Tag Archives: caribbean

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UK Deportation Flight: ‘Suicide Attempts and Chaos’ – Activists Reveal

The charter flight carrying less than 10 people departed from Stansted Airport at around 1am on Wednesday. Those on board were Jamaican residents of Britain being deported by the UK Government.

Human rights activists have revealed the ‘chaotic’ scenes that took place moments before a mass deportation flight to Jamaica – including alleged attempted suicides.

The plane left from London Stansted Airport in the early hours of Wednesday (August 11) containing up to 10 Jamaican nationals previously convicted in UK courts. One is understood to be from Birmingham.

The move has been slammed as an ‘abomination’ by human rights activists who claimed some detainees made suicide attempts while in detention before the flight.

Those onboard included convicted offenders who have been deemed to be in this country illegally.

It is the fourth deportation flight since the Windrush scandal broke in 2017, with one plane – nicknamed ConAir – leaving from Birmingham.

Bella Sankey is the director of Detention Action which had taken up some of the deportation cases.

She tweeted today: “There has been A LOT going on behind the scenes of the #Jamaica50 flight tonight. Horrifying suicide attempts and now lots and lots of people being taken off the plane.

“It is complete chaos, and we’re still receiving referrals. Just now from a man with clear potential Windrush links but who has not had proper legal advice and doesn’t even have any immigration papers.

“He is confused yet on the bus to the plane having spent over 30 years here. The Home Office hasn’t got a clue what it’s doing.

“It is shocking to see so many people’s lives hanging in the balance and nearly all without time or access to properly make their case.

“There is no way a mass expulsion can ever uphold human rights or ensure that those with the right to be here are allowed to stay.

“No country should accept charter flights. They sweep everyone up and create a political spectacle that dehumanises those involved and their children & loved ones.

“Transatlantic crossings in the dead of night? It is sickening.

“So much harm has already been done. There are likely thousands of British children who have been permanently scarred by a parent being ripped away.”

Campaigners have called for the flight to be turned around due to concerns about the spread of the Delta coronavirus variant. They also claim a ‘frail 66-year-old with dementia’ was among the people who boarded the plane this morning.

Stansted Airport

Karen Doyle, the national organiser for Movement Justice, an organisation that played a pivoted role in campaigning against the deportations told Birmingham Live: “I’ve worked with 30 detainees, of those 26 had their tickets cancelled and four were on the flight.

“One of those who boarded the plane was a 66-year-old vulnerable frail man who we suspect has dementia. His condition meant it was impossible to get the evidence needed to fight his case. He’s second-generation Windrush and had been in the UK for 32 years.

“We will be working with Detention Action to try and get him back as he has no family in Jamaica. He had worked his whole life for the former Department of Health and Social Security.

“He was taken straight from prison and only had three days to try and build a case. It’s a massive injustice. This is exactly how things like the Windrush scandal happen. He’s no danger to the public, he can barely walk.”

 

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World View: US $3.5T Budget, Taliban Surge, Iran & COVID, More

Aug 11, 2021

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The Associated Press

The Rundown

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WASHINGTON (AP) — Democrats pushed a $3.5 trillion framework for bolstering family services, health, and environment programs through the Senate early Wednesday, advancing President Joe Biden’s expansive vision for reshaping federal priorities just…Read More

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KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — The Taliban seized three more provincial capitals in Afghanistan, officials said Wednesday, putting nine of the nation’s 34 in the insurgents’ hands amid the U.S. withdrawal from the country….Read More

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DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iranians are suffering through yet another surge in the coronavirus pandemic — their country’s worst yet — and anger is growing at images of vaccinated Westerners without face masks on the internet or on TV while …Read More

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DANDONG, China (AP) — A Canadian entrepreneur was sentenced to 11 years in prison Wednesday in a spy case linked to Beijing’s effort to push his country to release an executive of tech giant Huawei, prompting an unusual joint show of support for Ca…Read More

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PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — People in the Pacific Northwest braced for another major, multiday heat wave starting Wednesday, just over a month after record-shattering hot weather killed hundreds of the region’s most vulnerable when temperatures soared to…Read More

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ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — Kathy Hochul, a western New York Democrat unfamiliar to many people in the state even after six years as its lieutenant governor, was set to begin rein…Read More

DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — The paramedics get the urgent call at 10:30 p.m.: A 25-year-old woman, eight months pregnant and likely suffering from COVID-19, is now having seriou…Read More

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Dozens of women have described shocking sexual assaults by Ethiopian soldiers and allied forces in the country’s Tigray conflict, says an Amnesty I…Read More

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — An off-the-grid New Hampshire man’s days living as a hermit appear to be over. “River Dave,” whose cabin in the woods burned down after nearly three d…Read More

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Pandemic Entry Protocol Updates

Caribbean islands continue to update their entry protocols to protect their citizens from the rapidly spreading delta COVID-19 variant, this includes the Federation.

