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☆ Crypto investor 'bitcoin Jesus' arrested and charged by the Justice Department with $48 million tax evasion
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-01 | by ( Yuheng Zhan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

"Bitcoin Jesus" Roger Ver was arrested in Spain on charges of tax evasion this week. An early crypto enthusiast, he's been a long-time bitcoin evangelist, earning him the "bitcoin Jesus" nickname. AdvertisementVeteran crypto trader Roger Ver, also known as "bitcoin Jesus," was arrested in Spain and charged by the US Department of Justice with evading $48 million in taxes. Ver faces three charges of mail fraud, two charges of tax evasion, and three charges of subscribing to a false tax return. Ver, who was an early cryptocurrency evangelist, has been avidly promoting bitcoin for years, earning him the "Bitcoin Jesus" moniker.

Persons: Jesus, Roger Ver, Ver, he's, —, Agilestar —, Ver didn't, Binance's, Changpeng Zhao, Sam Bankman, Fried Organizations: DOJ, Service, Veteran, US Department of Justice, Justice Department Locations: Spain, St, Kitts, Nevis, US

☆ DOJ charges 'Bitcoin Jesus' with $48 million tax fraud, seeks extradition
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-01 | by ( Rebecca Picciotto | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

(Photo by Danny Lee/South China Morning Post via Getty Images)The Justice Department unveiled criminal tax fraud charges this week against a prolific bitcoin investor named Roger Ver. He came to be known as "Bitcoin Jesus," for getting in early on the digital currency and making a fortune. The DOJ alleges that in preparing those tax filings, Ver underrepresented his bitcoin holdings and evaded taxes on them. The United States is seeking his extradition to face trial on eight counts related to tax evasion, mail fraud and filing false tax returns. According to the indictment, the IRS used a strategy called "clustering analysis" to track the blockchain and identify Ver's bitcoin transactions.

Persons: Roger Ver, Danny Lee, Ver, Bryan Skarlatos, bitcoin Organizations: South China Morning, Getty, Justice Department, Internal Revenue Service, DOJ, CNBC, eBay, IRS Locations: South, California, Caribbean, St, Kitts, Nevis, U.S, Spain, United States, Pest

☆ South Carolina wins NCAA women’s championship game over Iowa, Caitlin Clark
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-07 | by ( Jill Martin | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +16 min

“Kamilla Cardoso was not going to let us lose a game in the NCAA tournament,” South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley said. While the spotlight was on Clark, South Carolina just kept winning. Ben Solomon/NCAA Photos/Getty Images Clark, right, and Kate Martin walk off the court after losing to South Carolina. Kirby Lee/USA Today Sports/Reuters Kamilla Cardoso of the South Carolina Gamecocks and Saniya Rivers jump for the opening tipoff. Ben Solomon/NCAA Photos/Getty Images South Carolina's Te-Hina Paopao walks onto the court during player introductions ahead of the game.

Persons: Iowa’s Caitlin Clark, Clark, Tessa Johnson, Kamilla Cardoso, Cardoso, “ Kamilla Cardoso, Dawn Staley, Paopao, Chloe Kitts, Staley, she’s, ” Clark, “, I’m, Lisa, Bluder, ” Staley, Caitlin Clark, Morry Gash, “ Awesome, it’s, ”, Raven Johnson, ” Raven Johnson, They’d, ” Tessa Johnson, Aaron Doster, Steph Chambers, Ben Solomon, Kate Martin, Gregory Shamus, Morgan Engel, Bree, Carolyn Kaster, Fulwiley, Iowa's Hannah Stuelke, Gabbie Marshall, Lisa Bluder, Marshall, Justin Tafoya, Carolina's Chloe Kitts, Reuters Staley, Jason Sudeikis, Ken Blaze, Reuters Clark, Kirby Lee, Ashlyn Watkins, Martin, Kylie Feuerbach, Watkins, Sydney Affolter, Carolina's Cardoso, Stuelke, Jason Miller, Al Bello, Paige Bueckers, Brady, Aaliyah Edwards, Edwards, Nika, KK Arnold, Arnold, Zoe Brooks, MiLaysia, Baldwin, Chloe Kitts of, Sania Feagin, C, Wes Moore, Katie Peneueta, Brooks, Rivers, Reuters Kamilla Cardoso, Saniya, UConn’s Paige Bueckers, LSU’s Angel Reese, JuJu Watkins, rebounder, Naismith, Entering’s Organizations: CNN, NCAA, Gamecocks, Iowa, LSU, WNBA, South, Mortgage, ESPN, Hawkeyes, South Carolina Gamecocks, Iowa Hawkeyes, Sunday, USA, Sports, Reuters, Getty, AP, Carolina, Sydney, The Iowa Hawkeyes, UConn Huskies, Huskies, UConn, Images Iowa, Images, Getty Images Iowa, NC State Wolfpack, North Carolina State, NC State, tipoff, South Carolina, Associated Press, Wade, Eight Locations: Iowa, South Carolina, Cleveland , Ohio, Clark , South Carolina, Reuters Iowa, Carolina, Cardoso of South Carolina, Stuelke, Martin, Cleveland, Chloe Kitts of South Carolina

