Category Archives: Bahamas

Jacksonville, Fl. The Buresh Bottom Line: Always be prepared!.....First Alert Hurricane Survival Guide... City of Jacksonville Preparedness Guide... Georgia Hurricane Guide.

STAY INFORMED: Get the * FREE * First Alert Weather app

FREE NEWS UPDATES, ALERTS: Action News Jax app for Apple | For Android

WATCH The Ins & Outs of Hurricane Season

WATCH Preparing for the Storm

READ the First Alert Hurricane Center Survival Guide

***** ALWAYS CHECK & RE-CHECK THE LATEST FORECAST & UPDATES! *****

A weak upper trough/low pressure area is over the Bahamas drifting west around the Bermuda High. No surface development is expected but there will be an uptick in heavy showers & tstorms for Florida, the Bahamas & nearby areas through Tue.

Dr. Phil Klotzbach, CSU updated his seasonal Atlantic Basin tropical cyclone forecast Thu. & did up the #s a bit. Looks like a busy few months ahead. Always be prepared.

Saharan dust. Dry air - yellow/orange/red/pink - is extensive over the Central & Eastern Atlantic. Such widespread dust is common early in the hurricane season & is indicitive of dry air that can impede the development of tropical cyclones. However, sometimes wanna be waves will just wait until they get to the other side of the plume then try to develop.

2021 names..... Fred is the next name on the Atlantic list (names are picked at random by the World Meteorological Organization... repeat every 6 years... historic storms are retired (Florence & Michael in 18... Dorian in 19 & Laura, Eta & Iota in 20). Last year - 2020 - had a record 30 named storms. The WMO decided beginning in 2021 that the Greek alphabet will be no longer used & instead there will be a supplemental list of names if the first list is exhausted (has only happened twice - 2005 & 2020). More on the history of naming tropical cyclones * here *.

East Atlantic:

Mid & upper level wind shear (enemy of tropical cyclones) analysis (CIMMS). The red lines indicate strong shear which is widespread from the Gulf of Mexico & Caribbean eastward across much of the Atlantic:

Water vapor imagery (dark blue indicates dry air):

Deep oceanic heat content is slowly increasing across the SE Gulf, Caribbean & deep tropical Atlantic:

Sea surface temp. anomalies:

SE U.S. surface map:

Surface analysis centered on the tropical Atlantic:

Surface analysis of the Gulf:

Caribbean:

Atlantic Basin wave forecast for 24, 48 & 72 hours respectively:

Global tropical activity:

Cox Media Group

Read more:

Talking the Tropics With Mike: Weak upper trough of low pressure from the Bahamas to Florida - WOKV

The Scripps National Spelling Bee has been a yearly tradition since 1925 except for a break in 2020 during the height of the pandemic.

The bee has returned this year with the finals scheduled to take place tonight at 8 pm at the ESPN Wide World of Sports on the Walt Disney World campus.

Among the 11 finalists is Roy Seligman from the Bahamas who will attempt to bring home the trophy to his country for the first time in the history of the competition.

WMFE spoke with 12-year-old Seligman and his coach Katina Seymour about preparing for the competition starting with Roys favorite word to spell.

Read the full interview below.

Roy:My favorite word is Clypeaster. It means a sand dollar. I like it because I find a lot of sand dollars when Im in the ocean. C-L-Y-P-E-A-S-T-E-R.

Danielle:So Roy, youre representing a distant neighbor of ours here in the Scripps National Bee, the Bahamas. How does it feel to be representing your country for the first time here in Orlando?

Roy:I feel very proud to have an entire country behind my back.

Danielle:You know, and speaking of Orlando, how have you been spending your time ahead of the Scripps National Spelling Bee Finals? Im guessing lots of drilling, flashcards, something like that.

Roy: Yeah, Ive been practicing and reviewing a lot. But after the finals, Im gonna explore the place.

Danielle:What do you kind of want to see first when you get a chance?

Roy:I want to go to Expedition Everest.

Danielle:How are you feeling going into the competition? Do you have any tips for staying calm under pressure?

Roy:Im feeling nervous. But whenever Im nervous, I just take deep breaths, deep breaths in and out.

Danielle:What does it mean to get to these finals? For you and for your family? I know the last year has been hard with the pandemic.

Roy: Like, Ive put in a lot of hard work. So Im very proud to have gotten this far into the competition.

Danielle: You know, I know that you love to spell but what else do you love? What do you want to be when you grow up for example?

Roy:Some of my hobbies are swimming and playing with Rubiks cubes. Math is my favorite subject. So yeah, I guess theyre kind of connected. Um, Im not sure what Im gonna do when Im when I grow up, Im only 12.

Danielle:Fair point. Fair point. So what would you like? You know, to tell other kids who want to be in your shoes next year? What would you recommend to them? Any tips you can give them?

Roy: Hard work always equals results. I started spelling in 2018. And I just kept working. And now Im right here.

Danielle:Katina, you know, what is it like coaching Roy? And why do you love working with him and his family?

