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The Huffington Post  |  By Lucy McCalmont Email Posted: 06/30/2015 8:58 pm EDT   After a dramatic 2-0 victory over Germany, the U.S. Women's National Team is headed to the FIFA Women's World Cup final. Seriously, though, did you guys catch that game? Because it was insane. The top two nations facing off in the semifinal did not disappoint. While the No. 2-ranked U.S. dominated most of the match, a scary moment came in the 59th minute when defender Julie Johnston was handed a yellow card and No. 1-ranked Germany was given a penalty kick. However, German striker Celia Sasic, sent the ball wide, leaving the score remaining at 0-0. It didn't take long after that for the U.S. to finally capitalize as midfielder Carli Lloyd netted the team's first goal off a penalty kick in the 69th minute. more

Tuesday, June 30, 2015   -- Paul Reid AFTER running his lifetime best 44.50 seconds, just a tenth off the national record 44.40 seconds held by Jermaine Gonzales, Javon 'Donkeyman' Francis was expected to claim the record for himself at last weekend's JAAA National Senior Championships. FRANCIS... I feel good about my performance today. Rusheen McDonald who had run 44.60 seconds, Francis, who was injured in last season's National Senior Championships, was expected to win the one-lap race and he delivered for his first senior title. His 44.70 seconds, just dipping at the line to beat the late-charging McDonald, was slower than expected, but the ebullient Francis was not concerned with times on Sunday. "I feel good about my performance today," he said. "I just give God thanks that I came out here and enjoyed my day in front of my home crowd." He reminded members of the media that not too long ago he was running 59.00 seconds for the quar...

KIMMO MATTHEWS Observer staff reporter mattthewsk@jamaicaobserver.com  Tuesday, June 30, 2015     FIRE yesterday destroyed a large section of the 97-year-old Wortley Home on Constant Spring Road in Kingston, leaving 21 young female wards of the State, ages 7-18, and the home's administrators in distress. Firemen extinguish fire Police report that about 11:30 am persons passing the area saw smoke coming from one of the dormitories and raised an alarm. Firefighters said seven units responded to the blaze, which took them more than two hours to control. The units, according to the firefighters, came from the nearby Half-Way-Tree Fire Station, as well as from Rollington Town, York Park, and Trench Town -- all located more than 20 minutes drive away. "We got the call a few minutes after 11:30 am and we reached at the location as quickly as possible," one firefighter told the Jamaica Observer. Tragedy Help also came from people living in nearby communities,...

BY RICHARD JOHNSON Observer senior reporter johnsonr@jamaicaobserver.com  Tuesday, June 30, 2015     THE century-old Ward Theatre, in the heart of downtown Kingston, resonated with the sound of music Sunday afternoon. For the second year, life came to the landmark theatre -- which is in a state of disrepair -- thanks to the studio and performing arts festival Kingston On the Edge (KOTE). Chilean-born Maria Cecilia Toledo (left) and guitarist Earl ‘Chinna’ Smith performing at the Ward Theatre  in downtown Kingston on Sunday. (Photo: Kingston On The Edge) This year's event capped the festival and saw the first public presentation of guitarist Earl 'Chinna' Smith's 'Bingestra' in a programme entitled 'Opera meets Nyahbinghi', which featured the vocals of Chilean opera singer Maria Cecilia Toledo. A cross-section of Jamaicans filled the lower level of the historic theatre, which had been specially prepared and seats repaired for the event. For...

 Tuesday, June 30, 2015  THE Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica (PCJ) last Friday presented cash and prizes valued at more than $1.8 million to primary and high school students who submitted winning entries in the 2014-15 Schools Energy Competition. Minister of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining Phillip Paulwell (centre) and Senior Corporate Relations Manager at Digicel Trisha Williams-Singh (right) present students from Anchovy High School with the trophy for winning the 16-18 Age Group Category of the PCJ’s Schools Energy Programme Science Competition. The four team members each received a tablet and data service subscription from Digicel for one month. The competition, which is the highlight of the Schools Energy Programme which the PCJ carries out annually as a means of promoting energy education among Jamaica's youth, gave students a first-hand look at the production side of the energy industry through tours of local generating plants including the Petrojam Ref...

