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Bad News: Two Covid-19 Positive Cases on Celebrity Millennium in Caribbean Cruise

Two guests on one of the first cruise ships to sail from the United States since the COVID-19 pandemic hit tested positive on Thursday, Royal Caribbean said, adding that all passengers and crew had been vaccinated.

The Celebrity Millennium, carrying about 600 passengers and 650 crew, set sail from the Caribbean island of Saint Maarten on Saturday for a seven-day cruise including stops in Barbados, Aruba and Curacao.

“Two guests sharing a stateroom onboard Celebrity Millennium tested positive for COVID-19 while conducting the required end-of-cruise testing,” Royal Caribbean said in a statement. “The individuals are asymptomatic and currently in isolation.”

It said that the ship exceeded US COVID-19 guidelines, and all guests were required to show proof of vaccination as well as a negative COVID-19 test before sailing.

The US Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) currently requires that more than 95% of passengers and crew be vaccinated for cruise lines to bypass a requirement for trial voyages.

Cruise operations were suspended on Mar 14 last year when the CDC issued a “no sail order” to prevent the further spread of the coronavirus. Several ships already had deadly outbreaks on board.

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A&B Unveil Ambitious ‘Blue’ Ocean Protection Plan

by Gemma Handy

Antigua and Barbuda lays claim to more ocean space than most other countries in the region. Not only are the twin-island nation’s world-famous waters a lynchpin of the tourism industry, they’re also a critical source of food and jobs.

Perhaps never before has the need to protect them been greater – along with the creatures which call them hom

Yesterday, government unveiled its most ambitious plan yet to do just that.

The UK-funded ‘maritime blue economy plan’ aims to ensure sustainable use of the ocean, while creating jobs, diversifying the economy and protecting one of the country’s most valuable ecosystems.

It follows an initiative announced by the British Prime Minister in 2015 to support the marine economies of 17 Commonwealth small island developing states.

Blue Economy Minister Dean Jonas and Resident British Commissioner Lindsy Thompson welcome the launch of the maritime blue economy plan (Photo by Gemma Handy)

Speaking at Thursday’s launch, Resident British Commissioner Lindsy Thompson said the financial blow to Antigua and Barbuda from the Covid pandemic had been “particularly acute”.

“This plan will bring economic change and increased options for people here … including the creation of high value jobs,” she explained.

Cabinet approved the plan in March after three years of “hard work”, making it the first country in the Commonwealth to do so, Thompson added.

Addressing the launch virtually, Lord Tariq Ahmad, UK Minister responsible for the Caribbean, said the 60-page document formed the “foundation of a successful, climate-resilient, ocean-based economy”.

“The pandemic has taken its toll on all the world’s economies … but when I look at the Caribbean and its reliance on tourism, I see additional challenges the pandemic poses,” he continued.

Lord Ahmad said the plan represented a combination of “local knowledge and scientific expertise”, and would help ensure responsible use of marine resources.

“We need to protect our oceans for generations to come,” the minister added.

Foreign Affairs Minister Chet Greene said yesterday’s launch came “at a critical time for the country’s economy” – and against the backdrop of Tuesday’s World Oceans Day.

“For us to make strides, we must work across all ministries and agencies; this requires a whole government approach,” he said, adding, “We must take this plan from bold ambition to a timely, practical reality.”

Blue Economy Minister Dean Jonas said he was “elated” by the launch of “new jobs, new opportunities and new growth”.

“This will attract investment while safeguarding the vast ocean spaces available to Antigua and Barbuda,” he said. “The plan solidifies sustainable, long-term use of our ocean resources and recognises the unique link between our people, culture and marine environment.”

He told Observer it paved the way for more seafood to be farmed rather than fished, with one aquaponics training programme already underway.

With overfishing one of the biggest threats facing the country’s waters, Jonas was asked what the plan means for conventional fishing methods – a livelihood for hundreds of local residents. Fishing currently accounts for around two percent of gross domestic product (GDP).

“We are not about stopping anyone from fishing at this time but there is a need to diversify away from hunting fish to farming,” he said, adding, “The potential is there because of our vast open space to produce a lot more through fish farming – not only for local consumption but for export too.”

What does the plan seek to do?

