Articles by Cb_usr

World

Russia-Ukraine war: List of key events, day 1,356  | Barbados Gazette – Barbados & Caribbean News

Fighting continues in and around the Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk in the eastern Donetsk region, with Kyiv and Moscow providing conflicting accounts of the situation in the nearby town of Myrnohrad. The Ukrainian military claimed its forces were holding their positions in the city, saying that “the defence of Pokrovsko-Myrnohrad agglomeration continues”. But army spokesperson Andriy Kovalev acknowledged the provision of logistics to the town was complicated. The statement came after the Russian Ministry of Defence said its forces were pressing an advance on Myrnohrad and were making gains in two of the town’s districts. The Ukrainian Air Force also denied Russian claims of encircling Pokrovsk, saying that food and ammunition supplies to Ukrainian soldiers there are “being replenished in a timely manner”. The “most intense fighting” in Pokrovsk is “currently taking place in the industrial zone”, it said. Russian attacks on Ukraine’s Donetsk and Dnipropetrovsk regions, meanwhile, killed at least one person in Kostiantynivka and wounded two others in Vasylkivska on Monday, according to the Ukrainska Pravda. An explosion from an unidentified ammunition in a hospital ward in Ukraine’s Zaporizhia region injured a man on Monday, police there reported, without providing further details. The Russian Defence Ministry also claimed advances in the Zaporizhia region, saying its forces had pushed Ukrainian troops out of the villages of Solodke and Nove. The ministry said Russian forces also seized the village of Hnativka in the Donetsk region. In Russia, a man who was seriously wounded in a Ukrainian drone attack in the village of Belyanka in the Belgorod region has died in hospital, medics said. Ukrainian forces claimed an attack on a pumping station at the Hvardiiske oil depot in the Russian-occupied Crimean Peninsula. Russian forces announced destroying four Ukrainian drone boats near its Black Sea port of Tuapse. The port had suspended fuel exports after a November 2 Ukrainian attack on its infrastructure.

2 hours ago

World

British journalist Sami Hamdi to be freed from ICE detention, lawyers say  | Barbados Gazette – Barbados

British journalist and pro-Palestine commentator Sami Hamdi is set to return home more than two weeks after he was imprisoned by US immigration authorities, his wife and legal representatives said on Monday. Hamdi, 35, was stopped at San Francisco international airport in California on October 26, and detained by agents from the Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency mid-way through a speaking tour discussing Israel’s war on Gaza. Hassan M Ahmad, a lawyer from the California chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-CA), and the Muslim Legal Fund of America (MLFA) said in a statement on Monday that the journalist and commentator was punished for his criticism of Israel during his US speaking tour and not for any alleged wrongdoing. “It is this simple: Sami never should have spent a single night in an ICE cell,” Hussam Ayloush, the CEO of CAIR’s California chapter, said in a statement. “His only real ‘offense’ was speaking clearly about Israel’s genocidal war crimes against Palestinians.” “The immigration charging document filed in his case alleged only a visa overstay—after the government revoked his visa without cause and without prior notice—and never identified any criminal conduct or security grounds,” Hamdi’s legal representatives said in the joint statement. Hamdi’s wife, Soumaya Hamdi, welcomed the news in a series of posts on social media, saying, “Sami is coming home, alhamdullilah. Elated doesn’t begin to describe the feeling.” She also expressed her “heartfelt gratitude” to the “countless wonderful people” who offered assistance during her husband’s detention. A number of institutions raised concerns about Hamdi’s treatment, including his former university, the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) in London, and freedom of expression organisation PEN America. By contrast, some people openly advocated for Hamdi to be detained, including far-right activist and Donald Trump ally Laura Loomer, who celebrated Hamdi’s detention and repeatedly claimed he was going to be deported, without citing her sources. Loomer, a self-described “proud Islamophobe”, also accused Hamdi of supporting Islamic terrorism, without providing any evidence. Responding to allegations about his son, Hamdi’s father, Mohamed El-Hachmi Hamdi, said in a post on X that he “has no affiliation” with any political or religious group. “His stance on Palestine is not aligned with any faction there, but rather, with the people’s right to security, peace, freedom and dignity. He is, quite simply, one of the young dreamers of this generation, yearning for a world with more compassion, justice, and solidarity,” he added. The administration of US President Donald Trump has targeted a number of pro-Palestinian advocates, even as it has also worked to mediate a precarious truce agreement between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. Those targeted include Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian former student of Columbia University. who continues to face challenges to his US immigration status after being freed from detention in June. Israel’s war on Gaza has killed at least 68,875 Palestinians and wounded 170,679 since October 2023, in what an independent United Nations commission of inquiry and multiple human rights organisations have labelled as a genocide.

2 hours ago

Politics

US Senate passes bill to end longest ever government shutdown  | Barbados Gazette – Barbados & Caribbean

The United States is moving closer to ending its record-breaking government shutdown after the Senate took a critical step forward to end its five-week impasse. The Senate on Monday night approved a spending package in a vote of 60 to 40 to fund the US government through January 30, 2026, and reinstate pay for hundreds of thousands of federal workers. The spending bill next moves to the House of Representatives for approval and then on to President Donald Trump for a sign-off before the shutdown can finally end. The Senate vote follows negotiations this weekend that saw seven Democrats and one Independent agree to vote in favour of the updated spending package to end the shutdown, which enters its 42nd day on Tuesday. Also included in the deal are three-year funding appropriations for the Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration, military construction projects, veterans affairs and congressional operations. The bill does not, however, resolve one of the most central issues in the shutdown – extending healthcare subsidies. Senate Republicans have agreed to vote on the issue as a separate measure in December. US legislators have been under growing pressure to end the government shutdown, which enters its forty-second day on Tuesday, as their constituents feel the impact of funding lapses for programmes like food stamps. Hundreds of thousands of federal employees have been furloughed or required to work without pay since the shutdown began on October 1, while Trump has separately threatened to use the shutdown as a pretext to slash the federal workforce. Voters have also felt the impact of the shutdown at airports across the US after the Federal Aviation Administration last week announced a 10 percent cut in air traffic due to absences from air traffic controllers. The cuts have created chaos for US air travel just as the country is heading into its busiest travel season of the year.

