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Thompson-Herah, Tina Clayton among Jamaican quartet to clash Alfred in 100m at Budapest meet

Thompson-Herah, Tina Clayton among Jamaican quartet to clash Alfred in 100m at Budapest meet

Two-time Olympic double sprint champion Elaine Thompson-Herah is among a quartet of Jamaicans in the women’s 100m at Tuesday’s Gyulai István Memorial at the National Athletics Centre in Budapest, with Olympic Games champion Julien Alfred also set to compete in the race.Over 20 top Jamaicans, including a number of national champions, will compete in the final Gold level meet of the season.Thompson-Herah is coming off a season best 10.91 seconds run in Croatia and will be accompanied by World Championships medalist Tina Clayton, who goes into the race with the best time- 10.85 seconds; Jonielle Smith, who ran a lifetime best 10.89 seconds at the Prefontaine Classic; and Brianna Lyston.Alfred ran a mouthwatering 21.51 seconds in the 200m last weekend at the Monaco Diamond League meet, the third-fastest time ever by a woman over the distance. Despite only running the 100m twice this season, she enters Tuesday’s event as arguably the favourite.Three Jamaican men, Ackeem Blake, Nishion Ebanks and Rohan Watson are down to contest the men’s 100m where they will face American Sam Blaskowski, Akani Simbine of South Africa and Emmanuel Eseme of Cameroon.Newly-crowned men’s national junior record holder Gary Card headlines the Jamaican men in the 200m, which also includes Michael Campbell and Dominic Williams. They will face off against Makanakaishe Charamba of Zimbabwe, Mason Lawyer of the USA and Aaron Brown of Canada.Jamaican women’s 400m record holder Nickisha Pryce will contest the women’s 200m on Tuesday where she will be joined by Krystal Sloley as they take on American Gabby Thomas who is coming off a loss to Alfred last weekend, Kayla White and Anavia Battle.Navasky Anderson will contest the men’s 800m where he faces a quality field that includes Gabriel Tual of France, David Barroso of Spain and Kethobogile Haingura of Botswana, all of who have gone under 1:44.00 this season.Kerrica Hill faces a tough field in the 100m hurdles where she goes up against world leader Masai Russell of the USA who has not lost over the barriers all season. Americans Alaysha Johnson and Rayniah Jones, as well as Nadine Visser of the Netherlands and Cyrena Samba-Mayela of France will add to the quality of the field.On time, Rushell Clayton will start favourite to win the women’s 400m hurdles where she will compete against compatriot Shiann Salmon as well as Kemi Adekoya of Bahrain and American Jasmine Jones. World number three ranked Rajindra Campbell who was second in the men’s shot put at a meet in Memphis, Tennessee on Friday, takes on world leader Leonardo Fabbri of Italy as well as Payton Otterdahl of the USA and Tom Walsh of New Zealand.Wayne Pinnock, who had a season’s best 8.39m last week to leap up to number five in the world, will be going after a win in the men’s long jump where he will be one of three Jamaicans, including Tajay Gayle and Nikaoli Williams.World leader Miltiadis Tentoglou of Greece will be the pre-event favourite while Anvar Anvarov of Uzbekistan and Lester Lacay of Spain are also expected to compete.Lamara Distin is down for the women’s high jump where she faces two very good Australians, Eleanor Patterson and Nicola Olyslagers, along with Marija Vuković of Montenegro.National champion Ackelia Smith will contest the women’s long jump and will face American Monae Nichols, Delta Amidzovski of Australia and Ramona Elena Verman of Romania.-Paul A Reid

9 hours ago
Birthday boy Yamal stands by ‘no fear’ comment ahead of France clash

Birthday boy Yamal stands by ‘no fear’ comment ahead of France clash

DALLAS, United States (AFP) -- Lamine Yamal insisted on Monday he would take no fear into Spain's World Cup semi-final against France as he celebrated his 19th birthday.The Barcelona prodigy raised eyebrows following Spain's 2-1 quarter-final defeat of Belgium last week after being quoted as saying that France rather than Spain ought to be afraid given recent defeats against La Roja.A relaxed-looking Yamal addressed those comments as he spoke to reporters on Monday at a press conference.I was asked if I was afraid of France, and I said no, Yamal explained. We are European champions. It's simply football, the teenager explained.Yamal said he had marked his 19th birthday by buying a chunky jewel-encrusted necklace he wore to his press conference. The real birthday present, though, would be a place in Sunday's World Cup final.I haven't received many gifts yet. The best gift would be a win on Tuesday and a trip to New York, he said.While other stars at this World Cup have been in blistering goal-scoring form, Yamal so far has only found the net once during the tournament -- but is ready to add to his tally against France.I don't focus on goals, but it's always special to score in a match like this. I accept the challenge. That’s why I came here, Yamal said, promising a beautiful match for the spectators.It’s the game everyone was waiting for, he added.While acknowledging the momentous nature of Tuesday's game, Yamal remained laidback in his approach.There are far more difficult situations in life than a football match, so I’m calm, he said. I don't feel any extra pressure; I’ll go out and play like always and give my all for the team.

