作者: admin

  • War in the Middle East: latest developments

    War in the Middle East: latest developments

    The Middle East conflict has entered a perilous new phase with escalating military actions and significant regional repercussions. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi declared a state of economic near-emergency amid soaring inflation, authorizing military trials for price-gouging traders during a military academy address.

    NATO announced the enhancement of its ballistic missile defense systems as Iran continues regional strikes, including an incident where a missile was intercepted over Turkish territory. The alliance’s 32 member states unanimously agreed to maintain heightened defense readiness until threats from Iran’s indiscriminate attacks diminish.

    Israeli Military Chief Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir revealed that US-Israeli operations against Iran are advancing to a new stage focused on dismantling the Islamic Republic’s military capabilities, promising additional undisclosed “surprises” in the campaign.

    Regional infrastructure suffered direct hits as an Iranian missile strike ignited a major blaze at Bahrain’s primary state-owned oil refinery. Meanwhile, Western embassy staff in Riyadh received shelter-in-place orders following earlier attacks on US diplomatic compounds.

    Former US President Donald Trump expressed support for Iranian Kurdish fighters potentially launching offensives into Iran, stating he would “be all for it.” Trump further asserted his intention to influence the selection of Iran’s next supreme leader, criticizing Ayatollah Khamenei’s son as “a lightweight” while drawing comparisons to US involvement in Venezuelan leadership transitions.

    Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned that any ground invasion would bring “disaster” to the Islamic Republic’s enemies, asserting Iran’s preparedness for confrontation despite ongoing US-Israeli strikes.

    The human cost continues to mount with Lebanon reporting 102 fatalities and 638 injuries from Israeli strikes since the country’s involvement in the conflict began earlier this week.

    Global markets reacted strongly as West Texas Intermediate crude surged over 5% to $78.88 per barrel—the highest since January last year—while Brent crude jumped 3.6% to $84.34 amid supply disruption fears.

    Abu Dhabi experienced missile threats triggering air defense responses and loud explosions, according to resident reports and official statements from UAE emergency management authorities.

    Iran intensified internal controls by warning citizens using VPNs to bypass a nationwide communications blackout that has reduced internet connectivity to approximately 1% of normal levels, effectively isolating the country from global digital networks.

  • UTech mentor and mentee of the year become co-authors of ‘The Ripple Effect: 5 Keys to Making a Difference that Lasts’

    UTech mentor and mentee of the year become co-authors of ‘The Ripple Effect: 5 Keys to Making a Difference that Lasts’

    KINGSTON, Jamaica — An inspirational mentorship relationship born from the University of Technology’s Alumni Mentorship Programme has transcended conventional boundaries, resulting in an extraordinary literary collaboration. Sandrina Davis, honored as Mentor of the Year 2025, and her protégé Jinel Gordon, named Mentee of the Year 2025, have jointly authored “The Ripple Effect: 5 Keys to Making a Difference that Lasts,” scheduled for public release on Sunday, March 15.

    Their partnership, initially structured through institutional pairing, has flourished into a profound shared expedition exploring leadership dynamics, purposeful living, and sustainable community impact. Their collaborative journey provides tangible evidence of the transformative potential inherent in deliberate mentorship relationships.

    The forthcoming publication delineates five actionable principles for creating enduring positive influence: selecting empathy above sympathy, enabling empowerment without causing embarrassment, practicing attentive listening prior to action, cultivating authentic connections through genuine care, and adopting mentorship as a catalyst for legacy expansion.

    Davis contributes insights drawn from her extensive leadership tenure and community service throughout Jamaica, covering the initial four principles. Gordon completes the conceptual framework by articulating the fifth key regarding mentorship’s multiplicative legacy effect, thereby symbolically closing the narrative circle.

    “This manuscript transcends theoretical discourse,” Davis emphasized. “It constitutes empirical demonstration of outcomes achievable when individuals place faith in one another’s potential.”

    Gordon characterized her participation as fundamentally transformative, noting: “Mentorship profoundly influenced not merely my professional objectives but my core self-conception. Collaborative authorship embodies the synergistic possibilities when dedicated guidance converges with unwavering commitment.”

