More than 140 workers at the National Insurance Corporation (NIC) are set to benefit from a cumulative 10% wage increase rolled out across three years, after a landmark collective bargaining agreement was struck between the National Workers Union (NWU) and NIC management. The pay raise will be implemented in incremental stages, with a 3% hike kicking off in the first year, a further 3% increase in the second year, and a final 4% adjustment in the third year of the deal. All wage adjustments will be retroactively applied, with back pay calculated from January 2025 onward, when the agreement officially enters into force. Beyond base wage adjustments, negotiators from both sides are still in active discussions to finalize a separate gratuity transfer framework, which would add another layer of financial security for participating NIC employees. The newly reached deal also expands and improves a suite of supplementary employee benefits, addressing longstanding requests from unionized staff. Key enhancements include elevated travel allowances for work-related trips, structured long-service recognition bonuses for employees who have served the organization for 7, 10, and 20 years, more transparent guidelines for overtime compensation, and updated reimbursement policies for delayed issuance of required work uniforms. The agreement came to fruition after multiple rounds of productive negotiations between NWU representatives and NIC leadership, with both sides making compromises to reach a mutually acceptable outcome. In line with national labor regulations, the deal is scheduled to undergo an official signing ceremony, which will be attended by the Labour Commissioner from the national Department of Labour to validate the process. NWU General Secretary Johann Harewood confirmed that both parties have committed to ongoing monitoring of the agreement throughout its three-year term. This oversight framework will ensure that all terms are implemented as agreed, and allow for timely adjustments if any implementation issues arise. The collective bargaining agreement will remain in effect from January 1, 2025, through December 31, 2027, bringing three years of wage stability and improved working conditions for NIC’s unionized workforce.
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Trump administration to force foreigners in the US to apply for a green card abroad
In an unexpected policy shift that upends more than 50 years of established U.S. immigration practice, the Trump administration has announced a new rule requiring most foreign nationals already residing in the U.S. on temporary status to leave the country and submit their green card applications from their home countries, triggering widespread confusion and alarm among immigrant advocates, legal practitioners and foreign nationals themselves.
For more than half a century, eligible foreign nationals holding temporary legal status in the U.S. — including spouses of U.S. citizens, work visa holders, students, refugees and individuals granted political asylum — have been permitted to complete their entire application process for lawful permanent residency (commonly known as a green card) without leaving the country through a process called status adjustment. This longstanding framework has been a core part of the U.S. immigration system since the mid-20th century.
The new policy, announced by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), states that temporary visa holders seeking to become lawful permanent residents must complete their application process from their home country, with exceptions only granted for “extraordinary circumstances” that will be decided on a case-by-case basis by USCIS officers. In a formal statement, the agency defended the change, arguing that nonimmigrants such as students, temporary workers and tourists enter the U.S. for limited time and specific purposes, and their stays should not double as the first step toward permanent residency. The change is framed by USCIS as a return to the “original intent of the law” that closes an existing regulatory loophole.
This policy marks the latest in a series of moves by the Trump administration to tighten legal immigration pathways for both current U.S. residents and prospective new arrivals. Doug Rand, a former senior USCIS advisor during the Biden administration, explained that the administration’s goal is explicit: to reduce the overall number of people gaining permanent residency, since permanent residency paves the way to U.S. citizenship, and officials aim to block that pathway for as many people as possible. Rand noted that roughly 600,000 people already residing in the U.S. submit green card applications annually, all of whom could be impacted by the new rule.
Notably, USCIS has left critical details of the policy change unresolved. The agency has not announced an official effective date, clarified whether applicants must remain outside the U.S. for the full duration of the application process, or specified whether the new rules will apply to applicants who already have pending green card applications. In an emailed response to the Associated Press, USCIS indicated that applicants whose cases serve the U.S. national interest or bring significant economic benefit will likely qualify for the exception to remain in the country during processing.
The new requirement comes on top of pre-existing travel and entry restrictions imposed by the Trump administration on dozens of countries, including outright travel bans and halted visa processing in multiple regions. Immigration experts and legal advocates warn that for nationals of these restricted countries, being forced to return home to apply will effectively bar them from ever re-entering the U.S. Humanitarian organization World Relief pointed out that the policy creates an impossible Catch-22: if a non-citizen is ordered to return to their origin country to process their visa, but no visa processing is available there, families will face indefinite separation.