☆ Saint Vincent Court Rejects Challenge to Colonial-Era Anti-Gay Laws
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-16 | by ( Feb. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

By Robertson S. HenryKINGSTOWN (Reuters) - The top court in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines dismissed a challenge to anti-gay laws dating to British colonial rule on Friday, leaving the Caribbean country among a handful that still prescribes harsh criminal penalties against gays and lesbians. Local laws call for up to ten years incarceration for anyone who has same-sex relations, under a 1988 criminal code that upheld laws from the colonial era. In her ruling, Judge Esco Henry held that Johnson and Macleish did not have the standing to challenge the laws since they do not live in the country. Activists argue that the laws that criminalize consensual same-sex relations between adults encourage physical abuse and discrimination, even though they are rarely if ever enforced. But elsewhere in the Caribbean, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Antigua and Barbuda, and Barbados have decriminalized gay sex in 2022, while Trinidad and Tobago struck down its ban altogether in 2018.

Persons: Robertson S, Henry KINGSTOWN, Javin Johnson, Sean Macleish, Judge Esco Henry, Johnson, Macleish, Cristian Gonzalez, Saint Vincent, Henry, Sarah Morland, David Alire Garcia, Raju Gopalakrishnan Organizations: Reuters, Eastern Caribbean Court of Appeal, Activists, Rights Watch Locations: Saint Vincent, Grenadines, Caribbean, Jamaica, Dominica, Saint Lucia, Guyana, Grenada, Saint Kitts, Nevis, Antigua, Barbuda, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Kingstown, Mexico City

1 South Carolina pulled away early to win its fourth straight over No. Photos You Should See View All 21 ImagesBut the South Carolina took flight after that, using a 24-11 run over the next 10 minutes to go up by double digits. UConn never got closer than 12 points the rest of the way as South Carolina moved to 6-0 this season against ranked opponents. The Huskies shot just 5 of 19 (26%) in the opening quarter as South Carolina steadily built its lead. These South Carolina youngsters look every bit as determined to go further this year.

Persons: —, Hina Paopao, Raven Johnson, rebounder Kamilla Cardoso, Dawn Staley, Ashlyn Watkins, Chloe Kitts, Ashlynn, Aaliyah Edwards, Watkins, KK Arnold, Xavier, ___ Organizations: COLUMBIA, Carolina, UConn, Gamecocks, Huskies, South Carolina, KK, Iowa, NEXT UConn, Tennessee, AP, womens Locations: Brazil, South, South Carolina, Carolina

(AP) — Bree Hall made a go-ahead 3-pointer with 1:14 remaining, and No. 1 South Carolina rallied from an 11-point deficit to beat ninth-ranked and defending national champion LSU 76-70 on Thursday night. Van Lith finished with 12 points. South Carolina took its first lead since the first basket of the game when Cardoso converted a layup for a 63-61 advantage with 6:06 left in the fourth. LSU: Coach Kim Mulkey dropped to 1-4 against South Carolina — 0-3 in three seasons with LSU and 1-1 in her 21 seasons with Baylor.

