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Virat Kohli finally won the Indian Premier League as Royal Challengers Bengaluru sealed their maiden title with a six-run win over Punjab Kings.

The 36-year-old India legend, the only player to represent the same franchise in every edition of the tournament, top-scored for RCB, hitting 43 in his side’s 190-9 from 20 overs.

Kings, who were also seeking a first IPL title, were unable to chase down their target, finishing on 184-7.

Opening the batting alongside England’s Phil Salt, Kohli’s crucial knock from 35 deliveries, took RCB to 143 before he was the fourth wicket to fall, caught and bowled by Afghanistan’s Azmatullah Omarzai.

Salt struck 16 from nine balls before being caught by Shreyas Iyer off Kyle Jamieson, while England all-rounder Liam Livingstone hit 25 as the side’s numbers three to six all posted scores in the mid-20s.

Having accumulated steadily, Andy Flower’s team failed to accelerate in the final over, with Arshdeep Singh taking three wickets in his last six balls to ensure RCB didn’t pass 200.

Kings found themselves 98-4 in the 13th over of their reply, losing captain and star batter Shreyas for just one, caught by Jitesh Sharma off Romario Shepherd.

Romario Shepherd picked up the key wicket of Punjab Kings skipper Shreyas Iyer (Photo by: s Saikat Das / Sportzpics for IPL)

Nehal Wadhera and Shashank Singh began to rebuild, but their side’s challenge effectively ended when Wadhera and the big-hitting Marcus Stoinis were both caught in the same Bhuvneshwar Kumar over.

Needing 29 from Josh Hazlewood’s final over, Shashank hammered 22 from the last four balls of the innings, bringing his side tantalisingly close to their target with an unbeaten 61.

However, his efforts were ultimately in vain, and after 18 years and three previous final defeats, Kohli and RCB could finally celebrate a successful IPL campaign.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru players celebrate win during the final of the Indian Premier League season 18 (IPL 2025) between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Punjab Kings held at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad on the 3rd June 2025
Photo by Arjun Singh / Sportzpics for IPL

Kohli and Flower lift RCB to new heights

It has been a long wait for Kohli, who played in the first IPL game for RCB in April 2008.

Then aged 19, he was bowled for one, but he would go on to hit 8,661 runs in 267 matches in the competition at an average of 39.54, with eight hundreds and 63 half-centuries.

He tasted defeat in his side’s two final appearances, losing to Chennai Super Kings in 2011 and 2016 to Sunrisers Hyderabad, while he also captained the franchise between 2013 and 2021.

Kohli has been in strong form in recent years, averaging over 50 in the past three seasons, including 54.75 in this campaign, and now gets to lift the IPL trophy after 267 matches in the competition.

The title also represents another success in the franchise coaching career of Flower, who took over RCB in 2024.

The Ashes-winning former England coach led RCB to fourth in his first season, losing in the eliminator match, before placing second this year, behind Kings on net run-rate.

His side then beat Kings in the first qualifier match to progress straight to the final, and have now repeated that feat.

It follows wins in the Pakistan Super League with Multan Sultans in 2021 and Trent Rockets in The Hundred in 2022.

Meanwhile England internationals Salt, Liam Livingstone and Jacob Bethell will also be awarded winners medals.

Livingstone hit 25 from 15 in the final, while Bethell was playing for England in the third ODI against the West Indies during the game, having returned home for international duty. (BBC)

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The ever-strong relationship between Jamaica and China was on display last weekend as a mixture of competitors from both countries battled for supremacy at Jamaica’s first-ever Dragon Boat Festival.

“I’m very very happy and humbled by all of the people who have come, everybody- I’m happy if it gets much bigger!” said president of the Chinese Benevolent Association (CBA) Vincent Chang.

The Chinese Benevolent Association team tied with the Jamaica Coast Guard for the top spot in the competitive final, claiming victory in 1.04.257, in a tight race that brought spectators to their feet, screaming from the deck of boats and prime viewing spots on land.

In second place was the Chinese Embassy team.

The festival attracted entire families filling all the seats at Grand Excelsior hotel in Port Royal as patrons crowded the dock to cheer on their favourites.

Dragon boat racing, a traditional Chinese paddled watercraft activity for more than 2,000 years, requires teams to paddle a straight line and keep within their allocated lane/line from the start to the finish of their race.

It is forbidden to knowingly impede other boats.

A standard dragon boat race is 500 metres and takes about two to three minutes. Some festivals include short 200-metre races and longer 2,000-metre “guts and glory” races.

The two-day event in Jamaica began last Saturday with 11 teams competing in 200-metre races.

