Cayman Islands to name previously hidden companies

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The Cayman Islands will open the thousands of companies and hedge funds domiciled on the offshore Caribbean territory to greater scrutiny, in a break from decades of secrecy.

The British overseas territory, which has been criticised as being one of the most secretive finance jurisdictions in the world, is introducing reforms that will make public the names of thousands of previously hidden companies and their directors, reports the Financial Times,

CIMA, the islands' monetary authority, sent proposals, seen by the FT , to Cayman-based hedge funds and outlined plans to create a public database of funds domiciled on the island for the first time and will also list the funds directors, pending an ongoing consultation process due to close in mid-March.

In the 24 months subsequent to the onset of the financial crisis, the BVI Financial Services Commission, the Central Bank of Ireland (OTC BB: IRLD - news) , the Jersey Financial Services Commission, the Bahamas Financial Services Board and the Isle of Man Supervision Commission all updated their corporate governance codes, laws and/or regulations, the FT reports CIMA said in one document.

CIMA did not respond to the FT's request for a comment.

The Cayman Islands are seen as a tax-haven by many companies to avoid payer higher rates of tax in other countries.

Last month, filings showed that Facebook hid almost half a billion pounds in a Cayman Islands tax haven last year in an effort to avoid paying tax in Britain and its other main markets.

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Cayman Islands to name previously hidden companies

Cayman Islands to Make Public Thousands of Names

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The British overseas territory, which wants to shed its reputation for clandestine financial activity, is introducing sweeping reforms that will make public the names of thousands of previously hidden companies and their directors.

In proposals sent to Cayman-based hedge fund businesses and seen by the Financial Times, the islands' powerful monetary authority, CIMA, has outlined plans to create a public database of funds domiciled on the island for the first time. The database will also list funds' directors, pending an ongoing consultation process due to close in mid-March.

CIMA, which did not respond to a request for comment, also plans to require directors to undergo a vetting process to ensure they are qualified to act as fiduciaries for investors.

"In the 24 months subsequent to the onset of the financial crisis, the BVI Financial Services Commission, the Central Bank of Ireland, the Jersey Financial Services Commission, the Bahamas Financial Services Board and the Isle of Man Supervision Commission all updated their corporate governance codes, laws and/or regulations," CIMA said in one document.

(Read More: Hedge Fund 'Sharks Going After' Paulson: Pro)

The move comes amid a barrage of international criticism for the diminutive tax haven's minimal disclosure requirements and tough corporate privacy laws in recent years. The Caymans have borne the brunt of attacks on offshore centers from angry US and EU politicians as they struggled to keep pace with fast-moving new global regulations. They even featured in rancorous debates over the tax affairs of US presidential candidate Mitt Romney.

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Cayman Islands to Make Public Thousands of Names

Clinton assures Japan on islands, invites Abe to U.S. in February

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WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Secretary of State Hillary Clinton assured Japan on Friday of U.S. support in Tokyo's dispute with Beijing over a string of islands and invited new Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to Washington in late February for a meeting with President Barack Obama.

Clinton held a working lunch with Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida, and both emerged pledging that U.S.-Japan security and economic ties would remain strong following Abe's landslide election victory last month.

"Our alliance with Japan remains the cornerstone of American engagement with the region," Clinton told reporters, noting a wide range of cooperation on everything from disaster relief to the stand-off over nuclear North Korea.

Clinton, due to step down in coming weeks, again affirmed that the United States would stand by its longtime ally in its territorial dispute with China over islets in the East China Sea claimed by both countries.

Tensions over the tiny islands, known as Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China, have flared in recent months, one of several maritime territorial disputes involving China that have worsened as Washington seeks to shift its security focus to Asia.

"Although the United States does not take a position on the ultimate sovereignty of the islands, we acknowledge they are under the administration of Japan," Clinton said, repeating the long-standing U.S. position on the dispute.

"We oppose any unilateral actions that would seek to undermine Japanese administration, and we urge all parties to take steps to prevent incidents and manage disagreements through peaceful means."

Kishida signaled that Abe, who had taken a tough stance on the dispute during his election campaign, was not eager to escalate the conflict.

"While Japan will not concede and will uphold our fundamental position that the Senkaku islands are an inherent territory of Japan, we intend to respond calmly so as not to provoke China," he said through an interpreter.

Clinton announced that Abe had been invited to Washington in the third week of February to hold his first meeting with Obama.

