Tag Archives: caribbean

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Heavy Rain Kill at Least 34 in Brazil’s Petropolis

A car is pictured at a river after pouring rains in Petropolis, Brazil, February 16, 2022. REUTERS/Ricardo Moraes
A man observes damaged public buses at a river after pouring rains in Petropolis, Brazil, February 16, 2022. REUTERS/Ricardo Moraes

A car is pictured at a river after pouring rains in Petropolis, Brazil, February 16, 2022. REUTERS/Ricardo Moraes

RIO DE JANEIRO, Feb 16 (Reuters) – At least 34 people died after heavy rain hit Petropolis, a city in the mountainous region of Brazil’s Rio de Janeiro state, local government said on Wednesday.

City streets were flooded by downpours, while landslides also resulted in fatalities.

President Jair Bolsonaro, who is traveling to Russia, said on Twitter he had asked ministers to help the city and the victims of the storm. Rio de Janeiro’s Governor Claudio Castro went to Petropolis on Tuesday night.

“We are in Petropolis articulating all the help needed at this time,” Castro wrote on his Twitter account, adding in a video statement that he would only leave the city when the response to the disaster had been organized.

From Moscow, where he will meet Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday, Bolsonaro said he had spoken with the Regional Development Minister Rogerio Marinho and Economy Minister Paulo Guedes to secure assistance to the city.

Since December, heavy rains have triggered deadly floods and landslides in northeast Brazil and Sao Paulo state, threatened to delay harvests in the midwest and briefly forced the suspension of mining operations in the state of Minas Gerais.

Reporting by Rodrigo Viga Gaier; Writing by Marcela Ayres; Editing by Alex Richardson

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WORLD VIEW: Russia Pulling Troops?, Covid Hong Kong, Biden on Ukraine, More

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February 16, 2022

Today’s Headlines

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MOSCOW (AP) — Russia said Wednesday it was returning more troops and weapons to bases, yet another gesture apparently aimed at easing fears it is planning to invade Ukraine,…Read More

HONG KONG (AP) — Hospitals in Hong Kong were struggling Wednesday to keep up with an influx of new…Read More

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TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras (AP) — The arrest of former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández and the…Read More

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For more of today’s news, go to APNews.com >>

Editor Selections

WASHINGTON (AP) — A Russian invasion of Ukraine would be devastating, and a wider European war even…Read More

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ZHANGJIAKOU, China (AP) — Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva listed two legal substances used to…Read More

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GARZE COUNTY, China (AP) — As a speedskating team was winning China’s first Olympic gold medal of…Read More

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Cross Section

BEIJING (AP) — Victory, of sorts, for Eritrea’s sole Winter Olympian — one of just six athletes…Read More

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BEIT LAHIYA, Gaza Strip (AP) — The Palestinian militants scrambled out of the tunnel and attacked an…Read MorI'm an image

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The family of a cinematographer shot and killed on the set of the film “Rust”…Read More

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Haitian Orphan Rides ‘Magic Powder’ to Winter Olympics

By Associated Press

BEIJING (AP) – Call it love at first snowflake. Long before he became Haiti´s first Winter Olympian, at the Beijing Games, Richardson Viano was a scared orphan who’d just arrived in France from the poor Caribbean nation.

His new adoptive parents were driving him to their home in the French Alps. Their route that day in 2005 – from the airport where he had just disembarked, so nervous about his unfamiliar surroundings that he clung to his new dad´s leg – took them over a high Alpine pass.

It was resplendent with fresh snow and bathed in sunshine, so Andrea and Silvia Viano decided to stop to let 3-year-old Richardson take in the view.

“I said, `Look Richie, this is where you are going to live,’” his mother recalled. “‘See the snow and everything?´”

He’d later coin his own phrase for it: “The magic powder.”