Only nine advanced to day two- Hydra Jamaica, Hydra 2, The Confucius Institute, McKay Security, Chinese Benevolent Association, CHEC Construction, Jamaica Coast Guard, Generals, and the Chinese Embassy.

All the teams- which were a mixture of Chinese, Chinese-Jamaicans, and afro-Jamaicans- had to learn how to paddle in time with a drummer who sits at the bow of the thin boat and beats a drum to direct the pace of the rowers.

After a ceremonial Dotting of the Eye, to ‘open the eyes’ of the dragons mounted on each boat the teams were set off.

Some of the teams had trouble initially finding their rhythm and more than one race was delayed either because a dragon boat drifted too close to the motor-boats marking the lanes, or to each other, or got turned around completely, or drifted off course.

The Jamaica Guard, Chinese Benevolent Association, and Chinese Embassy teams proved themselves, taking the top three spots after the times from two heats were combined.

The table remained mainly the same for the second and final day of events.

All nine teams had a chance to win a gold medal as the finals were separated into three races consisting of the three lowest times (novice), the three next fastest times (intermediate), and the fastest three times (competitive).

CHEC Construction won the Novice Finals, with Hydra Jamaica and the Confucius Institute placing second and third, respectively.

McKay Security took the Intermediate Finals beating Hydra Jamaica 2 and Generals, respectively.

Chairman of the festival’s Organising Committee Dalton Yap indicated that the event had been over a decade in the making, with the proverbial stars aligning in 2023 leading to this year’s inaugural staging.

The event was launched in the presence of Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Kamina Johnson Smith, Chinese Ambassador to Jamaica Chen Daojiang, and Pan American Dragon Boat Federation President Franco Sui Chong.

It closed the chapter on Ambassador Chen’s tour of duty which ended on June 2.

Sui Chong, representing the International Dragon Boat Federation, officially inducted Jamaica into the Caribbean, Pan American, and International federations, presenting the country’s official certificate of membership.

In that vein a Caribbean cup race was held with teams from Jamaica, The Bahamas, a mixed team of Caribbean and North American participants and the CBA. Jamaica secured the top spot with The Bahamas and mixed team in second and third, respectively.

Chang indicated that the hope is to stage the event biannually and eventually introduce longer distances than the 200-metre race. (Jamaica Observer)

 

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Geeta Chandan-Edmond, a member of the opposition People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), on Monday night said she was pushing back against attempts to divide Guyanese, as she declared her endorsement of President Irfaan Ali for a second term.

Her endorsement came during a sitting of the National Assembly, at a time when efforts were being made to prevent her from speaking.

The Parliamentarian addressed these actions in her speech.

“Today I say no to silence, no to bullies, no to division… and no to pettiness,” she stated.

‘The work is not done’ – PNC’s Geeta Chandan- Edmond endorses President Ali

She added, “I am a product of the sugar plantation. I am a child of Chesney, Albion. We are strong, and we are resilient. My back is broad… my chest is strong, and I am ready to rumble.”

Throughout her address, Chandan-Edmond stood defiantly. She thanked former President David Granger for entrusting her with political leadership but criticised her opposition colleagues for what she described as divisive actions. These included withholding support for the 2025 National Budget and recently walking out of the House, alongside fellow opposition MPs, at a time when national solidarity was needed to reaffirm Guyana’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

In her contribution to the budget debate, Chandan-Edmond was the only APNU+AFC opposition member to support the 2025 Budget. On Monday night, she defended that decision, stating that she believed the government was investing in Guyana’s “transformation.”

The post Geeta, ‘product of the sugar plantation’, says she’s ready to rumble after endorsing President appeared first on News Room Guyana.

Technology company, Apple, recently bought 100,000 of Guyana’s carbon credits as part of efforts to reduce its corporate and product emissions footprint for 2024.

The credits bought from Guyana were retired by Apple. This means that the 100,000 credits issued to Apple have been removed from circulation and cannot be traded or used again.For years, Guyana worked on a mechanism to monitor, report, and verify the carbon stored in its trees, and that amounted to over 19 gigatonnes. Under an international mechanism called ART TREES, credits are issued based on the carbon stored in forests.

Money from trees: What of Indigenous people and their rights? And do they benefit from the carbon trade?

Guyana entered the voluntary carbon market in 2022, wherein countries or companies can invest in environmental actions that compensate for the harmful carbon their operations emit into the atmosphere.

The American oil firm Hess Corporation was to first to support the venture, buying one-third of the carbon credits issued to Guyana at a cost of about USD$750 million.

Apple has now bought credits from Guyana’s 2019 stock; the move is said to contribute directly to Apple’s corporate climate goals.

