International
Virgin Galactic Successfully Launches First Tourists to Space
Virgin Galactic owned by billionaire and naturalised British Virgin Islander Richard Branson achieved a milestone on Thursday sending its first group of tourists to the edge of space.
Passengers on the private space flight included former British Olympian Jon Goodwin, who had purchased his ticket 18 years ago, and a mother-daughter duo from Antigua Keisha Schahaff and Anastatia Mayers.
The rocket ship’s portion of the flight lasted approximately 15 minutes, reaching a height of 55 miles (88 kilometers).
Passengers experienced minutes of weightlessness before gliding back to a runway landing at Spaceport America in the New Mexico desert. This successful private customer flight signifies that Virgin Galactic can now begin offering monthly rides, joining the likes of Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin and Elon Musk’s SpaceX in the space tourism industry.
For Jon Goodwin, 80, who had competed in canoeing in the 1972 Olympics, the experience was nothing short of awe-inspiring. Goodwin had been one of the earliest ticket buyers in 2005 and had worried that his diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease would hinder his chances of going to space. However, he has since climbed Mount Kilimanjaro and cycled downhill, hoping to inspire others with Parkinson’s and other illnesses to pursue their dreams.
Ticket prices have increased from $200,000 when Goodwin purchased his ticket to the current cost of $450,000. Joining him on the flight were Keisha Schahaff, a health coach from Antigua, who won a sweepstakes, and her daughter Anastatia Mayers, an 18-year-old student at Scotland’s University of Aberdeen. The mother-daughter duo celebrated their return with high-fives and pumped fists, while expressing their overwhelming joy and gratitude.
Notably, this spaceflight marked the first time women outnumbered men, with four women and two men on board, including the company’s astronaut trainer and one of the pilots.
Although this was Virgin Galactic’s seventh trip to space since 2018, it was the first with a paying customer. Richard Branson had previously joined the first full-size crew ride in 2021, and in June, Italian military and government researchers were the first commercial passengers. Currently, approximately 800 individuals are on Virgin Galactic’s waiting list.
While Virgin Galactic’s rocket ship is launched from a plane, SpaceX and Blue Origin utilize fully automated capsules that parachute back down. Blue Origin, based in West Texas, is currently on hold following a rocket crash last fall, but it has successfully launched 31 people thus far. On the other hand, SpaceX, with its ability to transport customers all the way to orbit, charges a significantly higher price, often in the tens of millions of dollars per seat. It has already completed three private crew missions and has been relied upon by NASA to transport astronauts to the International Space Station since 2020.
Despite the risks involved, as exemplified by the recent submersible implosion and the tragic spaceflight accidents in the past, the allure of space travel continues to attract adventurous individuals. Virgin Galactic itself experienced a tragedy in 2014 when its rocket plane broke apart during a test flight, resulting in the loss of one pilot. However, the desire to venture into space remains strong, with space tourists lining up since the first orbit by a civilian in 2001 alongside the Russians.
Branson, who observed Thursday’s flight from a party in Antigua, celebrated the new space travelers and welcomed them to the club.
International
British Virgin Islands Elected to Leadership Role in Historic UN Decision
The British Virgin Islands (BVI) has been elected to a leadership role within the United Nations (UN) system, as a Vice Chair of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), solidifying its position as a key player in advancing the region’s economic and social development.
At the 40th session of UN ECLAC held in Lima, Peru, member states from across the Americas unanimously elected the BVI to the Vice Chairmanship, a position it will hold for the next two years. The BVI joins the leadership Bureau alongside Peru, which serves as Chair, and fellow Vice Chairs Colombia, Panama, and the Dominican Republic.
Special Envoy Mr. Benito Wheatley accepted the role on behalf of the British Virgin Islands, pledging full support for ECLAC’s agenda and for Peru’s leadership. “I am humbled by the decision of the Governments represented in UN ECLAC to elect the British Virgin Islands to serve as a Vice Chair of this important regional intergovernmental body,” Wheatley said. “It demonstrates the trust and confidence by our neighbours across the Americas in the British Virgin Islands and our commitment to the sustainability, climate resilience, economic development, and social transformation of the region.”
The election coincided with the 40th anniversary of the BVI’s Associate Membership in ECLAC, making the occasion particularly significant. Wheatley noted that the BVI is honoured to represent both its own interests and to be a voice for the wider Caribbean in ECLAC’s senior leadership.