Richardson Viano, of Haiti reacts after finishing the first run of the men's giant slalom at the 2022 Winter Olympics, Sunday, Feb. 13, 2022, in the Yanqing district of Beijing. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

Richardson Viano, of Haiti reacts after finishing the first run of the men’s giant slalom at the 2022 Winter Olympics, Sunday, Feb. 13, 2022, in the Yanqing district of Beijing. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

It magically lifted his mood that day, when a snowflake landed on his nose.

“It melted with the warmth,” his mother remembers. “He started laughing.”

And so was planted the first seed of what became a passion for skiing that, at the Yanqing Alpine Skiing Center in the mountains northwest of downtown Beijing, turned Viano into an Olympic history-maker for the island of his birth.

“It´s a great honor,” the 19-year-old said. And, he hopes, an inspiration for others in Haiti.

“If other Haitians can ski, that would be incredible,” he said. “I want to give them a message of hope, of strength, no matter the sport. What´s important is to never give up, to fight. Anything can happen if you believe.”

Well, yes, and no.

With his mother on hand to watch him race, he tumbled a few gates into the men’s giant slalom course that was hard to see in falling snow and fog. He was far from alone in being caught in treacherous conditions. Of 87 starters, 33 didn’t complete the first of two runs – Viano among them.

“`The magic powder´ was treacherous today,” his mother said. “It would have been nice if that snowflake could have brought him a bit more luck.”

Viano hopes to do better in the men´s slalom on Wednesday. And the big picture of his life so far is still impressive.

“It´s an amazing adventure when I think about it: leaving Haiti, arriving in the mountains, starting to ski a bit by chance. My dad was a mountain guide and he put me on skis as soon as I arrived, in 2005, and I´ve skied pretty much all the time ever since,” he said.

“It really is a passion.”

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Long Covid Less Likely in Vaccinated People, World Covid Stats

LONG COVID-19 LESS LIKELY IN VACCINATED, UK HEALTH AGENCY SAYS

The United Kingdom Health Security Agency (UKHSA) on Tuesday released a new review of 15 studies finding that “long COVID-19” — COVID-19 symptoms that develop after acute coronavirus infection — is less likely to affect those who have been vaccinated against the virus.

According to the review, the UKHSA concluded that people who have received at least two doses of the Moderna, Pfizer or AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines or one dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine are half as likely to get long COVID-19 compared to their unvaccinated counterparts, Reuters reported.

“These studies add to the potential benefits of receiving a full course of the COVID-19 vaccination,” Mary Ramsay, head of immunization at UKHSA, reportedly said. “Vaccination is the best way to protect yourself from serious symptoms when you get infected and may also help to reduce the longer-term impact.”

Four studies connected to the review compared the symptoms of people before and after vaccination.

Three other studies revealed that after vaccination, participants reported improvements in their long COVID-19 symptoms as opposed to the symptoms worsening, the news outlet noted.

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WORLD  COVID STATS

Coronavirus Cases:

416,401,042

Deaths:

5,858,501

Recovered:

339,302,200
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

February 16 (GMT)

Updates

  • 345 new cases and 4 new deaths in Laos [source]
  • 1,430 new cases and 5 new deaths in Oman [source]
  • 179,284 new cases and 748 new deaths in Russia [source]
  • 79,896 new cases and 207 new deaths in Japan [source]
  • 21,207 new cases and 643 new deaths in M

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Migrants Sew Their Mouths Shut in Quest for Mexico Passage to U.S. Border

TAPACHULA, Mexico, Feb 15 (Reuters) – A dozen undocumented migrants on Mexico’s southern border sewed their mouths shut on Tuesday in a bid to convince the country’s immigration authority to grant them passage toward the U.S. border.

The migrants, mostly Central and South Americans, helped each other seal their lips using needles and plastic threads, leaving a small space to consume liquids and using alcohol to wipe away drops of blood from the stitches, Reuters images show.

“The migrants are sewing their lips together as a sign of protest,” said Irineo Mujica, an activist at the demonstration. “We hope that the National Migration Institute can see that they are bleeding, that they are human beings.”

Mexico’s migration agency (INM) said in a public statement that “it is worrying that these measures have been carried out with the consent and support of those who call themselves their representatives, with the intention of pressuring authorities on an attention already provided.”

