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  • Moscow : Haitian student Slanda François, detained in Russia, released

    Moscow : Haitian student Slanda François, detained in Russia, released

    After nine months of administrative detention in a Moscow immigration facility, two Haitian students have secured their release following a months-long cross-border diplomatic campaign led by Haitian foreign affairs authorities.

    Slanda François, one of the two detained students, was first taken into custody in October 2025 over immigration violations at the Temporary Detention Center for Foreign Citizens on Moscow’s Varshavskoye Shosse. The facility, located 64 kilometers outside the city center, routinely holds migrants who face deportation orders or administrative detention. She was joined in custody by Anne Betsaïna César, another Haitian student studying in Russia.

    Their release, confirmed on July 25, 2026, did not come easily. It was the culmination of a sustained diplomatic negotiation spearheaded by Haiti’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with critical backing from the Haitian Embassy based in Vietnam. Diplomatic teams worked for months to navigate Russian immigration protocols and coordinate logistics for the students’ departure, building a collaborative effort to secure the freedom of the two Haitian nationals.

    For the students and their loved ones, the announcement brings a long-awaited end to a stressful, uncertain period. Throughout their detention, both the students and their families held out hope for a positive resolution, a outcome that now paves the way for their long-awaited homecoming.

    While the release marks a major milestone, the journey back to Haiti is still underway. Current travel arrangements have the pair arriving in Cap-Haïtien on July 28, 2026, where they will finally reunite with family members who have waited nearly a year to see them. Haitian diplomatic officials have framed the successful outcome as a clear demonstration of how targeted diplomatic engagement and cross-border cooperation can deliver meaningful protection for Haitian citizens living and studying abroad. Negotiations are also ongoing to repatriate additional Haitian nationals detained in Moscow, according to prior reporting from Haitian outlets.

  • OECS and Morocco explore new opportunities for trade, investment and economic cooperation

    OECS and Morocco explore new opportunities for trade, investment and economic cooperation

    In a major step forward for South-South cooperation, representatives from the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) and the Kingdom of Morocco have concluded a week of targeted economic discussions, paving the way for strengthened bilateral trade, investment, and cross-sector collaboration across two geographically distinct regions.

    Held from June 22 to 26, 2026, the OECS-Morocco Economic Promotion Week was hosted and organized by Morocco’s Moroccan Agency for International Cooperation (AMCI), with institutional support from the OECS Commission. The initiative was designed to unlock untapped collaborative opportunities between Morocco and the 11-member OECS bloc, aligning with regional development priorities and advancing projects that promise tangible social and economic benefits for communities across the Eastern Caribbean. Six OECS member states took part in the talks: the Commonwealth of Dominica, Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

    The delegations brought together a broad cross-section of stakeholders, spanning government economic and trade ministries, national investment promotion agencies, national chambers of commerce, and private sector industry groups. Participating institutions included the Invest Dominica Authority, the Antigua and Barbuda Investment Authority, Grenada Investment Development Corporation, Nevis Investment Promotion Agency, Invest Saint Lucia, Invest SVG, Saint Kitts and Nevis’ Ministry of International Trade and Ministry of Economic Development and Investment, the Private Sector Unit of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, the Grenada Chamber of Industry and Commerce, and the Saint Lucia Chamber of Commerce. The delegation also included senior representatives from the OECS Commission, the OECS Business Council, and officials from the Eastern Caribbean States Embassies based in Morocco.

    His Excellency Ian Queeley, Ambassador and Head of Mission of the Eastern Caribbean States Embassies to Morocco, emphasized that the week-long engagement reinforced the deep alignment between both regions on goals for shared, sustainable development. “This Economic Promotion Week has reaffirmed that the relationship between the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States and the Kingdom of Morocco is one built not only on friendship, but on shared aspirations for sustainable economic growth, innovation, investment, and South-South cooperation,” Queeley said. “Through productive dialogue and meaningful exchanges, we have showcased the immense opportunities that exist between our regions and laid the foundation for stronger commercial partnerships.”

