Author: Opastaff
Haitian konpa powerhouse Gabel returns with Infinity, their 7th studio album, a release that marks another milestone in their long-standing career. The group, which celebrated its 18th anniversary in January 2025, has built a reputation for consistency, delivering both music and videos on a regular basis while maintaining their signature blend of heartfelt melodies and infectious rhythms. Over the years, they have also released several live albums and standalone singles, further solidifying their place in the Haitian music business. Released on July 7 across all streaming platforms, Infinity offers 13 tracks that combine Gabel’s established konpa style with fresh collaborations…
The Ministry of National Education and Vocational Training (MENFP) has set October 1, 2025, as the start of the new academic year. The calendar outlines 186 days of classes, 11 holidays, and promises of curriculum reform, vocational training, and school meals. On the surface, it looks like a step toward stability. In reality, it may be nothing more than wishful thinking in a country where armed gangs have turned classrooms into battlegrounds and made no distinction between men, women, or children. Notably absent from MENFP’s announcement is any clear plan to keep students alive while they learn. This silence is…
Afrobeats star Ayra Starr has officially joined the roster of Roc Nation, the entertainment powerhouse founded by Jay-Z, marking a major milestone in her fast-rising career. While the Beninese-Nigerian singer remains signed to Mavin Records for her recording and distribution, Roc Nation will now oversee her global management and expansion. The move signals Ayra Starr’s growing influence beyond Africa, with Roc Nation set to steer her presence in key markets such as the United States and Europe. Her name and discography have already been added to Roc Nation’s official website, placing her alongside some of the world’s top performers. In…
On August 7, 2025, businessman Laurent Saint‑Cyr was sworn in as chair of the Transitional Presidential Council. He is the latest figure to take on the role of head of state in Haiti, a country still reeling from the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse on July 7, 2021. In the four years since Moïse was killed, Haiti has gone through a rotating door of interim leaders, all trying to fill a role that has been stripped of stability, trust, and, in many ways, constitutional clarity. Saint-Cyr now becomes the latest figure to assume head-of-state responsibilities in some form, either as…
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has released updated policy guidance regarding the processing of family-based immigrant visa petitions. These updates are now in effect and apply to all current and future filings. The policy aims to clarify the rules for U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents (green card holders) who are petitioning for family members to join them in the United States. This includes improved guidelines on eligibility, documentation, required interviews, and how decisions are made. The updates emphasize the importance of verifying that marriages and family relationships are legitimate and in full compliance with U.S. immigration law.…
The assassination of Haiti’s 58th President, Jovenel Moïse, on July 7, 2021, remains one of the country’s darkest and most unresolved tragedies. Four years later, the search for justice has become a tangled web of international politics, unfulfilled promises, and public appeals. This week, Joverlein Moïse, the son of the late president, penned an emotional open letter to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, urging the United States to ensure that those responsible for his father’s murder face true justice. In the letter, dated July 23, 2025, Joverlein Moïse called out the role of entrenched oligarchs who, he alleges, financed…
The popular women-focused dating and review app Tea has confirmed a major data breach that compromised approximately 72,000 user images. The breach, which was disclosed over the weekend, has raised significant concerns about user privacy and data security. What Happened Hackers reportedly accessed an older data storage system that contained sensitive user information. Around 13,000 selfies and government ID photos submitted for account verification were exposed, along with approximately 59,000 user-generated images, including photos from posts, comments, and private messages. The company emphasized that the breach primarily affected users who registered before February 2024 and that no emails, phone numbers,…
The long-standing paternity battle between Rymir Satterthwaite and rap mogul JAY-Z has taken an unexpected turn. After more than 14 years of legal disputes, Satterthwaite, who has claimed to be JAY-Z’s biological son since 2010, has officially dropped his paternity lawsuit. The case was withdrawn on July 18, 2025, in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, without a public explanation. Satterthwaite, now in his late 20s, has spent years demanding that JAY-Z take a DNA test to confirm or deny paternity. His mother, Wanda, who was reportedly 16 years old when she allegedly had a relationship…
French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife, First Lady Brigitte Macron, have filed a high-profile defamation lawsuit against American conservative commentator Candace Owens. The suit, filed on July 23, 2025, in Delaware Superior Court, spans over 218 pages and includes 22 counts of defamation, false light, and related claims. And let me warn you upfront, I’m Haitian, so I’ll be very biased with this reporting. The lawsuit accuses Owens of spreading a series of baseless and harmful conspiracy theories through her 2025 YouTube podcast series “Becoming Brigitte,” which has garnered over 2.3 million views. Among the claims highlighted in the…
When the RNDDH report was first released on August 20, 2021, it painted a grim picture of betrayal, chaos, and complicity surrounding the assassination of Haiti’s de facto President Jovenel Moïse. Now, looking back, the findings feel less like a closed chapter and more like an open wound on Haiti’s history. The report revealed how the president’s own security detail — the people paid to guard him, stood by or even facilitated the operation that led to his brutal murder at Pèlerin 5. It highlighted the failures of the nation’s intelligence services, the eerie silence of officials during his desperate…