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  • PBN’s Platinum FM Earns Praise for CPL 2026 Local Coverage

    PBN’s Platinum FM Earns Praise for CPL 2026 Local Coverage

    As the 2026 Caribbean Premier League (CPL) progresses across regional host venues, a local radio outlet in Antigua and Barbuda has emerged as a standout partner for its standout match coverage. Platinum FM, the primary radio division of the Pointe Broadcasting Network (PBN), has received widespread praise from tournament organizers for its comprehensive reporting of the competition’s Antigua-based fixtures.

    Raul DeSouza, CPL’s Executive Producer of Radio Coverage, offered particularly high marks for the station’s on-location broadcast team. In his remarks, DeSouza noted that the quality and unwavering consistency of Platinum FM’s output during the Antigua leg of the tournament ranks among the strongest work delivered by any of the league’s territorial partner stations this season.

    “What stood out most about Platinum FM’s coverage was the combination of infectious energy, sharp professionalism, and an authentic connection with local cricket fans,” DeSouza explained. “Their commentary team didn’t just call every play on the pitch — they captured the electric atmosphere and passionate energy of the crowd packed into Sir Vivian Richards Stadium. That immersive, community-focused style is exactly what regional cricket broadcasting should aspire to.”

    DeSouza went on to highlight specific elements of Platinum FM’s coverage that elevated its work above other partners. The station’s detailed ball-by-ball commentary, in-depth pre-match build-up discussions and post-match breakdowns, and interactive segments that put listener voices front and center were all called out as key strengths. Beyond that, he emphasized that Platinum FM’s accessible broadcasts have played a critical role in expanding the tournament’s reach, bringing live CPL action to thousands of local listeners who are unable to attend matches at the stadium in person.

    Leadership at PBN welcomed the recognition from CPL organizers, framing the honor as a direct reflection of the media network’s long-term commitment to growing its sports broadcasting capabilities. Luther Lee, Chairman of PBN’s Board of Management, and General Manager Eldean Eudelle both echoed that the accolade reinforces the value of the network’s investments in talent, technology, and local sports content.

    With the 2026 CPL still underway and set to visit multiple other Caribbean nations through the end of the season, tournament officials have confirmed that Platinum FM will remain a key broadcast partner for the remainder of the competition. The station is expected to continue delivering its signature comprehensive coverage for CPL fans both in Antigua and Barbuda and across the wider global listener base.

  • Police engage children at Chances home on safe choices and positive decision-making

    Police engage children at Chances home on safe choices and positive decision-making

    On Tuesday, August 25, 2026, the Commonwealth of Dominica Police Force (CDPF) extended its ongoing youth engagement work with a hands-on, interactive visit to Chances, an emergency shelter and care facility serving vulnerable children and youth across the island. This outing marked the latest activity under the force’s flagship Community Policing Initiative, carried out by members of the specialized Community Oriented Policing Unit, which aims to build trust between law enforcement and local communities through open dialogue and targeted education.

    During the structured educational session, officers led age-appropriate discussions focused on equipping young attendees with the tools to make safe, responsible choices in their daily lives. Key topics covered included the long-term physical and social harms of underage drug and alcohol use, evidence-based strategies for navigating harmful peer pressure, practical steps to walk away from unsafe situations, the importance of respecting community and institutional rules, and how small individual decisions can shape long-term life outcomes. Beyond practical life skills, officers also took time to demystify the role of police in modern society, explaining clearly how law enforcement works to protect and serve all community members, including young people.

    Feedback from the session was overwhelmingly positive: both the children staying at the facility and their on-site caretakers joined discussions actively, sharing personal concerns and asking questions openly. By the end of the visit, many participating children shared that they had gained new, useful information that addressed lingering uncertainties they had not previously had the chance to ask about. Multiple attendees requested that the CDPF organize similar interactive sessions on a regular basis.

    The visit closed with an informal, lighthearted activity that left a lasting impression on the young participants: children lined up eagerly to try on official police caps, getting a small taste of what a career in law enforcement might look like. According to officers present, several children shared that they had developed a new interest in becoming police officers when they grew up.