St Kitts and Nevis

St. Kitts & Nevis has further extended the travel advisory for travellers arriving from the UK, Brazil, India and South Africa from July 19, 2021 until August 31, 2021.

People from the aforementioned destinations are advised not to travel to St. Kitts & Nevis at this time as entry into the Federation will be denied.

Citizens and Residents of St. Kitts & Nevis who are arriving from any of these countries must process their travel request through the online platform www.knatravelform.kn.

Those who have been fully vaccinated for two weeks or more prior to their arrival will be required to quarantine for four days upon arrival and await a negative RT-PCR Test taken on day four before they can be released from quarantine. Those Citizens and Residents who have not been fully vaccinated for two weeks prior to their arrival will be required to quarantine for 14 days upon arrival.

Travellers should regularly check the St. Kitts Tourism Authority (www.stkittstourism.kn) and Nevis Tourism Authority (www.nevisisland.com) websites for updates and information.

Below are some of the latest updates. We urge you to do your research and check all relevant sources of information before embarking on travel anywhere in the region.

The Bahamas

Effective Friday, August 6, all fully vaccinated travellers and children aged two to 11 entering from other countries will be required to obtain a negative COVID-19 test taken no more than five days prior to their date of arrival.

Unvaccinated travellers ages 12 and older must still obtain a negative COVID-19 PCR test taken no more than 5 days prior to the date of arrival. All children under the age of two are exempt from any testing requirements.

Travelling Inter-Island within The Bahamas from the following islands: Nassau & Paradise Island, Grand Bahama, Bimini, Exuma, Abaco and North and South Eleuthera, including Harbour Island:

  • All fully vaccinated persons, as well as children ages two-11 wishing to travel within The Bahamas will be required to obtain a negative COVID-19 test (either a rapid antigen test or PCR test), taken no more than five days prior to the date of travel.
  • Unvaccinated persons ages 12 and older must still obtain a negative COVID-19 PCR test taken no more than five days prior to the date of travel.
  • All children under the age of two are exempt from any testing requirements.

Cruise Passengers

  • Guests on cruises that originate in and return to The Bahamas must still apply for a Bahamas Travel Health Visa and follow the new testing requirements for vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals.
    • Vaccinated persons must provide a negative PCR test OR rapid antigen test taken no more than five (5) days prior to the date of arrival to The Bahamas.
    • Unvaccinated persons are required to obtain a negative PCR test taken no more than five (5) days prior to the date of arrival to The Bahamas.
  • All travellers entering The Bahamas on cruises that originate in the US will be subjected to the testing requirements mandated by the cruise line and approved by the Government of The Bahamas.
    • Cruise lines may have different requirements for vaccinated and unvaccinated guests. Travellers should check with their cruise line for specific details pertaining to their cruise.

St Eustatius

Fully vaccinated visitors including tourists can visit Statia but visitors from high-risk countries must adhere to a strict five days’ protocol upon arrival which includes wearing a face mask, keeping social distance and not attending large organised events.

Vaccinated visitors from very high-risk countries are welcome but must go into quarantine for a period of five days upon entry.

Fully vaccinated visitors from low-risk countries do not have to adhere to certain measures and do not have to go into quarantine.

Unvaccinated Travellers

Non vaccinated residents, family members, workers or persons who own a home in Statia and who were in a high-risk country or a very high-risk country prior are welcome as well but must go into quarantine for a period of 10 days upon entry. Non vaccinated tourists cannot yet visit Statia.

A list of very high risk, high risk, low risk and very low countries can be found on the following link Country list | Regulation | St. Eustatius (statiagovernment.com). This list will be updated on a regular basis.

GUYANA

Foreign-based Guyanese, who have not received at least one shot of a coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine, must apply to the country’s National COVID-19 Task Force for an exemption to return home.

