Turkey

Territory added to EU ‘grey list’

admin — Mon, 20 Jun 2022 17:50:01 +0000

Territory added to EU ‘grey list’

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admin Mon, 06/20/2022 - 17:50

Thursday, March 17, 2022

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Business - The BVI Beacon

Original Article

Territory added to EU ‘grey list’

The Virgin Islands has been added to the European Union’s “grey list” along with nine other jurisdictions in the Caribbean and elsewhere, the EU Council announced after its meeting on Feb. 24.

Besides the VI, the EU added the Bahamas, Belize, Bermuda, Israel, Montserrat, Russia, Tunisia, the Turks and Caicos Islands, and Vietnam, bringing the total list up to 25 jurisdictions.

Although the inclusion does not mean that any penalties or sanctions will be levied against the territory, according to the EU, the move represents a significant setback after the territory rushed through economic substance legislation at the end of 2019 in order to meet EU requirements on tax reform.

In a Feb. 24 press release, the EU Council said that the list reflects “ongoing EU cooperation with its international partners and the commitments of these countries to reform their legislation to adhere to agreed tax good governance standards.”

The countries on the grey list are working toward meeting the EU’s tax standards, the release stated.

According to the EU, criteria for the list cover tax transparency, fair taxation and preventing tax base erosion and profit shifting. The organisation called implementation of the list a “dynamic process,” and noted that the next revision is scheduled for October of this year.

Anguilla, Botswana, Costa Rica, Dominica, Hong Kong, Jamaica, Jordan, Malaysia, North Macedonia, Qatar, the Seychelles, Thailand, Turkey and Uruguay were previously added and remain on the grey list.

The blacklist, which remained unchanged after last month’s announcement, currently includes American Samoa, Fiji, Guam, Palau, Panama, Samoa, Trinidad and Tobago, the United States Virgin Islands, and Vanuatu.

VI response

At a press conference late last month, Premier Andrew Fahie urged onlookers not to view the move as a censure of the territory.

He said the grey-listing meant the VI has “substantially met all international tax standards set out by the EU, but that ongoing improvements are being made to implementing tax good governance.”

As a result, he said, it has been grey-listed while it implements policies and procedures in the territory’s Country-by-Country Reporting framework.

“No defensive measures flow from being on such list and the BVI is still a cooperative jurisdiction,” he said. “Once the BVI meets these commitments, it will be removed from the annex.”

He added that the territory “takes its international obligations seriously” and had already been finalising the necessary steps to ensure successful implementation of the recommendations.

This week, BVI Finance CEO Elise Donovan directed queries to the Premier’s Office. Director of Communications Dr. Arliene Penn said, “BVI’s addition to EU’s Annex II is a positive rating for us because it acknowledges that BVI is a cooperative jurisdiction that has implemented measures (in the case of the Country-by-Country Reporting) in accordance with the high international standards prescribed. The BVI remains highly committed to the transparency and international cooperation agenda.”

The EU has hinted for some time that it would seek to modify its requirements for the list, the latest iteration of which was announced last October.

In February 2021, the European parliament passed a resolution calling for a measure that would automatically blacklist British territories like the VI, the Cayman Islands and the Channel Islands that have a zero percent corporate tax rate — and that now have a weakened voice in the EU in the wake of the United Kingdom’s split from the organisation.

The resolution did not mention the VI at the time, but it came before the revelation that nearly two-thirds of companies named in the far-reaching Pandora Papers investigation last year were based in the VI.

Panama, which is already on the EU blacklist, was host to the second highest number.

World response

Meanwhile, the EU Observer reported late last month that tax-reform campaigners are already applauding the news.

Chiara Putaturo, a campaigner with the non-profit Oxfam, praised the move, but complained that the Cayman Islands was not included.

“If the [new] grey-listing … is confirmed, we will see some real tax havens finally at risk to be blacklisted [in the future],” she said. “However, there are still other tax havens that are left off the hook, … such as the Cayman Islands, because the criteria remain weak.”

History

As in other OTs, leaders in the VI have long criticised the EU’s blacklists as arbitrary and misleading, maintaining that the territory’s financial services industry is tightly regulated in keeping with international standards.