“The jurisdictional program includes all 18 million hectares of forest in Guyana — about 85 percent of the landmass — and enables the country to benefit from its historically low deforestation rate, while funding low-carbon development priorities,” Apple said in its 2025 Environmental Progress Report.

The post Apple buys 100,000 carbon credits from Guyana appeared first on News Room Guyana.

See below the full media release from Caribbean Airlines: 

Caribbean Airlines advises that a recent advertisement published in its magazine featuring an incomplete map of Guyana has been removed from its online publications.

The airline has also taken steps to update the printed copies of the magazine and replace same with the ad removed.

Caribbean Airlines thanks all stakeholders for their continued support and understanding.

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The National Assembly on Monday passed an amendment to the Representation of the People Act (ROPA) aimed at strengthening Guyana’s electoral system and preventing any attempts to derail the election process.

Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Mohabir Anil Nandlall, SC, introduced the modification to the bill’s second and final readings.

He explained that the amendment addresses an oversight where a deputy for the supernumerary returning officer was not included.

The AG said Section Two (One) of the principal act updates the definition of a supernumerary returning officer. This revised definition now includes both supernumerary returning officers and supernumerary deputy returning officers for polling sub-districts in Regions Three, Four and Six.

He explained that “The amendment is very small but significant. And what occurred when we did the final draft and when we enacted the bill in 2022, we omitted to include in the definition of a supernumerary returning officer, someone to deputise his/her functions…In the amendments that we did, we did not include a deputy for the supernumerary returning officer.”

And that is all the new changes are intended to correct.

The government, he said, made several commitments in 2022 to enact a range of amendments covering various areas under ROPA and the National Registration Act (NRA).

These two mega pieces of election legislation contain all the necessary amendments that have been passed over the last three decades.

He added that the amended bill will help prevent further misuse of the electoral system and promote transparency, following the general and regional elections held on March 2, 2020.

Minister of Local Government and Regional Development Sonia Parag also supported the bill. She said that since assuming office in 2020, the PPP/C administration has fulfilled its commitments by reviewing the laws that govern the electoral system.

She highlighted the extensive consultations held for ROPA, involving individuals from all sections of society, which enhanced transparency.

She reminded the House that “The plethora of obstacles, trauma and distress that was caused by a few had very little to do with the Representation of the People Act. It had every single thing to do with individuals and rogues who believed that they could somehow fix, trick, or twist the system to how they wanted it.”

Minister Parag said the change to the bill is necessary and should not be overlooked, explaining that the term supernumerary returning officer was previously undefined in a way that covered the growing operational demands within the three largest electoral districts.

“The inclusion of deputy supernumerary returning officers explicitly recognise in this bill is one of the quiet enablers of a broader level of reform which has received support from all sections of our local society, as well as our international partners,” she stated. “These officers play a critical role in our process and their functions are tightly regulated.”

Minister of Agriculture Zulfikar Mustapha described the amendment as part of a comprehensive reform to clarify the definition of a supernumerary returning officer.

“This amendment is far more than a technical adjustment. It is a deliberate and substantive clarification that fortifies the structural integrity of our electoral process by defining the scope and status of these officers, particularly in the highly populated regions,” he noted.

Extracted and modified from DPI.

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In a move aimed at curbing masked criminal activity, the National Assembly on Monday passed the Criminal Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2025, introducing new, harsher penalties for offenders who use face coverings while committing certain crimes.

The amended legislation, which updates the Criminal Law (Offences) Act, provides for fines of up to $750,000 and prison sentences of up to three years.

The new provisions target the growing trend of criminals using masks or other disguises to conceal their identities, particularly during public disturbances, home invasions and acts of terrorism.

Speaking on the Bill, Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, SC, told the House that the measure was “reasonable and necessary” to deter criminal behaviour and aid law enforcement efforts.

“Recently, our country has experienced a surge in certain types of criminal activities committed by persons wearing masks or other disguises, which pose a significant threat to public safety,” Nandlall said.

While the use of facial coverings is recognised in legitimate contexts — such as for health reasons, religious observances, or cultural practices — the Attorney General underscored that this law applies strictly when such coverings are used with criminal intent.

Nandlall noted that when individuals are aware they will face harsher penalties for concealing their identity while committing crimes, they are less likely to do so.

“Concealing one’s identity emboldens offenders by reducing the risk of being identified or apprehended,” he said.

“By criminalising this act, we are assisting law enforcement in swiftly identifying and prosecuting offenders.”

Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Mohabir Anil Nandlall, SC

To strengthen his case, the Attorney General referenced similar laws from other jurisdictions, including Canada, the United States, and Saint Lucia. Canada, for instance, introduced legislation following riots in Vancouver and Toronto, criminalising the wearing of masks during unlawful assemblies. The Canadian law prescribes penalties of up to 10 years in prison for offenders who conceal their identity while committing indictable offences.

In the United States, several states have enacted “anti-mask laws” targeting similar behaviour. Nandlall cited California, Florida, and North Dakota as examples where wearing a mask during the commission of a crime is itself a punishable offence.

“These jurisdictions recognise the dangers posed by masked criminals and have enacted strong deterrents,” Nandlall noted.

Referencing both recent events and historical patterns, Nandlall pointed to the resurgence of masked violence during recent protests in Guyana, where some individuals vandalised and looted businesses and properties while deliberately concealing their identities.

He also drew attention to the long-standing problem of “kick down the door bandits,” a criminal phenomenon dating back to the 1970s, where home invaders typically wore masks. The Attorney General lamented that legal provisions addressing such behaviour were long overdue.

“This amendment should have come decades ago,” he said. “We’ve always had criminals using masks to terrorise our citizens.”

The law applies specifically to a list of offences, including: riots and unlawful assemblies; acts of terrorism; robbery and armed robbery; housebreaking and burglary; and assault committed while masked.

Additionally, under the Summary Jurisdiction (Offences) Act, the penalty for mask-related offences has been increased from a previous maximum of $15,000 to $750,000, and the prison term raised from 18 months to three years.

Importantly, the law does not criminalise the general wearing of masks or facial coverings. It is only triggered when these items are used in the commission of specific criminal acts.

Nandlall called the bill a serious and timely intervention to address what has become an urgent concern for both law enforcement and the general public.

“This is a serious piece of legislation. It fills a major gap in our criminal law and addresses a pressing issue that has been highlighted repeatedly — most recently during violent protests,” he said.

“With this amendment, we are saying clearly: hiding your face to commit a crime will no longer shield you from the law.”

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In an emphatic message delivered in the National Assembly on Monday night, Opposition Parliamentarian Geeta Chandan-Edmond endorsed President Dr. Irfaan Ali.

Chandan- Edmond declared, “President Ali earned a second term and Guyana deserves nothing less.”

She added, “I stand proudly with President Irfaan Ali, I stand with his leadership, I stand with his vision, and I stand with his steadfast commitment to this country.”

The politician, who has been part of the opposition People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR), said her decision came despite efforts to “silence” her. She also apologised to Guyanese for leaving the House recently alongside her Opposition colleagues when national solidarity was needed to reaffirm Guyana’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The Opposition Parliamentarian joins a list of other prominent political players now endorsing President Ali and the PPP. Last week, Liberty and Justice Party Leader, Lenox Shuman; The Citizenship Initiative’s Shazaam Ally; and PNCR’s Daniel Seeram, Samuel Sandy and Dr. Richard Van-West Charles all endorsed President Ali and the PPP.

For Chandan-Edmond, the decision to back President Ali and the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) ahead of the September 1, 2025, elections was made after much deliberation and due to her love for the country. She also opined that President Ali has led Guyana’s transformation since 2020 and stressed that he should be supported further.

And Chandan-Edmond, who described herself as a child of the sugar plantation, said, “… my conscience spoke louder than any voice.”

The post ‘The work is not done’ – PNC’s Geeta Chandan- Edmond endorses President Ali appeared first on News Room Guyana.

See below full statement from the Ministry of Finance:

President Irfaan Ali’s initiative of an NIS One-Off payment programme for eligible insured persons who have between 500 and 749 contributions, was today officially launched by Senior Minister in the Office of the President with Responsibility for Finance and the Public Service, Dr. Ashni Singh.

President Ali had laid out the details of the initiative on April 10, 2025, following his earlier  announcement of the programme. It is expected to benefit over 25,000 senior citizens. The initiative also forms part of Government’s broader range of interventions aimed at improving the quality of life of Guyana’s senior citizens

To be eligible under the programme, persons must have attained the age of 60 on or before 31 December 2024, have between 500 to 749 contributions on record and not be in receipt of any pension from NIS. These persons will benefit from the one-off payment as follows:

• 500 to 549 NIS Contributions – One-Off Payment of $260,000

• 550 to 599 NIS Contributions – One-Off Payment of $390,000

• 600 to 699 NIS Contributions – One-Off Payment of $520,000

• 700 to 749 NIS Contributions – One-Off Payment of $650,000

The programme is intended to allow the NIS to address the challenges faced, particularly by those persons who have fallen marginally short of the 750 contributions required for a pension from the NIS.

