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This small country is situated between France and Spain. Because of its elevation and proximity to the Pyrenees the climate is generally pleasant throughout the year.
During the summer months the temperatures can rise to 30c but there is usually a cooling breeze. Lightening storms can occur during the summer months associated with torrential rain.
Sun Exposure and Dehydration
Those from Northern Europe can develop significant sun exposure and so remember to use a wide brimmed hat when necessary. The altitude can also lead to significant tiredness and dehydration so take sufficient initial rest and drink plenty of fluids.
Safety & Security
The level of crime throughout the country directed at tourists is very low. Nevertheless take care of your personal belongings at all times and use hotel safety boxes where possible.
Local Customs
There are strict laws regarding the use of illegal drugs. Make sure you have sufficient supplies of any medication you required for your trip and that it is clearly marked. The European E111 form is not accepted in Andorra and so it is essential that you have sufficient travel insurance for your trip.
Winter Sports
Andorra is one of the regions where many travel to partake of their winter sport facilities. Generally this is well controlled and one of the safer regions. Nevertheless, make certain your travel insurance is adequate for the activities you are planning to undertake.
The only standard vaccine to consider for Andorra would be tetanus in line with many other developed countries of the world.
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Andorra la Vella, Andorra, July 12, 2018 (AFP) - The tax haven of Andorra has long been a favourite destination for smokers looking to stock up on cheap cigarettes, but the enclave said Thursday that it would soon stop advertising the fact. The government said it had signed up to the World Health Organization's (WHO) anti-tobacco convention, which aims to encourage people to quit smoking and combat contraband sales. "The goal is to contribute to public health and pursue the fight against trafficking," government spokesman Jordi Cinca said at a press conference.
The tiny principality of Andorra, perched in the Pyrenees on the border between France and Spain, attracts millions of shoppers each year to duty-free stores, where prices of alcohol, cigarettes, electronics and clothes can be up to 20 percent cheaper than elsewhere in the EU. High taxes on tobacco imposed by many countries to help people kick smoking make Andorra's cigarettes a particularly good deal. The average pack costs just three euros ($3.50) compared with eight euros in France, which has said it will gradually raise the price to 10 euros a pack by November 2020.
Tobacco sales bring in some 110 million euros a year for Andorra, whose economy is otherwise based almost entirely on tourism. It is also an enticing destination for smugglers, with French and Spanish border agents regularly seizing cartons from people trying to sneak them out, either by car or by hiking down the mountain trails which criss-cross the Pyrenees. No date has been set for the advertising ban, which will come into effect three months after the ratification of the WHO accord is voted by parliament.
Andorra la Vella, Andorra, March 16, 2018 (AFP) - The tiny principality of Andorra is witnessing a once in a generation phenomenon -- a widespread strike. Around a third of civil servants across the mountainous micro-state have walked out to protest proposed reforms to their sector in what has been described as Andorra's first large-scale strike since 1933.
With no negotiation breakthrough in sight, picket lines are expected to be manned again on Friday with customs officers, police, teachers and prison staff among those taking part. The first major strike in 85 years was sparked by plans from the government of Antoni Marti to reform civil servant contracts. He has assured officials "will not do an hour more" work under the reforms and that 49 million euros would be allocated for the next 25 years to supplement civil servant salaries. But government workers are unconvinced with unions warning the reforms could risk their 35 hour working week and pay.
Customs officers involved in the strike interrupted traffic on the Andorran-Spanish border this week, according to unions, while some 80 percent of teachers have walked out of classes. Strikers have occupied the government's main administrative building and held noisy protests outside parliament calling for Marti's resignation. "We have started collecting signatures to demand the resignation of the head of government and now nobody will stop us," Gabriel Ubach, spokesman for the public service union, told reporters.
ANDORRA LA VELLA, Andorra, Dec 26, 2013 (AFP) - A Spanish skier and a French snowboarder have died in avalanches in different mountain ranges in Europe, officials said Thursday.
The 27-year-old skier, a woman from Barcelona, died Wednesday while going off-piste alone in the Soldeu resort in Andorra, in the Pyrenees mountains between France and Spain, a resort manager told AFP. Although she was rescued within 10 minutes, after her glove was spotted on the surface, she was unable to be revived despite a helicopter dash to hospital.
In the Italian Alps, close to the border with France, a 24-year-old Frenchman who was snowboarding with three friends on a closed run died Thursday when an avalanche swept over him in the resort town of Les Arnauds. Local officials said he succumbed to multiple injuries, asphyxia and hypothermia.
Avalanches are common in Europe's ski resorts at this time of year, when early snows are heavy with moisture, and several deaths occur each winter. Last Sunday, a 35-year-old Frenchman died in an avalanche in the Alps near the Italian border while on a three-day trek with a friend.
Puerto Rico
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San Juan, Feb 12, 2018 (AFP) - Most of San Juan and a strip of northern Puerto Rico municipalities were plunged into darkness Sunday night after an explosion at a power station, five months after two hurricanes destroyed the island's electricity network.
The state electric power authority (AEE) said the blast was caused by a broken-down switch in Rio Piedras, resulting in a blackout in central San Juan and Palo Seco in the north. "We have personnel working to restore the system as soon as possible," the AEE said. San Juan's mayor, Carmen Yulin Cruz, said on Twitter that emergency services and local officials attended the scene in the neighbourhood of Monacillos, but no injuries were reported.
Meanwhile, the Puerto Rican capital's airport said it was maintaining its schedule using emergency generators. The blackout comes as nearly 500,000 of AEE's 1.6 million customers remain without power since Hurricanes Irma and Maria struck the US territory in September 2017. AEE engineer Jorge Bracero warned on Twitter that the outage was "serious," and advised those affected that power would not be restored until Monday.
By Leila MACOR
Fajardo, Puerto Rico, Dec 13, 2017 (AFP) - Until Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico, Jose Figueroa did brisk business renting kayaks to tourists itching to see a lagoon that lights up by night thanks to millions of microorganisms. Today, things are so dire he's considering selling water to motorists stopped at red lights. "Now we are trying to survive," the 46-year-old tour guide said.
It used to be that visitors had to reserve a month in advance to get one of his kayaks and paddle around in the dark on the enchanting, bioluminescent body of water called Laguna Grande. But tourists are scarce these days as the Caribbean island tries to recover from the ravages of the storm back in September. "We do not know if we will have any work tonight," Figueroa said. "Last week, we worked only one day." He and another employee of a company called Glass Bottom PR are cleaning kayaks on the seaside promenade of Fajardo, a tourist town in eastern Puerto Rico whose main attraction is the so-called Bio Bay.
The year started off well for Puerto Rico, with the global success of the song "Despacito" by local musicians Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee. The catchy tune helped promote the US commonwealth island of 3.4 million people, which is saddled with huge debts and declared bankruptcy in May. But the hurricane turned what should be an island bustling with tourists into one with deserted beaches, shuttered restaurants and hotels full of mainland US officials working on the rebuilding of the island. "What few tourists we have are the federal officials themselves," said Figueroa.
- Locals only -
The grim outlook spreads up and down the seaside promenade of Fajardo, where many restaurants are closed because there is no electricity. On this particular day around noon, the only restaurant open is one called Racar Seafood. It has its own emergency generator. "We get by on local tourists," said its 61-year-old owner, Justino Cruz. "Our clients are local -- those who have no electricity, no generator, cold food or no food."
Puerto Rico's once-devastated power grid is now back up to 70 percent capacity, but this is mainly concentrated in the capital San Juan. So while inland towns that depend on tourism are struggling mightily, things are getting better in San Juan as cruise ships are once again docking. On November 30, the first cruise ship since the storm arrived with thousands of vacationers on board. They were received with great fanfare -- quite literally, with trumpet blaring and cymbals crashing.
- Pitching in to help -
The World Travel & Tourism Council, based in London, says tourism accounted for about eight percent of Puerto Rico's GDP in 2016, or $8.1 billion. Hurricane Maria's damage has been uneven. Although some tour guides now have no work and many eateries are shut down, hotels that have their own generators are doing just fine. Thanks to the thousands of US government officials and reconstruction crew members that came in after the storm, the hotels that are open -- about 80 percent of the total -- are pretty much full.
These people are starting to leave the island this month but hotels may receive tourists around Christmas, at least in San Juan, where power has for the most part been restored. The hurricane "undoubtedly cost billions in lost revenue," said Jose Izquierdo, executive director of the Puerto Rico Tourism Company. But Izquierdo nevertheless says he is "optimistic" and suggests an alternative: put tourists to work as volunteers in the gargantuan reconstruction effort that the island needs. "We want to look for travellers who want to travel with a purpose, who might have the commitment to help rebuild," said Izquierdo.
