Staff Editor

(Barbados Nation) As Barbadians prepare to celebrate Christmas and New Year’s holidays, they have been put on notice that private sector layoffs are looming for 2013.

(Trinidad Express) Trinidadians have been polled as being among the happiest people in the world.

(Trinidad Express) The Brian Lara Cancer Treatment Centre (BLCTC) has been slapped with a $20 million lawsuit on the eve of the second anniversary of Ricardo “Smokey” McKenzie’s death from a suspected deadly overdose of radiation to his brain.

To cheers in the Guyana Defence Force’s (GDF) Camp Ayanganna auditorium President Donald Ramotar today announced a “one-month pay” to members of the disciplined forces.

(de Ware Tijd) PARAMARIBO – The gold deals the government is about to sign with Iamgold and Newmont mean at least 50% of gold revenues will stay in Suriname, Public Works (OW) Minister Ramon Abrahams stated at an event in Voorburg, Commewijne yesterday.

The failed $62M Kumaka, North West revetment works are being redone at the cost of $35.2M, Works Minister Robeson Benn disclosed to the National Assembly this afternoon.

Government seems to be backpedalling on the commitment it made to the Region Ten Regional Administration, the Opposition and the people of Linden with regard to the television station to the region, says former PNCR Member of Parliament Anthony Vieira.

(Jamaica Observer) The umbrella Jamaica Teachers’ Association (JTA) is demanding a pay increase for its members, and minimum standards in schools that would see the scrapping of pit latrines for disposing of bodily waste.

A licensed firearm holder yesterday went to the rescue of a man who had just been robbed and managed to hold the two bandits.

The police say they are investigating the murder of Trevor Thomas, 19 years, of Lethem, which occurred at about 2300h last night at Mudhole Backdam, Eteringbang.

(Barbados Nation) Tension between Guyanese nationals arriving in Barbados and Immigration authorities appear to be easing.

(Barbados Nation) A 21-year-old Trinidadian woman who was studying at the Cave Hill Campus of the University of the West Indies died yesterday morning after collapsing as she was preparing to go home for the Christmas break.

(Trinidad Express) The Police Service Commission (PSC) is in “wonder-land” over when a substantive Police Commissioner will be appointed in this country.

(Trinidad Express) President George Maxwell Richards may be stretching his constitutional right to request information from the Prime Minister about Section 34.

ALGIERS,  (Reuters) – President Francois Hollande acknowledged today France’s colonisation of Algeria had been “brutal and unfair” but he stopped short of an apology to the oil-rich North African state that Paris sees as a major trading partner.

(Trinidad Express) A report on the Chronic Non Communicable Diseases (CNCD) risk factor survey carried out in 2011 has shown that more than half of this country’s adult population is overweight or obese.

MOSCOW,  (Reuters) – Russia’s main concern in Syria is the fate of the country and not that of President Bashar al-Assad, President Vladimir Putin said today.

(Trinidad Express) THE SON of calypsonian Mark John, aka Contender, was felled by bullets yesterday during a shoot-out with members of a gang from an area known as “Resurrection” in Carenage.

Ramlakhan Samaroo, 67 years of Novar, Mahaicony, ECD, who was involved in an accident at Mahaicony Park, ECD, on December 10, 2012, while a passenger in motor car PLL 6153 died at the GPHC at about 1630h yesterday, police said.

The police say they are investigating a fatal accident that occurred at about 0630h today at Lesbeholden Public Road, Black Bush Polder, Corentyne, and which resulted in the death of pedestrian Razeem Khan, 41 years, of Lesbeholden.