Category Archives: Caribbean

THE HAGUE, Netherlands22 September 2022The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) and the Government of the Argentine Republic organised an advanced assistance and protection course and exercise for Latin American and Caribbean OPCW Member States. The Spanish-language course was held in Buenos Aires, Argentina from 5 to 10 September.

The training included comprehensive classes and exercises that covered handling toxic chemicals in multiple environments. Participants reinforced their skills and abilities as members of chemical emergency response teams and built upon competencies gained during an earlier training course held in Panama in April 2022. The course ended with a final exercise where participants demonstrated their newly acquired expertise.

During the opening ceremony, Ambassador Gustavo Zlauvinen, Executive Secretary of the Argentine National Authority for the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), reaffirmed Argentinas commitment to the implementation of Article X of the Convention in the Latin American and Caribbean region. The ceremony was also attended by the Undersecretary of Foreign Policy of the Argentine Republic, Ambassador Claudio Rozencwaig.

The Technical Secretariat of the OPCW collaborated with the Argentine National Authority and the Federal Firefighting Superintendency of the Argentine Federal Police to develop and deliver the course.

The course was attended by 23 participants from 15 OPCW Member States: Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, and Uruguay.

Under Article X of the CWC, Member States have the right to participate in, the fullest possible exchange of equipment, material and scientific and technological information concerning means of protection against chemical weapons.

As the implementing body for the Chemical Weapons Convention, the OPCW, with its 193 Member States, oversees the global endeavour to permanently eliminate chemical weapons. Since the Conventions entry into force in 1997, it is the most successful disarmament treaty eliminating an entire class of weapons of mass destruction.

Over 99% of all declared chemical weapon stockpiles have been destroyed under OPCW verification. For its extensive efforts in eliminating chemical weapons, the OPCW received the 2013 Nobel Peace Prize.

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Latin American and Caribbean experts demonstrate response capabilities in OPCW exercise | OPCW - Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons

Vancouver Island University (VIU) is helping Caribbean institutions develop and expand capacity in online learning.

The new $480,000 international cooperation project, delivered in partnership with Durham College and Humber College, will grow the capacity of institutions in Belize, Jamaica, Grenada, Dominica, Guyana, and St. Lucia to integrate educational technology in their teaching practices. The project is part of the Global Affairs Canada-funded Colleges and Institutes Canada Skills to Access the Green Economy (SAGE) program.

VIUs Global Engagement team and subject matter experts in the Centre for Innovation and Excellence in Learning (CIEL) will implement the project over the next two years.

Darrell Harvey, VIUs Manager of Global Engagement, said the need for a project like this really came to light during the COVID-19 pandemic.

COVID really exposed the need for online learning opportunities and in many of these countries, that just hadnt been part of their teaching toolbox, he said. As a result, when the pandemic hit, a lot of their classrooms went dark because they werent able to shift to online learning, or if they did, it was in a very rudimentary way.

The opportunity is an exciting one for Anwen Burk, a Curriculum, Teaching and Learning Specialist at VIU. Her areas of focus include the integration of technology into face-to-face, blended and online courses. She will be one of VIUs lead subject matter experts for the duration of this project.

Partnerships like this provide the opportunity for everyone involved to build their knowledge and capacity in ways that can have a positive impact on their respective communities, said Burk. It also creates new and international communities of learning and challenges us to think about our own work in new and creative ways.

The project will assess the needs of instructors at institutions in each of the six Caribbean partner countries to determine where theyre at in terms of knowledge and skill when it comes to online learning and teaching, what tools currently exist, and what other tools can be used to design, develop and deliver an online teaching and learning teacher program that will meet their needs.

Burk is excited to work with people who hold similar roles as hers at other institutions.

This will be an opportunity to exchange different theoretical and practical approaches to the work we do, she said. This will expand and enrich my knowledge of the field and I look forward to applying this knowledge to the work I do at VIU.

She said another highlight will be learning more about how educational institutions work overall in the Caribbean:How are they similar to Canadian institutions? How are they different? What can we learn from their approach to teaching and learning?

The partnership builds on VIUs growing portfolio of international cooperation partnerships in the Caribbean and elsewhere. The work planning phase is happening now through the fall, with curriculum development and training taking place over the course of the next two years.

To learn more about VIUs international cooperation projects, visit the Global Engagement website.