The program, called "Meaningful Travel" and launched in mid-November, organizes trips on which residents, Puerto Ricans living abroad and tourists are invited to help the island get back on its feet. "The plan aims to create empathy with this tourist destination," said Izquierdo. "We want to be like New Orleans after Katrina, where 10 years after the hurricane, tourism is the driving force of its economy. We want to build that narrative of recovery," he added. "There are different ways in which the world wants to help Puerto Rico. The best way is to visit us."
By Marcos PÉREZ RAMÍREZ
San Juan, Nov 9, 2017 (AFP) - Andrea Olivero, 11, consults her classmate Ada about an exercise during their daily English class at San Juan's Sotero Figueroa Elementary School. The task: list the positive and negative aspects of Hurricane Maria's passing almost two months ago.
The girls only have to look around. There is no electricity and they "roast" in the heat, Andrea says. At the back of the room, computers and televisions collect dust. "We would like to move past the topic of the hurricane a bit. It is already getting repetitive," Andrea told AFP. She is one of more than 300,000 pupils in the public education system, although only half of schools are functioning. Barely 42 per cent of Puerto Ricans have electricity seven weeks after Maria struck, killing at least 51 in the American territory.
The lack of power has prompted disorienting timetable changes on the tropical island, to avoid both the hottest hours of the day and the use of dining facilities. "The children are very anxious. We manage to make progress in lessons and they change the hours again. Everything is messed up and we fall behind," English teacher Joan Rodriguez explained. "We can't use the computers to illustrate classes," she said. "They are reading the novel "Charlotte's Web," and we wanted to do exercises comparing it to the film version. But we cannot use the television.
- Suspicions -
From October 23, some directors reopened their schools in the western region of Mayaguez and San Juan. But last Thursday, the Department of Education ordered their closure, insisting they must be evaluated by engineering and architectural firms, then certified by the US Army Corps of Engineers. One of those schools was Vila Mayo, also in San Juan. The community presumed it would open, as it had been used as a shelter, its electrical infrastructure had been inspected and it had not suffered structural damage.
But Luis Orengo, the education department's director in San Juan, told protesters outside the school it was closed as inspectors' findings had not reached the central government. "This is unacceptable! The school is ready to give classes but they don't want to open it. Our children cannot lose a year," fumed Enid Guzman, who protested with her 11-year-old son, Reanny De la Cruz. There are suspicions the stalled reopening of schools is, in part, related to the prior closure of 240 schools over the past year during Puerto Rico's long-running financial crisis. The fiscal difficulties have seen the island's population drop over the past decade by 14 percent, leading in turn to a fall in school enrolment.
Before the storms, 300 schools were at risk of closure -- and for the president of Puerto Rico's federation of teachers, Mercedes Martinez, the government's aim is clear. "Secretary (Julia) Keleher seems to have an orchestrated plan to close schools," she said, referring to the education secretary. "Why do you have to wait 30 days to get a certification so a school can open?" Keleher has announced she expects most schools to be open by the middle of November.
By Ricardo ARDUENGO, con Nelson DEL CASTILLO en San Juan y Leila MACOR en Miami
Utuado, Puerto Rico, Oct 19, 2017 (AFP) - It's been a month since Hurricane Maria ripped through Puerto Rico and Samuel de Jesus still can't drive out of his isolated, blacked-out town. In fact, much of the US territory in the Caribbean is still a crippled mess four weeks after that fierce Category Four storm.
The bridge connecting Rio Abajo to the rest of the island was swept away when Maria slammed the island on September 20. For two weeks Rio Abajo, located in a mountainous region in central-western Puerto Rico, was cut off and forgotten, without power or phone service. "We didn't know what to do. We were literally going crazy," said de Jesus, 35. "Those were difficult, desperate days. We could not find a way out, and the hurricane caused extensive damage," he told AFP.
During the two long weeks following Maria, the 27 families living in Rio Abajo saw their supplies quickly deplete. De Jesus, who has diabetes, needed to keep his insulin refrigerated. The storm blew away the island's already decrepit power grid, so people resorted to emergency generators. "But I was running out of gasoline to run the generator," he said. A helicopter now makes regular deliveries of food, water and medicine because with the bridge washed out, there is no other way in or out of town.
People can't wade across the river because it is contaminated with human waste after a pipe broke when the bridge went. Some brave souls use a precarious ladder rigged to get across the water, but for most people it is too dangerous. We need a bridge "to take out our vehicles and leave in case of emergency, or if there is a landslide," he said. Where the bridge once stood, residents set up a system of ropes, pulleys and buckets to move supplies over the river, which has been contaminated with sewer water since the hurricane. Over the remains of the bridge locals hung the single-star, red, white and blue flag of Puerto Rico and a sign that reads "the campsite of the forgotten."
- Desperate need for electricity -
Puerto Rico Governor Ricardo Rossello visited the surrounding municipality of Utuado on Wednesday to deliver supplies, but he did not stop in Rio Abajo. "Utuado is certainly one of the most severely affected municipalities in all of Puerto Rico," Rossello said. "Our commitment is to give it support and aid during the whole road to recovery." Eighty-one percent of Puerto Rico remains blacked out one month after Maria struck. Clean water for drinking, cooking and bathing is scarce, too.
Puerto Ricans' main obstacle to getting back to some semblance of normality is the slowness of the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority in getting the power grid back up and running. The lack of power has paralyzed a key industry -- pharmaceutical production -- and most businesses including restaurants are closed or operating at great cost through the use of diesel powered generators.
This nightmare comes about a year after the US government established an external fiscal control board for the island after it declared bankruptcy because of 73 billion dollars in debt. Economist Joaquin Villamil told AFP that damage from Hurricane Maria is estimated at 20 billion dollars -- four times that of Hurricane Georges in 1998, when measured in 2016 dollars.
Villamil said reconstruction money provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and from insurance companies will have a positive impact on the island's economy in the second half of fiscal 2018 and in fiscal 2019, but this boost will just be temporary. "From an economic point of view there is not much net gain," said Villamil, who works for a consulting firm called Estudios Tecnicos. He said the economy has been shrinking since 2006 and Maria will delay any prospect of recovery. It will take at least until 2026 to get back to the GDP level of 2006, he added.
Making things worse, people are leaving the island for the mainland US. Forecasts are that the population now at 3.4 million will go down to 3.1 million or even less by 2026, said Villamil. The government of Florida estimates that since October 3 -- the day a state of emergency to deal with an influx of Puerto Ricans was declared -- more than 36,000 people from the island have poured in.
Cook Islands
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As of Wednesday [10 Apr 2019], the Ministry for Health has 18 confirmed and 12 probable dengue fever cases. This is a total of 30 cases compared to 24 previously identified.
Wellington, July 2, 2015 (AFP) - Airport authorities in the Cook Islands on Thursday warned thrill seekers to stay away from their runway's jet blast zone after three tourists were injured when a plane was taking off. The main road in the tiny Pacific nation passes by the bottom of the runway and daring plane-spotters often stand in the wash of jet engines, clinging to the airport's fence as aircraft hit maximum thrust for ascent. "If you don't hang onto anything, you'll be knocked over," Cook Islands Airport Authority chief executive Joe Ngamata told AFP. "You get the young people and tourists looking for thrills going down there."
Ngamata said three tourists were blown over by the power of the jet blast last Thursday and were lucky to only receive cuts and bruises. "It can be dangerous," he said, adding that the area was clearly marked with red danger signs to deter the practice. "We might need to look at extra barriers or fences to keep people away." However, stopping it may be difficult, with the national tourism authority including the jet blast in a recent marketing video showing "the top 10 reasons to come to the Cook Islands".
<http://healthmap.org/promed/p/4035>. - ProMed Mod.TY]
[This is the 1st report of Zika virus infections in the Cook Islands. The virus has been circulating in the islands of French Polynesia, New Caledonia and Easter Island. Although the distances between these islands is significant, the virus is being moved by viraemic people who travel between them. One can expect further spread to localities where there are populations of vector mosquitoes that can initiate new outbreaks. Zika virus is a flavivirus. Symptoms of Zika fever may include fever, headache, red eyes, rash, muscle aches, and joint pains. The illness is usually mild and lasts 4-7 days. No fatalities caused by Zika virus infection have been reported.
New Caledonia
August 29, 2008
New Caledonia is a French overseas territory located in the Southwest Pacific near Australia. It consists of the large island of New Caledonia, the Loyalty Is
ENTRY/EXIT REQUIREMENTS: A passport valid for six months beyond duration of stay is required. Visas are not required for stays of up to one month. Extensions for up to three months may be granted locally by applying to the Haut Commissionaire (The French High Commissioner). For longer stays, you must apply for a visa at your nearest French Embassy or Consulate well beforehand, as the processing time is quite long. For further information about entry requirements, travelers, particularly those planning to enter by sea, may contact the French Embassy at 4101 Reservoir Road NW, Washington, DC 20007, telephone 202 944-6200, fax 202-944-6212, or visit the Embassy of France web site at http://www.info-france-usa.org.
Information about dual nationality or the prevention of international child abduction can be found on our web site. For further information about customs regulations, please read our Customs Information sheet.
