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  • IDEICE explores alliance with University of Chicago to strengthen public policies in the Dominican Republic

    IDEICE explores alliance with University of Chicago to strengthen public policies in the Dominican Republic

    CHICAGO — A delegation of senior researchers and administrative leaders from the Dominican Institute for Evaluation and Research of Educational Quality (IDEICE) has completed a working visit to Chicago, where they held targeted collaborative talks with experts from the Development Innovation Lab (DIL) as part of a landmark project to launch the Dominican Republic’s first evidence-focused public policy laboratory.

    Headed by IDEICE Executive Director Jesús Andújar Avilés, the delegation traveled to the University of Chicago’s main campus to meet with DIL leadership, including DIL Faculty Director Ryan Cooper, Executive Director Emely Cupito, and a team of senior research fellows specializing in public sector innovation. Over the course of the two-day working meeting, the two groups held in-depth exchanges on three core themes: frameworks for scaling successful public innovation projects, rigorous methodological approaches to evidence-based policy evaluation, and concrete pathways for long-term partnership to adapt DIL’s proven model to the Dominican Republic’s unique policy context.

    During the visit, IDEICE representatives also gained detailed insights into DIL’s ongoing global portfolio, which leverages advanced data analytics, impact evaluation, and randomized control trial methods to tackle pressing social challenges from poverty to public health access, all with the goal of helping governments craft more effective, equitable public policies. In a post-visit statement, IDEICE emphasized that the trip builds on the institution’s longstanding mission to expand domestic research, innovation, and policy evaluation capacity across the Dominican Republic. The planned public policy lab, when established, will serve as a central hub for translating rigorous applied research into actionable, high-impact policy decisions that benefit Dominican communities, the statement added.

  • Lamborghini and $1.4 million mansion: Alleged drug leader’s life of luxury

    Lamborghini and $1.4 million mansion: Alleged drug leader’s life of luxury

    For years, Charles “Silk” Dunn crafted a compelling public narrative: a former convict who spent 24 years behind bars for drug offenses, transformed into a celebrated motivational speaker, life coach, and author who inspired at-risk youth across Georgia. Endorsed by celebrity figures including rapper Master P and Emmy-nominated actor Anthony Anderson, Dunn portrayed his lavish $1.4 million eight-bedroom Atlanta-area home with a private pool as the just reward for a life redeemed, a divine blessing for enduring decades of incarceration. But federal prosecutors say this inspiring transformation is nothing more than an elaborate front, masking the continued operation of a multi-state drug trafficking ring that moved hundreds of kilograms of cocaine through The Bahamas, with ties to a high-ranking Bahamian politician and a former convict whose sentence was commuted by ex-President Barack Obama.

    The 57-year-old Dunn, who was arrested two years ago at his Fayetteville, Georgia home located roughly 30 miles outside Atlanta, is accused of leading the Georgia-based Drug Trafficking Organisation at the center of a sprawling multi-year investigation by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). The case first gained public attention in mid-May 2024, after the arrest of Bahamian co-conspirator Jonathan “Player” Gardiner, who was rescued by U.S. military personnel from a downed plane off Florida’s coast. When authorities pulled Gardiner, 58, from the wreckage, they found he was carrying a bag holding $30,000 in Bahamian currency marked with the name of an unidentified senior Bahamian politician, referred to only as “Politician-1” in court documents. U.S. authorities have redacted the politician’s full identity to date.

    In a May 15 affidavit from a DEA special agent, Dunn is named as the ringleader, identified previously only as unindicted co-conspirator “CC-1.” The document details allegations that the group discussed a $30 million narcotics shipment inside the Bahamian Parliament Building, a revelation that has sent shockwaves through Caribbean law enforcement and political circles. A further twist in the case came with the identification of a second key co-conspirator, “CC-2,” who is Ernest Mordeau Deas, also known as “Shorty.” Court records confirm Deas previously served a federal prison sentence for cocaine trafficking before his sentence was commuted by former President Barack Obama. After his release, he was placed on supervised release, but prosecutors now allege he immediately returned to drug trafficking. Deas and Gardiner first became connected while both were incarcerated at the same Florida federal prison between 2007 and 2008, serving time for overlapping drug trafficking and money laundering convictions.

