Latest news with #Grenadian
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Yahoo
Malcolm X used reading to reach his full potential. Will kids now do the same?
Put yourself inside a 6-by-8-foot prison cell, no window, bare concrete walls. A concrete slab juts out from the wall with a mattress to lay on. There's a creaky desk and chair and, in the corner, a wooden pail to defecate in. For 17½ hours a day, this is your reality. You do have a pen and paper. And there is a library nearby, but only with books. No multimedia center here. No smartphone, no television, maybe one or two radio stations, but only for an hour at night. Those other six-and-a-half hours are spent either working in the laundry or walking outside in the yard. Could you do it? For 39 months? Malcolm X did, and if he hadn't endured this cruelly deprived reality, we would have never heard of him. At Charlestown State Prison (now Bunker Hill Community College), Malcolm Little, as he was called at the time, endured suffocating idleness and boredom. He turned to the books in the prison library for, at the very least, a distraction from the thought of being incarcerated. As he explained to Alex Haley years later: '…I knew right there in prison that reading had changed forever the course of my life. As I see it today, the ability to read awoke inside me some long dormant craving to be mentally alive.' On May 19, 2025, Malcolm X would have been 100 years old. He only made it to 39. That itself is tragic, but it would have been even more so if his mother Louise had never taught him how to read. Louise gathered her seven children around the table during the Great Depression, her husband Earl killed after being run over by a streetcar, and asked them to read aloud from the dictionary, the Bible, and from newspapers established by Jamaican activist Marcus Garvey and Grenadian politician T.A. Marryshow. 'A strong-minded mother,' Malcolm wrote to his older brother Philbert while incarcerated, 'has strong-minded children.' According to the National Literacy Institute (NLI), not only are 21% of American adults illiterate, but also '130 million adults are now unable to read a simple story to their children.' Imagine if Louise did not have the ability to read to Malcolm or teach him how to read aloud and hear his voice gain strength. Would he have been able to survive those hellish months in prison? Would he have been able to write his now-famous speech, 'The Ballot or the Bullet,' delivered at Cleveland's Cory Methodist Church on East 105th Street? In prison, as Malcolm read, 'months passed without my even thinking about being imprisoned.' Reading, even in that tiny, ancient, decrepit cell, released him. 'I never had been so truly free in my life,' he wrote in his autobiography. 'Black Fourth of July': Before it became a federal holiday, Boynton activist knew Juneteenth needed a celebration Smartphones have the power to capture the mind of a child or teenager and place it on a hamster wheel fueled by dopamine, an imprisonment of distraction. In 2025, reading a book takes a backseat (is it even in the car?) to the eye strain required to take in a 15-second soundbite, watch a ball strike a line of dominos, enjoy a new music video or scroll an endless clothing catalog. At Charlestown, Malcolm threw himself into reading a wide range of titles. He cracked open an old copy of Shakespeare's Macbeth, unsure of what exactly he was reading. But he had time and little to no distraction, so he dug into the etymology using a dictionary. As he improved, he was eventually transferred to Norfolk Prison Library, and the prison library there was large enough for him to find more specific titles. He devoured Frederik Bodmer's The Loom of Language, studied Grimm's Law, read ancient Persian poetry and joined a Great Books discussion group, Machiavelli's The Prince being one of the 17 books discussed. Here's hoping it doesn't take prison for children to crack open a new book and learn about another world. Patrick Parr's third book is Malcolm Before X, published by the University of Massachusetts Press. He grew up in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, and graduated from Cuyahoga Falls High School in 1999. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Malcolm X shows the power of reading, even decades later | Opinion
Winnipeg Free Press
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Winnipeg Free Press
Hitting all the right notes