Katina: He is just so, heslike a sponge. He soaks it in. And hes hes definitely very good with application. So we will learn a root, we will learn a language background, the pattern, the etymology. And when were done with that, we are able to just go out and read or look at signs. Look, at I mean a whole list of words and be able to pick out okay, that ones German, that ones Greek, that ones Arabic, that ones Sanskrit. And we are able to do that. And he just blows my mind to apply them in so many ways. So its not about learning every single word. Its like when you know the pattern, then you kind of like know, a big chunk of words that way. And hes really, really great with it. And of course, now he beats me, right? So I love the fact that he can beat me hands down. And he has, I mean, the time of his life, beating me with spelling, but I love it. I love it and love it.

Danielle:What would this mean for you, but also for him and for your country as well, if he wins?

Katina: Its justsuch a joy to see how weve brought good news to our country, just by just making it to this point, and so we want to be you know, the bearer of good news, so to speak. And I think so many people are going to be the better because of it. And then of course itll be a big inspiration to many of our children. Some of them who are have been trying or been you know, on the sidelines looking and wondering if I can do it. I think this will definitely put that you know, nail in it and say listen, yes, I can do it. Somebody else from the Bahamas did it. And so I think this is definitely going to be the inspiration that many people are just waiting on. So for the country, for his family, for myself as a coach who participated in spelling bees in my sixth grade year, and so I have that kind of affinity to it as well. This will be really big for us and exciting for our country.

Go here to see the original:

Roy Seligman Wants to Win Big for the Bahamas in the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Orlando, And Then (Like All Spelling and Super Bowl Winners)...

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

ON the strength of a meet record-breaking performance from Nathaniel Zervos and double gold medal feats by Camille Rutherford, Tarajh Hudson and Wanya McCoy, the Bahamas finished third at the North American, Central American and Caribbeans Under-18 to Under-23 Championships.

The three-day meet held from Friday to Sunday in San Jos, Costa Rica, featuring 19 countries, but minus the United States, Canada and Mexico, saw the Bahamas secure a total of 42 medals, inclusive of 17 gold, 18 silver and seven bronze.

In similar fashion to the CARIFTA Games, which many of the athletes would have participated in had it not been cancelled because of COVID-19, Jamaica collected 39 gold, 18 silver and 10 bronze for a total of 67 medals for the victory. Host Costa Rica was second with 19 gold, 20 silver and 23 bronze for their total of 62.

The Bahamas 35-member team, along with producing some impressive individual performances, fared fairly well in five relay events, wrapping up a gold and four silver medal performances.

The talented under-20 boys 4 x 100m team of Antoine Andrews, Wayna McCoy, Demetrius Rolle and Terrance Jones was the most successful, winning the race in 41.68 seconds. Costa Rica was second.

The surprise came with the makeup of the under-23 mixed 4 x 400m relay team of Sasha Wells, Shaun Miller, Charisma Taylor and Kyle Alcine that emerged with the silver in 3:41.69. Jamaica claimed the gold in 3:20/71.

In the under-18 mixed 4 x 400m relay, the team of Shimar Bain, Lacarthea Cooper, Javonya Walcourt and Shamar Smith clocked 3:27.73 for the silver behind Jamaicas winning time of 3:25.27.

The under-18 boys 4 x 100m relay team of Adam Musgrove, Shamar Smith, Shimar Bain and Mateo Smith got second in 42.10 seconds behind Jamaica, who ran 4-0.60 for a new meet record, replacing the previous mark of 41.17 set by another Jamaican team in 2019.

And Shavantae Roberts, Lacarthera Cooper. Javonya Walcourt and Paige Archer also got second in the girls under-18 4 x 100m relay in 47.27. Jamaica won in 45.49.

Individually, heres a look at the performances from the Bahamian contingent at the NACAC Championships:

Under-23 boys division

In a spectacular showdown in the high jump saw Shaun Miller clinch the gold with 7-feet, 3-inches or 2.21 metres with Kyle Alcine the silver with 7-0 1/2 (2.15m). Byron Villalobos of Costa Rica got the bronze with 6-4 3/4 (1.95m).

National javelin record holder Keyshawn Strachan was second in his specialty with a toss of 236-7 (72.13m) on his second attempt. He also has tosses of 222-5 (67.81m) on his first, 215-5 (65.67m) on his third, passed his fourth, 223-0 (67.99m) on his fifth and 234-3 (71.41m) on his sixth.

Trinidad & Tobagos Tyriq Hosford won the gold with 239-8 (73.06m) on his fifth attempt.

Under-23 girls division

Charisma Taylor had an all-out battle, but prevailed in the triple jump with 43-4 1/2 (13.22m). Mikeisha Welcome of St Vincent & the Grenadines was second with 43-2 1/4 (13.16m), Both ladies posted their winning marks on their first attempt.

It worked in Taylors favor as she struggled the rest of the way with scratches on her second and sixth attempts. She did 42-9 1/2 (13.04m) on her third, passed her fourth and 42-8 3/4 (13.02m) on her fifth. Welcome had two good jumps with 43-1 (13.13m) on her second and 42-11 3/4 (13.10m) on her last try.

Taylor and Sasha Wells, however, came through with the silver and bronze in the 100m hurdles in times of 13.88 and 13.94 as they trailed Jamaica in the 100m hurdles.

Denisha Cartwright claimed the bronze in the 100m in 11.91 with Grenada and St Kitts & Nevis getting gold and silver.