Persons: — Bree Hall, Chloe Kitts, Raven Johnson, Kamilla Cardoso, Hall, Aneesah Morrow, Angel Reese, Johnson, Hailey Van Lith, Van Lith, Mikaylah Williams, Flau'jae Johnson, MiLaysia Fulwiley, Cardoso, that’s, Kim Mulkey, ___ Organizations: Carolina, LSU, Gamecocks, Conference, Tigers, UConn, South Carolina —, Baylor, Mulkey, Vanderbilt, Sunday, Mississippi State, AP, womens Locations: BATON ROUGE, La, Carolina, UP

☆ My family has traveled to 20 states and 20 countries. My young kids have been everywhere from Colombia, to Turks and Caicos, to Florida.
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-09 | by ( Taryn White | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

My parents introduced me to traveling with road trips, and I've done the same with my kids. AdvertisementAs a child, I eagerly awaited the annual road trips across the US with my parents and two siblings. On our trips, we've learned everything from the art of lei-making in Maui to the Black history of Cartagena. In 2018, Taryn White and her family went to Medellin, Colombia, and stopped to enjoy some colorful street art. Taryn White and her family have been all over the world together, from Aspen to Turks and Caicos.

Persons: I've, —, we've, they're, Taryn White, it's, We've, Hvar's Organizations: Service, Virginia, Virginia Aquarium Locations: Myrtle Beach, Saint Kitts, Nevis, Maui, Cartagena, Portugal, Bahamas, Medellin, Colombia, Aspen, Bend, Shenandoah, Virginia Beach, Bradenton , Florida, Caicos, Grace Bay, Douro, Algarve, Turks, Czech Republic, Hungary, Croatia, Prague, Budapest, Hvar

☆ For Joan Armatrading, Classical Music Is Just Another Genre
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-12 | by ( Hugh Morris | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

ARMATRADING WAS BORN on the Caribbean island of St. Kitts in 1950, and moved to Birmingham, England, at age 7. I didn’t really ask anybody’s opinion, which is how I am still.”Some of Armatrading’s earliest experiences with classical music came through movies. “If you have 18 strings or something, and they’re doing that thing, you’re gonna cry,” she said. Armatrading is adamant that, in her Symphony, she just wanted to sound “like Joan,” but she’s also happy for listeners to bring their own associations. This symphony is by no means the first case of a pop artist to engage in classical composition.

Persons: ARMATRADING, “, ”, It’s, Rachmaninoff, Purcell, Tchaikovsky, Armatrading, Joan, she’s, Vaughan Williams, Paul McCartney’s, ” — Organizations: Decca Locations: St, Kitts, Birmingham, England

☆ ‘The Holdovers’ Review: Three Sad Souls Stranded for Christmas
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( Wesley Morris | More About Wesley Morris | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +3 min

They set little traps for Hunham’s arrogance and sic their daddies on the administrators, who then bear down on him. It’s a ritzy, laugh-out-loud Christmas miracle that whisks away four of the boys at the end of the first act. But one of them, an almost cool only-child named Angus Tully (Dominic Sessa), can’t go because nobody can reach his parents. He directed this movie — from a script David Hemingson wrote — and moody, quarrelsome people are his specialty. This is his eighth feature-length movie — “Citizen Ruth,” “Election,” “Sideways,” “About Schmidt,” “The Descendants,” “Nebraska” and “Downsizing” precede this one.

Persons: tony, can’t, Paul Hunham, Paul Giamatti, ”, he’s, It’s, Angus Tully, Dominic Sessa, Alexander Payne’s, David Hemingson, Barton, soundboards, Payne, Ruth, Schmidt, Payne’s, it’s, Giamatti, tweedy Organizations: ” “ Nebraska Locations: New England, Barton, St, Kitts, ” “

☆ Ukraine suspends Black Sea grain corridor over threat from mines, warplanes
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( Pavel Polityuk | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Saint-Kitts-and-Nevis-flagged bulker TK Majestic, carrying grain under the UN's Black Sea Grain Initiative, waits in the southern anchorage of the Bosphorus in Istanbul, Turkey July 15, 2023. REUTERS/Mehmet Emin Caliskan/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsKYIV, Oct 26 (Reuters) - Ukraine has suspended the use of its new Black Sea grain export corridor due to a possible threat from Russian warplanes and sea mines, the Kyiv-based Barva Invest consultancy and a British security firm said on Thursday. Wheat futures had been pressured this week by hopes that Ukraine would expand grain exports, as well as rain relief in dry crop belts worldwide. Russian President Vladimir Putin said last week that he had ordered Russian warplanes with Kinzhal missiles to patrol the Black Sea. Ukraine shipped up to six million tons of grain a month from its Black Sea ports before Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022.