    Throughout the entire session, the core guiding message was repeated to reinforce the session’s purpose: “SAFE CHOICES, SAFER FUTURE!” The CDPF confirmed that this outreach is just one part of a sustained island-wide effort to educate young Dominicans, inspire positive life trajectories, and strengthen the collaborative relationship between law enforcement and the next generation of community members. The Community Policing Team has formally pledged to continue rolling out these accessible, engaging educational sessions in communities and care facilities across Dominica in the coming months.

  • Trump: ‘Geen haast’ met terugkeer Iran aan onderhandelingstafel

    Trump: ‘Geen haast’ met terugkeer Iran aan onderhandelingstafel

    More than five months after the United States launched open conflict with Iran, former U.S. President Donald Trump has stated he has no set timeline for Tehran’s return to diplomatic negotiations to resolve the ongoing standoff. Speaking in an interview with Al Jazeera on Wednesday, Trump emphasized that he is in no hurry to force a diplomatic breakthrough, pushing back against questions about how much time his administration is willing to give Iran to come back to the negotiating table.

    Trump pointed to what he called “major successes” for U.S. pressure on the Iranian government, highlighting the severe economic turmoil currently crippling the country: sky-high inflation, a collapsed domestic economy, and harsh government crackdowns on internal protest movements. This new stance marks a clear departure from Trump’s earlier comments shortly after the conflict began in late February, when he predicted the entire standoff would be resolved within just four to six weeks.

    Diplomatic progress has stalled since a 60-day memorandum of understanding between Washington and Tehran expired earlier this month without an extension. That agreement, reached back in June, was designed to address key sticking points including freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, the lifting of U.S. economic sanctions, and the launch of new talks over Iran’s nuclear program.

    Just days before Trump’s latest comments, the White House announced a new round of sweeping, toughened sanctions targeting Iran and 60 third-party companies around the globe that conduct business with the Islamic Republic. U.S. officials have described this fresh pressure campaign as “economic D-Day,” with the administration officially naming the initiative “Operation Economic Outcast.”

    The current open conflict between the U.S. and Iran officially erupted in late February, capping off years of steadily escalating tensions over Iran’s nuclear activities, its regional influence projections, and long-running international sanctions. The U.S. has combined military moves and economic pressure to force concessions from Tehran, a strategy that has been met with Iranian countermeasures and sent regional volatility soaring across the Middle East.

    Today, the complex, high-stakes standoff continues to threaten broader regional stability, while diplomatic efforts to find a negotiated solution move forward at a painstakingly slow pace. Trump’s rejection of a fixed negotiation timeline reflects a deliberate strategic shift toward patience: the administration is continuing to ramp up economic pressure on Iran while refusing to tie itself to any rigid deadline for diplomacy to produce results.

  • Nine Young Gymnasts Compete at Copa Quetzal, Bring Home 24 Medals

    Nine Young Gymnasts Compete at Copa Quetzal, Bring Home 24 Medals

    A small but mighty team of nine young female gymnasts from Belize has turned an unexpected competition opportunity into a historic haul of medals, bringing home 24 awards and six trophies from the 2026 Copa Quetzal international gymnastics tournament held in Guatemala City between August 19 and 22.

    Competing under the banner of Belize’s SESA Gymnastics and the national Gymnastics Federation, the young athletes delivered standout performances across their divisions, securing four gold medals, eight silver medals, and 12 bronze medals overall. All six trophies awarded to the team recognize gymnasts who ranked in the top three across their respective competitive categories.

    What makes this achievement even more remarkable is that the tournament was never part of the team’s original 2026 competition schedule. According to SESA’s head coach Susen Bedran, the timing of Copa Quetzal, held during the Northern Hemisphere summer break, created a unique opening for student gymnasts who balance training with school commitments to participate in international competition.

    Many of the team members had struggled to maintain consistent training through the academic year, with school responsibilities forcing some to miss practice sessions or attend classes only sporadically. When the opportunity to compete arose in mid-year, the coaching staff made the call to launch an intensive preparation block in July, requiring the young gymnasts to train in the gym virtually every day leading up to the August tournament.