11 hours ago
Spain ‘favourites’ says Deschamps ahead of World Cup semi-final showdown

Spain ‘favourites’ says Deschamps ahead of World Cup semi-final showdown

DALLAS, United States (AFP) -- France coach Didier Deschamps insisted he still sees Spain as World Cup favourites on Monday ahead of Les Bleus' blockbuster semi-final against the European champions.France take on Spain at the ATT Stadium in Arlington, Texas on Tuesday in a match widely seen as a collision of the best two teams in the tournament.While Deschamps' side have lit up the World Cup with a string of scintillating performances, Spain's campaign has built momentum gradually following a shock 0-0 draw against minnows Cape Verde in their opening game.Deschamps, though, maintains that France -- beaten by Spain in their last two meetings -- will be the underdog on Tuesday.Forget about the first game against Cape Verde, Deschamps said of Spain's campaign. Ever since then Spain have confirmed that they are the favourites.I don't want to add extra pressure to (Spain coach) Luis (de la Fuente) and their team -- he knows very well that people are expecting great things of Spain.But Spain can attack well, and they can defend very well. They've only conceded one goal in the last six or seven matches.Spain coach De la Fuente meanwhile smiled when asked for his response to Deschamps' comments at an eve-of-game press conference.Since the beginning, I've always said that the fact that people say we're favourites or not doesn't mean anything, De la Fuente told reporters. It doesn't. It's not decisive.We are two great national teams facing each other, just as there are two great national teams facing each other in the other semi-final, De la Fuente added, stressing that his team was comfortable living with the pressure to succeed.Regardless of whether we're favorites or not, it doesn't mean create additional pressure, he said. We have that pressure anyway. We want to do well for our country.Deschamps meanwhile believes Tuesday's game has all the makings of a classic.With the quality of the two teams offensively, I think we could think that is going to be a spectacular game, he said.Deschamps is also not overly concerned by the threat posed by Spain winger Lamine Yamal, who scored in La Roja's victories over France in the European Championship semi-final in 2024 and the UEFA Nations League last year.We know the strength of the opposing team. We have our own strengths, Deschamps said.Have I studied Yamal and his assets? Yes, he's one of the players that can really make a difference on the pitch.And all opponents should try to limit the strength of the other team, but we have many solutions.When it comes to a one-on-ones it could be tough. But having a one-on-one against some of my players is not an easy task either.Deschamps confirmed that France captain Kylian Mbappe, who left the quarter-final win over Morocco late in the second half after taking a knock, was 100 percent fit for the semi-final.

12 hours ago

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Gayle takes over at Arnett as JPL coaching shuffle continues

Gayle takes over at Arnett as JPL coaching shuffle continues

Veteran coach Marcel Gayle will be the new head coach of Arnett Gardens following last week's sudden resignation of Phillip Williams.The appointment of Gayle, who was sacked by Waterhouse FC in December after seven years at the Drewsland club, is the latest coaching shuffle in the Jamaica Premier League this off season.Gayle takes over from Williams, who spent only a year at Arnett Gardens after replacing Xavier Gilbert who had departed to Montego Bay United. Gayle's replacement at Waterhouse, Javier Ainstein, is also now at Montego Bay as head coach while Gilbert has been upgraded to technical director.Meanwhile, Donovan Duckie left Chapelton Maroons and is now at the helm of Waterhouse while Joey Jap Tjong has taken over from Duckie at Chapelton as head coach with former Arnett Gardens player and assistant coach Dicoy Williams his assistant.What’s more, Alex Thomas, the assistant coach at Waterhouse last season, is now the head coach of Dunbeholden FC; veteran coach Andrew Price has taken over at Tivoli Gardens, replacing Jerome Waite; and Anthony Patrick has left Racing United and is now at Spanish Town Police FC.

12 hours ago
Lindsey Graham’s sister appointed to fill vacant US Senate seat

Lindsey Graham’s sister appointed to fill vacant US Senate seat

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) -- South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster on Monday appointed the late Republican senator Lindsey Graham's younger sister to complete his term, hours after President Donald Trump publicly urged him to choose her.Darline Graham Nordone will serve in the US Senate until Graham's term expires in January, following his unexpected death at the weekend at the age of 71.It's my honor to ask his little sister Darline Graham to finish his work for him now, McMaster said while announcing the appointment.Lindsey has always been there for me, and now I will be there for him, Nordone added. My brother was the most amazing person, outstanding leader and just a genuinely good man.Trump had earlier recommended Nordone for the role, describing the appointment on his Truth Social platform as a fabulous tribute to Graham, a prominent foreign-policy hawk and close presidential ally.Graham never married or had children and was exceptionally close to his sister. Their mother died when he was 20 and Nordone was 12, followed less than two years later by their father's death from a heart attack.Graham, then 22, formally adopted his 13-year-old sister, helped her finish school and largely raised her. Nordone later recalled that Graham had wrapped his arms around her after their father's death and promised that he would always care for her.Her appointment is intended as a temporary one. South Carolina Republicans will hold a special primary on August 11 to select a candidate for the November election, whose winner will begin a full six-year Senate term in January.

