iNews Briefs
Tom Cruise on ‘scuba diving mission’ [in Cayman Islands]
From Stuff NZ
Tom Cruise has shocked holiday makers by turning up for their scuba diving class.
The 52-year-old actor is renowned for doing his own stunts on movies and has some underwater sequences coming up. To ensure he looked as good as possible during them, Cruise decided to get in some training during a break from shooting the next Mission: Impossible film.
“He was a really good sport. The captain was obviously a huge fan as he was wearing a Top Gun cap,” an insider told British newspaper The Sun.
“During his briefing he poked fun at Tom by saying what speed they were ‘cruising’ at and he laughed it all off.”
The classes took place off the Cayman Islands, where the actor is thought to have been spending his break.
He was taking time off from the action adventure shoot, having been in London, UK, to film scenes recently. The fifth movie in the franchise has an all-star cast, with Alec Baldwin, Paula Patton, Jeremy Renner and Simon Pegg all involved.
Cruise’s love of stunts was famous throughout Hollywood and his co-stars have often commented on how fearless he is. He acted alongside Emily Blunt in Edge of Tomorrow and last month she joked about how dedicated to scary sequences he was. Blunt had been in Dubai where she rode the fastest rollercoaster in the world.
“It goes zero to 240 kmh in 4.9 seconds. Basically it was fast that it feels wrong on your body. People went from, ‘yeah, this is so great’ … and it took off and people went [clenches jaw and stares]. And no one screamed, no one made a sound, they thought they were dying,” she told talk show host Jimmy Kimmel.
“For Tom, he would be like: ‘Guys, it’s slow, let’s go. Guys this sucks, let’s do it without safety harnesses,'” she joked.
For more: http://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/celebrities/64628163/tom-cruise-on-scuba-diving-mission
Former National Security Minister Martin Joseph drowns in Tobago
From Trinidad & Tobago Guardian
The body of former National Security Minister Martin Joseph was recovered this morning from a beach in Tobago.
According to reports, Joseph, who was on vacation, left Skylark Villas around 7 am and went swimming at Grange Bay with a friend George Caruth of Haleland Park, Maraval.
Joseph got into difficulty and Caruth was unable to help him to safety, reports said.
Officers at the Old Grange Police Station said they responded to a call and went to the beach, where they retrieved Joseph’s body, with the help of a 17-year-old young man.
Joseph’s body was brought to shore at about 8.50 am, according to reports.
The beach is known for large swells and is frequented by surfers.
China and Costa Rica will co-chair the ministerial meeting of CELAC
(Prensa Latina) The foreign ministers of China, Wang Yi, and Costa Rica, Manuel González Sanz, will co-chair the first ministerial forum China-Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) which will be held on 8 and 9 January, it was reported in this capital.
A statement from the Chinese Foreign Ministry announced that the January 7 will be an appointment of coordinators, to put the finishing touches to this appointment, whose opening in Beijing attended by President Xi Jinping.
It also announced the participation in this first ministerial meeting of the Heads of State of Costa Rica, Luis Guillermo Solis of Ecuador Rafael Correa and Venezuelan Nicolas Maduro, besides the premier Bahamas, Perry Christie.
These three states, along with Cuba, part of the Quartet of CELAC, which are representatives of the past (Cuba), present (Costa Rica) and future country (Ecuador) leading countries of the regional body. The fourth position corresponds to a delegate of the Anglophone Caribbean, which rotates every six months.
Created in December 2011 in Caracas, Venezuela, CELAC includes all the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean, except the United States and Canada.
At this first meeting at the level of foreign ministers, participants will discuss the main guidelines of cooperation, the key areas of cooperation and issues related institution building.
China is willing to hold that dialogue with other Latin American organizations to build a network that allows both parties supplemented their progress, told reporters Ministry spokeswoman Hua Foreign Chunying.
The China-CELAC Forum was approved by the Summit of the Latin-Caribbean organization held in Havana in January 2014 and aims to exchange and dialogue in politics, economy, trade and culture.
