Category Archives: headline

Bodies of 3 Missing MV Fair Chance Crew Members Found

Port of Spain – The bodies of the last three crew members on the MV Fair Chance have been found 16 days after the St Vincent-registered cargo vessel capsized off the coast of Trinidad. A statement issued from the Trinidad & Tobago Coast Guard (TTCG) said that the vessel, which capsized on April 2, on […]

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U.S., Panama Sign Bilateral Agreement on Migration Cooperation – Blinken

Reuters   US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Panama’s President Laurentino Cortizo talk after a meeting at the Presidential Palace on April 19, 2022, in Panama City, Panama. Brendan Smialowski/Pool via REUTERS PANAMA CITY, Panama, April 19 (Reuters) – The United States and Panama have signed an agreement detailing commitments to improve management of […]

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Mexico Shuts Elite Investigations Unit in Blow to U.S. Drugs Enforcement

MEXICO CITY, April 19 (Reuters) – Mexico has disbanded a select anti-narcotics unit that for a quarter of a century worked hand-in-hand with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to tackle organized crime, two sources said, in a major blow to bilateral security cooperation. The group was one of the Sensitive Investigative Units (SIU) operating […]

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Mexico: Maya Train Project Halted Over Threat to Ancient Caves

A judge in Mexico has ordered the temporary suspension of works on a stretch of the Maya train project, citing a lack of environmental permits. The project to build a railroad in the Yucatán Peninsula is President Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s flagship infrastructure programme. But cavers warn that it threatens caverns dating back millions of […]

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Qantas crews forced to sleep among passengers on long-haul flights

Qantas has sparked backlash from flight attendants and union officials over inadequate rest facilities on some long-haul flights.

Footage from employees shows flight attendants forced to construct make-shift beds between cabin passengers on the airline's Brisbane to Los Angeles international flight.

Some are shown laying down on economy seats, covering themselves with blankets in an effort to obtain privacy from passengers and get rest during extensive shifts.

READ MORE: WA family's close encounter with a great white shark

"I was shocked, a lot of people were putting in reports questioning the safety," a Qantas employee who chose to remain anonymous said.

"I feel like they hate us, I feel that they don't understand what the role of flight attendant is."

Teri O'Toole from the Flight Attendants Association of Australia said the issue had created a tense situation between the union and Qantas over worker's rights.

She added while the union pushed for an extra day of rest for employees to compensate a lack of sleeping facilities on A330 planes, Qantas had instead switched from Australian to New Zealand crews, leaving many Australians without work.

READ MORE: Man jailed for 'disturbing' abuse that killed puppy

"We have an aircraft which doesn't have the facilities for crew rest. It's never been used for flights 14 hours and above," she said.

"We tried to make a deal with the company to give crew a day either side to rest and they said no.

"They went out and said we'll give this work to New Zealand who don't have the same restrictions surrounding rest that our Australian-based crew do."

Ms O'Toole said the conditions New Zealand staff were working in were "simply appalling" and employees were entitled to proper rest in a horizontal position.

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"The crew have tried to get some privacy by making a fort like little kids out of blankets to give themselves privacy, which is just a disgrace," she said.

"It's not appropriate rest in the workplace. It's not appropriate rest for anyone."

Rachel Yangoyan from Qantas said it was the company's preference to use Australian crew for the Brisbane to Los Angeles flight and worker fatigue was considered in the decision making process.

"We're really disappointed that the union were not able to support this flying," she said.

"We look at the rest that they already get pre-, during and after the flight in LA, we assess that and ultimately that told us what we're providing is sufficient and adequately addressing the fatigue need."

Ms Yangoyan said the need for adequate rest facilities and staff privacy was being addressed and new wrap-around curtains would be provided for A330 staff within the next six weeks.

"Once we get that curtain in place we're confident this will be a really private area with a lie-flat bed where our crew can get adequate rest," she said.

The Qantas flight attendant who spoke to 9News anonymously said staff on the ground in Australia, 55 per cent of whom are still on reserve rosters, felt betrayed by the company.

"We just spend all of our time waiting around hoping to get flying, it's kind of disheartening," he said.

Ms O'Toole said unstable work had put many in a precarious position, with several flight attendants reporting mental health issues and financial pressures due to the lack of work.

"They get their base salaries, and for some of them that's not enough to pay their rent," she said.

"We have crew that run towards the fire. They are police, the ambos, the nurses, and they get paid just a fraction more, 16k a year more than a fast food worker."

