As New York prepares for its iconic Fashion Week, Jamaican model Naki Depass of Saint International has already seized the spotlight through prestigious off-calendar appearances. The 5’11” rising star delivered standout performances for two American design titans, Marc Jacobs and Thom Browne, showcasing their Fall 2026 collections in exclusive events that set the tone for the fashion season.\n\nDepass made the selective roster for Marc Jacobs’ ‘Memory.Loss’ presentation at Manhattan’s Park Avenue Armory, where she embodied the designer’s signature geometric aesthetic. Her appearance in a raven-toned tank top and minimalist mini skirt demonstrated Jacobs’ continued exploration of structural fashion forms. The event attracted front-row attention from celebrities including Julia Fox, Nicky Hilton, and style influencer Jessica Wang.\n\nJust three days prior, Depass traveled cross-country to San Francisco for Thom Browne’s GQ Bowl presentation, strategically timed alongside Super Bowl festivities. At the Legion of Honour Museum venue, she debuted as Look 39 in a sophisticated preppy ensemble featuring a cardigan, miniskirt, and leather jacket. Depass elevated the presentation while showcasing Browne’s collaborative accessories including custom Bose headphones and newly designed Asics sneakers.\n\nThe Browne gathering united fashion and entertainment luminaries including Queen Latifah, Teyana Taylor, and Olympic gymnast Suni Lee, with Depass joined by fellow Saint International model Romaine Dixon. These early appearances position Depass as a compelling presence to watch as formal Fashion Week proceedings commence, demonstrating the industry’s continued embrace of diverse international talent.
作者： admin
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Volunteers Inc launches volunteer engagement app ‘VIbe’
KINGSTON, Jamaica — Volunteers Inc, a Jamaican non-profit organization, has introduced a groundbreaking digital solution that redefines volunteerism through technology. The innovative application, named “VIbe,” serves as a comprehensive platform integrating volunteer engagement, social networking, gamification, and project development into one seamless ecosystem.
This pioneering platform distinguishes itself as one of the few globally that enables volunteers and partner organizations not just to participate in existing initiatives but to actively propose meaningful projects, mobilize community support, and foster connections around shared objectives. The application’s unique approach combines social interaction features with gamified experiences, creating an engaging environment for users to discover opportunities aligned with their skills and interests.
Volunteers Inc President Davor Bailey emphasized the organization’s vision, stating: “Volunteering should be engaging, inclusive and accessible. With VIbe, we’re using technology to remove barriers, spark collaboration and give people a meaningful way to turn ideas into action.”
The launch marks a significant advancement in modernizing volunteer efforts, expanding the organization’s reach throughout Jamaica and potentially influencing global volunteer practices. Currently available on the Google Play Store for Android users, the platform also offers web-based accessibility ensuring inclusive access across all device types, demonstrating the organization’s commitment to universal participation in community-driven initiatives.
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Minnis takes aim at ‘afraid’ FNM candidates switching seats
In a striking political development, former Bahamian Prime Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis has publicly criticized members of his former party, the Free National Movement (FNM), for abandoning their original constituencies to seek election in different electoral districts. The remarks came during his Monday appearance on ‘Beyond the Headlines with Shenique Miller,’ where he simultaneously confirmed his intention to run as an independent candidate in the upcoming general election from his long-held Killarney constituency.
Dr. Minnis drew sharp contrasts between his own consistent representation of Killarney since 2007 and what he characterized as politically opportunistic movements by fellow FNM members. ‘Regardless of how they cut it, I’m staying in Killarney unlike many others who have ran from one constituency to another,’ he stated during the broadcast interview.
When pressed to identify specific individuals, the former Prime Minister declined to name names but pointed to extensive media coverage of these constituency changes. He suggested psychological motivations behind these electoral moves, remarking, ‘I don’t know if individuals are running. They must be afraid of something. So they’d have to inform us what that fear is all about, but I’m not afraid of it.’
The phenomenon appears widespread within FNM ranks. Dr. Duane Sands, the party chairman and former Elizabeth constituency representative who lost to Progressive Liberal Party’s JoBeth Coleby-Davis in 2021, is now seeking nomination in Bamboo Town. Similarly, Travis Robinson, who previously represented Bain and Grants Town from 2017-2021 before losing his seat, is now pursuing the Fort Charlotte constituency. Even FNM deputy leader Shanendon Cartwright, currently representing St Barnabas, has been officially ratified as the party’s candidate for the newly created St James constituency.
