CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Major League Soccer has dropped its first wave of selections for the 2025 MLS All-Star Game, with Inter Miami CF global superstar Lionel Messi leading the group of 11 initial players named to the host squad ahead of the July 29 showcase against Liga MX’s all-star team.
博客
-
Heineken turns Champions League dreams into reality for Jamaican supporters
For countless football supporters across the globe, watching the UEFA Champions League Final means settling in front of a television screen, cheering from thousands of miles away from the iconic stadium. But in 2023, a handpicked cohort of passionate Jamaican football lovers, loyal customers and brand ambassadors got a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to step right into the center of the action, after Heineken Jamaica flew the group out to Budapest for the biggest weekend on the European club football calendar.
Heineken has held global sponsorship rights to the UEFA Champions League for decades, and over that time, the brand has cemented a strong reputation for creating unprecedented opportunities that bridge the gap between fans and the sport they love. In the Hungarian capital this year, that long-held commitment transformed into a fully immersive, custom-built experience that merged top-tier football access, local cultural exploration, world-class hospitality and exclusive behind-the-scenes opportunities no general ticket holder could access.
Nathan Nelms, Brand Manager for Heineken Jamaica, explained that the brand’s signature “Fans Have More Friends” campaign grew from the UEFA Champions League’s longstanding core mission: uniting people from different cultures, nations and walks of life through a shared passion for the beautiful game.
“Too often, people focus only on what happens between the lines with the players on the pitch, but some of football’s most unforgettable moments come from the connections built between the fans in the stands,” Nelms shared in a statement about the trip. “Bringing a group of Jamaican fans all the way to Budapest let them experience these cross-cultural connections first-hand, building lasting friendships and memories that will stick with them long after the final referee’s whistle.”
The multi-day celebration kicked off before the match with a full day at the official Champions Festival, a fan-focused event leading up to the final. There, the Jamaican guests got the rare chance to meet and talk with former UEFA Champions League legends, diving headfirst into the electric anticipation building around the continent’s biggest club match. The group also attended a private welcome reception that put both the men’s and women’s UEFA Champions League trophies on display for exclusive up-close access.
The undisputed highlight of the entire trip came on match day, when the Jamaican group took their places in premium, high-end seats inside the Puskás Aréna. From their vantage points, they got to experience the roaring atmosphere, last-minute drama and raw emotion of the decider first-hand, an experience no broadcast can replicate.
Nelms noted that for the vast majority of football fans, attending a Champions League Final is a lifelong dream that rarely comes to fruition. That made sharing this opportunity with the Jamaican group even more meaningful for the brand. “Watching them walk into the stadium, soak in all that excitement, and bond with fellow fans from every corner of the globe was just as special as the match itself,” he added.
Beyond the thrills of top-tier football, the cross-continental trip also gave Jamaican supporters the chance to immerse themselves in a new culture, forge connections with football fans from other countries, and take their place as part of the global community that makes the Champions League a truly worldwide phenomenon. Among the notable attendees at the pre-match welcome event were Xavi Hernández, the legendary Champions League-winning former player and manager, and Victoria Colahar, Founder of Core Club Studios, part of a diverse global gathering of fans and football personalities ahead of kickoff.
-
USF donates $4.2m in computer devices to the Manchester Municipal Corporation
MANCHESTER, JAMAICA – In a key step forward for Jamaica’s ongoing push to modernize its public digital infrastructure, the country’s Universal Service Fund (USF) has gifted more than JMD $4.2 million in new computing hardware to the Manchester Municipal Corporation.
The donation, which forms part of the USF’s long-running initiative to embed digital transformation across local government bodies and lift their operational capacity, was formalized during an official handover ceremony held on Thursday, May 28. Under the agreement, the municipal authority took delivery of 12 brand-new desktop computers and three portable laptops, a haul of equipment earmarked to upgrade the body’s outdated technological stock and directly improve the quality of services delivered to thousands of Manchester parish residents.
Addressing attendees at the event, USF Chief Executive Officer Charlton McFarlane stressed that as Jamaican society grows increasingly digitized, equipping public institutions with the necessary modern tools is not just an upgrade, but a core requirement for effective governance. “The donation we are turning over today will deliver lasting gains that boost the Manchester Municipal Corporation’s day-to-day efficiency,” McFarlane said, reaffirming the USF’s ongoing commitment to supporting institutions that directly touch Jamaican communities, ensuring they have all the resources they need to serve the public effectively.
