Airbnb offering up a stay at Prince’s Purple Rain house
Prince fans now have a chance to stay in the house featured in his iconic movie Purple Rain.
In connection with the film’s 40th anniversary, Paisley Park and the Prince Estate have teamed up with Airbnb to offer up the home for a once-in-a-lifetime experience as part of Airbnb’s Icons program. It marks the first time the Minneapolis residence, which Prince purchased in 2015, has been open to the public.
The stay will be hosted by Prince's Revolution band members Wendy Melvoin and Lisa Coleman. The guest who books it will get a private tour of the house, which is filled with personal items that belonged to Prince, although he never lived in the property. They’ll also sleep in the same bedroom Prince’s Purple Rain character The Kid slept in, and get to enjoy some rare and special Prince tracks.
“Forty years ago, Prince revolutionized culture with the release of Purple Rain. This year, we continue to honor his enduring legacy and masterpiece with a series of events inspired by Purple Rain," says L Londell McMillan, Prince's former manager and lawyer. “Whether you're a local or a visitor, join us in Minnesota this year for an exclusive opportunity to delve into the genius behind the music.”
More information can be found at Airbnb.com. Reservations open in August.
Source- ABC
LAC economies to grow more than two per cent in 2024
The Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) has revised slightly upwards, the growth projection for the economies for Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) countries in 2024.
According to the new estimates, ECLAC forecasts that the region will grow by 2.1 per cent on average this year, with South America growing by 1.6 per cent, Central America and Mexico by 2.7 per cent, and the Caribbean, excluding Guyana, by 2.8 per cent.
It said that the region’s expected expansion in 2024 continues on the path of low economic growth observed in recent years, and the major challenge is how to move towards higher, more dynamic and inclusive growth.
The UN Commission says the region is facing a complex international scenario, characterized by growth in economic activity and global trade that is below their historical averages, along with interest rates that remain high in developed countries, resulting in greater financing costs for emerging countries, including those in the region.
It notes in the domestic arena, the downward trend in inflation has created space for various countries’ central banks to reduce their policy interest rates, generating expectations for a potentially favorable impact on economic activity.
ECLAC said in 2024, global markets will be marked by various risk factors.
Growing geopolitical tensions are leading the world towards a sharp realignment of value chains. In addition, there is a risk that increases in commodity prices could delay the reduction of policy interest rates by the main central banks, with negative effects on global economic growth.
Moreover, if interest rates remained high for more time, they could further increase the vulnerabilities linked to the debt burden that affect numerous emerging and developing economies, as well as the vulnerability of the financial sector in developed countries.
ECLAC had indicated previously that the low growth foreseen in 2024 is not just a circumstantial problem, but rather reflects a decline in the trend growth rate of regional gross domestic product (GDP).
It said the region is experiencing a development crisis characterized by three mutually reinforcing traps: a trap of low growth, a trap of high inequality and low social mobility, and a trap of low institutional capacity and ineffective governance. These traps constrain and limit the attainment of the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda and, therefore, the attainment of inclusive social development.
To invigorate growth, ECLAC has been insisting that the region must increase its productivity and boost investment in physical and human capital.
"To that end, the region must invest both more, and better. This involves adopting new technologies, promoting cluster initiatives and best business practices, fostering deep improvements in the process of capital accumulation, and taking suitable advantage of economies’ social and environmental capital,” ECLAC said.
ECLAC has also identified a portfolio of at least 15 driving or dynamizing sectors for more sustainable and inclusive growth.
It said the region needs to invest in diverse areas that are critical for increasing productivity, infrastructure, telecommunications, digitalization, research and development, significant improvements in health programs, and an adaptation of education systems to respond to the changes that digitalization and automation entail for labor markets.
Source-CMC
Shaw up for WSL Player-of-the-Season honour
Manchester City’s prolific Reggae Girl forward Khadija “Bunny” Shaw is in line for her first-ever Women’s Super League Player-of-the-Season honour after being nominated for the award.
The 27-year-old is joined by City goalkeeper Khiara Keating, the pair having played pivotal roles in putting the club top of the league on 52 points, three clear of defending champions who have a game in hand.
Shaw has netted a league-leading 21 goals in 18 WSL games this season, having scored 22 goals in 25 appearances in all competitions.
Her season ended prematurely late last month, however, when she sustained a broken foot against West Ham and was forced off at half-time, after scoring twice.
She subsequently underwent surgery.
“Gutted to know I suffered a broken foot in the game against West Ham but grateful the surgery went well. The greatest stories are those who defy all odds,” she posted on social networking service, Instagram, following surgery.
Shaw, City’s Player-of-the-Season last year, has enjoyed another stunning campaign with three hat-tricks among her achievements.
She put three past Tottenham in a 7-0 hammering last November, followed up with another in a 4-1 crushing of Everton the following month before completing a third in a 5-1 win over Liverpool.
