CARACAS, Venezuela, (UPI) -- Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is in an induced coma and on life support in a Havana hospital, sources told Spanish newspaper ABC. At the same time, Vice President Nicolas Maduro urged Venezuelans not to believe rumors about Chavez's health. He told Venezuelan broadcaster Telesur Chavez was "aware of the complex and delicate situation he is going through" and said Chavez had "the same strength as always" when Maduro visited him the past few days. Maduro said Chavez squeezed his left hand "strongly" before Maduro left the hospital room.
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KINGSTON, Jamaica - THE International Monetary Fund (IMF) predicts that by 2017 China will be the largest economy in the world, but it is not yet a developed country. If and when it achieves that status, it will represent a remarkable and unprecedented development in the world economy. Developing countries are now responsible for over half of global economic growth, according to a report released in October by the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean.
KINGSTON, Jamaica - Seven years after Jamaica started courting the eastern Europeans, the first Russian carrier Transaero arrived on the island yesterday. The flight, a boost to the winter tourist season, landed at the Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay, St James, with 320 passengers aboard from Moscow, Russia. In a welcome ceremony at the airport, Minister of Tourism and Entertainment Dr Wykeham McNeill reiterated the importance of airlift to the survival of the island's tourist industry.
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad - UNLESS mistaken, I sense a general lack of any public response from national or regional women organisations, as well as from women cabinet ministers and women in the legal profession within our Caribbean Community on two very disturbing media reported cases involving the heinous, degrading crime of rape. One of the cases involve the courage of two white British women who have exposed themselves to the public as victims of rape while separately visiting Barbados.
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad - The Christmas season is here once again and most citizens in the Caribbean diaspora would, creatively, squeeze out extra cash to send, or buy gift items, for loved ones in their respective countries of birth. The recipients of such generosity will smile from ear to ear, in appreciation of the gratitude shown by their loved ones living abroad.
KINGSTON, Jamaica - A Jamaican delegation of environmental officials has returned from the annual climate change conference in Doha, Qatar, with a sense of accomplishment, having seen the achievement of the goal to establish a new five-year commitment period that allows developed countries to further reduce their greenhouse gas emissions which contribute to climate change.
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados - When four Caribbean leaders met in Bridgetown last Friday to discuss the future of the regional airline LIAT, they sounded upbeat, even with the times continuing to be turbulent for the airline industry worldwide. It is evident, after hearing not only the political directorate, but moreso the airline’s chairman Jean Holder and chief executive officer Ian Brunton, that a sustainable business model must be rolled out.
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad - Chairman of the cash-strapped regional airline, LIAT, is calling for a meeting of Caribbean Community (CARICOM) leaders early in 2013 to deal with transportation problems in the region.
In a paper to the meeting of major shareholders of the Antigua-based airline over the weekend, Jean Holder said that the summit should be convened to discuss regional air transportation and its critical role in supporting the Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME).
ST JOHN’S, Antigua – The promised ministerial re-alignment of the Baldwin Spencer-led administration has done nothing to reassure the opposition Antigua Labour Party (ALP) that the quality of the governance in Antigua & Barbuda will be improved.
ST JOHN’S, Antigua – Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer has announced what he described as ‘realignments’ to a number of cabinet portfolios. In his New Year’s Day message, the Antigua & Barbuda leader said the changes would affect the ministries of Information and Broadcasting, Public Works, Tourism, Civil Aviation and Culture. He said they were all part of government’s plans to improve the management of the country.