THE BAHAMAS DEPARTMENT OF METEOROLOGY HAS ISSUED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FROM 4:15 AM UNTIL 6:15 AM, MONDAY, 29TH MAY 2023.

A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR ACKLINS AND CROOKED ISLAND AND ADJACENT WATERS.

AT 4:10 AM, LIGHTNING DETECTION, RADAR AND SATELLITE IMAGERY DEPICTED A LINE OF SHOWERS WITH EMBEDDED THUNDERSTORMS NEAR STATIONARY ACROSS THE MENTIONED AREAS. THESE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH A SURFACE TO LOW LEVEL BAND OF DEEP MOISTURE ON THE SOUTHERN FRINGES OF AN ATLANTIC RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE EXTENDING ACROSS THE BAHAMAS.

SOME OF THESE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE STRONG TO SEVERE AT TIMES CAUSING STRONG GUSTY WINDS, DANGEROUS LIGHTNING, HEAVY DOWNPOURS, HAIL AND POSSIBLE WATERSPOUT OR TORNADIC ACTIVITY. LOCALIZED FLOODING IS ALSO POSSIBLE DURING THE PASSAGE OF THESE STORMS.

BOATERS IN THE WARNING AREAS SHOULD SEEK SAFE HARBOUR AND RESIDENTS IN THE WARNING AREAS SHOULD STAY INDOORS AND AWAY FROM WINDOWS WHEN CONDITIONS WORSEN. RESIDENTS SHOULD NOT SEEK SHELTER UNDER TREES OR IN WATER AS THESE CAN BECOME LIGHTNING CONDUCTORS.

NEW YORK (AP) — FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried pleaded not guilty in Manhattan federal court Tuesday to charges that he cheated investors and looted customer deposits on his cryptocurrency trading platform.

 

Bankman-Fried, 30, is accused of illegally diverting massive sums of customer money from FTX to make lavish real estate purchases, donate money to politicians and make risky trades at Alameda Research, his cryptocurrency hedge fund trading firm. #Bankman-Fried's attorney, Mark Cohen, announced his client's plea, saying: "He pleads not guilty to all counts." #Wearing a backpack, Bankman-Fried marched through a crush of cameras as he entered the courthouse on a rainy day to make his first appearance before Judge Lewis A. Kaplan. Besides taking a plea during the arraignment, Kaplan was expected to discuss with lawyers a schedule for proceeding toward a trial. #Prior to his appearance, his lawyers sent a letter to the judge, saying Bankman-Fried's parents in recent weeks have become the target of "intense media scrutiny, harassment, and threats, including communications expressing a desire that they suffer physical harm." #As a result, the lawyers requested that the names be redacted on court documents for the two individuals who were lined up to sign Bankman-Fried's $250 million personal recognizance bond. Bankman-Fried was released with electronic monitoring about two weeks ago on the condition that he await trial at his parents' house in Palo Alto, California. #Carolyn Ellison, 28, who ran Alameda, and Gary Wang, 29, who co-founded FTX, have pleaded guilty to fraud charges and are cooperating with prosecutors in a bid for leniency. Both are free on bail. #Their pleas were kept secret until Bankman-Fried was in the air after his extradition from the Bahamas, where FTX is based, due to fears that he might flee. #Shortly before Bankman-Fried's arraignment, U.S. Attorney Damian Williams announced that he was launching a task force made up of senior prosecutors in his office to investigate and prosecute matters related to the FTX collapse. He said the task force also will work to trace and recover victim assets. #"The Southern District of New York is working around the clock to respond to the implosion of FTX," Williams said in a press release. "It is an all-hands-on-deck moment. We are launching the SDNY FTX Task Force to ensure that this urgent work continues, powered by all of SDNY's resources and expertise, until justice is done."

Bankman-Fried, 30, is accused of illegally diverting massive sums of customer money from FTX to make lavish real estate purchases, donate money to politicians and make risky trades at Alameda Research, his cryptocurrency hedge fund trading firm.

Bankman-Fried's attorney, Mark Cohen, announced his client's plea, saying: "He pleads not guilty to all counts."

Wearing a backpack, Bankman-Fried marched through a crush of cameras as he entered the courthouse on a rainy day to make his first appearance before Judge Lewis A. Kaplan. Besides taking a plea during the arraignment, Kaplan was expected to discuss with lawyers a schedule for proceeding toward a trial.

Prior to his appearance, his lawyers sent a letter to the judge, saying Bankman-Fried's parents in recent weeks have become the target of "intense media scrutiny, harassment, and threats, including communications expressing a desire that they suffer physical harm."

As a result, the lawyers requested that the names be redacted on court documents for the two individuals who were lined up to sign Bankman-Fried's $250 million personal recognizance bond. Bankman-Fried was released with electronic monitoring about two weeks ago on the condition that he await trial at his parents' house in Palo Alto, California.

Carolyn Ellison, 28, who ran Alameda, and Gary Wang, 29, who co-founded FTX, have pleaded guilty to fraud charges and are cooperating with prosecutors in a bid for leniency. Both are free on bail.

Their pleas were kept secret until Bankman-Fried was in the air after his extradition from the Bahamas, where FTX is based, due to fears that he might flee.

Shortly before Bankman-Fried's arraignment, U.S. Attorney Damian Williams announced that he was launching a task force made up of senior prosecutors in his office to investigate and prosecute matters related to the FTX collapse. He said the task force also will work to trace and recover victim assets.

"The Southern District of New York is working around the clock to respond to the implosion of FTX," Williams said in a press release. "It is an all-hands-on-deck moment. We are launching the SDNY FTX Task Force to ensure that this urgent work continues, powered by all of SDNY's resources and expertise, until justice is done."

 

Prime Minister Philip Edward Davis KC, MP, has been invited to attend The State Funeral ofHer Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in London. Prime Minister Davis will depart for London onSeptember 16, 2022. Following the Prime Minister's travel to London, he will leave for NewYork, where he will attend the 77th Session of the United Nations General Assembly. PrimeMinister Davis will return to The Bahamas on September 25th, 2022.

Deputy Prime Minister Chester Cooper will serve as Acting Prime Minister while PrimeMinister Davis is abroad. You are encouraged to follow The Office of The Prime Minister'ssocial media platforms for regular updates during the Prime Minister's travel.

 

Prime Minister Philip Edward Davis KC, MP, has been invited to attend The State Funeral of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in London. Prime Minister Davis will depart for London on September 16, 2022. Following the Prime Minister's travel to London, he will leave for New York, where he will attend the 77th Session of the United Nations General Assembly. Prime Minister Davis will return to The Bahamas on September 25th, 2022. Deputy Prime Minister Chester Cooper will serve as Acting Prime Minister while Prime Minister Davis is abroad. You are encouraged to follow The Office of The Prime Minister's social media platforms for regular updates during the Prime Minister's travel.

Statement from
Prime Minister Hon. Philip Edward Brave Davis QC MP
On The Passing of
HER MAJESTY QUEEN ELIZABETH II

It is with deep regret and sadness that we learned of the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

On behalf of the Government and People of The Commonwealth of The Bahamas, we offer our sincere condolences to the Members of The Royal Family.

I have ordered that the National Flag be lowered today to half-staff and to be lowered again when the Official Mourning Period comes into effect.