KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — Friction between pragmatists and ideologues in the Taliban leadership has intensified since the group formed a hard-line Cabinet last week that is more in line with their harsh rule in the 1990s than their recent promises of…Read More
GENEVA (AP) — The head of the United Nations called Thursday for “immediate, rapid and large-scale” cuts in greenhouse gas emissions to curb global warming and avert climate disaster. Ahead of the annual U.N. General Assembly meeting next week, Anton…Read More
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The results of Tuesday’s recall election in which California Gov. Gavin Newsom defeated an attempt to remove him from office look all too familiar to the state’s enfeebled Republicans — they were embarrassed again by Democrats, who…Read More
HAVANA, Cuba (AP) — The draft of a new family code for Cuba released Wednesday proposes allowing same-sex couples to marry and adopt as well as giving children greater participation in decisions that affect them. …Read More
ROCKLAND, Maine (AP) — When Virginia Oliver started trapping lobster off Maine’s rocky coast, World War II was more than a decade in the future, the electronic traffic signal was a recent invention and few women were harvesting lobsters. …Read More
BAMAKO, Mali (AP) — France’s president announced the death of Islamic State in the Greater Sahara’s leader late Wednesday, calling Abu al-Walid al-Sahrawi’s killing “a majo…Read More
MOSCOW (AP) — After a few weeks of desultory campaigning but months of relentless official moves to shut down significant opposition , Russia is holding three days of votin…Read More
COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — Missouri’s Republican attorney general, Eric Schmitt, sued China over the coronavirus. He signed on to a failed lawsuit seeking to overturn the results…Read More
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — Environmentalists in Sri Lanka are challenging a court order issued earlier this month that would allow the return of 14 illegally captured wild e…Read More
Royal Caribbean’s newest and largest cruise ship, Wonder of the Seas, which was due to begin sailings from Shanghai, China, in early 2022, will now sail Caribbean and Mediterranean itineraries.
Royal Caribbean, which restarted sailings from Singapore in late 2020 with Quantum of the Seas, still has a presence in Asia.
Due to COVID-19, however, China is currently not allowing cruises, so the line will relocate Wonder of the Seas — the newest and largest in the line’s much-loved Oasis Class — to Fort Lauderdale, where it’ll begin a series of spring Caribbean voyages on 4 March 2022. Port calls will include Cozumel, Mexico; St. Maarten; and San Juan, Puerto Rico, among others.
From there, the ship will relocate to Barcelona, Spain, to offer a summer season of seven-night Mediterranean cruises, calling on ports like Capri and Palma de Mallorca. (Wonder of the Seas replaces Allure of the Seas in the Med, following Allure’s relocation to Fort Lauderdale, where the ship now offers six- and eight-night Caribbean voyages.)
“The momentum taking off across bookings and our returning ships in the U.S. and Europe is significant,” said Michael Bayley, president and CEO of Royal Caribbean International, in a statement. “With half of our fleet sailing again, we are encouraged by what we’re seeing. These regions are in the position to welcome a brand-new, innovative ship like Wonder of the Seas.”
As with other ships in the Oasis Class, Wonder of the Seas will feature a neighbourhood concept, including the open-air Boardwalk; Central Park, which features thousands of live plants; and the Royal Promenade, where passengers can dine, drink and shop. It will also include a brand-new Suite Neighbourhood, bringing the number of onboard neighbourhoods from seven to eight.
The Suite Neighbourhood offers Royal Suite Class cruisers access to a private restaurant, lounge and sun deck with a plunge pool and dedicated bar. Also found in this area is the line’s largest Ultimate Family Suite, which can accommodate up to 10 people.
The ship will also offer a reimagined pool area; Wonder Playscape, an interactive, top-deck family play area; and The Vue, a cantilevered bar that offers panoramic sea views.
HAVANA, Sept 15 (Reuters) – Cuba published a long-awaited draft of a new family code on Wednesday that would open the door to gay marriage if approved, in a move that LGBT rights activists applauded cautiously as they remained wary of whether it would actually be implemented.
The new code defines marriage as the “voluntary union of two people” without specifying gender, as opposed to the current definition as the “union of a man and woman.”
The draft still needs to go to a grassroots debate, however, and will then be amended to take into account citizens’ opinions before going to a referendum. Activists fear the commission charged with it could relent under pushback from religious groups and those who prefer traditional machismo culture.
