International News - Channel 5 Belize

Cuba Faces Second Nationwide Blackout as Electrical Grid Collapses Again

Cuba was plunged into darkness early Saturday morning after its national electrical grid collapsed for the second time in 24 hours, according to state-run media. The grid operator, UNE, reported the “total disconnection of the national electro-energetic system” at 6:15 a.m., leaving the entire island without power.

The blackout came just hours after Cuban authorities announced they had begun restoring service following a previous collapse on Friday. While some progress was made in bringing electricity back to critical areas, including hospitals and parts of Havana, most of the country’s 10 million residents were still without power by Saturday afternoon.

Throughout Havana, traffic lights remained off, commerce was halted, and long lines formed at state-subsidised stores as Cubans waited to purchase essential items like bread. The country’s top electricity official, Lazaro Guerra, stated that efforts were underway to raise capacity and restart power plants, though he could not guarantee that full restoration would be achieved by the end of the day.

Confusion arose when state-run outlet CubaDebate reported a second grid collapse, while Guerra described it as a more localised issue, not directly confirming another total failure.

Cuba’s grid first failed around midday on Friday after one of its largest power plants shut down. The country has been grappling with worsening blackouts for weeks, which the government attributes to ageing infrastructure, fuel shortages, and increased demand. Strong winds from Hurricane Milton last week complicated efforts to deliver fuel from offshore to power plants.

Archdiocese of Los Angeles Agrees to $880M Settlement in Sex Abuse Claims

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles has reached an $880 million settlement with 1,353 individuals who alleged they were sexually abused by priests, marking the largest payout by a U.S. diocese in response to decades-old claims of abuse.

Archbishop José H. Gomez expressed deep sorrow for the victims, stating, “I am sorry for every one of these incidents, from the bottom of my heart.” He also hoped the settlement would offer some healing for those who suffered.

The settlement follows months of negotiations after a California law allowed new lawsuits over past cases of child sexual abuse. Attorneys for the victims described the abuse as horrific, and the settlement concludes 25 years of litigation against the largest U.S. archdiocese. Prior settlements had already cost the Los Angeles Archdiocese $740 million, bringing the total compensation to over $1.5 billion.

Unlike several other dioceses in California, such as San Francisco and San Diego, which have filed for bankruptcy to manage similar claims, the Los Angeles Archdiocese did not declare bankruptcy. Instead, it will cover the payments using cash reserves, investments, loans, and contributions from religious organizations involved in lawsuits.

While no amount of money can undo the harm caused, attorneys on both sides issued a joint statement thanking survivors for coming forward and ensuring that steps are taken to prevent future abuse.

The Catholic Church has been repeatedly shaken by sexual abuse scandals globally, particularly since the Boston Globe’s 2002 investigation into the widespread abuse and cover-up in the Boston diocese, which inspired the Oscar-winning film *Spotlight*. In the U.S. alone, more than 11,000 complaints have been filed against clergy, leading to hundreds of millions of dollars in settlements.

Five Decapitated Bodies Found in Jalisco, Cartel Links Suspected

The decapitated bodies of five men have been discovered along a road in central Mexico, specifically in an area controlled by the notorious Jalisco New Generation Cartel. Authorities were alerted to the scene near Ojuelos in Jalisco state on Sunday morning after drivers reported seeing plastic bags containing the remains. Forensic experts are currently working to identify the victims.

The brutal nature of the murders and the public disposal of the bodies strongly suggest cartel involvement. National Guard troops also responded and found the remains wrapped in black plastic bags, according to a statement from the Jalisco state prosecutor’s office. The ages of the victims have not yet been determined, and an investigation is underway.

Official figures indicate that Jalisco has seen 1,415 homicides between January and September this year. Nationwide, Mexico grapples with one of the highest murder rates in the world, with over 30,000 fatalities annually.

This violence comes on the heels of last week’s assassination of Alejandro Arcos, a newly elected mayor in Chilpancingo, Guerrero, just days after taking office. President Claudia Sheinbaum, who was sworn in recently, has ruled out a return to the aggressive “war on drugs” tactics of previous administrations, instead proposing a strategy focused on intelligence gathering and addressing the root causes of violence—a plan dubbed “hugs not bullets” by her predecessor, Andrés Manuel López Obrador. However, opposition leaders are calling for stronger measures against the drug gangs.

Since the Mexican government began deploying the military against cartels in 2006, the country has witnessed hundreds of thousands of deaths and tens of thousands of disappearances.