2 hours ago

World

Ahmed al-Sharaa meets Trump as US extends Syria sanctions relief  - St. Lucia Chronicle – Daily St Lucia News

The United States has issued a new waiver to lift the most serious sanctions against Syria, as interim Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa visits Washington. The move on Monday coincided with al-Sharaa’s meeting with President Donald Trump at the White House, underscoring Damascus’s push to forge strong economic ties with the West after the fall of former President Bashar al-Assad. It also highlighted al-Sharaa’s stunning transformation from an al-Qaeda leader to the president of Syria, who is cultivating friendly relations with the US. The Syrian presidency said al-Sharaa and Trump held talks “focusing on bilateral relations between Syria and the United States, ways to strengthen and develop them, and a number of regional and international issues of common interest”. For his part, Trump heaped praise on al-Sharaa after the meeting. “He comes from a very tough place, and he’s a tough guy. I like him,” Trump said of the Syrian president. “We’ll do everything we can to make Syria successful because that’s part of the Middle East. We have peace now in the Middle East – the first time that anyone can remember that ever happening.” Trump has been claiming that the US-brokered ceasefire in Gaza has brought historic peace to the Middle East. But Israel has been carrying out deadly attacks daily across the occupied Palestinian territories and Lebanon. Al-Sharaa led armed Syrian opposition fighters in December of last year to topple al-Assad and end the country’s civil war, which started as an uprising against the former Syrian president in 2011. Al-Sharaa became the first Syrian president ever to visit the White House. Trump had met with him in May during a trip to Saudi Arabia, when the US president announced his intention to lift sanctions against Damascus. ‘Chance at greatness’ The new sanctions relief on Monday suspends Caesar Act sanctions, which prohibited US business dealings with the Syrian government and military, for six additional months. Syria advocates are lobbying the US Congress to permanently repeal the law that enshrined the sanctions. “Removing US sanctions will support Syria’s efforts to rebuild its economy, provide prosperity for all its citizens, including its ethnic and religious minorities, and combat terrorism,” the US Treasury Department said in a statement. It added that Trump is “delivering on his commitment to give Syria ‘a chance at greatness’ and to let them rebuild and thrive by lifting US sanctions and ensuring accountability for harmful actors”. Several media reports in the US and Syria had suggested that Damascus would also join the US-led international military coalition against the armed group ISIL (ISIS). Such a move could pave the way for the withdrawal of US troops from the country. Al-Sharaa, 43, was captured by US forces in Iraq during Washington’s occupation of the country, and he led al-Qaeda’s branch in Syria. Less than a year ago, the US designated him as a “global terrorist” and had a $10m reward for information leading to his arrest. But the Syrian president had split from al-Qaeda in 2016. Since ousting al-Assad, al-Sharaa has further reinvented his image, dropping his nom de guerre Abu Mohammed al-Julani, for his birth name and promoting a tolerant and inclusive Syria. The Syrian president addressed the United Nations General Assembly earlier this year, saying that his country is “reclaiming its rightful place among the nations of the world”. Under his leadership, the US and European countries have slowly welcomed Syria back into the international fold after decades of hostility with the country’s former regime. Still, al-Sharaa received a muted welcome at the White House on Monday. He entered the White House through a side door and was not greeted by Trump outside. And there was no photo opportunity in front of the press or joint news conference between the two leaders. Syrian president meets Mast Al-Sharaa had met with Congressman Brian Mast, chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and one of the most staunchly pro-Israel politicians in the country, late on Sunday. “Last evening, the new Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa and I broke bread. We had a long and serious conversation about how to build a future for the people of Syria free of war, ISIS, and extremism,” Mast, who previously wore an Israeli army uniform to Congress and argued that there are no innocent Palestinian civilians, said in a statement. The Republican congressman is reported to be sceptical of the push to lift sanctions against Syria. Since the fall of al-Assad, Israel has been regularly bombing Syrian military installations and state institutions. The Israeli military has also been advancing in the south of the country, well beyond the occupied Golan Heights. Al-Sharaa had said early on that Syria would not pose a threat to Israel, and his government has detained senior Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) members in the country. But the proverbial olive branch has not stemmed the Israeli attacks. Al-Sharaa has said that his country is seeking a security agreement with Israel to secure the withdrawal of Israeli troops from the areas they occupied over the past year. On Monday, Trump told reporters he was working with Israel on “getting along with Syria”. “You can expect some announcements on Syria,” he said when asked about the possibility of an agreement between Syria and Israel. “We want to see Syria become a country that’s very successful. And I think this leader can do it. I really do. And people said he’s had a rough past. We’ve all had rough pasts.”

6 hours ago

Politics

Ukraine anticorruption agency alleges $100m energy kickback scheme  - St. Lucia Chronicle – Daily St Lucia