    One of the most remarkable details of the investigation is how it was conducted: court documents confirm that the DEA operated undercover confidential sources on Bahamian territory for at least three years, doing so entirely without the knowledge or consent of the Bahamian government, national police, or defense force. This covert operation has sparked ongoing questions about international law enforcement cooperation and sovereign immunity between the two nations.

    Dunn’s carefully constructed public image as a reformed changemaker remains the most striking element of the case. After being sentenced to 30 years in prison in his home state of Ohio in 1992 at just 23 years old for running a drug trafficking ring, Dunn was released after 24 years and immediately set out to rebrand himself. He marketed himself as a “prisoner to changemaker” life coach, appearing on local television programs and giving lectures to youth groups across the Southeast. He even published two works: a motivational memoir titled *I Will Not Be Denied: Mastering The Changes*, and the four-volume *Sandpaper to Silk* series, which earned public endorsements from Master P and Anthony Anderson. Master P promoted the series in a social media video on Dunn’s Instagram, while Anderson called it a forthcoming bestseller in a promotional clip.

    In one widely viewed Instagram video, Dunn gave his followers a tour of his Fayetteville estate, framing his luxury lifestyle as a reward for perseverance. “After all the pain I went through, 25 years of suffering … I wake up living like this because the God I serve is saying he gives you double for your trouble,” he told viewers. “People got to go to resorts to see this. I see this every day. Have an attitude of gratitude. Go through your suffering with grace and you’ll be blessed to wake up like this for the rest of your life too.” A local news article reposted on Dunn’s Instagram even compared his 24-year prison term to that of Nelson Mandela, the South African anti-apartheid icon who spent 27 years in prison before leading his nation.

    Prosecutors, however, argue every part of this narrative is a carefully constructed lie designed to cover up ongoing criminal activity. When law enforcement raided Dunn’s home in 2023, they uncovered a cache of assets and narcotics that far outstripped the income of a full-time motivational speaker. Seized items included three high-end luxury vehicles: a $250,000 Lamborghini, a $125,000 Cadillac Escalade, and a $140,000 2019 Mercedes-Benz AMG GT. Investigators also took possession of more than $90,000 worth of fine jewelry, including two Rolex watches, multiple diamond-encrusted gold bracelets and rings, and a Versace dog tag. Beyond assets, authorities recovered five pounds of marijuana, half a kilogram of cocaine, heroin, THC-infused gummies, fentanyl, methamphetamine, 14 mobile phones, and multiple other electronic devices. A handwritten note dated June 27, 2023, found in Dunn’s primary bedroom simply read: “I have $10 million.” Prosecutors also seized four bank accounts holding a combined $653,000, $120,000 in cash from Dunn’s property, and an additional $270,000 in cash from an associate’s property. A .45 caliber Smith & Wesson pistol was also recovered during the search.

    During a 2023 bail hearing, federal prosecutors pushed back hard against Dunn’s claims of redemption, arguing he had never left the drug trade. “We do believe that the defendant is a sophisticated and prolific drug trafficker operating in Georgia. That is how he funds his lifestyle,” prosecution attorneys told the court. Magistrate Judge Christopher Bly agreed, denying bail and noting that Dunn’s decades-long prior prison sentence had done nothing to deter his criminal activity. “Within a year or so of finishing the supervised release, best I can tell if I’m doing the math right, within a year or so of finishing supervised release you’re charged in Fulton County and then within another two years you’re charged in the current case,” Bly said.

    Along with drug trafficking charges, Dunn also faces allegations that he planned a violent attack against a rival drug gang. The charges against him carry a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in federal prison and a maximum possible sentence of life imprisonment. His wife, Leticia Evans Dunn, has also been implicated in the scheme. Both Dunn and Deas have formally denied all charges against them and are awaiting trial. Requests for comment from Dunn’s legal team went unanswered as of press time.