    Queeley added that the OECS remains dedicated to advancing deepened economic diplomacy, linking business owners, investors, and public institutions from the Eastern Caribbean with strategic Moroccan partners. “We look forward to translating the momentum generated this week into tangible outcomes that create jobs, expand trade, and promote inclusive prosperity for the peoples of both the Eastern Caribbean and Morocco,” he said.

    During the week of engagement, participating delegates held closed-door and open discussions with Moroccan public and private sector leaders across 12 high-priority sectors, including agriculture, agro-processing, food security, renewable energy, fisheries, the blue economy, financial services, port infrastructure development, maritime trade, air transport connectivity, and tourism. Talks also centered on collaborative solutions to shared challenges, including building greater agricultural resilience to climate shocks, expanding development of geothermal and solar energy projects, strengthening bilateral tourism links, and deepening broader economic integration between the Caribbean and African continents.

    Delegates also explored a range of structural collaborative frameworks, including closer correspondent banking relationships, expanded direct business-to-business networking and partnerships, the potential establishment of a permanent OECS–Morocco Business Council, and the benefits of Moroccan investment access through Casablanca Finance City, one of Africa’s leading financial hubs. Opportunities for Moroccan direct investment in key OECS priority development sectors were also a key topic of conversation.

    Over the course of the event, delegates held formal meetings with more than a dozen leading Moroccan institutions, including AMCI, the National Office of Hydrocarbons and Mines, the Moroccan Agency for Sustainable Energy, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Moroccan Agency for the Development of Investments and Exports, Casablanca Finance City, the Professional Group of Banks of Morocco, OCP Africa, the General Confederation of Moroccan Enterprises, the Regional Council of Dakhla-Oued Ed-Dahab, the Regional Investment Centre, and the Port of Dakhla.

    A scheduled site visit to Dakhla allowed delegates to see first-hand Morocco’s ambitious southern regional development strategy, and examine the growing role of the Dakhla Atlantic Port in boosting transatlantic trade between Africa, the Americas, and Europe. The visit also identified new opportunities for collaboration on maritime infrastructure development and ocean economy cooperation between Morocco and OECS member states.

    Following the conclusion of Economic Promotion Week, the Eastern Caribbean States Embassies in Morocco issued a statement praising the high level of engagement from both Moroccan institutional stakeholders and OECS delegations. The statement noted that the productive talks have generated significant positive momentum that will now be carried forward into targeted follow-up initiatives and formal collaborative projects in the coming months.

  • The 10-Year Manhunt Is Over for Costa Rica’s Most Wanted

    The 10-Year Manhunt Is Over for Costa Rica’s Most Wanted

    After 10 years of relentless cross-border investigative work, Costa Rican law enforcement has brought a close to one of the country’s highest-profile manhunts, capturing top fugitive Alejandro Arias Monge — widely known by his criminal alias “Diablo” — during a major tactical operation in early July 24, 2026. The high-stakes raid unfolded before dawn on Friday at a remote rural farm located in Sarapiquí, a district of central Costa Rica’s Heredia Province.

    When tactical officers from the country’s Judicial Investigation Agency moved in to secure the property, they were met with immediate heavy gunfire from armed members of Arias Monge’s criminal network. A protracted exchange of fire between officers and the suspects continued for approximately 60 minutes before authorities gained full control of the site.

    The operation left five tactical unit members with injuries, four of whom were reported to be in stable condition as of the latest update from authorities. One injured officer, however, required transfer to a specialized medical facility for urgent care. During the confrontation, one additional suspect identified by the alias “Coco Guácimo” was killed in the crossfire.

    Beyond the capture of Arias Monge, law enforcement secured two more high-profile arrests: senior ranking members of his criminal organization, including Jonathan Pérez Méndez, who goes by the alias “Tan.” Investigative sources confirm Pérez Méndez had been positioned as the heir apparent to take over leadership of the network if Arias Monge was ever caught or killed.