Dana DeCordova Denton, USF’s Manager for Marketing and Public Relations, expanded on the broader rationale behind the investment, framing widespread technological access across government as a foundational public good in the 21st century. “Technology is no longer a luxury reserved for private entities or elite departments,” DeCordova Denton explained. “It is an indispensable enabler of efficiency, clear communication, innovative problem-solving, and reliable public service delivery. Government agencies are central to the daily lives of every Jamaican citizen, so it is absolutely critical that they have the tools they need to operate effectively in our fast-moving digital age.”
Donovan Mitchell, who serves as Mayor of Mandeville and Chairman of the Manchester Municipal Corporation, delivered the event’s keynote address, where he extended profound gratitude to the USF for the transformative contribution and outlined the tangible changes the new equipment will bring to local operations. Mitchell confirmed that every department within the municipal corporation will receive at least one of the new devices, and gave assurances to staff and residents alike that the updated technology will meaningfully strengthen the body’s overall effectiveness and productivity across all service areas.
-
Police name father and son killed execution style in Manchester
MANCHESTER, JAMAICA – Investigators with local law enforcement have released the identities of two victims, a father and son, who were killed in a brutal execution-style attack early Friday in the quiet south Jamaica community of New Forest, Manchester.
The deceased have been named as 60-year-old Hubert Ferguson, who was known locally by the nickname “Bestie”, and his 33-year-old son Floyd Ferguson, a well-known local car dealer and part-time entertainer who went by the alias “Fido”.
A senior police source, speaking on condition of anonymity to share details of the ongoing investigation, confirmed that the pair were bound at the hands before being shot dead at their private residence in New Forest. The attack is believed to have taken place around midnight Friday, with the bodies discovered shortly after dawn.
Official data from Jamaica’s constabulary force underscores a worrying upward trend in violent crime in the parish this year. As of Sunday, May 31, Manchester had recorded 14 homicide cases, already a 75 percent increase from the eight murders reported during the same period in 2023. This double homicide has pushed the total number of murders in the parish to 16 just five and a half months into the calendar year, amplifying growing community concerns over rising violent crime in rural areas of the country.
The report was filed by Kasey Williams, local correspondent for Jamaica-based news outlets.
-
60-year-old killed in Manchester freak accident
MANDEVILLE, JAMAICA – A tragic workplace-related incident has claimed the life of a 60-year-old local resident in central Jamaica, after falling construction materials struck him while he rested in a shaded area on Thursday morning.
Local law enforcement has identified the deceased as Robert Dawes, who lived in the George Reid district of Mandeville. According to initial police reports, the fatal incident unfolded just after 10:30 a.m. in the Balvenie Heights neighborhood, where Dawes had been sitting under a tree to escape the tropical heat when the accident occurred.
Several lengths of steel, which were being transported by a delivery truck bound for a local construction site, shifted unexpectedly and fell from the vehicle’s cargo bed. The falling building material struck Dawes immediately, causing severe, life-threatening trauma. Bystanders rushed to call emergency services, and first responders transported the injured man to a nearby hospital for urgent medical care. Despite the efforts of medical staff, Dawes ultimately succumbed to his injuries at the facility.
Local authorities have not yet released further details about any potential safety violations on the part of the delivery crew, or whether investigations into the incident are ongoing. The accident has shocked the small, close-knit community of Mandeville, where residents are now mourning the unexpected loss of a local man.
-
ProDominicana to honor top foreign investors at Americas Investment Forum 2026
The Dominican Republic is set to shine a spotlight on standout contributors to its economic growth and foreign direct investment at a major upcoming regional event. The country’s official investment promotion agency, ProDominicana, has announced that it will host a special awards recognition as a core part of the 2026 Americas Investment Forum, scheduled to take place on July 1 at Santo Domingo’s JW Marriott Hotel.
