Latest news with #Spain-based
Scottish Sun
a day ago
- Scottish Sun
Inside secret deadly summit that led to execution of Scots gangsters Ross Monagahan & Eddie Lyons Jnr
The details of the meeting are revealed below. DEATH WARRANT Inside secret deadly summit that led to execution of Scots gangsters Ross Monagahan & Eddie Lyons Jnr THE FATE of Ross Monaghan and Eddie Lyons Jnr was sealed at a gangland summit just days before the slaughter, underworld sources have claimed. Top table hoods from the Daniel clan are said to have gathered with high-ranking associates of caged Edinburgh kingpin Mark Richardson, 38, to discuss the deadly plot. Advertisement 4 Murdered Ross Monaghan, left, and Eddie Lyons Jnr. 4 Associates of Mark Richardson are said to have been involved in a gangland summit. 4 Family members of Steven 'Bonzo' Daniel have been targeted during the gang war. Credit: Spindrift 4 Dubai-based hood Ross McGill has been driving a gang war from the desert It is claimed the crunch talks happened at a secret location in Kirkintilloch near Glasgow before the order was given to carry out the brutal double slaying. Daniel mob members are then said to have taken their families on holiday to ensure they were out of the country when the killers pounced amid fears of revenge attacks. Sources also said mob boss Steven Lyons, 44, was meant to be the main target of the assassination - but he was on a flight to Spain from Dubai at the time of the ambush in Fuengirola, Spain. It is understood Spain-based Eddie Jnr had recently been back in Scotland for the funeral of his 16-year-old daughter, who had longterm health problems. Advertisement Insiders claimed he told family and pals while he was home that he didn't feel it was safe enough for him to return permanently. He had been set to go on a golfing trip with Monaghan. A source said: "With all the recent gang stuff, people were saying that her death had tipped him over the edge. "He knew he was a target. He looked like a worried man and made sure he didn't stay too long. Advertisement "He kept saying he wished he could come back." Another source said: "The boys were there on a golf trip. They phoned home just a few days ago and were in high spirits. Their murders came as a complete shock. Inside the rise of ex-Rangers ultras chief turned mob boss waging gangland war across Scotland "Nobody can believe it. But this changes everything." We told how Monaghan, 43, and Lyons, 46, were executed in front of horrified holidaymakers at a Costa del Sol boozer. Advertisement The Lyons clan chiefs were gunned down after they watched the Champions League Final on Monaghan's Irish Bar. The bloodbath on Saturday follows a bitter turf war between gangs in Scotland. An underworld source said: 'They didn't stand a chance.' The shooting in Spain comes amid a violent gang war that has ripped through Scotland since March said to have started over a fallout over drugs. Advertisement We told last week how a vicious mob waging a gang war on Scotland's streets have DENIED reports of a truce - and have vowed 'we aren't going away.' It was claimed rival crews from the Lyons and Daniel factions have agreed to halt the violence on orders from Dubai-based mob boss Ross McGill, 31. But sinister group Tamo Junto (TMJ) - who claim to be waging war against the Daniel's crime clan and its associates - blew those claims out of the water. And they said they would continue to target the Daniel clan or anyone associated with drugs kingpin Mark Richardson, 38. Advertisement They said: 'We have terrorised you since March and we will continue to do so. 'Despite false claims in the media, TMJ will continue to target anyone associated with the Daniel family or Mark Richardson." Police Scotland has made more than 40 arrests as part of Operation Portaledge - a huge prove into the going violence. McGill, from East Kilbride, moved abroad in 2022 after skipping court on drug-dealing and gangsterism allegations. Advertisement He was said to have fled a nightclub in the UAE bolthole after spotting heavies linked to Steven 'Bonzo' Daniel, 45. Speculating on the consequences of the killings, another insider last night said: "Whether it's linked to the ongoing Scottish feud or another dispute with gangsters from some other group, this is bound to lead to further violence."