On the field, Acacia Astwood won the silver in the discus with 120-8 (36.78m) on her fifth toss. The Cayman Islands won the gold and Costa Rica came through with the bronze.

Under-20 boys division

Tarajh Hudson powered through to a pair of gold medal performances on the field to top some great performances on the track. He took the shot put with his heave of 52-2 1/4 (15.93m) on his fifth attempt and tossed the discus 172-1 (52.45m) on his fourth heave.

It was fun to get an international; meet after a long season, Hudson said. I was more happy with my shot put performance because it was a bit more competitive and there were moments in the competition when I wasnt in first place.

The discus was good. There were some things technically that I could have done better and coach (Corrington Maycock) and I plan to correct those issues as soon as possible, But just to compete and win was a good day for me.

Terrance Jones won the 100m in 10.47 with Grenada and Costa Rica getting the silver and bronze.

But in the 200m, Wayna McCoy pulled off the victory in 21.17 for the gold, followed by Jones in 21.18 for the silver.

McCoy also doubled up as he won the gold in the 400m in 48.34. St Vincent & the Grenadines got second and third respectively.

Antoine Andrews won the gold in the 110m hurdles in 14.27 over Alton Roker, who did 15.26 for the silver.

And Caden Cartwright got the bronze in the discus with a heave of 126-9 (38.65m) on his sixth and final attempt. Jamaica and Costa Rica got the gold and silver.

Under-20 girls division

Camille Rutherford emerged as the queen of the female sprints with her double dose of victories. After winning the gold in the 100m in 11.36, she came and picked up her second victory in the 200m in 23.42.

Trinidad & Tobagos Leah Bertrand got the silver and Antigua & Barbudas Joella Lloyd got the bronze in a photo finish in the 100m in 11.70, while in the 200m, Lloyd clinched the silver in 23.55 and Aliyah Francis of Jamaica took the bronze in 24.32.

In another impressive performance, Jasmine Knowles won the gold in the 800m in 2:15.15, well ahead of Costa Ricas Maria Chaves, who finished in 2:30.82.

Carnitre Mackey was the lone competitor in the discus, winning with 41-2 (12.56m).

And in the javelin, Rhema Otabor and Mackey got gold and silver with 180-7 (55.06m) and 132-2 (40.30m) as they were the only two competitors in the competition as well.

Under-18 boys division

The big story in this division came from the duo of Nathaniel Zervos and Kaden Cartwright that captured the gold and silver in the javelin with Zervos inking his name in the record books.

Zervos threw 222-11 (67.96m) for the gold, erasing Keyshawn Strachans previous meet record of 205-8 (62.70m) from 2019, while Kaden Cartwright did 189-6 (57.76m) for second. The Cayman Islands got the bronze.

Otto Laing got sandwiched in between a pair of Jamaicans for the silver in the 110m in 13.82.

Shimar Bain got silver in the 400m hurdles in 53.39, while Lavardo Deveaux was fourth in 59.11. Jamaicas Roshawn Clarke won the gold in a meet record of 512.95/

Bain got the bronze in the 200m in 21.65 with Shamar Smith fifth in 22.06. Jamaica took gold and silver.

Shamar Smith had to settle for the bronze in the 400m in 49.83 behind a 1-2 punch from Jamaica.

Mateo Smith (10.77) and Adam Musgrove (10.97) got fourth and fifth in the 100m.

In the long jump, Mateo Smith was fourth with 23-0 (7.01m) on his second leap and Zachery Evans was fifth with 22-11 1/4 (6.99m) on his sixth and final attempt. St Vincent & the Grenadines got the gold with Jamaica securing silver and bronze.

Brandon Hutchinson got fourth with 46-11 (14.30m) on his fourth try and Stephan Farquharson was fifth with 44-10 1/4 (13.67m) in his second attempt in the triple jump. Jamaica got gold and silver and El Salvador picked up the bronze.

It was unfortunate, but Farquharson didnt clear a mark in the high jump as Jamaica got gold and silver and Panama came out with the bronze.

Under-18 girls division

Kasha Neilly won the silver in 1:05.26 in the 400m hurdles as Alliah Baker of Jamaica established a new meet record in 1:03.36, erasing the previous time of 1:04.57 by Mexicos Maria Jose Romero in 2019.

Lacarthea Cooper, preparing to head to Tokyo, Japan for the womens 4 x 400m relay pool, won the bronze in the 200m in 24.09 with Paige Archer coming in fourth in 24.69. Jamaica won the gold and Guatemala came up with the silver.

The Bahamas swept the top two spots in the 400m, but it was Javonya Walcourt coming out on top with the gold in 56.15 over Cooper, who did 56.53. Jamaica got the bronze in 57.43.

Savantae Roberts (11.90) and Paige Archer (12.39) were fourth and fifth in the 100m. Jamaica got gold and silver with Guatemala picking up the bronze.

Celea Jackson got the bronze in the under-18 girls discus with her toss of 134-7 (41.03m) on her third attempt. Anna Marie Oriaki was fourth with 126-11 (38.68m) on her fourth try. Jamaica took the top two spots.

And in the shot put, Jackson was fifth with 38-11 1/2 (11.87m) and Oriaki was sixth with 38-8 1/4 (11.79m). Jamaica won the gold and silver and the British Virgin Islands got the bronze.