Persons: Mehmet Emin Caliskan, Vladimir Putin, Ambrey, Taras Vysotskiy, Gus Trompiz, Jonathan Saul, Tom Balmforth, Mark Heinrich Our Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Barva Invest, Barva, Ukrainian Seaport Authority, Russian Air Force, Thomson Locations: Kitts, Nevis, Bosphorus, Istanbul, Turkey, Ukraine, Kyiv, British, Moscow, Chicago, Russian, Snake Island, Russia, Black, Ukrainian, Paris, London

☆ Hurricane Norma makes landfall near resorts of Los Cabos on Mexico’s Baja California peninsula
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-21 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Strong waves caused by hurricane Norma hits a beach in San Jose del Cabo, Mexico, on Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023. Hurricane Norma has made landfall near the resorts of Los Cabos at the southern tip of Mexico's Baja California Peninsula. Hotels in Los Cabos remained about three-quarters full of tourists, but shelters were set up at schools in the resorts. Residents of Los Cabos resorts rushed to prepare as Norma approached, while in the Atlantic, Hurricane Tammy threatened to batter the islands of the Lesser Antilles. The Los Cabos Civil Defense agency urged residents to stay indoors all day as winds and rain increased.

Persons: Norma, Todos Santos, Hurricane Tammy, Cabo San Lucas, San Jose del Cabo, Maribel Collins, José, Homero Blanco, Tammy, Tropical Storm Phillippe, Hurricane Irma, Philippe, Gaston Browne Organizations: U.S, National Hurricane Center, Lesser Antilles, Saturday, Civil Defense, Police, National Guard, Guard, Hurricane, Tropical, Residents, St Locations: San Jose del Cabo, Mexico, Cabos, Mexico's Baja California, Todos, Cortez, of California, Baja, Sinaloa, Los Cabos, Los, Hurricane, Lesser, Cabo San, Pacific, Baja California, Baja California Sur, San Jose, Cabo San Lucas, San Jose del, Guadeloupe, Antigua, Barbuda, Montserrat, St, Kitts, Nevis, Caribbean, Martinique, St John's

☆ Russians, Iranians, and Chinese spark security fears after taking $100,000 shortcut for citizenship in a Caribbean paradise
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-20 | by ( Polly Thompson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The European Union may crack down on visa-free travel after revealing the scale of the passport trade. AdvertisementAdvertisementTens of thousands of passports have been obtained by Russians, Iranians, Chinese and others from Caribbean nations, granting them visa-free travel to European countries, according to a report by the European Commission. AdvertisementAdvertisementThe scale of the "golden passport" trade has sparked security concerns from the European Commission, which is proposing a crackdown on visa-free travel for people using them. Some 150,000 people have used the visa-free travel arrangements to claim asylum once in a European country, according to the EU home affairs commissioner, Ylva Johansson. Such passports became more popular after citizens of the Caribbean countries were granted visa-free travel in 2015, The Guardian reported.

Persons: —, Dominica –, Muammar Gaddafi, Ylva Johansson, Gary Kalman Organizations: European, Service, European Commission, The, St, The Guardian, Guardian, Transparency International US Locations: Caribbean, Antigua, Barbuda, Grenada, St Kitts, Nevis, St Lucia, Dominica, Afghan

☆ Christine Sinclair: the making of soccer’s most lethal striker
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-29 | by ( Ben Morse | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

And the 40-year-old has a chance to add further records to her name as she leads Canada at the 2023 Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. From becoming Canada’s young-ever player when she made her debut aged 16 to arguably soccer’s greatest ever goal scorer, Sinclair has led quite the life. With this likely her last World Cup, she has one final opportunity to add ‘world champion’ to her long list of achievements. Sinclair dribbles against Sweden's Karolina Westberg during the semifinals of the 2003 Women's World Cup. The Canadians finished fourth at the 2003 World Cup – Sinclair scoring three goals along the way – as well as back-to-back bronze medals at the 2012 and 2016 Olympics Games.