This was confirmed by Guyana’s Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony in today’s COVID-19 Update as he sought to clarify confusion in the populace about the entry and exit requirements for Guyanese and visitors.

Yesterday, the minister said that only a negative PCR test would be required for citizens to enter.

The approved vaccines are Sinopharm, Sputnik V, Moderna, Oxford-AstraZeneca and Johnson and Johnson.

Travellers, who have taken the Cuban manufactured Abdala vaccine or India’s COVAXIN, must inform the government prior to arrival and they will be considered on a case by case basis.

Pregnant women and children under 18 will be allowed to enter Guyana with a negative PCR test.

“There might be other citizens, who for one reason or the other, [might] have travelled abroad and because these requirements are now in place…and they now require to travel back, they might not have [gotten] their vaccine. In those circumstances, they can apply to the Task Force ahead of time and each case will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis,” the minister said.

Airlines are not allowing persons to travel unless they meet the requirements to entry since the company will have to pay a fine.

Proof of vaccination is currently required for persons to enter places of entertainment and some government offices without an appointment.

The government has mandated people employed in sectors such as the public service, entertainment, banking and medical fields to be vaccinated.

Just over 271,122 people or 55.7 per cent of adults in Guyana have received at least their first vaccine shot.

Over 144, 965 people or 29.8 per cent of adults are fully vaccinated.

 

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Soaring Number of Nicaraguans Seek Refuge in Costa Rica Amid Domestic Crackdown

San Jose, Aug 10 (Reuters) – Costa Rica received the highest number of refugee applications from Nicaraguans in July since the 2018 protests in Nicaragua, according to Costa Rican government data, following a wave of arrests against opponents of President Daniel Ortega in June.

There were 5,379 refugee requests by Nicaraguans submitted in July, Costa Rica’s migration agency told Reuters, triple the May figure.

The spike came as the Nicaraguan government arrested some 30 activists and political opponents, including potential candidates in the November presidential election.

The July figures also top the requests made in the same month of 2018, when thousands of Nicaraguans fled to the neighboring Central American nation amid a crackdown on protests that began in April of that year and left more than 300 dead.

“We are amazed at the number of people who have arrived, most of them activists or people from civil society organizations,” said Claudia Vargas, coordinator of the Nicaraguan community for the Arias Foundation in San Jose and herself a refugee.

Vargas said most of her compatriots entered Costa Rica through informal points along 300 kilometers of the shared border, avoiding official crossing points for fear of being detained by the Nicaraguan military.

Since 2018, some 80,000 Nicaraguans have fled to Costa Rica.

Ortega, who has been in power for the second time since 2007 and is seeking re-election in November, has been facing increasing international pressure for the crackdown on political opponents and allegations of human rights violations.

He accuses his critics of conspiring to intervene in his country’s affairs.

Reporting by Alvaro Murillo in San Jose; writing by Laura Gottesdiener; Editing by Leslie Adler

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The Myth of Delta Herd Immunity: UK Scientist

Head of Oxford Vaccine Group rules out overall immunity, but also questions need for booster jabs

 

Commuters on London Bridge. Prof Sir Andrew Pollard, director of the Oxford Vaccine Group, said: ‘The Delta variant will still infect people who have been vaccinated.’
Commuters on London Bridge. Prof Sir Andrew Pollard, director of the Oxford Vaccine Group, said: ‘The Delta variant will still infect people who have been vaccinated.’ Photograph: Guy Bell/REX/Shutterstock
Science correspondent
Guardian

Reaching herd immunity is “not a possibility” with the current Delta variant, the head of the Oxford Vaccine Group has said.

Giving evidence to MPs on Tuesday, Prof Sir Andrew Pollard said the fact that vaccines did not stop the spread of Covid meant reaching the threshold for overall immunity in the population was “mythical”.

“The problem with this virus is [it is] not measles. If 95% of people were vaccinated against measles, the virus cannot transmit in the population,” he told the all-party parliamentary group (APPG) on coronavirus.

“The Delta variant will still infect people who have been vaccinated. And that does mean that anyone who’s still unvaccinated at some point will meet the virus … and we don’t have anything that will [completely] stop that transmission.”

Although the existing vaccines are very effective at preventing serious Covid illness and death, they do not stop a fully vaccinated person from being infected by the virus that causes Covid-19.

The concept of herd or population immunity relies on a large majority of a population gaining immunity – either through vaccination or previous infection – which, in turn, provides indirect protection from an infectious disease for the unvaccinated and those who have never been previously infected.