Follow this link:

NACAC: Bahamas finishes third overall - Bahamas Tribune

Suns' DeAndre Ayton emerging as one of the NBA's best young big men

Duane Rankin of the Arizona Republic breaks down DeAndre Ayton's development and standout play in his first NBA postseason experience.

USA TODAY

MILWAUKEE If only family and friends could engage with NBA players at games the same way they did before the pandemic.

Perhaps then former Los Angeles Lakers player and team broadcaster Mychal Thompson might be here so he could embrace Phoenix Suns third-year center Deandre Ayton before playing the Milwaukee Bucks in Games 3 and 4 of the NBA Finals. After all, Thompson often greeted Ayton before the Suns played the Lakers to further cement their bond as native Bahamians.

"I tell him how proud I am of him and to keep going," Thompson told USA TODAY Sports. "Hes the greatest player weve ever had from the Bahamas."

Ayton and Sacramento Kings guard Buddy Hield represent the lone current NBA players born in the Bahamas, but Hield has never appeared in the playoffs. Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson, one of Mychals sons, has won three NBA titles and shattered numerous shooting records, but he was born in Los Angeles. Ayton and Mychal Thompson have the strongest connection to the Bahamas.

"He will be the main sports ambassador in the Bahamas for the next 15 years," Thompson said of Ayton. "He has that kind of potential to represent the Bahamas and carry the flag for the Bahamas in sports for the next 15 years. I expect him to."

Ayton and Thompson are the only Bahamian-born players to play in the NBA Finals. They are also the only Bahamian-born players to be selected No. 1 in the NBA draft. But as Thompson stressed, "I dont compare to him." Thompson, who won two NBA championships in three Finals appearances with the Lakers (1987, 1988, 1991), predicted Ayton will collect more rings than him. Thompson, who had a 12-year NBA career with Portland, San Antonio and the Lakers (1978-1991), predicted Ayton will have a much more substantial rsum than his.

"Hes going to become a multiple-time All-Star," Thompson said. "Hes going to be a Hall-of-Famer. So hes the best basketball player weve ever produced in the islands."

BOOKER: Stayingfresh to carry a heavy workload against Bucks

WILLIAMS: Evolution as a coach has led Suns to the NBA Finals

BUCKS: GM built team to compete for titles with methodical process

Thompson considers Ayton to be the NBAs third-best center behind the Philadelphia 76ers Joel Embiid and the Denver Nuggets Nikola Jokic, who won this years regular-season MVP. The 22-year-old Ayton reminds Thompson of San Antonio Spurs center David Robinson, who collected two NBA titles, an NBA Defensive Player of the Year award and 10 All-Star nods during a 14-year career (1989-2003).

"He can run the floor, block shots and has a nice mid-range game like Robinson," Thompson said of Ayton. "He just has everything that David Robinson had at that age. If he keeps progressing and staying hungry and healthy like hes showing, he can get to that level."

Aytons eyes lit up and his smile widened when he learned about Thompsons praise of his current skills and long-term trajectory.

"That's big time," Ayton said. "All I have to do is make sure I put my head down and make sure I keep working. With wins, individual accolades come. I just have to keep working and keep winning."

The Suns and Ayton are heading in that direction.

Phoenix has a 2-0 Finals series lead against Milwaukee entering Game 3 on Sunday after dispatching last years NBA champions (Lakers), the team with this years MVP (Nuggets) and another championship contender (Clippers). Ayton has become one of seven players in NBA history to have 12 double-doubles in their first 17 career playoff games. He also has recorded an NBA playoff record for the highest field-goal percentage through that same sample size (71.1%).

With his native country celebrating its Independence Day on Saturday, Ayton conceded that his current motivations go beyond winning his first NBA championship. It also traces back to how Ayton wants to honor the Bahamas.

"There's a lot of people back home supporting me and watching," Ayton said. "I want to put on a show for them and make sure this thing happens. Every game I'm going, I'm bringing the Bahamas with me."

Thompson saw at an early age that Ayton could inspire his home country.

Thompson first met Ayton as a 12-year-old when he visited the Jeff Rogers celebrity camp in Nassau, Bahamas, when Klay Thompson also attended following his rookie season (2012-13). After marveling at the attention Klay received, Ayton aspired to follow his path. By that point, Mychal did not notice anything particular about Aytons game that suggested stardom. But considering Ayton already stood 6-4, Mychal sensed it would still happen.

"We knew he had a future because of his size and his love of the game," Thompson said. "We knew if he continued to grow, he would have a nice future in basketball."

Thompson predicted correctly. Ayton moved to San Diego to study and play basketball at Balboa City School. He then played two more years at Hillcrest Prep Academy in Phoenix, which led to the University of Arizona giving him a scholarship. He then set a program and Pac-12 record for most double-doubles (25) along with Pac-12 Player of the Year honors. It's no wonder the Suns selected Ayton with the No. 1 pick in the 2018 draft.

Why Booker-Ayton are not the next Shaq-Kobe (and why that's a good thing)

USA TODAY Sports NBA reporter Mark Medina explains why Devin Booker and DeAndre Ayton are not the next Shaq-Kobe duo and why that's probably a good thing long-term for the Suns.

