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  • Broadcasters warn against piracy as World Cup approaches

    Broadcasters warn against piracy as World Cup approaches

    KINGSTON, Jamaica — Just seven days ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup’s opening match on June 11, the only officially licensed Jamaican rights holders for the tournament have issued a urgent public warning crack down on widespread unauthorized broadcast and streaming of matches. Television Jamaica (TVJ) and Caribbean Premier Sports Ltd, which operates the RUSH Sports network, have reaffirmed their status as the sole authorized entities to deliver 2026 FIFA World Cup content across every available platform in Jamaica, including traditional television, digital streaming services, and public screenings.

    In their joint formal statement released Thursday, the two broadcasters clarified that accessing World Cup matches via unapproved third-party channels constitutes a violation of international intellectual property laws. Specifically, the organizations called out access through sideloaded apps on modified consumer devices — such as customized Amazon Firesticks, altered Android TV boxes, modified IPTV receivers, and other unvetted streaming applications — as clear acts of piracy, copyright infringement, and intellectual property theft.

    The rights holders emphasized that no other media entity, ranging from competing broadcasters and streaming platforms to IPTV operators, independent websites, social media accounts, public viewing organizers, and commercial hospitality venues, holds any legal license to broadcast, retransmit, stream, or publicly exhibit 2026 FIFA World Cup content anywhere within Jamaica’s borders. This exclusive rights mandate extends to every conceivable mode of content transmission: cable television, direct-to-home satellite, IPTV services, mobile streaming apps, internet-based platforms, social media live streams, public community screenings, and commercial venue broadcasts.

    Of particular note is the restriction on commercial public exhibitions: even popular hospitality spots such as bars, restaurants, live entertainment venues, and public community events or fan zones are prohibited from showing matches without explicit written authorization from either CPSL/RUSH Sports or TVJ, aligned with FIFA’s formal public viewing regulations and global licensing structure.

    To enforce these exclusive rights, the Jamaican rights holders confirmed they are collaborating closely with FIFA and the governing body’s global network of anti-piracy enforcement partners as part of FIFA’s flagship worldwide Content and Brand Protection Programme. This coordinated effort is focused on proactively identifying, flagging, and removing all illegal broadcast streams, illegal retransmissions, and pirated content across digital and physical channels in Jamaica.

    For consumers and business owners to easily verify legitimate broadcasts, the organizations confirmed that all official, legal 2026 World Cup transmissions in Jamaica will display an on-screen logo from either TVJ or RUSH Sports. Any World Cup content broadcast or streamed within Jamaica that does not carry this official identifier should be immediately recognized as unauthorized and potentially illegal.

    To support ongoing enforcement efforts, the broadcasters are calling on the Jamaican public to actively report any suspected piracy or unauthorized World Cup broadcasts directly to their teams. To help investigators quickly address violations, reporters are asked to include supporting evidence when submitting tips: screenshots of unauthorized streams, short video clips of illegal public screenings where possible, direct links to illicit online streams, physical venue addresses for unauthorized public viewings, or details about the modified devices being used to access pirated content.

  • ‘Don’t hate Granville’

    ‘Don’t hate Granville’

    In the tight-knit community of Granville, Montego Bay, a wave of cautious joy has spread among residents this Wednesday, after a police officer charged with the murder of 45-year-old Latoya “Buju” Bulgin made his first court appearance — a development many thought would come far slower after her fatal May 2024 shooting. The swift movement of the case through Jamaica’s justice system has prompted local organizers to infuse a long-planned gospel concert with a celebratory tone, even as community leaders push for accountability for four other fatal police shootings in the area this year.

    When Jamaica Observer arrived in Granville early Wednesday, the news had just broken that Constable Andrew Wilson, assigned to the Irwin Police Station, had been brought before the court in connection with the May 17 shooting. Wilson was denied bail at the conclusion of the hearing, received a formal warning against tampering with case witnesses, and is scheduled to reappear in court on June 16, per an official statement from Jamaica’s Independent Commission of Investigations (Indecom).

    One anonymous event organizer told the Observer that the community would kick off the day’s events with a church service honoring Bulgin, framing the court appearance as a hard-won early victory for her loved ones. “We will be having a church service in Granville today, and we’ll use that to celebrate our friend’s victory. We are having tears of joy and we are hoping to hear more in regards to this,” she said, adding that the entire community shares in satisfaction over the progress of the case.