Marches highlighting labor or political issues take place in the greater Noumea area from time to time. Demonstrations in January 2008 resulted in clashes between demonstrators and the police. American citizens are advised to avoid large public gatherings and to exercise caution if within the vicinity of any demonstrations, as they could turn violent at any time.
For the latest security information, Americans traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs' web site at http://travel.state.gov, where the current Travel Warnings and Travel Alerts, as well as the Worldwide Caution, can be found.
Up-to-date information on safety and security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the U.S. and Canada or, for callers outside the U.S. and Canada, a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).
The Department of State urges American citizens to take responsibility for their own personal security while traveling overseas. For general information about appropriate measures travelers can take to protect themselves in an overseas environment, see the Department of State's pamphlet A Safe Trip Abroad.
CRIME: The crime rate in New Caledonia is low; however, petty crime such as pick-pocketing and purse-snatching does occur. Visitors should be aware that fights and assaults sometimes occur outside discotheques and bars, especially over weekends and holidays and at closing time.
INFORMATION FOR VICTIMS OF CRIME: The loss or theft abroad of a U.S. passport should be reported immediately to the local police and the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. If you are the victim of a crime while overseas, in addition to reporting to local police, please contact the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate for assistance. The embassy/consulate staff can, for example, assist you to find appropriate medical care, contact family members or friends and explain how funds could be transferred. Although the investigation and prosecution of the crime is solely the responsibility of local authorities, consular officers can help you to understand the local criminal justice process and to find an attorney if needed.
The local equivalents to the "911" emergency lines in New Caledonia are 17 for police (gendarmes), 18 for fire, 15 for ambulance and medical emergencies, and 16 for rescue at sea.
See our information on Victims of Crime.
MEDICAL FACILITIES AND HEALTH INFORMATION: Medical treatment on the main island is generally good, but it is more limited on the outer islands. The Centre Hospitalier Territorial in Noumea provides emergency and outpatient services, as does the smaller Centre Hospitalier Nord in Koumac in the northern part of the main island of New Caledonia and the Centre Hospitalier Est in Poindimie on the east coast of the main island. Patients with more serious illnesses are often referred to Noumea, Australia or France for treatment. In the event of a medical evacuation to Australia, before issuing a visa, Australian visa authorities will require a referral from a doctor in New Caledonia, proof of acceptance by an Australian doctor, and proof of the patient's ability to pay for the medical treatment. Serious medical problems requiring hospitalization and/or medical evacuation to the United States can cost thousands of dollars. Doctors and hospitals often expect immediate cash payment for health services.
Information on vaccinations and other health precautions, such as safe food and water precautions and insect bite protection, may be obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's hotline for international travelers at 1-877-FYI-TRIP (1-877-394-8747); or via the CDC's web site at http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/default.aspx. For information about outbreaks of infectious diseases abroad consult the World Health Organization's (WHO) web site at http://www.who.int/en. Further health information for travelers is available at http://www.who.int/ith/en.
The U.S. Department of State is unaware of any HIV/AIDS entry restrictions for visitors to or foreign residents of New Caledonia.
MEDICAL INSURANCE: The Department of State strongly urges Americans to consult with their medical insurance company prior to traveling abroad to confirm whether their policy applies overseas and whether it will cover emergency expenses such as medical evacuation. Please see our information on medical insurance overseas.
TRAFFIC SAFETY AND ROAD CONDITIONS: While in a foreign country, U.S. citizens may encounter road conditions that differ significantly from those in the United States. The information below concerning New Caledonia is provided for general reference only, and may not be totally accurate in a particular location or circumstance:
Roads are generally well maintained except in remote areas. Animals and unwary pedestrians walking in the road make night driving on unlit secondary roads hazardous. To obtain information on operation of motor vehicles or for specific information concerning New Caledonian driving permits, vehicle inspection, road tax and mandatory insurance in New Caledonia, contact the New Caledonia Southern Province Tourism Office at www.new-caledoniatourism-south.com and go to the e-mail address provided for specific inquiries.
Please refer to our Road Safety page for more information.
AVIATION SAFETY OVERSIGHT: Civil aviation operations in New Caledonia fall under the jurisdiction of French authorities. The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has assessed the Government of France's Civil Aviation Authority as being in compliance with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) aviation safety standards for oversight of France's air carrier operations. For further information, travelers may visit the FAA's web site at http://www.faa.gov/safety/programs_initiatives/oversight/iasa/.
U.S. citizens are encouraged to carry a copy of their U.S. passports with them at all times, so that if questioned by local officials, proof of identity and U.S. citizenship are readily available. If detained, U.S. citizens are encouraged to request that a consular officer at the U.S. Embassy in Suva, Fiji, be notified.
Customs authorities may enforce strict regulations concerning temporary importation into or export from New Caledonia of items such as agricultural products. It is advisable to contact the Embassy of France in Washington or one of the French consulates in the United States for specific information regarding customs requirements.
The cyclone season is November through April. The Fiji Meteorological Service maintains a Tropical Cyclone Warning Center (TCWC) in Nadi serving the Southwest Pacific Region. It collaborates with the French Meteorological Service and the French High Commission, which in turn alert the press and general public when necessary. General information about natural disaster preparedness is available via the Internet at http://travel.state.gov/crisismg.html, and from the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) at http://www.fema.gov/.
Please see our Customs Information.
CRIMINAL PENALTIES: While in a foreign country, a U.S. citizen is subject to that country's laws and regulations, which sometimes differ significantly from those in the United States and may not afford the protections available to the individual under U.S. law. Penalties for breaking the law can be more severe than those in the United States for similar offences. Persons violating New Caledonia's laws, even unknowingly, may be expelled, arrested or imprisoned. Penalties for possession of, use of, or trafficking in illegal drugs in New Caledonia are severe, and convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences and heavy fines. Engaging in sexual conduct with children or using or disseminating child pornography in a foreign country is a crime, prosecutable in the United States. Please see our information on Criminal Penalties.
CHILDREN'S ISSUES: For information see our Office of Children's Issues web page on intercountry adoption and international parental child abduction.
There is no U.S. Embassy or Consulate in New Caledonia. The U.S. Embassy in Fiji provides assistance for U.S. citizens in New Caledonia. Americans living or traveling to New Caledonia are encouraged to register with the U.S. Embassy in Suva, Fiji, or through the State Department's travel registration web site, and to obtain up-to-date information on travel and security within New Caledonia. Americans without Internet access may register directly with the nearest Embassy or Consulate. By registering, American citizens make it easier for the Embassy or Consulate to contact them in case of emergency. The U.S. Embassy in Fiji is located at 31 Loftus Street in the capital city of Suva, telephone (679) 331-4466; fax (679) 330-2267. Information may also be obtained by visiting the Embassy's home page at http://suva.usembassy.gov/.
* * *
This replaces the Country Specific Information for New Caledonia dated February 26, 2008, to update sections on Crime, Information for Victims of Crime, and Medical Facilities and Health Information.
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Noumea, June 27, 2019 (AFP) - A boat carrying Australian tourists was attacked by a gang armed with rifles and machetes off the French Pacific territory of New Caledonia, authorities said on Thursday. Two Australian holidaymakers and three guides were exploring tropical waters and a coral atoll near the island of Ouvea on Monday afternoon when raiders approached their boat and opened fire, public prosecutor Alexis Bouroz said.
"A boat from Ouvea came to meet them with seven to eight people on board, some of them apparently armed with guns and machetes," he said. The attackers fired shots in the air, at the windshield and a fender of the boat before five or six of them boarded. Although the tourists were only "lightly injured", the skipper was knocked to the deck by a blow to the face, Bouroz said. The boat was then looted while one of its engines and electronic equipment was destroyed.
New Caledonia, which boasts the world's largest enclosed lagoon, with magnificent coral, is a popular tourist destination. New Caledonia's tourism department condemned the violence, which it said targeted the very kind of small scale but high-yield tourism it wants to encourage. "These tourists were staying on a luxury yacht, a trend with high growth potential... which respects the wishes of local people looking to develop responsible tourism", it said.
The president of the assembly in New Caledonia's southern province, Sonia Backes, said the attack was "highly detrimental" to tourism. The "main perpetrator" has been identified and an investigation has been launched, Bouroz said. A spokesperson from the Australian department of foreign affairs said it was "aware of media reports that a number of Australians were involved in an incident in New Caledonia", adding: "We stand ready to offer consular assistance."
By Claudine WERY
Noumea, Dec 5, 2018 (AFP) - A powerful 7.5-magnitude earthquake struck near New Caledonia Wednesday, triggering a tsunami alert and emergency evacuations across a swathe of the South Pacific, but there were no reports of serious damage or injuries. Authorities said the quake, followed by at least 20 strong aftershocks, was centred about 170 kilometres (100 miles) southeast of New Caledonia's Loyalty Islands at a depth of just 10 kilometres.