For more: http://www.plenglish.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3413851&Itemid=1
Cayman Islands Grace Gealey: 3 perfect beauty looks for all your holiday parties
By Ali Hoffman From Refinery29
What do Gwyneth Paltrow, Sanaa Lathan, and Kerry Washington have in common? Well, for one, they’re all beautiful, talented actresses. And, fun fact: They’ve all worked alongside Terrence Howard. Well, now you can add newcomer Grace Gealey to that list, too.
Born and raised in the Cayman Islands, Gealey’s new to the industry, but once the new hip-hop drama Empire premieres on Fox next month, audiences are going to know her name. A series regular, the actress plays Anika Gibbons, head of A&R for Empire, the hip-hop record label run by Lucious Lyon, a.k.a. Terrence Howard (who her character is also dating). “We’re both very independent,” says Gealey of herself and her character. “And, very strong internally. Oh, and refined — well, I’d like to think I am! I know she is!”
To celebrate Gealey’s upcoming television debut, we got to know the actress in typical, Cher Horowitz-fashion: Makeovers! Ahead, using Gealey as our flawless model, we test out three super-easy, super-stunning beauty looks that are perfect for all of your holiday parties and festivities. Try them out yourself, and, don’t forget to DVR Empire on January 7th!
PHOTOGRAPHED BY MOLLY CRANNA.
For more and Grace Gealey images: http://www.refinery29.com/grace-gealey-holiday-makeup#slide
Number of illegal aliens from Caribbean spikes amid ‘perceived changes’ to immigration system
From NumbersUSA
The U.S. Coast Guard has seen a spike in the number of people trying to come to the United States illegally from the Caribbean over the past fiscal year. According to reports, U.S. authorities captured, intercepted or chased away at least 5,585 Haitians, 3,940 Cubans and hundreds from the Dominican Republic and other Caribbean countries trying to enter the country illegally.
That figure represents at least 3,000 more people intercepted than in the previous fiscal year. It’s also the highest number of Haitian migrants documented in five years and the highest number of Cubans recorded in six.
More than 1,920 migrants—most of them Cuban or Haitian—have been intercepted so far in the fiscal year that began October 1, 2014. The Coast Guard is concerned that that number will increase as news spreads about recent changes to the U.S. immigration system, including fast-tracking visas for some Haitians already approved to join family here and a series of executive actions announced by President Obama that would grant amnesty and work permits to an estimated 5 million illegal aliens.
“Any perceived changes to U.S. immigration policy can cause a spike in immigration because it gives a glimmer of hope,” even to people not eligible under those changes, said Capt. Mark Fedor, chief of response for the Coast Guard’s 7th District.
For more on this story, read Fox News Latino http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/news/2015/01/05/growing-wave-immigrants-reaching-us-via-caribbean-and-not-just-from-cuba/
Cuba and Caribbean Dance and Music capture parisian amphitheater
Paris, Jan 3 (PL) Music, dance and the Cuba and the Caribbean color have taken by assault these days the Amphitheater of Paris Congress Palace, one of the most important of this capital.
A group of artists from the Caribbean island belonging to the Santiago Alfonso company presented Friday-Sunday a show which highlights the rhythms of the region.
The essential idea is to look different Caribbean rhythms and put them together with the music of the Greater Antilles, to show how we are, told Prensa Latina choreographer and assistant director of the company, Rafael Rubio.
The main thing is to show our culture, music, rhythm, how we move, say things by gestures and singing, which is to show Cuba.
In front of nearly 2,000 people, with a particularly demanding audience like the French one, artists danced, sang and performed music for an hour and a half.
With their movements and contagious joy provoked applause and cheers up during the first performance made Friday night.
Santiago Alfonso is a Cuban artistic director, dancer, teacher and choreographer of vast experience. National Dance Award for Excellence 2006 and director of the internationally renowned Tropicana Cabaret Show
For more: http://www.plenglish.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3414661&Itemid=1
Former US President visits Cayman Islands
Former US President Jimmy Carter was in Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands during the holidays.
He went on a boat trip with Captain Marvin’s Watersports.
Spade wins third straight Monarch title
By Fiona Stokes From Virgin Islands Daily News
IMAGE: Spade wins third straight Monarch title 7305591.JPG
ST. CROIX – Cedric “Spade” Brooks won the Crucian Christmas Carnival’s Calypso Monarch title for the third straight year, overwhelming a strong field Thursday night at Island Center for the Performing Arts.
