Morning Bites: 5 things to know for Thursday: Hurricane Season forecast; Domestic violence survivors; Gas prices; Clovis Toon; Breaking News and more

Morning Bites: 5 things to know for Thursday, May 25, 2023 Close to normal hurricane season predicted A [close to normal Atlantic hurricane season has been predicted]( with the forecast for 17 named storms, seven of which are likely to become hurricanes with four of them being major storms this year. However, the Barbados-based Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology (CIMH) said the “boxing game” between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans as well as the Saharan dust over the Atlantic would determine the level of tropical cyclone activity. “The Atlantic hurricane season outlook (is) close to normal,” CIMH climatologist Dr Cédric Van Meerbeeck, told the 2023 Wet/Hurricane Season Caribbean Climate Outlook Forum (CariCOF) in Kingston on Wednesday, adding “to me, it says one storm is enough. CPFSA hosts forum to mark Int’l Missing Children’s Day The Child Protection and Family Services Agency (CPFSA), through the Ananda Alert Secretariat, will [host a youth forum in commemoration of International Missing Children’s Day]( which is being observed today, May 25. The forum will be held at Altamont Court Hotel, Altamont Crescent, Kingston, from 9:30 am to 1:00 pm. Students representing 15 high schools from across the island are expected to attend the forum, which is aimed at developing youth-centred solutions to address the missing children crisis being faced in Jamaica. Domestic violence survivors’ graduation ceremony for Hayes, Clarendon Some 20 survivors of domestic violence will graduate today from a five-month Women’s Economic Empowerment Programme, under the European Union (EU)/United Nations (UN) Spotlight Initiative. The ceremony will be held at the Wembley Centre of Excellence in Hayes, Clarendon. It will also feature announcements of small business grant awards to participants and unveiling of their business enterprises. Mayor of May Pen, Winston Maragh and UNDP Resident Representative, Denise E. Antonio will address the function. Advertisement Motorists to pay more for gasoline, diesel Motorists will today begin paying more for fuel when they fill up at the pumps, according to the latest price listing released on Wednesday by Petrojam, the state-owned oil refinery. According to the listing, both 87 and 90-octane gasoline are up in price by $1.26 and will sell for $168.65 per litre and $172.17 per litre respectively. Automotive diesel oil has been increased by $0.25 and will sell for $170.12 per litre while ultra low sulphur diesel will sell for $180.87 per litre following an increase of $0.16. Petrojam has advised that kerosene has been increased by $0.05 and will sell for $180.97. Thursday’s football gossip Manchester United are willing to pay £55m for Chelsea's England midfielder Mason Mount and are aiming to beat Liverpool and Arsenal to the 24-year-old's signature. [(Mail)]( Aston Villa are leading the race to sign Leicester City's 25-year-old English winger Harvey Barnes. [(Independent)]( The Hammers are likely to keep David Moyes as their manager and intend to back him by also targeting Fulham's Portugal midfielder Joao Palhinha, 27, as a potential replacement for England midfielder Declan Rice, 24. [(Guardian)]( Arsenal plan to sell as many as 14 first-team players to fund eight new signings in major summer rebuild - with the club's record signing, 27-year-old Ivory Coast winger Nicolas Pepe, among those set to leave. [(Football.London)]( ICYMI: WHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING WATCH: 'Angry' protesters pile pressure on Gov't over huge salary increases Protests against the huge salary increases granted to members of the political directorate continued Wednesday with [scores of placard-bearing demonstrators]( demanding a roll back of the pay hikes outside Ministry of Finance in Kingston. WATCH: 'I am healthy and fine'- Lee-Chin allays fears, explains leave of absence from NCB Jamaican-Canadian billionaire Michael Lee-Chin on Wednesday [sought to allay fears about his health]( following the announcement that he is taking a leave of absence from the boards of the NCB Financial Group (NCBFG). PM seeks to dispel 'misinformation' on his decision to forego salary increase Prime Minister Andrew Holness is [seeking to dispel what he describes as “misinformation”]( on his decision to relinquish his salary increase. CLOVIS TOON TODAY IN HISTORY Death of George Floyd [On this day]( in 2020, George Floyd, a black man, was killed when a white Minneapolis police officer pressed his knee on Floyd’s neck for about 9 1/2 minutes while Floyd was handcuffed and pleading that he couldn’t breathe; Floyd’s death, captured on video by a bystander, would lead to worldwide protests, some of which turned violent, and a reexamination of racism and policing in the US. For more stories, visit our website at www.jamaicaobserver.com or [sign up for our e-paper](. [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Website]( Copyright © 2023 Jamaica Observer, All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: 40 - 42 1/2 Beechwood Avenue Kingston 5 Want to change how you receive these emails? You can [update your preferences]( or [unsubscribe from this list](.