Biden Will Run Again in 2024-Probably Against Trump

 President ‘thinks he’s the only one who can beat Trump’, source tells the Hill, as Trump is readying his own third run President Joe Biden at the annual Easter Egg roll on the South Lawn on Monday. Photograph: Anadolu Agency/Getty Images Martin Pengelly in New York Guardian Joe Biden has told Barack Obama he will run for […]

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Butlers Enhancement & Improvement Association Donates Equipment to Health Centre

NIA CHARLESTOWN NEVIS (April 19, 2022) — The Butlers Health Centre in the St. James’ Parish is the second institution in the Butlers community on the receiving end of a gift from the Butlers Enhancement and Improvement Association for the year so far. During a small but significant handing over ceremony at the health centre on April 13, 2022, […]

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US May Appeal Ending Masks, Moderna & Novavax Shots, Biden Says Masks on Planes a Choice, World Covid Stats

US to appeal if CDC deems mask mandate needed © Associated Press/Carolyn Kaster The Justice Department on Tuesday said it would appeal a ruling nullifying the federal mandate for masks on planes and other public transit if the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) determines that a “mandatory order remains necessary for the public’s […]

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Man jailed for 'disturbing' abuse that killed puppy

A man who repeatedly abused a six-month-old puppy has been jailed for three months in Victoria.

The accused, Lachlan Thornton, was the joint owner of Oreo, a Bull Arab puppy.

Oreo was surrendered to the Lost Dog's Home with multiple unhealed fractures to her hind legs.

She was later euthanised after she was found to have poor prognosis for quality of life and lack of viable treatment options.

READ MORE: Your simple guide to the COVID-19 restrictions being eased in Victoria

RSPCA Victoria Chief Inspector Michael Stagg said Oreo's case was particularly disturbing.

"There are no excuses for animal cruelty," he said.

"However, this case was particularly disturbing given the regularity of the abuse over a long period, resulting in pain and suffering caused by the deliberate actions of the owners."

Chief Inspector Stagg said they were pleased to see that the severity of the case was acknowledged by courts.

The accused was sentenced to three months' imprisonment, a community corrections order for 18 months including 200 hours of work, a ten-year disqualification from owning any animal and a monitoring order for ten years.

The co-accused, Demi Henry, was previously sentenced and was fined $7500 and disqualified for a period of ten years from being a person in charge of any animal.

NSW and Victoria to drop hotel quarantine for unvaccinated travellers

New South Wales and Victoria are ending isolation requirements for household contacts of COVID-positive people by this weekend, with Queensland expected to follow suit.

In announcements by respective state leaders, NSW and Victoria also said it would be changing vaccine mandate rules and ending quarantine for unvaccinated travellers.

Queensland health minister Yvette D'Ath said the Sunshine State would likely follow a similar course of action regarding close contacts.

READ MORE: All the COVID-19 changes announced for NSW and Victoria

"It is possible absolutely," Ms D'Ath said.

"It's still to be finalised I'm just waiting to hear from Victoria and New South Wales to hear what the details are as far as the lifting of any quarantine requirements and what will be required of individuals who are living in a household where someone is positive."

Queensland today recorded 8995 new cases of COVID-19.

The Minister said she expected to be briefed by the Chief Health Officer this afternoon but the announcement would not be made today.

"I am keen to see consistency," Ms D'Ath said.

"I would have liked this be a national decision where all states and territories implement changes at the same time to avoid any confusion."

Positive cases will still be required to isolate for seven days.

The easing of restrictions in New South Wales and Victoria comes as NSW today recorded 15,414 COVID-19 cases and 15 deaths. Victoria saw 10,628 new infections and 14 deaths.

Premier Dominic Perrottet made the NSW announcement today, rolling back some of the last major restrictions in the state.

The changes to close contact rules will ease labour shortages across hospitality, transport and freight, which have all been stretched due to contacts in isolation.

They will come into effect at 6pm this Friday.

NSW will also lift the public health orders requiring key workforces to be vaccinated. These will instead be based on a risk assessment under occupational health and safety.

These vaccine orders will remain in place for aged care and disability workers.

Also, from April 30 unvaccinated travellers will no longer be required to do hotel quarantine.

In Victoria, most COVID-19 restrictions, including household close contact rules, will be lifted by the weekend.

Health Minister Martin Foley said the changes were "important steps" forward and due to the state's "high vaccination rate."

Pubs and cafes will also no longer be required to ensure customers check-in with QR codes to show their vaccination status, allowing unvaccinated patrons to access hospitality services.

Masks will no longer be required in primary schools, early childhood, hospitality and retail settings.

Masks will also be required on public transport, at airports, in sensitive health, aged care and justice settings.