Critics also note that many applicants cannot safely return to their home countries, or lack access to a functioning U.S. embassy to submit their application. For example, the U.S. Embassy in Afghanistan has remained closed since the American military withdrawal in August 2021, leaving Afghan nationals with no way to complete the offshore application process. Shev Dalal-Dheini, senior director of government relations at the American Immigration Lawyers Association, said the policy upends decades of established status adjustment processing, and applies broadly to every category of green card applicant currently in the U.S. This includes spouses of U.S. citizens, humanitarian protection seekers, skilled work visa holders such as practicing doctors and other professionals, students and religious worker visa holders.
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Oeganda bevestigt drie nieuwe ebolagevallen; verhoogd risico voor tien andere Afrikaanse landen
A new wave of Ebola infections has been confirmed in Uganda, amplifying regional public health concerns over the spreading Bundibugyo variant outbreak that originated in the neighboring Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Ugandan health authorities announced three additional confirmed cases on May 24, bringing the country’s total case count in this current outbreak to five. Among the newly infected individuals are a driver who transported the country’s first confirmed Ebola patient and a healthcare worker exposed while providing care to infected patients. Public health teams are currently monitoring all known close contacts of the confirmed cases and ramping up contact tracing efforts to halt further transmission of the virus.
These new detections come just days after the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) issued an urgent warning, naming 10 regional nations at heightened risk of cross-border spread of the highly contagious Bundibugyo Ebola strain from the DRC. The World Health Organization (WHO) has already upgraded its national risk assessment for the DRC outbreak to “very high” and labeled the regional risk level as “high”, while assessing the global risk as low at this stage.
As of the latest update, the DRC has recorded nearly 750 suspected cases and 177 suspected deaths linked to the current outbreak, which is centered in the country’s northeastern Ituri Province. Aid organizations operating in the region report critical shortages of basic medical supplies, a shortfall partially driven by recent cuts to international foreign aid, most notably from the United States. The Bundibugyo variant of Ebola carries an estimated mortality rate of up to 50 percent, and no specifically approved vaccine or targeted treatment currently exists for this strain.
WHO officials emphasize that multiple overlapping factors have left the DRC uniquely vulnerable to a large-scale outbreak: delayed detection of initial cases, the lack of approved medical countermeasures for this specific variant, ongoing armed conflict in Ituri Province that disrupts response efforts, and high population mobility across the country’s porous borders. In response to the growing cross-border threat, Uganda has already suspended all public transport services between its territory and the DRC in an attempt to slow transmission.
Tensions and instability have also plagued response efforts at the epicenter of the outbreak in the DRC. For the second time in one week, an Ebola treatment tent in the town of Mongbwalu was set on fire by local residents, forcing 18 suspected Ebola patients to flee the facility. Earlier unrest also led to the destruction of a separate treatment center in Rwampara, sparked by community tensions surrounding the retrieval of a deceased Ebola patient.
Africa CDC director Jean Kaseya identified the 10 at-risk nations as Angola, Burundi, the Central African Republic, the Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania and Zambia. The regional public health body is currently working to develop a coordinated, cross-border response strategy to contain the outbreak, with a key focus on addressing longstanding weaknesses in the region’s chronically underfunded public health systems that leave countries vulnerable to epidemic spread.