    Another unidentified resident shouted the now-ubiquitous rallying cry that has defined protests held since Bulgin’s death: “Justice fi Buju!” She told the Observer that the community would continue holding weekly protests every Saturday leading up to Bulgin’s funeral, a vow to keep pushing for full accountability.

    Longtime community member Tyrone Gordon shared the widespread satisfaction with the speed of the case, crediting local Member of Parliament Marlene Malahoo Forte for moving the process forward quickly. But Gordon, who extended his deepest condolences to Bulgin’s grieving sons and extended family, also issued a key appeal to law enforcement: not all officers share responsibility for the shooting, and he hopes remaining tensions do not damage relations between the entire Granville community and the police force.

    “This is kind of a mixed feeling for me, because I know that not everybody in the police force is unprofessional like that police [involved in shooting]. I know they have good police officers. I just want to appeal to the good police officers to not hate Granville, just come in and treat us well,” Gordon explained.

    The progress of the case has also been formally welcomed by the Granville Peace, Justice & Resource Development Foundation, which has led calls for accountability after Bulgin’s death. In an official statement, the foundation called the decision to charge Wilson and bring him to court quickly “an important step in the pursuit of justice, accountability, and the preservation of public confidence in the rule of law.”

    The organization also praised the Granville community for its peaceful, persistent advocacy over the past weeks. “We also acknowledge the valiant and determined efforts of the people of Granville, who remained peaceful, disciplined, and steadfast in their demand for justice. Their courage and persistence, coupled with the overwhelming support received from Jamaicans at home and abroad, helped ensure that this matter remained in the national consciousness and that justice was allowed to take its course,” the statement read.

    Bulgin’s shooting was the fifth fatal police shooting in Granville between the start of 2024 and May 17, and the foundation has used the public attention around her case to amplify calls for urgency in the four remaining open investigations. Among the other victims are four-year-old Romaine Bowman, Kevaun Martinez, and Desmond Dunkley, who were killed in a New Year’s Day incident, as well as Tajay “Teejay” Edwards — the victim of a shooting that Bulgin was traveling to a protest over when she was stopped and killed.

    To date, Bulgin’s death has sparked repeated peaceful protests across Granville, with community members demanding full transparency and accountability from law enforcement and investigative bodies. The early progress in Wilson’s case has given many residents a glimmer of hope that long-sought changes to policing accountability in the area may finally be within reach.

  • Sundays After Church shines a light on faith, power and hidden realities

    Sundays After Church shines a light on faith, power and hidden realities

    KINGSTON, Jamaica — A groundbreaking original television drama is pushing conversations about underdiscussed topics in religious communities across the island, bringing raw, honest explorations of faith, personal relationships, institutional leadership and accountability to small screens.

    Helmed by husband-and-wife creative duo Eric and Natasha Brown, founders of local production outfit Cinnamon Brown Entertainment, *Sundays After Church* moves past the polished public face of Sunday worship to unpack the messy, unspoken layers of life for churchgoing people once the final hymn fades and sanctuary doors close. Unlike many mainstream portrayals of faith communities that focus only on public worship, the series centers the untold personal struggles, hidden conflicts and complex interpersonal dynamics that shape believers’ lives away from the congregation.

    Boasting a dynamic ensemble cast and tightly crafted narrative storytelling, the show weaves together interconnected storylines tackling universal themes: romantic love, deep betrayal, personal identity, the corrupting pull of power, and the constant, often fraught balancing act of upholding religious values while navigating the messiness of ordinary modern life.

    In a statement shared about the project, the production team emphasized its commitment to radical honesty around faith. “This series is about truth,” they explained. “We’re exploring the human side of faith, the parts people don’t always talk about, but absolutely experience.”

    The creators designed the show to invite both religious and secular audiences to re-examine common assumptions about church culture, moving beyond what is shared from the pulpit to unpack pressing, rarely addressed issues ranging from romantic relationships among congregants to personal moral struggles, failures of institutional leadership, and how power dynamics shape life within faith-based communities.