13 hours ago
WATCH: Norway receive heroes’ welcome in Oslo after World Cup exit

WATCH: Norway receive heroes’ welcome in Oslo after World Cup exit

OSLO, Norway (AFP) -- Around 90,000 people welcomed back Norway's players to Oslo on Monday after they returned home from making a historic run to the World Cup quarter-finals.Erling Haaland's side were knocked out of the tournament on Saturday after losing 2-1 to England in extra-time in the last eight in Miami, their best result in the competition.The crowd packed the square in front of the royal palace in Norway's capital city as the squad arrived around, and performed the now famous Viking Row,Haakon, Crown Prince of Norway, the heir apparent to the country of 5.6 million's throne, led the celebration with a drum -- he was also present at the defeat in Miami.It's simply incredible to see all the support we receive and to see how much the country is behind us, captain Martin Odegaard told public broadcasters NRK.It's really fantastic, the Arsenal playmaker added.Haaland landed in Norway earlier in the day and was pictured on his social media walking from the plane holding a stuffed racoon with a glass bottle of alcohol in its claws.Broadcaster NRK said the Manchester City striker, who scored seven goals at the World Cup, was unable to attend as he had a plane to catch.

13 hours ago
First Microcredit Act defendants signal guilty plea

First Microcredit Act defendants signal guilty plea

Two men charged in Jamaica's first prosecution under the Microcredit Act have indicated their intention to plead guilty to the charges.Otis Williams and Nevin Forbes appeared before the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court on July 9 in the matter involving Forbes Affordable Loans Ja Limited. Both defendants were present and represented by legal counsel, Davian Vassell, who indicated that the matter is not expected to be protracted, as the defendants intend to accept the charges, according to a release by the Financial Investigations Division (FID).The court extended bail for both men with conditions, including that they are required to report to the Greater Portmore Police Station three days per week, while both have been directed to surrender their travel documents with immediate effect.The presiding judge also made a stop order preventing both defendants from departing Jamaica pending the conclusion of criminal proceedings. The order, which alerts border control authorities – including the Passport, Immigration and Citizenship Agency (PICA) – to flag the defendants at all legal ports of entry and exit, reflects the court's interest in ensuring the defendants remain in the country. A fingerprint order was additionally made, requiring both men to submit their fingerprints to the police.The matter has been set for case management on November 5, 2026.Williams and Forbes were originally charged on June 24, 2026, following an operation by the FID's Constabulary Financial Unit with support from the Jamaica Constabulary Force’s St Catherine South Division. They are alleged to have provided microcredit services without a licence, contrary to Section 9(1) of the Microcredit Act. Under the Act, individuals found guilty of this offence face fines of up to J1 million or imprisonment of up to six months, while corporations may be fined up to J2 million.The FID reminds the public that the charges against Williams and Forbes remain allegations and that both men are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law. The public is encouraged to verify that any lender or financial service provider is properly authorised before transacting. A list of licensed microcredit institutions is available at the BOJ’s website.The FID said it is intent on protecting the integrity of the financial sector, and therefore urges all participants to ensure that they have the relevant license(s) and comply with all requirements under the law.

14 hours ago
Attorney Ganga-Singh joins Hamilton’s defence in Williams defamation case