This new awards initiative is designed to honor companies that have delivered meaningful, measurable progress across multiple priority areas that underpin long-term national development. Honorees will be selected based on their contributions to job creation, cross-sector innovation, global knowledge transfer, sustainable business practices, and overall investment expansion. The recognition will cover contributions across all of the Dominican Republic’s key high-growth economic sectors, from tourism and traditional agribusiness to energy infrastructure, medical device manufacturing, construction, retail and commercial services, and financial services.
Per ProDominicana’s official announcement, the awards program serves two core strategic goals: first, to highlight the transformative positive impact that foreign direct investment has already had on the Dominican economy, and second, to cement the nation’s standing as one of the most attractive destinations for international capital in the Latin American and Caribbean region.
Biviana Riveiro Disla, leader of ProDominicana, noted that the awards ceremony will act as a high-profile platform to showcase the Dominican Republic’s competitive advantages for global investors. She emphasized that the event underscores the national government and investment community’s shared commitment to upholding a welcoming, business-friendly investment climate and advancing inclusive, sustainable economic growth that benefits all segments of Dominican society. Beyond celebrating past successes, the recognition event also aims to strengthen confidence among current investors and lay the groundwork for new cross-border business partnerships.
The 2026 Americas Investment Forum itself has grown into one of the most prominent annual investment gatherings in the Western Hemisphere. This year’s iteration is projected to draw more than 50 expert speakers representing more than 25 nations across the globe, including high-level delegates from major economic powers such as the United States, China, the United Arab Emirates, Spain, the United Kingdom, Mexico, Switzerland, and Colombia. The forum brings together a diverse cross-section of stakeholders: active global investors, C-suite business leaders, senior government economic officials, and leaders of major international development and trade organizations. Over the course of the event, participants will collaborate to map emerging investment trends, unpack regional economic shifts, and unlock new collaborative opportunities across the Americas.
-
Abinader calls for water and sanitation to become a regional priority
PUNTA CANA, Dominican Republic – At the opening of the Latinosan 2026 conference hosted in this major Caribbean coastal tourism hub, Dominican Republic President Luis Abinader has issued a urgent call to governments across Latin America and the Caribbean to elevate water and sanitation infrastructure to the top of their national development agendas. In his keynote address, the president emphasized that basic sanitation can no longer be sidelined as a low-priority secondary concern, pointing to its far-reaching direct impacts on public health outcomes, long-term environmental sustainability, inclusive economic growth, and community-level climate resilience.
Abinader underlined that equitable access to clean drinking water and well-functioning sanitation systems is a non-negotiable foundation for advancing key regional goals. From narrowing systemic social and economic inequality to preserving fragile natural ecosystems, from strengthening the competitiveness of the tourism sector that drives many regional economies to lifting overall quality of life for all populations, the president noted that these core services underpin nearly every dimension of sustainable progress. He made clear that universal, reliable access to high-quality water and sanitation is not a secondary outcome of development, but a prerequisite for achieving meaningful, long-lasting sustainable growth across the region.
Turning to his own country’s ongoing efforts, Abinader highlighted the Dominican Republic’s sustained, large-scale investments in expanding modern water and wastewater infrastructure across the nation. A flagship example he cited is the Verón-Punta Cana Water and Sewerage Project, a major initiative that is on track to deliver improved services to more than one million people once fully completed. This project is a core component of the national government’s broader Universal Sanitation Program for Coastal and Tourist Cities, a strategic framework crafted to protect vulnerable freshwater reserves, anchor the growth of sustainable tourism, and guide orderly, sustainable urban expansion in the Punta Cana region – one of the Dominican Republic’s most economically vital areas.
The president added that the Dominican Republic is currently undergoing a historic, once-in-a-generation transformation of its national water sector. This shift is being driven by record levels of public investment, targeted reforms to strengthen institutional governance of water resources, and long-term strategic planning that aligns infrastructure projects with climate and development goals. During the conference, Wellington Arnaud, the leader of the country’s water governance institute, detailed that the national government is rolling out one of the most ambitious water and sanitation investment portfolios in the entire Latin American and Caribbean region. This pipeline includes a series of major projects developed in partnership with the Inter-American Development Bank, with total combined investment valued at nearly US$1 billion.
