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The 2025 Canadian horseracing season at Assiniboia Downs (ASD) concluded spectacularly recently, culminating in the crowning of two new dominant forces in the winner’s circle.

Jockey Damario Bynoe and trainer Steve Keplin Jr. both secured their first-ever leading titles, headlining a year of record-breaking handle and thrilling competition.

Jockey Bynoe sealed his championship day with a statement, blazing to victory in two races on the closing card.

His final tally of 60 wins decisively dethroned three-time ASD riding champion Antonio Whitehall, who finished second with 48 victories.

‘This has been an incredible season and a dream come true,’ said an elated Bynoe after securing the title.

With this milestone, Bynoe carves his name into the history books as the 12th jockey from Barbados to win a riding title in North America.

The final jockey standings saw Sven Balroop in third with 36 wins, followed by Prayven Badrie with 29 and Rachaad Knights with 24.

In the trainer’s ranks, Steve Keplin Jr. celebrated a hard-earned championship, saddling 40 winners throughout the meet. He finished eight wins clear of runner-up Mike Nault 32.

The remarkable achievements of the two first-time champions highlighted a banner year for the track. Darren Dunn, CEO of Assiniboia Downs, praised the season’s thrilling conclusion.

‘What a finish this year with record wagering and the remarkable achievements from Damario and Steve Keplin Jr.,’ Dunn said. ‘We are so grateful for our growing fanbase of loyal horseplayers, the horsepeople that are giving it their all every day, and all the staff that helps to bring it all together. Thank you for another outstanding season.’

The Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology (CIMH), in collaboration with Rutgers University’s Center for Ocean Observing Leadership (RUCOOL), the University of the Virgin Islands (UVI), and the IOC Sub-Commission for the Caribbean and Adjacent Regions (IOCARIBE-GOOS), successfully completed the recovery of the Vetlesen Caribbean Hurricane Ocean Glider earlier this week.

The recovery marks a major milestone in the region’s efforts to strengthen ocean observation systems that enhance hurricane and tropical cyclone modeling for the Caribbean.

The mission, supported by the G. Unger Vetlesen Foundation, forms part of the 2025 International Challenger Mission, a global initiative promoting ocean science collaboration and data sharing to support climate resilience.

Launched off the west coast of Barbados in mid-July, the glider collected critical data on ocean temperature and salinity from waters around Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, and Guyana.

Models constructed from the data will provide essential inputs for forecasting that will improve understanding of ocean-atmosphere interactions, a key factor in predicting hurricane intensity and trajectory.

Dr. David Farrell, Principal of the CIMH, highlighted the collaborative nature of the project has been a key factor in its success.

‘This mission demonstrates the power of regional and international collaboration in advancing scientific understanding of our oceans,’ remarked Dr. Farrell. ‘By leveraging technology and partnerships, we are taking a major step toward establishing CIMH as a regional hub for marine science and for ocean glider research and innovation. The data collected will directly support improved hurricane forecasting, ocean observing and modelling, and climate resilience across the Caribbean fisheries, among others.’

Dr. Lorna Inniss, Regional Coordinator and Head of IOCARIBE-UNESCO, emphasized that the glider’s mission is not only a scientific achievement but is also contributing to reduced fragmentation of regional ocean governance and the attainment of the 2030 Agenda, based on ‘The Science we Need for the Ocean we Want’. Inniss stated.

‘When we see the how the glider data has positively impacted hurricane forecasting already, it is clear that a fleet of Caribbean gliders and other monitoring platforms, interconnected as a regional ocean observing system, will assist in solving several ocean-related challenges.’

Meanwhile,Dr. Doug Wilson, Director of the UVI Ocean Glider Laboratory and Project Coordinator for IOCARIBE-GOOS, emphasized the importance of regional partnerships in ocean observing. Dr. Wilson said ,’The ocean and atmospheric phenomena that impact all Caribbean nations do not respect international boundaries, and this project – collecting ocean data and sharing with neighboring countries – shows the value of collaboration. Congratulations to CIMH and partners on leading the way in expanding regional ocean observing capabilities.’

The mission also highlights the transformative role of applied ocean science in advancing both regional and global weather research. Dr. Scott Glenn, Co-Director of RUCOOL and co-lead for the Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS) Co-Design Programme’s Tropical Cyclone Exemplar, noted that in addition to strengthening the Caribbean’s observing and forecasting capabilities, the data collected by the glider also contributes valuable insights to global research on ocean-atmosphere interactions. Dr. Dr. Glenn noted, ‘This glider mission is one of five globally coordinated pilot studies to better observe the essential ocean features and processes that impact hurricane intensity. What we learn here will be shared with other regions so that we all benefit from the improved accuracy and lead time for life-saving tropical cyclone forecasts.