Sunday, June 28, 2015 Family friend and filmmaker Tyler Perry joined Bobbi Kristina Brown's family on Sunday at the hospice care facility in Duluth, Ga., where they have been keeping vigil  at her side. Bobbi Kristina Brown Perry arrived at the facility in a blue Rolls Royce and stayed several hours.  Soon after Bobbi Kristina was first hospitalized, ET previously reported, Perry loaned his private plane to Bobby Brown to fly down to Atlanta. WATCH: Whitney Houston & Bobbi Kristina Brown -- Circle of Tragedy The daughter of Bobby Brown and the late Whitney Houston was in a medically-induced coma for nearly five months after being discovered unconscious and unresponsive in her bathtub in nearby Roswell on Jan. 31. Bobbi Waves Goodbye In February, Oprah Winfrey, who was the first to interview Bobbi Kristina after Houston died,  talked about Perry's bond with the family . WATCH: Oprah Winfrey Gets Super Emotional Over Bobbi Kristina Tragedy: 'There A...

Monday, June 29, 2015     MANDEVILLE, Manchester -- Christiana Leased Primary and Infant School students, in late May, walked away as champions in an Infant School Quiz Competition organised by the Manchester Parish Library. Christiana Leased Infant school teacher and coach Claudette McKenzie with the team members. They took the title from Mandeville Infant School who were the winners in the inaugural event last year. Regional director for the library services in Manchester and St Elizabeth, Lorraine McLean, said that the competition is endorsed by the Ministry of Education Region 5 Early Childhood Unit. She said that the event was conceptualised to expose the children to quiz competitions at an early age, and enable them to reap the benefits gained from participation. "[The] setting [will] prepare their young minds for active mental exercise, which [will] improve their memories, stimulate alertness, encourage teamwork and self expression. The competition [will...

  Monday, June 29, 2015   , Jamaica Observer WE all have a perception of what she might be like — slimmer, prettier, exquisite, the devil's spawn, overly sexed, or a predator waiting for her kill — that other woman who manages to attract our spouse's attention. No woman wants to know that she is part of the equation, but while she is usually ostracised, no doubt she is fascinating. What it’s really like being the other woman? (Liquid Gold model: Britney) Below we take a glimpse into the life of the other woman, as she confesses what it's really like being the one in the shadows. Brittany G: It's a bittersweet feeling. The thrill of knowing he shares his time equally with you is the sweet part, but what's bitter is knowing he will never leave the long-term woman for you. Apart from tossing between those two extremes, you live in denial, but you know deep down that you have done nothing but settle for not only second, but possibly fifth best. It's...

Sunday, June 28, 2015     SCOTIA Foundation will this year increase the number of Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT) scholarships it awards, from 15 to 22. The increase will see an additional 10 scholarships going to inner-city schools. This brings the total number of inner-city beneficiaries to 20 out of the 22 to be issued. The scholarships, dubbed the 'Shining Star Awards', are valued at $225,000 over five years to cover high school tuition and books for the recipients. The foundation said the increase was as a result of a restructuring of its scholarship award system as it recognises the needs of the country. "We removed the category of County Scholarships and increased the number of Scotia Foundation Shining Star awards, as increasing the number of awardees from the inner city significantly increases the opportunity for children from lower-income homes to access quality education with adequate financial support," public and corporate communications manage...

 BY KIMONE THOMPSON Associate Editor -- Features thompsonk@jamaicaobserver.com  Sunday, June 28, 2015     IF you round up by 1.8 percentage points at the most, Mannings Hill Primary in rural St Andrew would have not one, but six perfect Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT) scores this year. The six students of Mannings Hill Primary School in rural  St Andrew who recorded exceptionally high scores in the  Grade Six Achievement Test this year. From left, they are Dainalissa Saddler, Crystal Francis, Tahjay McKenson, Britney Gayle, Ackera Bogle and in the back, Pahjay Plunkett.  (PHOTO: KIMONE THOMPSON) That's because, in addition to the 100 per cent average of head girl Dainalissa Saddler, there is the 99.4 per cent scored by Ackera Bogle, the 98.8 per cent bagged by both Pahjay Plunkett and Tahjay McKenson, the 98.6 per cent copped by Britney Gayle, and the 98.2 per cent recorded by Crystal Francis. Saddler, Plunkett and McKenson have been plac...

BY HOWARD WALKER Observer senior reporter walkerh@jamaicaobserver.com  Sunday, June 28, 2015     Omar McLeod (centre) celebrates after beating Hansle Parchment (right) to win the 110m hurdles in 12.97 seconds  last night. Parchment was second in 13.18 while Dwight Thomas finished fifth with 13.43 seconds. (PHOTO: BRYAN CUMMINGS) OMAR McLeod announced himself to the world after winning the 110m hurdles in a world-leading 12.97 seconds, while for the first time in Jamaica’s history, two women have qualified for an 800m event at a senior championship after Natoya Goule and Simoya Campbell pulled each other to personal best times last night. McLeod, 21, formerly of Manchester High and Kingston College and now representing the University of Arkansas, was quickest out of the blocks and hurdled smoothly and when 2012 Olympic bronze medallist Hansle Parchment threatened with three hurdles left, McLeod remained unfazed, kept his form and posted a fantastic 12.97, whi...