Government officials outlined the tangible outcomes these investments will deliver for the Dominican people: expanded access to safe drinking water for underserved communities, increased national wastewater treatment capacity to reduce pollution, enhanced protection for more than 200 kilometers of ecologically and economically critical coastline, and direct improved quality of life for more than one million residents across the country. Beyond national progress, the Latinosan 2026 conference also spotlighted the Dominican Republic’s growing leadership role in regional water management, sustainable sanitation, and equitable development, framing the country as an innovative regional model for advancing public health and environmental protection through targeted, large-scale infrastructure investment.
-
WHO, Africa CDC launch US$518m plan to combat Ebola outbreak
GENEVA, SWITZERLAND – In a coordinated response to a rapidly spreading Ebola outbreak that has triggered regional public health alarms, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the African Union’s Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) unveiled a $518 million joint intervention framework on Friday aimed at containing the virus and stopping cross-border spread.
The six-month initiative, which will run from June through November, targets the ongoing outbreak of the rare Bundibugyo Ebola strain first formally declared in northeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) on May 15. Health officials confirm the virus had likely been circulating undetected in the region for an extended period before the formal declaration, allowing transmission to gain a foothold.
As of the WHO’s most recent official update, the outbreak has been linked to 381 confirmed cases and 64 fatalities across three DRC provinces. The epicenter of the crisis remains Ituri province, which Africa CDC data shows accounts for 90% of all confirmed infections and 76% of recorded deaths. The virus has already crossed the DRC’s northeastern border into Uganda, where 16 confirmed cases and one death have been recorded to date.
Addressing reporters at a press briefing, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus outlined the six core priorities of the new plan: coordinated emergency response management, enhanced disease surveillance, expanded laboratory testing capacity, universal infection prevention and control protocols, improved patient clinical care, and targeted community engagement to build trust and spread accurate public health guidance.
“This is a practical, time-bound and fully costed plan,” Tedros explained. “It lays out clear, shared actions we need to implement immediately to contain the current outbreak and cut the risk of further regional spread.” He added that the total budget for the six-month effort totals $518 million, covering all program activities across the response period.
Africa CDC officials note the current outbreak is already larger than the two previously recorded outbreaks of the Bundibugyo strain, which occurred in 2007 and 2012 respectively. A critical challenge facing response teams is the lack of any officially approved vaccines or targeted treatments specifically for this strain of Ebola, complicating clinical care and prevention efforts for frontline workers.
-
‘Jamaica didn’t call’: Jaydon Hibbert says Turkey rebuilt him after injury setback
Fresh off a stunning 17.02-meter jump on his comeback trail at the Rome Diamond League, rising triple jump star Jaydon Hibbert has opened up about his turbulent journey back to elite competition, revealing how Turkey stepped in to rebuild his shattered mental and emotional health after a career-threatening injury – while leveling sharp criticism at Jamaican sporting leadership for abandoning him during his darkest days.
The 21-year-old, who originally hails from Jamaica, made the explosive remarks in an exclusive interview with *The Inside Lane* following his season-opening performance, a landmark result that marked his first major competition back after a debilitating bone injury forced him to the sidelines following the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.
In the wake of his surprise long jump, Hibbert said he was still processing the emotion of his return: “My mind is so full right now. I’m lost for words, but I’m feeling so good. I am so excited, I’m so happy, I’m so thankful to God.”
The young athlete shared that he only restarted structured training in February of this year, and is still operating under strict medical limits as he works his way back to full competitive fitness. “I’ve been dreaming of hitting the 17-meter mark since I started training back in February,” he said. “But, oh my gosh, 17.02 meters on a short approach? And I’m not even in full competition shape yet? It’s going to be crazy when I hit peak form later this year.”
Hibbert said he was encouraged by how his body held up across six rounds of competition in Rome. “My knee’s not hurting. I’m just cramping up, that’s why I didn’t finish my last jump. My body and my nervous system are still shaken up – I haven’t done this level of competition in a year, you know?”
He recalled that he started the event cautiously, holding back out of fear of re-injury, before finding the confidence to attack the runway on his key jump. “The first three jumps, I was scared… I wasn’t running free. I was passive coming to the takeoff board,” he explained. “Then I thought, you know what? Let me just run, just go for it, nothing bad is going to happen.” Following his Rome performance, Hibbert says he is already setting his sights on a bigger mark at next week’s Diamond League meet in Oslo.