    Authorities also confiscated a cache of dangerous weapons and surveillance equipment during the raid, including multiple AK-47-style assault rifles, a range of sidearms, and drone technology that investigators believe the criminal network used to track and monitor police movements ahead of potential operations.

    Arias Monge first vanished from authorities’ radar back in 2016, when he failed to appear for a court hearing following his release from pre-trial detention. In the decade he remained at large, investigators have tied him to a string of serious transnational crimes, including large-scale drug trafficking, coordinated money laundering operations, multiple connected homicides, and direct threats against active law enforcement officers. Officials note that all allegations against Arias Monge have not yet been adjudicated in a court of law.

    The decade-long search for the fugitive drew significant international backing, with the United States offering a reward of up to $500,000 for information leading to his capture through the U.S. State Department’s Transnational Organized Crime Rewards Program. U.S. authorities had previously designated Arias Monge as the leader of a violent criminal syndicate that operated across multiple countries in Central America, making his capture a priority for regional security.

  • China-Funded Barbuda Housing Project Moves Toward Construction

    China-Funded Barbuda Housing Project Moves Toward Construction

    A critical affordable housing initiative in Barbuda, fully financed by a grant from the People’s Republic of China, is on the cusp of breaking ground, after the project team wrapped up the vast majority of required land surveying work, an official government update has confirmed.

    Maurice Merchant, Director General of Communications for Antigua and Barbuda, shared the latest progress on the Louis Hill housing development during a post-Cabinet media briefing held Thursday. He emphasized that the project is advancing at an accelerated clip, with preparatory work moving ahead of schedule in key areas.

    “They are moving forward at a fast pace,” Merchant told reporters. “I know that the surveys are being conducted; the majority have been conducted at the Louis Hill facility, and so it’s a matter of mobilization.”

    Beyond confirming the completion of most survey work, Merchant also confirmed that all funding for the project has been secured. The full construction grant pledged by China is already in place, removing the biggest potential barrier to launching on-site work. “The grant from the People’s Republic of China for the construction of these homes in Barbuda is already in place,” Merchant said. “It’s just a matter of mobilization and getting started.”

    The official announcement of the housing project’s progress came shortly after the Antigua and Barbuda Cabinet ratified the first batch of freehold land certificates for Barbuda residents. This move is part of the national government’s landmark EC$1-an-acre land distribution program, which aims to expand land access and property ownership for local people.

    At this stage, government officials have not released additional key details about the Louis Hill development, including an official construction kickoff date, the total number of residential units planned for the site, or a projected timeline for project completion.

