News Americas, MIAMI, FL, Fri. July 15, 2011: A Miami-Dade County company has been charged with bribery in the Haiti Teleco scandal.
U.S. prosecutors say Florida’s Cinergy Telecommunications Inc., its president and director, the president of Florida-based Telecom Consulting Services Corp. and two former Haitian government officials were involved in foreign bribery.
It is alleged they paid more than $1.4 million to shell companies to be used for bribes to officials at Haiti’s state-owned from 2001 through 2006.
The bribe payments allegedly were authorized by Washington Vasconez Cruz, the telecommunications companies’ president, and Amadeus Richers, the companies’ director, and were allegedly paid to Haitian government officials at Haiti Teleco, including Patrick Joseph and Jean Rene Duperval.
The superseding indictment said the purpose of the alleged bribes was to obtain various business advantages from the Haitian officials for Cinergy and Uniplex, including preferred telecommunications rates and credits toward sums owed. To conceal the bribe payments, the defendants allegedly used various shell companies to receive and forward the payments, including J.D. Locator Services, Fourcand Enterprises and Telecom Consulting Services, the department said.
One of the officials pleaded guilty last year to receiving more than $1 million in bribes and was sentenced to 48 months in prison. A superseding indictment filed Wednesday in federal court adds charges against the other.
A third former Haiti Teleco official also has been charged. If convicted, the defendants would face penalties of up to five years in prison and fines of up to $500,000 on each count.
News Americas, WASHINGTON, D.C., Fri. July 15, 2011: The U.S. is being urged to develop a stronger, mature partnership with Brazil.
The call comes from the Council of Foreign Relations sponsored Independent Task Force report. The report’s authors asset that it is in the interest of the United States to understand Brazil as a complex international actor whose influence on the defining global issues of the day is only likely to increase.”
They point to the fact that over the course of a generation, Brazil has emerged as both a driver of growth in South America and as an active force in world politics and currently ranks as the world’s fifth-largest landmass, fifth-largest population, and expects to soon be ranked the fifth largest economy.
The report, Global Brazil and U.S.-Brazil Relations, recommends that “U.S. policymakers recognize Brazil’s standing as a global actor, treat its emergence as an opportunity for the United States, and work with Brazil to develop complementary policies.”
It argues that “a formal endorsement from the United States for Brazil would go far to overcome lingering suspicion within the Brazilian government that the U.S. commitment to a mature relationship between equals is largely rhetorical.”
The Task Force further recommends that the U.S. Congress “include an elimination of the ethanol tariff in any bill regarding reform to the ethanol and bio-fuel tax credit regime;” the United States “take the first step to waive visa requirements for Brazilians by immediately reviewing Brazil’s criteria for participation in the Visa Waiver Program;” the U.S. State Department create an Office for Brazilian Affairs and the National Security Council (NSC) centralize its efforts under a NSC director for Brazil in order to better coordinate the current decentralized U.S. policy.
“We believe that a more gradual approach [regarding Brazil’s inclusion as a full UNSC member] would likely have more success in navigating the diplomatic complexities presented by U.S. support for Brazil,” added the report.
News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Fri. July 15, 2011: A Venezuelan-born actor is among this year’s Emmy nominees.
Edgar Ramirez has been nominated as Outstanding Lead Actor In A Miniseries Or A Movie. He stars as Carlos in the Sundance series by the same name.
Born in San Cristóbal, Táchira, Venezuela, Ramirez graduated in 1999 from the Andrés Bello Catholic University with a degree in mass communication. His first recognition as an actor was the successful soap opera Cosita Rica, for Venevisión which aired in September 2003 to August 2004 lasting 270 episodes. In 2005, he made his major motion picture debut playing Choco, Domino Harvey’s love interest in the film Domino directed by Tony Scott.
He was in Vantage Point directed by Pete Travis. In this high-budgeted Sony Pictures political thriller, Ramírez joined an all-star international cast including Dennis Quaid, Matthew Fox, William Hurt, Forrest Whitaker, Eduardo Noriega and Ayelet Zurer. Ramírez plays Javier, an ex-special forces soldier forced to kidnap the American President in order to get his brother back. Upcoming is Cyrano Fernandez, with Ramírez in the title role. This independent production was directed by Alberto Arvelo and is based on the French play Cyrano de Bergerac.
