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  • Psychologen roepen regering op tot ingrijpende versterking geestelijke gezondheidszorg

    Psychologen roepen regering op tot ingrijpende versterking geestelijke gezondheidszorg

    In the wake of a devastating incident that resulted in nine fatalities, the Surinamese Association of Psychologists and Orthopedagogues (SVPO) has issued an urgent appeal to the government and relevant care institutions. The professional organization calls for a comprehensive evaluation and strengthening of the nation’s mental healthcare system, emphasizing that this tragedy must serve as a pivotal moment for policy reform regarding detection, treatment, and protection in cases of severe psychological disturbance.

    The SVPO expressed profound sympathy for the victims, their bereaved families, and all those affected by the catastrophic event. While unequivocally stating that violence can never be justified, the association cautioned against rapid and oversimplified conclusions that might emerge in the aftermath.

    “Psychological disorders do not automatically render individuals violent,” the association clarified. “The majority of people experiencing mental health challenges pose no threat to others and are often particularly vulnerable themselves.” According to the SVPO, exceptional and severe cases typically involve multiple contributing factors, including failures in early detection, insufficient care continuity, poor inter-agency coordination, and inadequate protection measures for both affected individuals and their communities.

    The organization advocates for an exhaustive independent investigation into the specific shortcomings that occurred in this case, with subsequent findings informing policy enhancements. Specifically, the SVPO urges implementation of improved early warning systems, professional risk assessment protocols, adequate treatment capacity, and clearly defined responsibilities when dealing with severe psychological crises.

    Additionally, the association made a pressing appeal to media outlets and society at large to exercise restraint in potentially stigmatizing reporting. Psychologists warn that simplistic narratives and fear-driven rhetoric not only fail to contribute to solutions but may actively discourage individuals with mental health conditions from seeking essential support.

    “As psychologists, we remain committed to advancing a mental healthcare system that is humane, professional, and secure—serving not only clients but also their loved ones and society in its entirety,” concluded the SVPO statement.

  • LIVE: Diocese of Roseau Closing of the Church of the Universal Jubilee Mass 2025

    LIVE: Diocese of Roseau Closing of the Church of the Universal Jubilee Mass 2025

    The artificial intelligence landscape is witnessing a significant shift as China’s DeepSeek AI introduces its groundbreaking DeepSeek-V3 model, positioning itself as a formidable competitor to established giants like OpenAI’s ChatGPT. This advanced chatbot has demonstrated exceptional capabilities with a context window extending to an impressive 128K tokens, enabling more sophisticated and coherent conversations than previously possible.

    What distinguishes DeepSeek-V3 in the increasingly crowded AI market is its revolutionary accessibility approach. Unlike many premium AI services, DeepSeek has opted to make its cutting-edge technology available to users completely free of charge. This strategic decision potentially disrupts the emerging subscription-based models that have become commonplace in the AI industry.

    The model represents a substantial leap forward from its predecessor, DeepSeek-V2, showcasing enhanced performance across multiple domains including complex reasoning, creative writing, and technical problem-solving. Early adopters have reported remarkably human-like interactions, with the AI demonstrating nuanced understanding of context and an ability to maintain coherent dialogue across extended conversations.

    This development emerges amid growing global interest in artificial intelligence capabilities, with particular attention on China’s rapid advancements in the field. DeepSeek-V3’s release signals not only technical achievement but also a philosophical departure from the commercialization trends dominating Western AI development, potentially expanding access to advanced AI technology across different economic demographics.

    Industry analysts are closely monitoring how this free-access model might influence global AI development strategies and whether other major players will need to adapt their business models in response. The move could accelerate AI adoption worldwide while simultaneously raising questions about sustainable development practices for advanced artificial intelligence systems.

  • Gmail to offer way to change your email address

    Gmail to offer way to change your email address

    In a landmark shift from its longstanding policy, Google has initiated the rollout of a feature long demanded by its global user base: the official ability to alter one’s primary @gmail.com address. This transformative update, discovered through a recent modification to Google’s account support documentation, promises to liberate users from what was previously a permanent digital identifier.

    The forthcoming functionality will empower individuals to supplant their existing email address with a completely new one, all while preserving their entire digital ecosystem intact. Contrary to the ‘scorched earth’ method of account deletion, this process ensures a seamless transition. Crucially, all accumulated account data—including the complete history of emails, Drive files, and Photos—will remain accessible. Furthermore, integration with the broader Google ecosystem will be unaffected; user subscriptions, YouTube watch history, and past Google Play purchases will be seamlessly transferred to the new identity.