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Clinton assures Japan on islands, invites Abe to U.S. in February

Islands of sanctuary for endangered orang-utans

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AN AMBITIOUS project, led by a Melbourne zookeeper, to create a series of man-made islands for sick and injured orang-utans in Indonesia, is a step closer after an Australian fund-raising drive.

Earth 4 Orang-utans has secured 48 hectares in the northern part of Sumatra after raising a $150,000 down payment on the land from Australian donors, including Melbourne advertising executive Ted Horton and his wife Miche. It is understood they gave a significant sum towards the project.

The initiative is the brainchild of Jessica McKelson, head primate keeper at Melbourne Zoo, and Dr Ian Singleton, conservation director at the Sumatran Orang-utan Conservation Program (SOCP) in Indonesia.

Two other orang-utan non-government organisations, based in Britain and the US, are also backing the scheme, as well as the Australian-based network The Orang-utan Project.

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The project intends to relocate sick and injured orang-utans, which are unable to be released into the wild and are languishing in cages at the SOCP quarantine centre, Batu Mbelin. A chain of four islands will be created by digging moats around the land. Orang-utans, which are afraid of water, will be free to roam on the islands.

Orang-utans are critically endangered due to the clearing of forests for palm oil in Indonesia, the last country in which the flame-haired apes are found in the wild. They also suffer from direct contact with humans, with many shot or captured illegally. Human diseases such as hepatitis are also passed on to them.

Ms McKelson said she was thrilled the project had attracted support. ''I didn't think it was possible 12 months ago, but now we have land secured, which is a vital first step. This will be the first time that something has been built like this in Indonesia.''

A crucial part of the project will be an education centre at the site, aimed at the locals. The centre will highlight the threats orang-utans and other animals face from forest clearing and traditional medicine, which results in animals such as fruit bats and tigers being killed and eaten in the erroneous belief they cure diseases.

''No one has tried to educate the middle-class business people, the guys with the nice cars in the top networks,'' Dr Singleton said. ''At Melbourne or Sydney zoo, you'd get a strong education message, whereas the zoos here are all terrible, apart from, arguably, the ones in Bali. But even there you have people throwing peanuts at the animals and laughing at them.

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BANGKOK NIGHTLIFE IN FUTURE -A MUST SEE AMAZING FUTURIST VIDEO INSIDE BANGKOK NIGHTLIFE – Video

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BANGKOK NIGHTLIFE IN FUTURE -A MUST SEE AMAZING FUTURIST VIDEO INSIDE BANGKOK NIGHTLIFE
Stephan Zlotescu- did a best video inside bangkok nightlife ever(in future).all rights are the property of stephan zlotescu.real great stuff from this romanian artist.

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BANGKOK NIGHTLIFE IN FUTURE -A MUST SEE AMAZING FUTURIST VIDEO INSIDE BANGKOK NIGHTLIFE - Video

Freedom plans Te'o girlfriend bobblehead giveaway

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The Florence Freedom are making plans to give away a Manti Te'o girlfriend bobblehead. Sort of.

On May 23 the Frontier League baseball team will be giving away the boxed bobblehead to the first 1,000 fans through the gates.

The box will be empty.

"This will be the best kind of bobblehead a fan could get," Freedom General Manager Josh Anderson said in a news release. "Because now fans can make the bobblehead out to be whatever they want it to be."

"Section 115 will be blocked and reserved only for fans to sit with their imaginary friends, girlfriends/boyfriends or spouses," the team said.

Te'o, the star Notre Dame football player, is coming under scrutiny after a girlfriend he said died of leukemia turned out to never exist.

Izzy's Famous Corned Beef is also offering a "Manti Teo To Go Order" which consists of "a take-out order with nothing in the box. Its just a reminder to all our wonderful customers who are Notre Dame football fans," CEO John Geisen said in a news release.

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Freedom plans Te'o girlfriend bobblehead giveaway

Internet freedom and the universe online

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SECOND UNIVERSE. The Internet and the universe inside of it needs to be free.

MANILA, Philippines - For a good number of Internet denizens, January 18 in the US is supposed to be Internet Freedom Day.

The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) terms this year's celebration as one to remember previous years' fights against the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and the Protect IP Act (PIPA) in the US. It's also being held to remember Aaron Swartz, the Internet activist who fought for the rights of Internet users in a number of ways.