They say the government should not have stipulated a referendum on what are fundamental human rights. The government says it wants to build rather than force acceptance of change.
In 2018 the government decided to withdraw an amendment to Cuba’s new constitution that would have opened the door to same-sex unions after campaigning by evangelical churches.
“The blueprint for the family code is everything one could have hoped for,” said Maykel Gonzalez Vivero, director of Tremenda Nota, a digital magazine that focuses on women, the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) community and the Black community.
“It took a long time and there was no transparency in its interminable process of nearly 15 years. But it’s there.”
Cuba, which sent gays to correctional labor camps in the early years after its 1959 leftist revolution, made considerable advances in LGBT rights in the 2000s and 2010s, despite the widespread persistence of machismo.
The island nation introduced the right to free sex reassignment surgery, banned workplace discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, and started holding annual marches against homophobia – Cuba’s equivalent of gay pride.
Many members of the LGBT community say, however, they have been frustrated by a slowdown in the pace of change in recent years while a handful of other Latin American countries have moved forward with approving gay marriage.
Reporting by Sarah Marsh in Havana Editing by Matthew Lewis
OTTAWA, Sept 15 (Reuters) – Canadians voted in advanced polls in record numbers ahead of an upcoming election, some looking to beat crowds amid the coronavirus pandemic,according to data released this week, though an expected avalanche of mail-in ballots has failed to materialize.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who called the snap Sept. 20 election to try to secure a majority, is now fighting to keep his job with his Liberal party in a tight race against their main rival, the Conservatives.
Nearly 5.8 million Canadians voted early this election, up 18.5% from the 2019 vote, preliminary data from Elections Canada shows. Separately, a record 1.2 million mail-in ballots have also been issued, though that is far fewer than the 2.3 million to 4.3 million range Elections Canada had predicted.
Canada has more than 27 million eligible voters.
The surge at advanced polls, coupled with softer demand for mail-in ballots, shows Canada’s highly vaccinated populace is comfortable voting in-person, alleviating some worries voters would not show up due to pandemic fears, said experts.
“Most people are double vaccinated now. So I think they are maybe less afraid to go vote in-person,” said Daniel Beland, a professor of political science at McGill University.
“If we were still in the third wave, where few people had been vaccinated, I think things might be different.”
More than 77% of eligible Canadians are fully vaccinated, but a Delta-driven fourth wave has cases surging across the country.
While mail-in voting is proving less popular than anticipated, it could still slow counts in a handful of tight ridings, potentially delaying the overall outcome for days. Most mail ballots will be counted only after they are checked against in-person votes.
“This will be an unusual election because we will break the record for mail-in ballots federally. That plus the pandemic makes it difficult to get a sense of the likely voter turnout,” said Nik Nanos, the head of Nanos Research.
The Conservatives and Liberals are locked in a dead heat at 31.2% to 30.5% of the vote less than a week from election day, according to the latest Nanos poll. The left leaning New Democrats have 21.4%.
BBC- A court in Mexico has sentenced the former leader of one of the country’s biggest drug trafficking cartels to 28 years in jail.
Vicente Carrillo Fuentes took over control of the Juárez cartel after his brother died during botched plastic surgery in 1997.
Thousands of people were murdered in turf wars between rival cartels.
The Juárez cartel has lost much of its power since Vicente Carrillo Fuentes was arrested in 2014.
Vicente Carrillo Fuentes, who was known as The Viceroy, was found guilty of drug trafficking and organised crime.
The 58-year-old was one of the US Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) most wanted men for whose capture they offered a reward of $5m (£3.6m).
image source, Getty Images
image captionFor decades, the DEA and Mexican police tried to track down Vicente Carrillo Fuentes
He was detained at a police checkpoint in the northern Mexican state of Coahuila in October 2014 along with one of his bodyguards.
Police said he had been keeping a “low profile”
Vicente Carrillo Fuentes became the leader of Juárez cartel after the death of his older brother Amado, who was known as Lord of the Skies for his knack of smuggling large quantities of drugs in his private fleet of aeroplanes.
Amado Carrillo Fuentes had taken control of the Juárez cartel after killing its previous leader, Rafael Aguilar Guajardo.
Under The Lord of the Skies, the cartel became one of the main criminal organisations in Mexico as it gained control of the bulk of cocaine trafficking to the United States.
Like his younger brother, The Lord of the Skies rarely let himself be photographed.
