Handed down through ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations division through internal group chats and verbal commands, the directive called for a halt to all immigration enforcement operations on Election Day, according to ICE officials across the country who spoke to The Intercept.

“We were told all operations are canceled for Election Day.”

“We were told all operations are canceled for Election Day,” said one ICE immigration official, who operates in the south and requested anonymity to protect their livelihood. “Word of mouth from our first-line supervisors, no official email notice.”

According to multiple ICE officials who spoke to The Intercept, the orders were handed down quietly to avoid media attention.

“Yesterday was the least amount of activity observed from ICE ERO throughout the entire year so far,” said Sherman Austin, the creator of StopICE.net, a crowdsourced platform tracking reported ICE activity across the United States. “You can kind of tell like from the morning. Usually, ICE gets started really early, and there’s a huge spike in activity between 5 a.m. and 10 a.m. That spike wasn’t there on Election Day.”

Another ICE official, who works in the Great Lakes region, confirmed the orders ahead of Election Day, referring to it as “National No Enforcement Day.”

“We were told to do ‘admin’ shit,” the official said. They said that ICE deportation officers who regularly do street-level operations were diverted to administrative office work: “I’ll be drinking coffee at the office for the first time in a year.”

In total, ICE officials working in four areas of responsibility — ICE’s jurisdictional regions — coving parts of the northeastern, midwestern, northern, and south-central U.S. regions told The Intercept that they had received orders to stand down on Election Day.

StopICE, the tracking website, which has roughly half a million subscribers, did record some ICE activity on Election Day, according to Austin, although most of the reports stemmed from sightings unrelated to any immigration enforcement activities.

“There were a few reports that came in about ICE being at usual spots like the jails,” Austin said, “or seen driving in certain areas in in the city, but it wasn’t the same type of activity that’s usually seen on the site. It was pretty clear that something unusual was going on.”

AntiFreeze, another crowdsourced ICE-tracking platform that allows users to report and receive real-time alerts about ICE raids, also saw abnormally low levels of ICE activity on November 3, according to Josh, the creator and developer behind the site, who requested to keep his last name anonymous.

“On Election Day, our network only logged about 56 reported ICE sightings nationwide, which is one of the quietest Tuesdays we’ve ever seen,” Josh said. “We did get about three sightings that did report ICE activity near polling stations, but most of the reports were observations of vehicles associated with ICE. We barely got any reports about actual ICE arrests yesterday.”

Local activists also observed a low level of ICE activity on the street level.

“There was no evidence of street abductions,” said an activist working with the rapid-response network in Minnesota’s Twin Cities.

“ICE, in some capacity, was still out and about, but we did not see any reports of off-the-street detainments by ICE or attempts at detainments,” said the activist, who said they got word of ICE arrests at jails, but not targeted operations among the general public. “There were a lot of folks, probably more than usual, observing, and so I think we can be pretty confident that this wasn’t due to lack of observation.”

Leo Martinez, who volunteers with VC Defensa in Southern California, told The Intercept that no one in his rapid-response group reported any sightings of ICE activity on Tuesday.

It is still unclear exactly where the orders to halt immigration enforcement operations on Election Day originated from, although some ICE officials believe the orders stemmed from ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations leadership — and not directly from the White House.

“Nobody from the SDDO level” — a reference to Supervisory Detention and Deportation Officer, part of ICE’s upper management — “expected it to happen until the very last moment,” said another ICE official familiar with the matter. “But I think some of us caught on that senior leadership was making this call with fears of us being at the polls.”

The official said, “It’s crazy that The White House didn’t catch on.”

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Education Minister Dr. Dana Morris Dixon said the decision was taken, as many students are still struggling to deal with the trauma caused by Hurricane Melissa last year.

She made the disclosure at a post Cabinet press briefing on Wednesday.

The PEP exams, which are carried out over a three year period from grades four to six, are largely used to place students in high school.

Following the passage of the Hurricane Melissa last year, grade six students did only the Ability test, the Mathematics curriculum based test, and the Language Arts curriculum based test.

Science and Social Studies were omitted due to the hurricane’s passage, which disrupted learning in Western Jamaica.

Dr. Morris Dixon said following consultations, the revised exams will be allowed, for another year.

The JLP cited the confrontation between its member Desmond McKenzie and Mr. Phillips, during which the party says Phillips used expletives and moved in what it described as an aggressive manner towards McKenzie, shortly after the House was adjourned.

Mr. Phillips has since acknowledged that he reacted angrily during the incident and used an expletive, an action for which he says he is regretful.

However, JLP Deputy General Secretary Charles Sinclair says Phillips’ apology is not good enough.

Sinclair said Phillips should face strong sanctions for his conduct, which was caught on camera.

Mr. Sinclair says Phillips also owes House Speaker Juliet Holness, the Parliament and the people of Jamaica an unequivocal apology.

Additionally, Sinclair says a video which has emerged of South West St. Andrew MP Dr. Brown Burke imposing herself in the parliamentary aisle, in violation of parliamentary convention as the Speaker departed the chamber, and what he describes as the physical assault of Mrs. Holness, while shouting “coward”, is startling and represents a new low for the Jamaican Parliament.

According to Mr. Sinclair, Dr. Brown Burke should be strongly sanctioned for her conduct.

Mr. Sinclair says the JLP stands with Mrs. Holness and calls on all well-thinking Jamaicans to denounce the behaviour of the PNP representatives in Parliament.

After serving for years in that post, Morrison was reassigned as the permanent secretary in the newly created Ministry of Mining and Geology.

Last Tuesday, Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness accused some public sector workers of deliberately sabotaging the government’s policies and recovery programmes.

The Jamaica Confederation of Trade Unions (JCTU) has called on Dr. Holness to provide evidence of his claim.

Speaking on the matter at a post Cabinet press briefing today, Dr. Morris Dixon emphasized that no law was breached, regarding Morrison’s transfer.

The Minister reiterated that no link can be made to Morrison playing any role in sabotaging the government, citing her experience as a seasoned public servant.

Dr. Morris Dixon said Morrison’s experience will be crucial to the success of the Mining and Geology Ministry.

When asked if Dr. Holness will provide evidence of those allegedly sabotaging the government, Dr. Morris Dixon said she has not spoken with the Prime Minister on the matter.

Portfolio Minister, Pearnel Charles Jr., gave the update, at the addressing gaps in work place health policies policy forum on Wednesday.

The legislation aims to prevent work place accidents, injuries and occupational diseases by creating a modern, comprehensive legal framework that protects workers, across all sectors.

Mr. Charles Jr. said the Bill is under extensive review.

The Minister said the legislation will align Jamaica with international standards and best practices, while also responding to the realities of the labour market.

He noted that protecting workers’ lives and health is too important, for the Bill to be delayed, without just cause.

Meanwhile, Spokesperson on Labour, Wavell Hinds stated that the opposition stands ready to support the advancement and passage of a robust Occupational Safety and Health Bill.

Information Minister Dr. Dana Morris Dixon made the announcement at a post-Cabinet press briefing this morning.

TCNs arrive in the country under an arrangement with the United States government.

While some countries have agreed to accept criminals under their respective programmes, Jamaica has not agreed to do so.

Dr. Morris Dixon said only one individual will be on the second TCN flight.

Dr. Morris Dixon said that as at this morning, 20 of the TCNs who arrived in Jamaica on October 13 have left or are in the process of leaving.

She said the alarm about the TCN programme was unnecessary.

Dolla Financial Services Limited (DOLLA) Unaudited Interim Financials for the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2026

Dolla Financial Services Limited (DOLLA), for the nine months ended September 30, 2026, reported a 7% increase in Total Interest Income to J$1.60 billion, compared to J$1.50 billion in the corresponding period in 2025. For the third quarter, Total Interest Income was J$585.2 million (Q3 2025: J$502.7 million), a 16% increase year-over-year. The growth came from a larger loan book, which was boosted by the July 1 acquisition of the Evolve loan portfolio. Interest income from loans reached J$1.59 billion (9M 2025: J$1.49 billion). Non-interest income more than doubled to J$61.1 million (9M 2025: J$24.1 million), driven by fees and other income of J$60.0 million (9M 2025: J$24.1 million).

Interest Expense rose 25% to J$378.3 million (9M 2025: J$302.3 million). This reflects a full nine months of servicing the J$1.5 billion bond issued in January 2026 and, from July 1, interest on the promissory note issued to acquire the Evolve portfolio. For the quarter, Interest Expense climbed 29% to J$132.3 million (Q3 2025: J$102.6 million). Even so, Net Interest Income before Expected Credit Losses (ECL) rose 2% year-to-date to J$1.22 billion (9M 2025: J$1.19 billion). For the quarter it grew a stronger 13% to J$452.8 million (Q3 2025: J$400.1 million), as bond proceeds were increasingly put to work in loans that earn interest.

The Provision for Expected Credit Losses fell 50% to J$126.3 million (9M 2025: J$250.6 million), as the Group lapped the prior year’s provisions and write-offs tied to fraudulent loans. As a result, Net Interest Income after Loan Impairment improved 16% to J$1.09 billion (9M 2025: J$944.1 million). For the third quarter, however, the ECL provision rose 30% to J$56.8 million (Q3 2025: J$43.8 million), in line with the larger portfolio.

Administrative Expenses rose 6% year-to-date to J$557.0 million (9M 2025: J$526.4 million). Management’s efficiency ratio, which compares operating expenses including ECL to total interest income, improved to 43% from 52% in the comparable period. For the quarter, Administrative Expenses rose 18% to J$203.6 million (Q3 2025: J$172.9 million).

Profit Before Taxation for the nine months ended September 30, 2026 was J$597.6 million, up 35% from J$441.8 million in 9M 2025. For the third quarter, Profit Before Taxation was J$216.3 million (Q3 2025: J$189.7 million), a 14% improvement. The gains came from revenue growth and lower credit provisioning year-to-date.

The Group reported an Income Tax charge of J$24.9 million (9M 2025: J$7.1 million), leaving a Net Profit of J$572.7 million for the nine-month period. That is a 32% increase from J$434.8 million in 9M 2025. Net Profit for the third quarter was J$216.3 million (Q3 2025: J$186.5 million), up 16%, with no tax charge recorded in the quarter.

Total Comprehensive Income for the nine-month period was J$571.1 million (9M 2025: J$435.4 million). The gap from net profit is a J$1.7 million foreign exchange translation loss on the Group’s overseas operations.

Earnings Per Stock Unit for the nine months was J$0.23 (9M 2025: J$0.17), a 32% increase. For the third quarter it was J$0.09 (Q3 2025: J$0.07). Twelve-month trailing EPS was J$0.30, and the share count used in these calculations was 2,500,000,000.

Notably, DOLLA’s stock price closed on November 4, 2026, at J$3.58, a P/E ratio of 11.83x.

Balance Sheet Highlights

Total assets grew 35% to J$6.49 billion as at September 30, 2026, up from J$4.81 billion at September 30, 2025. Loan book expansion was the main driver. Net loans grew 30% year-over-year to J$5.94 billion (September 2025: J$4.58 billion), about 91% of total group assets. This includes the Evolve portfolio of 1,738 loans, acquired with a net carrying amount of J$367.2 million and paid for with a promissory note rather than upfront cash.

Cash and cash equivalents were J$173.0 million (September 2025: J$16.6 million), and short-term deposits were J$95.5 million. The Group generated J$290.3 million of operating cash during the period, compared with an outflow of J$286.5 million a year earlier.

Total Shareholders’ Equity rose 41% to J$2.04 billion as at September 30, 2026, from J$1.45 billion at September 30, 2025. That gives a book value per share of J$0.82 (2025: J$0.58) and a price-to-book ratio of 4.39x.

Total debt, measured as loans payable, stood at J$4.09 billion (September 2025: J$3.16 billion), including the Evolve promissory note. Debt to equity was 2.00 times.

Disclaimer:

Analyst Certification – The views expressed in this research report accurately reflect the personal views of Mayberry Investments Limited Research Department about those issuer (s) or securities as at the date of this report. Each research analyst (s) also certify that no part of their compensation was, is, or will be, directly or indirectly, related to the specific recommendation(s) or view (s) expressed by that research analyst in this research report.

Company Disclosure – The information contained herein has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, however its accuracy and completeness cannot be guaranteed. You are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution or taking any action in reliance on the contents of this information is strictly prohibited and may be unlawful. Mayberry may effect transactions or have positions in securities mentioned herein. In addition, employees of Mayberry may have positions and effect transactions in the securities mentioned herein.

The attackers, which the researchers assessed with “moderate to high confidence” were part of Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service, targeted other sites, many with links to that country’s ongoing war against Ukraine. The attacks began when iPhone or Android users visited one of potentially hundreds of different sites. JavaScript injected into the traffic then profiled the device. The final payloads, tailored to the type of platform visiting, attempted to steal browser cookies and, in some cases, Wi-Fi passwords and full mobile device data.

One of the impersonated sites was america250.org, belonging to a non-partisan group of lawmakers, business executives, and at least one former member of the Trump administration. The attackers registered america250[.]holiday and used it as a reverse proxy to america250.org. The imposter website delivered content from the real one that added malicious JavaScript into it.

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“Even where the candidate wasn’t a self-described progressive, progressives won big last night,” said Congressional Progressive Caucus Chair Greg Casar, D-Texas, during a press call on Wednesday. “Across the country, so-called moderate candidates ran on ending forever wars,” he added, pointing out that Democrats went after the GOP for voting down congressional attempts to stop President Donald Trump’s unpopular military actions — efforts that the progressive caucus had organized.

With comfortable majorities in both chambers — 54 seats in the Senate and 237 in the House, as of 4:30 p.m. ET Wednesday — Democrats now have the legislative breathing room to deliver on their promises to reduce the cost of living, root out government corruption, and end Trump’s failed war in Iran.

But they’ll have to notch these achievements under an angry lame-duck president who vowed last night — via a Truth Social post of one of his signature red hats — to wield his veto against the new class of Democrats. The current Democratic leaders in each house of Congress, Sen. Chuck Schumer and Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, both have long track records of sparring with the left. And which of their goals will progressives prioritize when their ranks swell come January?

“We will have an H.R. 1 through 10 that focuses on costs and healthcare and corruption,” Casar said Wednesday, referring to the first 10 House resolutions he wanted to see his party push. “Every single week, we should now be sending a bill to Donald Trump’s desk that is overwhelmingly popular with the American people, that cracks down on corporate greed, that cracks down on price gouging, that cracks down on big money and politics.”

To Will Lawrence, a co-founder of the Sunrise Movement and a former member of the Democratic Socialists of America who beat Republican incumbent Rep. Tom Barrett in a Michigan swing district on Tuesday, the Democrats’ historically successful night translates into a responsibility to achieve transformative change.

“It’s undoubtable that this was a sweeping mandate around the entire country,” said Lawrence, who ran a campaign focused on his opposition to data centers, a notoriously unpopular area of tech development that the left has pushed Democrats to oppose. 

“Every year, we see record-breaking numbers for the most expensive races in history by the millions.”

The outsized influence of the artificial intelligence industry is another critical area for progressives to tackle, Rep. Summer Lee, D-Pa., told The Intercept. She said that she and other progressives will push legislation to end the outside influence of billionaire and super PAC money in elections, including her bills to ban super PACs and overturn the Citizens United Supreme Court decision. 

“Every year, we see record-breaking numbers for the most expensive races in history by the millions,” Lee said. “In the 120th Congress, I look forward to our party recognizing the detrimental impact of special interests and billionaire influence in our politics, whether it be from crypto or AI or AIPAC.” 

Other progressive priorities include passing policies like Medicare for All, ending corporate corruption, and investing in affordable housing. The ideas are tenets of the redistributive platform popularized by Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., who rallied voters across the country to “fight oligarchy” earlier this year and helped elevate many of this cycle’s upstart candidates.

On Wednesday, progressives did not yet seem prepared to commit to which single issue they would push for first. Asked by The Intercept about their Day-One priorities when they return to Congress, Casar said progressives planned to keep up the legislative pressure throughout the two years of the coming congressional term.

The Working Families Party, which backed Lawrence and often works to push Democrats to the left, saw Tuesday’s results as a sign that “voters want Democrats to stop the buildout of data centers and rein in the AI industry,” said Ravi Mangla, the group’s spokesperson. Like the congressional progressives, WFP cited a range of priorities for the years to come: guaranteeing healthcare and low-cost childcare, lowering housing costs, and providing more union jobs to American workers.

In fact, candidates who signed onto a promise to push a suite of pro-labor policies organized by labor leaders in swing states were among the Democrats’ biggest winners on Tuesday night. Signatories to the “Contract with Working America” included Troy Jackson, who toppled three-decade incumbent Republican Sen. Susan Collins in Maine; James Talarico, who flipped the Texas seat for the first time in almost 40 years; and Gina Hinojosa, who ousted 10-year incumbent Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott.

Jackson pointed to the pledge during his victory speech in Maine on Tuesday night and thanked the union members who canvassed for him.

“On Labor Day, brothers and sisters, I stood before you and I made a pledge to working Mainers,” Jackson said to cheers at his election night party in Portland. “And I’m going to keep that promise. Because I am a union member tonight. I’ll be a union member when I walk into that Senate chamber.” 

“The way things are set up in our economy right now, the money is just moving up and concentrating at the top, and squeezing the people at the bottom,” said Maine AFL-CIO President Cynthia Phinney. Her organization helped develop the labor platform Jackson signed onto, and she said they “fully anticipate that we’re going to need to continue to organize around these issues that matter to the folks who voted for him, and a lot of folks who didn’t vote for him.”

Referring to Hinojosa, Rep. Delia Ramirez, D-Ill., noted that Latino voters “delivered a gubernatorial seat in Texas,” as well as a U.S. senator. Ramirez, who has introduced a bill to abolish the Department of Homeland Security, argued that her party should not lose sight of outrage over violent immigration enforcement.

“Shame on us Democrats if we again do not meet the moment when it comes to immigration and when it comes to justice as it pertains to ICE and CBP and DHS,” Ramirez told The Intercept.

Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., pointed out that the issues that defined this cycle were often first championed by progressives. 

“We were the first to fight back against the war in Iran. We were the first to call out corruption on so many levels. We were the first to push to rein in ICE and CBP, a shift that really drove a lot of Latino voters across the country that mattered in this election,” said Jayapal. “Hopefully, this puts to rest the idea that you can’t be a progressive and win with your ideas in any district in the country.” 

If history is any guide, it won’t. As the wins rolled in on Tuesday night,  Jeffries, the next likely speaker of the House, threw cold water on the idea that the vote marked a seismic rebuke of the Republican Party’s way of doing things, saying the results were “patriotic,” not “partisan.” 

On Wednesday, Jeffries said voters had chosen Democrats “because they want to see a dramatic change in direction.”

“I agree, and I’ll go one step further,” Casar said. “The American people delivered a demand for bold change.”

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Today, the virtualization company announced vSphere Express, a lower-end virtualization offering for organizations that require “cost-effective essential virtualization.”

vSphere Express comes after many customers reported that VMware was pushing them to VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF), the flagship private cloud bundle that has many features SMBs don’t need and is expensive. Some SMB users have reported that VMware sales representatives previously told them that vSphere Standard, VMware's prior entry-level virtualization offering, wasn’t available anymore.

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VM Investments Limited (VMIL) has advised that at a meeting of its Board of Directors to be held on November 11, 2026, an interim dividend payment will be considered.

Disclaimer:

Analyst Certification -The views expressed in this research report accurately reflect the personal views of Mayberry Investments Limited Research Department about those issuer (s) or securities as at the date of this report. Each research analyst (s) also certify that no part of their compensation was, is, or will be, directly or indirectly, related to the specific recommendation(s) or view (s) expressed by that research analyst in this research report.

Company Disclosure -The information contained herein has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, however its accuracy and completeness cannot be guaranteed. You are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution or taking any action in reliance on the contents of this information is strictly prohibited and may be unlawful. Mayberry may affect transactions or have positions in securities mentioned herein. In addition, employees of Mayberry may have positions and effect transactions in the securities mentioned herein.

Dolla Financial Services Limited (DOLLA) has declared a dividend of $0.032 per share payable on December 23, 2026, to shareholders on record as at December 9, 2026. The ex-dividend date is December 9, 2026.

Disclaimer:

Analyst Certification – The views expressed in this research report accurately reflect the personal views of Mayberry Investments Limited Research Department about those issuer (s) or securities as at the date of this report. Each research analyst (s) also certify that no part of their compensation was, is, or will be, directly or indirectly, related to the specific recommendation(s) or view (s) expressed by that research analyst in this research report.

Company Disclosure – The information contained herein has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, however its accuracy and completeness cannot be guaranteed. You are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution or taking any action in reliance on the contents of this information is strictly prohibited and may be unlawful. Mayberry may affect transactions or have positions in securities mentioned herein. In addition, employees of Mayberry may have positions and effect transactions in the securities mentioned herein.

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The Michigan Democrat’s victory felt almost like an afterthought compared to the upset Senate victories won by Democrats in South Carolina and Texas. The 2026 midterms were a referendum on President Donald Trump and his control of the GOP, and voters delivered their verdict, turning control of both houses of Congress over to the opposition party.

But we should neither forget nor forgive how we got here. El-Sayed faced an uphill battle from the beginning, which included a protracted, venomous primary, and the call was often coming from inside the house.

No detractor was as vicious as his former primary opponent Rep. Haley Stevens, whose eleventh-hour betrayal of her party’s nominee — she formally switched her endorsement to Rogers on Sunday — was a transparent attempt to turn the seat red.

Backlash was swift and harsh and came from all corners of the party. Sen. Chuck Schumer, the powerful leader of the Senate who has made little secret of his disagreements with El-Sayed on Israel, called Stevens’s actions “a despicable betrayal.” Michigan Democratic Rep. Debbie Dingell and state Sen. Mallory McMorrow, who finished third in the primary, went as far as to express personal concern for Stevens.

And Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., just days after implying El-Sayed and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani were antisemites for opposing ethno-supremacy in Israel, said Stevens chose “to dangerously betray Michigan families’ healthcare, freedoms, and future with her horrific endorsement of Mike Rogers.”