Island residents said the initial quake shook the walls of buildings and in places turned the sea foamy. Tsunami waves were recorded moving out from the epicentre, prompting people to flee to high ground. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center initially warned surges of up to three metres (10 feet) could be expected and shallow quakes of that magnitude can be devastating. But the centre later reported waves measured by its monitors around the region only reached about 72 centimetres (2.4 feet) on the island of Tanna, Vanuatu.
Civil defence officials in Noumea said tsunami waves hit parts of the Loyalty Islands and the Isle of Pines, but caused no damage. "Reports from the area confirm that the strength of the tsunami has fallen significantly and there is no longer a major risk for the population," said a spokesman for the civil defence department. "There have been no injuries or damage," he said.
Almost three hours after the quake, the Hawaii-based Pacific Tsunami Warning Center reported the threat stemming from the initial quake "has now passed". Multiple aftershocks of up to magnitude 6.6 hit the area in the hours following the initial quake, according to the US Geological Survey. The quake triggered emergency warning systems in New Caledonia, where residents received an urgent text message directing them to go to refuges immediately.
- Ring of fire -
Basile Citre, a municipal official on the Loyalty Island of Mare, said he had been in a meeting at the town hall when he felt a small tremor followed by a bigger shock. "The building shook, but there was no damage," he told AFP. "When the sirens sounded, the population headed for higher ground for safety. For now, nothing serious has happened."
A spokesman for the Vanuatu geohazards observatory said the sparsely populated island of Tanna was expected to be most affected but no evacuations had been ordered. "There are no sirens on Tanna but the people on the island are familiar with these situations and they will have taken precautions and gone to higher ground," he told AFP. CCTV footage showed bathers still frolicking in crystalline seas off Noumea, seemingly unaware of the seriousness of the threat on the other coast, just 50 kilometres away.
New Caledonia, with a population of 269,000 people, is a French Pacific territory. It sits along the so-called Pacific "Ring of Fire", where tectonic plates collide and many of the world's volcanic eruptions and earthquakes occur. The island's citizens last month rejected independence in a referendum, though the vote revealed lower-then-expected support for remaining part of France. New Caledonia is home to a quarter of the world's known supplies of nickel -- a vital electronics component -- and is a foothold for France in the Pacific, with French troops stationed on the island.
Sydney, Aug 29, 2018 (AFP) - A 7.1 magnitude earthquake struck off the eastern coast of New Caledonia on Wednesday and generated small tsunami waves, seismologists said, but there were no immediate reports of damage. The tremor hit at a depth of 27 kilometres (16 miles) in the southern Pacific Ocean, some 231 kilometres from the nearest town Tadine in the lightly populated Loyalty Islands, the US Geological Survey said.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said "small tsunami waves have been observed". "Persons along coastal areas near the earthquake should be observant and exercise normal caution. Otherwise, no action is required," it added. Geoscience Australia said shaking would have been felt throughout New Caledonia, but it put the damage radius at 103 kilometres -- well away from land. New Caledonia, a French overseas territory, is located within the "Ring of Fire", a zone of tectonic activity around the Pacific that is subject to frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.
- New Caledonia.16 Mar 2018. Since start of March [2018], 134 cases [of Dengue] diagnosed and 1 death.
World Travel News Headlines
Zagreb, July 16, 2019 (AFP) - Some 10,000 tourists were evacuated from a popular party beach on a Croatian island after a forest fire erupted early Tuesday, police said.
Police ordered visitors to night clubs on Zrce beach on the northern island of Pag to leave after the blaze erupted in a pine forest at around 1:00 am (2300 GMT Monday), a police statement said. No one was injured in the fire which was brought under control, the mayor of the nearby town of Novalja, Ante Dabo, told national radio. The cause was not immediately known. Three firefighting planes were rushed to the scene to help extinguish the blaze which spread to a local road that had to be closed.
The island of Pag and its Zrce beach are popular with young tourists, notably British, who party there. Tourism is a pillar of Croatia's economy, with visitors flocking to hundreds of islands and islets along its stunning Adriatic coast. Last year the country of 4.2 million people welcomed more than 19 million tourists.
Kinshasa, July 14, 2019 (AFP) - The first case of Ebola has been confirmed in Goma, now the biggest city to have been affected by the disease since its outbreak in eastern DR Congo last August, the health ministry said on Sunday. A sick man had arrived in Goma early Sunday by bus with 18 other passengers and the driver from Butembo, one of the main towns touched by Ebola in Nord-Kivu province.
The man was tested "and the results of the laboratory test confirmed that he was positive for Ebola," the ministry said in a statement. It added that his trip began on Friday after "the first symptoms appeared on July 9 (Tuesday)". "Given that the patient was quickly identified, as well as all the passengers on the bus from Butembo, the risk of the disease spreading in the city of Goma is low," the ministry said. The passengers and the bus driver will begin getting vaccinations on Monday, it added.
The Ebola outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo has so far killed 1,655 people and 694 have been cured, according to a health ministry bulletin on Saturday. And 160,239 people have been vaccinated, it added. But efforts to tackle the crisis have been hampered both by militia attacks on treatment centres, in which some staff have been killed, and by the hostility of some local people to the medical teams.
Pamplona, Spain, July 14, 2019 (AFP) - Three men were gored Sunday during the eighth and final bull run of Spain's San Fermin festival, bringing to eight the total number of daredevils injured during this year's fiesta. Among those who were hospitalised this year after being injured by a bull's horns was an American who was wounded in the neck while taking a selfie. In the last run, two Australians aged 27 and 30 as well as well as a 25-year-old Spaniard from Madrid were gored by the half-tonne fighting bull, "Rabonero", regional health authorities said.
The three men suffered injuries to the armpit, arm and leg from the bull's horns. Another two men were taken to hospital with bruises. During Sunday's run in the northern city of Pamplona, Rabonero, the heaviest of the six bulls used in the event, became separated from the pack moments into the run and began charging people in its way. Isolated bulls are more likely to get disoriented and start charging at people.
The bulls from the Miura ranch in the southwestern province of Seville completed the 848.6-metre (928-yard) course from a holding pen to the city bull ring in two minutes and 45 seconds. Each morning from July 7 to 14, hundreds of daredevils, many wearing traditional white shirts with red scarves tied around their necks, tested their bravery by running ahead of a pack of bulls through the course set up in the narrow, winding streets of the medieval city.
- Like getting hit by a truck -
The bulls face almost certain death in afternoon bullfights, and earlier this month animal rights activists staged a "die-in" protest in the streets of the city to protest the tradition. At the end of the festival's first run, a bull ran over and sunk one of its horns deep in the neck of a 46-year-old American from San Francisco, Jaime Alvarez, narrowly missing key arteries. He was injured as he was trying to take a video-selfie with his mobile phone. "It was like a truck or car just hitting me in the side of the head. I put my hand on my neck and I saw blood," he told US television from a Pamplona hospital. His wife had asked him not to take part in the bull run, he added. He was released from hospital two days later.
Another 23-year-old American from Kentucky and 40-year-old Spaniard were also gored that day. In addition to the eight men who were gored, another 27 people were taken to hospital for broken bones and bruises suffered during the bull runs. About 500 more people were treated at the scene for more minor injuries, according to the Red Cross. The festival dates back to medieval times and was immortalised in Nobel Prize-winning author Ernest Hemingway's 1926 novel "The Sun Also Rises". It claims scores of casualties every year although last year just two men were gored.
Although the runs are over, the festival's closing ceremony takes place at midnight Sunday. People from around the world flock to the city of 200,000 residents to test their bravery and enjoy the festival's mix of round-the-clock parties, religious processions and concerts. Sixteen people have been killed in the bull runs since records started in 1911. The last death was in 2009 when a bull gored a 27-year-old Spaniard in the neck, heart and lungs.
Labuha, Indonesia, July 14, 2019 (AFP) - A major 7.3-magnitude earthquake hit the remote Maluku islands in eastern Indonesia Sunday, sending panicked residents running into the streets, but no tsunami warning was issued. The shallow quake struck about 165 kilometres (100 miles) south-southwest of the town of Ternate in North Maluku province at 6:28 pm (0928 GMT), according to the US Geological Survey.
"The earthquake was quite strong, sending residents to flee outside. They are panicking and many are now waiting on the roadside," said local disaster mitigation official Mansur, who like many Indonesians goes by one name. Officials were assessing the situation but there were no immediate reports of casualties, he told AFP.
In the town of Labuha, one of the closest to the epicentre, panicked residents took to motorcycles in a bid to flee to higher ground, according to an AFP photographer in town when the earthquake hit. Local disaster official Ihsan Subur told Metro TV that no damage or casualties had been reported there so far, but residents took to the streets and many evacuated to higher ground. "Electricity went of during the earthquake, but now it's back to normal," ubur said, adding that at least seven big aftershocks were felt after the initial quake.
