Morning Bites: 5 things to know for Wednesday: $130m drug case; Pensioners; Stolen cheques; Reggae Boyz; Clovis Toon; Breaking News and more

Morning Bites: 5 things to know for Wednesday, July 5, 2023 Judge to announce verdict in businessman’s $130m drug case The verdict in the [trial of a western Jamaica businessman who reportedly had cocaine worth US$850,000]( (J$130,008,520) aboard a bus he was operating in March of 2022 will be announced today at the St James Parish Court. Rohan Cummings is charged with possession of, dealing in, trafficking, and conspiracy to traffic 17 kilograms of cocaine. According to court documents, Cummings was stopped by the police at Long Hill on March 7, 2022, at 2:45 pm. Upon inspecting the bus he was operating, authorities discovered cocaine stashed in both the left-hand and right-hand panels of the vehicle. Increased benefits under Gov't health scheme for pensioners There will be a [40 per cent increase in the full house benefit for individual subscribers in the Government’s Pensioners Administrative Services Only Health Scheme]( that will move the amount to $28,000 with effect from September 1, 2023. At the same time, there will also be an increase of 30 per cent for family subscribers from $42,000 to $52,000. Finance and Public Service Minister, Dr Nigel Clarke made the annoncement on Tuesday during a ministerial statement in the House of Representatives. Look out for stolen cheques from Island Spices Police are asking businesses and individuals to be on the [lookout for several cheques stolen from Island Spices]( that are being used to defraud various companies. The cheques, the police said, were stolen during a robbery/break-in at the company’s Bell Road, St Andrew offices in May. Since then, they have popped up in several places islandwide, as the thieves attempt to use them to pay for goods and services. Advertisement Guyana teen charged with 19 counts of murder to return to court A teenage student who police in Guyana accuse of [deliberately setting a fire in a girl's dormitory that killed 18 schoolmates and a five-year-old boy]( will make a second court appearance today, when state and defense attorneys are expected to indicate if they are ready to start a preliminary trial. The 15-year-old girl allegedly ignited the fatal blaze at Mahdia Secondary School on May 21 in anger with the administrator over the confiscation of her mobile telephone. The government boarding school serves remote Indigenous villages in the country's southwest. She has been charged as an adult with 19 counts of murder. Reggae Boyz to face Guatemala in Gold Cup quarterfinal Jamaica [will face Guatemala in the quarterfinals of the Concacaf Gold Cup]( on Sunday. Guatemala booked the matchup against the Reggae Boyz with a 3-2 victory over Guadeloupe at Harrison, New Jersey, on Tuesday that saw them finish top of their group ahead of Canada, who advanced to a quarterfinal matchup against the United States after beating Cuba 4-2, also on Tuesday night. Jamaica will play Guatemala in the opener of a quarterfinal doubleheader at Cincinnati on Sunday, followed by the US-Canada matchup. ICYMI: WHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING Monday world's hottest day on record, initial measurements show Monday was the [world's hottest day on record]( exceeding an average of 17 degrees Celsius (62.6 degrMassachusetts woman who was reported missing over a week ago was found stuck in the mud at a state park on Monday.ees Fahrenheit) for the first time, according to initial measurements taken on Tuesday by US meteorologists. Mark Golding not expecting any challengers following presidential nomination Opposition leader Mark Golding[says he is not expecting to be challenged]( following his nomination on Tuesday for the post of President of the People’s National Party (PNP) at the party’s headquarters on Old Hope Road in St Andrew. Massachusetts woman found alive after being stuck in mud for over a week A Massachusetts woman who was reported missing over a week ago [was found stuck in the mud at a state park]( on Monday. CLOVIS TOON TODAY IN HISTORY Arthur Ashe wins Wimbledon On this day in 1975, Arthur Ashe became the first black man to win a Wimbledon singles title when he defeated Jimmy Connors. 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](.