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Jamaica Observer

Jamaica Observer

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ICSL secures regional NETinfo banking partnership

ICSL secures regional NETinfo banking partnership

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Jamaican technology company Innovative Corporate Solutions Limited (ICSL) has been appointed an exclusive implementation partner for NETinfo’s digital banking platform, targeting commercial banks, credit unions and other financial institutions across the Caribbean.Under the partnership, ICSL will provide infrastructure, implementation, integration and ongoing technical support from Jamaica, backed by NETinfo’s global support operations.NETinfo’s platform allows financial institutions to provide services across mobile, online and other digital channels from a single system. The companies said this should help regional institutions introduce new services more quickly and improve how customers interact with their banks and credit unions.ICSL will also help adapt the technology to the operating and regulatory requirements of individual Caribbean markets.Neil Abrahams, chief executive officer of ICSL, said financial institutions were under pressure to modernise older systems as customers increasingly demand secure, mobile-first and personalised banking services.“This alliance combines NETinfo’s Digital Banking Platform with deep IT infrastructure capabilities, with implementation and support delivered from Jamaica and through NETinfo’s global delivery capabilities,” Abrahams said.He said the arrangement would give Caribbean financial institutions access to an established platform supported by a company familiar with the region’s operating and regulatory environment.NETinfo said its platform has been deployed by financial institutions in dozens of countries across Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia and the Caribbean.“The Caribbean represents an important growth market for NETinfo,” said Harris Marcou, the company’s head of sales.Marcou said the partnership would provide regional institutions with locally supported access to NETinfo’s technology as they strengthen their digital services.The companies did not disclose the value or duration of the partnership, identify financial institutions preparing to adopt the platform or provide a timetable for its first Caribbean implementation.

3 hours ago
China warns of retaliation over French law to curb fast fashion

China warns of retaliation over French law to curb fast fashion

BEIJING, China (AFP) — China warned on Wednesday of potential retaliation over a French law aimed at curbing the rise of fast fashion, slamming the regulation as discriminatory and in violation of trade principles.The bill, passed by France's parliament late last month and due to impose per-item fees from September 1, targets major Asian e-commerce platforms including Shein, Temu and AliExpress.The ultra-fast fashion companies are known for selling large volumes of lower-quality clothing at rock-bottom prices, also contributing to pollution from the textile industry, a major emitter of greenhouse gas.An unidentified spokesperson for Beijing's commerce ministry said the law, under the guise of setting so-called 'environmental protection' and 'sustainability' standards, is in reality implementing exclusionary measures.The regulation is suspected of violating the (World Trade Organization)'s non-discrimination principle and constitutes a trade barrier against China, the spokesperson said.We urge France to abide by WTO rules (and) immediately correct the discriminatory practices, warning of necessary measures to retaliate should the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese firms be infringed upon.The French penalties starting on September 1 will apply to certain mass-produced textile products and will increase over time.The new law will also ban advertising for mass-produced, cheap clothing brands, including social media influencers.French Trade Minister Serge Papin said last month that the three Asian firms were the main players targeted by the bill, which he said were driving the surge in ultra-fast fashion.But some in France have criticised the legislation for sparing European and French companies, including Zara and Kiabi.The European Commission has questioned whether the bill's advertising provisions comply with EU law.

