Gustav killed at least 51 people in Haiti

The death toll from tropical storm Gustav has risen to at least 51 in Haiti.

At least 25 people were killed near Jacmel, on the country's southern peninsula, where Gustav came ashore on Tuesday as a Category one hurricane.

The director of Haiti's civil protection office, Alta Jean-Baptiste, said the deaths occurred primarily as a result of flooding and mudslides in western and southern Haiti.

Meanwhile another Storm, named Hanna, has formed in the Atlantic Ocean.

Forecasters said it was too early to predict whether Hanna could threaten land.

Jamaica and Caymans brace for Gustav

Jamaica, Cuba and the Cayman Islands were Thursday preparing for a possible hit from Tropical Storm Gustav, as it makes its way over the Atlantic.

The Miami-based National Hurricane Centre said some weakening was possible on Thursday night while Gustav crossed Jamaica, but the storm could strengthen on Friday and Saturday.

Torrential rain began battering the southern and western parishes of Jamaica on Thursday afternoon.

There have also been reports of strong winds in the capital, Kingston.

Gustav's projected track also points at the low-lying Cayman Islands, where residents boarded up homes and stocked up on emergency supplies.

The leader of government business, Kurt Tibbets, said they may not experience a repeat of Hurricane Ivan's devastation but people should be ready.

Western Cuba has also been placed on a hurricane watch.

Guyana's most wanted shot dead

Guyana's most wanted man has been shot dead by police.

Rondell Rawlins was the main suspect in two massacres earlier this year that claimed the lives of 23 people, and the 2006 killing of a cabinet Minister.

Police said Mr Rawlins, another fugitive also implicated in multiple murders, and a third unidentified man, were killed in a semi-forested area on Thursday, not far from the the international airport.

EU appeals WTO ruling

The European Commission has launched an appeal to overturn a World Trade organisation ruling on banana imports.

The EU's executive arm says it is taking the action after efforts to negotiate a settlement fell apart during broader WTO trade negotiations in July.

The EU had proposed to lower its tariff on Latin American imports, in an effort to end a decades old dispute.

Caribbean banana producers, who pay no import taxes, fear they will lose market share as a result.

New intellectual property laws

An official in Grenada's ministry of culture says the island's government will introduce new laws safeguarding intellectual property rights by the end of the year.

Senator Arley Gill says new laws on patents, designs, trademarks and copyrights will make it easier for companies and individuals to protect their intellectual property in Grenada.

He told reporters this week that the government plans to file more criminal charges in copyright cases and crack down on exports of any pirated goods.

Mr Gill says the laws are aimed at helping to make Grenada more attractive to foreign investors and to protect local artists and entrepreneurs.