Operator confirms number of guests, crew in Bordeaux ‘displaying symptoms’ of gastrointestinal illness
The cruise operator, Ambassador Cruise Line, has just confirmed to the Guardian that “a number of guests and crew onboard Ambition have displayed or are displaying symptoms consistent with gastrointestinal illness” during their 14-night trip of western France and Spain.
A number of people have reported experiencing symptoms of a stomach bug following the ship’s departure from Liverpool, it said.
It is understood that the are currently 49 active cases of stomach bug among the passengers and the crew, just under 3% of the ship’s population.
The operator stressed that it takes the issue “extremely seriously,” with “enhanced sanitation and prevention protocols.”
The French health authorities “requested they conduct a routine review of the ship’s health status and records,” with samples sent for testing at the Bordeaux university hospital, with results requiring “a minimum of six hours to be processed.”
The gastrointestinal illness is not believed to be in any way linked to the separate hantavirus outbreak that dominated the headlines in the last week.
The testing is “ongoing,” with today’s planned activities on short cancelled with customers getting a full refund.
“Once clearance is granted, guests will be permitted to disembark,” the statement added.
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Slovakia closes border crossing with Ukraine amid warnings of further Russian strikes
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Six people dead in ‘ongoing’ Russian strikes on Ukraine, Zelenskyy says
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For talks with Russia, ‘Putin has to play ball and he is not playing,’ Nato’s Rutte says
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‘We cannot let down our guard,’ as Russia remains ‘most significant, direct threat to Nato,’ Rutte says
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Nato’s Hague targets are not ceiling, but ‘minimum’ needed, Poland’s Nawrocki says
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Leaders brief press after Bucharest Nine meeting on security, Nato
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Operator confirms number of guests, crew in Bordeaux ‘displaying symptoms’ of gastrointestinal illness
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Slovakia closes border crossing with Ukraine amid warnings of further Russian strikes
Meanwhile, the scale of the continuing Russian attacks on Ukraine today is so significant that some of its neighbours had to take precautionary measures, too.
Slovakia has temporarily closed all border crossings with Ukraine until further notice, citing expectations of a large-scale attack on the city of Uzhhorod and the neighboring Zakarpattia region with attacks reported as close as 50 km from the Slovak border.
“The Financial Administration recommends that the public monitor up-to-date information and comply with the instructions of the Financial Administration and Police Force officers. We will keep you informed of further developments,” it said in a statement.
Earlier, Poland briefly bolstered air defence along the Ukrainian border following earlier strikes. The operation ended after several hours with no recorded airspace violations.
Nato’s Rutte says he is “cautiously optimistic” about the upcoming Nato summit in Ankara as he repeats his “Nato 3.0” theory of Europe taking more responsibility for its own security, allowing the US to pivot to its other interests without abandoning Europe.
He says the focus is on making sure there is no gap in “our deterrence and defence.”
Poland’s Nawrocki and Romania’s Dan essentially toe the same line.
And that ends the press conference.
Reporters are now again fishing for lines on Trump’s relations with its Nato allies, but Rutte stays fully on message, repeating that there’s some “disappointment” in the US, and the European allies are responding to it.
Poland’s Nawrocki was also asked about how the fugitive former minister Zbigniew Ziobro’s decision to move to the US would affect Poland’s relations with the US.
In stark contrast to the government figures, he says he “cannot imagine” how this could affect the relationship with Washington given its importance for Poland’s security and foreign policy.
He also claims that Ziobro, a senior figure in the Law and Justice party that endorsed him in last year’s presidential election, would not get a “fair trial” in Poland.
Six people dead in ‘ongoing’ Russian strikes on Ukraine, Zelenskyy says
Just as the leaders are talking in Bucharest, Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy took to social media to post an update saying that at least six people were reported dead after Russian attacks on Ukraine today.
“At least 800 Russian drones have already been launched, and the attack is ongoing, with additional drones entering our country’s airspace,” he said.
He suggested that Russia seeks to “disrupt the overall political atmosphere” as it times its attacks for the duration of US president Donald Trump’s visit to China.
“It is important that the world does not remain silent about this. It is important that Russia’s true intentions are made clear to leaders and countries. It is important to apply real pressure on the Russian aggressor so that this terror is brought to an end.”
Another question concerns the presence of US troops in Europe amid talk of the White House looking to pull some of them out of the region.
Nato’s Rutte says that “the US presence in Europe is still vast and massive,” and shows “a clear commitment” of the US administration to Europe.
“We have always known that the United States, overtime, has to pivot more towards Asia, what we have to make sure of and the US, the Europeans agree on this, that … the overall level of deterrence and defence stays strong.”
Poland’s Nawrocki says the topic did not come up during the official talks today, but Poland is always ready to welcome more US troops as it continues to campaign for the 5,000 troops pulled out of Germany to be relocated on the eastern flank of Nato.
Romania’s Dan confirms the issue was not on the table today, but all allies are determined to work to maintain substantial US presence in Europe.