-30-

MEDIA CONTACT:

Eric Zimmer, Communications Officer, Vancouver Island University

P:250.618.7296 | E:Eric.Zimmer@viu.ca| T:@VIUNews

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VIU launches new educational technology partnership in the Caribbean | News | Vancouver Island University | Canada - Vancouver Island University News

Source: Journal of Geophysical Research: Biogeosciences

The coral reefs of the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean are richly diverse ecosystems of global importance. These regions contain more than 10% of the worlds reefs and host hundreds of fish species, and they provide more than $6 billion in economic benefits courtesy of fisheries, tourism, and other ecosystem services. But over the past 4 decades, climate change and local stressors like overfishing, pollution, and invasive species have taken a heavy toll. On average, live coral covers less than 10% of the surface of most reefs in the region.

Heat stress is a major culprit of this decline. It can cause a phenomenon called coral bleaching, in which corals expel the colorful algae that provide most of their food. If the algae come back, the corals can survive the ordeal. But extended periods of high temperature or back-to-back bleaching events will eventually kill many corals. Since 1987, the Florida Keys alone have been hit by at least six major bleaching events, with several events sweeping the whole region.

In a new study, Lawman et al. use climate model simulations spanning from 2015 to 2100 to evaluate how heat stress and ocean acidificationcaused by rising carbon dioxide levelswill affect corals in the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean. The authors also broke down modeled temperature and acidification rates by region. They found that depending on the simulation, sea surface temperatures in the area increased by about 0.3C0.4C per decade through the 21st century (or 2C2.8C cumulatively by centurys end).

If these estimates prove accurate, ocean temperatures will surpass the bleaching threshold for the regions corals by midcentury, indicating heat stress will have a more rapid and extreme impact on reefs compared with acidification. However, in some regions, ocean temperatures are projected to change more slowly. The authors suggest that these regions could be prioritized for protection as climate refugia. The findings could also be combined with studies focusing on other coral stressors to create comprehensive regional risk maps to inform better management.

The authors conclude that in the absence of significant and targeted mitigation efforts, stress from higher temperatures and ocean acidification will likely kill many existing corals in the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean by 2100. (Journal of Geophysical Research: Biogeosciences, https://doi.org/10.1029/2022JG006999, 2022)

Rachel Fritts, Science Writer

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Unchecked Ocean Warming Threatens Many Gulf and Caribbean Corals - Eos

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The number of foreign tourists who visit popular vacation destinations in Mexico has skyrocketed over the last year or so, and just in Cancun and the Mexican Caribbean alone, 4 million Americans have visited already this year. More Americans visit the area than tourists from any other country, and even pre-pandemic, 50 percent of foreign tourists that visited Cancun came from the United States. Now, in 2022, the number of American tourists who visit the most popular Mexican Caribbean destination is on track to go even further beyond that number.

In the first half of the year, the percentage of foreign tourists who were American that visited Cancun was already at nearly 60 percent. And although some of the busiest seasons for the area are in the first six months of the year, the fall and winter months are popular too. For this reason, there is a good chance that the number of U.S. citizens who visit the Mexican Caribbean will far exceed the 4 million that have already vacationed there.

Cancun, Playa del Carmen, and Tulum are some of the most popular destinations in the Mexican Caribbean because they have so much to offer. Beautiful beaches, fascinating history, and breathtaking natural scenery may be what draws people to the area, but these fantastic amenities are only the beginning. Cancun, for example, is also known for its huge array of luxury all-inclusive resorts, exciting nightlife, and world-class dining options.

Many tourists dont really realize until they visit the Mexican Caribbean just how much there is to do in addition to enjoying the spectacular beaches and vibrant nightlife. Beyond the energetic, busy Cancun Hotel Zone, there is much more to explore. So, to help you make the most of your trip to Cancun well list three more options that will help you plan the ultimate Cancun vacation.

Cenotes are not something you will find everywhere but youll find them all over the place in the Mexican Caribbean. A cenote is a natural sinkhole formed in limestone that fills up with water from underground rivers and rain. Some are open, others are closed within caves, and regardless of the type of cenote, it is they make for great swimming on a hot summer day. One of the best ways to see the most beautiful cenotes in the area is to travel along the La Ruta de Los Cenotes in nearby Puerto Morelos, but you can also book tours through one of the local tour companies too.

Adventure Parks are a great way to enjoy the natural side of the Mexican Caribbean and all that it has to offer as well. At many of these parks you will find a long list of activities, such as ziplining, underground river swimming, jungle tours, snorkeling, and even wildlife sightings. Xcaret is the most popular adventure park in the area and has more than 50 different activities and attractions to explore. Visitors pay an admission of $109.99 for adults 12+ and $54.99 for children 5-11 to have access to all that the park has to offer and there is plenty to keep busy all day long.