  • Afreximbank advances credit approval for Abaco hotel project

    Afreximbank advances credit approval for Abaco hotel project

    During the 2026 Afreximbank Roadshow held at Nassau’s Baha Mar Convention Center last Friday, a senior executive from the pan-African export finance institution confirmed that a planned luxury hotel development in The Bahamas has successfully passed the first phase of the bank’s credit assessment process, bringing the transformative tourism project one step closer to full approval.

    Okechukwu Ihejirika, Chief Operating Officer of Afreximbank’s Caribbean regional office, shared new details about the initiative with reporters on the event’s sidelines, confirming that the proposed development is earmarked for a private island in Abaco, rather than the country’s most populous main island of New Providence. While Ihejirika declined to disclose the identities of the project developers or the exact size of the financing request, he noted that the project is designed to boost international tourist arrivals to The Bahamas and unlock the untapped economic potential of the country’s world-renowned tourism sector.

    The proposal has cleared the first of up to three sequential credit approval levels required by the bank, Ihejirika explained. The next phase of the process will involve comprehensive technical and financial due diligence, after which the proposal will advance to second and third-level credit reviews. According to Ihejirika, the final approval stage moves at a rapid pace, and full formal approval and a public announcement could come in the near term, with disbursement of funds following quickly after second-level approval is granted. “We’re advancing pretty well,” he said. “We hope that very soon we will be able to make the announcement that we are going ahead with that project.”

    The hotel project marks one of a growing pipeline of private-sector investment initiatives Afreximbank is pursuing in The Bahamas, as the institution expands its regional footprint and diversifies its portfolio beyond government-backed infrastructure projects. Just last year, the bank approved and signed a $200 million infrastructure financing facility with the Bahamian government, and Ihejirika confirmed that the total value of projects currently in the country’s pipeline nears $500 million, with the new hotel proposal separate from previously announced commitments.

    “As an institution, we don’t only work with government. We also work with the private sector. That means we also have a few private sector led initiatives that we are also engaging on,” he added.

    The 2026 Afreximbank Roadshow was organized to connect the bank directly with Bahamian business leaders, raise awareness of the institution’s growing regional presence, and walk local enterprises through the range of financing products and support services it offers. Though Afreximbank has operated in the Caribbean for roughly two years and held its global annual meetings alongside the Afro-Caribbean Trade and Investment Forum in The Bahamas in 2024, the institution remains relatively new to the region, with a $5 billion total regional financing cap to support trade and development across Caribbean economies.

    Afreximbank’s strategic partnership with The Bahamas was formalized through a 2023 Memorandum of Understanding, and has already delivered tangible benefits for the country’s economic development priorities, Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis told roadshow attendees. Beyond infrastructure projects, the partnership has delivered a $30 million lending facility via the Bahamas Development Bank to expand access to capital for local small and medium-sized enterprises, a core priority for the Davis administration.

    “One of the key priorities for The Bahamas moving forward is the creation of even more pathways to opportunity for local entrepreneurs, especially small business owners. Economic growth must translate into broader economic participation, ensuring that more Bahamians have the chance to build businesses, create jobs, and share in the country’s progress,” Davis said. “We have made some progress in this area, but continuing to strengthen access to capital through institutions such as the Afreximbank is an important part of our ongoing efforts. This roadshow also reminds us of the importance of regional and international cooperation at a time when many economies are navigating uncertainty.”

    Several large-scale Afreximbank-backed projects are already underway across The Bahamas’ out islands, known locally as the Family Islands. A $40 million financing facility supports Cat Island Infrastructure Company’s broad connectivity and development project, scheduled for full completion by August 2027. The first phase of that project, targeted for completion this coming January, includes laying 94 miles of new water mains, paving 50 miles of new roadway, and restoring an additional 45 miles of road damaged during water infrastructure construction.

    Other active commitments include a $100 million financing facility to support the expansion of local construction firm Bahamas Striping Group, which is currently carrying out 226 miles of road works across Exuma and Eleuthera, and a $200 million framework agreement focused on developing climate-resilient infrastructure that supports increased regional trade.

  • 2026 hurricane season starts today with mostly dry weather

    2026 hurricane season starts today with mostly dry weather

    The 2026 Atlantic hurricane season officially launched on Friday across the Dominican Republic, running through the end of November as scheduled, according to the country’s national weather authority, the Dominican Institute of Meteorology (Indomet).