 Sunday, June 28, 2015     OPPOSITION Leader Andrew Holness's defence of the house that he and his wife Juliet are building in Beverly Hills, St Andrew has created more unease inside the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) and appears to have placed the political organisation on a collision course with some of its more affluent donors. According to JLP insiders, questions about Holness's judgement for building the massive house at this time have re-emerged in the party, which is bracing itself for the property being used by the governing People's National Party (PNP) in the campaign for general elections due for 2016, but widely expected later this year. "The party knows that it will be one of the biggest advertising tools against us in the next election," one JLP insider told the Jamaica Observer. "It has been a major concern for the party over the last two years. It hasn't been dealt with openly until last week in the Sunday Observer," added the i...

 Published:Friday | June 26, 2015Jodi-Ann Gilpin Both Melissa Dell and RieAnna Barclay of the Queen's Preparatory School in St Andrew struggled to write simple stories as they prepared for the Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT) examinations. However, both gained perfect scores when the results were released recently. From left: RieAnna Barclay, with her teacher, Marcia Jamieson, and Melissa Dell at the  Queen’s Preparatory School. Barclay told  The Gleaner  in an interview recently that the grade-six journey presented many challenges, but with the help of her parents and teachers she managed to overcome. Students who sit the GSAT are expected to do communication task, which involves story writing, letter writing and other activities which demonstrate their literary skills.  "Since grade five, I have always had problems writing stories. I never had the creativity. I really struggled in that area. I read a lot, but somehow writing wasn't my best subject,...

Associated Press  |  By Julie Pace Posted: 06/25/2015 9:44 pm EDT  WASHINGTON (AP) -- Long past the prime of his presidency, Barack Obama is defying the lame-duck label and solidifying the contours of his legacy with the help of unlikely allies in Congress and the Supreme Court. Led by Chief Justice John Roberts, the high court preserved Obama's signature health care law Thursday, hours before a Republican-controlled Congress paved the way for an Asia-Pacific trade pact at the center of the president's international agenda. The Supreme Court also handed Obama a surprise win by upholding a key tool used to fight housing discrimination. Biden/Obama "This was a good day for America," Obama said, speaking from the White House Rose Garden shortly after the court rulings. For a president deep into his second term, the legal and legislative victories were a vindication of policy priorities that have sapped his political capital and exposed rifts with his own De...

BY RICHARD JOHNSON Observer senior reporter johnsonr@jamaicaobserver.com  Friday, June 26, 2015     THE organisers of Reggae Sumfest are not worried about Wednesday's arrest of hip-hop star Rick Ross, who is one of the headliners on this year's festival. Sumfest Chairman Johnny Gourzong told Splash that he has been assured that the American artiste will definitely honour his July 17 commitment in Jamaica. "We are not losing any sleep over this matter right now, as we have been assured by his team that he will be in Jamaica. I spoke to his manager and the artiste will appear before a judge today (Thursday) and so we wait to see what will come of that. He is set to appear at the BET Awards this weekend, so we'll be watching closely. But we are not worried based on the assurances we have received from his team," Gourzong explained. He was speaking following the launch of Reggae Sumfest, which is scheduled for July 12-18 in Montego Bay. Rick Ross was arrest...

Former world record holder Asafa Powell (right) easing home in 9.98 seconds to win heat one of the men’s 100m ahead of Yohan Blake (left) in 10.24 seconds at the  National Stadium last night. At centre is Mario Forsythe. (PHOTO: BRYAN CUMMINGS) JC schoolboy Clayton Brown on his way to winning the  men’s triple jump with a leap of 16.17m. Orlando Thomas of MVP about to unleash the javelin with a winning throw of 70.12m. Ristananna Tracey of Racers is all focus and concentration on her way to winning the women’s 400 semifinal in 56.22 seconds. BY HOWARD WALKER Observer senior reporter walkerh@jamaicaobserver.com  Friday, June 26, 2015     Former world record holder Asafa Powell has set tongues wagging after clocking 9.98 seconds to easily brush aside Yohan Blake and company to advance to the semi-finals of the 100 metres at the Supreme Ventures JAAA National Senior Championships at the National Stadium last night. Blake,  who finished second in 10.2...

BY BALFORD HENRY Senior staff reporter balfordh@jamaicaobserver.com  Thursday, June 25, 2015     A submission, presumably originating from the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) supporting additional limitations on the Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM), has raised concerns among members of the joint select committee (JSC) reviewing the operations of the commission. The submission claimed that INDECOM has exhibited "overzealous actions" from inception, which has resulted in a "strained relationship" between the police and its investigators. It said that the approach adopted by INDECOM over the years "has eroded the confidence of a critical mass of police officers, in their pursuit of hardened and violent criminals, and the conduct of criminal investigations in very serious cases, where INDECOM sidelines the police investigators by asserting its privileged position of primacy in the investigations". "Therefore, in some instances,...