The province was also hit by a 6.9-magnitude tremor last week. Indonesia experiences frequent seismic and volcanic activity due to its position on the Pacific "Ring of Fire", where tectonic plates collide. Last year, a 7.5-magnitude quake and a subsequent tsunami in Palu on Sulawesi island killed more than 2,200 people, with another thousand declared missing. On December 26, 2004, a devastating 9.1-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Sumatra and triggered a tsunami that killed 220,000 across the Indian Ocean region, including around 170,000 in Indonesia.
Sydney, July 14, 2019 (AFP) - A strong 6.6-magnitude earthquake struck off northwest Australia Sunday, shaking buildings over a wide area but causing no immediate reports of damage or injuries. The shallow quake hit early Sunday afternoon 10 kilometres under the Indian Ocean 203 kilometres (126 miles) west of the West Australian beach resort of Broome, the US Geological Survey said. No tsunami alert was issued. Sergeant Neil Gordon of the Broome police department said the quake rattled the city for more than a minute. "The building here was shaking for about a minute and a half ... a steady shaking for that period of time," he told AFP by telephone. He added that there had been "no reports of any injuries or any damage throughout the district," following the tremor. The national broadcaster ABC said there were some reports of minor damage from the quake, and no injuries. Australian media said the tremor was felt across a long stretch of the northwestern coast of Australia, from the West Australian capital of Perth and the mining centres of Karatha and Port Hedland to the south and as far as Darwin to the north.
Thursday 11th July 2019
The outbreak of Ebola virus disease (EVD) in North Kivu and Ituri provinces, Democratic Republic of the Congo continues this past week with a similar transmission intensity to the previous week. While the number of new cases continues to ease in former hotspots, such as Butembo, Katwa and Mandima health zones, there has been an increase in cases in Beni, and a high incidence of cases continues in parts of Mabalako Health Zone. In addition to these re-emerging hotspots, there are a large number of people with confirmed and probable infections moving to other health zones, with the greatest number coming from Beni Health Zone. The movement of cases causes the outbreak to spread to new health zones and re-emerge in health zones with previously controlled infections. Overall, this underscores the importance of robust mechanisms for listing and following up contacts and understanding the motivations for peoples' decisions to move.
After the first reported case in the Ariwara Health Zone on 30 June, no new cases have been observed in that health zone. A response team deployed to that zone continues to identify contacts, engage the community, and vaccinate individuals at risk. Response personnel from the bordering countries of Uganda and South Sudan continue to support operational readiness activities. Resources are being dedicated to monitoring the Uganda-Democratic Republic of the Congo border in that area.
In the 21 days from 19 June through 9 July 2019, 72 health areas within 22 health zones reported new cases, representing 11% of the 664 health areas within North Kivu and Ituri provinces (Figure 2). During this period, a total of 247 confirmed cases were reported, the majority of which were from the health zones of Beni (41%, n=101), Mabalako (19%, n=48), Lubero (6%, n=16), and Mandima (5%, n=13). As of 09 July 2019, a total of 2437 EVD cases, including 2343 confirmed and 94 probable cases, were reported (Table 1). A total of 1646 deaths were reported (overall case fatality ratio 68%), including 1552 deaths among confirmed cases. Of the 2437 confirmed and probable cases with known age and sex, 57% (1384) were female, and 29% (704) were children aged less than 18 years.
Cases continue to increase among health workers, with the cumulative number infected rising to 132 (5% of total cases). Of the 128 health workers with information available, the greatest proportion is among health workers at health posts [poste de santé] (20%, n = 26) and private health facilities (35%, n = 45). The majority (68%, n = 87) of health worker infections were among nurses.
No new EVD cases or deaths have been reported in the Republic of Uganda since the previous EVD Disease Outbreak News publication on 13 June 2019. As of 3 July, 108 contacts exposed to those cases were identified, and they all completed the 21-day follow-up period. All contacts were asymptomatic. Arua district, located in the north-western part of Uganda near the Uganda-Democratic Republic of the Congo border, is currently stepping up its response readiness to prevent imported cases of Ebola following the case that died on 30 June 2019 in Ariwara Health Zone in neighbouring Democratic Republic of the Congo, located 8 kilometres from the Uganda border. This case is known to have over 200 contacts, some of whom are in the communities bordering the Arua district. As of 9 July 2019, two suspected cases in the Arua district were reported and both tested negative. As of 9 July 2019, the cumulative number of individuals vaccinated in Arua district is 811 out of 1092 targeted front line and healthcare workers.
More information here: https://www.who.int/csr/don/11-july-2019-ebola-drc/en/
Kuala Lumpur, July 13, 2019 (AFP) - Flash floods killed a Dutch tourist in a popular cave located in the rugged Mulu National Park on Malaysia's Borneo island, an official said Saturday, as a search continues for a missing guide. Local fire and rescue chief Law Poh Kiong identified the dead man as 66-year-old Peter Hans Hovenkamp from Utrecht in the central Netherlands. "He died due to drowning following flash floods in the caves. His body was found in a river inside the cave and was taken to the Miri public hospital for a post-mortem on Saturday," he told AFP. Law said a search-and-rescue operation involving 16 officers had been launched to locate 20-year local tour guide Roviezal Robin. Eight other tourists in the same group "almost become victims" but fled to higher ground and escaped from being washed into the river, Law added.
Hovenkamp was reported missing on Friday while the group was touring the popular "Deer Cave", home to an estimated three million bats which form amazing patterns in the sky when they leave each dusk. Mulu park, located in the remote Borneo jungle of Sarawak state and famous for its caves, cliffs and gorges, is a UNESCO world heritage site. It sees thousands of visitors annually, particularly for its cooling rains during the summer months. Law described the death as "a freak tragedy."
Kathmandu, July 13, 2019 (AFP) - Floods and landslides triggered by torrential monsoon rains have killed at least 40 people across South Asia in the last two days, officials said Saturday. The monsoon, which lasts from June to September, causes widespread death and destruction across South Asia each year. In Nepal, 27 people have died in floods and landslides after heavy rains hit the country's eastern region and the southern plains.
Bishwaraj Pokharel, spokesperson for Nepal Police, added that another 11 people were injured and 15 others reported missing. Three of the victims were killed when a wall collapsed in the capital Kathmandu. "Our first priority is life saving rescue and all our resources have been deployed," Home Ministry official Umakanta Adhikari told AFP.
Police used boats to bring people to safety as rivers swelled, inundating their settlements, while parents were seen wading across chest-high waters carrying children on their shoulders. Nepal's weather department issued a high alert for the southern Sapta Koshi river on Saturday and sent SMS warnings to people in the area.
In neighbouring India 11 deaths have been recorded in the north-eastern states of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, officials said Friday. Monsoon floods have inundated 21 districts in Assam, affecting thousands, officials said Friday.
In Bangladesh aid groups were providing rations to Rohingya refugees in the southeast of the country with the UN World Food Programme saying Friday that two people including a child had died. Last year, more than 1,200 people were been killed across South Asia in monsoon storms with India's Kerala suffering its worst floods in nearly 100 years.
Chennai, India, July 12, 2019 (AFP) - A special 50-wagon train carrying 2.5 million litres of water arrived in the Indian city of Chennai Friday, as the southern hub reels under one of its worst shortages in decades. The wagons were hauled by a special locomotive, decorated with flowers and with a "Drinking Water for Chennai" banner on its front. Four special trains a day have been called up to bring water to Chennai -- India's sixth most populous city -- from Vellore, some 80 miles (125 kilometres) away, to help battle the drought. The first consignment will be taken to a water treatment centre, and then distributed in trucks to different parts of the metropolis on Saturday. Chennai has seen only a fraction of the rain it usually receives during June and July. The city of 4.9 million people also needed trains to bring water in when it suffered a similar crisis in 2001.
The bustling capital of Tamil Nadu state normally requires at least 825 million litres of water a day, but authorities are currently only able to supply 60 percent of that. With temperatures regularly hitting 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit), reservoirs have run dry and other water sources are dwindling further each day. The Chennai metro has turned off its air conditioning, farmers have been forced to stop watering their crops, and offices have asked staff to work from home. The city's economy has also taken a hit as some hotels and restaurants shut shop temporarily, and there have been reports of fights breaking out as people queue for water.
Sydney, July 12, 2019 (AFP) - A looming ban on climbing Australia's Uluru rock, intended to protect the sacred site from damage, has instead triggered a damaging influx of visitors, tourism operators said Friday. Clambering up the giant red monolith, also known as Ayers Rock, will be prohibited from October -- in line with the wishes of the traditional Aboriginal owners of the land, the Anangu. But a rush to beat the ban has led to a sharp increase in tourists and is causing its own problems for the World Heritage Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. Families arriving in campers vans and RVs are a particular problem, chief executive of Tourism Central Australia Stephen Schwer told AFP. "We have got so much of one particular market coming, we don't have enough infrastructure to handle the number of drive travellers."