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No Evidence of Local Spread After Two Imported Malaria Cases, PM Says
The twin-island Caribbean nation of Antigua and Barbuda has ruled out local transmission of malaria following the detection of two imported cases, one of which ended in a fatality, Prime Minister Gaston Browne has confirmed. In an address to local radio station Pointe FM on Saturday, Browne shared that public health teams have concluded all mandatory contact tracing and routine monitoring protocols for the two cases, and no evidence of secondary community spread has been identified.\n\n”We recorded two malaria cases, both of which were imported into the country, and tragically one patient did not survive the infection,” Browne stated during the interview. He went on to clarify that after exhaustive contact tracing and public health follow-ups, there is no data to suggest the pathogen has spread beyond the initial imported cases.\n\nThe prime minister emphasized that the overall risk of sustained local transmission remains extremely low, noting that the primary mosquito species responsible for carrying and spreading malaria is not widely established across Antigua and Barbuda. “We do not have large populations of that vector here, which makes widespread transmission via mosquitoes or other carriers highly unlikely,” he explained.\n\nThe announcement comes as the Antigua and Barbuda government moves to strengthen national public health surveillance systems, prompted by growing global concern over ongoing Ebola outbreaks in multiple regions of Central and East Africa. As part of updated precautionary measures to mitigate risks from incoming international travelers, the country has reactivated its specialized Infectious Disease Centre (IDC) – a facility first established during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.\n\nBrowne explained that the reactivated IDC will serve as a dedicated hub for isolating any travelers who develop symptoms of a contagious infectious disease while in the country, with pre-planned protocols in place to immediately launch contact tracing and containment efforts. The prime minister also pushed back against past criticism of the facility, which opponents once labeled an unnecessary public expense.\n\n”Epidemics and pandemics are an ongoing recurring risk that all countries face,” Browne noted. “Maintaining a dedicated infectious disease center to manage these kinds of transmittable illnesses is a critical asset, and a core component of our national health infrastructure.”\n\nIn addition to reactivating the IDC, national public health authorities have also restored enhanced entry screening protocols at the country’s international airports. These measures include the reintroduction of infrared thermal scanners to screen arriving passengers for fever, a common early symptom of many infectious diseases, as public health teams continue to monitor the evolving global outbreak situation closely.
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PM Says Antigua Taking ‘Conservative Position’ by not allowing Air Peace to land
Against a backdrop of growing Ebola transmission alerts across parts of Central and East Africa, the twin-island nation of Antigua and Barbuda has enacted a highly cautious approach to incoming air travel from Nigeria, Prime Minister Gaston Browne has confirmed. In an interview with local outlet Pointe FM on Saturday, Browne outlined that the government has opted not to accept the first planned Air Peace flight originating from Lagos, Nigeria’s largest city. Instead, the aircraft will reroute directly to neighboring Barbados, where passengers bound for Antigua and Barbuda will complete their journey on regional carrier LIAT.
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UN Resolution Reinforces Legal Protections for Antigua and Other Climate-Vulnerable Nations
In a watershed moment for global climate action, the United Nations General Assembly has adopted a landmark climate resolution spearheaded by Vanuatu and championed by the Alliance of Small Island Developing States (AOSIS), codifying key climate obligations set out by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) into a global political mandate. Wednesday’s final vote, which secured backing from 141 nations, capped off a years-long movement rooted in grassroots youth advocacy from Pacific communities on the frontlines of the climate crisis.
For decades, Small Island Developing States (SIDS) — low-lying and atoll nations disproportionately threatened by rising sea levels despite contributing very little to global greenhouse gas emissions — have pushed for greater accountability from major emitters. This resolution stands as the most significant victory to date for their fight for climate justice.
The text of the resolution formalizes the ICJ’s landmark advisory opinion on state climate obligations, requiring all nations to adhere to three core principles: first, that countries hold a clear legal responsibility to address human-caused climate change; second, that the Paris Agreement’s target of limiting global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels is a legally binding global goal; and third, that all countries must update their national climate action plans, or Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), to reflect the highest possible ambition, align with the 1.5°C target, and phase out harmful fossil fuel use.
One of the most impactful provisions for SIDS is the explicit affirmation that statehood and the legal status of national maritime zones remain permanent, even as sea levels rise erode island territories. For atoll nations already facing gradual submersion, this principle protects their sovereign rights and standing under international law from being erased by the climate crisis — a protection that advocates call non-negotiable for the future of island populations.
“This resolution transforms the Court’s advisory opinion into a political mandate backed by an overwhelming majority of the international community,” explained Ambassador Ilana Seid, current Chair of AOSIS. “For our members, the affirmation that our statehood and maritime rights endure is not a technical legal detail — it is the very foundation of our people’s future. We call on all States to act on these obligations now.”