This public criticism from the former party leader signals deepening fractures within FNM leadership and highlights the strategic repositioning occurring within Bahamian politics ahead of the next general election.
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‘They ain’t coming in my yard’: FNM veteran slams Rick Fox pick
The Free National Movement’s ratification of former NBA star Rick Fox as its Garden Hills candidate has ignited significant internal dissent within the party ranks, exposing deep divisions regarding leadership decisions and candidate selection processes. Prominent party figures have publicly condemned the move, characterizing it as symptomatic of the organization’s broader decline under current leadership.
Ricardo Rolle, a former constituency chairman and nine-year president of the Garden Hills association during the Ingraham administration, delivered scathing criticism of both the party hierarchy and Fox’s nomination. The veteran FNM supporter, who has maintained party allegiance since 1985, asserted that the decision to bypass established political figures like former MPs Dr. Hubert Minnis and Renward Wells in favor of a political newcomer represents a fundamental misjudgment that has disillusioned long-standing members.
‘This constitutes the most poorly managed period in FNM’s history,’ Rolle declared to The Tribune, emphasizing Fox’s lack of local political knowledge. ‘He cannot even delineate Garden Hills’ boundaries despite seeking to represent the constituency.’
The controversy emerges amid revelations that this year’s general election will mark Fox’s first-ever electoral participation in The Bahamas, a fact that has raised eyebrows among party traditionalists who expected longtime aspirant D’Angelo Ferguson to secure the nomination after extensive campaigning.
Kendal Culmer, an FNM meritorious council member, echoed these concerns, noting the absence of proper consultation regarding Fox’s selection. Culmer questioned whether Fox’s celebrity status and financial success qualified him for political office, criticizing party leader Michael Pintard’s communication on the matter.
Despite the substantial opposition, some party voices have expressed support for Fox’s candidacy. Former area MP Brensil Rolle endorsed the decision, describing Fox as a qualified Bahamian who merits opportunity and predicting that Garden Hills voters would prioritize performance over political rhetoric in their electoral decisions.
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Manchester High target spot in ISSA Rural Area Boys’ basketball finals
ST JAMES, Jamaica — Manchester High School stands on the precipice of securing dual championship final berths in the ISSA Rural Area Boys’ basketball competition. The defending champions seized commanding 1-0 advantages in both Under-16 and Under-19 semifinal series following decisive Monday victories in Mandeville.
In the Under-16 division, Manchester High delivered a convincing 67-48 defeat to Knox College, establishing early dominance that persisted throughout the contest. The team’s performance was anchored by Jayquan Palmer’s extraordinary double-double achievement of 23 points and 25 rebounds. Supplementary scoring came from Dante Matthews (15 points) and Hasim Wright (13 points), while Knox College’s Kaden Dunstan managed 18 points in the losing effort.
The Under-19 matchup witnessed an even more dominant display as Manchester High obliterated former national champions Herbert Morrison Technical 72-33. The game immediately turned historic as Manchester established a unprecedented 20-0 first-quarter lead—marking the first time any Herbert Morrison squad failed to score in a single quarter. Oral Daley recorded another double-double for the champions with 11 points and 19 rebounds, supported by Shavar Bogle’s 15 points and Samuel Smith’s 12 points. Joshua Ferguson provided Herbert Morrison’s lone bright spot with a game-high 16 points.
Parallel semifinal action saw Holmwood Technical claiming a narrow 75-70 victory against Knox College in their Under-19 series opener. After trailing through the first half, Holmwood mounted a spectacular second-half comeback led by Melvin Ragoo’s 30-point performance. JA-dan Reid contributed 18 points while Romeo Smith added 16 points to secure the crucial Game 1 advantage.
In Tuesday’s Under-16 action, Herbert Morrison Technical rebounded from their senior team’s defeat by crushing York Castle High 85-44. Shamar Russell paced the victory with 22 points, supported by three teammates scoring in double figures as Herbert Morrison established overwhelming quarter leads of 21-4, 43-12, and 64-28 throughout the contest.
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Actor behind Albania’s AI ‘minister’ wants her face back
A prominent Albanian actress has initiated legal proceedings against her government after discovering her digital likeness was utilized without proper authorization to create an AI-powered ministerial avatar. Anila Bisha, a well-known performer, alleges that authorities exploited her identity by transforming her into “Diella,” an artificial intelligence system designated to oversee public procurement processes.
