BARBADOS: Too many still dying of AIDS in Caribbean. Everyday, 55 people in the Caribbean are infected with the HIV virus and 38 of them die of the disease. That's 20,000 new infections and 14,000 deaths annually. Full article

BARBADOS: IDB wants recognition for Caribbean Afro-descendents. The President of the Inter-American Development Bank, Luis Alberto Moreno, called on the international community to increase recognition and support for the Afro-descendent peoples in the Caribbean. Full article

BERMUDA: Chance of a lifetime: 19-year-old Neva Lewis has been nominated as one of the lucky few who will have the opportunity to witness the swearing in of America’s 44th president, Barack Obama. Full article

BERMUDA: Tour gives youngsters chance to prove their worth. Somerset team-mates Jordan DeSilva and Joshua Gilbert are aiming to play their way into contention for the senior national team after being called up for Bermuda A tour of Argentina. Full article

BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS: Ryan Robin top student of BVI Tech/Voc Institute's Class of 2008. Mr. Ryan Robin is the valedictorian of the third graduating class of the BVI Technical and Vocational Institute. Full article

BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS: WORLD AIDS DAY COMMEMORATIVE BALLOON RELEASE. Minister of Health and Social Development, Honourable Dancia Penn, OBE, QC, and National AIDS Coordinator, Dr. Ronald McAnaney, along with several members of the public released commemorative red balloons in memory of the persons who have lost their lives due to complications from HIV/AIDS. Full article

CUBA: Some 14M Mexican Children Are Smokers. Around 14 million Mexican children are smokers and some take the habit at the ages of 9 to 10 years, revealed Mexico’s Social Welfare Institute (IMSS). Full article

DOMINICA: Drug rehab centre, juvenile facility projected for next year. Cabinet has approved land acquisition at Bellevue Rawle for the construction of three major facilities under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Community Development. Full article

JAMAICA: Gangster turns student - Former bad boy tells IMF boss how far he has come. Kerreth Atkins, a reformed gang member, wants criminals to not be fearful of being stereotyped and turn their lives around. Full article

JAMAICA: Principals welcome new school safety policy. THE Jamaica Association of Principals, while welcoming the education ministry's new security and safety policy guidelines for schools, say they're concerned about whether the various support agencies will live up to their side of the bargain. Full article

TRINIDAD & TOBAGO: Dire need to attract the young. The lack of Science, Technology and Innovation tops the list of five main problems affecting the regional agriculture industry according to experts participating in the International Congress on Tropical Agriculture hosted by the St Augustine Campus of the University of the West Indies. Full article

US VIRGIN ISLANDS: UVI receives AIDS grant. Recognizing that students listen to other students more readily than they do authority figures, the University of the Virgin Islands has received an $85,000 grant to expand their Student Peer Educator program. Full article