Saint Lucia’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic in ensuring a safe and strategic approach to the reopening of the economy, is receiving rave reviews the world over. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) has now reduced Saint Lucia’s COVID-19 rating to the lowest, Level 1, as one of only eight countries globally, noting that “over the last 28 days, new cases of COVID-19 in Saint Lucia decreased or stabilized.”

An August 21, highlight by AOL captioned, “How much it costs to live in 15 COVID-free countries” has rated Saint Lucia as the #2 country in the world that could provide you with a gorgeous and safe place to wait out the pandemic.

Saint Lucia welcomed its first commercial flight on July 9, with a measure of strictly enforced protocols in place which include pretesting within seven days of arrival in the destination, mandatory screening on arrival, use of certified taxis and hotels, a 14-day quarantine period for non-bubble countries, the wearing of masks in public and observing physical distancing.

A Eurocopter AS350 helicopter owned and operated by Safari Helicopters went missing last night over the island of Kauai in Hawaii. This morning, the helicopter was found in Kokee near Nualolo.

The search for survivors, however, is ongoing. “First and foremost, our thoughts and prayers are with the families of these passengers,” said Kauai Mayor Derek Kawakami. “Operations continue and we are doing everything we can at this time.”

The Coast Guard established a command post on Kauai as they collaborated with multiple agencies in the ongoing search for a missing tour helicopter carrying 7 people – a pilot and 6 tourists. The Coast Guard said 2 minors are among the passengers aboard the chopper.

Safari Helicopters was conducting a tour over the Na Pali Coast and was scheduled to return to Lihue Airport at approximately 5:30 p.m. on Thursday.

According to preliminary report, the pilot’s last contact was made at about 4:40 p.m. when the pilot indicated they were leaving the Waimea Canyon area. Although the aircraft had an electronic locator, no signals were received after that time.

The Coast Guard’s Dolphin helicopter crew conducted 3 search patterns throughout the night along the northwest portion of Kauai while the HSM-37 Seahawk crew scanned the northwest shoreline area for several hours. Also deployed was the Coast Guard’s HC-130 airplane, MH-65 helicopter, 45-foot Response Boat Medium, and William Hart (WPC 1134) today to resume the search for the chopper.

The U.S. Navy Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 37 MH-60R Seahawk helicopter crew and Civil Air Patrol also assisted in air and ground searches along with the Kauai Fire Department, Kauai Police Department, state Department of Land and Natural Resources, Hawaii Air National Guard, and private helicopter companies.

Curt Lofstedt, president of Island Helicopters Kauai, said they have three helicopters assisting in the search. Private helicopters are searching areas outside of Waimea Canyon, Lofstedt said.

Safari Helicopters has been conducting sight-seeing tours on Kauai since 1987. According to its website, the company operates AStar 350 B2-7 helicopters.

New report, titled, “Luxury Travel Market by Type of Traveler (Absolute Luxury, Aspiring Luxury, and Accessible Luxury), Age Group (Millennial, Generation X, Baby Boomers, and Silver Hair), and Type of Tour (Customized & Private Vacations, Adventure & Safari, Cruise/Ship Expedition, Small Group Journey, Celebration & Special Events, and Culinary Travel & Shopping): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2019–2026″ was published today. According to the report, the global luxury travel market garnered $891.1 billion in 2018, and is expected to reach $1,614.6 billion by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 7.9% from 2019 to 2026.

The adventure and safari segment held the largest share in the global luxury travel market in 2018, accounting for more than two-fifths of the total share, and is estimated to maintain its leadership status during the forecast period. This is due to inclination toward transformation and engaged activities. On the other hand, the culinary travel and shopping segment is expected to register the largest growth rate with a CAGR of 9.7% from 2019 to 2026, owing to surge in outbound travel, eagerness for gaining unique dining experiences in various countries, and organization of many festivals and events. Source : ENT News

Mining giant BHP Billiton was forced to deliberately derail a 268-car freight train, loaded with iron ore, after it had traveled an alarming 92km across Western Australia with no one on board. The driver alighted to inspect one of the wagons at approximately 4am on Monday when the train, reportedly consisting of four locomotives and 268 wagons, took off for Port Hedland before he could get back on board, the Western Australian reports. It managed to travel 92km without anyone at the helm before BHP was forced to take drastic action and intentionally derail the train at a crossing located roughly 120km from Port Hedland in Western Australia. The resource giant has suspended all train operations in the Pilbara region while an investigation is underway. “A Western Australia iron ore train has been derailed near Turner on route to Port Hedland this morning.