The Mexican Caribbean is the perfect place to explore Mayan culture and history and you dont have to go far from Cancun to do so. There are Mayan ruins all up and down the coast, and in fact, you can even find some spots right in Cancun, at the Mayan Museum of Cancun, located right in the Hotel Zone. There are also ruins in Playa del Carmen and Tulum but the crme de la crme is Chichn Itz, which is only about 2.5 hours from Cancun. If you dont have a car while visiting the area there are plenty of tours that will take you to any of these popular ruins.

There are many reasons for Cancun being the number one destination in Mexico for tourists and having already welcomed millions of visitors this year. Warm weather, sunshine, breathtakingly beautiful beaches, amazing all-inclusive resorts, fantastic food, and endless opportunities for adventure, just to name a few. And since none of those things are going away anytime soon, we will likely see the destinations popularity continue to grow for the foreseeable future.

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4 Million Americans Have Visited Cancun And The Mexican Caribbean So Far This Year - The Cancun Sun

Caribbean Airlines advises that there will be disruptions to its Havana services as follows:

BW 476 AND BW 477 OF SEPTEMBER 27 2022:

FLIGHT

ROUTING

STATUS

BW 476

POS/HAV

CANCELLED

BW 477

HAV/POS

CANCELLED

RE-ACCOMMODATION FLIGHTS WILL OPERATE ON SEPTEMBER 29, 2022

AS FOLLOWS (ALL TIMES LOCAL):

FLIGHT

DATE

ROUTING

DEP TIME

ARR TIME

BW 3476

SEP 29

Trinidad/Havana

10:30 AM

2:35 PM

BW 3477

SEP 29

Havana/Trinidad

3:45 PM

7:35 PM

BW 3477 will continue POS TO GEO to accommodate connecting passengers to Georgetown, Guyana; along with an additional return service as follows

FLIGHT

DATE

ROUTING

DEP TIME

ARR TIME

BW 3477

SEP 29

Trinidad/Guyana

8:35 PM

9:45 PM

BW 7463

SEP 29

Guyana/Trinidad

10:45 PM

11:55 PM

The airline has reached out to the affected passengers, and re-accommodation is in progress.

Passengers are encouraged to register for real-time flight notifications and updates viahttps://www.caribbean-airlines.com/#/caribbean-flight-notifications.Customers may also check the status of a flight by route or flight number using theFLIGHT STATUS tab on the Caribbean Airlines homepage atwww.caribbean-airlines.com

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Several flights operated by Caribbean Airlines impacted by Hurricane IAN - St Vincent Times

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 Preparing for the Storm

WATCH The Ins & Outs of Hurricane Season

READ the First Alert Hurricane Center Survival Guide

LISTEN & WATCH Surviving the Storm - WOKV Radio & Action News Jax

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

REMEMBER WHEN A TROPICAL STORM OR HURRICANE IS APPROACHING: Taping windows is *NOT* helpful & will not keep glass from breaking.

Realize the forecast cone (cone of uncertainty) is the average forecast error over a given time - out to 5 days - & *does not* indicate the width of the storm &/or damage that might occur.

** FIRST ALERT! ** - Anyone living in - or traveling to - the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, Yucatan Peninsula &/or the U.S. Gulf Coast should stay up to date on the latest forecast as Ian moves over the Caribbean... then over the Eastern Gulf of Mexico. A reminder to NOT focus to much on the exact landfall point or intensity forecast. **

LOCAL - NORTHEAST FLORIDA/SOUTHEAST GEORGIA - POTENTIAL IMPACTS FROM IAN - BASESD ON THE *CURRENT* FORECAST PATH:

* Swells from Fiona are slowly decreasing but onshore flow & an enhanced rip current risk will continue at area beaches through Sunday evening.

* Few if any impacts from Ian through at least Tue.... with the first rainfall - still not necessarily directly a result of Ian - arriving Wed. (depending on a Fl. hit more to the south vs. more to the north which would result in rain bands arriving later)

* Tropical moisture surging north ahead of Ian should start to bring some showers, isolated tstorms from south to north through the day Wed. This will start to saturate the already wet ground across the area potentially leading to flooding issues Thu./Fri. as heavy Ian rain bands move across the area & potentially train across some areas. The saturated soil may also lead to trees being more easily uprooted by winds that otherwise would not be much of a problem. The local has area has dried out some over the past 7-10 days but the very wet Aug./early Sept. has still left soils essentially saturated... + were coming off a week of higher than avg. tides partially due to the recent new moon cycle, so theres a good deal of water in the system.

* Seas & surf will increase through the week

* Gusty winds arrive by Thu./Fri.

* Depending on the location of Ian, waterspouts & tornadoes may occur Wed.-Fri.