    Natasha Brown, the production company’s chief operating officer, brings more than two decades of cross-sector experience spanning finance, procurement, business development and organizational leadership to the project. Beyond overseeing Cinnamon Brown Entertainment’s day-to-day operations and long-term strategic growth, she also serves as the series’ intimacy coordinator, ensuring thoughtful, authentic portrayals of vulnerable personal interactions.

    Her husband Eric Brown wears multiple hats as an author, independent filmmaker and creative entrepreneur, who writes under the pen name Cinnamon Brown. He has built a reputation for crafting unflinching, character-driven stories centered on the interconnected experiences of relationships, faith, ambition and resilience within Black communities. After rising to bestseller status as a novelist, Brown expanded his work into screen-based content, remaining dedicated to producing content that entertains while pushing audiences to engage in open, meaningful dialogue about complex topics.

    With *Sundays After Church*, the Brown couple says their core goal is not to judge or divide, but to challenge entrenched perspectives, catalyze constructive conversation across communities, and give viewers an unfiltered, humanizing look at the lived reality of faith beyond Sunday pews.

  • Some cabbies out west vote to wait for fare increase

    Some cabbies out west vote to wait for fare increase

    In a move that balances industry survival with working-class commuter concerns, a coalition of 15 Jamaican taxi associations serving primarily the country’s western region has voted to hold off on implementing the remaining 16% approved fare increase until Jamaica’s minimum wage adjustment takes effect in July.

    Dion Chance, who serves dual roles as a director for the National Council of Taxi Associations (NCOTA) and president of the St James Taxi Association, shared the group’s decision with the Jamaica Observer on Wednesday, noting that after three years of waiting for full fare adjustment, an extra 29 days makes little material difference to operators.

    The background of this decision stretches back to October 2023, when Jamaican authorities approved a total 35% fare increase for taxi services. At that time, amid ongoing post-COVID-19 economic stabilization efforts and recovery from 2024’s Hurricane Beryl, transport operators agreed to only implement a 19% partial increase immediately, leaving the remaining 16% pending. Recent months have brought growing pressure from cabbies to roll out the remaining adjustment, driven by skyrocketing fuel prices tied to ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East that have squeezed operator profit margins.

    On Tuesday, Transport Minister Daryl Vaz announced a staggered two-phase plan for the 16% residual increase: an 8% hike to take effect immediately, followed by a second 8% increase on July 1. The government framed the staggered approach as a measure to soften the inflationary shock of the fare adjustment on the broader national economy. But the taxi coalition concluded that the government’s plan would still leave low-income commuters facing sudden higher transport costs without a corresponding increase in their income.

    Chance explained the coalition’s community-focused rationale, saying: “What we are looking at is that commuters will face two increases under the transport ministry’s staggered approach, one in a period where their income has not changed. We are just being good corporate citizens. While we are feeling it, we know that they are feeling it too and you can’t kill the goose that lay the golden egg. In order to survive we have to give the commuters some breathing space too.”

    Jamaica’s national minimum wage is scheduled to rise from the current rate of J$16,000 per 40-hour work week to J$17,000 effective July 1. Chance emphasized that minimum wage earners make up the core of taxi ridership across the country, making the alignment of fare and wage adjustments a logical priority for the group. The decision to delay was not made unilaterally: NCOTA surveyed its member associations via WhatsApp groups, and the majority of members voted in favor of the hold, cementing it as the national body’s official policy.

    “Our members and our member associations will hold, because we can do that,” Chance said. “While we need to stay in business, we also have to take them into consideration.”

    To ease the financial strain on taxi operators as they wait for the fare adjustment to take effect, NCOTA is now exploring alternative solutions to offset elevated fuel costs. Chance said the association is in discussions with local businesses to secure bulk discounts on essential supplies for operators, including fuel, tires, and vehicle spare parts. With an estimated 24,000 registered taxis operating across Jamaica, the industry represents a large, consistent consumer base that makes mutual discount arrangements beneficial for both sides, he noted.

    Beyond cost relief on supplies, Chance also called for a policy shift from Jamaican commercial banks to expand access to low-interest financing for taxi operators looking to purchase new or replacement vehicles. Currently, he explained, low-interest vehicle loans are only accessible to operators who are members of credit unions, pushing many working cabbies to turn to predatory loan sharks who charge exorbitant interest rates. In some cases, operators end up paying more than J$40,000 per week to service these high-cost loans.

