In case you missed it, here are OBSERVER ONLINE’s top ten stories for today.

1. Manhunt underway for prisoner who escaped from KPH

The police are reporting that a manhunt has been launched for a prisoner who escaped from the Kingston Public Hospital on today. He has been identified as 50-year-old Eric Banner, otherwise called ‘Whites’, whose last known address is West Cumberland, Portmore in St Catherine.

2. School-feeding programme progressing satisfactorily- Reid

Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Senator Ruel Reid says the school-feeding programme has been progressing satisfactorily, as the Government has provided a substantial amount of resources to the programme.

3. TAJ arrests delinquent taxpayers in St Catherine

Tax Administration Jamaica (TAJ) this morning reported that its Special Enforcement Team (SET) collaborated with the Jamaica Constabulary Force to arrest several “chronically delinquent” taxpayers in Spanish Town and Portmore in St Catherine.

4. May Pen Hospital accepting only emergency cases this weekend

The Southern Regional Health Authority is reporting that the May Pen Hospital in Clarendon will only be accepting emergency cases over the weekend.

5. Cabinet approves visa waiver with Russia

Cabinet has approved an amendment to the agreement between the Government and the Russian Federation for the waiver of visa requirements for periods not exceeding 90 days per annum. 

6. Finance ministry awaits draft regulations for appointment to public bodies

Finance and the Public Service Minister, Dr Nigel Clarke, says the ministry is awaiting the Chief Parliamentary Counsel’s (CPC) submission of draft regulations incorporating guidelines for the appointment of boards of public bodies.

7. Hospitality, tourism programme for high schools launched

The Ministry of Tourism has officially launched the Hospitality and Tourism Management Programme (HTMP), which was developed by the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute (AHLEI) to allow local high school students to gain entry-level qualification in tourism.

8. Gov’t to speed up disbursement of public-sector pension benefits

Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Dr Nigel Clarke, says public-sector pensioners can expect more timely disbursement of benefits through implementation of a fully automated and efficient pension benefit claim and payout system.

9. Top Colombian officials for Jamaica ganja conference

Colombian Senator, Juan Galan, and President of Colombia’s National Narcotics Fund, Dr Andres Lopez, are among a raft of high-level speakers for the CANEX Business Conference and Expo at the Montego Bay Convention Centre this week.

10. Antibody therapy suppresses HIV for weeks at a time — study

Scientists in the US said Wednesday they have discovered a way to suppress HIV in patients for months at a time using a twin dose of antibodies that could revolutionise how the disease is treated.