Temisha “Caribbean Queen” Libert placed second, and Morris “Generic” Benjamin took third.
Also, Campbell “King Kan” Barnes took top honors for Most Humorous, Generic picked up the Best Commentary award, and Alford “Thunder” Romney was named Most Improved. The field also included Samuel “Mighty Pat” Ferdinand, Hector “Saw Dust” Alexander, James “Moonark” Wakefield and Allan “Herring” Clarke.
Many of the performers focused on the various woes facing the territory.
For more: http://virginislandsdailynews.com/news/spade-wins-third-straight-monarch-title-1.1811615
Caribbean Year in Review: No representative at FIFA World Cup
From Digicel Sportsmax
The Caribbean’s only hope of a representative in the 2014 World Cup died with the island of Jamaica, who finished last place in the CONCACAF hexagonal round.
The CONCACAF teams that did make the trip to Brazil 2014, Mexico, Costa Rica and the United States, however, went on to earn the region plenty of credit with some inspiring performances.
Honduras did not do as well as the team’s talent suggest it should.
Mexico made their way past the group stage, finishing second behind Brazil, having earned a respectable draw with the five-time world champions. In the round of 16, Mexico lost a hard-fought game against the Netherlands.
Costa Rica may very well have been the pick of CONCACAF, making it to the quarter-finals where they lost to Netherlands on penalties. In the round-of-16 they had won a similar penalty shootout against Greece, an exciting 5-3 affair.
The United States, as usual, were a credit to the region, dropping out in the round-of-16 after a massive game against dark horses, Belgium.
Man remanded in custody for abduction in Cayman Islands
A man, Sven Brett Connor (33) last Friday (2) in Cayman Islands Summary Court was remanded in custody accused of abduction. There were also additional charges of assault causing actual bodily harm and using an ICT network to annoy and harass.
It was disclosed in Court that the complainant is a woman with whom the accused had been in a relationship and the alledged offences occurred after she had indicated she no longer wished to be involved with him.
The magistrate referred the charges to Grand Court for Connor to appear on Jan 16th and denied his request for bail.
Virgin Atlantic set to launch new service to Tobago
From Caribbean Journal
Virgin Atlantic is set to launch service from London Gatwick Airport to the Caribbean island of Tobago.
The service will launch beginning in March, and will operate as an additional sector between the carrier’s nonstop St Lucia service.
That means a short stop in St Lucia before the flight continues to Tobago.
The flight will operate weekly on Sunday mornings between March and October, and on Tuesdays and Saturdays beginning in October.
In a statement, Virgin said the addition of the flight came in response to “an opening in the market.”
“The Caribbean has long been at the heart of our leisure operation and we’re really excited to be offering our customers flights to beautiful Tobago once again,” said Joe Thompson, director of network and alliances at Virgin Atlantic. “We are always looking for opportunities to grow our network and provide our customers with even more travel options and with other operators withdrawing from this route, we believe our new services will be very popular with British holidaymakers.”
The flights will operate on Airbus A330-300 aircraft with 33 upper class, 48 premium economy and 185 economy seats.
Virgin Atlantic currently operates 23 peak return flights a week across the Caribbean.
For more: http://www.caribjournal.com/2015/01/04/virgin-atlantic-set-to-launch-new-service-to-tobago/
Detentions of activists in Cuba
Press Statement From US department of State
By Jeff Rathke Director, Bureau of Public Affairs, Office of Press Relations
Washington, DC
December 30, 2014
We are deeply concerned about the latest reports of detentions and arrests by Cuban authorities of peaceful civil society members and activists, including Luis Quintana Rodriguez, Antonio Rodiles, Danilo Maldonado, Reinaldo Escobar, Marcelino Abreu Bonora and Eliecer Avila. We strongly condemn the Cuban government’s continued harassment and repeated use of arbitrary detention, at times with violence, to silence critics, disrupt peaceful assembly and freedom expression, and intimidate citizens.
