Emancipation & culture: Award-winning actress and activist Jenifer Lewis arrived in Barbados for the Season of Emancipation, sharing a message of resilience, heritage and unity as part of Marcus Garvey Day events. Road safety: Trident Insurance and the Ministry of Transport and Works are repainting pedestrian crossings near multiple schools and tackling potholes ahead of the new term. Education reform: Education Minister Chad Blackman has postponed continuous assessment for secondary school placement after parent and stakeholder concerns, keeping the Common Entrance Exam in its current format for now; teachers’ union also urges a phased, consultative rollout. Caregiving & gender: The Bureau of Gender Affairs is pushing for greater equality in caregiving, with Minister Adrian Forde stressing that care is about time, love and participation—not just money. Public safety: Police say escaped prisoner Tyrese Leroy Farrell (“Twin”) is now in custody, after turning himself in following an escape from Hastings/Worthing Police Station. Housing & homelessness: Barbados Alliance to End Homelessness says evictions—sometimes at night and involving families with children—are driving people into homelessness. Local farming & food security: Farmers and vendors welcomed a push for Massy Supermarkets to formalise contract buy-in arrangements, backed by government funding. Arts & festival buzz: Jam Tunes returns to Crop Over after a decade, with LaStacia named a joint winner. Diaspora & reparatory justice: President John Dramani Mahama praised The UWI for scholarship and reparatory justice work during a landmark visit.