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Abeng — Jamaica news

Storm-proof homes
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Storm-proof homes

With the 2026 Atlantic Hurricane Season fast approaching, and the wounds inflicted by Category 5 storm Melissa six months ago still raw, Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness on Friday urged the developer of a new housing scheme in St Thomas to ensure that the structures to be built can withstand major weather events. Holness issued the charge at the ground-breaking ceremony for the $9-billion Rozelle Estate project which will see more than 800 houses built under a collaboration between Rozelle Properties and the National Housing Trust (NHT)

St. ThomasNews
NaRRA brings heat to the Senate
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NaRRA brings heat to the Senate

The Senate is usually regarded as Parliament’s calmer and more restrained chamber compared to the often fiery House of Representatives, but debate on the controversial National Reconstruction and Resilience Authority (NaRRA) Bill on Friday turned the Upper House into a tense political battleground as senators traded sharp verbal jabs over the Government’s push to fast-track Jamaica’s rebuilding after Hurricane Melissa. While Government senators defended the legislation as an urgent and transformative response to the devastation caused by the Category 5 hurricane last October, Opposition members repeatedly warned that the Bill concentrates too much power in the executive, weakens oversight safeguards, and risks creating constitutional and governance problems

WestmorelandNews
Gospel Veteran David “Kukudoo” McDermott Dies at 56 After Cancer Battle
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Gospel Veteran David “Kukudoo” McDermott Dies at 56 After Cancer Battle

Jamaican gospel entertainer David “Kukudoo” McDermott has died at age 56, his family announced Friday. Manager Nicholas Marks said the singer, diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma in late February, was too weak for chemotherapy.

Entertainment
Sandals Foundation Boat Cruise Gives St Mary and St Ann Teachers a Memorable Teachers’ Day
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Sandals Foundation Boat Cruise Gives St Mary and St Ann Teachers a Memorable Teachers’ Day

Teachers from Port Maria Infant School said a surprise Teachers’ Day invitation turned an ordinary day into a meaningful one, as more than 150 educators from St Mary and St Ann enjoyed a Sandals Foundation appreciation cruise.

St. MaryNews
Annotto Bay Residents Praise Constable Marlon Garriques for Community Safety Work
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Annotto Bay Residents Praise Constable Marlon Garriques for Community Safety Work

People in Annotto Bay, St Mary, say Constable Marlon Garriques has become a trusted problem-solver and mentor, with his consistent community presence earning him strong support and a recent promotion in the JCF.

St. MaryNews
St James Bar Operator Set for Trial in Alleged Patron Wounding Case
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St James Bar Operator Set for Trial in Alleged Patron Wounding Case

A St James bar owner, Laurice Johnson, is due in court on May 28 on an unlawful wounding charge linked to a February 19 incident at a Barnett Street bar. His bail remains in place pending trial.

St. JamesNews
We Jammin looks to seal Guineas credentials in The Kingston showdown
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We Jammin looks to seal Guineas credentials in The Kingston showdown

The last checkpoint before the Triple Crown series of races for native-bred colts and geldings is set to arrive at Caymanas Park this afternoon. Ten runners will line up for the $3-million Kingston Stakes, but there’s little doubt who the race revolves around in the Graded Stakes contest over seven-and-a-half furlongs (1,500m)

KingstonNews
Rose Hall Development Surge Positions St James Community as Next Major Growth Hub
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Rose Hall Development Surge Positions St James Community as Next Major Growth Hub

Councillor Anthony Murray says large hotel, commercial and service investments are reshaping Rose Hall, St James. He argues the buildout is already creating jobs, drawing residents and reducing dependence on Montego Bay.

St. JamesNews
JPS Reading Drive Brings EV and Sustainability Lessons to Over 1,000 Primary Students
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JPS Reading Drive Brings EV and Sustainability Lessons to Over 1,000 Primary Students

More than 1,000 children at 16 primary schools joined JPS-led Read Across Jamaica Day sessions that used a locally set children’s story to introduce electric vehicles, sustainability, and early interest in STEM, especially among girls.