Freedoms of expression and peaceful assembly are internationally recognized human rights, and the Cuban government’s lack of respect for these rights, as demonstrated by today’s detentions, is inconsistent with Hemispheric norms and commitments. We urge the Government of Cuba to end its practice of repressing these and other internationally protected freedoms and to respect the universal human rights of Cuban citizens.
We have always said we would continue to speak out about human rights, and as part of the process of normalization of diplomatic relations, the United States will continue to press the Cuban government to uphold its international obligations and to respect the rights of Cubans to peacefully assemble and express their ideas and opinions, just like their fellow members of civil society throughout the Americas are allowed to do.
Dominican singer-songwriter discusses the origin of calypso
From Caribbean News Now
ROSEAU, Dominica — From the sugar cane plantations to the Caribbean, calypso came and has never left. The slaves, brought to toil on sugar plantations, would use calypso to mock the slave masters and to communicate with each other.
Pat Aaron, a Dominican singer-songwriter says “that was the slaves’ way to relieve themselves from the frustration of slavery, in a way that the masters did not understand what they were saying.”
He believes that this is an indication that calypso came from Africa, since slaves and our forefathers came from Africa.
Many early calypsos were sung in French Creole by an individual called Griot. As calypso developed, the role of Griot became known as a calypsonian.
The French brought carnival to Trinidad, and calypso competitions at carnival grew in popularity, especially after the abolition of slavery in 1834.
Aaron stated, “Calypso has more or less maintained its cause and its root because, as times change, the face of the master or the down presser changes. In this time, the oppressors in our society are usually governments, usually bad governments, which are very prevalent now in the Caribbean, particularly in Dominica.”
He asserted that it is very important that calypso remains the way it began, standing as the opposition against wrongdoing, corruption, and all social ills.
Caribbean Year in Review: Glasgow media bust-up Bolt’s biggest headline
From Digicel Sportsmax
The usual headline grabber, world’s fastest man Usain Bolt called it an early season and in truth never really got going.
After being hampered with a foot injury early on, the double world recorder holder competed in just three races, one of which included the 4×100 metre relays at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland.
Perhaps the biggest news about Bolt came off track, however, when a local newspaper printed an article that stated that Bolt said the Games were “a bit ****” and that the Olympics were better.
Bolt subsequently claimed he never made that statement.
Jamaica: School board to discuss ‘inappropriate’ photos of teacher on social media
From Jamaica Observer
MANCHESTER, Jamaica –The Ministry of Education (MOE) says that the board of a central Jamaica school will meet on Friday to discuss the fate of one of its teachers.
The senior member of staff is allegedly in photos circulating on social media engaging in homosexual conduct.
The meeting, which was originally planned for today (Wednesday, December 31), was rescheduled to take place at 10:00am Friday.
Tokyo police figure Mt. Gox bitcoin heist was an inside job
From engadget
It’s been about ten months since the Mt. Gox bitcoin exchange turned out the lights, blaming hackers or a bug in the blockchain as reasons why 850,000 bitcoin it held had suddenly disappeared. Today the Japanese paper Yomiuri Shinbun (English) reports that Tokyo Police investigating the events have found evidence that only about one percent of the lost bitcoins disappeared due to hacking from outsiders. Citing sources inside the department, the report suggests that the rest of the 650,000 bitcoins still unaccounted for (200k popped up unexpectedly) were lost by “unauthorized operation” of the system. The evidence shows unauthorized transactions by someone that did not correspond to any customer accounts. There’s no indication of who exactly was responsible, but former CEO Mark Karpeles told PC World via email that he will “continue investigating” to find out what really happened. Maybe North Korea could help?
For more: http://www.engadget.com/2015/01/01/tokyo-police-bitcoin-mt-gox/?ncid=rss_truncated
Dancing YouTube prankster meets the NYPD, gets zero laughs
By Adario Strange From Mashable
Considering recent events, using the NYPD as a prop while engaging in a dance dare, inspired by TV host Ellen Degeneres, is probably not the best idea.
Actually, it’s the worst.
Nevertheless, YouTuber Alexander BOK took to the streets of New York City to record himself performing Ellen’s dance dare on random strangers. For some reason, toward the end of his day of dancing behind New Yorkers, he thought the NYPD might be another easy target for his dance moves.