  • OECS–Morocco economic cooperation highlighted during promotion week

    OECS–Morocco economic cooperation highlighted during promotion week

    From June 22 to 26, 2026, the Kingdom of Morocco will play host to a landmark Economic Promotion Week, where the spotlight will fall on forging stronger, more impactful economic development partnerships between Morocco and member states of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS). The entire initiative was conceptualized and executed by the Moroccan Agency for International Cooperation (AMCI), bringing together official delegations from six OECS member states, represented through the collective Eastern Caribbean Embassies based in Morocco. The OECS Commission stepped in as a core partner for the event, tasked with aggregating the key development priorities of participating nations and backing collective regional projects designed to deliver measurable, tangible benefits to communities across the OECS bloc. Six Eastern Caribbean nations participated in the week-long program: Antigua and Barbuda, the Commonwealth of Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, and St Vincent and the Grenadines. Delegations were composed of senior officials and stakeholders from across public and private sectors, including leadership from national investment promotion agencies, trade and economic development ministries, and national chambers of commerce. Notable participating entities included the Antigua and Barbuda Investment Authority, Invest Dominica Authority, Grenada Investment Development Corporation, Nevis Investment Promotion Agency, Invest St Lucia, Invest SVG, the Ministry of International Trade and Ministry of Economic Development and Investment of St Kitts and Nevis, the Private Sector Unit of St Vincent and the Grenadines, the Grenada Chamber of Industry and Commerce, and the St Lucia Chamber of Commerce. Delegations were further reinforced by representatives from the OECS Commission, the OECS Business Council, and diplomatic staff from the Eastern Caribbean Embassies accredited to Morocco. His Excellency Ian Queeley, Ambassador and Head of Mission of the Eastern Caribbean Embassies to Morocco, emphasized that the week of engagement has reinforced the foundational nature of the OECS-Morocco relationship, noting it is rooted in both long-standing diplomatic friendship and aligned ambitions for sustainable economic growth, innovative development, expanded investment, and strengthened South-South cooperation. “Through productive dialogue and meaningful exchanges, we have showcased the immense opportunities that exist between our regions and laid the foundation for stronger commercial partnerships,” Queeley stated. He added that the OECS remains fully committed to deepening economic diplomacy by connecting Eastern Caribbean entrepreneurs, investors, and institutional stakeholders with strategic Moroccan partners, and expressed optimism that the momentum built during the event will translate into concrete results that create new employment, expand bilateral and cross-regional trade, and drive inclusive prosperity for people across both the Eastern Caribbean and Morocco. Throughout the five-day program, participating OECS delegates held a full schedule of engagements with a broad cross-section of Moroccan public sector agencies and private sector institutions. Conversations centered on unlocking new opportunities for investment, expanded trade, and collaborative joint projects across a range of sectors identified as mutually beneficial, including agriculture and agro-processing, food security, renewable energy development, fisheries management, the blue economy, international financial services, port infrastructure development, maritime trade, improved air connectivity, and tourism. Three priority areas received particular focus during discussions: strengthening climate and economic resilience in the agricultural sector, advancing development of geothermal and solar energy projects, and improving tourism and economic connectivity between the Caribbean region and the African continent. Engagements with Moroccan private sector groups and financial institutions also explored pathways to deepen bilateral banking ties, expand direct business-to-business collaboration, and assess the feasibility of establishing a permanent OECS-Morocco Business Council to sustain long-term engagement. Delegates also reviewed investment opportunities available through Casablanca Finance City and explored avenues for Moroccan investors to enter priority sectors across OECS member states. The delegation held formal meetings with a host of leading Moroccan institutions, including AMCI itself, the National Office of Hydrocarbons and Mines (ONHYM), the Moroccan Agency for Sustainable Energy (MASEN), the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Moroccan Agency for the Development of Investments and Exports (AMDIE), Casablanca Finance City, the Professional Group of Banks of Morocco (GPBM), OCP Africa (Nutri Crops), the General Confederation of Moroccan Enterprises (CGEM), the Regional Council of Dakhla-Oued Ed-Dahab, the Regional Investment Centre, and the Port of Dakhla. A site visit to the southern Moroccan city of Dakhla gave delegates unique, first-hand insight into Morocco’s ambitious regional development strategy, as well as the transformative potential of the Dakhla Atlantic Port to expand and support growing transatlantic trade routes. During discussions related to the port, participants also highlighted the strategic geographic positioning of OECS member states in the Caribbean and identified opportunities to advance joint port development and expanded maritime cooperation between the two regions. The Eastern Caribbean Embassies in Morocco welcomed the high level of engagement from Moroccan institutional partners and the active participation of OECS delegates across all scheduled activities. Following the conclusion of the program, participants departed with enhanced knowledge of market opportunities in Morocco, renewed energy to advance follow-up engagements with relevant Moroccan agencies, and clear plans to move forward with the practical collaborative initiatives identified during the week’s discussions.