Ukraine’s anticorruption agency has launched an investigation into an alleged $100m kickback scheme involving Energoatom, the state-run nuclear power company that supplies more than half of the country’s electricity. The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU), which operates independently of the government, announced the probe on Monday as the country faces another harsh winter under daily Russian bombardment. In a statement posted on social media, NABU said that a “high-level criminal organisation” orchestrated the alleged scheme, led by a businessman and involving a former adviser to the energy minister, Energoatom’s head of security, and four other employees. “In total, approximately 100 million USD passed through this so-called laundromat,” NABU said, without naming the suspects. “The minister’s adviser and the director of security at Energoatom took control of all the company’s purchases and created conditions under which all contractors had to pay illegal benefits,” according to NABU chief detective Oleksandr Abakumov. He said the group discussed increasing the kickback rate during work on protective structures at the Khmelnytskyi nuclear plant last October. Investigators said Energoatom’s contractors were forced to pay bribes of 10 to 15 percent to avoid losing contracts or facing payment delays. “A strategic enterprise with annual income exceeding 200 billion hryvnias [$4.7bn] was managed not by authorised officials but by individuals with no formal authority,” NABU said. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, addressing the nation on Monday evening, urged full cooperation with the investigation. “Everyone who has been involved in corruption schemes must receive a clear legal response. There must be criminal verdicts,” he said. Zelenskyy’s comments come just months after he was forced to reverse plans to curb the agency’s independence following widespread protests. Eradicating corruption remains a crucial condition for Ukraine’s European Union membership bid, a goal Kyiv views as central to its post-war future. Energoatom confirmed on social media that its offices were being searched and said it was cooperating with investigators. Deputy Minister of Energy of Ukraine Svitlana Grynchuk told reporters she was not yet familiar with the case details, but promised a “transparent process” and accountability for anyone found guilty. “I hope that the transparency of the investigation will reassure our international partners,” she said. Ukraine’s power infrastructure has suffered extensive damage from Russia’s air strikes this autumn, leaving large parts of the country without electricity. Although Moscow has not targeted nuclear reactors directly, Ukrainian authorities say substations linked to them have been repeatedly hit. NABU released photographs showing stacks of cash, Ukrainian hryvnias, US dollars and euros, stuffed into bags and piled on tables. The agency did not disclose the owners of the seized money. The agency conducted 70 searches, reviewed more than 1,000 hours of audio recordings, and deployed its entire detective staff over 15 months. Opposition lawmaker Yaroslav Zheleznyak, a strong supporter of anticorruption reform, said he would introduce a parliamentary motion to dismiss Grynchuk and her predecessor, German Galushchenko, now serving as justice minister. Hrynchuk declined to comment on the proposal, while Galushchenko did not respond to requests for comment. As Ukraine continues to battle both corruption and Russia’s war, Kyiv’s ability to convince its international partners of reform may prove as critical to its future as the fighting on the front lines.

6 hours ago

World

Is war one of the biggest threats to the world’s climate?  - St. Lucia Chronicle – Daily St Lucia News

Speaking at this year’s COP30 in Brazil, UN chief Antonio Guterres called the inability to limit global warming to 1.5C (2.7F) a “deadly moral failure”. But does the same apply when it comes to protecting the environment in conflict? Israel’s two-year war on Gaza has created 61 million tonnes of rubble, with nearly a quarter contaminated with asbestos and other hazardous materials. And scientists warn that Israel’s use of water, food and energy as weapons of war in Gaza has left farmland and ecosystems facing irreversible collapse. In Syria, President Ahmed al-Sharaa has cited his country’s worst drought in more than six decades as evidence of accelerating climate change and warned that it could hinder Syria’s post-war recovery. So, why isn’t conflict seen as a climate issue? And why is the environmental toll of war so often ignored? Presenter: Adrian Finighan Guests: Kate Mackintosh – deputy chair of the Independent Expert Panel for the Legal Definition of Ecocide Elaine Donderer – disaster risk specialist Farai Maguwu – director of the Zimbabwe-based Centre for Natural Resource Governance

6 hours ago

Politics

US Democrats recovered support from Muslim voters, poll suggests  - St. Lucia Chronicle – Daily St Lucia News

Muslim voters in the United States overwhelmingly favoured Democratic candidates in last week’s elections, amid mounting anger at President Donald Trump’s policies, a new exit poll suggests. The survey, released by the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) on Monday, shows 97 percent of Muslim voters in New York backed democratic socialist Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani. Virginia’s Democratic Muslim American Senator Ghazala Hashmi also received 95 percent of the Muslim vote in the state in her successful bid for lieutenant governor, according to the poll. Non-Muslim, more centrist Democratic candidates received strong backing from Muslim voters as well, the CAIR study showed. Virginia’s Abigail Spanberger and New Jersey’s Mikie Sherrill – Democratic congresswomen who won the gubernatorial races – both received about 85 percent support from Muslim voters, according to the survey. California’s Proposition 50, which approved a congressional map that favours Democrats, won 90 percent support from Muslim voters, the poll suggested. CAIR said it interviewed 1,626 self-identified Muslim respondents for the survey. The group said the results showed high turnout from Muslim voters. “These exit poll results highlight an encouraging truth: American Muslims are showing up, speaking out, and shaping the future of our democracy,” the group said in a statement. “Across four states, Muslim voters demonstrated remarkable engagement and commitment to the civic process, casting ballots that reflect their growing role as active participants in American life.” The November 4 election, one year ahead of the 2026 midterm elections that will determine control of Congress, offered a boost for Democrats. But the race for New York, which saw Trump endorse former Democratic Governor Andrew Cuomo, saw a spike of Islamophobic rhetoric, particularly from Republican lawmakers and commentators. CAIR said Muslim voters showed that they are rising up in “the face of anti-Muslim bigotry” to “build a better future for themselves and their neighbors, proving that participation, not prejudice, defines our nation’s strength”. The survey’s results show that the Democrats are recovering the support of some Muslim voters who deserted the party in last year’s presidential election due to former President Joe Biden’s uncompromising support for Israel amid the brutal assault on Gaza. CAIR said it recorded 76 Muslim candidates in last week’s election, 38 of whom won. In Michigan, the Detroit suburbs of Hamtramck, Dearborn and Dearborn Heights elected Muslim mayors in the polls. Several Muslim candidates are vying for seats in Congress in next year’s election, including Abdul el-Sayed, who is seeking a US Senate seat in Michigan.