    For the opening days of the season, forecasters say the Dominican Republic’s weather will be shaped by two dominating atmospheric features: a broad dry air mass and thick plumes of Saharan dust moving across the region. This combination is projected to suppress widespread precipitation across most of the nation, leaving the majority of areas to experience persistently sunny, sweltering conditions through the early days of the season.

    Even with the overall dry pattern across the country, two active weather systems are expected to bring limited localized precipitation. A tropical wave positioned south of neighboring Haiti, paired with a low-pressure trough located northwest of Hispaniola, will bring scattered light showers to stretches of the Dominican Republic’s Caribbean coastline during morning hours. As daytime heating builds through the afternoon, the systems are forecast to spark isolated heavy downpours and thunderstorms across elevated terrain and northern parts of the country, including sections of the Central Mountain Range, the northwest region, and border provinces. The specific areas at highest risk for afternoon severe convection are La Vega, Santiago Rodríguez, Elías Piña, Valverde, and Dajabón.

    Beyond rain and storm risks, Indomet has issued a public warning about elevated heat and air quality concerns tied to the current weather setup. Concentrations of Saharan dust in the lower atmosphere, combined with standard seasonal warming, will push daytime temperatures well above comfortable levels for most of the country. Local authorities have issued clear public guidance to help residents stay safe during the period: they advise all people to maintain steady hydration, wear loose, light-colored clothing that reflects sunlight, limit extended time spent outside during peak sun hours, and stay in cool, well-ventilated spaces as much as possible. For people with respiratory sensitivities or other conditions that make them vulnerable to dust particles, officials have emphasized the importance of following existing public health guidelines and staying up to date with official forecasts throughout the 2026 hurricane season.

  • Serena Williams announces return to tennis at Queen’s Club

    Serena Williams announces return to tennis at Queen’s Club

    LONDON — In a bombshell announcement that has sent shockwaves through the global tennis community, American tennis legend Serena Williams confirmed Monday that she is stepping back onto the competitive court after nearly four years away from professional play. The 44-year-old icon, who holds a record 23 Grand Slam singles titles in the Open Era, will make her long-awaited return competing in women’s doubles at the Queen’s Club Championships, scheduled to kick off in London later this month.

    Williams, who last competed professionally with a third-round exit at the 2022 US Open, broke the news on her social media channels. She shared the short, teasing line “Good news travels fast” alongside a clip of herself training on court, clad in an all-white Nike tennis outfit, with the constant buzz of incoming messages audible over the footage — a clear nod to the frenzy of speculation that has surrounded a potential comeback for months.

    Rumors of a possible return first began to circulate back in December, when public records revealed Williams had reenrolled in the World Anti-Doping Agency’s testing program, a mandatory requirement for any athlete hoping to compete on the global professional tennis tour. At that time, Williams swiftly pushed back on the speculation, posting to social media to shut down reports: “Omg yall, I’m NOT coming back. This wildfire is crazy.” That denial has now proven to be a temporary deflection, ahead of her official confirmation this week.

    Tournament organizers have awarded Williams a wildcard entry into the women’s doubles draw, and multiple industry reports indicate she will partner with 17-year-old rising Canadian star Victoria Mboko for the competition.

    For Williams, who claimed a historic seven Wimbledon singles titles over her legendary career, the grass courts of Queen’s Club felt like the ideal venue to launch this new phase of her competitive journey. “Queen’s Club feels like the perfect place to begin this next chapter,” Williams said in a statement released after her announcement. “Grass has given me some of the most meaningful moments of my career, and I’m excited to be back competing on one of the sport’s most iconic stages.”

    The women’s draw at the 2025 Queen’s Club HSBC Championships gets underway on June 8. Laura Robson, tournament director for the WTA stop and a former top British pro, expressed immense excitement over Williams’ participation, framing the comeback as a landmark moment for the event and women’s tennis as a whole.

