In a startling case of insider involvement in organized crime, a 24-year-old Jamaican woman, Savannah Harsha Phillips, is confronting 13 felony charges for her alleged role in a car theft ring targeting Hertz vehicles at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. Phillips, who previously worked as a security guard at the airport’s car rental center, is accused of conspiring with three men to steal a dozen vehicles from Hertz.
作者： admin
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Heat-related deaths in Spain up 88 per cent from last year
Spain has witnessed a staggering 87.6% increase in heat-related fatalities between May 16 and September 30, with the health ministry reporting 3,832 deaths. This sharp rise, compared to the same period in 2024, underscores the devastating impact of extreme temperatures on vulnerable populations. Nearly two-thirds of the victims were aged over 85, while almost 96% were above 65, highlighting the heightened risk for older adults. The figures, derived from Spain’s Mortality Monitoring System (MoMo), utilize statistical models to estimate deaths linked to heatwaves. MoMo tracks daily mortality trends and incorporates external factors, such as weather data from the national meteorological agency AEMET, to identify potential causes of mortality spikes. Although MoMo cannot definitively attribute deaths to heat, it provides the most reliable approximation of fatalities where high temperatures likely played a decisive role. This year, Spain endured its hottest summer since records began in 1961, with an average temperature of 24.2°C. Heatwaves persisted for 33 of the 90 summer days, including a 16-day event in August that triggered wildfires, claiming four lives and devastating vast areas of land. Scientists have repeatedly warned that human-induced climate change is intensifying global weather extremes. Notably, nine of Spain’s 10 hottest summers since 1961 have occurred in the 21st century. Similar trends were observed in Britain, Japan, and South Korea, which also experienced their hottest summers on record this year.
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International city planner Brent Toderian to deliver 2025 Maurice Facey Lecture
KINGSTON, Jamaica – Renowned urban planner Brent Toderian, celebrated for his transformative work in sustainable city planning, will headline the fifth annual Honourable Maurice Facey Lecture on October 9. The event, themed “Where the City Meets the Sea: Unlocking Downtown Waterfront as a Public Space and Economic Asset,” will take place at the Jamaica Conference Centre starting at 4:00 pm. Admission is free and open to the public.
Toderian, former chief city planner of Vancouver, Canada, brings a wealth of global experience, having advised cities like Sydney, Auckland, Medellín, Oslo, Helsinki, and Paris through his consultancy, Toderian UrbanWORKS Inc. His contributions to Vancouver’s downtown and waterfront development, as well as his role in the 2010 Winter Olympics, have earned him recognition as one of the “100 Most Influential Global Urbanists in History” by Planetizen.
Stephen Facey, chairman of the Pan Jamaica Group and the CB Facey Foundation, emphasized the lecture’s goal of fostering meaningful dialogue on Jamaica’s urban future. “Brent’s expertise will help us envision how Jamaica’s cities can adapt to contemporary challenges and opportunities,” he remarked.
Gayon Douglas, executive director of the CB Facey Foundation, noted that Toderian will conduct a firsthand assessment of Kingston’s waterfront and downtown areas prior to the event. This on-the-ground evaluation will enable him to provide tailored recommendations for Jamaica’s unique urban landscape.
The Maurice Facey Lecture Series, established in 2019, honors the legacy of Maurice Facey, founder of the Pan Jamaica Group, who was deeply committed to Jamaica’s development. The series convenes global thought leaders to explore sustainable and equitable urban solutions. The Pan Jamaica Group, a Caribbean-based multinational, has been a driving force in Jamaica’s built environment for over six decades, with projects like the ROK Hotel & Residences on Kingston’s waterfront.
The lecture will be available for later viewing on the CB Facey Foundation’s YouTube channel. Interested participants can register for the event online.
