Weather Forecast 24th July, 2018
BAHAMAS AND TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS PUBLIC FORECAST THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT.
GENERAL SITUATION: A MID TO UPPER LEVEL TROUGH NORTHWEST OF THE BAHAMAS CONTINUE TO CREATE UNSETTLED WEATHER OVER THE AREA WHILE SURFACE RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE GENERATE MODERATE TO STRONG BREEZES OVER THE ISLANDS.
SPECIAL WARNINGS: BOATERS SHOULD BE ALERT FOR POSSIBLE WATERSPOUT ACTIVITY IN THE EXTREME NORTHWEST BAHAMAS. BEACHGOERS IN THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS INCLUDING THE TURKS AND CAICOS SHOULD REMAIN ON ALERT FOR THE RISK OF RIP CURRENTS ALONG THE EASTERN COASTS.
SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS INCLUDING THE TURKS AMD CAICOS ISLANDS.
WEATHER: PARTLY SUNNY, HOT AND HUMID WITH ISOLATED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON. MAINLY FAIR AND WARM WITH AN ISOLATED SHOWER OR TWO TONIGHT.
ADVISORY: SMALL CRAFT CAUTION REMAINS IN EFFECT.
WINDS: EAST TO SOUTHEAST AT 15 TO 20 KNOTS OVER OPEN WATERS.
SEAS: 4 TO 6 FEET OVER THE OCEAN.
NORTHWEST AND CENTRAL BAHAMAS
WEATHER: PARTLY CLOUDY TO CLOUDY WITH SCATTERED SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS THROUGH TONIGHT. SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL BECOME HEAVY TO SEVERE AT TIMES.
ADVISORY: SMALL CRAFT CAUTION REMAINS IN EFFECT.
WINDS: SOUTH TO SOUTHWEST AT 15 TO 20 KNOTS IN THE NORTHWEST BAHAMAS AND SOUTHEAST TO SOUTH AT 15 TO 20 KNOTS IN THE CENTRAL BAHAMAS OVER OPEN WATERS.
SEAS: 4 TO 6 FEET OVER THE OCEAN.
DAYTIME HIGH TEMPERATURE: 91°F 33°C
OVERNITE LOW TEMPERATURE: 77°F 25°C
HEAT INDEX: 101°F 39°C
SUNSET: 07:57PM MOONRISE: 04:48PM HIGH TIDE: 04:57PM
SUNRISE: 06:34AM TUE. MOONSET: 03:53AM TUE.
LOW TIDE: 11:24PM
HIGH TIDE: 05:09AM TUE.
LOW TIDE: 11:16AM TUE.
TROPICAL WEATHER OUTLOOK: THE TROPICS REMAIN QUIET AND TROPICAL CYCLONE FORMATION IS NOT EXPECTED DURING THE NEXT FIVE DAYS.
UWI ranked 37th among best universities in Caribbean and Latin America
The University of the West Indies (UWI) has been named among the top third universities in Latin America and the Caribbean by a prestigious UK-based publication, Times Higher Education.
This is the first time that UWI is included among the publication’s world-class universities rankings, coming in at number 37 out of 129 institutions reviewed, from among 10 of the largest and richest countries in the Caribbean and Latin America, such as Brazil, Argentina, and Chile.
The 2018 Latin America University Rankings list, which includes the best universities across the region was released last Wednesday by Times Higher Education, the leading provider of higher education data for the world's research-led institutions.
Over the past three years, UWI has intensified its transformation thrust, and this reality of the ranking is testament to its progress. The rankings come on the heels of the regional university’s new outlook and direction guided by its five-year strategic plan, 2017-2022.
Themed the Triple A Strategy, the plan is centred around widening access to quality tertiary education, greater alignment of The UWI with academic-industry partnerships relevant to the region’s needs and agility and alertness in engaging global connections and possibilities.
This year also marks a milestone anniversary for UWI. The regional institution celebrates 70 years of service and leadership as the largest, most longstanding, higher education provider in the Commonwealth Caribbean.