Ramírez at the César awards 2011.Ramírez has appeared in several other productions. Among those are the first part of the two film bundle Ché by Steven Soderbergh, where he played the role of Ciro redondo (A Cuban revolutionary who fought amongst Ché Guevara), La Hora Cero (The Magic Hour), a short film directed by Guillermo Arriaga, the acclaimed screenwriter of Amores Perros, 21 Grams and Babel (Mexico); Plan B, directed by Alejandro Garcia Wiederman (Venezuela); Yotama Se Va Volando (Yotama Flies Away), directed by Luis Armando Roche (Venezuela-France); Punto Y Raya (Step Forward), directed by Elia K. Schneider (Venezuela-Spain-Chile-Uruguay), submitted by Venezuela for Oscar consideration for 2004 Best Foreign Film, in which he played Colombian soldier Pedro.
In 2007 he played the role of Paz, a Blackbriar assassin, in The Bourne Ultimatum. In the original Bourne Ultimatum, the villain is Illich Ramirez Sanchez, aka Carlos the Jackal. Ramírez went on to play the role of the actual Carlos in the 2010 French-German limited series Carlos. At the French César Awards 2011, he was awarded, for the film version of the TV series, the César Award for Most Promising Actor.
CaribPR Wire, KINGSTON, Jamaica, Fri. July 15, 2011: Fans of Reggae Sumfest and reggae music will be able to catch some of their favorite acts later this month without leaving the comfort of their home.
Telegens and CbeanMedia.tv have teamed up to present Reggae Sumfest TV, which will video stream live from the July 21 to 23rd “greatest reggae show on earth” in Montego Bay, Jamaica.
Fans will be able to see live performances from Beres Hammond, Half Pint, Beenie Man, Jah Cure, Mavado, Tanya Stephens, I-Octane, Konshens, Cecile, Kip Rich, Christopher Martin and Tifa among others, as they appear on the Sumfest stage over the three day period by simply logging on to https://www.reggaesumfest.tv/ via computers, mobile smart phones and tablets.
The live shows will be available for a minimal fee of US$14.99 for 3 days or $5.99 for 1 day.
Music fans will also be able to access a free “Behind the Scenes” video streams that will showcase the world of fashion and celebrity lifestyles by focusing on backstage interviews, updates, VIP sightings and make-up preparations.
An “On Demand” version of the stream for all the viewers who missed the Live Stream will be available after the event.
“We’re extremely excited about the partnership that brings this very unique concert experience to the world,” said Eugene Ffolkes, CEO – Telegens. “We are taking advantage of the latest technology solutions to create an experience that viewers will talk about for a very long time!” This is our culture in digitally distribution.”
Sherra Pierre-March, managing partner of Cbeanmedia.tv added: “We are in advanced negotiations with a number of local and international artistes on the show, to ensure that their fans have full access to their performances featured in the live stream. This opportunity is a win/win for the audience, promoter and the artist! Since our technology will support not only the live stream but linkages to artists merchandize and unique behind the scenes – opportunities.”
Reggae Sumfest
Reggae Sumfest is the largest and most successful reggae festival in the Caribbean. The festival’s popularity is global as each year it brings together thousands of fans, from all over the world to the beautiful island of Jamaica. With the introduction of the Internet, the popularity and demand for Reggae Sumfest has continue to grow over the years and the brand is now extending and its audience potential by introducing Live Streaming, and an ongoing re-broadcast of the show on New Media Platforms to include – Internet Video Streaming (Pay Per View), Mobile streaming and Social Media. Reggae Sumfest is produced by Summerfest Productions (Jamaica).
Telegens Inc.
Telegens Inc. is a broadband networking solutions company, developing the latest technology to deploy secure networks for broadband wireless communications across Jamaica from the “first leap” to the last mile. It enables content providers to deliver integrated content to all devices seamlessly, including: TV, computers, smart phones and tablets.
Founded in 2000 and restructured in 2007, Telegens provides quad play services and solutions for the export and monetization, of the entertainment and sporting industries Regionally and Globally.
Telegens Inc’s has a vast experience in successfully exporting concerts, sporting events, tv channels , radio stations and secure closed video group conferencing.
CbeanMedia.tv
The transition of the brand is being managed by CbeanMedia.tv. founded in 2006 and is the first company to provide Caribbean content that is globally accessible via all new media channels (broadband, wireless communication, IPTV and mobile) They are the only company supporting Caribbean Content that sites on a CDN (Content Delivery Network- the ability to provide consistent user experience).
