Latest news with #CentralAmerican
Daily Mirror
11 hours ago
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Boxing legend 'The Bodysnatcher' dies at 68 after pulling car off road
Mike McCallum was a Hall of Fame fighter who was the first Jamaican to win a world title, and secured titles at three different weight classes in his career Boxing great Mike 'The Bodysnatcher' McCallum has sadly died at the age of 68. The Jamaican, a Hall of Fame fighter who won three world titles in three different weight classes, passed away after falling ill on the way to the gym in Las Vegas on Saturday. Reports claim McCallum, who was 68, pulled his car off the road. According to The Jamaica Observer he was later found unresponsive and pronounced dead at the scene. McCallum earned his fearsome nickname due to his heavy hitting style, and the groundbreaking fighter was the first Jamaican to become a world champion, doing so in 1984 when he beat Irish fighter Sean Mannlon at Madison Square Garden in New York to win the WBA Junior Middleweight title. He would later claim the WBA Middleweight and WBC Light heavyweight titles, and he was inducted into Boxing's Hall of Fame in 2003. In addition he was a welterweight gold medal winner at the 1978 Commonwealth Games and the Central American and Carribbean Games in the same year. Jamaica sports minister Olivia Grange confirmed the sad news in a statement, saying: "It is with utter and complete sadness that I learned of the death of Jamaica's three-time world boxing champion Michael McKenzie McCallum. "I express my personal condolences to his mother, siblings and his children. On behalf of the Ministry of Sports, I take this opportunity to extend our sympathies to the family and friends of this legendary Jamaican." The Ring Magazine said on X: "The Ring is saddened to learn of the passing of boxing legend Mike McCallum. "The 'Body Snatcher' was a three-weight world champion, having won titles at super-welterweight, middleweight, and light-heavyweight. "Our deepest sympathies are with his friends and family at this time."
Metro
12 hours ago
- Metro
I fell hard for 'The Jewel' — a Caribbean gem off the main tourist trail
Leaving London, the weather couldn't decide between drizzle and all-out downpour. I wasn't just after sunshine. I wanted a place where 'productivity' meant remembering to reapply sunscreen before noon. Belize was exactly that. Not the Caribbean of infinity pools and stiff cocktails, but somewhere refreshingly real. Beaches with more driftwood than Instagrammers, bartenders who double as turtle-spotting experts, and a vibe so laid-back that a major public announcement is 'The snorkel boat leaves at 9… or maybe 10.' It might be known as 'The Jewel', a nickname that reflects its rich cultural heritage and natural beauty, but Belize is not on the main Caribbean tourist trail just yet. Fuel your wanderlust with our curated newsletter of travel deals, guides and inspiration. Sign up here. That path is currently populated by Barbados, St Lucia and Anguilla, but the Central American country has seen an increase in tourists in recent years. In 2024, it clocked a record-breaking 562,405 overnight visitors. In January, prestigious travel association ABTA named Belize as a destination to watch for 2025, citing its lush rainforests, pristine beaches, and ancient Mayan ruins as major drawcards for responsible adventurers. Landing on Belizean soil, I made my way to the Tropic Air Dangriga flight, which would take me on a breathtaking journey from Belize City to Dangriga in 20 minutes. Through scratched plexiglass windows, the reef emerges below like a jagged turquoise line against deeper blue, the coastline veined with mangrove channels. The 12-seat Cessna Caravan is not for the faint-hearted — it's a tiny capsule in which you can hear every word of the pilot, without a Tannoy system. A one-way ticket costs about £83. At the tiny airstrip – a concrete slab flanked by palm trees – I arrive alive, and a short drive takes me to The Lodge at Jaguar Reef. This hotel is essentially a collection of beachfront suites, complete with private plunge pools and a deck just steps from the ocean. The vibe is barefoot luxury: local wood, open-plan design, and a sea breeze drifting through windows. Rooms here range from approximately £189 to £334 per night, depending on the season and room type. Hopkins village moves at the pace of bicycle traffic and the occasional golf cart. I am guided by Get to Know Belize Adventures and as we drive around in our golf buggy, I'm struck by how peaceful this place is. More surprising is pulling up to the community square and seeing police officers repainting benches for the community. 'It needs a sprucing up,' one tells me. 