Arizona smashes Mexico cartel drug smuggling network
US authorities say they have broken up a massive drug-smuggling network run by a Mexican cartel in Arizona.
A total of 76 suspects have been arrested and huge quantities of drugs and arms seized in a series of raids.
The ring used backpackers and vehicles to smuggle marijuana, cocaine and heroin across Arizona's western desert.
The network was linked to Mexico's Sinaloa cartel and generated an estimated $2 billion in profit over the last five years, officials said.
"Today we have dealt a significant blow to a Mexican criminal enterprise that has been responsible for poisoning our communities," said Arizona Attorney General Tom Horne.
"I find it completely unacceptable that Arizona neighbourhoods are treated as a trading floor for narcotics", he added.
The bust - known as "Operation Pipeline Express" - followed a 17-month investigation by multiple US law enforcement agencies.
'Monopoly'
A mix of US and Mexican nationals were arrested in three sweeps last week, earlier this month and in September, officials announced.
More than 30 tons of marijuana, 90kg (200lbs) of cocaine and 72kg (160lbs) of heroin were seized, as well as more than 100 firearms.
Operating from the Arizona towns of Chandler, Stanfield and Maricopa, the network ferried drugs across the Mexican border on foot and by vehicle to safe houses in the Phoenix area, officials said.
The drugs were then sold to criminal gangs who distributed them in other states across the US.
Officials believe the network made huge profits by securing a monopoly on smuggling routes along an 80 mile (128km) stretch of the remote desert border from Yuma to to the community of Sells in the Tohono O'odham Indian reservation.
Intelligence suggested the ring was linked to the Sinaloa cartel, led by Mexico's most-wanted fugitive drugs lord, Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman.
"We in Arizona continue to stand and fight the Mexican drug cartels, who think they own the place," Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu said.
"This is America and we shall bring a crushing hand of enforcement against those who threaten our families and our national security".
Building Materials Ltd Do it Center
Building Material Ltd Do it Center continues to work hand in hand with local contractors and international vendors to ensure cutting edge developments in the building industry do not bypass The Turks and Caicos Islands.
A steady stream of local flooring experts visited a tailor made project site near the new Building Material Ltd Drive Thru Depot for a thorough demonstration of new product by world renowned, Italian-made, Mapei.
It was an exhibition proving reliability without compromising the look of refinement islanders want for their floors as two Mapei experts demonstrated the innovation of their 75-year old company.
Sam Biondo, Jnr has been installing floors for a quarter of century, and as the National Technical Presenter for Mapei from the United States, he brings a working knowledge of what customers truly want. Mr. Biondo explained that it is all about keeping pace.
“Ten years ago, you look at the size of tiles we saw 12 by 12 and 16 by 16, they were really big tiles. Nowadays there are some even bigger tiles and with porcelain tiles and its inability to absorb, at Mapei, we’ve found that we needed to improve the bonding agents. That’s what we’ve done and we’re a global company, we do this world wide: France, Italy all over the place with our premium product.”
This new grout and thin set is not only revolutionary, it is also gearing up for a major showcase.
“We have some new product which just came out and we will be showing them at the trade shows in Las Vegas which are coming up. There are some really exciting ideas things going on with thin sets and grouts and change the way we use them currently.”
Scott Benavent has been with Mapei six years, and knows the importance of getting new products to this part of the world, fast. The Turks and Caicos is his fifth Caribbean country and as the Sales Representative, he explained that having Mapei at Building Materials Ltd proves how contemporary the offerings are at the store.
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“It is very exciting and we’ve demonstrated some of our new mortars and this includes some of our water proofing systems which are quick and easy, we’re also demonstrating new grout and patching compounds for difficult installations.”
The team, which was for the first time in The Turks and Caicos was impressed with the beauty and serenity of the country. Sam and Scott, over the two days of demos, found the hunger for knowledge by the openly invited clients of BML, refreshing.
“We’ve figured out a way to take some premium technology bring a decent price point to it and bring it to the people the people so that we can go ahead and have better installations with less failures,” said Sam Biondo, Jnr.
