Report: 50 Cent May Be Investigated for Stock Tweet
50 Cent is facing a possible investigation by the U.S. Security Exchange Commission after causing the penny stock of a TV marketing company he is a shareholder in to jump up in value.
As previously reported, the rapper became an investor in TV Goods, which develops and markets consumer products in a variety of media, in October, and used his Twitter this week to proclaim it would become a huge success.
He then encouraged his fans to follow in his footsteps so they could cash in too, writing, “You better get in now I’m never saying this again. Watch how this company blows up. Follow my lead there (sic) going to get bigger trust me even if its (sic) a small investment it will pay off.”
His declaration prompted a number of his 3.8 million followers on the social networking site to rush to buy shares in the H&H Imports-owned firm, bumping the value of its penny stock from 29 cents to 39 cents by close of play on Monday.
The boost meant 50 Cent’s 30 million shares in TV Goods were now worth an extra $8.7 million, but reports suggest his actions on Twitter could have violated the rules on manipulating stock value, and he could find himself under investigation by the SEC.
A spokesperson for the SEC has declined to comment on the speculation, telling Fox411, “We can neither confirm nor deny (the reports).”
But 50 Cent, real name Curtis Jackson, appears to have seen the error of his ways – he’s since deleted the original tweets and posted a new note, warning fans they should seek professional advice before investing in any stock.
He writes, “(My) own HNHI stock thoughts on it are my opinion. Talk to (a) financial advisor about it. HNHI is the right investment for me it may or may not be right for (you)! Do ur (sic) homework.”
Nicki Minaj Denies Dating Rihanna, but says ‘You Never Know’
This morning on Ryan Seacrest’s radio show, Nicki Minaj was asked to clarify rumors that she’s dating Rihanna and that the two are shacked up in a love nest.
The rapper said the reports are rooted in a joke poking fun of rumors that they were romantically involved.
“We just shot the video for a song I have on the album called ‘Fly’,” she explained. “When I saw her I said, ‘So, do you hear we’re living together?’ We started cracking up laughing. She was like, ‘I can’t believe people are this ridiculous!’”
Minaj went on to say that the “random rumor” prompted the singers to post a joke message online about their “new crib” earlier this week.
“The funny thing is some people still didn’t realize we were joking,” she continued. “People were like, ‘Oh my God, you’re so lucky! You and Rihanna living together!’ You can’t even be sarcastic anymore, it’s hilarious!”
However, she admitted that there was always a “possibility” of the duo becoming housemates in the future. “She is a badass,” she added. “You never know!”
Minaj previously described ‘Fly’ – which appears on her platinum debut Pink Friday – as an “empowering” collaboration between the pair, saying that it encourages women to “soar high in the face of adversity.”
Jamaica opens third international airport, named after Ian Fleming
Prime Minister Bruce Golding on Wednesday officially opened Jamaica's third international airport at Boscobel in St Mary.
A new international airport for private jets and small commercial aircraft was unveiled in northern Jamaica on Wednesday, named after the British thriller writer who invented the literary and cinematic super spy James Bond.
Ian Fleming International Airport is close to the scenic retreat where the late author reportedly wrote all 14 of his books about the elegant, crafty spy. The property is now an exclusive resort owned by Island Records founder Chris Blackwell, who is credited with introducing reggae great Bob Marley's music to the world.
The small airport, formerly called the Boscobel Aerodrome, features a terminal with customs and immigration sections to accommodate global travelers. Officials said the facility just outside the coastal town of Orcabessa is the Caribbean island's third international airport.
The 007 author's niece, Lucy Fleming, who traveled from her Oxfordshire home in southwestern England to attend the ribbon-cutting ceremony, said her uncle would have been thrilled to see an airport emblazoned with his name in the Jamaican parish of St. Mary.
"He adored Jamaica and found so much inspiration and relaxation here. So I tell you something, to have this accolade of having an airport named after him here I know would have been a great honor for him," Fleming said. "Honestly, I don't think he would have written those (Bond) books without Jamaica."
Fleming first visited Jamaica in 1942, when he was an intelligence agent in Bermuda. He returned and bought a property he dubbed GoldenEye four years later — in the dying days of the British Empire, when the north shore of Jamaica teemed with scions of wealthy British families and American celebrities like Errol Flynn.
