Following her representation of Antigua and Barbuda at the prestigious Miss OECS Pageant in Dominica, Kia Kirwan, the reigning Queen of Carnival 2025, has publicly extended her profound appreciation to her family, supporters, and dedicated team. In a reflective statement, Kirwan emphasized her personal philosophy of embracing open dialogue and constructive criticism, noting that such engagement is instrumental to her development. She characterized the overwhelming support received as essential fuel propelling her journey of self-improvement and her unwavering commitment to personal excellence. While acknowledging that words are insufficient to fully encapsulate her gratitude, she paid special tribute to her team’s relentless efforts. Kirwan concluded by reaffirming her core beliefs in the necessity of continuous evolution and the power of resilience, outlooks that defined her participation in the regional competition.
作者： admin
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Health : MSF warns of the extent of sexual violence in Port-au-Prince (Report)
A disturbing new report from Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) documents an alarming escalation of sexual violence being systematically employed as a tool of terror against the population of Port-au-Prince, Haiti. The comprehensive analysis, titled “Sexual and Gender-Based Violence in Port-au-Prince,” reveals that incidents have nearly tripled since 2021, with monthly admissions at MSF’s specialized Pran Men’m clinic surging from approximately 95 cases to over 250 by 2025.
The findings, drawn from a decade of medical data and victim testimonies, paint a harrowing picture of deliberate brutality. Since 2022, 57% of patients reported assaults perpetrated by armed groups, frequently involving gang rape scenarios. Shockingly, more than one hundred victims described being attacked by ten or more assailants simultaneously.
Women and girls across all age groups are being targeted, with displaced individuals particularly vulnerable due to their precarious living situations. The report indicates nearly 20% of treated patients have endured multiple assaults, highlighting the cyclical nature of the violence.
Critical healthcare access remains severely compromised, with only one-third of survivors reaching the clinic within the crucial 72-hour window for HIV prevention. Additionally, 59% arrive after five days, missing opportunities to prevent unwanted pregnancies. Systemic barriers including fear of stigmatization, financial constraints, security concerns, and information gaps prevent victims from seeking timely care.
MSF’s Head of Mission in Haiti, Diana Manilla Arroyo, emphasized the urgent need for increased funding and recognition of sexual violence as a deliberate weapon of control. The organization calls for guaranteed free access to comprehensive medical and psychosocial support services for survivors amid Haiti’s collapsing infrastructure and deteriorating living conditions.
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NATCOM 2026 : Development of its digital financial ecosystem and cross-border connectivity
Haiti’s leading telecommunications provider, National Telecom S.A. (NATCOM), has unveiled an ambitious 2026 strategic roadmap centered on expanding its digital financial infrastructure and enhancing international connectivity networks. This initiative positions the company at the forefront of Haiti’s digital economic transformation while strengthening financial bridges between the Caribbean nation and its global diaspora communities.
Building upon a year of substantial contributions to both national fiscal resources and telecommunications infrastructure development, NATCOM is escalating investments in network quality enhancement and expanded service coverage. The company’s user-centric digital platform approach aims to revolutionize financial accessibility while improving domestic connectivity frameworks.
The cornerstone of NATCOM’s strategic vision is Natcash, its innovative mobile wallet platform that has become instrumental in driving financial inclusion across Haiti. This comprehensive financial tool enables users to conduct payments, transfer funds, manage deposits and withdrawals, and oversee personal finances through secure mobile interfaces. The platform has dramatically extended its international remittance capabilities through strategic alliances with CamTransfer and Unitransfer, providing Haitians overseas with efficient, transparent, and reliable channels for sending financial support to families domestically.
Concurrently, NATCOM is deepening collaborations with international partners to facilitate seamless top-up services and cross-border payment solutions for users across the United States, Canada, France, Mexico, Chile, and numerous other countries. These efforts establish Natcash as an emerging leader in Caribbean financial technology and money transfer services.
As 2026 commences, NATCOM reaffirms its dedication to accelerating Haiti’s digital evolution through secure, accessible, and sustainable financial technologies and telecommunications solutions that interconnect individuals, businesses, and economic opportunities nationwide.
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President Abinader travels to Dubai for 2026 World Government Summit
Santo Domingo.- Dominican President Luis Abinader embarked on an official journey to Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on Sunday to participate in the prestigious World Government Summit (WGS) 2026. The presidential office confirmed his attendance at this high-level gathering, where he is expected to conduct significant diplomatic engagements with counterparts from South American nations.
The summit, scheduled for February 3–5, operates under the forward-looking theme “Shaping the Future of Governments.” This premier event will convene an distinguished assembly of state leaders, senior government officials, policy experts, and private sector representatives. The agenda focuses on critical global discourse surrounding technological advancement, innovative public policy frameworks, sustainable development initiatives, and effective governance models.
Established in 2013 as an annual institution, the World Government Summit has evolved into a crucial platform for addressing humanity’s most pressing challenges. The initiative specifically emphasizes futurism, technological innovation, and international collaboration as primary mechanisms for developing actionable solutions to shared global issues. The Presidency’s statement highlighted the summit’s dedicated focus on leveraging innovation and technology to tackle transnational problems that affect communities worldwide.