Winnipeg author Zilla Jones' debut novel is an historical fiction saga exploring identity, race, belonging, colonialism, sexual assault, motherhood and the healing power of music. Jones herself is a powerhouse. The anti-racism activist, defence lawyer and writer also has a background as an opera singer, and she uses all these elements to create a powerful story. The title The World So Wide comes from the opera The Tender Land, about a woman who ventures 'into a great shining unknown, armed only with her dreams and determination,' as Jones describes it. The World So Wide The story opens in October 1983. Felicity Alexander, a world-renowned opera singer, should be preparing for her appearance at the Metropolitan. Instead, she's under house arrest at Government House in Grenada alongside her old university friends, including Prime Minister Neville Carpenter and his advisor (and Felicity's one-time lover), Claude Buckingham. The narrative moves between Felicity's house arrest and her memories of the events that brought her to this time. Felicity takes us through her childhood in Winnipeg, where she was abandoned by her white father and raised by her hard-working but emotionally absent Grenadian mother. Felicity's talent for singing wins her a scholarship to the prestigious Guildhall School in London, England. There she falls in love with Claude, a Grenadian man dedicated to overthrowing the country's corrupt government and ushering in a truly egalitarian regime. But love isn't enough to keep them together. Felicity wants to conquer the white-dominated opera world, while Claude plans to return to Grenada to rebuild the country from the shattering effects of colonialism. When Felicity receives an invitation to sing at a benefit in Grenada she takes it, hoping to reunite with Claude. Instead, she finds herself in the middle of a revolution with the chance to speak up for her people. Though all characters are fictional, the events are based on the actual 1983 invasion of Grenada by the United States and a coalition of Caribbean nations. Jones immerses readers in Felicity's experiences as a biracial woman who, despite her intelligence, charisma and talent, never feels at home anywhere. Ian McCausland photo Winnipeg lawyer and author Zilla Jones has won numerous writing prizes for her short fiction. Among white characters, she's seen as Black, and experiences racism starting as a child. But Black characters often assume Felicity receives privileges thanks to her lighter skin. As Neville explains after Felicity is snubbed by members of their group, 'There are lots of divisions among Black people. It started during slavery. The white men raped our women and the people that resulted were treated better than the darker ones… so some darker-skinned people resent lighter-skinned people like you.' Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. Felicity experiences both micro-aggressions, such as people commenting that Black people have wonderful musical gifts, and outright racial violence. Jones also dismantles the myth of Canada as a haven of equality, with Felicity's mother noting that she had to fool the Canadian government to immigrate as a Black woman. 'I worked in a munitions factory in London during the war, and then I heard that Canada was looking for people. They thought I was a white English lady. Imagine their surprise when they saw my Black face, and it was too late to do anything about it,' she says. At other times, Felicity's struggles are more universally relatable, such as a 35-year-old Felicity's exasperation over her mother treating her as a child. Jones' novel is a gift and a magnificent read that will leave readers crying for an encore. Kathryne Cardwell is a writer in Treaty One Territory.
India Today
17-05-2025
- Sport
- India Today
Spectacular feat, India is proud: PM praises Neeraj Chopra after 90.23 metres throw
Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to social media to congratulate two-time Olympic medallist Neeraj Chopra after he crossed the significant 90-meter mark for the first time in his career during the men's javelin throw event at the Doha Diamond League on May 17. Chopra's best throw of 90.23 meters came on his third attempt, earning him a commendable second place behind Germany's Julian Minister Modi praised Chopra's relentless dedication and hard work in a heartfelt social media post, celebrating the athlete's long-standing ambition finally coming true.A spectacular feat! Congratulations to Neeraj Chopra for breaching the 90 m mark at Doha Diamond League 2025 and achieving his personal best throw. This is the outcome of his relentless dedication, discipline and passion. India is elated and proud. @Neeraj_chopra1 Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 17, 2025" A spectacular feat! Congratulations to Neeraj Chopra for breaching the 90 m mark at Doha Diamond League 2025 and achieving his personal best throw. This is the outcome of his relentless dedication, discipline and passion. India is elated and proud," Narendra Modi wrote on his Chopra's milestone, Germany's Julian Weber edged him out with a winning throw of 91.06 meters. Grenadian athlete Anderson Peters took third place, while India's Kishore Jena finished began the competition strongly with an opening throw of 88.40 meters. Although his second attempt was ruled a foul, he made an emphatic comeback with his historic 90.23-meter throw, surpassing his previous national record and making history as the first Indian—and only the third Asian—to breach the 90-meter his breakthrough, Chopra's subsequent throws varied, including an 80.56-meter effort, another foul, and a solid 88.20 meters in his final attempt. Nonetheless, it was his remarkable third throw that cemented his place amongst the world's elite javelin Chopra's latest throw has now launched him to 24th place on the all-time global list of javelin athletes who have surpassed the 90-meter mark. He now ranks ahead of notable throwers like Germany's Max Dehning, with a best of 90.20 meters, and Trinidad and Tobago's Keshorn Walcott, who threw 90.16 meters. The standing world record continues to be held by Jan elezn, Chopra's coach and Czech javelin legend, who set an incredible mark of 98.48 meters in Watch