While cost of this new Mapei product does change, Scott promises it will be slight and the Mapei products tile experts have come to appreciate will remain cost effective.
“Given our new technology, there is a premium because it is a product with new technology but we can assure you will not be handing over your whole wallet. You will still be able to pay your rent, your mortgage and your car!”
Japan intervenes in currency markets and yen weakens 5%
The Japanese government has intervened in the currency market to weaken the yen after it hit a post-war high.
The move resulted in the yen weakening as much as 5%. It was recently trading at 79.33 against the US dollar compared with 75.31 in early Asian trade.
A strong yen hurts Japan's export-led economy as it makes goods more expensive to foreign buyers.
Finance minister Jun Azumi said the yen's strength did not reflect the true state of Japan's economy.
He said that speculation in the foreign exchange (Forex) market, and concerns about the strength of the US and European currencies, had pushed the yen to unrealistic levels.
"I have said many times, if Forex moves do not reflect the economic fundamentals and speculative moves last, Japan will take firm measures," Mr Azumi explained on Monday.
'Temporary support'
The yen's rise has been driven in part by the fact that it is currently being considered a "safe-haven" asset.
The on-going debt crisis in Europe, coupled with fears of a slowdown in the US has seen an increasing number of investors shift from dollars and euros and starting buying up the yen and yen-denominated assets.
Faced with a strengthening yen, Japanese authorities have already stepped into the currency markets earlier this year.
In March, Japan joined forces with other Group of Seven, or G7, nations as it attempted to stem the yen's rise. That was followed by a move in August when Japanese authorities sold the yen in the markets.
However, those moves had only a limited impact as the yen continued its rise, despite weakening for a number of trading sessions.
Analysts said the latest intervention would probably have similar results.
"This will provide only a temporary support, as a lot of the factors that are keeping up the pressure on the yen are external," Philip Wee of the DBS Bank told the BBC.
"Intervention is about smoothing volatility rather than reversing trends."
Source-BBC
Guyana slips one place in World Bank’s rankings
Guyana has, in the latest World Bank International Financial Corporation’s Doing Business 2012: Doing Business in a More Transparent World report, slipped one place down the ratings to 114 out of 183 economies examined.
However, in the region St Lucia is the best spot to conduct business rated at 52 while Antigua and Barbuda follows second at 57.
Nearer to home, Guyana fares better than Venezuela which stood at a dismal 177, Brazil at 126 and Suriname at 158.
Singapore is the top country in the world whose regulations make it relatively simple to do business.
That country is followed by Hong Kong, New Zealand and the US.
Doing Business 2012 is the ninth in a series of annual reports investigating the regulations that enhance business activity and those that constrain it.
It presents quantitative indicators on business regulation and the protection of property rights that can be compared across 183 economies—from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe—and over time.
Regulations affecting 11 areas of the life of a business are covered: starting a business, dealing with construction permits, getting electricity, registering property, getting credit, protecting investors, paying taxes, trading across borders, enforcing contracts, resolving insolvency and employing workers.
The data are current as of June 1, 2011.
According to the report, worldwide, 125 economies implemented 245 reforms making it easier to do business in 2010/11, about 13 per cent more than in the previous year.
The report noted that against the backdrop of the global financial and economic crisis, more economies strengthened their insolvency regime in 2010/11 than in any previous year.
Twenty-nine economies implemented insolvency reforms, up from 16 the previous year and 18 the year before.
According to the report, only two decades ago some of these 20 economies faced challenges similar to those in many lower-income economies today.
In a case, the World Bank cited Consider Norway’s property registry. Today it is one of the world’s most efficient. But in 1995 its paper records required 30 kilometers of shelving and were growing at a rate of one kilometer a year. Norway took steps to change this. First it merged the land department and survey information, then digitized title certificates.
In 2002 it amended the 50-year-old Land Transfer Act to allow online titling.
Online registration has been required by law since 2008.
Sweden undertook a systematic review of all regulations in the 1980s. Any unjustified requirements were cut in a “guillotine” initiative.