In keeping with President’s Ali’s commitment, a sum of $10 billion was allocated in Budget 2025 to ensure the financing and delivery of this programme.

The NIS has established a dedicated website at https://oneoffnis.gov.gy where persons can check their eligibility and submit their applications online. Alternatively, they can visit the nearest NIS office in their area, uplift a form, complete the form and place it in the drop boxes available at NIS offices countrywide.

The finance minister while highlighting further details of the initiative during the programme’s launch today, urged persons who are eligible to submit their applications as soon as possible so they may benefit from the President’s initiative.

The Government remains committed to ensuring that the senior citizens of Guyana, who have given their best years in service to the country, can retire with dignity and the respect they deserve.

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Guyanese all-rounder Sherfane Rutherford has been appointed Vice-captain of the West Indies T20 team for the upcoming three-match series against Ireland.

Rutherford has also been included in the West Indies squad for the preceding three-match T20I series against England.

All-rounders Jason Holder and Andre Russell make a return to the squad, while Nicholas Pooran has asked to be rested for both series. Trinidadian Jyd Goolie gets his maiden international call-up and will feature in the Ireland series.

Below is the full press release issued by Cricket West Indies on Monday

Cricket West Indies (CWI) has announced the squads for the three (3) T20 International matches against England from June 6-10 and another three (3) matches against Ireland from June 12-15.

The series will be the first for newly appointed T20 captain Shai Hope, who will have a dynamic and exciting squad which will see the return of Jason Holder who last represented the Caribbean team in the shortest format in February 2024.

Andre Russell makes a return to the squad after sustaining an injury during the first match of last year’s series against England in Barbados but has only been selected for the England leg of the tour.

Following an extended stint in the Indian Premier League (IPL), Nicholas Pooran asked to be rested for both series.

Test captain Roston Chase will leave the squad after the England T20Is to join his red-ball teammates for the Test Series camp in Barbados from June 13 to 21, ahead of the highly anticipated three-Test series against Australia for the Sir Frank Worrell Trophy.

Brandon King has been granted leave from the Ireland leg of the tour.

Jyd Goolie, a standout performer in the inaugural West Indies Breakout League and a member of the 2016 ICC Under-19 World Cup team, earns his first senior team call-up as Chase’s replacement.

In-form batter Keacy Carty replaces King.

Head Coach Daren Sammy, as well as his assistants Floyd Reifer and Ravi Rampaul, will also depart to join the Test Series camp after the England leg of the tour, a strategic move as he prepares for his first outing as Head Coach of the Test team, alongside the newly appointed Chase.

This is a critical start to the 2025-2027 World Test Championship cycle, where the Caribbean squad is seeking to regain its place as one of the world’s leading Test playing squads.

The highly experienced Rayon Griffith, who has been a widely respected and admired staple of the coaching unit for many years, will take the reigns as the lead coach for the matches against Ireland, with Donovan Miller stepping in to add support to the coaching staff.

Squad for T20Is against England: Shai Hope (Captain), Johnson Charles, Roston Chase, Matthew Forde, Shimron Hetmyer, Jason Holder, Akeal Hosein, Alzarri Joseph, Brandon King (Vice-Captain), Evin Lewis, Gudakesh Motie, Rovman Powell, Andre Russell, Sherfane Rutherford and Romario Shepherd

Squad for T20Is against Ireland: Shai Hope (Captain), Keacy Carty, Johnson Charles, Matthew Forde, Jyd Goolie, Shimron Hetmyer, Jason Holder, Akeal Hosein, Alzarri Joseph, Evin Lewis, Gudakesh Motie, Rovman Powell, Sherfane Rutherford (Vice-Captain) and Romario Shepherd

Team Management Unit for Ireland Series:

Lead Coach: Rayon Griffith

Manager: Rawl Lewis

Assistant Coach: Donovan Miller

Physiotherapist: Dr. Denis Byam

Strength and Conditioning Coach: Ronald Rogers

Massage Therapist: Fitzbert Alleyne

Analyst: Avenesh Seetaram

Media and Content Officer: Jerome Foster

Match Schedule vs England:

6 June 2025: First T20I, England vs West Indies @ Chester-Le-Street, Durham

8 June 2025: Second T20I, England vs West Indies @Bristol

10 June 2025: Third T20I, England vs West Indies @ Southampton

Match Schedule vs Ireland:

12 June 2025: First T20I, Ireland vs West Indies @Bready

14 June 2025: Second T20I, Ireland vs West Indies @Bready

15 June 2025: Third T20I, Ireland vs West Indies @Bready

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