Some were carrying their children when they staged the dramatic protest in Tapachula, a border city with Guatemala, which for months has been filled with thousands of migrants waiting for papers to be able to freely cross the country.

“I’m doing it for my daughter,” said Yorgelis Rivera, a Venezuelan. “She has not eaten anything in the last few hours and I see no solution … from the authorities.”

“We are like prisoners here,” Rivera said, adding she has been waiting for a response from Mexico’s migration agency for more than a month.

The agency said it continues to attend cases, adding priority is has been given to those who make up vulnerable groups, such as children, adolescents, pregnant women, victims of crime, people with disabilities and the elderly.

The institution said it receives more than a hundred applicants at their offices in the southern city every day.

In recent years, the number of migrants arriving in Mexico fleeing violence and poverty has jumped. In 2021, Mexico recorded an 87% increase in the number of asylum applications, mainly from Haitians and Hondurans. read more

The United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) recently said Mexico should consider new aid programs amid a surge in the arrival of foreigners, many of them Venezuelans, for whom Mexico now requires a visa. read more

Reporting by Jose Torres; Writing by Lizbeth Diaz and Valentine Hilaire; Editing by Sandra Maler and Lincoln Feast.

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Juan Orlando Hernández: Police Arrest Honduran Ex-Leader on Drugs Charges

BBC- Honduran ex-President Juan Orlando Hernández has been arrested on drugs charges.

Police were deployed to his house in the capital Tegucigalpa hours after the US requested his extradition to prevent him leaving.

They moved in when an arrest warrant was issued. He surrendered and was escorted from his home in handcuffs.

Mr Hernández governed Honduras from 2014 to January this year. He denies the charges against him.

He is accused of having been involved in a drug-trafficking ring which included his younger brother, Tony Hernández, who last year was sentenced in the US to life in prison.

During Tony Hernández’s trial, prosecutors alleged that the infamous Mexican drug lord Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán had personally handed Tony Hernández $1m.

According to the prosecutors, “El Chapo” Guzmán told the younger Hernández to pass the money on to his brother Juan Orlando as a bribe.

Honduras has for years been a key transit country for drugs smuggled from South America to the United States, and more recently has also become a place where cocaine is produced.

Juan Orlando Hernández has always maintained that he did everything in his power to fight drug trafficking and during the administration of President Donald Trump, he enjoyed the support of the US government.

But his relationship with the US soured under President Joe Biden.

Last week, the US state department revealed that Mr Hernández had been added to a list of people barred from entering the US over alleged corrupt activities.

In a statement, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that there were “credible” reports that the former Honduran leader had “engaged in significant corruption by committing or facilitating acts of corruption and narco-trafficking, and using the proceeds of illicit activity to facilitate political campaigns”.

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Mr Hernández responded to Mr Blinken’s remarks by saying that the allegations against him were based on statements provided by convicted drug traffickers, whom he says were out for revenge.

His lawyer had argued that he had immunity from arrest because of his membership of the Central American parliament.

But legal experts say that the immunity provided by the regional body can be lifted if the home country of the member requests it.

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Epstein: Questions Over Prince Andrew’s Payout After Deal with Virginia Giuffre

By Malu Cursino
BBC News

BBC- There are calls for clarity over Prince Andrew’s role in public life and how he will fund a financial settlement, after settling the US civil sexual assault case brought by Virginia Giuffre.

The Duke of York agreed to pay an undisclosed sum as part of the settlement, and accepted Ms Giuffre had suffered as a victim of abuse.

He made no admission of liability and has always denied the allegations.

American lawyer Lisa Bloom said it was a huge victory for Ms Giuffre.

“This is a monumental win for Virginia,” said Ms Bloom, who represents several of sex offender Jeffrey Epstein’s victims – adding that it was a win “for everyday people… standing up against the rich and powerful”.

Ms Giuffre had been suing the Duke of York, claiming he sexually assaulted her on three occasions when she was 17 – which Prince Andrew has repeatedly denied.