    Recent regulatory changes now allow individual taxi operators to apply for personal vehicle import licenses, which let them source cheaper vehicles directly from overseas markets rather than purchasing marked-up vehicles through local dealers. All that is required to import a vehicle is self-clearance through customs or hiring a local broker to handle the process. But Chance noted that this cost-saving opportunity is out of reach for most operators without access to affordable commercial financing, underscoring the urgent need for banks to revise their long-standing lending policies that exclude independent taxi operators.

  • Lyles reigns in Rome 100m, Pathirage stuns with javelin

    Lyles reigns in Rome 100m, Pathirage stuns with javelin

    Thousands of track and field fans packed the stands in Rome, Italy on Thursday, as top global athletes delivered standout performances at the 2025 Rome Diamond League meeting, headlined by electric sprinting and a historic javelin throw. Leading the men’s 100m competition, American Olympic champion and four-time 200m world titleholder Noah Lyles delivered a blistering run, crossing the finish line in 9.88 seconds to take the top spot on the podium. Lyles, who is 28, already secured a win at a Tokyo meet two weeks prior with a 9.95-second run, and Thursday’s result marks a clear improvement as he builds toward major upcoming championships. Following Lyles across the line were Cameroon’s Emmanuel Eseme, who clocked 9.94 seconds to claim second place, and Botswana’s rising sprint star Letsile Tebogo, who finished third with a 9.95-second time. Local favorite and former Olympic champion Marcell Jacobs of Italy put up a solid effort, finishing fifth with a 9.99-second run in front of his home crowd.

    Beyond the sprint events, 23-year-old javelin thrower Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage of Sri Lanka produced one of the most memorable results of the entire meet, launching a stunning 92.62-meter throw that secured him a spot in the top eight on the sport’s all-time global rankings. Pathirage already held the year’s leading distance of 89.37 meters set back in March, and Thursday’s throw marked a 30-centimeter improvement on his own national record, even with only two valid attempts across the competition. Speaking to reporters after the win, Pathirage noted that Rome’s mild, favorable conditions allowed him to throw farther than he did at his previous competition in Rabat. “Winning today feels like a Sri Lankan festival,” he said of the career-making result. While the mark is a massive personal and national milestone, it still falls nearly 6 meters short of Jan Zelezny’s legendary 25-year-old world record of 98.48 meters, set back in May 1996. In the men’s javelin standings, Grenada’s Anderson Peters took second place with an 83.91-meter throw, just two centimeters ahead of third-place finisher Curtis Thompson of the United States.

    The women’s 200m event closed out another major upset of the day, with Saint Lucia’s Olympic silver medalist Julien Alfred outrunning reigning world champion Melissa Jefferson-Wooden of the United States to take the win. Alfred, who already holds the fastest 200m time of the 2026 season at 21.86 seconds, crossed the line on Thursday in 21.93 seconds to claim first place. For Jefferson-Wooden, who swept the 100m and 4x100m titles at the 2025 Tokyo World Championships, Thursday’s race marked her first 200m outing of the 2026 season. She ultimately finished second with a time of 22.17 seconds, while her compatriot Anavia Battle rounded out the podium in third with a 22.39-second run.

  • ‘Think logically!’

    ‘Think logically!’

    Jamaica’s top diplomat has moved swiftly to quash widespread online and public speculation that the docking of the U.S. Navy’s USS Nimitz at Kingston Harbour is a precursor to hostile military action against neighboring Cuba, framing the deployment as a routine goodwill stop rooted in longstanding bilateral security cooperation.

    Addressing reporters at a post-Cabinet press briefing held at Jamaica House in St. Andrew on Wednesday, Foreign Minister Kamina Johnson Smith pushed back on growing conjecture that has circulated since the nuclear-powered supercarrier arrived in Jamaican waters on June 1. The 1,092-foot lead vessel of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier line, one of the largest active warships on the globe, is scheduled to remain docked through June 5.

