Bahamas: Crypto Currency CEO FTX Sam Bankman-Fried arrested in the Bahamas

The former CEO of failed crypto currency firm FTX, Sam Bankman-Fried, has been arrested in the Bahamas at the request of the U.S. government, the U.S. and Bahamian authorities said Monday.

Bankman-Fried had been under criminal investigation by U.S. and Bahamian authorities following the collapse last month of FTX. The firm filed for bankruptcy on Nov. 11, when it ran out of money after the cryptocurrency equivalent of a bank run.

“Earlier this evening, Bahamian authorities arrested Samuel Bankman-Fried at the request of the U.S. Government, based on a sealed indictment filed by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York,” U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said in a statement. “We expect to move to unseal the indictment in the morning and will have more to say at that time.”

Read more at:  https://www.pbs.org/

The Bahamas: Two Ways To Help The Bahamas Hurricane Recovery: Donate, Then Plan To Travel There - by Lea Lane

Before (left) and after (right)

There are two major ways to help the Bahamas recover from the unprecedented devastation from monster hurricane Dorian. First, donate money, goods or time right now to the organizations you’ll find at the end of this post.

Then, as hard as it may be to conceptualize right now, plan to travel to one of the many Bahamian islands that remain unscathed by the hurricane.

The Bahamian economy revolves around tourism, and the island-nation needs funds generated by travelers to continue recovery.

Yes, hotels in the Abacos and Grand Bahama Island are closed now, but that comprises less than 15% of the country’s hotel inventory. The southeastern and central Bahamas were far less affected by the hurricane, and hotels and resorts in the capital of Nassau and in neighboring Paradise Island remain open, as do those in the majority of Bahamas 700-plus islands and cays.

These include Eleuthera, Harbour Island and Andros, The Exumas, Cat Island, San Salvador, Rum Cay, Long Island, Acklins/Crooked Island, Ragged Island, Mayaguana and Inagua.

If you had made previous travel plans to go to any of these islands, check ahead and keep them, if possible. And if you don’t yet have plans, consider making them.

Donating to established groups is the immediate way to help, and giving money is the most effective support. Here are some links:
– American Red Cross is online.
– The Salvation Army is accepting money.
– Project Hope, an international health-care organization, is accepting donations.
– Americares sends aid and medicine.
– Habitat for Humanity will be helping rebuild houses.
– Team Rubicon is a veteran support organization, staging resources and support.
– World Central Kitchen teams are providing food on Grand Bahama and the Abacos. Chef José Andrés’ organization is once again helping the hungry.

 Read more: Two Ways To Help The Bahamas Hurricane Recovery: Donate, Then Plan To Travel There

Offshore Banking: Britain under pressure to clean up Caribbean, S. American tax havens

British Overseas Territories in the Western Hemisphere will abandon their "tax haven" status as London struggles to raise cash and counter European charges its Caribbean and other overseas territories encourage tax evasion.

Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne said London signed agreements with its overseas territories that will automate tax information exchange between Britain, its major international partners and Europe.

The sharing of tax information exposes bank account holders to tax collection authorities not only in Britain but also other countries and follows large-scale bank account disclosures secured as part of the European Union's financial rescue of Cyprus.

EU pried the information out of Cyprus by encouraging a media vilification campaign that focused on Russian account holders and suspected money laundering activities in Cyprus.

But the measure also targeted European tax evaders, Middle East financiers and anyone else interested in hiding assets from the taxman.

EU campaigns were aided by online leaks of alleged tax evaders' personal data. Luxembourg and non-EU Switzerland have also given in -- though only to some degree in the case of Switzerland -- to EU demand for disclosures.

Read more: U.K. under pressure to clean up Caribbean, S. American tax havens - UPI.com

Florida's Port Everglades courts Spanish ferry to Bahamas, later to Cuba? – by Doreen Hemlock

Florida's Broward County’s Port Everglades is courting a Spanish company to operate fast-ferry service to and from the Bahamas.

The Balearia company’s Bahamas Express ship, which can carry up to 463 passengers and up to 80 vehicles, docked at the Fort Lauderdale area seaport Thursday on a test run, port officials confirmed.
The ship had been slated to start operations this summer between the Port of Miami and the island of Bimini in the Bahamas. But plans have been delayed, partly because the Bimini seaport needs to be dredged and its pier improved to handle the fast-ferry, said Balearia executive Victor Terricabras.

Port Everglades has been courting ferry companies from Europe and South America for months to consider service with Cuba, once U.S. regulations allow ferry service to the communist-led island.

For the complete report go to: Port Everglades courts ferry to Bahamas, later to Cuba? – Travel – Sun-Sentinel

AOL: Check out Europe's Contestants Miss Universe 2009: Miss Denmark, Miss Universe Albania, Miss Poland and more European Miss Universe Contestants

For the comple te report from AOL Latino Tu Vida click on this link

Check out Europe's Contestants Miss Universe 2009: Miss Denmark, Miss Universe Albania, Miss Poland and more European Miss Universe Contestants

Make your choice who the next Miss Universe should be at this weeks Miss Universe 2009 contest on Paradise Island in the Bahamas.