Persons: Diana Matheson, Matheson, Christine Sinclair, ” Matheson –, Canada –, Abby Wambach, Mia Hamm, Cristiano Ronaldo, Marta, Ronaldo, Sinclair, ’, Naomi Baker, ’ Matheson, ‘, Sinc, ”, – Sinclair, Sweden's Karolina Westberg, Ben Radford, isn’t, Kenneth Heiner, Møller, ” Heiner, Møller –, –, “, ” Sinclair, Scott Heavey, Heiner, Christine, Atsushi Tomura, ” Møller, they’re Organizations: CNN, St, Canadian, Canada Soccer, soccer, Getty, University of Portland, Portland Pilots, Canadian women’s, FIFA, Canadians, Brazil, Australia Locations: Edinburg , Texas, Kitts, Nevis, Canada, Sinclair’s, Australia, New Zealand, Tokyo, Sinc, Portland –, Nigeria, Sweden

☆ Astronauts, ecologists, and bands are splashing out up to $100,000 on luxury custom-made globes
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-28 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Bellerby is a luxury London globemaker that counts astronauts, YouTubers, and artists among its customers. One customer even asked for a globe to be made as a urn for her father with his ashes inside. Euan Myles/Bellerby & Co GlobemakersMost of the cost comes from the labor required to make the intricate globes by hand. All Bellerby's globes are "entirely bespoke," with illustrations painted on by hand, head globemaker Eddy da Silva told Insider. They also added some illustrations, including a mastodon, a giant ground sloth, a glyptodon, and a woolly mammoth.

Persons: Marc Mitchell, Euan Myles, Bellerby, globemaker Eddy da Silva, Martin, Hugo, They've, Toby Essex, Peter Bellerby, Fenster, Reinhold Würth, he'd, globemakers, de Silva Organizations: Service, Bellerby, CliQQ, Würth Locations: London, Wall, Silicon, Peru, Cambodia, Polynesia, St, Kitts

☆ Russian businessman loses appeal against UK over detained superyacht
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-21 | by ( Sam Tobin | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Detained Russian-owned superyacht Phi is seen in West India and Millwall Docks in London, Britain March 29, 2022. REUTERS/Tom Nicholson/File PhotoLONDON, July 21 (Reuters) - A wealthy Russian businessman on Friday lost a legal challenge against Britain over the detention of his $50 million superyacht. Sergei Naumenko's 58.5 metre yacht Phi was detained in London under the government's Russian sanctions in March 2022, the first time the regulations had been used to detain a ship. He said he was targeted simply because he was a wealthy Russian, despite the fact that he had no involvement in Russian politics or any connection with Putin. Cranston accepted Shapps was wrong to describe Naumenko as a friend of Putin, but said it was "excusable political hyperbole".

Persons: Tom Nicholson, Sergei Naumenko's, Grant Shapps, Vladimir Putin, Naumenko, Putin, Judge Ross Cranston, Mr Naumenko, Cranston, Shapps, Paul Dickie, Sam Tobin, Philippa Fletcher Organizations: Millwall Docks, REUTERS, Britain, Phi, St, Britain's Department of Transport, London's, Thomson Locations: Russian, West India, London, Britain, St Kitts, Nevis, Ukraine, Russia