    The official book launch will serve as a ceremonial recognition of mentorship’s value, leadership development, and the cumulative power of consistent, purposeful engagement.
    “The Ripple Effect” extends an impassioned appeal to Jamaican citizens, academic communities, corporate professionals, family figures, and organizational leaders to acknowledge that genuine influence originates not from formal positions but from deliberate intentionality.

  • Simple Advisory Limited helps Woodcats raise $750m and list on the Junior Stock Exchange

    Simple Advisory Limited helps Woodcats raise $750m and list on the Junior Stock Exchange

    KINGSTON, Jamaica — Following its instrumental role in the fully-subscribed initial public offering (IPO) and offer for sale for Woodcats International, business advisory firm Simple Advisory Limited (SAL) is strategically enhancing its capabilities to facilitate capital access for Jamaican enterprises. The company announced its expansion plans Tuesday, revealing increased engagement from small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) seeking financial guidance for growth initiatives, capital investments, acquisitions, and debt reorganization.

    SAL served as special consultant for Woodcats International’s recent public market debut, overseeing a capital raising process that attracted more than 9,000 investors and reached complete subscription within the designated timeframe. As independent advisors, SAL implemented an objective and efficient framework that ensured regulatory compliance while maximizing investor participation.

    Woodcats General Manager Peter Douglas commended SAL’s performance, stating: “Our collaboration with SAL created a seamless fundraising experience. Their expertise granted us the operational freedom to maintain business continuity throughout this critical capital raising phase.”

    The advisory firm provided comprehensive strategic direction across multiple domains including business valuation, prospectus development, public relations campaigns, and precise transaction timing. SAL additionally facilitated coordination among essential stakeholders—legal counsel, marketing agencies, and brokerage firms—to achieve optimal offering outcomes.

    This successful transaction positions SAL as an emerging leader in Jamaica’s financial advisory landscape, particularly for companies navigating complex capital market transactions. The firm’s expanding client portfolio reflects growing demand for professional advisory services among Jamaican businesses pursuing structured growth and market expansion strategies.

  • Spouse accused of firing at cop listed as wanted by St Elizabeth police

    Spouse accused of firing at cop listed as wanted by St Elizabeth police

    Authorities in St. Elizabeth, Jamaica have escalated their search for 44-year-old contractor Owen Miller, upgrading his status from person of interest to wanted individual. The development follows a serious domestic incident allegedly involving Miller and his spouse, who serves as a police constable.

    According to official reports, the altercation occurred on the evening of February 28th at approximately 8:40 PM at a residence in Howard Acres, Goshen. Miller is accused of discharging his spouse’s licensed firearm in her direction during the confrontation at their family home.

    Law enforcement officials indicate that Miller maintains connections across multiple parishes, with known frequenting locations including Georges Plain in Westmoreland and White-Water Boulevard in Spanish Town, St. Catherine. The Black River Criminal Investigation Branch has issued a public appeal for Miller to surrender himself voluntarily to authorities.

    The Jamaica Constabulary Force has activated standard protocol for wanted individuals, requesting that any citizens with information regarding Miller’s whereabouts immediately contact emergency services at 119 or their nearest police station. The case highlights ongoing concerns regarding domestic violence incidents involving law enforcement personnel and their families.

  • Liberty Caribbean Foundation commits $10m to education recovery in Westmoreland

    Liberty Caribbean Foundation commits $10m to education recovery in Westmoreland

    KINGSTON, Jamaica — A transformative educational initiative has emerged in eastern Westmoreland through a strategic partnership between the Liberty Caribbean Foundation and the Flow Foundation, injecting over $10 million to establish the Maud McLeod High Resource Hub. This intervention directly addresses the catastrophic damage inflicted by Hurricane Melissa on October 28, 2025, which severely compromised educational infrastructure across the parish.

    The newly established hub represents a coordinated response with Jamaica’s Ministry of Education, creating structured access to essential academic resources for Maud McLeod High School and eleven neighboring institutions. The facility will serve one infant school, nine primary schools, and one secondary school, providing critical support to eight severely damaged and three partially damaged institutions among the 69 affected schools.