(Mexico took a similar approach in the 1990s.) In Korea the Presidential Council on National Competitiveness, created in 2008, identified regulatory reform as one of four pillars to improve the economy’s competitiveness, along with public sector innovation, investment promotion, and legal and institutional advancement.
Reviewing Korea’s business regulations, the council found that 15 per cent had not been revised since 1998. The council applied sunset clauses to more than 600 regulations and 3,500 administrative rules.
Source-KNEWS
Qantas ordered to resume flights
Qantas will resume flights on Monday after an independent tribunal ordered a permanent end to the industrial dispute with its union members.
Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce said the airline will resume flights by mid-afternoon on a limited schedule.
The move comes after Fair Work Australia issued a ruling, after hearing evidence from the airline, unions and the government.
The dispute had resulted in Qantas grounding all its flights on Saturday.
"Operations will resume progressively from this afternoon. Our focus is bringing our schedule back to normal as soon as possible," Mr Joyce said.
Qantas' share price rose 5.5% in early trading in Sydney.
'Challenging period'
The airline and the union members have been involved in a dispute since August this year when the carrier announced a plan to restructure its operations and outsource some of the services.
The unions have voiced opposition to the plan which is expected to result in almost 1,000 job cuts at Qantas' Australian operations.
Last week, Qantas claimed that the industrial dispute was costing it A$15m ($16m; £12m) per week due to flight cancellations and delays.
The dispute took a dramatic turn on Saturday when in an unprecedented move, Qantas grounded all international and domestic flights.
"This has been a challenging period for Qantas, its employees, its customers and its shareholders," Mr Joyce said.
However, Mr Joyce added that the matter was now being looked into by the tribunal and he was confident the airline and unions will work together to find a solution.
"The industrial process has now passed into the hands of the independent umpire. All parties will be treated equally and we will respect the decisions that are made," he said.
"We have new and existing agreements with 12 unions. We now anticipate the conclusion of agreements with the remaining three."
Fair Work Australia, the national industrial tribunal, has the power to suspend or terminate industrial action.
The tribunal said "we have decided to terminate protected industrial action in relation to each of the proposed enterprise agreements immediately".
The ruling requires the unions to return to the negotiating table and come to an agreement within 21 days or face binding arbitration.
Fair Work Australia said its ruling had taken into account its concern for the vulnerability of the tourism industry.
Australia's government welcomed the decision.
"We are pleased that after 24 hours of turmoil, common sense has been restored," said Assistant Treasurer Bill Shorten.
Mr Joyce had warned Qantas would only resume operations if the tribunal ordered a permanent end, rather than merely a suspension, of industrial action.
The unions had wanted a suspension for up to 120 days to allow talks.
Businesses hoping for a reasonable Christmas in Barbados
Traditionally, Christmas signified a major boost for many businesses in the retail industry in Barbados, especially food items and hardware. However, the recession has continued to produce lower numbers and it is possible this year will be no different for the business community.
David Neilands, Managing Director of Super Centre Limited, stated: “I will remain optimistic because there are still opportunities and it is important to drive your business, but the reality is the market has decreased.”
Speaking to Business Monday last week, he stated certainly it is more difficult than it was this time last year, the recessionary difficulties have become broader.
“However, as the winter season approaches, tourists as we know don’t have the disposable income that they had before. People say you have to eat, but generally people have to be more careful with their expenses. Most persons in the industry are trying to ensure they are offering affordable prices, but even that said it is a tough time.
“Personal allowances removed, price of oil is affecting everyone and those factors coupled with rising commodity prices worldwide are having an effect on everything.”
Neilands added, “In our industry we have to reinforce to the public we need to be supporting local products as strong as we can. However, there are challenges there because some of the products such as pork, chicken and meat, in general, have gone up because of the price of feed. There is a lot of interconnected factors that are making the situation difficult for Barbadians.
“It is not a optimistic time of the year even though retailers expect to do better, because it is that important quarter leading to the end of year. I think that it is evident that people are finding it harder and the offerings out there have to be as close to possible to what people can manage.”
In terms of the local farming community, he indicated, “The weather has not helped the situation over the last few months. Cucumbers and carrots are now beginning to be available again; those things would have been in short supply, but we are beginning to turn a corner with the weather.”
