Carib Scope

标签： Jamaica

牙买加

  • Versace names Pieter Mulier as new creative head

    Versace names Pieter Mulier as new creative head

    MILAN, Italy – In a strategic move to revitalize the iconic Italian fashion house, Versace has announced the appointment of Belgian designer Pieter Mulier as its new Chief Creative Officer. The decision, confirmed by parent company Prada Group on Thursday, marks a significant leadership shift following the abrupt departure of Dario Vitale last December after just nine months in the role.

    Mulier, 46, joins Versace from Alaïa where he served as creative director since 2021, becoming the first to hold the position since the legendary founder’s passing. His appointment effective July 1 reunites him with longtime collaborator Raf Simons, who currently co-designs at Prada alongside Miuccia Prada.

    The move represents Prada Group’s latest effort to reinvigorate Versace since acquiring the brand for €1.25 billion from Capri Holdings last year. Under American ownership, Versace had faced significant challenges in maintaining its competitive edge in the luxury market.

    Mulier brings an impressive pedigree, having spent much of his career alongside Simons at prestigious houses including Jil Sander and Christian Dior before his tenure at Calvin Klein. His architectural background has informed his distinctive design approach, characterized by sculptural creations that masterfully play with volume and proportion.

    At Alaïa, Mulier successfully revived the brand’s relevance with instantly iconic pieces like the studded Mary Jane ballerina flats and the elongated ‘Le Teckel’ handbag, earning him the International Designer of the Year award at the CFDA Awards in 2023.

    Lorenzo Bertelli, Head of Versace, expressed confidence in Mulier’s appointment: ‘We believe he can truly unlock Versace’s full potential while engaging in a fruitful dialogue with the brand’s strong legacy.’

    Mulier will present his final collection for Alaïa during Paris Fashion Week in March before assuming his new responsibilities at the Italian luxury house.

  • Cuba willing to talk to US ‘without pressure’ as fuel shortage continues

    Cuba willing to talk to US ‘without pressure’ as fuel shortage continues

    HAVANA, Cuba — In a firm national address broadcast on state media Thursday, Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel declared his nation’s readiness to engage in diplomatic talks with the United States, but strictly on condition of mutual respect and without external pressure. This statement comes as a direct response to recent threats from US President Donald Trump, who has aggressively threatened to sever Cuba’s oil access and predicted the collapse of its communist government.

    President Diaz-Canel emphasized that any potential dialogue must be conducted between equals, respecting Cuba’s sovereignty, independence, and right to self-determination without interference in its internal affairs. This position directly counters Trump’s public urgings for Havana to ‘make a deal before it is too late’—a proposition the Cuban government maintains does not constitute genuine negotiation.

    The escalating tension occurs against a backdrop of severe economic and energy distress in Cuba. The nation, already grappling with its worst economic crisis in decades, faces acute fuel shortages that have crippled power generation. An electrical grid failure earlier Thursday left hundreds of thousands in eastern Cuba without electricity for hours, highlighting the vulnerability of its infrastructure.

    This crisis has been exacerbated by the US’s recent actions in Venezuela, Cuba’s primary historical oil supplier. Following a US military operation that ousted Venezuelan leadership, Trump claimed control over the nation’s oil reserves and vowed to starve Cuba of fuel, threatening tariffs on any third country attempting to supply the sanctioned island.

    While the White House, through spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt, asserted that diplomacy is ongoing and that the Cuban government is ‘on its last leg,’ Havana continues to deny the existence of formal negotiations. International support appears limited; Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum stated her country is pursuing diplomatic channels to resume oil shipments to Cuba but will not risk triggering punitive US tariffs.

    President Diaz-Canel acknowledged the gravity of the fuel situation, noting that energy production from traditional generators has been ‘zero for weeks,’ but insisted that ‘Cuba is not alone.’ He pointed to the current pressure as validation of Cuba’s efforts to transition toward renewable energy and reduce foreign dependence. While Cuban officials squarely blame decades of US sanctions for the crisis, independent observers also cite poor economic management and a pandemic-induced tourism collapse as contributing factors to the nation’s dire situation.

