UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk concludes his official visit to Haiti
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The content originally appeared on: Caribbean News Service
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UAE’s COP28 leader: ‘Fight climate change, not each other’
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The content originally appeared on: Caribbean News Service
The United Arab Emirates’ pick to lead the upcoming COP28 climate talks in Dubai called on the world Tuesday to “fight climate change, not each other,” directly addressing the anger activists have felt over his selection.
Sultan al-Jaber, the CEO of Abu Dhabi National Oil Co., also described the upcoming United Nations negotiations as an “unprecedented opportunity to engage the energy industry in atechnological revolution.”
His speech at the World Government Summit in Dubai sought to present his nominated presidency as a bridge between oil companies and climate activists long suspicious of the industry’s influence on efforts to limit carbon emissions. Whether it will, however, remainsin question.
“We need a major course correction,” al-Jaber said.
However, he added: “The strategies we pursue must leave no one behind. The policies we adopt must be pro-growth and pro-climate at the same time.”
Al-Jaber, a 49-year-old longtime climate envoy, is a trusted confidant of UAE leader Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. He’s been behind billions in investments in renewable energy — and also leads an oil company that pumps some 4 million barrels of crude aday and hopes to expand to 5 million daily.
Activists have equated his nomination to asking “arms dealers to lead peace talks” when authorities announced his nomination in January. However, U.S. climate envoy John Kerry and France’s finance minister both have backed his selection by the UAE, a key Mideastally.
“There are moments in history when humanity comes together to fight a common threat. Let’s prove to ourselves that we can do it once again,” al-Jaber said. “Let’s put our differences aside. Fight climate change, not each other.”
Al-Jaber’s speech, which included portions he previously delivered in January, also acknowledged that “capital is critical to make the loss-and-damage fund real and operational.” That fund, agreed to at the COP27 talks in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, did notinclude a means by which to fund them. Al-Jaber’s speech also didn’t offer a suggestion on how to raise the money.
Al-Jaber did, however, call on the world to triple its renewable energy capacity, as well as expand nuclear power, improve battery storage and provide carbon-capture technology. He also drew applause from the largely Emirati audience by defending the OPEC-membernation hosting the climate talks.
“We in the UAE are not shying away from the energy transition,” al-Jaber said. “We are running towards it.”
Each year, the country hosting the U.N. negotiations known as the Conference of the Parties — where COP gets its name — nominates a person to chair the talks. Hosts typically pick a veteran diplomat as the talks can be difficult to steer between competing nations and their interests.
The nominee’s position as “COP president” is confirmed by delegates at the start of the talks, usually without objections. However, activists for weeks have been criticizing his selection.
COP28 will be held at Dubai’s Expo City from Nov. 30 through Dec.
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Haiti gangs: Three churchgoers kidnapped after Mass
Black Immigrant Daily News
The content originally appeared on: Caribbean News Service
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Gang members in Haiti have kidnapped three worshippers as they left a church in the capital, Port-au-Prince, after attending Sunday Mass.
Local media say the kidnappers are demanding high sums of money as ransom.
Kidnappings for ransom have skyrocketed in Haiti in recent years and clergy and places of worship are increasingly being targeted.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has described the situation as “a living nightmare”.
Witnesses said a couple and one other person who regularly attends services at the First Baptist Church in the centre of Port-au-Prince were snatched by gang members on Sunday morning local time.
Their kidnapping came just five days after a priest was seized on his way to his missionary community, located 27km (17 miles) north of the capital.
The Claretian Missionaries, the religious congregation he belongs to, said it had been contacted by the gang with a ransom demand.
There were more than 1,200 reported kidnappings in Haiti in 2022, double that of those reported the previous year.
But kidnapping is not the only crime that has been on the rise in Haiti.
A new UN report released last week highlights how gang violence has sharply increased in Brooklyn, a neighbourhood on the outskirts of Port-au-Prince.
It describes how one gang uses snipers to kill anyone entering its territory and how women are gang raped in front of their families to spread terror in gang-controlled areas.
UN High Commissioners for Human Rights Volker T?rk described the findings as “horrifying”.
“It paints a picture of how people are being harassed and terrorised by criminal gangs for months without the state being able to stop it,” Mr T?rk said.
Haiti was plunged into lawlessness following the assassination of President Jovenel Moise in July 2021.
The country has been led by Prime Minister Ariel Henry since then, but he has failed to rein in the gangs which now control an estimated 60% of the capital.