On Tuesday it was announced they had reached an out-of-court settlement.

A statement from their lawyers said the duke would pay an undisclosed sum to Ms Giuffre and make a “substantial donation” to Ms Giuffre’s charity in support of victims’ rights.

It also said the duke regretted his association with Epstein. Prince Andrew had previously told BBC Newsnight in 2019 he did not regret being friends with Epstein.

But no details of the payout to Ms Giuffre have been made public – and there are calls for more detail about where the money will be coming from.

Although the exact amount of the financial settlement has not been revealed, reports have speculated that it could run into millions of pounds. The duke receives a Royal Navy pension and a stipend from the Queen’s Duchy of Lancaster income.

Kate Macnab, a lawyer at Reeds Solicitors, says: “It is likely there will be some demands to know where the payment is coming from – public or private purse?”

And Graham Smith from the anti-monarchy group Republic said taxpayers deserved to know where the money for the settlement was coming from.

Speaking to BBC One’s Breakfast programme, Gloria Allred, a US attorney who has represented a number of Epstein’s victims, said the statement confirming the settlement was “vague” and would have been “carefully negotiated”.

“It’s clear that the prince is not saying that he admits that he did anything wrong,” she said.

“It’s interesting that he does say that she has suffered as a victim of abuse. But what does this mean? He doesn’t say abuse by whom, he doesn’t say sexual abuse, he doesn’t say that he had anything to do with her, he doesn’t say when it occurred.”

Ms Allred said the “war between the two parties… will now end”, but added it remained possible that Giuffre could testify in future court cases.

“No settlement such as this one can ever require that an accuser remain silent in the criminal justice system,” she said.

“In other words, she could speak to law enforcement. A prosecutor could decide to file criminal charges, in which case, Virginia could testify if called on.”

Also speaking to BBC Breakfast, Liz Stein, one of Epstein’s accusers, said the settlement had come as a shock, but taking the case to trial would have been “incredibly difficult” for Ms Giuffre.

“I think that what Virginia wanted more than anything else was validation and I think that in the settlement she got that,” she said.

“Whatever he lost as a result of this could never compare to what the victims of Epstein, Maxwell, and the men that we were trafficked to have lost from our lives,” she said.

“There’s no amount of money that could compensate for that.”

‘Stay out of the public eye’

In the statement on Tuesday, Prince Andrew pledged to support “the fight against the evils of sex trafficking, and by supporting its victims”.

Speaking on BBC Newsnight about the ways in which Prince Andrew can do that, Ms Bloom said: “I am sure that his money would be welcomed in organisations that are struggling to help victims everyday.

“In terms of his personal participation, probably not.”

Former Royal Navy officer Rear Adm Chris Parry, who was Prince Andrew’s flight commander, added: “I think really he should look to a private life and enjoy essentially what is a very good privileged lifestyle. But I think he should stay out of the public eye.”

He said it was “good to see that he’s done the decent thing” – but that Prince Andrew “has made some bad choices” and “needs to surround himself with better friends”.

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Is there any way back for Prince Andrew?

Analysis box by Sean Coughlan, royal correspondent

If Prince Andrew had gone to court in the US to fight it out with Virginia Giuffre, it would have made headlines as tall as a New York skyscraper.

That royal disaster zone has been averted by an out-of-court settlement.

But it comes with high costs to Prince Andrew, both financial and reputational, and it will be a long road back before there is any chance of clearing his name in terms of public opinion.

He won’t get back any of the royal patronages, military links or the HRH title that were taken away from him.

And the many questions raised by his BBC Newsnight interview – about his connections with Ghislaine Maxwell and Jeffrey Epstein and details such as his inability to sweat – will be left unanswered.

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Following the announcement of the settlement, Prince Andrew faced a renewed call from the MP for York to give up his association with the city.

Labour MP Rachael Maskell said he should lose his title of Duke of York out of respect for those affected by abuse.

