Latest news with #Carnaval


Hamilton Spectator
30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Hamilton Spectator
Mexican Caribbean Tourism Board Shares Exciting Lineup of Late Summer, Fall Seasonal Events and Signature Experiences
From reimagined music festivals and culinary showcases to wellness retreats and nightlife celebrations, the region invites travelers to discover its most anticipated seasonal highlights The inaugural Mexican Caribbean Music Fest, held in Tulum in May, received over 20,000 attendees and hotel occupancy increased by 20 percent. QUINTANA ROO, Mexico, June 30, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — With an exciting lineup of cultural events and record-breaking successes, the Mexican Caribbean is experiencing a landmark start to the year. The region, located on Mexico's eastern coast, confidently advances into its 'New Era of Tourism,' hallmarked by world-renowned cultural, culinary, wellness and nightlife offerings that reflect its vibrant identity. The year has been defined by a robust calendar of events that underscore the dynamic spirit and rising profile of the Mexican Caribbean, significantly boosting tourism through increased hotel occupancy and driving deeper visitor engagement with memorable cultural experiences. February marked the triumphant return of Carnaval, celebrated across major destinations including Cozumel, Cancún, Puerto Morelos, Isla Mujeres, Bacalar and Holbox. This renowned event drew thousands of international visitors who filled the streets for lively parades featuring dazzling costumes, vibrant music and dancing, and elaborate cultural performances. In May, the inaugural Mexican Caribbean Music Fest (MCMF) brought more than 20,000 attendees to ZAMNA Park in Tulum. Headlined by international music icon Sting, the festival combined star power with a setting that captured the natural beauty and distinctive atmosphere of the region, establishing a new standard for large-scale cultural programming. Designed as a next-generation evolution of the beloved Riviera Maya Jazz Festival, the event elevated the Mexican Caribbean's profile, increasing hotel occupancy by 20 percent - a remarkable achievement during what is typically considered low season. Met with critical acclaim, the Mexican Caribbean Music Fest has already gained momentum to become an annual tradition. 'The Mexican Caribbean continues to evolve as a leading global destination for premier events, blending New Era innovation with deep cultural roots. This year's calendar, from iconic traditions like Carnaval to new initiatives such as the Mexican Caribbean Music Fest – demonstrates our commitment to delivering high-impact experiences that draw travelers to our region time and time again. Our strategic focus remains on curating authentic offerings that honor our rich cultural heritage and foster long-term traveler engagement,' said Andrés Martínez, CEO, Mexican Caribbean Tourism Board. Other standout events this year have included culinary showcases, athletic competitions and artistic exhibitions hosted across the region's 12 destinations. With even more on the horizon, the Mexican Caribbean continues to captivate travelers through experiences that highlight its creativity, character and unmistakable rhythm. Upcoming Major Events: For more information, please visit About Mexican Caribbean The Mexican Caribbean is like no other place in the world, due to its 12 tourist destinations: Isla Mujeres, Holbox Island, Costa Mujeres, Cancun, Riviera Maya (Puerto Morelos, Playa del Carmen and Tulum); Cozumel Island, Maya Ka'an and Grand Costa Maya (Mahahual, Bacalar and Chetumal - a Magic Town). Known for its crystal clear waters, white sand beaches, tropical jungle and rich Mayan culture, the Mexican Caribbean boasts world-class tourism infrastructure, a wide variety of lodging options and abundant air connectivity from major U.S. and Canadian gateways. For more information, visit or follow us on Instagram , Facebook , and TikTok . A photo accompanying this announcement is available at
Yahoo
30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Mexican Caribbean Tourism Board Shares Exciting Lineup of Late Summer, Fall Seasonal Events and Signature Experiences
From reimagined music festivals and culinary showcases to wellness retreats and nightlife celebrations, the region invites travelers to discover its most anticipated seasonal highlightsThe inaugural Mexican Caribbean Music Fest, held in Tulum in May, received over 20,000 attendees and hotel occupancy increased by 20 percent. QUINTANA ROO, Mexico, June 30, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- With an exciting lineup of cultural events and record-breaking successes, the Mexican Caribbean is experiencing a landmark start to the year. The region, located on Mexico's eastern coast, confidently advances into its 'New Era of Tourism,' hallmarked by world-renowned cultural, culinary, wellness and nightlife offerings that reflect its vibrant identity. The year has been defined by a robust calendar of events that underscore the dynamic spirit and rising profile of the Mexican Caribbean, significantly boosting tourism through increased hotel occupancy and driving deeper visitor engagement with memorable cultural experiences. February marked the triumphant return of Carnaval, celebrated across major destinations including Cozumel, Cancún, Puerto Morelos, Isla Mujeres, Bacalar and Holbox. This renowned event drew thousands of international visitors who filled the streets for lively parades featuring dazzling costumes, vibrant music and dancing, and elaborate cultural performances. In May, the inaugural Mexican Caribbean Music Fest (MCMF) brought more than 20,000 attendees to ZAMNA Park in Tulum. Headlined by international music icon Sting, the festival combined star power with a setting that captured the natural beauty and distinctive atmosphere of the region, establishing a new standard for large-scale cultural programming. Designed as a next-generation evolution of the beloved Riviera Maya Jazz Festival, the event elevated the Mexican Caribbean's profile, increasing hotel occupancy by 20 percent - a remarkable achievement during what is typically considered low season. Met with critical acclaim, the Mexican Caribbean Music Fest has already gained momentum to become an annual tradition. 