  • Update climate resilient policies – and manage increasing risks of coastal hazards
  • Enhance the country’s capabilities to cater for cruise ships and leisure vessels
  • Create a national ocean policy that protects the rights and jurisdiction of marine areas and resources
  • Encourage fisherfolk to target lionfish as a food – and develop a way to market it
  • Monitor and control pollution in line with local and international commitments
  • Beef up information on the aquaculture sector and its market potential
  • Boost research and investment in renewable energy

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'Doomsday prepper' charged with building WWII submachine gun

Police have charged a Perth man with multiple weapons offences, alleging the 72-year-old had a massive haul of guns and ammo in his back shed and was building a WWII-style submachine gun.

Detectives executed a search warrant at the man's home on Karel Avenue, Willetton, yesterday afternoon, where they allegedly discovered several firearms, thousands of rounds of military-grade ammunition and blueprints and material to build weapons including a WWII-style submachine gun.

NSW Police Acting Inspector Doug Stjepic said the man also had canned goods, water and other materials "akin to a doomsday prepper".

Willetton weapons seizureWilletton weapons seizure

READ MORE: Weapons uncovered in Clean Up Australia Day rubbish

The man did have a firearms licence for nine of the rifles found on the property, and police say he does not have any known military background or known links to criminal networks.

"It's a privilege to have a firearms licence, and for those that go beyond, you will be prosecuted," Acting Inspector Stjepic said.

"This appears to be a case where (the man's) interest in firearms has gone beyond what is legal and acceptable, and that in itself creates a risk for the community.

"Out on the streets, that (submachine gun) would be deadly."

Acting Inspector Stjepic said the weapons appeared to be for the man's personal use, but it did appear he was preparing for "something".

Willetton weapons seizure

READ MORE: Explosives missing from US Marine base, NCIS investigating

The man has been charged with eight counts of unlicensed possession of a firearm or ammunition, possessing a firearm in circumstances of aggravation, and fail to comply with firearm or ammunition requirements.

He is scheduled to appear at Perth Magistrates Court next month.

You can find out more details about how to book your vaccine through the Federal Government health site here.

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Cuba Suspending Cash Bank Deposits in Dollars, Citing U.S. Sanctions

Cuba has said it would temporarily stop accepting cash bank deposits in dollars, blaming tighter U.S. sanctions that are restricting its ability to use greenbacks abroad, although it will still accept transfers.

The move came shortly before the government was due to present its annual resolution to end the crippling, decades-old U.S. trade embargo on the Communist-run country at the United Nations General Assembly.

Some Cubans and analysts speculated it was an attempt to control the black market price of the dollar. That has risen to more than twice the official exchange rate since the import-dependent country started opening stores selling in hard currency and stopped selling greenbacks due to a cash crunch.

Cuban bank account holders will have until June 21 to deposit dollars before the suspension takes effect.

“It is ever more difficult for Cuba to find international banking or financing institutions willing to receive, convert or process U.S. currency in cash,” the Cuban Central Bank said in a statement shared by state-run media.

It added that the measure would not affect operations carried out by transfer or deposits in other currencies that are freely convertible and accepted in Cuba.

More than 20 banks have stopped processing transactions involving Cuba since former President Donald Trump tightened U.S. sanctions on the island nation, Central Bank Vice President Yamile Berra Cires said in a roundtable discussion on state television.

For many years, Cuba had a 10% tax on dollars, citing how difficult it was for the government to use them because of the U.S. embargo. But it lifted that tax last year as it opened more shops selling in hard cash rather than in the local currency.

U.S. President Joe Biden, a Democrat, vowed during his campaign to reverse some of Republican Trump’s Cuba measures that “have inflicted harm on the Cuban people and done nothing to advance democracy and human rights.”

But he has yet to roll back any measures and his administration has said a shift in policy toward Cuba is not among its top foreign policy priorities.

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World View: G7 Meet, Tigray Hunger, China’s Mars Rover, More

June 11, 2021

Alternate text

 

The Associated Press

The Rundown

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CARBIS BAY, England (AP) — World leaders from the Group of Seven industrialized nations are set to commit at their summit to share at least 1 billion coronavirus shots with struggling countries around the world — half the doses coming from the U.S….Read More

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WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department under former President Donald Trump seized data from the accounts of at least two members of the House Intelligence Committee in 2018 as part of an aggressive crackdown on leaks related to the Russia investi…Read More

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BEIJING (AP) — The dusty, rocky Martian surface and a Chinese rover and lander bearing small national flags were seen in photos released Friday that the rover took on the red planet. The four pictures released by the China National Space Administra…Read More