    Rhys Campbell, Executive Director of the Liberty Caribbean Foundation, emphasized the initiative’s long-term vision: “When education is disrupted, children’s futures are endangered. This investment restores opportunity through shared access to technology, instructional materials, and secure learning environments, ensuring Westmoreland students continue their educational development despite adversity.”

    The hub operates on an innovative shared-resource model, enabling participating schools to borrow technological devices and teaching materials, utilize printing and photocopying services, and access specialized classroom and laboratory spaces. This approach particularly benefits eight schools still disconnected from the electrical grid, including St John’s Infant and seven other primary institutions.

    Dr. Michelle Pinnock, Region 4 Regional Director at the Ministry of Education, characterized the hub as a collaborative masterpiece addressing immediate learning needs while aligning with governmental priorities for educational continuity. “This partnership has created a center of excellence that supports quality teaching and learning. I advocate for islandwide replication of such hubs to ensure educational equity and resource access,” Dr. Pinnock stated.

    Student feedback already indicates positive impact. Alexia Williams, an 11th-grade student at Maud McLeod, reported: “The resource hub facilitates my education by providing technology for SBA assignments and online past papers. Having reliable access to computers, printing, and lab spaces significantly boosts my exam confidence.”

    As restoration efforts continue across Westmoreland, the Maud McLeod High Resource Hub stands as a testament to collaborative resilience and unwavering commitment to safeguarding Jamaican students’ educational futures.

  • CDT Jamaica returns to the stage with ‘Streams’: A tribute to resilience and legacy

    CDT Jamaica returns to the stage with ‘Streams’: A tribute to resilience and legacy

    The internationally celebrated Company Dance Theatre (CDT) of Jamaica has announced its highly anticipated return to the stage with the 2026 performance season, themed ‘Streams,’ following an extended hiatus dedicated to hurricane relief efforts and artistic rejuvenation.

    The season commences with premiere performances at Kingston’s Little Theatre on March 7-8, followed by an international showcase at Miramar Cultural Center in South Florida on March 14 under the distinguished patronage of Jamaica’s Consul General to the Southeastern United States, Oliver Mair.

    Artistic Director Dr. Sade Bully Bell describes this season as embodying the fluid continuity of dance and the resilient spirit of Caribbean people. The return holds particular significance as it marks the company’s first major production since suspending operations to assist communities devastated by Hurricane Melissa.

    ‘Our dancers utilized the performance pause to support devastated communities,’ stated Dr. Bully Bell. ‘That pause has now concluded, and I am immensely proud to witness our dancers returning to their natural habitat—the stage. They have diligently prepared for this moment and are ready to reclaim their space with unprecedented brilliance.’

    This season serves as a profound tribute to the late Tony Wilson, founder of The Company Dance Theatre in 1988, whose legacy CDT continues to honor. The program features two of Wilson’s seminal works: ‘Sparrow’ (1999) and excerpts from ‘Rooted in the Spirit’ (2010), the latter paying homage to Professor Rex Nettleford, founder of the National Dance Theatre Company.

    Consul General Oliver Mair, serving as patron for the Florida performance, expressed: ‘I am honored to patronize CDT’s upcoming production. Without question, they rank among the finest dance troupes in the region. We will also honor the late Tony Wilson, one of Jamaica’s most exceptional choreographers. This is an unmissable event.’

    Dr. Bully Bell and Associate Artistic Director Renée I McDonald have curated a repertoire blending technical excellence with innovative modern dance. Highlights include the titular ‘Streams’ (2025) by Tony Wilson; ‘Baby Mama’ (2026) choreographed by Dr. Bully Bell to Big 6 Brass Band’s music; ‘The Return’ (2025) by guest choreographer Khalia Campbell; ‘Baddie Language’ (2023) by Steven Cornwall featuring Vybz Kartel and Buju Banton; and ‘Mapping’ (2025) by Shavaughn Byndloss celebrating self-actualization.