KingstonNews
Real Mona, Cavalier Set for Decisive JWPL Semi-Final Clash at Constant Spring
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Real Mona, Cavalier Set for Decisive JWPL Semi-Final Clash at Constant Spring

Real Mona and Cavalier meet today with the final Jamaica Women’s Premier League semi-final place still open. Oxford’s youthful squad must win to advance, while Laylor says Cavalier only need one point despite injury concerns.

St. AndrewSports
NHT Marks Read Across Jamaica Day with Story Session at Amy Bailey Basic School
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NHT Marks Read Across Jamaica Day with Story Session at Amy Bailey Basic School

The National Housing Trust joined Read Across Jamaica Day with a classroom reading led by senior executive Neil Miller. He shared Zachary The Parakeet with Amy Bailey Basic students to spotlight storytelling as a tool for confidence and self-expression.

News
Campbell and Griffiths named as Caribbean netball officials for Glasgow Commonwealth Games
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Campbell and Griffiths named as Caribbean netball officials for Glasgow Commonwealth Games

Netball Jamaica president Karen Baugh welcomes Chris Campbell and Tracy-ann Griffiths as the Caribbean's sole appointees among World Netball's international and national technical officials for the July 2026 Commonwealth Games in Scotland.

Sports
Arteta calls for Arsenal focus on ‘huge’ West Ham clash
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Arteta calls for Arsenal focus on ‘huge’ West Ham clash

London, United Kingdom (AFP) — Mikel Arteta said Arsenal must refocus for Sunday’s “huge” Premier League clash at West Ham after the emotional high of reaching the Champions League final. The Gunners will be crowned English champions for the first time in 22 years if they can win their final three league games

ManchesterSports
Costa Rica inaugurates right-wing president Laura Fernandez
JAMAICAINQUIRER

Costa Rica inaugurates right-wing president Laura Fernandez

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News
Hacked educational platform partially restored for millions of students
JAMAICAINQUIRER

Hacked educational platform partially restored for millions of students

An educational platform used by thousands of schools and universities has been partially restored following an international cyberattack that caused major chaos as students prepare for end-of-year exams. ShinyHunters, a hacking group, claimed responsibility for crashing the web-based educational platform Canvas, created by tech firm Instructure

News
Senior Sri Lankan monk arrested for alleged child sex crimes
JAMAICAINQUIRER

Senior Sri Lankan monk arrested for alleged child sex crimes

News|Crime A prominent Buddhist monk has been arrested in Sri Lanka for allegedly sexually abusing an 11-year-old girl, in the highest-profile case involving a local religious leader. Authorities took 71-year-old Pallegama Hemarathana into custody on Saturday from a private hospital in the capital, Colombo, where had checked in for treatment as a criminal probe against him progressed

News
Jimmy Cliff Earns 4th Platinum Certification in New Zealand with “Roots Woman”
KABOOMMAG

Jimmy Cliff Earns 4th Platinum Certification in New Zealand with “Roots Woman”

Jimmy Cliff Earns 4th Platinum Certification in New Zealand with “Roots Woman”Kaboom Editors46 minutes ago1 min readThe late great reggae legend secures his fourth Platinum certification in New Zealand as his 1983 single “Roots Woman” surpasses 30,000 units sold and streamed, adding to his growing list of Platinum-certified hitsLate reggae icon Jimmy Cliff has earned his fourth Platinum certification in New Zealand, as his 1983 single “Roots Woman” was officially certified Platinum by Recorded Music NZ, reflecting over 30,000 units sold and streamed as of May 7.The track was featured on Cliff’s Grammy-nominated 1983 album The Power and the Glory. Written by Cliff himself, “Roots Woman” saw the reggae legend backed by his longtime band Oneness and was released through Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment.The certification follows Cliff’s first Platinum plaque in New Zealand for his global hit “I Can See Clearly Now,” which achieved the milestone in 2023

News
IShowSpeed livestream in Jamaica amasses over 2.8 million views
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IShowSpeed livestream in Jamaica amasses over 2.8 million views