    “Serena Williams is one of the greatest athletes the world has ever seen, and we’re delighted that she will be making her return to tennis at the LTA’s HSBC Championships,” Robson said. “Women’s tennis made a historic return to the Queen’s Club last year, and now we have an icon of the game stepping back on to court.”

    Back in 2022, when Williams stepped back from the full-time tour, she pushed back against the term “retirement,” framing her departure as a period of evolution rather than a permanent end to her playing career. “I never wanted to use the word retiring, I’m just evolving away from tennis,” she explained at the time. That evolution has now come full circle, bringing one of the sport’s most influential figures back to competitive play.

    Williams’ 23 Grand Slam singles titles remain unmatched by any other female player in the Open Era, and place her second on the all-time women’s list, just one trophy behind Australian legend Margaret Court’s record 24 major singles titles.

  • Policeman dies in Ewarton bike crash

    Policeman dies in Ewarton bike crash

    A serving member of Jamaica’s national police force has died following a traumatic road traffic collision that unfolded in the parish of St Catherine early Monday. The fallen officer has been formally identified as Constable Shanki Gordon, a member of the St Catherine North Operations Team, a unit tasked with targeting criminal activity across the northern part of the parish.

    According to details confirmed by local media outlet Observer Online, the incident occurred shortly after 2 a.m. local time. Gordon was operating his private motorcycle along a roadway in the Ewarton community when the collision occurred, striking another vehicle being driven at the time.

    First responders dispatched to the crash scene quickly assessed Gordon’s condition, finding he had sustained life-threatening traumatic injuries in the impact. He was immediately transported by emergency medical services to the nearest hospital for urgent intervention, but medical staff were unable to save his life, and he was pronounced dead a short time after arrival.

    Local law enforcement authorities have not yet released additional details about the circumstances leading up to the crash, including information about the condition of the driver and passenger of the other vehicle involved, or any potential contributing factors such as weather conditions, road hazards, or speed that may have played a role in the fatal incident. The tragedy marks the latest line-of-duty death for a member of the Jamaican police force, bringing renewed attention to the risks that law enforcement officers face both on and off active duty.

  • Bahamas signs ICAO deal to boost aviation oversight

    Bahamas signs ICAO deal to boost aviation oversight

    Against the backdrop of a global aviation landscape defined by rapid technological change, evolving sustainability demands and growing regulatory complexity, The Bahamas has formalized a landmark partnership with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), signing an agreement designed to reinforce the nation’s aviation regulatory frameworks, elevate safety oversight protocols and deepen international collaboration in the sector. The deal was announced on the sidelines of the Fourth Civil Aviation Legal Advisers Forum (CALAF/4), a three-day global gathering held from May 27 to 29 at the Grand Hyatt Baha Mar in Nassau, which was co-hosted by ICAO and The Bahamas’ Civil Aviation Authority.

    More than 20 countries sent delegations of legal experts, industry regulators, policymakers, academic researchers, aviation legal counsel and private sector stakeholders to the conference, which centered on the overarching theme “The Future of International Civil Aviation: Legal Trends and Institutional Resilience”. Over the course of the event, participants delved into a sweeping slate of pressing industry issues, ranging from strengthening aviation safety and security oversight frameworks and updating passenger rights legislation to addressing data protection risks in cross-border air travel, tracking shifting global aviation litigation patterns, clarifying industry sustainability obligations under international climate agreements, and unpacking the legal ramifications of fast-growing innovation in aerospace and near-space commercial operations.

    Jobeth Colbey-Davis, The Bahamas’ Minister of Energy, Utilities and Aviation, framed the new ICAO agreement as a transformative milestone for the nation’s aviation sector. She emphasized that the partnership will directly support The Bahamas in boosting its alignment with global ICAO safety and regulatory standards, while building the domestic regulatory and institutional capacity needed to support long-term sector growth. Key priorities under the agreement include upgrading national oversight mechanisms, strengthening existing safety and security protocols, and expanding collaborative ties with aviation partners across the globe.