Following the recovery of the hurricane glider, a technical session was held at the CIMH, bringing together students, scientists, and marine professionals to explore the glider’s mission and its role in advancing regional ocean observing capabilities. The event also included live data demonstrations and discussions on integrating ocean science into climate resilience and disaster risk reduction planning.

This mission represents the first in a series of collaborative glider recoveries and deployments planned for the Caribbean, furthering efforts to build capacity in marine science, strengthen partnerships, and improve data-driven decision-making for disaster risk reduction and climate adaptation.

Head coach Hubert Busby has named his 23-woman squad for the Reggae Girls’ upcoming friendly international against Caribbean rivals Trinidad and Tobago.

In announcing the roster, Coach Busby highlighted the importance of maintaining a stable foundation of players who have navigated the team through recent high-stakes matches.

‘I think if you look at the roster, there’s a strong core of players that have been with this group for a while now,’ Busby stated. ‘We’ve used the opportunities to maintain that core, and it’s allowed us to build our group. You’ve seen a lot of those players participate in some really big matches where they’ve gained some really valuable experience.’

While acknowledging that past results may not have always reflected their performances, Busby pointed to the ‘invaluable experience’ gained, particularly for the younger collegiate players, who are now excelling in their respective programs.

The core remains largely intact, but the selection also introduces fresh faces poised to challenge for positions. A key addition is defender Tiana Harris, who has been impressing while playing in France and Portugal.

‘Tiana is a player we’ve been following for a while. It was a great opportunity to bring her in to add to the competition for places, but also add to the depth in the back line.’

Another player earning a recall is defender Gabrielle Gayle, whose performances in Mexico have caught the coaching staff’s eye.

‘She’s a local-born player that we want to see how she’s kind of progressed in the last year and a half playing abroad,’ Busby said. ‘This is a great opportunity for her to make a claim.’

The squad also sees the inclusion of promising youth talent, such as Jaileah McPherson, captain of the U20 side. After a conversation with her collegiate coaching staff, her schedule was cleared to allow for national team duty.

This friendly renews a regional rivalry. The last time the two teams met was on August 31, 2018, at the National Stadium in Kingston, where Jamaica secured a decisive 4-1 victory.

The goals that day came from Giselle Washington, Jody Brown, and a brace from superstar striker Khadija Shaw, who is not featured in this current squad.

The match against Trinidad and Tobago will serve as a key tune-up for the CONCACAF Women’s World Cup qualifiers, which begin in November.

FULL SQUAD:

Goalkeepers: Rebecca Spencer (Chelsea W FC), Sydney Schneider (Tampa Bay Sun FC)

Defenders: Allyson Swaby (Crystal Palace W FC), Tianna Harris (Damaiense FC), Konya Plummer (Fenerbahçe), Chantelle Swaby (Leicester City W FC), Tiffany Cameron (Halifax Tides FC), Gabrielle Gayle (Lancaster Inferno SC)

Midfielders: Olufolasade Adamolekun (Hearts FC), Jaileah McPherson (Florida International), Deniesha Blackwood (Cruz Azul W FC), Israela Groves (Athlone Town FC), Atlanta Primus (Southampton W FC), Vyan Sampson (INAC Kobe Lionesses)

Forwards: Kayla McKenna (FC Zurich Grasshoppers), Natasha Thomas (Ipswich Town W FC), Shania Hayles (Newcastle United W FC), Jody Brown (Marseille W FC), Njeri Butts (University of Florida), Kalyssa Van Zanten (Houston Dash FC)

Young people from across Barbados have urged policymakers and international partners to channel more financing into disaster resilience, rather than response, during the National Youth Platform marking the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction (IDDRR).

Held under the global theme ‘Fund Resilience, Not Disasters,’ the forum brought together youth leaders, government officials, and representatives of the United Nations and development partners to spotlight the urgent need for greater investment in measures that protect communities from climate and disaster risks.

Speakers emphasized that while young people are among the most affected by disasters, they are also vital contributors to national resilience efforts.

Captain Robert Harewood, Deputy Director of the Department of Emergency Management, said youth engagement is critical to Barbados’ disaster preparedness. ‘Involving young people in national resilience planning ensures a safer, more sustainable future for all,’ he said.

United Nations Resident Coordinator Simon Springett echoed the call for intergenerational collaboration, stressing that youth priorities must be integrated into policy and financing decisions. ‘No single entity can tackle these challenges alone,’ he said. ‘Strengthening our collective response is essential, and this National Youth Platform is a step in that direction.’

Saskia Carusi, Deputy Chief of the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction for the Americas and the Caribbean, noted that disasters are becoming more destructive due in part to ‘risk-blind investments’ that heighten vulnerability. She underscored the need for smarter, risk-informed financing to reduce future losses.

