Drake and Kanye West to perform together at LA concert
After recently squashing their longtime beef, Drake and Kanye West are now set to perform together at a free concert in Los Angeles next month.
Drizzy and Yeezy will hit the stage Thursday, December 9, at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in the Free Larry Hoover Benefit Concert. Both stars posted the news on their Instagram pages, with Ye writing the name of one of Drake's biggest hits, "God's Plan," in the caption to his post.
Larry Hoover, a co-founder of Chicago's Gangster Disciples gang, is currently serving six life sentences for murder at the ADX Florence penitentiary in Colorado. Kanye mentions him on the Donda album.
"I believe this event will not only bring awareness to our cause but prove to people everywhere how much more we can accomplish when we lay our pride aside and come together," West said in a statement.
Rap-A-Lot CEO J Prince is working with Drake and Kanye in producing the concert, and he was instrumental in bringing them together to end their feud.
"Through my work with Larry Hoover and his family, I've really had my eyes opened to the plight of incarcerated people in this country, and I hope fans of Ye and Drake will take the time to do the same," said Prince.
Tickets for the Free Larry Hoover Benefit Concert are now on sale on Ticketmaster.com.
Source-ABC
Late collapse leaves Windies in turmoil
A dismal final hour damaged West Indies’ chances of gaining a foothold in the opening Test, as a clatter of wickets left the tourists with a mountain to climb heading into Tuesday’s third day at Galle International Stadium.
Already under pressure after Sri Lanka piled up 386 all out on the second day here Monday, West Indies finished the day tottering on 113 for six, still 273 runs behind but more significantly, requiring a further 74 runs to avoid the follow on.
They were well placed at 80 for two after captain Kraigg Brathwaite, who top-scored with 41, and Jermaine Blackwood (20) provided a solid start, but four wickets tumbled for 20 runs in the space of 49 deliveries to leave the innings in meltdown.
Left-hander Kyle Mayers was unbeaten on 22 off 20 balls with five fours and partnered by all-rounder Jaosn Holder on one.
Off-spinner Ramesh Mendis, in only his third Test, claimed three for 23 including the key wicket of Brathwaite while 23-year-old left-arm spinner Praveen Jayawickrama, in his second Test, ended with two for 25.
“[Mendis] bowled some good balls but obviously we will sit and still review how to better [play] the off-spinner,” Brathwaite said.
“The guys to come are looking forward to the challenge. We know it won’t be easy but we have to keep supporting [them].”
Off-spinner all-rounder Roston Chase had earlier picked up his fourth five-wicket haul in Tests when he finished with five for 83 as West Indies managed to limit Sri Lanka after the hosts resumed from 267 for three.
Left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican grabbed three for 87 while fast bowler Shannon Gabriel added a second wicket to end with two 69, ensuring the touring side knocked over the last five wickets for just 55 runs.
Captain Dimuth Karunaratne, unbeaten on 132 at the start, was dismissed for 147 on the stroke of the first hour, the victim of great awareness by Joshua Da Silva who whipped the bails off after the left-hander played and missed at a widish delivery from Chase and inadvertently dragged his boot off the crease.
All told, Karunaratne faced 300 balls in a shade under 7-¼ hours and struck 15 fours.
Dhananjaya de Silva had perished half-hour earlier after adding just four to his overnight 57, becoming the day’s first casualty when he dislodged the bails with his bat as he comically tried to prevent a loose ball he had defended off Gabriel, from hitting his stumps.
Dinesh Chandimal, who struck five fours in 45 from 83 balls, then combined in a 36-run, sixth wicket stand with Mendis (13) to repair the damage, before Mendis departed to a catch at the wicket off Warrican, three overs before lunch taken at 341 for six.
Any hopes of passing the 400-run mark after the break were quickly dashed as Warrican and Chase scythed through the lower order.
West Indies came through the seven overs before tea unscathed to be 12 without loss at the second interval, and then frustrated Sri Lanka as Brathwaite and Blackwood staged a 41-run opening stand.