CNN —A crucial deal allowing the export of grain from Ukraine is set to expire Monday unless Russia agrees to an extension. The last ship to travel under the Black Sea deal left the port of Odesa early on Sunday, Reuters reported. “Moreover, the main goal of the deal, namely the supply of grain to countries in need, including those on the African continent, has not been realized,” it said. Saint-Kitts-and-Nevis-flagged bulker TK Majestic, carrying grain under the UN's Black Sea Grain Initiative, waits in the southern anchorage of the Bosphorus in Istanbul, Turkey. Mehmet Emin Caliskan/ReutersThe deal, which was first brokered by Turkey and the United Nations following the outbreak of Russia’s war on Ukraine in July 2022, creates procedures to ensure the safe export of grain from Ukrainian ports.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Cyril Ramaphosa, Putin, “, Mehmet Emin Caliskan Organizations: CNN, Sunday, Reuters, South, UN, United Nations, Kremlin Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Saint, Kitts, Nevis, Bosphorus, Istanbul, Turkey, Black, Moscow, Sevastopol, Crimea

☆ World of Hyatt Business Credit Card review
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-27 | by ( Holly Johnson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +15 min

Best for: The World of Hyatt Business Credit Card is best for those who travel for business and want to redeem rewards for Hyatt hotel stays around the world. The World of Hyatt Business Credit Card earns World of Hyatt points, which are more valuable than hotel points from competing brands. While business owners can earn World of Hyatt points just for being a member and staying with the brand, the World of Hyatt Business Credit Card helps accelerate their earnings. Other business cards to compare to the World of Hyatt Business Credit CardCompare the World of Hyatt business credit card to other business credit cards on the market. If you are pretty set on earning World of Hyatt points but you’re not quite sure about this business credit card, you can also look into the personal World of Hyatt Credit Card.

Persons: Hyatt, Chase, Guy, Hilton, cardholders, Kitts Christophe, Marriott Bonvoy, isn’t, Cash, you’ll, you’re Organizations: CNN, American Express, Hyatt Business, Card, Hyatt, Hyatt Centric Chicago, Hilton Honors, Marriott, . Shipping, Local, Social, Gas, Hyatt Business Credit, Citi, Citi Premier, Expeditions, Getty, Chase, Ink, Hilton Honors American Express, Hyatt Credit, Miraval Resorts Locations: Hyatt St, Kitts, Kitts Christophe Harbour, Hyatt, Cana

☆ Factbox: Diplomatic competition between Taiwan and China
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

April 5 (Reuters) - Taiwan and China have engaged for years in competition for diplomatic recognition, but the pendulum has long swung decisively in Beijing's favour. Honduras last month ended its decades-long relationship with Taiwan and said it only recognised China, leaving Taiwan with formal diplomatic relations with just 13 countries. Here are some facts about the diplomatic feud between Taiwan and China:* Following the communist revolution in China in 1949, the defeated Republic of China government fled to Taiwan, insisting that it remained the sole legal representative of the Chinese people. China says Taiwan is merely one of its provinces and only Beijing can represent the island on the world stage. * Some countries have swapped between Taiwan and China more than once, including Liberia and the Central African Republic.

The Chinese Embassy in Washington called self-ruled Taiwan "an inalienable part of China" and said the one-China principle was an "overwhelming trend" internationally. When Taiwan temporarily averted a split with Honduras after President Xiomara Castro took office in January 2022, U.S. State Department officials remained wary. The Biden administration is also keeping a close eye on tiny Belize for any cracks in its Taiwan relationship. Two U.S. officials said Washington was putting less stock in Taiwan maintaining its diplomatic allies in favor of efforts to increase its participation in international organizations. While denied a seat in the United Nations, Taiwan is a member of the WTO and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum.

☆ Factbox: And then there were 13: Taiwan's diplomatic allies
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

March 26 (Reuters) - Honduras has ended its decades-long relationship with Taiwan and said it only recognised China, leaving Taiwan with formal diplomatic relations with only 13 countries. China views democratically governed Taiwan as part of its territory with no right to state-to-state ties, a position Taiwan's government strongly disputes. Over the years, China has slowly whittled away at the number of countries that maintain formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan. Following is a list of states that have diplomatic ties with Taiwan:LATIN AMERICA AND CARIBBEANBelizeGuatemalaParaguayHaitiSaint Kitts and NevisSaint LuciaSaint Vincent and the GrenadinesPACIFICMarshall IslandsNauruPalauTuvaluAFRICAEswatiniEUROPEVatican CityReporting by Ben Blanchard; Editing by Robert BirselOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Factbox: Taiwan's diplomatic allies
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