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Fast-Tracking digital inclusion critical to vision 2030 goals, says FLOW
KINGSTON, Jamaica – Jamaica’s digital transformation must be expedited to align with the ambitious Vision 2030 objectives, emphasizing affordability, accessibility, and digital literacy, according to Stephen Price, Vice President and General Manager of Flow. Speaking at the Caribbean Telecommunications Union ICT Conference held at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel, Price underscored the urgency of fostering a digitally literate population to support the nation’s technological aspirations. ‘We have five years to act swiftly and decisively to achieve our goal of becoming a technology-enabled society,’ he stated. Flow, a subsidiary of Liberty Caribbean and a key sponsor of the event, has significantly expanded its digital infrastructure since the COVID-19 pandemic, nearly doubling its fibre optic coverage to 760,000 homes and extending mobile services to 98% of the population. Additionally, the company has deployed six new cell sites to enhance coverage in underserved areas such as Runaway Bay and Ocean Heights. Beyond infrastructure, Flow’s JUMP programme provides vulnerable families with devices, subsidized internet access, and digital literacy training to promote inclusivity. The call for digital inclusion was reinforced by other panellists, including Elona Cela, Senior Investment Officer at the International Finance Corporation, who emphasized the need to bridge the digital divide in rural areas. ‘Children in rural communities must have equal access to broadband to unlock their full potential,’ she asserted. Charlton McFarlane, CEO of the Universal Service Fund, highlighted the impact of Jamaica’s 400 community Wi-Fi hotspots, which serve nearly 200,000 users monthly, supporting education and micro-entrepreneurship. Senator Dana Morris-Dixon, Minister of Education, Skills, Youth, and Information, reiterated the government’s commitment to public-private collaboration, stating, ‘Connectivity is not a luxury but a lifeline to better healthcare, education, and civic participation.’ While acknowledging progress, Price identified systemic challenges, including infrastructure theft and vandalism, and called for stricter penalties and more competitive spectrum rates to accelerate Jamaica’s digital evolution.
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Deepfake political scam ads surge on Meta platforms, watchdog says
A recent investigation by the nonprofit Tech Transparency Project (TTP) has revealed that scammers are leveraging advanced artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to create deepfake videos of prominent figures, including former President Donald Trump, to deceive users on Meta’s platforms. These fraudulent advertisers have collectively spent $49 million on Facebook and Instagram, targeting vulnerable demographics, particularly seniors, with ads promoting fake government benefits such as stimulus checks, healthcare payments, and spending cards. The ads have reached tens of thousands of users, exploiting public confusion about social safety net programs and Meta’s content moderation gaps. Despite Meta’s policies prohibiting scams and its claims of investing in scam prevention, the report highlights that 63 scam advertisers ran over 150,600 political ads in the past year, with nearly half continuing to operate as of Tuesday. Meta has disabled 35 ad accounts, but only after they had run hundreds of ads, with six accounts spending over $1 million before being shut down. One notable example involved a deepfake video of Trump falsely promising stimulus checks, directing users to a fraudulent website. The report underscores the growing sophistication of online fraud and the challenges platforms face in combating it. Surveys indicate a significant rise in internet scams, with older adults increasingly falling victim to impersonation attacks, often losing substantial sums of money.
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Norbrook man dies in suspected suicide
Authorities in St Andrew North are currently probing the suspected suicide of a 30-year-old man in the affluent Norbrook neighborhood. The incident occurred early Wednesday morning, sending shockwaves through the quiet community. The deceased, identified as James Todd of Norbrook Drive, Kingston 8, reportedly exhibited unusual behavior prior to the tragic event. Loud explosions were heard emanating from his bedroom, prompting his parents to investigate. Upon entering, they discovered Todd lying on the floor with a fatal gunshot wound to the head. A Sig Sauer 9mm pistol and two magazines were found beside him. Todd was immediately transported to Andrew’s Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Law enforcement officials seized the 9mm pistol, along with a Beretta shotgun stored in a safe within the residence, as part of their ongoing investigation. The circumstances surrounding the incident remain under scrutiny, with authorities working to piece together the events leading up to Todd’s death.
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Christiana High, Alphansus Davis book spots in D’Cup Round of 32
In a thrilling display of football prowess, Christiana High and Alphansus Davis High secured their spots in the Round of 32 of the ISSA daCosta Cup competition. The matches, held on Wednesday, saw Christiana High triumph over Knox College with a 2-1 victory at the Kirkvine Sports Club. This win marked their second consecutive victory against Knox College, following a 2-0 win in the first round, and propelled them to a total of 21 points. Meanwhile, Alphansus Davis High avenged their earlier loss to Holmwood Technical with a commanding 3-1 win, boosting their tally to 19 points. These results leave Knox College and Holmwood Technical to vie for the remaining qualifying spot in Zone G.
With these victories, Christiana High and Alphansus Davis High join the ranks of ten schools that have already secured their places in the second round. The list includes Cornwall College, Manning’s School, Cedric Titus, William Knibb Memorial, Manchester High, Central High, Clarendon College, and Ocho Rios High.
In other matches on Wednesday, Zone E play-offs saw both games end in 1-1 draws. BB Coke High, the leaders, were held by Lacovia High, while St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS), playing with 10 men after Kenoy Banton’s dismissal, relinquished a first-half lead to draw with Maggotty High. Kimmari Roach, a converted goalkeeper who had previously scored two goals against Sydney Pagon, gave STETHS the lead in the 42nd minute. However, Andre Philpotts equalized for Maggotty High in the 84th minute.
Wednesday’s results also included victories for Little London, Spot Valley, and Foga Road High, while Mt St Joseph Catholic and deCarteret College played to a 2-2 draw.
