Morning Bites: 5 things to know for Friday: SSL money; Reggae Girlz; Hospital fight probe; Today's Weather; Clovis Toon; Breaking News and more

Morning Bites: 5 things to know for Friday, September 22, 2023 Billions unfrozen at SSL Investors in the fraud-hit Stocks and Securities Limited (SSL) will welcome the news that effective today some [$7 billion in investments and funds are set to be unfrozen](. This signals that the authorities are closer to winding up the company. The funds are part of $17 billion in Jamaican dollar securities (ie stocks and bonds) belonging to SSL clients which are held in the Jamaica Central Securities Depository and form part of SSL's off-balance sheet business. Off-balance sheet items are typically those not owned by or are a direct obligation of the company. SSL has 8,000 client accounts. Health authorities probe fight between staff, visitors at St Ann hospital The North-East Regional Health Authority (NERHA) says it has launched an investigation into an [altercation among staff, members of the security team and visitors at the St Ann’s Bay Regional Hospital]( on Sunday. Indicating that it is aware of the circulation of video footage depicting the incident, NERHA in a statement on Thursday said it remains “committed to a thorough and impartial investigation that will provide a clear understanding of the incident.” Senior firefighter accused of attempted rape of 14-y-o returns to court The high-ranking firefighter who has been [charged with the attempted rape of a 14-year-old girl]( is to return to court today when the case will be mentioned. When he appeared in the St James Parish Court last month, the firefighter was granted bail in the sum of $400,000 with up to two sureties. He was also ordered to surrender his travel documents and report to the police two times per week. Advertisement Reggae Girlz face Canada in Olympic qualifier The Reggae Girlz will take on Canada in the [first of a two-game Olympic qualifying playoff series]( this evening at the National Stadium. The return leg game will be played in Toronto on September 26. Canada, which are ranked 10th in the world, are the defending Olympic champions. They have beaten Jamaica in all nine of their previous meetings, outscoring the Jamaicans 60-1 in the process, but the Girlz, fresh from a tremendous run at the recent Fifa World Cup, are confident they can turn the tables on the Canadians this time. Tropical storm warning issued for US East Coast A tropical storm warning was issued Thursday from coastal North Carolina to Delaware ahead of a [potential tropical cyclone that's approaching the densely populated East Coast](. The National Hurricane Center announced the formation of “Potential Tropical Cyclone Sixteen” on Thursday morning. The storm was located about 345 miles (550 kilometres) southeast of Charleston, South Carolina, and moving north at 8 mph (13 kph), according to a 5 pm adivisory from the centre. The storm had top sustained winds of 35 mph (55 kph). TODAY'S WEATHER FORECAST It is expected to rain across some sections of the island today, according to the Meteorological Service of Jamaica's forecast. Partly cloudy conditions are anticipated this morning. In the afternoon, showers and thunderstorms are expected mainly across central and western parishes. ICYMI: WHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING WATCH: Robbery suspected in shooting of IC director, stolen briefcase key to motive Police say robbery is suspected as the main motive behind the [shooting and injuring of the director of corruption at the Integrity Commission]( as a briefcase, which was reportedly in the director’s possession at the time of the attack, was stolen. Dalrymple-Philibert resigns as MP, Speaker Speaker of the House and Member of Parliament for South Trelawny Marisa Dalrymple-Philibert has [resigned from the posts amid mounting pressure]( in relation to the eight charges laid against her by the Integrity Commission (IC). 'We'll see': Messi unsure about 2026 World Cup Argentina captain Lionel Messi has said he is [unsure about his participation in the next World Cup]( to be co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada in 2026, when he will be 39. CLOVIS TOON TODAY IN HISTORY Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation issued On this day in 1862, US President Abraham Lincoln issued the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation, declaring all slaves in rebel states should be free as of January 1, 1863 if the states did not end the fighting and rejoin the union. 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](.