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Sophie Forbes October 30, 2015 When Neil Douglas boarded a flight last night from London to Galway, Ireland, little did he know that he was about to meet his doppelgänger. Or, for that matter, that he would end up sitting right next to him! Douglas, 32, boarded the plane and was looking for his seat when he saw a rather familiar mug looking up at him — one that looked just like his own. The man, named Robert Stirling, could have been Douglas’s twin. “I asked him to move and when the guy looked up I thought, ‘Holy s***, he looks like me,’” Douglas told the  Daily Mail . Both men saw found the humor in the startling encounter and snapped a quick selfie which was  posted on Twitter  by a friend and has since gone viral.  Related:  What Flight Attendants Really Think of Your In-Flight Drinking “I had actually swapped my seat on the plane so a couple could sit together,” Stirling shared with the  Daily Mail .  “Neil suddenly appeared next to me...

BY ALPHEA SAUNDERS Senior staff reporter saundersa@jamaicaobserver.com  Thursday, October 29, 2015     THE Ministry of Health has confirmed reports about an outbreak of antibiotic-resistant bacteria at the Bustamante Hospital for Children which occurred in July. At a press conference at Jamaica House yesterday, Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Dr Marion Bullock-Ducasse said the outbreak of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) had occurred in the intensive care unit at the paediatric hospital but was not extensive. "... There were three cases in that outbreak (in) patients who had been in the unit for months. All of the appropriate measures were taken, and the containment was achieved," she told journalists. The CMO said, however, that there was no outbreak in the special care nursery at the children's hospital. MRSA is a strain of bacteria that causes infections in different parts of the body and is more difficult to treat than most strains of staph bec...

BY PAUL HENRY Co-ordinator -- Crime/Court Desk henryp@jamaicaobserver.com  Thursday, October 29, 2015     DYING and injured cops. A female officer wetting herself before fainting due to intense and sustained fire from criminals. Heavily armed men engaging officers in the Corporate Area at almost every turn. And a service vehicle stolen in an ambush that nearly turned deadly for cops. Policemen in action in West Kingston during the May 2010 operation. (JAMAICA OBSERVER FILE PHOTO) These are the experiences described by two police officers during the Tivoli Enquiry yesterday as they recounted a deadly day for police personnel on May 23, 2010 -- a day before the operation was launched to apprehend then Tivoli Gardens don Christopher 'Dudus' Coke. "I saw big men crying because it was a situation to cry about," Sergeant Robert Clark said in reference to the scene on Mountain View Avenue, where eight police officers were shot, two of whom died, on the night of M...

Thursday, October 29, 2015     JAMAICAN scientist Dr Henry Lowe and his research team have made another significant step in their efforts to successfully combat cancer under an exclusive licensing rights agreement with University of Maryland (UM) Ventures. Dr. Ruel Lowe The university and Dr Lowe's Baltimore-based firm Educational and Scientific LLC (ESL) made the announcement yesterday in a news release, stating that the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) granted ESL exclusive licensing rights to its interest in the commercial development of a molecule whose anticancer properties were jointly discovered by ESL and UMB. Dr Lowe's Jamaica-based Bio-Tech R&D Institute collaborated on the discovery, which is being regarded in the scientific community as significant. "The molecule has consistently demonstrated its potential for the treatment of a variety of cancers, particularly lung, Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, pancreatic, and prostate cancer," the ...

BY STEVEN JACKSON Business reporter jacksons@jamaicaobserver.com  Wednesday, October 28, 2015    Jamaica jumped seven spots to 64th in the world in the prestigious Doing Business Report 2016 which actually betters Panama, the fastest-growing country in Latin America. "Jamaica, one of the 10 top improvers worldwide, reformed in four areas measured by Doing Business," stated the study published yesterday by the World Bank and its IFC affiliate. Jamaica made paying taxes easier and less costly by encouraging taxpayers to pay their taxes online, introducing an employment tax credit, and increasing the depreciation rate for industrial buildings, the document stated. It added that the island made resolving insolvency easier through several initiatives, including the establishment of a public office responsible for the general administration of insolvency proceedings. It's the second consecutive year of rapid ascension for the island implementing a number of reforms in...

