Morning Bites: 5 things to know for Wednesday; Grace-Scotia Insurance; Portmore heist; Robotaxis; Clovis Toon; Breaking News and more

Morning Bites: 5 things to know for Wednesday, April 5, 2023 Grace completes Scotia Insurance acquisition GraceKennedy has [completed its acquisition of Scotia Insurance Caribbean Limited]( (SICL) and has announced it will rename the entity GK Life. "The entity will be in 12 markets across the region," Don Wehby, CEO of GraceKennedy, told the Jamaica Observer. A 13th market, St Martin, will be added shortly, Wehby said. Six in custody in brazen Portmore heist Police have held [six people in connection with the brazen armed robbery of a Beryllium security team]( last month in Portmore, St Catherine. Among the six held, [one man is facing 12 charges]( resulting from the attack that left four security guards hospitalised. On Sunday, March 19, gunmen armed with high-powered weapons attacked a Beryllium security team servicing the Scotiabank automated teller machines (ATMS) at Braeton Parkway. Technology conference for teens Jamaica’s first Technology Conference for Teens will be hosted by EduHub Company Limited on Wednesday at the Wolmer’s Boys’ School in Kingston, beginning at 9:00 am. Endorsed by the Ministry of Education and Youth (MOEY), the event, dubbed #TeenTechJa, will be held under the theme ‘The Future is Here! Are You Ready?’ Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Founder of EduHub Company Limited, Davia Bryan, said her organisation recognises the need for greater student involvement in preparation to become 21st century citizens who are agile and are better able to function in a technology-driven society. The event, which targets students at the grades nine to 13 level in high schools across the island, is aimed at exposing adolescents to new and emerging technologies in innovation. Advertisement UTech to host marketing conference The University of Technology will today host its 41st Annual Marketing Conference at the Jamaica Conference Centre in Kingston. The conference, being held under the theme “Marketing Strategies, Meaningful Engagements”, aims to bring focused attention to the need for winning brand marketing strategies for MSMEs operating in a highly competitive and dynamic global business environment. Minister of Industry and Commerce, Senator Aubyn Hill will deliver the keynote address on the topic “MSMEs for Brand Jamaica Development.” The marketing seminar is the longest student-led academic conference in the Caribbean, operating successfully for 41 years. It kicks off at 9am. Robotaxis aim to take San Francisco on ride into the future Two trailblazing ride-hailing services are heading toward uncharted territory as they seek regulatory approval to transport passengers around the clock throughout one of the most densely populated US cities in [vehicles that will have no one sitting in the driver’s seat](. If Cruise, a subsidiary of General Motors, and Waymo, a spinoff from Google, reach their goal before year's end, San Francisco would become the first US city with two totally driverless services competing against Uber, Lyft and traditional taxis — all of which depend on people to control the automobiles. ICYMI: WHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING WATCH: Girl jumps from bike as stepdad peppered with bullets at school gate A grade three student of Meadowbrook Preparatory School in St Andrew escaped death on Tuesday afternoon when [gunmen attacked and killed her stepfather]( who was on his motorcycle at the school gate. 'The Japanese of Champs': St Jago sends anti-littering message St Jago High is known for its prowess on the track but it earned plaudits off it during the recently concluded ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys’ and Girls’ Athletics Championships with a [cleanup initiative that sent a strong message against littering](. Johnson & Johnson proposes $8.9b settlement of talc cancer claims US pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson on Tuesday [proposed an $8.9 billion settlement]( to resolve years-old lawsuits claiming that its talcum powder products caused cancer. CLOVIS TOON TODAY IN HISTORY Castro begins 'total war' against Batista Gov't [On this day]( in 1958, Fidel Castro begins "total war" against the regime of President Fulgencio Batista in Cuba. 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](.