Belizean cyclist Kaya Cattouse successfully fought off would-be robbers in Jamaica. According to Pedal Sisters, Cattouse was cycling to meet a cycling group when two motorcyclists attempted to steal her phone.
“The pocket part of her Jersey was ripped. She fought them off, and they were unsuccessful in stealing her phone. She continued on the ride that day.”
Kaya Cattouse’s ripped jersey.
On a social media platform, Cattouse said “Bally actually pull up sida me while I di ride and shub eh hand eena MY pocket fu MY phone.”
“The Federation president Dr Wayne Palmer stepped in and she is now being escorted for the rest of her training/ vacation period for the upcoming Pan American Championship.”
Days before the incident, theJamaica Cycling Federation put out an advisory regarding attacks on cyclists. Cyclists are advised to ride in groups with an accompanying bike or vehicle. The Federation says that thieves are targeting phones.
Israel conducted a military strike inside Iran. This marks a potentially hazardous escalation in the rapidly evolving conflict across the Middle East. Iranian state media said that the country’s air defense systems were activated in Isfahan and Tabriz following three explosions near a major military airbase close to Isfahan.
Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi, Iran’s army commander-in-chief, attributed the explosions above Isfahan to anti-aircraft systems engaging a suspicious object, without causing damage. Other Iranian sources mentioned the interception of three drones by air defenses, with no reports of a missile strike.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken confirmed later that the US was not involved in any offensive operations but was focused on Israel’s defense and de-escalation efforts.
Israel’s Iron Dome air defense system launches to intercept missiles fired from Iran on Sunday. Tomer Neuberg / AP April 13, 2024
Tensions in the Middle East have remained high since Iran’s unprecedented direct strike against Israel on Saturday, which saw Iran launch over 300 drones and cruise missiles towards Israel in retaliation for a suspected Israeli strike on an Iranian diplomatic complex in Damascus earlier in April.
The Western allies of Israel have voiced support for Israel while also calling for restraint in the wake of Iran’s attack on Saturday.
A flyer making its rounds on social media has caught the attention of Commissioner of Police, Chester Williams. The party invites people to an “adult” party with an entrance fee of $1,500.
This morning, Williams said, “What is being advertised here is tantamount to prostitution, which is still illegal in our law books.”
Williams encourages all potential attendees “not to participate in this illegal and moral act.” He says that the department will be doing “all we can to find out where this event will be held and to hold those responsible accountable.”
When this newsroom contacted the number on the flyer, the person who answered said she had no idea about the flyer and inquired where the flyer was posted. She sounded distraught that her number was being used.
Three alleged members of the notorious gang PIV were arrested and remanded to jail after being found in possession of a gun, ammunition, and significant quantities of marijuana and cocaine on Saint George’s Caye. The accused, including alleged PIV co-leader Edwin Flowers, were brought before a Senior Magistrate and faced multiple charges, including firearm possession and drug-related offenses. Despite pleading not guilty, they were denied bail due to the seriousness of the charges.
Full details on News 5 Live tonight at six o’clock.
Mario Lubetkin, Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), engaged in the United Nations’ assessment of countries’ progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals at the “Review of Progress in the Transformation of Food Systems” event.
Held on April 17, 2024, in Santiago, Chile, the event was organized by the United Nations Food Systems Coordination Center (Hub) in partnership with several organizations including the FAO, the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO/WHO), and the World Food Programme (WFP), among others. Lola Castro, WFP Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean, and Stefanos Fotiou, Director of the UN Food Systems Coordination Center, inaugurated the event. Amina Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, and Mario Lubetkin participated in the event’s closing ceremony.
National convenors, UN resident coordinators, and representatives from various stakeholders attended the event, which aimed to evaluate countries’ progress in transforming their agrifood systems, foster regional knowledge exchange, and identify emerging trends and solutions in response to the UN Secretary-General’s call to action issued during the UN Food Systems Stocktaking Event (UNFSS+2) in Rome in July 2023.
The event emphasized the importance of creating a collaborative and participatory platform for countries to share best practices and effective strategies in building necessary capacities within the region. Peer-to-peer knowledge exchange was recognized as a vital tool to support the transformation of food systems at both national and sub-regional levels.
UN Deputy Secretary-General and Chair of the UN Sustainable Development Group, Amina Mohammed
UN Deputy Secretary-General and Chair of the UN Sustainable Development Group, Amina Mohammed, stated: “These meetings are critical to shaping our collective vision for more sustainable, equitable, healthy, and resilient food systems and indicate the acceleration we need to achieve the SDGs by 2030. The network of national conveners is growing; it is stronger every day and is the best asset for the food system summit process in implementing all national pathways.
Mario Lubetkin, Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative of the Food and Agriculture Organization
In his speech, Mario Lubetkin stated: “We have analyzed how the region has made some progress in reducing hunger and food insecurity figures. Our latest estimates show that three million people no longer suffer from hunger. However, we still face important challenges and gaps linked to agrifood systems, which could hamper our ability to respond.
He added: “In this context, the transformation of agrifood systems becomes an immediate and critical need, a process in which investments and political and development agendas must be aligned to accelerate progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals. We have crossed the halfway mark for the 2030 Agenda, so the need to accelerate our progress is urgent.”