Seid emphasized that the victory extends far beyond vulnerable island nations, noting that the entire global community benefits from clearer climate accountability. “This is a win not just for the most vulnerable, but for our entire world,” she said. “The science is unambiguous and the law is clear: delaying climate action is not an option. This ruling is an important lever in our work to prevent big emitters from continuing to endanger our people and our planet. We are exceptionally proud of Vanuatu and all small islands whose commitment to climate accountability have demonstrated the might and moral authority of Small Island Developing States.”
Founded in 1990, AOSIS represents 39 small island and low-lying coastal developing states in international climate and sustainable development negotiations. Despite the small geographic and economic size of its member states, the bloc has consistently punched far above its weight in global climate talks, securing multiple historic commitments to cut greenhouse gas emissions over the past three decades. Beyond amplifying the voices of marginalized climate-vulnerable nations, the organization’s core mandate is to advance the legal and policy interests of its members in a changing climate.
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PM Browne Says Barbudans Free to Accept or Reject Land Titles for $1
In a recent public address, Prime Minister Gaston Browne of Antigua and Barbuda has made clear that residents of Barbuda hold full autonomy to decide whether to accept or decline the government’s controversial proposal to formalize individual land ownership for a nominal fee of just $1 per title. The proposal, which has been the subject of intense public debate across the twin-island nation, marks a major shift from Barbuda’s centuries-long tradition of collective land ownership, a system that has defined the island’s social and economic structure since the era of post-emancipation self-governance.
Prime Minister Browne emphasized that the administration has no intention of forcing any resident to participate in the land titling program, pushing back against growing criticism from opposition groups and local activists who have claimed the policy would open the door to large-scale foreign development and displace long-standing Barbudan communities. “This is entirely a matter of personal choice for every eligible Barbudan land holder,” Browne stated during the press briefing. “We are not here to take anyone’s land, nor are we here to push people into a decision they are not comfortable making. The program is designed to give Barbudans the option to secure formal individual title to their property, which can open up access to mortgage financing, home improvement loans, and greater economic opportunity for those who choose it.”
The push for individual land titling on Barbuda gained new momentum after the 2017 destruction of Hurricane Irma, which leveled much of the island’s built infrastructure. The Browne administration has argued that formal individual ownership will speed up reconstruction and encourage sustainable investment that benefits local residents, rather than leaving the island reliant on collective land management structures that can slow down development and approval processes. Critics, however, counter that the tradition of collective ownership is a core part of Barbuda’s cultural identity, and that opening up individual titling will lead to rapid gentrification, as wealthy foreign investors purchase large tracts of land for resort and residential development, pushing native Barbudans off the island they have called home for generations.
With the government now reaffirming the voluntary nature of the program, the ball is firmly in the court of Barbudan residents, who will ultimately determine the future of land ownership on their island through their individual decisions. The policy remains one of the most divisive issues in Antigua and Barbuda’s recent political history, with implications for the country’s social structure, economic development, and cultural preservation for decades to come.
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Daughter of Calypsonian Singing Althea Says “Mama Rose” Robbed of Gold Chain Outside Home
A beloved veteran Trinidadian calypsonian, widely known by her stage name Singing Althea and affectionately called ‘Mama Rose’, has become the victim of a violent street robbery just steps away from her own residence. The shocking attack unfolded early Friday morning, when the perpetrator assaulted the elderly entertainer to steal her gold chain.
The incident was first brought to public attention by Rose’s daughter, Michelle Williams, who took to social media to share her anger and grief over the attack. In a scathing public post, Williams directly called out the attackers, labeling them greedy ‘vampires’ who showed no regard for her mother’s safety. She detailed that the robbers violently slammed Singing Althea into a concrete wall before yanking the gold chain off her neck and fleeing the scene.
Williams’ post was paired with footage that appears to be pulled from nearby home surveillance cameras, which quickly spread across local social media platforms. Within hours, the news drew widespread reactions from community members, fellow calypso artists, and residents across the region. Many flood the comment sections with messages of sympathy and support for the 80-something entertainer, while others expressed sharp outrage at the brazen nature of the attack, which occurred in broad daylight right outside a family home.