In the 48 hours-plus since she threw in with Rogers — which increasingly seems like it was motivated primarily out of spite when she was boxed out of a Sunday campaign event with Rep. Jim Clyburn, D-S.C., in Detroit — Stevens embarked on a media tour of justification that got weirder and weirder.

A 15-minute, rambling interview with Anderson Cooper on CNN Sunday night didn’t provide insight into her motivations, or much else; on Monday evening, Stevens followed up with a long statement posted on X owning the decision to destroy her political career with the Democratic Party. She also denied that her fiancé, political donor Jason Turkish, played any role in the endorsement: “I made this decision, and I am proud of it. Do not question my independence simply because you disagree with my conclusion.”

Congressional staffers to Stevens resigned en masse on Sunday, and former campaign aides told the Washington Post that they had to run defense to keep Turkish — who had endorsed Rogers before Stevens did — out of the spotlight and marginalize his influence.

“Any campaign staff being directly quoted in this article, I was made miserable by working with them,” Stevens told ]]>

He was reportedly a high-ranking member of the Klansman Gang and had been on the police’s radar for some time.

The circumstances surrounding the fatal shooting remain under investigation. Further details are expected as inquiries continue.

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That is the position of Leader of Government Business, Floyd Green, who made the comment at Jamaica House this morning.

His remarks come amid controversy surrounding a censure motion over Jamaica’s decision to abstain from a United Nations resolution calling for an end to the United States embargo against Cuba.

The motion, tabled by Opposition Member of Parliament Anthony Hylton last evening, reportedly sought to censure the Government over allegations that it misled Parliament about its position on the resolution.

However, the Opposition objected to the Government’s handling of the motion.

It accused the Government of manipulating Parliamentary procedures to prevent a full debate on the matter.

The dispute escalated, resulting in the adjournment of the House and a reported confrontation between Government MP Desmond McKenzie and Opposition MP Mikael Phillips.

Addressing the controversy, Mr. Green insisted that the Government is not afraid of Parliamentary scrutiny.

He also argued that disagreement with the Government does not automatically amount to misconduct.

Phillips has acknowledged that he reacted angrily during the incident and used an expletive, an action for which he says he is regretful.

In a statement this morning, Phillips said he was standing with two other Opposition MPs discussing the circumstances surrounding the adjournment, when the House Speaker left the Chamber.

He alleged that it was at that point that MP for Kingston Western, Desmond McKenzie, verbally confronted him and made an offensive remark about his deceased mother.

According to Phillips, McKenzie repeated the remark, prompting his angry response.

The Manchester North Western MP also argued that the frustration of members’ rights to speak and debate has contributed to an increasingly tense atmosphere in the House of Representatives and a deterioration in Parliamentary Order.

This as the agency also noted that the restoration of its systems is progressing in phases.

To facilitate the processing of delayed conveyancing, registration and valuation matters affected by the disruption, the NLA has implemented an immediate contingency framework.

It states that applications submitted prior to and during the outage are being processed under an expedited workflow.

Additionally, the agency further notes that technical and administrative teams will operate extended weekend shifts over the coming weeks to address the backlog and return processing timelines to normal within the shortest possible timeframe.

In the meantime, the agency underscores that while core services are being restored, its WhatsApp, live web chat and NLA Connect platforms remain unavailable.

It clarifies that customers may continue to access services through the agency’s telephone lines, email channels and walk-in offices.

The NLA also outlines that some delays may be experienced as restoration efforts continue.

It states that further updates regarding service availability and processing schedules will be provided through the agency’s official website and social media platforms.

Morgan alleged that Phillips used expletives and moved aggressively towards McKenzie, shortly after the House was adjourned, following an exchange involving House Speaker Juliet Holness.

He said McKenzie intervened after Phillips made disrespectful remarks towards the Speaker, sparking a confrontation which required the intervention of other Parliamentarians.

Morgan described the conduct of Phillips and other Opposition members as disgraceful.

Morgan also questioned the response of Opposition Leader Mark Golding, claiming that video footage shows him being caught up in the incident before walking away.

He said the incident reflects behaviour that should have no place in the nation’s legislative chamber, arguing that Parliamentarians have a duty to set an example of respectful and professional conduct.

The incident unfolded against the backdrop of an already tense Parliamentary sitting, during which Government and Opposition members clashed over a censure motion concerning Jamaica’s abstention from a United Nations Resolution on the United States embargo against Cuba.

The Opposition has accused the Government of using Parliamentary procedures to curtail debate on the motion.

Early Wednesday morning, Lawrence claimed victory over Republican Rep. Tom Barrett. (National news organizations such as The Associated Press had not called the race as of Wednesday morning.)

A national swing in favor of Democrats helped him — but so did a campaign that leaned heavily on opposition to data centers to situate Lawrence as a populist instead of an extremist.

Data centers were on voters’ minds everywhere, but they rarely dominated a race as much as the 7th Congressional District of Michigan. Lawrence vocally opposed data center construction almost as soon as he began running last year. A series of proposed hyperscale developments in and around Lansing pushed the issue into the limelight.

A month and a half before the election, Lawrence announced a data center platform calling for a moratorium on new development, environmental regulations, and a national jobs program to replace work taken away by artificial intelligence.

As progressives take stock of the 2026 midterms, Lawrence’s approach points one way forward for their wing of the Democratic Party. Lawrence’s opponent tried to turn his time as an environmental activist into a liability, but in an interview with The Intercept, Lawrence said his background primed him to come down on the same side as the public on a red-hot issue like data centers.

“I fought against Wall Street landlords trying to kick people out of their homes. I fought against oil companies who are polluting our air and water,” he told The Intercept in an interview last month. “So for me, this was not the first time that I’ve stood on the line against a corporate behemoth like this.”

Lawrence is a co-founder of the Sunrise Movement, which had one of its most famous moments when its youth activists marched into the office of then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to push for the Green New Deal with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., by their side in 2018.

Data centers and AI were remote issues for voters then, but they were starting to bubble up in the public consciousness by the time Lawrence announced his run for Congress in August 2025.

Two months later, one of his first moves as a candidate was to visit public meetings in two small townships in Michigan to express his opposition to proposed data center developments.

As a former member of the Democratic Socialists of America, he drew skepticism from many observers over his ability to win the primary in a district that narrowly voted for Donald Trump in 2024. They were equally skeptical of his ability to beat Barrett, a Republican who tried to play up his moderate bona fides in the race’s final weeks. Barrett was one of a handful of Republicans to vote in favor of a resolution to end the Iran war, for instance.

Lawrence had some major liabilities in a purple district, including tweets where he wrote “fuck the nuclear-family home” and told then-Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin in a song to “hurry up and die.”

While Barrett leaned on those posts and Lawrence’s time with the DSA to cast his opponent as an extremist, the young progressive had a card up his sleeves in the form of the data center issue.

It is the rare cause that leaps across party lines to unite Republicans and Democrats who are just as worried about water sources drying up and ceaseless buzzing sounds.

At an October 5 city council meeting in the quaint town of Mason, where a developer has proposed a hyperscale data center on a plot of picturesque farmland, Democrats and Republicans alike said they were outraged. Some residents said they would sell their house and leave town if the development is built.

In a sign of how politically charged the issue has become, many of the speakers were candidates for office angling for votes. Lawrence had dropped by himself a few weeks before. His first television ad centered on his opposition to the Mason project.

Karl Sime, a Mason resident who crisscrossed the area on behalf of Democratic candidates, told The Intercept last month that “100 percent” of voters were angry about the data center proposed for the swath of farmland just outside city limits.

“Sometimes they’ll just say it unprovoked,” he said. “You can see the body language just dramatically change into anger.”

Lawrence was hardly the only candidate who tried to tap into opposition to data centers. Some Republicans tried to catch the wave as well.

Barrett voted for the One Big Beautiful Bill, which included tax breaks that could benefit rural data center developers. But as the danger he faced in the election became clear, he proposed legislation in Congress that would ban local officials from signing non-disclosure agreements with developers and would allow local communities to set regulations on data centers without federal interference.

Some voters said they wanted to see candidates take a harder stance in favor of regulation, however. At the City Council meeting last month, Doug DeLind said he was left shaking his head at neighbors who had yard signs opposing data centers and supporting Barrett.

DeLind, a sculptor who lives near the proposed data center, said that Barrett’s position was that “we’re going to leave it up to the local communities, but we’re not going to provide any federal protection or any guidelines to what a data center can do.”

Although Mason faces a more imminent possibility of a massive data center, Americans across the country are worried about having one in their backyard. Multiple surveys showed a remarkable shift in public opinion on the subject over the past year. Half of Americans oppose a data center being built within 3 miles of their house, according to a recent Politico poll.

In recent months, data centers became a signature issue for Democrats with progressive pasts trying to recast themselves as populists. Sherrod Brown, the party’s Senate candidate in Ohio, and Texas gubernatorial candidate Gina Hinojosa also staked their campaigns on opposition to data centers. Both won.

“The playbook was listening to voters. I think voters across ideologies were speaking with one voice, and I think their opponents were some of the people most willing to silence voters and accept industry cash instead,” said Alex Bores, who became a national figure by arguing for stricter AI regulations during a failed New York congressional primary bid earlier this year.

As candidates ran away from data centers, the artificial intelligence industry’s most powerful super PAC stopped intervening in close races. An Intercept analysis found that the well-funded Leading the Future super PAC network, which is aligned with OpenAI, largely stopped spending in competitive general election races.

It lost in the one state where it did place a big bet, South Carolina. Incumbent Sen. Darline Graham, a Republican, fell to challenger Annie Andrews.

Bores, who now leads a pro-AI regulation group called Who Decides, said he was not surprised to see candidates increasingly market themselves as AI skeptics.

“I think it’s overdue. I think candidates and elected officials are catching up to where the electorate is, across parties,” Bores told The Intercept. “It is remarkable the agreement that voters have around wanting guardrails to protect us from the most powerful and fastest moving technology of our lifetime. Democracy is sometimes slow, but only so much.”

This story was supported by a grant from the Tarbell Center for AI Journalism.

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Rachel Apa, of Lewisberry, was taking part in her first marathon when she suffered a medical emergency near mile 24 in Central Park. She was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, where she died hours later.

Apa had entered the race in honour of her late grandfather, who had Parkinson’s disease. Her fundraising campaign supported the Parkinson’s Foundation.

According to race organiser New York Road Runners, a bystander began CPR before event medical personnel continued resuscitation efforts and used a defibrillator.

Her father, Steve Apa, told NBC News that his daughter had suffered rhabdomyolysis. However, reporting published Wednesday said the city’s medical examiner was still investigating her death.

Apa was a former Bucknell University field hockey player who had recently started a master’s programme at Charleston Southern University.

New York Road Runners expressed sympathy to her family, friends and fellow runners following her death

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The heist, which both the FBI and the TRM Security firm attributed to North Korean actors, initially targeted $6.34 billion in cryptocurrency from Binance wallets. The exchange has since frozen or intercepted $2.85 billion of that sum. Binance said it has set aside funds required to cover the loss and provided this link to a Proof of Reserves page. The $6.34 billion represents the biggest sum ever targeted in a cryptocurrency theft.

Binance said the people behind the heist began no later than June and continued until last Thursday, when they successfully compromised an engineer's laptop and withdrew assets from several wallets. Like just about every organization that suffers a public, high-consequence hack, Binance said the threat actor was sophisticated and resourceful.

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Chairman of the Natural Resources Conservation Authority (NRCA) and the Town and Country Planning Authority (TCPA) Christopher Winston says he hopes to lobby for legislation that would formally recognise gullies as protected environmental areas and establish clear standards governing activities within them.

Among the measures being considered is the introduction of discharge licences for persons or property owners responsible for releasing waste or other substances into gullies.

Mr. Winston says establishing standards would be critical to ensuring that any proposed legislation can be enforced effectively.

He was speaking this morning at the World Town Planning Day Forum ,under the theme: “From Recovery to Resilience: Planning for a strong Jamaica.”

The University of the West Indies’ Earthquake Unit recorded the quake at approximately 12:55 am on November 4. Preliminary findings placed its epicentre about two kilometres southwest of Penlyne Castle, at a depth of six kilometres.

Residents reportedly felt the tremor in Dallas, Halls Delight, Harbour View, Constitution Hill, Roberts Field and Mavis Bank.

The Earthquake Unit classified the event as a minor earthquake. Its initial findings remain preliminary.

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The incident unfolded in the House of Representatives as Speaker Juliet Holness was leaving the chamber.

Phillips directed strong criticism at the Speaker, prompting McKenzie to intervene in her defence and urge him to remain respectful. The exchange then developed into a verbal confrontation between the two MPs.

Health Minister Dr Christopher Tufton and State Minister Zavia Mayne were among government members who intervened, physically restraining Phillips and preventing the MPs from moving closer to each other.

Opposition members, including People’s National Party President Mark Golding, also sought to calm the situation.

The account provided did not specify what triggered Phillips’ criticism of the Speaker or whether parliamentary authorities would take further action.

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Donalds defeated Democratic challenger David Jolly in Tuesday’s election. The Associated Press called the race for the Republican congressman, who will also become the first Black Republican elected governor in United States history.

Unofficial results published by Florida’s election authorities showed Donalds and his running mate, Bryan Avila, receiving 4,131,777 votes, or 50.02 per cent. Jolly and his running mate, Gwen Graham, received 4,023,425 votes, or 48.71 per cent. The figures remain subject to certification.

The governor-elect is scheduled to be sworn in on January 5, 2027, succeeding Ron DeSantis, who could not seek a third consecutive term. Donalds’ victory extends Republican control of the governor’s office, which the party has held since 1999.

Backed by President Donald Trump, Donalds campaigned on making Florida more affordable. His proposals included reducing property taxes, streamlining development permits and removing certain insurance premium surcharges.

In remarks following his victory, Donalds acknowledged the financial pressures facing residents and pledged to represent Floridians who had supported his opponent. Property insurance costs and household finances are expected to be among his early priorities.

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United States:

US Mortgage Rates Retreat for Third Week While Holding Above 7%

US mortgage rates fell for a third straight week, though a decline in purchase activity showed borrowing costs remain prohibitively high for many prospective buyers.

The contract rate on a 30-year fixed mortgage declined 7 basis points to 7.30% in the week ended Oct. 30, according to Mortgage Bankers Association data released Wednesday.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-11-04/us-mortgage-rates-retreat-for-third-week-while-holding-above-7?srnd=phx-economics-v2

Europe:

Euro-Zone Inflation Accelerates to Double the ECB’s Target

Euro-area inflation quickened to double the European Central Bank’s target, supporting the case for interest rates to be raised further.

Consumer prices rose 4% from a year ago in October, up from 3.8% the previous month, Eurostat said Wednesday. That’s the highest since September 2023 and in line with the median estimate in a Bloomberg survey.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-11-04/euro-zone-inflation-accelerates-to-double-the-ecb-s-target?srnd=phx-economics-v2

Asia:

China Services Gauge Unexpectedly Dips for First Time Since July

China’s services activity unexpectedly grew at a slower rate for the first time since July, a private survey showed, as business confidence eased and firms lowered their selling prices despite intensifying inflation in input costs.

The RatingDog China services purchasing managers’ index slipped to 50.8 in October, the lowest in three months, according to a statement published Wednesday. The median forecast of economists surveyed by Bloomberg was for an increase to 51.7 from 51.6 in September.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-11-04/china-services-gauge-unexpectedly-dips-for-first-time-since-july

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According to a preliminary bulletin from the Earthquake Unit at the University of the West Indies, Mona, the quake occurred at approximately 12:55 A.M.

The epicentre was located approximately two kilometres southwest of Penlyne Castle in St. Thomas, at a focal depth of six kilometres.

The tremor was reportedly felt in several communities across Kingston and St. Andrew, including Dallas, Halls Delight, Harbour View, Constitution Hill, Roberts Field and Mavis Bank.

It started at 7 a.m. and will continue until 9 a.m.

The exercise will simulate an aircraft safety incident and involve a coordinated response from several agencies, including the Jamaica Constabulary Force, Jamaica Defence Force, Jamaica Fire Brigade, the Ministry of Health and MBJ Emergency Response.

Members of the public are being urged to remain calm, as the activity forms part of a planned emergency drill and safety assessment.

Police identified the deceased as Rainford Bailey, a resident of the community.

Reports indicate that Bailey and another man were sitting outside the shop at about 7:00 pm when a gunman approached and began shooting.

The shopkeeper reportedly went outside after hearing the gunfire and was shot in the leg when the attacker fired again.

All three men were taken to hospital with gunshot wounds. Bailey was pronounced dead on arrival, while the other two were admitted for treatment.

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Prime Minister Andrew Holness is expected to lead the opening, Minister of Local Government and Community Development Desmond McKenzie announced on Sunday, November 1.

McKenzie was addressing the Local Government and Community Month National Church Service at Transformed Life Church in Kingston.

The opening follows the displacement of approximately 60 residents and 40 staff members after the Trelawny Infirmary sustained severe hurricane damage and was declared unsafe for occupancy.

Those displaced were first accommodated at Hague Primary School. They were later moved to the Elliston Wakeland Youth Centre in Falmouth so classes could resume at the school.

McKenzie said Trelawny was among five parishes severely affected by Hurricane Melissa in October 2025. He highlighted the destruction of the infirmary and extensive damage to municipal buildings in Trelawny and Black River.

The new facility forms part of efforts to restore local government infrastructure damaged by the hurricane

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The wardens will assist residents in recognising and addressing potential hazards, supporting the brigade’s wider push to reduce fires through greater community participation.

Assistant Superintendent Donovan McLaren, who heads the JFB’s Fire Prevention and Life Safety Unit in St. James, discussed their role during the division’s Fire Symposium and Graduation Ceremony at the Albion Community Centre playfield in Montego Bay on October 29.

Speaking with JIS News, McLaren said the long-running programme remained an important part of the brigade’s prevention strategy.

He explained that reaching some communities could take firefighters between 45 minutes and an hour, depending on the location. That makes preparation within households and neighbourhoods particularly important.

McLaren urged families to develop evacuation plans and practise them regularly so household members understand what to do when a fire breaks out. He also called for clear arrangements to help children and other vulnerable people leave safely during an emergency.

His appeal extended to schools, where he encouraged evacuation practice and teaching children how to respond to a fire.

The senior officer also recommended installing smoke alarms, particularly in sleeping areas, to give occupants early warning.

The graduation formed part of a broader public education event featuring firefighting displays, educational booths and demonstrations of how emergency crews free people trapped in motor vehicles.

Through the warden programme, the brigade is seeking to build local knowledge and preparedness, giving residents a greater role in reducing hazards before they become emergencies

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The National Education Trust (NET), an agency of the Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information, carried out repairs to classrooms and other facilities, alongside improvements to campus security, accessibility and recreation areas.

At Siloah Primary, where 486 students are enrolled, Acting Principal Janice Larmond told JIS News that the hurricane had extensively damaged the auditorium, classrooms and administrative blocks.

She said the intervention went beyond the repairs the school had anticipated. Along with restoring damaged facilities, the project provided an access ramp, a paved court for sporting and extracurricular activities, and perimeter fencing.

Larmond expressed gratitude to NET and the ministry, saying the additions would benefit students and the wider school community.

Bryce Primary, which serves 300 students, sustained significant water damage affecting classrooms, its administrative block, tuck shop and bathrooms.

NET’s work at the Manchester institution covered the administrative block, tuck shop, student bathroom, Block D and Guidance Department.

Principal Mavilla White told JIS News that the restoration had helped the school resume full operations and enabled students to complete their national examinations.

She also welcomed the installation of perimeter fencing, saying it addressed security concerns that predated the hurricane.

The projects combined disaster recovery with improvements intended to make the campuses safer and more functional. At Siloah, the ramp improves movement across the grounds, while the paved court provides space for recreation. Both schools received fencing to strengthen campus security.

NET Executive Director Latoya Harris-Ghartey said the agency’s recovery work focused on providing suitable places for children to learn while strengthening school infrastructure against future disruptions.

She pointed to the two projects as examples of how collaboration can support students and school communities during recovery.

NET, a registered charitable organisation, continues to coordinate rehabilitation work at hurricane-affected schools across Jamaica

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Held on Thursday, October 29, at the Social Development Commission’s parish office in Springfield, the event brought together students from four primary schools to demonstrate their knowledge of dental care.

Arcadia defeated Yallahs in the quiz final. Prospect Primary finished third, with White Horses Primary placing fourth.

In the poetry category, Gayle earned the top award with a performance of “Yuh Nuh Si Mi Teet”, written by Kameil McNeil and Breeana Gayle. Her presentation included props and a costume.

Winners and participants received medals, trophies and gift packages, with support from the St. Thomas Health Department and Kirk Distributors.

Beyond the awards, the St. Thomas oral health competition formed part of a wider effort to encourage children to develop good dental habits.

Parish Dental Auxiliaries Coordinator Jennifer Barrett McCarthy told JIS News that the competition was introduced in St. Thomas last year, following an earlier national initiative. Four schools participated in its first parish staging, with another four selected this year.

Preparations extended beyond the students taking part on stage. Dental teams visited participating schools to conduct screenings and refer children to clinics for treatment.

Competitors received study material and prepared with assistance from teachers, parents and fellow students.

Barrett McCarthy said the programme aims to help children carry sound oral hygiene practices into adulthood. She stressed that early education and prevention can help reduce future treatment costs and pressure on limited public healthcare resources.

The October activities used both academic competition and creative performance to reinforce that message among students.

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Speaking at the opening of the Joint Forums at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting on Monday, November 2, Holness argued that countries such as Jamaica need financing arrangements that recognise both their economic progress and their exposure to natural disasters.

His call for development financing reform centred on how lenders assess countries and the projects they seek to fund. He said Jamaica’s record of fiscal discipline should carry greater weight in decisions about access to funding and concessional terms.

Holness presented Jamaica’s experience as evidence that maintaining stable public finances does not, by itself, guarantee stronger economic growth. He argued that targeted financing is needed to help translate that stability into investment and development.

The prime minister acknowledged improvements in the financing system, pointing to catastrophe bonds, guarantees and other mechanisms designed to reduce lending risks. However, he maintained that further changes are needed to meet the development needs of disaster-prone island economies.