Delivering the government’s keynote address, Minister of Home Affairs and Information Wilfred Abrahams said that investing in resilience is not a cost but a safeguard.

‘Every dollar spent on resilience saves many more in recovery,’ he said. ‘For Small Island Developing States like Barbados, shifting from reaction to prevention is not optional – it is the difference between vulnerability and viability.’

A youth-led panel discussion explored how innovation, partnerships, and financing can drive resilience across the Caribbean. UNICEF Youth Advocate for the Environment Maria Marshall called for young people to be recognized as ‘powerful agents of change,’ noting that their ideas and local knowledge can strengthen community preparedness.

The event also featured the launch of the World Tsunami Awareness Day 2025 Film Festival, set for November, which aims to raise awareness about tsunami hazards in the Caribbean through film and community engagement.

The management of Beryllium security company has filed a criminal complaint with the police after millions of dollars in cash was stolen from one of its trucks on the weekend.

A 32-year-old driver of the security company has been listed as the prime suspect in the theft of more than J$15 million.

It is reported that on Saturday, the suspect, along with four other security officers, went to the MegaMart Superstore to service the ABM.

The driver was left in the armoured truck, but on the return of the other workers to the vehicle, they observed that he was missing.

They made checks with the security personnel at MegaMart and viewed CCTV footage which revealed that the driver exited the front of the vehicle with a backpack.

He then went to the back of the armoured truck, then entered but he was later seen exiting the armoured vehicle with the same bag and left the compound.

He left his uniform and the firearm assigned to him.

A team later went to his house in the central parish of St. Catherine, but he was not found.

The efforts to contact him via cellular phone proved futile.

Archbishop Edward Joseph Gilbert, former Bishop of Roseau and later Archbishop of Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, died in Florida on Wednesday at age 88.

Born in the United States on December 26, 1936, Gilbert served as Bishop of Roseau from 1994 to 2001, where he reorganized the diocese, launched the Diocesan Synod, promoted vocations, and appointed the first woman chancellor. He also established the Dominica Catholic newspaper.

Appointed Archbishop of Port of Spain by Pope John Paul II in 2001, Gilbert led the archdiocese until his retirement in 2011. A member of the Redemptorist order, he was ordained in 1964 and held a Doctorate in Canon Law from The Catholic University of America.

He died in New Smyrna Beach, Florida, after a period of illness.

Prime Minister Gaston Browne on Thursday confirmed the resignation of Customs Comptroller Raju Boddu, due to what the government believes is ‘wilful neglect’ linked to vehicle purchase breaches.

Several transfers have also been made as the government tightens oversight.

The Prime Minister revealed the development during the sitting of Parliament’s Lower House on Thursday morning .

Boddu tendered his resignation, bringing an unexpected end to his longstanding tenure at the helm of the Customs and Excise Division.

Reports indicate that Boddu submitted his resignation earlier this week, a move that has taken many by surprise.

In his letter, Boddu reportedly cited health concerns as the primary reason for stepping down.

Boddu, an experienced customs administrator, has served in Antigua and Barbuda for several years, earning a reputation for his strict enforcement of customs regulations and efforts to modernize the division.

Officials have not yet announced who will act in the position pending a formal replacement.

Prime Minister Gaston Browne on Thursday confirmed the resignation of Customs Comptroller Raju Boddu, due to what the government believes is ‘wilful neglect’ linked to vehicle purchase breaches.

Several transfers have also been made as the government tightens oversight.

The Prime Minister revealed the development during the sitting of Parliament’s Lower House on Thursday morning .

In a bid to revitalise their struggling batting unit, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has announced a reshuffled One-Day International (ODI) squad for the upcoming three-match series against the West Indies, beginning this Saturday.

The selectors have reinforced the top and middle order by recalling experienced batter Soumya Sarkar and including uncapped wicketkeeper-batter Mahidul Islam Ankon.

They replace top-order batsman Mohammad Naim and young fast bowler Nahid Rana, both of whom were part of the side that suffered a 3-0 series whitewash against Afghanistan in Abu Dhabi.

The changes come on the heels of a dismal batting collapse in the final ODI against Afghanistan, where Bangladesh were bowled out for a paltry total to lose by 200 runs.

Soumya Sarkar’s return marks a welcome comeback after a frustrating administrative delay prevented him from joining the T20I squad against Afghanistan when his UAE visa was not processed in time. He last featured in the ODI format back in February.

The new face in the squad, Mahidul Islam Ankon, brings promise based on consistent domestic form.

Though his only international cap came in a Test against South Africa last year, he has been a standout performer in the Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League, the country’s premier List A competition.

Over the last two seasons, he has boasted an impressive average of 46.86, including one century and ten half-centuries.

Despite the recent team struggles, the national selectors have maintained faith in several out-of-form players, including Najmul Hossain Shanto, Jaker Ali, and Shamim Hossain.

