Regional News

((Jamaica Gleaner) Barbados-born international singer, Rihanna, has called for an end to gun violence in her country after her 21-year-old cousin was shot and killed Wednesday night.

BUENOS AIRES,  (Reuters) – An explosion at a grains terminal in Argentina owned by China’s COFCO International yesterday killed one employee, injured others and affected shipping activities from one of the world’s top food suppliers, the conglomerate said.

(Reuters) – The original owner of the Baha Mar Resort, BML Properties Ltd, has filed a $2.25 billion lawsuit alleging a “massive fraud” by the Chinese contractor of the luxury hotel and casino project in Nassau, The Bahamas, that opened its doors in April after years of delays.

BUENOS AIRES, (Reuters) – Alberto Nisman, the Argentine prosecutor who was found dead days after accusing former President Cristina Fernandez of covering up Iran’s role in the 1994 bombing of a Jewish community center, was murdered, a federal judge said yesterday.

HAVANA,  (Reuters) – A fireworks explosion injured 39 people, including six children between the ages of 11 and 15, during a popular Cuban carnival on Christmas Eve, state-run media reported on Monday.

(Trinidad Guardian) Former head of the public service Reginald Dumas isn’t interested in being a candidate for the country’s highest office.

CARACAS,  (Reuters) – Three dozen opponents of Venezuela’s socialist government were released from prison and reunited with their families yesterday as part of a wider Christmas release, a local rights group said.

LIMA,  (Reuters) – Peruvian President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski pardoned former authoritarian leader Alberto Fujimori late yesterday, clearing him of convictions for human rights crimes and graft before completion of a 25-year prison sentence.

A number of countries in the northeastern Caribbean were afftected by a 5.2-magnitude earthquake yesterday morning, according to the US Geological Survey..

GUATEMALA CITY,  (Reuters) – Guatemalan President Jimmy Morales said yesterday he had given instructions to move the Central American country’s embassy in Israel to Jerusalem, a few days after his government backed the United States in a row over the city’s status.

WASHINGTON,  (Reuters) – A federal judge in Seattle partially blocked U.S.

(Trinidad Guardian) Nine-year-old Brandon Roopnarine and his six-year-old brother, Darrion’s fondest wish is to spend Christmas together.

(Trinidad Guardian) The gloves are off – on all sides. Attorney for A&V Oil and Gas CEO Hannif Nazim Baksh, Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj SC, is challenging a decision by state-owned Petrotrin on Fridayto terminate the contract of the lease operator.

(Trinidad Express) A woman and two men were found dead in a house near Jerningham Junction, Cunupia on Saturday.

(Trinidad Express) A Central family is praying for a Christmas miracle as a mother of two has gone missing.

LIMA, (Reuters) – Peru’s President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski could end up the surprise winner of an attempt to oust him from power this week, after some opposition lawmakers broke ranks with party leaders to support him, opening a divide that might strengthen his hand.

(Trinidad Guardian) Pressure is mounting on Chief Justice Ivor Archie to speak out on allegations being made against him.

A, (ReutersHAVAN) – Communist-run Cuba extended the term of its current leadership to April yesterday, signaling a two-month delay in the historic handover from Raul Castro to a new president, while announcing tighter regulations on the non-state sector.

(Reuters) – The U.S. State Department has told refugee agencies it will sharply pare back the number of offices across the country authorized to resettle people in 2018 as President Donald Trump cuts the number of refugees allowed into the United States.

(Trinidad Guardian) Three men accused of murdering Special Reserve Police officer Richard Babwah and robbing the owner of a Chinese restaurant appeared in court jointly charged with the crimes yesterday.