'So here we are.' Nearby, I find a small bakery where I try fried jack, a buttery, fluffy pastry that's a Belizean staple, served by the smiling owner, her hands dusted in flour. The Garifuna people, descendants of West African, Carib, and Arawak ancestors, are central to Hopkins' culture. Exiled from St. Vincent in the 18th century, they settled along Belize's coast, maintaining their unique language, music, and traditions. My immersion begins with cooking hudut , a traditional fish and coconut stew, in an outdoor kitchen. My guide's wife shows me how to grate fresh coconut for the rich broth, then demonstrates the art of cracking one open with a machete. We pound plantains in a giant wooden mortar as the fish simmers away with coconut milk, garlic, onions, and habanero peppers. Eating it together at a long, rough-hewn table, the hudut's creamy broth balances the earthy mashed plantains perfectly. After lunch, a drumming lesson shifts to the beach. Local musicians teach me the basic rhythms of the primero and segunda drums. At first, I struggle to find the beat, but soon the sound of the waves and the music blur together. By sunset, I'm dancing barefoot in the sand, badly but blissfully. Later, we head out for a bioluminescence tour of Anderson Lagoon, and I'm told to expect magic. A mixture of excited and cynical, we sail through a tiny cut to get to the lagoon and find ourselves surrounded by giant mangroves. It's pitch black, the guide's flashlight beam cutting across the lagoon is the only light — then he turns it off. The boat picks up speed and the wake glows. Blue streams of light surrounds us from the water. As the boat pick upspeed, the tiny algae, which settle in the lagoon during the dry season, get agitated and glow, which for a bioluminescent newbie like me is mind-blowing. After a short boat ride through narrow mangrove channels, the captain kills the engine. In the dark stillness, every movement in the water sparks blue light — tiny bursts of, yes, living magic. Swimming through it feels like gliding through liquid stars, my arms trailing glowing comet tails. Tours cost approximately £56 per person. The next day's adventure feels a bit like driving through a film set. Winding along roads lined with orange groves and passing through the dreamlike Bamboo Cathedral – a natural tunnel of towering bamboo – is an experience in itself. As if the ride isn't dreamy enough, the road to the waterfall winds along the side of the mountain, with tall trees reaching above you and creating much-needed shade. We reach Maya King Waterfall, (entry £8 per person) in the Maya Mountains of the South East Coast. The two cascading falls are at their most dramatic during rainy season, crashing down into clear pools below. I could have spent hours here, soaking up the vibe, the only sound the rushing water echoing around us. In the charming village of Placencia, the footpath winds between brightly painted shops and beach bars. The Creole beach town is proud of its spot in the Guinness Book of World Records, where it's recognised for having the narrowest main street in the world. It's actually a 4,000-foot long footpath that is just four feet wide. A stroll along the pedestrian 'street' takes you past quaint rows of local artists' stalls, eclectic shops and cheekily-named beach bars. The village has managed to retain its boho vibe, despite a recent influx of wealthy American and Canadian retirees. Film director Francis Ford Coppola even opened a hotel here, the eco-friendly Turtle Inn. It's hard not to fall for the pace: no rush, no pressure, just friendly locals, lilting music, and the salty scent of the sea. My favourite perch is Tutti Frutti ice cream parlour, which serves delicious flavours like sour sop, a creamy local fruit beloved across the Caribbean that's usually made into a refreshing drink. After indulging in Placencia, a short Tropic Air hop (£75 one-way) takes me to San Pedro on Ambergris Caye. San Pedro is giving Wes Anderson: pastel-coloured wooden buildings, narrow sandy streets, and golf carts buzzing around as the main form of transport. In fact, my 'taxi' from the mini-airport to Ramon's Village Resort is a golf buggy (golf cart rentals cost about £7 per hour), although you could easily walk it if you wanted. Ramon's Village feels like stepping back in time, in the best way. Thatched-roof cabanas, lush tropical gardens, hammocks swinging in the breeze. Everything here is designed to help you unplug. Room rates vary by season and type, ranging from £135 to £360. Reggae music floats from bars and beach shacks all over town, a nod to Belize's cultural ties to Jamaica (both were once British colonies). It shows up in the food too: comforting dishes like stew chicken, rice and kidney beans, fried jacks (similar to Jamaican fried dumplings), and sweet plantain accompany almost every meal. Familiar, yet quintessentially Belizean. That evening, I join the Belize Food Tour, which turns out to be one of the best ways to experience San Pedro's spirit. Walking between stops with a chatty group of fellow travellers and locals, we try everything from fresh conch ceviche to grilled lobster, tamales wrapped in banana leaves, and rich coconut pies. Along the way, we get snippets of history, gossip, and restaurant secrets—it's less like a formal tour and more like wandering town with new friends who know all the best bites. Approximately £57 per person. The next morning, it's time for the ultimate snorkelling trip to Hol Chan marine reserve and Shark Ray Alley. Also known as 'Little Channel', it has impossibly clear waters and coral gardens teeming with life. Swimming alongside rays and nurse sharks is thrilling for some, but full disclosure, it's not for me. While hanging on to the side of the boat, I do manage to capture a semblance of magic as I duck my head in. A kaleidoscope of fish glide past