Nevertheless, the VI was grey-listed along with other jurisdictions in 2017. In March 2018, the EU concluded that the VI, the Bahamas and Cayman needed further technical guidance from the EU and had until the end of 2019 to adapt local legislation, which resulted in the Economic Substance Act being rushed through the House of Assembly in late 2018.

Thanks to this move, the VI was white-listed, alongside 16 other jurisdictions, in February 2020.

The post Territory added to EU ‘grey list’ first appeared on The BVI Beacon.

The post Territory added to EU ‘grey list’ appeared first on The BVI Beacon.

Caribbean

Business

Sue over blacklist, says economist

admin — Mon, 20 Jun 2022 17:40:01 +0000

Sue over blacklist, says economist

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admin Mon, 06/20/2022 - 17:40

Thursday, April 28, 2022

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Business - The BVI Beacon

Original Article

Sue over blacklist, says economist

Caribbean countries that live in fear of being blacklisted by the European Union should band together and take legal action, according to Barbados-based economist and Caribbean policy expert Marla Dukharan.

“I felt like there should be some legal recourse that should be pursued collectively,” Ms. Dukharan said on Feb. 23 on the regional livestreamed show “Territories Talk,” hosted by Shaina Smith-Archer, chairwoman of the BVI Chamber of Commerce and Hotel Association.

The EU blacklist often comes under fire in the VI for being a moving target.

Ms. Dukharan said it is also unfair. EU member states such as the Netherlands and Ireland are “well known for their extensive money laundering and tax evading activities,” but have never been included on any EU blacklist, she said.

To her, this suggests Eurocentrism or even racism, and perhaps an effort to undermine countries that are “eating part of their pie,” she said of the EU.

Grey-listed

In February, the territory was added to the EU’s “grey list,” along with nine other jurisdictions in the Caribbean and elsewhere.

Besides the VI, the EU added the Bahamas, Belize, Bermuda, Israel, Montserrat, Russia, Tunisia, the Turks and Caicos Islands, and Vietnam, bringing the total on the list up to 25 jurisdictions.

Although the February inclusion does not mean that any penalties or sanctions will be levied against the territory, the move represents a significant setback after the VI rushed through economic substance legislation at the end of 2019 in order to meet EU requirements on tax reform.

The standards for inclusion on the EU lists have frequently changed, and Ms. Dukharan pointed out that the European Parliament itself has noted problems with the selection process.

In 2021, the legislative body proposed that the tax regimes of EU member states be scrutinised along with the rest of the world and subject to blacklisting if they don’t measure up.

“That tells you that you have a legal leg to stand on, because they, the policymakers, have acknowledged that we are not applying our own standards to our own member states, and that’s not fair,” she said. “Why is it that our countries have not come together, found a law firm that will represent us collectively, and taken them to court over this action?”

Fighting back

She added that even a statement from the Caribbean Community condemning the actions of the EU is simply “not strong enough.”

“I think if all of the countries came together from the Pacific and the Caribbean and agitated and protested, I think that there is a chance,” she said. “For example, if you appeal to the United Nations, you appeal to the World Trade Organisation, somebody is going to hear you. But when each individual little tiny micro state appeals individually, it is just white noise.”

She also recommended that countries that object to the blacklist expel EU ambassadors.

“The second thing I think we need to do is take diplomatic action,” she said.

With changing criteria, she noted, even countries that have satisfied the Financial Action Task Force and Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development standards still run the risk of being blacklisted.

“But we don’t have the courage to do these things because we are small and we are insecure maybe,” she said.

Current list

In a Feb. 24 press release, the EU Council said that the grey list reflects “ongoing EU cooperation with its international partners and the commitments of these countries to reform their legislation to adhere to agreed tax good governance standards.”

The countries on the grey list are working toward meeting the EU’s tax standards, the release stated.

According to the EU, criteriafor the list cover tax transparency, fair taxation and preventing tax base erosion and profit shifting. The next revision is scheduled for October.

Anguilla, Botswana, Costa Rica, Dominica, Hong Kong, Jamaica, Jordan, Malaysia, North Macedonia, Qatar, the Seychelles, Thailand, Turkey and Uruguay were previously added and remain on the grey list.

