In a move aimed at easing financial burdens during the holiday season, the Cabinet of St. Kitts has officially declared the commencement of the annual Christmas Concession period, set to begin on December 1, 2025. The announcement, made in a post-Cabinet statement, outlines several key benefits for non-commercial importers and travelers. Notably, gift packages containing food items will be exempt from duties and taxes for the first 400 pounds. Additionally, non-commercial imports will benefit from a duty-free allowance of EC$675 (approximately US$250) off the CIF value. These concessions will be applicable to goods arriving in the Federation between December 1, 2025, and January 31, 2026. The government emphasized that these measures are designed to provide relief to families and individuals, making the festive season more affordable and enjoyable. Further details will be released as they become available.
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Women and children bearing the brunt of Haiti’s ongoing crisis, says WFP
The ongoing crisis in Haiti continues to disproportionately affect women and children, according to a recent report by the World Food Programme (WFP). The Caribbean nation, already the poorest in the region, is grappling with escalating violence, economic collapse, and one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises. Since armed gangs took control of key areas, Haiti has seen a dramatic surge in food insecurity, displacement, and malnutrition. The WFP revealed that 5.7 million Haitians—half the population—are food insecure, with over 2 million facing emergency levels of hunger. The number of internally displaced persons has skyrocketed to 1.3 million, more than triple the figure from August 2023. Nearly 277,000 children are suffering from acute malnutrition, with 125,000 in severe condition. Overcrowded shelters and unsanitary conditions exacerbate the crisis, particularly for young children. Despite food assistance efforts reducing emergency-level hunger by 200,000 since April 2025, the situation remains dire. Consumer prices for essential food items are 30-77% higher than the regional average, and farmers struggle to sell produce due to road blockages. The WFP urgently requires over $139 million in the next year to aid Haiti’s most vulnerable families.
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Overwegend warm weer met kans op lokale buien
On Tuesday, October 14, Suriname experienced largely stable weather conditions, characterized by intermittent sunshine and localized showers, particularly in the afternoon and evening hours. The coastal plains remained predominantly warm and humid, with maximum temperatures ranging between 32 and 34 degrees Celsius. Early morning conditions were partly cloudy in many areas, but as the day progressed, cumulus clouds developed, leading to isolated rain or thunderstorms, especially in regions such as Paramaribo, Wanica, and Commewijne.
Inland districts and highland areas mirrored similar weather patterns, though the likelihood of precipitation was slightly higher. Areas around Brokopondo, Sipaliwini, and Tapanahony witnessed brief but occasionally intense showers in the late afternoon, sometimes accompanied by thunderstorms. Minimum temperatures in these regions fluctuated between 22 and 24 degrees Celsius.
Winds were light to moderate, blowing from the east to northeast at speeds of 10 to 20 kilometers per hour. Along the coast, wind speeds temporarily increased during showers.
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Fabio Jorge and Gaspar Polanco to surrender to U.S. authorities
Two prominent Dominican figures, Fabio Jorge and Gaspar Antonio Polanco, accused of orchestrating cocaine trafficking operations into the United States, are reportedly preparing to surrender to U.S. authorities in the near future. Polanco is expected to turn himself in this Thursday, while Jorge, currently residing in the Dominican Republic, may also be extradited shortly. Both men face federal charges for allegedly conspiring to smuggle cocaine into the U.S., with Jorge accused of hiding drug shipments within exports from free trade zones. Jorge, who previously served as an advisor to the Dominican Executive Branch on free trade zones until his dismissal in May 2025, now holds the position of treasurer for the Águilas Cibaeñas baseball team. Polanco, a former bodyguard for ex-president Hipólito Mejía and an ex-employee of the National District Mayor’s Office, faces identical charges. Under U.S. federal law, both defendants could receive mandatory minimum sentences of ten years to life imprisonment, alongside fines potentially reaching up to ten million dollars.






