TERRIBLE new forms of infectious disease make headlines, but not at the start. Every pandemic begins small. Early indicators can be subtle and ambiguous. When the Next Big One arrives, spreading across oceans and continents like the sweep of nightfall, causing illness and fear, killing thousands or maybe millions of people, it will be signaled first by quiet, puzzling reports from faraway places — reports to which disease scientists and public health officials, but few of the rest of us, pay close attention.
CARICOM
UNITED NATIONS, CMC – Caribbean countries have been told that purchasing goods and services in the information technology (IT) sector by government offices provides untapped potential for stimulating domestic economic progress. The new study by the United Nations notes that while local IT firms contribute to increased productivity, employment and innovation, these local businesses mainly in developing countries like the Caribbean, are often constricted by low domestic demand.
TEHRAN — A powerful earthquake that struck southeastern Iran was felt in several countries in Asia on Tuesday, rocking buildings in the Indian capital of New Delhi, sending panicked resident of Karachi, Pakistan, fleeing into the streets and causing tremors through Persian Gulf states. Iranian officials said they expected many deaths. The earthquake measured 7.8 on the Richter scale and its epicenter was near Khash, Iran, not far from Iran’s border with Pakistan, the United States Geological Survey said.
It is urgent that the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) engage the global community for help in sending a clear message to Guatemala that there will be no reward for bad behaviour, including, as seems to be the intent of the Central American country, squirming out of solemn undertakings.
A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step, but starting this week we can march a thousand days forward into a new future. On April 5, the world will reach a vital moment in history’s largest and most successful anti-poverty push – the 1,000-day mark before the target date to achieve the Millennium Development Goals.
UNITED NATIONS, CMC – Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries were on Wednesday expressing satisfaction with the roles they played in a United Nations Arms Trade Treaty (ATT).
CARICOM countries voted in favour of the treaty on Tuesday to regulate the US$70 billion global trade in small arms, light weapons and some ammunition.
Caribbean trade bloc governments have been so worried about the stark increase in chronic diseases like diabetes and hypertension among citizens that they have twice organized special summits to address the issue and even pushed the United Nations into holding a high-level meeting to find ways of reducing these numbers.
WASHINGTON, CMC – The United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency says agents have taken 28 Caribbean and other immigrants back into custody after they were recently released from detention centers and jails around the country.
ICE said the immigrants were re-taken “after either violating the terms of their supervision or after the agency discovered information not available during an initial review of their case.”
GEORGETOWN—The European Union is providing Euro 8.6 million (One Euro =US$1.30 cents) to boost agriculture in the Caribbean. The funds are being provided under the tenth European Development Fund (EDF) Intra-African Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Agriculture Policy Programme for the Caribbean between the European Commission and the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA).
UNITED NATIONS, CMC – The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Monday said there is urgent need for stronger legislative measures to deal with the issue of violence against women and other obstacles to gender equality and women empowerment.