3 hours ago
Over 1,000 deaths recorded in Ebola outbreak in DRC, Uganda—WHO

Over 1,000 deaths recorded in Ebola outbreak in DRC, Uganda—WHO

GENVA, Switzerland(AFP)—The Ebola outbreak declared in May has killed more than 1,000 people in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda, the World Health Organization said Wednesday.In all, 2,473 cases of the deadly virus, including 999 deaths, have been confirmed in DRC, while 20 cases, including two deaths have been registered in neighbouring Uganda, according to a WHO overview based on official data from the two countries.The DRC's 17th Ebola outbreak was declared on May 15 after several deaths in Ituri, and has remained concentrated in the mineral-rich northeastern province, plagued by armed groups.Efforts to control the outbreak through contact tracing requires enormous resources because of Ituri's poverty and violence, said Trish Newport, director of emergency programmes for Doctors Without Borders (MSF) in Bunia, the provincial capital.Some of the deceased are buried without protective measures by their families, accelerating the spread of infection.A single death can lead to up to 17 cases of transmission, said Newport.A semblance of normality still prevails on the streets of Bunia, but many of its population of nearly one million are anxious.I saw three members of the same family die in the space of a week. It scared me so much, says Heritier Bomengo, a motorbike taxi driver, who, like many of his colleagues, has stocked up on hand sanitiser.Cases of Ebola, which spreads through close contact and infected bodily fluids, have also been found in four other DRC provinces.The cases found in Uganda were mostly Congolese citizens who crossed the border, and the country says it has gone three weeks without registering any new cases.WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned last week that the outbreak had over the past month expanded faster than any previous outbreak of Ebola.Despite a ramping up of the response, the outbreak remains ahead of us and we are still in a phase of catching up, Thierno Balde, WHO's incident manager for Bundibugyo virus in DRC, told reporters on Tuesday.There is currently no approved vaccine or treatment for the Bundibugyo strain behind this outbreak.But the WHO has reported encouraging progress, with trials for two potential treatments, a vaccine and a post-exposure prophylaxis underway on the ground.

3 hours ago

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GK Capital launches AI investment research platform

GK Capital launches AI investment research platform

KINGSTON, Jamaica — GK Capital Management Limited has launched an artificial intelligence-powered research platform giving Jamaican investors access to live stock market data, company analysis, global bond research and economic information in one place.The browser-based platform, called GK Investor Intelligence, is designed for retail investors, financial advisers and institutions seeking information on Jamaican equities and global fixed-income investments.Users can track the Jamaica Stock Exchange indices and listed companies, review financial statements, valuation measures and technical analysis, compare companies and screen the market for potential investment opportunities.The platform also provides information on selected global bonds, including yields, credit analysis, issuer information and recommendations from GK Capital’s research team. Its economic dashboard tracks inflation, interest rates, Bank of Jamaica decisions and other developments affecting investment markets.The main feature is an AI Investment Assistant that allows users to ask questions about stocks, bonds and the wider market in plain language. GK Capital said the assistant provides source-backed responses, reducing the need for users to understand specialised financial terminology.Managing Director Kareem Tomlinson said the platform was developed to make research tools previously used mainly by professional fund managers more widely available.“Our vision has always been to broaden access to trusted investment advice,” Tomlinson said.He said the platform was intended to serve investors ranging from first-time stock buyers to financial advisers and pension fund managers.The launch comes amid renewed activity on the local equities market. The JSE Main Market Index gained 11.28 per cent during the first half of 2026 following several years of subdued performance.GK Capital said wider access to research becomes increasingly important when rising markets attract new investors who may otherwise make decisions based on speculation or short-term price movements.GraceKennedy Financial Group Chief Executive Officer Steven Whittingham said the platform formed part of the group’s wider push to use technology to make financial services more accessible.“When Jamaicans have access to easy-to-use research tools to help them better understand their investment options, they are better equipped to build wealth and plan for the future,” Whittingham said.Whittingham also serves as chairman of the Jamaica Stock Exchange.GK Investor Intelligence follows the launch of GK Mutual Funds in 2023 and forms part of GK Capital’s expansion of its retail investment services.

4 hours ago
JDF hosts regional partners at planning conference for Exercise Event Horizon 2027

JDF hosts regional partners at planning conference for Exercise Event Horizon 2027

KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) has taken another major step towards strengthening regional security and disaster preparedness with the staging of the Initial Planning Conference for Exercise Event Horizon 2027.The three-day conference, held from July 13 to 15 at the Caribbean Military Academy at Up Park Camp, brought together representatives from regional partner nations, ministries, departments and agencies to begin planning for the fourth staging of the multinational exercise.Exercise Event Horizon is a multinational, multi-agency and multi-domain exercise that simulates real-world security threats and disaster scenarios in a controlled environment. The exercise is designed to improve coordination, strengthen interoperability and enhance regional readiness to respond to a wide range of maritime, cyber and humanitarian emergencies.Exercise Director and Maritime and Air Cyber Command (MACC) member, Lieutenant Commander Leonard Wynter, said the conference serves as the starting point for collaborative planning among participating partners.“The purpose of the planning conference is to introduce the concept of Exercise Event Horizon 2027 to participating partner nations and ministries, departments and agencies,” he said.Lieutenant Commander Wynter explained that the exercise is intended to strengthen regional security by enhancing maritime law-enforcement capabilities, improving maritime safety in keeping with the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), building a coordinated framework for responding to natural and man-made disasters, and increasing regional preparedness against cybercrime.He noted that the planning process is equally important to the exercise itself, as it enables participating organisations to develop common approaches to shared challenges.“It provides opportunities for partners to sit in a face-to-face forum as planners to plan for Exercise Event Horizon, and these plans will be centred around common practices or common challenges that we have in the region so that we, as partners, can exercise together to ensure that our standard operating procedures are aligned in real-life scenarios,” Lieutenant Commander Wynter said.Meanwhile, Associate Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Officer with the Caribbean Maritime Team, Border Management Branch of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Joshua Arteta, highlighted the organisation’s long-standing partnership with the exercise.He said the UNODC has supported the initiative since its inception in 2022 as part of broader efforts to strengthen regional cooperation and interoperability in maritime security.“The UNODC, through the Maritime Team of its Border Management Branch, has been supporting the development of several strategic initiatives in the region to foster interoperability and cooperation. Exercise Event Horizon is one of them,” Arteta said.He noted that the UNODC’s contribution, made possible through funding from the Government of Canada, focuses on providing technical expertise to support the planning and execution of the exercise.“Our support rests on the delivery of technical advice. We do this through experts that have experience in the design, coordination and execution of exercises like this in other operational theatres and that now bring that expertise in to make Exercise Event Horizon not only a success but also the JDF's leadership,” Arteta added.— JIS

4 hours ago
Sangster International Airport connects Jamaica and Guadeloupe with new route

Sangster International Airport connects Jamaica and Guadeloupe with new route

ST JAMES, Jamaica — Sangster International Airport (SIA) welcomed the inaugural Liat Air flight from Pointe-à-Pitre (PTP), Guadeloupe on Tuesday, July 14, marking the start of a twice-weekly service to Montego Bay, St James.The flight initiated a year-round route operating Tuesdays and Saturdays.The PTP-MBJ service is the latest addition to other routes introduced at Sangster International Airport since the start of the year.Shane Munroe, chief executive officer of MBJ Airports Limited (MBJ), operator of Sangster International Airport, said the Guadeloupe route reflects the airport's continued push to expand its network.“Attracting new carriers and additional destinations remains central to our strategy at Sangster International Airport. Today marks a historic occasion with the first direct flight between Montego Bay and Guadeloupe, and is another step in strengthening connectivity between Jamaica and the Eastern Caribbean,” Munroe said.“Trade and tourism are important objectives for us, but so is connecting our cultures, Jamaican and Guadeloupean, and by extension, Antiguan. To Liat Air, we offer our continued support, and we look forward to this being one of many more routes to come,” he continued.Hafsah Abdulsalam, chief executive officer of Liat Air, said the Montego Bay route extends the airline's presence in one of the region's key tourism markets.“The introduction of flights between Guadeloupe and Montego Bay opens seamless access to one of the region's most dynamic tourism markets, not only from the Caribbean, but from the European corridor,” Abdulsalam said.“Montego Bay is already a key destination within the Liat Air network, and extending direct access from Guadeloupe enhances travel options and deepens integration across the Greater Caribbean. We are proud to work alongside our partners at Guadeloupe Maryse Condé International Airport and Montego Bay's Sangster International Airport. Together we are delivering greater choice, enhanced accessibility and expanded opportunities for our travellers, businesses and communities across our region,” she added.Since the start of the year, the Montego Bay Airport has announced other routes, including Wingo's direct service to Medellín, Colombia, launched in June, along with Air Canada and Porter Airlines routes to Canada, confirmed for the coming winter season. This takes the total number of scheduled and seasonal destinations currently served by the airport to 48.The addition comes as Jamaica's tourism sector continues its recovery following Hurricane Melissa, with the Ministry of Tourism reporting more than 1.5 million stopover and cruise visitors through May 2026. Airlift growth has been cited by tourism officials as a contributing factor in that recovery.