The controversial initiative was unveiled by Prime Minister Edi Rama in September 2023 as an innovative anti-corruption measure. The government promoted this AI entity as a virtual minister that would allegedly eliminate graft in public tenders through automated decision-making. However, the project immediately faced scrutiny from opposition parties and technology ethicists who raised substantial concerns about algorithmic accountability and procedural transparency.
Bisha revealed that while she had previously consented to limited use of her image for a government service portal virtual assistant through December 2025, the administration dramatically expanded this usage without consultation. The situation escalated when a digitally synthesized version of the actress addressed Albania’s parliament dressed in traditional attire, claiming the AI minister was “not here to replace people.
The 57-year-old performer discovered that the National Agency for Information Society had additionally filed patents covering her vocal and visual identity without notification—a development she states has professionally and personally compromised her. After attempted negotiations yielded no governmental response, Bisha formally petitioned the administrative court this week seeking immediate suspension of her likeness utilization.
This case emerges amid growing global debates concerning digital rights, personality protections, and ethical artificial intelligence implementation within governance structures.
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Mentally challenged woman pleads to go home after stabbing mother
KINGSTON, Jamaica — A profoundly emotional courtroom scene unfolded Tuesday as a 24-year-old woman with longstanding mental health challenges was remanded for psychiatric assessment after pleading to unlawfully wounding her own mother.
The defendant, whose identity remains protected, appeared before Senior Parish Judge Sanchia Burrell in the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court, where proceedings were repeatedly interrupted by emotional outbursts. When questioned by Judge Burrell about her presence in court, the young woman openly acknowledged, ‘Because mi stab mi mother,’ before immediately adding in a remorseful tone, ‘But mi neva stab her fi spite.’
The complainant, who is the defendant’s mother, appealed to the court for mental health intervention rather than punishment, revealing her daughter had exhibited psychological disturbances since age 10 and discontinued formal education at 16. Though specific diagnosis details weren’t disclosed, the mother emphasized her daughter’s documented mental health condition.
The courtroom atmosphere grew increasingly tense as the defendant tearfully begged her mother for forgiveness, crying out, ‘Mommy mi neva mean to stab you.’ The emotional exchange moved spectators and law enforcement personnel to visible distress, with many struggling to maintain composure.
According to police testimony, the young woman has numerous prior encounters with law enforcement and demonstrates disruptive behavioral patterns. The court learned she currently divides her residence between her boyfriend’s home and her mother’s household.
Judge Burrell, acknowledging the complexity of the case, determined that custodial remand with psychiatric evaluation represented the most appropriate interim solution. The magistrate emphasized, ‘She needs care and supervision, and that’s not going to happen here,’ while directing probation services to identify suitable mental health facilities.
The case has been adjourned until April 21, pending completion of the ordered psychiatric assessment. This proceeding highlights ongoing challenges in Jamaica’s judicial system regarding mental health interventions and appropriate care protocols for psychologically distressed defendants.
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Powerful cyclone kills 20 in Madagascar
ANTANANARIVO, Madagascar—The Indian Ocean island nation of Madagascar is reeling from catastrophic damage after Cyclone Gezani made landfall with devastating force, claiming at least 20 lives and causing widespread destruction. The powerful storm struck the eastern port city of Toamasina on Tuesday with wind velocities reaching 250 kilometers per hour (155 mph), according to the National Office for Risk and Disaster Management (BNRGC).
Official reports confirm numerous fatalities resulted from structural collapses as the cyclone’s violent winds tore through residential areas. The disaster authority has revised initial figures to indicate 15 individuals remain missing while at least 33 have sustained injuries, with search and rescue operations actively underway.
Drone surveillance footage released by BNRGC reveals extensive flooding throughout Toamasina, a urban center of approximately 400,000 residents located 220 kilometers northeast of the capital. The aerial imagery depicts severely battered infrastructure, with countless buildings stripped of their roofs and streets obstructed by uprooted trees and debris.
Rija Randrianarisoa, disaster management coordinator for Action Against Hunger, described scenes of total chaos, noting that approximately 90 percent of structures suffered significant roof damage. Road networks have become completely impassable due to fallen trees and scattered sheet metal, severely hampering emergency response efforts.
The CMRS cyclone monitoring center based on Réunion Island confirmed Toamasina experienced a direct impact from the storm’s most intense quadrant. Meteorological analysts compared Gezani’s landfall intensity to Cyclone Geralda of February 1994, which resulted in approximately 200 fatalities and affected half a million people.