He also distinguished a country’s underlying vulnerability from the risk attached to a particular loan. In assessing financing proposals, he said, lenders should consider whether the investment would reduce exposure to future shocks and strengthen prospects for growth.

That approach would place greater emphasis on the long-term benefits of resilience projects alongside the immediate risks of lending.

Holness’s remarks came during discussions on changes to international financing and investment that could expand opportunities for small states.

CHOGM, being held in Antigua and Barbuda from November 1 to 4, brings Commonwealth leaders together to discuss shared economic and development priorities.

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Opposition Member Antony Hylton tabled the motion, which sought to have the Government respond within one week and demand answers about what has been deemed a secret policy shift.

It comes in the wake of Jamaica’s recent decision to abstain from voting on the United Nations Resolution that called for an end to the embargo imposed on Cuba by the United States.

Hylton argued that the Government misled the House.

It was intended for the motion to be debated next week and with Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness present.

However, Leader of Government Business in the Lower House Floyd Green pointed out that the motion should be dealt with now.

Green described the motion as being absurd and fundamentally misconceived.

The matter led to a tense standoff, with Opposition members objecting to Green’s claims and House Speaker Juliet Holness referring to the Standing Orders that apply to the situation.

Green also outlined the responsibility of the Executive to formulate and conduct policy, then asked for the debate to be closed.

The matter was voted on and closed.

This is after a video circulating on social media showed students sitting in a classroom as rainwater leaks through the roof.

Principal of the institution, Michael Ellis, indicated that the school is among several still undergoing repairs following Hurricane Melissa.

The Foundation argued that a school environment must be safe, dignified and conducive to teaching and learning.

Project Officer Tasheera Thompson said it is unacceptable that students should have to contend with leaking classrooms while attempting to access education.

That’s the message from State Minister of Foreign Affairs Alando Terrelonge, as public debate intensifies over entertainers’ role in holding the Government accountable.

Terrelonge’s remarks come amid public outrage after Dancehall artiste Beenie Man criticised the Government’s handling of funds for Hurricane Melissa relief on an international platform.

Speaking at the launch of the Forever 1NE Music Festival at Caymanas Park in Portmore, St. Catherine, Terrelonge acknowledged that Reggae and Dancehall have never been about blind compliance.

He noted that the genres have historically served as powerful platforms for social justice, resistance to oppression and unfiltered commentary on the State.

Terrelonge maintained that with that influence comes an equally significant responsibility to ensure that criticism is rooted in truth and fairness.

SSP Nicholson lamented that some youngsters are careless road users.

Speaking at the St. Catherine North Community Safety and Security Unit Virtual Empowerment Discussion, SSP Nicholson said some young people do not have an understanding of what defensive driving is.

The Commanding Officer also urged people to be cautious when their family members are looking to rent cars locally.

SSP Nicholson said as the yuletide season approaches, people must be vigilant and avoid scams when making purchases.

It is, then, an extraordinary and overdue moment of relief to see the processes of democracy — however flawed in our barely representational system — offer the opportunity to take an off-ramp away from technocapital-backed fascism. Across the nation, Democrats secured historic victories. Even in Republican strongholds including Texas, Georgia, and South Carolina, voters delivered a rebuke to Trump’s GOP.

Democrats in Congress now have a mandate to do two things: Stop Trump, and improve the welfare of the U.S. working class. This should be understood as no less than a moral imperative to act immediately to curb the regime’s fascism in every possible way.

Americans are above all furious at the dire economic conditions in which they’re expected to struggle. The midterm results reflect a limit of Trumpian false consciousness: People know when they are poor, and they can see when billionaires, federal armed forces, genocidal governments, and presidential family members are profiting.

Democrats now have a mandate to do two things: Stop Trump, and improve the welfare of the U.S. working class.

Despite their newfound congressional majority, Democrats now face an uphill battle to deliver legislation that will improve people’s material conditions. But that is not an excuse for inaction, mealy-mouthed gestures, or nods to bipartisanship. Democrats must push legislation that Republicans cannot stop, as well as legislation that Trump is all but sure to veto.

For one, Democrats must immediately roll back cuts to programs like Medicaid and supplemental nutritional programs. They must go further, too, and deliver on campaign promises for robust healthcare provisions, welfare spending, and restrictions on the ruinous depredations of Big Tech.

Trump bypassed Congress to prosecute his illegal war of choice on Iran, which has cost over $47 billion to date. But Congress has the power to curb military spending. Democrats must pass further resolutions to end the war, and they must pull the plug on military budget, directing funds instead to healthcare, housing, and investments in green infrastructure, to name a few urgent priorities. Though a flailing Trump finally announced that he would end military aid to Israel on Monday, it is Democrats who must pass further legislation to end all U.S. complicity in Israel’s apartheid regime and genocide.

Democrats must also propose laws to defund and abolish Immigration and Customs Enforcement. This is no outlandish proposal; the impunity-drenched militia was only founded in 2003, and it is only by virtue of Congress that it now receives more funding than any other federal law enforcement agency. It is in Congress’s power to dismantle the agency and pass legislation to nullify the $170 billion-plus allocated to the border regime in Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill.

Democrats should do whatever possible to roll back and end political prosecutions and the Trump administration’s brazen efforts to criminalize dissent.

The Democratic program must, in short, reject the austerity logics that have dominated the party for four decades. As sociologist Melinda Cooper has pointed out, and Trump’s Republicans have again and again proven, such austerity is not even austere: Pro-austerity governments since the Nixon administration in the 1970s have overseen lavish public spending in the shape of tax cuts and subsidies for holders of financial wealth (which does not trickle down), as well as funding for policing, border enforcement, prisons, and war machines. These are choices, and Democrats have been given a mandate to make choices that instead benefit — to revive a classic — the many, not the few.

Democrats such as Rep. Pete Aguilar, D-Calif., have stressed that their focus will be on the “affordability agenda” on which the party has run. This must include taking swift action to investigate and impeach the president and the worst offenders in his Cabinet, including Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. In no way does insisting on accountability for Trump and his acolytes’ lawlessness distract from an economic focus. No affordability agenda can be achieved with an authoritarian executive in place. Challenging Trump’s despotism and self-dealing with every possible tool goes hand in hand with legislating to deliver on so-called kitchen-table issues.

Will Democrats in Congress, many of whom continue to reject the progressive and left-wing energies that have helped drive this blue wave, succeed in this anti-fascist political and economic agenda? No doubt, they will be thwarted at every turn by a desperate and dangerous executive and an embattled Republican minority. That is no reason to compromise, and constant pressure must be kept on Democrats who pretend otherwise. As the votes tonight make clear, in their millions, Americans know who to blame.

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They found themselves among supporters of Randy Villegas, a Democrat poised to oust longtime incumbent Republican Rep. David Valadao in a district dominated for decades by conservatives in California’s Central Valley.

With Democratic victories across the nation, California’s 22nd Congressional District is the kind of historically red stronghold where progressive policies may find new purchase.

Villegas’s path to the general election mirrors that of other progressive candidates charting a new identity within the party. Running on policies such as Medicare for All, addressing affordability, rejecting corporate donations, and halting the flow of weapons to Israel, the 31-year-old defeated a moderate Democratic state assembly member backed by the party’s establishment in the June primary.

Villegas’s opposition to ICE in a district that is 70 percent Latino or Hispanic marked the sharpest point of contrast with Valadao, who defended the Trump administration’s anti-immigrant campaign and famously uttered “It is what it is” on the debate stage last month when pressed on the issue. Valadao claimed “a lot” of the individuals captured by ICE in the Central Valley in recent weeks have criminal records, despite research showing the majority of those detained by ICE lack criminal convictions.

It was Valadao’s stance on immigration that most animated Central Valley voters who spoke with The Intercept.    

“I’ve never seen him stand up to something I feel is egregious,” said Raul Castro, 53, a Fresno County probation officer who is upset with Valadao’s lack of willingness to oppose Trump on the ICE raids surging through the area in recent weeks. “I just don’t respect people like that.”

While standing on the front porch of his house in a middle-class suburb in northwest Fresno, Castro lamented ICE’s targeting of immigrants based on their appearance, language, or jobs. He spoke out against immigration agents pulling people from the street and into labyrinthine detention centers where civil rights advocates have reported a lack of access to basic necessities such as clean water and adequate healthcare. Though Castro once supported ICE, when asked whether he would support abolishing the agency altogether, he said yes.

“If you asked me that same question, ‘Hey would you abolish ICE?’ I’d say, ‘No, ‘cause they’re doing things to make sure our country is safe. I want to live in a safe Fresno, safe county, safe city,’” Castro told The Intercept. “But now, wait a minute, maybe that’s not what I thought it was going to be.”

Villegas told The Intercept he wasn’t surprised to hear he had won the support of an anti-ICE law enforcement officer.

“I don’t find it surprising because I think ICE has made it much more difficult for local law enforcement to carry out their jobs and their work — and everybody is seeing the indiscriminate profiling going on,” Villegas said at a Fresno park rally to support last-minute canvassing efforts.

Villegas himself does not support abolishing ICE but instead has called for wide-ranging reforms of the agency. The policy position makes Villegas somewhat an anomaly among his progressive peers, who are riding a wave of leftist energy into Congress, some of whom include “Abolish ICE” among their campaign platforms.

While holding key endorsements from high-profile democratic socialists Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt. and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., Villegas has also rejected the socialist label, preferring “populist,” despite attempts by the Republican national party to weaponize the term against him. Unlike many of his fellow progressives, Villegas is also one of the few who is running in a historically red district. And he’s confident voters are not caught up in the ideological nuances and hopes to instead cut through them.

“People are fed up with an agency who is unaccountable, people are fed up with a member of Congress who is unaccountable, who doesn’t even have public town halls,” Villegas said. “We deserve better than that in the Central Valley, and I think that’s why our messaging is resonating across the political spectrum.”

Such reach across the political spectrum is also evidenced in voters like Aram Easter, 33, who was born and raised in Fresno. He doesn’t vote in every election, but cast a ballot for Valadao a decade ago when his district previously covered Fresno, largely because he bought the vision of someone with local Central Valley roots (Valadao was born and raised in the nearby Hanford). He also agrees with some aspects of Trump’s agenda, such as building the border wall. But he drew the line on immigration enforcement.   

“You got people tearing people’s families apart,” Easter said. “My family immigrated here — I have Black and Mexican family — I’m not with them overly-aggressively doing it.”

Since early October, ICE raids have become more prevalent in the region, with more than 200 people detained by authorities throughout the surge, according to the local newsroom Fresnoland. Similar upticks in ICE have taken place recently throughout the state, including Los Angeles and San Diego. Voter rights organizations in the Central Valley have taken notice and are viewing the raids as an effort by the Trump administration to suppress the vote, especially in a key race in the 22nd District.

“This timing of the uptick in ICE is not a coincidence,” said Marisa Moraza, political director at PowerCA Action, which is doing independent expenditure work to support Villegas’s campaign. “It’s not a coincidence that this started at the beginning of October when voters received their ballots in the mail.”

The raids have also suppressed get-out-the-vote efforts, Moraza said. Last month, the group had to pause in-person canvassing operations for several days amid the surge in ICE activity, electing to instead do phone banking.

The ICE activity is also keeping would-be voters from dropping off their ballots, as recent arrests of U.S. citizens struck fear among voters, said Cirilo Ordaz, a canvasser with PowerCA supporting Villegas. 

“With going out to vote, I think a lot of them haven’t done it yet because of that fear,” said Ordaz, who was one of dozens of Villegas supporters who fanned out across the region on the Monday before Election Day to urge residents to vote.

Sylvia Ramirez, another Fresno native canvassing with PowerCA said she’s noticed far fewer people outside in recent weeks, including a lack of crowds at the popular annual event Big Fresno Fair. For voters, she and her group offer to drop off people’s ballots for them if the fear is keeping them inside.

“Offering the services of dropping off a ballot for somebody really helps out with the fear that people have of leaving their houses,” she said, adding that she has told her family to stay at home as much as possible in recent days to avoid interactions with ICE.

The Central Valley, known for its significant agriculture production, has been the seat of high-profile Republican lawmakers, such as former Rep. Devin Nunes and former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.

But after a Democrat-led redistricting in the state last year in response to Texas’s partisan redistricting effort, the district now includes the northwest sections of Fresno, a city with more Democrats.

Early voting across the state has outpaced recent midterm elections, according to a recent survey. It’s unclear how much of that is anti-Trump animus or having a candidate voters are excited to support.

Castro, the probation officer, was among those who voted early. In recent weeks, he said he noticed residents looking at him with concern while on the job in uniform, showing up at areas where ICE had previously conducted raids. It’s a fear he acutely understood. As a child, he lived in labor camps with his mother and father, who were both undocumented immigrants working in Fresno as farm laborers. He recalled similar indiscriminate sweeps by Border Patrol in the 1970s.

“When I was small, back then it was Border Patrol, and they used to show up in a van,” Castro recalled. “All the agents used to get out and run after these guys. And they used to round them up and take them out,” he said. 

Seeing video and hearing of recent ICE raids targeting farmworkers in the area conjured such painful memories.

“I never thought I’d see that again,” he said.  

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Lisa Hanna, founder and CEO of Lisa Hanna Beauty, enters the Jamaica Observer newsroom for an interview in which she shared that two of her formulations earned recognition from respected beauty platform Skin Anarchy, whose evaluations involve board-certified dermatologists. (Photo: Karl Mclarty)

Democrats escaped the political wilderness in the Longhorn State on Tuesday night, when Democrat James Talarico defeated Republican Ken Paxton — despite the far-right attorney general’s relentless attacks on the trans community and his party’s claims that Democrats would enforce so-called “transgenderism” as a kind of ideology. 

The massive upset was paired with a victory for Democratic gubernatorial candidate Gina Hinojosa, who beat Republican incumbent Gov. Greg Abbott shortly after the Senate race was called for Talarico. 

In Dallas, Paxton voter Rachel Fuller told The Intercept she was alarmed by what she believed was Talarico’s support for “far-fetched” ideas, like “giving children the right to decide — and making parents, calling them abusive for not letting them have transgender changes.” 

Her comments suggested some of the $78 million Republicans spent on anti-trans attack advertisements in Texas were working. But they weren’t enough to help Republicans hold onto power in Texas, which hasn’t had a Democratic senator since the 1990s.

The ads made up almost half of all ad spending in support of Paxton, according to an analysis from Puck using data from AdImpact.

By and large, the ads spread blatant misinformation about Talarico’s record. 

One infamous $29 million ad created by Texas PAC, a political action committee primarily funded by billionaire Elon Musk, claimed that Talarico supported jailing parents who did not support gender-affirming surgeries for minors. “Every mom in Texas should be worried about James Talarico putting parents in jail if they do not support surgically transitioning their children,” a woman in the ad warned ominously. 

That attack, which according to Puck received 1.9 billion views as of October, does seem to have caught the attention of Texans — even with voters who ultimately supported Talarico. 

Julius Ishola, a canvasser for Black TOP, an operation under Texas Organizing Project that targets Black voters, told The Intercept he had frequently heard Black voters raise concerns that Talarico intended to jail parents. 

“I’ve been getting a lot of bad feedback regarding James Talarico,” Ishola told The Intercept, saying many voters cited concerns of “gender sex change and possibly prosecuting parents who go against that … and allowing transgenders into female restrooms.” 

As a state legislator, Talarico fought bans on transgender athletes’ participation in youth sports, and famously said that God is “nonbinary,” earning him ridicule from Republicans, who nicknamed the Senate candidate “Talafreako.” In the face of those attacks this cycle, Talarico appeared to backtrack on the issue, telling Fox News in September that he supported bans on transgender children’s participation in sports if it risks “safety or fairness” — without clarifying what that meant. 

His wavering does not seem to have reached many voters. 

“I voted Republican all the way. And that’s my fear of Talarico going in,” said Carol Billings, a voter who cast her ballot for Paxton at the Living Waters Church in Dallas County. Like Fuller, she cited her perception of the Democratic nominee’s trans policies as a major source for concern.

Still, many voters in Black districts, which were vital to Talarico’s victory, barely mentioned Talarico. 

“At the end of the day,” said Dallas Jones, a Houston-based Democratic political strategist whose firm focuses on African American voter engagement and backed Talarico, “the results show that people care more about their everyday lives than they do about trans Americans who just want to get by.”  

Some voters told The Intercept they were far more concerned with issues of affordability. “ I just hope we can get these gas prices down,” said Darryl Moore, a Fort Worth voter.

This is a developing story and will be updated. Akela Lacy reported from Dallas, Texas.

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Abdul El-Sayed would be the first Muslim U.S. senator if elected Tuesday night, capping off a race that’s been viewed as a referendum on swing-state appeal for the Democratic Party’s left flank. If he defeats Mike Rogers, a loyal Trump ally whose campaign often peddled Islamophobic tropes against the Democratic nominee, the results will all but certainly embolden progressives ahead of the 2028 presidential election.

If El-Sayed loses, it will likely trigger a centrist backlash — and cost the Democrats a critical Senate seat as the party fights to take back the upper chamber.

Polls across Michigan closed by 9 p.m. ET on Tuesday, with anxious voters across the state awaiting the returns.

In the heavily Arab and Muslim city of Dearborn, voters across party lines said they were outraged at the Islamophobic attacks ads targeting El-Sayed that became a staple of airwaves and social media feeds in the campaign’s final days.

“I am a Muslim. And I’ve seen a lot of ads, and it’s disgusting, because we are good people,” said Gus Tarraf, a Republican running for a state House seat. “I love this country.”

Although Donald Trump carried many precincts in Dearborn two years ago due to voter frustration over the Biden administration’s support of Israel, Tarraf said his community is turning on the Republican Party this year.

“Not a lot of Arab Americans are happy with the Trump administration,” he said. “So it doesn’t matter if they know you, as soon as they know you are on the Republican ticket.”

El-Sayed’s willingness to criticize U.S. policy on Israel animated soap-opera-level drama in the final days of the race, when his former primary opponent, centrist Democratic Rep. Haley Stevens, announced she would switch her endorsement to support Rogers.

After demanding an apology from El-Sayed for an outside PAC’s ad, Stevens said on social media that she came to the decision after feeling “shut out” by El-Sayed’s campaign, adding that she’s heard from “Black voters, Jewish voters, and others about how deeply these messages hurt.” Rogers, she said, gave her “the hope that he can serve in the tradition of John McCain: a senator willing to put country before party and stand up to his own side when conscience requires it.”

Stevens’s late-breaking endorsement of Rogers drew a mix of eye-rolls and outrage from voters at three precincts in Detroit and Dearborn. None of the voters interviewed by The Intercept said it had swayed them to vote for Rogers.

“People have already early voted. People have already absentee voted,” said Noora Iskander. “I don’t think many people change their minds. So I think it’s just hypocritical.”

Stevens’s decision to make the endorsement while inside a Black church in Detroit may also have generated backlash from the Black voters that Rogers was hoping to win over, according to some who spoke to The Intercept. One said the church community has been buzzing — and not positively — about the weekend’s events.

“Unfortunately, she went to a Black church to use it as a backdrop,” said Dearborn voter Dorothea Sharon. “It really was a slap in the face for the Black community that that happened.”

While El-Sayed has had to face intense scrutiny over accusations of conflating opposition to U.S. aid to Israel with antisemitism, little accounting has been made of the blatant Islamophobia and xenophobia from the Rogers campaign, the Republican Party, and Trump. But in Dearborn, the rhetoric had clearly hurt several voters who spoke to The Intercept.

The father of state Senate candidate Abbas Alawieh, a Democrat who played a prominent role in the 2024 Uncommitted movement, grew visibly upset when asked about the ads targeting Muslims.

“These are weak people who don’t have anything to do — they don’t have any programs for our economy, for our health, for our future,” Zouheir Alawieh said. “That’s why they are attacking us as Muslims and as human beings. It’s never been like this. This is a shame. America is a place where the Black with the white with the yellow, the Muslim with the Christian with the Jews, can live freely. Don’t try to tear up our society.”

Outside Dearborn, El-Sayed has tried to defuse the anti-Muslim smears against him by joking that he is only in favor of “shawarma law.” However, the Islamophobic attacks convinced at least one voter to cast her ballot for Rogers.

“I don’t want to live under Sharia law,” said Joann, a law firm employee who declined to give her last name after she voted in Detroit.

The fear of Islamic rule was the main issue for Joann, she said, although she also worried about El-Sayed’s campaign pledge of Medicare for All.

“I’ve worked my whole life, put all my stuff into the Medicare, but then I’ve got to let other people get it for free? It doesn’t seem fair to me when I’ve worked my whole life for it, and we’re not even sure that it’s going to be there when we really get ready to retire,” she said.

Yet it was that very messaging from El-Sayed’s campaign that excited many other residents in Michigan. Many voters who spoke to The Intercept said they were more focused on pocketbook issues.

“It’s the gas prices, the food. I mean, money is running out your pocket so fast,” Leigh James said after voting at Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church in Detroit.

James said she had walked to the polling place to avoid using gas. “I’m trying to save,” she said. “So thank God I live in the neighborhood.”

Other voters said they were inspired by El-Sayed’s personality, with one woman describing him as a “fighter.”

Noora Iskander, who voted for El-Sayed in Dearborn, said she approved of his stance in favor of Medicare for All, his affordability platform, and his solidarity with Palestine.

“I think he’s going to make a lot of change. He’s going to scare a lot of people — which I believe is a good thing, because you can’t really change for the better if you don’t scare a few people,” she said.

This is a developing story. Matt Sledge reported from Dearborn and Detroit, Michigan.

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Polls closed at 8 p.m. ET Tuesday night in a race that could see the 30-year incumbent lose her powerful Senate post to challenger Troy Jackson, a progressive who was virtually unknown on the national stage until his rushed elevation just over three months ago as the Democratic replacement candidate.

Tuesday night’s election results could change the control of the Senate chamber, with Maine as one of the seven critical states likely to determine whether Democrats can overcome the Republican majority in D.C.But Maine voters may have to wait far later to learn who won. The state’s ranked-choice voting system, which allows voters to rank candidates by preference rather than being forced to select just one candidate, could delay results significantly.

