KINGSTON // The former England player John Barnes has been appointed the new coach of Jamaica's national football team.
The Jamaica-born Barnes will take over the coaching of the Reggae Boyz officially on Nov 1, the Jamaica Football Federation president Horace Burrell confirmed yesterday.
Mr Burrell did not immediately disclose specifics of Barnes' contract. Barnes will succeed Rene Simoes, who was fired last week following Jamaica's poor start to the semi-final round of CONCACAF World Cup qualifying.
Simoes was nine months into a three-year contract in his second stint in charge of Jamaica.
The Brazilian-born coach guided Jamaica to their first World Cup appearance in 1998 before resigning in 2000 after six years as technical director.
He returned in January to replace Bora Milutinovic, who was fired for breach of contract.
Barnes scored 11 goals in 79 appearances for England, as well as playing for English clubs Liverpool, Newcastle, Watford and Charlton in a professional career spanning 1981 to 1999.
He served a short stint as head coach of Scottish giants Celtic from 1999 but was sacked a year later.
Jamaica host Mexico in their next World Cup qualifier on Oct 11, followed by Honduras on Oct 15 and Canada on Oct 19 and need to win all three to have any chance of advancing.
Mexico leads CONCACAF Group Two with nine points, followed by Honduras with six, and Canada and Jamaica with one. The top two teams in each group progress to the next round of qualifying.
*AP
Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction
Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.
Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.
Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.
Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.
Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.
What are the guidelines?
Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.
Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.
Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.
Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.
Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.
Source: American Paediatric Association
Other workplace saving schemes
- The UAE government announced a retirement savings plan for private and free zone sector employees in 2023.
- Dubai’s savings retirement scheme for foreign employees working in the emirate’s government and public sector came into effect in 2022.
- National Bonds unveiled a Golden Pension Scheme in 2022 to help private-sector foreign employees with their financial planning.
- In April 2021, Hayah Insurance unveiled a workplace savings plan to help UAE employees save for their retirement.
- Lunate, an Abu Dhabi-based investment manager, has launched a fund that will allow UAE private companies to offer employees investment returns on end-of-service benefits.
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
Bert van Marwijk factfile
Born: May 19 1952
Place of birth: Deventer, Netherlands
Playing position: Midfielder
Teams managed:
1998-2000 Fortuna Sittard
2000-2004 Feyenoord
2004-2006 Borussia Dortmund
2007-2008 Feyenoord
2008-2012 Netherlands
2013-2014 Hamburg
2015-2017 Saudi Arabia
2018 Australia
Major honours (manager):
2001/02 Uefa Cup, Feyenoord
2007/08 KNVB Cup, Feyenoord
World Cup runner-up, Netherlands
Volvo ES90 Specs
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The specs
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