Daily Mirror
16-05-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Mirror
Formula E star's genius reason for using No22 is all because of Lewis Hamilton
Zane Maloney is the first driver from the Caribbean to race in a single-seater world championship - and he takes inspiration from Lewis Hamilton in a completely unique way Zane Maloney's choice of No.22 is all because of Lewis Hamilton. Seven-time F1 world champ Hamilton is Formula E rookie Maloney's biggest idol and when he was asked to pick what number he wanted on his car, he had a novel response. 'He's number 44 and I said that if I can be half as good as him, then I'm 22. Then it just stuck,' Maloney says. It is no wonder that Maloney looks up to Hamilton. The Boy from Barbados is making history as the first Caribbean driver in a single-seater world championship series. Hamilton broke barriers as the first black person ever to race at world championship level in F1, while he also has Caribbean roots, through his father's Grenadian background. 'When he went into F1 in 2007, I was only four years old. I was already just watching F1 for him,' Maloney says. 'Through my entire career, he is the one I have looked up to. 'He came to Barbados twice in 2016 and 2017 and I raced against him in a go-kart, which was a dream come true for my entire life. 'I will always look up to Lewis, he is the person that I will see as the best ever in Formula One for many reasons. He is the best and always will be.' Maloney, 21, was one of the most promising stars in the F2 and F3 feeder series but is yet to score a point in his Lola Abt Yamaha car since switching to all-electric racing. 'A lot of people think it's a step down from F1, a step down from F2, but it really isn't,' he says. 'If you look at the manufacturers and drivers down the grid, it's the best in the world.' And as the 21-year-old goes into Saturday morning's Tokyo E-Prix, he hopes to spread some West Indian joy across the paddock. Olympic icon Usain Bolt has already attended races and even driven a Formula E car, while pop star Rihanna has been in his Instagram direct messages and he has invited her to a race. 'I don't want to boast about it, but it's a cool thing,' Maloney says. 'We'll see what happens. I'm sure that she's very busy, so we'll see what can happen. '[Usain] could barely even fit in the car, so it was cool to see. I haven't really done much with him, but we have plans in place to do something later on, also with Rihanna. 'There's a lot of stars, a lot of big names from the Caribbean. Now, at this stage, I'd like to bring them over to some races and let them see my world.' Watch the Formula E Tokyo E-Prix live on ITV4 and Discovery+ from 6am. Race start 7am.
Time Business News
14-05-2025
- Business
- Time Business News
How Russian Oligarchs Are Using Caribbean Citizenship to Re-enter Western Markets Undetected
GEORGE TOWN, CAYMAN ISLANDS — As Western law enforcement efforts falter under shifting U.S. political priorities, Russian oligarchs previously targeted by international sanctions are quietly returning to global markets—armed with Caribbean passports, synthetic identities, and blockchain-based wealth structures. In the wake of the Trump administration's retreat from Russian crime enforcement, these elites are exploiting weak regulatory gaps and digital finance loopholes to reclaim access to Western real estate, luxury assets, and influence channels. This press release details how Russian billionaires—once blacklisted and frozen—are using Citizenship by Investment (CBI) programs, cryptocurrency portfolios, and offshore banking networks to sanitize their identities and financial footprints. Amicus International Consulting has documented a dramatic resurgence of Russian economic activity in regions previously hardened against financial abuse and warns that the risk of geopolitical financial contamination is rising fast. The Oligarch Playbook: How Sanctioned Russian Elites Are Re-entering Global Markets Since early 2025, Amicus analysts have traced a rising pattern of activity consistent with what intelligence agencies call 'strategic financial reintegration.' This method allows previously sanctioned individuals to hide behind new identities, jurisdictions, and asset classes. 