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15 boats sail off as 9th Mayberry marlin tourney gets underway
PORTLAND, Jamaica — The ninth edition of the Mayberry Superstars of Port Antonio International Marlin Tournament commenced on Thursday morning, with 15 out of the 22 registered boats setting sail from the Errol Flynn Marina. The event, supported by the Jamaica Defence Force Coast Guard and the Port Antonio Marine Police, saw defending champion Safe Passage, led by last year’s top angler Chris Berry, aiming for another victory. Just two hours into the competition, Brac Rebel made the first significant catch, releasing the tournament’s inaugural marlin and securing an early lead. Tournament Director Bobby Stewart acknowledged that while 22 boats had registered, mechanical and weather-related issues prevented some from participating initially. However, he anticipated that 19 or 20 boats would be active by Friday. The tournament, which attracts international participants, particularly from the Cayman Islands, features a prize pool of approximately US $330,000, including cash, trophies, and fishing gear. A standout reward of US$100,000 is also available for any record-breaking catch in the blue marlin, white marlin, or yellowfin tuna categories. Mayberry Investments, the title sponsor, continues its longstanding support for the event, which not only highlights Port Antonio’s exceptional fishing opportunities but also boosts the local economy and tourism. Stewart praised Port Antonio’s natural beauty and warm hospitality, emphasizing its significance as a prime fishing destination. As part of community engagement, organizers have scheduled a free concert for residents on Sunday evening. With favorable fishing conditions and a high number of blue marlin in the waters, Stewart expressed optimism that this year’s tournament would be one of the best yet. The competition runs daily until 5:00 pm, with results and highlights to be announced in the coming days.
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Ghana raises cocoa prices following Ivory Coast hike
In a significant move to support its agricultural sector, Ghana has announced a 12.3% increase in the price paid to cocoa farmers, raising the rate from 3,228.75 to 3,625 cedis ($257 to $289) per 64-kilogram bag, or 58,000 cedis per tonne. This adjustment, effective immediately, positions Ghana’s cocoa price at $4.5 per kilogram, closely trailing its neighbor and top global producer, Ivory Coast, which recently set a record price of 2,800 CFA ($5) per kilogram. The decision underscores the Ghanaian government’s commitment to ensuring farmers receive equitable compensation for their labor, according to Finance Minister Cassiel Ato Forson. This price hike follows a previous announcement in August 2025, which had already marked a 60% increase in dollar terms, though the cedi’s depreciation since then has somewhat diluted its impact. Price controls in Ghana, the world’s second-largest cocoa producer, aim to stabilize farmers’ incomes, particularly during market downturns. However, critics argue that these controls have failed to keep pace with global price surges, prompting some farmers to abandon cocoa farming for more lucrative ventures like gold mining, which has led to environmental degradation and further strained cocoa production. The Ghanaian government, under President John Mahama, has pledged to increase cocoa farmers’ share of export earnings to at least 70% of the Free-On-Board (FOB) value. Additionally, Forson announced ongoing support initiatives for farmers, including free fertilizers, pesticides, and spraying machines, as well as a new scholarship program for cocoa farmers’ children, set to begin in the 2026/27 academic year.
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Campari unveils new bottle design
Campari has unveiled a striking new bottle design, marking its first significant packaging overhaul in years. The revamped bottle features a sleek, modern silhouette with intricate engravings inspired by Milan’s iconic Duomo cathedral, blending the brand’s contemporary vision with its deep Italian heritage. Dominique Bell, communications manager at JWray & Nephew Limited, emphasized that this redesign is more than just a cosmetic update. ‘This new Campari bottle represents a lifestyle moment,’ Bell stated. ‘It’s bold, fresh, and transforms any space it enters. Campari has always dared to stand out in the entertainment scene, and this design amplifies that spirit. We believe it will spark confidence, inspire new connections, and reshape the way people experience Campari. This is a fresh drop for those who dare to be bold, different, and unapologetically themselves.’ The company confirmed that the product inside remains unchanged, and the redesign comes at no additional cost to consumers. Key features include a champagne-gold cap, an embossed Campari logo, and the founder’s signature. Bell explained that the redesign was driven by the need to modernize while staying true to the brand’s roots. ‘The iconic Milanese landmark, Il Duomo, inspired the bottle’s engraved detailing, a nod to the city that birthed Campari,’ she said. The updated packaging will be rolled out globally, with localized marketing campaigns in regions like Jamaica and the wider Caribbean. ‘This is a global initiative with local adaptations,’ Bell added. ‘Each element was chosen to root the brand in Milanese heritage while elevating its tactile, visual, and cultural appeal, solidifying Campari as a modern, sensual icon.’