Brathwaite, reprieved by DRS on five after being adjudged lbw to the last ball before tea, punched seven fours off 115 deliveries while Blackwood faced 43 balls and lashed a four and a six – both boundaries coming in the first over after tea off left-arm spinner Lasith Embuldeniya.
However, Blackwood played down the wrong line and was lbw to the same bowler and Nkrumah Bonner (1) lasted only 11 balls before falling to a sharp chance at first slip off Jayawickrama.
Brathwaite and Shai Hope (10) – a concussion substitute for Jeremy Solozano – then tried to rebuild in a 29-run, third wicket stand but once the partnership was broken, the innings fell apart.
Brathwaite turned Mendis into Pathum Nissanka’s hands at leg slip, Hope whipped the same bowler to Oshada Fernando at short leg seven balls later before nightwatchman Warrican edged a defensive prod at Jayawickrama behind for one and then astonishingly reviewed the decision despite the obvious outside edge.
Mendis struck again when Chase tapped a defensive stroke low to Fernando at short leg as West Indies stumbled to the close.
Source-CMC
Regional countries urged to make full use of alternative or renewable energy in economic growth
The seventh Annual Caribbean Sustainable Energy Forum 2021 began here on Monday against the backdrop that sustainable development for the region whether utilising alternative or renewable energy must now be at the forefront of the process of transformation of Caribbean economies.
The forum is part of Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Energy Month is being observed under the theme “From Dependence to Resilience: Fuelling Our Recovery with Sustainable Energy”.
Delivering the feature address at the event, Barbados’ Energy, Small Business and Entrepreneurship Minister, Kerrie Symmonds, said this transformation would only occur through a revolution of the region’s energy sector.
‘Our small open and vulnerable economies are particularly sensitive to the disequilibrium caused by the impact of rising global temperatures. This coupled with our geographic disposition of being exposed to sudden and disastrous…shocks including natural disasters places us all on the front line in the fight against climate change.”
Symmonds said equally significant perhaps is the fact that the region is also vulnerable “to the wavering international financial commitments for the mitigation and adaptation strategies which the world must adopt”
He said these strategies are necessary for the region’s protection and “for the very way of life to which we have become accustomed”
He said at the recent United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 26) held in Glasgow, the Barbados prime Minister Mia Mottley, was given a platform to speak on behalf of small countries and those most vulnerable to the effects of the climate crisis.
Symmonds said Mottley, who was originally scheduled to deliver the feature address at the opening ceremony here, was able to highlight some of the major issues affecting small island developing states (SIDS).
He told the energy conference here of Barbados’ plans to further develop its energy sector bearing in mind the effects on climate change and noted that the failure of the international community to provide financing for mitigation and adaptation will be measures in countries like Barbados and other regional countries “in terms of life and in terms of livelihoods.
Symmonds said he wanted to impress upon delegates attending the Energy Forum the timeliness of this initiative, recalling that at the last gathering in Belize in 2018 “the conversation at the time focussed on a need for not only clean energy but also turned on good governance and on sound regulations.
“Barbados shortly thereafter in 2019 committed to a full transformation of our energy sector by the year 2030. We acknowledged at that time that regulations and good government would be critical. But in that same year climate finance internationally available declined by a sum of 25 per cent.
“So though we continue to speak of sustainable energy with great conviction…we say so knowing full well that our existence, in fact our very survival requires nothing less than draconian do or die approaches in order to achieve this target”.
Symmonds said the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) energy programme has been leading “from the front with their continuous and unstinting effort to carter specifically to the betterment of all the countries that it represents.
“We are guided as a region by the principles of the CARICOM Energy policy which was developed to coordinate, expedite the increased use of renewable energy and energy deficiency,” he said, adding that this promotes among other things a coordinated approach to exploring and establishing an institutional framework for leveraging financial mechanisms for the development of viable energy sources.
But Symmonds said that the region must also be cognisant that of the commitments in the Caribbean Sustainable Energy Roadmap and Strategy which proposes a set of aggregated regional targets for electrify generation from renewable energy sources in the amount of 47 per cent by the year 2027.