  • Starnieuws gouddossier 1: Actie tegen Chinese werknemers Sarakreek slechts deel van thriller

    Starnieuws gouddossier 1: Actie tegen Chinese werknemers Sarakreek slechts deel van thriller

    A high-profile joint police and military operation targeting 16 Chinese employees at a Surinamese gold concession has pulled back the curtain on a bitter, years-long simmering conflict over control of one of the country’s large-scale mining assets. The July 14 operation, which made international headlines over claims of an unauthorized armed Chinese presence, is far more complex than initial public reports suggest, according to senior management at Sarakreek Resource Corporation – the Canadian-founded concession holder that partners with China Mega Suriname Mining Investment Company on the 22,500-hectare project. In an exclusive interview with local outlet Starnieuws, the firm’s leadership painted a full picture of a dispute stretching back to 2022, marked by legal battles against the Surinamese state, unregulated encroachment by illegal gold miners, and allegations of behind-the-scenes political influence shaping the crisis.

    Sarakreek management emphasized that the Chinese employees at the site are legally employed by the joint venture between the firm and its Chinese mining partner. A majority of the workers already hold valid residency and work permits, while the remaining applicants are in the final stages of administrative processing, a status the company says it fully disclosed to authorities early in the investigation. The firm also confirmed it holds a legal license to possess firearms for security purposes on the concession – a standard arrangement for major mining concession holders across Suriname’s gold sector. It did acknowledge, however, that the armed new employees who arrived in Suriname only on July 7 and 9 had not yet completed official weapons registration, and that the team deployed firearms out of urgent necessity amid the site’s steadily worsening security crisis. The company also admitted that gunfire discharged during an on-site training exercise at its base camp was an avoidable safety lapse, adding that the decision to conduct training there was incorrect in hindsight.

    The July 14 raid marks only the latest escalation of a conflict that has unfolded gradually over half a decade. After Sarakreek scaled back mining operations several years ago to prepare for a major expansion restart, the concession’s massive size and limited on-site presence created an opening for large groups of unlicensed illegal gold miners to occupy large swathes of the territory. The company says it has long documented ties between these encroaching miners and influential political figures connected to Suriname’s ruling coalition. In one documented incident, an illegal miner openly told police he had secured permission to mine on the concession after paying a bribe to a relative of ABOP party leader Ronnie Brunswijk, one of Suriname’s most powerful political figures.

    The root of the formal dispute dates back to 2022, when Sarakreek submitted an application to renew its expiring mining concession rights. Though the firm filed the application well ahead of the expiration deadline, the Ministry of Natural Resources rejected the request, claiming the company was in conflict with local Indigenous and riverine communities. Sarakreek refutes this claim, noting its concession territory sits 27 kilometers from the nearest permanent village, and that multiple negotiation sessions with community representatives were held with Ministry officials in attendance. The company says local demands escalated over time, ultimately requiring a $100,000 compensation payment and the transfer of half of the company’s concession rights to local stakeholders. When no agreement could be reached on the non-negotiable demands, the dispute moved to Suriname’s courts. The judiciary ruled in Sarakreek’s favor, ordering the state to extend the concession and imposing daily coercive fines for non-compliance.

    Despite the court victory, the security situation on the ground continued to deteriorate. In October 2025, Sarakreek formally notified the Ministry of Natural Resources in writing that illegal miners were actively blocking all preparations to restart full mining operations. On June 26, a police inspection team visited the concession to review the Chinese workers’ residency, work authorization and weapons compliance, accompanied by a reconnaissance team from Suriname’s border surveillance operation. Sarakreek says it fully cooperated with the inspection and submitted all requested documentation to police within three business days, and no additional information requests were received between June 29 and the July 14 raid.

    Tensions boiled over on July 13, when a verbal clash broke out between Chinese employees and a group of illegal miners occupying the concession. Within hours, clips claiming an unauthorized “Chinese army” was operating in the area spread rapidly across Surinamese social media. The miners involved openly claimed that a single phone call to Brunswijk would be enough to force the Chinese team off the land. Just 24 hours later, two helicopters carrying joint police-military units landed at the concession’s base camp to launch the raid. During a brief FaceTime call between Sarakreek management and the regional police commander, the commander confirmed the operation was investigating compliance with immigration and firearms law – before the call was abruptly cut off by a bystander shouting in Sranan that 15 people would be taken away for processing and three would remain to guard the camp.