Fintech News ME
a day ago
- Business
- Fintech News ME
Papara Founder Among 13 Detained in Turkish Fintech Crackdown
Turkish authorities have detained 13 individuals as part of an ongoing investigation into fintech company Papara, over allegations of money laundering, illegal betting activities, and the formation of a criminal organisation, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya announced on Tuesday (May 27) . According to Reuters, authorities suspect that Papara, an online platform providing money transfers, foreign exchange, and bill payment services to its 21 million users, was facilitating the transfer of illegal betting revenues by allowing users to open accounts for this purpose. State broadcaster TRT Haber reported that those detained include Papara's founder and chairman, Ahmet Faruk Karslı. In response to the investigation, the Savings Deposit Insurance Fund (TMSF) was appointed as trustee to oversee Papara by court order, following reports from the Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey, the Financial Crimes Investigation Board (MASAK), and other relevant bodies. The central bank, which regulates payment service providers, stated on Tuesday that temporary daily transaction limits would be imposed on the platform. 'In this process, which will be carried out in coordination with the relevant institutions, temporary daily limits will be applied to payment transactions at the institution,' the central bank noted. The central bank also sought to reassure users, emphasising that, 'within the scope of the law, the funds of payment service users in payment and electronic money institutions are secured in protection accounts at banks.' Yerlikaya added that the authorities have seized 10 companies, bank accounts, and the assets of the detained individuals. A financial crimes investigation revealed that over 26,000 accounts had been used for illegal online betting activities, with transactions amounting to 12.9 billion lira (approximately US$330 million). Papara, considered one of Turkey's leading fintech firms, has yet to issue a statement regarding the matter. Founded in 2015, the company received its electronic money institution license from Turkey's banking regulator, BDDK, in 2016. It expanded internationally in 2023 through the acquisitions of Pakistan-based SadaPay and Spain-based Rebellion Pay.
Vogue Singapore
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Vogue Singapore
The sea is this year's leading inspiration for jewellers
Something's in the air lately in jewellery design—or in the water, rather. For millennia, we've looked above and below to wonder about our place in the world. Yet for all the discoveries, very little continues to elude, fascinate and inspire like the ocean. The vast seas—they cover significantly more area on our planet than land, mind you—have shaped and defined cultures, trade and history. The siren song of the seas is as hypnotic as it is varied, as we are seeing being played out in several recent collections of jewellery inspired by the sea. Robert Louis Stevenson's adventure novel Treasure Island was the inspiration and namesake behind Van Cleef & Arpels's newest range of high jewellery. It's perhaps the maison's most playful collection in years, with nods to a pirate adventure and a search for hidden treasure. It gleefully takes on board these childlike symbols and motifs, and turns it on its head with the maison's signature grace and elegance. Courtesy of Van Cleef & Arpels Courtesy of Van Cleef & Arpels Courtesy of Van Cleef & Arpels Courtesy of Van Cleef & Arpels Consider the Coquillage Mystérieux seashell clip, which is arranged with mystery-set buffed top square rubies, round and baguette-cut white diamonds, and pink diamonds. On the reverse, a charming secret that toys with the house's classical ballerina and fairy motifs: a nereid, perched atop a cultured pearl, hoisting an emerald. Courtesy of Wallis Hong Courtesy of Wallis Hong The ocean can certainly play to the emotions of jewellers and designers. Take the designs of China-born, Spain-based jewellery artist Wallis Hong, whose pieces are sculptural, dreamlike and have an aquatic quality even when they aren't inspired by the sea. He describes his first design, the Eternal Butterfly, as a 'waterdrop butterfly' that has burst out of a cave with droplets cascading off its form. When I question him about this consistency in design—which is most pronounced in the way he sculpts blue titanium into organic shapes—he explains that the idea is more universal, to evoke emotions and spark imaginations, not taxonomic literalism. 'Some viewers might feel the inspiration comes from water,' he says, while 'others may sense influences from the sky or the universe'. Hong tells me that recent designs, such as the Thorn Shells earrings, were inspired by his first trips to the Spanish islands of Ibiza and Formentera. 'There, I discovered the natural forms of conches on the beaches and explored the vibrant underwater ecosystems teeming with diverse marine life.' Courtesy of Boucheron The universality and critical nature of water has also fascinated Claire Choisne, the brilliant creative director of Boucheron, in her Or Bleu collection of high jewellery. The range of 26 jewels is dedicated to water in its myriad forms: coursing waterfalls, concentric waves on a surface caused by a drop, sea foam washing up on sand, the crystalline translucency of icebergs, among many more. Courtesy of Boucheron The collection's most modern idea might also be its most direct. The Eau Vive pair of shoulder brooches imagine Icelandic waves crashing against the contours of a body. Boucheron used 3D software to simulate the movements of water. After a beautiful 'crash' was determined, it was then sculpted from a single block of aluminium, chosen for lightness, and mirrored to create a symmetrical pair. Diamonds are set into the aluminium—a feat of craftsmanship as the metal is more challenging to work with in jewellery than traditional gold—and then plated in palladium for an intense shine. What a thought: to wear the waves of the sea on one's shoulders. Courtesy of Massimo Izzo Vast and powerful yet serene and constant; the beauty of endless horizons versus the uncaring danger of the unknown. Varied perspectives from different cultures and peoples can make the sea endlessly fascinating. Take the Sicilian jeweller Massimo Izzo, who crafts his jewels of the sea with an unmistakably Mediterranean lushness and hedonism. The lifelike curves of his octopuses, seahorses and starfishes have an almost juicy, bursting quality to them. Courtesy of Simone Jewels Courtesy of Simone Jewels Courtesy of Simone Jewels Contrast that with how the Japanese might view the sea. For an island nation that we get the term 'tsunami' from, it is an entity of destructive power. Katsushika Hokusai's 'The Great Wave off Kanagawa', one of Japan's most famous artworks, inspired the latest Romance de l'art nouveau collection by Simone Jewels. A combination of art nouveau design and Hokusai's artistry, the line celebrates an interplay of chaos and serenity. Diamonds set onto white gold waves almost seem to crest and rise off a bed of chalcedony as water. And in their forms, you instantly recognise a view of the sea from the East. Courtesy of Tiffany & Co. For proof, though, that this cresting wave of aquatic designs is no passing trend, consider that Tiffany & Co. has selected Sea of Wonder as the theme of its Blue Book high jewellery collection for 2025. The first chapter for spring, which debuted in late April at the brand's Landmark flagship in New York, hinges heavily on the marine designs of Jean Schlumberger interpreted by Nathalie Verdeille, the house's chief artistic officer of jewellery and high jewellery. Each piece, she says, is an invitation to 'embark on a journey through uncharted realms of the deep sea'. Figurative at times, but just as equally bold, ornate and fantastical at others, these underwater jewels are an expression of human curiosity and creativity. Courtesy of Mikimoto Courtesy of Louis Vuitton Courtesy of Cartier The May 2025 'Sonder' issue of Vogue Singapore is available online and on newsstands.
