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Southcom Mission shifts to protecting sovereignty of US partner nations

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Southcom Mission shifts to protecting sovereignty of US partner nations

By C. Todd Lopez

USA / PANAMA, (Pentagon News) – At the Combined Jungle Training Center-South in Cristobal Colon, Panama, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth met with US service members who are learning how to survive in the most brutal, unforgiving jungles of the Western Hemisphere, all while retaining their combat effectiveness.

The visit coincided with the secretary’s address during the Americas Counter Cartel Coalition, a US-led multinational security and political alliance formed to combat transnational drug cartels, reduce illegal migration across the Western Hemisphere and limit foreign geopolitical interference. It also coincided with Exercise Panamax 2026, a multinational military exercise hosted by Panama and sponsored by US Southern Command.

In the dense jungle on the northern side of the Panama Canal, Hegseth told service members at the training center that what they are doing is exactly what he likes to see when he meets with warfighters.

“I think this is what … the warrior ethos looks like; it’s what reestablishing it looks like,” he said. “It happens in training centers like this, with Americans like this, who do really difficult things in really tough places.”

While at the training center, Hegseth met with instructors assigned to the Jungle Operations Training Course-Panama, along with Marines assigned to Littoral Combat Force-24, who were in Panama to participate in Panamax.

The secretary said the service members who train at the center are willing to do things no other Americans are willing to do, to include helping US allies in both Central and South America protect the nation’s backyard.

“That’s what we’re doing here with the A3C [and with] Panamax … expanding peace through strength in our hemisphere, right here in the jungles with our partners,” he said.

Noting a big shift in the Southcom mission, Hegseth said that just 18 months ago, the command was less focused on protecting the Americas and deterring threats.

“This is a different Southcom; this is a different mission,” he said. “We are focused on military capabilities against real threats who need to be deterred and defeated, and we’re going to give them everything they need to do it, on behalf of the American people.”

The secretary said that under president Donald J. Trump, Southcom’s mission has focused on working with partners in the region to keep everybody safe from a variety of shared threats.

“We know exactly what that mission looks like,” he said. “We’re empowering commanders like [Marine Corps Gen. Francis L. Donovan] to do it in Southcom; we’re working with partners like Panama, like Ecuador, like Colombia … they’re going to send students here soon to swim across this very same river, [to] be a part of this very same training.”

The nations involved in the Americas Counter Cartel Coalition — 19 nations in all, with Colombia signing on just yesterday — are going to be involved in the same training as US service members in Panama. The secretary said that the same things that necessitate American jungle training also motivate every other nation in the region.

“It turns out, in the [Western] Hemisphere, they face the very same security challenges, the same threat of drugs, the same threat of criminal cartels that threaten their citizens, the same ones that threaten our citizens,” Hegseth said.

US law enforcement personnel stationed at the US southern border to stop illegal immigration and drug traffickers, combined with training across Central and South America in places such as Ecuador, Colombia and Panama, puts increasing pressure on shared threats.

“That’s going after the enemies of our country — designated terrorist organizations — unabashedly,” Hegseth said.

Earlier in the day, the secretary announced the new motto of the Americas Counter Cartel Coalition: “We do bad things to bad people.”

“For too long, bad people did bad things to good people, inside the United States of America and across Central and South America,” he said. “We’re going to empower great Americans and great partners to do really good stuff and be very capable about bringing violence against drug cartels and designated terrorist organisations, because we’re dead serious about securing the homeland.”

A big part of that is the Trump corollary to the Monroe Doctrine. In 1823, president James Monroe articulated a foreign policy, now known as the Monroe Doctrine, which declared that the Western Hemisphere was off-limits to further colonisation efforts or interference by European nations. Later, that expanded to include interference by any foreign power.

In 1904, president Theodore Roosevelt added to that doctrine that the US could intervene in the affairs of Latin America to protect US interests. And now, Hegseth said, there is Trump’s corollary to the Monroe Doctrine.

“It is a recognition that [designated terrorist organisations] … will not control our hemisphere … and we will not allow foreign malign influence to take over … key terrain like the Panama Canal,” he said.

Hegseth said Colombia’s inclusion in the Americas Counter Cartel Coalition is significant.

“The A3C had formed, but in some ways, it missed part of its core,” he said. “Colombia is going to be [an] incredible partner. They offered to be a headquarters or a hub for the A3C as the brand-new 19th member. They’ve got … hundreds of thousands of capable members of their military and decades of training with the United States … that mil-to-mil relationship has been long-standing, and that’s why they’re coming to this jungle course soon.”

US State Department establishes task force to end birth tourism

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US State Department establishes task force to end birth tourism

WASHINGTON, USA – Under president Donald Trump and Secretary Marco Rubio’s leadership, the Department of State is using all available tools to defend the integrity of US. citizenship, ensure nonimmigrant visas are used only for their lawful and intended purposes, and prevent their exploitation through birth tourism. As president Trump has made clear, citizenship is not a commodity to be acquired through the calculated exploitation of US immigration laws. The Department of State is working closely with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to combat birth tourism and protect the integrity of the US immigration system.

New Birth Tourism Prevention Task Force 

To maximise the success of this comprehensive effort, the State Department has established a Birth Tourism Prevention Task Force.

  • The Birth Tourism Prevention Task Force reviews the activities of visa holders worldwide to identify instances of birth tourism, take action to revoke visas of those who engage in or facilitate it, and dismantle the networks that profit from this abuse.
  • The Task Force addresses the abuse by analysing and connecting information held across the Department and other federal agencies, including the DHS.
  • Thanks to the coordination of the Task Force, the Department of State is addressing birth tourism on a global scale, examining travel histories of individuals from all around the world in order to end this exploitation and abuse.
  • The Birth Tourism taskforce has taken action by revoking more than 600 visas from foreign nationals across the globe to safeguard our nation from this abuse.
  • The Department generally revokes visas when there are indications of a potential ineligibility.
  • The Secretary has broad discretionary authority to revoke visas – and the Trump Administration is committed to exercising that authority to protect the American people and the integrity of our immigration system.

