Morning Bites: 5 things to know for Monday; Free Marley concert; Beachy Stout's son; Nikita Noel; Clovis Toon; Breaking News and more

Morning Bites: 5 things to know for Monday, February 6, 2023 Free Emancipation Park Concert to mark Bob Marley’s 78th birthday The Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) will today host a free concert at Emancipation Park in New Kingston to mark the 78th anniversary of the [birth of reggae legend Bob Marley](. The concert being held on Bob Marley's birthday gets underway at 7:00pm and is part of [Reggae Month activities](. Among the artistes down to perform are Marley’s son Julian Marley, former I-Three Marcia Griffiths, Capleton, Lutan Fyah, Gyptian, George Nooks, Etana, Admiral Tibet, Max Romeo and Black Soil Band. There will be other events throughout the day which is being observed under the theme “Easy Skanking 78”. The Bob Marley Museum will host activities between 7:00am and 6:00pm including a live TV broadcast, kiddies petting zoo, tribute performances from schools, reading sessions, special tours of the museum, live acoustic performances, artisan villages and give-aways. There will also be an Irie FM Wake Up Call Live. At 3:00pm there will be a livestream on Tuff Gong TV. Churches shocked at barbaric murder of Nikita Noel The Jamaica Council of Churches (JCC) is today expressing “shock and profound sadness” at what it has described as the “brutal violation and [killing of Nikita Noel](. Noel, 9, was found last Wednesday in the community of Kew, near Lucea, Hanover following a search when she did not return home from school. Her killing has sent shockwaves across the country and [has been condemned far and wide](. “This act has caused outrage and dismay and has plunged all well-thinking Jamaicans into grief. We offer our sincere condolences to the family and loved ones, including the Esher Primary School community, who must all now be unthinkably distressed,” said JCC President, the Most Rev Kenneth D Richards. “We unequivocally and completely condemn this barbaric act against a child whose promising life has been wantonly and needlessly ended,” Richards added. The JCC is urging Jamaicans to examine the soul of the country “to see how the boundaries of protection and the mechanisms for the affirmation of children may be restored”. “We call on members of communities across this land to give greater care and attention to every detail regarding the safety, security, and care of children. We call on anyone who is in possession of information that may assist the police to bring the perpetrators of this heinous crime to justice, to come forward and share this with the police,” the JCC said. A suspect, who is [reportedly known to the girl's family]( is now in police custody. Sentence hearing for Beachy Stout’s son starts today The sentencing testimony in the case of US Air Force Major Andre McDonald, who was on Friday f[ound guilty of manslaughter]( in a Texas court in relation to the February 28, 2019 death of his wife, Andreen McDonald, is set to begin today. Having been convicted of the lesser charge of manslaughter, McDonald, who was initially charged with murder and tampering with evidence faces up to 20 years in prison. The prosecution has asked for the maximum sentence. McDonald, 43, who was born in Jamaica, is the son of 67-year-old Portland businessman Everton "Beachy Stout" McDonald, [who himself is awaiting trial in Jamaica for the murder of his two wives](. Andreen, who was 29 years-old at the time of her death, also emigrated from Jamaica. At his trial, during which he took the stand, the defence claimed the Air Force Major acted in self-defence against his much larger wife who the court was told regularly worked out and who was shown on video in court playfully carry around McDonald on her back and lifting weights. The couple, according to McDonald, argued after he found out that she had cut him out of a lucrative family business and had resumed communication with a former boyfriend in Jamaica. He claimed that after confronting her and threatening her with divorce she flew into a rage, attacked him and he defended himself. He admitted to kicking her and, after she stopped breathing, transported her body in garbage bags to a wooded area where he disposed of it. Mrs McDonald’s body was not found for four months. Advertisement Ukraine braced for renewed Russian offensive later in February Ukraine's outgoing defence minister has said the country is anticipating a new [Russian offensive]( later this month. At a news conference, Oleksiy Reznikov said not all Western weaponry will have arrived by then, but Ukraine had enough reserves to hold off Russian forces. President Volodymyr Zelensky has said troops are fighting fiercely in Bakhmut, Vuhledar and Lyman, in the east. Reznikov's comments came hours before it was announced that he was to be replaced as defence minister. Military intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov will take his place, according to a Ukrainian politician from Zelensky's party. The shake-up comes amid a series of corruption scandals that has plagued the defence ministry. Reznikov has denied media reports that some defence officials are suspected of embezzling public funds for the procurement of food for the army. Ukrainian lawmaker David Arakhamia announced the reshuffle on Sunday, saying that "war dictates personnel policies". Reznikov, a familiar face in Ukraine's efforts to secure Western weapons, will now become minister for strategic industries. President Zelenksy has already fired a number of senior officials as part of a broad anti-corruption drive across his government. Kyrie Irving heading to Dallas Controversial NBA star Kyrie Irving is getting his wish. He’s [getting traded](. And Luka Doncic is getting another All-Star to help him in Dallas. The Mavericks and Brooklyn Nets agreed Sunday on a blockbuster trade: Irving — the super-talented and often-enigmatic eight-time All-Star point guard — heads to Dallas in exchange for Spencer Dinwiddie, Dorian Finney-Smith and a package of draft picks, according to a person familiar with the terms of the deal who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because it had not been finalized. The Athletic and ESPN first reported the trade agreement. It will become complete once the teams have a call with the NBA, which is standard for all trades. The move comes just two days after [Irving told the Nets that he wanted to be traded]( by Thursday’s league deadline, after talks about a contract beyond this season didn’t go to his liking. He wasn’t with the Nets for their game Saturday, and by Sunday afternoon, his time in Brooklyn appeared to be at an end. It was not immediately clear when Irving would make his debut with Dallas. The Mavericks play at Utah on Monday night. Irving is averaging 27.1 points, 5.3 assists and 5.1 rebounds this season. Doncic is averaging 33.4 points, 8.9 rebounds and 8.2 assists. They instantly become one of the NBA’s top duos, and figure to make Dallas even a stronger contender in a Western Conference that has no shortage of championship-capable teams. ICYMI: WHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING WATCH: Cop shoots motorist after altercation over fender-bender There was a [non-fatal police-involved shooting on Mountain View Avenue]( in St Andrew after a cop intervened in an altercation between a taxi driver and a motorist on Sunday. Maiden Test century for Chanderpaul [Tagenarine Chanderpaul struck his first Test century]( and fellow opener Kraigg Brathwaite also reached three figures as the West Indies reached 221 without loss on Sunday after a rain-affected second day of the first Test against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo. Ukraine to replace defence minister after corruption scandals Ukraine's defence minister [will be replaced]( by the chief of military intelligence ahead of an expected Russian offensive and following corruption scandals, a senior lawmaker said on Sunday. CLOVIS TOON TODAY IN HISTORY King George dead at 56 On [February 6]( 1952, Britain’s King George VI, 56, died at Sandringham House in Norfolk, England; he was succeeded as monarch by his 25-year-old elder daughter, who became Queen Elizabeth II. For more stories, visit our website at www.jamaicaobserver.com or [sign up for our e-paper](. [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Website]( Copyright © 2023 Jamaica Observer, All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: 40 - 42 1/2 Beechwood Avenue Kingston 5 Want to change how you receive these emails? You can [update your preferences]( or [unsubscribe from this list](.