NEWS
Machel, Voice shine at 28th St Kitts Music Festival
Soca star Machel Montano made a triumphant return to the 28th St Kitts Music Festival stage lastThursday night after an absence of over 10 years. Coming on as the penultimate act, Montano started his set just before 1 am with his monster hit and 2026 road march song Encore. For the next hour, Montano had the crowd eating out of the palm of his hands as he sang his way through some of the biggest hits in his catalogue. From Pardy to Showtime, Montano gave a performance, reminding any one in St Kitts who dared to forget just why he is called the King of Soca. And yet, the highlight of his set came almost to the end when local soca star Brandon joined Montano on stage in what could adequately be described as a full circle moment. When Brandon and Montano last shared a stage together - Montano was a soca artiste, and Brandon ... his videographer. Now they shared the stage at Warner Park, Basseterre, as peers in the genre. The crowd loved it. Read more here
Dad mourns 15-year-old after death on motorbike
Fifteen-year-old Idris Hosein was described as a brilliant young leader, an exceptional student, and a promising scholar whose future was filled with promise before his life was cut short in a tragic crash along the Churchill-Roosevelt Highway on Saturday. According to police, officers from the Barataria Police Station, led by W/A/Sgt Solomon-Rajkumar, responded to reports of the fatal accident at about 11.26 a.m. on June 27 along the westbound lane of the Churchill-Roosevelt Highway. Investigators were told that at around 10.20 a.m., a 23-year-old driver from Arima was proceeding west along the highway in a rented Nissan Tiida with two female passengers when he attempted to change from the middle lane to the left lane. Read more here
POLITICS
Brebnor on proposed THA hiring freeze
Tobago House of Assembly (THA) Deputy Chief Secretary Dr Faith Brebnor says the Tobago People’s Party (TPP) administration is not afraid to make tough decisions for the benefit of the island. She was speaking to the media on Saturday following the announcement by Chief Secretary Farley Augustine that the THA is considering a future hiring freeze. Brebnor echoed concerns by Augustine about mounting recurrent expenses stymying the assembly’s efforts to develop the island. The assembly’s wage bill significantly increased between January 2022 to May 2026 with 3,146 new employees. Read more here
BUSINESS
Mum rescued from Venezuela rubble with newborn baby tells BBC how he helped her survive
A mother who was pulled from the rubble of her wrecked home in Venezuela with her 18-day-old baby has told the BBC of how her son helped keep her alive. Dayana Patino said her son Juan David gave her "motivation to be awake and alert". "As long as he was alive, I was going to be alive. Every now and then I was touching his nose for proof that he was still breathing," she said. Read more here
REGIONAL
Education grant distribution begins today
Minister of Education Sonia Parag has encouraged parents and guardians across Guyana to turn out at schools across the country from today as the government begins the nationwide distribution of the Because We Care cash grant. The minister made the call in a video message shared on the Ministry of Education’s social media platforms on Sunday. She reminded parents that the initiative will benefit every child registered within the public and private school system. Under this year’s programme, each child will receive a $60,000 Because We Care cash grant along with a $5,000 uniform grant and the newly introduced transportation grant valued at $20,000. Altogether, the measures amount to a total of $85,000 per child. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
US says it has agreed to 'stand down' after exchange of strikes with Iran
The US and Iran have agreed to "stand down" following an exchange of strikes over the past few days, media reports say citing a US official. It comes after several attacks in and around the Strait of Hormuz, culminating in both nations accusing each other of violating their ceasefire. The official confirmed to the BBC's US partner CBS News that vessels will now be able to move through the waterway "freely", and added that renewed talks aimed at ending the war will continue. Iran has not commented on the reports that it has agreed to halt strikes in the strait. Read more here
29th June 2026