    “In July, we really pushed. They had gym like every day in July to get ready for this competition in August,” Bedran explained in a post-competition statement, noting that the athletes’ extraordinary dedication allowed them to master full routines and get competition-ready in the condensed timeline. Beyond the impressive medal count, Bedran emphasized that the greatest success of the team lies in the personal growth the gymnasts achieved over the preparation process.

    “We’re definitely proud of the girls,” the coach said. “As a coach, you know where they started, you know where their weaknesses are. You know where their strengths are.” She added that seeing the young athletes overcome long-standing challenges and deliver strong performances in events they had previously struggled with was just as rewarding as the team’s overall medal haul.

    Even after arriving in Guatemala for the tournament, the team maintained their training discipline: several gymnasts booked extra practice sessions at a local gym both before and after their competitive events to refine their routines. Bedran emphasized that regardless of final placement, the international experience itself provided invaluable competitive exposure that will benefit the young gymnasts in future events.

    This year’s tournament marks SESA Gymnastics’ second appearance at Copa Quetzal, following their debut participation in 2024. Comparing the team’s 2026 performance to their first outing two years ago, Bedran confirmed that the program has recorded clear, measurable improvement across all levels of competition, pointing to a bright future for young gymnastics development in Belize.

  • China-Nepal floods leave more than 150 dead, hundreds missing

    China-Nepal floods leave more than 150 dead, hundreds missing

    A devastating natural disaster has unfolded across the China-Nepal border, where catastrophic flash flooding has claimed the lives of more than 150 people and left hundreds unaccounted for, according to multiple international news reports. The unfolding crisis began when a massive landslide blocked the course of the Bhote Koshi River, sending a powerful wall of water surging downstream from Tibet into Nepali territory. Glaciologists suggest the initial landslide may have been triggered or amplified by a collapsing glacier that broke free from its mountain hold and crashed into the valley below.

    The scale of human impact is staggering. On the Chinese side of the border, official state media has confirmed three fatalities and 265 people missing in the Tibet Autonomous Region. A destructive mudslide also hit Gyirong Port, a key border crossing, prompting Chinese President Xi Jinping to order all-out search and rescue operations to locate trapped and missing people. Dramatic aerial footage captured by rescuers shows floodwaters engulfing entire rural villages, with military helicopters deployed to pluck stranded survivors who had climbed onto rooftops to escape the rising current.

    Among the missing are dozens of foreign nationals, drawn to the region which is a popular destination for Himalayan trekkers and religious pilgrims. Citing Nepal’s national tourist board, BBC News reports that more than 100 Indian nationals, 33 UK citizens, and between 47 and 54 Americans are among those unaccounted for, alongside more than 100 local Nepali people. Nepali police officers, army personnel, and utility workers who were responding to the initial disaster are also counted among the missing.

    As cross-border rescue teams continue working around the clock to locate survivors and assess the full scope of the destruction, authorities are warning of an imminent second flood that could worsen the crisis. Qianggong Zhang, head of climate and environmental risks at the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development, told AFP that a large blockage from the original landslide remains stuck in the river upstream along the shared border, creating conditions for another downstream water surge.

  • Munro‑Knight targets farm contracts, eyes export markets

    Munro‑Knight targets farm contracts, eyes export markets

    Barbados is advancing a sweeping initiative to connect local small-scale farmers with more stable, lucrative markets, with senior government officials announcing plans to expand formal purchase agreements between agricultural producers and the island’s leading retail chains. The policy push comes as part of the administration’s broader effort to strengthen domestic agricultural output, grow the national agro-processing sector, and unlock new international export opportunities for Barbadian produce.

    Agriculture Minister Dr. Shantal Munro-Knight shared details of the plan in an interview with Barbados TODAY, on the sidelines of the early-September reopening of Massy Stores’ Worthing location in Christ Church. The initiative aligns with a directive from Prime Minister Mia Mottley, who used the reopening event to call for formal farmer purchase agreements to be institutionalized as a permanent, standard component of supermarket operations across the country.

