NEWS
Ysabel still a winner for Trinis
Miss World TT, Ysabel Bisnath, did not make it into the top 30 of the 2018 Miss World pageant in Sanya, China yesterday, but many Trinis still believe she is a winner. Barbados and Jamaica made it into the top 30 with Jamaica’s Kadijah Robinson getting into the top five and winning Miss World Continental for the Caribbean. Miss Mexico Vanessa Ponce de Leon won the Miss World crown. The social media platform, Facebook, was abuzz yesterday with both congratulations and disappointment for Bisnath. Read more here
Angostura awards champions
Koriella Espinoza has been declared the first ever Angostura Champion at an awards ceremony which was held at the House of Angostura, Eastern Main Road, Laventille, on December 7. The House of Angostura announced five finalists for its inaugural Angostura Champions Award for Community service—Christopher Dennis, Elspeth Duncan, Donald McLean James, Frank Edwards, and Koriella Espinoza. Launched this year, Angostura Champions is an annual awards programme initiated by the company to celebrate individuals who perform outstanding community service and work toward improving the lives of others in T&T. The awards programme aims to showcase the chosen champion's exceptional contributions to society thus encouraging a sense of service. Read more here
POLITICS
Health Ministry launches awareness campaign on lifestyle diseases
IN an attempt to move citizens away from an unhealthy lifestyle to a healthier one, Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh said the ministry is working on another step to reduce the incidence of non-communicable diseases (NCD) like diabetes, hypertension, and high cholesterol. Addressing the media Friday at the launch of TT Moves, an awareness campaign addressing NCDs, at the Brian Lara Promenade, Port of Spain, Deyalsingh said those who suffer from NCDs end up in hospitals, clogging the accident and emergency departments. He said Friday’s event is a continuation of a plan the ministry launched earlier this year to get this country to move from an unhealthy lifestyle to a healthier one. Read more here
No let-up from Devant
There is no let-up on Government from Devant Maharaj. Now the UNC activist has released Communication/National Security Minister Stuart Young’s cell number and urged people to call Young. And he intends to release all PNM government ministers’ numbers, “...Because they have to account to the public. People can’t wait ‘til election,” Maharaj told the Guardian yesterday. Read more here
BUSINESS
SBTT, FCI report lower earnings
This week, we at Bourse review the financial performance of the two Canadian-owned banking giants listed on the Trinidad and Tobago Stock Exchange (TTSE), Scotiabank Trinidad and Tobago Ltd (SBTT) and FirstCaribbean International Bank Ltd (FCI). Read more here
REGIONAL
Get The Cash - Ashley Urges Holness To Name Beneficiaries, Recover Millions Improperly Spent At Petrojam
Prime Minister Andrew Holness should publicly name all the individuals, entities, and consultants that collected millions of dollars "they were not entitled to" from the state-owned oil refinery Petrojam and use all legal and persuasive means to have the funds repaid, one political commentator has suggested. Further, Paul Ashley believes that those who refuse to repay should be blacklisted from ever being employed in the public sector. "You can't benefit from corruption and keep on benefiting. Everybody is talking about corruption. I am into naming the beneficiaries," Ashley told The Gleaner yesterday. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
Jailed Huawei executive will learn her fate Monday as China demands her release
China's anger is growing over the arrest of a top Chinese tech executive wanted by the United States. What happens next will be decided Monday by a Canadian court. Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou has been detained in Vancouver since December 1 and faces extradition to the United States. She's accused of helping Huawei, one of the world's biggest makers of smartphones and networking equipment, dodge US sanctions on Iran, according to Canadian prosecutors. The arrest of Meng, the daughter of Huawei's founder, has put a new strain on the tense relationship between Washington and Beijing just as the two sides are trying to negotiate an end to their damaging trade war. It has also highlighted the intensifying clash over technologybetween the world's top two economies. Read more here
Brexit ruling: UK can cancel decision, EU court says
10th December 2018