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ABI ADI, Ethiopia (AP) — First the Eritrean soldiers stole the pregnant woman’s food as she hid in the bush. Then they turned her away from a checkpoint when she was on the verge of labor. So she had the baby at home and walked 12 days to get the f…Read More

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WASHINGTON (AP) — Over the past 18 months, 29 prisoners have escaped from federal lockups across the U.S. — and nearly half still have not been caught. At some of the institutions, doors are left unlocked, security cameras are broken and officials …Read More

OTHER TOP STORIES

NEW YORK (AP) — The Pulitzer Prizes in journalism and the arts will be announced Friday, recognizing the best work in a year in which people isolated themselves because of …Read More

SPRING HILL, Fla. (AP) — They say neither rain nor snow nor gloom of night will stop the U.S. Postal Service, but an alligator could get in the way. That’s what happened at…Read More

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The outgoing chief of Israel’s Mossad intelligence service has offered the closest acknowledgment yet his country was behind recent attac…Read More

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — South Africa has been gripped by the mystery of whether a woman has, as has been claimed, actually given birth to 10 babies, in what would then be the w…Read More

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Melbourne family's 'mystery' virus cases likely the Kappa strain

The Reservoir family of four who tested positive to COVID-19 in Melbourne's north likely have the Kappa variant of the virus.

Victoria's Chief Health Officer Professor Brett Sutton said genomic sequencing suggested the family had the UK origin strain, which matched the City of Whittlesea outbreak.

The four infections detected yesterday still remain mystery cases, with no clear acquisition source.

LIVE UPDATES: State starts walk-in vaccinations after demand surge

Despite relaxing mask rules outside yesterday the government has made them compulsory outdoors again. (Getty)

"The genomic sequencing has come back for that family and is suggesting a Kappa variant," Professor Sutton said.

"In terms of managing those cases, their primary and secondary contacts have been identified.

"Some critical primary contacts have been tested and tested negative, but we need to look at how they may have acquired the infection and keep investigating those close contacts."

Victoria recorded no new local cases of COVID-19 today, on the first day after Melbourne's hard lockdown lifted.

https://twitter.com/VicGovDH/status/1403120157711605764

The state's Department of Health said one new overseas case was recorded in hotel quarantine.

In the 24 hours to midnight, 20,752 vaccine doses were administered and 17,604 test results were received.

READ MORE: Melbourne ends lockdown but masks still mandatory

"It is good news and news I know everyone in Victoria wanted to hear," Acting Premier James Merlino said.

"Today is a terrific outcome but (this is) nowhere near over. We cannot be complacent but it is good news to be at zero."

Mr Merlino called for more Victorians to come forward for testing after numbers dropped to just 17,604 tests yesterday amid severe weather conditions.

Anyone who lives in the concerning area of Craigieburn, who did not get tested yesterday, is urged to come forward.

"Please make plans today to get tested immediately," Mr Merlino said.

Coronavirus fragments have been detected in wastewater, prompting concern.

The detections were found in the state's north in Bendigo, in Melbourne's north-west in Glenroy and Pascoe Vale, and in the eastern suburb regions of Whitehorse, Manningham and Monash.

The Commonwealth yesterday lifted its COVID-19 hotspot declaration over the city, which means Melburnians will no longer receive disaster payments, despite some businesses being required to remain closed for at least another week.

The Victorian Government also reversed its decision on masks yesterday, with face coverings still required to be worn outdoors until the state has its latest outbreak of the virus under control.

The harshest restrictions eased at 11.59pm yesterday, a week after it was initially hoped the state would be on top of the outbreak.

READ MORE: 100k still without power in Victoria

Mr Merlino emphasised "lockdown is not the first option" when dealing with coronavirus outbreaks in Victoria.

It comes as NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said she believes her state could avoid lockdowns in the future.

"Lockdown is not the first option. It is based on the nature of the outbreak," he said.

"We have had outbreaks in Victoria that did not require a lockdown, where we did not get advice from public health to go into a circuit breaker.

"Given the generations of transmission, large number of exposure sites, thousands of close primary contacts, we had no option in this case."

Australian Medical Association Queensland president Dr Chris Perry said while the two-week lockdown appeared heavy-handed, the decision had the support of the medical community.

"They do seem a bit harsher than some of the other states have had, but they have a bigger problem than the other states," he told Today.

The lifting of the lockdown in Melbourne means the five reasons to leave home no longer apply.