* The exact timing & intensity of any & all Ian impacts for NE Fl./SE Ga. will be dependent on the exact location of Ian in reference to Jacksonville & will, of course, be subject to change.

* This weekend & the beginning of the week is your chance to get organized, check storm kits, prepare your yard & home for a storm, check & test (understand!) generators & top off gas tanks. This course of action would be especially advisable along the west coast of Fl. & the Panhandle.

Atlantic Basin:

Tropical wave - 98-L that moved off of Africa last week is moving over the Southern Caribbean & Central Caribbean & was upgraded to tropical depression #9 Friday then to tropical storm Ian Fri. evening. This is a classic wave in that it formed from a complex of intense storms over Africa... encountered hostile conditions (shear & dry air) for days before finding more favorable conditions. Some land interaction with the north coast of Colombia & Venezuela plus some shear out of the northeast kept Ian weak but low pressure managed to form at the surface Thu. followed by a burst of persistent tstorms by Thu. night. There is still some shear out of the north/northeast for right now, but Ian will soon be in a low shear environment. As the storm gains some latitude, most ingredients are in place for the development of a significant tropical cyclone over the Central &/or Western/Northwest Caribbean... with pretty rapid intensification a distinct possibility. Hurricane hunter recon through early Sunday noted the low level center was not aligned with the mid & upper level centers. Bursts of tstorms should eventually curl around a single center - which may have a tendency to jump until theres good organization - through the day Sunday which would then allow Ian to quickly strengthen.

The global forecast models still present a serious conundrum with a wide spray of where the storm might go in relation to Florida though not as wide as previous days. The difference is roughly 200-300 miles between the GFS & European when it comes to a hit on Florida. & its very much worth mentioning that the GFS *has been* leading the charge so far on accuracy, especially as it relates to location & the longer westward movement. So while theres agreement on development of a major hurricane & model solutions have narrowed some, theres still significant spread on speed of forward movement & exact location with the GFS slower, more north & the European faster & more east. But - again - the model differences are more narrow & the European is trending slowly west with each model run. The GFS remains steadfast on a Panhandle hit. Confidence is increasing that the west coast of Florida & possibly parts of the Panhandle with be hit by a strong, possibly major (Cat. 3+) hurricane during the upcoming mid to late week. Both the GFS & European models are initializing well which is a positive... the GFS has been better on the more west & south track the last 3 days & currently, but there may be a jump of sorts to the north or northwest as the tstorms become more concentrated & a center evolves. Agreement between the models is o.k. at first with a slowly developing tropical cyclone over the Western &/or Northern Caribbean. The GFS cannot & should not be ignored despite its extreme west (Louisiana which is going to be too far west) solution during the middle of last week as the GFS was the model of choice on Fiona last week. Once to Fl., the European is south of Tampa & a little earlier - Wed. - but has been trending north. The Euro then cuts Ian sharply east across Fl. followed by a fairly sharp turn north with a second landfall on the Carolina coast (taking Ian south then east of Jacksonville but with pretty significant impacts for NE Fl./SE Ga.) The GFS model is to the Eastern Fl. Panhandle & slower - about Thu. More time over the Northeast Gulf - a more northward motion next week - could result in some weakening before landfall due to increasing shear & some drier continental air possibly becoming involved with the Ians circulation. In any case... a significant hit appears likely own the Fl. west coast &/or Panhandle. The UKMET model has not been very good this season so far but for what its worth, the model is now closer to the European solution on the Fl. landfall - near Tampa - but weaker & probably much too weak.

So the ingredients are in place for the development of a major hurricane over the Caribbean with very warm water including high oceanic heat content (warm far below the surface of the ocean)... sufficient mid & upper level moisture... mostly low shear that will eventually be in concert with the storms movement (so less detrimental). Shear does increase by mid to late next week but may be offset some by upper level ventilation (nearby trough) & the fact that Ian should be well organized by then. In the end... the storms intensity will come down to how quickly Ian can organize... any land interaction... & how long the tropical cyclone stays over the Gulf vs. moving into Fl. We will have to watch for the possibility of pretty fast intensification upon approach to the Cayman Islands, Cuba &/or over the Southeast Gulf where the environment looks especially favorable. It looks like the fairly steady/swift movement - of a then well developed tropical cyclone - north across Cuba will brief & little more than a speed bump. Drier mid & upper level air will increase next week closer to Fl. & over the Northeast Gulf along with at least some increase in shear - this combination will hopefully drop Ians intensity from its peak over the Gulf, especially if the eye gets farther north vs. an earlier, more east hit on the Fl. west coast.