March 15 (Reuters) - Taiwan faces losing another diplomatic ally after Honduran President Xiomara Castro said on Tuesday she had instructed the country's foreign minister to bring about the opening of official relations with China. China views democratically governed Taiwan as part of its territory with no right to state-to-state ties, a position Taiwan's government strongly disputes. Over the years, China has slowly whittled away at the number of countries which maintain formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan. If Honduras does end relations with Taiwan, it will leave the island with only 13 diplomatic allies. Here is a list of the states that still maintain diplomatic ties with Taiwan:LATIN AMERICA AND CARIBBEANBelizeGuatemalaHondurasParaguayHaitiSaint Kitts and NevisSaint LuciaSaint Vincent and the GrenadinesPACIFICMarshall IslandsNauruPalauTuvaluAFRICAEswatiniEUROPEVatican CityWriting by Ben Blanchard; Editing by Himani SarkarOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Interest in 2nd passports among the uber-wealthy is at 'an all-time high' amid mounting political uncertainty, an investor network boss said
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-13 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The chair of a network of ultra-wealthy investors said interest had reached an "all-time high." Golden passports and visas allow the rich to get citizenship or residency in exchange for investment. But as interest in golden passport and visa schemes soars, some countries are shutting down their programs. Portugal and Ireland both announced in February that they were ending their golden visa schemes. The European Commission argues that both golden passport and visa schemes "pose serious risks, in particular as regards security, money laundering, tax evasion and corruption."

☆ $100 million New Jersey deli fugitive Peter Coker Jr. agrees to extradition to U.S. from Thailand
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-20 | by ( Dan Mangan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

A former fugitive wanted on criminal stock manipulation charges related to a money-losing New Jersey deli once valued at $100 million has agreed to be extradited from Thailand to the United States, Thai authorities said. Peter Coker Jr., 54, was arrested last week by Thai police in the resort area of Phuket, less than four months after he, his father, Peter Coker Sr., and an associate, James Patten, were indicted in New Jersey federal court. Coker Jr., who most recently was known to be living and working as a businessman in Hong Kong, is being held in a Bangkok jail for the next several weeks before his expected extradition, the Associated Press reported Friday. Thai police, in a statement, said Coker Jr., who is an American most recently known to be living in Hong Kong, had entered the country with a passport issued by the Caribbean island of St. Kitts and Nevis. "Mr. Coker Jr. voluntarily consented to be extradited to the U.S., which has simplified the court's legal process," Teerat Limpayaraya, a prosecutor in Thailand's Attorney General's office, told the AP.

☆ Provorov was 'free to decide' to boycott Pride Night, says NHL
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-18 | by ( Frank Pingue | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Jan 18 (Reuters) - The National Hockey League (NHL) said on Wednesday that players are free to decide which initiatives to support after Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Ivan Provorov's boycott of the team's Pride Night festivities. The NHL, whose annual "Hockey is for Everyone" campaign each February focuses on ways to promote diversity and inclusion, said Provorov was within his rights to sit out the warmup. "Clubs decide whom to celebrate, when and how — with league counsel and support," the NHL said in a statement. "Players are free to decide which initiatives to support, and we continue to encourage their voices and perspectives on social and cultural issues." The group also said it was disappointed the focus following the Flyers' Pride Night is on Provorov rather than an arena that was otherwise full of support for the LGBTQ+ community.

☆ Malta is the only EU country that still sells 'golden passports.' Here's what the controversial immigration schemes are and why the EU wants to ban them.
▼ + stars: | 2022-04-26 | by ( Hannah Towey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

The Russia-Ukraine war triggered a crackdown on "golden passport" schemes across Europe. Malta is the only EU country with a golden passport program and is under pressure to shut it down. In recent years, countries including Bulgaria and Cyprus have shut down their golden passport programs following accusations of corruption and pressure from the European Union. The European parliament estimates that Russian nationals account for about half of approved golden passport applications in the EU. "The concern is that unsavory and possibly criminal individuals will secure EU passports, which then entitles them to mobility and settlement rights."

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