Latest news with #Sarasota
Arabian Business
5 hours ago
- Business
- Arabian Business
Certified Collectibles Group opens Dubai office as comics, trading cards and autographs grow as alternative investment category
Dubai collectors and memorabilia investors will be able to authenticate valuables and trade items with greater security after the Certified Collectibles Group (CCG) officially opened its first full-time office in the Middle East. The opening comes as trading cards, rare currencies, comic books and sports cards are increasingly viewed as tangible assets with investment value. Located in Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) the major expansion for the global collectibles powerhouse provides on-the-ground access in the UAE for the grading and authentication of: Coins Paper money Comic books Magazines Trading card games (TCGs) Sports cards Non-sports cards Certified Collectibles Group in Dubai The new location enables collectors and dealers in the region to submit their prized items directly to CCG Middle East, the Group's regional affiliate. All submissions will be securely transported to CCG's global headquarters in Sarasota, Florida, for expert grading, then returned to Dubai—fully insured and tariff-free under a Temporary Importation under Bond (TIB) procedure. Arafaat Ali Khan, CCG Managing Director, Middle East, said: 'The extraordinary interest expressed by collectors and dealers at the shows and the calibre of collectibles entrusted to us for grading are strong indicators of the market's potential. 'I am excited to contribute to its advancement as we make the services of the CCG companies more accessible.' CCG brands now available in the UAE, include Numismatic Guaranty Company (NGC) for coins, tokens and medals; Paper Money Guaranty (PMG) for banknotes; Certified Guaranty Company (CGC) for comic books, magazines and trading cards; James Spence Authentication (JSA) for autograph verification. Autographed comics and trading cards can now be submitted, with autographed memorabilia services to follow soon. CCG is the first global third-party collectibles grading company to establish a permanent office in the Middle East. The Group's move follows enthusiastic response at recent events like Middle East Film and Comic Con in Abu Dhabi and The Currency Fair in Dubai, where collectors lined up to submit items for evaluation. Services now available online via dedicated UAE websites and collectors across the region can now explore services and prepare submissions at the dedicated portals. – For coins, tokens and medals – For paper money – For comics and magazines – For trading card games, sports and non-sports cards Steven R. Eichenbaum, CEO of CCG, said: 'CCG is proud to be the first major third-party grading service to accept submissions full-time in the Middle East. 'This expansion is reflective of our commitment to adding value, trust and transparency to the world of collectibles by making expert certification available to collectors and dealers everywhere.' With more than 100m collectibles certified since 1987, CCG's expansion into the UAE aligns with growing demand from a rising generation of collectors across the Middle East. The new Dubai office gives regional enthusiasts easier access to the same globally trusted standards relied on by collectors in the US, UK, Germany, and China. This launch further cements Dubai's role as a global hub not just for finance and art—but now also for authenticated and graded collectibles, a fast-growing niche within alternative investments.
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Orioles minor-league player dies after jet skis collide head-on near Lido Key
SARASOTA, Fla. (WFLA)— A minor-league player for the Orioles who was involved in a head-on collision with jet skis has died. Luis Guevara, 19, was signed by the Orioles as an international free agent out of Tinaco, Venezuela, the Baltimore Orioles said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter. 'Luis was a beloved member of our organization, and we are devastated following his tragic passing. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends, and teammates and we ask for their continued privacy during this difficult time,' Orioles Executive Vice President and General Manager Mike Elias said. Docs, 911 calls reveal more details about deadly jet ski crash near Lido Key LIST: Where to see Fourth of July fireworks in Tampa Bay Ex-Siesta Key resort manager accused of stealing $110K from hotel Guevara appeared in 30 games this year, his first season in the United States, the Baltimore Orioles said. The Sarasota County Fire Department responded to Lido Beach around 8:03 p.m. on Sunday regarding two jet skis that were involved in a head-on collision. SCFR transported two patients to the hospital as trauma alerts, and two other victims suffered minor injuries. 'On behalf of all members of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, we would like to express our sincere sympathies to the family and friends of the victim,' FWC said in a press release. This remains an active investigation with the FWC as the lead agency. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Orioles minor-leaguers among those injured after 2 jet skis collide head-on near Lido Key
SARASOTA, Fla. (WFLA) — The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is investigating after two jet skis were involved in a head-on collision Sunday. The Sarasota County Fire Department responded to Lido Beach around 8:03 p.m. and transported two patients to the hospital as trauma alerts. FWC said two other victims suffered only minor injuries. Two people were on each jet ski, according to FWC. All four individuals were ejected when the crash happened. Good Samaritans helped bring the riders to shore. A spokesperson for the Orioles confirmed Monday night some of the team's minor league players were among those injured in the crash. The players were not named, but the spokesperson said Monday and Tuesday's FCL games have been postponed. A full statement from the organization is below: 'On Sunday afternoon, some of our players were involved in a jet ski accident in Sarasota, Florida. Due to the circumstances, Monday and Tuesday's FCL games have been postponed. For the privacy of our players and their families, we will not share additional details at this time.' Vacationers in the area recalled hearing the sound of sirens heading toward the beach. 'We don't know the status of the people, but hopefully they weren't hurt or weren't hurt too badly. It is the last thing you want to see is people enjoying themselves and getting injured,' said one beachgoer visiting from England. Assistant Chief of Special Operations for the Sarasota County Fire Department, Tim Dorsey, stressed the importance of jet ski riders wearing secured life vests and other safety gear, such as a helmet. He also emphasized the importance of being aware of your surroundings. 'Your head has to be on a swivel, so you have to be constantly aware of everything around you. If I am making a turn, is there a boat or a person in the water over there? You have to be very very aware of your surroundings because in a split second, things can go wrong,' said Dorsey. The crash remains under investigation. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Yahoo