Sports Seriously, USA TODAY

As Ayton grew in height and stature, Thompson occasionally gave Ayton what he called "words of wisdom."

"The only thing I told him when he was in high school was stay humble and just be willing to listen and work hard," Thompson said. "You could tell that he was eager to play. So I didnt have to give much advice. He had good people advising him already and a good family. He had all the support he needed."

Therefore, Thompson did not become worried with some of the hiccups Ayton experienced once he entered the NBA.

Ayton sparked immediate comparisons to others in his draft class, including Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic and Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young. Though Ayton plays a different position, questions emerged on whether the Suns would have been better off selecting either guard instead. After all, the Suns had failed to make the playoffs since 2010.

Ayton also sparked questions about his consistent production and commitment. Though the Suns have always praised Ayton for his play and attitude, they conceded he still faced a learning curve with how he trained on the practice court, weight room and film room. Ayton faced a 25-game suspension to open the 2019-20 season for violating the terms of the NBA/NBPA Anti-Drug program after testing positive for a diuretic.

"Hes a great kid. I wasnt worried about him at all," Thompson said. "Hes got such a good strong family structure behind him and such good coaches around him. So I knew he was going to be fine."

Thompson often resisted peppering him with too much feedback. He credited Suns guards Chris Paul and Devin Booker for both demanding and encouraging Ayton to elevate his game. He praised Suns coach Monty Williams for empowering Ayton with constructive feedback, some of which was recently captured in the Suns Game 2 win over the Buck.

Yet, Thompson argued that more could be done to bring out the best in Ayton.

Suns vs. Bucks: What does each team need to do to win NBA Finals?

SportsPulse: USA TODAY Sports' NBA Roundtable breaks down the NBA Finals between the Phoenix Suns and Milwaukee Bucks and one big key for each team in the series.

SportsPulse, USA TODAY

"Sometimes he gets ignored too much, and the Suns dont tap into his fuel that he has in the paint," Thompson said. "This guy is unstoppable in the paint as he has been showing. So they got to treat him like hes a hyper giant star."

They did so when Ayton threw down a game-winning lob off an inbounds pass with 0.7 seconds left in a Game 2 win over the Clippers. Thompson likened that play to when former Chicago Bulls forward Toni Kukoc and former Lakers guard Derek Fisher made winning shots in playoff games off inbounds passes with little time left on the clock. Otherwise, Ayton still has cemented career-lows this season in points (14.6) and shot attempts (10.5) because of the teams depth.

"They have such a dynamic backcourt and outside shooters that sometimes you can fall in love with the 3 and not realize the weapon that you have in the paint," Thompson said. "Its a delicate balance that the Suns need to concentrate on. Deandre is so skilled in the paint with his jump hook and his turnaround shots."

Despite the bullishness on Aytons potential, even Thompson has his limits.

He conceded uncertainty on whether Ayton could supplant Embiid and Jokic soon as the NBAs best center.

"Embiid and Jokic are pretty special, but Deandre can push them," Thompson said. "He can push them for that honor. From now on, he should be no worse than the third-best center going forward for the next few years with a chance to get on that second or first team."

He also sounded skeptical on whether Aytons career would end with comparisons to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, Hakeem Olajuwon or Shaquille ONeal.

"I hope so, but those are lofty levels," Thompson said. "Youre talking about five of the greatest ever there. But hes going to be a Hall-of-Famer. No question about it. How great he wants to be is up to him on how hungry he wants to be and how hard he wants to work."

Ayton has wanted to work hard partly to make Thompson proud.

"He's been holding it down for me, supporting me all the way to here," Ayton said. "Hes keeping me in high spirits."

Meanwhile, Thompson sounded in high spirits when talking about Ayton and the influence he has had on him.

"For him to even acknowledge me and know who I am is very flattering," Thompson said. "Its a huge accomplishment. Hes already exceeded anything Ive ever done at this age. At 22, I was in college trying to figure out the next test I was going to have. To see him at 22? Hes two wins away from an NBA championship and is one of the main reasons why. He has far exceeded anything that Ive ever done and will have ever done in basketball."

Follow USA TODAY NBA writer Mark Medina on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Sign up for USA TODAY's various subscription deals.

Link:

NBA Finals: How Suns Deandre Ayton and former player Mychal Thompson share special bond as native Bahamians - USA TODAY

Hospitalizations see sharp, 76% increase in last two weeksWe are very much in the third wave

NASSAU, BAHAMAS The number of coronavirus cases reported last week dropped by eight percent, in spite of an increase in COVID-19 testing last week by just shy of 500 tests compared to the previous week.

From July 6 to July 12, there were 291 confirmed cases of the virus.

Between June 28 and July 5, there were 317 newly confirmed infections.

But a look at testing for the virus over the two periods showed a 20 percent increase in testing, with 2,887 tests completed in the last week compared to the 2,394 tests completed in the week prior.

The Bahamas remains in a third wave of the pandemic, with variant strains of the virus posing concerns for health officials.

According to an examination of COVID-19 dashboards, cases were down on New Providence, where the vast majority of cases have been observed.

In the last week, New Providence recorded 227 cases, compared to the 273 the week before.

This represents a 16 percent drop.

