NEWS
Trinidad and Tobago weather warnings upgraded
The Meteorological Office has issued an orange-level tropical storm warning for Trinidad, an upgrade from its earlier tropical storm watch. The warning was issued at 7.59 pm, saying a threat was severe and immediate. Tobago, which is expected to face a greater threat, is under a state of emergency and red-level hurricane warning. That warnings extend from 8.30 pm on June 30 until 12 pm on July 1. Read more here
Man murdered in Tobago during hurricane warning
As Tobago braces for the impact of Hurricane Beryl, the island registered another murder as a gunman shot and killed a man in Mt Pleasant. This murder has pushed the island’s toll to 11 for 2024, a 50 per cent increase when compared to the same period (January-June) in 2023. Full details were not yet available at the time of this post but Guardian Media confirmed the man was liming outside when he was shot. He was taken to the Scarborough General Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries. Read more here
BUSINESS
T&T Special Economic Zone regime to be proclaimed Friday
The Trinidad and Tobago Special Economic Zones Regime, which is aimed at attracting local and foreign investors to this country, will be proclaimed on Friday, replacing the existing Free Zones regime, Trade Minister Paula Gopee-Scoon has announced. Read more here
REGIONAL
E-education will help bridge the divide
President Dr. Irfaan Ali has said that digitalisation and electronic education (e-education) will help to bridge the divide to provide more equitable access, and as such, the government will continue to bring connectivity to rural communities. The head of state made these remarks during a recent visit to the Santa Aratack community, where he noted that the government will continue to invest in education. He said that the government will invest in teachers and teachers’ education, as they want to ensure that teachers, wherever they are, are trained. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
Biden's family urges him to stay in White House race
Democratic President Joe Biden's family has urged him to ignore calls to step aside following his disastrous debate against Republican Donald Trump. He spent Sunday with relatives at a presidential retreat where they encouraged him to keep fighting, according to the BBC's US partner CBS News. Anxiety has gripped sections of his party following a rambling and at times incoherent performance in Atlanta. Polls since then suggest concerns about his age - he is 81 - have increased. A CBS News/YouGov poll released on Sunday indicated that 72% of registered Democratic voters believe the president does not have the mental and cognitive health to serve as president. Nearly half said he should step aside. Read more here
1st July 2024