    Beyond regulatory improvements, Colbey-Davis noted the agreement carries meaningful positive economic spillover effects for The Bahamas, an island nation where tourism accounts for a large share of national GDP. By solidifying international confidence in the reliability and safety of the country’s aviation system, the deal is expected to boost both tourist arrivals and investor interest in the aviation and broader hospitality sectors. According to Colbey-Davis, The Bahamas is proactively advancing its regional aviation profile, with ongoing targeted reforms focused on aligning all domestic and incoming aircraft operations with strict international standards — a move that positions the country as a growing competitive force in the Caribbean aviation market.

    The minister stressed that consistent adherence to ICAO global standards is non-negotiable for expanding air connectivity to The Bahamas and building the trust that encourages international carriers to add or expand routes serving the nation. Turning to forum discussions on key regulatory priorities, Colbey-Davis highlighted the global push for clearer, more enforceable passenger rights frameworks. She drew a clear distinction between operational disruptions outside of airline control — such as extreme weather events and national air traffic management outages — and disruptions that stem from carrier operational issues, noting that stronger, clearer protections for passenger entitlements are particularly needed in the latter scenario.

    Colbey-Davis also addressed the shifting demands of modern aviation governance, noting that growing global challenges from cybersecurity threats targeting critical aviation infrastructure to climate-linked sustainability obligations and the rapid rollout of new aerospace technologies have made robust legal foundations and institutional resilience more important than ever. All of these complex cross-border challenges, she emphasized, require coordinated collective action across the international community.

    The minister added that small island developing states like The Bahamas face unique disproportionate risks in this evolving landscape, constrained by limited domestic resources and geographic vulnerability that make international partnerships, targeted technical assistance and regional collaboration critical to maintaining safe, efficient national aviation systems. She described global collaborative platforms such as CALAF/4 as irreplaceable spaces for cross-stakeholder dialogue, knowledge sharing and capacity building, noting that these engagements help harmonize regulatory frameworks and improve legal consistency across national jurisdictions. The 2024 CALAF/4 program included a full schedule of high-level engagement, from director general and chief legal counsel roundtables to expert panel discussions, technical deep dives on emerging international air law developments, and structured networking sessions designed to foster ongoing collaboration between regulators, carriers and legal practitioners around the world.

  • Advocate pushes for shelter 21 years after sister’s murder

    Advocate pushes for shelter 21 years after sister’s murder

    Twenty-one years after Tiffany Smith was brutally murdered by her own husband at the age of 30, her sister Shavonne Munnings is transforming decades of personal grief into a life-changing mission: building a dedicated safe refuge for battered women and children escaping abusive households. Now, the long-time community advocate is renewing her urgent call for public and private support to turn this vision — named Tiffany’s Haven, in honor of her late sibling — into a reality.

    Smith’s life ended violently on May 24, 2005, when she was stabbed 26 times, leaving behind four young children. For more than 20 years, Munnings has refused to let her sister’s death fade into silence. Instead of withdrawing into grief, she has marked the anniversary of Smith’s killing every year with candlelight vigils, public educational conferences, and community outreach initiatives designed to shine a spotlight on the pervasive threat of domestic violence across The Bahamas.

    This year’s 21st anniversary gathering was hosted at the First Holiness Church of God, bringing together domestic violence survivors, fellow advocates, religious leaders, and local community members for an evening centered on remembrance, awareness, and mutual encouragement. After the formal program, attendees shared hot meals and refreshments, while children in attendance enjoyed activities on a bouncing castle, creating a moment of joy amid a somber occasion.

    Munnings, who has personally survived domestic abuse, explained that Tiffany’s Haven is envisioned as more than just a temporary emergency shelter — it will function as a holistic restoration center where women and their children can heal after experiencing violence. “Many women manage to leave abusive relationships, but they have nowhere safe to turn,” she noted. “That gap is why this project is so critical. It will be a space where women can bring their children, find safety, and begin the work of healing and rebuilding their lives.”

    Already, Munnings has a detailed plan for the facility’s design and operations, but she requires broad community and donor support to move the project forward. “I’m praying that God brings what I call destiny helpers — people who share this vision of making a tangible difference in the lives of survivors,” she said. “Working together, we can help restore safety and hope to women and children who have lost everything to abuse.”

