NEW
New info in Asami’s murder
A year after Japanese pannist Asami Nagakiya was murdered and her body dumped under a tree at the Queen’s Park Savannah opposite Queen’s Royal College, new information on the case was revealed publicly for the first time yesterday by the pathologist who conducted an autopsy on the woman. At a Caribbean Youth Science Forum at the University of the West Indies, St Augustine campus, forensic pathologist Dr Valery Alexandrov said not only was Asami strangled, but her killer was left-handed. Alexandrov displayed photos of Asami’s body, taken during the post-mortem, to highlight his revelations. “On this (the right) side of her neck, there are one, two, three, four imprints. On this (the left) side of her neck, there is one large imprint,” he said. Alexandrov explained that the large imprint on the left side of Asami’s neck belonged to the killer’s thumb. Read more here
Well done
“Run baby, run!” Yvette Wilson screamed yesterday as her last child, Jereem Richards, sprinted his way to the bronze medal in the men’s 200 metres final at the IAAF World Championships in London. Wilson and other family members had gathered at her sister Janice Wilson-Phoenix’s home in Point Fortin to view the race as Richards lined up with the possibility of earning a gold medal, having cruised into the final the day before. And Jereem, 23, did not disappoint his family as he took the bronze medal, just fractionally behind Turkey’s Ramil Guliyev, who took home the gold and South African Wayde van Niekerk, who beat him by fractions of a second. In fact, Guliyev won in 20.09 seconds, while both Nierkerk and Jereem clocked 20.11. Read more here
Trini raises flag on highest mountain in Europe
Trinidad-born Henry Mungalsingh successfully raised the Trinidad and Tobago flag on the summit of the highest mountain in Europe, Mount Elbrus, Russia on July 27. Mungalsingh, who resides in London, embarked on the climb of 18,500 feet and he surpassed the target of achieving a $1 donation for every foot climbed. Read more here
POLITICS
PM, Dillon have no issues
Agriculture Minister Clarence Rambharat yesterday said neither Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley nor National Security Minister Edmund Dillon have raised any concerns about him visiting the Police Training Academy in St James. “Everything I have done as a Government minister has been with the sanction of the Minister of National Security and the appropriate authorities,” Rambharat said during the post-Cabinet press briefing yesterday. He said his wife Camille accompanying him on his visit to the Academy is not a privilege afforded to her. “I am satisfied that the appropriate arrangements have been made and I would say no more,” he reiterated. Rambharat did not know whether any other Government minister visited the Academy for the same reasons as he did. Read more here
Pure stupidness
Works and Transport Minister Rohan Sinanan yesterday denied he owns or has shares in Canadian-based firm Bridgemans Services Group LP. His comments came after several posts surfaced yesterday on Facebook accusing Sinanan of being the owner of Bridgemans Services - the company that leased the Port Authority of T&T (PATT) the controversial passenger vessel Ocean Flower 2 for one year before its contract was terminated because it had failed to arrive here by the July 15 deadline. The contract was terminated by PATT on Tuesday and Sinanan made the announcement of the decision yesterday, triggered a plethora of calls for him and the PATT board to resign after more information challenging Bridgemans’ track record and the vessel’s history was unearthed by the media. Read more here
Rambharat: I got permission to use shooting range
Agriculture Minister Clarence Rambharat says he received the necessary sanctions of the authorities to utilise the St James Police Training Academy shooting range with his wife. The Minister was questioned on his visits to the shooting range at yesterday's post-Cabinet news conference at the Diplomatic Centre, St Ann's. Read more here
BUSINESS
CDA to host ‘Spices, the Curry Festival’ on Boardwalk
The Chaguaramas Boardwalk will be the venue for the CDA’s inaugural Spices, the Curry Festival on Saturday from 2 pm to 8 pm. Speaking about why it decided to host a curry festival, the Chaguaramas Development Authority (CDA) said on Wednesday, “Recognising our country’s love for food and culture and as part of our corporate social responsibility, (we) came together with the idea of hosting, for the first time, this event in Trinidad and Tobago.” “The festival presents a platform for our local food entrepreneurs, showcasing their talent in creative curry dishes. There will also be great entertainment including D Mighty Trini, of course with his hot single Curry Tabanca as well as children’s entertainment.” The CDA also said that the event; admission to which is free, “is a celebration of all things curry”. Read more here
ANSA McAL appoints new CEO
Andrew Sabga has been appointed as the new chief executive officer of the ANSA McAL group of companies. The announcement was made yesterday by group chairman Norman Sabga at the presentation of the group’s half-year results held at its head office at the Tatil Building, Port-of-Spain. “I am happy to announce that Mr Andrew Sabga has been appointed to the position of CEO of the ANSA McAL group” Sabga (N) said as he spoke in front of a room filled with stockbrokers and media. Read more here
Facebook steps up video ambitions with Watch
Facebook is launching a new section dedicated to live and recorded video. It's a potential threat to Twitter, YouTube, Netflix and other services for watching video. People already watch a lot of videos on Facebook, but mostly when they scroll down their main news feed. Although there has already been a special video section, it mainly showed a random concoction of "suggested" videos. Read more here
REGIONAL
Antigua-Barbuda investigating local involvement in bribery scandal
Following a recent call by local media for “public inquiries” into allegations against unnamed “ministers and high officials” Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne has confirmed that local law enforcement authorities are investigating the involvement of local officials in the massive Odebrecht bribery scandal. He said the Office of the National Drug and Money Laundering Control Policy (ONDCP) is the competent authority carrying out the probe. Browne said the ONDCP “operates independently of the minister of finance.” The prime minister also said he had “no difficulty” making the findings of the probe known although he did not indicate the exact scope of the investigation. Read more here
Big Time Bronze - 'Rista Is Back!' Exclaims 400 Metres Hurdler
Six years after her first World Championships appearance as a promising 19-year-old in Daegu, 400m hurdler Ristananna Tracey finally made her way on to the podium after a powerful, well-timed 53.74 seconds secured her the 2017 World Championships bronze medal at the London Stadium last night. "Rista is back!" It was the best race of her life - her first time dipping below 54 seconds. Read more here
INTERNATIONAL
Trump: US 'locked and loaded' on N Korea
Mattis claims North Korea diplomacy is working, but Trump intensifies threats
US Secretary of Defense James Mattis has insisted that diplomatic efforts to contain the threat posed by North Korea are working, and remain the favored means for solving the crisis. Hours after President Donald Trump intensified his threat to rain "fire and fury" upon North Korea, Mattis said war would be "catastrophic." It is the second time this week that a key member of the US administration has tried to calm the waters after bellicose comments from the President. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has also sought to promote dialogue and diplomacy over military action. Read more here
11th August 2017