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Cruise inaugural cancelled after 8 crew test positive for COVID

<p>Royal Caribbean has been forced to cancel the inaugural cruise of its newest ship after eight crew members tested positive for coronavirus.</p> <p>The cruise line had planned to sail their latest addition to the fleet next month, Odyssey of the Seas.</p> <p>Among 1400 total staff, eight crew members were diagnosed with the virus.</p> <p>Cruise bosses said that why the entirety of their staff have been vaccinated, the full effect of the vaccines would take time to work.</p> <p>Michael Bayley, President &amp; CEO of Royal Caribbean took to Facebook to speak about the cancellation of the sailing from Fort Lauderdale, Florida.</p> <p>"Two steps forward and one step back!" he said.</p> <p>“Out of an abundance of caution, we are postponing Odyssey's inaugural sailing from July 3 to July 31, 2021.</p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7841853/cruise-ship-cancelled-1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/d9a1c13338d94606902f15229a035e6c" /></p> <p>"During routine testing, eight crew members received a positive test result for COVID-19.</p> <p>"All 1,400 crew onboard Odyssey of the Seas were vaccinated on June 4th and will be considered fully vaccinated on June 18.</p> <p>"The positive cases were identified after the vaccination was given and before they were fully effective.</p> <p>"The eight crew members, six of whom are asymptomatic and two with mild symptoms, were quarantined and are being closely monitored by our medical team.</p> <p>"To protect the remaining crew and prevent any further cases, we will have all crew quarantined for 14 days and continue with our routine testing.</p> <p>"Guests and travel partners will be notified and given several options to consider.</p> <p>"While disappointing, this is the right decision for the health and well-being of our crew and guests."</p> <p>The new ship has more than 2000 staterooms and can host about 5500 guests.</p> <p>Royal Caribbean had announced its cruises would set sail again in July.</p> <p>Cruising is starting to pick up in the US and around Europe, although COVId-19 testing is mandatory.</p>

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Unexpected Prince Harry cameo in Biden's inauguration leaves fans stunned

<p>While people around the world tuned in to watch Joe Biden and Kamala Harris' historic inauguration, eagle-eyed royal fans spotted a sneaky appearance by Prince Harry.</p> <p>A large portrait of Prince Harry was spotted in the background of photos taken during President Biden's official visit to Arlington Cemetery.</p> <p>Royal reporter Omid Scobie shared the photo.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">A blink-and-you’ll-miss-it cameo by a royal at President Biden’s <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/InaugurationDay?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#InaugurationDay</a> visit to Arlington Cemetery. Well, kinda.<br /><br />Eagle-eyed fans were quick to spot a giant photo from Prince Harry’s 2013 visit hanging in the background while <a href="https://twitter.com/JoeBiden?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JoeBiden</a> caught up with the Clintons. <a href="https://t.co/qWtJrFwRrL">pic.twitter.com/qWtJrFwRrL</a></p> — Omid Scobie (@scobie) <a href="https://twitter.com/scobie/status/1352023086263132163?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 20, 2021</a></blockquote> <p>"A blink-and-you’ll-miss-it cameo by a royal at President Biden’s #InaugurationDay visit to Arlington Cemetery. Well, kinda. Eagle-eyed fans were quick to spot a giant photo from Prince Harry’s 2013 visit hanging in the background while @JoeBiden caught up with the Clintons," he joked.</p> <p>Prince Harry has close ties to the Biden family after working closely with Dr Jill Biden after the pair met during a reception for wounded soldiers at the British Ambassador's Residence in Washington.</p> <p>Jill then travelled to London to attend Prince Harry's Invictus Games in 2014 and was joined by her husband at the 2016 games in Orlando.</p> <p>Biden has joked that he was a "little worried" about the pair's friendship, stating: "Jill went to London for the last Games. She spent too much damn time with Prince Harry."</p> <p>An insider close to Prince Harry's wife Meghan Markle told<span> </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://hollywoodlife.com/2021/01/20/meghan-markle-prince-harry-inauguration-emotional-joe-biden-kamala-harris/" target="_blank"><em>HollywoodLife</em></a><span> </span>that the inauguration was "very personal" for the couple.</p> <p>"Harry's been friends with Joe and [wife] Jill [Biden] for years and Meghan has a huge amount of respect and admiration for them and for Kamala Harris," the source claimed.</p> <p>"It's just a monumental moment in history — watching the first female VP being sworn in will for sure be emotional for Meghan."</p>

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Why Melania Trump fired her longtime friend

<p>US First Lady Melania Trump has fired her friend Stephanie Winston Wolkoff after backlash over the $US26 million ($33 million) she received to plan Donald Trump’s inauguration.</p> <p>Mr Trump was “enraged” over the huge bill, report The New York Times.</p> <p>Mrs Winston Wolkoff’s firm WIS Media Partners – which was established as a company just weeks before the inauguration and Mrs Trump’s first hire as first lady –  spent twice as much money than Barack Obama’s inauguration despite drawing fewer people.</p> <p><img width="433" height="325" src="http://cdn.newsapi.com.au/image/v1/6b8a8ccc94cfaeb340e38c9b23bfbae9" alt="This pair of photos shows a view of the crowd on the National Mall at the inaugurations of President Barack Obama, above, on Jan. 20, 2009, and President Donald Trump, below, on Jan. 20, 2017. Picture: AP" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/></p> <p>Mrs Trump’s spokeswoman Stephanie Grisham said the office had “severed the gratuitous services contract with Ms. Wolkoff,” who she said had been employed as “a special government employee”.</p> <p>“We thank her for her hard work and wish her all the best,” she said.</p> <p>Mrs Trump and Mrs Winston Wolkoff, who was previously an event planner for Vogue, have been friends for years, with the pair regularly pictured on together.</p> <p>Mrs Winston Wolkoff defended the exorbitant bill, saying she would continue to offer her advice to her friend Mrs Trump in an “informal” capacity.</p> <p>“I was informed by the White House counsel’s office that all gratuitous volunteer contracts were ended,” she said. “I expect to remain a trusted source for advice and support on an informal basis.”</p> <p>“I am proud of the work that we did to support the inauguration,” she said.</p> <p>Mrs Winston Wolkoff said her firm “retained a total of $US1.62 million for all of its consulting and creative services, which was divided among our staff of 15 members (including myself).”</p> <p>Mrs Trump’s spokeswoman said the first lady “had no involvement” with the inaugural committee and that she “had no knowledge of how funds were spent.”</p> <p> </p>

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