Morning Bites: 5 things to know for Monday; Deadly fire; Rihanna; Clovis Toon; Breaking News and more

Morning Bites: 5 things to know for Monday, February 13, 2023 Probe into fire that killed mother, daughter The police and fire brigade will today intensify their probe into Sunday afternoon’s fire in Cardiff Hall, St Ann that left a [young mother and her daughter dead](. The two have not been publicly identified but the mother is said to be in her twenties and her daughter less than 10 years-old. Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Desmond McKenzie, has expressed “great sadness” at the tragedy. “We do not yet know the cause of this tragedy, and the Jamaica Fire Brigade and the police are continuing their investigations; however, it is an untimely loss of two young lives, and a period of grief for all who knew them. I also want to offer my condolences to the family members and to the community, who are dealing with this unwelcome start to the new week,” McKenzie said. According to the police, the incident took place sometime after 12:00 pm. Meanwhile, McKenzie is urging greater prevention action as it relates to house fires in Jamaica, noting that house fires left over 1,700 citizens displaced in 2022. “I also want to use the opportunity to urge everyone to take greater steps, especially at their houses and places of work, to prevent fires. House fires have resulted in the largest number of deaths and displacement, and we owe it to ourselves, our children and our elderly relatives to ensure that the incidents of fire decline sharply,” the minister said. “I am appealing to everyone to take very great care, especially in the context of the meteorological drought, this dry period that Jamaica is now experiencing. This has implications for our network of fire hydrants across the country, and I am pleading with everyone to be more aware, and more inclined to practice fire prevention at all times,” he added. Education Ministry hosts training camps for PEP teachers Today, Monday, February 13 is the deadline for teachers to complete the registration process for [training camps organised by the Ministry of Education and Youth]( to help educators better prepare students for this year’s Primary Exit Profile (PEP) examinations. Teachers registering for the training camps may do so using the link [( According to the ministry, the training camps are aimed at building the capacity of teachers and providing targeted interventions for students. It said teacher training sessions for grades 4-6 teachers will be facilitated on February 14, February 28, March 27-31, and May 1-5, 2023. There will be a different format and subject-focus on the days indicated. The training sessions will expose participants to the competencies required for the various components of the PEP, treat with identified misconceptions and target specific skills required for key National Standards Curriculum (NSC) focus areas. “The objective is to prepare teachers to use novel strategies and resources to engage students for final PEP examination preparations,” ]the ministry in a statement on Sunday. A bulletin with details on the training camps was previously sent to schools. Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for Caricom meeting Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will [participate in this week’s meeting of Caribbean Community (Caricom) leaders in Nassau, Bahamas](. The inter-sessional talks are set to run from February 15-17. At Caricom, which brings together the leaders of the 15 member states, Trudeau said he will “drive progress on shared priorities, including continued support for the Haitian people.” “The visit will provide an opportunity for the leaders to consider further regional political security, and humanitarian assistance in support of the Haitian people and Haitian-led solutions to the ongoing situation in Haiti, which is having a devastating impact on the Haitian people,” the Canadian prime minister said. Haiti has been rocked by intense conflict driven by increasing control of criminal gangs over parts of the country, including in the capital Port-au-Prince. Trudeau said he will participate in group discussions and bilateral meetings with Caricom leaders. He said he will work to strengthen Canada's partnership with countries in the Caribbean region, including by advancing democracy, human rights, “economic growth that benefits everyone”, and developing clean energy. The Canadian prime minister said he will also work with Caricom leaders to increase trade and investment between Canada and the Caribbean to create jobs and growth, and advocate for climate action and resilience for the region, “which is particularly vulnerable to climate change and natural disasters”. Trudeau said Canada has long-standing ties with many Caricom countries on a wide range of issues, including trade, security and defense, and governance. Advertisement Rihanna is pregnant again Rihanna was [pregnant with her second child]( as she performed her Super Bowl halftime show Sunday. The singer’s representative confirmed the pregnancy shortly after she ended her 13-minute set at Super Bowl 57. She hovered high at times as she performed a number of hits including “We Found Love,” “Diamonds” and “Work” during a halftime break between the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles at the State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. The baby bump that was visible in the tight clothes she wore under her baggy red jumpsuit set off a wave of social media speculation that she might be pregnant again. Rihanna, 34, has a 9-month-old son with rapper A$AP Rocky. During her media preview Thursday, Rihanna said she was initially unsure about taking on the challenge of performing during a time when she was three months postpartum and wondered “should I be making major decisions like this right now? I might regret this.” “But when you become a mom, there’s something that just happens where you feel like you can take on the world, you can do anything,” Rihanna said. “The Super Bowl is one of the biggest stages of the world. As scary as that was, because I hadn’t been on stage in seven years, there’s something exhilarating about the challenge of it all.” Rihanna said she had to figure out how to fit some of her biggest songs into her 13-minute set. “The set list was the biggest challenge,” she said. “That was the hardest, hardest part. Deciding how to maximize 13 minutes but also celebrate — that’s what this show is going to be. It’s going to be a celebration of my catalog in the best way that we could have put it together.′ A nine-time Grammy Award-winner, Rihanna has 14 No 1 Billboard Hot 100 hits, including “We Found Love,” “Work,” “Umbrella” and “Disturbia.” Kansas City Chiefs beat Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl 57 Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs are the [winners of Super Bowl 57](. Mahomes — hobbling around on a hurt ankle - led the Chiefs downfield for the winning drive that was capped by Harrison Butker’s 27-yard field goal with eight seconds left, sealing a 38-35 victory. “He’s the MVP,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said about Mahomes. “That’s all that needs to be said. MVP. And you saw it tonight.” The Eagles took the ensuing kickoff but there would be no miracle. Jalen Hurts’ desperation heave on the final play fell way short of the end zone, and the Chiefs’ celebration began. The Chiefs won the Super Bowl for the second time in four seasons. They beat the 49ers following the 2019 season before losing to the Buccaneers after 2020. This time, they trailed for most of the evening before rallying in the second half to beat the Eagles. It’s a tough loss for Philadelphia, which got a great performance from quarterback Jalen Hurts, who threw for 304 yards and ran for three touchdowns. Mahomes, who was named the AP NFL MVP on Thursday, threw for three touchdowns. The Chiefs overcame a 10-point halftime deficit and never led until taking a 28-27 lead early in the fourth quarter. ICYMI: WHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING Man gunned down in Clarendon was accused of sex with a minor A 41-year-old man, who was accused of having sex with a minor, was [fatally shot while at his house in Raymonds District, Hayes in Clarendon]( Saturday night. Sheryl Lee Ralph soars into 'Lift Every Voice' at Super Bowl The series of pregame canonical songs at Super Bowl 57 began with “Abbot Elementary” star [Sheryl Lee Ralph performing “Lift Every Voice and Sing.”]( Conte's future uncertain as erratic Spurs head to AC Milan Humbled by Tottenham's trashing at Leicester, [Antonio Conte's future looks more uncertain than ever]( as the Italian leads his spluttering side into Tuesday's Champions League clash against AC Milan CLOVIS TOON TODAY IN HISTORY US Supreme Court Justice Scalia dead at 79 [On this day]( in 2016, Justice Antonin Scalia, the influential conservative and most provocative member of the US Supreme Court, was found dead at a private residence in the Big Bend area of West Texas; he was 79. For more stories, visit our website at www.jamaicaobserver.com or [sign up for our e-paper](. [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Website]( Copyright © 2023 Jamaica Observer, All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: 40 - 42 1/2 Beechwood Avenue Kingston 5 Want to change how you receive these emails? You can [update your preferences]( or [unsubscribe from this list](.