Caribbean

The Trump administration states it is seeking to expand a lethal campaign from bombing boats off the coasts of Latin America’s Caribbean and Pacific onto land. This expansion follows earlier events involving boat strikes that reportedly killed hundreds.

This article provides ten money-saving strategies for visiting the Caribbean region's 700-plus islands. The tips focus on how to explore islands with white, pink, and black sand beaches without incurring resort prices. Strategies include methods for timing a trip and finding free beaches.

The US Navy awarded Saildrone a $16.3 million task order to expand operations of its Voyager unmanned surface vehicles in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific for counternarcotics missions. The USVs have supported drug interdiction efforts since 2023, including a recent seizure of $81 million in cocaine. The Trump administration's counternarcotics strategy includes military strikes against alleged drug-carrying vessels, with 66 strikes reported as of June 22.

A strong El Nino weather event could increase acute food insecurity for 49 million more people in vulnerable regions by 2025, according to the World Food Programme. Central America and Southern Africa face the largest projected rises, with regional shortages and higher prices potentially worsening hunger. Funding cuts have reduced data collection efforts to monitor the crisis.

South Florida faces storm chances today with gusty winds, heavy rain, and lightning. Storms will continue through Friday, with heavy rain and potential flooding expected, before drier conditions return next week. A tropical wave and strong wind shear in the Caribbean and SW Atlantic suppress storm development, aided by El Niño conditions.

Ghana President John Dramani Mahama proposed expanding the African Continental Free Trade Area to include the Caribbean when he becomes African Union chair. He cited the AfCFTA as a market of 1.3 billion people with significant economic potential.

The US State Department has issued travel advisories for Caribbean destinations, rating them based on safety and security risks. Haiti, parts of Venezuela, and Colombia are labeled 'Do Not Travel,' while other islands like Anguilla and Antigua and Barbuda have Level 1 advisories with specific cautionary notes about infrastructure and medical facilities.

South Florida faces ongoing storm activity with heavy rain and flash flooding concerns through Friday, followed by drier conditions starting this weekend. Beneficial rain is expected to aid the ongoing drought, while the Atlantic remains quiet regarding tropical development for the next seven days.

The Navy has renewed Saildrone’s counter-drug mission in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific, extending the operation of Voyager USVs in these regions.

Cuba is experiencing further power outages as authorities struggle to restore energy to the national grid. Unfavorable weather in the Caribbean has disrupted restoration efforts, leaving many Cubans with limited daily electricity access.

A 69-year-old Connecticut man is recovering from a shark attack while snorkeling in the Caribbean as global shark sightings increase. The incident occurred during a cruise, with reports of rising shark activity off both coasts.

A massive sargassum bloom is covering coastlines from the Caribbean to Mexico, harming marine life and tourism. Mexico plans to invest $115 million to address the crisis, as the algae reaches record levels for the second consecutive year.

Sargassum seaweed is blanketing Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico coastlines, harming marine life and tourism. Mexico plans to invest $115 million to address the crisis, as decomposing seaweed drives away visitors and disrupts local economies.

Elizabeth Waddell's husband shared an update on her disappearance after nine days, stating the family has done all they can in the search and will return to the US. He mentioned the investigation will continue, as she vanished while swimming in Grenada.

Elizabeth 'Liz' Waddell, 44, disappeared during a three-week vacation in Grand Anse, a Caribbean beach resort. Her husband shared his beliefs about her disappearance.

Elizabeth Waddell, a North Carolina native, was seen walking toward a beach at 11:45 a.m. before jumping into the water from a jetty two minutes later. Her family shared video footage of the incident, which occurred hours before she went missing.

August typically marks an active phase of the Atlantic hurricane season, but this year's conditions—tepid tropical waters, high wind shear, and sinking air—are deterring tropical development. A global velocity potential anomaly pattern linked to a historic El Niño is creating stable, high-shear environments, likely leading to a quieter-than-usual August with potential for subtropical activity later in the month.

Jamaica is proposing to increase its General Consumption Tax on tourism from 10% to 15%, which hoteliers oppose, warning it could reduce the island's competitiveness against other Caribbean destinations.

The Trump administration plans to increase funding by hundreds of millions of dollars to counter China's global influence, including $175.8 million for undersea telecommunications cables in the Caribbean and Central America. The State Department also considers allocating nearly half a billion additional dollars for programs targeting China's economic and technological activities in the Western Hemisphere, Africa, and Asia.

Elizabeth Waddell, a 44-year-old U.S. woman, disappeared on July 22 at Grand Anse Beach in Grenada while vacationing with a friend. The Royal Grenada Police Force issued a missing persons notice, and her husband has joined the search for her.

El Niño reduces tropical activity in the Gulf, Caribbean, and South Florida while increasing it east of the U.S. near Bermuda. Strong El Niño years correlate with lower hurricane damage to the mainland U.S., contrasting with La Niña's increased activity across the Atlantic's Main Development Region.

