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headline

Haitians Mourn Victims of Fuel Truck Blast as Anger Simmers

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Caskets draped in a Haitian flag are displayed at a mass funeral for victims of a fuel truck explosion, in Cap Haitien, Haiti December 21, 2021. REUTERS/Ralph Tedy Erol
Caskets are laid in front of a church after a mass funeral service for victims of a fuel truck explosion, in Cap Haitien, Haiti December 21, 2021. REUTERS/Ralph Tedy Erol

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti, Dec 21 (Reuters) – Haitians on Tuesday mourned victims of a fuel truck blast that killed 90 people last week, though many stayed home out of anger at the government amid a string of tragedies in a Caribbean nation plagued by gang violence, poverty and political turmoil.

The coffins of several of the victims, some draped in Haitian flags and flowers, were carried by firefighters through the streets to a church in Cap-Haitien, the country’s second-largest city, where the explosion took place.

The death toll from the accident soared to 90 in little over a week as authorities pieced through the rubble, identifying the charred remains of many still missing following the massive blast. Others have since died in the hospital.

Residents facing chronic fuel shortages had flocked to the truck after it tipped over a week ago, hoping to extract fuel from it. Instead, the truck exploded, engulfing them and neighborhood homes in flames, officials said.

Residents interviewed by Reuters who attended the funeral said the government had not done enough for those who lost loved ones or their homes following the explosion, providing little support or relief.

“The government shouldn’t treat us like this,” said mourner Charite Jean, who lost 15 relatives in the blaze. “Where is the international community?”

Guylaine Charles, a neighborhood resident who lost seven of her children in the explosion, held a separate funeral in protest of the state’s treatment.

She told Reuters she’d been unable to find the remains of five of them after they were swept into a mass grave.

“The Haitian state came with … loaders and picked them all up. They threw them away without any conditions, without even the chance to identify our loved ones,” she told Reuters.

The accident has cemented among some Haitians a sense of a societal crisis that has stirred anger against the government.

Kidnappings and violence have soared this year, added to the still-unsolved assassination of President Jovenel Moise in July. Weeks later, a devastating earthquake killed more than 2,000 people.

Fuel supplies in Haiti were severely limited in October and November after a coalition of gangs blocked transport trucks from accessing fuel port terminals in a bid to force the resignation of the interim prime minister, Ariel Henry. The gangs last month lifted the blockade, but Haitians continue struggling to obtain gasoline and diesel.

Reporting by Gessika Thomas in Port-au-Prince and Reuters TV in Cap-Haitien, writing by Dave Sherwood

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WORLD VIEW: S. A. Omicron Case Drop Promising, Native Americans Hit Hard, Russian Pipeline & Ukraine, More

Dec 22, 2021

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The Associated Press

The Rundown

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JOHANNESBURG (AP) — South Africa’s noticeable drop in new COVID-19 cases in recent days may signal that the country’s dramatic omicron-driven surge has passed its peak, medical experts…Read More

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NEW YORK (AP) — Kathryn Malara, a Brooklyn teacher, lingered on a street Tuesday, filled with dread about going to her job. “I’m sitting in my car terrified to walk into school,” she w…Read More

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BEMIDJI, Minn. (AP) — The medicine man told her she should soon give her son back to the earth. Rachel Taylor kissed her fingertips and pressed them to the crow sewn onto a leather ba…Read More

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The post WORLD VIEW: S. A. Omicron Case Drop Promising, Native Americans Hit Hard, Russian Pipeline & Ukraine, More appeared first on The St Kitts Nevis Observer.

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Fishers on Nevis Given Hand-Held GPS Devices

NIA CHARLESTOWN NEVIS — Fifty-five fishers on Nevis were presented with hand-held Global Positioning Devices (GPS) on December 20, 2021, by the Ministry of Marine Resources through the Department of Marine Resources on Nevis

The handing over was held at the main pavilion at the Elquemedo T. Willett Park in Charlestown. Mr. Huey Sargeant, Permanent Secretary while delivering remarks on behalf of Hon. Alexis Jeffers, Minister of Marine Recourses, said the key reason for the distribution was safety at sea.  

He acknowledged that fishing could be a very dangerous activity, and the use of technology to improve fishers’ safety was an important investment in fishers by the government.