Birth Tourism has become a For-Profit Industry 

Facilitators have turned birth tourism into a lucrative, for-profit industry.

  • These facilitators sometimes market themselves as doulas, midwives, or wellness advocates while openly advertising “birth in the US” services, visa coaching, and hospital arrangements.
  • Some forge medical documents or coach clients to conceal their true travel purpose and avoid paying hospital bills, with online marketing promising clients “automatic citizenship” and “a future without borders.”
  • The facts are clear – birth tourism is a pervasive practice that involves nationals from countries spanning every region of the globe.
  • The Department is taking action to dismantle these networks and hold all participants accountable.

Birth tourism fraud 

The work of the Bureau of Consular Affairs Task Force and consular officers at US embassies and consulates around the world is exposing widespread patterns of deception.

  • Foreigners who willfully misrepresent the purpose of their travel or entry into the United States may be permanently ineligible for a US visa or entry to the United States.
  • The Department has uncovered patterns that illustrate the lengths some applicants will go to circumvent our laws in order to secure US citizenship for their children – and potentially for themselves in the future.
  • One couple used a conference and a vacation trip to go shopping as cover stories to give birth to two children in the United States, lying about their travel purpose in two separate visa applications. On the second occasion, the couple concealed that they had a child.  The visas have been revoked.
  • In another case, a foreign government official requested a visa to travel on behalf of her government for just one week, but instead stayed three months and gave birth in the United States before departing. The Department revoked the visa.
  • Another traveller applied for a visa to go on vacation in Orlando and instead travelled to Los Angeles and gave birth five days after arrival. The Department revoked the visa.

Citizenship is not a commodity to be acquired through calculated exploitation and evasion of the immigration laws. Foreign nationals who abuse the visa system, and those who help them do so, may lose their visa, their access, and their future in the United States. This is only the beginning.

Colombia earthquake: International teams standing-by

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Colombia earthquake: International teams standing-by
  • As earthquake rescue efforts across western Colombia continued on Tuesday, UN agencies said that they stood ready to help “with everything we’ve got” if and when the request came from the authorities for international assistance.

COLOMBIA, (UN News) – Official data indicated that 1,495 people have been injured and at least 126 died in Monday’s 7.4 magnitude quake, which flattened homes and buildings in the west of the country and caused landslides.

“Nearly 5,000 homes have been damaged and 387 have been destroyed; 61 buildings have collapsed and more than 550 educational institutions, 24 health facilities and more than 350 community centres have [been] affected,” said Jens Laerke, spokesperson for the UN aid coordination office, OCHA.

“Those are official government figures, we know they are being updated as more information comes in.”

“There has not been any official request for international assistance,” he continued. “Should that happen, the entire UN system and, of course, humanitarians in particular stand ready to support with everything we’ve got.”

The UN system already has teams assessing the situation in the affected areas and is preparing, together with the Government, an initial emergency response meeting to determine needs and what assistance could be mobilized, according to the UN Resident Coordinator in Colombia, María José Torres Macho.

Health needs

The UN World Health Organization (WHO) cited official Colombian data from late Monday indicating that damage has been reported in 24 health facilities across six departments.

Valle del Cauca department experienced the “most significant health infrastructure impacts” and particularly the city of Cali, said WHO spokesperson Tarik Jasarevic. Key facilities affected include Hospital Universitario del Valle, where part of a tower housing cardiology and paediatric services collapsed, and Clinica Nuestra, which was fully evacuated.

“Our office in the country in Colombia activated its emergency response and its field teams and teams have been deployed to affected areas, including Cali and Chocó, to support health sector assessment and coordination,” Jasarevic said, briefing journalist in Geneva.

The earthquake struck at around 7:34am local time, with its epicentre near San José del Palmar, in Chocó department, close to Valle del Cauca.

The tremor was felt across large parts of Colombia and in neighbouring countries, including Panama, Ecuador and Venezuela.

Biggest quake in decades

According to the Colombian Geological Service, the quake’s epicentre was at a depth of about 103 kilometres (64 miles), and was the largest seismic event recorded in the country this century.

Pereira, a city of around 500,000, lies about 35 miles from the epicentre. As emergency teams search for survivors, the city’s mayor reported 18 dead there late Monday.

In Cali, the country’s third largest city, authorities reported multiple landslides with people trapped and requested reinforcements for rescue operations.

Damage has also affected transport infrastructure including at six airports closed for inspections: Quibdó, Pereira, Manizales, Armenia, Cartago and Buenaventura. Popayán airport in Cauca is operating with restrictions owing to an unrelated alert for the possible eruption of the Puracé volcano.

The government has activated emergency coordination centres in Bogotá, Quibdó, Armenia and Cali, while authorities continue rescue operations and assessments.

Evacuation orders were issued as far away as the capital, Bogotá, which is 250 miles east of San José del Palmar.

The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is monitoring the situation and coordinating with partners and national authorities to assess needs and support affected children and adolescents, while the UN Development Programme (UNDP) is working with government institutions to help analyse damage and needs.

Miroslav Jenča, the head of the UN Verification Mission in Colombia, expressed solidarity with victims and affected communities, particularly in Chocó, Eje Cafetero and Valle del Cauca, and said the Mission was available to support the authorities’ response.

MSIRA report highlights persistent grounding risks in The Virgin Islands

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MSIRA report highlights persistent grounding risks in The Virgin Islands

By Marine Safety Investigation and Reporting Authority

TORTOLA, BVI – The Marine Safety Investigation and Reporting Authority (MSIRA) has published its report into the grounding of the sailing vessel Nohea Holokai near Anegada on 6 July 2025.

The 46-foot Lagoon catamaran was participating in Sail Caribbean’s “Challenge Day” exercise when it ran aground at approximately 8:00 a.m. Under the “Challenge Day” arrangement, three 13-year-old students were assigned the roles of skipper, navigator and mate and performed the primary vessel-handling and navigational tasks onboard the vessel while other students assisted with various tasks. The assigned captain and crew remained aboard in supervisory roles and were expected to intervene only if the operation became unsafe.  During the exercise, the vessel entered a coral-head field outside the Anegada Channel and struck a submerged rock or coral head. The impact punctured the starboard hull, resulting in rapid flooding and partial submersion. All 14 persons aboard were safely evacuated, and no injuries were reported.