Shaw became City’s all-time leading goal-scorer this season she scored her 18th goal to overtake Georgia Stanway’s previous mark of 68.
Source-CMC
EU to sign MOU with CDEMA
The European Union will on Wednesday sign a new Memorandum of Understanding on Integrated Disaster Risk Management with several organizations including the Barbados-based Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA).
The MOU will also be signed with the Coordination Centre for the Prevention of Disasters in Central America and Dominican Republic (CEPREDENAC), the Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR), and the General Secretariat of the Andean Community (SGCAN), as well as Chile, Cuba, and Mexico.
It is intended to reinforce disaster risk management cooperation and strengthen the existing disaster risk management capacities as well as promote the exchange of knowledge through the sharing of information and training opportunities.
The European Union’s Commissioner for Crisis Management, Janez Lenarcic, will arrive here for the signing and according to the EU, the signature of the MoU “will be combined with the first High-Level Dialogue on the perspectives and objectives to be established between the two regions within the framework of the Memorandum”.
Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley will address the ceremony which will also be attended by dignitaries from Latin America and the Caribbean.
A technical workshop among the MoU actors will be held within the margins of the high-level event to provide an opportunity to discuss lines of cooperation within and among sub-regions, the broader LAC region, and between the EU and Latin America and the Caribbean Region.
“The parallel events will also provide an opportunity to review advances and contributions to the Regional Action Plan for the Implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction in the Americas and Caribbean 2015-2030,” the EU added.
Source-CMC
Connect Caribe pushes forward start of regional ferry service
The private sector-led ferry service, Connect Caribe, Monday announced that it had reached an agreement with the Caribbean Private Sector Organisation (CPSO) and the Dubai-headquartered Jampur Group enabling it to begin its ferry service much earlier than had been expected.
Pleion Group Inc., which described itself as a Caribbean and US-based company with offices in the United States, Barbados, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, and Jamaica, said its purpose is to trigger economic growth through business development in the Caribbean and beyond.
“We are excited, we have reached a milestone in the development and implementation of this project earlier than we had anticipated and the reason for that is that there are two major partnerships that have turbo-charged and accelerated the process of taking this maritime initiative from concept to reality,” Pleion Group Chairman Dr. Andre Thomas told a virtual news conference.
“The first would be our partnership with the CPSO whose data, guidance and leadership in the implementation of the project has served to really accelerate us. Their understanding of the trade landscape has been indispensable in guiding us in making strategic and logical decisions where this project is concerned,” he added.
He said that the second major announcement is “our partnership with our new partner, which is the Jampur Group,” which he described as a “very strong company operating out of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) working across the continent of Africa” over 30 years and has a fleet of ships.
He said the partnership will allow the Group to advance the Connect Caribe venture much faster than initially planned. Originally, it was envisaged that the ferry service, its first phase at least, would be operational by November 2024.
“We have entered into an agreement with them and they will be providing our first set of ships, which are being acquired as we speak and very soon will be on their way to the Caribbean waters.
“So the news that we have …the decision making in terms of our business development, our routes, our understanding of how to integrate our cargo platform with a travel platform, all that market information has been made available through our discussions with the CPSO and have been indispensable in accelerating that side of the business,” Thomas told reporters.
He said the Jampur Group has its own shipyard, repairing ships, noting that all aspects of the venture in the Caribbean are being met.
“We are very excited to announce this and so this will accelerate our launch date …that was due to be in the month of November. This definitely will accelerate it by a few months earlier and the approach that we are taking is going to be slightly different marked by the consultations we have had with the CPSO and also with the Jamour Group.
“So we are going to begin with a lot more ships, but slightly smaller ships that would go to many more places and we will begin with a very strong emphasis on the cargo element with also travel and then build towards having the two much larger cruise ships which we are actually working on and that would house over a thousand people each in the second phase of acquisition,” Thomas added.
Thomas said simultaneously, that the group is working on integrating e-commerce options to make payments easier and that the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS), a cross-border, financial market infrastructure, offered through the African Exim Import Bank is being seriously considered.
“I believe it (the PAPSS venture) will be game-changing for Caribbean economies,” Thomas said.
PSO chief executive officer, Dr. Patrick Antoine said this private venture has the backing of the body because there is a huge need for intra-regional transportation solutions.
“In working with them, our focus is going to continue to be to try to support the initiatives with Connect Caribe or other initiatives for this whole conundrum of successful connectivity in the Caribbean,” Antoine said, making references to the number of mandates given by the regional governments to the private sector group.
“One such is the project we are engaged in this morning, which is to contribute to a private sector solution to address the challenges of maritime transportation, and at the time the focus was on the southern Caribbean, which we defined as all of the countries in the Eastern Caribbean, plus Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, and Suriname.
“So we are very focused on that,” he said, noting that he is also pleased that together with Connect Caribe, they are achieving this mandate.