    Johnson Smith emphasized that the Jamaican government received formal advance notification of the port call, a standard step that would not have occurred if the mission carried covert or aggressive intentions. She argued that U.S. military strategy has never hidden displays of power when coercive messaging is intended, making the transparent, community-focused itinerary of the Nimitz’s visit inconsistent with theories of a threat to Cuba.

    “This is a scheduled port visit under an established program of maritime cooperation and goodwill,” she told the briefing. “The crew has been at sea for two and a half months since departing their home port in the United States. I ask our public to think logically: if the U.S. wanted to project menace or threat, they would not waste resources on community receptions, student tours, and recreational matches with local teams. When they have chosen to demonstrate force, they have never been shy about doing so openly.”

    The USS Nimitz is currently completing its 11th Southern Seas tour, a routine deployment designed to build diplomatic ties and strengthen maritime security partnerships across South America and the Caribbean. Per details from the U.S. Embassy in Kingston and Jamaican defense officials, the port call underscores the expanded security cooperation between the U.S. and Jamaica that has advanced during the Trump administration.

    But the timing and location of the stop have stoked public anxiety. The closest stretch of Cuba’s coastline sits just 195 to 200 nautical miles from Jamaica, and U.S.-Cuba relations are currently at their most tense in decades, marked by intensified economic sanctions including a national fuel blockade, a controversial U.S. indictment of former Cuban leader Raúl Castro, and public statements from senior U.S. officials labeling Cuba a “failed state.” These factors combined to lead many observers to frame the supercarrier’s arrival as an intentional show of force ahead of potential action against Cuba.

    Johnson Smith rejected this narrative outright, noting that the deployment has already made stops at 10 other regional ports before arriving in Kingston. “If this was a sensitive covert mission to advance U.S. national interests against another country, they would not need to make a dozen stops across the region to reach Jamaica,” she added. “This is nothing more than a mission of goodwill and friendship between our two nations.”

    Beyond security diplomacy, Johnson Smith highlighted that the visit carries tangible economic benefits for Jamaica, drawing global attention to the country’s status as home to the seventh-largest natural harbor in the world. The stop showcases Jamaica’s ability to accommodate large commercial and military vessels, a major selling point for the island’s maritime and tourism sectors, which will receive a direct economic boost from the 4,000 U.S. sailors visiting shore leave during the dockings.

    She also underscored that the warship, while a military vessel, is a uniquely flexible asset for regional peace and humanitarian response. “Diplomacy takes many forms: economic, health, sports, education, and increasingly, defense diplomacy and humanitarian support,” she explained. “The Nimitz is a warship, but it is also a vessel of peace, equipped to deliver clean water, food supplies, and emergency disaster relief at short notice when hurricanes or other crises strike the region – a role it has filled repeatedly throughout its service life.”

    Adding a personal, community-focused touch to the visit, Johnson Smith noted that 19 Jamaican-American sailors are currently assigned to the Nimitz’s crew, a reflection of the deep people-to-people ties between the two countries. “It is incredibly exciting to see members of our diaspora serving in specialized and general roles aboard this vessel, demonstrating that Jamaicans excel everywhere they go,” she said. “They are thrilled to have the chance to come ashore, reconnect with their heritage, and rekindle family and community ties during this stop.”

  • Megan Simmonds wins first DL race in Rome

    Megan Simmonds wins first DL race in Rome

    ROME, Italy – The 2024 Diamond League circuit made its fourth stop in the Italian capital on Thursday for the annual Golden Gala Pietro Mennea, where Jamaica’s Megan Simmonds pulled off a career-defining win to claim her first ever Diamond League title in the women’s 100m hurdles.

    Simmonds got out of the starting blocks with blistering speed, establishing an early lead over one of the season’s deepest fields. She held her form through the final hurdle to cross the line in a season’s best 12.50 seconds with a wind reading of 0.8m/s, holding off a late charge from the field to secure the historic win. Former women’s 100m hurdles world record holder Kendra Harrison of the United States finished just off the top spot, clocking 12.54 seconds to take silver, while the Netherlands’ Nadine Visser rounded out the top three with a 12.58-second run. Another Jamaican, Danielle Williams, also notched a season’s best performance to finish fifth in 12.69 seconds.

