In a dramatic reversal of diplomatic posture, former U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Monday that military actions against Iranian infrastructure had been temporarily suspended following what he characterized as productive bilateral discussions. This declaration came merely 48 hours after he had issued threats to destroy Iranian power facilities.\n\nThrough his Truth Social platform, Trump revealed that the United States and Iran had engaged in \”very good and productive conversations\” throughout the preceding two days. Consequently, he claimed to have directed the Department of War to postpone any offensive operations targeting Iranian energy infrastructure for a five-day period, pending further diplomatic developments.\n\nThe Iranian government responded with immediate and categorical rejection of these claims. Iran’s Student News Network (SNN), citing anonymous foreign ministry sources, explicitly denied any ongoing negotiations with American officials. The network further emphasized that the strategic Strait of Hormuz remained \”closed to aggressors,\\” reinforcing Iran’s defensive posture.\n\nOther state-aligned media outlets including Fars and Tasnim news agencies uniformly echoed this position, asserting that no communications had occurred between Iranian and Trump administration representatives. These publications interpreted the delayed military action as evidence of American \”backdown\” in the confrontation.\n\nThe Iranian foreign ministry subsequently released an official statement, later corroborated by CBS News, providing unequivocal denial of Trump’s assertions. The ministry clarified that Tehran maintains its firm position against engaging in any diplomatic discussions before achieving its strategic objectives in ongoing regional conflicts, effectively dismissing Trump’s claims as fabrications.
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Police warn public about consequences of false reports
KINGSTON, Jamaica — Jamaican law enforcement authorities have issued a forceful public reminder regarding the severe legal ramifications of filing false police reports, following a recently concluded investigation into an erroneously reported kidnapping case.
The incident originated on March 16 when the Red Hills Police Station received an urgent alert concerning the alleged abduction of a 25-year-old individual, initially thought to be a citizen of Antigua. According to preliminary information, the man’s brother, residing in Antigua, informed authorities that he had received explicit ransom demands from unidentified individuals who claimed to be holding his sibling captive.
Responding to these purported threats, the concerned mother of the alleged victim transferred a substantial monetary sum to an unverified recipient in Jamaica. This prompted the immediate mobilization of the Specialised Investigation Branch (SIB), which initiated a comprehensive operation targeting a residential property situated on Arthur Leon Drive in the Golden Spring community of St. Andrew.
Contrary to expectations, investigators discovered the supposed victim unharmed and in the company of his girlfriend, with no evidence of physical restraint or coercion. During subsequent questioning, the individual clarified that he was actually a Jamaican national residing in Antigua who had recently traveled to the island to visit his partner. He characterized the entire situation as an unfortunate misunderstanding stemming from a private domestic disagreement.
Superintendent Oral Henry of the SIB emphasized the serious implications of such false reports, noting that investigations into alleged kidnapping cases demand substantial operational resources. He further clarified that misreporting crimes not only generates unnecessary financial expenditures and operational burdens for law enforcement agencies but also potentially undermines public trust and jeopardizes the credibility of genuine victims. Superintendent Henry explicitly stated that filing false police reports constitutes a prosecutable criminal offense under Jamaican law.
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Visual Vibe and Knutsford Express to launch digital advertising network
KINGSTON, Jamaica — Jamaica’s advertising landscape is undergoing a significant transformation through a strategic alliance between digital media innovator Visual Vibe Limited and transportation leader Knutsford Express Services Limited. The groundbreaking partnership will establish an extensive network of indoor digital advertising displays across 19 strategic Knutsford Express terminals throughout the island nation.
This collaborative venture, formally announced in a joint corporate statement on Tuesday, represents a dual-purpose initiative: creating a cutting-edge digital advertising medium for brands while simultaneously elevating the passenger experience within Jamaica’s premier transportation and courier service network. The implementation will position digital screens in high-visibility areas within terminals, offering brands unprecedented access to captive audiences in high-traffic transit environments.
The comprehensive installation project is scheduled for completion within an ambitious thirty-day timeframe, marking one of Jamaica’s most rapid digital infrastructure deployments in recent years. This accelerated timeline is made possible through substantial financial backing from Portland Holdings, which has committed US$500,000 in strategic funding to Visual Vibe specifically for expanding its digital media infrastructure capabilities.
Industry analysts note this partnership reflects growing trends in location-based digital advertising, particularly within the transportation sector where passenger dwell times create valuable engagement opportunities. The Knutsford Express network, known for its extensive island coverage and frequent service routes, provides an ideal platform for targeted advertising campaigns reaching both urban and rural demographics across Jamaica.
The digital network will enable dynamic content management, allowing advertisers to update messaging in real-time and tailor campaigns to specific geographic markets, time of day, or passenger demographics. This technological advancement represents a significant upgrade from traditional static advertising mediums previously available in Jamaica’s transportation sector.