In 1997, Amado Carrillo Fuentes checked into a Mexican hospital to have plastic surgery to alter his appearance and evade capture.
He died as a result of the botched operation. The doctors who performed it were killed some months later.
Vicente Carrillo Fuentes built up a complex financial structure to launder the proceeds from the cartel’s drug trafficking.
But during his time at the helm, the Juárez cartel entered into a bloody rivalry with the Sinaloa cartel, led by Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán.
The battle with its rivals from Sinaloa left the Juárez cartel seriously weakened but it is still thought to be behind a large number of murders in its stronghold in Ciudad Juárez.
Vicente Carrillo Fuentes’s 28-year-sentence takes into account the years he has already spent in prison since his arrest.
Some demonstrators vandalised newly installed Bitcoin ATMs
The protesters accuse President Bukele of authoritarianism
The demonstrators, gathered in the capital San Salvador on the 200th anniversary of the country’s independence, brandishing placards reading “No to Bitcoin” and “Respect the Constitution”.
They accuse the president of using authoritarian means to tighten his grip on power.
“It’s important to say this morning: Enough already! What the government is doing is arrogant, it is authoritarianism,” protester Dora Rivera told Reuters news agency.
But Mr Bukele still enjoys strong support in El Salvador, with a recent newspaper poll showing 85.7% of people approved of the president.
The UK, US and Australia have announced a historic security pact in the Asia-Pacific, in what’s seen as an effort to counter China.
It will let Australia build nuclear-powered submarines for the first time, using technology provided by the US.
The pact, to be known as Aukus, will also cover artificial intelligence, cyber and quantum technologies.
It is the biggest defence partnership among the countries in decades, analysts say.
China’s embassy in Washington reacted by accusing the countries of a “Cold War mentality and ideological prejudice”.
In recent years, the Western democracies have all expressed concerns about China’s growing military assertiveness.
The new partnership aimed to “promote security and prosperity” in the region, said US President Joe Biden, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his Australian counterpart Scott Morrison in a joint virtual press briefing.
But in one awkward moment, Mr Biden appeared to forget Mr Morrison’s name, referring to him as “that fellow down under”.
The pact means Australia has torn up a A$50bn (€31bn; £27bn) deal it signed with France in 2016, to build 12 submarines.
What is Aukus?
It is probably the most significant security arrangement between the three nations since World War Two, analysts say.
The pact will focus on military capability, separating it from the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing alliance which also includes New Zealand and Canada.
While Australia’s submarines is the big-ticket item, Aukus will also involve sharing of cyber capabilities, AI, quantum and other undersea technologies.
“This is an historic opportunity for the three nations, with like-minded allies and partners, to protect shared values and promote security and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region,” the joint statement read.
The leaders did not refer to China directly, but said regional security challenges had “grown significantly”
“This really shows that all three nations are drawing a line in the sand to start and counter [China’s] aggressive moves in the Indo-Pacific,” said Guy Boekenstein from the Asia Society Australia.
What’s the background?
China’s military build-up and increasing aggression has worried rival powers in recent years.
Beijing has been accused of raising tensions in disputed territories such as the South China Sea.
It has also invested heavily in its military capacity, including its Coast Guard which some analysts argue has become a de facto military fleet.
Western nations have been wary of China’s infrastructure investment on Pacific islands and also criticised China’s trade sanctions against countries like Australia.
Australia had in the past maintained good relations with China, its biggest trading partner.
But the relationship has broken down in recent years amid political tensions.
Why nuclear-powered submarines?
These submarines are much faster and harder to detect than conventionally powered fleets. They can stay submerged for months, shoot missiles longer distances and also carry more.
Having them stationed in Australia is critical to US influence in the region, analysts say.
The US is sharing its submarine technology for the first time in 50 years. It had previously only shared technology with the UK.
Australia will become just the seventh nation in the world to operate nuclear-powered submarines, after the US, UK, France, China, India and Russia.
Its contract with France had been hit by delays due to Canberra’s requirement that several components be locally sourced.
Australia has reaffirmed it has no intention of obtaining nuclear weapons.
What’s been the reaction?
China’s embassy spokesman in Washington said nations “should not build exclusionary blocs targeting… the interests of third parties”.
French officials said Australia’s reneged deal showed “a lack of coherence that France can only note and regret.”
Meanwhile New Zealand said it would ban Australia’s submarines from its waters, in line with an existing policy on the presence of nuclear-powered submarines.
