Regional News

WASHINGTON,  (Reuters) – The United States yesterday imposed sanctions on three Nicaraguan officials over their support for leftist President Daniel Ortega’s government.

(Trinidad Express) Convicted narcotics trafficker and alleged ‘zesser’ party organiser Dorrel Simon was shot and killed on Sunday night.

(Reuters) – Nicaragua’s National Assembly yesterday passed a law to prevent people the government believes financed attempts to oust President Daniel Ortega or encouraged sanctions against his officials from standing in the 2021 general elections.

SAO PAULO,  (Reuters) – Brazilian health regulator Anvisa said yesterday it had certified the production standards of CoronaVac, China’s Sinovac-produced coronavirus vaccine candidate, which is being tested in Brazil.

Caribbean Airlines Cargo is currently developing a Covid-19 vaccine transportation plan to ensure its readiness to distribute the vaccine throughout the Caribbean when it becomes available.

(Jamaica Observer) Jamaica has put a two-week ban on flights from the United Kingdom, joining several countries in restricting travel from Britain over a new strain of the novel coronavirus.

(Jamaica Gleaner) For Portmore mother of seven Natasha Jones, there is only one thing that would make her happy this Christmas: to have all her children under her roof.

(Jamaica Gleaner) Jamaica is to make a decision within the next 72 hours on whether it will introduce travel restrictions on United Kingdom flights coming into the island as an aggressive new COVID-19 strain that is 70 per cent more contagious has emerged, with at least six European countries imposing barriers to entry.

(Trinidad Guardian) A group of Venezuelans who protested outside Trinidad and Tobago’s Embassy in Washington last Friday have noted “accidents” happening between T&T and Venezuela – but they said their protest was really to get T&T’s Government to stop “supporting” the Nicolas Maduro administration.

(Trinidad Guardian) Over 35 offshore workers employed with the Perenco Trinidad and Tobago oil and gas company were transported to the Ministry of Health’s quarantine facility at the University of the West Indies’ Debe campus last evening, after they tested positive for COVID-19 while on duty on the Teak Alpha platform last week.

(Trinidad Guardian) High Court Judge Justice Frank Seepersad is calling for safety and support hubs to be set up in communities across the country to assist victims of domestic abuse.

The Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) has awarded US$ 100,000 in grant funding to seven cultural projects through an initiative to provide emergency relief to the creative industries (CI) sector in the aftermath of COVID-19.

TEGUCIGALPA,  (Reuters) – Hurricanes Eta and Iota have caused about 45.7 billion lempiras ($1.9 billion) in damages and losses in Honduras, according to the United Nations economic commission for the region, a far lower estimate than the government’s figure of $10 billion.

BOGOTA,  (Reuters) – Colombia will suspend all flights to the United Kingdom over concerns about a new strain of coronavirus, President Ivan Duque said yesterday, joining a growing list of countries barring British travelers.

(Trinidad Express) Even if a person has been administered a Covid-19 vaccine in another country, if he or she intends to enter Trinidad and Tobago, the person will be required to show Covid-negative status.

(Trinidad Guardian) Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley has summoned Venezuela’s Ambassador to T&T, Carlos Amador Perez Silva, to a meeting to discuss recent developments concerning both countries – and Trinidad and Tobago’s position.

(Trinidad Guardian) Amidst the bustle of Christmas shopping on High Street, San Fernando, Venezuelan migrants are roaming the streets in search of work and food.

(Jamaica Observer) Business tycoon Ian Levy is convinced Andrew Holness will go down in history as one of the best, if not the best prime ministers Jamaica has ever had.

(Jamaica Gleaner) Oral Nelson, a 32-year-old Jamaican who faced a double murder charge shortly after he was deported from the United States of America in August 2019, was freed last week of the charges but says the ordeal has left him traumatised and depressed.

(Jamaica Star) Dewayne and Feleca Jonas were like peas in a pod when they were growing up in Belmont district, Lawrence Tavern, St Andrew.