The devices Garmin GPSMAP 78 is valued just over EC$600.00 each, bringing the total value of those distributed so far to $33,000.00.

In addition to navigation, the devices are also outfitted with a ‘Home’ feature, which can direct fishers to their home port in the event they are lost at sea; a ‘Man Overboard’ feature which marks the point at which the event occurs, as well as plotting points for fish traps and Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs).

Following the distribution, a short training session on the use of the device was done by Captain Frankie Tyson, owner of SKN Executive Travel (Apple Syder). He also offered to assist any fisher who needed assistance.

The donation was funded by the federal government through the Department of Marine Resources. Priority was given to fishers who did not have a GPS device on their vessel.

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Nevis Water Department Schedules Opening Hours for Christmas Season

NIA CHARLESTOWN NEVIS — The following is a notice from the Nevis Water Department (NWD) regarding opening hours for the Christmas Season.

The Nevis Water Department will be opened from 8:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on the following days – Friday December 24 and Friday December 31, 2021.

Regular operating hours will resume on Tuesday, January 04, 2022.

The Nevis Water Department wishes to apologize for any inconvenience the early closure may cause.

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$50m Queensland home comes with a boat and a Bentley

An island home off the Gold Coast could soon beat Queensland price records with an expected $50 million sale.

The property, located at 26 Knightsbridge Parade East, Sovereign Islands, features seven bedrooms, nine bathrooms, four lounge rooms, two dining rooms, a 12-car garage and a 25m lap pool.

"This residence is 3000sq m — in the old terms three quarters of an acre — so certainly you can do 10,000 steps just to get through this home just once," agent Alex Caraco from Raine and Horne Elite said.

READ MORE: Omicron is now the dominant version of COVID-19 in the US, health officials say

An island home off the Gold Coast is expected to sell for $50 million.

"Maids quarters at the rear, fully contained, lounge kitchen all beautiful so anybody living here servicing the home they're really living in absolute luxury."

A Bentley Continental and a multimillion-dollar Princess Yacht is included in the eye-watering price.

"You could accommodate 200 people here, you wouldn't even know they were here so any playgirl or playboy who'd love to buy this house, it's available for a cool $50 million," Mr Caraco said.

The property is located at 26 Knightsbridge Parade East, Sovereign Islands.

READ MORE: Omicron or FOMO? What's likely to infect Aussie property buyers more in 2022

Despite the eye-watering figure, he said in a world of prestige real estate, the mansion was selling for a bargain price.

"In Sydney you'd certainly get a house and it wouldn't be on the water for 50 million," he said.

headline

Israel to Give 4 Vaccine Doses?, Biden Urges Concern, Not Panic, Quebec Shutting Down, World Stats

An elderly man being vaccinatedImage source, Getty Images

Israel plans to become the first country  offering four Covid vaccine doses

An expert panel has recommended giving a fourth vaccine dose to health workers and those over 60

BBC- Israel says it plans to become the first country to roll out a fourth dose of the Covid-19 vaccine as the country prepares for a wave of infections driven by the new Omicron variant.

Israel’s pandemic experts have recommended a fourth booster for the over-60s and health workers.

PM Naftali Bennett welcomed the plan and told officials to start preparing.

It comes as Israel confirmed the first known death of a patient with the Omicron strain on Tuesday. The health ministry said there were at least 340 known cases of the variant in Israel.

The decision to roll out a fourth booster is still pending approval by senior health officials, however Mr Bennett’s office told the BBC that it was hoping to administer the dose to people at least four months after their third dose.

“This is wonderful news that will assist us in getting through the Omicron wave that is engulfing the world,” Mr Bennett said, as he urged people to take up the offer as soon as possible.

When Covid-19 vaccination programmes were first launched, Israel’s jabs were rolled out quickly and there was a relatively high take-up.

However despite this, only about 63% of its population of 9.3 million has had two doses. This is partly to do with Israel being a relatively young country – about a third of its population is under the age of 14.

To help combat this, Israel announced in November that children aged from five years old could also get the jab.

On Monday, Mr Bennett said he wanted every eligible child to get the vaccine within the next two weeks to help “delay and slow and diminish” the strength of another wave of infections.