Mr Henry has repeatedly called for the deployment of an international force to help police in their fight against the criminal gangs.
So far no country has offered to lead such a force but Mr Henry says it is key to providing security so that long-postponed elections can be held.
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Chomsky and Prashad: Cuba Is Not a State Sponsor of Terrorism
Black Immigrant Daily News
The content originally appeared on: Caribbean News Service
By Noam Chomsky and Vijay Prashad
Cuba, a country of 11 million people, has been under an illegal embargo by the United States government for over six decades.
Despite this embargo, Cuba’s people have been able to transcend the indignities of hunger, ill health, and illiteracy, all three being social plagues that continue to trouble much of the world.
Due to its innovations in health care delivery, for instance, Cuba has been able to send its medical workers to other countries, including during the pandemic, to provide vital assistance. Cuba exports its medical workers, not terrorism.
In the last days of the Trump administration, the U.S. government returned Cuba to its state sponsors of terrorism list.
This was a vindictive act. Trump said it was because Cuba played host to guerrilla groups from Colombia, which was actually part of Cuba’s role as host of the peace talks.
Cuba played a key role in bringing peace in Colombia, a country that has been wracked by a terrible civil war since 1948 that claimed the lives of hundreds of thousands of people. For two years, the Biden administration has maintained Trump’s vindictive policy, one that punishes Cuba not for terrorism but for the promotion of peace.
Biden can remove Cuba from this list with a stroke of his pen. It’s as simple as that. When he was running for the presidency, Biden said he would even reverse the harsher of Trump’s sanctions. But he has not done so. He must do so now.
Source: Globetrotter
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Insect production for animal feed in the Caribbean a step closer to reality
Black Immigrant Daily News
The content originally appeared on: Caribbean News Service
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries in Trinidad and Tobago, the University of the West Indies (UWI), St. Augustine Campus, and Fera Science Ltd. held its first mission in Trinidad and Tobago from 30 January to 3 February 2023, and achieved a major milestone. The purpose of the mission was to initiate preparations to establish an insect bioreactor pilot plant facility at the UWI Field Station. It was the first major step of the FAO led insect production project which is being implemented in Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, Grenada, and Jamaica.
On 2 February 2023 a virtual meeting was held with stakeholders which was attended by 84 people from across the Caribbean, and focused on raising awareness of the production and use of the Black Soldier Fly (BSF), as an alternative source of high-quality protein for poultry and aquaculture feed. The Black Soldier Fly has been researched extensively for animal feed globally and has shown to be easily reared in the tropics. It is also extremely suitable for animal feed as it contains high concentrations of the most important proteins and amino acids needed by livestock or farm animals.
During the initial phase of the project, the Insect Bioreactor Pilot Plant will be used for demonstration and training on the establishment of small-scale BSF production and primary processing units, along with the production of the BSF for Barbados, Grenada, and Jamaica. It will also be used for additional testing and field trials.
Insect production, a growing global industry, has the potential to substitute 25 percent to 100 percent of the popular protein inputs for animal feed in the Caribbean, specifically in the poultry, pig, and aquaculture sectors; which could significantly reduce the regional import bill for animal feed. Apart from establishing pilots of this novel animal feed production system in each of the project countries, the project will develop business cases to facilitate entrepreneurs’ access to finance, train farmers and extension staff on the use of “frass” – a by-product of insect rearing which is an organic fertilizer and, establish a knowledge hub on insect rearing at UWI to ensure the long-lasting impact of the project.
Dr Renata Clarke, Sub-regional Coordinator, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), who spoke avidly about the project indicated that, “We cannot transform agriculture if the cost of critical inputs like animal feed and fertilizer remains incredibly high and largely imported. How can we begin to address the cost of a healthy diet if we do not seriously explore technologies that can improve production efficiency? We cannot expect youth to take agriculture seriously as a profession unless we facilitate modern solutions that are demonstrably economical and open the door for fulfilling careers in agriculture. We should move with greater urgency so as to avoid delays in investing in the circular economy – as the issues of the environment are way too pressing, particularly for us. This project responds to all these necessities and more. I expect this project to be transformative and impactful”.
Damian Malins, Venturing Projects Director, Mission Lead for Fera Science Ltd. and project partner stated, “Population growth, climate change and the dual challenges of ensuring food security and food safety, are impacting all areas of the agri-food chains across the Caribbean and worldwide. At Fera, we recognize that insect protein has enormous potential to respond to these challenges as a high quality, safe and sustainably sourced ingredient of animal feed which can displace soy and fishmeal when blended into animal diets. As a specialist and world leading expert scientific services laboratory, with over 100 years heritage of “protecting you, what you eat and the world in which we live”, we are bringing our expertise in insect farming, food safety and novel protein production to the Caribbean”.