6 hours ago

Technology

DSP detalla respuesta a incendio fatal en Toa Baja; tiempo de respuesta fue de 13 minutos  - Puerto Rico

El secretario del Departamento de Seguridad Pública (DSP), Arthur Garffer Croly, ofreció este lunes detalles sobre la respuesta de las agencias estatales y municipales al incendio reportado en la madrugada del sábado en el sector Paseo Dorado de Toa Baja, incidente en el que falleció una persona. Lee también | Movimientos militares en el Caribe aumentan asesinatos por narcotráfico en la Isla Garffer Croly informó que el Negociado del Sistema de Emergencias 9-1-1 recibió la llamada de alerta a la 1:37 de la mañana del sábado, 8 de noviembre, y que de inmediato se procedió con la validación del evento y el despacho de las agencias correspondientes. “El Negociado del Cuerpo de Bomberos fue activado a la 1:42:13 de la mañana, llegando a la escena a la 1:55:10 de la mañana, para un tiempo de respuesta aproximado de casi 13 minutos desde su activación”, indicó el funcionario en declaraciones escritas. Agregó que la unidad de Emergencias Médicas Municipal de Toa Baja fue activada a la 1:43 de la mañana y llegó al lugar a la 1:59 de la mañana, unos 16 minutos después de su activación. “El Departamento de Seguridad Pública reitera que el flujo del manejo de emergencias en este incidente operó conforme a los protocolos establecidos: validación, despacho, activación y llegada a escena”, sostuvo Garffer Croly. El funcionario describió la situación como “penosa y extremadamente lamentable” y extendió su solidaridad a la familia de la víctima.

6 hours ago

Technology

Senado aprueba extensión de licencia de paternidad para empleados públicos a 30 días  - Puerto Rico Tribune

Como parte de los trabajos de la Sesión Ordinaria, el Senado aprobó una medida que beneficiará a los empleados públicos de Puerto Rico al permitirles extender su licencia de paternidad hasta 30 días. Lee también | Cámara de Representantes evalúa medida para proteger a las mascotas de los adultos mayores El Proyecto del Senado 688, impulsado por la vicepresidenta del Senado, Marissa “Marissita” Jiménez Santoni, propone enmendar el Artículo 9 de la Ley 8-2017, que actualmente otorga 15 días de licencia de paternidad, para incluir hasta 15 días adicionales en caso de enfermedad o vacaciones. Con esta enmienda, los padres podrán tomar hasta un total de 30 días para atender el bienestar físico y emocional de la madre y del menor, promoviendo un ambiente familiar más equitativo y solidario. La medida subraya la importancia del rol activo del padre durante el embarazo, parto, postparto o proceso de adopción, contribuyendo a una mayor corresponsabilidad en la crianza de los hijos. El informe legislativo destaca que esta legislación no solo mejora el ambiente familiar, sino que también posiciona al gobierno como un patrono más solidario, alineado con mejores prácticas internacionales en conciliación laboral y familiar. Además, no se anticipa un impacto fiscal para los municipios, lo que garantiza su viabilidad sin representar una carga adicional para los recursos públicos. En paralelo, el Senado también aprobó el Proyecto del Senado 678, presentado por el vicepresidente senatorial Carmelo Ríos Santiago, para enmendar la “Ley Especial de Salario Base para los Bomberos”. El proyecto busca facultar al secretario del Departamento de Seguridad Pública (DSP) a reglamentar la clasificación de puestos, asignación de las escalas de puestos y el plan retributivo del Personal del Sistema de Rango del Negociado del Cuerpo de Bomberos de Puerto Rico (NCBPR). A su vez, se deroga la Ley 287-2002, conocida como Ley de Aumento de Sueldo a los Miembros del Personal del Sistema de Rango del Cuerpo de Bomberos de Puerto Rico. En el informe se cita que “el proyecto persigue un objetivo legítimo y necesario para la modernización del sistema de retribución y clasificación del Cuerpo de Bomberos, en beneficio de su estructura organizativa y del reconocimiento justo de su personal”.

6 hours ago

World

Jamaica: Damage From Hurricane Melissa Nears One-Third of GDP  - Puerto Rico Tribune – Daily Puerto Rico News

News Americas, KINGSTON, Jamaica, Tues. Nov. 11, 2025: Jamaica Prime Minister Andrew Holness has revealed that the record-breaking storm caused damages equivalent to nearly one-third of Jamaica’s annual GDP. Holness told Parliament recentkly that initial assessments show losses of between US$6 and $7 billion – or roughly 28% to 32% of Jamaica’s 2024 economic output -making Melissa the most destructive hurricane in the island’s history. “This was not just another storm,” Holness declared. “Experts say Melissa pushed the physical limits of what’s possible in the Atlantic, fueled by record sea temperatures. Its force was so immense that seismographs hundreds of miles away registered its passage. Hurricane Melissa wasn’t only a tragedy – it was a warning.” The Prime Minister warned that reconstruction costs will temporarily push up Jamaica’s debt-to-GDP ratio, forcing the government to invoke emergency fiscal provisions. He said the administration will seek support from regional partners, multilateral agencies, and private-sector investors to stabilize the economy. Preliminary data suggests short-term economic output could shrink by 8% to 13%, a major setback for an economy already strained by Hurricane Beryl last year. Holness said new measures would focus on climate-resilient rebuilding, including plans to bury sections of the national power grid, upgrade coastal defenses, and waive import taxes on critical relief items such as solar panels and Starlink satellite kits. “Every repaired bridge, re-roofed home, and rebuilt road must be designed for the storms of tomorrow, not the storms of yesterday,” Holness said. While Jamaica bore the brunt of Melissa’s impact, heavy rains also pummeled Haiti, flooding rivers and destroying nearly 12,000 homes. Haitian officials confirmed 25 deaths, including 10 children. In Cuba, authorities reported no fatalities after large-scale evacuations near Santiago de Cuba, though they cited massive agricultural and infrastructure losses. Regionally, AccuWeather estimates total damages from Hurricane Melissa at US $48–52 billion, while Verisk Analytics pegs insured losses in Jamaica alone between US $2.2 billion and $4.2 billion. The scale of devastation has renewed calls across CARICOM for climate reparations and debt relief from high-emission nations. “This is what climate injustice looks like,” said one regional diplomat. “The Caribbean is paying the price for carbon emissions we didn’t create.” Holness echoed the sentiment, pledging to champion a regional resilience framework that ties reconstruction to green financing and renewable energy transitions. “Jamaica will rebuild stronger,” he said. “But the world must listen. Our survival depends on global action, not sympathy.” Jamaica is set to receive a full $150 million payout under its World Bank backed catastrophe bond following the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa – marking one of the largest single sovereign insurance redemptions in the Caribbean’s history. The World Bank, (International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, IBRD AAA/Aaa) confirmed that the payout was automatically triggered after third-party analysis by AIR Worldwide Corporation determined that the hurricane met pre-agreed parametric thresholds based on the storm’s central pressure and path, as reported by the U.S. National Hurricane Center. And In the wake of Hurricane Melissa’s devastating impact, the Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility, (CCRIF-SPC) has announced a record-breaking US$70.8 million payout to the Government of Jamaica — the largest single payout in the organization’s history. The Cayman Islands-based Caribbean and Central America Parametric Insurance Facility said the funds will be disbursed within 14 days, pending final model verification, in line with CCRIF’s commitment to speed and transparency. “This marks the largest single payout in CCRIF’s history and is a powerful demonstration of the organization’s parametric insurance model,” CCRIF said in a statement. This payout is Jamaica’s fourth from CCRIF, bringing the country’s total receipts to US$100.9 million since joining the facility in 2007. Previous payments included US$26.6 million following Hurricane Beryl in 2024 and earlier disbursements after Tropical Cyclones Zeta and Eta in 2020.