Private household gatherings are still prohibited, but public gatherings up to 10 people outdoors will be allowed, hospitality and retail sectors will reopen and students will return to schools.

Settings deemed high-risk such as gyms, amusement parks, dance studios, and nightclubs will remain closed.

READ MORE: Clean-up begins after wild Victoria storm

The capacity limits are affecting businesses, which has prompted leaders from entertainment, hospital, arts, and cultural institutions to speak out.

The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and the Australian Ballet have written an open letter to Chief Health Officer Professor Brett Sutton to say their sectors are being financially ruined.

You can find out more details about how to book your vaccine through the Federal Government health site here.

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Victorian towns mourn deaths of flood victims

Victoria's flood emergency has claimed a second life, a 20-year-old woman whose body was found in the state's south-west.

Friends and family have paid tribute to flood victims Nina Barake and Brian Gilliland as storms ravaged the state, destroying homes and turning streets into canals.

The woman's body was found inside a vehicle by search and rescue officers in floodwaters off Maddens Bridge Road in Glenfyne, about 45km east of Warrnambool, about 10.40am today.

The body found in floodwaters is believed to be that of missing woman Nina.

Police believe it to be Ms Barake, who disappeared from the rural town of Simpson on Wednesday.

The 20-year-old left her Simpson home, between Colac and Port Campbell, about 8.20am on Wednesday and was due to arrive at work in Glenfyne half an hour later, but she never showed up.

"While the body is yet to be formally identified, police believe it is that of missing woman Nina, who went missing from Simpson on Wednesday," a Victoria Police statement read.

"The exact circumstances surrounding the woman's death are yet to be determined but police are not treating it as suspicious."

Police will prepare a report for the coroner.

The tragic news of Mr Gilliland, a father of four caught in Gippsland floodwaters in Woodside yesterday afternoon, has also shattered locals. The man's car was found almost submerged in the Gippsland town.

His family paid tribute to him today saying: "He was the kind of guy who would lend a hand and expect nothing back.

"The typical Aussie battler who would've been fighting till the end."

"My thoughts and prayers are with this person, his family and friends at this very sad time," Acting Premier James Merlino said.

Evacuation warning reissued for town

An evacuation warning has been renewed for the Victorian town of Traralgon as heavy rainfall is set to cause floodwaters to dangerously rise.

The Gippsland town's streets turned into rivers yesterday, forcing up to 200 homes to evacuate and the State Emergency Service (SES) to complete several rescues on boats.

"If you live, work, or are holidaying in the Traralgon Creek area you should evacuate now," a VicEmergency message read at 12.25pm.

https://twitter.com/vicemergency/status/1403176640801382407

"The Traralgon Creek at Traralgon is currently below the minor flood level. Renewed rapid river level rises are expected from overnight Friday with minor to moderate flooding expected to develop early hours of Saturday.

"Major flooding is possible from early Saturday morning. Around 30-50mm of rainfall is expected from late Friday and across most of Saturday, with isolated higher totals possible."

The Traralgon Creek is currently at 3.17 metres and falling, but it is set to exceed the minor flood level (3.50m) overnight into Saturday.

The river level is expected to soar past the moderate flood level (4.00m) early Saturday morning and may reach the major flood level (4.80m).

"The challenge for the community and Traralgon is that while the water has receded and the Princes Highway is open, we do expect up to another 100mm of rain later today and throughout the night," SES chief officer operations Tim Wiebusch said.

"We can't emphasise enough to never attempt to drive through flash floodwaters. It could be the last decision you will make."

There were 30 homes impacted around Traralgon, Hazelwood and Maffra in the past 48 hours due to riverine flooding.

The regional town of Sale in Victoria's east has been marked as another area of concern for flash-flooding, with warnings in place for the Thomson River.

https://twitter.com/vicemergency/status/1403234997700530177

There are currently 15 flood warnings in place across Victoria.

The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) is expecting major flooding of the Yarra River later tonight near Yarra Glen, with minor flooding forecast for metropolitan areas of Melbourne over the weekend.

"But we are not expecting major flooding impacts within the Melbourne metro area," meteorologist Dean Narramore said.

"If you are on, or near rivers around the areas of Sale, around Yarra Glen, Traralgon, please pay extra attention if you are out and about."

The rainfall is expected to ease around lunchtime tomorrow.

"We are also expecting clear and calm conditions on Sunday and Monday, which will allow those being impacted by the flooding to do a bit of cleanup and preparation," Mr Narramore said.

