Emergency services are responding to a death at Piha beach following reports of a drowning. The incident was reported to police just before 5pm at the West Auckland beach.It is understood the victim got into trouble in the water….
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Five arrested after Invasion Day rally concludes peacefully
Five people have been arrested following the conclusion to a peaceful Invasion Day protest in Sydney.
Thousands gathered in the Domain this morning to listen to speeches from First Nations people, with people seated socially distanced.
NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Michael Willing said the majority of the protesters were peaceful, however, officers were forced to arrest a small group who weren't part of the organised event.
READ MORE: Hottest Australia Day in decades
An 18-year-old Hill Top man was arrested for breaching the peace at The Domain. He was not part of the organised gathering.
NSW Police arrested four others, including a 27-year-old Islington woman and three men – a 30-year-old from South Penrith, a 28-year-old from Wollongong and a 22-year-old from Katoomba – in Hyde Park.
The arrests followed a scuffle during which a police officer was assaulted.
The woman and the 28-year-old man were taken to Day Street Police Station.
The man will be charged with assaulting police and failing to comply with a COVID-19 direction.
The woman will be charged with hindering police in the execution of duty and failing to comply with a COVID-19 direction.
The other two men were each issued with a $1000 fine and released.
The planned protest march through Sydney's CBD was cancelled this morning after organisers and NSW Police reached an agreement over crowd control.
"We reached some agreement with protest organisers, taking into account the heat that is obvious today, the potential disruption to the city and traffic and, indeed, the safety of all persons who are wanting to express their views as part of this protest to have protest attendees break into groups engage in social distancing as best they possibly could with assistance of police," Assistant Commissioner Willing said.
MELBOURNE
As the Melbourne Invasion Day march started to wind down, a scuffle erupted near Flinders Street Station.
A man wearing an Australian flag as a cape was surrounded by police in chaotic scenes.
A large police presence can be seen surrounding the area at the popular intersection on Swanston Street.
A large crowd gathered at Parliament House in Melbourne for an Invasion Day rally despite the wet weather and COVID-19 restrictions on public gatherings.
The protest started at 10.30am and was due to finish about 2pm.
Organisers of the march asked the crowd to socially distance, admitting COVID-safe practices are not being followed.
On the Facebook event organisers Warriors of the Aboriginal Resistance said they made a COVID-safe plan and participants should follow the instructions of COVID marshals.
https://twitter.com/reid_butler9/status/1353856685475909632?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
The majority of people appear to be wearing masks.
The Facebook event had more than 4000 people registered to attend but current public health orders ban outdoor gatherings of more than 100 unless formally registered and approved as a public event.
The march is set to go for three hours with the group and its supporters ultimately wanting Australia Day to be abolished.
"January 26 is rooted in colonial violence and genocide, and not a day to celebrate," the oragnisers posted on Facebook.
The rally comes after Lord Mayor Sally Capp attended an Invasion Day dawn service this morning.
Another march is set to take place this afternoon, The People's Australia Day Parade plan to march in support of Australia from Queen Victoria Gardens to Catani Gardens.
Police have put crowds on notice and a significant law enforcement present is expected at events across the day.
Earlier this morning, hundreds attended the Invasion Day dawn service at King's Domain Resting Place.
The event was backed by Melbourne City Council and saw crowds brave the early morning rain for the solemn event.
Premier Daniel Andrews has urged Victorians to avoid large gatherings to stop the spread of coronavirus and police have warned they won't tolerate any anti-social behaviour.
The official Australia Day parade through Melbourne has been cancelled for this year due to COVID-19.
BRISBANE
In Brisbane, thousands of Queenslanders have gathered in the city's CBD for an Invasion Day rally.
More than 6000 people registered their interest in attending the march, beginning from Musgrave Park in Brisbane and continuing through Queens Gardens.
About 2000 people turned up for today's march.
"Today, me, my friends and family continue the fight my ancestors started and not let it die and hopefully get the message across," one protester told 9News as to why he was marching.
The protest has been declared a COVID-safe event and organisers have asked those in attendance to bring face masks and hand sanitiser, and not to come if they have any flu symptoms.
But Queensland Police are urging people not to attend due to health risks to the greater public.
CANBERRA
In Canberra, thousands of people sat in silent protest for an Invasion Day outside Parliament House.
The crowds sat, at times with their arms raised, in solidarity for Australia's First Nations people who believe the Australia Day date needs to be changed.