“I think it’s possible results will take us past midnight,” Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows told reporters in Lewiston on Tuesday.

Bellows said municipalities have two business days to submit their results to the state, although election officials have requested that towns share their vote counts Tuesday night.

Collins, who has represented the state since 1997, campaigned on her record of securing federal investments for state infrastructure, such as rural hospitals, and prided herself as being a moderate Republican who breaks ranks with President Donald Trump.

However, an analysis by Congressional Quarterly Roll Call found that her votes aligned with Trump 90 percent of the time in both the president’s first and second terms.Still, Collins’s split support among some Democratic voters was evident Tuesday in Lewiston, where several residents told The Intercept they were supporting the Republican senator despite filling their ballots out to Democrats otherwise.

“I am Susan Collins all the way,” said Anne Marie Hastings, a voter who also expressed strong support for Matt Dunlap, a progressive running against former Republican Gov. Paul LePage in a closely watched race in the state’s 2nd Congressional District.

“I’m a registered Democrat, but when it comes to things like this, I go with what I feel is right, not the party that they belong to,” Hastings said.

Another Lewiston voter, Ouellette Bertram, said he voted blue across the board, with the exception of “the Republican lady,” who he said he just plain likes.

“She’s been doing a good job, I think,” Bertram said.

Other Maine residents didn’t share the sentiment toward the Republican incumbent and the Republican Party’s decadelong legacy within the state.

One all-Democrat voter was Bryan Golay, who said he wished the Democratic Party would move to the left but voted against what he described as the GOP’s “enshittification” of America, much of which, he said, has come during Collins’s time in Washington.

“If you can’t get shit done in 30 years, why are we gonna give you another term?” Golay said.

Mags Krantz, a master’s student of social work who works with children with disabilities, said she voted for all Democrats, including Dunlap and Jackson, citing GOP-backed cuts to social services.

“They just cut funding for my job, and for my career,” Krantz told The Intercept outside a polling site in Lewiston on Tuesday. “I really voted for my future, but I also voted for every vulnerable child that I work with every single day that really wishes adults would vote for them over money.”

“I also voted for every vulnerable child that I work with every single day that really wishes adults would vote for them over money.”

Speaking to a crowd of supporters on the eve of the election, Jackson toasted the grassroots organizing that has powered his rapidly assembled campaign into the most serious challenge yet to Collins’s hold on her seat.

“This government is fundamentally broken, and it only works for the wealthiest people in this country — that’s what we’re up against right now,” Jackson said. “They are going to outspend the hell out of us. There’s no doubt about it. But they don’t have people like you in rooms like this across this state and across the country.”

Jackson, who spent nearly 20 years in the state legislature, ran on a platform focusing on lowering costs for working-class families, expanding healthcare access, and combating the influence of wealthy donors and corporate PACs in Washington. He entered the race somewhat hastily in late July, after former Democratic nominee Graham Platner withdrew from the Senate race following a rape allegation, which Platner denied.

Maine is one of the two critical swing states determining control of the Senate to use ranked-choice voting. The other is Alaska, where the last polls won’t close until 1 a.m. ET on Wednesday. 

The Collins–Jackson race has been one of the top targets for national attention this cycle — most of it on purpose. In October, The Intercept reported that Defending Main Street, a Republican-aligned super PAC associated with Collins spent between $20,000 and $25,000 attacking Jackson on topics such as cost-of-living and taxes. The ads mistakenly were targeted to audiences in Portland, Oregon, rather than the intended Portland, Maine.

This is a developing story that will be updated. Noah Hurowitz reported from Lewiston and Portland, Maine.

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The government-to-government partnership was signed at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) on Sunday in Antigua and Barbuda by UK’s Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, Ed Miliband and Foreign Affairs Minister Kamina Johnson Smith.

The initiative will begin with a £10 million, British pound, one-year programme, funded equally by the UK Government and Jamaica, reflecting a shared commitment to Jamaica’s long-term recovery and resilience.

UK funding is confirmed for the first year, and funding for future years will be addressed as the programme develops.

The partnership is expected to help Jamaica unlock significant reconstruction and development financing by advancing the preparation and implementation of investment-ready projects.

It will also strengthen the country’s capacity to deliver major infrastructure programmes.

Speaking on the partnership, Minister Johnson Smith stated that by combining Jamaican leadership and expertise with the UK’s experience in major infrastructure delivery, the rebuilding of communities and the restoration of services will be accelerated.

Meanwhile, British High Commissioner to Jamaica Alicia Herbert said following the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa, the UK is standing alongside Jamaica.

A central priority of the partnership will be supporting Jamaica’s National Reconstruction and Resilience Authority (NaRRA) with specialist technical expertise to strengthen project planning, coordination and oversight, and accelerate the implementation of the government’s reconstruction and resilience programme.

The partnership will help move priority projects from planning to implementation more quickly, supported by stronger technical systems and effective programme management.

They have been identified as 10-year-old Deon Bell and 5-year-old Jausha Bell.

Mr. Terrelonge says their mother received severe burns and has been hospitalised. Another child survived the fire.

According to reports, the family was at home around 7:10 p.m. when the police were alerted to a fire in the area.

Lawmen and the fire brigade responded to the blaze.

Following cooling down operations, the bodies of the two siblings were found among the rubble.

Mr. Terrelongue said he and divisional Councillor, Joy Brown, visited the scene to stand in solidarity with the grieving family and shaken neighbours.

He stated that they are actively mobilising emergency support, grief counselling, and relief services for the family members.

The NWA gave the notice in a social media post.

The update comes as the island is being impacted by unstable weather conditions which are expected to persist until Saturday.

According to the NWA, its team has been mobilising efforts to have the roadway reopened in short order.

The agency is also advising the public to exercise extreme caution along the nation’s roads during periods of heavy rainfall.

The NWA urges citizens to avoid attempting to cross flooded roadways and to stay alert, especially in hilly areas where landslides may impact corridors.

Health Minister Dr. Christopher Tufton said the issues have been corrected.

He gave the update in Parliament, following circulation of a video of the flooding.

The rain is linked to an unstable weather system which is impacting the island and is expected to persist until Saturday.

Dr. Tufton noted that he received a report from the hospital on the incident.

He said that the report revealed that the incident occurred because the hospital’s guttering system collapsed.

Dr. Tufton said the incident must be assessed to prevent it from recurring.

Supreme Ventures Limited (SVL) has declared a dividend of $0.1587 per share payable on January 7, 2027, to shareholders on record as at November 17, 2026. The ex-dividend date is November 17, 2026.

Disclaimer:

Analyst Certification -The views expressed in this research report accurately reflect the personal views of Mayberry Investments Limited Research Department about those issuer (s) or securities as at the date of this report. Each research analyst (s) also certify that no part of their compensation was, is, or will be, directly or indirectly, related to the specific recommendation(s) or view (s) expressed by that research analyst in this research report.

Company Disclosure -The information contained herein has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, however its accuracy and completeness cannot be guaranteed. You are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution or taking any action in reliance on the contents of this information is strictly prohibited and may be unlawful. Mayberry may affect transactions or have positions in securities mentioned herein. In addition, employees of Mayberry may have positions and effect transactions in the securities mentioned herein.

QWI Investments Limited (QWI) has advised of the appointment of a new Audit and Finance Committee on October 31, 2026. The Audit and Finance Committee is now comprised of Ms. Joan Brown, Mr. Rakesh Goswami and Mrs. Suzette Smellie-Tomlinson.

QWI has further advised that Mrs. Kerry-Ann McCoy Tulloch has been appointed to its Board of Directors, effective October 1, 2026.

Disclaimer:

Analyst Certification – The views expressed in this research report accurately reflect the personal views of Mayberry Investments Limited Research Department about those issuer (s) or securities as at the date of this report. Each research analyst (s) also certify that no part of their compensation was, is, or will be, directly or indirectly, related to the specific recommendation(s) or view (s) expressed by that research analyst in this research report.

Company Disclosure – The information contained herein has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, however its accuracy and completeness cannot be guaranteed. You are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution or taking any action in reliance on the contents of this information is strictly prohibited and may be unlawful. Mayberry may effect transactions or have positions in securities mentioned herein. In addition, employees of Mayberry may have positions and effect transactions in the securities mentioned herein.

Jamaican Teas Limited (JAMT) has advised that on October 20, 2026, an officer of the company acquired 29,437,500 JAMT shares.

Analyst Certification -The views expressed in this research report accurately reflect the personal views of Mayberry Investments Limited Research Department about those issuer (s) or securities as at the date of this report. Each research analyst (s) also certify that no part of their compensation was, is, or will be, directly or indirectly, related to the specific recommendation(s) or view (s) expressed by that research analyst in this research report.

Company Disclosure -The information contained herein has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, however its accuracy and completeness cannot be guaranteed. You are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution or taking any action in reliance on the contents of this information is strictly prohibited and may be unlawful. Mayberry may affect transactions or have positions in securities mentioned herein. In addition, employees of Mayberry may have positions and effect transactions in the securities mentioned herein.

Jamaican Teas Limited (JAMT) has advised that Mr. Peter Jervis has been appointed to the Board of Directors of Caribbean Dreams Foods Limited (CDFL), its wholly owned manufacturing subsidiary, effective October 1, 2026.

JAMT has also advised that Dr. Damien King succeeded Mr. John Mahfood as Chairman of CDFL and retired as Chairman of the company’s Audit Committee, effective October 1, 2026.

Analyst Certification -The views expressed in this research report accurately reflect the personal views of Mayberry Investments Limited Research Department about those issuer (s) or securities as at the date of this report. Each research analyst (s) also certify that no part of their compensation was, is, or will be, directly or indirectly, related to the specific recommendation(s) or view (s) expressed by that research analyst in this research report.

Company Disclosure -The information contained herein has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, however its accuracy and completeness cannot be guaranteed. You are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution or taking any action in reliance on the contents of this information is strictly prohibited and may be unlawful. Mayberry may affect transactions or have positions in securities mentioned herein. In addition, employees of Mayberry may have positions and effect transactions in the securities mentioned herein.

Seprod Limited (SEP) has declared a dividend of $0.121 per share payable on December 4, 2026, to shareholders on record as at November 16, 2026. The ex-dividend date is November 16, 2026.

Disclaimer:

Analyst Certification – The views expressed in this research report accurately reflect the personal views of Mayberry Investments Limited Research Department about those issuer (s) or securities as at the date of this report. Each research analyst (s) also certify that no part of their compensation was, is, or will be, directly or indirectly, related to the specific recommendation(s) or view (s) expressed by that research analyst in this research report.

Company Disclosure – The information contained herein has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, however its accuracy and completeness cannot be guaranteed. You are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution or taking any action in reliance on the contents of this information is strictly prohibited and may be unlawful. Mayberry may affect transactions or have positions in securities mentioned herein. In addition, employees of Mayberry may have positions and effect transactions in the securities mentioned herein.

MPC Caribbean Clean Energy Limited (MPCCEL) has advised that at a meeting of its Board of Directors to be held on November 11, 2026, a capital repayment to holders of its Class B shares will be considered.

Disclaimer:

Analyst Certification -The views expressed in this research report accurately reflect the personal views of Mayberry Investments Limited Research Department about those issuer (s) or securities as at the date of this report. Each research analyst (s) also certify that no part of their compensation was, is, or will be, directly or indirectly, related to the specific recommendation(s) or view (s) expressed by that research analyst in this research report.

Company Disclosure -The information contained herein has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, however its accuracy and completeness cannot be guaranteed. You are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution or taking any action in reliance on the contents of this information is strictly prohibited and may be unlawful. Mayberry may affect transactions or have positions in securities mentioned herein. In addition, employees of Mayberry may have positions and effect transactions in the securities mentioned herein

IronRock Insurance Company Limited (ROC) Unaudited financials for the nine months ended September 30, 2026:

IronRock Insurance Company Limited (ROC) for the nine months ended September 30, 2026, reported a 16% increase in Insurance Revenue totaling $1.82 billion compared to $1.56 billion in the corresponding period last year, driven primarily by continued expansion within the Fire, Liability and Accident segments. Insurance Revenue for the third quarter had a 21% increase to close at $647.36 million compared to $534.82 million for the comparable quarter of 2025.

Reinsurance Contracts Expense amounted to $1.18 billion (2025: $1.02 billion), this represents an increase of 16% year over year. For the third quarter, Reinsurance Contracts Expense was $426.72 million versus $358.05 million. Additionally, insurance service contracts expense increased by 9% to $572.22 million compared to $522.60 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2025. The company booked insurance service contracts expense of $199.05 million for the third quarter versus $164.93 million reported for the similar quarter of 2025, an increase of 21% that management attributed primarily to higher Motor claims costs.

Consequently, Insurance Service results more than tripled to close at $63.12 million (2025: $20.81 million), while Investment return increased by 54% from $77.52 million in 2025 to $119.30 million in the period under review. For the third quarter, Insurance Service results improved by 82% to $21.59 million (2025: $11.83 million) and Investment return increased by 38% to $34.31 million (2025: $24.90 million). The company also recorded a finance charge of $12.32 million (2025: nil), of which $4.05 million was incurred in the third quarter.

Other income for the nine months ending September 30, 2026, amounted to $26.80 million, a 98% increase relative to $13.56 million reported in 2025. Other income for the third quarter amounted to $11.93 million (2025: $4.93 million).

Other operating expense totaled $161.82 million, a 5% increase from the corresponding period last year. (2025: $153.45 million). For the third quarter, other operating expense was $56.34 million, a 9% increase from $51.79 million.

Profit before taxation for the nine months ended September 30, 2026, amounted to $35.08 million (2025: loss of $41.55 million). Profit before taxation for the third quarter amounted to $7.43 million (2025: loss of $10.13 million).

A tax charge of $5.00 million was incurred for the nine months ended September 30, 2026, all of which was recorded in the third quarter (2025: nil). As a result, Profit for the nine months amounted to $30.08 million, a significant improvement from the loss of $41.55 million reported in 2025. For the third quarter, Profit for the period was $2.43 million (2025: loss of $10.13 million).

Consequently, Earnings Per Share for the nine months amounted to $0.14 (2025: Loss Per Share: $0.19), while Earnings Per Share for the quarter totaled $0.01 (2025: Loss Per Share: $0.05). The twelve-month trailing EPS was $0.28, and the number of shares used in these calculations was 214,000,000.

Notably, ROC’s stock price closed the trading period on November 3, 2026, at a price of $4.00 with a corresponding P/E ratio of 14.46x.

Balance Sheet Highlights

The company’s assets totaled $3.04 billion (2025: $1.74 billion). The movement in total assets was primarily attributable to a 226% increase in ‘Asset for remaining coverage’ to $1.43 billion (2025: $439.38 million), a 147% increase in cash and cash equivalents to $442.60 million (2025: $178.90 million), and the recognition of right-of-use assets of $181.44 million (2025: nil), partly offset by a 23% decrease in investments to $610.55 million (2025: $793.69 million).

Shareholders’ equity was $809.58 million (2025: $752.47 million), representing a book value per share of $3.78 (2025: $3.52). Equity rose $27.80 million from $781.78 million at December 31, 2025, reflecting profit of $30.08 million less a $2.28 million fair value loss on investments, with no dividend paid in the period (2025: $19.26 million).

Disclaimer:

Analyst Certification -The views expressed in this research report accurately reflect the personal views of Mayberry Investments Limited Research Department about those issuer (s) or securities as at the date of this report. Each research analyst (s) also certify that no part of their compensation was, is, or will be, directly or indirectly, related to the specific recommendation(s) or view (s) expressed by that research analyst in this research report.

Company Disclosure -The information contained herein has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, however its accuracy and completeness cannot be guaranteed. You are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution or taking any action in reliance on the contents of this information is strictly prohibited and may be unlawful. Mayberry may affect transactions or have positions in securities mentioned herein. In addition, employees of Mayberry may have positions and effect transactions in the securities mentioned herein.

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Reports indicate that the blaze began shortly after 10 p.m., after the family had gone to bed inside the one-room dwelling.

Neighbours attempted to fight the flames, but the fire spread rapidly, preventing them from reaching the children. The house was destroyed before firefighters from the Waterford Fire Station arrived.

The boys’ mother was rushed to hospital with major burns.

St Catherine East Central Member of Parliament Alando Terrelonge visited the scene and expressed sorrow over the deaths.

He said he and Councillor Joy Brown would help the grieving family and seek additional assistance through Local Government Minister Desmond McKenzie.

The Jamaica Fire Brigade is investigating the cause of the blaze.

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Ruddock is on trial for the murder of the 39-year-old woman at Pathways International Kingdom Restoration Ministries in Albion, St James, on October 17, 2021. Prosecutors allege that he killed Gardner on Smith’s instructions.

Giving sworn evidence in his defence, Ruddock claimed he was bringing cattle into the church compound when he saw Smith holding a knife near a retaining wall. He testified that Gardner was kneeling when Smith held her head and cut her throat.

Ruddock further alleged that Smith moved onto a boardwalk and later fired a gun at security personnel. He said he took cover near the entrance when the shooting began. These claims form part of his defence testimony.

His account challenges the prosecution’s case, which has included police testimony about alleged admissions by Ruddock that he killed Gardner.

Andre Ruddock Murder Trial Set to Begin in Supreme Court Thursday

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The championship will be held at the picturesque Tryall Golf Club in Hanover for the sixth consecutive year, from November 7 to 10. The Proam tournament is scheduled for Saturday the 7th, with an 8:30 am shotgun start. It will feature the majority of the pros and the amateurs playing in teams, to share skills, generate camaraderie and introduce the course to the overseas based golfers.

Sixty-seven players from United States of America (USA), Trinidad & Tobago, the Cayman Islands, Canada, Bermuda and host country Jamaica completed their registration prior to Tuesday’s launch, including defending champion, professional Martin Benjamin of the Trinidad and Tobago. The playing format will be stroke play, 18 holes each day for a total of 54 holes. Competitors who complete the fifty-four-hole championship will receive coveted world ranking points.

“Sponsorship is one of the most critical elements of any event, particularly a professional event. We are very, very lucky that we have maintained Vybware, who is the presenting sponsor and they have been with us for the last four years but we are extremely lucky to have them. A number of the sponsors we have had in the past have not come on board this year. Because of Melissa a lot of companies have had setbacks but we are fortunate enough that JOA, who has come on board for the first time as a sponsor, and we have SDF who has supported us in the past. And we have gone after smaller sponsors this year, not big ticket but hole sponsorship and sponsorship for the program. And those have come in to help to fill the gaps that have been left by the others” said Peter Chin, chairman of the organizing committee.

He also said “if we have a full field, the prize money is 100,000 US. Last year, we had a smaller field than this. I shouldn’t say last year, 2024 we had a smaller field than this year, and we were able to pay out 75,000 US dollars so if the field gets up to 80, 85, we’ll probably be able to pay 100,000 dollars.”

JGA president Jodi Munn-Barrow who will also serve as the tournament director this year was optimistic about it. “We have quite a few repeat persons, repeat players, and so we’re looking forward to a very good event. We’re up to about 66 persons and we do expect to have some more between now and next week. We hope that we can have some spectators come and see the beautiful Tryall course, learn about the game more importantly, and hope that that may pique their curiosity to the point where they might find an interest in coming out and playing golf too.”

She also spoke about the importance of the Open to the association’s operation throughout the year. “This is our main financial earner for the association and the profits from this help to fund all of our development programs, especially through junior golf so not having the Open last year was a big blow to the association.”

Two of the sponsors, the Jamaica Olympic Association and the Sports Development Foundation (SDF) were represented by Christopher Samuda and Alan Beckford respectively, and they endorsed the open.

“We’ve always supported on the basis of this principle, sport for all and all for sport and we have articulated on numerous occasions that we don’t consider any sport small. Each sport must have an equal share of the wallet and it is on that principle that we inform our financial support for the various associations. Why golf? Because we see, of course, talent not only on the course but in the boardroom as well, and the commitment and dedication that they have for the sport. And at the Jamaica Olympic Association, we celebrate that. We celebrate those soft values that go into a human being in terms of how they decide they’re going to operationalize their sport. The sport has a magnificent opportunity in this tournament, and I’m hoping that Corporate Jamaica will still come on board to support it. When we marry sport with tourism, and golf provides an excellent example, then we have returns not only for our economy but also returns for the association that would allow them to build a sustainable financial model to support the generations of golfers. So we support it, and we will continue to support golf in a very real way” said Samuda.

Beckford outlined the many ways that the SDF supports golf including the Jamaica Open. “The Sports Development Foundation sees the importance of all sports in Jamaica, in particular golf. Golf benefits Jamaica in a number of ways. It gives all young Jamaicans, all Jamaicans as a matter of fact, an opportunity to play another sport. It’s a healthy sport. It’s good for physical activity. Also, it attracts tourists to Jamaica and visitors from overseas and helps to market our country. So the SDF, over the years, we continue to support golf. We have supported the youth level, we have supported at the pro-arm level, and we’re now supporting at the national level with the Jamaica Open. Also, we give administrative support as well to the Golf Federation”

Three golfers, one professional and two amateurs who were at the launch spoke about their expected performance at this year’s championship.

According to pro golfer Sean Green “My expectation is that well run event (sic), Jamaica Golf Association always delivers a top-class event. I also expect, from my own personal performance, a top ten. That’s what I’m looking for. Been working hard at the game this year, so hopefully to present myself with the with a substantial finish, something that I know I can achieve. Outside of that, looking forward to growing the game. As the president of the Professional Golf Association and representing Jamaica in this event, I think it’s important that we continue to show up, continue to play—continue to make this event the premiere event it is in the country.

Amateur player Oshae Haye was looking for a breakthrough, to win the amateur section for the first time. “I’m looking forward to a great tournament, as I always do. Just always have a last day bad finish. Looking forward to capitalize on that and have a good finish. For my tournament collection, this is the only tournament in Jamaica I don’t have on it, so looking forward to put it with my tournament collection.”