Greece wildfires: 60 dead in holiday area
At least 60 people have died in wildfires in the Attica region around Athens, in Greece's worst fire disaster in more than a decade.
Flames fanned by strong winds devastated the seaside village of Mati, devouring homes and cars.
Rescuers found the bodies of 26 adults and children who had apparently hugged each other as they died, trapped by the inferno just metres from the sea.
Many calls have been made to the rescue services looking for missing persons.
Mati is located in the Rafina region which is popular with local tourists, especially pensioners and children attending holiday camps.
Hundreds of firefighters have been battling the blazes and the authorities are seeking international assistance.
Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras has declared three days of national mourning
Over 460 migrants separated from their children have potentially been deported by U.S.
“These parents urgently need consultations with lawyers, so that they do not mistakenly strand their children in the United States," the ACLU said in the joint court filing on Monday.
The Trump administration may have already deported as many as 463 migrant parents who were separated from their children at the U.S.-Mexico border, and they may have lost their right to reunification, Justice Department lawyers said in a court filing on Monday.
Those parents may not be eligible to be reunified with their children, according to the filing, which grouped parents not in the U.S. as either potentially eligible or not eligible.
The filing also reported that 879 migrant parents have been successfully reunified with their children, up from 364 on Thursday. But 917 parents may not be eligible for reunification at all.
A total of 2,551 children between the ages of 5-17 have been taken from their parents at the border, many of whom were separated under Trump's "zero tolerance" policy that called for the prosecution of all immigrants crossing the border illegally.Migrant parents crossing the border with children now are held in detention with their children and not criminally prosecuted unless they have committed other crimes.
The government has until Thursday to reunify the rest of the children,
Children not reunified with parents will be sent to live with a family member or sponsor while their asylum case plays out, officials have said.
Fraser-Pryce Already Looking Forward To 2019 World Champs After Sub-11 Run
Jamaican sprinting star Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce was left pleased with her 100m run at the London Anniversary Games on Saturday, as the IAAF Diamond League made its way to the British capital.
Fraser-Pryce, a two-time Olympic champion and four-time individual gold -medal winner at the World Championships, dipped below 11 seconds for the first time since giving birth to her son Zyon last August.
Competing inside the London Olympic Stadium, the 31-year-old first clocked 11.13 seconds in slightly negative win (-0.4) to win her heat, before returning to the track to stop the clock at 10.98 to win the final shortly afterwards.
She prepares to return to championship competition with next year's World Championships in Qatar kicking off the next cycle of major global events, completed by the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo and the 2021 World Championships in Eugene, Oregon.
The sprinter, who is yet to consistently execute the bullet start that she is so well-known for, added that she is working to put all phases of her race together.
"Being a mother is my first priority and to come back and be flexible with my training is wonderful, and I'm so excited about next year now," she added.
Antidepressant prescriptions for children on the rise
The number of antidepressants prescribed to children in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland has risen over the past three years.In England, there was a 15% rise. Scotland saw a 10% increase. And in Northern Ireland the number rose by 6%.
In total, there were 950,000 prescriptions issued between April 2015 and March 2018. Experts have linked the rise to waits for specialist mental health services.Antidepressants should prescribed to children only under close supervision.
The total number of prescriptions rose from 290,393 in 2015-16 to 330,616 in 2017-18.The steepest increase was seen in the youngest patients, those aged 12 and under, where the number of prescriptions rose on average by 24%, from 14,500 to almost 18,000.
Dr Bernadka Dubicka, who chairs the child and adolescent faculty at the Royal College of Psychiatrists, said: "Currently only one in four children and young people are treated for their mental health problems.
Marc Bush, chief policy advisor at Young Minds, said: "The government recently suggested that the average waiting time for general access to Camhs is around 12 weeks, which is a long time to be in distress.
In rare cases, antidepressants can trigger thoughts of suicide and self-harm in children.
