Celebrating more than four decades in business, Royal Caribbean International will be honoured for its investments in the Caribbean region during Caribbean American Heritage Month in New York City this month. The cruise company will be presented with the 2013 Invest Caribbean Now Corporate Leadership award June 5 at the Radisson Martinique Hotel. 

The official launch of the 40-Day Countdown to the 40th Independence Anniversary was held at the Office of The Prime Minister, Cable Beach, May 31, 2013. A launch event will be held June 4 in Rawson Square, Nassau. Pictured:Members of The National Independence Commission launch the 40-Day Countdown at the Office of The Prime Minister, Cable Beach, May 31, 2013. Pictured from left: Chairman of the 40th Anniversary Independence Secretariat, Jack Thompson; co-chair of the 40th Independence Anniversary Commission, Tracey Thompson; and Commission members Arlene Nash-Ferguson and Gail Saunders. (BIS photo/Raymond Bethel) 

Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries are to benefit from US$3 billion in concessional loans from China, according to President of the People's Republic of China Xi Jinping, who is in the region to meet heads of state. 

Prime Minister Perry Christie met with the President of the People's Republic of China Xi Jinping in Port of Spain, Trinidad, yesterday. Watch a ZNS news report on the meeting here. 

During a panel discussion at the regional meeting of Trade Ministers being held in Guatemala this week, Minister of Financial Services with the portfolio for international trade, Ryan Pinder, said that The Bahamas was well positioned to be a strategic trade hub for the region. 

The Bahamas International Securities Exchange (BISX) has announced that Royal Fidelity Capital Markets a BISX broker-dealer member has submitted an application to list three series of the Royal Fidelity Bahamas Opportunities Fund Ltd mutual fund on BISX, using the exchange's mutual fund listing facility. This fund was approved for listing by the BISX Listing Committee and will now have its information disseminated via the BISX website. 

ZNS Network news is running segments that focus on the 2013/2014 Budget Communication, highlighting key areas of expenditure and revenue generating initiatives. Watch the first segment here. 

Minister of State for Finance Michael Halkitis told a press conference last week that the government has in place a medium-term strategy to combat unemployment, crime and shore up the nation's financial footing. Watch the press conference here. 

Prime Minister Perry Christie met with the President of the People's Republic of China Xi Jinping in Port of Spain, Trinidad, June 2 to discuss a new package of technical support amounting to US$8 million. 

High definition timelapse video posted on Vimeo by Blue Eden was filmed over a week of sailing The Bahamas in May 2013. Watch the full video here.