World news in brief
Greece to build migrant centre to replace Moria camp
A permanent migrant centre on the island of Lesbos will replace the overcrowded Moira refugee camp, which was razed to the ground by a fire last week, the country’s prime minister has promised. The Greek prime minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, said on Sunday that the new reception centre would be a chance to reset the policy behind handling migrant arrivals and called for closer European involvement. The squalid and overcrowded camp in Moria went up in flames last week, leaving over 12,000 people without shelter and sleeping rough without proper sanitation or access to food and water amid the coronavirus pandemic for days. He appeared to dismiss protests by Lesbos residents who have opposed the creation of a new centre as well as by migrants demanding to be resettled away from the island.
Before the fire, the camp had been placed under quarantine as there were 35 confirmed cases of coronavirus in the camp, but people were unable to quarantine or practice hygiene effectively without shelter and
resources. Officials had already been concerned about the potential for an uncontrolled spread of the virus from Moria before it burned down. Some 400 unaccompanied minors have already been relocated from the island to the Greek mainland for possible resettlement in other European countries. Germany is considering taking in thousands of refugees from the Moria camp as a one-off gesture, Bild newspaper reported yesterday.
Berlusconi leaves hospital after ‘dangerous’ Covid battle
The former Italian prime minister, Silvio Berlusconi, left hospital yesterday after recovering from coronavirus, saying he had survived “the most dangerous challenge” of his life. “I said to myself, with satisfaction, ‘You have gotten away with it again’,” a smiling Berlusconi told reporters at the gates of Milan’s San Raffaele hospital, where he was admitted on 3 September, after testing positive for Covid-19. The 83year-old media tycoon developed double pneumonia and was considered a high-risk patient because of his age and underlying health conditions, including heart problems. Berlusconi, dressed in a dark suit and wearing a shirt and tie, said the viral load from his swab was “the highest among the tens of thousands” of patients treated at the hospital. He is believed to have caught the virus while on holiday in his villa on the Mediterranean island of Sardinia, and he urged people to take the ailment seriously. “Each one of us is exposed to the risk of infecting others. I repeat my call for maximum responsibility from everyone,” Berlusconi said. He is expected to remain in isolation for several more days in his villa in Arcore, outside Milan.
Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade to take place virtually
The annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade will not be a live event this year, New York City mayor Bill de Blasio announced yesterday. The event will be a reimagined virtual event on TV and online due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. “They’re re-inventing the event for this moment in history, and you’ll be able to feel the spirit and the joy of that day on television, online. Not a live parade,” the mayor said. Macy’s will fully detail their plans in the near future. Some details have been announced. Parade events will be spread over two days with the number of participants reduced by approximately 75 per cent. Social distancing rules will apply.
The parade has been a fixture of the New York City calendar since 1924 and thought to be the largest parade in the world with 3.5 million spectators and 8,000 participants. It is famous for its marching bands and giant inflatable balloons depicting cartoon characters and super heroes. The trademark balloons will make an appearance but without handlers. They will instead be rigged to a special framework of five vehicles tested and approved by the city. Traditionally the parade concludes with the arrival of Santa Claus marking the start of the Christmas and holiday season. This year Thanksgiving falls on 26th November.
Mystery over 137 sea lions washed up on beach in Mexico
Mexico is investigating the mysterious death of 137 sea lions that washed up on a beach with no obvious sign of how they died. The country’s office for environmental protection said the animals showed no signs of injuries from getting caught in fishing nets, nor were there any visible marks on their bodies from being struck by a boat. Both are common causes for sea lion deaths or injuries. The dead animals were first reported to authorities on 2 September and were found along an 80-mile stretch of Pacific coast in the area of Comondu in the state of Baja California Sur. Authorities said tissue samples have been collected from some of the bodies to determine cause of death. California sea lions are a protected species in Mexico but are not considered in danger of extinction there.
Known for their intelligence and playfulness, the animals are highly social and travel in packs in waters between Canada and Mexico’s southern tip. The Marine Mammal Centre said they are among the most commonly cared for sea animals after being found malnourished, suffering cancer or pneumonia, or becoming entangled in fishing nets.