7 hours ago

World

Ahmed al-Sharaa meets Trump as US extends Syria sanctions relief  - Puerto Rico Tribune – Daily Puerto Rico

The United States has issued a new waiver to lift the most serious sanctions against Syria, as interim Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa visits Washington. The move on Monday coincided with al-Sharaa’s meeting with President Donald Trump at the White House, underscoring Damascus’s push to forge strong economic ties with the West after the fall of former President Bashar al-Assad. It also highlighted al-Sharaa’s stunning transformation from an al-Qaeda leader to the president of Syria, who is cultivating friendly relations with the US. The Syrian presidency said al-Sharaa and Trump held talks “focusing on bilateral relations between Syria and the United States, ways to strengthen and develop them, and a number of regional and international issues of common interest”. For his part, Trump heaped praise on al-Sharaa after the meeting. “He comes from a very tough place, and he’s a tough guy. I like him,” Trump said of the Syrian president. “We’ll do everything we can to make Syria successful because that’s part of the Middle East. We have peace now in the Middle East – the first time that anyone can remember that ever happening.” Trump has been claiming that the US-brokered ceasefire in Gaza has brought historic peace to the Middle East. But Israel has been carrying out deadly attacks daily across the occupied Palestinian territories and Lebanon. Al-Sharaa led armed Syrian opposition fighters in December of last year to topple al-Assad and end the country’s civil war, which started as an uprising against the former Syrian president in 2011. Al-Sharaa became the first Syrian president ever to visit the White House. Trump had met with him in May during a trip to Saudi Arabia, when the US president announced his intention to lift sanctions against Damascus. ‘Chance at greatness’ The new sanctions relief on Monday suspends Caesar Act sanctions, which prohibited US business dealings with the Syrian government and military, for six additional months. Syria advocates are lobbying the US Congress to permanently repeal the law that enshrined the sanctions. “Removing US sanctions will support Syria’s efforts to rebuild its economy, provide prosperity for all its citizens, including its ethnic and religious minorities, and combat terrorism,” the US Treasury Department said in a statement. It added that Trump is “delivering on his commitment to give Syria ‘a chance at greatness’ and to let them rebuild and thrive by lifting US sanctions and ensuring accountability for harmful actors”. Several media reports in the US and Syria had suggested that Damascus would also join the US-led international military coalition against the armed group ISIL (ISIS). Such a move could pave the way for the withdrawal of US troops from the country. Al-Sharaa, 43, was captured by US forces in Iraq during Washington’s occupation of the country, and he led al-Qaeda’s branch in Syria. Less than a year ago, the US designated him as a “global terrorist” and had a $10m reward for information leading to his arrest. But the Syrian president had split from al-Qaeda in 2016. Since ousting al-Assad, al-Sharaa has further reinvented his image, dropping his nom de guerre Abu Mohammed al-Julani, for his birth name and promoting a tolerant and inclusive Syria. The Syrian president addressed the United Nations General Assembly earlier this year, saying that his country is “reclaiming its rightful place among the nations of the world”. Under his leadership, the US and European countries have slowly welcomed Syria back into the international fold after decades of hostility with the country’s former regime. Still, al-Sharaa received a muted welcome at the White House on Monday. He entered the White House through a side door and was not greeted by Trump outside. And there was no photo opportunity in front of the press or joint news conference between the two leaders. Syrian president meets Mast Al-Sharaa had met with Congressman Brian Mast, chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and one of the most staunchly pro-Israel politicians in the country, late on Sunday. “Last evening, the new Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa and I broke bread. We had a long and serious conversation about how to build a future for the people of Syria free of war, ISIS, and extremism,” Mast, who previously wore an Israeli army uniform to Congress and argued that there are no innocent Palestinian civilians, said in a statement. The Republican congressman is reported to be sceptical of the push to lift sanctions against Syria. Since the fall of al-Assad, Israel has been regularly bombing Syrian military installations and state institutions. The Israeli military has also been advancing in the south of the country, well beyond the occupied Golan Heights. Al-Sharaa had said early on that Syria would not pose a threat to Israel, and his government has detained senior Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) members in the country. But the proverbial olive branch has not stemmed the Israeli attacks. Al-Sharaa has said that his country is seeking a security agreement with Israel to secure the withdrawal of Israeli troops from the areas they occupied over the past year. On Monday, Trump told reporters he was working with Israel on “getting along with Syria”. “You can expect some announcements on Syria,” he said when asked about the possibility of an agreement between Syria and Israel. “We want to see Syria become a country that’s very successful. And I think this leader can do it. I really do. And people said he’s had a rough past. We’ve all had rough pasts.”

