分类： politics

The US military executed a targeted strike on a vessel in the Caribbean on Thursday, resulting in three fatalities, as confirmed by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. In a statement posted on X, Hegseth revealed that the operation was authorized by President Trump and targeted a ship operated by a designated terrorist organization involved in narcotics trafficking. The strike occurred in international waters, and no US personnel were harmed. This action is part of a broader campaign initiated on September 2, which has so far led to 70 deaths, the destruction of 18 boats, and three survivors, two of whom were briefly detained by the US Navy before being repatriated. The Trump administration has declared an ‘armed conflict’ against drug cartels, labeling those killed as ‘unlawful combatants’ and asserting the authority to conduct lethal strikes without judicial oversight, based on a classified Justice Department finding. Critics, including some members of Congress and human rights groups, have challenged this approach, arguing that suspected drug traffickers should face prosecution rather than extrajudicial killings. The administration has yet to provide public evidence linking the targeted vessels to drug cartels or confirming the presence of narcotics. Additionally, the US has intensified efforts to associate Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro with the drug trade, despite Venezuela not being a major source of cocaine for the US market. During a classified briefing, lawmakers were informed that the current legal framework does not permit strikes within Venezuela or other territories, though future actions remain a possibility.

In a last-minute adjustment to the Progressive Labour Party’s (PLP) 62nd Anniversary Black Tie Gala, E.P. Chet Greene, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Trade, and Barbuda Affairs for Antigua & Barbuda, has been announced as the new keynote speaker. Originally, Terrance Drew, the Prime Minister of St Kitts & Nevis and incoming chair of Caricom, was scheduled to address the event. However, due to the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa and his commitment to represent the Caribbean region at the EU-CELAC meeting in Colombia, Drew was unable to attend. The PLP expressed understanding and gratitude for Drew’s regional responsibilities while welcoming Greene’s participation. Dawn Simmons, PLP chairwoman, emphasized Greene’s esteemed regional leadership and the value his insights will bring to the gala’s theme, ‘Leading for the Next Generation.’ The event, set to take place at the Hamilton Princess & Beach Club, will also feature messages from Geoffrey Hanley, Deputy Prime Minister of St Kitts & Nevis, and David Burt, Bermuda’s Premier, who noted the personal significance of this being his final gala in office. Tickets for the event, priced at $150 for general admission and $250 for patron admission, are available at gpass.bm.

BELÉM, Brazil (Nov. 6, 2025) — Prime Minister Gaston Browne of Antigua and Barbuda delivered a compelling address at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30), emphasizing the critical need for political will to combat the escalating climate crisis. Speaking to global leaders, Browne highlighted the urgency of the situation, warning that inertia and indecision could jeopardize the planet’s future. He stressed that the world possesses the knowledge, technology, and financial resources to drive meaningful action but lacks the collective resolve to implement them. Browne described COP30 as the “COP of Truth,” urging it to be remembered as the moment when “honesty met action” and ambition translated into tangible results. He called for immediate and decisive measures to avert planetary disaster, noting that the 1.5°C threshold—a critical limit for small island states—has already been breached. For these nations, the climate crisis is not a distant threat but a daily reality. Browne criticized major polluters for their continued environmental destruction and advocated for an “economic revolution” to transform global production, consumption, and trade. He cited Hurricane Melissa’s devastation in the Caribbean as a stark reminder of the “loss and damage” caused by climate change, framing it as “the bill nature is presenting to humanity.” The prime minister also emphasized that climate finance should be seen as an obligation, not charity, and called for the adoption of the Multidimensional Vulnerability Index to ensure targeted support. He praised Brazil for hosting the summit in the Amazon, the “lungs of the Earth,” and welcomed the launch of the Tropical Forests Forever Facility as a symbol of global solidarity. Browne concluded by urging nations to ensure COP30 is remembered as the moment when climate justice transitioned from promise to practice.