“To demonstrate his seriousness in this endeavour, and his respect for those affected by abuse and the people of our city, I would ask that his first act of contrition is to confirm his support for the withdrawal of his ducal title,” she said.

Ms Giuffre, who was previously known as Virginia Roberts, claimed she was the victim of sex trafficking and abuse by financier Epstein from the age of 16. Epstein died in prison in 2019 while awaiting a sex trafficking trial.

She said part of the abuse saw her lent out to powerful men, including Prince Andrew, who is the third child of the Queen and ninth in line to the throne.

Ms Giuffre, now 38, claimed the duke, 61, sexually assaulted her on three occasions when she was 17 at Ghislaine Maxwell’s home in London, in Epstein’s mansion in New York and on Epstein’s private island in the US Virgin Islands.

In a 2019 interview with BBC Newsnight, Prince Andrew said he had no memory of ever meeting Ms Giuffre and said her account of their London meeting and sex at a house in Belgravia “didn’t happen”.

In January, the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York ruled that the civil action over him could go ahead.

Buckingham Palace later announced that Prince Andrew’s military titles and royal patronages had been returned to the Queen and that he would defend Ms Giuffre’s civil case as a “private citizen”.

New York attorney Randy Zelin told BBC’s Americast podcast that he thought both sides had won.

Mr Zelin said: “Both sides won, both sides got what they wanted, both sides gave a little something up, both sides can hold their heads up high”.

Speaking in support of the duke, British socialite Lady Victoria Hervey said she hopes the Royal Family could now focus on the upcoming jubilee celebrations, and that “Prince Andrew can put these false allegations behind him”.

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Culture Minister Evelyn Pays Homage to Chesley “Faro” Davis

NIA CHARLESTOWN NEVIS (February 15, 2022) — As tributes continue for the late Chesley “Faro” Davis who died on February 08, 2022, Hon. Eric Evelyn, Senior Minister in the Nevis Island Administration (NIA), spoke of the immeasurable contribution Davis made to Nevis through community development and culture.

Paying homage to Davis and his work, Mr. Evelyn on February 15, 2022, said he will be missed.

“As we continue to come to grips with the untimely passing of Mr. Chesley “Faro” Davis, I would just like to pay my tribute as the Minister with responsibility of Youth and Sports, Community Development, Culture which he would have made so much contribution to over the years here on the island of Nevis.

“Of course Faro, as most of us knew him, he was a part of my ministry at his untimely death. He was a part of the Department of Community Development but before he served in the Department of Community Development, he would have served tremendously in the area of culture.

“He would have been a part of the Department of Culture. He would have been a part of the Nevis Cultural Development Foundation (NCDF) and of course all of us know that he was a staple at numerous Culturama events.

“He was an MC par excellence; he did an amazing job and it is something that of course, when we saw him MCing an event you could see that it’s something he enjoyed. He would have given immensely to the art of culture not only in the area of MCing but in the area of documentation as well, and you know, unfortunately, Faro would have served in the era when MCs were hardly being paid, and so he would have done most of this work free of cost and as I said, he would have done it from his heart,” he said.

The minister registered his gratitude to Mr. Davis for his contributions to the Nevis community and the Department of Community Development.

“We want to thank him for the immense contribution he would have made to culture on the island of Nevis, not only in terms of MCing but in terms of the development of the arts over the years.

“Being with the cultural practitioners, encouraging them, documenting what they do, and we are so delighted that he would have made such a contribution, and of course after he would have come to the Department of Community Development, he would have brought his MCing and organisation skills there as well.

“The events that we normally have for community development he would be an integral part of them. We normally have the “Miracle on Main Street” in Charlestown annually; he would have been the MC for that event. Any other event that the department is having he is there MCing.

“I could recall the Breadfruit Festival up in Barnes Ghaut. I could recall very recently, the launch of the Keyboard Programme over in Cotton Ground, at programmes in Jessups, programmes in Pond Hill, programmes in Gingerland he would have been there, and I really want to say thanks for the immense contributions that he would have made,” he said.

