2024-05-10 - Greater Belize Media

UN General Assembly votes to back Palestinian bid for membership

The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) has endorsed a Palestinian request to qualify for full membership in the UN, urging the UN Security Council to “reconsider the matter favorably.”

In a vote held on Friday, the 193-member UNGA conducted a global assessment of support for the Palestinian bid to attain full UN membership, which had been blocked by the United States in the UN Security Council the previous month. The assembly passed a resolution on Friday with 143 votes in favor, nine against (including the US and Israel), and 25 abstentions. This resolution does not grant full UN membership to the Palestinians but acknowledges their eligibility to join.

The UNGA resolution “affirms that the State of Palestine … should therefore be admitted to membership” and “recommends that the Security Council reconsider the matter favorably.”

Although the UNGA lacks the authority to confer full UN membership, the adopted resolution on Friday will grant the Palestinians certain additional rights and privileges starting from September 2024, such as a seat among UN members in the assembly hall, although they will not have a vote in the body.

New Ranger Station Inaugurated at Tapir Mountain Nature Reserve

The official opening of the Jaguar Station at Tapir Mountain Nature Reserve marks a significant milestone in conservation efforts. The new reserve was made possible by the generous support of dedicated partners such as the GEF Small Grants Programme – Belize, and the Ministry of Sustainable Development and Climate Change.

The establishment of the Jaguar Station provides rangers with a secure base to enhance surveillance and protection of the Tapir Mountain Nature Reserve. This is a significant development for conservation efforts. The ceremony, held in western Belize, celebrated the establishment of the Jaguar Station, replacing the former basic accommodations that posed challenges for the reserve’s rangers.

The construction of this state-of-the-art facility totaled $450,000.

12 Belize Culinarians Complete Diploma in Culinary Arts Program

Twelve Belizean chefs recently completed the Diploma in Culinary Arts Program. According to the Belize Tourism Board (BTB), this achievement was made possible through the collaborative efforts of the BTB, the Ministry of Education, and the esteemed partnership with Florida International University / Accelerating Leaders.

BTB says, “After months of dedication and hard work, our culinarians have mastered various culinary skills including cold food preparation, meats and seafood, soups, stews, and sauces, food and kitchen safety, cultures and cuisines, introductory food science, and menu design.”