Kingston, Jamaica — American streamer IShowSpeed’s livestream from Kingston, Jamaica on Friday amassed more than 2.8 million views, with a peak of 194,805 live viewers. The broadcast also generated 696,349 live chat messages and brought in 34,692 new subscribers

KingstonNews
Israeli settlers set fire to homes and cars in violent West Bank raids
JAMAICAINQUIRER

Israeli settlers set fire to homes and cars in violent West Bank raids

Israeli settlers have launched another wave of raids in the occupied West Bank, with houses and cars set on fire and a Palestinian child attacked. The Palestinian Wafa news agency reported that a man and his child were attacked with “sharp instruments” in the village of Khirbet Shuweika, south of Hebron, on Friday

News
Spain’s Canary Islands brace for incoming hantavirus-stricken cruise ship
JAMAICAINQUIRER

Spain’s Canary Islands brace for incoming hantavirus-stricken cruise ship

A cruise ship hit by a hantavirus outbreak is en route to Spain’s Canary Islands, where it plans to drop off 140 passengers and crew so they can be evacuated after weeks stranded at sea. The Dutch-flagged MV Hondius vessel, on which at least eight people fell ill, is due to reach the Spanish island of Tenerife, off the coast of West Africa, early Sunday morning

News
Russia holds downsized Victory Day parade
JAMAICAINQUIRER

Russia holds downsized Victory Day parade

Russia has kicked off its annual Victory Day military parade in Moscow to mark the defeat of Nazi Germany during the second world war. The parade, scaled back this year due to security concerns, started at about 10am (07:00 GMT) in Red Square, with a military formation bearing the Russian flag

KingstonNews
Nintendo to hike Switch 2 price, warns on profits
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Nintendo to hike Switch 2 price, warns on profits

Tokyo, Japan (AFP)—Japanese gaming giant Nintendo said Friday it will hike the price of its Switch 2 gaming console as memory chip costs soar, warning that net profit would fall 27 percent this year. Sony — whose PlayStation5 has already risen in price — was more upbeat, projecting a 13-percent rise in income but still with falling sales of its ageing console

News
Senate passes NaRRA Bill after marathon debate
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Senate passes NaRRA Bill after marathon debate

Kingston, Jamaica — The controversial National Reconstruction and Resilience Authority (NaRRA) Bill was passed in the Senate at 8:14 pm Friday after a sitting that lasted approximately 10 hours. The Bill, which was piloted by the Minister of Education and Information, Senator Dr Dana Morris Dixon now awaits the governor general’s signature before it is gazetted as the law of the land

KingstonNews
Financial struggles burden Yemen’s army as soldiers wait for wages
JAMAICAINQUIRER

Financial struggles burden Yemen’s army as soldiers wait for wages

Note:TO BE PUBLISHED SATURDAY Marib, Yemen – Inside a military facility on the outskirts of this western Yemeni city, soldier Suleiman al-Hajj sits beside two of his comrades in a sparse room where they spend most of their on-duty hours. Worry is etched on his face as he makes another call and sends a flurry of messages in search of a loan as another salary payment from the army is delayed

News
WATCH: Two alleged gunmen fatally shot by police in Mandeville
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WATCH: Two alleged gunmen fatally shot by police in Mandeville

Manchester, Jamaica — Police shot and killed two men in an alleged confrontation and seized a firearm on Manchester Road near Willowgate in Mandeville on Friday. Preliminary reports are that about 8:00 pm police tracked a Toyota Axio along Manchester Road and intercepted the vehicle when a gun battle reportedly ensued

ManchesterNews
Spirit Airlines Shutdown Expected to Push Up US Airfares as Budget Competition Tightens
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Spirit Airlines Shutdown Expected to Push Up US Airfares as Budget Competition Tightens

Analysts say Spirit Airlines’ closure is likely to drive United States ticket prices higher, removing a major low-fare pressure point while jet fuel costs surge and rivals move quickly to absorb key routes.

News
US Pacific boat raid kills two as AFP tally puts anti-smuggling campaign toll at 189
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US Pacific boat raid kills two as AFP tally puts anti-smuggling campaign toll at 189

The US military reports Friday’s strike on another suspected smuggling boat in the eastern Pacific killed two people, with one survivor; an AFP tally puts the wider operation’s death toll at 189 amid legal controversy.