🔑 The Key Tactics Include: Acquiring 'clean' Caribbean citizenship through indirect investment Transferring frozen fiat into decentralized crypto wallets Using offshore trusts to repatriate sanitized wealth Rebuilding digital identities through AI-generated personas and corporate proxies Re-entering Western markets under new names and freshly issued travel documents Case Study 1: The Grenadian Flip In January 2025, a Russian businessman previously sanctioned by the UK and EU for ties to Gazprom's shadow trading arm successfully acquired Grenadian citizenship through a proxy investment in a government-approved real estate project. The investment was funded via USDT on the TRON blockchain, routed through two Belizean shell entities. Once naturalized, the individual used the Grenadian passport to: Open new bank accounts in Singapore and the UAE Apply for a U.S. E-2 business visa via a Grenadian treaty agreement via a Grenadian treaty agreement Rebrand his oil shipping firm under a newly incorporated Irish entity Amicus investigators confirmed that the man's former identity had been delisted from most compliance databases following the expiration of secondary sanctions, allowing him to reappear without triggering financial institution alerts. Case Study 2: Crypto as a Cloak for Sanctioned Wealth In a separate investigation, a Moscow-based oligarch laundered over USD 120 million in frozen assets through a custom-built crypto 'basket' involving: Monero for private movement for private movement Ethereum for DeFi-based staking for DeFi-based staking Tokenized real estate assets held via NTFS on Solana These assets were transferred into an offshore trust registered in Saint Lucia, whose beneficiary—a synthetic identity created using AI-generated documentation—was issued a new passport through CBI. The funds were then used to purchase: Two luxury condos in Dubai Marina A yacht charter business in Montenegro Equity in a U.S. tech startup via an American venture capital proxy The Role of Citizenship by Investment (CBI) Programs Caribbean nations, including Dominica, Grenada, Antigua & Barbuda, and Saint Kitts & Nevis, continue to operate legal CBI programs offering second citizenship in exchange for real estate investment or government donations. While these programs are not inherently illicit, they are vulnerable to abuse, especially when: Due diligence is outsourced or rushed Crypto payments obscure the funding source Intermediaries falsify background data Applicants use synthetic identities or proxy nominees Amicus has identified at least 19 Russian nationals who acquired second citizenships through indirect or disguised investments since January 2023. Financial Risk to the West The reintegration of Russian oligarchs into global financial systems presents several serious risks: Sanctions Erosion : Once new identities are established, sanctions become toothless. : Once new identities are established, sanctions become toothless. Money Laundering Blind Spots : Crypto-based asset transfers often occur beneath detection thresholds or via compliant offshore exchanges. : Crypto-based asset transfers often occur beneath detection thresholds or via compliant offshore exchanges. Reputational Risk : Western institutions and real estate developers risk unknowingly engaging with blacklisted individuals. : Western institutions and real estate developers risk unknowingly engaging with blacklisted individuals. Political Influence: Sanitized wealth already appears in campaign donations, think tanks, and media entities through cutouts and proxies. How Amicus Is Fighting Back Amicus International Consulting is leading a multi-front campaign to expose and disrupt the re-entry of oligarch-linked capital into regulated markets. Our services include: ✅ CBI Applicant Screening: Partnering with governments to detect synthetic and fraudulent identities before issuing passports. ✅ Crypto Source-of-Funds Audits: Using blockchain analytics to uncover hidden asset paths linked to previously sanctioned actors. ✅ Offshore Trust & Corporate Network Mapping: Identifying beneficial owners and nominee structures used to hide accurate control. ✅ Enhanced KYC Monitoring: Providing financial institutions with real-time alerts for suspicious activity linked to known or suspected Russian proxies. ✅ Synthetic Identity Risk Detection: Applying AI-powered detection tools to flag new accounts, investment applications, or real estate transactions that bear synthetic or manipulated identity traits. What Regulators Must Do Now Amicus urges the following immediate reforms: Ban crypto-funded CBI applications until a proper auditing infrastructure is implemented. Mandate centralized CBI blacklist databases shared across jurisdictions. Require KYC harmonization across offshore financial centers. Expand sanctions coverage to include individuals, blockchain wallets, and DeFi protocols tied to reflagged identities. Conclusion: A Red Tide Beneath Blue Waters While global eyes are distracted by shifting alliances and political transitions, Russian oligarchs quietly rebuild their international footprint. Caribbean passports, synthetic profiles, and decentralized finance have created the perfect storm of anonymity, mobility, and financial freedom—exactly what Western sanctions were meant to prevent. At Amicus International Consulting, we believe that compliance must evolve faster than criminal innovation. As long as loopholes remain, we will remain vigilant, mapping the movements, names, wallets, and passports that define the new front lines of financial warfare. 📞 Contact Information Phone: +1 (604) 200-5402 Email: info@ Website: Follow Us: 🔗 LinkedIn 🔗 Twitter/X 🔗 Facebook 🔗 Instagram TIME BUSINESS NEWS