  • ‘I am sorry,’ embattled Starmer tells Epstein victims

    ‘I am sorry,’ embattled Starmer tells Epstein victims

    LONDON—British Prime Minister Keir Starmer delivered a sweeping apology Thursday to victims of Jeffrey Epstein for his controversial appointment of Peter Mandelson as US ambassador, a decision that has triggered the most severe political crisis of his premiership.

    The embattled leader addressed Epstein survivors directly, stating: ‘I am sorry for what was done to you, sorry that so many people with power failed you, sorry for having believed Mandelson’s lies and appointed him.’ His emotional remarks came amid mounting pressure from within his own Labour Party and the revelation of newly-unsealed court documents detailing Mandelson’s extensive ties to the convicted sex offender.

    The documents, released last Friday, exposed intimate email exchanges between Mandelson and Epstein that revealed not only a warm personal friendship but also financial dealings and the sharing of confidential, potentially market-sensitive information nearly two decades ago. This latest disclosure follows Mandelson’s dismissal from the Washington post last September after just seven months, prompted by an earlier release of Epstein-related files.

    The scandal has exposed deep fractures within Starmer’s government, with Labour MPs expressing unprecedented anger during parliamentary proceedings. ‘The mood yesterday was the angriest I think I’ve ever seen Labour MPs in the 16 years that I’ve been in parliament,’ confirmed Labour lawmaker Karl Turner. ‘We can’t pretend that this is not a crisis situation.’

    Opposition parties have intensified calls for the resignation of Starmer’s chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney, a known Mandelson ally who reportedly advocated for the controversial appointment. The prime minister has publicly defended his aide despite the growing backlash.

    The political fallout extends to financial markets, with the pound emerging as the worst-performing currency among its peers during Wednesday-to-Thursday trading. The crisis comes at a critical juncture for Labour, which returned to power just 19 months ago after fourteen years in opposition, and now faces challenging by-elections and local elections in the coming months.

    Mandelson, 72, has resigned from Parliament’s House of Lords and is currently under police investigation for alleged misconduct in a public office. While he has not publicly commented this week, UK media reports indicate he maintains his innocence and will cooperate with authorities.

  • NHT to pay an additional 10,000 contribution refunds by February 9

    NHT to pay an additional 10,000 contribution refunds by February 9

    KINGSTON, Jamaica — Jamaica’s National Housing Trust (NHT) is accelerating its refund distribution with an additional 10,000 contributors scheduled to receive their 2018 contribution refunds by Monday. This latest disbursement, valued at approximately $39 million, represents part of an intensive five-week payout initiative that has already processed substantial amounts for eligible citizens.

    Cameo Simmons Thomas, Supervisor of the Contributions, Refunds, Payments and Monitoring Unit, revealed impressive processing statistics during a recent Jamaica Information Service (JIS) Think Tank session on February 5. “Over the past five weeks, we have received 220,000 applications and successfully processed 131,000 refunds totaling $5.9 billion,” Thomas announced, highlighting the organization’s efficient handling of the massive volume.

    In a significant policy expansion, the NHT has broadened cash refund accessibility to include all mortgage holders in good standing. Previously limited to public-sector mortgage holders, this benefit extension implemented since July 2025 now enables qualified mortgagors from all sectors to claim refunds through online applications without errors.

    The NHT’s operational mechanism involves contributors allocating two percent of their monthly salary, which employers annually remit to the Trust. These funds accumulate over a seven-year period, becoming refundable in the eighth year with accrued interest. “Contributors earn two percent interest annually on their deposits, resulting in approximately 14 percent total interest by the refund period,” Thomas explained.