As of the latest updates, law enforcement officials have not released any formal public statement regarding the incident. It also remains unclear whether investigators have identified any persons of interest or made any arrests in connection with the robbery.
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Shooting incident at White House; suspect killed after opening fire on Secret Service
A violent incident near the heart of U.S. government power ended with a suspect dead Saturday evening, after the 21-year-old gunman opened fire at a White House security checkpoint, according to a recent report from CBS News.
Law enforcement and intelligence sources confirmed the attacker has been identified as Nasire Best, a young man already on the Secret Service’s radar prior to the shooting. Officials familiar with the case have confirmed Best had a documented record of mental health challenges, a detail that adds context to the pre-existing awareness of the suspect among federal security agents assigned to protect the presidential complex.
Following the confrontation, former U.S. President Donald Trump publicly commended the responding Secret Service officers for their rapid, disciplined response to the threat. In a public statement posted to his Truth Social platform, Trump noted that the suspect carried a history of violent behavior and what he described as a possible obsession with the White House, one of the most iconic and heavily protected buildings in the United States.
This latest security breach attempt comes exactly one month after another armed incident near the White House, when a separate gunman opened fire in the vicinity of the annual White House Correspondents’ Dinner, an event that draws hundreds of high-profile journalists, political figures, and celebrities to Washington D.C. each year. The back-to-back security incidents near the presidential residence have renewed conversations about the vulnerabilities of perimeter security around the White House complex, even as federal security officials highlight the training and quick response that prevented broader loss of life in both cases. As of this reporting, no additional details about possible motives for Best’s attack have been released to the public, and an investigation into the incident remains ongoing.
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Antigua and Barbuda Strengthens Ebola Preparedness and Border Surveillance Measures
In response to the World Health Organization’s recent classification of the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), the Government of Antigua and Barbuda has launched proactive monitoring and preparation efforts to guard against the spread of the virus, which is currently impacting multiple regions of Central and East Africa. The announcement was made public by the nation’s Ministry of Health, Wellness, Environment and Civil Service Affairs.
As of the latest update, no suspected or confirmed cases of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) have been detected within Antigua and Barbuda’s borders. Despite the current low risk profile, the Ministry has moved quickly to strengthen national surveillance and readiness frameworks, aligning all actions with established global public health standards and international guidance.
Key enhanced measures already underway include stepped-up screening protocols at all ports of entry, tighter infection prevention and control rules across the country’s health care facilities, and sustained cross-agency coordination with regional and global public health bodies. Ministry officials are also conducting a comprehensive review and update of the nation’s original Ebola preparedness protocols, first drafted in response to the 2014 West African Ebola outbreak. This overhaul covers critical operational areas including case tracking, infection control protocols, clinical case management, and safe protocols for handling human remains.
Parallel preparations are also being carried out to ensure the nation’s Infectious Disease Centre (IDC) is fully operational and ready to accommodate isolation or specialized treatment if any cases are confirmed.
To further reduce entry risk, the Ministry plans to present a set of temporary travel restrictions to the national Cabinet for approval. If approved, the new rules will bar entry to any traveler who has visited designated Ebola outbreak areas within the 45 days prior to their scheduled arrival in Antigua and Barbuda.
As part of expanded airport screening efforts, authorities are also working to reinstall infrared thermal camera systems at V.C. Bird International Airport, a core tool for detecting potential symptomatic travelers. Looking ahead to the scheduled launch of new additional international flights from Nigeria starting May 25, 2026, the Ministry is also boosting permanent Port Health staffing and expanding public health screening capacity at the airport. These upgrades include more robust traveler health assessments and closer coordinated workflows with immigration, customs, airport management, and commercial airline teams.
In a public statement, the Ministry emphasized that the current overall risk of an Ebola introduction to Antigua and Barbuda remains low. Even so, officials stressed that sustained vigilance and advanced preparedness are non-negotiable to protect public health. The public is advised to maintain consistent good hand hygiene practices, and to seek immediate medical care if they develop fever or other unexplained illness, especially within weeks after international travel.
The Ministry confirmed it will continue real-time monitoring of the outbreak situation across Africa, and will issue timely public updates should any adjustments to preparedness measures be needed.