Morning Bites: 5 things to know for Tuesday: Keith Clarke; HEART fraud; International trade data; EPOC; Clovis Toon; Breaking News and more

Morning Bites: 5 things to know for Tuesday, June 27, 2023 Soldiers charged with Keith Clarke’s murder return to court The three Jamaica Defence Force soldiers charged with the 2010 murder of St Andrew businessman Keith Clarke, are [scheduled to return to court today]( for a further case management hearing. The matter was last mentioned in the Supreme Court on June 5, however the proceedings were adjourned to allow the prosecution to file an application and provide full disclosure of documents to the defence. That should have been completed ahead of today’s court date. Corporal Odel Buckley, Lance Corporal Greg Tinglin and Private Arnold Henry were charged with the killing of Clarke at his upper St Andrew home in July, 2010, during the search for Jamaica’s then most wanted man, Christopher ‘Dudus’ Coke. EPOC to host quarterly press briefing The Economic Programme Oversight Committee (EPOC) will host its quarterly press briefing today via Zoom videoconference. The briefing is scheduled to get underway at 11:00 am Bail application for suspect in HEART/NSTA fraud The bail application for the fifth person implicated in a major fraud at the HEART/NSTA Trust should be heard today in the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court. Allegations against 36-year-old Ricardo Golden are that sometime in 2018, a financial audit was conducted at the HEART/NSTA Trust when anomalies were discovered. It was found that the institution was defrauded of over $8 million. A report was subsequently made to the Major Organised Crime and Anti-Corruption Agency. Golden was arrested when he attempted to board a flight at Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston after assuring a police officer, who made contact with him over the phone and urged him to turn himself in, that he would do so. Advertisement International merchandise trade The Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN) is reporting that for the period January to February 2023, Jamaica’s total spending on imports were valued at US$1,193.4 million, while earnings from total exports were valued at US$325.4 million. STATIN, in its report on Monday said that for the period, the value of imports increased by 12.9 per cent when compared to the same period in 2022. This increase was largely attributable to higher imports of raw materials/intermediate goods; fuels and lubricants; and consumer goods, which rose by 3.2 per cent, 20.3 per cent and 13.3 per cent, respectively. The increase in total exports for the January to February 2023 was 54.6 per cent above the US$210.4 million earned in the similar 2022 period. Tuesday’s football gossip: Kane to Bayern? West Ham have received a formal offer from Manchester City to sign England midfielder Declan Rice, 24, in a deal worth up to £90m. [(The Athletic)]( Tottenham are preparing to table an opening offer of £40m for Leicester playmaker James Maddison - but the Foxes want £60m for their 26-year-old England star. [(Telegraph)]( Napoli's reported rejection of Paris St-Germain's 100m euros interest in 24-year-old Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen could spark an auction - with Liverpool, Manchester United and Newcastle poised to launch bids. [(Gazzetta dello Sport]( Bayern Munich could be at the front of the queue for 29-year-old Tottenham and England striker Harry Kane, who is said to be keen on the move to Germany. [(Sky Sport Germany)]( ICYMI: WHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING Cops probe abduction of taxi driver in St Catherine Police are probing a [reported case of abduction in Cheesefield district in Linstead, St Catherine]( said to have occurred between Sunday night and Monday morning. Dancehall put on full display at 2023 BET Awards Halfway through his performance on Sunday, iconic Hip-Hop star Busta Rhymes put [Jamaica and dancehall music on full display]( at the 2023 BET Awards. Charles Jr says JLP represents best hope for Jamaica Minister of Labour and Social Security and member of parliament for Clarendon South East, Pearnel Charles Jr believes the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) [represents the best hope for the nation](. CLOVIS TOON TODAY IN HISTORY Thurgood Marshall retires On this day in 1991, Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, the first black jurist to sit on the nation’s highest court, announced his retirement. (His departure led to the contentious nomination of Clarence Thomas to succeed him.) 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](.