By Antonio Dey | HGP Nightly News
Trinidad and Tobago: Mass Worker Firings Raise Eyebrows Amid Modi’s Visit
In Trinidad and Tobago, the dismissal of 468 workers from the Community-Based Environmental Protection and Enhancement Program and the Reforestation Programme is drawing scrutiny. PNM MP Marvin Gonzales suggests the timing of the firings was deliberately orchestrated to coincide with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit, thereby deflecting attention from the impact on workers.
Gonzales compared the move to the 2018 closure of Petrotrin, which involved unions and clear public communication, contrasting it with what he described as the “brutalization” of these workers now, without transparency or fair compensation.
Venezuela: Oil Exports to China Increase After Sanctions Tighten
Venezuela increased its oil exports by 8% in June, exporting an average of 844,000 barrels per day, primarily directed toward China, following the loss of access to U.S. and European markets. The U.S. recently revoked licenses that allowed companies like Chevron and Repsol to export Venezuelan crude.
State-owned PDVSA ramped up shipments through intermediaries, including Boscan’s heavy crude, which was previously destined for the U.S. In total, the country also exported over 233,000 metric tons of petrochemical byproducts in June.
USA: Judge Blocks Trump’s Asylum Ban at Southern Border
A U.S. federal judge has blocked former President Donald Trump’s latest asylum restrictions, ruling he overstepped his executive authority by declaring illegal immigration an emergency and bypassing proper legal channels.
Judge Randolph Moss stated the January 20 proclamation was unconstitutional. While the ruling is a setback to Trump’s immigration agenda, the judge granted a 14-day delay to allow an appeal. The decision affects only migrants impacted by this ban and does not reverse class certifications, despite recent Supreme Court rulings on nationwide injunctions.