    Established as a legacy company honoring Tony Wilson’s pioneering work, CDT represents Jamaica’s premier contemporary dance ensemble, renowned for its technical rigor and emotionally powerful performances that showcase Caribbean culture globally while maintaining strong community outreach commitments.

  • ‘Traumatised’ Ugandan students return home from Iran

    ‘Traumatised’ Ugandan students return home from Iran

    ENTEBBE, Uganda — A cohort of 43 Ugandan nationals has been successfully repatriated from Iran following the escalation of military hostilities involving Israeli and U.S. operations. The students, who were pursuing academic programs at various Iranian institutions, arrived at Entebbe International Airport on Thursday after a coordinated evacuation effort led by Ugandan diplomatic authorities.

    Ambassadorial intervention facilitated a multi-stage extraction route, transporting the students by bus to the Turkish border before their final airlift from Istanbul. The evacuation responded to intensified aerial bombardments that struck areas proximate to university campuses, creating an environment of extreme peril for international scholars.

    Emotional accounts emerged upon their return, with 29-year-old international relations student Sharon Twiine describing the experience as profoundly traumatic. “I am lost for words,” she told press personnel, emphasizing the psychological impact of witnessing military operations firsthand. Fellow evacuee Oscar Nyegyema provided chilling details of nearby strikes: “We could hear the ground trembling; we could hear the ground shake. We were all scared, we were all feeling devastated.”

    Despite the harrowing experience, Nyegyema expressed determination to complete his academic program in Iran once stability returns. This sentiment contrasted with the psychological toll acknowledged by others, including Twiine, who indicated she would require therapeutic intervention before considering further international education.

    Not all Ugandan students opted for evacuation, with financial considerations playing a significant role in their decision-making. Aloisius Ssegawa, among those who returned, explained that many feared losing their academic investment and lacking resources for future travel should they abandon their studies prematurely.

  • BCDP marks 30 years of community investment with launch of Phase VIII

    BCDP marks 30 years of community investment with launch of Phase VIII

    KINGSTON, Jamaica — Jamaica’s Bauxite Community Development Programme (BCDP) is preparing to launch its eighth operational phase in 2026, celebrating thirty years of sustained investment in mining-affected communities across the nation’s bauxite-producing regions.

    Established in 1996 and administered by the Jamaica Bauxite Institute (JBI), the pioneering initiative has channeled nearly $1 billion in mining revenues back into local communities through seven completed development cycles. The program represents one of Jamaica’s most significant corporate social responsibility ventures, directly benefiting approximately 100 communities across five parishes: Manchester, St. Ann, St. Catherine, St. Elizabeth, and Clarendon.

    The BCDP’s comprehensive approach focuses on creating sustainable economic opportunities while enhancing social and physical infrastructure in rural mining areas. Strategic investments have spanned multiple sectors including agricultural modernization, infrastructure upgrades, vocational training, social enterprise development, and support for community-based organizations.

    The recently concluded Phase VII (September 2020-August 2024) utilized a $300 million allocation from the Capital Development Fund, with approximately $220 million distributed across key initiatives. This included $102 million dedicated to agricultural development, $80 million for community infrastructure improvements, $35 million for educational scholarships, and $3 million for small enterprise support and training programs.

    With December 2025’s injection of $400 million in new funding, Phase VIII will continue the program’s core mission of strengthening livelihoods, promoting rural development, and building resilient communities in Jamaica’s bauxite-producing regions. The upcoming phase maintains the program’s three-decade commitment to transforming mining revenues into sustainable community development.

  • France to let US planes not involved in Iran strikes use air base

    France to let US planes not involved in Iran strikes use air base

    PARIS—In a move clarifying its delicate diplomatic position, the French military confirmed Thursday that United States military support aircraft have been permitted to utilize the Istres air base in southern France. The authorization comes with the explicit condition that these assets play no role in offensive operations against Iran, a guarantee French officials state they have secured in full.

    The announcement follows critical remarks by President Emmanuel Macron, who stated on Tuesday that recent U.S.-Israel military actions in Iran were conducted ‘outside international law.’ The French general staff emphasized the distinction, specifying that the accepted U.S. aircraft are for ‘operational support’ and are ‘not combat aircraft.’