The blacklist for “non-cooperative” tax jurisdictions, which remained unchanged after the February announcement, currently includes American Samoa, Fiji, Guam, Palau, Panama, Samoa, Trinidad and Tobago, the United States VI, and Vanuatu.

The post Sue over blacklist, says economist first appeared on The BVI Beacon.

The post Sue over blacklist, says economist appeared first on The BVI Beacon.

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Liberian, Turkish medical groups sign agreement

admin — Sun, 19 Jun 2022 14:20:01 +0000

Liberian, Turkish medical groups sign agreement

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admin Sun, 06/19/2022 - 14:20

Thursday, June 9, 2022

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Health Archives - Liberia news The New Dawn Liberia, premier resource for lates…

Original Article

Liberian, Turkish medical groups sign agreement

A Liberian-owned medical group Libericot Mayoubah Medical Center, and a Turkish health institution have signed a landmark agreement to strengthen health care delivery in the country.

Libericot Mayoubah Medical Center is to shortly open to the public to provide quality healthcare services.

The agreement between the two companies was signed Tuesday, June 7, 2022, at the offices of Libericot Mayoubah Medical Center near the Freeport of Monrovia on Bushrod Island.

Under the agreement, Turkey Medical Center Inc. will supply medical equipment and medicines to Libericot Mayoubah Medical Center.

The agreement was signed in the presence of lawyers representing the legal interests of the two medical groups.

Speaking briefly at the signing ceremony, the Chief Executive Officer of Libericot Mayoubah Medical Center, Amadu Sheriff, lauded his Turkish counterpart for the assistance, which according to him, will buttress the Liberia government and its partners’ effort in strengthening the country’s health sector that is in dire need of quality medical services.

“On behalf of Libericot Mayoubah Medical Center, I want to extend our heartfelt thanks and appreciation to the Turkey Medical Center for this great support to our hospital and to Liberians in general. This support will go a long way in resuscitating our health sector. This is surely going to buttress government’s own effort in uplifting the health sector,” said Sheriff.

In brief remarks, Dr. Ahmed Yebrudi of the Turkey Medical Center also expressed great delight in the investment that aims to help revamp Liberia’s healthcare delivery system.

“We at the Turkey Medical Center are so happy, coming to Liberia to collaborate with a health facility such as Libericot. The agreement is important, but above all, our investment towards the health sector is very important,” Dr. Yebrudi noted.

The post Liberian, Turkish medical groups sign agreement appeared first on Liberia news The New Dawn Liberia, premier resource for latest news.

Africa

Turkish Company Interested in Investing in Natural Gas, Fertilizer

admin — Sun, 19 Jun 2022 09:40:01 +0000

Turkish Company Interested in Investing in Natural Gas, Fertilizer

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admin Sun, 06/19/2022 - 09:40

Thursday, June 16, 2022

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Politics – Ethiopian News Agency

Original Article

Turkish Company Interested in Investing in Natural Gas, Fertilizer

June 16, 2022 (ENA) The Turkish Chalik Holding company announced that it is interested in engaging in natural gas and fertilizer sectors in Ethiopia.

A 13-person delegation of the holding company visited the mining gallery of Ministry of Mines today.

The Turkish investors, Turkey’s Ambassador to Ethiopia Yaprak Alp, and Ethiopia’s Ambassador to Turkey, Adem Mohammed, visited the gallery.

During the occasion, Mines Minister Takele Umma thanked the delegation for coming to Ethiopia to look into investment opportunities and pledged to provide the necessary support for business persons willing to invest in the mining sector.

The minister briefed the delegation on the potential Ethiopia has in the mining sector.

According to him, talks have been held at the ministerial level to strengthen economic ties between Ethiopia and Turkey by promoting investment.

An Ethiopian delegation has recently taken part in a forum held in Istanbul to encourage Turkish businessmen to invest in Ethiopia, it was learned.

Chalik Holding company chairman, Ahmet Chalik said the two sides had an important discussion on the situation in Ethiopia and he has realized that Ethiopia has many untapped resources.