While most visitors are doing the right thing, camping venues in the area are at capacity with advance bookings, leaving many less organised arrivals to set up illegally. "People don't realise when they go off the road they are actually trespassing on pastoral land, or Aboriginal land, or protected land," Schwer said. "We are getting people that are leaving their rubbish behind and lighting fires," he added. "Sadly, people are also emptying their toilet waste out of their vans on what they think is unpopulated land, but is actually private land." In the 12 months to June 2019, more than 395,000 people visited the Uluru-Kata National Park, according to Parks Australia, about 20 percent more than the previous year. Yet just 13 percent of those who visited also climbed the rock, the government agency said. Tourism operators say that Australian and Japanese tourists most commonly seek to climb Uluru.
The Aboriginal connection to the site dates back tens of thousands of years and it has great spiritual and cultural significance to them. "Since the hand back of Uluru and Kata Tjuta to traditional owners in 1985, visitors have been encouraged to develop an understanding and respect for Anangu and their culture," a spokesperson for Parks Australia said. "This is reflected in the 'please don't climb' message," they added. Lyndee Severin from Curtin Springs station and roadhouse, one of just a few camping venues within 100 kilometres of Uluru, said "the vast majority of people are doing the right thing" but hundreds were setting up illegally by the side of the road or down a bush track. "So we have some people that think that the rules don't apply to them," she told AFP.


text:
This script is used on Windows after building a MySQL distribution from source to create executable programs. It packages the binaries and support files into a Zip archive that can be unpacked at the location where you want to install MySQL.
make_win_bin_dist is a shell script, so you must have Cygwin installed to use it.
This program's use is subject to change. Currently, you invoke it as follows from the root directory of your source distribution:
make_win_bin_dist [
package_basename [
copy_def ...]
package_basename argument
provides the base name for the resulting Zip archive. This name
will be the name of the directory that results from unpacking
the archive.
Because you might want to include files of directories from
other builds, you can instruct this script to copy them in for
you, using
copy_def arguments, which
have the form
If you specify a directory, the entire directory will be copied.
make_win_bin_dist supports the following options.
Pack the debug binaries and produce an error if they were not built.
Pack the embedded server and produce an error if it was not built. The default is to pack it if it was built.
Add a suffix to the base name of the
mysql binary. For example, a suffix of
-abc produces a binary named
Do not pack the debug binaries even if they were built.
Do not pack the embedded server even if it was built.
Use this option when the target for this build was
Debug, and you just want to replace the
normal binaries with debug versions (that is, do not use
debug directories).

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Guide U+ establishes the new standard for digital group guiding. The equipment's modularity lets you create a custom guiding system directly supporting your tour guides and visitors. Simply decide which transmitters and receivers you need, choose your preferred headphones and microphones, add in relevant accessories, and you have an elegant solution.
Contact us for a demonstration: Guide email@example.com


text:
Login via
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Create a custom listing for your season tickets that will appear on your team's website. Find new partners and hold onto your seats!
Use our simple tools to manage your partners and tickets and take the hassle out of sharing your tickets. You and your partners can quickly see who has which tickets.
How do you divvy up your seats? Use our draft tool to make your annual ticket draft easy and fun. The fantasy-sports-like system can be easily configured to your group's needs and will be a MUCH better way to determine who gets which games.
Great for businesses and Season Ticket Holders who need to keep track of how tickets are used. Customizable fields and reports will make your life easier. The Ticket Request Workflow can streamline who you assign tickets.
Did you lose one of your partners? Would you like to find a couple of people to take 10 of your games? You've come to the right place. Create a custom listing for your Season Tickets. You can list specifically which games and tickets you have for sale, or you can offer a general partnership where games and tickets are decided later. Your listing will be promoted on this website and you can also easily broadcast your listing to your network using our email invitation tool as well as Facebook, LinkedIn, Google+ and Twitter.
Sharing Season Tickets is not a new idea. This service was created to make sharing easy. Here you have one place to keep track of all your partners and who has which games and tickets. The administrator can control who sees what. You can run reports to calculate totals and even hold an online draft for everyone to pick their games. Sharing made easy!
Our Online Draft tool will change the way your ticket group divides tickets. First, set up your draft to the exact needs of your group. Next, all of your partners can login to rank games in the season and prepare for the draft. Start your draft when you and your group are ready. Move through your draft at your group's speed. Once you are done, the draft results are there for everyone to see. Your annual process just got much easier!
Season Ticket Holders are REALLY invested in their teams. We understand. That is why we provide these tools to let Season Ticket Holders keep track of how their tickets are being used. You decide what you want to track, it is easy to enter the data, and then you can run reports. You will have a real answer to "how do we use our tickets?" In addition, we have a ticket request workflow where an administrator can designate people to be able to request tickets. You can easily have multiple sets of tickets in the system. Get a handle on your season tickets!
The following Sports Teams are using our services. If your Team is in the list below, start using our services today! If your team is not, please let us know AND contact your season ticket representative.


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Penn Jillette
Penn Jillette (born March 5, 1955, in Greenfield, Massachussets) is the taller, more vocal half of comedy magic act Penn & Teller. He has been an outspoken atheist and champion of freethinker causes for thirty years.
Recently Jillette was featured on NPR's This I Believe program, where he laid out his convictions in no uncertain terms:
- "This I believe: I believe there is no God. Having taken that step, it informs every moment of my life. I'm not greedy. I have love, blue skies, rainbows and Hallmark cards, and that has to be enough. It has to be enough, but it's everything in the world; and everything in the world is plenty for me."
For more, see There Is No God.
Jillette and his partner, Teller, have expressed distaste for many traditional magic acts; they believe these acts insult audiences by pretending the magic is real.
The cable TV show Bullshit!, which Penn & Teller produce and host, is in its sixth season on Showtime. The show attempts to entertain while exposing frauds, debunking myths and slaying sacred cows. Show topics have included ESP, cryptozoology, alternative medicine, creationism, ghost hunters and alien abductions. In one of the more controversial episodes, Holier than Thou, the show was critical of Mahatma Gandhi, the Dalai Lama and Mother Theresa, who they claimed spent donated funds on missionary work rather than health care facilities. The program has been nominated for six Emmys and praised by critics and freethinkers alike.
Jillette also hosted an hour-long radio show, five days a week, broadcast out of his home in Las Vegas. The show is no longer broadcast. Penn cited the desire to spend more time with his family as the reason for canceling the show.


text: Emergency and Trauma Eye Care To contact the Emergency Department at Mass. Eye and Ear, please call us at 617-573-3431. Massachusetts Eye and Ear provides New England's only 24-hour, 7 days-a-week dedicated eye emergency room. Mass. Eye and Ear is a major referral center for eye trauma in the New England area and provides other emergency assistance to patients whose regular ophthalmic provider is not readily available. Our Emergency Department also provides eye care to patients seen in the Emergency Department at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), and reciprocal medical and surgical support is provided to Mass. Eye and Ear by MGH. The Emergency Department (ED) at Mass. Eye and Ear provides care for many different types of urgent and emergent eye problems on a walk-in basis. In addition, we maintain a complete Eye Trauma Service with regular weekly schedule of outpatient appointments, as well as subspecialty services including retina, cornea, glaucoma, oculoplastics and neuro-ophthalmology. The operating rooms at Mass. Eye and Ear are always available for urgent surgical repairs. The ED serves as a tertiary referral center for other hospitals and trauma centers in the area which lack ophthalmology coverage. Isolated eye trauma in an otherwise medically stable patient may be sent to the Mass. Eye and Ear ED for consultation, treatment and admission. Our staff has decades of experience in treating emergent ophthalmic conditions and tends to over 20,000 cases yearly. How Our Emergency Department Works The ED at Mass. Eye and Ear offers service at any time of the day, every day of the year. No appointment is necessary. However, the department is busiest from noon to 6:00pm. Patients are seen in the order of their arrival and according to the level of severity. You will be screened by a nurse and then seen by a physician. Who Works in Our Emergency Department Our ED is staffed by nurses, residents, fellows and attending physicians in ophthalmology. Where We Are Located Ground level of the main building: 243 Charles Street, Boston, MA 02114 Eye Trauma Service Our Eye Trauma Service is an outpatient service with regular weekday hours in the patient care area of our main downtown Boston building. The physicians provide follow-up evaluation and care for patients with eye trauma. Physician Staff Our physician staff consists of eye care specialists certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology or are board-eligible and preparing for certification. Learn more about physicians in the Eye Trauma Service or the Emergency Eye Service. Make An Appointment Today! 617-573-3202


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Song Box is a local independent musical play activity with small friendly sessions for 0-4 year olds, and older families, with their mum, dad, or carer in many venues all over York including South Bank, Heslington, Tang Hall, Haxby and Acomb. Song Box session leaders play very creatively and responsively with the children and model how each activity can be enjoyed by everyone in their own way. The sessions are carefully structured to offer great benefits to children's all round development, (physical, social, emotional, language and cognitive). Song Box's founder, Thea Jacob MA(Oxon), also provides musical play sessions, outreach, inclusion and training for City of York Council and many other partner organisations. Song Box sessions are designed for mixed ages together, so siblings come to the same session, playing as families play naturally at home, all together and each at their own level.