While the date may not have much significance for Filipinos yet, it may be important to remember January 18 as Internet Freedom Day for the Philippines simply because we need a day to remember how the Internet, and the pursuit of Internet freedom, goes beyond our immediate spheres.

FIGHT FOR FREEDOM. The oral arguments against the Cybercrime Law are one facet of a world-spanning issue.

On Philippine shores

In the Philippine context, one major point of interest when it comes to Internet freedom is the way legislation is being done to protect people's interests, both in terms of protecting intellectual property and stopping libelous or hateful statements from becoming commonplace online.

On the one hand, there is the Cybercrime Law, RA 10175, which some have described as having certain deficiencies currently being brought up in argumentation. It also has a dubious backstory, one of online bullying of a senator or hearty dissent against his views, depending on whom you ask. The deficiencies and the hazy backstory cloud the perception of the law's effectiveness and intent.

The current alternative is something called the Magna Carta for Philippine Internet Freedom (MCPIF), otherwise known as Senate Bill 3327. This was filed by Sen Miriam Defensor-Santiago in November 2012 and is a more citizen-friendly bill that hopes to be passed in place of the Cybercrime Law.

What's notable about the MCPIF is that it makes provisions that specifically address deficiencies in RA 10175, such as protecting the right for the freedom of expression and the right to privacy.

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Internet freedom and the universe online

Our freedom was not a gift: President

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Tamluk (West Bengal) Jan 18 (IANS) Stating that India's freedom was not a gift given under international pressure but one achieved through years of struggle, President Pranab Mukherjee Friday saluted the freedom fighters from Midnapore district.

Mukherjee unveiled statues of Ajoy Mukherjee, Satish Chandra Samanta and Sushil Kumar Dhara who played crucial roles in India's freedom movement and were instrumental in forming the Tamralipta National Government - a parallel government during the Quit India Movement - here. The area now falls within East Midnapore district.

In 2002, Midnapore district was divided into East Midnapore and West Midnapore districts by West Bengal's Left Front government for administrative reasons.

"We have achieved our freedom through a long struggle. We earned our freedom in return for blood. It was not a gift or given under international pressure," the president said in his address.

He said Midnapore has a long history of contribution towards the freedom movement.

"Midnapore has a long and glorious history. There is history in its every page, a history of sacrifice, of glory and self sacrifice. From Khudiram (Bose - the first martyr of India's independence movement) to Hemchandra Kanungo - the first chemical bomb maker - and Matangini Hazra who in spite of being riddled with bullets did not let the tricolour fall, Midnapore has a very rich tradition and history of freedom fighters," said Mukherjee.

Talking about Ajoy Mukherjee, the fourth chief minister of West Bengal, who hailed from here, the president said he came to power in the most torrid times but with his astute leadership countered all problems.

"His tenure as a chief minister from 1976-71 was marked with a lot of difficulties but he remained unfazed and tackled them accordingly. There were natural calamities, famine and a severe financial crisis, but nothing could deter his determination," said Mukherjee, who had his baptism into politics as a leader of Bangla Congress founded by Ajoy Mukherjee.

He paid rich tributes to Ajoy Mukherjee, Satish Chandra Samanta and Sushil Kumar Dhara, the president said: "Whenever people will pass by these statues, their heads will bow in respect."

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Freedom Rider to speak today in St. Louis

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ST. LOUIS One of the original Freedom Riders who in 1961 challenged U.S. Supreme Court decisions striking down segregated bus travel and challenged segregated public facilities will speak today at U.S. District Court downtown.

Reverend Dr. John C. Raines and four others traveled by bus from St. Louis to Little Rock, Ark. on July 10, 1961, Raines and the others - civil rights activist Rev. Benjamin Elton Cox, New York artist Janet Reinitz and public school teacher Bliss Anne Malone and student Annie Lumpkin, both of St. Louis - were arrested after refusing to leave the bus terminal. They were released later that week and continued on to New Orleans.

Raines was from Long Island at the time. He is currently a professor emeritus at Temple University.

The program starts at 12:15 p.m. with a reception. The final events consist of optional tours of the Freedom Riders exhibit at the courthouse, as well as the building's Judicial Learning Center. Speakers scheduled to appear include Raines, longtime St. Louis lawyer and civil rights pioneer Frankie Muse Freeman and Adjoa A. Aiyetoro, the founding director of the University of Arkansas - Little Rock Institute on Race and Ethnicity.