He added that Turkish Chalik Holding company is interested in investing in natural gas and fertilizer sector.

“It is a great honor for us to be involved in projects that benefit the people of both countries,” the chairman stressed.

Africa

Politics

Tanzania Railways Corporation (TRC) terminates contract with Eurowagon

admin — Sat, 18 Jun 2022 04:50:01 +0000

Tanzania Railways Corporation (TRC) terminates contract with Eurowagon

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admin Sat, 06/18/2022 - 04:50

Thursday, June 16, 2022

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The Citizen

Original Article

Tanzania Railways Corporation (TRC) terminates contract with Eurowagon

Dar es Salaam. Tanzania Railways (TRC) has terminated its contract with Turkish company Eurowagon after failing to complete the construction of two electric train locomotives and 30 passenger carriages.

According to the agreement, the equipment was supposed to be completed in November 2021 but as Eurowagon failed to meet the contractual obligations with the first phase of the construction from Dar es Salaam to Morogoro in its final stage of construction, TRC was forced to terminate the contract on February 25,2022.

This was stated on Wednesday, June 15, 2022 by the head of the TRC liaison unit, Jamila Mbarouk while briefing the media on the various steps being taken in the construction of the Standard Gauge Railway.

She said the experimental equipment was supposed to be completed early enough to ensure that the initial operation could begin immediately after the construction was completed.

"TRC signed a short-term equipment contract for the purchase of two electric train locomotives and 30 passenger carriages that will be refurbished from Eurowagon in Turkey."

"The equipment was supposed to be completed and supplied in November last year, TRC decided to terminate the contract and notify them by letter on February 25, 2025 and continued with the task of completing the repairs at no cost and the equipment is expected to be completed by August this year," said Jamila.

She stressed that the TRC does not have a financial dispute with the Eurowagon as it met the contractual obligations to pay 35 per cent and in fulfillment of the terms of ownership of two electric trains and 30 carriages they had transferred to TRC.

The contract entitles TRC to take responsibility for finalizing the repairs as soon as the bidder fails to comply with the terms of the contract," said Jamila.

Acting director of railway infrastructure, Machibya Masanja speaking on the current standoff said the delay in passenger carriages and new train was due to the impact of Uviko19.

"We are not an island in relation to other countries where the wagons are produced. There have been challenges and one of the effects went to the production of the wagons. Various efforts are being made to contact the bidder to ensure that by August the wagons have arrived in the country," said Masanja.

The corporation has signed a contract to purchase 1430 new freight carrier from China's CRRC, 59 new passenger carriages from South Korea's Sung Shin Rolling Stock Technology Limited, 10 new sets of 80 modern trains and 17 electric locomotives from Hyundai Rotem of South Korea worth Sh1.18 Trillion.

Africa

News

TRC responds to ‘second hand wagons for SGR’ claims

admin — Sat, 18 Jun 2022 04:20:02 +0000

TRC responds to ‘second hand wagons for SGR’ claims

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admin Sat, 06/18/2022 - 04:20

Friday, June 17, 2022

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The Citizen

Original Article

TRC responds to ‘second hand wagons for SGR’ claims

Dar es Salaam. The Tanzania Railways Corporation has responded to claims that the wagons that they have imported for the SGR are second hand.
The TRC made the remarks a day after a weekly newspaper on Monday June 13, linked the delay to a pay dispute and claimed that the locomotives and carriages were second-hand ranging between 20 and 25, which will require major repairs.
But the TRC itself said it had terminated the contract with Turkish company Eurowagon, which was repairing the wagons after failing to complete the construction of two electric train and 30 passenger carriages, for the test runs.
It said according to the agreement, the equipment was supposed to be completed in November 2021, but since Eurowagon failed to meet the terms of the contract, TRC terminated the contract worth 26.6 million Euros on February 25.
Speaking to the media, TRC's Head of Liaison Unit, Jamila Mbarouk said the pilot equipment had to be completed as soon as possible to ensure that the initial operation starts immediately after the construction was completed.
"The equipment was supposed to be completed in November, 2021, TRC terminated the contract and notified them by letter on February 25, 2025 and continued with the task of finalizing the repairs expected to be completed by August this year," she said.
He stressed that TRC does not have a financial dispute with the Eurowagon, as it met the contractual requirement to pay 35 per cent, equivalent to 9.3 million Euros.