The price is £5.10 per family,(not per child). There is also a concessionary rate of £2.50 for families with a low household income. Song Box welcomes all families, including cultural minorities, families with English as an additional language, and families with special needs.
As well as weekly sessions Song Box provides unique "Discovery sessions", for 0-11 year olds in school holidays. See the website for examples of the fun they get up to! facebook.com/SongBoxYork
01904 634390
07855 126408
The Avenues Childrens Centre, Sixth Avenue, Tang Hall, York, YO31 0UT
Maximum age: 6 Years
Service Details Confirmed
DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service - formerly criminal records check) policy? Yes
All childcare and services should make reasonable adjustments to support disabled children and young people or those with additional needs. Below is a statement from this provider about their inclusive practice and levels of experience of supporting different needs
This provider has not given an inclusion statement. Please contact them for details of what adjustments they can make to support access to their service
Last updated: 20/6/2019
Map shows approximate location
Enter your postcode below to get directions to this service
Whilst the Family Information Service (FIS) works with service providers to try and ensure that the information contained within this directory is accurate and up to date, no warranty is given as to the accuracy of the information. The FIS does not accept any responsibility or liability for the information or links to information on websites supplied by providers or the service that is provided. FIS is an impartial service and does not recommend, support or endorse any services. It is the responsibility of families to choose services carefully and FIS has developed some guidelines to help you.
The FIS also reserves the right to refuse or delete publication of any organisation or information which it believes, or for which evidence has been provided, contravenes the laws of the UK. In no event will we be liable for any loss or damage including, without limitation, indirect or consequential loss or damage, or any loss or damages whatsoever arising from use or loss of use of data or profits arising out of or in connection with the use of the Family Services Directory.


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Several years ago, my marriage to Helen nearly collapsed. We had been teaching relationship skills for years but we hadn't been practicing them at home. Something held us in place, but we felt like hypocrites. Finally, we made the decision to set a timeline-we would give our marriage one more year, but we would devote ourselves to trying to repair the relationship.
I've already told you how negative we were with each other and the decision we made to end all negativity. We also committed to doing dialogue habitually. We even followed the three steps of mirroring, validating, and empathizing when we ended our days with the expression of three appreciations of each other. We learned so much more about each other as we stretched into each other's world and learned to appreciate our differences.
I not only had to learn that Helen was very different from me, I came to appreciate those differences and, finally, to adore them. Our incompatibilities-and there are many-became the juice in our relationship, what gave it interest. In fact, we came up with a new truism that we tell all couples: incompatibility is grounds for marriage! When our marriage fell apart, we could hardly stand to be in the same room together; now we look forward to every minute we spend with each other. She is so interesting to me. And I feel loved in a way I had never experienced before.
We now realize that we went through seven stages of growing in acceptance of each other as different people. We now teach these steps to couples who come to our workshops. Each step expands your consciousness to include an "other" who is different.
When two people become safe for each other, the relationship becomes more important than your individual needs. When you shift from yourself to the relationship, it is no longer "how am I going to get my needs met" but "what does the relationship need?"
What are we going to do to nurture this relationship so that it becomes healthy enough to nurture us?
Helen and I know this works because we've done it. We've tried and failed and come back from failure to achieve the greatest success. We used to say that our marriage was a journey, not a destination. We now say that it is the ultimate destination. Our marriage is the safest place we've ever been, the most peaceful, the most joyful. It is our dream marriage and we couldn't be happier. My wish for you is that you, too, will have the marriage of your dreams.
Dr. Hendrix, in partnership with his wife, Helen Lakelly Hunt, created Imago Relationship Therapy and co-founded Imago Relationships International, a non-profit organization that offers training and support to 2000 Imago therapists in 30 countries. Dr. Hendrix has appeared on the Oprah Winfrey Show 17 times. For more information, go to www.gettingtheloveyouwant.com or www.harvillehendrix.com.
Articles in the series, "Discover Each Other and Deepen Your Connection":
Dr. Harville Hendrix, in partnership with his wife, Helen Lakelly Hunt, created Imago Relationship Therapy and co-founded Imago Relationships International, a non-profit organization that offers training and support to 2000 Imago therapists in 30 countries. Dr. Hendrix has appeared on the Oprah Winfrey Show 17 times. For more information, go to https://harvilleandhelen.com
The four articles in this series, "Discover Each Other and Deepen Your Connection", can be found in the Wellness Inventory Resource Center, under the "Intimacy" dimension, and "Articles" tab. You can also search http://www.healthy.net to find the articles.


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This fall LDRS 401 students were given the task to improve the Center for Faithful Leadership's student servant leader award process and to help Van Raalte Tech students initiate the same.
This fall LDRS 401 students were given the task to improve the Center for Faithful Leadership's student servant leader award process and to help Van Raalte Tech students initiate the same.
At Hope, a larger nomination pool, the involvement of a panel of judges from both the Hope College (Dee Campanella, Jesus Montano) and West Michigan communities (Paul Jones, Brenda VanderMeulen, Jessica Woodworth), a written statement from all the nominees and a 20-minute interview for the finalists, a presentation by Dean Frost during halftime of a basketball game, and the naming of five outstanding finalists was the result.
The five students named are (pictured left to right): Samantha Madson, Sam Tzou, Amber Rogers, (and not pictured), Nate Love, and Caitlin Peirce. Of those five finalists, two were chosen as recipients of the 2011 Student Servant Leader Award: Sam Tzou and Amber Rogers. Nate Love is described as someone who "embodies everything it is to be a self-less leader. Although he has been the cross country team's MVP for the last two years, you will never hear him boast of his accomplishments, but boast of those by his teammates."
In addition to being a cross country team captain and an excellent student, Nate is also a national representative of Hope College. Samantha Madson is a recipient of the Herman Miller Art Award and a member of the National Political Science Honor Society. She is described as being "actively engaged, generous with her time and gifts" and a person who seeks "justice for all people." She is president of the Women's Issues Organization, a STEP program assistant, a board member of Women in Transition, and a co-leader of Hope is Ready. Caitlin Peirce is Vice President of the Biology Club, a mentor with ASC, and a leader on Spring Break mission trips. She is described as someone who "exemplifies servant leadership" both as a leader and a doer, a person both "unfailingly pleasant and optimistic" and "willing to go the extra mile to help others," and someone who is the force behind the scenes when not in a leadership position. Amber Rogers is described as a person who lives out the characteristics of someone who "does not seek promotion and is others-centered." Since her sophomore year, Amber has been an "integral part" of the LAUP ESL instructor team, an "exemplary teacher in her pedagogy, her commitment, and in her passion for people." Amber also serves as a Trio Upward Bound Academic Coach. Sam Tzou is a Resident Assistant, Talmidim Group Leader, mentor to first-year and sophomore students in Wyckoff, and leader of a mission trip to Uganda. Sam is also a budding social entrepreneur and researcher in both the social and natural sciences. Sam is described as someone who "impacts" many people here and abroad because he puts their interests before his own.


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Oct. 18, 2011
NORTH DARTMOUTH, Mass. – After a strong week in which volleyball went 4-0, freshman Kirsten Morrison (North Reading, MA) and junior Shannon Thompson (Moorpark, CA) were named Little East Conference Rookie and Offensive Player of the Week respectively by the conference office.
The Rookie of the Week honor is the second of the year for Morrison, who closed out last week, with all-tournament nod at the MIT Invitational. In three of the four matches played last week, Morrison tallied 27 kills in the three match tournament. On 47 attempts, Morrison surrendered just six errors. Against the Engineers, Morrison was 13-for-17 (.765) with no errors to help the Beacons earn a 3-2 win over their regionally ranked opponent. At the net, Morrison totaled three solo blocks and 10 block assists.
For Thompson, this is her third weekly honor of her junior campaign. The MVP of the MIT Invitational, Thompson combined for 58 kills on 104 attempts in the Beacons 4-0 week. In Tuesday's win over UMass Dartmouth, Thompson led the offense with 20 kills, which also made her the all-time career kills leader at UMass Boston. In the back-to-back wins over regionally ranked MIT and Williams College (MA), Thompson drove home 28 kills. Defensively, Thompson totaled 19 blocks and 25 digs respectively.


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The Beauty of the Belize Jungle
There are animals and insects in all shapes and sizes, looking for food, crawling, flying, hunting and being hunted…Much better than any cinema! I have a cohune tree to thank for my thatch roof on my house, four rosewood posts to keep the house from falling, Iguana wiss keeps the sticks strapped together forever! Dry season is finally over and some rain has finally come! The jungle smells damp and is coming back to life. I have been planting seeds, flowers and trees, getting dirty in the mud!