    Currently, more than 50 active purchase agreements are already in place for smallholder farmers through the Farmers Enfranchisement and Empowerment Drive (FEED), a program run by the Barbados Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation (BADMC). During the reopening, Prime Minister Mottley emphasized that farmers cannot reasonably be expected to scale up production without guaranteed demand from major buyers. To back the policy, she committed that the government will allocate $2 million in quarterly funding to support the expansion of these purchasing arrangements.

    Moving forward, BADMC will partner with Export Barbados alongside Massy Stores and other retail stakeholders to foster growth in Barbados’ emerging agro-processing industry. Munro-Knight acknowledged that the current framework for contract approval and buy-in still requires refinement to operate more efficiently, noting that streamlining administrative processes remains a key priority for the government.

    In addition to expanding retail partnerships, BADMC has been directed to increase purchasing opportunities for producers through its in-house pack house facility. Working with Export Barbados and Minister Jonathan Reid, the government is currently negotiating formal supply agreements with large regional supermarket chains including Massy and Popular, with plans to onboard additional major buyers in the coming months.

    Beyond Barbados’ domestic market, the administration is actively targeting international export opportunities, a critical shift given the small size of the island’s local consumer base. To advance this goal, the government will convene a dedicated technical expert working group tasked with identifying high-potential foreign markets, mapping out which crops can be produced at commercial scale locally, targeting strategic public and private investment, and outlining pathways to access these new overseas markets.

    Munro-Knight stressed that building a robust, sustainable export sector for Barbadian fresh produce will not happen overnight, and urged local farmers to remain patient as the government works through the required regulatory, infrastructure and market development steps. She noted that meeting international quality standards, completing mandatory product testing, and maintaining consistent year-round production are all non-negotiable requirements to successfully enter and compete in global export markets.

  • Barbadian racer joins Nissan for 2026/27 Formula E season

    Barbadian racer joins Nissan for 2026/27 Formula E season

    One of open-wheel racing’s rising stars from the Caribbean, Barbadian driver Zane Maloney, has finalized a high-profile switch to Nissan for the upcoming 2026/27 FIA Formula E World Championship, marking a pivotal career step that puts him in position to compete for top grid positions after two challenging seasons with the rookie Lola Yamaha ABT squad. The Nissan Formula E program officially confirmed the deal Tuesday, revealing that Maloney will pair with 34-year-old veteran Oliver Rowland, who is returning for his seventh consecutive season with the Japanese manufacturer, as the series enters its transformative fourth-generation (GEN4) car era.

    For Maloney, the 24-year-old who earned the nickname “The Boy from Barbados” in global racing circles, the move represents the breakthrough opportunity he has worked toward since entering Formula E in 2024 alongside the newly established Lola Yamaha ABT entry. In an exclusive interview with Barbados TODAY, he opened up about the decision, framing it as a natural next step in his pursuit of competitive success.

    “It’s a huge chance for me at this point in my career, and I couldn’t be more excited to get started,” Maloney explained. “When I joined Formula E, I signed on with an all-new manufacturer in Lola. We knew going in that results would take time, that building a new program from scratch over an existing car generation would be a steep challenge. After two seasons, I’ve grown a lot there, but as a driver, my goal is always to fight for positions at the front of the grid. When the opportunity to join Nissan opened up, I grabbed it with both hands, and I’m ready to put in the work to get to the front.”

    Nissan brings a proven winning pedigree to the partnership, a stark contrast to the developing program Maloney leaves behind. The Japanese outfit claimed the Formula E drivers’ championship just two seasons ago and finished fourth in the team standings last year, a track record that Maloney says made the move irresistible. “This is a team that is accustomed to winning races and fighting for titles, that’s what drew me here,” he said.

    Maloney waste no time jumping into preparations: he will travel to Nissan’s Paris-based factory early next week to meet his new engineering team and support staff, before official pre-season testing for the 2026/27 season gets underway. The new campaign kicks off in December 2025 at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit in Saudi Arabia, and the young driver says he plans to spend as much time as possible at the factory ahead of testing to get up to speed with the team’s processes and the all-new GEN4 car.