News
CB Foods’ Pork Store marks Teachers’ Day with smoked-meat packs for Jamaica House Basic School staff
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CB Foods’ Pork Store marks Teachers’ Day with smoked-meat packs for Jamaica House Basic School staff

Pork Store & More by CB Foods surprised teachers at Jamaica House Basic School on Teachers’ Day with Caribbean Passion smoked meat bundles and store vouchers, part of a pop-up outreach tied to the company’s Kingston-area community ties.

KingstonNews
World Cup to hold trio of star-studded opening ceremonies
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World Cup to hold trio of star-studded opening ceremonies

Mexico CITY, Mexico (AFP) — The 2026 World Cup will feature a trilogy of opening ceremonies, with each of the host countries — Mexico, the United States and Canada — getting its turn at a star-studded celebration. Global music stars including Katy Perry, Future, Alanis Morissette, Michael Buble, J Balvin and Lisa will feature, world governing body FIFA confirmed on Friday

News
TMTG books US$406m first-quarter net loss as crypto marks dominate results
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TMTG books US$406m first-quarter net loss as crypto marks dominate results

Trump Media & Technology Group, which owns Truth Social, has posted a first-quarter net loss above US$400 million after reporting its digital-asset holdings at lower values, while turnover stayed under one million US dollars.

News
Opposition senator warns NaRRA Bill weakens oversight as Melissa rebuild trust is tested
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Opposition senator warns NaRRA Bill weakens oversight as Melissa rebuild trust is tested

Senator Cleveland Tomlinson told the Senate on Friday that Jamaicans’ confidence in the administration matters for the National Reconstruction and Resilience Authority Bill, which he said leaves the post-Melissa agency short on checks as it handles huge sums.

KingstonNews
US plans evacuation flight for Americans on hantavirus ship
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US plans evacuation flight for Americans on hantavirus ship

Washington, United States (AFP) — The United States (US) said Friday it was organising an evacuation flight for Americans on a hantavirus-struck cruise ship that has sailed to the Canary Islands, which are part of Spain. “The Department of State is arranging a repatriation flight to support the safe return of American passengers on this ship,” a State Department spokesperson said

News
National Futsal Championship launched
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National Futsal Championship launched

Kingston, Jamaica — The National Futsal Championship, which was launched on Thursday, will kick off on Saturday, May 16 at Legacy 5 in Runaway Bay, in St Ann. Twenty-eight teams will compete, divided into four regions: North Eastern (St Ann, Portland, St Mary); North Western (St James, Hanover, Westmoreland, Trelawny); South Western (Clarendon, Manchester, St Elizabeth) and South Eastern (Kingston and St Andrew, St Catherine, St Thomas)

St. AnnNews
Fitz-Henley insists NaRRA Bill contains strong oversight mechanisms
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Fitz-Henley insists NaRRA Bill contains strong oversight mechanisms

Kingston, Jamaica — Government Senator Abka Fitz-Henley has pushed back firmly against talk that the National Reconstruction and Resilience Authority (NaRRA) Bill lacks oversight and accountability. The Bill, which is currently being debated in the Senate, will give legal authority to the NaRRA, the body set up by the Government to lead reconstruction efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa which caused US$12.2 billion in damage when it slammed into southwestern parishes last October

KingstonNews
48-hour curfew imposed in sections of Kingston Eastern
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48-hour curfew imposed in sections of Kingston Eastern

Kingston, Jamaica — A 48-hour curfew has been imposed in sections of the Kingston eastern policing division. The curfew began at 6:00 pm on Friday, May 8 and will remain in effect until 6:00 pm on Sunday, May 10

KingstonNews
Kathy-Ann Pyke threatens Hugh Wildman with defamation suit during six-officer murder trial cross-examination
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Kathy-Ann Pyke threatens Hugh Wildman with defamation suit during six-officer murder trial cross-examination

Crown prosecutor Kathy-Ann Pyke warned Thursday she could sue Hugh Wildman for alleged defamation during cross-examination of a forensic analyst in the six-officer murder trial over the 2013 Barbican killings of Matthew Lee, Ucliffe Dyer and Mark Allen.