Basseterre, St. Kitts, September 15, 2021 (RSCNPF): On Tuesday, September 14, 2021, 35-year-old Kellian Hazel of St. Paul’s was arrested and charged for the offence of Causing Death by Dangerous Driving. Hazel was granted bail that same day in the sum of $50,000 with two sureties. His bail condition is that he is to report to the Dieppe Bay Police Station every Thursday between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m.
The fatal accident occurred on August 27, 2021, and resulted in the death of 21-year-old Keniqua David of Saddlers Village.
BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, September 15, 2021 (S.T.E.P.) — The National Heroes’ Park in Conaree will be the centre of attention on Thursday September 16 as the country celebrates its National Heroes, by hosting the Head of State, Head of Government, members of Cabinet, family members of the National Heroes, and the general public in the solemn but hugely significant ceremony.
The Skills Training Empowerment Programme (STEP), through its Community Enhancement Groups has ensured that the park is in its best shape as it hosts the National Heroes’ Day activities. According to the STEP Field Operations Manager, Mr William Phillip, the community enhancement groups, which were recently put into four zones, have done a tremendous job in a very short time.
“When our people come to the National Heroes’ Park they will see for themselves the work that has been done by our community enhancement groups in Zone One,” said Mr Phillip.
He explained that Zone One, which is led by STEP Zonal Field Officer Mr Cleavon Huggins, covers the areas from West Farm to Bird Rock, including St. Peter’s. While there were eleven community enhancement groups scattered in the area mentioned, with the zoning they have now been compressed into three larger teams.
Honouring the Heroes: From right are Mr William Phillip, Mr Cleavon Huggins, Zone One, Team One Assistant Supervisor Ms Sophia Charles, and Zone One, Team One Supervisor Mr Earle Dexter O’Garro.
According to Mr Huggins, Team One which did the work at Heroes’ Park is now going under the name New Keys Team. It was formerly comprised of community enhancement groups covering Conaree, Keys, Needsmust, Bird Rock, Newtown, and Heroes Park.
Team One is the largest of the three teams in Zone One, and its Supervisor Mr Earle Dexter O’Garro praised the efforts that have been put in by the combined groups noting that they now have more tools at their disposal, and a result they do more work in less time. Assistant Supervisor is Ms Sophia Charles.
The other team in Zone One, according to STEP Zonal Field Officer Mr Cleavon Huggins, is the West Basseterre Team which covers community enhancement groups formerly in Buckley’s, Village, and Dorset Park. The third one is the St. Peter’s Team that includes community enhancement groups formerly in Shadwell and St. Peter’s.
“Recently, the STEP has had reasons to zone all the community enhancement groups to maximise productivity,” said STEP Field Operations Manager, Mr William Phillip. “What used to happen in the past is that in every community/village there was a community enhancement group of STEP interns.”
It was however found out that persons on the community groups would be from the community itself and were not willing to move out of their community to work elsewhere. This disadvantaged the STEP, as when persons completed their task in the village, they would have nothing else to do and would just hang around for the rest of the day.
West Basseterre Team of STEP’s Zone One seen at work in LaGuerite Village. Supervisor Mr Shawn David is on the left and next to him is Mr William Phillip, while Mr Cleavon Huggins is on the right.Leaving nothing to chance: STEP Community Enhancement Group workers in New Keys Team of Zone One seen working at the Heroes’ Park.STEP Community Enhancement Group workers in New Keys Team of Zone One seen working at the Heroes’ Park as they prepared the grounds for National Heroes’ Day activities to be held on Thursday September 16.
St. Kitts was as a result divided into four zones, and having recently visited Zone Two which covers the areas Boyd’s, Challengers, Old Road, Sandy Point, going down to Newton Ground and into St. Paul’s, Mr Phillip was appreciative of the great improvement in productivity and quality of work by the combined community enhancement groups.
“As the same results we have got from Zone Two, more productivity because they are grouped together, we now have more availability of the equipment and such like so we can do much more, which results in greater efficiency,” said Mr Phillip. “Based on what we have seen at the Heroes’ Park, Zone One is performing well and as a result of that, we can say that STEP is serving the nation well.”
Mr Phillip, accompanied by Mr Huggins visited the West Basseterre Team, which is under the supervision of Mr Shawn David, as they worked and cleared bushes along the discarded former sugar train tracks in LaGuerite Village.
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