ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates – The 16th session of  the Assembly of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) gets underway here on Saturday overshadowed by the decision of the United States to withdraw from the United Nations green energy agency and 65l other international organisations, many of them, UN affiliated bodies.

WASHINGTON, DC – United States Senator Peter Welch, has expressed alarm at President Donald J. Trump’s mobilisation of National Guard troops, warships and fighter jets to the Caribbean.

NEW YORK, New York – New York Attorney General Letitia James has welcomed the decision by a United States federal judge blocking the Trump administration’s efforts to penalize states with millions of dollars in fines related to their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) operations.

WASHINGTON, DC – Justice Ana C. Reyes on Wednesday continued to hear arguments over the decision of the Department of Homeland Security’ (DHS) to terminate the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haiti, stripping lawful status and work authorisation for more than 350,000 Haitian immigrants in the United States.

WASHINGTON, DC – The United States Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) Tuesday announced that it has targeted 10 individuals and entities based in Venezuela and Iran, as the Trump administration intensifies its military-build up in the Caribbean Sea.

WASHINGTON, DC – President Donald Trump Tuesday named Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica and Haiti as countries where citizens from these Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries would either be “fully” restricted or have “limited” entry into the United States.

NEW YORK, New York - A defiant Nicolas Maduro on Monday pleaded not guilty to drug trafficking and other charges telling a New York Federal Court that “I am still president”.

KINGSTON, Jamaica – Outgoing Caribbean Community (CARICOM)  chairman, Prime Minister Andrew Holness has reiterated the need for the region to remain a “Zone of Peace” grounded in respect for international law, the peaceful settlement of disputes, and the de-escalation of conflict.

MIAMI, FL – The United States Navy Admiral overseeing US forces in Latin America and Caribbean retired on Friday, two years ahead of schedule.

UNITED NATIONS – United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres has expressed grave alarm over the escalating conflict in Venezuela following the capture of   President Nicolas Maduro.

CARACAS, Venezuela – The United States has seized a second oil tanker linked to Venezuela in recent weeks, enforcing a “blockade” ordered by President Donald Trump and drawing sharp condemnation from Caracas, which has branded the move “theft and hijacking”.

GEORGETOWN, Guyana – Guyana has signed an agreement with the United States expanding military cooperation between the two countries.