That proved to be a wildly inaccurate assumption. Upon realizing that the would-be prankster was dancing behind them, several NYPD officers aggressively questioned him while pressing him up against the side of a police van.
The encounter ended with BOK being cursed out and thrown to the ground by the officers, leaving a dejected BOK covered in mud and plenty of embarrassment. Lesson: Be careful who you attempt to play pranks on.
Here’s why we call them ‘Bear’ and ‘Bull’ markets
By Sam Ro From Business Insider
When stocks are up 20% from a low, we’re in a bull market. And when stocks are down 20% from a high, we’re in a bear market.
But where do these names come from?
According to Scottrade, these characterizations were designated because of the respective animals’ methods of attack.
When you get gored by a bull, your usually getting launched into the air. And when a bear attacks you, it’s coming down on you from its standing position.
For more: http://www.businessinsider.com/why-do-we-call-it-a-bull-or-bear-market-2014-12#ixzz3NhOzy5Sh
The 2015 DC Black Theatre Festival “Call for Plays”
Submission Categories:
- * Full-Length Plays
- * One-Act Plays
- * New Works Reading Series
- * Workshops
The DC Drama Department is proud to announce the 6th annual DC Black Theatre Festival, a week-long festival celebrating the thriving theatre community in Washington DC, June 19 – 28, 2015.
Playwrights of all skill levels and races are encouraged to submit. All chosen Full-length Plays, New Works Reading Series and Workshop are supported by the festival with 100% of the ticket sales going directly to the performing group, facilitator and/or playwright.
Please submit your application online at www.DCBlackTheatreFestival.com
Deadline for all submissions are February 28, 2015
T&T gov’t to lease Sparrow’s keepsakes
By Azad Ali From Caribbean Life
The Trinidad and Tobago government will pay calypsonian icon the Mighty Sparrow (Slinger Francisco) TT$2 million to acquire his memorabilia.
This was announced by Minister of Culture Dr. Lincoln Douglas who said the money will go to the family of the calypsonian.
He said the Ministry of Culture will acquire the memorabilia for 10 years with the option to renew the deal.
Douglas said he expected Sparrow’s works to be put on display by Feb. 15, next year and the government will license all the memorabilia which includes six crowns, 52 certificates, 42 CDS, eight citations, four DVDs, 14 medals, 136 plaques, 76 pictures, 22 proclamations, eight tokens, 94 trophies, and 78 videos.
He revealed the government was preparing a festival village to display the items in Port of Spain.
In September 2013, the calypsonian icon nearly lost his life after he suffered a stroke, then fell into a diabetic coma. He spent three months in a hospital in New York, USA.
He later returned home and announced that he would make guest appearances at shows to help get income to pay for his medical expenses.
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar subsequently said the government would cover the costs of his medical bills.
For more: http://www.caribbeanlifenews.com/stories/2015/1/2014-12-29-azad-sparrow-cl_2015_1.html
Dominican gov’t won’t recognize gay marriage at UK Embassy
From The New York Times
(AP) SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic — The Dominican Republic says it will not recognize a same-sex marriage performed for the first time in the conservative Caribbean country.
In a Thursday statement, Foreign Ministry spokesman Miguel Medina said “our legislation does not recognize this type of marriage.”
The statement comes two days after the British embassy tweeted that a Dominican man and his British partner had exchanged vows in its Santo Domingo offices.
The U.K. announced in June that same-sex couples could marry at British consulates in 25 countries. The Dominican Republic is the only Caribbean nation on that list. Embassy officials say more same-sex ceremonies will be performed in the future.
The chairman of the Dominican Council of Evangelical Churches said the embassy ceremony “brings a curse to the nation.”
For more: http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2015/01/01/world/americas/ap-cb-dominican-gay-marriage.html?_r=1
TT: Six murders in two days
From Trinidad Express
A 30-year-old man was found dead in the back seat of a car on Thursday (1) night. A woman was found shot to death in the bathroom of her home at Arima today (2). And a 23-year-old man was found dead on the roadside at South Oropouche this morning (2). In Couva, Steven Fabian Harrington, of Carolina Village, was shot three times in the chest.