Some thoughts on incorporating real time data into the models: hurricane hunter aircraft flew across the SE Caribbean & nearby areas last Wed. evening & the weather data was ingested into the 00Z GFS model run, but was not incorporated again until Sat. afternoon (00Z Sun. output). In my opinion based on past experience - its of no help until there is constant surveillance of the surrounding atmosphere that is then incorporated into the analysis data for each model run. I suspect the single run with real-time data is why the GFS had major hiccups midweek with a track so far to the west. There did not seem to be such a major hiccup when realtime data was incorporated Sat. night. According to the NHC: data collected from special radiosonde releases beginning later today (Sat.) and a scheduled NOAA G-IV flight will help resolve the steering flow around Ian and deep-layer trough that is forecast to be over the eastern U.S. early next week. This kind of mid & upper level data was being gathered again Sunday morning for use in the initialization of forecast models.

Steering currents to consider:

(1) the GFS won the forecast battle on Fiona hands down over the European model while the UKMET was consistently out to lunch. Simply based on the youre only as good as your last forecast, its very hard to ignore the GFS. Not to mention the models stability from one run to the next has greatly improved over the last few days. The same can be said for the European when it comes to its recent run to run consistency farther to the east... though it did trend west pretty steadily Fri./Sat.

(2) there should be some extra ridging underneath - to the south of - intense hurricane Fiona. This alone could result in a more westward track for a bit of a while which seems to have been the case so far. But its unclear how much ridging will manage to build behind only recently departing Fiona as an upper level trough sweeps across the Eastern U.S. through the early part of the week which will help dictate the timing & angle of the turn north out of the Caribbean.

(3) If Ian remains weaker & more shallow, it will be steered more by low level (trade) winds vs. the deep tropospheric flow.

(4) a tropical storm/typhoon has formed over the W. Pacific & will move due west to Asia. Perhaps of more importance is a previous tropical cyclone that turned rather sharply to the northeast & moved near & east of Japan & has since become a post-tropical low. A teleconnection implies the more west movement of Ian will be somewhat short lived followed by the sharper turn north then northeast. (W. Pacific track map at the bottom). The trough off the east coast of China essentially mirrors the trough near/off the east coast of the U.S. with strong low pressure to the east (Fiona over the Atlantic) followed by another trough to the east.

Movement summary:

Ian will at least stay far to the south of recently hard hit Puerto Rico & Dominican Republic. The time table - *for right now* is Central/Northern/NW Caribbean through the weekend... well south & west of Jamaica through Sunday night... a quick crossing of Cuba late Mon. into Tue... then the SE Gulf of Mexico mid week followed by a hit on Floridas west coast or the Panhandle about Wed./Thu. depending on the whether or not Ian is moving more north (later landfall) or more east (earlier landfall)- timing is subject to change, of course! Do keep in mind that if the European model verifies then impacts to Florida will be earlier while the GFS solution would still be Florida but later - by at least 24 hours. It remains early on the path & strength of Ian. There will be changes, stay up to date!

Spaghetti plots includes ensembles of the models:

If Ians forecast track continues to trend west, the rainfall forecast should decrease - at least some:

Deep oceanic heat content is impressive across the Caribbean - lots of warm water well below the surface of the ocean:

Strong shear over the far Eastern Caribbean weakens a great deal more to the north & west:

Radar imagery from S. Fl. Water Management District:

Check out the very warm deep oceanic heat content over the Caribbean, far SW Atlantic & parts of the Gulf:

Tropical wave - 96-L was upgraded to tropical depression #7 Wed. morning then to tropical storm Fiona Wed. evening & to a hurricane Sun. morning with a Cat. 1 (85 mph winds) landfall Sunday afternoon about 3:20pm EDT along the southwest coast of Puerto Rico near Punta Tocon followed by another landfall (Cat. 1/90 mph winds) early Mon. at 3:30am EDT along the coast of the Dominican Republic near Boca de Yuma. The hurricane strengthened into a Cat. 2 late Mon. then to a major Cat. 3+ hurricane early Tue. - the first major hurricane of the Atlantic season. The avg. date for such an occurrence is Sept. 1. Fiona reached Jacksonvilles latitude - 700-900 miles to the east Thu. afternoon. The eye went west & northwest of Bermuda early Fri. & became extratropical Fri. evening upon approach to Atlantic Canada but was still a very powerful storm for Nova Scotia & Newfoundland. In fact, Fiona made landfall this morning with a central pressure of 931.6 mb, which is a new Canadian record in a landfilling storm. The last NHC Fiona advisory was issued Saturday.