In his capacity as Minister responsible for the Department of Community Development, Minister Evelyn used the opportunity to convey his condolences to Mr. Davis’ bereaved family.

“[I] would like to extend heartfelt condolences to the surviving family. Your loss is our loss, and we want to say, we hope that God will keep you in this very difficult time, and rest assured that the contributions of your relative will always live on in our minds,” he said.

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Spice Girl ‘Mel B’ Among 4 People Named as Nevis Tourism Ambassadors

The Nevis Tourism Authority (NTA) is excited to announce its panel of 2022 Ambassadors , which included former Spice Girl ‘Mel B,’ as part of the destination’s Tourism Ambassador Programme – a partnership formed with a select group of travel tastemakers, influencers, and journalists chosen exclusively for their familiarity with the island.

First launched in 2020, the Nevis Tourism Ambassador Programme shares stories of Nevis from trusted voices with audiences around the world. The 2022 line-up boasts musical performer and former Spice Girl, Mel B; model and actress, Nikeva Stapleton; award-winning spa and luxury travel influencer, Ava Roxanne Stritt; and Caribbean media expert, Brian Major. Reaching diverse industries and markets, the four Ambassadors will impart their favourite Nevis experiences from culture and history to sports and romance, and beyond.

“As travellers look to discover their next favourite destination, we’re thrilled to have these notable personalities share their insights of Nevis,” “We’re confident that our 2022 Ambassadors will create a colourful and exciting portrait of this special place we call home.”

Nevis Ambassadors are projected to showcase the island’s tourism offerings from their own unique perspective via editorial content, social networks, and interviews, among other media platforms. Throughout the year, the Ambassadors’ followers can look forward to being alerted to iconic island events like the Nevis Mango Festival, highlighting the island’s favourite fruit; the Nevis – St. Kitts Cross Channel Swim on March 27, 2022, in which participants swim the 2.5 miles from Nevis to St. Kitts; and Nevis Culturama, the island’s annual summer carnival.

Melanie ‘Mel B’ Brown MBE – Melanie Brown’s career began as a teenager with the pop phenomenon, Spice Girls. As Scary Spice she became one of the most recognisable women in the world and one-fifth of the most successful girl group of all time, selling 85 million records and creating the biggest British cultural impact on the globe since The Beatles. Together they created and spearheaded the Girl Power movement. 

Since the band split in 2000, Melanie – who is a mother to three daughters, Phoenix, Angel, and Madison – went on to carve a new career as a host of television shows. Consistently voted ‘most popular’ judge on shows from America’s Got Talent to The X Factor UK, she embraced a whole new generation to become one of the most recognised faces on television, fronting shows from Lip Sync UK, The X Factor in Britain, and Australia, Dancing With The Stars in Australia, America’s Got Talent and Celebrity Juice.

Mel B is of rich Nevisian heritage on her paternal side, while her mother is British. Next year she will be changing the face of fashion and beauty, hosting an exciting multi-million-pound show where real people win modelling and brand contracts called The Fashion Hero. More recently Melanie has added author, Women’s Aid Ambassador, and now Nevis Ambassador to her long list of talents. This year Melanie was awarded an MBE by the Queen for her services to survivors of domestic abuse.

Nikeva Stapleton – A proud Nevisian raised in Chicago, Nikeva is an actor, dancer, and model, currently residing in Los Angeles. Her multifaceted career began with training as a dancer at a young age; her dedication and skill landed her at the renowned Alvin Ailey School/Fordham University BFA Program in NYC. Upon graduating, Nikeva’s professional pursuit in dance led her across stages, like the Metropolitan Opera to Jubilee! in Vegas, and on TV performances from the Today Show to America’s Got Talent.

Nikeva has been a part of iconic music videos, like David Bowie’s final project “Blackstar,” and Beyoncé’s single “Spirit” in the film, Black is King. She is currently an ensemble member of Hulu’s sketch comedy Sherman’s Showcase, and has had roles on BET’s American Soul, Spike Lee’s Chiraq, BlacKKKlansman, and Netflix series She’s Gotta Have It, as well as Marlon Wayans’ film Naked and NBC’s sitcom Marlon.