Madagascar’s current leadership under Colonel Michael Randrianirina, who assumed power in October, has deployed military resources to the disaster zone. The colonel personally toured affected neighborhoods amidst floodwaters and debris, while airport authorities restricted commercial flights to prioritize humanitarian and military operations.
Although the system has weakened to tropical storm status as it traverses the island, significant flood risks persist. Forecast models indicate the storm may regenerate cyclone strength over the Mozambique Channel, potentially threatening southern Mozambique by Friday evening—a region already grappling with severe flooding throughout this year.
The southwestern Indian Ocean cyclone season typically extends from November through April, generating approximately twelve annual storms that frequently impact Madagascar and neighboring coastal nations.
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Spurs sack Frank after miserable eight-month reign
LONDON, United Kingdom — Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur have terminated the contract of head coach Thomas Frank following a prolonged period of poor results, culminating in a critical 2–1 home defeat to Newcastle United on Tuesday. The loss leaves Spurs hovering just five points above the relegation zone, intensifying pressure on the club’s leadership.
The decision, confirmed by the club on Wednesday, marks the end of Frank’s tumultuous eight-month tenure. Under his management, Tottenham recorded only two victories in their last 17 league matches, amassing a meager 12 points during that span. The team currently sits 16th in the league table and is enduring an eight-match winless streak—their worst run of form since October 2008.
In an official statement, the club acknowledged Frank’s appointment in June 2025 as a long-term project but conceded that recent outcomes necessitated an immediate change. “We have been determined to give him the time and support needed to build for the future together,” the statement read. “However, results and performances have led the board to conclude that a change at this point in the season is necessary.”
Frank, previously praised as “one of the most progressive and innovative head coaches” upon his arrival, did achieve success in the UEFA Champions League, guiding Spurs to automatic qualification for the last 16. Yet this accomplishment was overshadowed by a dismal domestic campaign featuring seven wins, eight draws, and 11 defeats in the league, along with early exits from both domestic cup competitions.
The Danish manager’s defensive tactical approach drew criticism from supporters who had grown accustomed to the more attacking style of his predecessor, Ange Postecoglou. Despite injuries to key creative players such as James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski, fan patience wore thin—a sentiment loudly expressed during the Newcastle match with chants of “sacked in the morning.”
Frank is the seventh Premier League manager to be dismissed this season, underscoring the volatile nature of top-flight football management. Assistant coaches Ryan Mason and Matt Wells will assume temporary leadership ahead of Tottenham’s next match—a high-stakes North London derby against league leaders Arsenal on February 22.
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Former FNM women’s president defects to PLP after 33 years
In a significant political realignment, Karen Shepherd, a longstanding Free National Movement (FNM) figure, has publicly severed ties with her party of 33 years to pledge allegiance to Prime Minister Philip Davis and the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP). The formal induction ceremony occurred at PLP headquarters on Farrington Road, where she received her membership credentials alongside senior officials including party chairman Fred Mitchell.
Shepherd, who previously held multiple leadership roles including three terms as president of the FNM’s Women’s Association and party trustee, attributed her defection to fundamental philosophical disagreements. She asserted the FNM has deviated from its foundational principles, noting a disconnect between the party’s rhetoric and its operational conduct. “Their words are saying one thing, yet their actions show another,” she observed, referencing the erosion of the FNM’s traditional ‘all together’ motto.
The former Englerston candidate revealed that FNM leader Michael Pintard failed to initiate contact following her resignation announcement. She described a party experiencing substantial grassroots erosion while focusing disproportionately on visible leadership positions, metaphorically noting that while “the party was filling their spaces from the front, the back is hemorrhaging.”
Shepherd detailed how her decision crystallized during constituency canvassing, where she repeatedly encountered dissatisfied supporters whose concerns were systematically ignored by party leadership. She framed her move as ethically motivated rather than opportunistic, emphasizing her commitment to national interest through “holy courage” and clear conscience.
Citing her political heritage as the daughter of late PLP MP James Shepherd, she invoked historical continuity by referencing her father’s advocacy for price controls, housing initiatives, urban renewal, and labor reforms during the transformative 1967 general election. She specifically highlighted his role as the first House of Assembly Whip and his association with former Prime Minister Sir Lynden Pindling.
Shepherd concluded with an explicit endorsement of Prime Minister Davis’s reelection bid, urging undecided voters to “join me on the winning team” committed to Bahamian service. PLP leadership welcomed her as a valuable organizational asset, with Women’s Branch chairwoman Calverna Small recognizing her as a formidable campaign operative.