CbeanMedia.tv is partnered with several major Caribbean broadcasters and content providers with a diverse audience that spans the Caribbean, North America, UK and Japan. With a targeted customer base of over 4 million, CbeanMedia.tv serves as a premier media source to the Caribbean, providing channels for news, music , sports, lifestyle and trade via www.cbeanmedia.tv and. CbeanMedia.tv has worked with a number of different brands to create INTERNETBROADCAST BRANDS. CbeanMedia.tv’ s clients include, RJR Communications Group , Air Jamaica Jazz and Blues, V.P. Records, Readers, Digest, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Pulse Entertainment, Sesame Workshop, Caribbean Media Corporation.
News Americas, New York, NY, Fri. July 15, 2011: Grammy-winning Jamaican dancehall star, Sean Paul, is back with a new song.
The Atlantic Records singer has released “Got 2 Luv U,” featuring Roc Nation songbird Alexis Jordan. The track is the recording artist’s first official offering since his 2009’s Imperial Blaze.
The song is now available on www.AllSeanPaul.com and will hit iTunes on July 19th. Paul has sold over 10 Million albums worldwide since bursting onto the scene in 2000.
“For a longtime I’ve heard Stargate making dancehall inflected beats and wanted to work with them,” said Paul. “It’s amazing that coming from Norway they have such a good understanding of Jamaican drums and when I heard the track I immediately vibed to it. They are super talented guys and I loved working with them…this song was just what I needed to turn things UP for me again!”
In addition to his own single, Paul is also featured on Pitbull’s bubbling smash “Shake Señora” off his new album Planet Pit, which debuted at number seven on the Billboard album charts. The track, which also has contributions from T-Pain and Ludacris, was the second highest selling single off of the album during its debut week and has continued to gain popularity.
News Americas, MIAMI, FL, Fri. July 15, 2011: Michel “Sweet Micky” Martelly may have hung up his singing hat once he became President but his son is taking up the baton.
Sandro Martelly, 18, this week launched his first album in Port-Au-Prince, that is a mixture of compas and hip hop.
Sandro is nicknamed “T-Micky,” which means “Little Micky” in Haitian Creole.
News Americas, ST. GEOPRGE’S, GRENADA, Fri. July 15, 2011: Grenada has shown increases in both production and prices for nutmeg and cocoa and is outperforming other Eastern Caribbean nations in manufacturing.
That’s according to the latest Economic and Financial Review of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank.
“The unfavorable outturn for the ECCU manufacturing sector was mitigated by the positive outturn in Grenada where growth of 33.1 percent was recorded…” the review stated, adding that “most member countries, with the exception of Grenada, recorded decreases in manufacturing activity.”
News Americas, STOCKHOLM, Sweden, Fri. July 15, 2011: Fresh from his win in France, Jamaica’s Usain Lightning Bolt is set to next strike in Stockholm.
The triple Olympian has confirmed his participation in the DN Galan Diamond League on July 29th, in a return to the city where he suffered his last defeat. The meet is the 11th of the 2011 Samsung Diamond League.
Last August, Bolt was beaten by American Tyson Gay in the 100 metres, his first defeat in two years, at the time.
Bolt will this month run in the 200 metres race at Stockholm’s 1912 Olympic Stadium. The top athlete remains unbeaten this season, with his latest victory coming at the Areva meet in France last week where he clocked 20.03 seconds to beat European champion Christophe Lemaitre of France.
News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Fri. July 15, 2011: The quarter-finals of the Copa America tourney is this weekend after the first round ended with a flurry of goals on Wednesday night.
On Saturday, July 16th, Colombia will face Peru at 3 p.m. while Argentina takes on Uruguay at 6:15 p.m.
On Sunday, July 17th, its Brazil’s chance to take on Paraguay at 3 p.m. after fighting off Ecuador 4-2 Wednesday for a slot in the QF’s. Chile faces Venezuela at 6:15 p.m.
The semi-finals will begin on Tuesday, July 19th. Copa America coverage is available now on Xfinity On Demand and XfinityTV.com and runs through July 24, and features teams from Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Japan, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela.
