Staff Editor

(Jamaica Gleaner) As Jamaica prepares to celebrate the 50th anniversary of its Independence from Britain, the Government says it’s far advanced with steps aimed at replacing The Queen as the country’s head of state.

(Jamaica Gleaner) Olympic champion Usain Bolt says he may go for four gold medals by running the 4 x 400-metre relay in London.

The visit of diplomats from the US, UK and Canadian missions to Linden which was set for today is off.

Cabinet has agreed to the establishment of sub-offices of the Chambers of the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Police say that at about 2100h yesterday, ranks conducted a search on a Venezuelan National at Eteringbang Landing during which an unlicensed .45 Colt pistol with six rounds  was found.

The police say they are investigating the murder of Lakeram Persaud, 34 years of Lincoln Street, Enterprise, ECD, which occurred at his home at about 0545h today.

The mother of Prime Minister Sam Hinds has passed away at the age of 92.

(Barbados Nation) Prime Minister Freundel Stuart says Barbados is at the crossroads and wants all Barbadians to pull out the stops and be more productive.

OSLO,  (Reuters) – It is just a matter of time before the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad falls because its use of massive force is mobilizing insurgents, General Robert Mood, the former head of the U.N.

(Trinidad Express) Chairman of Medcorp Ltd Dr Kongsheik Achong Low has been found negligent in the death of a 36-year-old patient.

HAVANA,  (Reuters) – Cuba adopted a new tax code this week and said it would loosen regulations on some state companies while turning others into cooperatives, as one of the world’s last Soviet-style economies moves in a more market-friendly direction.

LONDON,  (Reuters) – All eyes turn to London on Friday for the opening ceremony of the 2012 Olympics, an exuberant journey from Britain’s idyllic pastures through the grime of the Industrial Revolution and ending in a contemporary world dominated by popular culture.

The Public Utilities Commission (PUC) today ordered Digicel Guyana to pull all advertisements featuring the new lowered international calling rates which the company had instituted following a decision by Justice Rishi Persaud in a case against the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GT&T).

(Reuters) – Former FIFA presidential candidate Mohamed Bin Hammam has been provisionally suspended by soccer’s governing body only a week after his life ban for bribery was overturned by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

(Jamaica Observer) KINGSTON, Jamaica — Minister of Labour and Social Security Derrick Kellier says over 13,000 workers will be participating in the Canadian and United States overseas employment programme this year.

(Jamaica Gleaner) A high-end technical team is to be flown into Jamaica from Russia next month to hammer out wrinkles at the United Company (UC) RUSAL-operated Ewarton Alumina Works in St Catherine, according to Mining Minister Phillip Paulwell.

(Trinidad Express) People’s National Movement (PNM) youth speaker Joshua Hamlet has called on his party to take a firm stand against the discrimination towards this country’s growing lesbian, gay and transgender community.

(Trinidad Express) The police are not afraid to investigate their line minister Jack Warner.

Three persons including a pregnant woman were killed this morning after the car they were in was involved in an accident at Friendship, East Bank Demerara.

(Trinidad Express) Even in the face of more damning evidence released by Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) judgment that reversed FIFA’s ban on former FIFA vice-president Mohamed Bin Hammam, Minister of National Security Jack Warner has remained silent on the issue.