Investigators said Petrotrin security officers observed a white Nissan Almera car parked near the fence on the northbound lane of the Sir Solomon Hochoy Highyway around 11.15pm. Police said the security guards searched the car and found Harrington lying on the back seat.
Investigators believe Harrington was hijacked and murdered, before his car was packed on the roadside. Central Division police are continuing investigations.
In Arima, thirty-three-year old Dorothy Rodrigo, of Jukhan Trace Extension, Carapo, was discovered dead in a bathroom at her home around 3.15a.m. Her bloodied body was found by police officers investigating reports of gunshot at her home. Police said neighbours reported loud explosions at Rodrigo’s house. A team of officers responded and found her lying motionless in the bathroom.
Police said she was shot multiple times in the chest. Rodrigo’s body was removed to the Forensic Science Centre in St James where an autopsy is expected to be performed today. At South Oropouche, Kevin Francis, of Duke Street, was shot multiple times about the body.
A team of officers responding to reports of gunshots at Partap Trace, discovered Francis lying in a pool of blood around 1.30am. Investigators were told that Francis left his home without telling relatives where he was going. Relatives were unable to say why he was killed.
A District Medical Officer visited the scene and ordered the removal of his body to the Forensic Science Center in St James. Five homicides have been recorded for the year. Southern Division Homicide detectives are continuing investigations.
Coast guard seizes millions of dollars worth of marijuana off Jamaica
From wiod
One last major haul by the Coast Guard before the New Year.
Officials seizing close to 4-million dollars worth of marijuana just south of Jamaica.
As many as five people were arrested.
New Year’s Eve shooting takes St. Vincent’s 2014 murder count to 38
From iwn
An Upper New Montrose (Monkey Hill) man was shot and killed and his son injured Wednesday night as Vincentians prepared to ring in the New Year, bringing the murder count for 2014 to 38.
Elcas James, who is in his mid-50s, died on the spot, and his son, Shawphiel Moore, who is in his early 20s, was shot and injured by a masked assailant around 8:20 p.m.
Police say that Moore was hanging out with some friends in the area then went to his father’s shop to collect Bambu cigarette paper.
After collecting the paper, Moore was accosted by the assailant, who shot him in the right side of the neck.
The assailant then discharged several rounds into the shop, killing James on the spot, police say.
Police took Moore to hospital, where he was being treated, but his condition was not known up to midnight Wednesday.
Police have not offered any theories for the attack but have launched a murder investigation.
The 38 murders this year, is a new annual record, replacing the previous record: 36.
For more; http://www.iwnsvg.com/2015/01/01/new-years-eve-shooting-takes-st-vincents-2014-murder-count-to-38/
Major Caribbean energy project closer to launching construction
From Caribbean Journal
A massive hydropower energy project is closer to becoming a reality, President Donald Ramotar said.
The Amaila Falls Hydro Power project is set to “achieve financial close and commence construction” with months, Ramotar said this week.
“The time for realizing this dream is long overdue,” Ramotar said.
The President said that the government of Norway had transferred $80 million in earnings from its partnership with Guyana to the Inter-American Development Bank to fund part of Guyana’s equity share in the long-awaited project.
The Amaila Falls project involves the building of a hydropower plant at the confluence of the Amaila and Kuribrong rivers in west-central Guyana.
The plan is for electricity from the plant to be delivered to the country’s capital, Georgetown, and its second-largest town, Linden.
Indian ship worker found dead at end of Caribbean cruise
From IndiaWest
Clearwater, Fla. (AP) — Authorities have confirmed a body that washed up on a Florida beach has been identified as a missing cruise ship worker.
Clearwater Police said in a news release that the body of 27-year-old Cliford B. Minej was found on the morning of Dec. 26.
His body was found in the 1500 block of Gulf Boulevard on Sand Key around 7:15 a.m. by a person walking along the beach.
Minej, from Thane in India, had worked on a Holland America Line cruise ship that came to port in Tampa on Dec. 22.
Police believe Minej jumped or fell off the ship near Egmont Key on Dec. 22 before the ship ported, and the Coast Guard had been searching Tampa Bay-area waters.
Clearwater is about 20 miles away.
The Pinellas County Medical Examiner’s Office has ruled the death accidental.
The ship, called Ryndam, was at the end of a 14-day Caribbean cruise.
