Hess Shareholders Approval Sets Stage For Major Showdown Over Guyana

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News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Weds. May 29, 2024: The stage is set for a major oil showdown over Guyana as Hess Corporation shareholders approved the $53 billion acquisition by Chevron on Tuesday. However, the deal’s timeline remains uncertain due to a dispute with Exxon Mobil over Hess’ assets in Guyana.

A majority of Hess shareholders voted in favor of the merger, though the exact tally was not disclosed. CEO John Hess expressed confidence in the transaction’s value and anticipated its successful completion.

The deal faces potential jeopardy as Exxon claims a right of first refusal on Hess’ 30% stake in the Stabroek Block, a significant offshore oil field in Guyana. Exxon, which leads the development with a 45% stake, filed for arbitration in March to assert its rights under the joint operating agreement. The remaining 25% stake is held by China National Offshore Oil Corp.

Chevron and Hess informed investors that the merger could be terminated if Exxon prevails in arbitration. Hess stated that the deal’s completion hinges on the resolution of these proceedings, with both companies aiming to finalize the merger “as soon as practicable.”

Chevron spokesperson Bill Turenne expressed confidence that the arbitration will favor Chevron, while Exxon CEO Darren Woods remains optimistic about Exxon’s position, anticipating arbitration to extend into 2025.

The merger, initially expected to close in the first half of 2024, is delayed due to the ongoing arbitration. Additionally, the deal is under scrutiny by the Federal Trade Commission.

Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS) advised shareholders to abstain from the vote until more details on the arbitration timeline emerge, while Glass Lewis recommended voting in favor, citing the strategic and financial merits of the merger despite the uncertainty.

These Are The Caribbean Nations Now Recognizing Palestine As A State

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News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Weds. May 29, 2024: As the death toll in Gaza continues to rise from Israel’s continued war on the strip, support globally continues to grow for a Palestinian state. Fourteen Caribbean nations now officially recognize the State of Palestine.

An activist carries a fake baby rapped in white cloth with blood and a placards supporting Palestine during the demonstration. The “Comida no Bombas” collective protested peacefully by giving away water and food outside one of the branches of the “Burger King” chain. The action corresponds to a global call to boycott companies that have directly or indirectly supported Israel’s war conflict towards Palestine. (Photo by Cesar Gomez/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

They are:

Jamaica

Barbados

Guyana

Haiti

Suriname

Cuba

St. Vincent and the Grenadines

Belize

Dominica

Grenada

Saint Lucia

Saint Kitts & Nevis.

The Dominican Republic

And Trinidad and Tobago

Trinidad and Tobago became the latest country in May to announce its decision to formally recognize the State of Palestine which it said will assist in the achievement of a lasting peace by strengthening the growing international consensus on the issue of Palestinian statehood. They followed Barbados and Jamaica which announced their support weeks earlier.

“Recognition of Palestine is moral and just and demonstrates Trinidad and Tobago’s acknowledgment of and support for the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian People,” the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago said in a statement.

Palestinian women mourn relatives killed in Israeli bombardment as they sit by their displacement tent in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip on May 29, 2024, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Hamas militant group. Street fighting and Israeli bombardment rocked Gaza’s far-southern Rafah on May 29, Palestinian residents and officials said, a day after Israeli tanks rolled into the centre of the city near the Egyptian border. (Photo by BASHAR TALEB/AFP via Getty Images)

Currently, 146 out of 193 UN members recognize Palestine as a state. Slovenia is expected to recognize Palestine by June 13th. Given Ireland’s and Spain’s European Union memberships, it is also hoped the move will put the status of Palestine firmly on the agenda during the June 6-9th EU elections.

In practical terms currently it does not make a big deal of difference for Palestine. However, any move from the international community towards giving Palestine greater recognition gives its diplomats extra sway in any negotiation or summit.

It also allows Palestine to enter into bilateral agreements as an independent state.

Get Ready For Buju Banton’s Long Walk To Freedom Concert – USA

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News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Weds. May 29, 2024: The last time Grammy-winning, Jamaican-born, reggae singer Buju Banton performed in the US was January 2011 in Miami. Weeks after his return to the US following his 2018 release from an American prison, the singer will thrill fans with his first “Long Walk To Freedom” US concert.

Buju Banton during his last performance at the Century Club in Century City, LA. (Photo by Lawrence K. Ho/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

Banton is set to perform in the U.S. for the first time in over a decade on Saturday, July 13th at the UBS Arena in Elmont, New York. The legendary singer will take the stage with his Shiloh Band, just two days before his 51st birthday on July 15th.

“I give thanks for life each day, but on this weekend, there is a special thanksgiving and I look forward to celebrating with all of my family, friends, and everyone who has prayed and supported me over the years,” said the Grammy Award winner in a statement.