The country has already widened a travel ban to countries including the US, Germany, Italy and Canada to try to curb the spread of the virus.

Israel has confirmed more than 1.36 million Covid infections since the start of the pandemic, with some 8,200 deaths, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.

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Biden preaches concern, not panic on omicron

By Nathaniel Weixel –

President Biden sought to strike a balance between reassuring Americans about the wave of omicron infections, but also to once again try to persuade the public to take precautions.

During remarks at the White House, Biden outlined a plan to increase testing, speed up the vaccination campaign and boost the capacity of hospitals that could be inundated in the coming weeks. He made it clear that although infections are rising, the nation is in a far different place than it was last year.

“We should all be concerned about omicron, but not panicked,” Biden said, emphasizing that vaccinated individuals, especially those with a booster shot, are “highly protected” against the virus.

Biden announced that the U.S. will stand up new federal testing sites around the country, helping states that need additional testing capacity. The first will be set up in New York City this week.

He also announced that the administration plans to purchase 500 million rapid COVID-19 tests to distribute for free to any American who wants one. But the tests won’t even start becoming available until January, and administration officials said they’re still working out details, including finalizing the design of the website where the tests can be ordered.

Rapid tests are in short supply right now amid the demand surge, and the administration has been criticized for not doing enough to provide more low-cost or even free tests. At the same time, turnaround times for lab-based tests are growing and people are waiting hours in long lines for testing centers.

Still, Biden repeatedly emphasized that the U.S. was in a different position than March 2020, largely because of the wide availability of coronavirus vaccines. There are over 200 million Americans who are fully vaccinated.

“We’re prepared. We know more. We just have to stay focused,” Biden said.

Yet nearly 70 percent of fully vaccinated Americans have yet to receive their booster shot. Some experts have attributed that to unclear messages from top health officials during the rollout.

Biden’s speech comes at a fraught time, as the omicron variant is spreading rapidly and many public health experts warn infection is almost an inevitability. The U.S. is averaging more than 149,000 new cases every day, which is about double the amount from just a month ago.

Biden faces an uphill task; the public has grown weary of both the pandemic and mixed messages from health officials. His poll numbers have remained low since this summer, and negotiations around his signature domestic policy legislation collapsed last weekend.

“I know you’re tired, and I know you’re frustrated. We all want this to be over, but we are still in it,” Biden said.

The omicron variant now makes up about three-quarters of COVID-19 cases in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That spike is a significant increase from just 12.6 percent of cases one week earlier.

Biden said that Americans who have been vaccinated and boosted will be largely protected from severe illness from the omicron variant. But he also acknowledged that many will still get infected with relatively mild symptoms, and people should expect cases to rise.

“We’ll see some vaccinated people get COVID, potentially large numbers,” Biden said.

He acknowledged there would be positive cases among vaccinated staffers in the White House, where an aide who came into contact with Biden last week recently tested positive.

Biden struck a dire warning for those who choose to remain unvaccinated, who he said were at risk for hospitalization or death due to serious illness from COVID-19.

“Omicron is serious, potentially deadly business for unvaccinated people,” Biden said. “If you’re not fully vaccinated, you have good reason to be concerned. You’re at a high risk of getting sick. And if you get sick, you’re likely to spread it to others, including friends and family, and the unvaccinated have a significantly higher risk of ending up in hospital or even dying.”

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Canada foreign minister tests positive for COVID-19, Quebec shuts bars, gyms

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Travelers talk to a customs officer behind a "Mask Required" sign at Pearson International Airport during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, December 18, 2021. REUTERS/Carlo Allegri
A traveler walks past a "Mandatory COVID-19 Testing" sign at Pearson International Airport during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, December 18, 2021. REUTERS/Carlo Allegri
A traveler wearing a mask gets off an American Airlines flight at Pearson International Airport during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, December 18, 2021. REUTERS/Carlo Allegri

A traveler walks past a “Mandatory COVID-19 Testing” sign at Pearson International Airport during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, December 18, 2021. REUTERS/Carlo Allegri

OTTAWA, Dec 20 (Reuters) – This December 20 story corrects final paragraph to show restaurant dining allowed from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m., not 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly said on Monday a rapid COVID-19 test that she had taken proved to be positive, adding she was working in isolation until the result could be confirmed.