Another key partner in the project is the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus, Dr Ronald Roopnarine, researcher and lecturer at the Faculty of Food and Agriculture (FFA), UWI has been leading the organization and logistics for the project activities overseen by the UWI. He emphasized, “Food security has been a long-standing concern in the region, the emergence of the COVID-19 virus and recent global conflicts have amplified these concerns and propelled Caribbean SIDS to reconsider the structure of their agriculture sectors towards more self-sufficiency and innovation”.
Meanwhile, Roshni Ramsingh, Project Focal Point, Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries, indicated, “Agriculture has to constantly evolve, just like the very first farmers who scattered grass seeds around their settlements instead of wandering in search of edible grasses, we too must continually re-tool ourselves. Adopting insects as a brand-new item in our tool kit as we search for new and innovative ways to feed our population will provide value beyond their substitution costs in the feed rations. The synergism of removing wastes by feeding them to insects that are then fed to livestock which form part of our food web will redound through the entire sector adding value and opening avenues we can barely glimpse”.
As the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Member States work diligently to reduce the region’s large food import bill, by 25 percent by 2025, special attention has been given to efforts to increase production of selected commodities including livestock to meet growing protein needs and substitute for imported products. Livestock feed often comprises up to 70 percentage of the production costs and continues to be a binding constraint for the expansion and sustainability of the livestock sector given that between 40 and 50 million USD in compound animal feed is being imported yearly. Insect production is therefore not only a feasible solution, but also provides tremendous opportunities for livelihoods, including among women, youth, and vulnerable groups.
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Foreign minister receives courtesy call from Indian High Commissioner to St. Kitts and Nevis
Black Immigrant Daily News
The content originally appeared on: Caribbean News Service
On Friday Dr. Denzil L. Douglas, Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Trade, Industry, Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Economic Development and Investment received a courtesy call from Dr. K.J. Srinivasa, High Commissioner of the Republic of India to Saint Kitts and Nevis.
Srinivasa’s visit was part of the celebrations to mark the occasion of the Republic Day of India observed each year on January 26.
High Commissioner Srinivasa recalled the strong diplomatic relations and the mutually beneficial interests shared between the two states in areas of trade, social, economic and cultural ties, capacity building and international cooperation. He provided an update on outstanding projects to be concluded with Saint Kitts and Nevis including the funding for the construction of the New St. Peters Health Centre under the India- UN Partnership Fund programme, and pledged to expand the areas of cooperation to include energy, agriculture, agro-processing, security and security-related matters.
Douglas congratulated The Republic of India on its Independence and Republic Day and commended India for its stellar leadership and being a reliable partner in a world continually shifting geopolitical dynamics. The Foreign Minister noted that “the world is dramatically changing and India is a country upon which the world will have to rely upon”.
Douglas further noted India’s strong support and commitment to the Caribbean region, CARICOM and in particular, Saint Kitts and Nevis adding that “India has been kind to us in making the transition post-COVID and providing strong support in healthcare, and we are extremely grateful for that.”
Douglas assured Srinivasa of the Government and Saint Kitts and Nevis’ solidarity between the two states adding that “India can rely on Saint Kitts and Nevis as a partner” and its commitment to the further deepening of the bonds of friendship for the greater advancement of the people of our countries.
Among the matters discussed were energy and sustainability, agriculture, security, capacity building, information technology, job creation and investment, and cooperation in international fora.
High Commissioner Srinivasa also paid courtesy calls to Dame Marcella Liburd GCMG, JP, Governor-General, Dr. Terrance Drew, Prime Minister of the Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis and other members of the Federal Cabinet of Saint Kitts and Nevis.
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New IRENA report highlights evolving role of hydropower
Black Immigrant Daily News
The content originally appeared on: Caribbean News Service
Current trends in the power sector have prompted changes in the role of hydropower, creating a need to adjust the way these assets are designed, operated and maintained, according to a new report by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).
The The Changing Role of Hydropower: Challenges and Opportunities, produced in the context of IRENA’s Collaborative Framework on Hydropower, provides a snapshot of the current status of hydropower and lays out a vision of how to realise its potential.
