Staff Editor

BOGOTA,  (Reuters) – Colombian government peace talks with leftist guerrillas to try and end Latin America’s longest-running insurgency will begin next month in Norway before moving to Cuba, President Juan Manuel Santos said today.

ST.GEORGE’S, Grenada,  CMC-World and Olympic 400 metres champion Kirani James has been officially appointed a s a sports tourism ambassador for Grenada.

The police have launched a probe into allegations that US$15,000 went missing during the search of a house and Crime Chief Seelall Persaud says there is nothing in the law that prevents the police from searching premises even if a minor is the only person at home.

JALALABAD, Afghanistan,  (Reuters) – A suicide bomber blew himself up at a funeral in eastern Afghanistan today, killing at least 20 people and wounding dozens, officials said, one of the biggest attacks on civilians in weeks.

DHAKA,  (Reuters) – Former international player Shariful Haque has been found guilty of spot-fixing and banned from cricket indefinitely, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) said today.

LONDON,  (Reuters) – The Rolling Stones will release an album of hit songs in November to celebrate their 50th anniversary, including their very first single “Come On.”

(Jamaica Observer) A lockdown of the local petroleum sector is looming as furious industry stakeholders intensify calls for Energy Minister Phillip Paulwell to intervene and plug gaping holes which they say are making their survival increasingly difficult.

(de Ware Tijd) PARAMARIBO – Good Friday, Divali and Id-Ul-Adha have to be removed from the list of national holidays, is the advice by the Commission National Holidays to President Desi Bouterse.

(Jamaica Gleaner) Chief executive officer of the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) – Dr Didacus Jules – has warned that holders of falsified preliminary results slips can be prosecuted.

(Trinidad Express) Education Minister Dr Tim Gopeesingh says with more than a 100 schools in a state of disrepair, it is better to rebuild than to renovate.

(Trinidad Express) Cruise ship fraud-accused businesswoman Vicky Boodram went to jail last night, after being denied bail on charges of fraud and forgery related to purchases including a Mercedes Benz, house and land.

(Trinidad Express) Yasin Abu Bakr yesterday ignored the subpoena to appear before the Commission of Enquiry into the 1990 coup attempt.

MUMBAI, (Reuters) – Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli’s exploits with the bat in the two-test series sweep of New Zealand will encourage India to believe they have pinpointed the right men to help carry the team through a tricky transitional period.

St Lucia police have reported five killings in as many days, the Caribbean Media Corporation reported today.

Officials of Baupanel Systems Limited, a diverse worldwide group of companies with a commitment to affordable and sustainable homes is eying Guyana.

KARACHI,  (Reuters) – The Pakistan Cricket Board has conveyed its concern to the International Cricket Council (ICC) over the omission of off-break bowler Saeed Ajmal from the shortlist of nominees for the annual ICC awards.

At about 0810h yesterday, police ranks conducted a search on a camp at Big Hope Backdam, Waini, NWD, during which an unlicensed 16-gauge single barrel shotgun was found.

(de Ware Tijd) PARAMARIBO – Staatsolie has decided to stop its drilling operations in Commewijne, as no usable oil has been found in the past four years.

(Jamaica Gleaner) KINGSTON, Jamaica – At 4:00 am the centre of Tropical Storm Leslie was located near latitude 23.8 degrees North and 62.1 degrees West or about 745 kilometres north of the Leeward Islands or 980 kilometres south southeast of Bermuda.

(Jamaica Gleaner) Education Minister Ronald Thwaites has described the sale of Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) passes as scandalous.