Hurricane Ike is the second major storm to hit Cuba in a week

Hurricane Ike has struck the eastern coast of Cuba, just over a week after another hurricane, Gustav, caused severe damage in western parts of the island.

Ike is a category three storm, heading towards the capital Havana, generating winds of up to 120 miles per hour and giant coastal waves.

The head of the Cuban weather service Jose Rubiera said that in all Cuba's history, it had never suffered two hurricanes so close together.

Hundreds of thousands of people have been moved from low-lying areas.

The hurricane has already caused the deaths of about 60 people in Haiti and damaged many homes in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Speakers differ on EPA

Guyana has held a national consultation on a liberalised trade deal Caribbean nations negotiated with the European Union nine months ago.

Guyana has led the criticism of the agreement, arguing that the economic partnership agreement would leave the region worse off against the might of Europe.

Other nations appear also to be having second thoughts.

But in a speech to the consultation in Georgetown, senior European commission trade official Karl Falkenberg said he'd found that Caribbean leaders were keen to take advantage of the EPA.

However, Guyana president Bharrat Jagdeo said he'd heard a different tune from conversations with fellow heads of government, at least in private.

Casinos rake in cash

Casinos authorised by the state-owned Puerto Rico Tourism Company have injected $314 million into the island's economy in the 2007-2008 fiscal year.

That's a gain of about two percent over the previous year.

The disclosure has come from the company's executive director Terestella Gonzalez Denton.

He said the 21 casinos accounted for almost 7,000 direct and indirect jobs in Puerto Rico.

He added that an agreement was reached with the Health Department to offer support to compulsive gamblers.

The company plans to open another seven casinos in the near future and launch a programme in casino management at the University of Puerto Rico.

"Caribbean pupils at disadvantage"

New research indicates that Afro-Caribbean teenagers studying in Britain may be being held back from taking certain exams because of the low expectations of their teachers.

The findings suggest that factors such as institutional racism could explain why Afro-Caribbean pupils are less likely to take high-level examinations in Math and science than their white counterparts.

But a teaching union has expressed doubts about the findings.

Memorial for honeymooners

The families of a British couple murdered on the final day of their honeymoon in Antigua have launched a memorial fund in their name.

Trainee physiotherapist Ben Mullany and his new bride Catherine, a doctor, were shot at a luxury hotel on the island in July.

Members of the grieving families have spoken publicly for the first time since the double shooting.

They revealed they had set up The Mullany Fund to support prospective medical students and physiotherapists and keep the couple's dreams alive.

Olympic decision appealed

The Swiss-based Court of Arbitration for Sport has said it will hear an appeal from the Netherlands Antilles Olympic Committee over the disqualification of Churandy Martina from the Olympic 200 metre final.

Martina came home in second behind Usain Bolt, but had his silver medal taken away after he was disqualified for running outside his lane.

The Antilles team claimed that a protest against Martina was filed outside of the 30-minute limit after a race set by the International Association of Athletics Federations.