“Hydropower has been an effective source of clean power generation for more than a century,” said IRENA Director-General Francesco La Camera. “However, with the rapidly evolving energy landscape, it is important to reevaluate its future role and leverage recent technological advancements that can maximise its potential while ensuring its sustainability and climate resilience.”
According to IRENA’s 1.5?C Scenario, if the world is to completely decarbonise and meet the climate goals set in the Paris Agreement, hydropower installed capacity, including pumped storage hydropower, should more than double by 2050. This will require annual investments in hydropower to grow roughly fivefold.
However, the report underscores that most hydropower potential lies in developing countries, and financing institutions need to work together with governments to overcome local risks and limitations, and funnel much-needed investment into these regions and countries.
According to the report, hydropower, despite being the most mature renewable technology, faces several challenges including: modernising ageing fleets to meet modern power system requirements; attracting new investments; and updating market structures and business models that do not reward all of the services provided by hydropower beyond power generation.
The report also emphasises that the planning and development of hydropower will only be successful if aspects of sustainability and resilience are taken into consideration.
Read The Changing Role of Hydropower: Challenges and Opportunities to learn more about the key actions policy makers can take to accelerate the deployment of hydropower in a way that is in line with its changing role.
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Still not much appetite from regional governments to fund LIAT 2020
Black Immigrant Daily News
The content originally appeared on: Caribbean News Service
Prime Minister Gaston Browne has said that there continues to be a reluctance by other Caribbean governments to embrace LIAT 2020.
Browne returned last week from a meeting in St Lucia where CARICOM heads of government met to discuss the much-talked-about LIAT issue.
Although discussions were held on other pressing regional matters, LIAT’s resuscitation formed a major part of the talks.
“Based on the information, there is a significant degree of reticence within other Caribbean member states to embrace LIAT in the manner we thought that they would want to do at this particular time,” Information Minister Melford Nicholas told reporters
LIAT 1974 Ltd has been in administration since July 2020 and has been operating a reduced schedule with a limited workforce since November of that year. It is now set for liquidation.
“The government is committed to advancing the resuscitation of LIAT. LIAT has been able to maintain a degree of operations with just 2 aircraft and has been able to sustain the livelihood of 167 of its former employees and we are looking towards LIAT 2020 with a new possibility of increasing its presence in the Caribbean”, he added.
Furthermore, Nicholas said the loss of LIAT has been felt by everyone and Antigua and Barbuda is still committed to the airline.
“There may be an opportunity for some type of joint venture arrangement to be able to facilitate the expansion and resuscitation of LIAT, and the distribution from [Africa] to the Caribbean with an airline like Air Peace,” he said
Last year, LIAT’s shareholder governments – Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, St Vincent, and the Grenadines – agreed to restructure the airline and return it to commercial service.
Its former workers are said to be owed around EC$120 million in severance and other payments and it appears unlikely that they will be paid in full.
Some shareholder governments have offered financial and social assistance to employees based in their respective countries.
Last December, the government of Antigua and Barbuda disbursed EC$2 million as a “compassionate payment” to local former employees. However, EC$1.6 million of that remains unclaimed.
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Blueface Confronts Chrisean Rock For Taking Photo With Rick Ross
Black Immigrant Daily News
The content originally appeared on: Urban Islandz
Blueface wasn’t too pleased that Chrisean Rock posed for some lens time with the Biggest Bawse, Rick Ross, at the Super Bowl on Sunday.
Chrisean Rock apparently left Blueface home as she and the Zeus team, along with Rubi Rose, headed to the Super Bowl on Sunday, where Rihanna performed, and a throng of celebrities came out to see the Pop Princess return to the stage. Rock posed for several photos at the event, and it seems that Blueface was not too pleased, especially as he called her out over the Rubi Rose/ DDG drama that went down on Sunday.
Chrisean Rock, who is a celebrity in her own right, was spotted on Rick Ross’ Instagram Stories, but while the photo appeared innocent, Blueface appeared upset and went off on a rant about the qualities he wanted in a woman.
“Could never be my bitch,” Blueface wrote in a Tweet. “But I get it you [new] to this shit fr so that typa sh*t excites you it’s really none wrong with it I’m just a different type n***a wit my b*tch. That’s y I told you long time ago you really don’t want that spot.”
Chrisean Rock also called out Blueface for being “weird” and a hypocrite, especially as he continues to maintain a romantic relationship with his children’s mother, Jaidyn Alexis.
“What he literally got a pic walking past idk why everyone trynna get a pic with me I’m not in his face he literally caught me off guard while I’m waiting for my car with [Zeus] n them,” she said in screenshots of text messages she sent to Blueface. “U being weird bro stfu. Like fr stop talking to me side ways.”