    The GEN4 regulations represent one of the biggest shake-ups in Formula E history, bringing massive performance gains that fundamentally change the car’s handling. The new cars will jump from 350 kilowatts of power in attack mode to 600 kilowatts, adding more downforce, an active differential, and far faster acceleration – with 0 to 100 km/h acceleration that makes it the fastest accelerating race car in the world. Maloney says the new characteristics of the GEN4 car actually play to his experience, drawing a parallel to the open-wheel machinery he drove during his FIA Formula 2 career.

    “It’s a whole new beast compared to the current generation car,” Maloney noted. “More power, more complexity, a completely different driving dynamic. It’s much closer to what I was used to in F2, and with the faster cornering and higher top speed, I think I’m going to feel right at home in this new package. It’s a big challenge, but I’m not daunted by it – I’m eager to get behind the wheel.”

    Despite the move, Maloney made a point of expressing deep gratitude for his two seasons with Lola Yamaha ABT, the new manufacturer that gave him his first shot at Formula E. Though he only notched three top-ten finishes across two seasons with the team, he says the experience was invaluable to his development as a driver and a person.

    “Lola and everyone at ABT gave me my first opportunity in this championship, and they’ve helped me grow so much over the last two years,” he said. “Starting as a new manufacturer halfway through a car generation is an incredibly tough task, but we took on the challenge together, we got some solid results along the way, and I made a lot of great memories. I have nothing but appreciation for everyone there, they’re incredible people.”

    Maloney’s new teammate, veteran Oliver Rowland, has welcomed the Barbadian driver to the squad, saying he is confident Maloney’s junior career success and two years of Formula E experience will put the team in strong position for the GEN4 era. “I’m delighted to continue with Nissan for our seventh season together,” Rowland said. “With the GEN4 car coming in, we’re going to see a big step in performance and it’s something we’re really excited for. I’m looking forward to Zane joining the team, he’s had a great junior career and two years of experience in Formula E, which puts him in a good position to start Season 13 strongly.”

  • Hundreds Missing After Flash Floods Kill at Least 157 in Nepal

    Hundreds Missing After Flash Floods Kill at Least 157 in Nepal

    In a catastrophic natural disaster that has rocked the trans-border region between Nepal and southern Tibet, flash floods and subsequent mudslides have claimed at least 160 lives and left hundreds of people unaccounted for, with rescue teams scrambling to reach cut-off areas amid challenging terrain. The disaster unfolded on August 26, 2026, when a sudden surge of water, mud, and debris swept through Nepal’s mountainous Rasuwa district along the Bhote Koshi River, destroying entire residential structures, sweeping vehicles off roads, and wiping out critical local infrastructure. The devastation also spilled across the border into China’s Tibet Autonomous Region, where authorities confirmed three fatalities and 265 people missing after a mudslide hit a key border crossing in Gyirong.

    What makes this tragedy particularly alarming is the large number of travelers among the missing. The popular trekking route leading to Mount Kailash, a destination drawing thousands of international pilgrims and hikers each year, passes directly through the affected area. Official data from the Nepal Tourism Board puts the total number of missing travelers at 384, including 291 foreign nationals and 93 local Nepalese citizens. Local government teams have been working around the clock to document missing person reports from anxious families waiting for word of their loved ones, many of whom have been unable to contact relatives since the flood hit.

    Meteorological and geological researchers have been working to pinpoint the exact cause of the sudden flood, a common hazard in the high Himalayas that has become more frequent amid shifting climate patterns. Initial investigations point to a combination of geological events: a large chunk of rock and ice dislodged from a mountain slope and entered the Bhote Koshi River upstream near the border, triggering the catastrophic surge. Scientists have also highlighted the possibility of a glacial collapse as a contributing factor. Compounding this, Germany’s Research Centre for Geosciences recorded a magnitude 4.4 earthquake in the area just moments before security cameras captured the massive wall of water and debris moving through the border zone, leading many experts to speculate the seismic event may have triggered the ice and rock collapse.

    Rescue operations have been hampered by the region’s rugged, steep terrain, which makes ground access nearly impossible immediately after a major disaster. Helicopter teams have been deployed to airlift stranded residents and search for survivors, but ongoing unstable conditions and residual flood risks have slowed progress. As of the latest update, the full scope of damage to property and infrastructure remains unknown, with rescue and recovery operations continuing to expand into more remote areas of the district.