Major clean up underway after storm ravages towns

A mammoth clean-up is underway after wild storms left a trail of destruction across Victoria, knocking out power to some 290,000 homes and destroying properties.

The SES received over 7400 calls for help over the past 48 hours as trees were ripped from the ground and flash-flooding engulfed regional towns.

READ MORE: Clean-up begins after wild Victoria storm

A "do not drink advisory" remains in place for Trentham, a town in the state's north-west, after power outages caused the water supply to run low yesterday.

"We advise that customers in Trentham do not drink tap water until further notice," Coliban Water stated.

Bottled water is available at the town's Emergency Relief Centre.

There are still about 2500 active incidents and more than 121,000 homes in the dark without power.

Some residents have been told they won't get power until Sunday which means many people won't be able to heat their homes for several days amid freezing temperatures.

Mr Merlino thanked SES workers for assisting in the clean-up and rescues over the past two days.

"I want to thank our many SES workers who are working incredibly hard in dangerous situations over the last 48 hours, working around the clock to respond to callouts, to make homes and communities safer, as the cleanup starts," he said.

"We know it is not over yet. It was quite extraordinary leaving home and driving through the Dandenongs to work this morning, having a few different groups to go through to get off the mountain, massive trees across homes, across the roads, so my thanks again to all."

Emergency services will focus on a backlog of calls for help today, after the busiest day in SES history with storm damage across the entire state.

The vast majority of calls were for trees uprooted, many of which blocked roads and smashed through houses, with over 5700 jobs located in hardest-hit areas of Croydon, Lilydale, Mt Evelyn and Mooroolbark in Melbourne's outer-east.

Other worst-hit areas were Lilydale, Emerald, and the Dandenongs, where there were power lines and trees down every couple of metres in that area alone.

The true cost of the floods won't be known for days as the water slowly subsides.

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Peru: Castillo Narrowly Wins Election, but Recount Requested

Peru has finished counting the votes in a tight presidential run-off election, but an official announcement may take days.

Leftist Pedro Castillo kept a lead of about 60,000 votes over conservative Keiko Fujimori, who has claimed fraud without providing detailed evidence.

Ms Fujimori wants hundreds of thousands of votes to be reviewed. Observers say Sunday’s poll was carried out cleanly.

A political novice, Mr Castillo has pledged to rewrite the constitution.

The primary school teacher was little known before winning the first round of the election, and campaigned on a promise to help the poor by introducing higher taxes on powerful mining firms in this copper-producing nation.

But there are fears his plans could destabilise the country’s economy. Whoever wins will have a tough task ahead bringing together a polarised nation of 32 million which has seen its economy crumble as it was hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic.

According to the electoral body Onpe, Mr Castillo had 50.2% of the votes against 49.8% for Ms Fujimori. The final votes came from rural areas, where Mr Castillo is popular, and from embassies abroad, most of which went to his rival.

Ms Fujimori asked electoral authorities to review 300,000 votes and nullify 200,000 others. It may take days before a decision on her requests, and potential appeals and reviews, are made. Only then the electoral tribunal will be able to officially declare a winner.

On Twitter, Ms Fujimori, who is running for the presidency for the third time, said: “We’ll continue to defend the legitimate right of millions of Peruvians until the last vote.”

Mr Castillo’s party, Peru Libre, or Free Peru, says there is no evidence of fraud. Speaking to supporters from a balcony in the capital Lima, Mr Castillo called for reconciliation after a divisive election, saying: “The people have awakened.”

Fujimori’s legal woes

Keiko Fujimori is the daughter of former President Alberto Fujimori, who is in jail serving a 25-year sentence for crimes including corruption and human rights abuses.

Ms Fujimori herself is being investigated for alleged corruption and money laundering, claims she says are politically motivated. She spent 13 months in jail between 2018 and 2020, when she was released on parole.

Peruvian Presidential candidate Keiko Fujimori during a news conference in Limaimage copyrightEPA
Keiko Fujimori says the accusations against her are politically motivated

In a surprise development on Thursday, prosecutor José Domingo Pérez requested that Ms Fujimori be returned to pre-trial custody, alleging that she had been in contact with a witness, violating the terms of her parole.

A decision is expected in the coming days. Ms Fujimori said Mr Pérez was attempting “to distract us” from their attempts to review the election count. A victory in the election would halt the case until the end of her administration.

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