However, cases increased 29 percent on Grand Bahama, with 22 cases recorded last week compared to the 17 cases in the week prior.

While the marginal decrease in cases, if continued, could be suggestive of movement toward flattening the curve, the 291 cases in the last week represent 41 cases per day on average far from the low, single-digit figures observed in January and February when The Bahamas had exited its second wave.

The cases in the last two weeks a combined 608 infections still soar well above the number of cases recorded in January and February, which had 336 cases and 335 cases respectively.

Cases nearly doubled in March, with 612 cases.

There were more than 1,200 cases recorded in April.

In an interview with Eyewitness News yesterday, Director of the National HIV/AIDS and Infectious Disease Programme Dr Nikkiah Forbes said The Bahamas remains in the third wave and it is not going to an end.

The curve is not significantly flat on that, she said.

As a matter of fact, in the last week, the epidemiological week or the trend that we report on, there was actually a slight uptick in the number of cases.

There has definitely been an increase in the number of hospitalizations.

And deaths are also continuing.

And the percent of positives out of the tests that are done is also increased in that last week.

So, it is very concerning and we are very much in the third wave.

Hospitalizations have increased 42 percent between June 28 and July 5 from 38 to 54, and increased a further 24 percent last week, July 6-12, from 54 to 67.

Of the 67 cases hospitalized as of Monday, there were five in the intensive care units at Princess Margaret Hospital, Doctors Hospital and South Beach Acute Care.

Meanwhile, the positivity rate between June 28 and July 5 stood at 13 percent on average.

In the last week, that figure dropped to 10 percent on average.

The World Health Organization recommends a five percent positivity rate for the reopening of countries.

Read more here:

DOWN BUT NOT OUT: Virus cases drop 8% even with increased testing but positivity rate still high - EyeWitness News

NASSAU, BAHAMAS Minister of Health Renward Wells said yesterday that as it stands, the government does intend to move forward with ending the COVID-19 emergency orders when the current state of emergency ends on August 13.

Speaking to reporters on the matter outside Cabinet, Wells said: The state of emergency ends on August 13. If there is going to be any change to that, the competent authority, the Cabinet of The Bahamas, will have to come back to the Bahamian people to say so.

Right now, there is no discussion to changing the fact that the emergency order ends on August 13 We are moving forward as we would have intimated in the past.

A public state of emergency has been in effectsince March 2020, along with teetering lockdowns and daily curfews.

There have been four separate proclamations since the first one last year.

Each new proclamation grants the governmentsix months in which they can continue extending the order under the Constitution, effectively resetting the clock.

However, Parliament was adjourned to September 22 following the passage of the 2021/2022 fiscal budget.

The governor general could still issue a new state of emergency if COVID-19 infections get out of control and it is deemed necessary, according to the attorney general.

The Bahamas has confirmed 13,233 cases as of Monday, with 926 active cases.

A five-month-old baby girl who died on June 26 and a 78-year-old woman who died on July 3 were the latest to be confirmed among the countrys COVID-related deaths last week.

The Bahamas COVID-19 fatalities currently stand at 254 with 29 deaths under investigation.

Wells acknowledged the rising death count, noting that most people in the country have been impacted by it in some way.

The disease is real. It has taken an awful lot of life globally The disease is real; it is serious.

He underscored once again that vaccinations and following COVID-19 protocols are key for the way forward, and noted that the government has been offered some 57,330 doses of the Pfizer vaccine through the World Health Organization and Pan American Health Organization COVAX facility.

He said that the government will receive an update on when those vaccines will arrive in country at the end of the week.

Wells noted that an additional 33,000 doses of AstraZeneca are also expected from COVAX will arrive on July 26.

This comes as vaccination appointments have been significantly decreased over the past two weeks amidst a global shortage in vaccines and delays in regional deliveries.

The government recently borrowed 5,000 doses of AstraZeneca from Antigua and Barbuda and is seeking an additional 20,000 doses from St Vincent and the Grenadines.

Wells said the government is in discussions with all of its Caribbean colleagues to source vaccines as best as it can, noting that fighting the pandemic is a regional and global effort.

He said the government is actively trying to source additional vaccines, adding that when the capacity arrives in-country, individuals will have the option to choose which vaccine they want.

The health minister also said the government will take into consideration putting aside Pfizer vaccine doses for children, given that it is the only vaccine with emergency use approval for people under 18.

The Ministry of Health has advised that nearly 98,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered to date, with just over 37,600 people fully vaccinated.

The rest is here:

BLINK OF AN EYE: End of emergency orders right around the corner; just over 4 weeks left - EyeWitness News

Did Captain Kirk meet a tiger shark? For 2021 Shark Week on Discovery, Josh Gates and Star Trek actor William Shatner take a dive into open waters of the Bahamas to learn more about this intimidating apex predator

Over the phone from his East Coast home in the U.S, Josh Gates admits that it is not best to meet your childhood heroes. But I have to say William Shatner was so fun to work with, he laughs heartily, He was everything I could have hoped for and more.

The producer and host of the long-running Expedition Unknown recalls a 2020 virtual interview he did for Josh Gates Tonight: Totally Jaw-some. Shatner was talking about how he was fascinated by and afraid of sharks and hes also a scuba diver. So as 2021 Shark Week kicks off this week, Gates is ready for audiences around the world to sink their teeth into the aptly-named hour-long special Expedition Unknown: Shark Trek.