“We must therefore urge that each member state now explore and exploit the available renewable options unique to each of our own countries. I will be the first to acknowledge that it has been difficult in the recent times to align the needs of the many so as to achieve the objectives of the CARICOM Energy Policy with respect to the leveraging of financing”.
The Barbados minister said it is in this regard he believes that concerted approaches, such as the high level meeting on energy finance between CARICOM and its international development partners, which sought to bring together the region as a lobbying body and present a portfolio of priority initiatives, programmes projects and activities all on the basis of a CARICOM wide proposal can do much to raise international awareness of the needs of the region.
“This approach, led by CARICOM, saw the region compiling a proposal of US$25 million for technical assistance in order to address existing barriers to the uptake of renewable energy and then investment package of US$5.1 billion for regional level and entry level investments intended to explore and exploit cost effective indigenous sources of renewable energy options and to diversify our fuel supply matrix, improve the efficiency in which energy is produced, delivered and consumed and to modernise our electricity grids and other energy infrastructure”.
But Symmonds said the region must also remember that ‘while there is a plethora of project plans currently existing in this region there is a large disconnect between the sustainable energy projects being conceptualised and the volume of untapped capital which is available”.
Source-CMC
U.S COVID-19 Entry Requirement: RESIDENTS TO SHOW PROOF OF VACCINATION E-CERTIFICATE PRIOR TO ENTRY
The Ministry of Tourism wishes to update the travelling public of the CDC guideline of Acceptable Proof of COVID-19 Vaccination. In accordance with the guideline, all residents must show proof of Vaccination E-Certificate prior to entry, either in print or on digital display for verification. Failure to present E-Certificate will result in denial of boarding etchings.
The QR code on the E-Vaccination Certificate contains information confirming your credentials was generated from an immunization record in an official database and is protected from tampering. These credentials include date of birth, vaccination dates and type of vaccine administered. Thus, If your vaccination card does not have your date of birth or other identifying besides your name you may be barred from boarding.
The Ministry of Tourism advises all residents to apply to the Ministry of Health, well in advance of travel, to permit receipt of your E-Certificate. Residents can contact the Ministry of Health via email vaccineid@gov.tc or call the COVID-19 hotline (232-9444 or 333-0911) to check on the status of their certificate, update their contact details or speak to a support person.
This is in conjunction to the United States entry requirement that took effect on November 8th, 2021. Which the U.S policy states that all non-US citizens who are non-immigrant (not a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, lawful permanent resident, or traveling to the United States on an immigrant visa), over the age of 18 must show proof of being fully vaccinated for COVID-19 prior to entry; this is in addition to the testing requirement currently in place - which requires travellers to produce a negative COVID-19 test result within three days of travel.
The public is encouraged to take every measure to be protected against COVID-19 and to adhere to the recommendations by the Ministry of Health. The Ministry of Health continues to provide and administer COVID-19 vaccinations to eligible persons, those who are eligible are strongly encouraged to consider being vaccinated.
There are limited exceptions to the entry requirements, travellers are encouraged to visit the CDC website where full details and further information regarding entry requirements can be found:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/proof-of-vaccination.html#vaccine-proof
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/testing-international-air-travelers.html
TCI’s 1st-ever certificate of analysis following post-marketing surveillance.
The Pharmacy Unit, Ministry of Health and Human Services (MoHHS) is pleased to report that it is in receipt of the TCI’s 1st-ever certificate of analysis following testing and analysis of medicines utilized within the country. This significant milestone is a result of the partnership formed with the Medicines Quality Control and Surveillance Department (MQCSD) of the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) as a part of their risk-based Post-Market Surveillance (PMS) Programme for medicines. The medicine that was tested and analyzed met the required quality standard.
A Certificate of Analysis is a legal document that certifies the quality of a medicine and/or its ingredients known as excipients. The certificate demonstrates that the batch/sample tested meets all the required quality control standards which confirms product quality and safety.
The Pharmacy Unit views this development as a very significant step in strengthening the systems and capacities required to improve the effective monitoring of drug/patient safety. The Unit is committed to ensuring the utilization of good quality, effective, and safe medicines within the TCI. The TCI’s involvement in the PMS Programme will strengthen and continue to support the effectiveness of its medicines regulatory system by:
Providing data and information that will better inform the government on the appropriate and effective regulatory actions and strategies to implement (that will improve the availability of safe and essential good quality medicines), and
Identifying in a timely manner, possible substandard and falsified products/medicines on the TCI market.
