International News - Channel 5 Belize

Trump’s First Immigration Raids to Target Chicago

Donald Trump’s incoming administration plans to launch its first immigration raid in Chicago on Tuesday, targeting over 300 individuals with violent crime histories, according to reports from unnamed officials. The operation, slated to last a week, will involve deploying 100 to 200 US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers to the city.

Chicago, known for its strong sanctuary city policies, has drawn criticism from Trump and his incoming border czar, Tom Homan, who vowed to prosecute local officials obstructing federal immigration enforcement.

While ICE officials have indicated that enforcement efforts will occur nationwide, including in New York and Miami, advocates fear the raids will sweep up individuals without criminal records or those with legal status. Community groups in Chicago have been mobilizing, educating immigrants about their rights, and preparing phone trees to alert residents of ICE activity.

Chicago officials, including Governor JB Pritzker and Mayor Brandon Johnson, reaffirmed their commitment to sanctuary policies, with local Democratic leaders urging immigrants to stay calm, know their rights, and avoid granting officers access to their homes without warrants.

As Trump’s administration prepares for large-scale deportations, immigrant rights groups are bracing for legal challenges while attempting to shield vulnerable communities from the anticipated crackdown.

Guatemala has expressed willingness to accept citizens from other Central American countries deported from the United States as part of its efforts to foster a positive relationship with the incoming Trump administration. According to Prime Minister John Briceño, Belize will not.

When asked about possible pressure, he added, “We are a sovereign nation, and they cannot force us to accept people that are not citizens from this country. And as far as I am concerned, we are not going to accept any citizen that is not Belizean.”

U.S. Supreme Court Upholds TikTok Ban

The U.S. Supreme Court has unanimously upheld a nationwide ban on TikTok unless the app’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance, divests ownership to a U.S.-based entity. The ruling, announced on Friday, aligns with congressional and Department of Justice concerns over TikTok’s potential threat to U.S. national security.

The U.S. Department of Justice welcomed the court’s decision.

Lawmakers who pushed for the ban argue that TikTok’s ownership by ByteDance poses significant risks. They claim the Chinese Communist Party could exploit the app to manipulate Americans and spread propaganda.

TikTok has resisted divestiture, stating in legal filings that selling to a non-Chinese company is “not commercially, technologically, or legally feasible.” The app’s potential removal has drawn backlash from creators, civil liberties groups, and First Amendment advocates, who argue the decision amounts to censorship and sets a troubling precedent.

This means TikTok, which is used by 170 million people in the US, will no longer be available for download in app stores starting on Sunday 19 January.

Israel and Hamas Agree to Ceasefire, Ending 15-Month Gaza War

Israel and Hamas have reached a ceasefire agreement to end the 15-month conflict in Gaza. The agreement includes an exchange of Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners, marking a potential resolution to a war that has destabilised the Middle East.

The ceasefire comes after months of negotiations brokered by Egyptian and Qatari mediators with U.S. backing, finalised just before the inauguration of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump on January 20. Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, collaborated with outgoing President Joe Biden’s team to expedite the deal, with Trump warning of severe consequences if hostages were not released.

The conflict escalated on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led gunmen breached Israeli security barriers, killing 1,200 soldiers and civilians and abducting over 250 hostages. In response, Israel launched a military campaign in Gaza, resulting in over 46,000 deaths, according to Gaza health officials, and leaving the territory devastated.

The deal may alleviate domestic outrage in Israel over the October 7 security failure, which led to the deadliest day in the nation’s history. Additionally, the agreement follows Israel’s targeted killings of top leaders from Hamas and Hezbollah, which bolstered its position amid broader regional tensions involving Iran-backed proxies in Lebanon, Iraq, and Yemen.

In September 2024, Belize’s Foreign Affairs Minister Francis Fonseca addressed the 79th Session of the UN General Assembly in New York City and touched on several global issues, including the Israel-Hamas war.

“In our region. Mr. President, Belize rejects the continued denial of self-determination of the Palestinian people and calls for the eradication of the system of colonial domination and apartheid being imposed upon them, as Belize stated to the International Court of Justice,” he said.

Minister Fonseca added, “In the recent advisory opinion, Israel could not be permitted to continue flouting one of the most fundamental principles of international law with impunity.”

In November 2023, Belize severed diplomatic ties with Israel. Belize also withdrew its approval for Einat Kranz-Neiger to serve as Israel’s Ambassador to Belize. All operations of the Israeli Honorary Consulate in Belize and the appointment of its Honorary Consul were suspended. Belize also suspended its Honorary Consulate in Tel Aviv.

