A wave of targeted vandalism against public infrastructure in Antigua’s capital St. John’s took a new turn Wednesday afternoon, when an unidentified object believed to be a stone was thrown through a window of the Medical Benefits Scheme’s Human Resources division. The incident unfolded just after 1:00 p.m. at the office, which occupies an upper floor above the MBS Pharmacy on the busy Nevis Street corridor. The sudden act of vandalism left office staff shaken by the unexpected, dangerous event. In response to the incident, management authorized all employees to clock out early and leave the premises for the rest of the workday. Wednesday’s attack comes on the heels of overnight vandalism that left three separate government agencies on Independence Drive with damaged property. Between Tuesday evening and the early hours of Wednesday morning, unknown perpetrators damaged glass entryways at three major public institutions: the Antigua Public Utilities Authority, the national Treasury Department, and the Antigua and Barbuda Social Security Board. Law enforcement officials have already launched formal investigations into the three earlier overnight incidents. As of the latest update, investigators have not confirmed any formal link between the earlier vandalism spree and Wednesday afternoon’s stone-throwing attack at the Medical Benefits Scheme office, leaving open multiple lines of inquiry into the recent string of destruction targeting public-sector buildings.
作者： admin
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Chinese humanoïde robot Unitree breekt records op de beurs
On a watershed Wednesday for the global humanoid robotics industry, leading Chinese commercial humanoid robot developer Unitree Robotics made a blockbuster debut on Shanghai’s STAR Market, with its share price surging more than 620% from its initial offering price. The spectacular opening rally sent the Hangzhou-based firm’s market capitalization soaring to a peak of 445 billion yuan, equivalent to roughly $66 billion — a seven-fold jump from its pre-IPO valuation of around 61 billion yuan ($9 billion), which was set at an initial offering price of 50.8 yuan per share.
Founded in 2016 by engineer Wang Xingxing, Unitree Robotics has emerged as one of China’s most high-profile and commercially successful humanoid robotics manufacturers. The company first gained global attention through viral demonstrations of its humanoid robots performing dynamic dances and martial arts routines, showcasing the firm’s advanced motion control technology. Last year alone, Unitree delivered more than 5,500 humanoid robots to customers across the world, cementing its status as a leading player in the early commercialization of this cutting-edge technology. Most recently, the company unveiled its latest flagship model, dubbed the ‘Superman’, which the firm says is capable of jumping up to two meters in height and reaching a top speed of 12.66 meters per second.
Industry analysts note that the overwhelming investor enthusiasm for Unitree’s IPO reflects the company’s unique strong position in a nascent market with few established, scalable competitors. “Unitree is one of the only humanoid robotics companies in the world that actually generates real revenue, is profitable, and operates large-scale production,” explained Rinat Mirzaitov, founder of industry research firm Humanoid Analytics. Even so, Mirzaitov cautioned that Unitree does not yet hold a dominant position across the full humanoid robotics market, and faces the key challenge of translating its current hardware innovation lead into widespread, practical commercial applications across different sectors.
The rapid growth of China’s humanoid robotics sector comes as the industry has become a key focal point of technological competition between the United States and China. Last month, the U.S. administration under President Donald Trump issued an import ban on Chinese-manufactured humanoid robots, citing vague national security concerns. According to financial services firm JPMorgan, China already controls roughly three-quarters of the global market for humanoid robots and autonomous vehicles. Industry projections forecast explosive growth for the sector over the coming decade: global annual humanoid robot sales are expected to skyrocket from $2 billion in 2025 to as much as $300 billion by 2035.
Unitree’s blockbuster debut underscores both China’s expanding leading role in this high-growth advanced technology sector and the extremely high expectations that global investors hold for the future commercial development of humanoid robotics.
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Five Bajans earn CWI camp call-up
Cricket West Indies (CWI) has named 22 of the most promising young female cricketers from across the Caribbean to attend a two-week elite High-Performance camp in Antigua, with preparations for the 2027 ICC Under-19 Women’s T20 World Cup now ramping up. Five players from Barbados earned selections, marking the second-largest national contingent at the camp – trailing only tournament winners Trinidad and Tobago, who secured seven spots. Among the Barbadian group is Eboni Brathwaite, the top run-scorer of the recently concluded CWI Rising Stars Under-19 Women’s Championship, where Barbados claimed the runner-up position behind Trinidad and Tobago.