Aside from performing arts, Nikeva is a fitness, fashion, and commercial model represented by Wilhelmina. She has been featured in campaigns for companies such as Balenciaga, Athleta, Nike, Adidas, Fila, MAC, and more.

Nikeva is passionate about her Caribbean roots; she is a citizen of Nevis and her family spreads throughout the West Indies. She shares her love for the performing arts through educational outreach as a teaching artist for Art Saves Lives Foundation in St. Maarten.

Ava Roxanne Stritt – Ava Roxanne Stritt has been called the most influential person in the world on spa travel and a top authority on luxury travel. Her fans say she is responsible for transforming a regular spa day into a full wellness adventure! She believes that spa, wellness, travel, and unique experiences are not just a luxury, but essential to a healthy body, mind and spirit. 

Ava is a professional freelance travel writer and editor with more than a decade of experience writing for some of the world’s most respected outlets, from USA Today to Travelocity to Upscale Living Magazine. She has won numerous honours and is a member of the Society of American Travel Writers and the Wellness Tourism Association. She also was a corporate Financial Analyst before her love of travel took over!

Brian Major – A veteran travel journalist, media, and content consultant, Brian is Managing Editor, Digital Guides and Publications/Caribbean for New Jersey-based TravelPulse.com. Brian has an extensive background in travel and cruise industry journalism and public relations. He previously served as Senior Cruise Editor for both Travel Agent and Travel Weekly magazines, and as Director of Public Relations for the Cruise Lines International Assn. (CLIA) from 2003 to 2006.

Brian’s travel writing and photography have appeared on Afar.com, CondeNast Traveler.com, TravelandLeisure.com, and USAToday.com. Brian was named the Caribbean Tourism Organization’s 2015 “Inner Circle King” Award winner for trade journalism feature writing in 2015 and was a 2017 recipient of the Jamaica Tourist Board’s Martha Vickery-Wallace Memorial Award for Excellence in Travel Journalism.

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Moderate 5.2 Quake Recorded Between Antigua and Guadeloupe

Moderate mag. 5.2 earthquake – Caribbean Sea, 60 km north of Les Abymes, Guadeloupe, on Tuesday, Feb 15, 2022 at 4:03 am (GMT -4) – 5 hours ago

Moderate mag. 5.2 earthquake - Caribbean Sea, 60 km north of Les Abymes, Guadeloupe, on Tuesday, Feb 15, 2022 at 4:03 am (GMT -4)

Moderate magnitude 5.2 earthquake at 48 km depth

15 Feb 08:06 UTC: First to report: VolcanoDiscovery after 3 minutes.

Significant 5.0 quake hits near Les Abymes, Guadeloupe

5.0 quake 15 Feb 4:03 am (GMT -4)

An earthquake of magnitude 5.0 occurred early morning on Tuesday, February 15th, 2022, at 4:03 am local time near Les Abymes, Guadeloupe, as reported by the German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ).
According to preliminary data, the quake was located at a moderately shallow depth of 58 km. The exact magnitude, epicenter, and depth of the quake might be revised within the next few hours or minutes as seismologists review data and refine their calculations, or as other agencies issue their report.
Our monitoring service identified a second report from France’s Réseau National de Surveillance Sismique (RéNaSS) which listed the quake at magnitude 5.0 as well. A third agency, the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC), reported the same quake at magnitude 5.2.
Based on the preliminary seismic data, the quake should not have caused any significant damage, but was probably felt by many people as light vibration in the area of the epicenter.
Weak shaking might have been felt in Anse-Bertrand (pop. 5,100) located 30 km from the epicenter, Les Abymes (pop. 63,100) 51 km away, La Baie Mahault (pop. 30,600) 54 km away, Saint John (pop. 24,200) 68 km away, and Basse Terre (pop. 11,500) 88 km away.
VolcanoDiscovery will automatically update magnitude and depth if these change and follow up if other significant news about the quake become available.

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