Haiti’s Displacement Crisis Surpasses One Million: UN Report

The number of displaced people in Haiti has surged threefold over the past year, surpassing one million amid escalating gang violence, according to the United Nations. Children make up more than half of the displaced population.

A report released by the UN’s International Organization for Migration (IOM) on Tuesday revealed that 1,041,000 individuals, many of whom have been displaced multiple times, are struggling to survive. The crisis is driven by relentless gang violence, which claimed over 5,600 lives in 2024 and left thousands more injured or abducted. Armed gangs now control large parts of Port-au-Prince, while the police face accusations of violence against suspected gang members, compounding the nation’s long-standing political instability.

The IOM highlighted that 83 percent of displaced Haitians rely on already overburdened host communities, including friends, family, and acquaintances, for shelter. The remainder endure harsh conditions in makeshift sites, which have increased from 73 to 108 over the past year.

Further exacerbating the situation, 200,000 Haitians were deported back to the country in 2024, placing additional strain on its overstretched social services.

Efforts to address the crisis have seen limited success. Despite a Kenyan-led police support mission backed by the United States and the UN, violence continues to escalate.

Belize’s involvement in the Kenya-led mission to restore peace in Haiti has begun with the deployment of two Belize Defence Force (BDF) soldiers to Port-au-Prince. These soldiers are serving as staff officers in the CARICOM Joint Taskforce, led by Jamaica, and are gathering ground-level intelligence. Brigadier General Azariel Loria explained that their work will help inform the timing of a larger deployment, which is contingent on the procurement of necessary equipment. Countries like the Bahamas and Barbados are also contributing troops, coordinated by the Regional Security System (RSS). The BDF will proceed with its full deployment once conditions and logistics are deemed favourable.

Wildfires in LA Claim Five Lives; Belizeans in the Diaspora on Edge

Fierce wildfires raging out of control in the Los Angeles area have tragically claimed five lives and forced nearly two hundred thousand people to flee their homes. Firefighters are battling to contain the blazes, which continue to spiral out of control. Thankfully, Belizeans in the area have remained safe, but they’re keeping a close watch on the situation. Today, two Belizeans living in the diaspora joined us on Open Your Eyes to share what they’re witnessing on the ground.

Belizean Living in LA #1

“Central LA and Los Angeles is close-knit when it comes to the Belizean community. We’re the largest Caribbean community here. So everybody’s attention is on this, you know. Everybody wishing the best for everybody because a lot of friends, family, loved ones affected directly with this. Never, never had this happened here before, you know.”

Belizean Living in LA #2

“I’m in the Gardenia area at the moment. I work at UCLA, which is in Westwood, which is closer to the Palisades area, and so because of that we just got word late last night that UCLA canceled classes for undergraduate students and for grad students, they’re going to go remote. For us, we’re going to be working remote also the next two days just for our safety. For anything can happen. It’s moving pretty quickly and so until they can contain it, that’s where we stand. And it’s very devastating. You know, I could speak from my experience with UCLA that students are displaced. I got word late last night and some images from one of my cousins. He was being picked up by his mom and the parking lot – this is after 11 pm – the parking lot was packed. And that’s because a lot of parents and families are picking up their kids, their loved ones and taking them home probably for the weekend just to be safe.”

Meta to Get Rid of Fact Checkers

Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has announced it will discontinue the use of independent fact-checkers on its platforms, replacing them with “community notes” inspired by X (formerly Twitter). The new system allows users to provide context or clarifications on posts, relying on input from diverse viewpoints.

CEO Mark Zuckerberg justified the move in a video accompanying a blog post on Tuesday, stating that third-party moderators were “too politically biased” and that Meta aims to prioritise “free expression.” Joel Kaplan, Meta’s new head of global affairs, echoed this sentiment, saying the reliance on independent moderators, while well-intentioned, had led to unnecessary censorship.

The decision has sparked criticism from online safety advocates, who argue it could exacerbate the spread of hate speech and disinformation. Ava Lee of Global Witness accused Meta of aligning with the incoming Trump administration, calling the change a “blatant attempt to curry favour” and avoid accountability for harmful content.

Meta’s current fact-checking program, introduced in 2016, flags potentially misleading posts for review by independent organizations. These posts can be labelled with additional context or deprioritized in feeds. Under the new system, community notes will initially roll out in the U.S., with Meta stating there are no immediate plans to discontinue fact-checkers in the UK or EU.