Regional representation is rounded out by four selections from the Leeward Islands, two picks apiece for the Windward Islands, Jamaica and Guyana, reflecting a broad scouting of talent across Caribbean territories. The high-intensity camp kicked off on Monday and will run through August 29, bringing emerging players straight from the regional championship grounds to the elite training environment in a deliberately structured timeline.
Dwain Gill, CWI’s High-Performance Manager, explained the strategic logic behind the immediate transition from competitive tournament to specialized training. “The Rising Stars Championship gave us a valuable opportunity to see these players compete, respond to pressure and demonstrate their potential in a regional environment,” Gill noted. “We did not want that assessment process to end with the tournament. Bringing the selected players directly into camp allows us to build on what we have seen, work more closely with them and begin addressing the areas that will be critical to their progression.”
Selections for the camp were not based solely on raw tournament stats; CWI’s selection panel weighed multiple factors including on-field performance results, in-depth technical evaluations, age eligibility requirements, tactical game awareness, on-pitch temperament, competitive drive and overall physical fitness. Once at the camp, athletes will undergo a holistic development program targeting four core domains: technical skill refinement, tactical game understanding, physical conditioning, and mental resilience for high-stakes competition.
Leading the on-field training schedule is Ryan Austin, assistant coach of the senior West Indies women’s national team, who will be joined by two seasoned cricket figures: former West Indies wicketkeeper Shane Dowrich and Ramesh Subasinghe, head coach of the West Indies Academy. Beyond Brathwaite, the full 22-player roster includes Davehjah Brown, Zaniyah Bruce, CQuinya Dasent, Jessica Davis, Kaela George, Brianna Harricharan, Sabriel Headley, Allia Henry, Theanny Herbert-Mayers, Jadaeya Holder, Shriya Jairam, Danielle Manns, Jannah Mohammed, Brianna Plummer, Sian Ramnarine, Samara Ramnath, Zara Skerritt, Amrita Ramtahal, Jaeda Tyrell, Leanga Warner and Aaliyah Weekes. The camp marks a key milestone in CWI’s long-term pathway to develop a competitive squad for the 2027 global tournament, identifying and nurturing the next generation of West Indies female cricket stars.
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NHC reports progress on housing handovers, tenant ownership
Decades of uncertainty over property ownership for thousands of long-term public housing tenants in Barbados have moved closer to resolution, following new legislation passed by national lawmakers that clears the way for full legal transfer of occupied National Housing Corporation (NHC) units, though residents continue to voice frustration over lingering delays.\n\nThe long-running push to grant ownership to eligible long-term tenants gained formal legislative backing in May this year, when Parliament approved the State (Acquisition and Vesting of Property) Act. The legislation, designed to cut through years of crippling administrative backlogs, paves the way for 3,892 long-term NHC tenants to become official homeowners, with upper house senators hailing the law as a long-overdue reform expected to deliver sweeping social benefits. The measure covers nine major housing estates across the country: Deacons Farm, Grazettes, Fernihurst, Wildey, Bonnetts, Golden Acre, Silver Hill, Gall Hill and Wotton.\n\nIn an update on the programme’s rollout, NHC General Manager Ian Gill confirmed that progress is already visible in the initial distribution phases. To date, nearly 500 households across the first two allocation batches have successfully taken full ownership of their properties through the initiative.\n\nThe government’s scheme builds on the existing Twenty-Year Programme, a policy that grants full legal ownership to NHC tenants who have continuously rented their units for 20 years or more and met all eligibility criteria. For many qualifying residents, however, the promise of ownership has remained unfulfilled for more than a decade, leaving them grappling with serious practical and financial barriers.\n\nWithout official title deeds, many households cannot leverage their property as collateral for loans, unlock equity for home improvements or development, or formalize inheritance arrangements after the death of a property occupant. One long-term Deacons Farm resident, who has waited more than 10 years for her title, shared her experience following her mother’s death: despite having lived in the home her entire life, she was still required to produce formal legal proof of ownership to secure rights to the property. “When my mother got the keys for this house, she put them in my hand. I was the first one to open this door, and to this day I am still waiting for papers,” she said, adding that without formal documentation, she cannot even access basic banking services that rely on property proof.