U.S. Visa Policy: The U.S. has made its visa bond programme permanent, letting consular officers require some B1/B2 business and tourist applicants from 50 countries to post refundable bonds up to USD 20,000 before travel—aimed at improving compliance with visa conditions. Regional Business & Finance: General Accident is moving to merge its Trinidad subsidiary with Beacon Insurance, with Beacon as the surviving company, as the group reshapes its local footprint. Dominica Tourism & Tech: Tourism Minister Denise Charles-Pemberton says the Dominica Cable Car (due later this year) will boost tourism and create jobs, while also stressing that digital innovation and AI are now central to destination competitiveness. Coral & Climate Science: Coral reef experts from 90+ countries met in Auckland, launching new research initiatives including high-resolution mapping for the Pacific and pushing climate-focused reef protection. CARICOM Tax & AI: CARICOM’s Dr. Carla Barnett urged tax systems that are smart, data-driven and AI-enabled to secure sustainable revenue for the region. Local Skills for the Future: A Dominican entrepreneur launched youth skills development books that include digital literacy and IT alongside life and safety skills. Health & Food Policy: India is considering front-of-pack nutrition labelling and a health tax on high fat, sugar and salt foods as obesity and diet-related illness rise. Crime & Forensics: Two Americans were found guilty in Dominica for the 2023 murder of a Quebec couple, while Canada’s Toronto police used forensic genetic genealogy to charge a suspect in a decades-old case.