    While January typically experiences application surges, the NHT emphasizes that refund requests can be submitted throughout the year via their official website (nht.gov.jm) or digital platform (NHT Online), providing convenient access from any location.

  • Two Caribbean countries to compete in four-man bobsleigh at Winter Olympics

    Two Caribbean countries to compete in four-man bobsleigh at Winter Olympics

    KINGSTON, Jamaica — The 2026 Winter Olympics will witness an unprecedented chapter in winter sports history as two Caribbean nations, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago, prepare to compete in the four-man bobsleigh event. This landmark participation marks the first time the event will feature dual Caribbean representation, challenging traditional winter sports demographics.

    The International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation confirmed both nations’ qualification, bringing tropical athletic prowess to the icy tracks of the Winter Games. The four-man bobsleigh discipline requires athletes to propel and navigate 200-kilogram sleds at breathtaking speeds along precisely engineered ice channels.

    Jamaica’s roster features Shane Pitter as pilot alongside crew members Andrae Dacres, Junior Harris, Tyquendo Tracey, and Joel Fearon. The team’s structure follows traditional bobsleigh configuration: a steering pilot at the front, two central crewmen providing propulsion, and a brakeman controlling deceleration at the rear. Pilots maneuver using concealed rings and ropes within the sled to avoid catastrophic collisions with the track’s frozen walls.

    Global enthusiasm for Jamaica’s participation continues to build, with international media from Japan, the United Kingdom, and beyond tracking the team’s preparation. This widespread interest owes much to the enduring legacy of the 1993 Disney film ‘Cool Runnings,’ which dramatized Jamaica’s inaugural 1988 Winter Olympics bobsleigh attempt that ended in a dramatic crash.

    The cinematic portrayal, filmed partially in Kingston and Calgary, depicted the team’s journey using borrowed equipment. Although the film incorporated actual footage from the 1988 accident and concluded without medal success, it achieved cult status globally, particularly resonating in Germany, Japan, and the UK where it premiered at number three in box office rankings.

    For the 2026 Games, Jamaica has secured qualifications across three bobsleigh categories: women’s monobob featuring Mica Moore, men’s two-man with team Shane Pitter, Nimroy Turgott, Joel Fearon, and Junior Harris, plus the historic four-man event. The competition format allows each team four runs, with cumulative times determining the gold medal winner.

    Trinidad and Tobago’s Olympic Committee has proudly promoted their athletes’ participation through social media, showcasing competitors in both Alpine skiing and four-man bobsleigh, further solidifying the Caribbean’s growing influence in winter sports.

  • Ex-Klansman members expected to testify against Tesha Miller, co-accused

    Ex-Klansman members expected to testify against Tesha Miller, co-accused

    KINGSTON, Jamaica – Jamaica’s judicial system has embarked on a monumental legal proceeding against alleged Klansman gang leader Tesha Miller and two dozen co-defendants in the Supreme Court’s Home Circuit Division. The prosecution has unveiled a sweeping 32-count indictment detailing 16 distinct criminal incidents spanning from 2017 to 2022, portraying a pattern of organized criminal operations rather than isolated unlawful acts.

    During Wednesday’s opening statements, senior prosecutors articulated their strategy to demonstrate how the similarities in perpetrators, methodologies, and outcomes across these incidents reveal sustained criminal coordination. The Crown positions Miller as the primary architect of this criminal enterprise while characterizing the other defendants as active participants or affiliated members.

    A pivotal element of the prosecution’s case involves testimony from two former Klansman affiliates currently incarcerated for separate offenses. These turncoat witnesses are expected to provide insider perspectives on the gang’s operational structure and alleged activities. According to court statements, the organization maintained territorial influence through firearm violence while advancing collective criminal objectives for material gain.

