WESTERN BUREAU: Lucea Mayor Sheridan Samuels says he will be collaborating with Hanover Western Member of Parliament Heatha Miller-Bennett to develop a comprehensive cleaning plan for the Venture Gutter, which runs through the town of Lucea and which has been blamed for recent episodes of flooding in the seaside town.

WESTERN BUREAU: At 70, blindness left him unable to rebuild; at 84, his brother could only wait. When Hurricane Melissa destroyed their home in Bunkers Hill, Trelawny, the Reid brothers – alongside a widowed mother of five – were left homeless, struggling for shelter and unsure when help would arrive.

The Ontario-based Alliance of Jamaican Alumni Associations (AJAA) has organised a telethon to raise CDN$50,000 to help schools in Jamaica that have been most impacted by Hurricane Melissa. The association said it believes that learning should not stop when disaster strikes, while noting that the hurricane has disrupted the lives of thousands of students and educators.

Jamaican seasonal farm workers at Wafler Farms in upstate New York are beginning the new crop season with higher wages and expanded labour protections under a new union contract negotiated by United Farm Workers (UFW). The Wayne County apple orchard employs approximately 120 to 130 workers, the majority of whom are Jamaican. For many, the agreement marks a significant improvement in pay and job security. “We feel elated. Very happy,” Owen Salmon, a native of Black River, St Elizabeth, who has worked at Wafler Farms for nearly a decade, told The Gleaner.

WESTERN BUREAU: In the days after Hurricane Melissa tore through Jamaica, the country fractured. Roads disappeared, communities were cut off, and families sheltered in damaged buildings, waiting for water, power, or word that help was coming. In some areas, hunger arrived before information. Over the next three months, World Central Kitchen (WCK) would answer that hunger 6.7 million times.

A new Border Patrol report says that two agents fired the ten shots at Alex Pretti that killed him and does not mention the gun owner taking out his gun

Pretti, a 37-year-old VA nurse, was seen recording agents on his phone and then intervened after an agent shoved a woman to the ground.

President Donald Trump warded off protestors and delivered a meandering speech about his first-year back in office while attempting to turn around a spiraling narrative about his presidency.

Ilhan Omar was attacked by a man who yelled that she 'should resign' before spraying an unknown liquid at the Minnesota Congresswoman.

Rachel Reeves is facing a growing backlash after temporary help on business rates was restricted to pubs, leaving thousands of small shops, restaurants and hotels facing tax rises in April.

While Singapore and Hong Kong compete in some areas, there is also scope for the two cities to collaborate and learn from one another to achieve mutually beneficial outcomes, said Minister for National Development Chee Hong Tat.Chee, who is also the deputy chairman of the Monetary Authority of Singapore board of directors, was writing in two Facebook posts as he wraps up a four-day working visit to Hong Kong on Wednesday (Jan 28).After a meeting with senior representatives from Singapore banks and leading global financial institutions in Hong Kong on Tuesday, Chee emphasised the importance of public and private sectors working together.«Our exchanges underscored the importance of deepening global partnerships across government and the private sector, and working together to add value for investors and businesses across Asia,» wrote Chee.He added that while Singapore and Hong Kong do compete in some areas, there remains scope for the two cities to collaborate and achieve «win-win benefits» for both, riding on Asia's growth.

The Government will address issues of public concern at Budget 2026, said Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.In a video on Tuesday (Jan 27), PM Wong said that he and his team have engaged Singaporeans from all walks of life about the upcoming Budget.«We have heard your aspirations and also your concerns about the uncertain external environment, the impact of technology and AI on jobs and also on cost pressures that you face,» he said in the 38-second video.PM Wong emphasised that feedback and views from the public have been taken into consideration when constructing Budget 2026.The video also featured footage of other MPs such as Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Manpower Shawn Huang, Leader of the House Indranee Rajah and Acting Minister for Transport Jeffrey Siow engaging with members of the public at various events.Budget 2026 will be the first Budget since GE2025 concluded in May and Cabinet changes were made.PM Wong will deliver the Budget 2026 statement in Parliament on Feb 12.

A total of 13 people were taken to hospital after an accident on Orchard Road on Wednesday (Jan 28) morning. Photos shared on social media showed a car and lorry on the pavement in front of the Apple store at the junction of Orchard Road and Orchard Link. Several officers from the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) were at the scene.  Responding to AsiaOne’s queries, the SCDF said that it was alerted to the accident at about 6.20am. Six people were taken to Tan Tock Seng Hospital and the rest to Singapore General Hospital.Another five persons were assessed for minor injuries but declined to be taken to hospital. AsiaOne has contacted the police for comment. [[nid:709975]]

Judge sentenced the man to five months in custody and 18 months probation, finding the «pre-meditated and revenge motivated nature of the acts» he committed placed it in a more «egregious category» than other cases. 

Western Bureau: When Hurricane Melissa devastated Jamaica on October 28 last year, 44-year-old Theresa Diana Wedderburn of Pell River, Hanover, and her husband and five children, were among the scores of impacted families that were left homeless. After weeks without a proper place to lay their heads at night, the family now has a proper shelter, thanks to the efforts of the member of parliament (MP) for Hanover Western, Heatha Miller-Bennett, who has launched an initiative to assist affected families in her constituency.