\n\nOther residents have pointed to a pattern of broken political promises around the title transfer process. Multiple residents reported that electoral candidates routinely pledge fast-tracked title deeds during campaign periods to win votes, only for the process to stall immediately after elections conclude. “When election time comes, they bring a piece of paper telling you that they will give it to you after the election in a couple of weeks or months, but it never happens. It is empty promises, and that has been going on for four or five elections now,” one long-term tenant explained, adding that every change in NHC leadership requires residents to restart the entire application process from scratch.\n\nGill acknowledged the frustration among waiting residents but sought to reassure them that the administrative process is moving forward, stressing that legal property transfers require thorough, deliberate oversight to avoid errors. “Everybody across Barbados who has been approved under the twenty-year programme will eventually receive their houses,” he said. “Whatever the legislation states, they will receive their houses. It is only a matter of time. Everything takes time, especially where legal work is concerned.”\n\nWhen asked to address separate resident concerns about the Grotto housing complex, Gill declined to comment on the record but invited local outlet Barbados TODAY to tour the site to observe ongoing work. During the outlet’s visit, two construction cranes were on site carrying out tree removal, and residents reported that the work is part of a broader estate beautification project that will include power-washing and repainting building exteriors, as well as cleaning up common green spaces and grounds.
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Briceño Speaks on BTL/Speednet Failed Proposal
In a press briefing held on August 19, 2026, Belizean Prime Minister John Briceño pushed back against speculation that he single-handedly derailed BTL’s proposed $80 million takeover of competitor Speednet Communications, also known as SMART, emphasizing that the final rejection of the deal was a collective decision by the national Cabinet.
Addressing questions from local outlet News Five, Briceño reaffirmed that all Cabinet discussions follow strict confidentiality protocols, and said the body collectively determined moving forward with the acquisition did not align with the public interest. “I believe that Cabinet in its wisdom decided that we should not proceed,” the prime minister stated.
The rejection of the merger announcement late last week drew an immediate response from Speednet. In an official statement issued after the decision was made public, the telecommunications provider signaled that all future government telecommunications contracts would need to be opened up to public tender. The statement also referenced the existing regulatory designation of BTL as a dominant market player, which carries a series of competition-focused obligations: these include requirements to share network infrastructure with competitors at cost, along with potential adjustments to the surcharges BTL currently charges rival providers for access to its network.
When asked whether Speednet’s statement amounted to a threat against the government, Briceño rejected that framing, telling reporters “I don’t think it was a threat.”
Briceño went on to defend the existing regulatory framework that designated BTL as a dominant telecommunications operator, a ruling issued by Belize’s Public Utilities Commission (PUC). He noted that the PUC’s designation followed directions from the national courts, meaning the regulatory body had no choice but to formalize the dominant provider classification. “They did what the court had been saying, BTL is a dominant operator and as such they had to do that, to declare that,” Briceño explained.
When reporters asked if the government would move to support a repeal of the Statutory Instrument (SI) that enshrines BTL’s dominant provider status, Briceño tied the question to longstanding public demands for stable telecommunications pricing. Pointing out that widespread public opposition to price hikes has been a core demand from labor unions and the general public, the prime minister noted that the dominant provider classification is a critical tool for preventing excessive price increases. “You all have been saying you don’t want prices to go up… BTL is a dominant operator and as such they had to do that,” he said.
Briceño also addressed growing market concerns that Speednet could deliberately undercut BTL’s pricing to gain market share following the collapsed merger. He clarified that the existing SI only imposes restrictions on price increases for dominant providers, not price cuts. “What the SI says is that they cannot raise their prices, but of course a company can reduce its prices,” he confirmed.
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No Fades, No Dye, No Loose Hair at Mopan Tech
As the 2026 academic year approaches, a small technical high school in western Belize has thrown a long-simmering national conversation about school grooming standards back into the spotlight, drawing sharply divided responses from parents, educators and community members across the country.
Five days before Mopan Technical High School’s August 24 reopening in Benque Viejo del Carmen, Cayo District, school administrators published a detailed “Approved Hairstyles” guide to the institution’s official Facebook page. The visual guide, which features AI-generated images of student models demonstrating both permitted and prohibited styles, pairs clear illustrations with gender-specific grooming rules that leave little room for interpretation.