The timing of the announcement, ahead of President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration, has also drawn scrutiny. Meta’s leadership changes and a $1 million donation to Trump’s inauguration fund have been interpreted as signs of a strategic shift in the company’s political priorities.

Canadian PM Justin Trudeau Announces Resignation

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced his resignation as leader of the Liberal Party, marking the end of his nine-year tenure. He will remain in office until a new leader is selected through a nationwide process. The announcement follows growing internal dissatisfaction within the Liberal Party, which has been trailing significantly behind the opposition Conservatives in polls.

Speaking from his residence at Rideau Cottage, Trudeau said, “I intend to resign as party leader, as prime minister after the party selects its next leader through a robust, nationwide, competitive process. This country deserves a real choice in the next election, and it has become clear to me that if I am having to fight internal battles, I cannot be the best option in that election.”

Trudeau also expressed regret over his inability to deliver on promises, including reforming Canada’s electoral system.

The resignation comes amid significant tension within the party, particularly after U.S. President-elect Donald Trump proposed a 25 percent tariff on Canadian goods. This policy sparked debates over how the government should respond to protect Canada’s economy.

Canada is set to hold a general election by October 2025.

Colorado Teen Who Lost Leg in Belize Shark Attack Recalls Traumatic Experience

Fifteen-year-old Annabelle Carlson from Colorado describes herself as “lucky” to be alive after surviving a traumatic shark attack during a diving trip in Belize when she spoke to NBC News. The attack, which occurred on August 6 at Lighthouse Reef Atoll, left her with severe injuries, including the loss of her right leg and damage to her hands. Despite enduring a gruelling four-month recovery process involving seven surgeries, a bacterial infection, and learning to adapt to a prosthetic leg, Annabelle has emerged stronger and more determined than ever.

The incident unfolded as Annabelle, an experienced diver with more than 20 dives under her belt, surfaced from a family dive. She and her siblings decided to jump into the water for a swim, with Annabelle going first. Almost immediately, a shark attacked her hands. “It’s biting my hands. And it’s kind of weird, so I kind of just start hitting it to try and hit it off me,” she said.

As she struggled to fend it off, a second shark bit her leg. The ordeal, which felt like an eternity but lasted only 30 seconds, was terrifying yet painless due to the surge of adrenaline.

Good Samaritans on the boat acted quickly, applying a tourniquet and rushing her to a coast guard outpost before she could be airlifted to a hospital in Belize City.

Doctors amputated Annabelle’s leg to save her life, and additional surgeries in Miami followed to prepare her for a prosthetic and repair nerve and tendon damage in her hands.

Despite the challenges, Annabelle remains remarkably optimistic. She now walks with her prosthetic leg and embraces life with a renewed sense of gratitude. “But I wake up every day feeling grateful, just because, I mean, I’m here, and I’m able to walk again, I’m so lucky to be able to do so,” Annabelle said. “I think this situation just really goes to show that there is light at the end of the tunnel. Because I do have my prosthetic now. I’d say I’m thriving, right?”

Taliban Leader Bans Windows Overlooking Areas Used by Women

Afghanistan’s Taliban leadership has issued a decree prohibiting the construction of windows in new residential buildings that overlook areas typically used by women. The order also mandates that existing windows with such views must be blocked, citing concerns about preventing “obscene acts.”

According to a statement released late Saturday by Taliban government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid, new residential buildings must be designed to ensure there are no views of “the courtyard, kitchen, neighbor’s well, and other places usually used by women.” The decree, posted on social media platform X, states: “Seeing women working in kitchens, in courtyards, or collecting water from wells can lead to obscene acts.”

The order directs municipal authorities and construction regulators to oversee compliance with the new policy. Homeowners with existing windows that provide such views will be encouraged to build walls or otherwise obstruct visibility to “avoid nuisances caused to neighbors.”

This latest directive aligns with the Taliban’s broader efforts to restrict women’s visibility and participation in public life since their return to power in August 2021. Women have been banned from post-primary education, barred from most forms of employment, and denied access to parks, gyms, and other public spaces.

Additionally, a recent law forbids women from singing or reciting poetry in public, while urging them to “veil” their voices and bodies outside their homes. Several local radio and television stations have also ceased broadcasting female voices.

These measures have drawn international condemnation, with the United Nations accusing the Taliban of enforcing “gender apartheid.” Despite this, the Taliban administration claims their strict interpretation of Islamic law “guarantees” the rights of both Afghan men and women.