Africa

News

Oulanyah: Acholi MPs offer to refund Shs 2bn, demand apology from NUP

admin — Tue, 22 Feb 2022 00:20:02 +0000

Oulanyah: Acholi MPs offer to refund Shs 2bn, demand apology from NUP

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admin Tue, 02/22/2022 - 00:20

Sunday, February 13, 2022

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Headlines

Original Article

Oulanyah: Acholi MPs offer to refund Shs 2bn, demand apology from NUP

Members of Acholi sub-region have offered to refund Shs 1.7 billion of taxpayers' money to the consolidated fund so they get Ugandans off the back of speaker of parliament Jacob Oulanyah.

Last week, parliament spent a whooping $500,000 to charter a 252-seater Uganda Airlines Airbus to fly Oulanyah and a few of his family members and caretakers to Seattle, US for specialized treatment. The move that drew angry reactions from a section of Ugandans - at the amount spent on a single individual as well as the persistent neglect and under funding of the country's healthcare sector which serves the majority of poor Ugandans who can't be flown out of the treatment like the government officials, moreover at the taxpayers' expense.

Now, lawmakers hailing from Acholi sub-region in northern Uganda (Acholi Parliamentary Group) on Thursday offered to refund the money after Ugandans in the diaspora took to the streets in Seattle to demonstrate against Oulanyah's hospital admission. The protestors believed to be allied to the opposition National Unity Platform (NUP) party held placards with wordings: “Officials from Museveni government are not welcome in Seattle.”

“Join our colleagues in Seattle in a peaceful protest against the Uganda dictatorship flying one of their corrupt and brutal officials for medical treatment in the US, while the regime has rundown hospitals in Uganda,” a post on UK Official People Power – NUP Facebook page read.

The protesters congregated at Seattle Cancer Care Alliance for the demonstration that started on February 7 chanting, “Jacob Oulanyah, not in Seattle’s backyard,” ridiculing the government for spending Shs 1.7 billion taxpayers’ money on a single individual.

Acholi Parliamentary Group chairperson, Anthony Akol questioned the motive of the demonstration yet several Ugandan dignitaries have been in the past flown abroad and many still continue to be referred overseas for treatment by the Uganda Medical Board. Akol accused the NUP leadership in Kamwokya, Kampala of fueling the protests because they have not officially denounced the unpatriotic deeds of their diaspora supporters.

"In a situation where our speaker was taken for treatment and then NUP organizes people to demonstrate that he should not be treated, this is not the first Ugandan to be taken out of the country. Even as we talk now, there are Ugandans who have been approved by the medical council for treatment and this has been happening for many years. It is a humiliation to the speaker when many Ugandans have been taken for treatment. As a chairman of Acholi Parliamentary Group, I'm not happy and I'm demanding for apology from the Leader of Opposition. I'm not happy, I'm disappointed," said Akol.

Martin Ojara Mapenduzi, the Bardege-Layibi MP in Gulu city described the protest as a barbaric attack on the health and life of the right thinking Ugandans rather than an attack on individual citizens.

"We're very concerned with the manner in which some people have responded to the matter of our brother honourable Jacob Oulanyah being taken for specialized treatment in the US. We want to condemn the section of Ugandans who think our brother should not get treatment. This is an attack not only on him as an individual, it is an attack on all of us. Honourable Jacob Oulanyah is not the first Ugandan to travel abroad for specialized treatment and so why should he be targeted as an individual?" said Mapenduzi.

Lucy Akello (Amuru District Woman MP) however asserts that they will only refund the money if other previous government dignitaries who were flown abroad to seek specialized treatment are also compelled to refund the money that was spent on them.