Zandre Roye, the other amateur was upbeat about his chances if he “just stay calm throughout the tournament, you know, try and improve on my previous performances. I think last time I played, I finished 21st, so try to improve on that, you know. Hopefully, low amateur at the end of the week will be ideal.”

He also said that his preparation has been going well “…I’m hitting the ball pretty good. I like where my game is at. Now is not the time to take any breaks, you know just keep your foot on the gas. Try to fine-tune some of the aspects of your game, and try to build it around the playing style of that golf course.”

Vybewear returns as presenting sponsor. Several other sponsors are on board including Tryall Golf Club, Jamaica Olympic Association, Sports Development Foundation, Jamaica Tours, ATL Automotive, BMW, JTB, Grand Palladium Group, Wata, Digcel, PXI.

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In a detailed blog post, the Threat Intelligence Group explains how the x.cpe botnet evolved quickly from a single-stage dropper into a modular three-stage malware platform that sold access to third parties. Manufacturers must have their devices certified if they want access to Google apps and branding, a process that is supposed to catch threats like this. However, Videostrong's compromised boxes, mostly sold under the MECOOL brand, evaded detection by using a backdoor to remotely install the malware after the devices were set up and online.

After devices appeared online, a stub application called x.cpe or com.oemservice would phone home. This package did not have any malicious capabilities of its own, but it had the system-level permissions necessary to install malware modules at the operator's behest. It also disabled Play Protect, which would have otherwise flagged the silently installed packages as malicious.

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Ashanie Campbell, who also reportedly resided in Panama, is accused of conspiring with 38-year-old Jeremie Cotton of Las Vegas to commit wire and mail fraud, as well as money laundering.

According to a 29-count federal indictment, the accused allegedly posed as representatives of Publishers Clearing House, contacting victims and telling them they had won millions in cash and other prizes, including a Land Rover.

However, victims were allegedly required to pay upfront taxes and administrative fees to claim their winnings, with additional payments demanded afterwards.

Investigators allege Cotton helped receive money from victims in the U.S. before the funds were transferred to other associates.

Campbell was extradited this week following her arrest in Panama.

The incident has renewed concerns about the repeated targeting of the institution, which has reportedly been broken into more than five times over the past eight years.

The latest incident has sparked outrage from Councillor of the Maroon Town Division, Anthony Swaby, who says the continued breaches go beyond simple acts of theft, but threaten the educational development and future of the community’s children.

Swaby has pledged his support to the school, as efforts are made to address its security concerns.

He says the police have launched an investigation into the latest incident.

The councillor is also appealing to residents and other citizens who may have information to come forward and assist the police with their investigations.

The Met Service said a broad Trough is expected to develop across Jamaica and the western Caribbean.

It will produce a large area of disorganised showers and thunderstorms across the region.

Persons should expect unstable weather conditions across the island beginning today through to Saturday.

Last month, sections of Bath, St. Thomas were flooded when the Plantain Garden River overflowed its banks sending the floodwaters toward the homes of residents.

Some residents also lost their livestock as a result of flash flooding.

The Social Security Ministry, as well as other groups, provided support to the affected residents.

A resident of Bath, Venroy Beckford, told IRIE FM News that many people are still cleaning up and putting their lives back together since the flooding last month.

He said residents are making preparations for the unstable weather.

He is calling on the authorities to conduct river training activities in the parish.

The conditions, which are projected to persist until Saturday, have raised fresh concerns about the adequacy of repairs and the safety of students and teachers.

The concerns follow the circulation of a video on social media, which appears to show students getting wet in a classroom at Cornwall College in Montego Bay, St. James.

Speaking with IRIE FM News this morning, Principal Michael Ellis said the school is among several still undergoing repairs following the Category 5 hurricane.

He said classrooms remain vulnerable without complete roof coverage.

Mr. ellis said the school’s management, with Government assistance, is working feverishly to improve the situation.

Mr. Mckulsky says while crime is being reduced, there are still numerous unresolved disputes that are being handled inappropriately, with some escalating into fatal confrontations.

This call follows yesterday’s fatal stabbing of a 15-year-old schoolboy during an altercation near the roadway leading to the playfield at Holmwood Technical High.

The other teenager involved in the altercation is in police custody.

It’s reported that both students attended Knox community college.

Mr. Mckulsky says school leaders must work together to promote peaceful approaches to resolving conflicts.

Calls to Knox Community College went unanswered up to newstime.

Microsoft had already patched the vulnerability that BlackLotus exploited in 2022. In 2023 and 2024, Microsoft issued additional updates. The first added a new certificate that no longer trusted the vulnerable boot managers. The second provided the means to revoke trust in the digital certificate used to sign older vulnerable Windows boot managers. The organizations infected by the new bootkit, which is tracked under the name BlackX, had installed all of these patches. So how did they fall victim?

Before discussing the incident further, a brief review of BlackLotus and UEFI malware is in order. Short for Unified Extensible Firmware Interface, UEFI is firmware that runs immediately after a computer is turned on. One of its main jobs is to load system configuration settings, identify and initialize hardware components, and prepare the computer to start its OS.

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Pulse Investments Limited (PULS) for the year ended June 30, 2026, reported a 6% decrease in Turnover totaling $148.05 million compared to $157.49 million in the corresponding period last year. Rental income, which accounted for $140.20 million or 95% of turnover, fell 7% from $151.35 million.

Other impairment losses amounted to $633.76 million (2025: losses of $133.76 million), an increase of 374% year over year.

Administrative and other expenses increased by 1% to $93.57 million compared to $93.04 million for the year ended June 30, 2025.

Impairment on financial assets was a net reversal of $1.60 million (2025: losses of $2.58 million).

No unrealized fair value gains were recognised on investment properties in the period under review (2025: $410.36 million).

Other operating income for the year ended June 30, 2026, amounted to $46.59 million, a 745% increase relative to $5.51 million reported in 2025.

Consequently, the company reported an Operating loss of $531.08 million for the year ended June 30, 2026, a swing from the operating profit of $343.99 million reported in 2025.

Finance Cost totalled $12.41 million, an 8% increase from the corresponding period last year (2025: $11.50 million).

Loss before Taxation for the year ended June 30, 2026, amounted to $543.49 million, a swing from the pre-tax profit of $332.48 million reported in 2025.

Tax credit for the year ended June 30, 2026, amounted to $194.26 million (2025: tax credit of $25.17 million), an increase of 672%. As such, Net Loss for the year amounted to $349.23 million, a swing from the net profit of $357.65 million reported in 2025.

Consequently, Loss Per Share for the year amounted to $0.05 (2025: EPS: $0.05). The twelve-month trailing LPS of $0.05, and the number of shares used in these calculations was 6,522,952,176. Notably, PULS’s stock price closed the trading period on November 2, 2026, at a price of $1.01.

Balance Sheet Highlights

The company’s assets totalled $11.62 billion (2025: $12.10 billion). The movement in total assets was primarily attributable to a 28% decrease in ‘Advertising Entitlements’ amounting to $1.59 billion (2025: $2.23 billion), reflecting the impairment charge for the year, a 32% increase in ‘Development Expenditure’ to $693.57 million (2025: $526.81 million), driven by $172.36 million of capitalised bond interest, and a 16% decrease in ‘Cash and Cash Equivalents’ to $28.31 million (2025: $33.58 million).

The $975.62 million bond, carried at $964.09 million net of transaction costs, matures on June 29, 2027, and is now classified as a current liability (2025: $803.64 million within non-current liabilities). Total current liabilities were $1.05 billion (2025: $204.93 million), and current liabilities exceeded current assets by $1,017.79 million.

Shareholders’ equity was $9.30 billion (2025: $9.61 billion), representing a book value per share of $1.43 (2025: $1.47). The decrease in equity reflects the net loss of $349.23 million, partly offset by $33.61 million of unclaimed dividends written back to retained earnings.

Disclaimer:

Analyst Certification -The views expressed in this research report accurately reflect the personal views of Mayberry Investments Limited Research Department about those issuer (s) or securities as at the date of this report. Each research analyst (s) also certify that no part of their compensation was, is, or will be, directly or indirectly, related to the specific recommendation(s) or view (s) expressed by that research analyst in this research report.

Company Disclosure -The information contained herein has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, however its accuracy and completeness cannot be guaranteed. You are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution or taking any action in reliance on the contents of this information is strictly prohibited and may be unlawful. Mayberry may affect transactions or have positions in securities mentioned herein. In addition, employees of Mayberry may have positions and effect transactions in the securities mentioned herein.

In September 2025, Hinson — who is battling Democratic state Rep. Josh Turek in a tight race that could decide control of the Senate — tapped Abe Adams to lead her campaign’s digital efforts. 

Adams is a co-founder and managing partner of Targeted Victory, a digital consulting firm that has been used by high-profile Republican candidates such as Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio. Targeted Victory shares an address and much of its staff with Targeted Communications Global — a related company with no discernible online presence. Both are subsidiaries of marketing company Stagwell Global.

Israel awarded Targeted Communications a $9.9 million contract in March 2025 focused on social media and paid advertising, documents show. By October 2025, the firm was at work pitching news content and guests on Fox News and CNN, and creating YouTube ads suggesting young Iranians have been educated to believe the “most sacred thing they do is stab a Christian in the heart.”

Hinson is endorsed by both President Donald Trump and the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, and has been supportive of Trump’s war in Iran. 

A June 2026 Department of Justice FARA filing from Targeted Communications details much of the firm’s work for Israel. The document lists 10 registered foreign agents working on the Targeted Communications contract for Israel. Six of them are identified as Targeted Victory employees on the company’s website or their LinkedIn accounts. Adams is not named in the filing.

Hinson, Adams, and Targeted Victory did not immediately respond to  requests for comment.

Adams is not the only Hinson campaign adviser with ties to Targeted Victory and the Israel lobby. Hinson’s current deputy campaign manager, Addison Lavis, worked at Targeted Victory before serving as Hinson’s campaign manager in her 2023 congressional run. Lavis was previously an intern at AIPAC. Lavis did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Hinson has received more than $100,000 from AIPAC and related pro-Israel PACs in 2026, and as an Iowa state representative supported legislation that prohibited the state from working with any companies that boycott Israel. 

Hinson’s political action committee has paid Targeted Victory more than $1.6 million this election cycle for digital consulting and ads — 27 percent of its total expenditures, according to Federal Election Commission filings.

Israel’s deal with Targeted Communications is part of a major public relations push that has pumped more than $100 million into swaying public opinion, particularly among young conservatives, back toward Israel.

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United States:

US Voters Head to Polls in Biggest Referendum on Trump’s Presidency

America’s referendum on President Donald Trump’s second term is underway.

With polls set to open Tuesday morning for the US midterm elections and tens of millions of early ballots already cast, voters say they are frustrated by the high cost of living, fuel prices that spiked after the launch of the Iran war and uncertainty over where their jobs and the world’s largest economy are headed in the age of AI.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-11-03/trump-faces-referendum-as-voters-head-to-polls-in-midterm-elections-2026?srnd=phx-us-politics

Europe:

EU Plans Changes to Its Single Market to Reduce China Dependence

The European Union is working on targeted changes to its €18 trillion ($20.1 trillion) single market to help its domestic companies diversify supply chains away from countries including China, according to people familiar with the plan.

The European Commission, which handles trade matters for the EU, will seek to amend laws related to motor vehicle-type approvals and foreign subsidies, said the people, who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-11-03/eu-plans-changes-to-its-single-market-to-reduce-china-dependence?srnd=phx-economics-v2

Asia:

Onshore Yuan Snaps Winning Streak as PBOC Lifts FX Reserve Ratio

The onshore yuan halted its longest winning streak in three decades after the People’s Bank of China moved to cool its rally by asking banks to hold more foreign currencies in reserve.

The yuan weakened as much as 0.4% to 6.6766 per dollar onshore, ending 13 straight days of gains, which was the longest streak since 1996, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-11-03/offshore-yuan-weakens-after-pboc-moves-to-cool-currency-rally

Disclaimer:

Analyst Certification – The views expressed in this research report accurately reflect the personal views of Mayberry Investments Limited Research Department about those issuer (s) or securities as at the date of this report. Each research analyst (s) also certify that no part of their compensation was, is, or will be, directly or indirectly, related to the specific recommendation(s) or view (s) expressed by that research analyst in this research report.

Company Disclosure – The information contained herein has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, however its accuracy and completeness cannot be guaranteed. You are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution or taking any action in reliance on the contents of this information is strictly prohibited and may be unlawful. Mayberry may effect transactions or have positions in securities mentioned herein. In addition, employees of Mayberry may have positions and effect transactions in the securities mentioned herein.

The statement follows Jamaica’s abstention from the United Nations General Assembly vote to lift the United States embargo against Cuba.

Questions have been raised about the reason for Jamaica abstaining, with former Prime Minister PJ Patterson criticising the move.

In a release yesterday, the Ministry said the Government remains concerned about the embargo’s impact on the Cuban people and values the longstanding friendship and cooperation with Cuba.

However, the release said what has changed is the Government’s assessment of whether continued support for an annual resolution addressing only one dimension of Cuba’s circumstances represents the most constructive approach.

According to Portfolio Minister Senator Kamina Johnson Smith the UN system offers three voting approaches which are quite distinct and not inter-changeable which are for, against and abstention.

She said Jamaica did not vote against the resolution but abstained.

Senator Johnson Smith also explained that the Government was not silent on the issue but formally explained its position immediately after the vote.

She said Jamaica’s ambassador and permanent representative to the UN expressly acknowledged the contribution of external economic restrictions to Cuba’s difficulties, while also recognising the domestic economic and structural challenges affecting the country.

Mrs. Johnson Smith noted that Jamaica called for reduced restrictions, constructive engagement and Cuba’s greater integration into the international economic system.

She further noted that for more than three decades, the General Assembly has called for an end to the embargo, yet it remains in place and the circumstances facing the Cuban people have deteriorated.

According to the Minister, it is reasonable to consider whether a broader approach might better serve the objective to improve the lives of the Cuban people.

She then argued that the Cuban people deserve more than an annually repeated expression of solidarity that has not achieved its central objective.

Minister Johnson Smith said the citizens of Cuba deserve constructive international engagement directed towards meaningful improvements in their lives.

The name of the deceased, who is said to be 15 years old, has not been released.

Reports indicate that at about 2:15 PM, the teens were at a football match when an altercation occurred, and a ratchet knife was used to stab the 15-year-old.

The teen was taken to hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Police say they have taken the other teen into custody.

Investigations continue.

The Met Service said on Sunday that a broad trough will bring intermittent showers and thunderstorms, which may be heavy at times, to affect most parishes through Saturday.

St Ann’s Bay was among sections of the parish flooded during heavy rains last month.

Speaking with IRIE FM News, Mr. Belnavis said drain cleaning works are being carried out in Ocho Rios and St. Ann’s Bay.

He explained that the Municipality will be monitoring the situation in rural areas of the parish such as Cave Valley.

He reiterated his call for residents living in low-lying and flood-prone areas to seek shelter elsewhere.

Donald Trump has spent the erratic waning years of his presidency leading his party into a political wilderness by waging a deeply unpopular war on Iran and driving the cost of living ever higher. Republicans who enjoy a governing trifecta have tried to distance themselves from the party’s decision-making and its leader, a once-animating force who has turned himself into a liability. Poll after poll says the same: Democrats are poised to take control of one or both houses of Congress — and spend the next two years thwarting Trump’s agenda.

But after a primary season dominated by an ascendant left wing and a broader rejection of centrist politics, the question isn’t just whether Democrats win on Tuesday. It’s what kind of Democratic Party emerges on Wednesday morning. 

“I really like the socialism aspects,” said Gibrel Said, a supporter of Abdul El-Sayed at his closing rally in Detroit Monday night. In the marquee contest serving as a referendum on the Democratic Party’s future, the Michigan Democratic Senate nominee espouses progressive politics and has often been associated with the the left’s agenda-setting socialists, though he doesn’t identify as one. His race has been rocked by the kind of left-versus-right identity crisis that presents a perennial challenge for Democrats. 

“One, Medicare for All; two, how do we fund things that help us as constituents,” Said told The Intercept, ticking off things he appreciates about the candidate. Said, who lives in the Arab enclave of Dearborn, Michigan, especially praised El-Sayed’s willingness to buck party leadership and speak out on U.S.–Israel policy. “Instead of tiptoeing around the subject, he very adamantly says, hey there’s a genocide happening here, we shouldn’t send our money.”

Cycle after cycle, in state after state, an insurgent band of Democrats critical of the political establishment’s ties to corporate interests and its unflinching commitment to Israel has had to overcome the barriers erected by its own party’s centrist leadership. Both sides present themselves as the true representatives of working people: the centrists by arguing that more transformative ideas will scare off lower-information voters, the left by saying they represent the masses.

How much of this trickles down to actual voters? On Monday, The Intercept followed canvassers and spoke to voters in Michigan, Maine, and Texas, asking about which issues had permeated and taking the temperature of voter enthusiasm. Some rolled their eyes at the spats that have dominated the headlines, dismissing the idea that eleventh-hour backstabbing would make a difference. Others regurgitated right-wing misinformation. Many complained of too many campaign mailers.

“They’re wicked mean,” said Sharon McDonnell, a supporter of Troy Jackson, the Democratic Senate nominee in Maine. Speaking to The Intercept in the town of Yarmouth, she described one mailer that included a photo of Jackson chomping a cigar and describing him as “evil.” “It’s just nasty.”

In Maine, the party’s left flank seized power in the nominating process for the Democratic Senate candidate — then fought to hang onto it after onetime rising star Graham Platner flamed out after a sexual assault allegation (which he denies). With Jackson, a former state Senate leader, Maine now offers progressives one of two opportunities to test their message at the Senate level, where a candidate has to secure appeal statewide, not just in deep-blue House districts.

The other is Michigan, where the intraparty battle is still raging. Rep. Haley Stevens, D-Mich., demolished her past attempts at fence-mending when she endorsed Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers on Sunday and abandoned El-Sayed, who beat Stevens in a Michigan primary that saw $30 million in outside spending from the super PAC for the American Israel Public Affairs Committee. 

The dustup has had Democrats biting their nails and moderate party leaders making the cable news circuit to demand party discipline — this time, to scold a centrist. The party leads in the polls for 218 of the 435 seats up for grabs in the House of Representatives, but they need to perform well in seven key states — Alaska, Iowa, Kansas, Ohio, and Texas, in addition to Maine and Michigan — if they want to win the Senate. 

“I think she’s counterintuitively, perhaps, given people a reason to rally some more,” said Kathleen Britton, an El-Sayed supporter at the Detroit rally on Monday, of Stevens. “I really don’t think it’s gonna help Mike Rogers.”

Earlier that day, in a predominantly Black neighborhood of Detroit, a prominent Black supporter of El-Sayed preparing to knock on voters’ doors described Stevens’s endorsement as an “ego-driven statement.”

Haley Stevens “used a Black church as a prop, and we have seen that time and time again.”

Mike Bland, the executive director of the Black Men Vote PAC, highlighted that Stevens made her public endorsement of Rogers in a Black church in Detroit. He doubted that Stevens, whose criticism of El-Sayed centers primarily on his skepticism of the U.S. relationship with the state of Israel, would be able to pull Black voters to Rogers, a conservative former House representative whose campaign has repeatedly peddled anti-Muslim tropes against El-Sayed.

“How can I say this without cursing? She used a Black church as a prop, and we have seen that time and time again,” Bland said. “Black folks aren’t stupid.”

Over the past month, El-Sayed has rallied with Barack Obama and Kamala Harris, the two most prominent Black politicians in America — and hardly radicals estranged from the establishment power center. At the same time that Stevens was making her endorsement of Rogers public, El-Sayed was attending a get-out-the-vote event at another church in Detroit. The two primary foes were supposed to appear together that day with Rep. Jim Clyburn, D-S.C.

One of the Democrats’ most coveted Senate pickups didn’t present much of an opportunity for the left in the primary, but it has still been characterized by intraparty animosity.

In Texas, where both Democratic Senate primary contenders espoused relatively moderate politics, outgoing Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, has declined to campaign with state Rep. James Talarico, though she endorsed him after he beat her in the state’s March Democratic primary.

Talarico has been performing well with Latino voters, a massive voting bloc that helped fuel his primary victory. But Crockett — who, unlike Stevens, is Black — has suggested that Talarico has not done enough to excite Black voters, a demographic she carried in the primary. On a canvassing operation targeting Black voters in the Dallas–Fort Worth area on Monday, few Black Texans who spoke to The Intercept expressed excitement for Talarico. But most had already voted for him, saying they were motivated to do their civic duty. 

Black voters frequently discussed concerns over affordability, gas prices, and homelessness. Canvassers told The Intercept they had heard some of those voters express concerns over their perception of Talarico’s policies toward transgender children, at times espousing blatant misinformation, such as the idea that Talarico supported arresting parents who refused to give their children gender-affirming surgeries. 

“ I don’t stand for that,” said voter Jermiah Robinson, referring to her belief that Talarico pushed “sex-change” surgery for minors. Like many voters, she cited the cost of living as her most pressing issue. Robinson said she would “want to vote for him if he stands by his words, and he’s actually like ‘Yeah, I’ll help out as far as prices and everything.’” 

Talarico appears to have improved his margins with Black voters in the final stretch. According to the Texas Politics Project at the University of Texas, Talarico is leading with 79 percent of the Black vote, signaling a significant increase in support from Black voters from just last month. The conventional wisdom suggests that he could barely ask for a better opponent than the scandal-plagued Republican candidate, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. 

In 2015, Paxton was indicted on felony securities fraud charges in Texas, in a case that dragged on for roughly nine years, and ended with Paxton being required to do community service and pay restitution. And in 2023, the Texas House of Representatives voted across party lines to impeach him as attorney general for alleged corruption and retaliation against whistleblowers.

Scandal kept rocking the race for Senate in Maine, where longtime Republican incumbent Sen. Susan Collins faces her toughest reelection challenge yet from Jackson. Before Jackson, who lost a race this cycle for the state’s Democratic nomination for governor, there was Platner, hailed early as a working-class champion who faced a series of personal scandals in his successful primary campaign. There was the revelation of a Nazi tattoo that he claimed not to understand until last October. There were crudely worded Reddit posts and stories of cruelty from women he’d dated. One former girlfriend’s allegations of sexual assault ultimately ended his campaign — and set off a scramble to find a replacement that progressives ultimately won by elevating Jackson.

