By| Jocelle Archibald | HGP Nightly News|
Haiti Urges International Community to Ensure Free, Credible Elections
NEW YORK / PORT-AU-PRINCE — Addressing the United Nations Security Council on Monday, Haiti’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and Religious Affairs, Raïna Forbin, emphasized that her country urgently requires “free, credible, inclusive and above all participatory elections” to restore constitutional order and democratic legitimacy.
Foreign Minister Forbin pleaded with the international community not to abandon the French-speaking CARICOM nation during its critical stabilization phase. She highlighted that the ongoing expansion and deployment of the Gang Suppression Force (GSF) across Haiti’s remaining departments is vital to establishing the security conditions necessary for citizens to cast their votes safely.
Haitians have not voted in a national election since 2016. Following the assassination of former President Jovenel Moïse in July 2021, armed criminal networks seized control over vast swathes of the capital, Port-au-Prince, alongside key rural transit corridors, triggering an unprecedented governance and humanitarian crisis.
United States Expands Sanctions Against Entities Linked to the Cuban Government
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Department of State has announced fresh sanctions targeting 10 Cuban entities as part of a broader policy push to counter the Cuban government’s influence and revenue streams across the region.
According to an official statement, the targeted organizations play direct roles in generating state revenue, sustaining the island’s security apparatus, and enabling state surveillance and repression against Cuban citizens.
The restrictions were enacted under Executive Order 14404, which empowers federal authorities to impose financial penalties and asset freezes against individuals, security organizations, and business entities linked to human rights abuses or activities deemed contrary to U.S. national security and foreign policy interests.
Trump Slaps 50% Tariffs on Canada; PM Carney Vows to ‘Intensify’ Trade Talks
WASHINGTON / OTTAWA — U.S. President Donald Trump has implemented a massive 50% tariff on a wide spectrum of Canadian imports, citing what he characterized as systemic “unequal treatment” regarding American dairy, alcohol, and automotive exports.
The aggressive trade barriers target both everyday consumer items—ranging from Canadian wines to hockey sticks—and critical industrial materials like cement.
In response to the escalation, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney stated that Canada stands fully prepared to “intensify” high-level trade negotiations with Washington in the coming weeks to seek resolution. Global trade friction has mounted steadily since President Trump returned to office in January 2025 and launched a widespread global tariff strategy to leverage foreign policy and economic concessions.