Data from a recent React study conducted by Imperial College London suggests that fully vaccinated people aged 18 to 64 have about a 49% lower risk of being infected compared with unvaccinated people. The findings also indicated that fully vaccinated people were about three times less likely to test positive after coming into contact with someone who had Covid (3.84%, down from 7.23%).

About 75% of all UK adults have now received both their jabs.

The health secretary, Sajid Javid, said on Tuesday that plans were in place to start offering Covid booster jabs to the most vulnerable groups in the UK from next month. He said that the flu jab would be offered at the same time.

But Pollard – who chairs Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) but is not specifically a member of the Covid JCVI committee – questioned whether boosters would be needed.

Think it’s all over? Why the Covid experts are not so sure about that

 

“The time we would need to boost is if we see evidence that there was an increase in hospitalisation – or the next stage after that, which would be people dying – amongst those who are vaccinated. And that is not something we are seeing at the moment,” he said.

Even if vaccine-induced antibody levels waned, our immune systems would probably remember the vaccination for decades and offer a degree of protection if exposed to the virus, he said. “So, there isn’t any reason at this moment to panic. We’re not seeing a problem with breakthrough severe disease.”

The question of whether or not to vaccinate under-16s, as countries including the US, Ireland and Israel have done, has also provoked scientific debate in the UK.

The JCVI has recommended only vulnerable children aged 12 to 15 be vaccinated, and those who live with at-risk adults. Some critics have said that rich countries with high adult vaccine coverage, such as the UK, should not be hoarding doses for children but should donate those doses to poor countries, many of which have barely vaccinated any of their most at-risk populations.

But Prof Devi Sridhar, the chair of global public health at the University of Edinburgh, pointed out that the only vaccine authorised for use in children aged 12 to 15 in the UK was the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine.

“I think actually the real issue is not about vaccinating kids versus the world – it’s what do we do about boosters that is being discussed in rich countries, because those are the doses that could be going abroad,” she said.

“Luckily … we have a very effective vaccine in AstraZeneca that can be used for the world, but it’s not going to solve our children issue here.”

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Bedlam on US Airlines, More Vaccine, Mask Mandates- World Stats

Unlocking the World

Maureen O’Hare, CNN • Published 7th August 2021
07 unlocking the world travel_Pisa RESTRICTED

  • 09 unlocking the world travel_Hamilton Broadway RESTRICTEDUK: The UK has opened up quarantine-free travel for vaccinated travelers from the United States and the European Union. Pictured: Pickmere Lake in Knutsford, England  Christopher Furlong/Getty Images

(CNN) — There have been cancellations and chaos on US airlines, Canada and Japan have been cracking down on Covid rule-breakers, but the UK is opening up to more and more vaccinated visitors.
Here’s what we learned in pandemic travel this week.

1. The US ‘do not travel’ list has got even bigger

ATHENS, GREECE - AUGUST 04: Parthenon temple on Acropolis hill is seen through smoke from a wildfire north of the Greek capital,on August 4, 2021 in Athens, Greece. People were evacuated from their homes after a wildfire reached residential areas of northern Athens as fires broke out at the foot of Mount Parnes. Athens recored temperatures of 42 degrees Celsius (107.6 Fahrenheit). (Photo by Milos Bicanski/Getty Images)

Greece, including Athens, pictured, has been hit by a extreme heatwave and wildfires have broke out across the country.
Milos Bicanski/Getty Images
US citizens have already been advised against travel to countries with more than 500 Covid cases per 100,000 residents in the past 28 days, which includes popular tourist spots such as the UK, Spain and Maldives.
Now the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has given 16 new destinations its top risk designation of “Level 4: Covid-19 Very High.”
They are (deep breath): Andorra, Curaçao, Gibraltar, Greece, Guadeloupe, Iran, Ireland, Isle of Man, Kazakhstan, Lesotho, Libya, Malta, Martinique, Saint Barthelemy, Saint Martin and the US Virgin Islands.
That means US citizens should avoid travel to these places and, if they really must travel, they should be fully vaccinated. Check out the CDC’s full recommendations list here.