    Simmonds’ victory was far from the only strong showing for Jamaican athletes at the meet, with six of her compatriots joining her on the event podium across other disciplines. In the men’s 110m hurdles, Jamaican national champion Orlando Bennett posted a time of 13.31 seconds (0.5m/s) to finish second, only behind American Trey Cunningham, who delivered a sensational performance to set a new personal best, world-leading time and meeting record of 12.98 seconds. Spain’s Enrique Llopis took third place just one hundredth of a second behind Bennett, at 13.32 seconds.

    The men’s triple jump delivered one of the meet’s most exciting final rounds, as Italy’s Andy Diaz Hernandez defended his Rome title to secure his third consecutive Diamond League win at the event, jumping a season’s best 17.59m (-0.1m/s). World leading Jamaican jumper Jordan Scott fought his way into second place, notching a best mark of 17.33m (-0.2m/s) on his final attempt. Fellow Jamaican Jaydon Hibbert completed the event’s all-Jamaican podium split, taking third with a season’s best jump of 17.02m (-0.8m/s).

    In the women’s 400m, rising Jamaican star Nickisha Pryce produced a strong final straight to overtake competitors and claim third place, stopping the clock at a season’s best 49.80 seconds. Norway’s Henriette Jaeger took the win in 49.60 seconds, while Czechia’s Lurdes Gloria Manuel notched a personal best 49.77 seconds to finish second. In the women’s 400m hurdles, Jamaica’s Rushell Clayton shaved time off her existing season’s best to finish third in 53.14 seconds, improving on the 53.75 seconds she ran just days earlier at the Rabat Diamond League in Morocco. Slovakia’s Emma Zapletalova claimed her second straight Diamond League win, lowering her own national record to 52.58 seconds – the fastest time in the world this season – while America’s Anna Cockrell took second in 52.77 seconds.

    Jamaica’s Romaine Beckford rounded out the country’s podium finishers, taking third in the men’s high jump after clearing 2.23m. He matched the height of second-place finisher Erik Portillo of Mexico, while host nation’s Matteo Sioli took the gold with a 2.28m clearance. World indoor medalist Raymond Richards, also of Jamaica, finished seventh in the event after clearing 2.20m.

    Several other Jamaican competitors posted top-seven finishes without making the podium. Long jumpers Tajay Gayle and Wayne Pinnock finished fourth and seventh, with marks of 8.04m and 7.75m respectively, while Rajindra Campbell placed fifth in the men’s shot put with a best throw of 21.39m. In the men’s 100m, Ackeem Blake finished seventh in 10.06 seconds (0.4m/s), as American star Noah Lyles took the win in 9.88 seconds. Cameroon’s Emmanuel Eseme set a new national record of 9.94 seconds to take second, while Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo took third in a season’s best 9.95 seconds.

    Reporting by Paul A Reid

  • World Cognac Day!

    World Cognac Day!

    In the lead-up to the annual recognition of World Cognac Day, one of the spirit’s most iconic global brands took center stage at a bespoke culinary event at Kingston’s acclaimed Ivy23 restaurant on June 2. Nearly 50 invited guests – including Jamaican Olympian Asafa Powell, content creator Carmen-Elena “Cholita” Stewart, and prominent local food industry figures – gathered for an intimate three-course pairing dinner highlighting the unique versatility of three of Hennessy’s core expressions: VS, VSOP, and XO.

    Ivy23 has built its reputation on a boundary-pushing culinary philosophy that fuses flavors and cooking techniques from across four continents: Europe, Asia, India, and the Caribbean, weaving these disparate influences into cohesive, innovative menu items. For this exclusive collaboration with Hennessy, co-owner Vivek Chatani explained that the team opted not to tone down Ivy23’s signature bold flavors to accommodate the cognac, but instead designed each course to meet each spirit expression as an equal creative partner. In a nod to the collaborative spirit of the event, the kitchen even infused Hennessy directly into two of the evening’s three main courses, letting the spirit’s depth elevate every bite.

    The evening kicked off with an energetic opening course designed to highlight the bold character of Hennessy VS, the youngest and most vibrant of the three expressions, which boasts bright fruit notes and a robust finish. Guests were served two small plates: Spicy Chilli Oil Chicken Dumplings and Cognac-infused Chicken Tikka. The dumplings deliver a sharp, lingering heat, while the tikka features warm, bold spices rounded out by a rich cream, cashew and cheese sauce cooked with a cognac reduction. The bright structure of Hennessy VS cuts through the dish’s richness and stands up evenly to the heat, creating a balanced, dynamic first impression that set the tone for the rest of the night.