For male students, the policy permits only short, neatly trimmed cuts including tapered fades and natural curly tops. All hair must remain its natural color, and cannot extend to touch the eyebrows, ears or collar. Shaving the sides or back of the head is explicitly forbidden. Styles ranging from mohawks and mullets to dyed or bleached hair and shaved decorative designs are marked as unacceptable. For female students, approved looks are limited to neat, secured ponytails, braids, and buns, with a requirement that all hair be tied up at all times using only simple navy blue, black, or white fasteners. Unbound loose hair and artificially colored hair are both prohibited.
In the post’s accompanying note to parents, school leadership framed the policy as far more than a superficial focus on appearance. Addressing the common question of what hair has to do with academic learning, administrators argued that grooming standards are a core part of preparing young people for long-term success beyond the classroom. Learning to adhere to shared appearance expectations, practice self-discipline, respect institutional rules, and present oneself professionally, the school noted, are foundational skills for becoming responsible, successful adults.
Principal Katie Jones doubled down on this reasoning in an interview with local outlet News Five, emphasizing that the policy is rooted in building student discipline rather than restricting personal expression. “While some people say that hair has nothing to do with learning, we do believe that it sets discipline and standards for our school,” Jones explained. She added that clear grooming boundaries help acclimate students to professional workplaces, where strict uniform and appearance expectations are standard practice. “It is our fault if we don’t really have these things that are going to guide them throughout their life,” she added.
This latest policy update comes more than a year after a national debate over school hair policies first erupted in Belize, triggered by similar controversies at multiple institutions including Anglican Cathedral College in August 2025. At that time, the Belize National Teachers’ Union (BNTU) issued an official statement opposing policies it labeled as discriminatory, aligning itself with the UBAD Educational Foundation. “The BNTU stands in solidarity with UBAD Educational Foundation against discriminatory hair policies in schools. We are deeply concerned by reports of students being reprimanded, suspended, or otherwise penalized for wearing hairstyles that reflect their heritage or religious beliefs,” the union said at the time.
When reached for comment by News Five, Chief Education Officer Yolanda Gongora confirmed that the Ministry of Education is currently reviewing the matter but declined to release an official statement ahead of the review’s completion.
Online, the school’s Facebook post has sparked a flood of public comments that highlight the deep divide in Belizean public opinion on the issue. Supporters of the policy have praised it as a necessary step to prepare students for the workforce. “Great initiative,” one commenter wrote. “When they go into the real world, it’s not if you want or like… you have to follow the rules of your job or no job at all.” Another supporter echoed that view, writing “I concur; it’s called discipline and self-care.”
Critics, however, have pushed back against the restrictions, questioning their relevance to academic outcomes and raising concerns about cultural exclusion. Multiple commenters argued that schools should abandon what they described as an outdated “colonialist mindset” that prioritizes arbitrary appearance rules over actual learning. “Imagine thinking hair length dictates IQ. Focus on the curriculum, not the barber shop,” one critic wrote. Other parents pointed out that the list of approved styles fails to account for diverse cultural hair traditions. One parent of a Creole descent student asked, “What about the females of Creole descent? Braids and cornrows have become very popular among schoolgirls,” noting that the narrow approved options leave little room for culturally significant hairstyles.
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Dominica to launch four-year WISTLE Education Reform Project
Four Eastern Caribbean nations are set to embark on a landmark four-year education transformation initiative designed to overhaul lower-secondary education and align regional curricula with evolving student needs and modern economic demands. On August 21, the government of Dominica will formally launch the Windward Islands Sector Transformation for Learning Enhancement (WISTLE) Project, a cross-border collaboration that will roll out upgrades across Dominica, Grenada, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
Backed by the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) through its System Transformation Grant mechanism, and administered by the World Bank as the official grant agent, the initiative carries a total investment of $9.6 million USD, with each participating island receiving an equal allocation of $2.4 million. Approved by funding bodies in June 2025, the project will run through June 2029, with a core focus on developing, piloting, and rolling out a new inclusive, technology-integrated lower-secondary curriculum across all four nations.
In an official press statement, the Office of the Prime Minister of Dominica outlined the country’s key priorities under the program. Dominica’s work will center on building, implementing, and maintaining a holistic, equitable curriculum that integrates digital learning tools, transferable life skills, Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), arts education, and resilience training – designed to serve all learners across both general and special education contexts.