2. The UK is opening up inbound and outbound travel

  • Beautiful England 18 London, England

  • Beautiful England 17 Band performing during The Changing of the Guard ceremony taking place in the courtyard of Buckingham Palace, Westminster

The UK has seen a staycation explosion during Covid-19, leaving some areas overwhelmed. There are still plenty of options though. Here are some of England’s most beautiful locations:
courtesy Visit Britain
UK case numbers have fallen tremendously since England dropped nearly all Covid restrictions on July 19, but there were still close to 183,000 new cases in the past week.
However, the country has had a very successful vaccine rollout, with more than 58% of the population now fully vaccinated.
Wales is set to drop most restrictions on August 7 while Scotland will do the same on August 9. Northern Ireland — across the Irish Sea — has its own region-specific measures.
Fully jabbed travelers from the United States and EU are now allowed to travel into the UK quarantine-free — although of course the CDC warns US citizens against doing just this.
In terms of outbound travel, the UK updated its “green list” on Thursday, adding Austria, Germany, Latvia, Norway, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia to the list for quarantine-free travel. You can read more about that here.

3. US airlines — and their passengers and crew — have had a rough week

At the time of writing on Friday, Florida-based ultra-low-cost carrier Spirit Airlines had entered its fifth day of mass cancellations. It’s been canceling hundreds of flights each day since Sunday, which the airline blames on weather challenges, system outages and staffing shortages. American Airlines was also in a cancellation frenzy.
Frontier Airlines now says it “supports” and will pay the crew of flight attendants it had earlier said were suspended after using tape to restrain a passenger charged with groping and punching them.
Denver-based ultra-low-cost carrier Frontier had problems of a different kind.
A passenger on a weekend flight from Philadelphia to Miami was restrained by cabin crew after he allegedly sexually assaulted two staff members and was verbally and physically abusive. The airline was criticized for initially suspending the flight attendants, before later voicing support for the crew.

4. Israelis have been told not to hug

Elderly Israelis wait to receive their third shot of the Pfizer vaccine at a nursing home in Netanya in August. Elderly Israelis wait to receive their third shot of the Pfizer vaccine at a nursing home in Netanya in August.

Oded Balilty/AP
Israel is facing a new wave of infections, with more than 21,000 new cases recorded in the past week. A government statement has told citizens to “stop shaking hands, stop embracing and kissing and avoid any gathering in a closed space that is not necessary.”
Last month, Israel completely prohibited people from coming there from Argentina, Belarus, Brazil, Cyprus, Georgia, Great Britain, India, Kyrgyzstan, Mexico, Russia, Spain, South Africa, Turkey and Uzbekistan unless they get special permission from Israeli authorities.

5. Canada fined two travelers nearly $20K over false Covid info

Toronto Pearson International Airport pictured in April 2020. Toronto Pearson International Airport pictured in April 2020.

Cole Burston/Getty Images
Two travelers who arrived into Toronto from the United States in July were fined close to $20,000 each for noncompliance with entry requirements, according to the country’s Public Health Agency.
The visitors provided false information related to proof of vaccination and pre-departure tests and didn’t comply with requirements related to on-arrival testing and staying at government-approved accommodation, the agency said.
From August 9, fully vaccinated Americans will be allowed into the country for nonessential travel — but only if they comply with all government requirements.

6. Japan is naming and shaming rule-breakers

The Japanese government is also getting tough on those who contravene the rules.
On Monday, Japan publicly named three Japanese nationals who broke quarantine rules after returning from overseas, reported Reuters.
Japan requires all travelers from overseas, including Japanese citizens, to self-quarantine for two weeks.

7. A Dallas firefighter ‘faked Covid results then went to a resort’

William Jordan Carter is accused of lying about testing positive for Covid-19 to take time off.

William Jordan Carter is accused of lying about testing positive for Covid-19 to take time off.

Dallas County Sheriff’s Office
William Jordan Carter, a 38-year-old firefighter from Dallas, was charged with theft after allegedly taking paid leave for nearly a month while lying about testing positive for Covid-19.
Bank records show Carter made several purchases during his time off, including nearly $1,400 at Kalahari Resort, a large indoor water park and resort in Round Rock, Texas.

8. A Carnival cruise ship reported Covid cases

After a “small number of positive cases” of Covid-19 were detected aboard a Carnival Cruise Line ship, a new fleetwide mask policy requiring all guests to wear masks in some indoor areas was implemented on Wednesday night, the cruise line said — two days ahead of schedule.
Carnival did not immediately say exactly how many positive cases had been detected aboard Carnival Vista, which departed out of Galveston, Texas.