Thursday, June 25, 2015     ATLANTA (AP) — Rapper Rick Ross is accused of forcing a man into a guesthouse at his suburban-Atlanta mansion and beating him in the head with a handgun, chipping his teeth and mangling his jaw so badly that he's unable to chew food, authorities say in court records. Rick Ross Ross was taken into custody Wednesday by a US Marshals Service fugitive task force and sheriff's deputies at the mansion in Fayette County, south of Atlanta. Ross, 39 -- whose real name is William Roberts -- was jailed without bail on kidnapping, aggravated assault and aggravated battery charges, said Jim Joyner, a supervisor with the Marshals Service task force. Ross' bodyguard, 42-year-old Nadrian James, faces kidnapping and aggravated battery charges stemming from the same incident, arrest warrants state. The June 7 attack left the man with injuries that included two chipped teeth and a neck injury, authorities said. Ross also faces an aggravated assault...

BY RENAE DIXON Observer staff reporter dixonr@jamaicaobserver.com  Thursday, June 25, 2015     CLAREMONT, St Ann — The St Ann police were up to late yesterday searching for a man who viciously chopped a woman — who later died — and raped a schoolgirl near Barrett Hall, Golden Grove, in the parish on Tuesday. The lonely radio where incident took place Twenty-seven-year-old Mellissa Smith — a mother of five — was chopped all over her body, with one of her arms severed, by a man riding a bicycle. She succumbed to her injuries yesterday at St Ann's Bay Hospital where she was taken for treatment. Yesterday, there were conflicting accounts as to how the attack happened. Some residents said that the woman was attacked when she happened upon the man while he was in the act of raping the schoolgirl. Others said that the two were walking on the lonely stretch of road when they were surprised by the man. But for Smith's common-law husband, Paul McKenzie, whatever happen...

AP  |  By By MESFIN FEKADU Posted: 06/24/2015 2:44 pm EDT NEW YORK (AP) — Bobbi Kristina Brown has been moved to hospice care after months in the hospital. In a statement Wednesday, her aunt Pat Houston said Whitney Houston's daughter's condition has worsened." Despite the great medical care at numerous facilities, Bobbi Kristina Brown's condition has continued to deteriorate," the statement read. "As of today, she has been moved into hospice care." Brown, 22, was found face down and unresponsive in a bathtub in her Atlanta area home on Jan. 31. She underwent surgery to replace her breathing tube with a tracheostomy tube in February. "We thank everyone for their support and prayers. She is in God's hands now," the statement read on behalf of the Houston family. Brown is also the daughter of singer Bobby Brown. He, along with Pat Houston, were appointed co-guardians of Brown last month. Whitney Houston was found unres...

BY ALPHEA SAUNDERS Senior staff reporter saundersa@jamaicaobserver.com  Wednesday, June 24, 2015   A little over two years after the National Housing Trust (NHT) spent $180 million to purchase the failed Orange Grove/Outameni attraction in Cooper's Pen, Trelawny, in what the auditor general determined was a buyout of a bad debt owed to a local merchant bank, the Government is looking to either sell or lease the 10-acre property, which remains shrouded in controversy. Entrance to Outameni Newly installed NHT Chairman Dr Carlton Davis made the revelation yesterday at a sitting of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament. "The decision has not yet been taken, but it is the most likely decision," he stated. "My own preferred orientation is to sell or lease the property as soon as possible. Out of an abundance of caution since, we created a Properties Review Committee. It was felt that we should give them the opportunity to see if there is some extraor...

BY KEVIN JACKSON Observer writer  Wednesday, June 24, 2015     THE beauty pageant season kicked off on Sunday night at the Pegasus hotel in St Andrew with the eliminations of the 2015 Miss Jamaica World beauty pageant. The finalists in this year’s Miss Jamaica World competition.  (Photo: Joseph Wellington) From 39 entrants, 20 girls were selected to compete for the coveted crown in the pageant which will climax on August 15 at the Montego Bay Convention Centre. Among the finalists are two media personalities, practising lawyers and medical students. According to Laura Butler of Fusion Consulting, franchise holder for the Miss Jamaica World pageant, selecting the finalists was no easy task. "It was a tedious process selecting the final 20 and it was just as nerve- racking for the girls as well. Our main aim is always to improve the pageant in many ways," Butler told the Jamaica Observer. The judging panel comprised Cindy Breakspeare, Miss World 1974; Mi...