Latin America Takes on Tobacco, High-Profile Arrest in Haiti, and New Hamas Conditions for Hostage Aid
By Antonio Dey | HGP Nightly News
BVI Selected for Regional Anti-Tobacco Initiative
The British Virgin Islands (BVI) has been named one of four countries to join a landmark regional campaign aimed at reducing tobacco use and advancing smoke-free environments in Latin America and the Caribbean.
The initiative, led by the World Health Organization (WHO), Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO), Bloomberg Philanthropies, and the Ministry of Health and Wellness, supports the movement toward a smoke-free and emission-free Latin America. The campaign builds on the momentum of the 2020 South America smoke-free milestone and seeks to reinforce global commitments to public health and environmental sustainability.
Tobacco use remains one of the most severe public health challenges across the region, causing over 8 million deaths globally each year, including 1.3 million due to secondhand smoke. The initiative will emphasize policy development, multi-sectoral cooperation, and data-driven advocacy to combat the issue.
The National Drug Abuse and Control Council has launched capacity-building activities and stakeholder engagement forums to support the campaign’s goals. Officials highlighted broad social support for tobacco control policies and stressed the vital role of the judiciary in upholding public health protections.
Haiti: Former Senator Arrested for Alleged Gang Support
In Haiti, former senator Nenel Cassy has been arrested on charges of conspiracy against the state and financing criminal organizations, according to a statement by the Haitian National Police.
Cassy was detained on Saturday in Pétion-Ville, an affluent suburb of Port-au-Prince. The arrest marks a rare move against a high-level political figure in a country grappling with widespread gang violence and fragile governance.
Police accused Cassy of backing gang-led attacks in Kenscoff, an elite community 10 kilometers outside the capital that had previously remained untouched by Haiti’s wave of gang violence. The attacks earlier this year left dozens dead and signaled the gangs’ growing ambition to seize more territory.
Cassy had previously been designated a “corrupt actor” by the U.S. State Department in 2023.
International: Hamas Offers Red Cross Access Under Conditions
In international news, Hamas has stated its willingness to cooperate with the International Committee of the Red Cross to deliver aid to hostages it holds in Gaza—but only if Israel meets specific conditions.
The announcement came in response to international outrage over a video showing a visibly emaciated Israeli hostage, Evyatar David, which Hamas released over the weekend. In the statement, Hamas said it would allow Red Cross access to hostages if Israel permanently opens humanitarian corridors and halts airstrikes during aid deliveries.
Israeli intelligence believes only 20 out of 50 remaining hostages in Gaza are still alive. Humanitarian organizations continue to face restrictions from entering the territory, leaving families with little information about their loved ones.