Hurricane Milton Rips through Florida, Claiming at Least 12 Lives

The dreaded hurricane that Florida residents were bracing for has finally passed, but not without causing significant devastation. At least twelve lives were lost, many more people are now homeless, and millions are without power. The hurricane made landfall near Siesta Key, Florida, late Wednesday evening as a Category Three storm, packing winds of one hundred and twenty miles per hour. It uprooted trees and knocked down light poles, causing widespread power outages along Florida’s Gulf Coast. Many Belizeans living in the storm’s path were affected. While there have been no reports of Belizean casualties, many are now beginning the arduous task of cleaning up and repairing their damaged homes. Before hitting land, the hurricane had intensified to a Category Five in the Gulf of Mexico but weakened just before making landfall. It dumped over ten inches of rain in some parts of Florida, with other areas receiving an additional eight to twelve inches.

Milton Hits Florida, Causes Widespread Power Outages and Flooding

Hurricane Milton made landfall on Wednesday evening as a powerful Category 3 storm near Siesta Key, Florida, a barrier island about 70 miles south of Tampa Bay. With winds of 120 mph, Milton caused severe storm surges in Sarasota County, reaching up to 10 feet. By Thursday morning, the storm had weakened to a Category 1 as it moved across the state, but it still left widespread damage, power outages, and reports of deaths.

More than 3.2 million Floridians were left without power, and the National Weather Service issued tornado warnings across several cities in addition to hurricane and storm surge warnings. Earlier in the day, multiple tornadoes were reported, including a “multi-vortex” twister.

Initially a Category 5 storm with winds exceeding 180 mph, Milton’s strength diminished as it neared Florida’s Gulf Coast. Experts warned of severe flooding and damage, similar to what happened with Hurricane Katrina. Despite the weakening, storm surges and dangerous winds were still a major concern.

Milton continued its path across Florida before moving off the east coast, transitioning into a tropical storm as it entered the Atlantic.

Belizeans in the Path of Powerful Hurricane Milton

Ads About Belize Exposed to Atlanta Football Fans

Belize is often called Mother Nature’s Best Kept Secret, but that might change soon! A series of eye-catching ads lit up the big screens at a packed U.S. football stadium, aiming to make Belize the go-to vacation spot for Atlanta residents. On Saturday, the Belize Tourism Board launched a strategic ad campaign at the bustling Atlanta Mercedes-Benz Stadium during a soccer match between Atlanta United FC and New York Red Bulls. Leading the charge were the Minister of Tourism, Anthony Mahler, the Minister of Sports, Rodwell Ferguson, the Minister of State in the Ministry of Sports, Gilroy Usher, along with other officials. Belizeans from the Atlanta Diaspora, and representatives from the Belize Hotel Association and the Belize Tourism Board were also in attendance. News Five’s Marion Ali brings us the scoop on this new marketing strategy that’s set to boost tourism from Atlanta.

Marion Ali, Reporting

To stay ahead in the fierce competition for tourist dollars, the Belize Tourism Board (BTB) came up with a creative strategy: sponsoring the Atlanta United Football Club for 2024. This partnership gave Belize prime-time advertising at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium, where Atlanta United triumphed over New York’s Red Bulls. According to Gale Malic Ozaeta from BTB’s Marketing and Communications, these ads showcased Belize to forty-five thousand fans at the game and at least five million Atlanta United fans across the U.S.

Gale Malic Ozaeta, Marketing and Communications Mgr., B.T.B

“We chose the Atlanta United FC team because they are based in Atlanta – Atlanta, Georgia being one of our key source markets for arrivals. They are one of the top ten destinations within the U.S. where we get our highest arrivals from. Atlanta is also a hub destination. Delta Airlines flies directly from Atlanta to Belize. So, by partnering with them, by being a destination sponsor of them, we had the opportunity to reach that entire audience through different mediums. So, being at the game, having our ads running within the stadium, a stadium full of 45, 000 people, we’re directly targeting these 45,000 people. But we also had ads running outside the stadium.”

Minister of Sports, Rodwell Ferguson was one of the attendees at the game. He said the ads even took on creative sports/tourism concepts.

Rodwell Ferguson, Minister of Sports

“It shows sites in Belize, in particular, the blue hole. No matter how far there was a net and a ball, when you kick the ball, then there was a feature of the Blue Hole and somebody was sitting on a chair. And when somebody scores a goal, The person that the person that you are dropped up in the water into the blue world. It was very, very significant.”

The idea followed last year’s one closely where Belize did marketing advertising in New York’s Times Square. And now the B.T.B is expecting that the sponsorship we invested at the Atlanta game on Saturday will yield new visitors and great returns.

Gale Malic Ozaeta

“We would be able to definitely identify where the increase is coming from because the immigration form does ask them what state you’re coming from and so we will be able to measure.”

Marion Ali for News Five.

Hurricane Milton Returns to Category 5 Strength

Hurricane Milton has regained its Category 5 strength. Authorities in Florida have issued urgent warnings for residents along the west-central coast. With destructive winds and life-threatening storm surges expected, officials are urging residents to prepare their homes and evacuate if ordered to do so.

