Staff Editor

Surinamese Minister of Trade, Don Tosendjojo (left) President Donald Ramotar (centre) and Minister of Foreign Affairs Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett at the welcoming reception held at the Princess Hotel last evening.

On Tuesday, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) handed over three Honda All-Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) to the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) to assist the Secretariat with its work at its various interior locations in Guyana.

The Ministry of Education said that it was brought to its attention that sessions were disrupted at the Stella Maris Nursery and Primary Schools earlier today after a swarm of bees from a nest outside the schools’ compound entered the buildings.

Police say that the man whose body was found in the Demerara River in the vicinity of West Watooka, Linden, on January 08, 2015, has been identified as Quincy Johnson, 25 years, of Half Mile, Wismar.

In the wake of a statement by the British High Commissioner here that Guyana is in breach of the Commonwealth Charter by virtue of its suspension of Parliament among other things, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs says it has established with the Commonwealth Secretary General that there has been no discussion about the situation in Guyana.

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif., (Reuters) – Show business satire “Birdman” and colorful caper “The Grand Budapest Hotel” led the Academy Award nominees today with nine nods apiece, including best picture, in the quest for Hollywood’s top film prize.

WASHINGTON, (Reuters) – The United States rolled out a sweeping set of measures today to significantly ease the half-century-old embargo against Cuba, opening up the country to expanded travel, trade and financial activities.

The British High Commission today announced that Leroy Phillips from Guyana is one of 60 young people from across the Commonwealth who are being recognised as exceptional leaders in their community.

(Trinidad Express) Posts and opinions from users of Facebook, Twitter and other social media sites are being monitored by the Government.

(Trinidad Express) Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (TTCB) first vice-president Dr Allen Sammy confirmed that the local body was disappointed with the omission of Dwayne Bravo and Kieron Pollard from the West Indies World Cup side but said the territorial board had full confidence in the choices of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) selectors.

In a further sign of the weak market for hotels and office space, the modern building at Camp and Lamaha streets which was completed in 2013 is up for rent.

(Trinidad Express) The Massy Stores conglomerate was yesterday forced to remove an advertisement for its insurance arm, Massy United Insurance Ltd, that had drawn accusations of “sexism” from scores of Facebook users.

MOSCOW, (Reuters) – Russian President Vladimir Putin plans to meet Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro to discuss oil prices, TASS news agency quoted Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov as saying today.

KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC-Chairman of selectors Clive Lloyd says he is disappointed with comments made by opener Chris Gayle criticizing the decision to omit Dwayne Bravo and Kieron Pollard from the West Indies squad for next month’s World Cup.

KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC- West Indies chief cricket selector Clive Lloyd says the omission of Dwayne Bravo and Kieron Pollard from the World Cup squad is no act of victimization for their roles in the controversial abandoned tour of India.

The Working People’s Alliance (WPA) today accused Norway and the Inter-American Development Bank of a conspiracy over funding for the planned Amaila Falls Hydropower Project in light of arrangements for US$80M which would comprise Guyana’s equity despite a Parliamentary vote against the project on various grounds.

(Trinidad Express) Relatives of Dana Seetahal SC say they are starved for information from the police about the investigation into her murder, uncertain of whether any headway is being made, and fearful her killers will go free.

The police today said that at the end of December last year traffic deaths were up by a whopping 30% while murders were down by 5% compared to 2013.

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, CMC – An upset Chris Gayle has blasted the omission of Dwayne Bravo and Kieron Pollard from the West Indies squad for next month’s World Cup as “ridiculous”, and says it smacks of victimisation.

The UK government this morning warned that there is growing concern over the suspension of Parliament by the Donald Ramotar administration and said Guyana is at risk of being referred to the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group over the suspension of the law-making body.