Portland native Celene Hall has been crowned Miss Universe Jamaica 2026, becoming the first woman from the parish to win the national title in the history of the pageant. Hall emerged from a field of 33 contestants to take the crown during Sunday’s coronation show, held inside the ballroom of the AC Hotel in New Kingston. Medical doctor Tianna McDaniel was named first runner-up, while Kadejah Ande... »
Usain Bolt is yet to publicly react after two Chinese humanoid robots recorded a faster 100-metre time than his long-standing world record, in recent days. A humanoid robot clocked 8.86 seconds in Beijing on Tuesday during China’s World Humanoid Robot Games, beating the 9.58 seconds recorded by Bolt in Berlin in 2009. Bolt has not issued an official public statement or reaction to humanoid robots ... »
Jamaican sprint legend Usain Bolt proposed to his longtime partner, Kasi Bennett, during his 40th birthday celebrations on Friday. One photo from the celebration, shared online by Jamaica Observer, show Bolt down on one knee as Bennett looks at him with a smile. Another image captures the couple embracing, seemingly moments after she accepted the proposal. Bolt reportedly presented Bennett with a ... »
Beenie Man has opened the release of his latest album, ‘Eminence’, with a strong showing on the US iTunes Reggae Albums chart, taking the number one position shortly after its release. The 16-track project moved ahead of Masicka’s ‘Forever Reign’, which recently occupied the top spot. As of Thursday, ‘Eminence’ sits at number one, followed by ‘Forever Reign’ at number two, ‘Legend – The Best Of Bo... »
Masicka’s most recent interview was aired Wednesday night, an exclusive 1-on-1 interview with Dionne Jackson Miller on All Angles. In the interview, he talked on his musical journey, albums, collaborations, new music and feuds. As it relates to the debate about many of his songs sounding similar, Masicka stated that some people feel that way because all of his songs are hit songs. Minutes later he... »
Several employees at the Kingston Container Terminal have been taken into custody as authorities investigate a suspected drug smuggling operation at the facility. The multi-agency operation is being conducted by the Firearms and Narcotics Investigation Division (FNID) and the Jamaica Customs Agency, with support from the Specialised Operations Branch. Reports of the operation was made public on Fr... »
Dancehall superstar Vybz Kartel confirmed that his fiancée, Sidem Öztürk, is expecting their first child together during his performance at Reggae Land UK just hours ago. The announcement came midway through his set when the deejay invited Sidem on stage in front of thousands of fans. Kartel, dressed in a red and white shorts suit, embraced his fiancée, who wore an all-white outfit, before the pai... »
The United States dollar moved another step closer to the J$160 level on Friday after ending the day’s trading at J$159.48, according to the Bank of Jamaica’s daily exchange trading summary. The latest figures show the US currency gained 18 cents compared with the previous trading day, continuing its gradual rise against the Jamaican dollar. The movement places the exchange rate within 52 cents of... »
Dancehall icon Bounty Killer says receiving the Key to the City of Kingston and having a road renamed in his honour means more to him than winning a Grammy after he was recognised for his contribution to Jamaican music, culture and community development. The entertainer, whose real name is Rodney Basil Price, received the two honours during a ceremony on July 28 in his native Seaview Gardens. The ... »
In the early hours of July 19, 2026, Mavado and Vybz Kartel took to stage at A Taste of Sumfest for the much anticipated Gaza vs. Gully clash, part 2 of the iconic 2008 clash at Sting. However, this new clash was more subtle when compared to the first one almost 2 decades ago. After being introduced to the crowd by MC Nuffy and Boom Boom, both brooks and Palmer rocked the large crowd with countles... »
Two of the three Jamaican nationals recently deported by the United States to the African kingdom of Eswatini have declined the Jamaican Government’s offer to facilitate their return to the island, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade. The ministry said the men were contacted through the Jamaican Consulate General in Miami after one of them initiated a telephone call whil... »
Grammy Award-winning Reggae group Morgan Heritage has entered a new chapter with the release of its latest single, ‘Come Feel The Love’, the band’s first recorded song since the passing of founding member Peetah Morgan. Released on July 10 through Ghetto Youths International, the track was written and produced by nine-time Grammy Award winner Stephen Marley. The collaboration brings together two o... »