Chief Marine Accident Investigator, Jerome Padmore, stated:

“The incident illustrates how several simple safety issues, such as the lack of a dedicated lookout, divided attention, limited navigational information, and inadequate onboard oversight, can combine to result in serious marine accidents.”

MSIRA’s investigation identified several important safety issues:

  • No dedicated lookout was assigned while the vessel was operating near known navigational hazards.
  • The attention of the captain, crew and participants became heavily focused on raising the mainsail, reducing the monitoring of the vessel’s position and track.
  • The chart plotter displayed only limited mapping information and did not show the detailed chart information needed to identify the surrounding coral heads.
  • Concerns about the chart plotter had been identified before departure but remained unresolved.
  • The supervisory arrangements did not fully account for the assigned captain’s limited independent experience with vessels of comparable size and complexity or with navigation in the waters surrounding Anegada.
  • More experienced senior personnel were stationed aboard a separate support vessel, limiting their ability to continuously monitor the developing navigational situation or intervene immediately.

Padmore indicated that the investigation also identified separate concerns regarding the vessel’s certification and operational arrangements. Fourteen people were aboard, although the vessel’s certificate specified a maximum of 10 persons, and the investigation found no evidence of an exemption or amended endorsement. These certification matters were not considered direct causes of the grounding but were recorded as an additional safety issue.

Grounding continues to be a significant marine safety concern in The Virgin Islands. In 2025, out of 16 marine accidents reported to MSIRA, 10 were due to vessel groundings. Additionally, there have already been 6 recorded groundings in 2026.

“These incidents can lead to serious injuries, loss of life, loss of vessels, expensive salvage operations, pollution, and considerable damage to the Territory’s fragile coral reef ecosystem,” he emphasised.

According to the chief marine accident Investigator:

“Groundings should never be dismissed as routine or unavoidable incidents. This investigation shows how simple shortcomings can combine to create major consequences. Fair weather, familiar waters and access to electronic navigation equipment do not replace the need for an effective lookout, continuous positional awareness, proper passage monitoring and experienced supervision.”

MSIRA has recommended that Sail Caribbean review its “Challenge Day” risk assessments and safety-management arrangements, strengthen its procedures for appointing and supporting personnel with command and supervisory responsibilities, ensure that navigational-equipment defects are properly addressed before departure, and maintain an effective lookout during all vessel operations.

  • The Marine Safety Investigation and Reporting Authority (MSIRA) operates under the Premier’s Office and is the official body responsible for the independent investigation of marine accidents and incidents within the territorial waters of The Virgin Islands. Guided by the Merchant Shipping (Accident Reporting and Investigation) Regulations, 2020 and the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Casualty Investigation Code, MSIRA’s primary objective is to enhance maritime safety through fact-based investigations, the identification of safety issues, and the issuance of recommendations aimed at preventing future occurrences. MSIRA investigations do not seek to apportion blame or establish liability.

THE RULE OF LAW REQUIRES THE FACTS: AN EDITORIAL RESPONSE TO THE JAMAICA GLEANER

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THE RULE OF LAW REQUIRES THE FACTS: AN EDITORIAL RESPONSE TO THE JAMAICA GLEANER

Republished Linkedin August 14, 2026

The Jamaica Gleaner is entitled to criticise the Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, Gaston Browne, and to disagree strongly with his original words concerning judicial sentencing. But a newspaper editorial invoking judicial independence, constitutional government and the rule of law has an obligation to get the law and the facts right.

Its editorial of 14 August does not meet that standard.

The Prime Minister’s original words were forceful and understandably attracted regional attention. But the record did not end there. In his subsequent public statement, Mr Browne reaffirmed the importance of an independent and impartial judiciary and stated unequivocally that no judge would be removed, reassigned, deported or otherwise dealt with by executive fiat.

The Gleaner may consider that clarification insufficiently contrite and may prefer an apology. But it cannot reasonably pretend that the clarification was never given or dismiss a clear constitutional undertaking as a “dance with semantics”.

The distinction is fundamental. Judicial independence protects judges from political direction, intimidation or retaliation. It does not place sentencing outcomes or institutional performance beyond scrutiny. Where credible evidence reveals a persistent pattern of sentencing that is materially inconsistent with legislation, established sentencing principles or the protection of the public, the State cannot simply look away. If existing appellate and judicial mechanisms do not correct a demonstrated systemic failure, further lawful and constitutional measures may become necessary. Parliament may legislate, the Executive may propose policy and provide resources, and the appropriate judicial institutions may revise sentencing guidance and administrative practices. Public safety does not authorise executive action against a judge, but neither does judicial independence require the State to remain passive while serious failures in the criminal justice system endanger society.

The Gleaner also demands that the Prime Minister communicate his position formally and in writing to the Court. That demand overlooks the record. His clarification was issued publicly in writing. In addition, on 12 August, he wrote to Chief Justice Margaret Price Findlay proposing an independent committee to examine sentencing for firearm and other serious violent offences, repeat offending and the wider operation of the criminal justice system in Antigua and Barbuda.

That proposal did not seek to reopen any case, overturn any sentence or investigate an individual judge. It sought an evidence-led examination of whether the system is operating consistently with the law, Parliament’s policy and the need to protect the public.

The most serious factual error in The Gleaner’s editorial concerns appeals against sentence.

The newspaper repeats the suggestion that Antigua and Barbuda should legislate to give the prosecution a right of appeal against an unduly lenient sentence, as Jamaica has done. Antigua and Barbuda enacted precisely such a right more than two decades ago.

The Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Act 2004 authorises the Director of Public Prosecutions to appeal against a sentence imposed by the Magistrates’ Court or the High Court. The appeal may be based upon the nature or extent of the sentence, or both.