Tip of the hat to the GFS for winning the model forecast on this one - hands down. An upper level trough captured Fiona bending the post-tropical low to the north & northwest as the remnant low now slowly fills (weakens)

Of note - the center moving a little south of due west into the face of the shear - as was the case early in the storms developmental stages - led to an eventually powerful hurricanes that had a similar trend. And indeed Fiona followed suit reaching Cat. 3 intensity last Tue. & a Cat. 4 early Wed.

Hurricane hunter aircraft snapshot of the eye of Fiona early Tue.!:

Elsewhere....

Gaston was upgraded Tue. & will stay over the Central & Northeast Atlantic while drifting toward the west & weakening with lessening impacts for the Azore Islands... no impacts to the U.S. Despite eventually moving back over warm water to the southwest, it appears the remnant low will be too weak to take advantage of the warmer sea surface temps.

And last but not least(!)... tropical depression #10 was upgraded to tropical storm Hermine Fri. (thanks Eric Blake, NHC!) near the coast of Africa over the far Eastern Atlantic. The system turned sharply north over the E. Atlantic while weakening. The last NHC advisory was issued early Sunday.

And a tropical wave is moving from the Eastern to Central Atlantic. Any development with this wave will be slow as it moves northwest.... another wave is coming off the coast of Africa at a lower latitude & might have some long term potential.

Water vapor loop shows plenty of mid & upper level moisture (white & green areas) across a good part of the Atlantic Basin:

September origins:

Averages below based on climatology for the Atlantic Basin through September. This season so far is well below avg.:

Wind shear:

Saharan dust spreads west each year from Africa by the prevailing winds (from east to west over the Atlantic). Dry air - yellow/orange/red/pink. Widespread dust is indicative 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 - or away from - the plume then try to develop if other conditions are favorable. In my personal opinion, way too much is made about the presence of Saharan dust & how it relates to tropical cyclones. In any case, weve had several large dust plumes spread west to the Caribbean & Gulf with the peak of Saharan dust typically in June & July.

2022 names..... Julia 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 & Ida in 21]). In fact, this years list of names is rather infamous with Charley, Frances, Jeanne & Ivan retired from the 04 list (all hit Fl.) & Matthew was retired in 2016. The WMO decided - beginning last year - 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 three times - 2005, 2020 & 2021). The naming of tropical cyclones began on a consistent basis in 1953. More on the history of naming tropical cyclones * here *.

East Atlantic:

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Talking the Tropics With Mike: Ian continues to fester over Caribbean - ActionNewsJax.com

Vince McMahon Was Accused Of Copying Johnny Depps Jack Sparrow Character From Pirates Of The Caribbean ( Photo Credit IMDb )

WWEs Vince McMahon is known for his creative ideas and vision as he is also a performer himself, and fans have seen the WWE legend bring pop culture to WWE, but he had never copied it on one on one from anywhere. However, years ago, he was accused of copying Johnny Depps character Jack Sparrow. Shocked? Scroll below to read on!

At that time, Vince McMahon was accused of copying the pirate gimmick from Disneys popular movie Pirates of the Caribbean featuring Johnny Depp. But years later, WWEs legendary personality rubbished the reports.

In his own podcast as reported in Essentially Sports, William Regal talked about how everyone thought of Vince copying the character but actually it was not the case. Talking about it, he said, At the time, everybody thought oh Mr. McMahon is copying Pirates of the Caribbean.

I can tell you definitely, that was a hog. Mr. McMahon had no clue about Pirates of the Caribbean and he just heard Burchill talk and he remembered some old movies, like Treasure Island from years ago, and thought he sounded like a pirate. Thats why he gave him the character. He wasnt trying to copy Johnny [Depp]. Im sure other people, and probably Paul Burchill, would base it around Johnny Depp, William Regal further added.

This is not the first time when WWE referred to Johnny Depp or Hollywood. However, even though Johnnys movie Pirates of the Caribbean became a super hit, McMahons pirate gimmick never got accomplished.

Well, it seems like there is a huge influence from pop culture on wrestling promotions. What do you think? Let us know in the comments!

For more such WWE news, stay tuned to Koimoi.

Must Read: Amber Heards Friendship With Cara Delevingne Was Beginning Of The End Of Her Marriage With Johnny Depp: It Really Started To Drive Him Insane

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WWEs Vince McMahon Copied Johnny Depps Pirates Of The Caribbean Character Jack Sparrow? Former Legend William Regal Reacts That Was A Hog - Koimoi

Special Olympics Caribbean Initiative Athlete Leadership Council Chairman David Duncan (right) speaks to (from left) Mike Hamilton, senior director of Independent School Development for Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools; Nathan Koller, manager of progamme development for global Unified Champion Schools; and Haylie Wrubel, Special Olympics senior director for Global Education Strategy and Programming, during a press conference at the Office of the Commissioner of Police on Wednesday. (Photo: Collin Reid)

AS attention turns to the much-anticipated World Summer Games next year, the Special Olympics Caribbean Initiative received a major boost recently as partners reaffirmed their commitment to the development of programmes in Jamaica and the wider region.