Docs, 911 calls reveal more details about deadly jet ski crash near Lido Key
SARASOTA, Fla. (WFLA) — Shortly after 8 p.m. Sunday, 911 calls started pouring in from beachgoers at South Lido Beach. 'You guys need to get out here ASAP,' said one caller. 'We saw the two jet skis hit each other, they collided, and the guy, he is unresponsive,' said another. Some callers described it as a head-on collision, while others said one jet ski 'ran over' the other. Two of four riders were transported to the hospital as trauma alerts, including 19-year-old Orioles minor league infielder Luis Guevara, who didn't survive his injuries. News Channel 8 obtained a report from officers who responded to the chaotic scene that evening. The report says two individuals, 19 and 20 years old, flagged officers down and admitted to being on one of the jet skis involved in the incident. Miguel Rodriguez and Jesus Palacios, both on the Baltimore Orioles minor league roster, said they rented the jet skis. The report states they told officers 'they hit a wave which caused their jet ski to launch into the air. Control of the jet ski was completely lost, and they bailed off the jet ski.' While the jet ski was in the air, it struck Guevara and a 20-year-old rider from Bradenton, causing them to fall off their jet ski and into the water. The Orioles' prospects told police a nearby boat helped get them out of the water to bring them all to shore. Officers were told someone was bringing the jet skis involved to the 10th Street boat ramp. The watercraft were later recovered at the ramp. The report says the individuals bringing the jet skis to the ramp, initially acted like they were unaware of the crash. They were not named in the report. FWC said the investigation is still active and ongoing. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- Science
- Yahoo
MOTE Marine Laboratory heads up seagrass initiative as other scientists call for water quality improvements
The Brief MOTE Marine Laboratory heads seagrass restoration technology development initiative. Funding comes from the Florida legislature after seagrass has declined across the state. Other scientists say more is needed, including storm and wastewater improvements. SARASOTA, Fla. - Seagrass plays a vital part in not only protecting Florida shorelines from erosion, but it also helps the underwater ecosystem thrive. In recent years, there has been a loss of seagrass across the state. The backstory Mote Marine Laboratory in Sarasota is trying to figure out how to stop this from happening. Seagrass is a breeding ground and protector for game fish. It's also a source of food for manatees and can help improve water quality. In areas across the state of Florida, seagrasses are disappearing. OTHER NEWS: Shark bite survivor's family, TGH doctors discuss 9-year-old's recovery: 'She's done a fantastic job' "We've seen stressors all across the state of Florida impacting our seagrass beds, which are so vital for our water quality, nursery grounds," said Kevin Claridge. Kevin Claridge is Mote Marine Laboratory's Vice President of Sponsored Research and Coastal Policy Program. He said Mote Marine Laboratory is working with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the University of Florida in creating a 10-year Florida seagrass restoration plan. Big picture view "Specifically, the funding is looking at what those stressors are on those seagrass systems. Say it's nutrient change or acidification or less light or nutrient impacts," said Claridge. The Florida Legislature has approved $2 million dollars in funding to be awarded every year for 5 years for the Seagrass Restoration Technology Development Initiative. The hope is to find the most tolerant seagrasses that Mote Marine Laboratory and partners can grow for future restoration projects. "It's the first time ever really on an international scale. We are working with partners all over the world and what they are doing in planting technologies to understand that genetic makeup better, to help us understand which ones are growing faster," said Claridge. Sarasota Bay has seen big gains. In 2024, they witnessed a 19% increase in seagrass coverage. Dr. David Tomasko, the Director of the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program, said it happened after local governments worked on removing nutrients from the water. "None of that 2,000 acres came about by transplanting. It came about because the water quality improved because we spent $300 million improving water quality," he said. Tomako said while the science of growing seagrass is vital, additional funds allocated to wastewater upgrades and storm water retrofits should be considered. "We want both these things to happen. We want the science to move forward, but we also don't want elected officials in Tallahassee or Washington D.C. to take their eye off the ball, which is we can recover eco-system scale, but it will cost more than 10-20 million dollars," he said. He said without change, sea grass will continue to pay the price as Florida grows. "If you're not willing to, at the same time, devote enough resources for these big projects. Wastewater upgrades, storm water retrofits it doesn't understand how well you understand the seagrasses. They won't grow if the water quality is not good," said Tomasko. What's next Mote Marine Laboratory has completed a green house which will help them experiment on real world stressors to sea grass. They hope to identify seagrass types which are most resilient to outside changes. Scientists are also looking at genetic and genomic approaches to generate genetically resilient seagrass which could be natural reproduced in land-based nurseries. The Source: Information was gathered by FOX 13's Kimberly Kuizon from Mote Marine Laboratory and the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program. The Source FOX 13's Kimberly Kuizon gathered the information for this story. STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 13 TAMPA: Download the FOX Local app for your smart TV Download FOX Local mobile app: Apple | Android Download the FOX 13 News app for breaking news alerts, latest headlines Download the SkyTower Radar app Sign up for FOX 13's daily newsletter Follow FOX 13 on YouTube