9. More vaccine mandates have been introduced in the US and beyond

In the coming weeks, New York City will be rolling out a new policy requiring proof of vaccination to enter all restaurants, fitness centers and indoor entertainment venues.
“If you’re unvaccinated, unfortunately, you will not be able to participate in many things,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio on Tuesday.
Countries in Europe have introduced similar measures and incentives to try to get people vaccinated.
United Airlines is mandating Covid-19 vaccines for all employees, while Grant Shapps, the UK’s transport minister, said this week in an interview with the BBC that he thinks “full vaccination is going to be a feature for evermore, and probably all countries will require full vaccination for you to enter.”
Finally, a White House official confirmed to CNN on Wednesday that the Biden Administration is developing a plan to mandate vaccinations for almost all foreign visitors to the US.
Officials are still in the early phases of developing the plan and an announcement is not imminent.
CNN’s Alexis Benveniste, Sarah Dean, Hadas Gold, Marnie Hunter, Tara John, Lauren Kent, Ashley Killough, Virginia Langmaid, Pete Muntean, Dominic Rech, Francesca Street, Amir Vera and Gregory Wallace contributed to this story.
=====================================================

WORLD STATS

Coronavirus Cases:

204,860,392

Deaths:

4,328,344

Recovered:

183,982,2888
Highlighted in green
= all cases have recovered from the infection
Highlighted in grey
= all cases have had an outcome (there are no active cases)

[back to top ↑]

Latest News

August 11 (GMT)

Updates

  • 10,579 new cases and 14 new deaths in Japan [source]
  • 21,571 new cases and 799 new deaths in Russia [source]

 

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NY Governor Resigns After Investigation Finds He Harassed Multiple Women

By Tal Axelrod

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) has resigned from office after a bombshell report released by state Attorney General Letitia James (D) found he sexually harassed 11 women, including some who worked in his office, and violated state and federal laws.

Cuomo had been inundated with calls for his resignation and faced an impeachment hearing in the state Assembly that appeared all but guaranteed to spark a trial in the state Senate. Should he have survived potential impeachment proceedings, he also faced daunting reelection prospects in 2022.

But he appeared defiant to the end.

His resignation followed a 45-minute news conference from Rita Glavin, his attorney, during which she rebutted the allegations in the report and attacked the credibility of the investigators and women who came forward with accusations, as well as the media that covered them.

But Cuomo, in his own press conference immediately after, announced he would be stepping down in 14 days.

“This is one of the most challenging times for government in a generation. Government really needs to function today. Government needs to perform. It is a matter of life and death, government operations. And wasting energy on distractions is the last thing that state government should be doing. And I cannot be the cause of that,” Cuomo said.

“I think given the circumstances, the best way I can help now is if I step aside and let government get back to governing. And therefore that’s what I’ll do,” he said.

His resignation also follows widespread questions about his handling of the coronavirus pandemic, particularly in the state’s nursing homes.

James’s office launched the independent investigation in March after several women publicly accused Cuomo of sexual misconduct. Investigators found Cuomo engaged in inappropriate conduct with current and former staffers and at least one state trooper who was assigned to his protective detail.

The report was finalized after attorneys interviewed 179 individuals and reviewed 74,000 pieces of evidence.

“These interviews and pieces of evidence reveal a deeply disturbing, yet clear picture: Gov. Cuomo sexually harassed current and former state employees in violation of both federal and state laws. The independent investigation found that Gov. Cuomo sexually harassed multiple women, many of whom were young women, by engaging in unwanted groping, kisses, hugging and by making inappropriate comments,” James said last week.

The blockbuster findings reignited calls from his resignation from both Democrats and Republicans who said his actions were beyond the pale.

“This report highlights unacceptable behavior by Governor Cuomo and his administration. As I said when these disturbing allegations first came to light, the Governor must resign for the good of the state,” state Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins (D) said in a statement shortly after the report’s release. “Now that the investigation is complete and the allegations have been substantiated, it should be clear to everyone that he can no longer serve as Governor.”

Prior to Cuomo’s resignation, the number of Democrats who called for his departure had snowballed to most Democrats in the state legislature, the head of the state party, even to the pinnacles of Washington.

The sexual harassment scandal compounded the criticism Cuomo faced after it was revealed his office intentionally undercounted the number of coronavirus-related deaths in nursing homes by several thousand and sought to hide the true tally, in part over fears that a higher count would be wielded as a political cudgel by former President Trump.

