Staff Editor

While its ranking moved slightly in a positive direction, Guyana is still listed in the very corrupt category in the Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index.

MACKSVILLE, Australia, (Reuters) – Australia bid an emotional farewell to cricketer Phillip Hughes at a funeral in his hometown on Wednesday with a live coast-to-coast broadcast allowing a nation to unite in celebration and remembrance of the life of a sportsman cut down in his prime.

The Cheddi Jagan International Airport Corporation and the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority today defended the operations of Exec Jet Club whose owner was held last week in Puerto Rico with US$620,000 aboard his private jet.

Based upon investigations conducted, at about 1130h. today, the police said they recovered two stolen motor vehicles at a residence at Hummingbird Street, North Ruimveldt, Georgetown.

At about 0950h. today, police say that two men armed with firearms held up the Postmistress and other staff members of the Post Office at Canterbury Walk, Beterverwagting, ECD.

Opposition Leader David Granger has formally written President Donald Ramotar telling him that there will be no talks with the government as long as Parliament remains prorogued.

KOROME, Kenya, (Reuters) – Somali al Shabaab militants killed at least 36 non-Muslim workers at a quarry in northeast Kenya today, beheading at least two of them in the same area that they hijacked a bus and killed 28 passengers just over a week ago.

BOSTON, (Reuters) – The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation warned U.S.

Dynamic Airways last night hit another snag when its plane became stuck in the mud at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri as it was preparing to leave Guyana for New York.

(WICB) St John’s, Antigua – The West Indies Cricket Board Selection Panel today announced that Devon Smith has been selected to replace Christopher Gayle in the West Indies Test squad to South Africa.

The Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana (THAG) today said it has seen and is “totally disgusted” by a video on Facebook and on other media made by a person or persons deliberately showing slum and neglected areas of Georgetown and dubbing the voice and image of Minister of Tourism, Irfaan Ali over the video.

GEORGETOWN, Guyana,  CMC – Barbados Pride defeated Guyana Jaguars by two runs on the final day of their third round WICB Professional Cricket League match at the National Stadium at Providence here today.

The police say they are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of Outar Ramphal, 50 years, of Princetown, Corriverton, which occurred at about 2300h.

The Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA) today lauded the Ombudsman’s report into a complaint by a sacked NBS manager as courageous and it called on the savings institution to reinstate and fully compensate the managers and staff who had been dismissed in connection with the loss of $69M from a customer’s account in 2006.

The Guyana Water Inc. (GWI) today apologized to all customers served by the Shelter-Belt Water Treatment Plant which it said is experiencing reduced levels of service due to an electrical problem.

CGX Energy Inc today announced the settlement of the claims brought against Repsol Exploración, S.A.

(Barbados Nation) A man in the wrong place, at the wrong time.

At about 1400h. today, the police say that a Policeman who is also a licensed firearm holder was at Prospect, EBD, conducting investigations into a report of threatening behavior and threatening language involving taxi-driver Samuel La Fleur, 46 years, of Prospect and his mother, when La Fleur attacked him and took away his licensed firearm.

Relatives and close friends of Asif Rahim Khatoon, 38, who was allegedly badly beaten by ranks of the Leonora Police Station and succumbed days later, yesterday protested in front of the station as they demanded justice.

(Jamaica Observer) Friends, relatives and associates of 19-year-old medical students Danielle Hanson and Mikhail Campbell have taken to social media to mourn the tragic and untimely death of the two in a motor vehicle crash early yesterday morning.