News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Fri. July 15, 2011: If the U.S. had uncovered a plan by the late Osama bin Laden to destroy the credit worthiness of the U.S. government let alone in doing so created all kinds of negative impacts for the United States both immediately and over far longer periods …..
American politicians would be lining up for miles to get time on camera to denounce bin Laden or the Taliban for their newest more diabolical TERRORIST plot. Well we do have a group of flag waving (sic) radical Republicans in Congress who are trying to do exactly that. So why isn’t President Obama labeling them what they are TERRORISTS.
These whackos get away with holding our entire nation “hostage” to their extreme right wing fantasies because Obama and the others treat them with respect and address them as equals. Hey Obama, they are whackos and TERRORISTS. When we are talking about the likes of the Taliban we do not reserve the name of terrorists for them when it only involve their use of weapons to kill and destroy.
Whatever they do or plan that will negatively impact America in any significant way is rightly labeled TERRORISM. Why are the same exact actions for which we would without hesitation label bin Laden’s followers as terrorists for hatching a plan for the U.S. to refuse to honor its obligations and create tremendous hardships for millions while destroying the financial health of the United States?
Why rather do we label nut jobs like Republican Eric Cantor and the biggest whacko of them all Michelle Bachmann as serious, well meaning, patriotic Congressional leaders when they are economic TERRORISTS.
Once again we are being victimized by a weak, very weak, President who conned us all into believing he is something more than he is in winning an election peddling change we can believe in an obviously empty campaign line as we now know.
In every commentary, I have no choice but to return to the very same point – there is only one motivation behind everything Obama does including his response to the reactionaries in the Republican and the phantom Tea Party …..
Obama’s response is whatever he thinks will serve him best to re-elected. So for Obama to directly criticize these mean spirited vicious anti-American “bomb throwers” ready for even gleeful about the U.S. defaulting come August 2nd, Obama has decided there is more votes in treating them with phony respect and decorum.
Here is the problem for Obama.
Cantor and the Boys & Girls who are in his camp from Hell know this as well as I do. So they are using the tactic that is as old as life on Earth called Bullying someone who makes it obvious they can be. They know Obama will not call their bluff and so they continue to hit him over the head if not out and out try to humiliate him while he keeps talking about “comprise.”
This time, President Obama should be using his favorite Presidential Perk Air Force One and flying all over the country giving speech after speech telling the American people in no uncertain terms a bunch of radical Republicans who are out of control are hell bent on destroying the very fabric of the United States in pursuit of an agenda to shred the social fabric that holds us together be it tenuously.
Their undisguised hatred of Obama is not a racist issue, although some of it may be buried there. They hate Obama because he represents ever so vaguely, an America they despise.
An inclusive America based on fairness and equality and the rights of all. The America they want is one that heaps all the pain on the middle and poor classes of Americans while protecting all the unjustified even scandalous tax breaks, loopholes and special deals for the rich and powerful.
The whackos make it clear they will allow the U.S. to default rather than take away special tax breaks for luxurious private jets. Why? Because to do so would be a tax increase in their warped minds – as though they really believe it – and they oppose all tax “increases.”
WAIT A MINUTE. But these same Republican are supporting cutting billions indeed trillions from all kinds of programs that are useful for the middle class and poorer Americans. But those “cuts” are not tax increases (WHY???) these Republicans tell us while telling us taking away unjustified tax loopholes for the rich are disastrous tax increases.
So here is some advice President Obama …..
Stand in front of the cameras and the American people in cities and towns across America and make the following statement …
Were Osama bin Laden still alive or if those Taliban devise a plan to prevent millions of Americans from getting their Social Security checks, a plan that would have our soldiers not receive their pay, a plan that would cost American tax payers extra billions of dollars in interest payments for no logical reason, a plan that would destroy the unique financial position of the United States in the world, a plan that would have the government defaulting on obligation after obligation, a plan that would lead to a serious new economic decline, a plan that would throw even more millions of Americans out of work …..
We would all clearly label such a plan by the Taliban as economic TERRORISM without a doubt … well we have a group of Americans right here in Congress led by Eric Cantor and Michelle Bachmann, and others with just such a plan, so what do you think we should call them?
…. What they are TERRORISTS who want to destroy American values and trust worthiness in the name of a radical Right Wing agenda.
Arthur Piccolo is a professional writer and commentator and often writes about Latin America for New Americas.
