Crew

• U.S. Customs and Border Protection uncovered child sexual exploitation material on five cruise ships in San Diego between April 23-25, leading to the detention of 28 crew members including staff from Disney Magic. • Authorities revoked visas and deported the detained crew members, with passengers witnessing handcuffings during the enforcement operation. • The discovery represents a significant coordinated effort to combat child exploitation in the cruise ship industry.

Several sick crew members are to be medically evacuated from vessel, as Canary Islands government objects to docking plans. Plus: the Mexico City nightclub that charges Americans 90% moreGood morning.Several crew members on the MV Hondius are being prepared for medical evacuation to the Netherlands, as the cruise ship continues to be marooned off the coast of Cape Verde following a suspected hantavirus outbreak that is believed to have killed at least three passengers.What is hantavirus? It is a rare disease that is usually spread from infected rodents typically through urine, droppings and saliva.What is the plan for the ship? It planned to sail to Spain’s Canary Islands, where the Spanish health ministry would work alongside the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control and World Health Organization to examine and treat the crew and passengers before repatriating them to their respective countries.On Wednesday, the Canary Islands government said it opposed the plan and was requesting a meeting with the Spanish prime minister over it.What did Project Freedom achieve? The defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, said the US had successfully secured a path through the waterway and that hundreds of commercial ships were lining up to pass through. So far, however, only two merchant ships are known to have passed through, with hundreds more – carrying up to 23,000 crew members – bottled up in the Persian Gulf.What is the US end game? Rubio said that for peace to be achieved, Iran must agree to Trump’s demands on its nuclear program and to open the strait.This is a developing story. Follow the live blog here. Continue reading...

Briton to be evacuated from MV Hondius with Dutch colleague, after both began suffering respiratory symptomsWhat is hantavirus, the infection thought to have killed three on cruise ship?A British crew member who became ill after a suspected outbreak of hantavirus on a luxury cruise ship in the Atlantic Ocean is to be medically evacuated, officials have said.The crew member is being prepared for medical evacuation from the MV Hondius along with a Dutch colleague, with Dutch authorities overseeing the operation. The two crew members needed “urgent medical care” after experiencing respiratory symptoms, the tour operator Oceanwide Expeditions said. Continue reading...

Global Sumud Flotilla describes interception as ‘violent raid’ as IDF urges activists to deliver aid via ‘established channels’Israeli forces have intercepted and detained the crews of at least 22 boats near the Greek island of Crete from a flotilla that is attempting to break Israel’s maritime blockade of the Gaza Strip to deliver humanitarian aid.The Global Sumud Flotilla, consisting of about 58 vessels carrying people from across 70 countries, departed from Italy on Sunday. Continue reading...

The astronauts joined president in Oval Office for a press conference, and it wasn’t long before he praised himselfDonald Trump hosted the crew of the historic Artemis II lunar flyby mission at the White House on Wednesday.The four astronauts – commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover and mission specialists Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen – joined the president in the Oval Office for a celebratory meeting and press conference. Continue reading...

About 500 officers deployed as part of operation at headquarters of Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light Police have raided the headquarters of the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light following an investigation into allegations of serious sexual offences, modern slavery and forced marriage.About 500 officers drawn from across the north-west region were on the ground on Wednesday morning. The officers had warrants to enter the group’s headquarters, which is based out of a former orphanage as well as other properties in Crewe, Cheshire. Continue reading...

Astronauts make first remarks at jubilant homecoming in Houston after their record-breaking moon flybyStill marveling over their moon mission, the Artemis II astronauts received a thunderous welcome home on Saturday from hundreds who took part in setting a record for deep space travel during the US space agency Nasa’s lunar comeback.The crew of four arrived at Ellington Field near Nasa’s Johnson Space Center and Mission Control in Houston, flying in from San Diego, where they splashed down just offshore the evening before. Continue reading...