This regional meeting will serve as preparation for future actions, including COP29 in Azerbaijan and COP30 in Brazil, where the food systems transformation agenda is expected to remain high on the climate and sustainable development agenda.
Lubetkin also moderated Table 2: “SDG 2: Zero Hunger” of the Forum of Latin American and Caribbean Countries on Sustainable Development. During his intervention, he said that it is necessary to prioritize policies and programs that really impact food security and nutrition of people, and for this, it is more relevant than ever to strengthen national and regional coordination mechanisms. “The road to food security and nutrition in Latin America and the Caribbean requires continued commitment and concerted action on multiple fronts to ensure the well-being of present and future generations in the region,” he said.
Jamaica’s opposition is calling on the government to implement a social media policy for government officials. This demand stems from the recent online activity of State Minister Alando Terrelonge, which involved the alteration of portraits of former Prime Ministers Portia Simpson Miller and P.J. Patterson at the Jamaican High Commission in London.
The portraits of the former prime ministers associated with the People’s National Party were obscured by Jamaican flag emojis in the background. The portraits of former prime ministers from the Jamaica Labour Party remained untouched.
Nekeisha Burchell, Shadow Minister of Information and Public Communication, denounced Terrelonge’s actions as disloyal, stressing a lack of reverence for the two esteemed leaders who have diligently served the nation. She emphasised that such behaviour not only offended supporters of the former prime ministers but also tarnished Jamaica’s reputation on an international level.
Terrelonge expressed remorse for the now-deleted post. He blamed a former team member who no longer has access to his social media accounts.
Rising temperatures across Spain are thought to be responsible for growing numbers of insecticide-resistant Germanic cockroaches.
Climate change could be causing a concerning uptick in the number of cockroach infestations in Spain – as well as alterations to their genetic makeup.
So far this year, Spanish authorities have reported a significant rise in infestations – up by 33 per cent compared to the rate in 2023.
Experts say record hot temperatures are to blame for these ‘mutant’ cockroaches. Increased heat means the pests’ metabolic cycles accelerate – and it’s particularly evident in the Germanic cockroach. That’s a worry as that variety is prevalent in homes and food-related businesses.
Hotter-than-average temperatures also mean that the breeding season of the creatures is getting longer and their genetic resistance to conventional insecticides has been enhanced.
All of these factors are linked to a broader and more serious public health issue, with more frequent sightings being reported in both residential and commercial establishments.
How has climate change caused these changes in cockroaches?
Jorge Galván is the director of the National Association of Environmental Health Companies (ANECPLA). Speaking to Spanish newspaper 20 Minutos, he said experts are concerned that this genetic shift is making it challenging to control the cockroach population effectively.
Pest controllers are trying to fight the growing problem, though. They’re moving towards using less invasive and more sustainable methods, ranging from improved sanitation practices to mechanical traps.
The need for these different methods appears to be global warming. In recent years, Spain has made a gradual shift from a subtropical to a tropical climate, which prompts longer active periods for pests like cockroaches.
Cockroaches in Spain are becoming increasingly able to resist pest control methodsErik Karits via Unsplash
The Germanic cockroach was first detected in Europe in the 18th century and was controlled using various methods for decades.
In the 1990s, spraying of the insects was replaced by the use of ‘sweet baits’, which contain insecticides. These release fewer chemicals which can harm the environment.
The current breed of cockroaches are increasingly unsusceptible to this type of killer, meaning more of them can survive – and for longer.
The Germanic variety was once isolated in the Canary Islands region, off the coast of Morocco, to mainland areas including Andalucia and the Mediterranean coast as well as the Balearic Islands to the east of Spain.
Cockroaches tend to emerge out of their own form of hibernation as spring approaches and now, as temperatures heat up, the proliferation of the pests in Spain is an increasingly worrying public health concern.
Police officer Marcus Che is tonight sitting in a jail cell at the Belize Central Prison after he was arraigned on a single charge of “unnatural crime.” He is accused of raping a fifteen-year-old boy on Sunday, April 14.
The official police report states that “On Tuesday, April 16, 2024, at about 9:30 a.m., a 15-year-old, (male) Belizean student of Punta Gorda Town reported to police in the presence of his mother that on Sunday, April 14, 2024, sometimes around 2:45 a.m., a 29-year-old, Belizean Police Officer had sexual relations with him.”
PC Marcus Che was arraigned today at the Punta Gorda Magistrate Court and was read a single charge of unnatural crime. Due to the nature of the crime, no plea was taken from him, and he was remanded until June 11, 2024, for disclosure.
The Office of the Prime Minister informs that the Prime Minister Hon. John Briceño left the country on an official visit to Vatican City, Rome, to meet with Pope Francis.
The Prime Minister will return to Belize on April 24. During his absence, Hon. Cordel Hyde, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Natural Resources, Petroleum and Mining will hold over as Prime Minister.
Sixty-three-year-old Anke Doehm was today sentenced to five years behind bars at the Belize Central Prison. Doehm, who was reportedly diagnosed with blood cancer in 2018, was found guilty of cruelty of a child. Doehm stood trial following the death of thirteen-year-old Fay Lin Cannon back in 2017. The tragic incident involving the abused teenager happened in San Pedro. The court determined that Fay Lin was malnourished and abused sexually and physically.
Doehm must also enroll in every rehabilitation programme at the prison. She will be eligible for parole after serving half of her prison term.