Obama, Call Them “Terrorists”
News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Fri. July 15, 2011: If the U.S. had uncovered a plan by the late Osama bin Laden to destroy the credit worthiness of the U.S. government let alone in doing so created all kinds of negative impacts for the United States both immediately and over far longer periods …..
American politicians would be lining up for miles to get time on camera to denounce bin Laden or the Taliban for their newest more diabolical TERRORIST plot. Well we do have a group of flag waving (sic) radical Republicans in Congress who are trying to do exactly that. So why isn’t President Obama labeling them what they are TERRORISTS.
These whackos get away with holding our entire nation “hostage” to their extreme right wing fantasies because Obama and the others treat them with respect and address them as equals. Hey Obama, they are whackos and TERRORISTS. When we are talking about the likes of the Taliban we do not reserve the name of terrorists for them when it only involve their use of weapons to kill and destroy.
Whatever they do or plan that will negatively impact America in any significant way is rightly labeled TERRORISM. Why are the same exact actions for which we would without hesitation label bin Laden’s followers as terrorists for hatching a plan for the U.S. to refuse to honor its obligations and create tremendous hardships for millions while destroying the financial health of the United States?
Why rather do we label nut jobs like Republican Eric Cantor and the biggest whacko of them all Michelle Bachmann as serious, well meaning, patriotic Congressional leaders when they are economic TERRORISTS.
Once again we are being victimized by a weak, very weak, President who conned us all into believing he is something more than he is in winning an election peddling change we can believe in an obviously empty campaign line as we now know.
In every commentary, I have no choice but to return to the very same point – there is only one motivation behind everything Obama does including his response to the reactionaries in the Republican and the phantom Tea Party …..
Obama’s response is whatever he thinks will serve him best to re-elected. So for Obama to directly criticize these mean spirited vicious anti-American “bomb throwers” ready for even gleeful about the U.S. defaulting come August 2nd, Obama has decided there is more votes in treating them with phony respect and decorum.
Here is the problem for Obama.
Cantor and the Boys & Girls who are in his camp from Hell know this as well as I do. So they are using the tactic that is as old as life on Earth called Bullying someone who makes it obvious they can be. They know Obama will not call their bluff and so they continue to hit him over the head if not out and out try to humiliate him while he keeps talking about “comprise.”
This time, President Obama should be using his favorite Presidential Perk Air Force One and flying all over the country giving speech after speech telling the American people in no uncertain terms a bunch of radical Republicans who are out of control are hell bent on destroying the very fabric of the United States in pursuit of an agenda to shred the social fabric that holds us together be it tenuously.
Their undisguised hatred of Obama is not a racist issue, although some of it may be buried there. They hate Obama because he represents ever so vaguely, an America they despise.
An inclusive America based on fairness and equality and the rights of all. The America they want is one that heaps all the pain on the middle and poor classes of Americans while protecting all the unjustified even scandalous tax breaks, loopholes and special deals for the rich and powerful.
The whackos make it clear they will allow the U.S. to default rather than take away special tax breaks for luxurious private jets. Why? Because to do so would be a tax increase in their warped minds – as though they really believe it – and they oppose all tax “increases.”
WAIT A MINUTE. But these same Republican are supporting cutting billions indeed trillions from all kinds of programs that are useful for the middle class and poorer Americans. But those “cuts” are not tax increases (WHY???) these Republicans tell us while telling us taking away unjustified tax loopholes for the rich are disastrous tax increases.
So here is some advice President Obama …..
Stand in front of the cameras and the American people in cities and towns across America and make the following statement …
Were Osama bin Laden still alive or if those Taliban devise a plan to prevent millions of Americans from getting their Social Security checks, a plan that would have our soldiers not receive their pay, a plan that would cost American tax payers extra billions of dollars in interest payments for no logical reason, a plan that would destroy the unique financial position of the United States in the world, a plan that would have the government defaulting on obligation after obligation, a plan that would lead to a serious new economic decline, a plan that would throw even more millions of Americans out of work …..
We would all clearly label such a plan by the Taliban as economic TERRORISM without a doubt … well we have a group of Americans right here in Congress led by Eric Cantor and Michelle Bachmann, and others with just such a plan, so what do you think we should call them?
…. What they are TERRORISTS who want to destroy American values and trust worthiness in the name of a radical Right Wing agenda.
Arthur Piccolo is a professional writer and commentator and often writes about Latin America for New Americas.