Staff Editor

The body of a male commercial sex worker was found this morning behind the Carnegie School of Home Economics with stab wounds.

PARIS/BAMAKO,  (Reuters) – France would intervene to stop any further drive southward by Islamist rebels in Mali, President Francois Hollande said today, as Malian soldiers launched a counter-offensive to wrest back a key town captured by militants this week.

Eleven gold bars were found by US border patrol authorities last month at an airport in Puerto Rico and the precious metal is believed to have been part of the November 30 heist aboard a Guyanese boat in the Dutch island of Curacao.

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad,  CMC – Guyana overcame an indifferent batting display with a gutsy bowling performance to stun Barbados by 42 runs, and post their second win in the Caribbean Twenty20 at Queen’s Park Oval here last night.

The Opposition using their majority in the National Assembly today passed a motion in the National Assembly granting leave for the introduction of a Bill to repeal the controversial Presidents’ Benefits and Other Facilities Act of 2009.

QUETTA, Pakistan  (Reuters) – At least 101 people were killed in bombings in two Pakistani cities today in one of the country’s bloodiest days in recent years, officials said, with most casualties caused by sectarian attacks in Quetta.

(Jamaica Gleaner) The Turks and Caicos Attorney General’s Chamber has signaled its intention to submit a formal extradition request to have former Premier Michael Misick extradited.

OTTAWA, (Reuters) – A Canadian native leader said today that anger among the country’s aboriginals is such that they could block resource development and bring the economy “to its knees” unless the Conservative government addresses a series of grievances.

(Jamaica Gleaner) Prime Minister of Grenada, Tillman Thomas, has asked the country’s governor general to dissolve the parliament paving the way for elections to be held within 90 days.

(Jamaica Gleaner) With speculation rife over whether Venezuela would continue the PetroCaribe arrangement if Hugo Chávez is replaced as president, Jamaica’s energy minister says willpower such as the ailing leader’s is a necessary ingredient to the survival of the deal.

The police this morning conducted cordon and search operations in the areas of Albouystown and West Ruimveldt, Georgetown, during which eight buildings were searched, a release from the police said today.

(Trinidad Express) Trinidad and Tobago’s roads became deadlier for the country’s citizens in 2012, with an 18 per cent jump in the number of people who were knocked down and killed by speeding motorists.

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad,  CMC – A ruthless Trinidad and Tobago stormed to the top of the Caribbean Twenty20 standings on Wednesday night after clobbering hapless Leeward Islands by 95 runs in a lopsided affair.

(Barbados Nation) A national strike, which could see thousands of workers on the streets, is now looming following LIME’s decision not to withdraw dismissal letters to 97 employees.

(Trinidad Express) If a UNC candidate had stated on an election platform that a boat from the Congo would arrive in Trinidad if the PNM wins the election, what would have been the PNM’s and the nation’s reaction?

DERBYSHIRE, United Kingdom,  CMC-Veteran West Indies middle order batsman, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, has signed a two-year contract to play for English county side Derbyshire.

(Barbados Nation) LIAT has apologized to customers travelling to and from Dominica and St.

In a dramatic turn of events, NIS General Manager, Doreen Nelson who resigned yesterday has now withdrawn her resignation and this has been accepted by Minister of Finance, Dr Ashni Singh.

CARACAS, (Reuters) – Venezuela’s top court endorsed the postponement of Hugo Chavez’s inauguration this week and ruled today that the cancer-stricken president and his deputy would continue in their roles, despite a cacophony of opposition complaints.

BRASILIA,  (Reuters) – Brazilian prosecutors will likely investigate former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva’s alleged involvement in a vote-buying scheme in Congress that led to the conviction of several of his closest aides for corruption, two newspapers reported today.