Joly, 42, was named foreign minister in October and would be one of the most prominent domestic politicians to come down with the coronavirus, which is spreading rapidly as the Omicron variant picks up speed.

“I have taken a rapid test and tested positive for COVID-19. Following public health guidelines, I am in isolation and will continue my work virtually, as I have been for a number of days, until I get the results of my PCR test,” she tweeted.

Joly did not give further details. Her chief spokeswoman was not immediately available for comment.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Friday a spike in cases of Omicron was “scary,” while a top medical official suggested the healthcare system could soon be swamped. read more

Earlier in the day, Quebec, Canada’s second-most-populous province, ordered bars, gyms and casinos shut on Monday and directed people to work only from home.

Quebec Health Minister Christian Dube said the province had a record 4,500 new cases of the coronavirus a day and predicted worse was yet to come.

He urged Quebecers to cut down personal contacts with the approach of Christmas and New Year’s Day. The new measures were due to take effect at 5 p.m. (2200 GMT) on Monday.

“The situation is critical. … Right now we are waging a war against the virus,” Dube told a virtual briefing.

“We will have new projections from our specialists this evening and let’s be honest, they probably won’t be encouraging,” he said.

Dube said most schools would shut down immediately until Jan. 10. Restaurant dining will be allowed from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. and all sporting events would be played without spectators.

Reporting by David Ljunggren; Editing by Howard Goller and Peter Cooney
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WORLD STATS

Coronavirus Cases:

276,681,254

Deaths:

5,388,038

Recovered:

248,220,113
Highlighted in green
= all cases have recovered from the infection
Highlighted in grey
= all cases have had an outcome (there are no active cases)

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Latest News

December 22 (GMT)

Updates

  • 561 new cases and 11 new deaths in Libya [source]
  • 437 new cases and 2 new deaths in Ghana [source]
  • 18,021 new cases and 775 new deaths in Poland [source]
  • 25,264 new cases and 1,020 new deaths in Russia [source]

The post Israel to Give 4 Vaccine Doses?, Biden Urges Concern, Not Panic, Quebec Shutting Down, World Stats appeared first on The St Kitts Nevis Observer.

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Taiwan Expo Opens in Nevis Showcasing Companies, Products

NIA CHARLESTOWN NEVIS — The people of Nevis have the opportunity to view a wide range of products offered by businesses in Taiwan, thanks to an ongoing three-day Taiwan Expo in St. Kitts and Nevis, at the Malcolm Guishard Recreational Park at Pinney’s.

The event which is hosted by the Embassy of the Republic of China (Taiwan) Embassy in St. Kitts and Nevis, was launched on December 19 and concludes on December 22. Mr. Damien I-Ching Liu, Third Secretary at the embassy said on December 20, 2021, that the exposition showcases many Taiwan companies and their products.

“In this event we have a lot of Taiwanese companies introducing their products in diverse sectors including – technology, medical equipment, food and beverage, sports equipment, hardware and tools and more.

“We also have a very thorough display of technological products, and this is not only a trade show but also we are introducing bilateral cooperation projects in many diverse fields including public health, the recycling system, smart agriculture and the construction and completion of Pinney’s Beach Park which was launched yesterday on the 19th December,” he explained.

The embassy hired a mix of 11 students from the Nevis Sixth Form and recent graduates who are interested in business.

“They are all interested in business and they see this as a great opportunity to learn about the practice of international trade and Taiwan’s technology and different sectors.

“Their role in the Taiwan expo is to represent Taiwanese companies who are participating but cannot come into the federation in person through the pandemic’s restrictions,” Mr. Liu said.

In preparation for the exposition, the students were trained virtually by the Taiwanese companies to introduce the products on behalf of companies.

At the expo, they are helping visitors to realise and understand more about Taiwan’s businesses and their products on display in diverse sectors.

According to Mr. Liu, the students were employed by Taiwan’s Trade Development Council, and were jointly identified by the Embassy and the Nevis Island Administration (NIA) based on recommendations from the Ministry of Tourism.  

He added that the students were all “very excited to partake in this exhibition to have a great internship in terms of business practises and exchange with Taiwan.”