    The initial evidence of this feature emerged not on the company’s primary English support pages, but on its Hindi-language documentation. This discovery indicates that Google may be employing a targeted, phased rollout strategy, potentially using India and other Hindi-speaking regions as initial test markets. The support page explicitly clarified that the feature is being gradually released, strongly suggesting an impending global availability for all users. This development fundamentally redefines the Gmail experience, moving away from the notion of a static, unchangeable primary ID, which users could previously only supplement with aliases.

  • French cinema icon and activist, Brigitte Bardot, dies at 91

    French cinema icon and activist, Brigitte Bardot, dies at 91

    Brigitte Bardot, the iconic French actress who captivated global audiences in the 1950s and 1960s before dramatically abandoning her film career to become a controversial animal rights activist, has passed away at age 91. The Brigitte Bardot Foundation confirmed her death occurred on December 28 at her residence in southern France, though no specific cause of death was disclosed. The organization noted she had been hospitalized recently before her passing.

    Bardot’s meteoric rise to international stardom commenced with the groundbreaking 1956 film ‘And God Created Woman,’ directed by her first husband Roger Vadim. The film, featuring Bardot’s provocative table-dancing scene, fundamentally challenged contemporary norms of bourgeois respectability and established her as a symbol of sexual liberation. With her distinctive blonde hair and characteristically pouty irreverence, she emerged as the definitive face of a newly liberated France. Her cultural significance reached its zenith in 1969 when her features were selected as the model for Marianne, the national emblem of the French Republic, appearing on official currency and postage stamps.

    At the peak of her cinematic fame following 28 successful films, Bardot astonished the world by retiring from acting entirely to dedicate herself to animal welfare advocacy. She exchanged the glamour of red carpet events for hands-on activism, most notably campaigning against the commercial slaughter of baby seals in the Arctic. Her philosophical perspective was summarized in a 2007 statement: ‘Man is an insatiable predator. I don’t care about my past glory. That means nothing in the face of an animal that suffers.’

    Her relentless advocacy earned her France’s highest distinction, the Legion of Honour, in 1985. However, her later years became increasingly controversial as her animal rights activism became intertwined with far-right political views that criticized France’s evolving multicultural society. Bardot’s legacy remains complex—simultaneously celebrating her as a symbol of French liberation and modernism while acknowledging her polarizing political stance in later decades.

  • High Court-ordered street vendors removal around Yhip’s bakery suspended

    High Court-ordered street vendors removal around Yhip’s bakery suspended

    A planned enforcement operation to remove street vendors outside Yhip’s Bakery in Georgetown was abruptly suspended on Sunday following a dramatic intervention by Mayor Alfred Mentore, creating a stark display of administrative conflict within local government.

    The incident unfolded when City Engineer Colvern Venture arrived with demolition crews and tractor-trailers to execute a High Court order mandating the clearance of fruit and vegetable vendors from the Robb and Alexander Streets location. Venture informed vendors that despite Mayor Mentore’s previous assurances, the court order required immediate compliance regardless of mayoral objections.

    ‘The Mayor was not before the court,’ Venture stated, emphasizing that city administrators faced potential contempt charges if they failed to execute the judicial directive. ‘If the Mayor comes and changes it, it means he will have to go and face the court.’

    The operation halted abruptly when Mayor Mentore arrived on scene and directly countermanded the instructions, ordering city workers to stand down and return home. ‘I want these people to go home. You all go home! What you all doing here? Please go home!’ he declared, questioning the ‘show of force’ against ‘poor people.’

    The confrontation revealed deeper legal complexities as Mayor Mentore explained his intervention was based on new information regarding the court order’s legitimacy. He revealed the order had been obtained by a minority shareholder (owning one-fifth) of the Yhip’s property without consent from the majority owners, who reportedly support the vendors’ presence.

    Town Clerk Candace Nelson maintained that regardless of the property dispute, the municipality remained bound by the court order. She announced plans to seek further legal guidance from the council’s attorney while noting the next court hearing is scheduled for January 9, 2026.

    The dispute escalated into open disagreement between the mayor and town clerk regarding previous discussions with Local Government Minister Priya Manickchand. Mentore claimed to possess recorded evidence contradicting Nelson’s account of agreements reached, while Nelson firmly rejected his characterization of events.

    The minister subsequently clarified that her instructions focused solely on ensuring proper documentation of compliance efforts rather than delaying enforcement. This incident highlights growing tensions between elected officials and administrative officers regarding judicial authority and municipal governance.

  • Politieke partijen: Solidariteit, medemenselijkheid en geestelijke gezondheid

    Politieke partijen: Solidariteit, medemenselijkheid en geestelijke gezondheid

    A devastating incident in Suriname’s Commewijne district has plunged the nation into mourning after nine individuals, including children, lost their lives in what authorities describe as a tragedy stemming from mental health instability. The catastrophic event has triggered nationwide grief and urgent calls for mental health reform.

