Beryl builds into a “major” hurricane in the Atlantic, NHC says
Reuters The US National Hurricane Center (NHC) said on Saturday that tropical storm Beryl has intensified into a hurricane in the Atlantic Ocean and cautioned that it may undergo rapid strengthening as it is fast approaching the Caribbean island of Barbados. Hurricane Beryl, which may become “major,” is expected to bring destructive winds and a […]
Kenyan police to arrive in Haiti this week, US State Department says
Nairobi, Kenya Reuters The first Kenyan police officers assigned to tackle rampant gang violence in Haiti are leaving Kenya on Tuesday and are set to arrive this week, the US State Department said on Monday. “We hope to see further measurable improvements in security, particularly with respect to access to humanitarian aid and core economic […]
Haiti police to head security mission set to deploy by end of May, transition council says
Port-au-Prince, Haiti Reuters Haiti’s national police force will take charge of a much-awaited UN-backed security mission set to launch by the end of this month, Haiti’s transition council said on Tuesday. Police will oversee the force, meant to wrest back control over large swathes of Haiti from gangs, and will make decisions on its “makeup, […]
Five countries pledge personnel for Haiti security mission, UN says
United Nations Reuters The Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Benin and Chad have formally notified the United Nations of their intent to contribute personnel to an international force to help Haitian national police fight armed gangs, a UN spokesman said on Thursday. Contributions of $US10.8 million have also been deposited into a trust fund to support the […]
Barbados PM Mottley calls for slavery reparation conversations
London, UK Reuters Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley used a speech in London on Wednesday to call for a global conversation on reparations for countries that saw their people enslaved, sometimes for centuries, under colonial rule. “The conspiracy of silence has diminished the horror of what our people faced,” Mottley said in a lecture at […]
African, Caribbean nations join forces to call for reparations for slavery
Reuters Representatives from various African and Caribbean entities joined forces at a historic event this week in the capital of Barbados, Bridgetown, to demand reparations for slavery and its legacy in today’s society. The University of the West Indies, the Economic, Social and Cultural Council of the African Union, Barbados’ government, grant-making network Open Society […]
Ecuador seals record debt-for-nature swap with Galapagos bond
London, UK/New York, US Reuters Ecuador sealed the world’s largest “debt-for-nature” swap on record on Tuesday, selling a new “blue bond” that will funnel at least $US12 million a year into conservation of the Galapagos Islands, one of the world’s most precious ecosystems. Having bought back roughly $US1.6 billion of the country’s debt at a […]
Essay: How Putin’s war and small islands are accelerating the global shift to clean energy, and what to watch for in 2023
International sustainable development expert RACHEL KYTE, in an article published on The Conversation, looks at some of the “significant changes” which are underway and have the potential to create a more sustainable world…
Does the Commonwealth have a future after Queen Elizabeth?
London, UK Reuters As Queen Elizabeth celebrates her 70th year on the throne, there are questions about whether the Commonwealth of Nations, which she was instrumental in creating and remains one of her proudest achievements, has a future when her reign is over. The Commonwealth evolved out of the British empire, and Elizabeth became its […]
UK’s Prince William says he wants to serve after Caribbean criticism
London, UK Reuters Prince William has said he is committed to service and “not telling people what to do” after a tour of the Caribbean that was marked by protests over the British empire and criticism that the trip reflected a throwback to colonial times. William released the statement at the end of an eight-day […]