By Monday, Mainers who spoke to The Intercept appeared exhausted by the lengthy, contentious, and expensive Senate race that has dominated the state.

“There’s a lot of fatigue. People are tired of it,“ said Charlie Dingman, who chairs the state Democratic Party. “I have had some conversations at doors with people that have led me to think that the extremely negative and extremely untruthful ads may be backfiring.”

Tyler Echard, in Norway, said he’d already cast an absentee ballot for Democrats down the ticket. He was disgusted with a deluge of political mailers and eager to stop seeing them pile up on his doorstep.

“The amount of mailers we get — just mailers, not just handed at the door but in the mail — especially from the Republican side, the amount of money is probably more than I will make in my lifetime, spent in this election,” Echard said. “At some point, we gotta get legislation because money’s just gonna run everything into the ground. I ain’t got it, so I can’t influence it.”

Frustration with the status quo in Congress could spell the end for Collins’s 30-year career in the Senate. On Monday, a University of New Hampshire poll found Jackson leading Collins by 4 percentage points. And in September, Collins found herself thrust into a scandal of her own, when ProPublica revealed that the FBI anti-corruption squad was investigating an alleged pay-to-play scheme between Collins and a donor eager to secure government contracts.

The Intercept later exposed that, alongside a series of campaign donations, defense contractors cozy with Collins had received lucrative carveouts in defense spending. (Collins has denied wrongdoing in all cases.)

But the incumbent senator has faced controversy and come out victorious before. And some Mainers doubt they’ll see change either way.

“I can’t vote for either side,” said a man, who declined to share his name with The Intercept, walking down a rural road in Norway with a hunting rifle slung over his shoulder. “You can’t trust neither of them.”

Noah Hurowitz reported from Yarmouth and Norway, Maine; Akela Lacy reported from Fort Worth, Texas; Matt Sledge reported from Detroit, Michigan.

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The Met Service says the unstable weather conditions are to start today.

The forecast is for a gradual increase in cloudiness followed by intermittent showers and thunderstorms, which may be heavy at times, to affect most parishes through to Saturday.

NWA Communications Manager Stephen Shaw said the NWA has its various systems in place to deal with flooded or blocked corridors.

Police reportedly detained a 17-year-old boy.

Holmwood’s principal said both teenagers attended Knox Community College and were spectators at the match.

The victim, whose identity remains undisclosed, died at hospital.

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The incident reportedly occurred around 1 p.m., but the circumstances surrounding the shooting remain unclear.

Persons in the area reported hearing explosions before learning that the man had been shot. He was reportedly the sole occupant of a vehicle.

One person at the scene said the man had a poodle with him and had purchased an item at a nearby petrol station minutes before the shooting.

His full identity has not yet been disclosed.

Further details are awaited as this developing story unfolds.

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Indian manufacturer Dr Reddy’s Laboratories secured the approval announced Monday, November 2. Under a pricing agreement with global health partners, the generic will be offered at US$40 per person annually. Initial supplies are expected before year-end, followed by wider availability in 2027.

Developed originally by Gilead Sciences, lenacapavir showed nearly complete protection against HIV in major clinical trials. Administered every six months, it provides a prevention option for people who may struggle to take daily pre-exposure prophylaxis, commonly called PrEP.

The generic’s annual price would be substantially below the branded drug’s US list price of approximately US$28,000. However, tentative approval does not permit generic sales in the United States while patent or exclusivity restrictions remain in place.

Dr Reddy’s developed the product with financial, technical and regulatory support from Unitaid, Wits RHI and the Clinton Health Access Initiative.

The partners say the regulatory milestone can help countries advance their own approval processes. Successful introduction will also require prepared health services, trained providers and community involvement.

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The charge followed an order by Senior Parish Court Judge Vaughn Facey requiring police to charge or release the entertainer, whose real name is Ansel Fairclough, by 6:00 pm.

Collins said investigators complied with the deadline.

The order was issued in the Trelawny Parish Court on Monday after Collins filed a habeas corpus application challenging his client’s continued detention. The attorney argued that Fairclough had been held beyond the 120-hour period allowed under the Bail Act.

In making his application, Collins maintained that compliance with Jamaica’s laws was essential to preserving the integrity of the justice system.

Fairclough had been in custody since the previous Monday, following his arrest by detectives assigned to the Centre for the Investigation of Sexual Offences and Child Abuse (CISOCA).

The investigation concerns allegations that he engaged in sexual activity with a minor.

Collins said arrangements for his client’s court appearance were being finalised. The allegation has not been proven in court.

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State Minister Donovan Williams said cooperation across sectors is essential to matching applicants with vacancies, developing relevant skills and rebuilding productive capacity.

“Creating meaningful pathways to employment requires collaboration among government, employers, training institutions and other stakeholders,” he said.

Williams was speaking at the Social Development Commission’s Montego Bay Employment and Health Fair at Sam Sharpe Square, St James, on October 26.

The two-day event, organised with the St James Municipal Corporation and the Labour Ministry, brought together approximately 20 employers and government agencies. Residents were able to explore job openings, access training information and receive health services.

Mayor of Montego Bay, Councillor Richard Vernon, said the initiative was developed to support economic recovery, particularly in hospitality, where hotel closures and operational disruptions following the hurricane had cost thousands of jobs.

According to Vernon, hospitality accounts for approximately 60 per cent of Montego Bay’s economic activity. He said about 90 per cent of hotels were expected to reopen by the end of October, with additional properties returning to operation in early 2027.

Those reopenings, he explained, would increase demand for workers, including people interested in returning to the industry after moving into other sectors or starting businesses.

Vernon said the HEART/NSTA Trust would play an important role in preparing applicants for emerging vacancies through skills training.

The fair also sought to reduce barriers to healthcare by providing medical screenings and National Health Fund registration.

“A healthy population and a healthy workforce is a productive workforce and a productive population,” Vernon said.

For Demetry Backriddan, who said he had been unemployed for approximately three months, the range of participating employers offered an opportunity to explore several career options.

“I like the turnout. I like that I have different places that I can really go in and have a chance at this,” said Backriddan, who expressed an interest in building construction.

Another attendee, Dahdra McNaughton, visited the fair specifically to register for an NHF card. She said she did not have health benefits through a traditional nine-to-five job and welcomed the chance to complete registration and receive her card at the event.

Williams commended the organisers’ partnership and expressed hope that attendees would secure meaningful employment.

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The network was activated during the agency’s ‘Connec’ Di North Coast Road Tour’ in Ocho Rios on Friday, October 30, a year after Hurricane Melissa disrupted services across Jamaica.

The project represents the largest single Wi-Fi deployment undertaken by the USF in its 21-year history.

USF Chief Executive Officer Charlton McFarlane said the expanded network forms part of the agency’s commitment to reconnecting communities.

In Ocho Rios, coverage extends from the town centre to Island Village and includes the craft market, providing internet access across a wider section of the tourism hub.

“Basically, from you touch anywhere in the vicinity of Ocho Rios, you’re connected, and we know that connectivity is key, especially in this digital age,” McFarlane said.

Other communities benefiting include St Ann’s Bay, Brown’s Town, Parry Town, Steer Town, Mansfield Heights and Middle Buxton.

The network also serves Edge Hill, Exchange, Fowler Town, Gibraltar, Glasgow, Golden Grove, John Reid, Madras, Mount Zion, Orange Hill, Seville Heights, Saint D’Acre, Thickets, Hessen Castle, Buckfield, Cave Valley and Windsor.

McFarlane said St Ann is the sixth parish where the USF has completed Wi-Fi launches since Hurricane Melissa. He noted that the agency also covers the monthly internet bills and urged residents to protect the equipment.

“So please, take care of the resource, protect it because it is yours,” he said.

Mayor of St Ann’s Bay, Councillor Michael Belnavis, welcomed the broader coverage, noting that public Wi-Fi access in Ocho Rios had previously been concentrated around the town centre and clock area.

He said the expansion could help vendors and JUTA drivers communicate with tourists and market their services, while allowing visitors to contact relatives and students to access material for homework.

Belnavis also pointed to potential savings for residents who would otherwise rely on paid mobile data while in town.

Resident Rihanna Lewin welcomed the initiative, saying it would assist people struggling with expensive mobile data or unreliable connections when away from home.

She described the provision of free internet as a valuable way to support residents with limited financial resources.

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Speaking at the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica’s 32nd Hall of Fame induction ceremony on October 29, Holness argued that lower crime allows communities and businesses to reclaim opportunities lost to insecurity.

“Every reduction in crime gives something back to the economy. It gives back working hours, commercial opportunities, public spaces and a measure of personal freedom,” he said.

The ceremony, held at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston, honoured Guardsman Group Founder and Executive Chairman Kenneth “Kenny” Benjamin.

Holness said security policy also serves economic and social objectives, making it an important area for cooperation between the Government and private sector.

He stressed that safety should be available throughout Jamaica, rather than depend on an individual’s ability to pay for protective measures.

“Our national ambition must be a Jamaica in which safety is not a privilege that people purchase behind a gate or a grill. It must be a public good available in every community,” he said.

The Prime Minister added that business owners should feel confident about investing and children should be able to travel to school without fear.

Turning to Benjamin’s induction, Holness praised the businessman’s more than four decades of contribution to Jamaican enterprise and his role in developing a professional private security industry.

He noted that Guardsman Group’s operations in eight other Caribbean countries and territories demonstrate the ability of Jamaican businesses to expand beyond the domestic market.

Holness also recognised Benjamin’s investment in staff training and development, saying his influence extends beyond the companies he has established.

“His legacy is reflected not only in the businesses he has built but in the people he has invested in and helped to grow,” he said.

The Prime Minister encouraged the next generation of entrepreneurs to follow Benjamin’s example by building businesses that also contribute to national development.

Accepting the honour, Benjamin thanked the PSOJ and credited his family and the Guardsman Group team for supporting his journey.

“Jamaica has given me so much and it has been a privilege to serve and contribute to our country,” he said.

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State Minister Rhoda Moy Crawford outlined the programme during the National Youth Month Church Service at the New Life Evangelistic Centre in Portmore, St Catherine, on Sunday, November 1.

Crawford said this year’s activities reflect Jamaica’s transition from emergency relief to recovery, with particular attention to young people who lack the documents and support needed to access opportunities.

A major youth access fair in Mandeville, Manchester, and three ‘Pon Di Corna’ outreach events in St Thomas, St Ann and Portland will bring government agencies and private-sector partners directly to young people.

The initiatives will help participants access National Insurance Scheme numbers, Taxpayer Registration Numbers, birth certificates and bank accounts. Young people who are not reached directly will be referred to services within their parishes and communities.

Crawford explained that missing documents can prevent otherwise eligible applicants from benefiting from summer employment programmes offered by the HEART/NSTA Trust and the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development.

The HEART/NSTA Trust will provide enrolment information and practical exposure to training through its ‘Try a Skill’ initiative. It will also conduct on-the-spot assessments for people who have experience in trades such as carpentry, tiling and electrical work but lack formal certification.

Conflict resolution will form another part of the outreach, with the Ministry of Justice’s mobile unit providing mediation support. Crawford identified bullying in schools and wider difficulties in resolving disputes as concerns the programme will address.

Young people will also contribute directly to recovery through a workday at Coker Early Childhood Institution in St Elizabeth, where volunteers will assist with rebuilding efforts and creating a reading corner.

Regional capacity-building workshops will cover public speaking, résumé writing and leadership development.

Crawford said the November 4 Youth Summit in Kingston is already oversubscribed. A Youth IGNITE conference is also planned for Westmoreland, with participants expected from neighbouring parishes.

Transportation support has been arranged through partnerships with the Ministry of Energy, Transport and Telecommunications and the Jamaica Urban Transit Company.

The month will close with the 16th sitting of the National Youth Parliament, involving 70 young people serving as Members of Parliament and other parliamentary officers. Crawford said participants applied directly to the Youth and Adolescent Policy Division through an independent selection process.

Meanwhile, Permanent Secretary Dr Kasan Troupe encouraged young Jamaicans to help shape national development, stressing that support for their growth would continue beyond November.

“Youth is not a limitation. Youth is an opportunity to get involved,” she said.

Youth Advisory Council of Jamaica Chairman Rodain Richardson urged participants to prepare themselves for meaningful involvement in national affairs through research, informed discussion and accountability.

“A seat at the table is an opportunity. What we bring to that table determines whether the opportunity becomes meaningful,” he said.

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The woman has been identified as 38-year-old “Lizzy” Martins, who lived with her spouse at the Sea Castle apartment complex in St. James. The couple operated the mini-submarine Coral Sea.

According to reports, Martins and her spouse had an argument inside their vehicle at the Fairview Texaco service station shortly before 9 p.m. on Saturday, October 31. She reportedly collected her belongings and left the vehicle.

Her spouse said he tried calling her several times but received no response. He subsequently returned to their apartment and continued trying to contact her.

At approximately 10:50 p.m., he reportedly received two WhatsApp voice messages from Martins that indicated she might harm herself.

Roughly two hours later, a friend went to the vessel and discovered her body. Police were summoned, processed the scene and removed the body.

The death is being treated as a suspected suicide. Investigations are continuing.

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She is 17-year-old Shantana Leonard, who was a student in the college’s continuing education programme, studying business.

Police said Shantana was the driver of a Toyota Vitz motor car, with 3 teen boys as passengers.

They succumbed to injuries sustained in the crash.

In a statement on its Facebook page today, BTCC’s board expressed condolences to Shantana’s family, friends, classmates and lecturers.

The college described her death as a heartbreaking blow to the institution.

It said Shantana was a valued member of the student body, and her presence will be greatly missed by all who knew her.

Chairman of BTCC’s Board, Christopher Charley JR, said the crash claimed the lives of four promising young people.

Mr. Charley Jr reiterated that BTCC has been rocked by Shantana’s death, and is hoping justice will be served at the conclusion of investigations in the matter.

Meanwhile, BTCC said it recognizes that Shantana’s death will be deeply felt across its college family, especially by those who shared in her academic journey.

It is encouraging students and staff to support each other in the days ahead.

BTCC further reminded that those grieving can gain access to counselling support at its guidance counsellors’ department.

The first is to secure greater value for Jamaica’s minerals and the second is to ensure reliable geological information informs public decisions about land use, infrastructure, and community safety.

Floyd Green is the minister assigned to the Ministry of Mining and Geology with Darlene Morrison as Permanent Secretary.

Mr. Green also retains policy oversight for the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries.

Prime Minister Andrew Holness in correspondence to Mr. Green, noted that bauxite and alumina have served Jamaica for generations.

He said declining grades in accessible reserves, energy costs, and ageing infrastructure now weigh on the industry, and government must address those constraints, examine the return Jamaica receives, and develop opportunities in limestone, aggregates, and other minerals.

The Prime Minister assigned Mr. Green four priority tasks saying together they will determine how Jamaica manages its mineral wealth, how it uses geological knowledge in the public interest, and how it protects taxpayers from continuing commercial losses.

The Minister’s first priority is to accelerate implementation of the National Minerals Policy 2017–2030 and bring to Cabinet any change needed to help Jamaica earn more from what is mined and quarried.

Through a limestone value-addition programme, the Ministry is to identify deposits suitable for higher-value products such as food-grade calcium carbonate, and work with investors to develop those opportunities in Jamaica.

The Prime Minister noted that bauxite and alumina remain important to Jamaica. The Ministry will work with operators to address energy costs, protect viable reserves, and improve residue management.

He will bring to Cabinet a critical minerals strategy that examines, among other prospects, whether or not valuable minerals can be recovered commercially from bauxite and its residues.

With the Finance Ministry, the new ministry is to propose a royalty and tax regime and an incentive regime (where applicable) suited to the economics of each mineral. It should reward exploration and investment, allow Jamaica to share fairly in higher profits, and give the state the means to verify production, prices, and payments.

Mr. Green’s second priority is to bring to Cabinet a plan to transform the Jamaica bauxite institute into a Jamaica minerals institute.

Dr. Holness said a national mineral resource assessment should give Jamaica a clearer picture of what the country has and where further exploration is justified. This should begin with limestone and aggregates and pursue prospects for gold, copper, rare earth elements, and other minerals where the evidence warrants it.

Working with the National Reconstruction and Resilience Authority and the relevant public bodies, the Ministry will identify proposed housing sites, critical facilities, and roads where unstable slopes or the risk of ground collapse in limestone terrain warrant investigation.

Before a site or route is settled, the responsible agency should have a map or written assessment that explains the known hazards, where uncertainty remains and what ground investigations are needed.

The Minister’s third priority is to protect the people who live and work near mines and quarries, safeguard rivers and watersheds, and restore mined-out land to safe, productive use. The Prime Minister expects operators to plan for the land’s future before extraction begins.

Those plans should reflect the views of landowners and neighbouring communities, identify a sustainable use suited to the site, and provide for progressive rehabilitation, with adequate financial security to complete the work.

The Ministry should also among other things strengthen the regulatory framework and act on the Auditor General’s recommendations.

Mr. Green’s fourth priority is to lead the divestment of Government’s interest in Clarendon Alumina Production Limited and its participation in JAMALCO.

The objective is to end or materially reduce taxpayers’ exposure to operating losses, capital calls, and contingent liabilities.

The Minister, with the Finance Ministry and the Attorney General’s chambers should bring to Cabinet a transaction strategy grounded in independent valuation and legal due diligence.

The Ministry of Mining and Geology is to submit, within 30 days, a plan identifying who leads each priority, when decisions are due and which reconstruction projects need geological advice first.

Mr. Green is to report to the Prime Minister in 90 days and quarterly thereafter, and provide an annual sector performance and investment report.

Prime Minister Holness noted that he expects evidence of investment secured, land restored, fiscal exposure reduced, and public decisions improved by geological advice.

The footage has gone viral on social media, with more questions being asked about what transpired on the morning of the crash.

Head of the St. Ann Police, Senior Superintendent Carlos Russell told IRIE FM News that the division’s traffic team will be reviewing the footage as part of the investigations.

He reported earlier today that two men are in custody.

SSP Russel said they are suspected to be the drivers of two Mercedes Benz motor cars, who fled the scene of Saturday morning’s crash.

Meanwhile, the Education Ministry deployed various teams to support school communities in St. Mary and St. Ann today following the deaths of the 4 students.

The deceased are they are 17-year-old Shantana Leonard of Cardiff Hall, Runaway Bay, a student of Brown’s Town Community College; Oracabessa High School students, 16-year-old Marcodine Maxwell and 15-year-old Rajani Abdul; and 16-year-old Kenneil Lyle, a sixth form student at Iona High School.

All three boys were from Mansfield Heights, Ocho Rios.

That is according to the latest Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) crime statistics for the period January 1 to October 31.

It showed that 439 people were murdered up to Saturday, when compared to 570 for the corresponding period last year.

St. James recorded the highest number of murders, with 54, followed by St. Andrew South, with 47, while St. Ann recorded 33.

Portland recorded the lowest number of murders, with only five cases being reported.

Overall, the JCF says major crimes are down by 21 per cent.

SRC Chairman Robert Lawrence made the remarks during the launch of Science and Technology Month at Jamaica House this morning.

It’s being observed under the theme: Science Saves.

Mr. Lawrence highlighted the Council’s contributions in key areas, including food security and sustainable development.

He said he hopes the observance of Science and Technology Month, will help pave the way for greater investment in research and other initiatives to advance Jamaica’s national development objectives.

Supreme Ventures Limited (SVL) Unaudited financials for the nine months ended September 30, 2026:

Supreme Ventures Limited (SVL), for the nine months ended September 30, 2026, reported a 3% increase in Total Gaming Income from $41.78 billion in 2025 to $43.01 billion in 2026. For the quarter, Total Gaming Income declined 1% to $13.87 billion (2025: $13.96 billion). Revenues from the Company’s segments for the nine months were as follows:

Direct Expenses for the period increased 3% to $33.25 billion (2025: $32.26 billion). For the quarter, Direct Expenses were broadly flat at $10.75 billion (2025: $10.79 billion).

Gross Profit for the nine months ended September 30, 2026, increased to $9.76 billion (2025: $9.52 billion). For the quarter, Gross Profit decreased to $3.13 billion (2025: $3.16 billion).

Selling, general, and administrative expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2026, increased 4% to $6.91 billion (2025: $6.64 billion). For the quarter, selling, general, and administrative expenses increased 8% to $2.37 billion (2025: $2.20 billion).

Interest Revenue for the nine months declined 44% to $113.60 million (2025: $202.34 million). For the quarter, Interest Revenue declined 79% to $13.50 million (2025: $64.17 million).

Other Income for the nine months amounted to $808.76 million, compared with a loss of $39.37 million in 2025. For the quarter, Other Income amounted to $501.95 million (2025: loss of $53.81 million).

Operating Profit for the nine months ended September 30, 2026, increased 24% to $3.77 billion (2025: $3.04 billion). For the quarter, Operating Profit increased 31% to $1.28 billion (2025: $978.23 million).

Finance Costs for the nine months increased 28% to $834.84 million (2025: $652.79 million). For the quarter, Finance Costs increased 38% to $308.04 million (2025: $223.28 million).

Profit before taxation for the nine months increased 23% to $2.94 billion (2025: $2.39 billion). For the quarter, Profit before taxation increased 28% to $968.98 million (2025: $754.95 million).

Taxation for the nine months increased 34% to $746.07 million (2025: $554.91 million). For the quarter, Taxation increased 21% to $254.66 million (2025: $211.27 million).

Profit Attributable to shareholders for the nine months amounted to $2.19 billion (2025: $1.85 billion), an 18% increase. For the quarter, Profit Attributable to shareholders increased 28% to $711.52 million (2025: $555.05 million).

Consequently, Earnings Per Share for the nine months amounted to $0.83 (2025: EPS: $0.70), while Earnings Per Share for the quarter totaled $0.27 (2025: EPS: $0.21). The twelve-month trailing EPS was $0.83, and the number of shares used in these calculations was 2,637,254,926.