Whether that power should be exercised in any case is a matter for the constitutionally independent DPP. It is not for the Prime Minister to order an appeal. Both The Gleaner and the Heads of Judiciary proceeded on the mistaken premise that Antigua and Barbuda had yet to create such a mechanism. It has existed since 2004.

An editorial invoking the rule of law should begin by getting the law right.

There is also an important difference between an appeal and a systemic review. An appeal addresses a sentence in an individual case. It cannot, by itself, determine whether there is a wider pattern involving sentencing outcomes, repeat offending, delays, sentencing guidelines, prosecutorial practices, rehabilitation or coordination among the police, prosecutors, courts and correctional services.

An appeal is a remedy for a case. It is not a substitute for examining a system.

That is why the proposed independent committee is important. It would examine evidence rather than personalities and determine whether any material pattern requires legislative, administrative or judicial attention.

The Gleaner says it has no objection to the review or to the distinguished Caribbean jurists identified in connection with it. Yet it seeks to dictate the conditions upon which they should assist, including a “full-throated” apology by the Prime Minister.

Sir Dennis Byron, Justice Godfrey Smith and former CCJ President Adrian Saunders are jurists of experience, independence and standing. They are capable of deciding for themselves whether, and on what terms, they should assist. They require no newspaper to prescribe their conditions of participation.

An apology is a political demand. It is not a constitutional prerequisite for examining sentencing and criminal justice. Making an investigation of serious public-safety concerns conditional upon an approved formula of contrition would place political theatre ahead of victims, communities and the administration of justice.

The Gleaner also ventures into unsupported speculation. It suggests that the Prime Minister may have been emboldened by leaked communications involving the Caribbean Court of Justice and describes the National Security Council discussion as “seemingly staged”.

It offers no evidence for either claim. It identifies no statement by the Prime Minister or his Government linking concerns about sentencing in Antigua and Barbuda with the internal situation at the CCJ. To imply such a connection without evidence and then use it to question the Prime Minister’s motives, falls below the standard of responsible editorial argument.

Nor do metaphors about “cancer” and “metastasis” strengthen constitutional analysis. They replace measured argument with alarmism.

Judicial independence is indispensable. So too are institutional accountability, transparency and public confidence. Judges must decide cases without fear, favour or political direction. But neither judicial decisions nor the administration of justice is immune from reasoned public criticism.

The Prime Minister has given a public undertaking that no judge will be dealt with by executive fiat. He has written formally to the Chief Justice. He has proposed an independent review and has recognised that any decision to appeal belongs to the independent DPP. He has not sought to interfere in any individual case.

These are constitutional actions, not an assault upon the rule of law.

The people of Antigua and Barbuda are entitled to independent courts and to a criminal justice system that responds credibly to firearm violence and other serious crimes. A mature democracy must be capable of securing both.

The Gleaner should correct its factual error concerning Antigua and Barbuda’s right of appeal and support the proposed evidence-led review. The regional interest will be better served by facts, law and constructive reform than by demands for ritual humiliation.

Related: Editorial | PM Gaston Browne must apologise

Youth unemployment rises as young people face a harder road to decent work

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Youth unemployment rises as young people face a harder road to decent work

New ILO report finds global youth unemployment rising, with some of the sharpest increases in higher-income economies and more young people outside employment, education or training.

GENEVA, Switzerland, (ILO News) – Global youth unemployment is rising as stagnant economic growth and weak job creation increase barriers to job entry for young people and push more of them outside employment, education or training, according to a new report from the International Labour Organization (ILO).

The Global Employment Trends for Youth 2026: Back to the future report shows that the global youth unemployment rate rose to 12.4 percent in 2025, equivalent to 67 million unemployed people aged 15 to 24 years. At the same time, the share of young people not in employment, education or training (NEET) increased slightly to 20 percent, affecting more than 257 million people. Some of the sharpest rises in youth unemployment have been in higher-income economies, frustrating the aspirations of millions of young people at the start of their working lives.

Between 2023 and 2025, youth unemployment rates increased in eight of the world’s 11 subregions, as slowing economic growth, weak job creation, geopolitical tensions and rapid technological change push countries toward a new youth jobs crisis.

“A generation that cannot find decent work cannot build its future with confidence. When young people are locked out of quality employment, countries lose talent, productivity and social cohesion. Creating decent jobs for young people is not just a social imperative, it is one of the smartest investments a country can make,” said Gilbert F. Houngbo, ILO director-general.

Youth job prospects worsen in higher-income economies

In Northern America, youth unemployment increased sharply, rising from 8.3 per cent in 2023 to 9.8 percent in 2025. In Northern, Southern and Western Europe, youth unemployment remained high at 15 percent in 2025, with 20 of the 29 countries in the subregion reporting weaker job opportunities for young people.

The decline of many middle-skilled jobs is making it harder for young people to find stable careers. Jobs that have traditionally provided entry points for young workers – including clerical and administrative roles, service and sales occupations, manufacturing-related jobs and some technical occupations – are shrinking, according to the report.

Too few decent jobs in developing economies

In developing economies, the challenge remains creating enough decent jobs to absorb growing young populations. Low unemployment rates conceal widespread labour market insecurity, as many young people cannot afford to remain unemployed and instead enter informal or unstable work.

Nearly nine in ten young workers aged 15 to 29 in low- and lower-middle-income countries are employed informally, limiting their access to stable incomes and social protection. The report identifies sub-Saharan Africa as the subregion facing especially strong demographic pressures alongside too few decent jobs, resulting in more young people falling into NEET status.

The Arab States and Northern Africa continue to record the world’s highest youth unemployment rates. In 2025, youth unemployment stood at 26.2 percent in the Arab States and 22.6 percent in Northern Africa. In both subregions, at least one in three young people were NEET.

Technology is reshaping youth employment

The report finds that technological change, including advances in artificial intelligence (AI), is transforming opportunities for young workers.

It estimates that 6.1 percent of jobs held by young people aged 15 to 29 are in occupations highly exposed to AI-related changes. Many of these overlap with the middle-skilled occupations that have declined in number for young people since 2023, particularly clerical and administrative roles. At the same time, demand continues to grow in some knowledge-based technical occupations in fields like science, health and engineering, highlighting the importance of ensuring that young people have access to the skills that match evolving labour market needs.

