NEW YORK: Two of three Jamaican men deported to Eswatini by the United States have reportedly said they do not wish to return to Jamaica. The two men, who spoke with Jamaica’s consul general to Miami, Oliver Mair, are 64-year old pastor Junior Alves and a man publicly identified only as ‘Miller’.

WESTERN BUREAU: Dr Kasan Troupe, permanent secretary in the Ministry of Education, is urging educators and administrators at the tertiary level to play a more active role in transforming the education sector, arguing that observing from the sidelines is not enough.

WESTERN BUREAU: An investigation has been launched by the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) into reports that crocodiles have been seen in the drains along Great George Street in Savanna-la-Mar, Westmoreland.

Overcome by grief, Shackera Crowl could not bring herself to walk the final few steps to look at her son’s lifeless body on the beach. Instead, the heartbroken mother, who turned back in tears, is left demanding answers as she struggles to cope with the loss of one of her three children.

Minister of Education, Skills, Youth and Information, Senator Dr Dana Morris Dixon, has pledged support for principals who enforce discipline in schools.

Students across the Caribbean who sat the Caribbean Examinations Council's (CXC) May-June 2026 examinations will be able to access their preliminary results online on Tuesday, August 18, beginning at 12 noon Atlantic Standard Time (AST).

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade says it has made contact with two of the three Jamaican nationals reported to be in the Kingdom of Eswatini, with both men indicating that they do not wish to return to Jamaica at this time.

There has been a decline in praedial larceny in South Trelawny, according to Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Orville Bushay, who heads the Praedial Larceny Unit for Area One, which comprises Trelawny, St James, Hanover and Westmoreland.

The Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) has announced sweeping reforms to its School-Based Assessment (SBA) framework, including the phased removal of the traditional SBA for most non-practical Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) and Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) subjects, as it responds to the rapid rise of generative artificial intelligence and other technological advances.

Lieutenant Colonel Sheldon Bryan of the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) has been appointed director general of the Island Traffic Authority (ITA), effective September 1. He has been seconded from the JDF with the approval of the chief of defence staff and the permanent secretary.

For Jamaica-born philanthropist Donna More Stewart, the opening of the Pollyanna Project Empowerment Learning Centre in Kakendema Village, Sierra Leone, represents more than the completion of another charitable project. It is the fulfilment of a vision rooted in partnership, dignity and the belief that communities can transform themselves when given the opportunity.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly being used by cybercriminals to identify weaknesses and launch attacks, with Jamaica recording 46.7 million attempted cyberattacks in 2025 and another 5.4 million in the first quarter of 2026, according to a new report from cybersecurity firm Fortinet. The company’s latest FortiGuard Labs Global Threat Landscape Report suggests that AI and automation are changing the nature of cyber threats by enabling criminals to scan for vulnerable systems, conduct reconnaissance and scale up attacks more quickly than before. What’s more, Jamaica recorded seven million active scanning attempts in 2025, with a further two million detected during the first three months of this year. The findings come as businesses and governments increasingly adopt AI tools to improve efficiency, even as cybersecurity specialists warn that the technology is giving attackers new capabilities. “The conversation around cybersecurity in Jamaica has changed dramatically. We’re seeing organisations move beyond asking whether they should invest in cybersecurity to understanding why it must be embedded into business strategy from day one. Security is no longer simply an IT expense; it is a business enabler that protects operations, customer trust and long-term growth. When security is built into an organisation’s operations from the outset, businesses are far better positioned to minimise the impact of an attack and maintain continuity when threats arise,” said Emmanuel Oscar, senior engineering manager for Fortinet English Caribbean. According to Fortinet, organisations are becoming more aware of cyber risks and are increasingly treating cybersecurity as a business issue rather than solely an information-technology concern. However, the company said the growing use of AI presents fresh challenges. Carlo Caloca, regional sales manager at Fortinet English Caribbean, warned that some organisations are adopting AI-powered tools before putting in place the systems and controls needed to manage the associated risks. “As organisations embrace AI to streamline everyday tasks - from developing presentations and reports to supporting customer engagement and data analysis - they must ensure those tools are being used responsibly and securely,” Caloca said. “Without the right governance, awareness and security controls, AI can unintentionally introduce new vulnerabilities into an organisation.” Fortinet noted that while AI can strengthen productivity and decision-making, it can also create new pathways for cyberattacks if organisations fail to establish appropriate safeguards. HUMAN BEHAVIOUR The company also said human behaviour remains one of the most common ways cybercriminals gain access to networks, underscoring the importance of staff training and cybersecurity awareness. Garfield Gordon, senior systems engineer for Fortinet Jamaica, said sensitive information is increasingly being shared through AI platforms, email systems, banking applications and other digital tools. He added that government agencies, banks and businesses remain among the sectors most frequently targeted by cybercriminals in Jamaica and across the Caribbean. Fortinet said it continues to support national cyber-resilience efforts through its participation in the Technology Recovery and Resilience Task Force, established by the Office of the Prime Minister following Hurricane Melissa. The initiative focuses on strengthening the resilience of critical digital infrastructure, including government services, healthcare and education. The company is also hosting a cybersecurity planning workshop with the Bank of Jamaica this week for chief security officers from financial institutions, aimed at strengthening cybersecurity strategies across the banking sector.