A North Carolina physical therapist disappeared while visiting the Caribbean Island nation of Grenada. Her husband has pleaded for 'nothing less than her safe return.'

Tourism in Belize is projected to exceed pre-COVID numbers by over 10% due to expanding U.S. air service and airport modernization, making it a top Caribbean destination for American travelers seeking a combination of reef and ruins.

The USS Fort Lauderdale, a newly built amphibious assault ship, returned to Norfolk after completing an 11-month maiden voyage in the Caribbean.

President Trump advocates for accountability for perceived abuses by the Department of Justice but faces criticism for unilateral military actions deemed illegal by experts. Military operations like Operation Southern Spear, targeting alleged narco-terrorists in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific, are condemned as unlawful under domestic and international law. The Supreme Court's Trump v. United States decision grants Trump immunity but does not extend to subordinate officials involved in these actions.

The Atlantic has experienced a prolonged dry spell in July, with no active tropical systems since June 17. The National Hurricane Center reports unusually low activity, the slowest start to a hurricane season since 2009, though AI models initially suggested a potential storm in the Gulf, which has since been downgraded.

The article reveals the cheapest package holidays for 2026, highlighting a 25% price drop in the UAE and all-inclusive Caribbean breaks starting from £228 per night.

The Norfolk Naval Shipyard in Portsmouth, Va., welcomed the USS Gerald R. Ford for its Planned Incremental Availability after a 326-day deployment involving operations in the Mediterranean, Caribbean, and Red Seas. This marks the carrier's first regularly scheduled availability at a public shipyard.

An English court will rule on a final challenge to Trinidad and Tobago's colonial-era 'buggery' laws, which criminalize gay sex and could send offenders to prison for up to five years. Jason Jones, represented by former attorney general Anand Ramlogan, argues the laws are unconstitutional, facing opposition from the government and religious groups. The case could set a precedent for the Caribbean region.

A company director stole £550,000 from her elderly stepfather's life savings to fund luxury Caribbean holidays, supplies for her horses, and her daughter's wedding.

An English court is set to rule on a final challenge to Trinidad and Tobago's colonial-era 'buggery' laws, which criminalize gay sex. Jason Jones, who argues the laws are unconstitutional, faces opposition from the government and religious groups, with the case having previously been reviewed by local courts and now reaching the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council.

El Niño is exerting a stronger-than-usual influence on the Atlantic hurricane season, with record-setting warming in the eastern Pacific leading to elevated wind shear in the Caribbean since mid-June. This increased wind shear, a key suppressor of hurricane development, suggests a less active hurricane season ahead, particularly in August-October, though occasional storms may still form.

A strong El Niño is developing this year, with NOAA's RONI index nearing the threshold for classification. Strong El Niños typically reduce Atlantic hurricane activity by increasing wind shear but can shift seasonal storm distribution, leading to an earlier end to the season. Activity may peak later in August and decline quickly in October.

Global offshore oil, gas, and liquefied natural gas development is expanding into ecologically critical marine habitats, including marine protected areas, coral reefs in Kenya, Caribbean seagrass meadows, and Arctic whale migration corridors. A new report highlights the overlap between fossil fuel projects and these vital ecosystems.

The U.S. military conducted a strike on a vessel in the Caribbean, killing two people and leaving six survivors, claiming the vessel was involved in narco-trafficking. The Pentagon has not released identities of those killed or evidence of drugs, facing criticism from lawmakers and human rights groups over the strikes.

Bermuda’s Butterfield bank has agreed to acquire the Caribbean arm of Canada’s CIBC for $1.8 billion. CIBC is selling its 92% stake, ending its ownership in the region.

Leaders from Africa and the Caribbean meet in Ghana for a conference on reparatory justice. Taiwan accuses Kenya of sidelining officials at an international oceans forum due to Chinese pressure. Refugees from DR Congo in Burundi's Busuma camp support their national team in the World Cup.

South Florida is experiencing a hot and humid weather stretch in mid-June, with feels-like temperatures reaching up to 105°F. Highs are forecast to remain in the 90s, with some cooling storms possible early in the week. A low-pressure area near eastern Mexico has a 20% chance of development but is not a threat to South Florida.

The article discusses the critical role of military lawyers (judge advocates) in advising commanders on legal constraints amid ongoing challenges such as boat strikes in the Caribbean, the U.S. invasion of Venezuela, and a war with Iran. Former and retired judge advocates offer guidance to current legal advisors and leaders to navigate these complex issues.

South Florida is experiencing a hot and humid week with heat indices in the 100s. Tropical moisture moving into the Caribbean and Gulf is expected to increase rain chances by the end of the week and into the weekend, potentially cooling temperatures. Vivian Gonzalez, a meteorologist, reports on these conditions.