Source-CMC
Local & International scoreboard
Provo Premier League
SWA Sharks FC vs Academy Eagles FC - Final score (full-time) 1-1
Since this was the final game, it went into extra time and penalty shoot-out after regulation time.
Final score SWA Sharks FC - 4 Academy Eagles FC - 3
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
INTERLEAGUE
Boston 3, Washington 2
Arizona 9, Baltimore 2
Colorado 3, Texas 1
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Minnesota 5, Toronto 1
Cleveland 7, Chi White Sox 0
Houston 9, Detroit 3
NY Yankees 10, Tampa Bay 6
Kansas City 4, LA Angels 2
Seattle 8, Oakland 4
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Miami 7, Philadelphia 6
Chi Cubs 5, Pittsburgh 4
St. Louis 4, Milwaukee 3
San Diego 4, LA Dodgers 0
San Francisco 6, Cincinnati 5
NY Mets 4, Atlanta 3
NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION PLAYOFFS
Indiana 121, New York 89 (Series tied 2-1)
Denver 115, Minnesota 107 (Series tied 2-2)
NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE PLAYOFFS
Vancouver 4, Edmonton 3 (Vancouver leads series 2-1)
Florida 3, Boston 2 (Florida leads series 3-1)
MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER
Seattle 2, Portland 1
PUBLIC WEATHER FORECAST
Ice Spice says she was nervous to sample Sean Paul's "Gimme the Light".
Ice Spice is bringing back Y2k vibes with her new single, "Gimmie a Light." The song borrows from Sean Paul's 2002 hit "Gimme the Light," a sample she once doubted would get approved.
"I was nervous because we wanted to have a very authentic Y2K sample in there, and Sean Paul, he's legendary. And that song alone, his 'Gimme the Light,' is so iconic that I was so nervous to sample it because I'm like, 'This isn't going to get cleared, so what's the point?' But thankfully we got it cleared," she says in a recent interview with Apple Music's Zane Lowe. "Shouts to Sean Paul. He's so real."
"Gimmie a Light" was first heard in April during Ice's debut performance at Coachella, where she was "overwhelmed by the love" from her fans. She says it was "my most fun time on stage ever in my career up until this point."
The track previews what's to come on her forthcoming album Y2k, named after an era she wasn't born into. Ice Spice says she tapped her mother as inspiration as she worked on the project.
"Thankfully, I had my mom, so growing up I'd see her embody the Y2K aesthetic in its truest form," the rapper says, adding she also got some assistance from the internet.
As for why she named the album Y2k, Ice Spice says it came after an "ongoing process of 'What should we name the album?'" — which ended with the realization that she wanted the name to be short.
Ice's Y2k album is expected to drop sometime this year.
Source-ABC
Humanitarian workers, doctors describe 'horrific' situation in Rafah as Israel intensifies strikes
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday that a U.S. threat to withhold some arms would not prevent Israel from continuing its offensive in Gaza, indicating it might proceed with an invasion of the packed city of Rafah against the wishes of its closest ally.
In a statement released Thursday, Netanyahu said "if we have to stand alone, we will stand alone. If we need to, we will fight with our fingernails. But we have much more than fingernails."
Israel's top military spokesman, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, also appeared to downplay the practical impact of any arms holdup. "The army has munitions for the missions it plans, and for the missions in Rafah, too -- we have what we need," he said in response to a question at a news conference.
Source-ABC
CXC denies leak examination paper
The Barbados-based Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) has denied reports on social media that “an examination paper” has been leaked.
Earlier this week, the CXC’s Registrar and chief executive officer, Dr Wayne Wesley told students from across the region that they have been prepared ‘to advance the economic competitiveness” of the Caribbean.
In a brief message marking the start of the May/June 2024 examinations, Wesley “it is that time of year again when candidates across the region are allowed to demonstrate the competencies they have achieved”.
In its statement, CXC said it “has been made aware of information being circulated on social media which suggests that an examination paper has been leaked.
“CXC wishes to advise candidates that this is a hoax. CXC frowns upon attempts by persons to spread false information and create panic for candidates preparing for examinations,” it added.
In May last year, CXC identified Jamaica as the country where its Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) Math Paper 02 examination paper had been leaked.
The CXC, established in 1972, is an institution that provides regional and internationally recognized secondary schools leaving examinations relevant to the needs of the region, assists in Common Entrance and other types of examinations as well as producing teaching materials and training teachers to use the CXC syllabi.
It also advises regional governments on education. The CXC also admits external entries from St Maarten and Saba of the Netherlands Antilles.
CXC has a comprehensive suite of qualifications to meet the needs of the region namely CSEC, Caribbean Certificate of Secondary Level Competence (CCSLC), Caribbean Vocational Qualification (CVQ), Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) and the CXC Associate Degree (CXC-AD).