Michael Edwards, Managing Director of Carters General store, echoed similar sentiments. He added: “I am hoping business will pick up, it is quiet and in these economic times it is hard to predict, but a positive is that we have maintained our staff.”
According to him, “In general most businesses are hoping for a reasonable Christmas, I don’t expect it to be a bumper Christmas. As for next year, it is hard to project because nothing has changed in the global economies we are dependent on, therefore not much has changed in business locally.”
Source-Barbados Advocate
Nicki Minaj Confronted Maid - Cops were called
According to TMZ.com Nicki Minaj and boyfriend Safaree had an altercation with a maid, where cops were called in.. However no arrest was made.
TMZ report
Here's the backstory. Law enforcement tells us, a couple of weeks ago, Nicki's maid took a photo of the singer out of the trash and then asked Nicki to sign it. Nicki got pissed and fired her.
Cops tell us, the maid did come back today, and Nicki became enraged and ordered her to leave. A source privy to the fight tells TMZ, the maid stood her ground, demanding not to be "treated like an animal" -- at which point, Nicki allegedly said, "I'll show you how to treat someone like an animal ... get the f*** out of my house!"
Now here's where the stories are a bit conflicting. One source says -- contrary to what the cops say -- Nicki actually made a mistake, saw another maid and assumed she was the one Nicki had fired.
We have had multiple people involved in the incident tell us ... the maid Nicki confronted was NOT the same maid she fired a few weeks ago. It was a case of mistaken identity.
Either way, Nicki's boyfriend got in the act and began pushing the maid with his body. The maid's boss called the cops and filed a battery report.
The cops came and the maid asked to make a citizen's arrest, but eventually decided against it so no one was taken into custody.
Source-TMZ
Barry Manilow helps tornado ravaged town
Barry Manilow not only writes the songs, he makes sure kids can too.
The singer-songwriter visited tornado ravaged Joplin, Missouri, Thursday and donated $300,000 in musical instruments to the town's schools through his non-profit Manilow Music Project. “I know firsthand how invaluable music can be to get you through life’s tough times," Manilow said in a statement. "It is an honor and a privilege to help these kids after such a disaster."
Signs like "Barry is our Man-ilow" and "Joplin has hope cause of Barry" ringed the Eagles football field for the presentation. Students, teachers and townspeople gathered to watch three truckloads of instruments arrive which included pianos, brass and string instruments. The donations will benefit not just the high school band, but also the pep club, the middle school, the choir and the orchestra according to Rick Castor, music director for Joplin High School.
The town is still feeling the effects of the tornado, which struck in May cutting a 13 mile path of destruction through the southwest Missouri city of 50,000 and killed at least 159 people. The National Weather Service calls it the single most deadly tornado to hit the U.S. in 60 years. More than half the students at Joplin High School were affected – losing loved ones, homes, and possessions.
Joplin High School's music library, the second oldest and one of the largest in the state and worth over $800,00, was destroyed. In addition to the $300,000 in instruments, Manilow's Music Project teamed up with local business Fitterling Dentistry to accept donations of gently used instruments and money to help rebuild the sheet music library. The drive netted $8320.oo.
Manilow points to his own school music programs as being crucial to his growth as a musician. He established the MMP in 2008 ( www.ManilowMusicProject.org ) to bolster arts programs nationwide that have suffered due to budget cutbacks. Joplin is just one of many towns his non-profit has helped, but to the man who writes the songs, this felt personal, "It feels like family, I feel like I know everyone and I've never even been here," Manilow said.
| Source: CNN Entertainment |
Shawn Storm, Moonie & Kartel remain behind bars
Portmore Empire member Shawn Storm is back behind bars for the second time in the last two weeks.
Storm, whose real name is Shawn Campbell, was summoned by the Constant Spring Police earlier this week.
The “My Life” deejay turned himself over to law enforcement officials two weeks ago after he was named as a person of interest. He was questioned by detectives and release two days later without charges.
Police sources told Urban Islandz that the deejay might be charged jointly along with mentor Vybz Kartel for the murder of Clive Williams, also known as ‘Lizard.’