“There is increasing noise around AI,” said Sukti Dasgupta, ILO director of the employment, skills and sustainable enterprises department. “While the direct impact on jobs is still unclear, we must not be complacent and underestimate the risks. We need to step up our investment in skills, lifelong learning and social protection so that young people can adapt to change and seize new opportunities. Technological progress, including AI, must work for young people, not against them.”

Getting back to a future where pathways lead to decent work

The report calls for renewed action to help young people navigate an increasingly uncertain world of work. Key policy measures include:

  • Adopting a human-centred approach to AI governance, ensuring that innovation creates opportunities rather than deepening inequalities;
  • Investing in quality education, lifelong learning and apprenticeships;
  • Strengthening employment services and labour market institutions to support young people’s transitions into work, targeting especially young women;
  • Expanding social protection and ensuring rights at work, particularly for young people in vulnerable situations; and
  • Creating more decent job opportunities through supportive macroeconomic and sectoral policies.

The report concludes that the challenge is not only to create more jobs for young people, but to ensure that these jobs provide security, dignity and opportunities for successful transitions into adulthood.

Strengthening the Bundibugyo virus disease response through community evidence

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Strengthening the Bundibugyo virus disease response through community evidence
    • New funding will help integrate community-generated evidence into outbreak intelligence, enabling faster, more informed public health decisions

GENEVA, Switzerland – World Health Organization (WHO) has received a USD 3 million grant from Wellcome to strengthen the generation and use of community evidence alongside epidemiological, clinical and laboratory data throughout the response to Bundibugyo virus disease (BVD). The investment will help ensure that operational decisions are also informed by evidence on how affected communities experience, understand and respond to the outbreak.

At a time when no specific medical countermeasures are available for BVD, understanding community perceptions, behaviours and barriers to care is critical to controlling transmission.

The funding will enable WHO and partners to expand rapid assessments for community protection – a standardised interagency approach that generates real-time social and behavioural evidence to guide outbreak response, helping ensure that response measures are shaped not only by the biology of the disease, but also by evidence on the realities people face on the ground.

“Every outbreak is shaped not only by the pathogen, but also by how people understand risk, access care and respond to public health measures,” said Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, executive director of WHO’s Health Emergencies Programme. “This investment is about making social analytics part of how outbreak intelligence works in practice. By integrating community-generated evidence throughout the response, we can build a more complete picture of the outbreak and make faster, more effective decisions that ultimately save lives.”

Turning community evidence into operational action

Since the Public Health Emergency of International Concern for Bundibugyo virus disease was declared on 17 May 2026, WHO’s Health Emergencies Programme has been working with the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to conduct rapid assessments in affected communities.

Rather than relying solely on epidemiological indicators, the assessments examine how people perceive risk, seek care, respond to public health measures and experience the broader social and economic impacts of the outbreak. They provide response leaders with a more complete understanding of the factors influencing transmission, access to health services and public trust.

This evidence is already informing practical decisions on the ground. Findings have highlighted opportunities to strengthen community-based surveillance, improve access to toll-free hotlines, expand psychosocial support for frontline health workers and make communication around laboratory results more timely and predictable. They have also identified practical ways to increase confidence in care, including reducing ambulance delays, expanding reception capacity in treatment centres and improving understanding of how care facilities operate.

The work is led by national authorities in affected countries, with WHO and partners providing technical and operational support.

Making social and behavioural analytics part of outbreak intelligence

Community engagement is often associated with listening, outreach or message delivery. But effective outbreak response also requires rigorous scientific methods to understand how communities interpret risk, make decisions and interact with health services, and to translate that evidence rapidly into operational action.

“We are public health practitioners and scientists first,” said Dr Nina Gobat, senior technical officer for community protection and resilience, who leads the project. “Understanding how communities experience and respond to an outbreak requires specific expertise. That evidence has to be generated with rigour, and it has to move at the same speed as the outbreak itself.”

Rapid assessments for community protection provide a standardised methodology developed by WHO with UNICEF, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and partners. Already used during responses to mpox, Ebola and cholera, the approach has generated community evidence across settings affecting more than 8.8 million people. Built on common standards, ethical principles and robust quality assurance, it provides decision-makers with reliable, actionable insights from affected communities.

The new Wellcome support will enable this work to be conducted systematically throughout the BVD response, creating a continuous stream of social and behavioural analytics that complements epidemiological, clinical and laboratory information. It builds on earlier important investments and on integrated outbreak analytics successfully implemented during the 2018–2020 Ebola outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.

“Outbreak response cannot be designed from a distance. Understanding the social and behavioural realities of affected communities from the start of a crisis is essential to designing effective interventions,” said Natsuko Imai, research lead in Epidemics and Epidemiology at Wellcome. “From enabling safe, dignified burials to understanding healthcare access and the spread of misinformation, this evidence helps tailor responses to real-world needs. Investing in this science means faster, more adaptive and effective outbreak response.” 

As the Bundibugyo virus disease response continues, WHO and its partners are working to ensure that community-generated evidence becomes a routine component of outbreak intelligence, helping decision-makers respond more quickly, build trust and improve the effectiveness of public health interventions during this outbreak and future health emergencies.

Taiwan chip designers move AI projects toward mass production

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Taiwan chip designers move AI projects toward mass production

TAIPEI, (Taiwan News) — Taiwan’s leading chip designers are poised for stronger growth as AI custom-chip projects move toward mass production, CTEE reported Tuesday. Alchip Technologies Ltd., has already benefited from the ramp-up of its 3-nanometer AI accelerator chips, posting record monthly revenue in July. MediaTek Inc., will begin volume shipments of its first custom AI chip in the fourth quarter.

Institutional investors said Taiwan’s application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) sector is moving from chip design projects to mass production and revenue generation. ASICs are chips designed for specific computing applications rather than general-purpose use, according to Business Next.

