Author: Alfred Davenport

Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment Jose W. Fernández met with Guatemalan Foreign Minister Mario Búcaro and President-elect Bernardo Arévalo in Guatemala City on December 4, 2023. In his meeting with Foreign Minister Búcaro, Under Secretary Fernández emphasized that a peaceful democratic transition to President-elect Arévalo’s administration is crucial to deepening U.S.-Guatemala economic cooperation and strengthening our strategic partnership. Under Secretary Fernández also conveyed the need to promote a transparent, stable, and prosperous business environment that benefits the people of Guatemala. Under Secretary Fernández and President-elect Arévalo discussed U.S.-Guatemala cooperation, to include promoting inclusive economic growth and working together…

Nestled in the heart of Central America, Belize is a country known for its stunning natural beauty and rich biodiversity. Among the many treasures this nation has to offer, the Belize Zoo stands out as a testament to its commitment to wildlife conservation and education. Established in 1983, this unique zoo has evolved into a haven for native species, providing visitors with an unparalleled opportunity to witness the incredible diversity of Belizean wildlife up close. A Home for Native Species: Unlike traditional zoos that feature animals from around the world, the Belize Zoo focuses exclusively on the native wildlife of…

The United States and Trinidad and Tobago will meet in the first leg of their League A quarterfinal series at Q2 Stadium in Austin, Texas. Trinidad and Tobago reached this phase of the competition by finishing as the second-place team out of Group A during the group stage. The Soca Warriors were excellent in earning three wins in their first three matches before a 5-3 defeat to Curacao on the final matchday. Still, the Trinidad and Tobago attack was firing on all cylinders and scored 10 goals across their four matches. Among the stars were youngster Nathaniel James, whose two goals…

The Costa Rican Gisela Sánchez was elected this Friday as president of the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (BCIE), the first woman to hold that position, announced the president of Costa Rica, Rodrigo Chaves, in a videoconference organized by the institution, based in Tegucigalpa. The ruler emphasized that Sánchez has a “broad trajectory” that “will undoubtedly strengthen an institution that is very important for Central America, the Dominican Republic and countries beyond.” Sánchez, a 49-year-old industrial engineer with a master’s degree in Business Administration, is the first woman to hold the position in the 63 years of the institution,…

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will return this week to the Middle East as the U.S. hopes to find a way to extend a cease-fire in Gaza and get more hostages released, the State Department said Monday. It will be his third trip to the region since Israel’s war with Hamas began last month Blinken will travel to Israel and the West Bank after attending Ukraine-focused meetings on Tuesday and Wednesday in Brussels and Skopje, North Macedonia, where foreign ministers from NATO and the Organization for Peace and Security in Europe are gathering. Israel has agreed to pauses in…

The government of Belize will suspend diplomatic ties with Israel over its refusal to implement a ceasefire in Gaza, adding to the list of countries in the Western Hemisphere voicing anger over the Israeli government’s war conduct. “The Government of Belize has repeatedly condemned the actions of the IDF in Gaza. We have appealed to Israel to implement an immediate ceasefire and to allow unimpeded access to humanitarian supplies into Gaza. Despite our requests, Israel has not stopped its violations of international humanitarian law nor allowed relief workers to alleviate the suffering of millions of Gazans,” the Belize statement said…

N​orma hit Mexico’s southern Baja California Peninsula on Saturday as a Category 1 hurricane. It’s remnants have since moved inland. An upper-level low-pressure system that’s digging into the Southwest early this week will help pull Norma’s moisture, as well as moisture from the Gulf of Mexico, northward through the Plains and upper Midwest. Parts of West Texas and Oklahoma stand the best chance at some elevated rainfall totals. Two to perhaps five inches of rain could fall in this zone. More than an inch of rain is likely from southwest Texas to the upper-Mississippi Valley through Thursday. A​nd this may…

Long before Muhammad Ali and Mike Tyson, there was a Minnesota boxer who made his mark on the sport. Minnesota boxing historian Jake Wegner knows the amazing life story of Harris “The Black Pearl” Martin. “I think he was the first African American superstar of the sport, not just in Minnesota but the entire Midwest,” Wegner said. While working as a waiter at a Minneapolis hotel, Martin’s boxing talent was discovered by his boss. In the ring, Martin gained a reputation as a boxer who punched with sledgehammer action and became known as “The Black Pearl.” “The average white male…

McALLEN, Texas (AP) — Texas sued the Biden administration on Tuesday, seeking to stop federal agents from cutting the state’s razor wire that has gashed or snagged migrants as they have attempted to enter the U.S. from Mexico at the Rio Grande. In the lawsuit filed in federal court in Del Rio, Texas, Attorney General Ken Paxton accuses the Biden administration of “undermining” the state’s border security efforts. “Texas has the sovereign right to construct border barriers to prevent the entry of illegal aliens,” Ken Paxton, the Texas attorney general, said in a news release Tuesday. State authorities started rolling out miles (kilometers)…

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sued the Biden administration on Tuesday, claiming that the Border Patrol illegally destroyed state property when its agents cut through concertina wire on the banks of the Rio Grande to “assist” migrants to “illegally cross” the border. Within the past three years, the Texas Military Department has spent $11 million to place 70,000 rolls of concertina wire in different parts of the Texas-Mexico border, most notably in Eagle Pass, where migrants have been seriously injured trying to get through the wire. The concertina wire is part of Gov. Greg Abbott’s efforts to stem illegal immigration…