    Presiding Justice Dale Palmer oversees proceedings that represent Jamaica’s continued application of the Criminal Justice (Suppression of Criminal Organisations) Act, commonly known as the anti-gang legislation. Miller, already serving a 38-year sentence for orchestrating the 2008 murder of Jamaica Urban Transit Company Chairman Douglas Chambers, now faces additional leadership charges under this statute. All defendants have entered not guilty pleas to all counts, including the central charge of participating in criminal organization activities.

  • Fi We Children Foundation condemns confiscation of students’ jackets amid cold front

    Fi We Children Foundation condemns confiscation of students’ jackets amid cold front

    KINGSTON, Jamaica — A prominent children’s rights organization has issued a strong condemnation of a primary school’s controversial decision to confiscate student jackets during a cold weather episode, sparking nationwide debate about children’s welfare in educational settings.

    The Fi We Children Foundation (FWCF) expressed profound concern regarding an incident at a Spanish Town primary school in Saint Catherine parish, where administrators reportedly seized outerwear from students despite plummeting temperatures associated with an ongoing cold front. The foundation’s Wednesday statement characterized the action as a serious breach of the institution’s duty of care toward enrolled children.

    This controversial measure generated substantial distress among parental circles and raised critical questions regarding the appropriate application of school grooming policies. The advocacy group emphasized that Jamaica’s seasonal cold fronts present genuine health vulnerabilities for young learners, particularly affecting their physical comfort, academic concentration, and overall learning capacity.

    Citing both national legislation and international conventions, FWCF underscored that educational institutions bear legal and ethical obligations to prioritize children’s wellbeing. The organization referenced Jamaica’s Child Care and Protection Act alongside the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, which Jamaica has ratified, noting that these frameworks mandate humane treatment and protection from unnecessary physical discomfort.

    While acknowledging Jamaica’s predominantly tropical climate, the foundation highlighted that periodic cold weather remains an environmental reality requiring flexible policy implementation. The group advocated for revised national guidelines that would eliminate unilateral decision-making power by individual administrators regarding grooming standards.

    Africka Stephens, FWCF’s Executive Founder, asserted that regulatory measures intended to maintain order should never compromise children’s health, comfort, or dignity. She emphasized that disciplinary approaches resulting in humiliation, endangerment, or exclusion contradict fundamental educational principles and basic justice.

  • Man sentenced to life in prison for plotting to kill Trump in 2024

    Man sentenced to life in prison for plotting to kill Trump in 2024

    A federal court has sentenced Ryan Routh to life imprisonment plus seven years for his meticulously planned attempt to assassinate former President Donald Trump during the critical pre-election period of September 2024. The 59-year-old Hawaiian resident was convicted on multiple charges, including attempted assassination of a presidential candidate and assaulting a federal officer, following a dramatic trial that revealed extensive preparation for the violent act.

    US District Judge Aileen Cannon delivered the stern sentence after a comprehensive 90-minute hearing, emphasizing the necessity to safeguard public security from Routh’s demonstrated dangerousness. The judicial proceedings reached their climax when Routh, who elected to represent himself despite lacking legal qualifications, delivered a perplexing 20-page statement that required repeated judicial intervention to conclude.

    The operational details emerged during trial testimonies: Secret Service personnel identified a rifle barrel protruding from vegetation at Trump’s West Palm Beach golf course on September 15, 2024. This observation triggered immediate defensive measures, resulting in Routh’s apprehension after a brief vehicular pursuit. Law enforcement subsequently recovered an AK-pattern rifle equipped with optical targeting technology and additional ammunition at the scene.

    Prosecutor John Shipley characterized the plot as a calculated effort to destabilize American democracy through political violence. The Justice Department, through Attorney General Pam Bondi, condemned the attempt as fundamentally anti-democratic. This incident occurred merely two months after another assassination attempt in Pennsylvania, where a rally attendee died from gunfire that slightly injured Trump’s ear.

    Routh’s courtroom behavior included bizarre requests for exotic trial accommodations and unconventional juror selection criteria, all denied by the court. Following his conviction, he attempted self-harm with a writing instrument, requiring intervention by court security personnel. Although Routh expressed abstract regrets during sentencing, his precise motivations for targeting Trump remain officially undetermined.

