NASSAU, Bahamas — A bridge in the Bahamas was renamed Friday to honor Oscar-winning actor Sidney Poitier, with no sign of any protests called for by an opposition politician.

This is an excerpt from The Washington Post/AP as it appeared on November 5, 2012. For updates or to read the current version of this post in its entirety, please click here.

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Bahamians are barred from gambling in the casinos at the islands’ tourist resorts. But underground gambling operations called “web shops” where islanders bet on numbers in televised U.S. lotteries have become increasingly popular.

This is an excerpt from The Washington Post/AP as it appeared on November 2, 2012. For updates or to read the current version of this post in its entirety, please click here.

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NEW YORK, Nov. 1, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — Morgans Hotel Group Co. (NASDAQ: MHGC) (“MHG” or the “Company”) today reported financial results for its third quarter ended September 30, 2012.  The Company will host a conference call to review the quarter’s results on Friday, November 2, 2012 at 10:30 am.

• Adjusted EBITDA was $2.9 million in the third quarter of 2012.  The Company’s quarterly operating results reflect lower hotel revenues and operating expenses compared to the prior year’s quarter primarily due to the impact of rooms out of service from the renovation work at Hudson.
• Revenue per available room (“RevPAR”) for System-Wide Comparable Hotels increased by 8.0% in constant dollars during the third quarter of 2012.

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The end of the month was marred by the arrival of Hurricane Sandy, which tore through the archipelago, forcing schools and offices to close and causing extensive damage to homes and infrastructure on some of the islands.

The category 2 storm tragically claimed the life of British investment banker Timothy Fraser-Smith (left), 66, chief executive of Deltec Bank & Trust, who fell from the balcony of his home in Lyford Cay October 25.

From Jamaica (pictured top), across Cuba and into Bahamian waters, Sandy damaged islands to the south, the west and northwestern parts of the archipelago, as well subjecting the capital to high winds and torrential rains. The storm left The Bahamas to head out over the Atlantic before striking the US northeast coast at the beginning of the week. Here is a summary of the news and press posts as the event unfolded.

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Leading botanists gathered in The Bahamas this week to attend an international symposium on the country’s diverse flora.

The symposium, themed “Celebrating 30 Years of the Flora of The Bahamas: Conservation and Science Challenges,” was held at the Harry C Moore Library at The College of The Bahamas (COB).

Minister of Environment and Housing Kenred Dorsett gave the opening address and spoke of the need to protect the biodiversity of the islands.

“Biologists have been voicing their concerns about the disappearance of plants and animals across the globe for many years now. Preserving species will provide a greater cushion against environmental assaults.”

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Mario Carey Realty has strengthened its team of agents ahead of what it believes will be a period of accelerated growth in the luxury property market spawned by new offerings locally, including Baha Mar.

Dana Pinder, who has more than seven years experience and recently joined the local firm, believes that the $3.5-billion Baha Mar resort and residential project has “amazing” untapped potential.

“It is a common phenomenon that those farther away are quicker to appreciate what those closer to home do not yet see in their own back yard,” says Pinder.

“Our ‘back yard’ is bursting with one of the hottest property offerings anywhere on the globe: more than 200 income-generating residences at four hotels, ultra-luxurious with the most modern and sophisticated amenities available on the market.”

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SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic — Bahamian Cabinet Ministers, government technical officers and private sector stakeholders met with several counterparts in the Dominican Republic during two days of bilateral talks this week.

Minister of Foreign Affairs and Immigration Frederick Mitchell led the delegation and was accompanied by Minister of Agriculture, Marine Resources and Local Government Alfred Gray, Minister of National Security Bernard Nottage, Minister of Financial Services Ryan Pinder.

The talks, which ran October 29-30, covered issues such as illegal fishing, migration and trade relations, particularly in the area of agricultural imports and medical products.

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Prime Minister Perry Christie has announced that the government will give relevant assistance to Bahamians impacted by Hurricane Sandy. Watch a ZNS news report here.
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Prime Minister Perry Christie has visited areas of Grand Bahama hit hard by Hurricane Sandy. Watch a ZNS news report here.
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Nassau port controller, Commander Patrick McNeil says that the container transshipment hub on New Providence weathered Hurricane Sandy without sustaining significant damage. Watch a ZNS news report here.
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