Thai soccer team rescued from cave to become novice Buddhist monks
The young Thai soccer team whose evacuation from a cave took their first steps in becoming novice Buddhist monks on Tuesday, in a ceremony intended to honor their rescuers.
Eleven of the 12 team members who were trapped in the cave system for more than three weeks attended an pre-ordination ceremony on Tuesday morning, before their initiation was completed at a second event in the afternoon.
The gesture was meant to honor Lt. Cmdr. Saman Kunan, a former Thai Navy SEAL who died during the cave rescue operation on July 6.
One of their teammates, Adul Sam-on, is a Christian and instead attended a local church to perform a separate ceremony.
The others will begin their week-long stint as Buddhist novices from Wednesday morning, when they will have their heads shaved. The practice is considered a high honor in Thailand.
They will leave the monastery and return to civilian life on August 3.
Tour de France temporarily halted by protesters; riders inadvertently tear-gassed
The Tour de France -- cycling's most prestigious race -- was temporarily halted today after tear gas, used to disperse protesters by police, inadvertently got into the eyes of some riders.
Protesting farmers had blocked the road with hay bales, leading police to spray them with CS gas. Unhappy farmers had organized the protest because they "wanted to be seen" by France's Minister of Agriculture, Stéphane Travert, according to a police source.
"Looks like the tear gas used by the police on the farmers ended up getting to the eyes of some riders," tweeted the Quick-Step Cycling team. The police source confirmed the race was stopped because the organizers wanted the gas to disperse to avoid any other riders being affected.
Medical treatment received by the riders was described as "light," while there were "no injuries" and cyclists were just washing off any molecules of tear gas.
"After a 15 minute-long interruption caused by protesters, the race is back on," tweeted the Tour's Twitter feed.
The Tour feed also posted a tweet warning spectators to "respect the riders," as endangering them can lead to up to three years in prison.
Formula One shelves plans to launch Miami Grand Prix in 2019
Formula One has hit the brakes on a proposed 2019 race in Miami, shelving plans until at least 2020.
After Miami city authorities delayed a crucial vote -- initially set for July 26 -- until September, F1 has decided to put the race on hold rather than sign off "on a sub-optimal race track."
"Whilst our preference would have been to race in Miami in 2019, there was always a point by which delivering the best possible wheel-to-wheel racing experience for our fans, drivers and teams wouldn't be possible in the time available," F1's managing director of commercial operations Sean Bratches said in a statement.
F1's US-based owner Liberty Media is keen to add a second US race to the calendar alongside the Unite States Grand Prix, which has been held in Austin, Texas since 2012.
Florida man could avoid charges in fatal shooting because of 'stand your ground' law
Florida's "stand your ground" law could save a man from prosecution after he fatally shot another man following a heated argument over a parking space at a convenience store.
The shooting took place Thursday after Britany Jacobs, 24, parked in a handicapped-accessible spot at the Circle A Food Store in Clearwater, according to a news release from the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office.
Sheriff's detectives said Michael Drejka, 47, approached Jacobs while her boyfriend Markeis McGlockton, and the couple's 5-year-old son, Markeis Jr., went into the store. Drejka and Jacobs began arguing about her parking in the handicapped parking space. Witnesses told police that McGlockton came outside, walked over to Drejka while he was arguing and "forcibly pushed" Drejka, causing him to fall."This is a violent push, this wasn't a shove, this wasn't just a tap," Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri said during a Friday Press Conference. In response, the news release stated, Drejka pulled out a handgun while he was on the ground and shot McGlockton in the chest. "Witnesses say McGlockton walked back into the convenient store where he collapsed," the release stated. He was taken to a hospital where he died.
Drejka was cooperative with deputies, the release said. He had a valid Florida concealed weapons license, it added. "He felt, after being slammed to the ground, that the next thing was that he was going to be further attacked by McGlockton," Gualtieri said, adding that the time between Drejka hitting the ground and shooting was about four to five seconds.