  • Veel belangstelling voor 750 plekken vakantiewerk jongeren

    Veel belangstelling voor 750 plekken vakantiewerk jongeren

    A highly anticipated summer youth employment initiative launched by Suriname’s Ministry of Youth Development and Sport (JOS) has exceeded expectations, attracting more than 1,000 applications from young job seekers for just 750 available positions. Open exclusively to enrolled students aged 16 to 25, the program is scheduled to kick off on August 31 across all ten of Suriname’s administrative districts, with pre-employment preparation already underway this week for selected participants. The Surinamese government has allocated 4 million Surinamese dollars to fund the initiative, which will pay each participant 400 Surinamese dollars per working day.

    The 750 selected young people will be split into two sequential cohorts, each working a 10-day shift from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. daily. The first cohort will complete their full assignment before the second cohort begins their work period. Pre-employment skill-building teach-ins launched this Tuesday for youth from the Wanica, Saramacca, Commewijne and Coronie districts, with these sessions running over two days to equip participants with core competencies they will need during the program. Young people from the remaining six districts will receive their training on Thursday and Friday. Following the completion of training, all participants will sign employment contracts and receive an official rulebook outlining the requirements they must adhere to throughout the program.

    The summer employment project is a core component of JOS’s GRO (Growth Towards Development) holiday program, implemented in partnership with the Directorate of Public Green Space and Waste Management. Selected participants will be deployed across a range of community-focused assignments, including roles at local social care facilities and community litter clean-up initiatives across the country.

    Milton Tuart, JOS’s deputy director for Youth Centers, explained that the initiative goes far beyond offering temporary seasonal work. Beyond earning income over the school break, the program is designed to help young people build transferable professional skills that will serve them in the future open labor market, including teamwork, clear communication, leadership capabilities and critical problem-solving thinking. Tuart added that the program also aims to instill a strong sense of social responsibility in participants. By contributing to community work at social institutions and cleaning up public spaces, young people get to experience firsthand the impact they can have on improving their local environments and communities.

    Demand for the program far outstripped the 750 spots the ministry capped ahead of registration, forcing organizers to conduct a competitive selection process to choose participants. In addition to the eligibility requirements of age and active school enrollment, organizers factored in regional accessibility and the availability of qualified supervision when making selections. Transportation barriers are particularly common for young people living in Suriname’s inland regions, so the program implemented a clustered selection model to enable participation from these underserved areas. As a result, young people from remote villages in Upper Suriname, Apoera and Upper Tapanahony were among the selected participants.

  • Senator Shaquan O’Neil Donates Supplies to Families Under Social Protection Board’s Care

    Senator Shaquan O’Neil Donates Supplies to Families Under Social Protection Board’s Care

    As families across the region gear up for the start of a new academic year, a local lawmaker has stepped forward to deliver tangible support to those facing the greatest financial strain. Senator Shaquan O’Neil has contributed a large shipment of household essentials and education-focused supplies to the Social Protection Board, an organization tasked with supporting vulnerable communities across the area.

    The formal handover of the donation took place this Tuesday, more than a month after O’Neil attended the Social Protection Board’s July graduation ceremony for children in its beneficiary program. The event, which celebrated the milestone achievements of roughly 60 participating children, left a lasting impression on the senator and inspired his effort to give back to the community the organization serves.

    In remarks following the presentation, O’Neil emphasized that the contribution extends far beyond the physical value of the items donated. “This donation is not simply household items, but it goes toward supporting families as they prepare their children to go back to school,” he explained. For many low-income households, covering the cost of basic daily goods and school preparation supplies can create significant financial stress at the start of each academic year, and O’Neil’s donation directly addresses that gap.

    The full donation includes a range of high-need goods: non-perishable food items, essential personal care products, and laundry supplies, all of which cover core daily needs for struggling families. Mary Baltimore, operations manager at the Social Protection Board, praised the donation for its targeted, practical impact. She noted that the contribution would directly help the organization meet the unmet daily needs of vulnerable families ahead of the new school term, easing pressure on both the families and the organization’s existing support resources.