The MoHHS notes that it is essential to improve fair access to safe quality medicines which are hallmarks of effective disease management/treatment and will continue to actively monitor and regulate all medicines used within the TCI. The MoHHS is committed to patient safety and anticipates that this will positively impact the health and wellbeing of all TCI residents.
In light of this initiative, the MoHHS is also encouraging persons to report any adverse events - suffered from the use of medicines - via the MoHHS' Adverse Drug Reaction Form found at https://gov.tc/docs/ADR.pdf. Consequently, suspected substandard and or falsified medicines can be flagged for testing and analysis.
BERMUDA Government to press on with cannabis production plan
The Bermuda government says it will press ahead with stalled plans to license cannabis production on the island.
Premier David Burt, who has returned home from an official trip to London, said his administration had “no intention” of tailoring its laws licensing cannabis production to fit with the United Kingdom’s conventions allowing the drug for medicinal use only.
Burt in a statement on Sunday night, said legislation for legal cannabis in Bermuda is set to go before legislators in the current session of parliament.
The statement came after the Premier’s return from the Joint Ministerial Council in London between the UK government and elected heads of Britain’s Overseas Territories
A question mark hung over the cannabis legislation, passed by the House of Assembly but turned back by the Senate in the last parliamentary session, as to whether it would receive the royal assent from Governor Rena Lalgie.
The government, which holds a commanding 24-seat majority in the House, conceded in February that Bermuda’s plans for legalised cannabis went beyond the limits of international conventions on the drug, which Britain upholds.
The legislation does not conform to the UK international obligations under the Single Convention on Narcotics Drugs of 1961.
Burt’s remarks followed his meeting with Amanda Milling, the Minister of State for the Overseas Territories.
“It was critical to make it clear that there is no intention by the government of Bermuda to amend the current legislation to conform to the 60-year-old convention that allows cannabis supply for medicinal purposes only.
“Many countries, such as Canada, that allow regulated supply of cannabis for non-medicinal purposes, are signatories to that convention.
“The overall intent of the legislation is clear, and it enjoys the support of the Bermuda electorate, which was confirmed at the last general election,” Burt said, adding “the government is undeterred in advancing the bill through the legislature again this year.”
Burt said that once the legislation was passed in the House, the government’s “expectation” was for permission to be granted by the Foreign Secretary for the Governor’s assent to the legislation.
“Through the Home Office, Bermuda and the UK government have agreed to accelerate discussions at the official level to ensure that the will of the Bermudian electorate as expressed through their democratically elected representatives is respected.”
Burt has previously stated that failure to give assent to the cannabis legislation would “destroy the relationship that we have” with the UK.
The sweeping reforms under the Cannabis Licensing Act would legalise the drug recreationally and create a regulated business framework for its sale and use.
Source-CMC
3-DAY PUBLIC FORECAST
GENERAL SITUATION: A PERSISTENT PRE-FRONTAL TROUGH LINGERING ACROSS THE AREA, COUPLED WITH DEEP TROPICAL MOISTURE, WILL CONTINUE TO TRIGGER BOUTS OF ACTIVE WEATHER AND FRESH WINDS OVER PORTIONS OF THE NORTHWEST BAHAMAS. MEANWHILE, HIGH PRESSURE WILL CONTINUE TO DOMINATE ELSEWHERE THROUGH TONIGHT.
SPECIAL WARNINGS: BOATERS IN THE EXTREME NORTHWEST BAHAMAS SHOULD REMAIN VIGILANT DUE TO THE RISK OF POSSIBLE WATERSPOUT ACTIVITY. BEACHGOERS SHOULD REFRAIN FROM ENTERING WATERS ALONG NORTHERN EXPOSED SHORELINES DUE TO SWELLS, HIGH SEAS AND ROUGH SURF. DRIVERS AND PEDESTRIANS IN THE EXTREME NORTHWEST BAHAMAS SHOULD TAKE SPECIAL CARE WHILE TRAVELLING ALONG COASTAL ROADS, ESPECIALLY THE FISHING HOLE ROAD IN GRAND BAHAMA.