Attorney Ganga-Singh joins Hamilton’s defence in Williams defamation case

Rae Town Division Councillor Rosalie Hamilton is now being represented by attorney Charles Ganga-Singh in the defamation lawsuit brought against her by Kingston Central Member of Parliament, Donovan Williams.The matter came up for mention in the Supreme Court on Monday, with Ganga-Singh appearing on behalf of Hamilton. The case was subsequently adjourned until October 14, 2026, to allow the attorney sufficient time to familiarise himself with the proceedings.The lawsuit stems from a bitter political dispute between the two Jamaica Labour Party representatives. Williams, who is the Member of Parliament for Kingston Central and a junior government minister, filed the claim after a series of private voice notes recorded by Hamilton were leaked from a party WhatsApp group and circulated on social media.Williams subsequently issued Hamilton with a 48-hour demand for a public apology and retraction. After no apology was forthcoming, he initiated defamation proceedings in the Supreme Court, maintaining that the allegations were entirely false and had seriously damaged his personal and professional reputation.The Member of Parliament is seeking general, aggravated and exemplary damages.Earlier in the proceedings, the Supreme Court granted Williams an interim injunction restraining Hamilton from making or publishing further allegedly defamatory statements about him. The order also required the removal of previously published material and prohibited parties from disseminating evidence filed in the case through public platforms.Hamilton has denied wrongdoing and is resisting the claim.Her legal team has argued that the comments were made in the course of her responsibilities as an elected representative and concerned matters of public interest involving the administration of public resources.The defence has also maintained that Hamilton cannot be compelled to remove the recordings from social media platforms because they were originally shared within a private WhatsApp group and later uploaded by third parties without her authority.In a separate legal move, Hamilton has filed a cease-and-desist demand against Williams, alleging repeated and unwanted contact that caused her to fear for her safety. Williams has denied those allegations.The parties are scheduled to return to the Supreme Court on October 14.

14 hours ago
Man found dead after St Mary house fire

Man found dead after St Mary house fire

ST MARY, Jamaica – St Mary police are investigating the death of a man whose body was found after a house fire in Huddersfield on Monday.The deceased has been identified as 34 year-old unemployed, Anthony Nelson of a Huddersfield address.Police reports are that around 4 am, residents saw smoke coming from the house and alerted the Jamaica Fire Brigade. Before emergency teams arrived, residents tried to enter the house to extinguish the fire, but the effort was unsuccessful.Firefighters later extinguished the blaze.Nelson's body was found inside the remains of the house with severe burn injuries. Investigators from the Area Two technical services division processed the scene. The body was removed for a post mortem to determine the cause of death.

14 hours ago
Twelve US states sue to block Paramount’s Warner Bros takeover

Twelve US states sue to block Paramount’s Warner Bros takeover

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP)—California and 11 other US states on Monday sued to block Paramount Skydance's 110 billion takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery, calling the largest merger in Hollywood history a threat to competition in film and television.The lawsuit, filed in federal court in northern California, marks a dramatic turn in the regulatory battle over the deal -- and a direct challenge to the Trump administration's Justice Department, which approved the merger last month.The combined company -- which came about after Netflix bowed out of the battle to own Warner -- would control a sprawling roster of assets, including CNN, Warner Bros. Pictures and the HBO Max streaming service.The saga has become politically charged, with President Donald Trump publicly saying he would weigh in on the deal as the fate of CNN -- a frequent target of the president's ire -- hangs in the balance.California Attorney General Rob Bonta, who is leading the coalition, said the combination of two of Hollywood's five major film distributors would lead to higher prices, lower quality, and less content for audiences.In this country, no one is above the law, Bonta said.California and our sister states are fighting for free and fair markets, not rigged markets. America has no kings in government or our economy.The states, all led by Democrats, allege the deal violates the Clayton Act, the federal law that bars mergers likely to substantially reduce competition.Joining California in the suit are Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon and Washington.Paramount fired back, calling the lawsuit fundamentally flawed.The practical effect of this lawsuit is to shield those dominant streaming platforms like Netflix and technology companies from much needed competition, a Paramount spokesperson said.The company argued the merger would create a stronger rival to Netflix, Amazon and Apple, and pledged to release at least 30 films a year for full theatrical runs with a minimum 45-day window.The fate of theatrical releases for Hollywood movies has been a major source of contention for the industry.Paramount noted that competition regulators in 24 jurisdictions have already cleared the transaction or allowed their review periods to expire.Ross Benes, a senior analyst at research firm Emarketer, said the lawsuit represented an easy political win for the attorneys general but was unlikely to succeed.With federal agencies sidelined, the state attorneys general lack the jurisdictional muscle to block the deal, he added.According to the complaint, the combined company would control roughly 27 percent of wide-release theatrical film distribution and a similar percentage of basic cable channel licensing.The coalition has asked the companies not to close the transaction until the legal challenge is resolved, and warned it would seek a temporary restraining order if they refuse.Paramount last month secured the green light of federal antitrust authorities, handing a major win to a media empire financed by one of Trump's closest billionaire allies.- Trump ties -The approval was a coup for Paramount chief executive David Ellison, whose father, Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison, largely financed the takeover.The elder Ellison, one of the world's richest men, is a close ally of Trump and a major donor to his political campaigns.Hundreds of actors and directors have signed a letter opposing the merger, warning it would choke production in an industry already battered by years of consolidation and cost-cutting.The takeover battle began last year, when streaming giant Netflix and Paramount went to war over Warner Bros. and its prized back catalog.A wary Tinseltown reluctantly lined up behind Netflix as the lesser of two evils, only to watch Paramount keep raising its bid until the streamer walked away.

16 hours ago
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