NEWS
...Trinis’ conviction in V’zuela under study
Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi said his office has to properly look at the conviction of the Trinidadian Muslim nationals in Venezuela. I have to look at the evidence from another jurisdiction which resulted in a conviction, I don’t know what the back of that conviction was built upon with certainty and therefore it is an obligation in law to look at the full case,” he said yesterday. The AG said several rights have to be balanced—the obligations under law that exists from the State against persons. Read more here
Mother of man killed by cops: New video will disprove police
While armed police stood guard outside her son’s funeral yesterday, Sharon Deslandes, the mother of Adalle Gilbert vowed to reveal a new video disputing the police version of how her son was shot and killed by police. Promising that the officer who fired the shots will be charged, Deslandes unleashed her fury during the funeral at Guides Funeral Home, San Fernando. Read more here
POLITICS
Not So Fast, Anil
The criminal probe into the defunct LifeSport programmme is alive and was not compromised by a High Court judge's quashing of the Finance Ministry's Central Audit Committee report. Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi said while the country reeled over the “shock” of the return of former sport minister Anil Roberts to the United National Congress' (UNC) public platform and his declaration of vindication on Monday, investigations into LifeSport were ongoing. Read more here
Substance of case remains
Recent judgment quashing the Finance Ministry’s audit report of the LifeSport programme does not close the book on LifeSport, since the police and Attorney General are continuing probes into these “matters,” Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi said yesterday. “Police certified up to yesterday (Mon) there is an ongoing probe into LifeSport matters and it’s continuing. Read more here
BUSINESS
TT for Havana Trade Fair
Trade and Industry Minister Paula Gopee-Scoon and Energy Minister Nicole Olivierre will lead a delegation of 34 companies from Trinidad and Tobago to participate in the Havana International Trade Fair (FIHAV) 2016. The Fair which takes place from October 31 to November 4, will be used as a platform to further develop the commercial alliance between TT and Cuba and to enhance the mechanisms that promote trade between both countries. Read more here
REGIONAL
Venezuela recall process blocked; opposition cries 'dictatorship!'
Throughout 2016, the Venezuelan political agenda has centered on a possible recall referendum against President Nicolás Maduro, a path that in recent days has been blocked -- definitively, it seems -- by the government, which has repeatedly threatened that it would not allow one to happen. Read more here
CTA to forge more linkages for Caribbean produce
The Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (CTA) is working on strengthening linkages for agricultural producers in the Caribbean to expand their markets. According to CTA director, Michael Hailu, one of CTA’s projects in cooperation with the Caribbean Farmers Network and the Sandals Foundation, is working to strengthen linkages to domestic, regional and export markets in eight countries. CTA plans to expand this project to several other countries including Antigua, Barbados, Grenada, Jamaica, St Lucia and St Vincent and the Grenadines. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
Mosul: ISIS sends 'suicide squads' to Iraqi stronghold
Irbil, Iraq (CNN)ISIS is sending "suicide squads" from Syria to its Iraqi stronghold of Mosul, witnesses have told CNN, as tens of thousands of troops close in on the key city to take it from the militant group's control. Witnesses said hundreds of new arrivals had streamed into Mosul from the group's heartland of Raqqa, Syria, in the past two days, describing them as foreign fighters wearing distinct uniforms and suicide belts, and carrying light weapons. Read more here
US election: Newt Gingrich accuses Megyn Kelly of being 'fascinated by sex'
Newt Gingrich has accused TV anchor Megyn Kelly of being "fascinated" with sex and not caring about public policy in a bizarre live interview. The Republican claimed she showed "bias" for mentioning the groping allegations against Donald Trump. Ms Kelly retorted she was not fascinated by sex but by who was going to be in the White House. Read more here
26th October 2016