Staff Editor

The police say they are investigating a fatal accident that occurred at about 2100h last night on Paradise Public Road, Essequibo Coast, and which resulted in the death of motor cyclist Raymond Shamlall, 32 years, of Plantation Phillips, Essequibo Coast.

CARACAS,  (Reuters) – Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez suffered bleeding as a result of a six-hour operation in Cuba meant to treat a third bout of cancer, the government said today.

(WICB) St John’s, Antigua – The West Indies Cricket Board announces that it has concluded an agreement with Barbados-based Verus International to launch a professional franchise-based Twenty20 league in the Caribbean starting in 2013.

The Guyana Sugar Corporation says that at about 5.30 am today cane harvester Asraf Ali, 57 years, and of 60 Cane Grove, East Coast Demerara, died by accident at the orderline in the vicinity of the Enmore Community Centre.

LONDON,  (Reuters) – A British nurse who committed suicide after being taken in by a prank call to a hospital treating Prince William’s pregnant wife Kate hanged herself from a wardrobe in her apartment, police said today.

(Jamaica Gleaner) Jamaica’s Reggae Boyz failed to advance to the knockout phase of the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Cup following a 1-0 loss to Cuba at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua last night, providing the final bit of punctuation needed to close the chapter on a wretched campaign.

(Barbados Nation) The controversial Prevention Of Corruption Bill 2012 has gone too far and threatens to discourage people from making a worthy contribution to public life, says Senator Geoffrey Cave.

(Trinidad Express) If roads were repaired and built using a soil cement stabilisation process, then repairs and construction would cost less and the roads would be more durable.

(BBC) Debutant Joe Root and Matt Prior led England’s fightback against India on an attritional first day in Nagpur today.

(Trinidad Express) The show must go on with or without Machel Montano.

(Trinidad Express) The man accused of biting off chunks of flesh from the face and leg of his five-day-old daughter had to be quickly whisked away from the precincts of the Port of Spain Magistrates’ Court yesterday after being threatened with death by other prisoners.

HOBART,  (Reuters) – Mahela Jayawardene will step down as captain of the Sri Lanka test and one-day teams after the current tour of Australia and has backed Angelo Mathews to replace him.

JOHANNESBURG,  (Reuters) – Deputy South African President Kgalema Motlanthe will challenge President Jacob Zuma for leadership of the ANC next week, his top aide said today.

BEIRUT, (Reuters) – Syrian rebels are gaining ground and might win, Russia’s deputy foreign minister said today, in the starkest such admission from a major ally of President Bashar al-Assad.

EZjet boss Sonny Ramdeo was yesterday arrested in Brooklyn, New York on a charge of embezzlement from his former employer.

The police say they are investigating the murder of miner Richard Joseph, 21 years, of Pomeroon River, which occurred at about 2300h on Tuesday at Monesee Backdam, Port Kaituma, NWD.

(Jamaica Gleaner) Agriculture Minister Roger Clarke recently joined with cane farmers in bashing the business practices of Pan Caribbean Sugar Company (PCSC), whose operations appear to diverge from traditional commercial arrangements.

(Jamaica Gleaner) The Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) is to sit in Jamaica for the first time from March 4 – 12 to hear the Shanique Myrie case.

GUATEMALA CITY,  (Reuters) – Guatemala said today it would deport to the United States software pioneer John McAfee, a former Silicon Valley millionaire who is wanted for questioning in Belize over the murder of a fellow American.

CARACAS,  (Reuters) – Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is in a “complex” and delicate condition after his latest surgery for cancer in Cuba, Vice President Nicolas Maduro said today.