'The Mexican Caribbean continues to evolve as a leading global destination for premier events, blending New Era innovation with deep cultural roots. This year's calendar, from iconic traditions like Carnaval to new initiatives such as the Mexican Caribbean Music Fest – demonstrates our commitment to delivering high-impact experiences that draw travelers to our region time and time again. Our strategic focus remains on curating authentic offerings that honor our rich cultural heritage and foster long-term traveler engagement,' said Andrés Martínez, CEO, Mexican Caribbean Tourism Board. Other standout events this year have included culinary showcases, athletic competitions and artistic exhibitions hosted across the region's 12 destinations. With even more on the horizon, the Mexican Caribbean continues to captivate travelers through experiences that highlight its creativity, character and unmistakable rhythm. Upcoming Major Events: Apapaxoa GastroCultural Festival (August 26–31, Riviera Maya)A true feast for the soul and the palate, Apapaxoa (meaning 'to embrace with the soul' in Náhuatl) brings together some of Mexico's top chefs, mixologists and culinary artisans to craft multisensory experiences that blend ancestral flavors with contemporary techniques. The festival features pairing dinners, culinary talks, hands-on workshops and artistic performances, offering a dynamic celebration of flavor, creativity and the joy of living well. Ironman 70.3 Cozumel (September 21, Cozumel Island)Set against Cozumel's breathtaking coastal scenery, Ironman 70.3 Cozumel is part of a prestigious international qualifying series leading to the World Championship. Athletes compete in a grueling test of endurance featuring a 2.4 -mile swim, a 56-mile bike ride and a 13.1-mile run. The event attracts elite competitors and passionate fans from around the world, bringing global visibility and high-energy excitement to the island. Dia de Muertos Celebrations (October 30–November 2, throughout the region)Celebrated across the Mexican Caribbean, Day of the Dead brings together colorful altars, candlelight processions, live performances and local art. Each destination offers its own interpretation of this iconic holiday, inviting visitors to experience a moving tribute to ancestry and remembrance in one of the country's most meaningful cultural events. The Janal Pixán festival in Riviera Maya, whose name means 'Food of the Souls,' is one of the highlights of this celebration, given its fusion of Mayan culture and Day of the Dead traditions. Eagle Ray Season in Cozumel (December - March)During the winter, Cozumel offers a unique underwater experience as eagle rays migrate and mate in the region's clear waters. Divers can spot these majestic creatures gliding over the algae-covered seabed of Cantarel Reef, which resembles an underwater meadow, making it one of the season's most memorable natural encounters. For more information, please visit About Mexican CaribbeanThe Mexican Caribbean is like no other place in the world, due to its 12 tourist destinations: Isla Mujeres, Holbox Island, Costa Mujeres, Cancun, Riviera Maya (Puerto Morelos, Playa del Carmen and Tulum); Cozumel Island, Maya Ka'an and Grand Costa Maya (Mahahual, Bacalar and Chetumal - a Magic Town). Known for its crystal clear waters, white sand beaches, tropical jungle and rich Mayan culture, the Mexican Caribbean boasts world-class tourism infrastructure, a wide variety of lodging options and abundant air connectivity from major U.S. and Canadian gateways. For more information, visit or follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok. A photo accompanying this announcement is available at CONTACT: Jessica McGettigan mexicancaribbean@ in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data

Associated Press
20-06-2025
- Health
- Associated Press
'I was terrified I was going to die.' Rape victims in Brazil struggle to access legal abortions
RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — A 27-year-old Brazilian woman, who said she became pregnant after being raped in March during Carnival in Brasilia, should have been granted access to a legal abortion. But when she sought to terminate the pregnancy at a hospital around a month later, she was told she needed a police report to access the service, despite it not being a legal requirement. She decided to abort at home with medication she bought on the black market, with only a few friends on site to help. 'I fainted several times because of the pain. I was terrified I was going to die,' she said. The Associated Press does not identify people without their permission if they say they have been sexually assaulted. In Brazil, abortion is legally restricted to cases of rape, life-threatening risks to the pregnant woman or if the fetus has no functioning brain. Theoretically, when a pregnancy results from sexual violence, the victim's word should suffice for access to the procedure. 'The law doesn't require judicial authorization or anything like that,' explained Ivanilda Figueiredo, a professor of law at the State University of Rio de Janeiro. 