BUFFALO, NY (AP): Four years after being stabbed on an amphitheatre stage, Salman Rushdie sat across a courtroom from his convicted attacker Thursday and told jurors for a second time about the ambush that nearly killed him. The prize-winning writer recalled feeling what he thought was a punch under his chin, then feeling blood coming from his neck. Soon “I was on the stage, lying down, with an enormous pool of blood all around me,” Rushdie testified. “It was an enormous and expansive lake of blood.”

The black buntings hanging across St Johns Road on the outskirts of Spanish Town fluttered gently in the breeze on Thursday, but they could not soften the grief that has settled over the close-knit St Catherine community. Behind gates draped in black, mothers, relatives, and lifelong friends are struggling to accept that what began as another routine pre-dawn work trip ended in unimaginable tragedy last Friday, leaving three families shattered and an entire community grieving.

The Crown on Thursday urged the Court of Appeal to uphold the convictions and sentences of dancehall entertainer Desmond ‘Ninjaman’ Ballentine and his co-accused, arguing that there was compelling evidence that they acted together to murder Ricardo Johnson. Senior Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Kathy Ann Pyke told the court that the trial judge was correct in refusing to withdraw the case from the jury as the prosecution had presented sufficient evidence upon which a reasonable jury, properly directed, could convict.

WESTERN BUREAU: Convinced that education remains one of the most powerful weapons in the fight against crime and poverty, Jamaica-born academic and philanthropist Dr Janice Johnson Dias has decided to invest in literacy and girls’ leadership. Johnson Dias, founder and president of the United States-based GrassROOTS Community Foundation, has developed a five-year plan to transform the St James Parish Library into a modern learning hub while mentoring girls from Flankers.

Accused in the Clifton land fraud case, Suelyn Ward-Brown, has been freed of one count of fraudulent conversion after presiding judge Roneiph Lawrence ordered the matter dismissed for want of prosecution in the St Catherine Parish Court. When the matter came up on Thursday, the Clerk of Court told the court that one complainant had alleged that he sent $2.4 million to an account belonging to Ward-Brown.

WESTERN BUREAU: More than 100 residents of Troy, Trelawny, took to the streets on Wednesday, demanding the release of a man arrested in connection with Tuesday's mob killing of convicted sexual offender Delroy Coke. Waving placards and chanting for justice, the protesters occupied the community's main square for about 90 minutes, insisting that Maxwell Henry should not be held criminally responsible.

The Barnett Street Police are seeking the public’s assistance in reuniting this child with his family. He was found wandering along the Barnett Street area of Montego Bay, St James, on Wednesday at about 8:42 pm. The police say he is unable to give his name or address. Anyone with information that can assist the police in reuniting this child with his family, is asked to contact the Barnett Street Police at 876-469-4280, the police emergency number 119, or the nearest police station.

The Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM) has launched an investigation into the death of a man who became ill while in police custody at the Duhaney Park Police Station in St Andrew. The deceased has been identified as Horace Williams, of East Albion in St Thomas. Williams was arrested on July 2 in connection with a murder investigation and had been detained at the Corporate Area police station pending further court proceedings.

Graduates turning the page at Edith Dalton James High School, an institution known for “working with the lowest performing students from PEP”, as acknowledged by principal Dr Orlando Worges, are contending that retention at the primary level should not readily replace the intervention structure operating across the island’s secondary schools. “They shouldn’t be kept back,” said 19-year-old Justin Wallace, who graduated in 2024 as deputy head boy while establishing, in grade 11, the Male Empowerment Association to promote positive masculinity.

Former Commissioner of Customs Alison Moore, who made history as Jamaica's first female Commissioner of Customs, has died at age 82. Moore passed away on Sunday following a period of illness. She served as commissioner of Customs from June 1, 1992, to August 11, 2004, dedicating many years of distinguished service to Jamaica.

As Steve Mitchell fought back tears inside the National Arena on Sunday, he knew he was witnessing a once-in-a-lifetime moment. The 50-year-old had just collected his master’s degree with Distinction and was preparing to watch his 21-year-old twin sons receive their associate degrees, completing a graduation day the family never saw coming.

Western Bureau: School administrators in the 45 high schools across the Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information’s Region One are being urged to avoid the practice of preventing students whose abilities they doubt from sitting external examinations. In recent years, school authorities have been accused of blocking students deemed weak from sitting external examinations as a way of protecting their institutions’ image and boosting pass rates.

Director General at the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), Commander Alvin Gayle, says 507 roofs that were impacted by Hurricane Melissa have been repaired under Phase I of the Government-led roofs repair programme.

Fresh concerns are being raised about Jamaica's mental healthcare system, with Councillor Jesse James Clarke warning that Bellevue Hospital has reached its capacity and can no longer adequately meet the growing demand for psychiatric services.

The six containerised houses being retrofitted to accommodate residents of the Trelawny Infirmary are expected to be ready for occupancy by the end of this month.

The director of investigation at Jamaica’s principal anti-corruption body, Kevon Stephenson, yesterday sent a single investigation report to Parliament for tabling. The Integrity Commission said it anticipates that the report, which was submitted pursuant to and in conformance with Section 54 of the Integrity Commission Act, will be tabled in both Houses of Parliament as soon as possible.