Last week, representatives from Special Olympics International visited Jamaica to observe the management of the Unified Champion Schools activities, as well as to meet with programme leaders from Bermuda, St Kitts and Nevis, and Trinidad and Tobago to provide guidance for similar execution in those territories.

The Unified Champion Schools project is organised by the Special Olympics Caribbean Initiative and funded by the Greek-based Stavros Niarchos Foundation. The project promotes social inclusion by gringing together young people with and without intellectual disabilities for sport competition, educational and youth leadership projects, and other activities.

During a press conference at the Office of the Commissioner of Police on Wednesday, Haylie Wrubel, the Special Olympics senior director for global education strategy and programming, said Government support is central to the overall success of the various programmes.

"We are committed to growing and strengthening Special Olympics programmes here through continued partnership with the Jamaican Government," she said, noting that projects in Jamaica can form a template for other countries in the Caribbean.

"Working together to deepen our partnership shows the international community that in Jamaica those with intellectual disabilities are not just included, but centred in post-COVID education recovery efforts. We've already made so much progress and there's so much more to do," Wrubel added.

The Special Olympics senior director announced the provision of a US$50,000 grant for Special Olympics Jamaica (SOJ) to help organise the Unified Champion Schools activities in eastern Jamaica. She said programmes in Bermuda, St Kitts and Nevis, and Trinidad and Tobago will also receive grants.

Jamaica's Minister of Sport Olivia Grange, in her address, lauded the work of Special Olympics administrators and volunteers, and emphasised that her Government will continue to foster "social inclusion" through sporting activities.

"As minister I've always had a profound love for, and have pledged my unwavering support, to Special Olympics Jamaica," Grange shared during the press conference.

"Sport and physical activity are key to who we are as a people. It is therefore imperative that all Jamaicans, regardless of ability, are able to freely access and participate in sport and physical activities."

Grange said the Unified Champion Schools initiative "embodies the idea of sport for all". She added that "playing together allows us to understand each other".

Meanwhile, on Thursday a unified team from Corinaldi Avenue Primary School of St James emerged winner of a one-day football rally staged at Football Factory in St Andrew.

Coleridge "Roy" Howell, the SOJ executive director, was impressed by the rally, noting that the young footballers from diverse socio-economic backgrounds across the country displayed "talent, competitive spirit and exemplary discipline".

At the end of the site visit, Lorna Bell, the Special Olympics Caribbean Initiative executive director, told the Jamaica Observer that the three days of activities were a "massive success".

She added: "I'm very encouraged by the continued support of our partners as we strive to increase awareness and expand our programmes throughout the region."

Bell ended by praising the support given by Digicel, Lions Club International, UNICEF, members of the Law Enforcement Torch Run, Jamaica Olympic Association, Jamaica Football Federation and the Jamaica Council for Persons with Disabilities.

The 2023 Special Olympics Summer Games is to be held in Berlin, Germany, in June.

Through sport activities and competition the Special Olympics International movement aims to break down barriers that exclude people with intellectual disabilities, such as autism and Down's syndrome, from mainstream society.

Sanjay Myers

Haylie Wrubel (left), Special Olympics senior director for Global Education Strategy and Programming, speaks to Sport Minister Olivia Grange during a press conference at the Office of the Commissioner of Police on Wednesday. (Photo: Collin Reid)

Continued here:

Special Olympics Caribbean tightens bond with partners - Jamaica Observer

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Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre called attention to the proliferation of firearms in Saint Lucia and the rest of the Caribbean during an address to the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

Mr. President, while Saint Lucia and the rest of the Caribbean are not manufacturers of conventional weapons, our countries have been plagued by a proliferation of illegal small arms and light weapons, the Saint Lucia Prime Minister noted.

And Pierre explained that it has resulted in a surge in criminal activity and gun violence.

He told his audience that Saint Lucia has always advocated the international frameworks strongly.

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In this regard, Pierre mentioned the United Nations Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat, and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All its Aspects (UN-POA) and the Arms Trade Treaty.

He described them as two examples of multilateral instruments aimed at mobilising international cooperation to curb the illicit trade in conventional arms and ammunition.

Saint Lucia calls on the major manufacturers, exporters and importers of conventional weapons in our hemisphere to live up to their commitments, under these instruments, Pierre, responsible for National Security, said.