'A woman seeking an abortion recounts the situation to a multi-disciplinary team at the healthcare clinic and, in theory, that should be enough.' In practice, however, advocates, activists and health experts say women encounter significant barriers to ending a pregnancy even under the limited conditions provided for by the law. This is due to factors including lack of facilities, disparities between clinic protocols and even resistance from medical personnel. 'Healthcare professionals, citing religious or moral convictions, often refuse to provide legal abortions, even when working in clinics authorized to perform them,' said Carla de Castro Gomes, a sociologist who studies abortion and associate researcher at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro. Women in Brazil also face geographical barriers to legal abortions. Only 290 facilities in a mere 3.6% of municipalities around the country of approximately 213 million people provide the service, according to a 2021 study from scientific journal Reports in Public Health. In June 2022, four nonprofits filed a legal challenge with the Supreme Court, arguing that restrictions on abortion access violate women's constitutional rights. The case is currently under review. 'Still a taboo' A 35-year-old cashier from a small city in the interior of Rio de Janeiro state also said she became pregnant as a result of a rape. But, unlike the woman in Brasilia, she chose to pursue an abortion through legal means, fearing the risks that come with a clandestine procedure. Although Brazil's Health Ministry mandates that, in the case of a pregnancy resulting from rape, healthcare professionals must present women with their rights and support them in their decision, the woman said a hospital committee refused to terminate the pregnancy. They claimed she was too far along, despite Brazilian law not stipulating a time limit for such procedures. She eventually found help through the Sao Paulo-based Women Alive Project, a nonprofit specializing in helping victims of sexual violence access legal abortions. The organization helped her locate a hospital in another state, an 18-hour drive, willing to carry out the procedure. Thanks to a fundraising campaign, the woman was able to travel and undergo the operation at 30 weeks of pregnancy in late April. 'We are already victims of violence and are forced to suffer even more,' she said in a phone interview. 'It's a right guaranteed by law, but unfortunately still seen as taboo.' Legal uncertainty Brazil's abortion laws are among the most constrictive in Latin America, where several countries — including Mexico, Argentina and Colombia — have enacted sweeping reforms to legalize or broadly decriminalize abortion. This legislative environment is exacerbated by a political landscape in which far-right politicians, supported by Catholic and Evangelical voters who make up a majority in the country, regularly seek to further restrict the limited provisions within the country's penal code. In 2020, the government of far-right former President Jair Bolsonaro issued an ordinance requiring doctors to report rape victims seeking abortions to the police. Current President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva revoked the measure in his first month in office in 2023. But the measure left lasting effects. 'These changes end up generating a lot of legal uncertainty among health professionals, who fear prosecution for performing legal abortions,' Castro Gomes said. Last year, conservative lawmaker Sóstenes Cavalcante proposed a bill to equate the termination of a pregnancy after 22 weeks with homicide, sparking widespread protests by feminist groups across Brazil. The protests ultimately led to the proposal being shelved. But in November, a committee of the Chamber of Deputies approved a proposed constitutional amendment that would effectively outlaw all abortions by determining the 'inviolability of the right to life from conception.' The bill is currently on hold, awaiting the formation of a commission. Earlier this month, Rio Mayor Eduardo Paes, a Lula ally, came under fire after sanctioning a bill mandating anti-abortion messages on posters in municipal hospitals and other health establishments. 'Doctors don't tell you' Advocates say access to abortion highlights significant disparities: women with financial means dodge legal restrictions by traveling abroad for the procedure, while children, poor women and Black women face greater obstacles. According to the Brazilian Forum on Public Safety, 61.6% of the 83,988 rape victims in 2023 were under the age of 14. A statistical analysis that year by investigative outlet The Intercept estimated less than 4% of girls aged 10 to 14 who became pregnant as a result of rape accessed a legal abortion between 2015 and 2020. In Rio de Janeiro's Mare favela, one of the city's largest low-income communities, the nonprofit Networks of Mare's House of Women provides women with information regarding their reproductive rights, including legal provisions for abortions. It was there, during a recent workshop, that Karina Braga de Souza, a 41-year-old mother of five, found out abortion is legal in certain cases in Brazil. 