Alchip’s consolidated revenue reached NT$7.43 billion (USD 230.4 million) in July, up 181.78 percent from the same period a year earlier. The monthly figure was nearly as high as Alchip’s NT$7.64 billion revenue for the entire second quarter, reflecting the rapid ramp-up of its 3-nm AI ASIC shipments.

The products entered mass production toward the end of the second quarter. Shipments are expected to increase through the third quarter as capacity for wafers, advanced packaging, and high-end substrates expands.

Alchip is also seeing its automotive advanced driver assistance system chips enter mass production. Analysts expect automotive products to become the company’s second-largest revenue source starting this year, according to CTEE.

MediaTek reported consolidated revenue of NT$48.48 billion in July, up 12.16 percent year-on-year. While Alchip is already in volume production, MediaTek is still in the early stages of expanding its custom-chip business.

MediaTek’s first major cloud project is reportedly Google’s eighth-generation Tensor Processing Unit, while a next-generation 2-nanometer project is also under development. The initiatives are being closely watched as potential growth drivers for MediaTek beyond its smartphone business.

Analysts said custom-chip projects typically have long development cycles, with revenue recognition depending on the timing of design completion, mass production, and customer deployment. MediaTek’s ASIC business is expected to make an increasing contribution to revenue from the fourth quarter through 2027.

The trend is part of a broader push by major cloud service providers to develop their own AI chips to reduce reliance on Nvidia. These companies have turned to design service providers to help create ASICs.

In Taiwan, Alchip and Global Unichip Corp. are among the companies specialising in ASIC development. MediaTek expects the global ASIC market to reach NT$1.45 trillion by 2028.

ILO supports Syria’s shift to a greener economy through skills, partnerships and policy dialogue

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ILO supports Syria’s shift to a greener economy through skills, partnerships and policy dialogue
    • Green skills development is helping equip workers and institutions with the knowledge needed to support Syria’s just transition and sustainable recovery.

DAMASCUS, Syria, (ILO News) — The International Labour Organization (ILO), in partnership with Syria’s Ministry of Social Affairs and Labour (MoSAL), the Ministry of Energy and national stakeholders, is supporting Syria’s transition towards a greener, more competitive and inclusive economy through two complementary initiatives launched this week.

One initiative brought together the government, employers and workers on 5 August to engage in policy dialogue shape policies that support a just transition, protect jobs and strengthen industrial competitiveness.

A second initiative, following the renewable energy investment agreement announced by the government of Syria and a consortium of Saudi and other international private investors on 6 August, will see the ILO equip 1,000 workers with green skills. This will prepare them for employment at the new power generation facilities to be developed under the agreement.

“The workshop was an important opportunity to bring together industrialists, factory owners, and government institutions to discuss the challenges facing the industrial sector, particularly those related to energy,” said Raghda Zaidan, deputy minister of (MoSAL). “The discussions focused on identifying practical solutions to ensure factories can continue operating, protect workers’ rights, and sustain production. A key outcome was the commitment to continue working with the ministry of energy to develop immediate measures in support of Syrian industry and address the difficulties faced by manufacturers.”

Through evidence-based discussions, participants identified practical policy options to improve energy efficiency, support productive enterprises, preserve jobs and strengthen industrial competitiveness. The roundtable touched on energy costs, particularly electricity and gas prices.

“Industrialists called for pricing that is aligned with international market rates, so that production costs do not undermine the competitiveness of Syrian products,” said Ayman Al-Mawlawi, chairman of the Damascus Chamber of Industry. “We also discussed ways to strengthen national industry, promote the use of renewable energy to reduce energy costs and allow factories to feed surplus electricity into the grid, and improve the organisation and development of industrial zones across Syria.”

The roundtable discussion and the new renewable energy investment will help create jobs and promote sustainable industrial development at the heart of Syria’s recovery.

“The importance of the new renewable energy agreement lies not only in adding new power generation capacity to the electricity system but also in the fact that it represents a model for an effective investment partnership,” said Osama Abu Zaid, Syria’s deputy minister of energy for water and electricity. “It marks the beginning of a new phase based on diversifying energy sources, enhancing the reliability of the electricity grid, improving the quality of the services provided to citizens, and supporting the country’s economic and productive sectors as a whole.”

As part of the upcoming renewable energy projects, the ILO will train returnees, internally displaced persons (IDPs) and members of host communities in market-relevant skills for the installation, operation and maintenance of the planned renewable energy systems. The training will be delivered through the PROSPECTS programme, fund supported by the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and the Durable solutions, Assisted voluntary returns, and Reintegration (DAR programme, funded by the European Union).

“As Syria advances its economic recovery, the transition to a more sustainable economy presents an opportunity to create jobs, strengthen productivity and build resilience,” said Maha Kattaa, ILO Chief Technical Adviser. “Through these initiatives, the ILO is supporting a just transition that combines skills development and partnerships to ensure that the shift to a greener economy creates decent work, strengthens enterprise competitiveness and leaves no one behind.”

Complementing the policy dialogue, the engagement of international private investors in developing large-scale photovoltaic projects is expected to strengthen partnerships and accelerate investment in Syria’s clean energy sector.

The newly signed public-private investment agreement includes the construction of three solar power plants with a combined capacity of approximately 760 MW, two of which will incorporate battery energy storage systems. It also provides for the rehabilitation and expansion of electricity generation infrastructure, adding around 2,000 MW of planned generation capacity.

As Syria’s renewable energy sector expands, strengthening the skills needed to support its growth is key. By helping ensure that these investments create decent employment opportunities, including for vulnerable groups, the ILO is contributing to the country’s industrial recovery, long-term sustainable development and a more resilient economy.

PC Clinic Ltd – Felaris Global to advance practical AI adoption, governance, and sovereignty across the Caribbean

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PC Clinic Ltd – Felaris Global to advance practical AI adoption, governance, and sovereignty across the Caribbean

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad – PC Clinic Ltd, a regional ICT solutions provider, and Felaris Global, a business consulting and AI transformation firm, recently announced a strategic partnership to help Caribbean organisations adopt artificial intelligence securely, responsibly, and at scale. The alliance combines Felaris’ expertise in AI solutions, governance, responsible adoption, and transformation strategy with PC Clinic’s regional technology delivery, cybersecurity, cloud, infrastructure, and managed services.