Rock added, “U invited b*tches tht jumped me to ya birthday n took pictures n let them shake they a$$ on u. I’m not sure what tf u keep trynna act like. Stop talking to me like u dum asf fr.”
On Twitter, Rock reveled at the attention she received from fans at the Super Bowl.
“Im at the Super Bowl running into ppl not even trying to trigger u or seem like a weird b*tch. Im really dat famous ppl go out they [way] for a pic. It’s ok for u to invite u Airbb n f*xk on bitches just chill n focus on making money stop da evil sh*t stop fr.”
Rock fired off several other tweets at Blueface, who appeared insecure.
“Stop tweeting like I did sh*t to u fr,” she wrote. “It take a idiot with pride to be this spiteful fr. People in this industry in real life would go out they way to show mad love n take pictures n whatever else tht comes with yo B*tch BEING LIT.”
She continued, “U to busy protecting yo pride n not seeing where u selfish at fr. I don’t f**k on nun of these famous n****s. Like you to busy worried bout dum sh*t when I invited u every where I go if u decide not go n not f**k with me I’m gon f**k with my self n go out with my friends idk what tf u want from me.”
In another tweet, she added, “The more u show the world how u don’t value what u have the more u make them look at you liked da weak link n make them favor me more cuz the situation I’m in with u isn’t fair u know this the world know this.”
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Drake and His Son Adonis Did Their First Interview Together
Black Immigrant Daily News
The content originally appeared on: Urban Islandz
Drake and Adonis Graham had their first on-camera interview, and it’s quite interesting as the little one gushes about his father while Drake also shares how fatherhood has changed his life.
The moment Drake became a father was during his infamous beef with Pusha T, but it wasn’t what fans expected, and it certainly didn’t appear to be what Drake wanted as the Def Jam artist revealed that Drake had allegedly hidden his child that he had with an adult film star from the world.
Over the years, Drake has shown bits and pieces of his son, whose personality mirrors his father’s a lot. Adonis Graham certainly seems to be into sports like his father, and we’ll have to wait and see about his musical inclinations, but for now, he seems to be quite the storyteller.
In “Sundae Conversation” with Barstool Sports host Caleb Pressley, Adonis is being interviewed, and he has some hilarious responses to some grown-up questions. “What does that mean,” Adonis asks when Caleb announces that he is “Drizzy Drake’s son.”
The scene cuts to another one where Adonis discusses his fans. “There’s a lot of fans of me that are really nice to me,” he says, and when questioned, he answers, “they say I like you because you’re being nice to me.”
Adonis also smiles as Caleb presses him about being mean to fans. The youngster turns away and smiles as he answers. The conversation, however, takes a confusing turn as Adonis talks about fans fighting him.
“No never,” Adonis laughs when Caleb asks if he would punch his opponent by the nuts.
Adonis also says he can’t read but says, “there’s a him that can read, his name is Kyle,” when asked.
“Do you think if you have a better day you’d be able to read?” Adonis is asked, and he has the sweetest reply, “This is my better dad,” he says, looking at his father.
“Yeah, that’s a funny dad, also he does a lot of jokes,” Adonis answers when asked if Drake did a better job at home, he’d be able to read.
At the end of the interview, Drake is also asked if Adonis “c–kblocks” Drake so he doesn’t have another kid to “split” his inheritance.
The rapper laughs and says, “no not really,” and then goes on to share how his son might be sending him a message.
“Yeah no, he definitely is always like vibing out with me, telling me how great I am like as a father, like a single father, so maybe he is delivering a message.”
Drake is also asked later in the sitdown about the 42 diamonds chain, which he hinted at last year, which symbolizes the many times he thought of proposing.
“It was more just a joke, but obviously people took it pretty literal. I was just trying to have an interesting story,” the Canadian rapper said.
Drake also talked about his preference for boobs being “one of the greatest things that we have on Earth,” and he also explained his use of the word, ‘b*tch’ in his raps.
“I’m proud to say, I don’t really drop the b-word in person,” he said. “I’ve said it in raps a fair share, but I’m not really walking around the streets like, ‘B*tch, b*tch, b*tch.’”
The interview ended on some sweet moments with Drake being asked about his love for gambling big, and when asked about his most rewarding bet, he responded, “Fatherhood.”
“For all the people out there, you can always bet on fatherhood,” said Drake said while the host appeared to mock him.
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