) Supply-Side Initiative in New York, calling for a fundamental shift in how the region measures and develops its tourism economy. Speaking under the theme: ‘Reimagining Caribbean Tourism’, Bartlett argued that the sector must move beyond traditional metrics of arrivals and occupancy to focus on how tourism stimulates local production, strengthens regional value chains, and retains wealth within Caribbean economies
Mount Pleasant Academy will begin their CFU Club Shield campaign against Antigua and Barbuda's All Saints United after receiving a bye to the Round of 16 in Trinidad and Tobago.