It was at GoldenEye where Fleming sat down at his desk to write "Casino Royale," launching the phenomenally successful series that is still going strong. He named his dashing spy after an unassuming U.S. ornithologist who wrote "Birds of the West Indies." Fleming died in 1964.
Several 007 movies including "Live and Let Die" and "Dr. No" were filmed near Fleming's Jamaica estate, and it shares a name with the 1995 Bond film "GoldenEye."
Music industry mogul Blackwell, who also attended the opening, said the airport will be a boon not only for his nearby GoldenEye resort, but also for the nearby tourist mecca of Ochio Rios and the northeastern town of Port Antonio.
AP
Second Guyanese sentenced to 15 years for JFK airport bomb plot
Another Guyanese was given a 15-year jail sentence for his involvement in the plot to blow up the John F. Kennedy International Airport four years ago.
Abdel Nur, 60, was sentenced on Thursday by US District Judge Dora Irizarry in Brooklyn, New York. He had pleaded guilty on the eve of his trial, to one count of providing support to terrorists.
The judge denied a request by Nur's attorney for him to get a lighter sentence because of his ill health. He is suffering from lung cancer. But the prosecutor said that Nur's involvement was motivated by revenge because he had been deported from the United States and the views of the US against Muslims.
Another Guyanese, 59-year-old Abdul Kadir, a former member of Guyana's parliament was sentenced on December 15 to life imprisonment for his role in the plot. He pleaded not guilty and was found guilty after a weeklong trial.
Kareem Ibrahim, 65, a citizen of Trinidad, was granted a separate trial, which is slated for April.
Cuba, US meet on immigration amid disagreements
Senior US and Cuban diplomats met in Havana yesterday to discuss immigration issues in an encounter that was expected to turn to more contentious matters, such as the detention of an American man whom Cuba accuses of spying.
Heading the talks for the US is Roberta Jacobsen, the US principal deputy assistant secretary of state for Western Hemisphere affairs. It was not clear who was representing the Cuban delegation.
Talks got under way yesterday morning, said Gloria Berbena, a spokeswoman for the US Interests Section, which Washington maintains instead of an embassy.
The gathering will focus on a 17-year-old agreement under which the US issues 20,000 visas to Cubans a year. But diplomats on both sides use the twice-yearly meetings to detail a long-standing list of complaints.
The Cuban delegation never fails to voice its opposition to Washington's 48-year trade embargo, which Havana says has placed a stranglehold on the island's economy.
American diplomats are sure to raise the issue of Alan Gross, an American subcontractor jailed by Cuba for more than a year without charge on suspicion of spying, as well as what they consider Cuba's spotty human-rights record overall.
US officials have made clear that there is little hope for improved relations while Cuba holds Gross. They have also continued to call on Cuban authorities to open up the island's political system to democratic reform.
Relations between the two Cold War enemies have been sour for more than half a century, since shortly after Fidel Castro's revolution turned the island into a Soviet ally.
Hopes that President Barack Obama would usher in a new era in bilateral relations are long gone, replaced by the usual recriminations from both sides.
According to leaked American diplomatic cables, Cuban President Raul Castro -- Fidel's brother, who has been running Cuba since 2006 — approached Washington about opening backdoor talks with the White House, but was rebuffed.
Source:AP
International drug lord sought over £7m ganja haul
POLICE in the United Kingdom are hunting down an international drug lord in connection with the seizure of £7 million-worth of ganja, shipped via Jamaica from Cuba last year, reports the Northampton Chronicle & Echo.
The drugs were individually parcelled and labelled, leading Northamptonshire police to believe that they were intended to be distributed throughout the UK. Police said their investigation had now centred on one individual.
"Enquiries were made internationally with other law enforcement agencies and these are continuing," said Detective Chief Inspector Tom Davies. “We are looking to arrest a man in connection with this seizure and we maintain an open mind as to the eventual destination of this drugs consignment, but we don’t believe, at this time, it was intended for Northamptonshire.”
The haul, believed to one of the biggest ever seized in the UK, weighed a total of 1.3 tonnes and was found on a lorry travelling between Daventry and Corby in April last year.