    Sarakreek describes the raid itself as chaotic and abusive. As police searched the camp, illegal miners were allowed to remain on site to observe the operation and heckle the Chinese staff. All 16 employees were forced to lie on the ground in humiliating conditions, and two sleeping workers were dragged out of their bunks. Management also alleges that one Chinese worker was beaten in the head by a local resident while being transported to the extraction helicopter, knocking him unconscious. Footage circulated on social media showed Brunswijk pointing at the unconscious worker tied to the back of an all-terrain vehicle (ATV), but the clips do not show the prior assault, according to the company. All 16 workers were released from custody by the Public Prosecution Service the following day.

    After security forces withdrew from the camp, Sarakreek conducted an inventory and found more than $8,800 in cash, 45,000 Surinamese dollars, fuel, legally held firearms, work clothing, other company equipment and four ATVs had gone missing. The company filed a formal theft report with police in Brokopondo, and two of the ATVs were later returned. Sarakreek says the return offer came that same evening through a Chinese intermediary, who requested the company allow two of Brunswijk’s security staff to drop off the vehicles. The firm rejected the offer, noting that a formal police report had already been filed and it expects a full official investigation into the missing property.

    Brunswijk’s presence at the scene of the raid has raised additional questions for Sarakreek’s leadership. Social media clips showed local bystanders cheering and thanking Brunswijk for leading the operation against the Chinese workers, with the footage published publicly by ABOP Member of Parliament Geneviévre Jordan. Suriname’s Minister of Justice and Police Harish Monorath has denied Brunswijk commanded the operation, stating it was led by the regional police commander for central Suriname as a joint police-military mission, and Brunswijk only alerted authorities after receiving reports of armed Chinese men in the area.

    For Sarakreek, however, the incident is far more than an isolated check of immigration and firearms compliance. The company says the raid must be understood as the latest turn in a years-long battle over control of the concession, driven by illegal encroachment, competing political and economic interests, and a dispute that has already been settled in court but remains unresolved on the ground. “The public has only heard part of the story,” Sarakreek management told Starnieuws.

  • At UN, CARICOM requests the renewal of the GSF’s mandate in Haiti

    At UN, CARICOM requests the renewal of the GSF’s mandate in Haiti

    As Haiti moves forward with preparations for long-awaited democratic elections, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) has formally petitioned the United Nations Security Council to extend the mandate of the multinational Gang Suppression Force (GSF), currently deployed to curb gang violence across the crisis-stricken nation.

    Addressing the Security Council in a statement delivered by a Jamaican diplomatic representative, CARICOM emphasized that the GSF is far from reaching its full operational capacity. As of the latest update, less than 20 percent of the force’s planned total personnel have been deployed, and its current mandate is set to expire at the end of September 2026. Renewing the mandate, the regional bloc argued, is an indispensable safeguard to prevent a catastrophic collapse of security, which would open the door to widespread instability and state fragmentation.

    First established under UN Security Council Resolution 2793, the GSF is a multinational security mission designed to reach a full strength of 5,550 uniformed personnel. Its core mandate is to disarm and neutralize the powerful armed gangs that have controlled large swathes of Port-au-Prince, Haiti’s capital, for years. Operating in close coordination with the Haitian National Police, the force works to secure critical state infrastructure and protect civilian populations from targeted violence and mass displacement. The mission was created to replace the earlier Kenya-led Multinational Security Support Mission (MSSM), which was hampered by small troop numbers and chronic underfunding that left it unable to address the scope of Haiti’s security crisis.