Reggae artiste Fantan Mojah died at the age of 49, just three weeks before his 50th birthday, following reported complications related to his heart. The singer passed away on Tuesday evening at the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI) in Kingston after his condition reportedly deteriorated over the past week. According to booking agent Vertex, Fantan Mojah had recently returned to Jamaica... »
After nine years, entertainer Munga Honorable and his co-accused, Sherdian Gordon, have been freed of murder charges. The charges were dropped in the Supreme Court on Friday. Colliecia Wright reports. Munga, whose given name is Damian Rhodes, has built a decades-long career in the dancehall industry marked by a string of major hits. But his career stalled in 2017 after he and Sherdian Gordon were ... »
Jamaican sprint legend Usain Bolt has once again given back to his hometown community, donating J$1.7 million through the Usain Bolt Foundation to reward students who successfully passed their Primary Exit Profile (PEP) examinations. The donation was presented to 17 students of Waldensia Primary School in Sherwood, Trelawny, with each child receiving J$100,000 to assist with back-to-school expense... »
Dancehall artiste Future Fambo has reignited his public dispute with veteran entertainer Beenie Man, making a series of explosive allegations during a new Instagram video posted on Tuesday. The latest outburst comes a month after Fambo claimed that Beenie Man physically assaulted him, allegations that were previously denied by the veteran deejay’s camp. In his newest upload, Fambo once again place... »
A group of 22 Haitian nationals is now in police custody after arriving illegally in Jamaica between late Sunday night and early Monday morning, prompting immigration and health officials to begin processing procedures. Initial reports indicated that members of the Portland police division first intercepted 17 Haitians shortly after their arrival. A further search later led to the discovery of fiv... »
Veteran dancehall artiste Frankie Sly has stepped into the simmering fallout between Buju Banton and Wayne Wonder, releasing a pointed new single, Dutty Heart, that lays bare old wounds and highlights broken friendship. There have been tension between Buju Banton and Wayne Wonder amid renewed questions over the authorship of the 1993 hit Murderer. Frankie Sly insists it was a collective effort, ma... »
Four Jamaican athletes, including Olympic champion Roje Stona, have been denied approval to switch allegiance to Turkey following a ruling by the World Athletics Nationality Review Panel. Also affected are Rajindra Campbell, Jaydon Hibbert and Wayne Pinnock, all of whom had submitted requests to represent the European nation in international competitions. The decision, announced on Thursday, follo... »
The Reform UK political party has pointed out that it would block visas for nationals of countries pursuing slavery reparations, including Jamaica from Britain if it enters government. The proposal would apply across all visa categories, including work and visitor permits. Party leader Nigel Farage has backed the stance, while home affairs spokesperson Zia Yusuf described reparations demands as “i... »
New champions were crowned at this year’s GraceKennedy ISSA Boys’ and Girls’ Athletics Championships,. Edwin Allen High School dethroned defending champions Hydel to secure their 11th title, while Jamaica College (JC) got the better of defending champions Kingston College (KC) to claim their 23rd. It was wire-to-wire victories for both teams, who led from the opening day. After 4... »
The management and legal representatives of Buju Banton have issued a formal statement rejecting what they describe as false and defamatory claims circulating on social media, as tensions continue to build Buju and his longtime friend Wayne Wonder. In a legal notice distributed to media houses on Monday, attorneys representing the Grammy-winning artiste, born Mark Anthony Myrie, stated that the al... »
KINGSTON, Jamaica, (JIS) – Design consultants are currently on the island engaging with key stakeholders to obtain the requisite inputs necessary to inform and finalise the concept design for the redevelopment of the National Stadium, says minister of culture, gender, entertainment and sport, Olivia Grange while addressing the official launch of the 2026 ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls’ Athletics... »