Source: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com
Turks and Caicos Banking Company restructures its operations
The Turks and Caicos Banking Company, the country's oldest independent private bank, has announced plans to restructure its operations by consolidating its activities into its new headquarters in Regent Village on Grace Bay Road in Providenciales, where it will continue to serve its Grand Turk clients. This will formally take effect upon final approval of the Financial Services Commission.
In a media release, Turks and Caicos Banking Company said it has decided to close its offices in Grand Turk with immediate effect. The Bank just recently acquired new premises at The Regent Village on Grace Bay road as a permanent headquarters of the islands. The release said that as a private bank which specializes in global asset management, and with the assistance of modern technology, the location of physical offices is not of primary concern, unlike commercial banks which operate tellers and check-clearing facilities.
We are very proud of our history in Turks and Caicos and see a bright future for the bank and its clients throughout the Islands," said Anton Faessler, TCBC President. "Our new office provides us with an opportunity to expand and enhance our products for all of our clients,he added.
As a private bank, TCBC has been a leader in providing offshore banking services to its clients for over 30 years, and has been consistently profitable throughout its existence. The company established its head office at Caribbean Place in Provo in 2002 and moved to its new location earlier this month.
With assets approaching $100,000,000, assets under management of $45,000,000 and a strong balance sheet, TCBC works closely with its clients in areas including wealth management, lending, and currency management. In addition it has correspondent banking and brokerage relationships with leading financial institutions throughout the world.
Extended deadline to comment on revised recommendations for constitutional and electoral reform
Ms Kate Sullivan, TCI Constitutional and Electoral Reform Adviser, today outlined the next steps for her review of constitutional and electoral arrangements in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Following the interest shown by Turks and Caicos Islands residents throughout 2010, Ms Sullivan added a second opportunity for the public to comment on formal proposals for change. Her revised recommendations were published in November for this purpose and the deadline for comments and reactions was 14 January 2011.
Ms Sullivan said: I welcome the responses I have already received to my revised recommendations from individuals and groups in the Turks and Caicos Islands. I am also grateful to the Consultative Forum for convening yesterdays meeting. I would like to give some more time for reflection on the discussion in the Forum, and to provide the opportunity for further comments on my revised recommendations.
Once British ministers have considered the recommendations for possible constitutional change, a draft constitutional Order in Council will be prepared to incorporate those changes. It is hoped that the draft Order will be ready for publication in the Turks and Caicos Islands in February. This will be followed by a further period of consultation.
In order to not impede this important next stage of the process, Ms Sullivan is encouraging all interested persons to submit their views on her revised recommendations as soon as possible. The final deadline for comments on these is 31 January. Interested persons are welcome to make a written response to some or all of the revised recommendations. Such responses can be made via:tciconstitution@hotmail.com
or
PO Box 68 Grand Turk
Ms Sullivan has published her report on the Governors Office website and copies are available from the Governors Office in Grand Turk at Waterloo and from the Governors Office in Providenciales at the Hilly Ewing Building.
Turks and Caicos constitutional deadline extended
The first sitting of the Consultative Forum for the New Year on Tuesday raised several issues that Turks and Caicos Islanders are viewing with interest.
Leader of the Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM) Douglas Parnell requested an extension of the time for residents to submit suggestions to constitutional reform specialist Kate Sullivan. Sullivan had set a deadline of January 14 but Parnell asked that this be set back to January 31.
It was learned that, late on Tuesday, Governor Gordon Wetherell approved Parnell's request.
This will give Sullivan additional time, not only to obtain suggestions from individuals, but also to review the report submitted by the All Party Constitutional reform group. It was Parnell who also called for the formation of this committee.
The All Party group is headed by Attorney Wendell Swan, who also appeared before the United Nations Committee on Decolonization. This All Party group conducted meetings around the islands seeking suggestions from all interested parties. The All Party Group suggestions include a process for recall of any parliamentarian.
This recall provision, which was not part of the 2006 Constitution, could have served as the mechanism for removal of Michael Misick as premier. Late in the term of the last internal government, Misick refused to resign and, when a motion of no confidence was proposed by the three-member PDM opposition, it was.
However it appeared the motion had wide support among the majority of members of the then ruling Progressive National Party (PNP) and during a party caucus Misick was forced to resign, with Galmo Williams taking over the party leadership and premiership until the report from the Commission of Inquiry and a Order in Council resulted in direct rule being imposed by Britain.