    Multiple political parties have united in expressing profound condolences to affected families and communities. The Progressive Reform Party (VHP) characterized the loss as ‘immense’ and extending beyond immediate families to impact the entire Meerzorg community and all Surinamese citizens. The party emphasized that ‘solidarity, humanity, and unity are more crucial than ever during these dark times’ and pledged organizational support through its Commewijne structures.

    The National Democratic Party (NDP) extended sympathy to first responders and journalists exposed to ‘horrific scenes’ during the incident, while advocating for national reflection, unity, and compassion. The party expressed hope that ‘justice and righteousness will follow their course’ in the aftermath of the tragedy.

    Most significantly, the Reform and Renewal Movement (HVB) highlighted the incident as a devastating manifestation of mental health system failures. The movement recalled Health Minister André Misikaba’s prior commitment to prioritizing mental healthcare, asserting that ‘this Commewijne incident proves we cannot wait another day.’ The HVB stressed that ‘when the mental health of our citizens falters, the foundation of our entire society trembles,’ demanding immediate implementation of mental health protocols rather than further planning.

    The HVB advocated for a dual approach combining community vigilance with governmental structural support, noting that while citizens must recognize warning signs and engage in open dialogue, the government must establish secure systems for reporting concerns. Party A20 similarly pledged ‘unconditional availability to provide support in any form’ to affected families, emphasizing the critical importance of solidarity during this difficult period.

  • 15 dead, 19 injured in Guatemala as bus plunges into ravine

    15 dead, 19 injured in Guatemala as bus plunges into ravine

    A catastrophic bus accident on Guatemala’s treacherous Inter-American Highway has resulted in a significant loss of life, with local authorities confirming 15 fatalities and 19 individuals injured. The tragedy unfolded in the western region of the country when the passenger vehicle veered off the road and plummeted into a deep ravine.

    Emergency response spokesperson Leandro Amado provided a detailed breakdown of the casualties, indicating that the victims included eleven adult males, three women, and one minor. The incident occurred in the Solola Department along a notoriously dangerous stretch of highway between kilometres 172 and 174, an area locally known as ‘Alaska Peak’ due to its challenging and rugged topography.

    According to Amado’s statement on Saturday, rescue operations were immediately launched following the accident. Approximately 19 injured passengers were successfully extracted from the wreckage and transported to nearby medical facilities for urgent treatment. The bus had been en route from Guatemala City to the San Marcos department, which borders Mexico, when it descended into a ravine approximately 75 meters (250 feet) deep under circumstances that remain undetermined.

    Visual documentation released by the fire department depicted the extensive damage to the vehicle as emergency personnel conducted complex rescue efforts in the ravine. The challenging recovery operation was further complicated by the area’s characteristic dense fog, which frequently creates hazardous driving conditions through reduced visibility.

    Local media outlets reported that family members of passengers rushed to both the accident site and area hospitals in desperate attempts to locate their relatives. This latest incident echoes a previous bus tragedy that occurred in early 2025, when more than 50 people lost their lives in a similar accident near Guatemala City, highlighting ongoing transportation safety concerns in the region.

  • ICY Elegance owns Boxing Day yet again

    ICY Elegance owns Boxing Day yet again

    The annual ICE All White Breakfast Party, themed ‘ICY Elegance,’ has once again redefined Boxing Day celebrations with an unparalleled sunrise-to-afternoon extravaganza that captivated hundreds of attendees. Held at the sprawling Sandalwood Estate in St. Michael, the event transformed December 26th into an epicenter of entertainment, style, and continuous revelry.

    From 6 a.m. until approximately 2 p.m., the estate was awash in a sea of white as impeccably dressed partygoers immersed themselves in non-stop dancing and celebration. The expansive venue accommodated crowds across multiple zones including premium bars, a diverse food court, luxurious cabanas, and an expansive dance area. As temperatures rose by mid-morning, attendees creatively utilized shaded areas to establish personal cooling zones while maintaining the party’s vibrant energy.

    Culinary offerings featured an extensive array of breakfast and brunch options that satisfied food enthusiasts throughout the event. Beverage stations experienced constant traffic as patrons frequently refreshed their ICE-branded cups, which became iconic accessories waved proudly throughout the festivities. The experience was further enhanced by premium amenities including Trident Cigars, Argyle Hookahs, a 360-photo booth, and the perpetually busy ICY ELEGANCE branded photo area where groups captured memorable moments.

    The musical journey was curated by an elite lineup of DJs including Ramon G, Indian & Chris Gale, Jerry Dan, Thorny & Punn, Bubbles & Evolution, (RAW Gas) Sheldon Papp and Chasey, Surf Rat & Menace, DJ Niqo Vibes & Gunner, culminating with Ras’s closing performance. Each selector contributed unique musical flavors that kept the energy dynamic and the crowd responsive.

