Higher gas prices today
GAS PRICES will rise by $4 per litre today, following disruptions to oil supplies in the Gulf of Mexico caused by Hurricane Katrina. However, Noel daCosta, chairman of the Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica, believes prices should return...

C&W announces single calling rate for fixed lines
AS OF October 1, fixed line customers of Cable and Wireless Jamaica (C&W) will pay a single rate for fixed line to fixed line calls islandwide. The announcement was made yesterday by C&W president and CEO Rodney Davis...

Thousands probably dead in New Orleans
NEW ORLEANS (AP): THE MAYOR said yesterday that Katrina probably killed thousands of people in New Orleans - an estimate that, if accurate, would make the storm by far the nation's deadliest hurricane in more than a century.

Washington prepares aid package
WASHINGTON, (Reuters): THE BUSH administration and Congress began working on emergency legislation yesterday to aid the Hurricane Katrina recovery, as two former officials said the needs may be comparable to the September 11 aftermath.

RELIEF FUND IN JAMAICA TO AID NEW ORLEANS
THE UNIVERSITY of New Orleans in Jamaica will be establishing a disaster relief fund at the Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) and First Global Bank to help victims of Hurricane Katrina which struck New Orleans, Louisiana, this week.

Help for fire victims
HELP IS on the way for 68 Corporate Area fire victims whose houses have been gutted by fire since the start of this week. Many of the persons, half of whom are children, only managed to salvage the clothes on their back.