    Recalling the day of her sister’s murder, Munnings shared the heartbreaking details of that afternoon. She received a message shortly before 3 p.m. directing her to go to the local hospital. “I had no idea what had happened when I got the message,” she said. “I heard the ambulance siren first, and I told myself they don’t use sirens for people who are already gone — I held out hope. But when I arrived, everything was silent. That’s when I learned it was my sister, and she was already gone.”

    For Munnings, the annual gathering is far more than a memorial: it is a critical warning to women across the country that relationship abuse can turn fatal. “Twenty-one years ago, I lost my sister to domestic violence,” she said. “Instead of letting that tragedy make me bitter, I chose to let it make me more focused on action. I want to enlighten and encourage other women to face the truth: domestic violence is not a private problem, it is a deadly crisis that can claim your life.”

    Munnings’ advocacy comes as domestic violence remains one of the most pressing unaddressed social issues in The Bahamas. Recent police statistics show a reported 29 percent drop in documented domestic violence cases, falling from 2,630 incidents in 2024 to 1,859 in 2025. But advocates across the country warn the decline is likely misleading, as the vast majority of abuse incidents are never reported, with many victims trapped in silence out of fear or lack of access to support. That underreporting means the true scale of the crisis remains far larger than official numbers reflect.

    For Munnings, supporting children who witness domestic violence is a core part of the mission of Tiffany’s Haven. “When children grow up around violence, it shapes their whole lives,” she explained. “If we can help them heal while their minds are still growing and able to transform, we can break the cycle of violence. Better children grow up to be better adults. That means fewer people trapped in cycles of harm, fewer lives lost, and a stronger future for all our families.”

    Fellow domestic violence advocate Hilvana Cash has praised Munnings’ unwavering commitment to keeping the crisis at the forefront of public conversation. “For years, she has been consistent, showing up every single year to push for awareness and change,” Cash said. “Domestic violence does not only harm the person being abused. It ripples out to hurt children, extended families, coworkers, and entire communities. That’s why work like Shavonne’s is so vital.”

    Reverend Janet Gray of the First Holiness Church of God also offered her full backing for Munnings’ work and the Tiffany’s Haven project. “Every year she comes here to organize this gathering, she has my complete support,” Gray said. “Domestic violence is an evil thing, and far too many women are forced to suffer in silence. They need to know they can come forward, and they can get the help they need to escape.”

    For Munnings, her sister’s memory continues to be the driving force behind every step of her advocacy. “If I can save just one woman, one year at a time, then Tiffany’s death was not for nothing,” she said.

  • Survey finds generational gap in attitudes to AI romance

    Survey finds generational gap in attitudes to AI romance

    A new large-scale global survey has uncovered stark generational and geographic gaps in public attitudes toward AI-powered romantic and intimate companions, revealing that nearly half of young adults across six major economies expect these AI tools to boost human happiness over the coming decade through reliable emotional support.

    Conducted by polling firm YouGov in partnership with Tokyo-based media company Star X Gen, the research polled nearly 10,000 respondents across the United States, Japan, Germany, Britain, Indonesia and Hong Kong, and shared its findings exclusively with AFP on Monday. The work comes as rapid advances in artificial intelligence have already pushed millions of people to turn to chatbots for emotional confiding and romantic connection, while parallel progress in robotics has enabled the development of far more sophisticated AI-integrated intimate devices, sparking widespread debate over how these technologies will reshape human relationships.

    The survey’s most striking trend is a clear generational divide in optimism. Among respondents aged 18 to 24, 48 percent agreed that AI intimacy companions — a category encompassing everything from text-based chatbots to physical AI-enabled sex dolls — will improve overall human happiness in the next 10 years. For 25 to 34-year-olds, that figure fell only slightly to 47 percent. Optimism drops steadily with age, however, with just 25 percent of adults aged 55 and older sharing that positive view.
    When asked specifically about deeper personal connection and sexual wellness, the generational gap remains consistent: 32 percent of 18 to 24-year-olds and 38 percent of 25 to 34-year-olds expect AI companions to improve outcomes in these areas, with older age groups holding far more negative outlooks.