Notably, SVL’s stock price closed the trading period on November 2, 2026, at $18.93 with a corresponding P/E ratio of 22.84x.

Balance Sheet Highlights

The Company’s assets totaled $22.47 billion (2025: $21.96 billion). The increase in the Company’s total asset base was driven primarily by a 9% rise in current assets, most notably a 251% increase in Short Term Investments to $525.73 million (2025: $149.97 million) and a 38% increase in the current portion of Loans and advances to $2.38 billion (2025: $1.73 billion), together with an 11% increase in Goodwill and Intangible assets to $4.09 billion (2025: $3.68 billion), a 27% increase in Deferred tax assets to $1.77 billion (2025: $1.39 billion) and an 11% increase in Cash and cash equivalents to $1.30 billion (2025: $1.16 billion). These gains were partly offset by a 14% decline in Trade and other receivables to $3.94 billion (2025: $4.56 billion), a 13% decline in Property and equipment to $4.91 billion (2025: $5.66 billion) and the elimination of non-current Loans and advances (2025: $529.88 million).

Shareholders’ equity attributable to parent was $4.88 billion (2025: $5.19 billion), representing a book value per share of $1.85 (2025: $1.97). The 6% decline reflects treasury shares of $516.30 million (2025: $120.96 million) following $341.19 million of share purchases in the period, and a lower other reserve of $539.91 million deficit (2025: $315.78 million deficit), which together outweighed the $311.16 million increase in retained earnings after $1.38 billion of distributions.

Disclaimer:

Analyst Certification – The views expressed in this research report accurately reflect the personal views of Mayberry Investments Limited Research Department about those issuer (s) or securities as at the date of this report. Each research analyst (s) also certify that no part of their compensation was, is, or will be, directly or indirectly, related to the specific recommendation(s) or view (s) expressed by that research analyst in this research report.

Company Disclosure – The information contained herein has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, however its accuracy and completeness cannot be guaranteed. You are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution or taking any action in reliance on the contents of this information is strictly prohibited and may be unlawful. Mayberry may effect transactions or have positions in securities mentioned herein. In addition, employees of Mayberry may have positions and effect transactions in the securities mentioned herein.

Sproul reportedly became unresponsive after falling to the ground. He was transported to the University Hospital of the West Indies, where he was pronounced dead.

Police sources suspect he may have been electrocuted. His family is considering legal action against the event’s organisers as investigations continue.

A relative questioned the decision to continue the party after the incident and challenged the organisers’ account of their contact with the family.

The organisers said paramedics responded immediately and provided assistance before Sproul was taken to hospital. They expressed sorrow over his death and said they were cooperating with investigators.

Their statement also indicated that meetings had taken place with relatives, Sproul’s employer and security personnel. However, a family member disputed that account.

The organisers appealed for the authorities to be given time to establish the circumstances surrounding the death.

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Carreras Limited (CAR) has advised that at a meeting of its Board of Directors to be held on November 12, 2026, an interim dividend payment will be considered.

Disclaimer:

Analyst Certification -The views expressed in this research report accurately reflect the personal views of Mayberry Investments Limited Research Department about those issuer (s) or securities as at the date of this report. Each research analyst (s) also certify that no part of their compensation was, is, or will be, directly or indirectly, related to the specific recommendation(s) or view (s) expressed by that research analyst in this research report.

Company Disclosure -The information contained herein has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, however its accuracy and completeness cannot be guaranteed. You are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution or taking any action in reliance on the contents of this information is strictly prohibited and may be unlawful. Mayberry may affect transactions or have positions in securities mentioned herein. In addition, employees of Mayberry may have positions and effect transactions in the securities mentioned herein

Scotia Group Jamaica Limited (SGJ) has advised that the Supreme Court of Judicature of Jamaica has sanctioned the Company’s previously announced Scheme of Arrangement effecting the privatization transaction involving Scotiabank Caribbean Holdings Limited, SGJ’s majority shareholder. SGJ has further advised that the Court Order sanctioning the Scheme was filed with the Registrar of Companies on October 30, 2026, and, accordingly, the Scheme is now effective. SGJ has also advised that trading in SGJ shares has been suspended effective November 2, 2026.

For further details, visit www.jamstockex.com

Disclaimer:

Company Disclosure -The information contained herein has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, however its accuracy and completeness cannot be guaranteed. You are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution or taking any action in reliance on the contents of this information is strictly prohibited and may be unlawful. Mayberry may affect transactions or have positions in securities mentioned herein. In addition, employees of Mayberry may have positions and effect transactions in the securities mentioned herein.

Elite Diagnostic Limited (ELITE) has advised that on October 30,2026, the Company received an Offer Circular from Resource Assets Limited, a company duly registered under the laws of St. Lucia with registered office at 20 Micoud Castries, St. Lucia (the “Offeror”) to acquire all of the issued ordinary shares of the Company (the “Offer”). ELITE has further advised that the Offer, as communicated to the Board, proposes consideration of J$1.60 per share payable in cash. The Offer is conditional upon regulatory approvals and other conditions.

ELITE has further advised that, in accordance with the Securities (Take-Overs and Mergers) Regulations, the Board will issue a Directors’ Circular to shareholders within seven (7) days of receipt of the take-over bid, containing its recommendation on whether to accept or reject the Offer.

For further details, visit www.jamstockex.com

Disclaimer:

Analyst Certification -The views expressed in this research report accurately reflect the personal views of Mayberry Investments Limited Research Department about those issuer (s) or securities as at the date of this report. Each research analyst (s) also certify that no part of their compensation was, is, or will be, directly or indirectly, related to the specific recommendation(s) or view (s) expressed by that research analyst in this research report.

Company Disclosure -The information contained herein has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, however its accuracy and completeness cannot be guaranteed. You are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution or taking any action in reliance on the contents of this information is strictly prohibited and may be unlawful. Mayberry may affect transactions or have positions in securities mentioned herein. In addition, employees of Mayberry may have positions and effect transactions in the securities mentioned herein.

President Donald Trump called him a “jihadist.” Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. went on a racist rant against Arabs. According to Michigan state Sen. Mallory McMorrow, a mailer went out showing El-Sayed’s face next to the World Trade Center’s Twin Towers.

“They are running the most bigoted, hateful, Islamophobic campaign I’ve ever seen,” McMorrow told a local TV outlet. McMorrow, who ran for the Democratic Senate nomination but dropped out before the August primary, is taking a far different tack than Rep. Haley Stevens, the Democratic primary runner-up who has spent the race’s final days painting El-Sayed as an angry antisemite and crossed party lines Sunday to endorse Republican contender Mike Rogers.

Rogers has sought to portray El-Sayed as anti-American and repeatedly tried to tie his opponent to the Muslim Brotherhood. He insists the attacks have nothing to do with faith. But that is exactly how many observers see them, including Muslim Republicans who have been disgusted by the rhetoric.

As the election draws to a close, the Islamophobic attacks have taken a backseat to Stevens’s claims of antisemitism — most prominently concerning a PAC ad that connected high grocery prices to U.S. spending on Israeli military aid — and a personal feud between the former primary opponents. And some of El-Sayed’s allies worry that the Muslim and Arab-baiting attacks will work. One recent poll found that 38 percent of Michigan voters said they would be less likely to vote for a Muslim candidate.

Michigan’s Muslim and Arab organizers have not been taking the attacks lying down, however. In interviews last month, two prominent leaders in Dearborn’s Arab American community described widespread excitement over the opportunity to vote for the man who would be the first Muslim in the U.S. Senate.

“It very much feels like when President Obama was running and his whole campaign was around like hope. That’s what it feels like,” Layla Elabed, the organizing director at Arab Americans for Progress, told the Intercept on October 8.

Elabed, the sister of Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., was one of the key movers in the Uncommitted movement, which urged Michigan voters to withhold their votes from Joe Biden during the 2024 primary in protest of his support for Israel’s war on Gaza. The movement succeeded in making a statement, but also drew criticism from centrist Democrats for allegedly fracturing party unity.

Elabed’s current group is an evolution of the Uncommitted movement. Its canvassers have been knocking on doors to turn out support for El-Sayed and other candidates.

“I don’t think many people in Dearborn are surprised by Haley Stevens,” Elabed told The Intercept on Monday. “Arab American Democrats in Michigan have been sounding the alarm about her for years, warning our fellow Democrats about a pattern of putting political interests ahead of the people she was elected to represent.”

She believes the same coalition that came together for Uncommitted could help push El-Sayed over the top this election.

“Abdul has been able to really take a stand on all the issues that were really important to anti-war voters and anti-genocide voters,” she said. “It’s not a coincidence that that same coalition, that same base of Democratic voters are now all coming out to support us.”

Hers is not the only group seeking to mobilize Muslim and Arab voters, who make up a sizable slice of the Michigan electorate. The Arab American Political Action Committee has also endorsed El-Sayed. Its president, Osama Siblani, said there is widespread enthusiasm for El-Sayed in areas with dense Arab populations such as Dearborn.

Siblani compared El-Sayed’s potential victory to John F. Kennedy’s pathbreaking election as the first Catholic president.

“First of all, he’s qualified. Second of all, he’s saying the right things, he has a good agenda,” Siblani. “His opponent is an asshole. In addition to all of this, he is breaking the ceiling for our community and for other communities. That is a plus.”

The goal of the Arab and Muslim-baiting attacks from El-Sayed’s enemies is clear, according to Nazita Lajevardi, an associate professor of political science at the University of Michigan.

“Islamophobia is a tried and true strategy for garnering a candidate support and swaying the vote,” she said.

“When political elites discriminate, it does mobilize people into action.”

Yet it is also possible that the attacks on El-Sayed’s identity will lead to greater turnout in places like Dearborn, she said.

“I think scholarship would tell us that when political elites discriminate, that it does mobilize people into action. Past scholarship would say yes, it would, but it’s an open question,” she said.

Elabed agreed that the attacks are nothing new. “We’ve watched it play out time and time again,” she told The Intercept. Stevens’s about-face isn’t a major development, she said, “It’s that the rest of the Democratic Party is finally seeing what our communities have been saying all along. We weren’t wrong. We just weren’t being listened to.”

Siblani expressed a similar sentiment on Monday. “I’m not surprised, I’m disgusted,” he wrote of Stevens in a text message, attaching an emoji of a person vomiting.

Stevens’s choice to jump ship for the Rogers campaign appears to have galvanized El-Sayed’s base. His campaign announced a one-day fundraising record after his fellow Democrat pulled her endorsement on Sunday.

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The deceased has been identified as 56-year-old Deveral Kirkland of Juno Pen, St. Mary.

Reports are that between 5:00 and 6:00 a.m., Kirkland was jogging along the main road when he was hit by a motor car, which did not stop.

He was taken to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

According to the police, the driver of the vehicle has been taken into custody.

JIS Chief Executive Officer Giovanni Dennis said the additional time would allow participants to complete the finishing touches on their entries. He encouraged students to take advantage of the extension.

The competition invites creative interpretations of the theme, “Our Heritage Endures: Resilient Through Trials—The Story of Jamaica”, through essays, posters, photographs and video reels.

Primary and preparatory school students aged nine to 12 can enter the essay category, submitting between 400 and 500 words exploring an aspect of Jamaica’s experience that demonstrates perseverance. Secondary students can compete in poster design, while photography is open to secondary and tertiary students.

Video reels have been introduced this year, widening opportunities for participation. A new People’s Choice Awards feature will also allow members of the public to select their favourite entries.

A special Heritage Preservation Award will recognise three schools whose finalists best connect Jamaica’s cultural legacy with the responsibility to safeguard it.

Entry forms and submission requirements are available on the JIS competition website⁠. The official essay and photography guidelines list the closing time as 11:59 p.m. on November 7.

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Education Minister Dr Dana Morris Dixon outlined the investment during a National School Nutrition Policy Certification Ceremony at Bartons Primary and Infant School in St Catherine on October 29. Part of the funding will help increase fresh produce supplies to schools.

Morris Dixon said addressing hunger and poor nutrition is essential to improving concentration and academic performance, beginning in early childhood.

Measures include providing breakfast at schools under the National School Learning and Intervention Plan, lowering sugar in Nutrition Products Limited offerings and using more locally grown ingredients. Papaya and cherry muffins, along with pumpkin jam, were highlighted as examples.

The minister also outlined plans for closer collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining to supply schools with more fruits and vegetables.

She encouraged schools to promote drinking water, establish gardens and support physical activity. Parents were urged to reinforce healthy eating at home.

Bartons Primary and Infant School was recognised for meeting certification requirements under the National School Nutrition Policy

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The donation accompanied the opening of a neonatal isolation unit capable of accommodating up to eight babies who need specialised treatment and observation.

Equipment provided includes a neonatal ventilator, transport incubator, infusion pumps, patient monitors and suction machines. The contribution also covers air conditioning and medical gas infrastructure.

Hospital CEO Eugena Clarke-James said the improvements would strengthen neonatal services at the institution, which records approximately 2,000 to 2,500 deliveries annually.

State Minister for Health and Wellness Krystal Lee said the resources would improve respiratory support, monitoring and transfers between facilities.

Church representative Elder Luis Navarro highlighted the collaboration with the hospital and the Southern Regional Health Authority, crediting donations from church members worldwide for making the assistance possible.

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The fatal shooting occurred during a police operation that began about 4 am and remained underway at daybreak.

The man’s full identity and further details about the circumstances surrounding the shooting had not been disclosed at the time of reporting.

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The deceased has been identified as Carrington Eulette.

According to police reports, the white Probox was travelling from Geddes Town towards Oxford about 2:30 am when the driver reportedly lost control. The vehicle struck four pedestrians before leaving the roadway and entering a nearby gully.

Residents helped transport the injured to Port Maria Hospital, where Eulette was pronounced dead.

The other three pedestrians were treated for injuries described as non-life-threatening and released. The driver was reportedly unhurt.

The St Mary police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the collision.

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The Palace Amusement Company Limited (PAL) Audited financials for the twelve months ended June 30, 2026:

The Palace Amusement Company Limited (PAL) reported revenue of $961.75 million for the twelve months ended June 30, 2026, a 27% decline compared to $1.32 billion in the corresponding period of the prior year. Box office receipts fell 27% to $597.94 million (2025: $818.05 million) and confectionery sales fell 27% to $302.98 million (2025: $416.33 million), with the Palace Multiplex in Montego Bay the weakest site, where box office receipts declined 72% to $45.41 million from $164.37 million following the impact of Hurricane Melissa.

Direct expenses totalled $940.19 million (2025: $1.22 billion), a 23% decrease. Gross profit declined by 79% to $21.56 million, down from $103.93 million for the twelve months ended June 30, 2025. Gross profit margin was 2.24% against 7.86% in the prior year, as direct expenses fell by less than revenue; film cost fell 31% to $271.24 million while staff costs, which sit within direct and administrative expenses, fell 11% to $360.15 million.

Administrative expenses declined by 16% to $216.86 million (2025: $256.82 million), while other operating income rose from $4.48 million in 2025 to $247.44 million in the period under review, of which $229.27 million is an insurance refund relating to losses sustained from Hurricane Melissa. Consequently, operating profit for the twelve months ended June 30, 2026 amounted to $52.14 million, compared to an operating loss of $148.40 million in 2025, an operating margin of 5.42% (2025: negative 11.22%).

Finance costs for the twelve months ended June 30, 2026 amounted to $41.88 million, a 2% decrease compared to $42.87 million in 2025.

Profit before taxation totalled $10.26 million (2025: Loss before taxation of $191.27 million). The tax charge for the twelve months amounted to $200.45 million, compared with a tax credit of $44.32 million in 2025, reflecting the derecognition of $192.68 million of the deferred tax asset.

Net loss for the twelve months ended June 30, 2026 amounted to $190.19 million (2025: Net loss: $146.95 million), a 29% widening. Net loss attributable to stockholders was $190.09 million, a 29% increase on the net loss attributable to stockholders of $147.80 million in 2025.

As a result, Loss Per Share (LPS) for the twelve months amounted to $0.22 (2025: LPS: $0.17). The twelve-month trailing LPS was $0.22, based on 862,216,800 shares. Notably, PAL’s stock price closed the trading period on October 30, 2026, at a price of $0.49, 49% below the $0.96 recorded on October 17, 2025.

Balance Sheet Highlights

The company’s assets totalled $2.21 billion (2025: $2.05 billion). The movement in total assets was primarily attributable to a 25% increase in property, plant and equipment, from $1.49 billion to $1.86 billion, following a revaluation of land and buildings, partially offset by a 97% decline in deferred tax assets (from $215.31 million to $6.25 million) and a 29% reduction in cash and cash equivalents (from $157.04 million to $111.06 million). Receivables more than doubled, rising 130% to $70.70 million (2025: $30.73 million), of which $37.05 million is insurance proceeds receivable.

Shareholders’ equity attributable to parent was $1.10 billion (2025: $898.58 million), representing a book value per share of $1.27 (2025: $1.04). The 22% increase in equity reflects a $391.89 million revaluation gain, net of tax, recognised in other comprehensive income, which more than offset the $190.09 million loss attributable to stockholders.

Disclaimer:

Analyst Certification -The views expressed in this research report accurately reflect the personal views of Mayberry Investments Limited Research Department about those issuer (s) or securities as at the date of this report. Each research analyst (s) also certify that no part of their compensation was, is, or will be, directly or indirectly, related to the specific recommendation (s) or view (s) expressed by that research analyst in this research report.

Company Disclosure -The information contained herein has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, however its accuracy and completeness cannot be guaranteed. You are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution or taking any action in reliance on the contents of this information is strictly prohibited and may be unlawful. Mayberry may affect transactions or have positions in securities mentioned herein. In addition, employees of Mayberry may have positions and effect transactions in the securities mentioned herein.

They are 16-year-old Marcodine Maxwell, a Grade 11 student at the school and 15-year-old Rajani Abdul, a Grade 10 student.

Another boy, 16-year-old Kenneil Lyle, was a former student at Oracabessa High, who is now attending sixth form at Iona High School.

A fourth teenager also died in the crash.

She is Shantana Leonard of Cardiff Hall, Runaway Bay, who was reportedly attending school in St. Ann

Councillor for the Oracabessa Division, Ramon Henry, who is a teacher of Social Studies and Physical Education at Oracabessa High, says grief counselling is being carried out by officials from the Education Ministry at the school.

Mr. Henry says Rajani Abdul was in his grade nine form class last academic year.

He describes Rajani as a very respectful young man.

Mr. Henry is appealing to motorists to desist from speeding on the road.

The Ministry said yesterday that it would deploy various teams to support school communities in St. Mary and St. Ann today following the deaths of the four students.

The platform ‘See it. Snap it. Fix it.’, was officially launched on Thursday through a partnership involving the Downtown Kingston Redevelopment Initiative, the Kingston and St. Andrew Municipal Corporation, the National Solid Waste Management Authority and the National Works Agency.

The platform provides a QR code-based reporting system that allows users to submit photographs and details of issues such as illegal dumping, overflowing garbage bins, blocked drains, damaged sidewalks, potholes and faulty streetlights.

The service covers areas including South Parade, Ocean Boulevard, East Street and Orange Street.

Reports are forwarded to the relevant agencies for attention, with users receiving email updates on actions taken.

The system also enables agencies to identify recurring problems, monitor outstanding issues and better coordinate their responses.

Mayor of Kingston Andrew Swaby describes the platform as a practical tool to strengthen the Corporation’s ongoing efforts to improve public spaces across the municipality.

The Mayor notes that the success of the initiative will depend on several factors, including timely assessments, clearly assigned responsibilities, appropriate follow-up and visible improvements on the ground.

The Jamaica Confederation of Trade Unions (JCTU), which issued the challenge, warned that the allegation unfairly casts suspicion on thousands of public officers.

Dr. Holness made the comment during a special press briefing at Jamaica House last Tuesday.

In a statement, the JCTU demanded that Dr. Holness substantiate his claims through the appropriate channels or withdraw them.

The trade union body insisted that accusations of deliberate wrongdoing should not be levelled against the public sector workforce without identifying those allegedly responsible.

It argued that the use of the word ‘sabotage’ carries serious implications, as it suggests deliberate interference rather than administrative delays, bureaucratic inefficiencies or weaknesses within the public service.

According to the Confederation, the Prime Minister’s remarks effectively placed every public officer under suspicion, including clerical workers, engineers assessing damaged infrastructure, social workers processing relief applications and nurses providing care in affected communities.

The JCTU warned that such allegations could undermine workers’ morale at a time when the country needs its public servants to play a critical role in the national recovery effort.

The Confederation also pointed to the Constitution of Jamaica and the Public Service Regulations of 1961, which it said provide established procedures for addressing misconduct within the public service.

It maintained that these mechanisms exist to ensure that allegations against public officers are investigated and dealt with fairly, in accordance with established procedures.

One on One Educational Services Limited (ONE) Audited financials for the twelve months ended August 31, 2026:

One on One Educational Services Limited (ONE), for the twelve months ended August 31, 2026, reported a 5% decrease in revenues, totalling $354.03 million, compared to $374.11 million in the corresponding period of 2025.

Direct Costs amounted to $76.51 million (2025: $97.46 million), reflecting a 22% year-over-year decrease. Gross profit rose marginally, by $0.88 million, to $277.52 million, compared to $276.65 million for the twelve months ended August 31, 2025. The gross profit margin improved to 78.39% from 73.95%, as the cost of inventories sold fell to $1.17 million from $24.98 million, partly offset by a $9.02 million provision for inventory obsolescence and a $1.43 million inventory write-off.

Administrative Expenses decreased by 4%, from $158.42 million in 2025 to $151.58 million in the current period, with salaries and related charges falling 7% to $93.93 million. Selling Expenses for the twelve months amounted to $20.17 million, a 13% increase compared to $17.91 million reported in 2025. Other Income decreased by 42% to $3.46 million (2025: $5.97 million). As a result, total operating expenses amounted to $171.74 million, a 3% decrease relative to $176.33 million reported in 2025.

