Staff Editor

ASUNCION,  (Reuters) – Paraguayan presidential candidate Lino Oviedo, who helped the lead the 1989 coup that overthrew dictator Alfredo Stroessner, died in a helicopter crash over the weekend.

MUNICH,  (Reuters) – Syria’s opposition leader flew back to his Cairo headquarters from Germany today to explain to sceptical allies his decision to talk with President Bashar al-Assad’s main backers Russia and Iran.

The 79-year-old proprietor of the Libra and Gemini Carpet establishment of D’Urban and George streets this morning had to be dramatically rescued by fire-fighters as she watched television in her soundproof, air-conditioned room unaware that her home was ablaze.

(Jamaica Gleaner) The chilling wail of anguish by parents who have to bury their children is getting louder as criminals seem to set their sights on the island’s defenceless youth. 

The police say they are conducting investigations into the circumstances surrounding the death of Brazilian national Paulo Mauricio Da Silva, 17 years, of Bon Fim, Brazil.

KIRKUK, Iraq,  (Reuters) – At least 33 people were killed in the Iraqi city of Kirkuk today when a suicide bomber detonated a truck packed with explosives outside a police headquarters and gunmen disguised as officers tried to storm the compound.

(Trinidad Express) Attorney General Anand Ramlogan has initiated legal action against former Miss Universe Wendy Fitzwilliam.

CARACAS,  (Reuters) – Venezuelan Vice President Nicolas Maduro accused opposition leader Henrique Capriles on Saturday of “conspiring” against the OPEC nation during meetings in neighboring Colombia, stepping up his attacks on his most likely potential election rival.

(Trinidad Express) Atrius. That’s the name Government has selected to rebrand the collapsed Colonial Life Insurance Company (CLICO).

PERTH, (Reuters) – Seamer Mitchell Starc grabbed a second successive five-wicket haul and George Bailey his maiden international century as Australia beat West Indies by 54 runs in the second one-dayer at the WACA today.

The Guyana Defence Force this evening said that an Officer and four Other Ranks have been detained in relation to their alleged involvement in criminal conduct, reportedly committed in the Cuyuni mining district recently.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment will on Monday launch an initiative to rehabilitate the Zoological Park, Botanical Gardens and the National Park, a release from the Ministry today said.

JOHANNESBURG,  (Reuters) – Pakistan coach Dav Whatmore believes an onslaught by the South African pace bowlers in the morning session on day two of the second test at the Wanderers today was the best he has ever seen.

(Trinidad Guardian) The T&T Publishers and Broadcasters Association (TTPBA) yesterday maintained its objection to giving free airtime to government programmes.

ISTANBUL,  (Reuters) – A member of a Turkish leftist group that accuses Washington of using Turkey as its “slave” carried out a suicide bomb attack on the U.S.

The United States has asked the Dutch island of Curacao to probe years of gold smuggling between the two jurisdictions and reports have surfaced of a dossier on illicit shipments from Guyana for the last 15 years.

PERTH, Australia, CMC – West Indies coach Ottis Gibson says there was no need to press the panic button despite watching his side get routed by Australia for their third lowest total in One-Day Internationals here last Friday.

(Jamaica Observer) The Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) says it is shocked by a recent statement by Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller, who told supporters at a party meeting in St Ann earlier this week that Opposition Leader Andrew Holness could be an “enemy of the State”.

(Jamaica Observer) The police have sought the public’s help in locating Marlon Omar McMillian, who goes by the aliases ‘Chris’, ‘Truthy’, and ‘Shootie’, in connection with Thursday’s brutal slaying of a five-year-old boy in Allman Town, Kingston.

(Jamaica Observer) The Office of the Contractor General (OCG) won a major battle yesterday when the Supreme Court rejected an application by the Ministry of Transport and Works challenging its authority to monitor and probe the Independent Oversight Panel set up to oversee three multimillion-dollar building projects.