Reggae Sumfest 2026 will not be held at its home in Catherine Hall, Montego Bay. Instead, the festival heads to a new venue, Plantation Cove in St Ann for this year’s staging, for what the organisers say will be a one-off, one-night event, even as they emphasise that MoBay is its home. “A Taste of Reggae Sumfest [will be] a special one-night experience that will take place at Plantation Cove. It’s... »
Dancehall artistes Vybz Kartel and Mavado are set to share the Reggae Sumfest stage on July 18, 2026, at Plantation Cove in St Ann. The former dancehall rivals who led a pivotal period in Jamaica’s dancehall history, the Gully and Gaza clash at Sting, are set to share the stage once more. This was announced by the event’s organisers in a social media post on Friday. “A decade of rivalry… a lifetim... »
At the start of 2026, Jamaica recorded 33 murders for the month of January, the lowest figure logged since the country began keeping disaggregated monthly crime data in 2001. The number mirrors a notable shift in the island’s crime pattern at the opening of the year. Compared with January 2025, when 74 murders were recorded, the latest total represents a 55 per cent reduction. In numerical terms, ... »
The wife of a pastor at a mid-sized church says she ran a secret women’s group inside the church without her husband’s knowledge for several years, highlighting that all sort of sexual activities would take place in the compound of the church without most people of the church knowing. According to the wife, the group operated under the appearance of prayer, counselling and women’s ministry session... »
Jahneil Ballentine, the son of incarcerated Dancehall artiste Ninjaman, reportedly fell unconscious in his prison cell and later was diagnosed with a stroke Ballentine, 38, is currently being held at the St Catherine Adult Correctional Centre, where he was moved to the facility’s medical dorm following the incident. Correctional sources have indicated that arrangements are being made to transfer h... »
Jamaica will be represented by three bobsleigh sleds at the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milano Cortina after confirming qualification through the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation rankings. The latest quota allocation sees the island matching its participation level from Beijing 2022, with entries confirmed in the monobob, two-man and four-man events. Mica Moore earned Jamaica’s pla... »
What would Dancehall look like without the influence and endeavours of Bounty Killer in the genre? Well, as a starter, there would be an absence of at least 10 artistes who we have grown to love over the years. He has been directly influential or indirectly influential in the career of over a dozen popular artistes, starting with ‘Scare Dem Crew’ which was originated in his home community of Seavi... »
A day after Vybz Kartel’s 50th birthday, former member of the Gaza Crew, Sikka Rymes who was labelled as the Gaza vice-president up until a few years ago is continuing his condemnation of his former boss and crew members including Shawn Storm and Mad Suss. In an interview released on Thursday, Sikka details that he initially was working with Shawn Storm, bringing him food items and doing other dee... »
Bounty Killer has been consistent in recent weeks about his support for Masicka and lack of support for members of the Gaza circle including Tommy Lee Sparta who he had a lyrical feud with in the past. Days before Christmas, he answered to a comment of someone asking him, if himself and Vybz Kartel are on good terms, he stated, “I would like to know as well bcuz I said I rather Masicka over Tammy ... »
Organisers of the long-running Rebel Salute music festival announced that the event will not be staged in Jamaica in 2026, citing the far-reaching impact of Hurricane Melissa on planning and logistics. The decision was confirmed in an official statement released Wednesday morning, December 24. According to the organisers, the scale of disruption caused by the hurricane made it impossible to meet t... »
Jamaica has received a contingent of military engineers and medical professionals from the Republic of Ghana to assist with ongoing recovery and rebuilding efforts following the impact of Hurricane Melissa in late October. The team, 54 in total, comprising 49 army engineers and five medical doctors, arrived on the island on December 18. The group was welcomed at Norman Manley International Airport... »
Miss Universe Jamaica 2025, Gabrielle Henry, has issued her first public statement since returning to the island after sustaining serious injuries during the 74th Miss Universe pageant in Thailand. The 28-year-old shared the message on social media on Friday, thanking supporters and outlining her focus on recovery. “In a time that calls for stillness and healing, I am grateful to be in Jamaica and... »
