Staff Editor

(Jamaica Gleaner) The United States Coast Guard says it has captured a speedboat laden with US$43 million worth of cocaine in the Caribbean Sea.

PORT OF SPAIN,  (Reuters) – Australia and West Indies shared the honours on a slow opening day in the second test at Queen’s Park Oval in Trinidad today.

Police say that at about 1700h yesterday businessman Khemchand, 72 years, and his wife Lakrajie Khemchand, were in their business place at Anna Catherina, WCD, when they were attacked and robbed by a woman and two men, one of whom was armed with a firearm.

CARTAGENA, Colombia,  (Reuters) – Unprecedented Latin American opposition to U.S. sanctions on communist Cuba left President Barack Obama isolated at the Summit of the Americas today and illustrated Washington’s waning influence in the region.

(Trinidad Guardian) Legspinner Devendra Bishoo walked away with the trophies for International and Test “Cricketer of the Year” while allrounder Stafanie Taylor was named Women’s Cricketer of the Year at the West Indies Players’ Association/First Citizens award ceremony at the Hyatt Regency in Port-of-Spain, on Friday night.

CARTAGENA, Colombia, (Reuters) – U.S. Secret Service agents and soldiers tasked with protecting President Barack Obama at a summit in Colombia have instead embarrassed the United States by cavorting with prostitutes.

(Jamaica Observer) The Government yesterday sacked one of its special assistants and opened a probe into the role of the secretary/manager of the St James Parish Council in the flag fiasco, as public anger grew over what many have described as a desecration of one of Jamaica’s national symbols at a civic ceremony.

GR taxi driver Balram Jadoonauth called Sanjay died in hospital this morning shortly after he was shot in front of his Campbellville home.

BANNU, Pakistan,  (Reuters) – Dozens of Islamist militants stormed a prison in Pakistan in the dead of night early today and freed nearly 400 inmates, including one on death row for trying to assassinate former President Pervez Musharraf, police officials said.

(Barbados Nation) Former Chief Justice Sir David Simmons is promising to reveal “shocking” details of the Government’s refusal to extend his tenure as the island’s top judicial officer two years ago.

(Barbados Nation) The police battle against crime linked to the cash for gold business is heading to Cabinet.

(Barbados Nation) REDjet officials have approached Guyana for financial assistance and are reportedly also in discussion with foreign investors in an effort to get the grounded airline back in the air.

(Trinidad Express) Indra Gangabissoon —the elderly woman who was brutally beaten by thieves three days ago—died at the Port of Spain General Hospital yesterday.

KABUL,  (Reuters) – Gunmen launched multiple attacks in the Afghan capital Kabul today, assaulting Western embassies in the heavily guarded, central diplomatic area and at the parliament in the west, witnesses and officials said.

Forced on the defensive over the detaining of Bollywood star Shahrukh Khan at a US airport twice, Washington has asserted it was not a case of racial profiling or a pattern, according to Gulf News.

CARTAGENA, Colombia, (Reuters) – Haiti’s foreign minister Laurent Lamothe said he could be fully approved as the country’s new prime minister within 30 days, potentially ending a political stalemate that has threatened to limit reconstruction after the 2010 earthquake.

CARTAGENA, Colombia,  (Reuters) – U.S. President Barack Obama tried today to convince skeptical Latin Americans that Washington has not turned its back on them, but ruled out a drug policy U-turn that some in the region want.

At about 1000h today, police said that Stanley Persaud, 37 years of Soesdyke, EBD, was walking along Regent Street, Georgetown, when he was attacked by a man armed with a knife and who took away his gold band valued at $260,000and escaped on a bicycle.

CARACAS, (Reuters) – Venezuela’s President Hugo Chavez will not attend this weekend’s regional summit in Colombia and will instead fly straight to Cuba to continue being treated for cancer, his foreign minister said today.

CARTAGENA, Colombia, (Reuters) – U.S. President Barack Obama stressed today the “great promise” for business growth in the Americas, seeking to play up the economic heft of the region he has paid little attention to in his first three years in office.