For talks with Russia, ‘Putin has to play ball and he is not playing,’ Nato’s Rutte says
The leaders get asked about the prospects for Ukraine and any potential peace discussions with Russia.
Poland’s Nawrocki goes first and says that supporting Ukraine remains a “strategic” aim of the B9 group, as he notes the importance of Zelenskyy attending the meeting.
He repeatedly says Russia’s Putin is responsible for the war, and calls for a “long-term, just peace settlement.”
Nato’s Rutte says “Putin has to play ball, and at the moment he is not.”
“He has to be willing to play ball to engage, really, in peace negotiations,” he says.
“I must say the ball is clearly in Putin’s court. He has to play ball. He is not doing that yet. Let’s see what happens. And the Ukrainians, in the meantime, are maintaining the fight, doing well on the frontline, but obviously they did not ask for this, and many people have been killed because of Putin in Ukraine.”
Asked about the relations with the US, Rutte concedes that “we know that there was some disappointment in the US when it came to the reaction of some allies regarding Iran and the war against Iran by the US and Israel.”
“But I would say that clearly, allies have heard the message … and that is on two fronts: first, … when it comes to living up to all the commitments to basic requests (from the US) … and then when it comes to the strait of Hormuz, the next phase…”
He says that the Italians, for example, are sending more assets in the area, “so they can be active there when necessary,” with other initiatives taken by other countries, including France and the UK.
“So my message to the United States is: The Europeans hear the message. They are following up. We are really working together on this.”
‘We cannot let down our guard,’ as Russia remains ‘most significant, direct threat to Nato,’ Rutte says
Nato’s Rutte says that the meeting showed the group of nine countries is “firmly anchored in Nato and the transatlantic relationship.”
He warns that Russia “remains, indeed, the most significant and direct threat to Nato, as it continues its ruthless war of aggression against Ukraine.”
“We cannot let down our guard. We will always do what is necessary to defend every inch of Nato territory.”
Looking ahead to Nato’s summit in Ankara, Rutte says that “cash is crucial” as countries are urged to increase their spending, but he adds the talks will also be about “combat ready capabilities and significantly scaling up our defence industries.”
Turning to Ukraine, he pays tribute to its continued fight against Russia, as he says “a strong Ukraine today and a strong Ukraine for the future is how Russian aggression can be stopped.”
Nato’s Hague targets are not ceiling, but ‘minimum’ needed, Poland’s Nawrocki says
Romania’s Dan opens up by thanking all participants, including the US delegation.
He says that allies in this part of Europe have “common concerns and a common threat” from Russia, and need to coordinate.
He also pointedly backs Moldova, raising the issue of supporting Chișinău as it faces pressure from Russia.
Poland’s Nawrocki picks up a broader discussion on defence spending, as he says that the spending targets adopted in the Hague last year “are not the ceiling, but the minimum needed that is necessary.”
He says Russia “is and will remain the most serious, long-term and direct threat to the security of allied countries.”
He warns that Russia wants to “rebuild its spheres of influence, weaken the integrity of Nato … and question the sovereignty and democracy of countries in our region.”
Nawrocki also criticises some European leaders – he doesn’t name them – who in his view “question the alliance between the B9, the EU and the US in a way that is far from any logic.”
“Tearing apart transatlantic relations, breaking up the relations of the European Union and nation states with the United States is in the interest of the Russian Federation. We should all be deeply aware of this,” he warns.
Leaders brief press after Bucharest Nine meeting on security, Nato
As promised, you can watch along below, and I will bring you the key lines here.
As we are waiting for the press conference, we can quickly take a look at the summit’s joint statement, signed by the leaders of 14 allies in the central and eastern Europe, the Baltics, and the Nordics.
In particular, they said that Russia’s repeated airspace violations of countries on the eastern flank of Nato underline the urgent need to consolidate the alliance’s air defences against missiles and drones, Reuters reported.
Romania, Poland and Baltic states have had their airspace repeatedly breached by Russian drones. Russia has denied targeting Nato states.
“We condemn Russia’s highly confrontational actions against Allies and partners, including sabotage, cyber-attacks, and a wide range of hybrid attacks and destabilising activities,” the leaders’ joint statement also said.
Jakub Krupa
Back to international politics, we are expecting a press conference after the B9 meeting in Bucharest shortly, with Nato’s secretary general Mark Rutte expected among the speakers.
I will bring you the key lines here.
Meanwhile, Le Figaro reported that the French health authorities confirmed that “there is no reason to link this outbreak on board a cruise ship from Belfast and Liverpool with the hantavirus cases detected on the vessel MV Hondius,” as per the cruise ship operator’s statement earlier (13:47).
First photos of stranded cruise ship in Bordeaux
With passengers taking pictures of Bordeaux from the deck, as per our last update, let’s take a look at some pictures taken in the opposite direction…
No security measures were in place around the ship as it was docked in Bordeaux on Wednesday, an AFP reporter said.
Passengers were taking pictures of the French city from the deck.
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