Together, the companies will serve clients across Trinidad and Tobago and the Eastern Caribbean, with unified services, standardised SLAs, and multi-island support.

As Caribbean organisations face rising demands for modernisation, security, responsible AI adoption, and operational resilience, the partnership focuses on:

AI solutions and responsible adoption

AI readiness assessments, practical AI roadmaps, workflow automation, and tailored AI solutions guided by Felaris’ strategy, governance, and implementation planning.

AI governance and sovereignty

Most organisations already have staff using AI, often on personal accounts and with sensitive data, and no policy behind it. Felaris delivers AI governance as a senior executive engagement that closes that gap: the policies, procedures, and approval processes an organisation can actually operate, sized to its own situation. The test is the one an auditor or regulator applies: show how a result was produced, and show it can be done again. For Caribbean institutions, this is also where AI sovereignty becomes real, keeping local data, accountability, and decisions in the region.

Cybersecurity, cloud, and managed ICT services

Secure cloud environments, Microsoft 365 and Azure, SOC and SIEM monitoring, vulnerability management, ransomware protection, infrastructure support, and managed IT that create a trusted foundation for AI-enabled operations.

Felaris AI Academy and PC Clinic Academy training

A combined training offer that pairs Felaris AI Academy’s AI readiness, governance, and leadership training with PC Clinic Academy’s technology, cybersecurity, cloud, and infrastructure training to prepare businesses, teams, and public sector institutions for AI-driven change.

Business strategy and operational optimisation

Process improvement, organisational development, change management, and executive advisory that help leaders move from experimentation to sustainable business value.

Shazan Mohammed, managing director of PC Clinic Ltd, said:

“This partnership strengthens our ability to help regional clients adopt AI securely and responsibly. Felaris brings strong expertise in AI solutions, governance, and transformation strategy, while PC Clinic provides the technology foundation, cybersecurity, infrastructure, and managed services needed to make those solutions work at scale. Together, we can help Caribbean organisations move confidently into an AI-enabled future.”

Klaus Feldam, CEO of Felaris Global, added:

“Across the region, leaders are being asked to approve AI they cannot yet see or control. Staff are already using it, often on personal accounts, while the board carries the risk. Our work makes governance practical: clear policies, standards a whole function can follow, and AI put to work inside the business so it holds up to an audit. With PC Clinic delivering locally, we advance AI in the Caribbean on Caribbean terms, so the value and ownership stay in the region.”

The partnership is built on a shared commitment to AI readiness, digital maturity, and sovereign technology capacity across the Caribbean, giving clients a single regional partner for AI adoption, governance, technology, training, and managed support.

Trump administration announces $58M in major new critical mineral deals at White House Roundtable

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Trump administration announces $58M in major new critical mineral deals at White House Roundtable

WASHINGTON, USA — The Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) has announced $58M in three major new rare earths deals designed to fortify US supply chains and revitalise the critical industries that Americans depend on every day.

“Under president Donald Trump’s leadership, America is leading the way in critical minerals development and rare earths processing,” said chairman John Jovanovic. “Critical mineral security is national security. These deals are a large part of EXIM’s strategy to fortify our supply chains, restore crucial industries that support well-paying American jobs, and safeguard everyday Americans from supply shocks.”

EXIM is directing a $25M loan to Westwater Resources in Alabama for graphite, a versatile component of battery manufacturing. The bank is also directing $25M to Global Advanced Metals in Pennsylvania for tantalum and niobium, critical minerals used in electronics, magnets, and steel production.

Finally, EXIM is directing an $8M loan to 5E Advanced Materials, LLC in California for their 5E Boron Americas project. Boron is a key component of permanent magnets, semiconductors, and glass. The deals were announced at president Trump’s Critical Minerals Roundtable earlier this afternoon.

As the United States government’s official export credit agency, the Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) supports American jobs by facilitating US exports. As an independent agency, EXIM plays a critical role in supporting economic growth, securing critical supply chains, and ensuring American businesses are given a fighting chance. To achieve this mission, EXIM offers financing including export credit insurance, working capital guarantees, loan guarantees, and direct loans.

PAHO urges countries to strengthen vaccination and surveillance amid rising measles cases in the Americas

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PAHO urges countries to strengthen vaccination and surveillance amid rising measles cases in the Americas
    • The region has recorded its highest number of confirmed measles cases in 22 years, while the public health risk associated with measles remains very high due to ongoing outbreaks, immunity gaps, and increased population mobility.

WASHINGTON, USA, (PAHO) – In a new Epidemiological Alert, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) called on countries across the Americas to strengthen vaccination, surveillance and rapid outbreak response measures amid rising measles cases across the Region. The call comes as measles transmission remains active in several countries and the Americas records its highest number of confirmed cases in more than two decades.

As of epidemiological week 28 of 2026, ending on 18 July, countries and territories in the Americas had reported 47,459 confirmed measles cases. A total of 44 deaths have been reported in three countries. The number of cases is more than three times higher than the total reported during all of 2025, when 15,011 confirmed cases and 32 deaths were documented.

Guatemala, Mexico, the United States and Peru account for 95 percent of confirmed cases reported so far this year.

Although some of the region’s largest outbreaks have recently shown signs of slowing, transmission remains active in several countries. A public health risk assessment published this week by PAHO continues to classify the public health risk associated with measles in the Americas as very high. This classification is based on ongoing outbreaks, suboptimal vaccination coverage, the accumulation of susceptible individuals, and increased mobility linked to international travel and mass gatherings, factors that facilitate the importation and spread of the virus within and between countries.

The assessment also highlights the increase in measles-related deaths reported in 2026 compared with 2025, the detection of cases in new geographic areas, and the disproportionate impact of outbreaks on populations facing barriers to healthcare, including Indigenous communities and groups with low vaccination coverage.

