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☆ 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

☆ Mars to buy Britain's Hotel Chocolat for $662m
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Hotel Chocolat products are seen on sale at Rabot 1745, in London, Britain December 1, 2017. REUTERS/Peter Nicholls/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsLONDON, Nov 16 (Reuters) - Britain's Hotel Chocolat (HOTC.L) agreed to a 534 million pound ($662 million) takeover offer from Mars Inc on Thursday, the specialist chocolatier succumbing to the U.S. food giant with international expansion in mind. Set up twenty years ago, Hotel Chocolat aimed to make chocolate exciting by bringing ethical affordable luxury to the British high street, and joint founder Angus Thirlwell remains chief executive to this day. Thirlwell, who will stay on with the business under family-owned Mars, said growth would be faster under new ownership. By partnering with Mars, we can grow our international presence much more quickly," he said in a statement.

Persons: Peter Nicholls, Angus Thirlwell, Thirlwell, Peter Harris, Sarah Young, Kate Holton, James Davey Organizations: REUTERS, Mars Inc, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, Chocolat, Saint Lucia, Japan

☆ Mars' $662 million acquisition bid sends shares of Britain's Hotel Chocolat soaring 160%
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-16 | by ( Karen Gilchrist | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

LONDON — U.S. food giant Mars said Thursday that it will buy British chocolatier Hotel Chocolat for £534 million ($662 million), as the brand seeks to boost its international presence. "We know our brand resonates with consumers overseas, but operational supply chain challenges have held us back. The announcement sent shares of London Stock Exchange-listed Hotel Chocolat soaring more than 160% in early deals to 366.50 pence by 9:30 a.m. local time Thursday. Hotel Chocolat is primarily U.K.-based, with 124 shops domestically and several others overseas. "We are confident that Mars will be an excellent long-term home for Hotel Chocolat, providing a like-minded, entrepreneurial and purpose-led environment in which to maximize the potential of the Hotel Chocolat brand which is already so beloved by consumers," Andrew Clarke, global president of Mars Snacking, said in a statement.

Persons: Angus Thirlwell, Mars, Thirlwell, Andrew Clarke, Mars Snacking Organizations: LONDON, London Stock Exchange, headwinds Locations: Chocolat, U.S, Saint Lucia

☆ You can own part of this 279-foot-long superyacht for $3.2 million and stay on it whenever you want — see inside
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( Brittany Chang | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Superyacht Holdings is giving millionaires the chance to cohabitate the $117 million Victorious superyacht. Superyacht Holdings is taking a (relatively) democratized approach to superyacht ownership with its first target acquisition, the €110 million — about $117 million — Victorious. And because the ship is currently in operation, Superyacht Holdings won't have to do any refitting work. The Locastro brothers says several former employees from The World now work for Superyacht Holdings. Superyacht Holdings hasn't acquired its vessel yet, but this isn't uncommon for ship startupsBuyers can purchase more than one unit.

Persons: —, Thomas Locastro, Matthew Locastro, Matthew, Matthew said, Locastro, James St, John, Justin Thorton Organizations: Superyacht, Service, Holdings, Superyacht Holdings, Monaco, Prix, AKYACHT, Superyacht Holdings hasn't, British Virgin Islands Locations: Spain, France, Croatia, Greece, Caribbean, Turkey, Saint Lucia, Barbados, British Virgin

☆ Kipyegon smashes mile world record, Warholm sparkles at Monaco Diamond League
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

July 21 (Reuters) - Kenya's Faith Kipyegon shattered the women's mile world record, while compatriot Ferdinand Omanyala won the men's 100 metres in a photo finish at the Monaco Diamond League meeting on Friday. "Tonight, I just confirmed what I am capable of," Omanyala said after securing his first Diamond League victory in the 100m. American Fred Kerley, who suffered his first defeat of the season last week at the Silesia Diamond League, did not run. Sweden's world record holder, Armand Duplantis, experienced a challenging time at the pole vault competition, losing the event for the first time this year. "Today did not go as planned, and this is my last competition before the World Championships in Budapest.