    In its address, CARICOM acknowledged that incremental signs of progress have emerged on the ground in recent months, but warned that the overall security and humanitarian situation remains precarious. The bloc reaffirmed its deep concern over the ongoing multidimensional crisis that has crippled state institutions and left millions of Haitians in need of emergency assistance. It specifically highlighted the disproportionate impact of the crisis on Haiti’s most vulnerable groups, including women, girls and young people, who face heightened risks of gender-based violence, displacement and lack of access to basic services.

    CARICOM also commended the Haitian government’s ongoing efforts to lay the institutional and security groundwork for free, fair and peaceful elections, in partnership with regional and international stakeholders including the United Nations, the Organization of American States (OAS) and CARICOM itself. Despite the significant challenges facing the country, the bloc stressed that holding timely democratic elections remains a top priority for restoring stability, and reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to supporting Haiti’s long-term goal of consolidated democratic governance and constitutional order.

    Beyond security, CARICOM noted that regional leaders have reaffirmed their commitment to expanding humanitarian assistance to meet the ongoing acute needs of the Haitian people, even amid the modest improvements recorded in some areas. The bloc called for accelerated international stabilization efforts, including a sharp increase in global humanitarian funding and a push to speed up the full deployment of the GSF to all high-risk areas. It also urged global financial institutions and the wider international financial community to deepen engagement with the Haitian government and local stakeholders to build a foundation for long-term stability.

    “Haiti deserves a future of peace, prosperity and democratic governance, a future deserving of every citizen in every country,” the statement concluded.

  • An American sentenced to 20 years in prison for complicity in the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse

    An American sentenced to 20 years in prison for complicity in the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse

    In a landmark ruling that closes another chapter in the investigation into the 2021 assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moïse, a U.S. federal judge sentenced 42-year-old Florida resident Keegan Harricharan to two decades in federal prison on July 23, 2026. The sentence comes after Harricharan pleaded guilty to running a pandemic relief fraud scheme that raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to fund the plot that killed the Haitian leader.

    According to official announcements from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida, Harricharan, a resident of Coral Springs, orchestrated a fraudulent scheme to obtain more than $840,000 in U.S. Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans—federal funding designed to keep small businesses afloat amid the widespread economic disruption of the COVID-19 pandemic. Rather than using the funds for the intended purpose, Harricharan diverted the taxpayer money to support a conspiracy to overthrow Haiti’s elected government, a plan that culminated in the July 2021 assassination of President Moïse by a team of mercenary commandos.

    Prosecutors detailed that Harricharan leveraged his private company, TNR Holding Group Inc., as a front to receive the fraudulent PPP funds and distribute the money to other co-conspirators involved in the assassination plot. Court documents and official statements confirm that Harricharan actively collaborated with his co-accused to coordinate every critical logistical step of the operation, from sourcing additional financing to acquiring weapons, ammunition, military equipment, and recruiting personnel to carry out the attack.

    “This defendant did more than just commit fraud,” U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones emphasized in an official statement following the sentencing. “He exploited pandemic relief programs designed to support struggling small businesses during a national crisis and laundered those taxpayer-funded funds to contribute to a plot that resulted in the assassination of the Haitian president.”

    Harricharan’s sentencing marks the latest conviction in the U.S. investigation into Moïse’s assassination. Last May, a federal jury in Miami found four of Harricharan’s alleged accomplices—Arcángel Pretel Ortiz, Antonio Intriago, Walter Veintemilla, and James Solages—guilty of conspiracy and murder-related charges for their roles in the plot. With Harricharan’s conviction, a total of nine people have now been found guilty in U.S. federal court for their connections to the high-profile assassination that sent Haiti into a years-long period of political instability and chaos.

  • Seventh Journalist Killed in Mexico This Year After Repeated Death Threats

    Seventh Journalist Killed in Mexico This Year After Repeated Death Threats

    On July 23, 2026, Mexico recorded another tragic loss for press freedom when 60-year-old veteran independent journalist Francisco Alejandro Leyva Aguilar was fatally shot in Oaxaca state, becoming the seventh journalist killed in the country since the start of the year. Leyva, who had three decades of reporting experience, was best known for his unflinching criticism of the Oaxaca state administration and his in-depth investigations into public corruption. The killing unfolded in broad daylight at a casual roadside taco stand in San Pablo Etla, a community just outside the state capital of Oaxaca City. According to witnesses, two armed attackers traveling on a motorcycle pulled up to the stand and opened fire directly on Leyva, killing him instantly before fleeing the scene.