While Totally Jaw-some was exciting and insightful, it was not enough for Gates who wanted to bring Shatner on board for this years physical Shark Week. When he pitched a diving experience for Shark Week to Shatner, the 90-year-old veteran actor impressed Gates once again with his insatiable curiosity for the world. He is so genuinely curious about everything that when you are around him, you can't help, but become curious too.

While the special is bound to be exhilarating, Shark Week is known for its edutainment-take on the conservation of these creatures

Read More | What it takes for the conservation of whale sharks in India

A slight embarrassment is audible in Gates voice as he admits, As a kid, I just devoured Star Trek, so to me, William Shatner is Captain Kirk. You cant separate those two things. When I first met him over a video chat before our diving trip, I had to swallow that and say, okay, you just cant geek out on this guy this whole trip. You have to just act like you are hanging out with just a regular person and not Captain Kirk. (laughs) Once that happened and we just went out there like two guys who were going on this diving adventure trip, we became friends which was gratifying. Part of it was putting aside my fanboyness and embracing the experience. But the other part was all about facing fear and doing some intense diving with sharks. For both Bill and me, it was a big lesson in conquering fear.

Gates curiosity about fear comes from, as he jokingly says, (a) because I am stupid and (b) because I do a lot of dangerous things for a living. On a more serious note, he loves to encourage people to step outside of their comfort zones without being reckless.

The earliest memory the 43-year-old has of stepping out of his comfort zone is his childhood trips to the U.K. His mother being British led to many of these travels, where the English was different and driving on the other side of the road was a thing. With this in mind, he insists that it is important to expose kids to things that are different from what they know . I was shaped by those experiences of going abroad as a kid because I was in another country and culture, having a language barrier. A lot of the trips that I take now, Im in places where I cant speak the language. That stuff becomes less intimidating because you're used to it and you're exposed to it.

He adds, One of Americas big challenges is that, we are in some ways as big a country as we are, are weirdly an isolated and we tend to travel domestically. I think that so many folks just havent had the experience of just being dropped in a foreign country.

And who knows, all these experiences would lead lead Gates and William Shatner in some open waters with sharks. Gates chuckles, Nobody knew! I mean the entire time that we were in the Bahamas, I just kept looking at Shatner and going, this is impossible. Shatner is next level. I think my episode with him is a great opportunity for viewers to see William Shatner in a whole new life. He is such a natural adventurer and a natural explorer. He is so curious. If you are a Star Trek fan, you will really love it because I geek out on him a lot during the show.

Then again, Gates himself is no small name with eight seasons of Expedition Unknown under his belt so far, a series that has taken him to the Himalayas, the Kalahari Desert, the the Ayasofya in Constantinople, and more historic landmarks. Gates also is known for Destination Truth, Stranded and Ghost Hunters.

Dedicated to the beady-eyed apex predator, Shark Week is televisions longest-running summer event, returning for its 33rd year with bigger sharks, record-breaking breaches and 45 hours of shark programming.

The 2021 edition of Shark Week has some big pop culture names getting up close and personal with some beady-eyed sharks: comedian-actor Tiffany Haddish, rapper Snoop Dogg, Sharknado stars Ian Ziering and Tara Reid, Stranger Things actor Noah Schnapp, the cast of Jackass and Dr Sandra Lee aka Dr Pimple Popper.

Gates points out that while celebrities are involved, Mother Nature is the great equaliser. It doesn't matter if you are Tiffany Haddish or William Shatner, he explains, That is still an intimidating proposition. One of the fun things about Shark Week is seeing these people who you have a relationship with as a viewer; but you are going to see them not in a position that we usually see these folks in. Right? It also lets you, the viewer, a kind of experience along with them because suddenly they are really relatable.

Expedition Unknown: Shark Trek streams exclusively on July 12 on discovery+, and will air on the Discovery Channel on August 23 at 7 pm.

Continue reading here:

William Shatner is a natural explorer, says Josh Gates on Expedition Unknown: Shark Trek - The Hindu

Dear Carolyn,

My husband and I just returned from the Bahamas and I think we are going to be separating. While we were in the Bahamas, my husband took an interest in the Bahamian Sand Dollar. I was not sure what the appeal is in this Sand Dollar, but I am concerned that it could be used to hide assets out of the country. Can he hide assets in the Bahamas?

Carolyn Answers,

Your question is timely, and the answer is yes. The Sand Dollar may be easy to hide for now. The Bahamian Sand Dollar is the new Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) of the Bahamas. The Bahamas is one of the first countries to issue a CBDC. China is close to issuance. In conjunction with MIT, the United States Federal Reserve in Boston is studying a U.S. digital dollar issuance. A CBDC is a cryptocurrency issued by the central bank of a country, as contrasted with Bitcoin or Diem, which are private cryptocurrencies.

A CBDC is digital and requires either 1) an account or 2) a digital wallet. A cryptocurrency in another country can be hard to trace in a divorce, but not impossible as far as the Bahamas is concerned. The trail for a Sand Dollar will likely be picked up from examining banking records in the U.S. and tracing to the Bahamas. Credit card records are also essential to investigate, as Mastercard has launched a powerful platform for using the Bahamian Sand Dollar.