WESTERN BUREAU: Nearly three months after Hurricane Melissa tore through western Jamaica, the Jamaica Public Service (JPS), in partnership with the Government, commissioned an emergency mobile power-generating unit in Darliston, Westmoreland, on Sunday, marking a critical step in restoring electricity to some of the hardest-hit areas.

Craig Beresford, executive director of the Integrity Commission (IC), says the anti-corruption body has challenges retaining highly skilled staff and attracting new talent due to the level of remuneration they receive when compared with their counterpart investigative agencies. In an interview with The Gleaner, Beresford signalled that the Government’s Compensation Review exercise has made the IC less attractive to prospective employees.

The attorney for one of the founders of Stocks & Securities Limited (SSL), the investment firm that collapsed amid allegations of a $4-billion fraud, has cautioned that the criminal charges laid against his client “do not relate to any stealing of funds”. Instead, King’s Counsel Peter Champagnie, the attorney representing SSL’s founding Director Hugh Croskery, said the charges are related to breaches of several laws governing the financial sector.

Defence attorney Hugh Wildman yesterday branded Minister of Agriculture Floyd Green a “stranger to the truth” and a “consummate liar” during a heated cross-examination in the Home Circuit Court murder trial of six policemen charged in connection with the fatal 2013 shooting of three men along Acadia Drive in St Andrew. Wildman launched repeated attacks on Green’s credibility as he challenged the minister’s account of what he claimed to have witnessed from the third floor of his then apartment, which overlooked the scene across the road.

In a live stream of the event, a man walks up and sprays what appears to be liquid at Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minnesota) before he is taken away by security.

The US dollar has plunged to a four-year low after President Donald Trump publicly welcomed the American currency’s weakness Read Full Article at RT.com

SINGAPORE — On a quiet stretch off Li Hwan Drive, a pre-school is fighting to stay open.Founded by Loy Wee Mee in 2008, Pre-School By-The-Park @ Li Hwan has seen enrolment falling. In November 2025, it announced that it would shut its doors for good.To stay open, the privately run centre needs to enrol 40 new pupils by April 2026.A group of 52 parents stepped up and convinced Loy to hold an open house on Jan 24.These «Parents By-The-Park» took it upon themselves to publicise the pre-school, creating social media videos, putting up banners and distributing fliers around the neighbourhood.For years, the centre relied largely on word of mouth and did not advertise itself.Loy, who is in her fifties, said: «That's how we've grown. We have some social media (presence), but mostly it's been parents recommending us to other parents.»A space for child-led learning and nurturing curiosityOne of the parents involved is Low Li Ning, 36.Her four-year-old son enrolled at 18 months old and has been at the centre for more than two years.

The Chiradzulu Sons & Daughters Association has announced a major tree-planting initiative aimed at restoring Chiradzulu Mountain and promoting environmental sustainability in the district. The exercise, scheduled for Saturday, 31st January 2026 at 6:00 am, will take place at Chiradzulu Mountain (GVH Mbalame, TA Mpama) under the theme: “Restoring Chiradzulu Mountain for a Resilient and […] The post Chiradzulu Sons And Daughters Launch Major Tree-Planting Drive appeared first on Malawi Nyasa Times - News from Malawi about Malawi.

Great Britain’s Princess Royal has rein­forced Scot­land’s links with Malawi dur­ing a mile­stone event in Edin­burgh, Scotland, which was hos­ted by Lord Prov­ost Robert Ald­ridge at the City Cham­bers — marked the 20th anniversary of the Scot­land-Malawi Part­ner­ship (SMP). A report by Edin­burgh Evening News reports that the SMP sup­ports and con­nects many schools, uni­versit­ies, […] The post Princess Royal enhances Scot­land’s links with Malawi at mile­stone event in Edin­burgh appeared first on Malawi Nyasa Times - News from Malawi about Malawi.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen declared Europe-India political ties are stronger than ever, highlighted by a new Free Trade Agreement and Security and Defence Partnership. This collaboration signals a commitment to dialogue and cooperation amidst global uncertainty, aiming to bolster economic growth and strategic stability for both regions. The agreements mark a significant advancement in bilateral relations.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood confirmed 281 small boat migrants have been deported back to France under the deal, but 350 admitted.

The process Virginia Democrats used in an effort to create more blue-leaning congressional seats was invalid, a judge said. Democrats vowed to appeal.

A 19-year-old man was arrested on Monday (Jan 26) for his alleged involvement in a series of loanshark harassment cases.He was caught after the police were alerted to a case at about 4.50pm at a residential unit in Sengkang, the police said on Tuesday (Jan 27).A photograph of the scene provided by the police shows the main door of the victim's unit splashed with red paint. The main gate and steps leading to the unit were also affected.The suspect was identified within four hours of the report through follow-up investigations by officers from the Bedok Police Division and the Police Operations Command Centre, aided by police cameras.Preliminary investigations revealed that he is also believed to be involved in at least four similar cases of loanshark harassment island-wide, the police added.He will be charged in court on Wednesday.The offence of loanshark harassment carries a penalty of imprisonment of up to five years and a fine of up to $50,000.In addition, those found guilty may receive up to six strokes of the cane.[[nid:727825]]editor@asiaone.com 

Unlike a typical congressional impeachment inquiry, Democrats plan to conduct their investigation without Republicans.

Opening statements began in the New York trial of three Alexander brothers accused of sexually assaulting and trafficking women.

Republican lawmakers, who were highly supportive of the Trump administration in its first year, are taking issue with its handling of the Minneapolis crackdown.