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Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf posted a modified “Straits Taylor Rule” hours before the Fed’s first rate hike since 2023.

He added the Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb as variables, then wrote: “You can’t 25bp a chokepoint.”

The interesting part is the economic argument behind the taunt: central banks can respond to inflation caused by an energy shock, but they can’t physically reopen a shipping lane or create more oil.

He also signed off with “Stay unanchored!”, a play on the Fed’s language around inflation expectations.

Full breakdown:
https://unitedpacstlucia.com/straits-taylor-rule-ghalibaf-fed-hormuz/

DHS and CBP have put forward a rule that would apply the existing 9-11 Response and Biometric Entry-Exit Fee, currently $4,000 for H-1B and $4,500 for L-1, to extension and renewal filings, not just initial petitions or employer changes. The rule would apply to employers with 50 or more staff where over half the workforce holds H-1B or L-1 status. Indian nationals accounted for roughly 77 percent of continuing employment H-1B approvals in FY2025, meaning they would bear the practical brunt even though employers technically pay the fee. The measure is still moving through the federal rulemaking process and has not taken effect.

Post: The reported plan would end more than four decades of continuous US embassy operations in Grenada. It also comes amid radar discussions, new visa-bond requirements and questions surrounding Grenada’s geopolitical relationships.

No official evidence links those issues to the proposed closure, but the timing raises important questions about future US engagement in the Eastern Caribbean.

Full report: https://unitedpacstlucia.com/us-embassy-in-grenada-closure/

US equities moved closer to record levels while oil prices declined after President Donald Trump claimed negotiations with Iran were underway. The market reaction suggests investors see possible diplomacy as a path toward reduced geopolitical risk and fewer threats to energy supplies. Much will depend on whether formal talks are confirmed and produce measurable progress.

A new comparison weighs crime rates, hurricane exposure, medical access and US travel advisories. Several destinations stand out, while others carry heightened warnings.

Full report:
https://unitedpacstlucia.com/safest-caribbean-islands-travel-warnings/

Haiti has begun registering voters ahead of December’s planned elections, marking a major step after years without a national vote.

The deeper concern is whether residents in gang-controlled and displaced communities will be able to register or vote safely.

Full report:
https://unitedpacstlucia.com/haiti-voter-registration-gang-threat/

A temporary visa bond policy is becoming permanent, and the maximum requirement is rising. The rule will not apply automatically to every applicant, but the upfront cost could be significant.

Read the full report:
https://unitedpacstlucia.com/grenada-us-visa-bond-travel-barrier-20000/

Secretary of State Marco Rubio made the remarks in a recent interview, arguing that Cuba's intelligence apparatus is unique because its agents inside American institutions have historically operated without financial compensation. The comment fits into a broader push from the State Department, which recently released a lengthy report characterizing Cuba as a persistent security and influence threat. Analysts have pointed to past cases like Ana Belén Montes and Walter Kendall Myers as examples of ideologically motivated Cuban agents who spied for decades without pay.

The White House announced this week that it is eliminating nearly 200,000 non-domiciled commercial driver's licenses held by foreign nationals, according to the administration's own figures. This follows a broader federal crackdown that has already forced states to cancel more than 30,000 licenses issued outside proper verification, with California, New York, Colorado, and Minnesota among the states cited by the Department of Transportation. In place of those drivers, the administration is expanding programs allowing military veterans to convert their driving experience directly into civilian CDLs, with trucking companies including Werner Enterprises reportedly moving to hire large numbers of veteran drivers. The White House also claims commercial trucking fatalities have dropped to a historic low, though that figure has not yet been independently verified.