'We don't have access (to information). Doctors don't tell you,' she said. Cross-border connections Feminist groups in Brazil are campaigning at a federal level for enhanced access to legal abortion services. Last year, 'A Child Is Not a Mother,' a campaign by feminist groups, successfully advocated for the National Council for the Rights of Children and Adolescents to adopt a resolution detailing how to handle cases of pregnant child rape victims. The body, jointly made up of government ministries and civil society organizations, approved the resolution by a slim majority in December. Brazilian activists also are seeking to improve access to abortion by forging links with organizations abroad. In May, members of feminist groups in Brazil including Neither in Prison, Nor Dead and Criola met with a delegation of mostly Black U.S. state legislators. The meeting, organized by the Washington, D.C.-based Women's Equality Center, aimed to foster collaboration on strategies to defend reproductive rights, especially in light of the U.S. Supreme Court 2022 decision to strip away the constitutional right to abortion. In the meantime, the consequences for women who struggle to access their rights run deep. The woman in Brasilia who underwent an abortion at home said she is coping thanks to therapy and the support of other women, but has been traumatized by recent events. By being denied access to a legal abortion, 'our bodies feel much more pain than they should,' she said. 'Whenever I remember, I feel very angry.' ___ Follow AP's coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean at


Mid East Info
11-06-2025
- Business
- Mid East Info
Operate your Open Market, Restaurant or Coffee shop at Global Village Season 30 - Middle East Business News and Information
Global Village, the region's premier multicultural family destination for culture, shopping, and entertainment, is inviting interested individuals to submit their proposals for the 'Restaurant and Coffee Shops' category as well as the 'Open Market' category for its upcoming milestone Season 30. The categories offer an exciting avenue for entrepreneurs to bring their innovative culinary and open market concepts to life at key locations across the destination, such as at the diverse Road of Asia and the famous Indian Chaat Bazaar. The opportunity is also available for those interested in submitting proposals for a new open market concept. Season after season, restaurant and retail partners have witnessed impressive success with the support and stability offered by Global Village. Season 29 welcomed a 10.5 million guests record and brought together over 3,500 shopping outlets and over 250 dining options along with more than 75 new partners. Global Village also supported the launch of 80 new concepts across the different business categories. Global Village's commitment to providing a welcoming environment, paired with its dedication to showcasing the world's vibrant cultures, makes it an ideal platform for businesses to thrive and create lasting connections. About Global Village: Global Village is the region's premier multicultural family destination for entertainment, dining, shopping and attractions. The destination boasts a growing popularity and a profound connection with the guests, solidifying its position as the region's number one (#1) entertainment and cultural hub. Since opening its gates in 1997, Global Village has welcomed over 100 million guests, with Season 29 achieving a new proven record of a crowd footfall of 10.5 million. Season 29 hosted 30 pavilions representing over 90 cultures, with more than 3,500 shopping outlets and over 250 dining options. The park was home to 400+ world-class performers featured in 40,000 shows. Guests enjoyed over 200 rides and games at Carnaval, making Global Village home to the largest and most diverse range of events, shows, shopping and dining experiences. Information on Season 30 will be announced soon.


CBS News
30-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CBS News
Weekend To Do List: Greek festival, carnaval and makers market in Massachusetts
Weekend To Do List: Greek festival, makers market and a carnaval in Massachusetts Weekend To Do List: Greek festival, makers market and a carnaval in Massachusetts Weekend To Do List: Greek festival, makers market and a carnaval in Massachusetts Kick off the start of June with two festivals and a makers market in Massachusetts! Makers Market in Norwood Shop dozens of vendors with handmade goods and vintage finds at a Makers Market on Sunday. Head to Castle Island Brewing Company in Norwood to shop, sip and snack with local pizza, sandwiches, drinks and more. Catch the fun from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. When: Sunday, June 1, from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Where: Castle Island Brewing Company, 31 Astor Ave., Norwood Cost: Items available for purchase Click here for more information 2025 Carnaval in Somerville Carnaval returns to Somerville Sunday to kick off the 2025 Somerstreets season. Put on your dancing shoes from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. and enjoy live music, family-friendly activities, unique cuisine, vendors and a special parade. The rain date is June 8. When: Sunday, June 1, from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Where: East Somerville Business District - Broadway from McGrath Highway to Pennsylvania Avenue, Somerville Cost: Items available for purchase Click here for more information Woburn Greek Festival The Woburn Greek Festival is going on this weekend. Enjoy lively Greek music, cultural eats, shopping, dance performances and more at the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church. The festival takes place from Friday through Sunday. When: Friday, May 30 and Saturday, May 31 from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., Sunday, June 1 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Where: Annunciation of the Virgin Mary Greek Orthodox Christian Church, 70 Montvale Ave., Woburn Cost: Items available for purchase Click here for more information