Cuomo had apologized for both scandals but denied wrongdoing toward any woman he’s interacted with, maintaining his conduct should not be considered sexual harassment.

Even as the calls for his resignation piled up, he remained defiant and insisted he would not leave office.

“The facts are much different than what has been portrayed,” he said after James released the damning report.

That defiance continued even in Cuomo’s remarks Tuesday, during which he said there were “flaws” in James’s report.

“That should concern all New Yorkers, because when there is a bias or lack of fairness in the justice system, it is a concern for everyone, not just those immediately affected,” he said.

The Tuesday press conference from Glavin offered a point-by-point rebuttal of the report.

“Because of what has happened since Aug. 3, with the press conference and a report, that there’s no question in my mind was designed and meant to devastate Gov. Cuomo and his chamber,” Glavin said, referencing the date James released her report. “And for the last eight days it has been a pile on with people judging facts when they didn’t have all the facts.”

Glavin contended that the two main investigators, Anne Clark and Joon Kim, “brought their biases” and a “predisposition” when investigating the allegations against the governor.

Even just before announcing he would depart, Cuomo said it was his instinct to “fight through this controversy,” maintaining there were political machinations behind the report and an unfair narrative being spread in the press and social media.

“If I could communicate the facts through the frenzy, New Yorkers would understand,” he said. “I believe that.”

Prior to the announcement, press reports circulated detailing Cuomo’s intention to work through the scandal and try to beat an effort to oust him. But toward the end of his remarks Tuesday, Cuomo seemed to recognize the whirlwind surrounding the allegations and spoke directly to his daughters.

“I want them to know, from the bottom of my heart, that I never did, and I never would intentionally disrespect a woman or treat any woman differently than I would want them treated,” he said. “Your dad made mistakes and he apologized and he learned from it. And that is what life is all about.”

Cuomo’s resignation marks an ignominious end to a political career that spanned decades. He served as the secretary of Housing and Urban Development during the Clinton administration before becoming the New York attorney general and later governor. His popularity soared during the early days of the coronavirus pandemic with his daily, televised press conferences only to see his approval rating crater in light of the sexual harassment and nursing home scandals.

His resignation will elevate Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) to the governorship, making her the first female executive of the Empire State.

Hochul will take power in two weeks at a crucial time for New York, which like much of the nation is grappling with a rise in coronavirus cases fueled by the delta variant. But Cuomo said Hochul would use the next 14 days to get up to speed and would be ready to take over the governorship when his resignation takes effect.

“Kathy Hochul, my lieutenant governor, is smart and competent,” Cuomo said. “This transition must be seamless.”

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Prince Andrew Sued by a Jeffrey Epstein Accuser

One of Jeffrey Epstein’s longtime accusers sued Prince Andrew on Monday, saying he sexually assaulted her when she was 17.

Lawyers for Virginia Giuffre filed the lawsuit in Manhattan federal court.

In a statement, Giuffre said the lawsuit was brought under the Child Victims Act to allege she was trafficked to him and sexually abused by him.

“I am holding Prince Andrew accountable for what he did to me,” she said. “The powerful and rich are not exempt from being held responsible for their actions. I hope that other victims will see that it is possible not to live in silence and fear, but to reclaim one’s life by speaking out and demanding justice.

“I did not come to this decision lightly,” she added. “As a mother and a wife, my family comes first — and I know that this action will subject me to further attacks by Prince Andrew and his surrogates — but I knew if I did not pursue this action, I would be letting them and victims everywhere down.”

In late 2019, Prince Andrew told BBC Newsnight that he never had sex with Giuffre, saying, “It didn’t happen.”

He said he has “no recollection” of ever meeting her and told an interviewer there are “a number of things that are wrong” about Giuffre’s account, which alleges the encounter occurred in 2001.

“I can absolutely categorically tell you it never happened,” Andrew said.

According to the lawsuit, which sought unspecified compensatory and punitive damages, the prince abused Giuffre on multiple occasions when she was under the age of 18.

It said that on one occasion, the prince sexually abused her in London at the home of Ghislaine Maxwell when Epstein, Maxwell and Prince Andrew forced her to have sexual intercourse with the prince against her will.

On another occasion, Prince Andrew sexually abused Plaintiff in Epstein’s New York mansion when Maxwell forced Giuffre and another victim to sit on Andrew’s lap as he touched her, the lawsuit said.

