Ilhas Cook, Cook Island News, Inglês

The central bank’s decision to lower interest rates for a third straight meeting was highly contentious, reflecting an internal divide that will likely limit how much borrowing costs will fall next year. El Pais

– Advertisement – Saint Lucia – On December 1st, we commemorate the 37th observance of World AIDS Day and join the global community in reflecting on the theme “Overcoming Disruption, Transforming the AIDS Response.” This theme calls on us to acknowledge the challenges that persist while recommitting to bold, transformative action to end AIDS as a public health threat. Globally, in 2024, an estimated 40.8 million people were living with HIV. There were 1.3 million new infections and 630,000 deaths due to AIDS-related illnesses. While AIDS-related deaths have declined by 54% since 2010, the reality remains sobering: in 2024, someone died every minute from HIV-related causes, including 75,000 children. Yet, hope remains strong as 31.6 million people worldwide accessed life-saving antiretroviral therapy. Here in Saint Lucia, we continue to strengthen our national response. In 2024, 35 new HIV infections were recorded, and to date in 2025, 17 new cases have been documented—figures...

(CNS): Premier André Ebanks has confirmed that the Cayman Islands Government will be giving civil servants, pensioners, seafarers, veterans and those on long-term financial assistance a CI$500 Christmas bonus, calling it a one-off honorarium. Ebanks made the announcement in parliament on Wednesday afternoon, as MPs met to address the immigration bill and the proposed law to pave the way for a subsea cable. Ebanks stated that throughout the year, public servants have provided “incredible service” and delivered results swiftly under the new NCFC government. He added that it was a privilege to boost the Christmas spirit of the “beloved” seafarers, the elderly, and those in need during a time of economic challenges. The premier said that the timing and distribution would be announced later this week. However, he did not detail the cost of this one-off payment, nor did he say whether the funding would be added as a supplementary...

Jimmy “Barbecue” Cherizier filmed a video with six kidnapping victims that the Viv Ansanm freed from recalcitrant leaders in Belair who refused to obey orders to free the hostages. In the early morning hours of Dec. 9, a fierce, prolonged battle broke out in Belair, the hilltop neighborhood of Port-au-Prince that has often been the center of political struggle over the past 40 years, since the 1986 fall of Jean-Claude “Baby Doc” Duvalier. Six years ago, when its armed group, under the command of a convicted kidnapper, Kempès Sanon, began to clash with the armed group of Lower Delmas, led by Jimmy “Barbecue” Cherizier, Belair was always painted by U.S. and Haitian bourgeoisie-backed “human rights” groups, media, and politicians as the victim of Cherizier’s aggression. But in later years, it became clear that Sanon’s soldiers were often involved in kidnapping Haitians, harboring hostages, and attacking other neighboring quarters like Solino....