ST.JOHN’S, Antigua – The Antigua and Barbuda government says the state of emergency (SOE) put in place as one of the measures to curb the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic will end on December 23, but that the established COVID-19) protocols “shall still govern”.

ROSEAU, Dominica – The director of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), Dr. Carissa Etienne is calling on the Dominica government to enact legislation regarding tobacco use as well as increase taxation on tobacco products.

GEORGETOWN, Guyana – Guyana has urged Caribbean governments to make disaster risk reduction a national priority and ensure mainstream disaster risk management into all aspects of their countries’ developmental efforts.

WASHINGTON, D.C – The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Monday called on member states of the Organization of American States (OAS) to do more to deal with the situation of violence against women, noting that “violence and harmful practices against women and girls remain pervasive in every part of the world”.

UN – The United Nations’ Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) and Germany have reaffirmed their strategic partnership to promote the implementation of the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and building forward better in the region.

NEW YORK, NY - Hindu Caribbean nationals across the region and in the Caribbean Diaspora joined Hindus, Jains, Sikhs and some Buddhists, notably Newar Buddhists around the world to celebrate Diwali or the Festival of Lights on Thursday.

PARIS, France (Reuters)– French President Emmanuel Macron said on Monday protests over COVID-19 restrictions in the French overseas region of Guadeloupe have created a “very explosive” situation.

GEORGETOWN, Guyana – Resources and opportunities available for youth development in the region are coming under the microscope as the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat launches a Regional Youth Development Status Survey ten years after adopting the CARICOM Youth Development Action Plan (CYDAP).

ST. JOHN’S, Antigua – Antigua and Barbuda celebrated its 40^th anniversary of political independence from Britain on Monday, overshadowed by the “seemingly endless litany of COVID-19 related ailments” that have curtailed the traditional celebrations.

NEW YORK, NY - Remittance inflows to just three Caribbean countries could surpass USD 16 billion this year, according to just released data from the World Bank.

PORT AU PRINCE, Hait – The United Nations Children Emergency Fund (UNICEF) is calling for an end to the abductions of women and children in Haiti, saying that for the first eight months of this year kidnappings have already exceeded last year’s total.

ST. JOHN’S, Antigua – A senior Chinese diplomat says the Caribbean region should not be viewed as a “battleground” where major countries form small circles pitted against one another.