7 hours ago

World

COP30 opens in Brazil with calls for unity to tackle climate crisis  - Puerto Rico Tribune – Daily Puerto

The 30th annual United Nations climate change conference (COP30) has started in the Brazilian city of Belem, with leaders calling for countries to take a united approach against global warming. “In this arena of COP30, your job here is not to fight one another – your job here is to fight this climate crisis, together,” the UN’s climate chief, Simon Stiell, told delegates on Monday. Some 50,000 people from more than 190 countries are expected to attend the 12-day event, which is being held at the edge of the Brazilian Amazon rainforest. Addressing the conference, Stiell said that previous climate talks had helped, but that there was “much more work to do”. The UN climate boss noted that countries would have to move “much, much faster” in driving down greenhouse gas emissions. “Lamenting is not a strategy. We need solutions,” he said. His comments came as a new UN analysis of countries’ climate plans found that the pledged reductions fall far short of the drop needed by 2035 to limit temperatures to 1.5C (2.7F) above pre-industrial temperatures. If this threshold is breached, the world will experience far more severe impacts than it has so far, experts say. “Climate change is no longer a threat of the future. It is a tragedy of the present,” Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva stressed at the start of COP30. Brazil’s leader condemned those seeking to undermine efforts to combat the climate crisis. “They attack institutions, they attack science and universities,” he said. “It’s time to inflict a new defeat on the deniers.” The United States is not sending any delegates to COP30 in keeping with President Donald Trump’s anti-climate change stance. “It’s a good thing that they are not sending anyone. It wasn’t going to be constructive if they did,” the US’s former special envoy for climate, Todd Stern, said of the Trump administration’s decision. COP30 President Andre Correa do Lago said the US’s absence “has opened some space for the world to see what developing countries are doing”. Pablo Inuma Flores, an Indigenous leader from Peru, urged world leaders to do more than simply give pledges at this year’s conference. “We want to make sure that they don’t keep promising, that they will start protecting, because we as Indigenous people are the ones who suffer from these impacts of climate change,” he said. In a letter to COP30 that was published on Monday, dozens of scientists expressed their fears about the melting of glaciers, ice sheets and other frozen parts of the planet. “The cryosphere is destabilising at an alarming pace,” they wrote. “Geopolitical tensions or short-term national interests must not overshadow COP30. Climate change is the defining security and stability challenge of our time.”

7 hours ago

Politics

Ukraine anticorruption agency alleges $100m energy kickback scheme  - Puerto Rico Tribune – Daily Puerto

Ukraine’s anticorruption agency has launched an investigation into an alleged $100m kickback scheme involving Energoatom, the state-run nuclear power company that supplies more than half of the country’s electricity. The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU), which operates independently of the government, announced the probe on Monday as the country faces another harsh winter under daily Russian bombardment. In a statement posted on social media, NABU said that a “high-level criminal organisation” orchestrated the alleged scheme, led by a businessman and involving a former adviser to the energy minister, Energoatom’s head of security, and four other employees. “In total, approximately 100 million USD passed through this so-called laundromat,” NABU said, without naming the suspects. “The minister’s adviser and the director of security at Energoatom took control of all the company’s purchases and created conditions under which all contractors had to pay illegal benefits,” according to NABU chief detective Oleksandr Abakumov. He said the group discussed increasing the kickback rate during work on protective structures at the Khmelnytskyi nuclear plant last October. Investigators said Energoatom’s contractors were forced to pay bribes of 10 to 15 percent to avoid losing contracts or facing payment delays. “A strategic enterprise with annual income exceeding 200 billion hryvnias [$4.7bn] was managed not by authorised officials but by individuals with no formal authority,” NABU said. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, addressing the nation on Monday evening, urged full cooperation with the investigation. “Everyone who has been involved in corruption schemes must receive a clear legal response. There must be criminal verdicts,” he said. Zelenskyy’s comments come just months after he was forced to reverse plans to curb the agency’s independence following widespread protests. Eradicating corruption remains a crucial condition for Ukraine’s European Union membership bid, a goal Kyiv views as central to its post-war future. Energoatom confirmed on social media that its offices were being searched and said it was cooperating with investigators. Deputy Minister of Energy of Ukraine Svitlana Grynchuk told reporters she was not yet familiar with the case details, but promised a “transparent process” and accountability for anyone found guilty. “I hope that the transparency of the investigation will reassure our international partners,” she said. Ukraine’s power infrastructure has suffered extensive damage from Russia’s air strikes this autumn, leaving large parts of the country without electricity. Although Moscow has not targeted nuclear reactors directly, Ukrainian authorities say substations linked to them have been repeatedly hit. NABU released photographs showing stacks of cash, Ukrainian hryvnias, US dollars and euros, stuffed into bags and piled on tables. The agency did not disclose the owners of the seized money. The agency conducted 70 searches, reviewed more than 1,000 hours of audio recordings, and deployed its entire detective staff over 15 months. Opposition lawmaker Yaroslav Zheleznyak, a strong supporter of anticorruption reform, said he would introduce a parliamentary motion to dismiss Grynchuk and her predecessor, German Galushchenko, now serving as justice minister. Hrynchuk declined to comment on the proposal, while Galushchenko did not respond to requests for comment. As Ukraine continues to battle both corruption and Russia’s war, Kyiv’s ability to convince its international partners of reform may prove as critical to its future as the fighting on the front lines.

