Rihanna to Receive Edison Achievement Award for “Reshaping the World Through Innovation”

The Edison Achievement Awards ceremony will take place in Fort Myers, Florida on April 16. However, Rihanna won’t be making the trek as she is confirmed to accept virtually.

Rihanna is being singled out for her innovative skills.

The superstar singer and entrepreneur has been selected to receive an Edison Achievement Award, an honor doled out to recognize “individuals who are reshaping industries and the world through innovation.” The award is presented each year to groundbreakers “whose extraordinary contributions transcend expectations advancing human-centered design, accelerating meaningful change and redefining what’s possible within their fields.” Winners are plucked by a steering committee that zeroes in on recipients based on biography, impact and visionary practices.

The award ceremony will take place in Fort Myers, Florida on April 16. However, Rihanna won’t be making the trek as she is confirmed to accept virtually. Also set to be honored that night will be National Basketball Association commissioner Adam Silver.

“Rihanna has consistently pushed boundaries across music, beauty, fashion and philanthropy while setting new standards for creativity, inclusivity, and global influence,” said Frank Bonafilia, Edison Awards executive director. “She embodies the spirit of Thomas Edison, by using inclusive innovation as a catalyst for progress. We are honored to recognize her with this year’s award.”

In announcing the news, the Edison team cited Rihanna’s achievements in transforming the beauty industry with the launch of Fenty Beauty, hailed for its inclusive standards with the range of products, and building on that foundation and vision with an expansion that includes Fenty Skin, Fenty Hair and Savage X Fenty fashion line. In addition to her accomplishments in music, she also founded the Clara Lionel Foundation to give back.

Australia Gets Its First Female Army Chief, Susan Coyle.

Susan Coyle, currently chief of joint capabilities, is the first woman to be appointed head of any of the services in the Australian military.

Australia will get its first female chief of army, with the appointment of Lieutenant General Susan Coyle to the post. Coyle, currently chief of joint capabilities, is the first woman to be appointed head of any of the services in the Australian military.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced the appointments of new military chiefs on Monday, ahead of the government unveiling its 2026 statement on defense strategy and investment later this week. The appointments commence in July.

The current Navy Chief, Vice Admiral Mark Hammond, will become the new Chief of the Defence Force, replacing Admiral David Johnston.

Hammond has commanded submarines and the Australian fleet. He has been the Chief of the Navy since 2022. As the second naval officer in a row to serve as chief of the Australian Defence Force (ADF), his expertise is particularly relevant as Australia deals with the AUKUS agreement.

Coyle, who enlisted in the Army Reserves in 1987, has worked at the tactical, operational and strategic levels and in command roles. These include the commander of the Task Group Afghanistan and the commanding officer of the 17th Signal Regiment. She replaces Lieutenant General Stuart as Army Chief.

CARICOM backs UN resolution recognising slavery as crime against humanity

The CARICOM Reparations Commission has commended the adoption of a United Nations resolution recognising the trafficking and racialised chattel enslavement of Africans as the gravest crime against humanity.

Chairman of the commission, Hilary Beckles, described the resolution as a long-overdue milestone that provides a foundation for global engagement on justice and human dignity.

Speaking during a virtual media conference on March 7, Beckles called for sustained dialogue between nations that benefited from slavery and those still grappling with its legacy.

He said, “We’re calling for a dialogue of decency that is part of the discourse of development. Those who have benefited from the criminality of this system ought to engage the victims…to discuss how best to repair and move forward.”

The resolution, led by Ghana, was adopted on March 25, coinciding with the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade, with 123 countries voting in support.

Beckles emphasised that the development marked a significant step in advancing justice and reconciliation for descendants of enslaved Africans, noting that reparatory justice must form part of broader development discussions.

“In the CARICOM Reparations Commission, we are of the view that reparatory justice is part of our development conversation… it is about repairing the economic, social and cultural resources necessary for human development,” he added.

He further highlighted the collaborative efforts between the African Union and CARICOM in pushing the agenda over the years, describing the resolution as the culmination of decades of advocacy.

According to him, the global position on slavery has evolved significantly since the 2001 Durban conference, where it was first proposed that chattel slavery be recognised as a crime against humanity.

“We have now moved from ‘should have been a crime’ to it being recognised as the gravest crime against humanity. The world is much more united on this matter now than it was then,” Beckles said.

He added that the resolution places the issue of slavery and its enduring impact within the proper context of human development, paving the way for deeper international cooperation on reparatory justice.