Persons: Kipyegon, Ferdinand Omanyala, Ciara Mageean, Omanyala, Jamaica's Ackeem Blake, Fred Kerley, Karsten Warholm, Alison Dos Santos, Warholm, Jamaica's, Jackson, Julien Alfred, Saint Lucia, Dina Asher, Smith, Armand Duplantis, Christopher Nilsen, Duplantis, Tommy Lund, Ken Ferris Organizations: Monaco Diamond League, Kenyan, Diamond League, Silesia Diamond League, Thomson Locations: Ireland, Botswana, Silesia, Oslo, Brazil, Budapest, Gdansk

☆ Wellness travel is rising among a particularly weary group of travelers — parents
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-10 | by ( Monica Pitrelli | Morgan Awyong | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

But a new survey shows parents increasingly want in on a trend that isn't often aimed at families: wellness travel. The data showed an emerging picture of family travel — one in which parents may be starting to prioritize their own needs alongside those of their children. Traveling for physical health is up eight points among parents since last year, said Lindsey Roeschke, travel and hospitality analyst at Morning Consult. Planning a wellness family vacationThough some wellness resorts only allow adults, places like The Farm at San Benito welcome guests of all ages. Planning your own wellness tripRather than a resort stay, parents can plan their own wellness trips based on their interests.

☆ 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.

☆ IMF warns Saint Lucia to build buffers for mounting climate risks
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Nov 18 (Reuters) - Saint Lucia's economy will face intensifying risks of natural disasters linked to climate change, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said on Friday, advising the Caribbean state to build buffers despite financial constraints. "Downside risks dominate," it said in a statement, pointing to the pandemic, higher food and energy prices, costlier imports, tighter financial conditions and the rising costs of natural disasters for the small, tourism-dependent island nation. Poor countries on the front lines of fiercer floods, droughts and storms have pushed during this month's COP27 U.N. climate conference for rich countries to pay into a "loss and damage" fund to address the mounting cost of climate disasters. The IMF predicts natural disasters will cost Saint Lucia some 0.7% of gross domestic product this year. The IMF encouraged authorities to prioritize spending and increase pass-through of global energy prices, while supporting vulnerable households with targeted transfers.

☆ Noua listă a țărilor cu risc epidemiologic; Grecia, Italia, Spania rămân pe lista verde
▼ + stars: | 2021-06-25 | by ( ) www.jurnal.md time to read: +3 min

Sursa foto: ProfimediaNoua listă a țărilor cu risc epidemiologic; Grecia, Italia, Spania rămân pe lista verdeGuvernul a actualizat lista țărilor cu risc epidemiologic, în funcție de incidența cazurilor de COVID-19, pe coduri – verde, galben și roșu. Marea Britanie rămâne în zona roșie, din cauza variantei Delta de coronavirus, care se răspândește acolo cu repeziciune. Pe lista verde rămân Spania, Italia, Grecia. Persoanele care au trecut prin infecția cu COVID-19, cele vaccinate și cele care au test negativ sunt scutite de carantină, transmite Digi24. Din lista galbenă fac parte Emiratele Arabe Unite, Panama, Malaysia, Georgia, Tunisia, Sint Maarten, Guyana, Cuba, Capul Verde, Irak, Insulele Virgine Britanice, Insulele Virgine ale Statelor Unite, Sri Lanka, Zambia.