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Dominican Republic and Venezuela reactivate consular services and flights
In a landmark diplomatic breakthrough, the Dominican Republic and Venezuela have officially announced the restoration of consular operations and bilateral air connectivity following successful negotiations between their respective governments. The February 1, 2026 joint declaration signifies a concerted effort to mend previously strained relations and foster renewed cooperation between the two nations.
The comprehensive agreement stipulates the immediate reopening of consular facilities in both capitals—Santo Domingo and Caracas—to address longstanding administrative challenges faced by citizens during the service suspension. Concurrently, aviation authorities from both countries will collaborate to reestablish commercial flight routes, thereby reconnecting families, facilitating business exchanges, and enhancing people-to-people contacts.
This diplomatic reconciliation follows a period of heightened tensions that originated in July 2024, when Venezuela severed relations with the Dominican Republic due to political disagreements. The restoration of these essential services represents a crucial confidence-building measure that underscores both governments’ commitment to normalizing relations. The move is particularly significant for the substantial communities of Dominican and Venezuelan nationals residing in each other’s territories, who have faced considerable difficulties due to the diplomatic impasse.
Observers note that this development could potentially pave the way for broader economic and political cooperation between the Caribbean nation and the South American country, signaling a new chapter in their bilateral relationship.
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FLASH : Canoe capsizes in French Guiana, 2 Haitians rescued and 4 missing
A devastating maritime incident has unfolded in French Guiana, resulting in significant casualties among Haitian nationals. On the morning of Saturday, January 31st, at approximately 6:15 AM, an aluminum-hulled canoe transporting six Haitian teachers met with tragedy on the Maroni River near Grand-Santi. The vessel encountered critical engine failure, rapidly taking on water before ultimately sinking beneath the surface.
According to official reports from the Haitian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which expressed profound dismay at the incident, two passengers alongside the canoe operator were successfully rescued by emergency response teams. Tragically, four individuals remained unaccounted for in the immediate aftermath. Subsequent developments confirmed the recovery of two bodies on Sunday, with identification procedures currently underway as confirmed by French Guiana Prefect Antoine Poussier. The damaged canoe has also been retrieved from the waterway.
The survivors’ testimonies revealed concerning circumstances preceding the accident. Prosecutor Aline Clérot of Cayenne disclosed that the group had spent the previous evening at a bar in neighboring Suriname before attempting their return journey to Grand-Santi. Critical safety violations were noted: none of the passengers wore life jackets despite mandatory regulations effective since January 1st, 2026, and the navigation occurred during prohibited nighttime hours.
Authorities have launched comprehensive search operations involving approximately thirty rescue personnel, including divers, with river and aerial assets coordinated extensively. The Civil Security helicopter Dragon 973 continues aerial surveillance while firefighters, gendarmerie units, and approximately ten additional canoes participate in the mission. Technological reinforcement through drone deployment commenced Monday to enhance search capabilities.
The Surinamese canoe operator now faces serious legal consequences, having been charged with involuntary manslaughter and endangering lives due to flagrant violation of safety protocols. Meanwhile, the Haitian government has demonstrated active engagement through its Consulate General in Cayenne, maintaining constant communication with French Guianese authorities throughout the ongoing operations.
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‘Iedereen hier is corrupt’: Wat voedt het separatistische geweld in Balochistan?
A devastating escalation of violence in Pakistan’s Balochistan province has left nearly 200 dead, including 31 civilians, 17 security personnel, and 145 militants from the banned Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA). The coordinated attacks across more than a dozen locations in the mountainous Sulaiman and Kirthar ranges represent one of the most brutal separatist offensives in decades of conflict.
The Pakistani military described the 40-hour firefight as a ‘desperate’ wave of attacks, though officials dismissed BLA claims of killing 84 security force members. Information Minister Attaullah Tarar characterized the assaults as ‘the last convulsions of a cornered enemy,’ maintaining the official narrative of unwavering control.
Behind government assurances lies a more complex reality. The conflict stems from long-ignored grievances including political marginalization, economic injustice, and widespread corruption. Despite Balochistan’s immense mineral wealth, residents remain among Pakistan’s poorest, with development projects like the $46 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) largely benefiting central authorities rather than local communities.
Islamabad’s standard response attributes separatist violence to ‘foreign interference’—primarily from historical rival India. This framing positions the military as defender of territorial integrity rather than participant in an internal conflict. The case of Kulbhushan Jadhav, an Indian citizen sentenced to death for espionage in 2016, serves as Islamabad’s prime evidence of external meddling.
Yet ground realities tell a different story. Security sources acknowledge that while armies can neutralize militants, they cannot neutralize grievances. The rebellion draws oxygen from persistent complaints about resource exploitation, inadequate public services, and security operations that often place civilian families in the crossfire.
Balochistan’s strategic significance extends beyond Pakistan’s borders. The province—larger than Germany—plays a crucial role in regional power dynamics involving Chinese economic ambitions, Iranian sectarian politics, U.S. containment strategies, and Indian counter-balancing efforts. Its porous borders with Afghanistan and Iran provide militants with strategic depth.