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#Champs2026: 2025 medallists return to girls Open 400m hurdles final
KINGSTON, Jamaica — The opening day of the prestigious ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys’ and Girls’ Athletics Championships at the National Stadium set the stage for a highly anticipated showdown in the girls’ Open 400m hurdles. In a remarkable display of consistency and elite competition, all three medalists from the previous year’s final successfully advanced through Tuesday’s preliminary heats to secure their spots in Friday’s championship race.
Defending champion Kelly-Ann Kerr, representing Edwin Allen High, will face off once again against her familiar rivals from Hydel High: last year’s silver medalist Nastassia Fletcher and bronze winner Aaliyah Mullings. Mullings emerged as the fastest qualifier, dominating her heat with a time of 59.46 seconds. Kerr followed closely with 59.74 seconds, while Fletcher posted a nearly identical 59.75 seconds, signaling an intensely competitive final awaits.
The field for the medal round will include several other notable contenders. Chennai Burke of St Elizabeth Technical, who finished seventh in last year’s final, earned her return with a time of 1:01.37 minutes. They will be joined by Alyssa Carty of St Jago High, Port Antonio High’s Sheneca Harris, Edwin Allen’s Marria Crossfield, and Shannaty Burke from Ferncourt High, completing a talented roster of Jamaica’s most promising young athletes.
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#Champs2026: Class 1 boys 100m promises fireworks on Wednesday
KINGSTON, Jamaica — The track at the National Stadium witnessed an extraordinary display of youthful athletic prowess during Tuesday’s preliminary rounds of the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys’ and Girls’ Athletic Championships. The stage is now set for an electrifying showdown in Wednesday’s Class 1 boys 100m semi-finals and final, following a series of performances that shattered expectations.
The day’s most stunning performance came from Edwin Allen High’s Romario Finnigan, who delivered a massive personal best of 10.19 seconds (1.5m/s wind) to surprise the entire field. His remarkable time established a new benchmark for qualification, with the cutoff for advancing to the next round standing at 10.54 seconds.
In a surprising turn of events, Calabar High’s Jamal Stephenson emerged as the most significant casualty of the preliminaries, failing to complete his first-round heat. Finnigan dominated his race from start to finish, decisively outperforming medal favorite Sanjay Seymore, who trailed considerably behind at 10.47 seconds.
The qualifying rounds revealed exceptional depth in sprint talent, with three athletes breaking the 10.30-second barrier: Holland High’s Johan-Ramaldo Smythe clocked 10.24 seconds (1.0m/s), while both Edwin Allen High’s Kenrick Austin and Excelsior High’s Malike Nugent recorded wind-aided 10.27-second times with 2.3m/s and 2.1m/s winds respectively.
Adding to the impressive performances, Excelsior High’s Riquelme Reid joined six other athletes who achieved sub-10.40-second times, demonstrating the exceptional competitive level across all heats.
The championship action extended beyond Class 1, with St Jago High’s Marquies Page leading Class 2 qualifying with a wind-assisted 10.47 seconds (2.6m/s), ahead of Vere Technical’s Ricardo Mann (10.57s) and Calabar High’s Joshua Ricketts (10.63s). In Class 3, Kingston College’s Kemanic Edwards topped the rankings with 11.06 seconds, followed closely by Wolmer’s Boys Joshua McWilliams at 11.10 seconds.
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#Champs2026: Clarendon College’s Young seeks to defend girls Class 2 shot put title
KINGSTON, Jamaica — The stage is set for a dramatic showdown in the girls’ Class 2 shot put event at the prestigious ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls Athletic Championships. Defending champion Jamelia Young of Clarendon College secured her place in the finals, albeit with a preliminary throw of 12.75 meters that positioned her eighth among the qualifiers at the National Stadium on Tuesday.
Young faces formidable competition in her title defense bid. The preliminary round was dominated by Holmwood Technical’s Shamanda Wilmott, who launched an impressive 13.80-meter throw to lead the field. Close behind were Excelsior High’s Alyssa Forrster with 13.42m and Immaculate Conception’s Remesha Duxon who recorded 13.38m.
Adding to the competitive landscape, Edwin Allen High showcased remarkable team depth with two qualifiers—Shandre Brown and Fabiana Perry—both advancing to challenge for the championship title. The results set the scene for an intensely competitive final where Young must significantly improve upon her preliminary performance to retain her crown against these rising athletic talents.
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Lasco executive moves to AS Bryden
KINGSTON, Jamaica — AS Bryden Sons & Holdings Limited (ASBH) has announced the appointment of John De Silva as its new Group Chief Executive Officer, effective April 1. This strategic leadership change comes during a period of significant corporate restructuring for the Trinidad-based conglomerate.
De Silva brings over three decades of executive experience to the role, most recently serving as Managing Director of Lasco Distributors Limited until his resignation on March 13. His extensive background includes a three-year tenure as Managing Director of Unilever Caribbean Limited and previous executive positions with global food giant Nestlé.