Send your questions on family law and divorce matters to Ask Carolyn at askcarolyn@rhinotimes.com, or P.O. Box 9023, Greensboro, NC 27427. Please do not put identifying information in your questions. Note that the answers in Ask Carolyn are intended to provide general legal information, and the answers are not specific legal advice for your situation. The column also uses hypothetical questions. A subtle fact in your unique case may determine the legal advice you need in your individual case. Also, please note that you are not creating an attorney-client relationship with Carolyn J. Woodruff by writing or having your question answered by Ask Carolyn

The rest is here:

Ask Carolyn: July 9, 2021 - The Rhino Times of Greensboro - The Rhino TImes

Deandre Ayton is enjoying a fine season with Devin Booker and the Phoenix Suns in 2021. The 2018 first overall pick is benefiting from the arrival of experienced hooper Chris Paul. The latter joined from OKC Thunder in the offseason and led the Suns to the Western Conference title by beating the LA Clippers.

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

The Suns are currently embroiled in a hard-fought NBA Finals series with Giannis Antetokounmpo-led Milwaukee Bucks. Booker and Co. have a slender 2-0 lead but will have to keep their heads down and push hard if they want to win a first-ever championship title for the Arizona-based franchise.

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

Deandre is from Nassau, in the Bahamas. His father is Nigerian and his mother, Andrea, is of Jamaican and Bahamian origins. He moved to the USA in order to play high school basketball in California. The rest, as we now know, was fate.

DIVE DEEPER

Spoon-Fed Me Suns DeAndre Ayton Discusses How Chris Paul Has Helped HimGrow This Season

3 months ago

Bahama-born Mychal Thompson became the first player from the Caribbean Islands to be drafted as the 1st overall pick at the NBA Draft in 1978. He kickstarted his NBA career with the Portland Trail Blazers before playing alongside HOFers Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. His son Klay Thompson, is part of the Golden State Warriors franchise and features along with Steph Curry.

But even Thompson Sr. agrees that the attention he received almost 40+ years ago is nothing in comparison to all the noise surrounding Deandre Ayton.

Youve got to think back to those times. We had no cellphones, no social media, no [ESPN reporter] interviewing me in a hotel room with all this fancy camera equipment. I remember I went to New York, met with the commissioner. They announced the pick, I shook his hand. Some guy had a Polaroid, took a picture of us, Thompson said in an earlier interview.

In a recent feature story by The Undefeated, Bahamas Prime Minister Hubert Minnis met with Deandre Ayton and his family in order to acknowledge his impact on the islanders. In fact, Minnis went on to suggest that Ayton might possibly be an heir to his throne in the years to come.

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

You are sitting in the prime ministers seat. Thats where I sit. So I dont know if that is some premonition for what is to come, because when I was your age, I would have never even dreamt that I would be sitting up here just like you in the cabinet office and even becoming prime minister one day, Minnis told Ayton in the interview.

The sky is truly the limit for this 22-year old kid. But right now all his attention will be focused on the ongoing NBA Finals series. Watch this space for more.

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

DIVE DEEPER

Deandre Ayton Girlfriend: Who is the Phoenix Suns Star Dating?

8 days ago

Read more here:

Can Deandre Ayton become Bahamas Prime Minister? The Current PM Thinks He Might - EssentiallySports

Search and rescue continues: We are committed to finding Drew, by any means necessary.HOPEFUL: We are still very hopeful that a miracle will take place and we will be reunited with Drew.

NASSAU, BAHAMAS More than 24-hours after he was ejected from a Jet Ski that collided with a boat near Rose Island on Sunday, family members and friends of 28-year-old Drew Rigby remain hopeful that he will be found alive.

Police said they received reports that a 26 ft. Sea Craft with six people on board collided with a Jet Ski with two men on board shortly after 7pm.

According to reports, the passenger on the Jet Ski, who has been identified as Rigby, was ejected into the water and the driver sustained injuries to both of his legs.

Police said its Marine Department in conjunction with the Royal Bahamas Defence Force conducted a search of the area; however, Rigby was not found.

Family members restarted their search early Monday morning, making a public call for assistance.

Several volunteers, including friends and family members of Rigby, showed up to join the search and rescue efforts.

The search continued throughout the day but stopped shortly after 6pm, with no sight of the missing 28-year-old.

Rigbys godbrother, Xavier Simms said:We are still in a hopeful optimistic frame of mind. We are hoping for the best but we are also aware of what could possibly be the outcome.

We are not stopping the search and rescue efforts at the moment. We are committed to finding Drew, by any means necessary.

He is a loving guy if you ever met him, he said.

People who come into contact with him know he just loves people and loves to talk. That is what he did well.

Simms continued: We are still very hopeful that a miracle will take place and we will be reunited with Drew.

He said the family is doing their best given the situation.

We are realistically optimistic, he added. We know what can happen but we are also hoping for the best.

The Royal Bahamas Defense Force did not release any details on the matter up to press time.

More:

'WE ARE HOPEFUL': Family and friends hoping for a miracle to find missing 28-year-old - EyeWitness News