By:Tiana Cole | HGP Nightly News |
Bahamas Urges U.S. to Consider Visa-Free Travel Treaty
The Government of The Bahamas is calling on the United States to consider implementing a formal visa-free travel treaty, citing the country’s ongoing crackdown on illegal migration.
Foreign Affairs Minister Fred Mitchell told Parliament that the issue has taken on renewed urgency as U.S. President Donald Trump vows to ban migration from “all Third World countries.”
Mitchell said Bahamians have long hoped for unrestricted travel to the U.S. He noted that while citizens may currently enter the U.S. visa-free only when traveling directly from The Bahamas and with a clean police record, they require a visa when entering from any other country.
The Minister said the proposed Smuggling of Migrants Bill 2025 is part of efforts to bring Bahamian law in line with international standards and strengthen cooperation with the United States.
Largest Kenyan Police Deployment Arrives in Haiti
Roughly 230 Kenyan police officers arrived in Haiti on Monday, December 8, marking the largest deployment to date under the newly reorganized Gang Suppression Force (GSF)—the UN-backed mission tasked with dismantling Haiti’s violent criminal networks.
More than 100 officers already serving in Haiti returned to Nairobi as part of the regular rotation.
The deployment comes amid escalating violence in Port-au-Prince and surrounding regions, where armed groups have killed at least 20 people in recent weeks. Kidnappings, arson, and widespread road blockades continue to displace more than 1.4 million people across Haiti.
Unlike the previous Multinational Security Support (MSS) force, the GSF has a sharper, time-bound mandate to dismantle gangs, secure critical infrastructure, and reopen humanitarian corridors. The mission represents a shift from attempting to stabilize Haiti to actively reclaiming territory and restoring state authority.
Australia Implements World-First Social Media Ban for Children Under 16
Australia on Wednesday began enforcing a world-first ban preventing children under 16 from holding accounts on major social media platforms.
Tech companies—including Facebook, Instagram, Threads, Reddit, Snapchat, TikTok, Twitch, X (formerly Twitter), YouTube, and others—now face penalties of up to AUD $50 million if they fail to take reasonable steps to block underage users.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, in a video message, urged children to spend the upcoming school holidays connecting with friends and family rather than scrolling on their phones. The government has acknowledged that enforcement will not be perfect but insists it is a critical step to reduce phone addiction and online harm.
Australia’s online safety regulator is expected to expand the list of restricted platforms as new apps emerge or existing ones grow in popularity.