He urged them to lend the necessary expertise and technical assistance and cooperate in good faith to stem the tide of unregulated conventional arms and ammunition.

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Pierre Highlights Proliferation Of Guns In The Caribbean At UNGA - St. Lucia Times Online News

ORLANDO, Fla. Tropical Depression 9 formed Friday morning and could impact Florida by next week. Read live updates below:

TropIcal Storm Ian has officially formed.

The 11 p.m. updated forecast track hasnt changed much since 5 p.m., and its too soon to know location of impacts, Channel 9 meteorologist George Waldenberger said.

READ: Timeline for Tropical Depression 9: Heres what to expect

The forecast cone indicates the potential of a major hurricane nearing the Florida Peninsula, or just west, by Tuesday night or Wednesday.

Waldenberger advises residents to go over their hurricane plan this weekend.

See our in-depth coverage in the video below:

IN-DEPTH: Tropical Storm Ian forms Tropical Storm Ian forms

Tropical Depression Nine is still churning across the Caribbean but is expected to become a tropical storm soon, and then a hurricane by the weekend.

The 5 p.m. track shifted slightly west with new model data.

Read: Timeline for Tropical Depression 9: Heres what to expect

Expect the potential for tropical storm/hurricane impacts in Central Florida on Wednesday.

The threat of flooding, rain and strong winds will all depend on storms track, which is still very uncertain at this time.

Read: Hurricane supply checklist: What should you include in your kit?

Tropical Storm Hermine formed far west of Africas coastline. Active systems include Hurricane Fiona, tropical storms Gaston and Hermine, Tropical Depression Nine and a disorganized low.

Stream Tom Terry live on Channel 9 Eyewitness News.

Tropical Storm Hermine just formed in the eastern Atlantic, so the Caribbean system will instead likely get the name Ian.

Gov. Ron DeSantis issued an executive order on Friday declaring a State of Emergency for 24 counties in the potential path of Tropical Depression 9.

DeSantis also requested a federal pre-landfall Emergency Declaration in anticipation of impacts from the storm. His office said that declaration will make resources and support available as well as free up funding sources for emergency protective measures. Under the emergency order, members of the Florida National Guard will be activated and on standby awaiting orders.

The state of emergency applies to: Brevard, Broward, Charlotte, Collier, DeSoto, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Highlands, Hillsborough, Indian River, Lee, Manatee, Martin, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Okeechobee, Osceola, Palm Beach, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Sarasota and St. Lucie.

Channel 9 meteorologist Rusty McCranie said there is still a lot of variability in where the tropical depression will head. You can see the latest models in his tweet below.

Tropical Depression 9: 2 p.m. Friday update

Tropical Depression 9 is forecast to continue to strengthen as it moves across the Caribbean over the weekend with a turn towards South Florida early next week.

The National Hurricane Center said this is forecast to become a major Category 3 hurricane around southwest Florida on Wednesday morning.

The latest computer models on the track of Tropical Depression 9 shows it clustered over western Cuba and then heading toward southwest Florida.

11 a.m. Tuesday update Tropical Depression 9 (WFTV)

Remember, these are models, and the track can and will change, meteorologist Rusty McCranie said.

Residents should start their initial preparation Friday and refresh their hurricane supply kits.

By Saturday, we should know if there will be impacts to Florida. If that is the case, more hurricane preparation will be needed.

Sunday is when we will know exactly what kind of impacts we will see.

Watch live updates on Channel 9 Eyewitness News at Noon.

Download the WFTV news and weather apps here for regular updates.

TD9 is currently in the central Caribbean moving west-northwest at 13 mph.

Video: Tropical Depression 9 forms in Caribbean, could impact Florida Tropical Depression 9 formed Friday morning and could impact Florida by next week. (James Tutten, WFTV.com/WFTV)

The tropical disturbance is forecast to develop into a hurricane by this weekend.

Read: Eye on the Tropics: Peak of hurricane season update and safety tips

The storm could be near western Cuba by early next week.

The forecast models for TD9 currently have the system moving toward the west coast of Florida or South Florida.

Florida residents are encouraged to have their hurricane plans in place, but full-throttle preparations are not needed at this point.

The path of tropical systems can be unpredictable over time, so there is still a chance that Central Florida will not see a direct impact from TD9.

Channel 9 meteorologists will continue to monitor TD9 and will provide updates on Eyewitness News.

Watch: Hurricane Fiona to bring rough surf, strong rip currents to Volusia County beaches

Follow our Severe Weather team on Twitter for live updates:

Visit our hurricane section: EYE ON THE TROPICS

Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.

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Tropical Storm Ian forms in the Caribbean - WFTV Orlando