The impact of the project will reach thousands across the region each year: in Dominica alone, an estimated 3,000 students are expected to benefit annually, including 360 learners with documented special educational needs. Beyond curriculum updates, the initiative also invests heavily in educator capacity building, with plans to train roughly 500 current and emerging school leaders and teachers across the country. Of that group, 50 teaching and administrative staff will complete specialized TVET certification, while an additional 100 educators will gain targeted training in special education practices.
The official launch ceremony is scheduled to kick off at 9:00 a.m. local time on August 21 in the Waterfront Room of Dominica’s Fort Young Hotel, with local education officials inviting regional and local media to attend and cover the milestone event.
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Paul powers Kingsmen past Patriots
The Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League’s home stretch for the Jamaica Kingsmen concluded with a dominant 51-run triumph over the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots on Tuesday, powered by a career-defining all-round display from all-rounder Keemo Paul.
What looked set to be another disappointing outing for the Kingsmen turned into a memorable victory after a catastrophic start to their batting innings. Opening bowler Saurabh Netravalkar ripped through the hosts’ top order in the very first over, sending both Kirk McKenzie and Keacy Carty back to the pavilion without adding a single run to the scoreboard. The collapse continued through the first seven overs, and by the eighth, Jamaica was reeling at 54 runs for the loss of four wickets, with the Patriots firmly in control of the contest.
That is when Paul and Kingsmen captain Rovman Powell stepped up to reverse the momentum. The pair forged a critical 99-run partnership for the fifth wicket, stabilizing the innings and shifting the game in the Kingsmen’s favor. After a patient, calculated start to his knock, Paul exploded in the later overs, finishing with an explosive 65 runs off just 36 deliveries, decorated by five towering sixes and five well-placed fours. Powell supported solidly at the other end, notching 49 runs from 39 balls before departing, and star all-rounder Andre Russell pushed the total past the 180-mark with an unbeaten 14 runs off seven deliveries, setting the Patriots a target of 182 runs to win. The Kingsmen closed their innings at 181 for six wickets after the full 20 overs.
In their chase, the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots never managed to mount a meaningful challenge to the required run rate. They were soon on the back foot, slipping to 31 runs for three wickets by the fifth over, and later collapsed to 64 for five. Paul once again proved to be the difference-maker with the ball, claiming the key wickets of Kyle Mayers, Wanindu Hasaranga and Obed McCoy on his way to figures of three wickets for just 30 runs. While batsman Kevin Wickham put up a fight with a 34-ball 37, it was not enough to salvage the Patriots’ innings. They were eventually bowled out for 130 runs in the 18th overs, two full overs short of their full allocation, handing the Kingsmen a comfortable 51-run win.
This victory marks the second consecutive win for the Kingsmen, who lost their opening three matches of the tournament. The result lifts them to four points from five outings heading into the next phase of the Caribbean Premier League. For his match-winning contributions with both bat and ball, Paul was honored with the Player of the Match award.
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S&P: PUP’s Supermajority Hasn’t Translated Into Fiscal Reform
In its latest sovereign credit evaluation published on August 19, 2026, S&P Global Ratings has reaffirmed Belize’s long- and short-term sovereign credit ratings at B-/B while delivering a pointed assessment of the country’s political and fiscal trajectory. The ratings agency projects that the ruling People’s United Party (PUP), which has held national office since 2020 and secured a legislative supermajority in 2025’s general election, will retain power through the next scheduled national vote in 2030. S&P analysts note that the PUP’s dominant political position was built against a backdrop of a deeply fragmented opposition, and the upcoming 2027 municipal polls could even strengthen the party’s hold on governance across the country.
Despite the clear popular mandate and unchallenged political control the PUP holds, S&P has raised significant concerns over the slow pace of critical fiscal reforms that the agency says are necessary to shore up Belize’s long-term financial stability. Among the highest-priority unimplemented policy changes is the long-planned overhaul of the Pension Plan for Public Officials, a reform designed to reduce unsustainable long-term strain on the country’s national budget. S&P reports that the initiative has not moved forward in any meaningful way to date.