Tuesday, October 27, 2015 | 7:58 PM -  David Wright KINGSTON, Jamaica — Health Minister Dr Fenton Ferguson on Tuesday raised a few eyebrows when he said in an address to Parliament that the public should be aware that the babies who have died as a result of the klebsiella bacteria are “not babies in the real sense”. He said they are in fact premature, which results in their immune systems being severely compromised. Minister of Health Dr Fenton Ferguson Members of the Opposition, riled at Ferguson’s comment, rejected the minister’s explanation with the Opposition Leader Andrew Holness calling for him to resign. Karl Samuda lashed out at Ferguson, telling him to man up and apologise to the mothers whose babies died of the bacteria in both the Cornwall Regional Hospital and the University Hospital of the West Indies. During the flurry, Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller broke her silence on the issue, saying she’s “deeply saddened” by what has happened. Nineteen ba...

Authorities in South Carolina say they are investigating a video that appears to show a police officer throwing a student out of a chair and across a classroom filled with students. The video, which spread quickly on social media Monday afternoon, was taken Monday inside Richland County’s Spring Valley High, according to a statement released Monday evening by Debbie Hamm, the superintendent of Richland Two School District. Police Brutality Hamm said the district is “deeply concerned” about the incident and is working with the Richland County Sheriff’s Department to investigate. The officer involved will not return to any school in the district pending the outcome of the investigation, she said.  “Student safety is and always will be the District’s top priority. The District will not tolerate any actions that jeopardize the safety of our students,” she said. The deputy involved has been placed on administrative leave, said sheriff’s office spokesman Lt. Curtis Wilson. S...

BY PAUL A REID Observer writer  Monday, October 26, 2015     CATHERINE HALL, St James -- First-time qualifiers Excelsior High held their nerves to beat St James High 6-5 on sudden death penalties in their first round ISSA/Flow Super Cup game at the Montego Bay Sports Complex Saturday evening. St James High’s Ronaldo McLeish (left) gets the better of Excelsior's Thorne Buchanan in their ISSA/Flow Super Cup  first round game at the Montego Bay Sports Complex on Saturday. Both players scored for their respective team  in regulation time but Excelsior won 6-5 on sudden  death penalties. (Photo: PAUL REID) After the teams were tied 1-1 after regulation and extra time and 5-5 after their first five spot kicks, Excelsior's goalkeeper Romario Palmer became the hero of his team as he saved Shemar Luckane's kick. Moments earlier, Raewin Senior had scored for Excelsior to give them the edge. Ronaldo McLeish had given St James High the lead in the first h...

BY KEVIN JACKSON Observer Writer  Monday, October 26, 2015 CANADIAN pop sensation Justin Bieber has released a dancehall-inspired song called Sorry. Produced by American dance music maestro Skrillex, it is from Bieber's upcoming album titled Purpose. Justin Bieber Co-written by Bieber, Julia Michaels and Justin Tranter, the song was released on October 22 as an instant download with the pre-order of the album on iTunes. This is not the first time that Bieber has worked with Skrillex. They collaborated on the song Where Are U Now, which hit pop charts in the United States early this year. Reviews have described Sorry as a "tropical house song with EDM and dancehall beats". A dance video uploaded to YouTube on October 22 has received over 20 million views. The 27-year-old Skrillex, whose real name is Sonny John Moore, is arguably the biggest name in the lucrative electronic dance music market. In 2011, he was nominated for five Grammy Awards, including Bes...

BY KIMBERLEY HIBBERT Staff reporter hibbertk@jamaicaobserver.com  Sunday, October 25, 2015     ANTONIO Harris is a broken man and he's saddened that since the death of his children's mother, Sophia Johnson in 2014, he has been unable to get them into school. Antonio Harris and his children Jaheen and Aaliyah hold candles at a vigil held at the Pechon Street car park in Kingston to mark the 150th  anniversary of the Morant Bay Rebellion. (PHOTO: BRYAN CUMMINGS) When the Jamaica Observer spoke to Harris last week at the vigil held at the Pechon Street Car Park in Kingston to mark the 150th anniversary of the Morant Bay Rebellion, he said that as a single father he tries his best to earn his bread honestly and support his children Jaheen and Aaliyah Harris, aged seven and five. But, when Johnson died he could not locate the children's birth certificate or immunisation records, which have caused him a great drawback. Harris further explained that they didn't ...

