https://www.scmp.com/rss/519458/feed en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Reuters Reuters The US Treasury Department on Tuesday sanctioned a network of shipping companies and vessels led by an Iraqi-Kittitian businessman for smuggling Iranian oil disguised as Iraqi oil. The administration of US President Donald Trump is keeping pressure on Iran while nuclear talks have stalled. A sixth round of negotiations was suspended after the start of a 12-day war in June. A senior Iranian official said on Tuesday that the path to nuclear negotiations is not closed but US demands for curbs on... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3324109/us-sanctions-shipping-network-smuggling-iran-oil?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/3324109/us-sanctions-shipping-network-smuggling-iran-oil?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 02 Sep 2025 17:57:33 +0000 France on Wednesday charged Pavel Durov, the founder and chief of Telegram, with a litany of violations related to the messaging app and banned him from leaving the country while allowing the billionaire to walk free after four days under arrest. Durov, 39, was charged on several counts of failing to curb extremist and illegal content on the popular messaging app following a hearing with investigating magistrates in Paris. Russian-born Durov was arrested at Le Bourget airport outside Paris late... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3276303/french-prosecutors-free-telegram-ceo-pavel-durov-after-4-days-custody-appear-court?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3276303/french-prosecutors-free-telegram-ceo-pavel-durov-after-4-days-custody-appear-court?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 28 Aug 2024 14:10:26 +0000 Hong Kong is winning back wealthy Chinese by rolling out the red carpet for the rich while rival Singapore scrutinises foreign money. Hong Kong is expected to welcome about 200 high-net worth individuals this year after five years of millionaires skipping town, according to data provided by intelligence firm New World Wealth and immigration consultancy Henley & Partners, thanks to initiatives including family office tax concessions and visa and residency programmes. At the same time, fallout... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3269728/while-singapore-scrutinises-hong-kong-wins-back-wealthy-chinese?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3269728/while-singapore-scrutinises-hong-kong-wins-back-wealthy-chinese?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 09 Jul 2024 06:30:06 +0000 Citigroup Inc., DBS Group Holdings Ltd. and other banks caught up in Singapore’s biggest money-laundering scandal are ramping up scrutiny of their wealthy customers and potential clients to avoid exposure to illicit flows, according to people familiar with the matter. Private bankers at several institutions are also receiving additional training to help them spot tricks used by criminals to mask their backgrounds and sources of funds, said the people, who asked not to be identified discussing... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3265984/singapore-banks-red-flags-no-english-guangdong-or-fujian-hong-kong-links?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3265984/singapore-banks-red-flags-no-english-guangdong-or-fujian-hong-kong-links?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 10 Jun 2024 01:19:00 +0000 China will support Jamaica to play a bigger role in world affairs, Foreign Minister Wang Yi has pledged, as the two countries aim to strengthen strategic alignment. The message from China’s top diplomat came as he wrapped up a six-nation tour with a visit to the Caribbean country. Meeting Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness in the capital Kingston on Saturday, Wang said China looked forward to expanding cooperation in trade, investment, new energy, agriculture, digital economy and the “blue... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3249235/chinese-foreign-minister-wang-yi-vows-help-jamaica-play-bigger-role-world-stage-hails-one-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3249235/chinese-foreign-minister-wang-yi-vows-help-jamaica-play-bigger-role-world-stage-hails-one-china?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 21 Jan 2024 11:00:13 +0000 Aidan Jones Aidan Jones Chinese criminals have a new must-have in their villains’ tool kits to cross borders, evade jail and wash the billions of dollars sucked up from phone scams, online gambling and pyramid schemes across Asia: passports from Cambodia, Cyprus, and even the tiny South Pacific island of Vanuatu. This “citizenship for sale” phenomenon has come under renewed scrutiny since Singapore’s August 15 seizure of US$1.3 billion in assets – and arrest of 10 Chinese suspects holding a cornucopia of other... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3234760/citizenship-sale-singapores-u13-billion-money-laundering-probe-exposes-chinese-criminals-paid?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3234760/citizenship-sale-singapores-u13-billion-money-laundering-probe-exposes-chinese-criminals-paid?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 16 Sep 2023 01:30:13 +0000 A Singaporean businessman wanted by the United States for violating sanctions on North Korea is currently in the city state where he is under investigation, the Singapore police said. In a statement issued late on Saturday, the Singapore Police Force (SPF) said they have sought clarification from their US counterparts over the reward as they have kept them informed about the ongoing probe by local authorities. The US State Department on Thursday offered US$5 million for information on... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3198599/singaporean-wanted-us-violating-north-korea-sanctions-singapore-police?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3198599/singaporean-wanted-us-violating-north-korea-sanctions-singapore-police?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 06 Nov 2022 01:15:07 +0000 National identity might be an intangible sense that many people feel deep and dearly – but believe it or not, there are many countries where you can essentially buy a passport. And we’re not talking shady back room deals – it’s entirely legal, above board and government approved. Which raises the question, how much does it cost? Well, it can range from around US$100,000 from several Caribbean nations, up to an estimated US$9.5 million in Austria. These are the 11 countries with... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/3188292/golden-passports-11-countries-where-you-can-buy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/3188292/golden-passports-11-countries-where-you-can-buy?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 09 Aug 2022 09:11:36 +0000 At 37 years old, entrepreneur Pavel Valeryevich Durov is a hugely successful and outspoken tech billionaire who is also a champion of free speech and data privacy. Having amassed a personal net worth running into the billions, Durov’s life is an interesting story that many may not know about. So who exactly is the Russian-born tech wizard? Here are five fascinating facts about the dashing developer, who has also recently taken to sharing shirtless snaps on his personal Instagram. 1. He created... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3172355/meet-pavel-durov-handsome-tech-billionaire-who-founded?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3172355/meet-pavel-durov-handsome-tech-billionaire-who-founded?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 30 Mar 2022 04:37:31 +0000