The triple jumper says his successful return to competition would not have been possible without the support he received after switching his athletic allegiance to Turkey, a decision he says was directly driven by the lack of support he got from Jamaican officials after his injury. “This is the right space for me,” he said.
Hibbert claimed that after he sustained his injury, not a single member of Jamaica’s senior sporting leadership reached out to check on his wellbeing. “There were times when I had nobody to talk to. Nobody checked in,” he said. “Especially since I got injured through negligence, the fact that no one even tried to reach out says it all. And when I say no one, you know who I’m speaking about. The only call I got was last year, when they wanted me to sign up for the Olympic trials. They just said, ‘Mr Hibbert, we don’t see your registration.’ I had to ask them, bro, do you even care if I’m healthy enough to even come to the trials? That just proves they can reach out when they want something – they just didn’t care when I needed help.”
In stark contrast to the neglect he says he faced in Jamaica, Hibbert explained that Turkey centered his recovery first on mending his mental health, the most critical step he needed to get back on track. “Turkey, they’re big on sports psychology, that was the very first step they took in my recovery. It was all about psychology first,” he said.
He revealed that the first two weeks of his rehabilitation program were almost entirely dedicated to daily therapy sessions, twice a day. “For two weeks, twice a day, I just got to spill everything out. I cried, I let it all out,” he said. “One time the therapist didn’t even understand what I was saying because I switched to Patois, but that didn’t matter. I just needed to get it all out – it was so depressing before that. Now I’m just in a better space.”
Hibbert said the support system built by his new national federation has made him feel valued and supported for the first time since his injury. “They prioritize my recovery, and it really feels like family. It’s a structure I can depend on when things get hard, because not every day is going to be happy and easy, you know? I’m just so thankful for them, thankful that God put them in my life to reignite my career.”
While he remains grateful to Jamaica for identifying his talent and nurturing his early career, Hibbert says the country’s sporting leadership failed him completely when he needed support the most. “I’m thankful to Jamaica too because they’re the ones who identified my talent and built me up initially,” he said. “But I’d be lying if I said the leaders of the sporting establishment there didn’t break me. So I’m thankful to Turkey for rebuilding me. And it’s just up from here.”
-
Dominican mango exports set to reach 10 million boxes this year
BANÍ, Dominican Republic — The Dominican Republic’s mango export industry, one of the nation’s most valuable agricultural sectors, is poised for substantial expansion, with a projected target of nearly 10 million export boxes by 2026, according to the country’s Minister of Agriculture Francisco Oliverio Espaillat. Espaillat shared the ambitious growth forecast during the opening ceremony of the annual Expo Mango 2026, held in Baní, the nation’s newly designated Mango Capital. The minister attributed the sector’s consistent upward trajectory to the collaborative effort of independent producers, targeted government investment, widespread adoption of new agricultural technologies, and ongoing industry-wide modernization projects. Beyond its direct financial contribution, Espaillat emphasized that the mango industry delivers far-reaching benefits to the Dominican economy: it brings in critical foreign exchange, creates tens of thousands of stable jobs across the supply chain, revitalizes rural communities by supporting local livelihoods, and fuels broad-based national economic development. Senior industry officials have noted that Dominican mangoes have earned growing global acclaim in recent years, evolving from a regional commodity to a globally recognized symbol of Dominican agricultural excellence and a strong national brand in competitive international fresh produce markets. Event organizers released updated 2025 industry data confirming the sector’s rapid expansion: the country now boasts more than 150,000 acres dedicated to mango cultivation, supports over 2,100 active producers, and saw total exports exceed 34 million kilograms in 2025. Industry leaders also highlighted untapped growth opportunities in key high-demand markets, most notably the United States. These opportunities have been unlocked by targeted investments in modern processing facilities and upgraded export infrastructure, which have reduced supply chain bottlenecks and improved product quality for international consumers. Expo Mango 2026 serves as a central gathering place for producers, exporters, private sector business leaders, and government policymakers to highlight the industry’s recent achievements and map out strategies for future growth. The event also aligns with Baní’s ongoing efforts to cement its status as the heart of the Dominican mango industry, following recent national legislation that officially named the city the Dominican Republic’s Mango Capital.