Staff Editor

(Jamaica Gleaner) The Ministry of Youth and Culture has confirmed that its Director of Corporate Services Sean Thompson was shot and killed at his home in Spanish Town St.

GROS ISLET, St Lucia,  CMC – A scintillating Darren Sammy cameo helped Windward Islands overpower beleaguered Barbados and keep alive their chances of reaching the playoffs of the Caribbean Twenty20.

ALGIERS,  (Reuters) – About 60 foreigners were still being held hostage or missing inside a gas plant today after Algerian forces stormed the desert complex to free hundreds of captives taken by Islamist militants, who threatened to attack other energy installations.

(Barbados Nation) Melanie Fiona, coming in to  perform Sunday at the Naniki Jazz Safari, speaks about her music and her life during an exclusive interview with the WEEKEND NATION.

(de Ware Tijd) PARAMARIBO – Minister of Finance, Adeline Wijnerman, has suspended five top Customs officials, effective immediately in an effort to push through radical reforms aimed at improving the service’s image.

(Trinidad Express) France-based aviation company ATR and regional airline LIAT (Leeward Islands Air Transport) have signed an agreement for the purchase of three 48-seater ATR 42-600 aircraft.

NEW YORK,  (Reuters) – Lance Armstrong finally confessed to using performance enhancing drugs during his cycling career yesterday, admitting he cheated to win all seven of his Tour de France titles.

GROS ISLET, St Lucia,  CMC – Windward Islands defeated Barbados by four wickets in the 19th game of the Caribbean Twenty20 at the Beausejour Cricket Stadium here last night.

WASHINGTON,  (Reuters) – Non-U.S. pension funds and mutual funds were spared the full brunt of new U.S.

GROS ISLET, St Lucia, CMC – Guyana withstood a late charge from Leeward Islands to carve out a 14-run win and take a huge stride towards a spot in the playoffs of the Caribbean Twenty20 here Thursday night.

DHAKA,  (Reuters) – The growing popularity of Twenty20 internationals will not harm test cricket because the two formats of the game can thrive together, former West Indies captain Brian Lara said today.

Speaker of the National Assembly, Raphael Trotman has ruled against amendments proposed by Attorney General Anil Nandlall to a motion in the name of Opposition Leader David Granger calling for a probe of criminal violence from 2004 to 2010.

GROS ISLET, St Lucia,  CMC – Talismanic opener Chris Gayle is set to join Jamaica’s squad for the Caribbean Twenty20.

(Trinidad Express) Magistrate Maureen Baboolal-Gafoor intends to sentence soca superstar Machel Montano on five criminal charges on February 25.

ADELAIDE, Australia,  CMC-Former West Indies cricket captain Carl Hooper says he has no interest in becoming the next head coach of the Bangladesh cricket team.

(Jamaica Observer) The assets of former Tivoli Gardens strongman Christopher ‘Dudus’ Coke were yesterday ordered forfeited to the State.

The police conducted an early morning raid today, in the areas of East and West Ruimveldt and East La Penitence, Georgetown, during which ten buildings were cordoned and searched.

The Labour Ministry today said that it is hosting a sensitization meeting for the Chinese business community operating in Guyana at 4 this afternoon.

ALGIERS, (Reuters) – Algeria said several hostages were killed today when its forces stormed a remote desert gas plant occupied by Islamist militants in retaliation for French intervention in Mali, and local sources said six foreigners were among the dead.

The local protected areas system received a boost yesterday with the exchange of notes to  initiate a grant from the German Government to the Guyana Government via the Ministry of Natural Resources, the Government Information Agency reported.