Modest growth for T&T - IMF

WASHINGTON (CMC):

After registering "disappointing growth" in 2012, Trinidad and Tobago is poised for a modest recovery in 2013, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has said. In a statement, the Washington said the economy is reviving and that maintenance-related outages would continue to hamper the energy sector. It said the non-energy sector should grow around 2.5 per cent and core inflation remains moderate.

Four killed as US counter-drug aircraft crashes

MIAMI (CMC):

The United States Southern Command, which overseas US military operations in the Caribbean and Latin America, says a US-contracted detection and monitoring aircraft has crashed into the Caribbean Sea, killing four of its six crew members. The Southern Command, otherwise known as Southcom, said that the crash took place near the Colombia-Panama border, killing three Americans and a Panamanian Air National guardsman.

PM to boycott Commonwealth summit in Sri Lanka

TORONTO (AP):

Canada's prime minister says he'll boycott next month's Commonwealth summit in Sri Lanka because of human rights abuse concerns and he's threatening to cut off funding to the organisation of former British territories over the decision to host the meeting there. Prime Minister Stephen Harper said in a statement early yesterday that the Sri Lankan government has failed to uphold the Commonwealth's core values. He says Canada remains disturbed by ongoing reports of intimidation and incarceration of political leaders and journalists, harassment of minorities, reported disappearances and allegations of extra-judicial killings.