7 hours ago

World

Is war one of the biggest threats to the world’s climate?  - Puerto Rico Tribune – Daily Puerto Rico News

Speaking at this year’s COP30 in Brazil, UN chief Antonio Guterres called the inability to limit global warming to 1.5C (2.7F) a “deadly moral failure”. But does the same apply when it comes to protecting the environment in conflict? Israel’s two-year war on Gaza has created 61 million tonnes of rubble, with nearly a quarter contaminated with asbestos and other hazardous materials. And scientists warn that Israel’s use of water, food and energy as weapons of war in Gaza has left farmland and ecosystems facing irreversible collapse. In Syria, President Ahmed al-Sharaa has cited his country’s worst drought in more than six decades as evidence of accelerating climate change and warned that it could hinder Syria’s post-war recovery. So, why isn’t conflict seen as a climate issue? And why is the environmental toll of war so often ignored? Presenter: Adrian Finighan Guests: Kate Mackintosh – deputy chair of the Independent Expert Panel for the Legal Definition of Ecocide Elaine Donderer – disaster risk specialist Farai Maguwu – director of the Zimbabwe-based Centre for Natural Resource Governance

7 hours ago

World

Jamaica: Damage From Hurricane Melissa Nears One-Third of GDP  - St. Lucia Chronicle – Daily St Lucia News

News Americas, KINGSTON, Jamaica, Tues. Nov. 11, 2025: Jamaica Prime Minister Andrew Holness has revealed that the record-breaking storm caused damages equivalent to nearly one-third of Jamaica’s annual GDP. Holness told Parliament recentkly that initial assessments show losses of between US$6 and $7 billion – or roughly 28% to 32% of Jamaica’s 2024 economic output -making Melissa the most destructive hurricane in the island’s history. “This was not just another storm,” Holness declared. “Experts say Melissa pushed the physical limits of what’s possible in the Atlantic, fueled by record sea temperatures. Its force was so immense that seismographs hundreds of miles away registered its passage. Hurricane Melissa wasn’t only a tragedy – it was a warning.” The Prime Minister warned that reconstruction costs will temporarily push up Jamaica’s debt-to-GDP ratio, forcing the government to invoke emergency fiscal provisions. He said the administration will seek support from regional partners, multilateral agencies, and private-sector investors to stabilize the economy. Preliminary data suggests short-term economic output could shrink by 8% to 13%, a major setback for an economy already strained by Hurricane Beryl last year. Holness said new measures would focus on climate-resilient rebuilding, including plans to bury sections of the national power grid, upgrade coastal defenses, and waive import taxes on critical relief items such as solar panels and Starlink satellite kits. “Every repaired bridge, re-roofed home, and rebuilt road must be designed for the storms of tomorrow, not the storms of yesterday,” Holness said. While Jamaica bore the brunt of Melissa’s impact, heavy rains also pummeled Haiti, flooding rivers and destroying nearly 12,000 homes. Haitian officials confirmed 25 deaths, including 10 children. In Cuba, authorities reported no fatalities after large-scale evacuations near Santiago de Cuba, though they cited massive agricultural and infrastructure losses. Regionally, AccuWeather estimates total damages from Hurricane Melissa at US $48–52 billion, while Verisk Analytics pegs insured losses in Jamaica alone between US $2.2 billion and $4.2 billion. The scale of devastation has renewed calls across CARICOM for climate reparations and debt relief from high-emission nations. “This is what climate injustice looks like,” said one regional diplomat. “The Caribbean is paying the price for carbon emissions we didn’t create.” Holness echoed the sentiment, pledging to champion a regional resilience framework that ties reconstruction to green financing and renewable energy transitions. “Jamaica will rebuild stronger,” he said. “But the world must listen. Our survival depends on global action, not sympathy.” Jamaica is set to receive a full $150 million payout under its World Bank backed catastrophe bond following the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa – marking one of the largest single sovereign insurance redemptions in the Caribbean’s history. The World Bank, (International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, IBRD AAA/Aaa) confirmed that the payout was automatically triggered after third-party analysis by AIR Worldwide Corporation determined that the hurricane met pre-agreed parametric thresholds based on the storm’s central pressure and path, as reported by the U.S. National Hurricane Center. And In the wake of Hurricane Melissa’s devastating impact, the Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility, (CCRIF-SPC) has announced a record-breaking US$70.8 million payout to the Government of Jamaica — the largest single payout in the organization’s history. The Cayman Islands-based Caribbean and Central America Parametric Insurance Facility said the funds will be disbursed within 14 days, pending final model verification, in line with CCRIF’s commitment to speed and transparency. “This marks the largest single payout in CCRIF’s history and is a powerful demonstration of the organization’s parametric insurance model,” CCRIF said in a statement. This payout is Jamaica’s fourth from CCRIF, bringing the country’s total receipts to US$100.9 million since joining the facility in 2007. Previous payments included US$26.6 million following Hurricane Beryl in 2024 and earlier disbursements after Tropical Cyclones Zeta and Eta in 2020.

8 hours ago

Technology

Logro histórico: Niños con autismo transitan a aulas Montessori regulares  - Puerto Rico Tribune – Daily