It is not unusual for Jamaican restaurants to be found in various locales, but probably the most unusual place to find one is on a United States (US) military base. But that is exactly where you will find Riddim N Jerk, the first Jamaican restaurant established on a military base, Fort Belvoir, in Northern Virginia, United States.

Two GraceKennedy insurance executives are urging young Jamaicans to consider careers in the insurance industry, which they say offers opportunities for professional growth, international mobility, and meaningful contributions to national development. The call from Amanda Beepat, managing director of Allied Insurance Brokers (AIB) and a director of the College of Insurance and Professional Services (CIPS), and Tammara Glaves-Hucey, managing director of the General Insurance Business at GraceKennedy Financial Group (GKFG), came as Jamaica observed World Youth Skills Day on July 15.

Two policemen have been “severely reprimanded” after an internal disciplinary process concluded that their “negligence” allowed accused killer Raymond ‘Boxer’ Shaw to escape from the Kingston Central police lock-up nearly four years ago, the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) has confirmed.

Jahreme ‘J-Man’ Shelton, the Jamaican national who prosecutors have sought to call as an overseas witness in the high-profile triple-murder case against music producer Linval ‘Shab Don’ Thompson and his co-accused, is now set to face a Broward County, Florida, jury on charges stemming from a fatal double shooting.

WESTERN BUREAU: Dramaine Jones, the regional operations manager for the National Solid Waste Management Authority’s (NSWMA) Western Parks and Markets Limited (WPM), is urging citizens to better manage their garbage disposal methods in order to reduce the risk of fires from the remnants of burnt waste.

Western Bureau: Residents of Granville, ST James, were out in their numbers on Sunday, paying their last respects to Latoya ‘Buju’ Bulgin, the woman who was killed in a controversial police shooting on May 17. The tributes that flowed inside the Pitfour Gospel Chapel, where the funeral was held,

WESTERN BUREAU: With the 2026 staging of Dream Weeekend just days away, Montego Bay Mayor Richard Vernon is now oozing with confidence that the city is ready to host a safe event , which will yield profitable returns over the five days of entertainment. In an interview with The Gleaner yesterday, Vernon said the St James Municipal Corporation (StJMC), of which he is the chairman, is collaborating with major stakeholders in and around Montego Bay to ensure Dream Weekend’s smooth execution.

An early-morning fire last Friday left 20 members of a close-knit family homeless in an informal settlement along Burke Road in Old Harbour, St Catherine. The fire, which was first detected some time after 3 a.m., razed 11 mainly board houses, leaving 14 adults and six children with very little personal belongings. At least three vehicles parked in the vicinity were also burnt.

While many of her classmates celebrated receiving graduation diplomas last month, 16-year-old Khadedra Worrell spent what should have been her graduation day in tears. The Holland High School student, who said she maintained an average above 80 per cent, served as a school prefect and represented the student body, was not included on the Trelawny-based institution’s graduation list.

There has been no further development of the reported proposal for 10,000 skilled workers made by Cabinet Minister Audrey Marks while she was Jamaica’s ambassador to the United States (US), according to Information Minister Dr Dana Morris Dixon.

Jamaica’s Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness has expressed condolences to the government and people of Guyana following the capsizing of the MV Barima, which was carrying 116 passengers and a 17-member crew. “I am deeply saddened by the capsizing of the MV Barima and the distress this incident has caused,” Holness said in a statement on social media.

Former sugar workers who seized unfinished houses at Golden Grove Meadows in St Thomas following the threat of Hurricane Matthew a decade ago will not be evicted, with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining working to transfer official ownership to those who qualify.

The Integrity Commission (IC) has raised concerns about its inability to share crucial information with some public bodies in the fight against corruption, owing to the slow pace at which the Government is providing the required designation to these entities. Craig Beresford, executive director of the IC, said the commission was unable to work seamlessly with some government entities because they are yet to be designated competent authorities.

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ (AP): Ferran Torres’ first goal of this year’s World Cup was the goal of his life, and it put Spain back atop the football world. Denying Lionel Messi a second straight title in what he has indicated would be his final World Cup match, Torres came off the bench and scored in the 106th minute and Spain – in a match it simply dominated – ended Argentina’s reign with a 1-0 win yesterday.

It will be a case of the young upstart against one of modern football’s greatest and most experienced players when Spain’s rising star Lamine Yamal faces off with Argentina’s seasoned veteran Lionel Messi as the two former champions square off in this afternoon’s FIFA World Cup final.

The Advocates’ Association of Jamaica (AAJ) is urging the Senate to restore judicial discretion in firearm sentencing, arguing that mandatory minimum penalties are producing unjust outcomes and should be amended before the start of the next court term.

The Integrity Commission (IC) is unable to locate seven former public officials who are facing charges of failing to file statutory declarations for various periods, Jamaica’s principal anti-corruption body has disclosed.

The welfare of an 11-year-old Jamaican girl hangs in the balance amid a bitter international custody dispute, with her mother alleging that the child, who has special needs, was wrongfully retained in Canada by her father, a naturalised Canadian citizen.

WESTERN BUREAU: More than eight months after Hurricane Melissa’s devastating passage last October, the Jamaica Independent Schools Association (JISA) has expressed concern over what it says is inadequate government support for its associates recovering from the disaster as well as a lack of clarity regarding which private schools have benefited from the Government’s promised funding.