NORTHERN TERRITORY
In Darwin, scores of people took to the city's streets for an Invasion Day protest.
Crowds gathered at 10am at Civic Park before marching together.
The rally travelled down Smith Street with many protesters carrying signs as they chanted "no justice, no peace".
Australia Day 2021 in pictures
See how Australians from around the country are marking Australia Day 2021.
National Day of Prayer to be held Jan. 28 at Antioch Baptist Church
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts — The Government of St. Kitts and Nevis has designated Thursday January 28, 2021, as a National Day of Prayer to give God thanks for his goodness and providence over the past year, and for guidance and protection in the year ahead.
The Antioch Baptist Church in Lime Kiln, Basseterre, has been identified as the official church for the National Day of Prayer where government ministers, church leaders, permanent secretaries, and senior government officials will congregate for worship at 8:00 a.m. All churches in the Federation are expected to open their doors for people to have an hour of sacred time with the Lord throughout the day.
Special prayers will be offered up for the extraordinary circumstances in which the Federation and the whole world over have found themselves in the throes of the COVID-19 pandemic. Frontline workers, businesses, and the unemployed will receive special intercessory prayer. The security forces, the youth, families, victims of gun and domestic violence and a cessation of the same, the government, leaders in civil society, and community organizations will also be prayed for.
The National Day of Prayer will be carried live on ZIZ Radio and Television and streamed live at zizonline.com.
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New COVID-19 Variant Confirmed in St. Lucia
St. Lucia health authorities have reported that it had received confirmation from the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) of five cases of the United Kingdom strain of COVID-19 in the island.
It said two cases of the SARS-Co-V-2 British variant diagnosed in the country were British nationals who were diagnosed on December 17 and December 23, 2020. The other three cases are St. Lucian nationals who were also diagnosed that month.
All five cases have since made a full recovery, the Ministry said.
“This new situation further emphasizes the need for strict adherence to all protocols recommended thus far and to ensure increased vigilance at all levels where risk has been identified. The Ministry of Health and Wellness will continue monitoring the situation and recommendations will be made as needed, guided by the science to reduce the impact of COVID-19 on our population,” it added.
“We continue to monitor both the global and regional situation as we assess our risks and make recommendations. We also continue to monitor closely and use best practices implemented as we strengthen the existing national protocols.”
On December 14, 2020, the UK Public Health Agency reported a COVID-19 variant that had been in circulation from September 20, 2020, within the UK.
The Trinidad-based CARPHA had requested that positive cases with high viral loads be sent to their laboratories for gene sequencing for surveillance of this new variant of the virus in the region.
The new strain has been detected in Denmark, the Netherlands, Belgium and Australia but the risk of importation into the Caribbean and rest of the world had rated as high due to incoming travel from the United Kingdom and Europe.
However, cases have since been confirmed in the Caribbean, including Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica.
Studies conducted in the United Kingdom on this new variant of the virus suggest that it increases the rate at which the virus spreads. This is estimated as increasing as much as up to 70 percent.
The United Kingdom has noted increased levels of transmission and spread in the areas where the variant strain has been found. However, there is no evidence at this point of more severe cases associated with the new variant or it reducing the effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccine.
CMC
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Pres. of Suriname Positive for COVID, Cabinet Members Tested
President of Suriname, Chan Santokhi has tested positive for COVID-19 while several members of his Cabinet who were in contact with him in recent days are being tested for the highly contagious virus.
In an address to the nation on Sunday, Santokhi said he was feeling strong and had no symptoms of the virus, but would remain at home on the advice of health authorities. He is in isolation at his private residence where he said he will be working for the next few days.
The government’s information service, CDS said contact tracing is underway and the process of testing everyone who had been in contact with President Santokhi should be completed by Tuesday.
So far, the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, International Business & International Cooperation, Spatial Zoning and Environment and Finance and Planning have tested negative.
According to the CDS press release, the Office of the President is being disinfected and Cabinet Ministers were instructed to work from home for the next three days and encouraged not to entertain visitors. They were also advised to take necessary precautions at home until they have been tested and get a negative result.
Meantime, President Santokhi has called on residents to adhere strictly to the government’s COVID-19 measures to help prevent the spread of the virus.
There have been 7,246 confirmed COVID-19 cases recorded in Suriname since the start of the pandemic.
The death toll has reached 149. In January alone, 28 people died from the disease, making this month the deadliest since the virus was detected in Suriname in March 2020.
CMC
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