Balanced budget target now tougher
ATTAINING A balanced budget this fiscal year is going to be challenging, says Minister of Finance Dr. Omar Davies. The main goal of this year's very tight budget announced in April was to balance income with spending.

Gov't to increase subsidy on drugs
THE GOVERNMENT expects to absorb an additional $500 million as it implements a massive increase in its subsidy on drugs and some medical supplies covered by the National Health Fund (NHF) next Tuesday, says Health Minister John Junor.

WTO spikes EU banana tariff - Ruling sends Europeans back to drawing board
GENEVA (AP): THE WORLD Trade Organisation (WTO) ruled yesterday that a new European Union (EU) tariff on imported bananas is illegal, siding with eight Latin American countries who said Brussels' proposal would seriously limit their ability to export...

Trelawny champion blows away rivals
DEXTER ANDERSON, of Bellevue Primary and Junior High School, is the winner of The Gleaner's Children's Own Spelling Bee parish finals for Trelawny. Dexter spelled the word I-N-F-L-A-M-M-A-B-L-E...

Rains hamper blood drive
RECENT WEATHER conditions have led to a severe shortage in blood supply and stock, according to the National Blood Transfusion Service. The requests for blood products have far exceeded the amount available from the Blood Bank, it said.

$1 billion to repair roadways
IT WILL cost close to $1 billion to rehabilitate roads and clean drains and gullies in the Corporate Area following last week's heavy rains, says Kingston Mayor Desmond McKenzie.

Cut consumption - PM
PRIME MINISTER P.J. Patterson is urging Jamaicans to follow his example by cutting personal energy consumption. He says this would form part of a national response to the energy crisis in tandem with the national energy policy now being developed.

Cayman visa fees announced
THE CAYMAN Islands is to charge Jamaicans US$102.40 (J$6,300) for a visa to visit that country, its government announced yesterday. Currently, Jamaica has no visa restrictions for Caymanians.