Sullivan, who was appointed by the British Labour government prior to the May 2010 general election in the UK, conducted two series of meetings.
In the first series, many reported her as aloof and dictatorial. However, after the change of government in Britain, Sullivan was reported to be much more open to input by islanders. In fact, her second set of recommended changes, which she authored post election, incorporated several key changes islanders insisted upon. One was the arbitrary expansion of the voting franchise in favour of a path to citizenship in a process similar to the larger democracies (the USA requires a minimum of five years of productive residency).
Sullivan's second series of meetings in Grand Turk, North and Middle Caicos were viewed by islanders as consultative and constructive. However, in the most populated island of Providenciales (Provo) she was forced to close the meeting early due to loud demonstrations and the burning of her recommendations in the parking lot.
On a second occasion she was also met by angry protesters at the Provo Airport. Most of the protesters were identified as PNP activists. Clayton Greene himself told the country on television this week that he was part of the crowd at the airport confronting Sullivan
An anticipated third round of meetings was cancelled by Sullivan when she established the January 14 write-in deadline.
Appearing at the Tuesday Forum meeting was Carlos Simons, who previously chaired the Forum and who resigned to seek the leadership of the PNP. Simons is viewed as a reformer but was only able to obtain one third of the needed leadership support at the PNP's August convention. At Tuesday's Forum meeting he promised to propose a set of recommendations of his own. These, he said, may or may not be approved by the PNP.
Also appearing from the PNP was former chief minister and now national chairman, Norman Saunders. Saunders told the Forum that his view of Sullivan's recommendations were that she would frame a TCI constitution which is based on the premise that TC Islanders are criminals.
Saunders son, EJ Saunders, choose not to attend the forum meeting, claiming prior commitments.
Saunders did issue a statement read on Radio Turks and Caicos, which was not directly related to the constitutional reform process or Tuesday Forum meeting.
Missing at Tuesday's meeting were invitees Galmo Williams and Clayton Greene, the current leader of the PNP.
Greene sent a letter to the Forum saying he would not attend because he did not agree with the suspension of the constitution. Therefore, he does not recognise the Consultative Forum, which includes Turks and Caicos Islanders.
Another former chief minister, Derek Taylor, told the Forum that it was his belief that the suspension of the 2006 Constitution was caused not by constitutional weakness but by human misdeeds and therefore this is what must be guarded against in selection of future leaders.
Parnell said that it was important to get the constitutional changes right because the suspension and changes to a constitution are a difficult process.
The PDM leader said, In order to get it right, the process must include time for debate or some form of referendum as there are varying points of view.
On the issue of political campaigns, Parnell spoke to the high cost of mounting an election campaign. He did however ask for restrictions on contributions from any foreign non-belonger entities.
Parnell also said all contributions must be available for review by the Integrity Commission.
Advisory Council meets
The Advisory Council held its first meeting of the year on 12 January at the NJS Francis building, in Grand Turk.
Councilors discussed the presentation on Constitutional and Electoral Reform which took place the previous day in Grand Turk. They noted the constructive atmosphere in which the meeting was held and the participation of different sectors of the community.
The Council discussed the new Crown Land Policy with Crown Land Advisor, Mr. Jon Llewellyn and Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Environment and District Administration, Mrs. Mary Harvey. Members of the Council considered suggestions made by members of the public during the consultation exercise on Crown Land policy last year. The same recommendations on Crown Land policy are scheduled to be presented to the Consultative Forum later this month.
The Permanent Secretary Home Affairs and Public Safety Ms. Denise Saunders, accompanied by Mrs. Desiree Downes from the Attorney Generals Chambers presented a paper amending the Road Traffic ordinance. Representatives of the Grand Turk Taxi Association also presented their views on amendment and described issues that were specific to Grand Turk. The Council recommended some minor amendments before the paper progressed to the Consultative Forum.
The Council took the time to meet with the press for a briefing on the issues raised during the meeting and to answer questions from the public and various media houses.
The Taxi Association was represented by Mr Earle Fulford, President, Mr. Moses Ambritton, Vice President, and Mr. James Ingham Treasurer of the Association.