Regional News

BRASILIA,  (Reuters) – Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro said yesterday he wanted to punch a reporter in the face for asking about bank deposits made in the account of his wife, First Lady Michelle Bolsonaro, by a former aide to one of his sons.

(Jamaica Observer) The Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) had advised that Laura would be passing north of Jamaica yesterday and that the Meteorological Service of Jamaica had issued a flash flood watch for low-lying and flood-prone areas of all parishes, effective until 8:00 pm today.

(Jamaica Observer) With Jamaica a signatory to the legally binding landmark Minamata Convention on Mercury to protect human health and the environment from the adverse effects of mercury, a group of researchers at The University of the West Indies (UWI) are on a campaign to get Jamaicans to reject skin bleaching products containing mercury.

(Trinidad Express) Officers of the North Eastern Division Task Force arrested eight people, including two women and two Venezuelan men, who were involved in a bloody supermarket robbery that ended in murder this morning.

(Trinidad Guardian) Twenty-three-year-old Nneka Jones, a recent graduate of the University of Tampa in Florida, is the latest T&T national to make the country proud as her unique artwork was selected by the long time eminent, American created, Time Magazine for its August 31 to September 7, issue.

(Jamaica Gleaner) Two men have been charged with the murder of Colleen Walker.

(Jamaica Gleaner) One year ago, 33-year-old Deana-Rae Clayton was an all-Jamaican woman with a rich island accent.

(Trinidad Guardian) A second person has been charged with the murder of Ellena Dial.

(Jamaica Gleaner) The University of the West Indies, Mona, says it will be welcoming new and returning students to the St Andrew-based campus for the new academic year 2020-2021 on August 30, but with several changes to facilitate teaching and living on the campus.

(Jamaica Gleaner) The BBC and an actor in the BBC Three comedy sketch being criticised for its stereotyping of Jamaicans have defended the show’s depiction.

LA PAZ,  (Reuters) – The press office of former Bolivian President Evo Morales denounced a criminal complaint of sex abuse as part of a “dirty war” by the interim government against the ousted leader less than two months before the country’s general elections.

(Trinidad Express) Approximately 600 COVID-19 samples awaiting testing are expected to be cleared in the next 24-48 hours.

(Trinidad Guardian) Jolted out of sleep by a loud cracking sound of her house falling apart, a Princes Town mother and her three children had to flee their home around 2 o’clock yesterday morning.

(Trinidad Guardian) Government members are on heightened COVID alert. This, after Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley was tested for COVID-19 following exposure on August 10 to someone who tested positive for the virus.

SAO PAULO,  (Reuters) – Brazilian prosecutors pressed charges yesterday  against two people for an alleged scheme to obtain confidential market information from Petrobras to benefit A.P.

(Jamaica Gleaner) The resumption of schools has been pushed back to October 5 amid a worsening spike in coronavirus cases in Jamaica.

Chief Medical Officer Dr Jacquiline Bisasor McKenzie says Jamaica has not recorded any reinfection of persons previously confirmed with the coronavirus (COVID-19) to date.

BOGOTA,  (Reuters) – Three Interpol red notices have been issued for former paramilitary boss Salvatore Mancuso, the Colombian government said yesterday.

BERLIN,  (Reuters) – Germany on Friday warned against travel to Brussels because of the high rate of coronavirus infections in the Belgian capital, which is also home to the main organs of the European Union.

GENEVA,  (Reuters) – The coronavirus crisis in Brazil appears to be leveling off, if not easing, the World Health Organization said on Friday, offering a chink of light for the world’s second biggest COVID-19 hot spot.