The State of Emergency has been extended for a three-month period. After a lengthy debate in the House of Representatives on Monday, the Motion to extend the current State of Emergency after its initial 15-day period was passed with no objections. On the 15th and final day of the initial implementation of the State of Emergency, the Government went to Parliament on Monday to seek the necessary approvals for a further three-month extension. The State of Emergency was declared on December 30th, 2024, based on police-led intelligence suggesting a dangerous increase in gang-related violence. According to Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley, this SOE was carefully crafted to ensure it causes minimal disruptions to law-abiding citizens. He said the Government, as far as it is able, will continue to put measures in place to dissuade, detect, and respond to crime so that persons wanting to commit these acts will think twice before doing so. "But the Senior Counsel self-appointed spend the whole evening telling us that we are breaching the rights. There is no greater breach of the right of a citizen than to be having to lose your life to unlawful action. It is precisely that which caused us to intervene to protect the right of the life of the law-abiding." According to Minister of Energy and Energy Industries and Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister, Stuart Young, this SOE is focussed on the criminal elements and those affecting the lives of the law-abiding population of Trinidad and Tobago. "This State of Emergency is targeted at those elements, targeted at the elements that unfortunately have access to high-caliber weapons and unfortunately have been committing the most heinous acts on law-abiding citizens of Trinidad and Tobago. So we were forced to act, and we did." Responding to claims by the Opposition of the Government's lack of preparation pertaining to the implementation of a State of Emergency, Minister Young denied the Government's alleged plagiarism of the Opposition's 2011 SOE regulations. "Because the Member of Barataria/San Juan is not someone who cannot read. He must have done a comparison between the 2011 Regulations and the 2024 Regulations, and to come here and try to mislead the population that it is a simple cut-and-paste is absolutely untrue. But the 1990 Regulations and the 2011 Regulations, which I have in my hand, Madame Speaker, are a copy." According to the Minister of National Security, Fitzgerald Hinds, this SOE has been a success. Thus far, the murder rate has fallen by 50%, and of the 3,915 searches conducted, 32 firearms and 1,030 rounds of assorted ammunition were found, along with illicit narcotics and other illegal items.

In a world flooded with information about fitness and diet, separating fact from fad can be a challenge. Dr. Nicholas Maraj, speaking on the Now Morning Show, weighed in on the issue, providing insight into how people can make informed decisions about their health.

Mr Spexx performs his 2025 soca, "When We Out."

The undisputed King of Soca and one of the genre's standard bearers, Machel Montano, has made history once again. Double M was the first Soca artiste to grace NPR Music's Tiny Desk Series. The set included names such as Kyle Peters of Vizion Musiq Entertainment, Etienne Charles, and modern Trinbago rhythm section Modupe Onilu and Rhys Thompson of Boom Boom Room TT. He brought the energy singing hit after hit. Trinidad and Tobago and the Caribbean stand up, take a wine and jump to this Feel Good Moment.

The steelpan, the heartbeat of Trinidad and Tobago, represents a rich history of creativity, resilience, and unity. Emerging from the simple surroundings of Laventille, it has evolved from 'just music' into a global symbol of culture and pride. This week, We Focus on this powerful national treasure and the Pan movement.

Sharon Bravo-Phillip, the newly-elected President of the Trinidad and Tobago Table Tennis Association, is a long-serving administrator who stood as the Assistant Secretary in the last executive. Immediately following her elevation to the role of TTTTA President, she graciously agreed to share her vision for the future ahead. Here's more from Wayne Cunningham.

It was described as an "amazing feeling" by West Indies Women's cricketer Karishma Ramharack, who was named Senior Female Athlete of the Year at the 2024 First Citizens Sports Awards. TTT Sports caught up with the spin bowler at this momentous occasion. Adrian Lazar has more.

The highly anticipated Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board Under-23 Cup is set to kick off on January 16th, 2025, featuring some of the most talented young cricketers from across the nation. This year’s tournament will showcase four teams: Central/South-West Flamingos, North/Tobago Masqueraders, East/North-East Scarlet Ibis, and South/South-East Hummingbirds.

A businessman and businesswoman were separately charged with fraudulent offences. Neil Pierre of Bon Air Gardens was charged "on ten counts of fraudulently obtaining credit by means other than false pretences." The Trinidad and Tobago Police Service reported that Mr. Pierre received goods on credit totalling $103,280 between March and July 2022, which he failed to clear. Similarly, businesswoman Annie Rambally was charged with fraudulent conversion after receiving $6,000 for catering services in August 2022. Ms. Rambally failed to provide the services. She will appear before a Tunapuna Magistrate on 18th February.

Police officers in Tobago are nursing injuries following a vehicular accident that took place on Sunday. TTT News understands that around 4:30pm, a police vehicle driven by Woman Police Constable Dann Wong was proceeding south along the Claude Noel Highway at the Rockly Vale intersection with sirens and lights when the vehicle came into contact with a van that was proceeding east along the highway. The van pushed the police vehicle into another van that was at a standstill facing west. It was reported that WPC Dann Wong was pinned in the vehicle. Two other officers who were passengers also received injuries. The officers and civilian drivers were transported to the Scarborough General Hospital, where they were medically examined and discharged.

Condolences continue to pour in for Trinidad and Tobago and Caribbean media icon Jones P Madeira who passed away last Friday. Veteran Journalist Tony Fraser shared glimpses into the legacy that Mr. Madeira left behind.

Police have seized 6.8 grammes of cocaine and over 112 grammes of marijuana in one of the many exercises conducted by the Police during the ongoing State of Emergency (SOE).

Chatting about the Gatherers upcoming worship service, "Thank You Lord."

Anderson Mitchell who is suffering from chronic kidney failure and is in a race against time to save his life, is launching a campaign he hopes can save thousands of lives locally. Watch as we get the details.