me; if you're into that sort of thing, this place is a veritable underwater theme park. Before leaving Belize, there's one final bucket-list moment: a scenic flyover of the iconic Great Blue Hole. More Trending From the air, the vast circular sinkhole looks surreal: deep, endless blue surrounded by the lighter turquoise of the reef. You might even spot dolphins or manatees swimming below if you're lucky. It's humbling and breathtaking all at once. Scenic flights cost £200 per person, or, if you prefer to get up close and personal, sea tours typically cost around £100, including snorkel gear and guide. It sounds trite, but each new day in Belize brings new adventure and fresh perspective. It's the kind of place that reminds you to slow down… and eat everything. I've fallen for Belize and the love feels reciprocated. What more could you want? There are no direct flights from the UK to Belize. Travelling in the first week of June, the cheapest option is flying with United Airlines from London Heathrow, with stops in New York and Houston. Return fares start from £651, and the journey takes just over 24 hours. British Airways also flies from London Heathrow, with one stop in Miami. Prices start from £837 for the same week. Do I need a visa? UK passport holders do not need a visa for a tourist visit to Belize. You can stay for up to 30 days without a visa. MORE: I swapped my sun holiday for a train trip to Europe's rainiest city — with highs of 8°C MORE: I searched for grizzly bears in a Canadian region tourists often miss MORE: I thought British holidays were boring, but this underrated island changed my mind
Kuwait Times
a day ago
- Science
- Kuwait Times
Remains of Mayan city nearly 3,000 years old unearthed in Guatemala
Archaeologists have unearthed the remains of a Mayan city nearly 3,000 years old in northern Guatemala, with pyramids and monuments that point to its significance as an important ceremonial site, the Central American country's culture ministry said Thursday. The Mayan civilization arose around 2000 BC, reaching its height between 400 and 900 AD in what is present-day southern Mexico and Guatemala, as well as parts of Belize, El Salvador and Honduras. The city named 'Los Abuelos,' Spanish for 'The Grandparents,' once stood some 21 kilometers (13 miles) from the important archaeological site of Uaxactun, in Guatemala's northern Peten department, the ministry said in a statement. It is dated to what is known as the 'Middle Preclassic' period from about 800 to 500 BC, and is believed to have been 'one of the most ancient and important ceremonial centers' of the Mayan civilization in the jungle area of Peten near the Mexican border, it added. 'The site presents remarkable architectural planning' with pyramids and monuments 'sculpted with unique iconography from the region,' said the ministry. The city takes its name from two human-like sculptures of an 'ancestral couple' found at the site. The figures, dated to between 500 and 300 BC, 'could be linked to ancient ritual practices of ancestor worship,' said the ministry. This undated handout picture shows a pot discovered at the Uaxactun archeological site. 'Unique canal system' The city, which covers an area of about 16 square kilometers (six square miles) was discovered by Guatemalan and Slovak archaeologists in previously little-explored areas of the Uaxactun park. Nearby, they also found a pyramid standing 33 meters (108 feet) high with murals from the Preclassic period and 'a unique canal system,' according to the statement. 'The set of these three sites forms a previously unknown urban triangle... These findings allow us to rethink the understanding of the ceremonial and socio-political organization of pre-Hispanic Peten,' said the ministry. In April, scientists discovered a 1,000-year-old altar from Mexico's ancient Teotihuacan culture at Tikal, elsewhere in the Peten department. That find was interpreted as proof of ties between the two pre-Hispanic cultures, which lived about 1,300 km apart. Tikal, about 23 km from Uaxcatun, is the main archaeological site in Guatemala and one of its biggest tourist attractions. — AFP
Yahoo
a day ago
- General
- Yahoo
Trump 'sanctuary jurisdictions' list; Wisconsin communities named
The Brief The Trump administration released a new list of what it calls "sanctuary jurisdictions." Two Wisconsin cities and two Wisconsin counties were named. The administration claims the communities are not complying with federal immigration enforcement efforts. MILWAUKEE - The Trump administration has released a new list of what it calls "sanctuary jurisdictions," which it claims are not complying with federal immigration enforcement efforts. Here's which Wisconsin communities were named. Local perspective More than 500 communities across the U.S. were put on the "sanctuary jurisdictions" list that was released this week. In Wisconsin, those jurisdictions include the cities of Milwaukee and Madison as well as Dane and Shawano counties. FREE DOWNLOAD: Get breaking news alerts in the FOX LOCAL Mobile app for iOS or Android Dig deeper Among the most confusing aspects of the list: several jurisdictions with no known sanctuary policies were included. Shawano County, for instance, believes it may have been added by mistake. County administrator Jim Davel