Seaweed invasion threatens tourism in Mexico’s beaches as problem worsens

Hotel occupancy rates have dropped as concern grows that the seaweed is threatening key industry in the Mayan Riviera

Trying to ignore the rotten-eggs whiff drifting in from the shoreline, a team of municipal workers was scooping up wads of rotting brown seaweed from the beach of this Mexican beach town 40km (25 miles) south of Cancún.

But almost as fast as they could be cleared away, more clumps of algae were washing ashore, forming foul-smelling mounds across the white sands of the beach.

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Antigua: sprawling ‘Chinese colony’ plan across marine reserve ignites opposition

Opponents warn construction of the Yida project, which includes a manufacturing hub, puts island at risk of hurricane damage



Plans to construct a sprawling “Chinese colony” complete with factories, homes and holiday resorts across a pristine marine reserve in Antigua have ignited a storm of controversy on the Caribbean island.

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Scientology ship remains under measles quarantine in Caribbean scare

Twenty-eight people required to stay on Freewinds after female crew member came down with virus

Authorities in the Caribbean island of Curacao have announced that 17 crew members and 11 passengers must stay on board a ship owned by the Church of Scientology that is under quarantine following a confirmed case of measles.

Dr Izzy Gerstenbluth said the group was required to stay on the 440-feet Freewinds ship until 13 May because they were still at risk of contracting measles after a female crew member came down with the virus.

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Scientology cruise ship still quarantined as passengers are tested for measles

Health officials have taken 277 blood samples from those onboard ship docked in Caribbean island of Curaçao

A Church of Scientology cruise ship docked in the Caribbean island of Curaçao will remain under quarantine until government authorities determine how many of the ship’s 318 passengers are infected with measles.

Health officials have taken 277 blood samples from those onboard the ship and sent them to the Netherlands. The results are expected to come back by Tuesday or Wednesday, according to the Associated Press. Ten passengers and 31 crew members were able to provide proof of vaccination.

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Scientology cruise ship leaves St Lucia after measles quarantine

Church of Scientology vessel held in port after contagious disease detected onboard

A cruise ship quarantined for a reported case of measles has left the Caribbean island of St Lucia after health officials supplied 100 doses of vaccine to the ship, according to reports.

The Church of Scientology cruise ship was confined to port this week by island health officials after the highly contagious disease was detected onboard.

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‘Air Cocaine’ smugglers given long sentences by French court

Seven jailed for role in attempt to smuggle 680kg of drug from Dominican Republic

A French court has sentenced seven people implicated in a drug-smuggling operation to up to 18 years in prison each, with two former air force pilots getting six-year terms.

Pascal Fauret and Bruno Odos had fled the Dominican Republic after a raid on the private jet they were to fly to Saint-Tropez, southern France, but were re-arrested in France in November 2015.

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