Regional News

BUENOS AIRES,  (Reuters) – Former Argentine President Alberto Fernandez yesterday denied accusations that he was violent toward his ex-partner and former first lady Fabiola Yanez.

CARACAS,  (Reuters) – It would have been “nearly impossible” for Venezuela’s political opposition to falsify the voting tallies it published shortly after the July 28 vote, contesting the results of the elections which the country’s electoral authority said was won by President Nicolas Maduro, a State Department official said.

CARACAS,  (Reuters) – Venezuela’s Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino today reaffirmed the military’s “absolute loyalty” to President Nicolas Maduro, amid an on-going dispute over the country’s contested presidential election results.

(Trinidad Express) Blood continues to flow in Tobago as the sister isle recorded its 19th murder for the year with the killing of a woman who is alleged to be a gang member.

(Trinidad Guardian) Hesston Khelawan had been working hard to put things in place so he could migrate along with his wife, to escape the worsening crime situation in T&T.

CARACAS, (Reuters) – Venezuelan security forces are targeting those who they say committed violent crimes during recent protests over the disputed election, in an operation informally called “knock-knock” that advocacy groups say has left protesters fearful.

(Trinidad Express) Only one day after he was diagnosed by doctors with the deadly dengue fever, the viral disease claimed the life of 35-year-old Rakesh Daryl Nanlal, a pharmacist at the Eric Williams Medical Science Complex (EWMSC), Mt Hope.

(Trinidad Guardian) The Hunters’ Search and Rescue (HSR) team discovered the bodies of businessman Sachin Teeluckdharry, of Clarke Road, Penal, and Ryan Ramnanan, of Tulsa Trace, San Francique, at 2.38 pm.

(Trinidad Guardian) Relatives of Chaguanas consultant Komal Maharaj claimed he was kidnapped, taken to Venezuela and only released on Friday afternoon after they paid a ransom.

(Trinidad Guardian) Disappointed by the opposition’s reaction to his visit to T&T, Indian industrialist and investor Naveen Jindal will not bid for the Petrotrin Refinery.

(Jamaica Gleaner) Four people were killed and three others injured after the taxi they were travelling in crashed into a trailer along the North Coast Highway in Trelawny this morning.

(Trinidad Guardian) The cabinet will not take a position on Venezuela nor will the prime minister make any pronouncements.

MILAN,  (Reuters) – Seven European Union countries, including Italy, France, Germany and Spain have jointly called on the Venezuelan authorities to promptly publish the electoral rolls to ensure full transparency around last weekend’s election, the Italian prime minister’s office said on Saturday.

CARACAS, Venezuela (Reuters) – Thousands of Venezuelans marched  across the South American country yesterday over its contested election, as President Nicolas Maduro told supporters some 2,000 people had been arrested during protests against the results.

(Trinidad Guardian) Komal Maharaj, 40, who was reported missing on July 19, was found alive at a shop in Cedros, where he went to ask for a phone call on Friday and was assisting police with their investigation into his disappearance. 

(Jamaica Gleaner)  With more than 20,000 customers still without electricity following the passage of Hurricane Beryl a month ago, the Jamaica Public Service (JPS) is facing a $2-million fine if it fails to meet the 100 per cent restoration target set by August 12.

CARACAS, Venezuela (Reuters) – Thousands of Venezuelans marched across the South American country today over its contested election, as President Nicolas Maduro told supporters some 2,000 people had been arrested during protests against the results.

(Reuters) – Florida faces a “broad, sloppy” weather system that could become a tropical storm this weekend, dumping up to a foot (30 cm) of rain and bringing winds of over 70 mph (110 kph), forecasters say, as a likely heavy Atlantic hurricane season revs up.

(Trinidad Guardian) Komal Maharaj, 40, who was reported missing on July 19, was found alive at a shop in Cedros, where he went to ask for a phone call yesterday and was last night assisting police with their investigation into his disappearance. 

CARACAS/BRASILIA, (Reuters) – Brazil, Colombia and Mexico are pushing for Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro to meet with the opposition candidate in last week’s disputed election, a diplomatic source told Reuters today, as increasing numbers of Western governments reject Maduro’s claim to victory.