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A Thai court has issued an arrest warrant for Anne Jakapong Jakrajutatip, the media mogul and co-owner of the Miss Universe beauty pageant, over allegations of fraud amounting to $930,000. The South Bangkok Civil Court issued the warrant on Tuesday after a plastic surgeon accused Jakapong of fraud and withholding critical information when persuading him to invest in her company, JKN Global Group, in 2023. The court stated that Jakapong allegedly invited the plaintiff to invest despite knowing she could not repay the funds within the agreed timeframe. The verdict in the 30 million baht ($930,000) case was initially scheduled for Tuesday, but Jakapong failed to appear, prompting the court to interpret her absence as a potential attempt to flee. The verdict has now been rescheduled to December 26. Local media reports suggest Jakapong may have traveled to Mexico amid rumors of escalating financial troubles. The Miss Universe Organisation has clarified that these legal proceedings are unrelated to its operations. This development follows a tumultuous Miss Universe 2025 event in Bangkok, which was marred by controversies, including a public altercation between the host and the eventual winner, Miss Mexico, Fatima Bosch. The host faced backlash for allegedly calling Bosch ‘dumb,’ leading to a walkout. Jakapong’s JKN Global Group acquired the Miss Universe pageant in 2022 for $20 million but later sold half its stake to a Mexican firm. In 2024, JKN shares were delisted from the Stock Exchange of Thailand due to financial irregularities.

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Three individuals implicated in a significant narcotics bust involving 1,890 pounds of ganja are set to face further legal proceedings in January 2026. Patrick Branford, Leon Hines, and Naman Banton appeared before Parish Judge Paula Blake Powell on Tuesday. Notably, Hines remains in custody as his bail application is still pending. The trio was allegedly intercepted by the Firearms and Narcotics Division on August 15 while attempting to transport the compressed ganja to one of Jamaica’s ports of entry. They face multiple charges, including conspiracy to export ganja, possession of criminal property, trafficking, dealing in ganja, and preparatory steps to export the substance. The prosecution highlighted that a forensic certificate related to the seized drugs is still pending, prompting the court to schedule the next hearing for case management on January 6, 2026.

KINGSTON, Jamaica — In the wake of Hurricane Melissa, the Jamaica Youth Advocacy Network (JYAN) is calling on national stakeholders to focus on the safety and protection of women and girls. This appeal comes shortly after the observance of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women (IDEVAW) on Tuesday. JYAN emphasizes that while the entire nation grapples with the aftermath of the disaster, women and children face heightened risks of violence and abuse.

In a remarkable display of community solidarity, the Pentecostal Gospel Showers Family of Churches (PGSFoC) orchestrated a significant relief mission last weekend to aid families in Westmoreland, Jamaica, devastated by the catastrophic Hurricane Melissa in October. The Category 5 storm left many areas, including the remote York District, in dire straits, with damaged roads hindering access to essential aid.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa, the JN Group, in collaboration with local and corporate partners, has launched a vital initiative to offer psychosocial support to residents in southern Trelawny, Jamaica. The Category 5 storm left many grappling with emotional and physical devastation, prompting the JN Group to step in with comprehensive relief efforts.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa, Member of Parliament for St Elizabeth South West, Floyd Green, collaborated with Tank-Weld Metals Ltd to spearhead a comprehensive relief initiative across seven severely affected communities. The operation, executed through the South West St Elizabeth Hurricane Relief Command Centre, involved the distribution of 700 care packages, over 75 cases of water, 500 high-quality sleeping bags, and 400 solar-powered lanterns. These supplies were sourced with the support of partners such as Dick’s Sporting Goods and Waldron Wealth, while logistics and fuel assistance were provided by MJ Trucking and FESCO, respectively. The relief team traversed Newcombe Valley, Beacon, Galleon, Fyffes Pen, Cambridge, Oxford, and Compound, ensuring aid reached families grappling with housing damage, loss of belongings, and prolonged power outages. Minister Green emphasized the critical nature of the intervention, particularly in addressing the widespread devastation to the electrical system, including the Maggotty power generation plant. Sarah Bicknell of Tank-Weld Metals Ltd underscored the company’s commitment to aiding recovery with dignity and comfort. The effort was bolstered by a dedicated volunteer team, praised by Kenneisha Campbell, Coordinator of the Relief Command Centre, for their heart and teamwork. The initiative now moves into its second phase, focusing on rebuilding homes, clearing roads, and restoring stability to the constituency.

In the wake of Hurricane Melissa, the Women Entrepreneurs Network of the Caribbean (WENC) Jamaica Chapter has unveiled its new board of directors for the 2025–2027 term. Established regionally in 2012 and formally operational in Jamaica since 2014, WENC is dedicated to addressing challenges faced by women-led micro and small enterprises, such as limited access to finance, mentorship, networks, and markets. The newly appointed board will guide the organization’s initiatives over the next two years, focusing on technology adoption, policy advocacy, and hurricane recovery efforts. The board includes Ethnie Miller Simpson as president, alongside vice presidents overseeing governance, technology, strategic partnerships, marketing, advocacy, membership, and finance. The secretary position remains unfilled. WENC has partnered with Pioneering Greatness, led by CEO David Archer Jr, and secured support from several companies for ongoing relief activities. The organization is advocating for a national recovery plan that prioritizes the needs of women and children in shelters and supports the rebuilding of women-owned businesses, including food stalls, bars, Airbnb rentals, and farms. Through its #womenfornationalrecoveryplan campaign, WENC plans to host town hall meetings, business restart seminars, and funding sessions for affected entrepreneurs. President Miller Simpson emphasized the critical role of small businesses, particularly those led by women, in Jamaica’s economic recovery. She highlighted the importance of smaller operators in the tourism sector and warned that natural disasters exacerbate gender inequality, disproportionately affecting women in informal sectors and increasing caregiving burdens. WENC remains committed to collaborating with partners to empower women entrepreneurs as they rebuild their businesses.

In Kingston, Jamaica, a man faced legal consequences for operating a jerk restaurant without the necessary food handler’s permit. Rohan Gayle appeared before Judge Paula Blake Powell in the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court on Tuesday, charged with selling jerked chicken in a jerk-themed establishment without proper authorization. Gayle admitted that he had applied for the permit on November 4th, but only after being caught violating the law on November 1st. Judge Blake Powell, while showing some leniency, emphasized the importance of food safety training, particularly in light of the recent Hurricane Melissa, which struck on October 28th and has raised significant health and safety concerns across the country. Gayle was fined $15,000, a fraction of the maximum penalty of $50,000, with the alternative of serving a 30-day jail sentence.