Persons: Saint Kitts, Saint Vincent, Gre nadine, Sao Tome Organizations: El Locations: Grecia, Italia, Spania, România, Seychelles, Uruguay, Mongolia, Columbia, Maldive, Bahrain, Namibia, Argentina, Suriname, Kuweit, Oman, Saint, Nevis, Brazilia, Paraguay, Costa Rica, Chile, Trinidad si Tobago, Botswana, Bolivia, Africa de Sud, Britanie, Nepal, India, Emiratele Arabe Unite, Panama, Malaysia, Georgia, Tunisia, Sint Maarten, Guyana, Cuba, Capul Verde, Irak, Insulele Virgine Britanice, Insulele Virgine, Statelor Unite, Sri Lanka, Zambia, Iran, Republica Dominicană, Peru, Federația Rusă, Kârgâzstan, Honduras, Portugalia, Andorra, Belarus, Bahamas, Guatemala, Monaco, Letonia, Kazahstan, Turcia, Cipru, Olanda, Irlanda, Danemarca, Filipine, Ecuador, Slovenia, Venezuela, Suedia, Belgia, Franța, Timorul de Est, Iordania, Qatar, Afghanistan, Gibraltar, Lituania, Thailanda, Bonaire, Saba, Jersey, El Salvador, Insulele Feroe, Luxemburg, Palestina, Norvegia, Statele Unite ale Americii, Libia, Cambodgia, Arabia Sauditaă, Indonezia, Estonia, Guam, Aruba, Saint Lucia, Canada, Uganda, Elveția, Muntenegru, Croația, Belize, Armenia, Austria, Bhutan, Ucraina, Slovacia, Germania, Mexic, Polinezia Franceza, Insulele Cayman, Serbia, Rwanda, Bangladesh, Jamaica, Eritreea, Puerto Rico, Curaçao, Bulgaria, Cehia, Liban, Ungaria, Japonia, Finlanda, Republica Moldova, Mauritius, Zimbabwe, Haiti, Liechtenstein, Liberia, Eswatini, Uzbekistan, Lesotho, Algeria, Bermuda, Taiwan, Mauritania, Bosnia, Herțegovina, Insulele Turks si Caicos, Coreea de Sud, Polonia, Azerbaidjan, Macedonia de Nord, Groenlanda, Egipt, Papua Noua Guinee, Maroc, Kenia, Noua Zeelandă, Republica Democrată Congo, Gabon, Sierra Leone, Kosovo, Pakistan, Congo, Myanmar, Angola, Guernsey, Vietnam, Barbados, Senegal, Israel, Dominica, Albania, Singapore, Malta, Nicaragua, San Marino, Malawi, Burundi, Djibouti, Brunei Darussalam, Ghana, Togo, Guineea Bissau, Madagascar, Gambia, Laos, Sudan, Somalia, Australia, Benin, Mali, Yemen, Nigeria, Niger, Burkina Faso, Republica Centrafricană, Wallis, Futuna, Islanda, Guineea Ecuatoriala, Insula Man, Sao, Principe, Camerun, Antigua si Barbuda, Insulele Mariane de Nord, Etiopia, Comore, Ciad, Anguilla, Siria, Tadjikistan, Guineea, Coasta de Fildeș, Mozambic, Sudanul de Sud, Republica Populara Chineza, Grenada, Insulele Falkland, Vatican, Insulele Marshall, Micronezia, Montserrat, Noua Caledonie, Insulele Solomon, Tanzania, Vanuatu, Sahara

Cei care vin din zonele galbenă și roșie trebuie să stea în carantină la intrarea în România. Persoanele care au trecut prin infecția cu Covid-19, cele vaccinate și cele care au test negativ sunt scutite de carantină. De asemenea, scutirea de carantină este valabilă și pentru copiii sub 3 ani, fără condiții, și pentru cei cu vârste între 3 și 16 ani, dacă au un test Covid negativ. În plus, sunt scutiți de carantină cei care stau mai puțin de 3 zile pe teritoriul României. Din lista galbenă fac parte Emiratele Arabe Unite, Panama, Malaysia, Georgia, Tunisia, Sint Maarten, Guyana, Cuba, Capul Verde, Irak, Insulele Virgine Britanice, Insulele Virgine ale Statelor Unite, Sri Lanka, Zambia.