    For more than a year prior to his murder, Leyva had repeatedly raised alarms about credible death threats targeting him. As documented by global press freedom organization Reporters Without Borders (RSF), the journalist filed official complaints about the threats with both Oaxaca state authorities and federal Mexican law enforcement agencies. Despite the formal documentation of his risk and repeated requests for safety support, RSF confirms that no protective measures were ever put in place to guard Leyva. In the wake of his killing, the organization has issued a sharp rebuke of state and federal officials, demanding a full public explanation for the systemic failure to act on the journalist’s documented safety concerns.

    Oaxaca Governor Salomón Jara, who was a frequent target of Leyva’s critical reporting, has publicly condemned the attack. In an official statement following the shooting, Jara announced that a full, comprehensive investigation into the killing is now underway, conducted in close coordination with federal prosecution teams. While Jara acknowledged that Leyva was a persistent and outspoken critic of his administration, he noted that official investigations have not yet confirmed a definitive motive for the attack.

    This killing has once again drawn international attention to Mexico’s long-standing crisis of violence against journalists. Press freedom advocacy groups around the globe have repeatedly warned that Mexico remains one of the most dangerous countries in the world for reporters and media workers. Systemic impunity for acts of violence against journalists, combined with widespread intimidation tactics, has created a lethal environment particularly for reporters who take on high-risk beats: investigating public corruption, and exposing links between political actors and organized crime. So far in 2026, the national death toll for journalists has already matched and is on track to exceed the numbers seen in recent years, renewing calls for sweeping reform to protect press freedom and end the culture of impunity that enables targeted killings.

  • Oil Prices Top $100 as Middle East Conflict Escalates

    Oil Prices Top $100 as Middle East Conflict Escalates

    On July 23, 2026, a sharp escalation of hostilities across the Middle East has driven international oil prices to cross the $100 per barrel threshold for the first time in two months, sending shockwaves through global energy and financial markets.

    The latest surge in pricing was triggered by a targeted attack on Saudi oil tankers transiting the Red Sea carried out by Yemen’s Houthi rebels. The assault put one of the world’s most critical crude export chokepoints at risk, raising widespread alarm over potential disruptions to the steady flow of global oil shipments through the Red Sea and adjacent strategic maritime corridors that carry roughly 10 percent of the world’s traded oil daily.

    Tensions have continued to mount across the region, with conflict spreading beyond traditional flashpoints. Reports emerged of Iranian drone strikes targeting sites in Kuwait, while Jordan also confirmed it had come under offensive attack. Along the shared border between Iraq and Iran, Iranian state media confirmed that two people were killed in recent U.S. airstrikes. Amid the expanding violence, former U.S. President Donald Trump issued a stark statement ruling out any imminent ceasefire with Iran, noting that Tehran would “need more of the same” after multiple consecutive days of American airstrikes targeting Iranian-aligned assets in the region.

    The widening geopolitical instability has sent global commodity and financial markets into a state of turmoil. Brent crude, the global benchmark for oil pricing, closed the trading session at $100.69 per barrel, marking a roughly 7 percent single-day jump. Meanwhile, the United States’ domestic benchmark, West Texas Intermediate, settled at $92.19 per barrel.

    For American consumers, the run-up in oil prices has already pushed the national average price for regular gasoline above the $4 per gallon mark. The sudden spike in fuel costs has also reignited global concerns that sustained higher energy prices will filter through to broader consumer pricing, putting upward pressure on inflation worldwide and complicating monetary policy efforts for central banks already grappling with post-pandemic price stability.