The National Hurricane Centre has issued a storm surge warning, warning of potential inundations of 10 feet or more along the coastline. Residents in these areas are facing a dire situation and are advised to evacuate immediately. “Waiting until tomorrow may be too late,” officials said.

Milton’s devastating hurricane-force winds are expected to hit the west coast, with gusts reaching inland. The storm is projected to maintain its hurricane strength as it crosses Florida, bringing significant risks of prolonged power outages. Residents are urged to finalise preparations by tonight.

In addition to the wind and storm surge, heavy rainfall across the Florida Peninsula through Thursday could result in catastrophic flash flooding. River levels are expected to rise as coastal and inland flooding combine, amplifying the overall threat to the region.

Dominican Republic Deports Nearly 11,000 Haitians Amid Growing Tensions

The Dominican Republic announced on Tuesday that it has deported or repatriated nearly 11,000 Haitians in the past week, fulfilling its commitment to deport up to 10,000 Haitians weekly. This move comes as Haiti grapples with severe poverty and rampant gang violence.

In response to the mass deportations, Haitian officials have called for an emergency meeting at the Organization of American States, scheduled for Tuesday afternoon. Haitian Prime Minister Garry Conille criticised the deportations on social media, stating that they violate fundamental principles of human dignity.

Activists warn that the deportations endanger the lives of thousands as Haiti struggles with escalating gang violence and a deepening humanitarian crisis. Dominique Dupuy, Haiti’s foreign affairs minister, condemned the deportations as “dehumanising acts,” while activist William Charpentier highlighted the growing number of abandoned children in the Dominican Republic as parents are forcibly taken.

Concerns have also been raised about the treatment of legal migrants, with reports of extortion by Dominican soldiers demanding payments to avoid deportation, even for those with proper documentation.

Hurricane Milton Targets Florida

Hurricane Milton is expected to make landfall on Florida’s west coast late Wednesday as a Category 3 storm, packing winds of 111 to 129 mph (180 to 210 kph). Meteorologists anticipate that Milton will maintain hurricane strength as it moves across central Florida towards the Atlantic Ocean. This trajectory is likely to spare other states recently devastated by Hurricane Helene, which claimed at least 230 lives along its path from Florida to the Carolinas.

State officials are urging residents not to underestimate Milton’s potential impact and to heed evacuation orders. Florida’s Division of Emergency Management has released a list of counties currently under evacuation notices. Several areas remain inundated with debris, including waterlogged furniture, appliances, and personal belongings, piled high along the streets. Many residents have temporarily vacated their homes, which have become uninhabitable.

Christine Jones, a Belizean-American living in Ruskin Town, Florida, shared her preparation efforts, stating, “This morning I spent helping my neighbours put up their shutters.” She has stocked up on nonperishable food and fuel, recalling the damage from Hurricane Ian three years ago. “I’m hoping that everything holds together,” she added.

Belizean Shadini Henry, who has lived in Florida for over eight years, faced difficulties securing essential supplies post-Helene. “It was hard to find water in the stores,” she explained, noting the rush to fill vehicles with gas before the storm.

Janine Sylvestre, the Consul of Belize in Florida, has issued an urgent warning as Hurricane Milton. Most of Florida is under a state of emergency, and the storm’s effects could be felt statewide. Residents are urged to prepare essential supplies and review hurricane plans, including provisions for pets and seniors. For urgent consular assistance, contact the Consulate at 305-300-7520.

Belize Assumes Chairmanship of the Permanent Council of OAS

Belize has taken on the Chairmanship of the Permanent Council of the Organization of American States (OAS) at their headquarters in Washington DC. During a formal ceremony on October fourth, Ambassador Victor Fernandes of Barbados handed over the ceremonial gavel to Ambassador Lynn Young of Belize, marking this significant transition. Belize steps into this leadership role at a crucial time for the hemisphere. Ambassador Young’s appointment highlights Belize’s strong commitment to regional cooperation, democracy, and development—key principles of the OAS. In his acceptance speech, Ambassador Young expressed a deep sense of responsibility in leading the Permanent Council and reaffirmed Belize’s dedication to the core mission of the OAS.

Lynn Young, Ambassador, OAS

“His Excellency Nestor Mendez, Assistant Secretary General, Ambassador Fernandez, colleagues, distinguished guests, permanent representatives. It is with great humility and a deep sense of responsibility that I stand before you today as the newly appointed chair of the permanent council for the Organization of American States. I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to the members of this distinguished body, to the members of this distinguished body for entrusting Belize with this important role and I extend my appreciation to our outgoing chair and his vice chair for their exemplary leadership during a challenging period of our hemisphere.”