Energy & Gas Exports: BP, Shell and partners have returned to Venezuela’s offshore gas push on the Trinidad and Tobago border, with Loran Phase 2 moving ahead and first gas expected next year—key for regional LNG feedstock and T&T’s downstream jobs. Local Energy Investment: Energy Minister Roodal Moonilal met Touchstone Exploration to discuss boosting oil and gas output, including the Central Block and Cascadura field. Poultry & Food Security: T&T is seeking a local poultry breeding and hatchery facility via public-private partnership to cut reliance on imported chicks and hatching eggs; Netherlands supply is added short-term while local capacity is the longer-term goal. Agriculture Under Pressure: While La Trinidad (Benguet) and Bulacan (Philippines) face flood-driven farm losses and calamity declarations, the wider lesson for T&T is clear: weather shocks are hitting produce prices and supply chains. Public Sector Pay: UTT chair Selwyn Cudjoe says wage settlement money “is not there,” hinting at possible cash-plus-bonds solutions. Standards & Trade Readiness: Trade, Investment and Tourism has appointed a new Board for the Trinidad and Tobago Bureau of Standards to strengthen quality infrastructure and export competitiveness. Culture & Media: Trinidad’s Carnival Catwalk won Best Entertainment Programme Television at the 57th CBU Awards, with the show now airing on Peacock in the US. Sports Tourism Push: Sport Minister Phillip Watts says a national sport tourism policy is headed to Cabinet to build a revenue-driving “sporting hub” around major facilities. Immigration Logistics: 8,000 new passport booklets have arrived early, but delays and a multi-week backlog are expected to persist.