    The meal transitioned smoothly into the second course, which paired Hennessy VSOP with a creamy saffron risotto topped with grilled shrimp. Unlike the bold bite of VS, VSOP is a rounder, more refined expression with soft vanilla, gentle spice and delicate floral notes that echo the earthy, aromatic sweetness of saffron. The creamy texture of the risotto balances the cognac’s warm finish, while the grilled shrimp adds a subtle smoky sweetness that complements the spirit’s nuanced profile, resulting in a smooth, harmonized midpoint for the evening.

    The dining experience culminated in a decadent final course centered on Hennessy XO, the crowning jewel of the brand’s core portfolio. XO is the richest and most complex of the three expressions, with deep notes of dark chocolate, dried fruit, coffee, and aged oak. To mirror these layers, the kitchen paired XO with a duo of desserts: a dark chocolate mousse infused with Hennessy, and a classic tiramisu defined by its rich coffee and cream layers. The overlapping flavor profiles of the food and spirit create a seamless, luxurious finish that brought the evening’s exploration of cognac and food pairing to a satisfying close.

    Beyond the food and drink, Chatani noted that the structured pairing experience invited guests to slow down and engage more intentionally with their meal. After each bite of food and sip of cognac, guests return to their plate to discover how the flavors shift: the spice softens, the saffron’s aroma opens up, and the chocolate notes round out the finish, creating a dynamic, interactive sensory experience rather than a standard meal.

    Hosted in partnership with Select Brands, the event turned a global celebration of cognac into an intimate, locally rooted experience that aligned with Ivy23’s core mission. “We want Ivy23 to be a space for culinary discovery, where guests can try something new they won’t find anywhere else in Kingston,” Chatani explained. “Constant innovation is at the heart of what we do, whether that’s developing new signature dishes in our kitchen or partnering with iconic brands like Hennessy to create one-of-a-kind experiences. Jamaica’s food scene is brimming with incredible talent, and we’re proud to contribute to its growth by drawing on global flavors, adding our own unique local twist, and delivering unforgettable experiences for our guests.”

    The evening also featured welcome cocktails including the Hennessy Pure White Cast Away and the signature Henny Mash, a refreshing blend of muddled strawberries, Hennessy, Triple Sec, lime juice, and syrup topped with Sprite, proving further the versatility of Hennessy cognac in a range of drinking experiences.

  • Orlando Bennett set to miss JAAA trials

    Orlando Bennett set to miss JAAA trials

    KINGSTON, Jamaica — One of Jamaica’s brightest track and field talents, 2025 national 110m hurdles champion Orlando Bennett, has confirmed he will almost certainly miss the upcoming 2025 Commonwealth Games scheduled to kick off later this month. The athlete’s withdrawal stems from his deliberate decision to skip the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association’s national qualifying championships, set to run from June 18 to 21, a mandatory step for selection to the national Commonwealth Games team.

    Bennett, who recently competed in a surprise second-place finish in the men’s triple jump event on Thursday, opened up about his competition schedule in the coming weeks. Fresh off a warm-up stop, he is gearing up to test his speed and technique against a deep, high-quality field at next Thursday’s Golden Gala Pietro Mennea in Rome — the fourth leg of the prestigious 2025 Wanda Diamond League tour. Immediately after the Rome meet, Bennett revealed his next competitive stop will not be the Jamaican national championships, but instead the Diamond League event hosted in Doha on June 19, the same date as one of the key qualifying rounds for the Commonwealth Games.

    A veteran finalist at the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games, Bennett laid out his strategic priorities for the 2025 athletic season in an interview with local media. “Next meeting will be Doha and then I go home to Jamaica and rest a bit. This is an off-season for me so my goals are staying in the circuit and getting good times and good rewards,” he explained, framing his choice to skip the Commonwealth Games as a long-term strategic play to maintain his position on the global Diamond League circuit rather than peak for a single multi-sport event this year.

