NEWS
Thair is top Youth MP
Pleasantville Secondary School’s Thair Alexander was adjudged the country’s top Youth MP as the 16th National Youth Parliament yesterday debated the decriminalisation of marijuana, at Tower D, Wrightson Road, Port of Spain. An Opposition motion to decriminalise the possession of small amounts of the herb for medicinal or recreational use was narrowly defeated by 23 votes “against” and 22 votes “for.” Read more here
40 cops transferred for refusing polygraph tests
Fifteen of 16 police officers attached to a station in the Southwestern peninsula who recently refused to take a voluntary polygraph test have all been transferred. The transfers were made by Police Commissioner Gary Griffith, who confirmed the action yesterday, saying he intends to clean up the T&T Police Service. Griffith said any officer who refuses to take the test was either covering up for their fellow officers or turning a blind eye to illegal activity and criminal elements. Read more here
POLITICS
Colm writes Kamla on Tax bill
We must pass this Bill. So said Finance Minister Colm Imbert in a letter to Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar, as the November 30 deadline for the passage of the Income Tax Amendment Bill approaches. Read more here
BUSINESS
Climate change may damage food security
Climate change and food security are in a head-on collision, says Agriculture Minister Clarence Rambharat. Read more here
REGIONAL
Cardiff Model To Fight Crime - British Professor Says Hospital Data Collection Initiative Very Effective In Identifying Hotspots
A British professor who developed a model that uses hospital data to help prevent violent crimes is trying to convince Jamaican authorities and other stakeholder groups to embrace the initiative. The Cardiff Model was developed by Jonathan Shepherd, professor at the University of Cardiff in Wales, United Kingdom (UK), and is used to identify crime hotspots through information collected at local hospitals from victims of violent crimes. The three-step system involves the collection of non-personal information from victims who show up at emergency rooms, detailed analysis of the data alongside information available to the police, and the creation of a multi-sector body - a violence-prevention board that uses the data to drive policing strategies. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
44 dead in California fires as the Camp Fire becomes the deadliest in state history
An additional 13 sets of human remains were discovered Monday in Northern California, bringing the death toll from the Camp Fire to 42, making it the deadliest wildfire in the state's history, the sheriff of Butte County said. The increased death toll comes as first responders battle blazes on both ends of the state, and brings the statewide death toll to 44. Fierce winds continue to threaten lives and homes in Southern California's Woolsey Fire, which has killed two people so far. The strongest Santa Ana winds in the south may bring gusts near hurricane force on Tuesday, CNN meteorologist Dave Hennen said. Read more here
Israel-Gaza: Deadly fire traded across border
13th November 2018