Employees at Gordon House, the seat of the country’s legislature, are reportedly peeved at a decision by the management of Parliament to install a junior parliamentary counsel to act as clerk to the houses, bypassing the current deputy clerk to the houses.

Forty years after the infamous ‘Hand of God’ incident, the stage is now set for another England-Argentina showdown as the second semi-final of the 2026 FIFA World Cup takes the spotlight today. Expectation is high at the British High Commission in Kingston and, likewise, at the Argentina Embassy that their countries will be in Sunday’s final.

WESTERN BUREAU: The National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA) says it is urgently in need of additional workers and trucks to handle the backlog of garbage piling up in Hanover. Speaking at last Thursday’s monthly meeting of the Hanover Municipal Corporation, Mark Jones, the public cleansing manager at Western Parks and Market (WPM), said there is a dire need for drivers and sanitation officers, which is impacting the ability to address the growing garbage backlog.

Road safety officials are intensifying efforts to reduce Jamaica’s annual road death toll to fewer than 300, with a renewed focus on curbing motorcycle fatalities and protecting vulnerable road users.

While many students preparing for the Primary Exit Profile (PEP) were narrowing their focus to books and past papers, Darien Hudlin was chasing a different goal – a spot on his school’s football team.

Western Bureau: With no formal plan in place to relocate or permanently rehabilitate the Savanna-la-Mar Market in Westmoreland, vendors displaced by Hurricane Melissa continue to bear the brunt of flooding and increasingly high tides that regularly inundate the low-lying coastal area where the facility is located.

Seventy per cent of the more than 34,000 contracts entered into by Jamaican public bodies during the last financial year, with a combined value of $370 billion, were awarded using either the single-source or emergency-procurement methods, the Integrity Commission (IC) has disclosed.

At first glance, they could pass for the centrepiece of a dessert table – swirls of frosting, rich colours and toppings that look good enough to eat. But the cupcake-like creations that drew double takes at Christmas in July are not baked treats. They are handcrafted candles made by Danielle Harrison, a Grade 12 student at St Andrew High School for Girls, who is turning a childhood fascination into a growing business.

For decades, the phrase ‘pageant queen’ conjured up images of evening gowns, flawless make-up, and carefully rehearsed answers about world peace. Yet at the Denbigh Agricultural, Industrial and Food Show in May Pen, Clarendon, on July 31, a different kind of royalty will take centre stage – one expected to explain the complexities of Jamaica’s agricultural sector as confidently as she walks in heels.

The Jamaican Bar Association (JamBar), in partnership with Scotiabank, hosted a fireside chat on personal development and financial empowerment for legal professionals on Saturday at the Scotiabank Corporate Learning Centre in Kingston.

Western Bureau: Last week’s opening of National Commercial Bank Jamaica’s (NCB) new branch in Falmouth, Trelawny was warmly welcomed by residents and business leaders, many of whom say the facility offers a far more comfortable banking experience than the previous location.

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) – A group of Caribbean leaders met with senior clergy from the Church of England on Tuesday as the push for slavery reparations intensifies, with activists also calling for the independence of British, French, Dutch and US territories in the region.

Road safety officials are intensifying efforts to reduce Jamaica’s annual road death toll to fewer than 300, with a renewed focus on curbing motorcycle fatalities and protecting vulnerable road users.

BRADES, Montserrat, CMC – Caribbean governments are being urged to carefully balance short-term fuel subsidies with long-term investments as the conflict between the United States and Iran drives up global oil prices and strains already limited public finances.

Detectives in St Catherine are investigating the fatal stabbing of a man during a dispute in Gregory Park, Portmore, on Monday.

Nearly four years after he was accused of shooting a man along Old Harbour Road in St Catherine, a Kingston labourer was today acquitted of gun-related charges in the Gun Court.

Nearly four years after he was accused of shooting a man along Old Harbour Road in St Catherine, a Kingston labourer was today acquitted of gun-related charges in the Gun Court.

Dear Mrs Huntington My green card will expire in November. I know I can apply for renewal only six months before expiration. My question is whether I need to provide an US address or use my Jamaican address for the card to be mailed to. I travel between Jamaica and US, as my children are citizens there.

The Jamaica Civil Aviation Authority (JCAA) is advising the public that the northern portion of Jamaica’s airspace, the Kingston Flight Information Region, will be temporarily restricted on Thursday arising from the planned launch of SpaceX Starship Flight 13 from Starbase in Texas, United States.

According to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), El Niño conditions have developed in the tropical Pacific and are expected to intensify over the coming months.

WESTERN BUREAU: A call is being made for people to refrain from prematurely trying the case against Police Constable Andrew Wilson, who is charged with murder in the controversial May 17 shooting death of Latoya ‘Buju’ Bulgin, in the court of public opinion.

WESTERN BUREAU: Eleven-year-old Yori Vanriel has emerged as western Jamaica’s top-performing boy in this year’s Primary Exit Profile (PEP) examinations, earning 394.9 out of 400 and ending a two-decade wait for Montego Bay Preparatory to produce the region’s top student.

Police Commissioner Dr Kevin Blake says domestic violence remains one of the country's most pressing public safety challenges, even as murders continue to decline.