The event is free. To make a reservation got to JudicialLearningCenter.org/event-registration/.

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Freedom Rider to speak today in St. Louis

Florence Freedom announce plans for ‘Manti Te’o Girlfriend Bobblehead Night’ in May

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(AP)Just when you thought the Manti Teo story and its fallout couldnt get any more absurd, we present to you the Florence Freedom.

Who are the Florence Freedom you ask?

They're an Independent baseball team that plays in the Frontier League, which is mostly made up of teams from Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Missouri and that general area. The Freedom are actually based out of Florence, KY, so that means they log some decent miles on the road.

And what is their contribution to the Te'o saga?

Well, you see, the Freedom are already planning on cashing in on the bizarre story by announcing plans for a special Manti Te'o's Girlfriend Bobblehead Night, which will take place at their May 23 home game against the Schaumburg Boomers.

Yes, that's right, a Lennay Kekua bobblehead or name her as you wish, I suppose will be given to the first 1,000 fans through the gate on that evening. But if that wasn't enough, the team also encourages fans to buy seats in section 115, which will be blocked off and reserved for those who would like to bring along an imaginary friend, girlfriend, spouse, or whatever else you can think of. And there will even be a pretend kiss cam.

Seriously. They went the whole nine yards on this one.

Here are more details from the Freedom's press release:

On Thursday, May 23 the Freedom will be giving away the Manti Te'o Girlfriend Bobblehead to the first 1000 fans through the gates.

"This will be the best kind of bobblehead a fan could get," Freedom General Manager Josh Anderson said. "Because now fans can make the bobblehead out to be whatever they want it to be."

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Florence Freedom announce plans for ‘Manti Te’o Girlfriend Bobblehead Night’ in May

The EyeOpener- Life

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The EyeOpener- Life Death: Bioethics as crypto-eugenics
3. April 2012 Few in the general public have heard much, if anything at all, about the relatively obscure corner of academia known as bioethics. First emerging as an academic discipline in the late 1960s, bioethics concerns itself with the ethical questions raised by advancing knowledge and technological sophistication in biology, medicine, and the life sciences. When the discussions of the bioethics community eventually filter down to the level of popular discourse, they often seem like bizarre, science fiction-like scenarios about improbable possibilities. This is our EyeOpener Report by James Corbett, exploring the dangers inherent in entrusting some of the most important discussions about the life, death and health of humanity in the hands of a priestly academic class toiling in relative obscurity to produce position papers for government advisory boards.

By: JonesTarpley

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The EyeOpener- Life

Eugenics and Other Evils – GK Chesterton – Video

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Eugenics and Other Evils - GK Chesterton
Download for free as mp3: librivox.org Most Eugenists are Euphemists. I mean merely that short words startle them, while long words soothe them. And they are utterly incapable of translating the one into the other, however obviously they mean the same thing. Say to them "The persuasive and even coercive powers of the citizen should enable him to make sure that the burden of longevity in the previous generation does not become disproportionate and intolerable, especially to the females"; say this to them and they will sway slightly to and fro like babies sent to sleep in cradles. Say to them "Murder your mother," and they sit up quite suddenly. Yet the two sentences, in cold logic, are exactly the same." Total running time: 5:17:02 Read by Ray Clare

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Eugenics and Other Evils - GK Chesterton - Video

MUSIC 2842-MUSIC CYBORG-PRODUCED IN MY PLAYSTATION 2 MARVOK345 – Video

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MUSIC 2842-MUSIC CYBORG-PRODUCED IN MY PLAYSTATION 2 MARVOK345 - Video

MUSIC 2843-HIP-HOP MARVOK CYBORG-PRODUCED IN MY PLAY 2 MARVOK345 – Video

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MUSIC 2843-HIP-HOP MARVOK CYBORG-PRODUCED IN MY PLAY 2 MARVOK345
PRODUCED IN 2013 IN MY PLAYSTATION 2 PRODUCED BY MYSELF MARVOK MARGINAL DEL VOKAL SEARCH GOOGLE marvok345 LE LGITIME THE UNDERGROUND FROM THE UNDERGROUND IS HERE MARVOK345 MUSIC AND LYRICS IN MULTIPLE LANGUAGES http://www.youtube.com/marvok345

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MUSIC 2843-HIP-HOP MARVOK CYBORG-PRODUCED IN MY PLAY 2 MARVOK345 - Video