    Beyond generational differences, the survey also revealed a profound ideological split between Western and Asian regions, with Asian populations far more accepting of technology-driven romance and intimacy than their Western counterparts. Poll organizers told AFP they were caught off guard by the size of this regional disparity.
    Indonesia topped the regional rankings, with half of all respondents across all age groups saying they believe AI companions will improve personal connection and sexual wellness. That figure stood at 34 percent in Hong Kong and 24 percent in Japan, while Western markets recorded far lower acceptance: 20 percent in the United States, 15 percent in Germany, and just 9 percent in Britain.
    “While Western audiences largely view synthetic intimacy as a threat to authentic human closeness, Asian audiences appear increasingly ready to integrate AI into their personal and physical lives,” explained Philippe Chan, a YouGov researcher working on the project.

    Despite growing mainstream conversation around AI intimacy, the technology remains in its early stages, particularly for physical products like AI-enabled dolls. Across all respondents, only 17 percent said they would personally consider using an AI intimacy doll, compared to 59 percent who ruled out the idea entirely. Even so, younger adults were far more open to testing the technology than older groups, and in Japan and Germany, the share of young people willing to try an AI doll was nearly double the national average.

    The report concluded that while the general global population remains wary of AI romantic companions, younger generations are actively redefining what counts as companionship in the modern era. In Japan specifically, more than a third of young adults believe AI dolls can provide a genuine sense of love — a share that outnumbers young people who reject that idea.

    The growing popularity of AI chatbots for romantic connection has also drawn scrutiny from mental health experts and family advocates, who have raised concerns about the technology’s potential psychological impact on vulnerable groups. In several recent high-profile cases, families have linked the deaths of teenagers to excessive unhealthy reliance on AI tools.

  • Premier League record-breaker Milner retires

    Premier League record-breaker Milner retires

    LONDON – At the age of 40, James Milner, the beloved former England national team midfielder, has officially brought a close to his extraordinary 24-year career in England’s top-flight Premier League, closing a chapter defined by consistency, versatility and trophy-laden success across the country’s biggest clubs.

    Milner, who finished his playing journey at Brighton & Hove Albion after signing last summer, launched his professional path at Leeds United, the club he supported as a child growing up in Yorkshire. It was with the Whites in 2002 that he made an early mark on the history books: at 16 years and 356 days old, he became the youngest goalscorer the Premier League had ever seen – a record that would later be reclaimed by James Vaughan and Max Dowman, but one that signaled the arrival of a special talent early on.

    After Leeds, Milner went on to build his reputation with stints at Newcastle United and Aston Villa, where he established himself as one of the most hardworking and adaptable players in the league. His first major title success came after a 2010 move to Manchester City, where he spent five seasons and lifted two Premier League trophies alongside a host of other domestic honors.

    In 2015, Milner made the switch to Liverpool to link up with Jurgen Klopp, a move that would add even more glitter to his trophy cabinet. During his eight years at Anfield, he claimed a third Premier League title and was a key squad member of the Reds’ 2019 UEFA Champions League winning campaign, bringing the biggest prize in European club football back to Merseyside.

    Following the expiration of his Liverpool contract in 2023, Milner joined Brighton on a free transfer, with one more milestone left to achieve. In February 2024, he surpassed Gareth Barry’s long-standing record of 653 Premier League appearances, finishing his career with an unmatched total of 658 top-flight outings. Across all club and international matches, his total career appearance count sits at an impressive 964.

    On the international front, Milner earned 61 caps for the England senior men’s team, representing his country at two European Championships and two FIFA World Cup tournaments throughout his career.

    Milner shared his retirement news in an Instagram post published on Monday, where he reflected on the unexpected path his career has taken. “From making my debut for Leeds, who I supported growing up, at the age of 16 and becoming the Premier League’s youngest scorer, I could never have dreamed of the journey I’ve been on,” he wrote.

    He added: “I’ve been fortunate enough to experience some unforgettable moments, from fighting for survival to winning trophies, playing in Europe, and representing my country, England, at two European Championships and two World Cups. But more than anything, it’s the people and friendships I’ve made throughout the game that I’ll cherish forever.”