St. AndrewNews
Pentagon releases video of strikes on Iranian oil tankers
JAMAICAINQUIRER

Pentagon releases video of strikes on Iranian oil tankers

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News
Over 40 Cuban doctors remain in Jamaica under new contracts
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Over 40 Cuban doctors remain in Jamaica under new contracts

Kingston, Jamaica — More than 40 Cuban healthcare workers, formerly part of the bilateral arrangement between Jamaica and Cuba, have chosen to remain on the island and are now serving under individual contracts, according to Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr Christopher Tufton. Speaking with journalists at the ministry in New Kingston recently, Dr Tufton indicated that, prior to the recall of Cuban healthcare workers, approximately 278 doctors were engaged in the programme

KingstonNews
Festus Mogae, former president who prioritised HIV/AIDS fight, dies
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Festus Mogae, former president who prioritised HIV/AIDS fight, dies

Gaborone (AP):Festus Mogae, Botswana’s former president who made the fight against HIV and AIDS a national priority during his tenure from 1998 to 2008, has died at the age of 86, the government said on Friday. No cause of death was given.Botswana President Duma Boko said that under Mogae’s leadership, the country earned international respect for principled, sound economic management and a commitment to democracy

News
Preparations in full swing to evacuate over 100 aboard Hantavirus cruise
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Preparations in full swing to evacuate over 100 aboard Hantavirus cruise

Madrid (AP):Spanish authorities have begun preparing to receive more than 140 passengers and crew members on board a hantavirus-stricken cruise ship headed for the Canary Islands, where health officials have said they will perform careful evacuations.The vessel is expected to arrive Sunday at the Spanish island of Tenerife, off the coast of West Africa, and passengers will be taken to a “completely isolated, cordoned-off area,” said the head of Spain’s emergency services, Virginia Barcones.Both the US and the UK have agreed to send planes to evacuate their citizens from the cruise ship.While three people have died since the outbreak, and five passengers who left the ship are known to be infected with hantavirus, cruise operator Oceanwide Expeditions said Friday there were no people with symptoms of a possible infection on board the Dutch-flagged ship, the MV Hondius.The World Health Organization considers the risk to the wider public from the outbreak as low.On Friday, the WHO said a flight attendant on a plane briefly boarded by an infected cruise passenger has tested negative for hantavirus. Her possible infection had raised concerns about the virus’ potential transmissibility.The flight attendant’s negative result should ease concerns among the public, said Christian Lindmeier, a WHO spokesman

News
GLEANER

Tony Deyal | Where do we go from here?

Zeno Obi Constance is by far the best in the Caribbean and beyond. This article is part of an attempt to reach, teach and increase our knowledge and commitment of our development.We are a fast developing nationBomber get to knowAfter viewing the situationIn Trinidad and TobagoYou see the cost of living risingGuerrillas organizingUpliftment of high sublimeMore children more schools more limers more foolsAnd a steady increase in crimeThe crime wave - Ah say me dear peopleThe crime wave - Ah say too much troubleThe old and the young in the country and townThe crime wave - Only looting and shooting downThe crime wave - Too much sorrowThe crime wave - Ah say think about tomorrowIt shameful it sadAnd it looking so badThe crime wave in Trinidad(Crime Wave – Bomber 1971)While the great Mighty Bomber (Clifton Ryan) was a Grenada-born calypsonian, he ended up in Trinidad and Tobago

Opinion
El Faro Alleges Asset Freeze in El Salvador as Pressure Mounts on Independent Media
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El Faro Alleges Asset Freeze in El Salvador as Pressure Mounts on Independent Media

Investigative newsroom El Faro says a bank account and property linked to two team members were frozen, describing the move as political retaliation. The claim comes amid wider criticism of President Nayib Bukele’s treatment of journalists and dissenters.