Africa

News

Business Pokes Holes In Mnangagwa’s Re-engagement Drive

admin — Mon, 21 Feb 2022 04:00:01 +0000

Business Pokes Holes In Mnangagwa’s Re-engagement Drive

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admin Mon, 02/21/2022 - 04:00

Sunday, February 6, 2022

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Business Archives - NewZimbabwe.com

Original Article

Business Pokes Holes In Mnangagwa’s Re-engagement Drive

By The Standard

CALLS for government to get serious with its re-engagement drive have intensified, with industrialists and economists reminding President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration to avoid building ties with undemocratic regimes and those at odds with western powers.

Speaking during a meeting convened by CEO Africa Roundtable to map out a way forward for 2022, industrialists said such a strategy would be suicidal.

Relations between government and western economies have deteriorated since 2000, leading to the European Union and the United States of America imposing sanctions against Zimbabwe.

Two decades after the embargo came into force, Zimbabwe is in the throes of an economic implosion, with a volatile exchange rate, steep basic commodity prices increases, foreign currency shortages and hyperinflation.

Top bankers and Zimbabwe Economic Society president Nigel Chanakira told the meeting that re-engagement was vital if Harare was to turn the tide.

“My absolute conviction is that the re-engagement process will see us get to single digit inflation,” Chanakira said, adding that reintegration would enable Zimbabwe to improve competitiveness.

Prominent economist Tony Hawkins said successful re-engagement with western powers would go a long way in solving the country’s economic crisis.

“We simply have to have successful international re-engagement, which is why I made the reference to having close allies with people who are hostile to the people we want to re-engage,” he said.

Hawkins said it was counterproductive for the country to focus its engagement process with countries that were in confrontation with the western powers.

Giving an example, the economist said Russia was currently involved in a standoff with western countries over Ukraine.

Russia is one of Zimbabwe strongest allies.

There has been a significant rise in tensions between the United States and China, Zimbabwe’s biggest global ally, over Taiwan.

However, Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe governor John Mangudya said only Zimbabweans can provide solutions to the meltdown.

“You know I was championing the re engagement process in 2015 when we went to Lima (Peru). We came up with a very good reengagement process. But you know what, it ended up being a mirage.

“We put all our effort and then realised that we are by ourselves as Zimbabweans,” he said.

Mangudya was referring to the Lima plan, which saw Zimbabwe engaging creditors during the World Bank Group and International Monetary Fund spring meetings in Lima.

The plan was to settle US$1,8 billion in arrears to preferred international financial institutions for Zimbabwe to access US$2 billion in fresh funding.

Industry minister Sekai Nzenza told captains of industry at the meeting that the notion that Mnangagwa has squandered the goodwill he enjoyed when he came into power in 2017 was inaccurate.

“I don’t know where this perception comes from that we might have squandered the opportunity to re-engage. We haven’t and I can give you facts. Last year we made a lot of investment meetings from Russia, Turkey and Dubai. What is missing is the positive story that needs to be told and unfortunately the negative story is coming from those who live in Zimbabwe who know the positive story but are not telling it to the outside world,” she said.

The post Business Pokes Holes In Mnangagwa’s Re-engagement Drive appeared first on NewZimbabwe.com.

Africa

Business

Boozy Romance

admin — Mon, 21 Feb 2022 02:40:01 +0000

Boozy Romance

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admin Mon, 02/21/2022 - 02:40

Thursday, February 10, 2022

Original Publisher

Jamaica Observer

Original Article

Boozy Romance

Love is in the air! International love day is coming up and I couldn't think of a better way to spark romance and celebrate the spirit of Valentine's than serving up some options for you to express your unconditional love. From rosy-hued and romantic to sweet and frizzante, these potions will keep you and your sweetie sipping together as you celebrate the day of love. For the love of crafting cocktails...