    Defining the precise limits of this cooperation, a statement detailed, ‘France has required that the assets involved in no way take part in the operations conducted by the United States in Iran, but strictly in support of the defence of our partners in the region.’

    Further contextualizing the decision, Alice Rufo, minister delegate to the defence minister, characterized the move as a ‘routine procedure within the framework of NATO,’ noting that such arrangements are automatic in some allied nations. She provided critical clarification on the nature of the aircraft, identified by flight-tracking services as KC-135 Stratotanker refuelling planes. ‘We systematically verify, and in this case, the aircraft that were able to refuel at Istres were aircraft used for the defence of the Gulf countries and not for American offensive action. That is the limit we have set, and it has been respected,’ Rufo asserted, unequivocally stating, ‘There is no use of French bases in the Near and Middle East for American offensive action.’

    Flightradar24 data indicates four KC-135s arrived at Istres from the U.S. base in Rota, Spain, on Monday, with a fifth arriving Wednesday. The aircraft have remained at the base since.

    Echoing the defensive posture, Defence Minister Catherine Vautrin drew a clear analogy: ‘a refuelling aircraft is a service station, it is not a fighter jet… the issue is clearly refuelling capability, that is the only authorisation that has been given by the president.’

    This carefully calibrated support reflects France’s overarching ‘strictly defensive’ stance since strikes began last Saturday. Macron simultaneously announced the deployment of the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier to the Mediterranean, underscoring a commitment to regional stability driven in part by defence agreements with Qatar, Kuwait, and the UAE. The decision has nonetheless sparked concern among left-wing French politicians, who warn it risks entangling the nation in a broader conflict.

  • International chefs preview bold flavours ahead of Jamaica Food & Drink Festival

    International chefs preview bold flavours ahead of Jamaica Food & Drink Festival

    KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Jamaica Food & Drink Kitchen transformed into an epicurean laboratory Wednesday evening as celebrated chefs from across the globe unveiled innovative interpretations of Caribbean gastronomy. The exclusive Chef’s Table event, an invitation-only preview for the 2026 Jamaica Food & Drink Festival, demonstrated how traditional regional ingredients are being reinvented through contemporary culinary techniques.

    The evening’s presentations revolved around this year’s festival theme: creative reimagining of familiar Caribbean components. Chef Scotley Innis, the Bronx-born culinary artist of Jamaican descent renowned for his Food Network appearances, showcased his innovative approach through dishes like crispy tuna served on sushi-style rice and peas, curry shrimp potstickers accentuated with scotch bonnet garnish, and an inventive coco-bread bread pudding complemented by rum crème anglaise and vanilla ice cream.

    Brooklyn-based restaurateur Chef Patrick Simpson emphasized traditional Jamaican flavors presented through novel formats. His culinary offerings included ackee and salomon gundy bammy bites, red snapper sliders accompanied by spicy calypso coleslaw, and pulled jerk chicken tostones finished with avocado aioli.

    Adding regional diversity to the proceedings, award-winning Trinidadian chef Brigette Joseph presented a fusion of Trinidadian and broader Caribbean influences. Her menu featured spiced goat dumplings with tamarind-soy glaze and chilli oil, stewed pork belly paired with macaroni-pie croquette and coconut callaloo, plus a trio of traditional Trinidadian chokas served alongside fried paratha.

    The mixology component received equal innovation, with Chicago-based expert Tyler MacLellan crafting signature cocktails using Jamaican rum and tropical flavors. His creations included the Starbird Lights, a honey-and-passionfruit rum concoction, and the Fyah Bird, made with clarified strawberry cordial, pineapple, and lime.

    Organizers highlighted that the festival, scheduled for March 5-8 in Kingston, will feature four signature events: KUYAH, DECADE 2.0, Meet Street & The Market, and Boozy Brunch. The Jamaica Food & Drink Festival, presented by VISA and hosted by CB Foods, continues to establish Kingston as a premier culinary destination within the Caribbean region.