Caribbean & International

Zika caught ‘killing’ brain cells

(BBC)  Zika virus kills the type of tissue found in the developing brain, researchers have shown. It was able to destroy or disrupt the growth of neural progenitor cells, which build the brain and nervous system, in lab tests. The discovery, published in the journal Cell Stem Cell, adds weight to claims that Zika is […]

Guyana urges regional aviation oversight body to develop regulations for use of drones

Guyana’s Minister with responsibility for the Aviation Sector, Annette Ferguson, believes Guyana is setting the stage for a more robust sector. She made the statement during the 17th Board of Directors meeting of the Caribbean Aviation Safety and Security Oversight System (CASSOS), which opened today in Guyana. During the opening of the meeting, Minister Ferguson stated that, […]

Crime, Zika effects and financial high risk concerns top threats to CARICOM

(CARICOM Today)  Crime, unproved categorisation of the Region as a financial high risk area and the potentially devastating effects of the Zika virus were the threats identified by CARICOM Secretary-General, Ambassador Irwin LaRocque, in his urgent call for action to keep the Community’s well earned reputation safe and secure. Ambassador Irwin LaRocque made this call […]

Pope Francis urges Mexico to vanquish drugs scourge

(BBC) Pope Francis has delivered a strong denunciation of the drugs trade before an audience of 300,000 people attending an open-air mass in Ecatepec, one of poorest suburbs of Mexico City. He urged the congregation to rid Mexico of drug dealer “merchants of death”. Ecatepec, with 1.6 million inhabitants, is notorious for drug violence, kidnappings […]

Haiti chooses interim President

Haiti’s parliament has chosen an interim president a week after Michel Martelly stepped down, leaving the country without a head of state. The new leader, Jocelerme Privert, was elected at a marathon session of the national assembly that continued into the early hours of Sunday morning. Mr Privert is the current head of the assembly. […]

Three die from Zika complications in Venezuela

(CNN) Three people have died in Venezuela from complications related to the Zika virus, President Nicolas Maduro said. There have been 319 confirmed cases of the Zika virus in the nation, state-run newspaper Correo Del Orinoco reported Thursday. Venezuela’s deaths come as other Latin American nations battle the virus. Zika is also commanding attention because of […]