A celebration of love is always made more meaningful with your favourite spirits brands. You can't go wrong with Baileys for the special woman in your life, and Johnnie Walker is always an excellent option for the man who has stolen your heart. Let's be honest, though: Any night you decide to open a great bottle of wine is a celebration in itself. Pour your heart out with these wine options that will set the mood for the evening. Berne's Romance Rosé is straight from the sun-drenched shores of the Mediterranean. Its soft and light pink colour looks like rosy cheeks after a first kiss. Beautiful floral and berry aromas awaken your senses. And freshly picked summer peaches and strawberry cream dance around your palate. Its unique bottle features a glass stopper and reveals bubble-style indentations as you drink the wine. Taste the sweet life (la dolce vita) with Roscato Rosso Dolce. This Northern Italian sweet red wine packs intense aromas of blackberries and ripe wild berries. It is fresh, lively and frizzante with a soft lingering finish. Or, why not switch it up a bit and try a new varietal like the Vermentino by Sassoregale from Italy. Its aromatic profile can include floral notes (who doesn't like flowers on Valentine's Day), citrus fruits, white fruits and sometimes a nutty quality. On the palate, its flavours range from citrus fruits to mineral notes and even salinity. Vermentino is known for its distinctive nut finish, reminiscent of almonds. Maybe you want to drink like the stars such as DJ Khaled and Drake: Bartenura Moscato - Slightly effervescent or "frizzante" if you're fancy, with notes of wildflowers, ripe melons and honey followed by flavours of pear, nectarines and apricot. Throw traditional pairing notions out the window, Italy's Bartenura Moscato pairs perfectly with whatever you like, especially good company! Up for some California love? This wine is a straight-up easy sipper and full of fruity character. Meiomi is a beautiful Pinot Noir that carries aromas of bright strawberry, jammy fruit, mocha, vanilla and toasty oak. The rich cherry flavour is complemented by notes of cedar, raspberry and strawberry. Enjoy with turkey, salmon or beef dishes. If you want to add some sizzle and are a fan of fizz, why not try any of these sparkling options ...pop, clink, sip! #Cheers. Mionetto Brut & Mionetto Rosé are easy drinking, deliciously crisp proseccos that are versatile and appeal to those with expensive taste without the hefty price tag! Sparkle with Ruffino Prosecco Rosé with its very fine and persistent perlage. The colour is light pink and you get bold aromas of wild strawberries and candy. The palate is fresh and fruity. Fine bubbles with a lively and juicy finish. Excellent as an aperitif together with cold dishes and fried food. It goes perfectly with risotto and lightly spiced dishes. Turn the heat up sans alcohol and add a touch of sophistication with France's Challand non-alcoholic sparkling wine available in Instagram, Facebook spirits! White Grape, Apple, Peach Grape, Raspberry Grape and Red Grape. No added sugars, colours and preservatives. Find and follow me @raihndrops on and Tik Tok. Let's lift your Spirits!

Caribbean

Living Standard

One of suspected killers of Saudi journalist Khashoggi arrested in France

admin — Sat, 11 Dec 2021 05:10:01 +0000

One of suspected killers of Saudi journalist Khashoggi arrested in France

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admin Sat, 12/11/2021 - 05:10

Wednesday, December 8, 2021

Original Publisher

ALSO READ: Trial resumes in Istanbul in journalist Jamal Khashoggi’s murder

It quoted French police as saying they were still unsure if they had detained the right man. “It’s still possible that this is the right person, just as it’s still possible that it’s the wrong person,” a police spokesperson reportedly said. “At this point, we don’t know.”

But the BBC confirmed that the suspect is Mr Al-Otaibi, a former Saudi royal guard who was travelling under his own name. This marks the first time that any individual linked to Khashoggi’s murder is arrested outside Saudi Arabia.

In 2019, a Saudi court convicted eight unnamed people over the murder. Five of them were found guilty of directly participating in the killing and handed death sentences that were later commuted to 20-year prison terms, while three others were jailed for 7 to 10 years for covering up the crime.

The Saudi trial was dismissed by the then-UN Special Rapporteur Agnes Callamard, who said that Mr Khashoggi was the “victim of a deliberate, premeditated execution for which the Saudi state was responsible.”

The arrest of Mr Al-Otaibi is coming just few days after French President Emmanuel Macron became the first major Western leader to meet the Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman since Khashoggi’s murder.

“We talked about absolutely everything, without any taboos and we were obviously able to bring up the question of human rights,” Mr Macron reportedly said after the meeting on Saturday.

In February, a U.S. intelligence report concluded that Mr Khashoggi’s murder was ordered by the crown prince. Riyadh denied that Bin Salman had any knowledge of the plot or its botched cover-up.

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