Thursday, October 22, 2015     THERE is a renewed call for the sacking of Health Minister Dr Fenton Ferguson over the outbreak of healthcare- associated infections at the University Hospital of the West Indies and Cornwall Regional Hospital which have claimed the lives of 18 babies since June. (L) FERGUSON... says he only became aware of the  deaths last Friday. (R) SIMPSON MILLER... accused of  protecting the health minister. The Ministry of Health disclosed at a press conference on Tuesday that a total of 42 babies had contracted the infections, which have since been identified as the klebsiella and serratia strains. The outbreaks happened in the neonatal intensive care units at the hospitals. A defensive Ferguson maintained Tuesday that he only learnt of the deaths on Friday, the same day news surfaced about the shocking incident. In a press release yesterday, Opposition Leader Andrew Holness expressed condolence to the grieving families, and called ...

Wednesday, October 21, 2015     THE Judicial Committee of the Privy Council had, five years ago, signalled its willingness to travel to Jamaica to hear cases, the Jamaica Observer has learnt. Privy Council building in London The London-based court made the offer to then Attorney General and Justice Minister Senator Dorothy Lightbourne in an April 16, 2010 letter, a copy of which was obtained by the Observer. "Late last year, John Almeida of Messrs Charles Russell indicated that the Government of Jamaica wished to explore the idea of a visit by the Judicial Committee to conduct hearings in Jamaica on a future date," the court's Acting Registrar Louis di Mambro told Lightbourne in the letter. "I am writing to let you know that Lord Phillips and Lord Hope would be delighted if a formal invitation were to be extended, say, for 2011," di Mambro said. He raised the issue of the cost of the court travelling to the island, saying that he had delayed writi...

BY ALPHEA SAUNDERS Senior staff reporter saundersa@jamaicaobserver.com  Wednesday, October 21, 2015    THE ministry of health yesterday made a shocking revelation that since June, 18 babies out of 42 have died from health care-associated infections (HAI) while in intensive care at the Cornwall Regional Hospital (CRH) and the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI). The disclosure came after days of widespread reports of an infection outbreak at the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at the UHWI. The University Hospital of the West Indies whose neonatal  intensive care unit has been affected by outbreaks of health  care-associated infections that have so far claimed the  lives of 18 infants. (OBSERVER FILE PHOTOS) Health Minister Dr Fenton Ferguson and his team appeared on the defensive at a press conference, packed with ministry representatives and other stakeholders in the health sector, at Jamaica House, where journalists were told that ...

Published 10/201/15 Based on reports from various broadcast on TV and speculation, Paul Ryan (Republican) will run for speaker of the house after Kevin McCarthy pulled out of the race. The current speaker of the House, John Boehner says... We Should Know If Paul Ryan Is Running For Speaker Soon "It's time for me to move on." Paul Ryan , To Run For House Speaker House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) told Fox News' Bret Baier he thinks we should know by Tuesday evening if Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) will jump into the race to replace him. Despite Boehner's claims, Brendan Buck, the communications director for the House Ways and Means Committee, which Ryan chairs, said a decision would not come on Tuesday. House Republican leaders  will meet  Tuesday night and are expected to discuss the next speaker. John Boehner, ASTRID RIECKEN VIA GETTY IMAGES Boehner announced  in September he would resign from Congress at the end of October. That seemed li...

BUFFALO, N.Y -- Felimina Rotundo works six days a week washing clothes at a local Laundromat, and shows no signs of stopping anytime soon, even at the age of 100. Rotundo washes clothes and handles dry cleaning at the College Laundry Shoppe on Main Street in Buffalo. She works from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day, and wouldn’t change a thing about it. She says that she likes being out and working because it “gives her something to do.” Rotundo said that she hasn’t considered retirement. She says she doesn't think that "old people" should be sitting idle, and doing nothing, because that is a waste of time. So when would be an acceptable age to retire? According to her 75 would be a good age to retire, but only if health is an issue.                                                                     ...