According to the source, Lizard was murdered by Vybz Kartel, Shawn Storm and Ray Jones, on August 16th, 2011 in Havendale.
All three are currently behind bars
Meanwhile
As Vybz Kartel Empire begins to crumble under pressure from Jamaican Law Enforcement officials, another associate of the deejay was charged.
The “Cake Soap” deejay’s booking agent Clavin Haye, also known as Moonie, was formally charged with murder yesterday following questioning by police in the presence of his attorney Tom Tavares-Finson.
Haye was charged jointly with Vybz Kartel and Kiro Jones, for the murder of Clive Williams, also known as ‘Lizard’.
Earlier this week Clavin Haye was summoned by the police for questioning in relation to the case against Vybz Kartel. However, he denied any involvement with the deejay’s legal troubles.
“Moonie is just a designer inno, and I dont know if its because of my affiliated like sparring with Vybz Kartel it create a thing on me,” Haye said.
Source-Urban Islands
Lawyers in Jamaica aim at pirates - UWI seminars strengthen anti-piracy thrust
Late last month resident magistrates (RMs) from across the island gathered in the Faculty of Law building, University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona, in preparation to pass judgement on pirates.
Pirates of legitimate goods, that is.
Natalie Corthesy, lecturer in law at UWI, Mona, told The Sunday Gleaner that it was the second of three seminars hosted by the faculty, designed to strengthen the legal framework to combat piracy. The first, held in April, included police and customs officers, as well as personnel from the Office of Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). An April 2012 seminar to train clerks of the court will complete the tri-level approach.
public service announcements
On the public education side, the Jamaica Anti-Piracy Alliance (JAPA) has also developed public service announcements covering music, film, book publishing and software. Some of the counterfeit items have been on display at the UWI seminars, from Duracell batteries to Smirnoff Vodka and MVP T-shirts.
"It is the hope that the sensitisation will have the effect of heightening enforcement efforts in all the different areas we
are highlighting so far and their efforts will be more effective, having been exposed to global and local instances of piracy and the effects of piracy and counterfeiting," Corthesy said.
With bootleg CDs and DVDs easily available and displayed for sale as a matter of course in major cities and towns across the island, with the police making major crackdowns on the practice from time to time, intellectual property theft is nothing new to Jamaicans. However, Corthesy notes the difference between piracy and counterfeiting.
So piracy, in the strictest sense, relates to illegal replication of copyright material. On the other hand, counterfeiting refers to trademark goods and the fact that people try to unlawfully use registered trademarks, putting them on goods that have no relationship with the trademark owners, in order to sell those goods.
"Counterfeiting may evolve to include counterfeit of patent goods," Corthesy said. She points out that "we have seen in Africa where countries have bought pills - antiretrovirals for AIDS and pills for malaria - and people have got sick and died because they were counterfeit".
bootlegging
Then there is bootlegging, where there is a public performance of some copyright material and an unauthorised person videotapes it. The video is then referred to as a bootleg.
The legal process, however, is where the buck stops and the significance of the resident magistrates' training in September was underscored by the support of Senior Puisne Judge Gloria Smith and Chief Justice Zaila McCalla.
Corthesy said the feedback from the RMs was that while they appreciated the training, it was key that the police and clerks of the court, who would be responsible for preparing the case, were especially important in the process.
Corthesy reinforced the impact of intellectual property theft, saying "on the cultural level it has an impact on creativity and the ability of the creative industry to recreate itself". However, there is a potential connection to an ominous situation.
Corthesy said if the country is weak on intellectual property issues, "it makes Jamaica attractive to those involved in organised crime to set up shop here".
And she points out that January 2014 Jamaica will be required, under a European Partnership Agreement, to have an increased level of enforcement measures, including on the export side.
There has been public mass destruction of illegal CDs in June 2004 and April 2011, but Corthesy points out that education on intellectual property-theft issues goes deeper than that.
"It is a sensitisation to things happening maybe on a small scale in other countries, but in Jamaica it may be big," Corthesy said.
Source-Jamaica Gleaner