The week at a glance...Americas

Americas

Charlotte Amalie, U.S. Virgin Islands

Vomit ship: A Royal Caribbean cruise ship had to head home to New Jersey early after more than 650 people experienced vomiting and diarrhea in an apparent norovirus outbreak. Passengers said the Explorer of the Seas reeked of vomit and disinfectant. “I started with upset stomach and vomiting, and that lasted all night and into the morning,” passenger Joseph Angelillo told CNN. “I’ve been sick and quarantined,” tweeted passenger Arnee Dodd. “Everything I touch goes in a biohazard bag.” The highly contagious norovirus can spread quickly in a confined environment. Royal Caribbean is giving passengers a refund of half their fare and a coupon for half off their next cruise.

Antúnez, Mexico

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Citizen police: Mexico has ended its standoff with armed vigilantes in the state of Michoacán by legalizing the militia groups. The groups formed to fight the Knights Templar, a drug cartel that has terrorized the state for years, extorting money from businesses and hanging women and children. The Mexican government sent troops to the state two weeks ago after heavy fighting between the vigilantes and the cartel, but the vigilante leaders said they wouldn’t disarm until the cartel bosses were arrested. Now, one boss is in custody, and the government has agreed to transform the militias into an official, government-backed Rural Defense Corps. “They needed to do something to save face,” analyst Alejandro Hope told The Wall Street Journal.

Lima, Peru

A line in the sea: The maritime border between Peru and Chile is now settled. In a ruling this week, the International Court of Justice drew a line that gives Peru most of the Pacific Ocean area it requested while leaving to Chile some lucrative coastal fishing grounds, where anchovies are plentiful. “Peru is pleased with the outcome,” said President Ollanta Humala, adding that he would “take the required actions and measures immediately for its prompt implementation.” Chilean President-elect Michelle Bachelet called it a “painful loss” and said she planned to “implement the ruling gradually.”

São Paulo

‘No Cup’: A protest against Brazil’s hosting of the upcoming World Cup soccer tournament turned violent this week when anarchists attacked police. The protest began peacefully, with 1,000 demonstrators chanting, “If we have no rights, there will be no Cup,” but after anarchists attacked a police car and smashed bank windows, police fired tear gas and rubber bullets into the crowd. Over 100 people were arrested. The Anonymous Rio protest group said the march was just the first act in its “Operation Stop the World Cup” campaign. Brazilians are angry that the government is spending more than $10 billion to host the event while citizens lack health care and education.

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