Persons: Saint Kitts, Saint Vincent, Gre nadine, Sao Tome Organizations: El Locations: România, României, Seychelles, Uruguay, Mongolia, Columbia, Maldive, Bahrain, Namibia, Argentina, Suriname, Kuweit, Oman, Saint, Nevis, Brazilia, Paraguay, Costa Rica, Chile, Trinidad si Tobago, Botswana, Bolivia, Africa de Sud, Britanie, Nepal, India, Emiratele Arabe Unite, Panama, Malaysia, Georgia, Tunisia, Sint Maarten, Guyana, Cuba, Capul Verde, Irak, Insulele Virgine Britanice, Insulele Virgine, Statelor Unite, Sri Lanka, Zambia, Iran, Republica Dominicană, Peru, Federația Rusă, Kârgâzstan, Honduras, Spania, Portugalia, Andorra, Belarus, Bahamas, Guatemala, Monaco, Letonia, Kazahstan, Turcia, Cipru, Olanda, Irlanda, Danemarca, Grecia, Filipine, Ecuador, Slovenia, Venezuela, Suedia, Belgia, Franța, Timorul de Est, Iordania, Qatar, Afghanistan, Gibraltar, Lituania, Thailanda, Bonaire, Saba, Jersey, El Salvador, Insulele Feroe, Luxemburg, Palestina, Norvegia, Statele Unite ale Americii, Libia, Cambodgia, Arabia Sauditaă, Indonezia, Estonia, Guam, Aruba, Saint Lucia, Canada, Uganda, Elveția, Muntenegru, Croația, Belize, Armenia, Austria, Bhutan, Ucraina, Italia, Slovacia, Germania, Mexic, Polinezia Franceza, Insulele Cayman, Serbia, Rwanda, Bangladesh, Jamaica, Eritreea, Puerto Rico, Curaçao, Bulgaria, Cehia, Liban, Ungaria, Japonia, Finlanda, Republica Moldova, Mauritius, Zimbabwe, Haiti, Liechtenstein, Liberia, Eswatini, Uzbekistan, Lesotho, Algeria, Bermuda, Taiwan, Mauritania, Bosnia, Herțegovina, Insulele Turks si Caicos, Coreea de Sud, Polonia, Azerbaidjan, Macedonia de Nord, Groenlanda, Egipt, Papua Noua Guinee, Maroc, Kenia, Noua Zeelandă, Republica Democrată Congo, Gabon, Sierra Leone, Kosovo, Pakistan, Congo, Myanmar, Angola, Guernsey, Vietnam, Barbados, Senegal, Israel, Dominica, Albania, Singapore, Malta, Nicaragua, San Marino, Malawi, Burundi, Djibouti, Brunei Darussalam, Ghana, Togo, Guineea Bissau, Madagascar, Gambia, Laos, Sudan, Somalia, Australia, Benin, Mali, Yemen, Nigeria, Niger, Burkina Faso, Republica Centrafricană, Wallis, Futuna, Islanda, Guineea Ecuatoriala, Insula Man, Sao, Principe, Camerun, Antigua si Barbuda, Insulele Mariane de Nord, Etiopia, Comore, Ciad, Anguilla, Siria, Tadjikistan, Guineea, Coasta de Fildeș, Mozambic, Sudanul de Sud, Republica Populara Chineza, Grenada, Insulele Falkland, Vatican, Insulele Marshall, Micronezia, Montserrat, Noua Caledonie, Insulele Solomon, Tanzania, Vanuatu, Sahara

☆ Redefining retirement: How I quit my career to travel the world
▼ + stars: | 2019-11-14 | by ( Verne Maree | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

A year later, we sailed her across the Channel to Calais, down rivers and canals to the south of France — an unforgettably wonderful experience. Then we fly south — like migrating geese — to spend yet another summer between Durban and Perth. The nomadic retirementNow meet South Africans Gail and Neil Greenfield, the epitome of retired nomads. Rather than slowing down, nomadic retirees quit work to travel the world. When it comes to the planning, big events like this year's Rugby World Cup in Japan are anchored in first, Gail explained.

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