  • Elon Musk criticises speculated casting of Lupita Nyong’o as Helen of Troy

    Elon Musk criticises speculated casting of Lupita Nyong’o as Helen of Troy

    Technology magnate Elon Musk has ignited a fiery cultural debate after publicly criticizing acclaimed director Christopher Nolan regarding unconfirmed casting reports for his forthcoming adaptation of Homer’s The Odyssey. The controversy centers on speculation that Oscar-winning actress Lupita Nyong’o might portray the mythological Helen of Troy, a character traditionally depicted in Western art as fair-skinned.

    The discourse emerged when Musk responded to a social media post on X (formerly Twitter) that objected to potential casting choices that might deviate from classical European depictions. The billionaire entrepreneur stated that ‘Christopher Nolan has lost his integrity,’ triggering immediate backlash from entertainment industry figures and social media users alike.

    Veteran actress Whoopi Goldberg addressed the controversy on The View, noting that Homer’s original text never explicitly described Helen’s physical characteristics beyond her renowned beauty. This perspective was echoed across platforms including Meta’s Threads, where users highlighted the inherent flexibility in interpreting mythological figures within fictional adaptations.

    The online debate has polarized into two primary camps: those advocating for strict adherence to traditional European visual representations, and others arguing that mythological narratives inherently invite creative reinterpretation. Notably, the production features an ensemble cast including Zendaya, Robert Pattinson, and Charlize Theron, though Nyong’o’s involvement remains unconfirmed by official sources.

    This incident reflects broader ongoing conversations about representation, creative license, and the interpretation of classical works in contemporary cinema. Nolan’s project, currently in post-production, now faces increased public scrutiny amid these cultural discussions about authenticity versus artistic freedom in mythological storytelling.

  • Reputed gang leader ‘Bloodstain’ charged with double murder in Molynes shooting

    Reputed gang leader ‘Bloodstain’ charged with double murder in Molynes shooting

    KINGSTON, Jamaica — Jamaican authorities have formally charged alleged gang leader Courtney Ashley, also known as “Blood Stain” or “Biggs,” with multiple serious offenses stemming from a deadly September 2025 shooting incident in the St Andrew South community.

    The charges include two counts of murder, wounding with intent, possession of a prohibited weapon, and possession of prohibited ammunition. The case originates from a targeted attack on September 15, 2025, approximately at 7:00 pm on Grenmeade Road in the Molynes area.

    According to investigative reports, assailants in a white Nissan AD Wagon executed a calculated assault on a group of individuals seated outside premises number 14. The shooting resulted in the tragic death of 25-year-old business operator Kimalie Powell (alias “Beans”) and two-year-old Tajuan Jackson, while 44-year-old chef Desmond Brown (alias “Papa”) sustained serious injuries.

    Eyewitness accounts and police evidence indicate the vehicle initially passed the victims, reversed direction, and halted nearby before occupants unleashed gunfire. Powell attempted to flee into a nearby property but collapsed fatally. Jackson suffered a fatal neck wound, and Brown was shot in the left chest area.

    Local residents transported the victims to Kingston Public Hospital, where Jackson was pronounced dead at 7:20 pm and Powell at 7:30 pm. Brown remained hospitalized in serious condition following emergency treatment.

    Forensic teams from the Major Investigation Division processed the crime scene, recovering substantial evidence including four 9mm spent casings, a damaged bullet, bullet fragments, and multiple biological samples for DNA analysis.

    Ashley’s apprehension occurred on January 12, 2026, during a coordinated police operation in Phoenix Park Village, St Catherine. Subsequent identification procedures conducted on February 2, 2026, at Greater Portmore Police Station led to formal charges being filed the following day.

    The judicial process is underway as authorities finalize court proceedings while continuing complementary investigations into the incident.