The human cost of the conflict is etched into the region’s collective memory, from the 2013 Hazara attack that left wounded scattered indiscriminately, to the 2016 Quetta police academy massacre where cadets questioned why they were left unarmed. These incidents represent both security failures and a crumbling social contract.
True stability in Balochistan will require moving beyond body counts and kinetic responses. It demands recognizing that separatism springs from genuine discontent, that development must mean inclusion rather than exploitation, and that political dialogue is not reconciliation but necessity. Whether recent violence represents a turning point toward sustainable peace or merely an intermission before the next storm depends on who gets to write the next chapter.
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Petroleum product prices reduced
Consumers nationwide received welcome financial relief as substantial price reductions for major fuel categories took effect at midnight on February 1st. The comprehensive price adjustment brings considerable savings across gasoline, diesel, kerosene, and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) products.
Gasoline prices have been reduced by 11 cents, bringing the new retail price to $3.77 per litre. Diesel consumers will benefit from an even more significant decrease of 16 cents, establishing a new price point of $3.25 per litre. Kerosene prices have been moderated by five cents, now retailing at $1.43 per litre.
The pricing structure for liquefied petroleum gas has been similarly adjusted across various container sizes. A standard 100 lb cylinder will now cost $161.47, while smaller containers have been proportionately reduced: 25 lb cylinders are priced at $45.47, 22 lb cylinders at $40.18, and 20 lb cylinders at $36.52.
This coordinated price reduction represents one of the most substantial fuel cost decreases in recent months, potentially easing transportation expenses for both individual consumers and commercial enterprises. The next scheduled review and potential adjustment of fuel pricing is set to occur on March 1st, according to official communications from relevant authorities.
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LISTEN: Derelict Social Security Building On High Street Set for Demolition Next Week, Minister Says
The government of St. John’s has announced a decisive urban renewal initiative, targeting the demolition of multiple derelict, state-owned structures throughout the capital. The move is a core component of a broader strategy to combat urban decay, enhance public safety, and revitalize the city’s aesthetic appeal.
Rawdon Turner, a government official, detailed the plan during a recent appearance on the Browne and Browne programme on Pointe FM. He confirmed that directives have been issued to relevant government agencies to commence clearing out all affected properties in preparation for subsequent demolition activities. This state-led action is being intensified in parallel with ongoing efforts to ensure private-sector compliance with urban maintenance standards.
The initiative is not an isolated effort but a calculated response to longstanding issues of urban blight. By systematically removing hazardous and unsightly buildings, the administration aims to foster a safer and more visually appealing environment for residents and visitors alike. This project signifies a proactive governmental approach to urban management, signaling a renewed commitment to the capital’s development and the well-being of its community. The demolitions represent the physical start of a comprehensive plan to rejuvenate key areas of St. John’s, with further phases of the renewal strategy expected to unfold.
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White House Says Nicki Minaj’s ‘Trump Gold Card’ Is Just A Souvenir
Trinidadian-born rapper Nicki Minaj, who has resided in the United States as a lawful permanent resident for approximately twenty years, recently ignited social media speculation by sharing images of a gold-colored card featuring former President Donald Trump’s likeness. This card has been promoted by Trump’s organization as a premium pathway to U.S. citizenship for individuals making substantial financial contributions—specifically $1 million to the U.S. Treasury plus a $15,000 nonrefundable processing fee. Minaj notably claimed in an online post that she received this item “free of charge.”
However, a White House official, speaking anonymously to The New York Times, clarified that the card was merely a novelty souvenir with no legal value. The official emphasized that Minaj, already a long-term legal resident actively pursuing standard citizenship procedures, had no need for expedited immigration channels. The card, according to the source, holds sentimental value only and “serves little value” in any official capacity.
The controversy emerged following Minaj’s appearance at a White House event promoting children’s investment accounts established under a Trump-endorsed spending initiative. During the event, Trump lavished praise on the artist, hailing her as “the greatest” and “the most successful female rapper in history.” He also acknowledged her financial backing for the program, stating, “Nicki makes a lot of money, and she’s generously stepping up. She’s investing hundreds of thousands of dollars in Trump accounts to support the children.”
Minaj, who made history in 2024 as the first female rapper to achieve Diamond certification for two songs from the Recording Industry Association of America, has increasingly publicly aligned with Trump and the MAGA movement. Trump described her as “a big Trump supporter and a Trump fan” who has endured criticism but remains “an unbelievable supporter.”
Appearing alongside Trump in a distinctive white fur-trimmed coat, Minaj declared herself the president’s “No. 1 fan” and asserted that criticism only strengthens her support. “The hate or what people have to say, it does not affect me at all. It actually motivates me to support him more,” she told the audience. She further expressed belief that “God is protecting” the president and condemned what she characterized as “bullying” and “smear campaigns.”
While Minaj’s political alignment has drawn scrutiny from fans, LGBTQ advocates, and civil rights organizations, the White House has definitively stated that the discussed gold card is purely symbolic and not a functional immigration document.