Staff Editor

A motorcyclist died early this morning after apparently losing control while riding along the East Bank Demerara highway at Houston and slamming into a pole.

(Go Jamaica) Hurricane Tomas is moving over open water on a path that could take it near Jamaica later in the week.

(Barbados Nation) The worst storm in living memory. That’s how St Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves yesterday described the passage of Hurricane Tomas.

BRIDGETOWN,  (Reuters) – Hurricane Tomas strengthened  today after ripping off roofs and knocking down trees and  power lines in the eastern Caribbean on a westward track that  will put earthquake-hit Haiti at risk next week.

(Jamaica Observer) Finance Minister Audley Shaw last night congratulated Jamaican economist Dr Warren Smith on his election as the fifth president of the Caribbean Development Bank.

Storm Warning lifted for TrinidadNATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER, MIAMI, ADVISORY # 5A (summarised) TOMAS LASHING ST.

There is an all clear for Barbados following the passing of Tropical Storm Tomas over Barbados late last night and today.

Guyana Rice Producers Association President Leekha Rambrich was today shot with pellets two miles down the Bengal, Corentyne backdam by an elderly man with a shotgun.

A city businessman and licenced firearm holder was last night shot in the leg after he was confronted by armed bandits, one of whom he shot dead, Divisional Commander Balram Persaud has confirmed.

Hurricane warnings have been issued for Barbados, St Vincent and the Grenadines, St Lucia and Martinique as Tropical Storm Tomas continues to affect the region.

(WWW.Concacaf.com) CANCUN, Mexico – Maribel Dominguez scored four goals and set up another to lead Mexico to a 7-2 victory over Guyana yesterday in the opening game for both at the CONCACAF Women’s World Cup Qualifying tournament.

Twenty-one-year-old Damian La Rose was murdered last night in  Moruca, North West District.

(Trinidad Express) Transport hubs and supermarkets were jam packed, off-shore oil and gas facilities evacuated and some events were cancelled yesterday as nationals braced themselves for Tropical Storm Tomas, which was heading towards the Caribbean last night.

(Barbados Nation) A national shutdown order has been issued and all Barbadians must be indoors by 12:30 a.m.

The severe weather system headed in this direction has now been declared as Tropical Storm Tomas and it could reach hurricane strength on Sunday.

Three employees of the Demerara Oxygen Company Limited (DOCOL) were injured this afternoon following an explosion at the company’s East Bank Demerara location, its Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Shameer Hoosein has confirmed.

WASHINGTON/LONDON, (Reuters) – Security officials in  Britain and Dubai intercepted parcel bombs being sent from  Yemen to the United States in a “credible terrorist threat,”  President Barack Obama said today.

A major accident  this afternoon at No.19 Village, Corentyne claimed the lives of 12 including a two-month-old, the police said.

NAGOYA, Japan, (Reuters) – Delegates from nearly 200  nations agreed today to a sweeping plan to stem the loss of  species by setting new 2020 targets to ensure greater protection  of nature and enshrine the benefits it gives mankind.