AREA: FOR THE EXTREME NORTHWEST BAHAMAS:
WEATHER: CLOUDY TO OVERCAST AND WINDY WITH WIDELY SCATTERED SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS THROUGH TONIGHT. SHOWERS MAY BE LOCALLY HEAVY AND THUNDERSTORMS, STRONG TO SEVERE AT TIMES.
ADVISORY: A SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT. EXPECT GUSTY WINDS AND HIGHER SEAS IN OR NEAR HEAVY SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS.
WINDS: NORTHEAST TO EAST AT 20 TO 25 KNOTS BUT GUSTY AT TIMES.
SEAS: 4 TO 6 FEET NEARSHORE, BUILDING 7 TO 10 FEET OVER OPEN WATERS IN MODERATE NORTHERLY SWELLS.
AREA: FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE NORTHWEST, CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS:
WEATHER: VARIABLY CLOUDY, VERY WARM AND A BIT BREEZY WITH WIDELY SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THE CHANCE OF ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS THROUGH TONIGHT.
WINDS: EASTERLY AT 15 KNOTS BUT GUSTY AT TIMES.
SEAS: 3 TO 5 FEET BUT HIGHER IN GUSTS.
SATURDAY’S HIGH TEMPERATURE: 84°F / 29°C
OVERNIGHT LOW TEMPERATURE: 70°F / 21°C
SUNRISE: 6:30 AM
SUNSET: 5:19 PM
MOONSET: 7:32 AM
MOONRISE: 6:20 PM
HIGH TIDE: 8:07 AM
LOW TIDE: 2:36 PM
HIGH TIDE: 8:22 PM
LOW TIDE: 2:22 AM SUN
EXTENDED FORECAST (FOR THE NEXT TWO DAYS): THE PREFRONTAL TROUGH WILL CONTINUE TO LINGER OVER THE NORTHWEST BAHAMAS THROUGH SUNDAY, BEFORE
LIFTING NORTHWARD AHEAD OF ANOTHER COLD FRONT, ANTICIPATED TO MOVE OFF THE NORTHEAST COAST OF FLORIDA ON MONDAY.
FORECAST FOR SUNDAY
WEATHER: CLOUDY, WARM AND BREEZY WITH WIDELY SCATTERED SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS IN THE NORTHWEST BAHAMAS. PARTLY CLOUDY WITH
ISOLATED SHOWERS AND THE CHANCE OF AN ISOLATED THUNDERSTORM OVER THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS.
WINDS: EASTERLY AT 15 TO 20 KNOTS IN THE NORTHWEST BAHAMAS AND 10 TO 15 KNOTS IN THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS.
SEAS: 5 TO 8 FEET IN NORTHEASTERLY SWELLS IN THE NORTHWEST BAHAMAS... 3 TO 5 FEET IN NORTHEASTERLY SWELLS ELSEWHERE.
FORECAST FOR MONDAY
WEATHER: VARIABLY CLOUDY WITH WIDELY SCATTERED SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS. BECOMING BREEZY BY MIDDAY IN THE EXTREME NORTHWEST
BAHAMAS.
WINDS: SOUTHEAST TO SOUTH AT 10 KNOTS OR LESS BECOMING WEST TO NORTHWEST AT 15 TO 20 KNOTS IN THE EXTREME NORTHWEST BAHAMAS BY MIDDAY. EAST TO SOUTHEAST AT 10 TO 15 KNOTS, OCCASIONALLY LIGHT AND VARIABLE IN THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS.
SEAS: 1 TO 3 FEET NEARSHORE BUT UP TO 5 FEET IN EASTERLY SWELLS ALONG ATLANTIC EXPOSED SHORELINES... 2 TO 4 FEET IN THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS.
TROPICAL WEATHER OUTLOOK: THE TROPICS ARE QUIET AND TROPICAL CYCLONE FORMATION IS NOT EXPECTED DURING THE NEXT FIVE (5) DAYS.