“Based on the 120km distance from Port Hedland, it would appear that the great majority of BHP’s Pilbara production would be impacted. If there is significant track damage it could be that train loadings and speeds could be constrained post repairs and restarting of shipments,” Edward Sterck, an analyst at BMO Capital Markets, told the Financial Times. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau has sent two investigators to determine if any rail safety protocols were breached in the incident. Iron ore extraction is a major industry for BHP Billiton, with the company exporting 69 million tons from Port Hedland in the quarter ending in September, via its four processing hubs and five mines connected by a system of 1,000km of railway lines.Iron ore alone is  responsible for almost 40 percent of BHP’s earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization (EBITA). The company has faced multiple derailments in the region in recent years, in both 2017 and 2015, when an incident was caused by a broken rail.

वशन्तपुर: अमेरिकी सहयोगमा जिर्णोद्दारपछि नेपाल सरकारलाई हस्तान्तरण गरिएको छ । वशन्तपुर दरबार स्क्वायरको गद्दी बैठक जिर्णोद्दार पूरा भइसकेको छ ।  नेपालमा गएको महाभूकम्पपछि दरबार स्क्वायरको गद्दी बैठकमा क्षति पुगेको थियो । अमेरिकी राजदूत सांस्कृति संरक्षण कोषको ७ लाख अमेरिकी डलर सहयोगमा जिर्णोद्दार सम्पन्न भएको छ ।

रीना रन्जीत, काठमाडौ ः चाबहिल गौशालाबाटोमा सडक भाशीयको छ । गुडिरहेको मलवाह ट्रकको पछाडीको भाग एक्कासी दबे पछि केहीबेर गौशाला चोक मा सवारी आगामनमा अबरोध भएको छ । हाल बिभिन्न भबन निर्माण गर्ने क्रममा धेरै गहिरोगरि जमीन खन्ने कार्यले गर्दा यस्ता समस्या आएको प्ररम्भिम अध्यायनले जानएको छ ।

KATHMANDU: More than 400 climbers are all set to attempt to  Mount Ama Dablam in Khumbu region of eastern Nepal after a six-member rope fixing team successfully reached the summit of 6,812 metre-peak on Wednesday morning. “The team first reached the summit while fixing the ropes from Camp II,” he shared. Expedition Operator Association Nepal has assigned HGN to fix the ropes on Mount Ama Dablam this season. Sherpas struggled hard to open the summit route as bad weather had caused a delay to proceed with rope fixing work last week.

After the Sherpas open the route to the summit, more than 400 climbers who obtained permits from the Department of Tourism (DoT) under Nepal’s Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation could ascend to the summit of Mount Ama Dablam now.

More than 200 foreign climbers along with their high altitude workers and support staff have already reached base camp for acclimatisation. Climbers along with their high altitude workers and support staff in acclimatisation at Mount Ama Dablam Base Camp.

चौतारा,  २३ असार – सिन्धुपाल्चोकको भोटेकोसी नदीमा गएराति एक्कासि आएको बाढीले तातोपानी गाविसमा १५ घर बगाउनुका साथै बाह्रबिसे–तातोपानी सडकखण्डलाई क्षति पु¥याएको छ ।  एक्कासि नदीमा बाढी आएपछि लिपिङस्थित भन्सार यार्डमा राखिएका दुईवटा टिपर बगाउनुका साथै मध्य भोटेकोसी आयोजनाले बनाएको एउटा बेलीब्रिजसमेत बगाएको नदीमा बाढी आएपछि नदीका दायाँबायाँका धेरै भागमा क्षति पुर्याउनुका साथै बाह्रबिसे–तातोपानी सडकखण्डको जम्बुमा ५० मिटर सडक कटान गरेको र विभिन्न ठाउँमा आएको पहिरोले यातायात ठप्प भएको छ ।  हालसम्म मानवीय क्षतिको जानकारी नआएको र विस्तृत विवरण आउन बाँकी रहेको छ । तातोपानीदेखि सुकुटेसम्मको ६३ किलोमिटर क्षेत्रमा पर्ने नदी किनारमा बसोबास गर्ने स्थानीयवासीलाई सतर्क गराइएको सुरक्षा निकायले जानकारी दिएको छ । तातोपानी क्षेत्रमा पानी परिरहेको र चीन तर्फबाट बाढी आएकाले नदी बढेको हुन सक्ने प्रमुख जिल्ला अधिकारीले जानकारी दिए ।