The cruise operator, Holland America Line, released a statement about the incident to The Tampa Bay Times.
“We are deeply saddened by the loss of one of our crew members and our thoughts and prayers are with his family at this difficult time,” the statement said.
Eureeca.com is named Innovator of the Year in the Gulf Business Industry Awards
Los Angeles, CA / ACCESSWIRE / January 3, 2015 / Chris Thomas and Sam Quawasmi, the founders of Eureeca.com are pleased to report that Eureeca was named as the Innovator of the Year for 2013 at the Gulf Business Industry Awards.
As it turns out, this was not the only milestone accomplishment that Eureeca the crowdfunding platform has earned. The company— which is held under Cayman Island based holding company Eureeca Capital SPC and is the first-ever global online crowdinvesting platform—was also named the start-up of the year for 2013 at the Arabian Business Start-Up Awards. In addition, Chris noted that Eureeca is also a founding member of the National Crowdfunding Association.
As Chris explained, he and Sam are both former investment bankers and entrepreneurs who have set up and operated a number of entrepreneurial projects.
“I have over 8 years of experience in setting up and running businesses including an FSA regulated online brokerage with 60 staff in 12 countries,” Chris said, adding that he has also owned two online businesses in Brazil and has personally experienced the challenges small and medium enterprises (SMEs) face in seeking investment.
Sam, who is experienced in investment banks in London and Dubai, has been focused on translating his experience to help SMEs in accessing finance from the crowd.
Anybody who would like to learn more about Eureeca is welcome to visit the website; there, they can read about the crowdinvesting platform as well as read positive reviews from entrepreneurs who have benefited from working with the company.
“Eureeca allowed us to raise funds that are necessary to take Harir.com to the next level,” said Mousa Ayoubi, co-founder of Harir.
“Crowdinvesting on Eureeca also helped us increase Harir’s fanbase and created a positive buzz that is essential for any business.”
About Eureeca:
Eureeca is the first global online crowdinvesting, or equity crowdfunding, platform where businesses can raise funding from the crowd in exchange for equity in their business. Harnessing the power of the internet and social media, Eureeca’s platform connects investors with growing businesses and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) online. The crowd comes together to collectively pool their funds, creating a game-changing alternative to traditional financing models. Eureeca operates under the Cayman Island incorporated holding company Eureeca Capital SPC and is a founding member of the U.S. based National Crowd Funding Association (NLCFA). For more information, please visit http://eureeca.com/
FCC plans to vote on new net neutrality rules in February
By Richard Lawler From engadget
Clear your calendars, defenders of the internet: The next big development in the net neutrality battle is due in February. First reported by the Washington Post, the FCC has confirmed it plans to vote on new rules next month. The rumors indicate a draft proposal will go around first with a vote planned for a couple of weeks later, but there’s no word yet on whether the ever-controversial “fast lanes” will be included, or if the FCC will reclassify internet services under Title II. The President has weighed in with his opinion, along with thousands of internet comments — we’ll find out more about how those balance against the interests and threats of the big telecommunications companies next month.
For more: http://www.engadget.com/2015/01/02/fcc-net-neutrality-vote-february/?ncid=rss_truncated
Jersey men jailed for 17 years for Caribbean drug smuggle
From ITV UK
Two men from Jersey have been jailed for a total of 17 years after being caught trying to smuggle £40m worth of cocaine into the UK.
David Romano, 57, and Michael Ashford, 42, were arrested after their yacht was seized off the Caribbean island of Martinique.
Seized drugs would have been sold in London
A spokesman for the National Crime Agency (NCA) says the drugs two Jersey men were attempting to smuggle into the UK, would have been sold on the streets of London.
The men have been jailed for 17 years in total for trying to get the £40m worth of cocaine across the Atlantic.
“Had we not intervened these drugs would have ended up being sold on the streets of London.
“Drug trafficking is an international issue so our response has to be the same, co-operating with law enforcement colleagues across the globe.
“That co-operation led to this shipment being taken out before it could reach Britain and it shows how our international work has a direct impact on protecting communities here in the UK.” – HANK COLE, NCA HEAD OF INTERNATIONAL OPERATIONS