The spin attack, led by captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Rishad Hossain, remains unchanged, as does the core of the pace battery featuring Mustafizur Rahman and Taskin Ahmed.

The series against the West Indies kicks off on Saturday, with the second and third matches scheduled for October 21 and 23.

Bangladesh ODI Squad vs West Indies:

Mehidy Hassan Miraz (capt), Tanzid Hasan, Soumya Sarkar, Saif Hassan, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Towhid Hridoy, Mahidul Islam (wk), Jaker Ali (wk), Shamim Hossain, Nurul Hasan (wk), Rishad Hossain, Tanvir Islam, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Tanzim Hasan, Hasan Mahmud.

The secretary of the non-governmental organization, Fishermen and Friends of the Sea, Gary Aboud, Thursday confirmed that two Trinidad and Tobago nationals were among the six people killed following the latest United States military airstrike on a small vessel in international waters near the coast of Venezuela earlier this week.

‘We would like to offer our condolences to the families, friends, children, wives of the deceased. Very, very sorry that they were murdered like this. I am very very sorry,’ Aboud said on a radio broadcast on Thursday with regards to the killings of Richie Samaroo and Chad ‘Charpo’ Joseph.

US claims it bombed vessel carrying narcotics

Aboud said as a result of the killings, local fisherfolk are now afraid of going out to sea.

‘People are terrified at the risk of being killed at sea. Personally I am very upset with our national position of bringing American warships and allowing them to by pass the judicial process.

‘We have law and order. We are a civilised nation. Yet we have adopted and given blessing to warmongering murderers to come into our territory and kill people outside of the judicial process.

‘I strongly advise fishermen not to go further than a quarter of a mile, half a mile from the shoreline,’ Aboud said, adding that the fishes being sought can be caught near the shores.

‘It is very dangerous to be offshore as you can be killed at anytime,’ he said.

The Trinidad and Tobago government and the Trinidad and Tobago Police (TTPS) have made no official comment regarding the deaths of the two nationals, but Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bissessar has publicly given support to the United States war on narcotics in the Caribbean.

Last month, President Donald Trump ramped up US military presence in the Caribbean Sea ordering an amphibious squadron to the southern Caribbean as part of his effort to address threats from Latin American drug cartels.

A nuclear-powered attack submarine, additional P8 Poseidon reconnaissance aircraft, several destroyers and a guided-missile cruiser have also being allocated to US Southern Command as part of the mission.

The United States military has carried out four deadly air strikes in Caribbean waters over the past few weeks against what Washington alleges are Caracas-backed drug traffickers. The Venezuelan government denies the charge, accusing the administration of being a threat to the peace and security of the whole region.

Persad Bissessar has said that hse is ‘happy that the US naval deployment is having success in their mission,’ and that ‘the pain and suffering the cartels have inflicted on our nation is immense. I have no sympathy for traffickers; the US military should kill them all violently’.

In the latest US strike, President Trump said it targeted a vessel allegedly linked to narcotics trafficking and terrorist networks transiting through the Caribbean. It was the fifth US ‘kinetic strike’ in the region since the deployment of military assets under the administration’s anti-narcotics campaign.

In total, 27 people have been killed in five similar operations, which Washington claims are aimed at dismantling drug routes linked to Venezuela.

However, relatives of the two Trinidadians have condemned the attack, calling it ‘inhumane’ and ‘unjustified.’

Joseph’s mother, Lenore Burnley, said her son was not involved in drugs and described his death as ‘wrong and cruel.

‘The sea law is they supposed to stop the boat and intercept it, not blow it up like that,’ Burnley told a local media outlet, while her son’s grandmother, Christine Clement, said e had been living in Venezuela for the past three months and had previously survived another attack while trying to return home by sea.

Aboud said the Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister should be hauled before the International Criminal Court over what is taking place.

‘What our Right Honourable Prime Minister has done should be questioned at the International Criminal Court becase we are a country with courts and if we have a problem with the way the judiciary is functioning we should improve it.

‘We have a Coast Guard.(and if) they don’t have radars, we should get radars, but killing our boys at sea. murdering them, here are about 20 commodity items that Trinidad imports from Venezuela,’ he told radio listeners.

He said these include, honey, apples, wild meat, donkeys, goats and that ‘the whole pig industry is supported by piglets coming from Venezuela.

‘It is very common that many of our boys find it lucrative to run over (to Venezuela) and bring substances. There is also trafficking with the Venezuelans that work here , come and go regularly for funerals, weddings or they just go home after working here for a year or two.

‘So the idea of killing them, certainly there is a small percentage of the American import of cocaine and narcotics that come through the Caribbean and the United nations has documentation that states eight per cent of it travels through the Eastern Caribbean territories, but 92 per cent travel through Central America,’ Aboud added.