The Trinidadian executive succeeds Richard Pandohie, who has led ASBH since June 2022 when Jamaican manufacturing and distribution company Seprod acquired a 60 percent stake in the Trinidadian firm. Pandohie continues as CEO of Seprod, which recently increased its ownership in ASBH from 50 percent to 80 percent through a share swap transaction completed in July 2025.
This leadership appointment coincides with both publicly listed companies implementing strategic measures to strengthen their financial positions. ASBH has utilized debt financing to acquire a majority interest in Caribbean Producers (Jamaica) Limited between July 2024 and February 2025, while Seprod has divested International Biscuits Limited to sharpen its operational focus and optimize its regional distribution network.
The companies are actively working to reduce debt levels on their respective balance sheets while positioning themselves for sustained growth across the Caribbean region.
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Cops probing man’s death in St Ann
A violent altercation in the Draxhall area of St Ann turned fatal on Tuesday afternoon, prompting an active investigation by local law enforcement. The incident, which occurred in a commercial plaza vicinity shortly after 3:00 pm, originated from a physical dispute between two unidentified males.
Preliminary reports from law enforcement sources indicate the conflict escalated when one individual allegedly struck the other in the head with a stone. The assaulted party temporarily retreated from the scene but returned armed with a machete, launching a brutal counterattack that resulted in severe chop wounds to his initial aggressor.
Police units responding to emergency calls transported the critically injured victim to a medical facility, where he was subsequently pronounced dead. Crime scene investigators remained on location through the evening hours, meticulously documenting evidence and gathering forensic information. Authorities have not yet established the identity of the deceased individual, nor have they disclosed whether any arrests have been made in connection with the fatal incident.
The investigation remains ongoing as police work to reconstruct the precise sequence of events and determine potential motives behind the initial altercation that culminated in lethal violence.
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Air traffic slow in February
Jamaica’s aviation sector continues to navigate post-hurricane challenges as both Sangster International Airport (SIA) and Norman Manley International Airport (NMIA) reported significant passenger traffic declines in February. According to recent operational data released by concession operator Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacífico (GAP), the combined airports processed approximately 274,500 passengers during the period, representing a substantial 31.4% decrease compared to the 400,100 passengers recorded in February 2025.
The statistical trend reveals a consistent pattern of reduced travel activity, with January 2026 recording 284,200 passengers and December 2025 seeing 262,600 passengers processed through these facilities. While SIA bore the brunt of the decline, NMIA experienced a more moderate 2.1% reduction, handling 119,400 passengers compared to 121,900 during the same period last year.
The operational challenges extended beyond Jamaican borders, with GAP reporting reduced air traffic at 12 of its 14 managed airports across Mexico and Jamaica. Particularly affected were Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta International Airports, which faced substantial flight cancellations due to security concerns in Mexico’s Jalisco state. This regional disruption compounded the ongoing recovery efforts from Hurricane Melissa, creating a complex operational environment for aviation authorities and travelers alike.
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New Mexico jury finds Meta liable for endangering children
In a groundbreaking legal decision with far-reaching implications for the tech industry, a New Mexico jury has determined that Meta Platforms Inc. bears significant responsibility for endangering children through its social media platforms. The verdict, reached after intensive six-week proceedings, represents one of the first jury decisions addressing social media companies’ accountability for minor protection.
The Santa Fe courtroom witnessed a comprehensive presentation of evidence, including testimony from approximately 40 witnesses—among them former Meta employees turned whistleblowers—and examination of hundreds of internal documents, reports, and corporate communications. The state’s legal team successfully demonstrated that Meta’s platforms made children vulnerable to sexual predators, online solicitation, and human trafficking risks.
New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez, who initiated the litigation in 2023, characterized the outcome as “a historic victory for every child and family who has paid the price for Meta’s choice to put profits over kids’ safety.” The prosecution presented compelling evidence suggesting company executives were aware of platform dangers yet disregarded internal warnings and publicly misrepresented their knowledge.
While the state sought maximum damages of $2.2 billion, the jury awarded $375 million after finding Meta violated New Mexico’s Unfair Practices Act through misleading representations about product safety for young users. During closing arguments, prosecutors demonstrated how Meta’s algorithmic systems allegedly directed adult users toward content created by teenage users while concealing internal risk assessments.
The company has announced its intention to appeal the verdict, with a spokesperson stating: “We work hard to keep people safe on our platforms and are clear about the challenges of identifying and removing bad actors or harmful content.”
This case initiates a broader legal confrontation, with a second phase scheduled for May 4th where a judge will consider additional penalties and potential operational mandates for Meta. Simultaneously, a California jury is evaluating similar allegations regarding platform-related harms to children, including addiction concerns, in what legal experts consider a bellwether case for thousands of pending lawsuits against social media corporations nationwide.