Regional News

(Jamaica Gleaner) For Portmore mother of seven Natasha Jones, there is only one thing that would make her happy this Christmas: to have all her children under her roof.

(Jamaica Gleaner) Jamaica is to make a decision within the next 72 hours on whether it will introduce travel restrictions on United Kingdom flights coming into the island as an aggressive new COVID-19 strain that is 70 per cent more contagious has emerged, with at least six European countries imposing barriers to entry.

(Trinidad Guardian) A group of Venezuelans who protested outside Trinidad and Tobago’s Embassy in Washington last Friday have noted “accidents” happening between T&T and Venezuela – but they said their protest was really to get T&T’s Government to stop “supporting” the Nicolas Maduro administration.

(Trinidad Guardian) Over 35 offshore workers employed with the Perenco Trinidad and Tobago oil and gas company were transported to the Ministry of Health’s quarantine facility at the University of the West Indies’ Debe campus last evening, after they tested positive for COVID-19 while on duty on the Teak Alpha platform last week.

(Trinidad Guardian) High Court Judge Justice Frank Seepersad is calling for safety and support hubs to be set up in communities across the country to assist victims of domestic abuse.

The Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) has awarded US$ 100,000 in grant funding to seven cultural projects through an initiative to provide emergency relief to the creative industries (CI) sector in the aftermath of COVID-19.

TEGUCIGALPA,  (Reuters) – Hurricanes Eta and Iota have caused about 45.7 billion lempiras ($1.9 billion) in damages and losses in Honduras, according to the United Nations economic commission for the region, a far lower estimate than the government’s figure of $10 billion.

BOGOTA,  (Reuters) – Colombia will suspend all flights to the United Kingdom over concerns about a new strain of coronavirus, President Ivan Duque said yesterday, joining a growing list of countries barring British travelers.

(Trinidad Express) Even if a person has been administered a Covid-19 vaccine in another country, if he or she intends to enter Trinidad and Tobago, the person will be required to show Covid-negative status.

(Trinidad Guardian) Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley has summoned Venezuela’s Ambassador to T&T, Carlos Amador Perez Silva, to a meeting to discuss recent developments concerning both countries – and Trinidad and Tobago’s position.

(Trinidad Guardian) Amidst the bustle of Christmas shopping on High Street, San Fernando, Venezuelan migrants are roaming the streets in search of work and food.

(Jamaica Observer) Business tycoon Ian Levy is convinced Andrew Holness will go down in history as one of the best, if not the best prime ministers Jamaica has ever had.

(Jamaica Gleaner) Oral Nelson, a 32-year-old Jamaican who faced a double murder charge shortly after he was deported from the United States of America in August 2019, was freed last week of the charges but says the ordeal has left him traumatised and depressed.

(Jamaica Star) Dewayne and Feleca Jonas were like peas in a pod when they were growing up in Belmont district, Lawrence Tavern, St Andrew.

(Trinidad Express) Trinidadian businessmen are involved in the illegal trade of Venezuelans to this country for the sale of their bodies through prostitution and also sale of their organs.

(Trinidad Guardian) A Trinidadian doctor who was among the historic first round of healthcare workers to get Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine is advising citizens to put their fears aside and get vaccinated when it becomes available.

WASHINGTON,  (Reuters) – The United States yesterday imposed sanctions on two people and a company it says played a role in fraudulent elections in Venezuela, keeping up pressure on socialist President Nicolas Maduro even as U.S.

MEXICO CITY,  (Reuters) – The former governor of the Mexican state of Jalisco was shot dead early yesterday  in a restaurant bathroom in the beach town of Puerto Vallarta, one of the most high profile political killings since Mexico embarked on its “War on Drugs” in 2006.

SAO PAULO/RIO DE JANEIRO,  (Reuters) – Brazilian engineering group Odebrecht, whose name became synonymous with graft due to its role in the nation’s sweeping Car Wash corruption investigation, is changing its name as it tries to turn the page on that scandal-plagued history.

CARACAS,  (Reuters) – Venezuela’s National Constituent Assembly, a pro-government legislature created in 2017 that was widely criticized for undermining democracy, will cease operations at the end of 2020, President Nicolas Maduro said yesterday.