said the only policy vote in recent years was to become a "Second Amendment Sanctuary County" opposing gun control laws – unrelated to immigration. Other unexpected names include Alexandria, Virginia, and Huntington Beach, California – both communities with histories of cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. What they're saying According to the Department of Homeland Security, the list was created using several factors, including whether a jurisdiction self-identifies as a sanctuary, limits information-sharing with ICE, or offers legal protections to undocumented immigrants. DHS said the list will be updated regularly. There's no legal definition for the term. Generally, it refers to a city, county, or state that limits local cooperation with federal immigration authorities, particularly ICE. The concept has historical roots in the "sanctuary movement" of the 1980s, when religious institutions sheltered Central American refugees fleeing civil wars. Today, many cities adopt these policies to promote public safety, arguing that undocumented residents are more likely to report crimes if they don't fear deportation. Dig deeper César García Hernández, a law professor at Ohio State University, said the practice has evolved but continues to reflect a divide between local and federal priorities. "There was no legal guarantee of immunity," he said, "but there was policy." But critics say the methodology is unclear. SIGN UP TODAY: Get daily headlines, breaking news emails from FOX6 News Jessica Vaughan, director of policy studies at the Center for Immigration Studies, which supports stricter immigration enforcement, said the lack of documentation undermines the list's credibility. "That's one thing that I feel is missing from the list – some documentation as to why they're appearing on the list," she said. Nithya Nathan-Pineau, an attorney with the Immigrant Legal Resource Center, called the list arbitrary: "It seems quite arbitrary because not all of these states or specific jurisdictions have a policy that limits cooperation with ICE." The Source Information in this story is from the Associated Press and LiveNOW from FOX, including insights from the Center for Immigration Studies, the Immigrant Legal Resource Center and Ohio State University.
New York Post
2 days ago
- General
- New York Post
‘Remarkable' 3,000-year-old Mayan city named ‘The Grandparents' unearthed in Guatemala
It's a blast from the long-ago past. Archaeologists unearthed a nearly 3,000-year-old Mayan city in Guatemala — complete with pyramids and mysterious monuments — that reveals new traces of the ancient civilization. The ancient metropolis known as Los Abuelos — Spanish for 'The Grandparents' — dates back to about 800 to 500 BC and is believed to be one of the earliest and most significant ceremonial centers of the Maya civilization in Guatemala's dense Petén region, the country's culture ministry announced. Advertisement Officials said the roughly six-square-mile historic area — named after two human-like rock figures believed to represent an ancestral couple — features 'remarkable architectural planning,' including pyramids, sacred sanctuaries and monuments adorned with unique regional iconography. 7 Researchers announced the discovery of a nearly 3,000-year-old ancient Mayan city in Guatemala. mcdguate/TikTok Some unearthed relics from 500-300 BC may be tied to ancient ritual practices and ancestor worship. Advertisement 'The discovery of the city called Los Abuelos stands out for its ancient characteristics and its exceptional features of historical value, which contribute significantly to the understanding of the Mayan civilization, the Central American ministry said. 7 The ancient metropolis known as Los Abuelos — Spanish for 'The Grandparents' — dates back to about 800 to 500 BC. Ministerio de Cultura y Deportes Guatemala/Facebook 7 The site is believed to be one of the earliest and most significant ceremonial centers of the Maya civilization. mcdguate/TikTok The Mayan civilization emerged around 2000 BC and reached its peak between 400 and 900 AD, spanning present-day southern Mexico, Guatemala and parts of Belize, El Salvador and Honduras. Advertisement The groundbreaking discovery was made by Guatemalan and Slovak archaeologists and other international professionals in a largely uncharted section of Uaxactun Park, officials said. 7 Some unearthed relics from 500-300 BC may be tied to ancient ritual practices and ancestor worship. mcdguate/TikTok 7 A mock-up of the three-site complex of Los Abuelos, Petnal and Cambrayal. mcdguate/TikTok 7 The roughly six-square-mile historic area was named Los Abuelos, or 'The Grandparents,' after two human-like rock figures believed to represent an ancestral couple. mcdguate/TikTok Advertisement 7 Scientists also discovered a 108-foot pyramid and water canals at nearby dig sites. mcdguate/TikTok Scientists also discovered a 108-foot pyramid, which has two preserved rooms at its peak decorated with murals depicting symbolic scenes and 'unique' water canals inside a palace at two nearby dig sites. 'These set of three sites forms a previously unknown urban triangle,' the ministry said. 'These findings allow us to rethink the understanding of the ceremonial and sociopolitical organization of pre-Hispanic Petén.'