    Live performances elevated the atmosphere to extraordinary heights. Weather 40 ignited collective singalongs with his hit ‘Brawlin’, while Mole delivered an electrifying set that captivated attendees. The undeniable highlight was Lil Rick’s show-stopping performance, seamlessly transitioning from classic 90s dub-chanting anthems to contemporary soca hits that sent the crowd into euphoric frenzy.

    Attendees unanimously praised the event’s exceptional organization and atmosphere. One patron noted, ‘This is hands down the best Boxing Day event. Great music, great people, and ample space to enjoy yourself—a truly VIP experience without long lines or waiting.’ Another first-time attendee remarked, ‘From the DJs to Lil Rick to the entire setup, this was non-stop vibes. I didn’t want it to end and will definitely return next year.’

    The ICE Events246 team reflected on the event’s success: ‘ICY Elegance was designed to create a space where people could feel free, connect with friends, and fully embrace Boxing Day. Witnessing the crowd enjoying themselves from sunrise to afternoon made every effort worthwhile.’ Hosts DJ Chasey and Courtney maintained impeccable energy and engagement throughout the event.

    The 2023 edition not only met expectations but elevated the standard for festive celebrations, demonstrating ICE’s consistent evolution and commitment to delivering extraordinary experiences that keep patrons returning year after year.

  • President Simons verzekert hulp nabestaanden; begrafeniskosten voor de Staat

    President Simons verzekert hulp nabestaanden; begrafeniskosten voor de Staat

    Surinamese President Jennifer Simons has expressed profound sorrow and national solidarity in response to a devastating violent incident that occurred in Richelieu, Commewijne district. The tragedy resulted in multiple fatalities, including children, during what should have been a period of holiday celebration and reflection.

    President Simons characterized the violent event as a national tragedy that has deeply affected the Surinamese people during what should have been a season of unity and hope. “This tragedy strikes our nation during a period when we have just celebrated Christmas and were preparing for the New Year—a time that should symbolize togetherness and hope,” the President stated in an official address.

    The Surinamese government has implemented immediate support measures, including professional psychological assistance and counseling services for bereaved families through appropriate agencies. In a significant gesture of state solidarity, the government will cover all funeral expenses for the victims.

    President Simons has deployed a high-level ministerial delegation including Justice and Police Minister Harish Monorath, Social Affairs and Housing Minister Diana Pokie, and Deputy Health Minister psychologist Radj Jadnanansing to personally assess the situation and provide support to affected families.

    International condolences have been received, with Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof personally expressing sympathy to President Simons and the people of Suriname. The President emphasized the need for national unity, compassion, and collective strength during this period of profound grief.

  • Thailand, Cambodia agree on ceasefire to end weeks of deadly fighting

    Thailand, Cambodia agree on ceasefire to end weeks of deadly fighting

    After weeks of deadly border clashes that resulted in significant casualties and mass displacement, Thailand and Cambodia have formally agreed to an immediate cessation of hostilities. The neighboring Southeast Asian nations signed a joint ceasefire agreement on Saturday, effectively halting twenty days of intense fighting that marked the most severe bilateral conflict in recent years.

    The accord, endorsed by Thai Defense Minister Natthaphon Narkphanit and Cambodian Defense Minister Tea Seiha, stipulates that both military forces will maintain their current positions without further deployment movements. The comprehensive ceasefire took effect at noon local time (05:00 GMT) on Saturday, explicitly prohibiting all weapons use and attacks against civilian populations, infrastructure, and military installations across all contested areas.

    Despite the official truce, Al Jazeera correspondent Assed Baig reported from the Cambodian border city of Poipet that intense exchanges persisted until the final moments before the ceasefire implementation. This last-minute violence underscores the agreement’s perceived fragility and has left displaced civilians apprehensive about returning to their homes without concrete security assurances.

    The diplomatic agreement includes confidence-building measures such as refraining from provocative actions and preventing the dissemination of misinformation. An ASEAN observer team will monitor compliance with the ceasefire terms, while both nations have committed to maintaining open communication channels to address potential ground-level issues.

    The diplomatic process continues with Cambodian Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn scheduled to meet with Thai and Chinese counterparts in Yunnan, China on Sunday. This trilateral meeting, characterized as a “mutual confidence” initiative, aims to restore lasting peace and stability along the contentious border region.

    The current conflict originates from historical territorial disputes along the 800-kilometer shared border, where both nations claim ancient temple sites and have contested colonial-era demarcations for over a century. This recent outbreak follows a previous July ceasefire brokered by the United States, China, and Malaysia that ultimately collapsed earlier this month, with both sides exchanging accusations of instigating renewed violence and targeting civilian populations.