“Measles leaves no room for complacency. We know how to stop it: achieving high vaccination coverage, detecting suspected cases early, and responding rapidly to interrupt chains of transmission,” said Daniel Salas, executive manager of PAHO’s Special Program for Comprehensive Immunisation. “Every outbreak exposes immunity gaps that must be urgently addressed, particularly among children, under-vaccinated communities, and populations with limited access to health services.”

Measles is one of the world’s most contagious diseases. It spreads through the air when an infected person breathes, coughs or sneezes. The disease can cause fever, cough, runny nose, conjunctivitis and rash, and may lead to serious complications including pneumonia, encephalitis, blindness and death. Vaccination remains the most effective way to prevent infection and stop transmission.

According to PAHO’s epidemiological alert, Guatemala has reported 30,371 confirmed cases and 26 deaths, the largest number of cases reported in the Region this year. It is followed by Mexico with 12,255 cases and 17 deaths, the United States with 2,260 cases, Peru with 1,277 cases, and Canada with 1,107 cases.

The number of confirmed cases reported in 2026 is the highest recorded in the Americas since 2004, the highest level observed in the region in the past 22 years.

The regional situation reflects a broader global resurgence of the disease. According to World Health Organization (WHO) data, 186,168 measles cases had been reported worldwide by July 2026, representing a 12 percent increase compared with the same period in 2025.

PAHO warned that young children not yet eligible for their first vaccine dose, unvaccinated or under-vaccinated individuals, Indigenous communities, migrants, displaced populations, and other groups facing barriers to healthcare remain at increased risk of severe disease and death.

The Organisation reiterated that achieving and maintaining at least 95 percent coverage with two doses of measles-containing vaccine is essential to interrupt transmission, protect vulnerable populations, and support efforts to restore the region’s measles elimination status.

PAHO continues to provide technical cooperation to countries to strengthen surveillance, accelerate vaccination efforts, improve outbreak preparedness and response, and reinforce risk communication, particularly in areas with ongoing transmission and significant immunity gaps.

Jamaica allocates $4 billion to boost its global tourism competitiveness

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Jamaica allocates $4 billion to boost its global tourism competitiveness

By Vanessa James

KINGSTON, Jamaica, (JIS) – Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, has announced that more than $4 billion has been allocated in fiscal year 2026/27 to strengthen Jamaica’s tourism brand and enhance its global competitiveness.

Speaking during the official launch of the Jamaica Product Exchange (JAPEX) 2026 on August 10 at the Jamaica Tourist Board’s (JTB) headquarters in New Kingston, Bartlett acknowledged that the allocation may come as a surprise to some, particularly in the wake of hurricane Melissa’s impact on the country.

Minister Bartlett stressed the importance of the investment, noting that it is critical to maintaining Jamaica’s position as a premier tourism destination.

“People must think of Jamaica as the go-to destination, the destination of choice, the place where, indeed, we can offer the three important S’s: safety, security and seamlessness in our experiences,” the minister said.

Bartlett highlighted that the investment is part of the tourism sector’s proactive vision under the Tourism 3.0 framework.

The strategy prioritises expanding Jamaica’s reach into Latin America and other international markets.

“Africa is a frontier that now beckons us… so is Southeast Asia, with particular emphasis on India,” the minister noted.

He added that the ministry is set to advance efforts in 2027 to expand into these areas, while also pursuing opportunities in Eastern European markets.

“We are strengthening airlift connectivity and deepening our destination marketing investment,” Bartlett declared.

He noted that central to the growth model is a commitment to greater local integration and inclusivity, underpinned by the ‘Local First’ policy, which is designed to maximise the direct benefits of tourism for Jamaican workers, communities and enterprises.

“Even amid global uncertainty, shifting travel patterns, and the challenge nature has placed before us, Jamaica’s tourism industry must continue to always be centre and foremost in the minds of all. We must adapt, we must innovate and, most importantly, we must grow,” minister Bartlett underscored.

United States mobilises life-saving response to Colombia earthquake

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United States mobilises life-saving response to Colombia earthquake

USA / COLOMBIA –  The Trump administration has mobilised an immediate response following the devastating 7.4 magnitude earthquake that struck regions of Colombia on August 10. Within hours of the earthquake, the Department of State announced $15.5 million in life-saving emergency shelter, food, and protection assistance, in addition to post-earthquake structural assessments.

The Department also activated a Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART), which includes humanitarian experts from across the State Department. Members of the DART began arriving in Colombia the day of this devastating earthquake, underscoring the Department’s commitment to immediate, life-saving action in the critical hours following natural disasters in our hemisphere. The State Department continues to liaise with Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella and the Colombian government as it assesses the impacts of and responds to this earthquake.

Disaster assistance response team deployment

The Department is deploying a DART to provide world-class disaster response expertise, technical and programmatic support, operational leadership, and on-the-ground coordination. The DART is responsible for assessing conditions, identifying humanitarian needs, and leading the US government’s disaster response. The DART is working closely with existing Department assistance personnel, as well as diplomats at our Embassy in Bogota to coordinate with local authorities and partner organisations.

Life-Saving humanitarian assistance through trusted partners

In response to the earthquake, the State Department is mobilising an initial $15.5 million in life-saving emergency shelter, food, and protection assistance, in addition to post-earthquake structural assessments through trusted partners, including Catholic Relief Services (CRS), the International Organization for Migration, Miyamoto International, the UN World Food Program, and World Vision. Of the $15.5 million in life-saving assistance, $3 million provided through CRS draws from the previously announced CRS global assistance award. With funding already on hand through its global award, CRS can respond immediately through support from the State Department. Additionally, as part of the Department’s $3.8 billion contribution to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the United States provided $200 million to the Colombia Pooled Fund, which OCHA can use to address earthquake-related needs as well as preexisting humanitarian needs in Colombia.

Supporting Americans in Colombia

The Trump administration has no higher priority than the safety and security of Americans. The Department of State is working tirelessly to provide consular assistance to US citizens and their families in the affected areas. Americans in Colombia should enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) at STEP.state.gov to receive safety and security updates from the US Embassy.

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