Joseph Budafuco, Buju Banton’s manager, reflected on the journey since his last U.S. show in Miami in January 2011. “It’s a true honor to witness the return of a legend, as history unfolds before our eyes once again,” Budafuco expressed.

He added, “We look forward to presenting an exceptional concert in partnership with AG Consulting and Dahved Levy, whose experience in the market is profound.”

Caribbean-Born, Preakness Winning Jockey For Belmont Stakes

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News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Weds. May 29, 2024: Caribbean born jockey, Jaime Torres, who made history at the Preakness Stakes on May 18th by securing a remarkable win aboard Seize the Grey just two years after he began his riding career, is set for the Belmont Stakes on June 8th.

Caribbean born Jockey Jaime Torres and Seize the Grey, are heading to the Belmont Stakes after winning the 149th running of the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course on May 18, 2024 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)

Torrest and Seize the Grey are heading to Saratoga, according to Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas.

Seize The Grey with Torres won the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. The Puerto Rico native had previously guided Seize the Grey to victory in the Pat Day Mile on the Kentucky Derby undercard on May 4th at Churchill Downs.

Despite never having ridden in a Triple Crown race before, Torres now boasts a perfect record of 1 for 1. On May 18th, he took the lead at the start of the race in Baltimore before a crowd of around 17,000 spectators and maintained his position throughout. He completed the 1 3/16 miles on a muddy track in 1:56.82, paying $21.60 for the win.

Seize the Grey, owned by the MyRacehorse microshare partnership of over 2,700 people, was bred in Kentucky by Jamm, LTD, and purchased by MyRacehorse for $300,000 from Mill Ridge Sales at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Yearling Sale in 2022.

Torres decided to pursue a career as a jockey in 2019 after watching horse racing on television from Hipódromo Camarero. The next day, he went to the track and eventually enrolled in Puerto Rico’s riding school. He then moved to Florida, working for trainer Saffie Joseph Jr., and won his first race on September 17, 2022, at Gulfstream Park on Takestwotowiggle. The following year, he was the leading apprentice in New York. Now he is a Triple Crown race-winning jockey.

Due to construction at the track, the 2024 Belmont Stakes will take place at Saratoga Race Course in Upstate New York. With the change in venue comes a change in distance, as the Belmont Stakes 2024 will be contested over 1 1/4 miles instead of the usual 1 1/2. It marks just the second time over the last 99 years that the Run for the Carnations is being held at a distance less than 1 1/2 miles.

2024 Belmont Stakes odds:

Horse Odds
Sierra Leone 7-4
Fierceness 3-1
Mystik Dan 5-1
Seize the Grey 6-1
Thorpedo Anna 10-1
Antiquarian 12-1
Honor Marie 12-1
The Wine Steward 18-1

Caribbean American Sean Kingston Waives Extradition Hearing In Fraud Case

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News Americas, LOS ANGELES, CA, Weds. May 29, 2024: Caribbean American rapper and singer Sean Kingston has waived his right to fight extradition in a California court and agreed to be turned over to authorities in Florida. Kingston, 34, and his mother, Janice Turner, are charged with committing over a million dollars worth of fraud.

Sean Kingston is now in a CA jail awaiting extradition to Florida. (Photo by Johnny Louis/Getty Images)

Kingston did not make a public court appearance but signed papers agreeing to skip extradition hearings, as confirmed by representatives from San Bernardino courts and the sheriff’s office. He remained in a Southern California jail on Tuesday night as Kisean Paul Anderson, inmate 2405370702 of SBCSD – West Valley Detention Center at 9500 Etiwanda Ave., Rancho Cucamonga, CA. But sheriff’s officials will coordinate with the Broward County Sheriff’s Office to return him to Florida.

Kingston was arrested last Thursday, May 23rd, at Fort Irwin, an Army training base in California’s Mojave Desert, where he was performing. His mother, 61-year-old Janice Turner, was arrested the same day when a SWAT team raided Kingston’s rented mansion in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

They are charged with conducting an organized scheme to defraud, grand theft, identity theft, and related crimes. According to arrest warrants from the Broward County Sheriff’s Office, they allegedly stole money, jewelry, a Cadillac Escalade, and furniture. The warrants specify thefts amounting to nearly $500,000 in jewelry, over $200,000 from Bank of America, $160,000 from the Escalade dealer, over $100,000 from First Republic Bank, and $86,000 from a custom bed maker.

Kingston was already on two years’ probation for trafficking stolen property. His mother previously pleaded guilty to bank fraud in 2006, serving nearly 1.5 years in prison for stealing over $160,000.

Robert Rosenblatt, an attorney for Kingston and Turner, stated they planned to waive extradition and looked forward to addressing the charges in a Florida court, confident of a successful resolution.