Staff Editor

Labour Minister Manzoor Nadir today warned that a strike  by power workers in Georgetown and Linden contravened the Essential Services (Amendment) Act and that stern action will be taken.

The three Berbice business chambers today expressed concern over the one-week strike in the sugar industry and called for immediate solutions to the problems of the beleaguered Skeldon factory while urging the unions to desist from striking.

The Civil Defence Commission (CDC) yesterday received $67.5M worth of emergency relief supplies from the United States (U.S)

A Caribbean Airlines flight to the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri was this morning re-routed to Trinidad because of heavy fog which enveloped the area as well as several parts of the coastland.

COLOMBO, (Reuters) – Sri Lanka, batting first on a  new pitch, struggled for runs on a restricted opening day of the  second test against West Indies to crawl to 84-3 at the close today.

The Inter-American Development Bank today announced approval of a US$20M loan for Guyana which will finance a programme that seeks to enhance urban and suburban mobility and safety, lower transport costs and reduce accident rates along the East Bank Demerara road up to Diamond.

The PNCR today released a message of condolence following the passing of former Deputy Prime Minister and PNCR Executive Winston Murray.

INCHEON, South Korea, (Reuters) – North Korea today fired dozens of artillery shells at a South Korean   island, killing two soldiers and setting houses ablaze, in one   of the heaviest attacks on its neighbour since the Korean War   ended in 1953.

PNCR Executive Winston Murray passed away at 7:20 tonight at the Georgetown Public Hospital.

PHNOM PENH, (Reuters) – A stampede on a bridge in  Cambodia’s capital killed at least 339 people late today  and wounded nearly as many after thousands panicked on the last  day of a water festival, authorities and state media said.

Presidential candidate for the Alliance For Change (AFC) Khemraj Ramjattan today issued a call for Caricom to conduct an independent investigation into a recent string of maternal deaths.

A fire of unknown origin this morning gutted a two-storey concrete house at Lot 129 First Street, ‘BB’ Eccles East Bank Demerara, leaving in its wake millions of dollars in damage.

Adrian McKenzie, the man accused of hammering his mother to death at their Sand Creek, Rupununi home on November 16 was this morning remanded to prison after appearing before Acting Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine- Beharry.

The Guyana Defence Force on Friday renamed the Drill Square at the Colonel John Clarke Military School at Tacama in honour of  Warrant Officer Class Two (ret’d) Patrick Williams.

Don Lockerbie, who had become known to Guyanese during preparations for the 2007 World Cup in the Caribbean, has been relieved of his position as head of USA Cricket Association.

The power company this morning reported that some of its employees who are members of the union NAACIE have gone on strike over wages without following the required procedure.

The body of a 40-year-old man was discovered early this morning in front of his Sophia home and it is believed that he was electrocuted during an attempt to make an illegal connection.

The Ministry of Human Services is launching a year-long campaign against domestic violence which will see the opening of the first `White Zone’ where victims of violence can go for help.

DUBAI, (Reuters) – The International Cricket   Council (ICC) has directed all member countries to introduce   an anti-corruption code in their domestic leagues by April in   the wake of spot-fixing allegations against the Pakistan   cricketers.

GALLE, Sri Lanka, (Reuters) – Left arm spinner is expected to return to the West Indies lineup  and form a dual spin attack with offspinner Shane Shillingford  when the second test against Sri Lanka begins in Colombo tomorrow.