Morning Bites: 5 things to know for Friday; Cops seek schoolboys; Marleys open herb house; Clovis Toon; Breaking News and more

Morning Bites: 5 things to know for Friday, February 17, 2023 Police look to arrest more boys in beating of schoolmate The Kingston Western police are today looking to make more arrests after a male student of the Denham Town High School in Kingston was taken into custody on Wednesday following the [release of a video in which he and another boy were seen beating a fellow student](. The video, which has gone viral on social media, shows two students ordering another to kneel and then kicking and slapping him several times. A 16-year-old student [has been charged with assault occasioning bodily harm]( after he was arrested Thursday. Head of the Kingston Western police, Senior Superintendent Michael Phipps told the Jamaica Observer that the police are seeking to make several more arrests in connection with the incident. "We have only located one (boy) so far, we have been in search of the others. We have gone to premises, to addresses, and have asked the parents to take them in to us. With the support of the school we should be making other arrests very soon,” Phipps said. In the video, the student, who is dressed in khaki pants, a white shirt and school tie, got down on his knees and was kicked in his side. He got up and was slapped and told to kneel back down. When he did, he was kicked again and, upon getting up, was slapped several times before being told to kneel again. His two assailants were dressed in full khaki uniforms. Ministry of Education provides 500,000 Microsoft Office 365 licences In its continued effort to [eliminate the digital divide]( the Ministry of Education and Youth has entered into an agreement with Microsoft that will see just over 500,000 students and educators in public educational institutions getting access to Microsoft Office 365 licences. Microsoft Office 365 includes collaboration tools like email, chat and videoconferencing, document management, as well as the Microsoft Office Suite that includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, OneNote, Outlook, Publisher, Access and other applications. With the Microsoft Office 365 account, teachers and students will also be able to use the applications online in their web browser or download them on their mobile phones, tablets, or computers for offline use on up to five devices. The Microsoft Agreement was processed through Inova Solutions, a leading provider of technology solutions in the Caribbean. “We are proud to partner with the Ministry of Education and Youth to bring cutting edge technology into the schools and classrooms in Jamaica,” said Jeroen Nederkoorn, Territory Manager, Caribbean, for Inova Solutions. The students and teachers will be sent an email notifying them of the Microsoft Office 365 subscription, which will then prompt them to follow a series of steps to complete the installation and set-up. Already, 215,438 emails have been sent to students and educators at their [moeschools.edu.jm]( email accounts. “We are very happy to be collaborating with Microsoft on this project. This is another step in implementing our Technology in Education Policy,” said the Minister of Education and Youth, Fayval Williams. Marley family and Docklight Brands open herb house The Marley family and Docklight Brands have announced the opening of the [Marley Natural cannabis store]( which is now welcoming visitors in Kingston, Jamaica. The reggae legend’s former home and recording studio at 56 Hope Road, now known as the Bob Marley Museum, is also host to the new flagship Marley Natural Dispensary and smoking lounge. Marley Natural, which its principals describe as “the world’s first global cannabis brand” was born of a collaboration between the Marley family and Docklight Brands, Inc, which holds exclusive global rights to Bob Marley cannabinoid products. “I think my father would be pleased to see that a herb house is opening at the Bob Marley Museum. When I think of how far the world has progressed surrounding its attitudes toward cannabis and to finally recognise its many positive qualities – this is exactly what my father and the Rastafarian community have been saying for over 40 years. He has done so much to foster a positive understanding, it’s just right that we do this for him and his legacy,” said Stephen Marley. The newly-constructed herb house has been approved by Jamaica's Cannabis Licensing Authority, which permits both locals and tourists to consume cannabis for medical and therapeutic purposes. The outlet will exclusively offer Marley Natural cannabis grown locally in St Ann, Jamaica, the parish where Bob Marley was born. Future locations are planned for Tuff Gong Studio in Kingston and elsewhere on the island. Advertisement Stephen Marley kicks off 19-date Old Soul Tour Acclaimed reggae progeny and eight-time Grammy winner Stephen Marley [kicks off his Old Soul Tour Unplugged 2023 Tour today](. The 19-date excursion gets going at the Golden State Theatre in Monterey, California and wraps at Center Stage in Atlanta on March 18. There will be multiple stops in California, then on to Washington, Oregon, Texas, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Georgia and more. The singer-songwriter and guitarist will perform a powerful all-acoustic set with his full band. The majority of shows will feature a special performance from reggae-roots songwriter Mike Love. Tickets are now on sale at [stephenmarleymusic.com](. Tour highlights include multiple California dates – like Cali Vibes Fest February 19 in Long Beach – with other notable stops in Portland, Dallas, New Orleans, Nashville and Atlanta. Marley will showcase a mixture of original songs from his spirited 40-year career, along with revitalised classics from his father's iconic catalog. Stephen Marley is a critically acclaimed vocalist, songwriter, producer and philanthropist whose debut album, Mind Control, was dubbed "the best Marley album of a generation" by Entertainment Weekly. Most recently, he released a Nina Simone tribute album with singers like Joss Stone, Cedella Marley and Etana revisiting the Priestess of Soul's favorite songs with what Billboard called, "exquisitely crafted one-drop reggae rhythms." Windies Women looking for first win at T20 World Cup West Indies women are in a must win situation when they take on Ireland in their third match of the [ongoing ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in South Africa]( today. The Windies were blown away in their first two matches – by seven wickets against England in their opening game followed by a six wicket loss to another powerhouse, India. Now the regional team finds itself in a desperate need of back-to-back wins from their two remaining matches if they are to have any hope of securing a semi-final spot. Following the two defeats, the Windies are in fourth place in the Group B standings, with two games – against Ireland today and Pakistan on Sunday – to play. Only the top two nations from each group advance to the semis, so the Windies are desperate for a win. However, victories in their two remaining matches do not guarantee a semi-final spot, since group leaders England and India are unbeaten so far. In Wednesday’s defeat to India, Stafanie Taylor was stretchered off the field, and skipper Hayley Matthews suffered a shoulder injury late on in the game. Coach Courtney Walsh is optimistic that his captain will be fit to play, with the Windies needing a victory in Cape Town to have any hope of reaching the knockout stages. ICYMI: WHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING Simone Edwards, first Jamaican to play in WNBA, dies at 49 Former national women’s basketball player Simone Edwards, the first Jamaican to play in the WNBA, [has died](. Anthony Malvo to receive Lifetime Achievement Award in Atlanta Singer Anthony Malvo will be [honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award]( at the second staging of the annual Caribbean Community Awards scheduled to take place this Saturday in Lithonia, Georgia, USA. Bruce Willis has frontotemporal dementia, condition worsens Nearly a year after Bruce Willis' family announced that he would step away from acting after being diagnosed with aphasia, his family says his [“condition has progressed.”]( CLOVIS TOON TODAY IN HISTORY Jamaican-born Colin Ferguson convicted of killing six in train shooting On this day in 1995, Jamaican-born Colin Ferguson was convicted of six counts of murder in the December 1993 Long Island Rail Road shootings (he was later sentenced to a minimum of 200 years in prison). 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](.