The lawsuit also alleged that Andrew sexually abused Giuffre on Epstein’s private island in the US Virgin Islands.

During each of the alleged acts, Giuffre was given “express or implied threats” by Epstein, Maxwell, and/or Andrew to engage in sexual acts with the prince, the lawsuit said.

It said that she “feared death or physical injury to herself or another and other repercussions for disobeying” the trio because of their “powerful connections, wealth, and authority,” the lawsuit said.

The lawsuit added that Andrew knew her age at the time based on communications with Epstein and Maxwell. It said he went ahead anyway “for the purpose of gratifying his sexual desires.”

Maxwell, 59, has pleaded not guilty to sex trafficking charges in Manhattan federal court, where she faces trial in November.

Epstein, 66, took his own life in a federal jail in Manhattan in August 2019, a month after he was arrested on sex trafficking charges.

As part of its continuing probe into Epstein and his encounters with women and teenage girls, Manhattan federal prosecutors formally requested to speak with Andrew.

The request, similar to issuing a subpoena, was made under the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty, an agreement between the two countries to share evidence and information in criminal cases.

By LARRY NEUMEISTER Associated Press

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Haiti Chooses Judge to Probe President Jovenel Moise’s Killing

A judge has been named to lead the probe into the assassination of Haiti’s President Jovenel Moise, a senior magistrate has announced. The dean of the Court of First Instance in Port-au-Prince, Bernard Saint-Vil, said that Judge Mathieu Chanlatte had been chosen for the job.

Chanlatte “will not be intimidated,” said Jean Wilner Morin, president of the National Association of Haitian Magistrates.

“It is an investigation that will take time. We also hope that the authorities will put all the necessary resources at the disposal of magistrate Chanlatte and will also ensure his safety,” Morin said.

A hit team burst into the presidential residence on July 7 and shot Moise dead. His wife Martine was wounded but survived.

Human rights defender Pierre Esperance said he hoped Chanlatte would treat the case “with the law as a compass, without falling into political persecution.”

Minister of Justice and Public Security Rockefeller Vincent said his ministry would take all measures necessary to guarantee the safety of judges as well as courtroom evidence.

Police say they have arrested 44 people in connection with the killing, including 12 Haitian police officers, 18 Colombians who were allegedly part of the commando team, and two Americans of Haitian descent.

The head of Moise’s security detail is among those detained in connection with the plot allegedly organised by a group of Haitians with foreign ties.

Moise had been ruling the impoverished and disaster-plagued nation by decree as gang violence spiked and coronavirus spread.

Police have issued wanted-persons notices for several other people, including a judge from Haiti’s highest court, a former senator and a businessman

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Dominica Gov’t Announces Extension of Curfew Due to COVID-19

The Dominica government has extended a curfew to August 17 as the island recorded more cases of the coronavirus (COVID-19) in the last few days.

“The existing order comes to an end on Tuesday, the 10th, we are extending the emergency period from Tuesday the 10th to the 17th of August, so there will be a one-week extension,” Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit said on the state-owned DBS Radio.

“Remember when I addressed the nation I said we would be looking at seven days in the first instance and if we find the situation concerning we will extend it, the situation is concerning and therefore we are extending it to the 17th,” Skerrit added.

He said that only certain categories of workers will be exempted from the curfew hours, including essential workers.

Health Minister Dr. Irvine McIntyre said the total number of active COVID-19 cases here is 179 and that contact tracing is continuing with health authorities boosting the testing capabilities “in order to contain the spread of the virus.

“The strategy of increased Antigen testing islandwide has resulted in us identifying the possible cases. This way we can remove these individuals from the community, preventing interaction and further transmission of the virus”.

Dominica had registered several clusters of the virus following two activities held on the outskirts of the capital late last month.

Dr. McIntye confirmed that five staff members at the Dominica China Friendship Hospital had tested positive for the Antigen tests and that one of them further tested PCR positive and is symptomatic and has been placed in the isolation unit.

The other four are in government quarantine facilities.

He said 245 members of the hospital staff had been tested over the weekend and all were found to be negative.

“This represents close to 50 percent of the total hospital staff. We are assured that the situation at the hospital is under control and will be monitored closely,” the Health Minister said, reminding the public that the hospital is out of bounds to the public for visiting during the new health regulations.

CMC

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