4 hours ago
JMDA calls for Tufton to apologise and retract statements regarding protest by interns

JMDA calls for Tufton to apologise and retract statements regarding protest by interns

KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Jamaica Medical Doctors' Association (JMDA) is calling on Minister of Health Dr Christopher Tufton to issue an apology for statements he reportedly made regarding interns who staged an islandwide protest on June 24, 2026.The JMDA, in a press release on Tuesday, dismissed claims reportedly made by Dr Tufton that interns at the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI) protested in the Accident and Emergency Department regarding the lack of bedspaces for patients within the UHWI.According to the JMDA, interns across the island engaged in a protest action to register their concerns relating to what it termed as “brutal” work schedules, shifts that sometimes stretched past 48 hours straight and the lack of suitable facilities for them to sleep. It said the inability of interns to recuperate adequately can pose a danger to patient care.It is disheartening to realise that the minister is unable to identify the inhumane conditions in which the doctors must function, the dissatisfaction among the interns and what the doctors have to present to the country as healthcare, the JMDA said.The association called for Dr Tufton to change his statement, apologise to the interns and state accurately the facts as they are so that the nation will not be misled.The minister is reportedly set to invite the JMDA to the discussion table to discuss concerns relating to the interns.READ: Tufton takes the high road

4 hours ago
Venezuela’s ousted leader Maduro back in US court

Venezuela’s ousted leader Maduro back in US court

NEW YORK, United States (AFP)—Venezuela's ousted president Nicolas Maduro is set to appear before a New York court Wednesday, his third public hearing since the US military captured him in a stunning nighttime raid in January.The former leader, 63, and wife Cilia Flores have been held in a Brooklyn jail since the US military operation, awaiting trial on drug trafficking, firearms and other charges.American commandos snatched the pair from their compound in Caracas on January 3. The lightning operation combined naval, air and ground forces, deposing the strongman who had led Venezuela since 2013.In a court filing late Tuesday, prosecutors and defense lawyers proposed a June 2027 trial date, which Judge Alvin Hellerstein could confirm at the Wednesday hearing focused on procedural matters.The United States in April allowed Venezuela to pay for Maduro's and Flores's legal defense, something previously barred by US sanctions.The couple had sought to have their cases dismissed on grounds that blocking the funding violated the US Constitution's right to counsel of one's choice.Maduro has declared himself a prisoner of war and pleaded not guilty to the four counts he faces: narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy, possession of machine guns and destructive devices and conspiracy to possess machine guns and destructive devices.Venezuela is now led by Maduro's former vice president, Delcy Rodriguez, while the United States effectively controls the country's oil exports, with proceeds going into special accounts overseen by Washington.

5 hours ago
UPDATE: Police identify child killed gruesomely in Trelawny

UPDATE: Police identify child killed gruesomely in Trelawny

TRELAWNY, Jamaica — The schoolgirl whose partially nude body was found with her throat slashed on a dirt track in bushes in Tyre district near Troy, Trelawny, Tuesday evening has been identified.Police and residents named the child as 10-year-old Shanai Coke, otherwise called “Kaidra”, a Troy Primary student.Police said following the discovery of the child’s body, there was a mob attack on a father and son in the community.The son, identified as Delroy Coke, was killed in the incident.Residents accused him of raping and killing the child. His father’s condition is not known.— Kasey Williams

5 hours ago•
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Child’s body found in Trelawny; two injured by irate residents in mob attack

Child’s body found in Trelawny; two injured by irate residents in mob attack

TRELAWNY, Jamaica — Police are now on a scene where the body of a child was found with her throat slashed in Pyre district near Troy in south Trelawny, residents say.Residents told the Jamaica Observer that about 6:00 pm, the child’s body was found in bushes and an alarm was raised. Residents say the child was raped before her death. “A farmer went to look for his cow when he stumbled on the little girl’s body,” a resident who requested anonymity said.Another resident said following the gruesome discovery there was a mob attack on a man who citizens accused of killing the child. His father was also wounded in the attack. The men were reportedly taken to hospital. Their condition is not known at this time. Efforts to get a comment from the police late Tuesday were unsuccessful.— Kasey Williams

14 hours ago•
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