The exposition ends on Wednesday at midday but will remain open till 4 p.m. on Tuesday. December 21.

 

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Boundaries Commission Appointed by Gov. General to Regulate Size of Constituencies

Basseterre, St. Kitts, December- During the December 20, 2021, Sitting of the National Assembly Budget 2022 debate, Attorney General Hon. Vincent Byron Jr addressed the long-standing matter of national interest surrounding the issue of constituency boundaries.

The Attorney General announced that the framework was already in place for a National Boundaries Commission, with nominations for members of the Commission already submitted to the Governor-General and approved.

“The question of constituency boundaries has been a protracted one, a vexing issue here in St. Kitts and Nevis. Since 2009, the Government of the day, the Douglas Labour Party Government attempted to change the boundaries, and on three (3) occasions the courts of the land found the process wanting. We would recall the 16th of January 2015 in this same House when the then Speaker and others ramrodded a boundaries report through this very Parliament…It is a matter of history that there was an injunction issued that very evening and the boundaries report that had been issued by the Commissioner of the day became impugned,” said Attorney General Byron Jr.

The court case regarding the well-known “Douglas Boundaries” was heard at the level of the Privy Council where it was voided. In March 2021, the substantive matter in relation to the “Douglas Boundaries” came to finality with a ruling by the High Court of St. Christopher and Nevis.

Attorney General Byron indicated that the Constituency Boundaries Commission still has significant work to do mandated by law. In both St. Kitts and Nevis, there could be significant changes to the constituency boundaries once the Commission duly recommends said changes and presents them to the Governor-General.

“Mr. James Buchanan has been appointed as the Chairman of the Constituency Boundaries Commission. The Governor-General has also appointed the Deputy Prime Minister the Hon. Shawn Richards and the Hon. Akilah Byron-Nisbett on the advice of the Prime Minister to the Commission, and the Right Hon. Dr. Denzil Douglas and the Hon. Jeffrey Hanley has been appointed by the Governor-General on the advice of the Leader of the Opposition.

The Commission is mandated to review the number and boundaries of the constituencies to which St. Christopher and Nevis is divided and then submit a report to the Governor-General in no less than two (2) years and not more than five (5) years,” said Attorney General Byron Jr.

The Commission will have to state whether a change to the boundaries is needed and whether the number of constituencies should increase or remain the same. The Boundaries Commission shall meet and will review the existing boundaries for the eight (8) constituencies in St. Kitts and the three (3) in Nevis.

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Testing requirements change for some travellers to SA

South Australia has reduced PCR testing requirements with those coming from NSW, Victoria and ACT no longer needing one on arrival "if no symptoms are present".

Travellers are still required to have a PCR test 72 hours before departure. Anyone in the state with symptoms is urged to get tested and isolated.

Those seeking PCR tests don't have to sit in cars for "hours and hours", Mr Marshall said. 

READ MORE: State by state guide to Australia's latest vaccination rates and COVID-19 case numbers

Premier Steven Marshall said he believes the state will reach 90 per cent fully vaccinated by that date.

Instead, he's urged residents to book in for an appointment to eliminate the long wait times currently being experienced.

"What we do want to avoid is having these lengthy line ups, which could potentially discourage people from doing the right thing," he said, before explaining anxiety around Christmas is fuelling high test rates.

"We've gone from 2000 tests a day to around 20,000 tests a day…Get online and make that booking," Mr Marshall said.

Mr Marshall also apologised for testing delays, which he said are being seen around the country.

He said he's in favour of moving booster vaccines forward to four months from five, but this was not approved at an emergency National Cabinet meeting today.

READ MORE: Western Australia reinstates hard border with Tasmania, NT from Boxing Day

COVID-19 cases

South Australia recorded 198 new COVID-19 cases.

Mr Marshall said it's inevitable COVID-19 cases will increase in the state with borders open.

He pointed to NSW, which today recorded 3057 cases but is seeing a lower level of hospitalisations when compared to the Delta wave.

"We're inevitably going to follow a similar trajectory but at a lower level (to NSW). That is a higher level of infection but hopefully a much lower level of hospitalisations," Mr Marshall said.

In the lead-up to borders opening, hospital bed capacity was "flexed up" to around 400 beds across the state, he added.