BY ALPHEA SAUNDERS Senior staff reporter saundersa@jamaicaobserver.com  Tuesday, October 20, 2015     Hundreds of Jamaicans and well-wishers endured the sweltering heat yesterday as they gathered on the lawns of King's House to cheer on family, friends, and colleagues receiving recognition for their outstanding contribution to various spheres of national life. The new members of the Order of Jamaica are photographed during the annual Ceremony of Investiture and Presentation of National Honours and Awards at King’s House yesterday  morning.  The list of 223 conferred with national honours and awards at the annual ceremony was headed by Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Cari-Med Limited Dr Glenford Christian, who was rewarded for his invaluable contribution to the pharmaceutical industry with the Order of Jamaica (OJ), the nation's fifth highest honour. Also receiving the prestigious OJ were Ambassador Derick Heaven, for distinguished service to t...

BY ALPHEA SAUNDERS Senior staff reporter saundersa@jamaicaobserver.com  Tuesday, October 20, 2015     "I really wasn't expecting all of this," Dr Ricard Shane Bennett admitted yesterday after being conferred with the Badge of Honour for Gallantry at King's House. Hero Doctor, Dr. Richard Shane Bennett "When I received the call from the Office of the Prime Minister telling me that I got an award, I thought it was a prank call," he chuckled. The award, though, was most deserving, and was presented on the most fitting day -- National Heroes Day -- at the annual Ceremony of Investiture and Presentation of National Honours and Awards, because the act that led to Dr Bennett being celebrated at the official residence of the Queen's representative was indeed heroic. It was an ordinary night in July 2014 for Dr Bennett. He thought he would have retired without event, as he had on any other night at his home in St Ann. But the blood-curdling screams...

 Sunday, October 18, 2015     AT 17, head girl of The Queen's School for girls, Sidonie Dixon is seized with a profound truism -- success in life comes when you simply refuse to give up, with goals so strong that obstacle, failure and loss only act as motivation. Sidonie Dixon is head girl of The Queen’s School for the 2015-2016 academic year.  (PHOTO: BRYAN CUMMINGS) Like the sentence's author, Sidonie is passionate about achievement and realises that it comes with determined effort on her part. Hailing from the inner-city community of Gregory Park in Portmore, St Catherine, the maths-lover told Career & Education that it matters not where one is from, once one desires success and is willing to work for it, it will be achieved. "No matter how old you are or where you're from, we all have something in common -- a desire to be successful... Think big: find what you love and do it, always maintain a positive mindset and work hard," she said by way o...

BY CLAUDIENNE EDWARDS Sunday Observer writer  Sunday, October 18, 2015  BEING homeless on the streets of downtown Kingston has to be one's worst nightmare. Students hoist the Jamaica flag at a recent ceremony held  at the Caribbean Maritime Institute at Palisadoes, Kingston. In such circumstances, the last place you're hopeful of finding solace and an avenue to launching your dream career is at a night shelter. At the Kingston & St Andrew Corporation (KSAC) Council meeting last Tuesday, Mayor Angela Brown Burke proudly announced that an individual at the Marie Atkins Night Shelter, at 65 Hanover Street, Kingston, had started classes at the Caribbean Maritime Institute (CMI) on October 5 towards earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Customs Processes, Freight Forwarding and Immigration. The individual whom the Mayor made reference to, on Friday told the Jamaica Observer of his struggles and how he left Savanna-la-Mar, Westmoreland, earlier this year to c...

BY HOWARD CAMPBELL Observer senior writer  Sunday, October 18, 2015  A STACK of spiritual books are prominent in Ras Michael's hotel room; the Africa Channel is the Nyahbinghi master drummer's viewing choice. Ras Michael Dressed in African garb, Rastafari and the upliftment of reggae music dominate his conversation. It has been that way with Ras Michael for nearly 50 years. Tomorrow, the founder of Ras Michael and the Sons of Negus will receive the Order of Distinction (OD) from the Jamaican Government for his "contribution to the development of Jamaican music". He considers his journey to King's House, to accept the country's sixth-highest honour, as another marker in his service to Rastafari. "For Ras Michael, is a transitional sojourn...from Salt Lane to Spanish Town Road, Back 'O' Wall, Rose Lane, Matthews Lane, Trench Town, Waterhouse. The journey continues," he reasoned. The 72-year-old Ras Michael lives in Los Angele...