La fundadora y directora ejecutiva de Fundación Súper Héroes, Soammy Acevedo, celebró un avance sin precedentes en la educación especial de Puerto Rico. En menos de un año, su Escuela Montessori Casita Ave del Paraíso, ubicada en la antigua Escuela José Acevedo Álvarez en Aguadilla, desarrolló un método único que permitió, por primera vez en la Isla, la transición de tres estudiantes con diagnóstico de autismo a aulas Montessori regulares. Lee también | Bajo PROMESA, la Junta revisa más de $895 millones en contratos de Educación en lo que va del año Dante, de 5 años, participa del salón de Casa de Niños sin asistente; Liam de 6 años, forma parte de este mismo salón con asistente a tiempo parcial, siendo este ambiente el equivalente a un kinder. Mila, quien tiene 4 años, se mantiene con su asistente a tiempo completo en el ambiente de Andarines (pre-kinder). El proyecto de la Escuela Montessori Casita Ave del Paraíso, el cual actualmente atiende a seis niños con autismo entre las edades de 3 a 6 años, comenzó en agosto de 2024 cuando Acevedo, quien de profesión es patóloga del habla-lenguaje, decidió emplearía las mismas estrategias que usó para trabajar con sus dos hijos en los estudiantes con autismo. Su hijo tiene autismo nivel 1 y esclerosis múltiple, y su hija cayó de un 2do piso cuando tenía 5 años, perdiendo en ese momento memoria de lenguaje, colores y otras habilidades cognitivas. Ambos son ahora adultos profesionales y exitosos. Los propósitos principales del programa educativo para niños con autismo de la Fundación Súper Héroes es que los estudiantes desarrollen destrezas para la autonomía y que aprendan a reconocer, y a trabajar por motivación intrínsica en vez de por una recompensa externa, algo que se le dificulta a los niños con diagnóstico de autismo. “Mediante nuestro sistema, trabajamos modificación de conducta y les enseñamos a atender para que ellos solos se motiven a trabajar y sientan satisfacción por sus logros”, indicó Acevedo, quien añadió que la meta principal es que estos estudiantes alcancen su mayor potencial. “El programa combina lo académico con lo funcional. Aquí los niños no solo aprenden letras, números y conceptos básicos, sino que también desarrollan habilidades esenciales como lavarse los dientes, peinarse, vestirse, ponerse y quitarse los zapatos, servirse la comida, lavar sus platos, poner la mesa, mirar a los ojos y seguir instrucciones”, agregó. Asimismo, destacó que gracias al Conservatorio de Música de Puerto Rico, los estudiantes participan en el programa Despertar Musical, mediante el cual aprenden destrezas musicales como ritmo y volumen, como parte de su desarrollo integral. De igual manera, reciben clases de agricultura, conectándolos con la naturaleza y exponiéndolos sensorialmente. Escuela Montessori Casita Ave del Paraíso trabaja un currículo flexible de los grados pre-kinder, kinder y primero. Cada niño cuenta con su propio asistente, aunque la meta es que eventualmente dependan lo menos posible del mismo. Cuando transicionan a Montessori regular, de 1ro a 6to grado, el asistente transiciona con el estudiante, si es necesario. Según Acevedo, por la naturaleza y la formación que promueve el sistema Montessori, los otros niños ayudan a los estudiantes que están transicionando. “Estos son niños que, cuando llegan a nuestra escuela, no hablan, se agreden, carecen de rutinas funcionales como bañarse, lavarse los dientes o alimentarse ellos mismos. Pero según se van desarrollando en nuestro programa el cambio es notable en muy poco tiempo: ahora socializan y se comunican, piden información, siguen reglas sociales y desarrollan patrones de autoayuda. Nuestra satisfacción y orgullo al verlos es incalculable”, comentó Acevedo. El próximo proyecto que realizará Fundación Súper Héroes, y para el cual está en etapa de recaudación de fondos, es Nido, el programa de infantes con necesidades especiales de 0 a 2 años. “Está probado que mientras más temprano se comienza a dar terapias a los niños con necesidades especiales, más progreso experimentan. Sin embargo, bajo la ley en PR esto no ocurre y hay que cambiar esta práctica”, concluyó Acevedo, quien también es una activista por los derechos de los estudiantes con necesidades especiales.

8 hours ago

World

Miss International Puerto Rico parte hacia Japón en busca de la tercera corona para la Isla  - Puerto Rico

Zamira Allende, Miss International Puerto Rico 2025, partió este lunes hacia Japón, donde representará con orgullo a la Isla del Encanto en la 63ª edición del certamen internacional, cuya gran final se celebrará el 27 de noviembre en Tokio, Japón. Lee también | Carlos Vives anuncia “Tour al sol 2026" con parada en Puerto Rico Puerto Rico ha conquistado este prestigioso título en dos ocasiones (1987 y 2014), y Zamira aspira a traer de regreso la tercera corona internacional para el país. Graduada de Comunicación de la Universidad del Sagrado Corazón, Allende combina su elegancia, inteligencia y compromiso social con una sólida trayectoria en modelaje y oratoria. Para los directores nacionales Valeria Vázquez y Miguel Deliz, su participación es especialmente significativa pues aseguran que la reina encarna los valores de “disciplina, empatía y excelencia” que distinguen a las representantes boricuas en la arena internacional. “Estoy profundamente emocionada y honrada de tener la oportunidad de representar a mi amada isla en uno de los escenarios más prestigiosos del mundo. Llevo conmigo el orgullo de ser puertorriqueña, el calor de mi gente, la fuerza de nuestra cultura y el inmenso corazón de esta tierra bendita. Mi mayor deseo es que, a través de cada paso y de cada palabra, el mundo pueda ver reflejada la esencia de Puerto Rico: su resiliencia, su belleza y su espíritu solidario. Daré lo mejor de mí con entrega, disciplina y pasión para traer de regreso esa anhelada tercera corona de Miss International. Agradezco con el alma a la organización Nuestra Belleza Puerto Rico por creer en mí, por acompañarme en este camino y por inspirarme a ser una mejor versión de mí misma. Este viaje representa mucho más que un certamen; es una experiencia de crecimiento, de aprendizaje y de propósito que marcará mi vida para siempre”, indicó Zamira en declaraciones escritas. Allende lleva consigo un propósito que trasciende la pasarela. A través de su proyecto social “Con Amor Zam”, la reina busca visibilizar la importancia de la salud mental, la autoestima y la lucha contra el bullying infantil. Su iniciativa promueve el amor propio, el respeto y el bienestar emocional en las escuelas de Puerto Rico, utilizando el arte como herramienta para sanar y expresar emociones desde una edad temprana. Durante su estadía en Japón, la boricua lucirá creaciones de diseñadores puertorriqueños y boutiques locales. En la gala final, llevará una obra exclusiva del diseñador José Karlos, quien también confeccionó su traje típico inspirado en la fantasía “La Perla del Mar Caribe, Puerto Rico”, una representación artística que fusiona la riqueza marina, el esplendor cultural y la elegancia caribeña. Deliz, quien también es el presidente de Nuestra Belleza Puerto Rico (NBPR), destacó sentirse profundamente orgulloso de la delegada boricua. “Zamira es una joven excepcional que reúne belleza, preparación y propósito. Confiamos plenamente en que dejará una huella imborrable en Japón y continuará el legado de Puerto Rico como cuna de reinas internacionales”, sostuvo.

8 hours ago