Consequently, Operating Profit for the twelve months ended August 31, 2026, amounted to $109.24 million, a 3% increase relative to $106.29 million in 2025, lifting the operating margin to 30.86% from 28.41%. Expected Credit Losses of $8.93 million were recognised below operating profit (2025: $1.55 million). Finance Costs totalled $20.73 million, a 10% increase over the $18.84 million recorded in 2025.

Profit Before Taxation for the twelve months amounted to $79.58 million, a 7% decrease relative to $85.90 million reported in 2025.

The tax charge for the twelve months ended August 31, 2026 amounted to $2.10 million, compared to a tax credit of $30,457 in 2025. As a result, Net Profit amounted to $77.47 million, a 10% decrease from the $85.93 million reported in 2025.

Consequently, Earnings Per Share for the twelve months amounted to $0.0408 (2025: EPS: $0.0452). The twelve-month trailing EPS was $0.04 and the number of shares used in these calculations was 1,900,000,000.

Notably, ONE’s stock price closed the trading period on October 30, 2026 at a price of $0.85 with a corresponding P/E ratio of 20.85x.

Balance Sheet Highlights

The company’s total assets amounted to $775.04 million as of August 31, 2026, compared to $750.65 million in the prior year, reflecting a year-over-year increase of 3%, or $24.39 million. This movement was primarily attributable to a $58.92 million increase in Intangible Assets to $467.18 million (2025: $408.26 million) and a $29.98 million increase in Cash and Bank Balances to $75.62 million (2025: $45.65 million). These increases were partially offset by a $48.73 million decline in Trade and Other Receivables to $152.52 million (2025: $201.25 million), a $7.94 million decline in Property, Plant and Equipment to $38.30 million (2025: $46.24 million) and a $7.11 million decline in Inventories to $12.32 million (2025: $19.43 million). Amounts Due from Director rose by $1.55 million to $26.25 million (2025: $24.70 million).

Shareholders’ equity was $568.42 million (2025: $490.95 million), representing a book value per share of $0.30 (2025: $0.26). The 16% increase in equity equals the year’s net profit, as no dividend was declared in the period.

Disclaimer:

Analyst Certification -The views expressed in this research report accurately reflect the personal views of Mayberry Investments Limited Research Department about those issuer (s) or securities as at the date of this report. Each research analyst (s) also certify that no part of their compensation was, is, or will be, directly or indirectly, related to the specific recommendation (s) or view (s) expressed by that research analyst in this research report.

Company Disclosure -The information contained herein has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, however its accuracy and completeness cannot be guaranteed. You are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution or taking any action in reliance on the contents of this information is strictly prohibited and may be unlawful. Mayberry may affect transactions or have positions in securities mentioned herein. In addition, employees of Mayberry may have positions and effect transactions in the securities mentioned herein.

Weekly Pick 2.11.2026 DOLLA

Disclaimer:

Analyst Certification – The views expressed in this research report accurately reflect the personal views of Mayberry Investments Limited Research Department about those issuer (s) or securities as at the date of this report. Each research analyst (s) also certify that no part of their compensation was, is, or will be, directly or indirectly, related to the specific recommendation(s) or view (s) expressed by that research analyst in this research report.

Company Disclosure – The information contained herein has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, however its accuracy and completeness cannot be guaranteed. You are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution or taking any action in reliance on the contents of this information is strictly prohibited and may be unlawful. Mayberry may affect transactions or have positions in securities mentioned herein. In addition, employees of Mayberry may have positions and effect transactions in the securities mentioned herein.

Sygnus Real Estate Finance Limited (SRFJMD) Audited financials for the twelve months ended August 31, 2026:

Sygnus Real Estate Finance Limited (SRFJMD) for the twelve months ended August 31, 2026 reported an 8% increase in Interest Income totalling $283.84 million compared to $262.78 million in the corresponding period last year. Interest Income for the fourth quarter declined by 37% to $66.37 million compared to $105.22 million for the comparable quarter of 2025.

Interest Expense increased by 12% to $675.75 million from $604.34 million in 2025. Consequently, the Net Interest Expense deficit widened by 15% to $391.91 million compared to $341.56 million for the twelve months ended August 31, 2025. For the fourth quarter, Net Interest Expense amounted to $114.46 million compared to $41.96 million in the corresponding quarter of 2025.

The Group recorded Fair Value Gains on Investment Properties of $739.29 million, representing a 32% decrease from $1.08 billion reported in 2025. Meanwhile, Fair Value Losses on Financial Instruments at Fair Value Through Profit or Loss narrowed significantly to $15.04 million from $431.65 million in the prior year. Foreign Exchange also moved to a gain of $43.45 million compared to a loss of $66.52 million in 2025.

Other Income increased by 45% to $106.94 million from $73.51 million in 2025. Management Fees increased by 83% to $303.71 million from $165.99 million, while Corporate Service Fees increased by 10% to $49.91 million from $45.18 million. Performance Fees declined by 35% to $19.90 million from $30.78 million, while Other Expenses increased by 4% to $198.01 million from $190.57 million. As a result, Total Operating Expenses for the twelve months ended August 31, 2026 amounted to $572.02 million, representing a 32% increase relative to $432.52 million reported in 2025.

The Group recorded an Operating Loss of $89.29 million for the twelve months ended August 31, 2026, representing a 34% widening from the $66.67 million operating loss reported in 2025. For the fourth quarter, the Operating Loss amounted to $188.22 million compared to an Operating Profit of $562.39 million in the corresponding quarter of 2025.

Share of Profit of Joint Ventures decreased by 71% to $219.08 million from $748.68 million in the prior year. Consequently, Profit Before Taxation for the twelve months ended August 31, 2026 amounted to $129.79 million, representing an 81% decrease from $682.01 million reported in 2025. For the fourth quarter, Profit Before Taxation decreased to $83.71 million from $727.96 million in the corresponding quarter of 2025.

The Group recorded a Taxation Charge of $466,000 for the twelve months ended August 31, 2026, compared to a Taxation Credit of $105.00 million in 2025. Consequently, Net Profit for the year decreased by 84% to $129.33 million compared to $787.01 million in the prior year. For the fourth quarter, Net Profit amounted to $83.25 million, representing a 90% decrease from $832.72 million in the corresponding quarter of 2025.

Total Comprehensive Income for the year amounted to $129.48 million, representing an 84% decrease from $786.83 million in 2025.

Consequently, Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Stock Unit for the twelve months ended August 31, 2026 amounted to $0.37 (2025: $2.34), while Earnings Per Stock Unit for the fourth quarter amounted to $0.24 (2025: $2.40). The twelve-month trailing EPS was $0.37. The company had 347,233,574 ordinary stock units outstanding at August 31, 2026, comprising 208,099,874 JMD-denominated stock units (SRFJMD) and 139,133,700 USD-denominated stock units.

Notably, SRFJMD’s stock price closed the trading period on October 30, 2026 at $8.08, with a corresponding P/E ratio of approximately 13.00x.

Balance Sheet Highlights

The Group’s Total Assets amounted to $18.67 billion at August 31, 2026, representing a 10% increase from $17.04 billion in 2025. The increase was primarily associated with the recognition of $5.24 billion in Development in Progress, which was not recorded in the prior year. This balance comprised $4.86 billion transferred from Investment Properties following a change in the intended use of land at Cowpark, Caymanas Estate, together with $374.90 million in capitalised development costs incurred during the year.

Shareholders’ Equity increased marginally to $9.34 billion from $9.21 billion in 2025, representing a book value per ordinary stock unit of approximately $44.90 (2025: $44.28).

Disclaimer:

Analyst Certification – The views expressed in this research report accurately reflect the personal views of Mayberry Investments Limited Research Department about those issuer (s) or securities as at the date of this report. Each research analyst (s) also certify that no part of their compensation was, is, or will be, directly or indirectly, related to the specific recommendation(s) or view (s) expressed by that research analyst in this research report.

Company Disclosure – The information contained herein has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, however its accuracy and completeness cannot be guaranteed. You are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution or taking any action in reliance on the contents of this information is strictly prohibited and may be unlawful. Mayberry may effect transactions or have positions in securities mentioned herein. In addition, employees of Mayberry may have positions and effect transactions in the securities mentioned herein.

The Meteorological Service of Jamaica says a broad trough is forecast to develop across Jamaica and the western Caribbean on Tuesday, generating a large area of disorganised showers and thunderstorms.

Cloud cover is expected to gradually increase before intermittent showers and thunderstorms spread across most parishes. Rainfall could be heavy at times.

The Met Office also warned that sea conditions will deteriorate near showers and thunderstorms.

Fishers and other marine interests are being advised to exercise caution, particularly inshore and offshore along the south coast.

The Meteorological Service says it will continue monitoring the system and provide updates.

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Government Operations Results for September 2026

Disclaimer:

Analyst Certification – The views expressed in this research report accurately reflect the personal views of Mayberry Investments Limited Research Department about those issuer (s) or securities as at the date of this report. Each research analyst (s) also certify that no part of their compensation was, is, or will be, directly or indirectly, related to the specific recommendation (s) or view (s) expressed by that research analyst in this research report.

Company Disclosure – The information contained herein has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, however its accuracy and completeness cannot be guaranteed. You are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution or taking any action in reliance on the contents of this information is strictly prohibited and may be unlawful. Mayberry may effect transactions or have positions in securities mentioned herein. In addition, employees of Mayberry may have positions and effect transactions in the securities mentioned herein.

Data Center Restrictions Make the Ballot in Dozens of US Cities

Voters in dozens of US counties and cities will soon have the chance to help enact policies that would slow down the development of data centers.

Municipalities from Nevada to Georgia are giving residents an opportunity to vote for policies that would tax, regulate or even ban artificial intelligence infrastructure.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-11-02/data-center-restrictions-make-the-ballot-in-dozens-of-us-cities

BOE to Raise Rates for First Time Since 2023, Survey Shows

The Bank of England is expected to deliver its first rate hike in over three years on Thursday, according to a Bloomberg survey of 35 economists conducted at the end of last week.

All respondents — who were polled between Oct. 29 and Oct. 30 — expect the rate to be raised to 4% from 3.75%, the level at which it was kept for 11 months.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-11-02/boe-to-raise-rates-for-first-time-since-2023-survey-shows?srnd=phx-economics-v2

BOJ Signals Low Hopes for Consumer Spending as Population Falls

The Bank of Japan signaled that the shrinking of Japan’s population means that it’s increasingly difficult to achieve robust growth in overall consumer spending, suggesting that weak aggregate consumption by itself might not point to deteriorating household demand.

“From a demographic perspective, attention should be paid to the point that, to begin with, it is difficult to expect robust growth in aggregate private consumption as a trend,” the BOJ said in its full quarterly outlook report released Monday. “Specifically, the rate of decline in Japan’s population has been accelerating since around 2020.”

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-11-02/boj-signals-low-hopes-for-consumer-spending-as-population-falls?srnd=phx-economics-v2

Disclaimer:

Analyst Certification – The views expressed in this research report accurately reflect the personal views of Mayberry Investments Limited Research Department about those issuer (s) or securities as at the date of this report. Each research analyst (s) also certify that no part of their compensation was, is, or will be, directly or indirectly, related to the specific recommendation(s) or view (s) expressed by that research analyst in this research report.

Company Disclosure – The information contained herein has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, however its accuracy and completeness cannot be guaranteed. You are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution or taking any action in reliance on the contents of this information is strictly prohibited and may be unlawful. Mayberry may effect transactions or have positions in securities mentioned herein. In addition, employees of Mayberry may have positions and effect transactions in the securities mentioned herein.

And, like others on the list, she did it for the sake of one thing only: Israel.

In the video — filmed on her phone, in her car, and at an awkward angle — Stevens announced her endorsement of Republican candidate Mike Rogers against the Democratic nominee Abdul El-Sayed. Stevens had previously called Rogers a “rubber stamp for Donald Trump’s dangerous agenda.”

Stevens’s defection follows a pathetic effort to suggest that El-Sayed must make greater overtures to Israel supporters.

“I don’t belong in Abdul’s campaign,” said Stevens about El-Sayed, the candidate who currently enjoys 95 percent of Democratic voters’ support in Michigan, according to polls.

Stevens’s defection follows a pathetic, Islamophobic, and chaotic effort over the last weeks to suggest that El-Sayed must make greater overtures to Israel supporters.

Stevens now follows in the footsteps of other conservative Democrats who have shown an extreme disregard for the welfare of people in this country and beyond.

We might recall former Sen. Krysten Sinema of Arizona, who left the Democratic Party while still in office and notoriously delivered a dramatic thumbs down and curtsy when voting against a raised minimum-wage provision during the height of the Covid pandemic. Sinema and fellow then-Democrat Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia also joined with Republicans to effectively tank major voting rights legislation in 2022.

And, of course, there is the entire Senate career of conservative pro-Israel fanatic, Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman, who still remains a nominal Democrat. Fetterman offers a consistent master class in dangerous extremism and should be seen as a profound political liability by his own party.

It is, after all, so-called moderates like Stevens who are the radicals. As writer Eoin Higgins noted, an array of Democrats have revealed themselves more willing to see Republicans win than allow the party’s left-wing flank — or, more to the point, criticism of Israel’s genocide — to gain further ground.

And while there is little political agreement between the right and left wings of the Democratic Party on a whole array of issues, defeating Republicans, particularly Donald Trump’s Republican Party, was at least the stated goal of even the most conservative of Democrats.

To so openly fail on even those basic electoral terms should be the very definition of a political liability for a party.

Meanwhile, left-wing candidates running on popular policies with support networks built from the ground up have again and again been treated as the primary internal enemy by the party establishment.

Stevens had perhaps thought she could rely on this pattern. Numerous powerful Democrats and Israel apologists like Reps. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., were slow to get behind El-Sayed and have continued to pick fights over his policies on Israel.

Stevens’s Rogers endorsement was not, however, met with the tolerance that Democratic rightward lurches have typically enjoyed. In a bellwether moment, another strong supporter of Israel, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., called her endorsement of the Republican candidate “a despicable betrayal.”

The condemnation is the correct response of a party leader to a member taking active steps to thwart a crucial Senate race. It may not mark a shift for Schumer away from his own reliable conservatism and support for Israel’s genocide, but it nonetheless reflects a shifting political landscape when a figure like Schumer sees greater political expediency in standing with a progressive, Israel-critical, Muslim candidate, than with the radical centrist wrecker with whom Schumer is more ideologically aligned.

Stevens’s theatrics are unlikely to make a significant difference to Tuesday’s election results. Voters who elevate support for the Israeli state over human lives in Palestine and in the U.S. were already not going to vote for El-Sayed.

In a close race like this, pulling any support away from the Democratic candidate reveals the extremism of the purported center.

It’s unclear, then, who would be swayed by Stevens’s erratic actions two days before the election. In a close race like this, however, pulling any support away from the Democratic candidate reveals the extremism of the purported center.

We can welcome what looks to be a long overdue shift in political common sense and hope that positions like Stevens’s are seen as a liability before they reach their most extreme iterations.

Yet it shouldn’t take so-called centrists quite literally choosing Trumpian Republicans over progressive and left-wing Democrats to make clear who the real threat to the Democratic Party is — if winning elections and delivering policies to improve the lives of constituents is, in fact, their goal.

It certainly is for El-Sayed. He has dismissed Stevens’s performance as a distraction.

“None of this matters,” he told reporters on Sunday, and insisted instead on speaking about the state of schools, healthcare, and the cost of food for Michigan residents.

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Speaking with IRIE FM News, Mr. Green says that while full recovery will take time, the agriculture sector has already returned to its average output levels.

He says if drought conditions ease, the sector will be on track to return to pre-Hurricane Melissa figures in 2027.

He points to the rapid recovery of the sector’s vegetable subsector, which the Minister says augurs well for the industry’s overall comeback.

It notes that the Financial Secretary is the most senior civil servant below the Cabinet Secretary and plays a leading role in the preparation of the national budget.

The opposition says the reported move comes during the budget call period, when stability and continuity are essential.

According to the opposition, the reassignment would amount to a demotion, while questioning the timing of the move.

The People’s National Party is calling on the Prime Minister and Minister of Finance to explain the reasons for Ms. Morrison’s reassignment.

Spokesperson on Finance Julian Robinson, pointing to her 37 years of service at the Ministry, questions what prompted the decision.

He says any decision affecting the highest levels of the public service requires public justification.

Mr. Robinson also raises questions about the reported creation of a new ministry.

The call comes as some teachers have taken to social media to call for the negotiations to be concluded, allowing them to also benefit from an $80,000 one-off payment made to other public-sector workers whose wage agreements have been finalised.

The JTA rejected the Ministry’s wage offer at its annual conference in August.

President La Sonja Harrison reiterated that a meeting was held with the Ministry on September 22, followed by a separate meeting with the Education Ministry on October 7, to discuss a single matter.

She says the JTA is still awaiting a response from the Finance Ministry on that matter.

Earlier this year, the Jamaica Confederation of Trade Unions signed a three-year agreement, which includes a one-off payment of $80,000 for the 2025/2026 financial year, followed by a five per cent salary increase in each of the next two years.

Harrison explains that teachers will not be able to benefit from the one-off payment until the JTA’s outstanding claims with the Finance Ministry have been settled.

Her comments come on the heels of Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness’ promise for the Urban Development Corporation to advance its plan for the urban centre.

She says the push to preserve and develop the heritage town must remain equally important to keep businesses dependent on the coastal area alive.

Mrs. Myers-Brown also calls for further and constant consultation with the relevant authorities to ensure the plans are beneficial to all stakeholders.

“Even just rumors of [ICE at the polls] are going to spread fear. That’s not what we want,” said Daniela Padilla, deputy director at Texas for All, a statewide coalition of organizations working on democracy and justice issues. “Even your reporting around, ‘We’re watching for ICE at the polls’ — it could scare voters.”

“The biggest threat that we face in Texas this year is voter suppression.”

In Texas, a 40 percent Latino state where a longtime Republican grip on power now finds itself in question, there are real concerns that Immigrations and Customs Enforcement agents could pop up in targeted communities to make people afraid to go out and vote on Tuesday. But while the possibility of election interference has been discussed as one of several “big ticket items” of this year’s midterms, Padilla said, “the biggest threat that we face in Texas this year is voter suppression.”

That suppression can take many forms. In Tarrant County, for example, where local officials closed 92 polling locations, reports from early voting indicated some election officials wrongly turned away eligible voters. More than fearing ICE would actually approach the polls, Padilla and several organizers working on election integrity and voting rights in Texas told The Intercept they were worried that journalists amplifying the Trump administration’s stated plans to “surround the polls” with ICE and federal agents could function as an inadvertent form of voter suppression.

Federal and state law prohibits federal immigration agents from being inside polling sites and bar any form of voter intimidation. Those laws haven’t stopped the Trump administration and its allies from threatening to deploy ICE and military personnel around the country during elections. In August, the Department of Justice announced that it planned to send at least 1,000 federal monitors to oversee midterm voting, prompting multiple states to assert they would not let them inside polling locations. As states like Maine prepared to respond to the federal presence at the polls, the DOJ claimed to Newsweek it “never said” it would send federal law enforcement to the polls.

“The Trump administration has been spreading fear for months, refusing to say that they will not send ICE to the polls,” said Emily French, policy director at Common Cause Texas. “I think that the main function of this discussion around ICE at the polls from the Trump administration is scaring people into staying home on Election Day.”

According to Brianna Brown, executive director of the Texas Organizing Project, disinformation efforts are a common voter-suppression tactic in Texas. “So we’re trying to reassure people it’s safe to vote,” she said.

Texas is home to one of the most dramatic potential Senate upsets in the country, with Democratic state Rep. James Talarico leading in the polls over the state’s scandal-plagued Republican attorney general Ken Paxton in a race that could see Texas end up with a Democratic senator for the first time since the ’90s. And the 32 million-person state has enough voter suppression strategies even without ICE in the picture, Brown said, pointing to a 2021 bill that banned drive-through voting, weakened protections for disabled voters, and gave more power to poll watchers appointed on behalf of a candidate or political party.

“Texas is just like a perfect storm,” Brown said. 

When ICE showed up at a polling site in San Antonio in May — marking the first known case of ICE at the polls in the country during this year’s primaries — the county sheriff kicked the agents out. Even then, it did not appear that the federal agents were targeting someone in the process of voting; they had arrived at the scene shortly after state police, with whom they work closely, pulled someone over in the polling site’s parking lot.

That day, staff at the Texas Organizing Project and a group of civil and voting rights organizations working as part of the Texas Election Protection coalition helped coordinate outreach to the local sheriff to get ICE removed from the site.

The state coalition is part of a nationwide effort to protect this year’s elections from interference — federal or otherwise. In Texas, the Lawyers’ Committee and several other groups including the Barbara Jordan Leadership Institute, Common Cause Texas, and the Texas Civil Rights Project have been training people to help make sure voters know their rights on Election Day and that they report any instances of voter intimidation — whether an eligible voter is wrongly turned away or someone spots ICE — to a national hotline.

“We want to inform people, but we don’t want to scare them from coming to the polls,” said Khanay Turner-Osborne, executive director of the Barber Jordan Leadership Institute. She said she hasn’t heard much concern about ICE showing up around polling sites in Tarrant County, where she’s based and where people can vote at any polling site in the county. But still, for voters in hotspots of ICE activity and other forms of voter suppression, the group has told them to consider voting at a different eligible site, she said.

The group wants to help people prepare, Turner-Osborne said. “But I don’t want it to be in a way that deters people from voting.” 

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The deceased were identified as Shantana Leonard, 17, of Brown’s Town High School; Kenneil Lyle, 16, of Iona High School; Marcodine Maxwell, 16, and Rajani Abdul, both of Oracabessa High School.

Police said Leonard was driving a Toyota with the other three teenagers as passengers.

According to investigators, two Mercedes-Benz motor cars were travelling at high speed when one attempted to overtake the other and entered the path of the oncoming Toyota.

The first collision reportedly forced the Toyota into the opposite lane, where it was struck by the second Mercedes-Benz.

All four teenagers subsequently died at hospital.

Police allege that the drivers and other occupants of the Mercedes-Benz vehicles removed the registration plates before leaving the scene.

Investigators were seeking to establish the drivers’ identities and appealed to anyone with information to come forward.

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