News
GLEANER

Real Madrid impose massive fines on Valverde, Tchouaméni

Barcelona, Spain (AP):Real Madrid slapped players Federico Valverde and Aurélien Tchouaméni with half-a-million-euro (US$588,000) fines yesterday for their altercation during practice.The massive fines came a day after the midfielders tussled when the team trained. Valverde said in a post on social media on Thursday that no punches were thrown

Sports
Government Moves to Overhaul Adoption Law and Speed Up Child Placement in Jamaica
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Government Moves to Overhaul Adoption Law and Speed Up Child Placement in Jamaica

Education Minister Dr Dana Morris Dixon says legal and administrative reforms are coming to reduce delays in adoptions, while creating Jamaica’s first formal fostering framework through wider public consultation.

St. AndrewNews
GLEANER

Billie Eilish and James Cameron deliver immersive 3D concert cinema with Hit Me Hard and Soft tour film

Billie Eilish’s new 3D concert movie, co-directed with James Cameron, captures her Manchester arena show with striking detail and crowd energy. The review praises its immersive staging while noting a few weaker interview-style moments.

ManchesterEntertainment
Delcita and daughter Dreanna Williams share creative bond - Actress opens ‘Contestant69’ on Mother’s Day
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Delcita and daughter Dreanna Williams share creative bond - Actress opens ‘Contestant69’ on Mother’s Day

Veteran Jamaican actress and playwright Andrea ‘Delcita’ Wright has built a career that spans decades of stage performance and comedy, earning her a respected place in local theatre. Beyond her own work, she has also contributed to the industry as a mentor, helping to shape and guide emerging actors who credit her influence in their development

KingstonEntertainment
Starmer says he won’t quit after local election losses
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Starmer says he won’t quit after local election losses

London (AP):British Prime Minister Keir Starmer insisted yesterday that he will not resign after bruising elections that saw his governing Labour Party suffer big losses and the hard-right Reform UK make major gains.The local and regional elections were widely seen as an unofficial referendum on Starmer, whose popularity has plummeted since he led the centre-left Labour Party to power less than two years ago.Voters have grown impatient for economic growth and dramatic change after 14 years of Conservative government, and many Labour lawmakers have become despairing at the government’s failure to deliver.Starmer said he took responsibility for the “very tough” results, which saw his party lose more than half the seats it was defending, but would not quit.“The voters have sent a message about the pace of change, how they want their lives improved,” he said. “I was elected to meet those challenges, and I’m not going to walk away from those challenges and plunge the country into chaos.”Reform UK, led by the veteran nationalist politician Nigel Farage, won hundreds of local council seats in working-class areas in England’s north, such as Sunderland, that were solid Labour turf for decades, and also made gains from the Conservatives in areas like the county of Essex, east of London

ManchesterNews
GLEANER

Editorial | Safeguarding children from abuse

There is no gainsaying that children and adolescents in Jamaica live under significant stress, often existing in the proximity of violence and other forms of abuse – or being the victims of it. Statistics, from two years back, point to some improvement

Opinion
Preparations in full swing to evacuate over 100 aboard Hantavirus cruise
GLEANER

Preparations in full swing to evacuate over 100 aboard Hantavirus cruise

Madrid (AP):Spanish authorities have begun preparing to receive more than 140 passengers and crew members on board a hantavirus-stricken cruise ship headed for the Canary Islands, where health officials have said they will perform careful evacuations.The vessel is expected to arrive Sunday at the Spanish island of Tenerife, off the coast of West Africa, and passengers will be taken to a “completely isolated, cordoned-off area,” said the head of Spain’s emergency services, Virginia Barcones.Both the US and the UK have agreed to send planes to evacuate their citizens from the cruise ship.While three people have died since the outbreak, and five passengers who left the ship are known to be infected with hantavirus, cruise operator Oceanwide Expeditions said Friday there were no people with symptoms of a possible infection on board the Dutch-flagged ship, the MV Hondius.The World Health Organization considers the risk to the wider public from the outbreak as low.On Friday, the WHO said a flight attendant on a plane briefly boarded by an infected cruise passenger has tested negative for hantavirus. Her possible infection had raised concerns about the virus’ potential transmissibility.The flight attendant’s negative result should ease concerns among the public, said Christian Lindmeier, a WHO spokesman

News