    The Jamaican hurdler, who already claimed a career-defining silver medal at the 2025 World Athletics Championships held in Tokyo, Japan, also shared his candid assessment of his recent triple jump outing, which he called far from his best performance. “I do not know if this was a good race, it was not really the best. I just tried to get through the race and through the hurdles. Maybe it was because of the low temperatures. It was also a back-to-back race. I came here to execute and I really did,” he said, noting that unseasonably cool conditions and a packed competition schedule contributed to his underwhelming showing in the surprise multi-event outing.

    Bennett first burst onto the senior Jamaican track scene last year, when he claimed his first national senior title in the 110m hurdles, outperforming top competitors Demario Prince and Tyler Mason to secure his spot as one of the country’s most promising rising hurdles talents.

  • R&B legend Peabo Bryson dies at age 75

    R&B legend Peabo Bryson dies at age 75

    The world of rhythm and blues is mourning the loss of one of its most beloved voices: Peabo Bryson, the Grammy-winning singer behind some of Disney’s most iconic animated film themes, has died at the age of 75. His family confirmed in an official statement that Bryson passed away peacefully at 5:00 pm ET on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, with his loved ones and closest friends by his side, less than one month after he celebrated his 75th birthday. His death comes just two days after the public learned he had suffered a recent stroke.

    Born Robert Peapo Bryson in Greenville, South Carolina, Bryson built a decades-spanning career that cemented his place as one of the most celebrated R&B balladeers of his generation. He got his start in professional performing as a teenager, singing backup vocals for a local South Carolina group called Al Freeman and the Upsetters — a band he later described as “terrible” in an interview with *Soul* magazine. It was during this early period that Freeman’s difficulty pronouncing his birth name “Peapo” led him to adopt the stage name Peabo, the moniker that would become known to fans worldwide.

    Bryson’s first major break came when he joined the touring ensemble Moses Dillard and the Tex-Town Display, which performed across the historic Chitlin’ Circuit of Black-owned venues in the 1970s. Talent scouts from Bang Records caught one of the group’s sets, were instantly drawn to Bryson’s smooth baritone, and signed him as a solo artist. He released his self-titled debut album *Peabo* with the label in 1976, then moved to Capitol Records to expand his career. By 1978, he landed his first Top 10 hit on the Billboard R&B chart with *Reaching for the Sky*, kicking off a steady streak of commercial and critical success.

    Throughout the late 1970s and 1980s, Bryson solidified his reputation as one of the most in-demand duet partners in the industry. His 1979 collaboration with Natalie Cole, *Gimme Some Time*, reached No. 8 on the R&B chart, followed by their 1980 track *What You Won’t Do for Love* which hit No. 16 on the same chart. He went on to record a string of successful duets with Roberta Flack, starting with 1980’s *Make the World Stand Still* and leading to their joint 1983 album *Born to Love*. Their hit *Tonight, I Celebrate My Love* reached No. 16 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming one of Bryson’s most recognizable solo-era hits.

    Bryson’s greatest mainstream success came from his work with Disney on two of its most beloved animated feature films. In 1991, he recorded *Beauty and the Beast*, the title theme for Disney’s animated classic, alongside Celine Dion — the track earned him his first Grammy Award. The following year, he paired with Regina Belle for *A Whole New World*, the signature theme from *Aladdin*. The duet made history as the first song from an animated feature film to claim the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100, and it went on to win Bryson his second Grammy. Over the full span of his career, Bryson released more than 20 full-length studio albums, leaving behind a sprawling discography of hits that includes fan favorites *As Long As There’s Christmas* and *You’re Looking Like Love to Me*.

    Beyond his early health scare from a stroke that preceded his death, Bryson had previously suffered a heart attack in 2019, but made a full recovery and returned to performing in the years that followed. In their statement, Bryson’s family thanked fans for the overwhelming outpouring of support and love following news of his passing, noting that his five-decade career provided a soundtrack for some of life’s most meaningful moments.

    “For more than five decades, Peabo’s extraordinary voice served as the soundtrack to some of life’s most cherished moments. His music carried generations through joyful celebrations, great love stories and enduring moments of comfort and inspiration, creating a legacy that will forever live in the hearts of those who loved him and the countless lives he touched through song,” the statement read. Bryson is survived by his wife and two children.