Cardi B teases what to expect when she hosts the AMAs this Sunday
Cardi B is gearing up for Sunday night's American Music Awards and, to hype up her fans, she teased what to expect when she takes the stage as this year's new host.
She tells ABC Audio her goal for the night is to make sure everyone has "a good time."
"I don't really care much about being inspirational," she remarked, even though this is the first time she's ever hosted an awards show. Instead, she wants to bring the "good vibes" because "I like to party!"
"I want to wake people up," Cardi exclaimed, while clapping her hands before promising, "I'm giving you Belcalis," which is her birth name.
Cardi didn't appear all that nervous about the upcoming gig, either, but she did admit there are a few scenarios she wants to avoid. "I just don't want to make a joke and it's, like, crickets," she said. "I don't wanna stutter or say something mean or wrong, you know?"
Several big performances will rock the AMA stage and, when asked which acts she's most excited to see, Cardi shared a laundry list of names, "I wanna see Silk Sonic. I wanna see BTS. I wanna see Megan [Thee Stallion]. I wanna see Chloe [Bailey]. I wanna see my friend, Bad Bunny.... I wanna see everybody!"
The "Up" rapper remained tight-lipped about what else we can expect from Sunday night's show and only teased, "You gotta be tuned in to see!"
The 2021 AMAs air Sunday, November 21 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC.
Source-ABC
The Bahamas lifts travel ban on Haiti and Cuba
The Government of the Bahamas says it has now resumed flights to Haiti and Cuba, thereby lifting the travel ban imposed on both Caribbean nations.
The announcement was made on Friday by the Prime Minister’s Press Secretary, Clint Watson who said the airline Bahamasair, had resumed its flights to Haiti .
“There will be two flights per week, Bahamasair: One to Cap Haitien, which was yesterday, and the other to Port-au-Prince, which will be on Saturday.
There will be four flights to Cuba each week.
The original ban on Haiti in February was explained as a decision to block travelers for three weeks as Haiti celebrated carnival.
At the time, few countries in the region had begun vaccination campaigns.
Prior to the ban, The Bahamas had regular, direct flights to Haiti.
The Bahamas received its first tranche of vaccines in early March, along with many countries in the region.
Haiti was left behind in the global and regional campaign effort.
Haiti did not begin its vaccination campaign until July.
The nation, which has been faced with increasing political and economic strife, has yet to vaccinate more than one percent of its population.
Watson, who was speaking during the weekly press conference, noted that the Bahamas has fully vaccinated over 40 percent of its population in comparison, less than two percent of Haiti’s population has been vaccinated.
Watson also made reference to Jamaica, St. Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines where – according to figures released in October – the vaccination rates are below 20 percent.
Source- CMC
Dominican Republic moves towards deepening ties with Central America
The government of the Dominican Republic has announced plans to deepen its integration with countries in Central America.
The process is the result of two meetings of President Luis Abinader with his counterparts of the Central American region, specifically Costa Rica and Panama, to work together and take advantage of the post-Covid opportunities since investments of US$3 to US$4.5 trillion are expected to be changing the manufacturing base.
Currently, the Dominican Republic is the sixth-largest trading partner of the United States and, together with Panama and Costa Rica, will become the third, with 20 million inhabitants between the three and whose block will only be surpassed by Brazil and Mexico.
The third meeting between the three presidents of the Central American region and the DR will be in the Dominican Republic next December.
On Thursday, Panama’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Erika Mouynes, said that Panama, the Dominican Republic, and Costa Rica had signed a tripartite integration agreement to promote democratic institutions and economic growth.
As part of the alliance for democratic institutionality, the presidents of Costa Rica, DR, and Panama met at the UN Assembly on September 27 this year in New York, where they agreed on a regional proposal to relaunch the commercial, demographic and cultural ties of their countries and the region.
A second meeting was held in Panama last October 20, where they declared their intention to deepen this alliance not only in the area of trade, to attract investment, but also in the political sphere, “concerned about the unprecedented and growing migratory flows in the three countries.
Source-CMC