Two other core fiscal measures also remain stalled, per the ratings report: the establishment of a dedicated sinking fund to cover future amortization payments for Belize’s Blue Bonds, and the enactment of a formal fiscal responsibility law to provide a stable framework for long-term public financial management.
S&P stresses that repeated policy delays across successive Belizean administrations — not only the current PUP government — have created persistent headwinds for the country’s ability to maintain sustainable debt servicing. Belize has faced five sovereign debt defaults over the last 20 years, a historical pattern that continues to limit the country’s access to affordable external commercial financing, the agency added.
The report does acknowledge that the current administration has taken limited positive steps to improve its fiscal standing. These include expanding and improving tax collection through the rollout of mandatory electronic invoicing, and a plan to launch a Semi-Autonomous Revenue Authority by 2027 — a reform that was first approved by legislators back in 2022.
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S&P Keeps Belize at B-, Warns of Widening Deficits
On August 19, 2026, S&P Global Ratings announced it would retain Belize’s B-/B sovereign credit rating with a stable outlook, while issuing warnings about expanding fiscal and current account deficits over the coming two years. The rating agency linked the expected deficit expansion to ongoing volatility in global crude oil markets, which has pushed up the Central American nation’s import costs.
Alongside the main sovereign rating, S&P confirmed that Belize’s transfer and convertibility assessment will also hold steady at B-. The stable outlook is rooted in the agency’s projection that Belize will see moderate economic growth aligned with its long-term potential, and that even with mounting pressure from elevated oil prices, the country’s twin deficits will remain manageable.
For 2026, S&P forecasts real GDP growth of 2.0 percent, a slowdown compared to previous years driven primarily by cooling expansion in two key sectors: business process outsourcing (BPO) and tourism. The tourism sector, a cornerstone of Belize’s economy, is expected to soften in 2026 as higher oil prices drive up travel costs and reduce the number of overnight tourist stays. Even so, S&P notes potential upside on the horizon: new air routes launched by BermudAir and Air Canada are expected to improve Belize’s connectivity to North American and European markets, which could boost visitor numbers in coming years.
The BPO sector, which employs roughly 9 percent of Belize’s total workforce, faces a separate long-term challenge. S&P warns that the rapid global adoption of artificial intelligence is likely to automate many routine business functions that are currently handled by Belizean outsourcing providers, reducing global demand for these services over time.
On the fiscal front, Belize delivered a nearly balanced budget in 2025, posting a tiny surplus equal to 0.03 percent of GDP. That positive result came from moderate revenue growth and cuts to capital spending. But S&P projects that trend will reverse sharply in 2026, with the general government posting a deficit equal to 2.5 percent of GDP. The shift is driven by multiple factors: rising imported energy costs, a recent cut to gasoline excise taxes, government-mandated electricity rate caps, and growing public sector payroll expenses. Already, payroll and pension costs make up 41 percent of total government spending, and an additional 4.0 percent wage increase is scheduled to take effect in October 2026.
Net general government debt rose to 66 percent of GDP in 2025, up from 64.5 percent in 2024. S&P attributes the increase largely to domestic borrowing taken on after the nationalization of the country’s energy assets. Over the period through 2029, the rating agency expects net government debt to average roughly 67 percent of GDP. S&P also highlighted growing debt servicing costs, noting that the stepped-up coupon structure on Belize’s $364 million Blue Bond will reach its maximum rate of 6.04 percent in 2026. This change will push total debt servicing costs above 10 percent of total government revenue for the entire forecast period.
Belize’s current account deficit expanded to 2.8 percent of GDP in 2025, and S&P projects it will widen further to 4.6 percent of GDP in 2026. The widening deficit is driven by a growing trade gap caused by more expensive fuel imports, continued reliance on electricity imports, and softening tourism revenue. Through 2029, the current account deficit is expected to average 2.8 percent of GDP, and S&P projects it will be primarily financed by foreign direct investment targeted at tourism, real estate, and infrastructure projects.
Looking ahead, S&P outlined two potential paths for Belize’s rating over the next 12 to 18 months. The agency could downgrade the rating if external or domestic economic shocks weaken fiscal performance or restrict Belize’s access to official financing. On the other hand, an upgrade would be possible if the government delivers concrete policy commitments to strengthen fiscal results and sustain steady economic growth, or if external vulnerabilities moderate alongside clear evidence of policy progress.