In addition to its new Vice Chair role within ECLAC, the BVI currently serves as a Vice Chair of the Caribbean Development and Cooperation Committee (CDCC), ECLAC’s subsidiary body dedicated exclusively to the Caribbean subregion.
The 40th session of ECLAC focused on addressing critical development challenges facing Latin America and the Caribbean. Delegates debated and endorsed an ECLAC report titled ‘Development Traps in Latin America and the Caribbean: Vital Transformations and How to Manage Them,’ which highlights key obstacles to growth, including low capacity for economic expansion, high inequality and weak social cohesion, and ineffective governance.
With its election to this influential leadership position, the British Virgin Islands will play an integral role in shaping the economic and social development strategies for Latin America and the Caribbean, driving initiatives that support sustainable growth and regional cooperation.
The British Virgin Islands first joined ECLAC as an Associate Member in 1984 and has actively participated in regional efforts to promote economic resilience and governance reforms.
International
Milton Strengthens Into Category 5 Hurricane, Taking Aim at Florida’s Gulf Coast
Hurricane Milton rapidly intensified into a Category 5 storm on Monday, threatening Florida’s Gulf Coast and putting the densely populated Tampa Bay region in the path of what could be a direct hit. Less than two weeks after Hurricane Helene ravaged the same coastline, the area now faces a potentially catastrophic storm surge, heavy rainfall, and fierce winds.
Forecasters predict that Milton’s center could make landfall near Tampa on Wednesday, marking the first direct strike by a major hurricane in over a century. Although the storm may weaken slightly before landfall, it is expected to maintain hurricane strength as it travels across central Florida toward the Atlantic, largely sparing regions to the north that were devastated by Helene, which left at least 230 dead from Florida to the Appalachian Mountains.
“This is the real deal here with Milton,” warned Tampa Mayor Jane Castor during a press conference. “If you want to take on Mother Nature, she wins 100% of the time.”
Governor Urges Swift Cleanup Ahead of Milton
As Florida prepares for Milton’s arrival, Governor Ron DeSantis emphasized the urgency of removing debris left behind by Hurricane Helene, fearing it could become deadly projectiles in the storm’s high winds.
“It’s imperative we clear this debris before Milton hits,” DeSantis said on Monday. Evacuation orders have already been issued, and forecasters warn of a potential 8- to 12-foot storm surge in Tampa Bay, with widespread flooding expected from 5 to 10 inches of rain across Florida and the Keys. Some areas could see up to 15 inches of rainfall, creating hazardous conditions for the 3.2 million residents in the Tampa metropolitan area.
Kerry Emanuel, a meteorology professor at MIT, highlighted the vulnerability of Tampa Bay, noting the region’s lack of experience with storms of this magnitude. “It’s a huge population. It’s very exposed, very inexperienced, and that’s a losing proposition,” Emanuel said.
Milton Gathers Strength in Gulf of Mexico
Milton, a compact yet powerful storm, intensified quickly over the eastern Gulf of Mexico, with maximum sustained winds of 175 mph by Monday afternoon, according to the National Hurricane Center. The storm was located about 700 miles southwest of Tampa, moving east-southeast at 9 mph.
Much of Florida’s west coast, including Lake Okeechobee, remains under hurricane and storm surge watches, with hurricane warnings issued for parts of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula.
The Tampa Bay region is still reeling from Hurricane Helene, which caused 12 deaths and left a trail of destruction along barrier islands from St. Petersburg to Clearwater. In an effort to clear the remnants of Helene before Milton arrives, more than 300 vehicles were mobilized on Sunday to collect debris. However, cleanup crews faced delays when they found a landfill locked, forcing state troopers to break open the gate with a rope tied to a pickup truck.
“We don’t have time for bureaucracy and red tape,” DeSantis said.
Residents Prepare for Impact
Residents along Florida’s west coast are bracing for Milton’s arrival. Lifeguards in Pinellas County, located on the peninsula that forms Tampa Bay, have begun removing beach furniture and other items that could become dangerous in the storm’s winds. In many neighborhoods, appliances and furniture still await collection after being damaged by Helene’s storm surge.
Sarah Steslicki, a resident of Belleair Beach, voiced frustration over the delayed debris removal. “We’re facing another hurricane, and there’s still so much left to be picked up. It’s frustrating.”
As the state braces for Hurricane Milton, officials urge residents to heed evacuation orders and take necessary precautions to stay safe.
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