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Friday, June 27, 2014
4 Super FUN Patriotic Ideas to Celebrate the 4th of July or Canada Day Outdoors with Your Kids!
This post first appeared on my blog on July 2013,
I'm sharing it again today because the ideas are still full of fun and
a perfect way to kick off your summer memory making!
Here are 4 quick and easy (F-U-N) ideas to entertain your kids outside
this 4th of July or to celebrate Canada Day!
I bet you already have everything you need in your house!
Labels: 4th of July, Backyard Fun, Outdoor Fun, Preschool, School Age, Summer
Wednesday, June 25, 2014
Rachelle Doorley's NEW "TinkerLab: A Hands-On Guide For Little Inventors" Book Review and Giveaway!
Sponsored Post Disclosure: I received a free copy of the "TinkerLab" book in exchange for sharing my opinions with you. As always, all opinions are my own and truthful.
I am very honored to be participating in the TinkerLab book launch blog tour,
sharing Rachelle Doorley's (of TinkerLab blog) wonderful new book with all of you!
Rachelle and I have "known" each other as colleagues and fellow bloggers for many years now, I adore the activities she sets up with her own two daughters and always love getting little glimpses into her beautiful and creative home here on the West Coast.
Labels: Giveaway, Invitation to Create, Preschool, Product Review, School Age, Sponsors
Monday, June 16, 2014
NEW Art Studio Tour!
Warning: Today's post is going to have a LOT of photos and I hope I don't crash your computer, tablet, or phone!
My family has moved not once but twice in the past seven months.
First, we moved cross-country from Northern Virginia to Central Oregon at the end of October.
Then, we moved across town to our forever home, built by my husband
(and next door to my own parents!) last month in May.
Now, we are putting down roots and settling in for the long haul.
It feels good to know we will be here for a good, long while.
Friday, June 13, 2014
Making Popsicle Stick People and a Giveaway for the NEW Book from Holly Homer and Rachel Miller: 101 Kids Activities That Are The Bestest, Funnest, Ever!
Sponsored Post Disclosure: I received a copy of this book to share my opinions with you.
As always, all opinions are my own and truthful.
If you follow me on Instagram, you've seen these adorable popsicle stick people
my girls made. Both of my girls, ages 11 and 7 had a blast one afternoon making them.
We found this super fun idea in the brand new book,
by my colleagues and fellow bloggers, Holly Homer and Rachel Miller,
the geniuses and driving forces behind The Kids Activities Blog.
I was so excited when Holly and Rachel sent me a copy of their brand new book to review and get a sneak peek! You have a chance to win your own copy at the bottom of this post!
It is chock FULL of so many great ideas. It is a wonderful entertainment resource and solution for parents, grandparents, caregivers and babysitters! I handed the girls a stack of post it notes and let them mark all of the ideas they wanted to try, I think they marked 90% of the book!
Labels: Giveaway, Invitation to Create, Markers, Permanent Marker, Popsicle Sticks, Product Review, School Age, Tween Craft, Washi Tape
Monday, June 9, 2014
Dad-Friendly Craft: Make Garden Stepping Stones with Kids!
Before we start today's post, let me clarify that just because it says "Dad-Friendly" on the title of this project, it doesn't mean that moms, grandparents, neighbors, babysitters, and teachers can't do this craft with kids either!
I just called it "Dad-Friendly" because this was a project my husband enjoyed
making with our daughters years ago and they still talk about it to this day.
In fact, I think we need to make a new batch of stepping stones for our house here in Oregon.
I just called it "Dad-Friendly" because this was a project my husband enjoyed
making with our daughters years ago and they still talk about it to this day.
In fact, I think we need to make a new batch of stepping stones for our house here in Oregon.
I first published this project on my blog back in August of 2009. Click here to read the original post.
Geoff and the girls spent a few days that summer having a "daddy camp" at home.
He set up fun crafts and activities for them to do together.
They had a blast making memories to last a lifetime. It was great for mama too, to get a break
from full-time summer vacation parenting and fit in with our budget-friendly stay-cation schedule.
I wanted to share it with you again today in case it's something you missed
and you'd like to make some with your own favorite kids!
Labels: Backyard Fun, Cardboard Box Crafts, Father's Day, Garden, Outdoor Fun, Recycle Crafts, School Age
Monday, June 2, 2014
Simple Fairy Garden for Kids #playmatters #fairygarden
For those of you who have been reading my blog for many years, you know we love to make fairy gardens.
The girls have made various gardens indoors and out over the years.
Some have been temporary, some have lasted for a summer, some have spanned a few years.
There is something so magical about creating a tiny world or miniature garden to explore.
We left our big fairy garden behind in our Virginia backyard when we moved to Oregon this fall, I'm hoping the new owners will love it as much as my girls did, it was time for us to make a new fairy garden here
as we make new memories and put down roots in our new home.
The girls wanted to start some new fairy gardens this April but I knew we would be moving again
at the end of May, so I wanted them to be transportable. I saw this self-watering planter at our local Walmart in the garden center and thought it would be perfect for this year's Fairy Garden. You may have seen it show up on Instagram over Easter weekend when we made this years' fairy gardens.
Labels: Backyard Fun, Fairy, Garden, Outdoor Fun, Play, School Age, Spring, Summer
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A new report looks at the most cost-effective options for managing polluted runoff and protecting clean water, and finds that green infrastructure solutions save taxpayer money and provide community benefits by managing stormwater where it falls.Released by the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA), American Rivers, the Water Environment Federation (WEF), and ECONorthwest, Banking on Green: How Green Infrastructure Saves Municipalities Money and Provides Economic Benefits Community-wide, is a response to the need to further quantify the economic benefits of green infrastructure. "For many decades, landscape architects have been helping communities large and small manage their stormwater with innovative green infrastructure solutions, such as green roofs, rain gardens, bioswales, and pervious pavements," said Nancy Somerville, Executive Vice President at ASLA. "The case studies and the cost-analysis in this white paper clearly demonstrate that green infrastructure techniques are proven and cost-effective at managing stormwater, preventing flooding, improving water quality, and promoting public health. Landscape architects will continue to implement these projects in more and more neighborhoods across the country."The report's top findings:
Many American cities are already enjoying the benefits of green infrastructure, as studied in the report. For example, New York City's plan to reduce combined-sewage overflows will save an estimated $1.5 billion over 20 years by incorporating green infrastructure, rather than relying solely on traditional "gray infrastructure," such as installing massive pipes. In Louisiana, a high school in Baton Rouge spent $110,000 on bioswales and a rain garden to reduce flooding, rather than the $500,000 it would have cost to re-pipe the site. Water infrastructure costs will continue to be an issue for cash strapped municipalities. The American Water Works Association estimates the United States will need to invest $1 trillion in water infrastructure between now and 2035. In places like Philadelphia, where the city just reached won the approval of regulators to spend $1.67 billion over 25 years to use green infrastructure to manage stormwater runoff and mitigate pollution in their waterways, city leaders are seeing the cost and community benefits of a green infrastructure approach. As Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter stated at the announcement of the agreement, "Where other cities are challenged by very expensive commitments for tunnels, tanks, and other gray infrastructure, we have worked with the state and the EPA to take this greener, more fiscally prudent approach that will realize multiple benefits." The Banking on Green report, along with the 479 green infrastructure case studies submitted by ASLA members, shows what communities across the country are discovering; green infrastructure techniques are efficient, cost effective tools to help address water infrastructure needs. {To help address the need for additional research and technical support to implement innovative green infrastructure solutions Representative Donna Edwards and Senator Tom Udall have introduced the Green Infrastructure for Clean Water Act (H.R. 2030, S. 1115). This legislation would provide grants to communities seeking to utilize green solutions, and would also establish at least 3 Centers of Excellence for Green Infrastructure across the country which would, among other things, provide technical assistance to state and local governments and conduct research on stormwater, sewer overflow reduction, and other approaches to water resource enhancement. Finally, the legislation would promote the use of green infrastructure by encouraging the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to integrate green infrastructure in permitting and other regulatory programs, codes, and ordinance development.}Landscape architects play a vital role in designing, implementing, and managing these solutions at multiple scales. By capturing rain where it falls, green infrastructure controls runoff that mixes with oil, pesticides, and other pollutants as it runs over streets, parking lots, and yards into local streams.
Visit www.asla.org/stormwater to download the report, view stormwater case studies submitted by ASLA members, and take part in the campaign for green infrastructure.
Kevin FryDirector, PR and Communications email@example.com JR Taylor PR Coordinator email@example.com


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|In his book Tomatoland: How Modern Industrial Agriculture Destroyed Our Most Alluring Fruit, Barry Estabrook writes of perfectly round, orangish supermarket tomatoes--grown largely in Florida--and how the migrants who pick them are sometimes bound into modern slavery by farm bosses.