Metro
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Metro
Arsenal told £9m Premier League flop could fix their striker problem
Real Madrid legend Fernando Morientes has named two strikers Arsenal should look at signing this summer – one of whom failed to score during his previous spell in the Premier League. It has long been known that Arsenal need to buy a top goalscorer, a matter that has become more pressing after yet another trophy-less campaign. Despite missing four months through injury, Kai Havertz is the club's top scorer in the Premier League this season with just nine goals and they can no longer rely on Gabriel Jesus thanks to his fitness issues. Plenty of names have been linked with the Emirates including Athletic Bilbao winger Nico Williams, while reports suggest their striker search is down to two names: RB Leipzig's Benjamin Sesko and Sporting Lisbon star Viktor Gyokeres. Williams is highly-rated and available for €58million (£48.7m) this summer, but Morientes believes there are other Spain-based forwards Mikel Arteta could target. Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro's Football Newsletter. Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link we'll send you so we can get football news tailored to you. 'If Arsenal want a striker from La Liga, a Spaniard who comes to mind right now is Ayoze Perez,' the former Liverpool striker told Online Casinos. 'He left Real Betis for just four or five million euros, and he's become desirable for the big teams because he's scored a lot of goals and is playing very well. 'Another name is Alexander Sorloth. At the start of the season I thought he was going to be one of the most important strikers in our league and I wasn't wrong, even though he hasn't played as much as he should have. 'These types of players may already be expensive, but teams that have money can afford to invest in established players. Emerging players are cheaper, but you need players that can instantly perform in the Premier League.' Both Villarreal's Perez and Atletico Madrid's Sorloth have indeed been in excellent form this season, scoring 36 goals between them in La Liga. Both also have Premier League experience but neither set England's top-flight alight, with Sorloth failing to find the back of the net during his year with Crystal Palace. The Norway international joined the Eagles for £9m in January 2018 but failed to impress Roy Hodgson, making just 16 Premier League appearances before being binned off. The 29-year-old has looked a completely different player since moving to Spain however, scoring 63 goals in the last three seasons for Real Sociedad, Villarreal and Atletico. As Morientes says, Sorloth has not started as many games for Diego Simeone's side as expected but having only joined the club last summer, it seems unlikely he'll leave. More Trending Perez meanwhile spent eight-and-a-half years in England with Newcastle United and Leicester City, yet hit double figures in the league just once. The Spaniard turns 32 in the summer so it would seem unlikely that Arsenal would look at him, but this has been the best season of his career by far, with 22 goals in 32 games. For now, Arsenal have one final game before the season ends and the transfer window re-opens, with Arteta's team travelling to bottom of the table Southampton on Sunday. For more stories like this, check our sport page. Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. MORE: Former Man Utd star Brandon Williams avoids prison after crashing car at almost 100mph MORE: Champions League permutations: What Chelsea, Newcastle and Man City need to qualify MORE: Thomas Tuchel gives update on Ben White's England future after latest snub
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Chevron & European Oil Firms Urge Continued Access to Venezuela
Chevron Corporation CVX, along with several European oil companies, is actively engaged in high-level negotiations with the Trump administration to retain stakes in joint ventures with Venezuela's state-owned oil firm, Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A. ('PDVSA'), according to Reuters. These talks follow the U.S. government's decision in March to revoke longstanding licenses that previously allowed limited operational continuity between international firms and PDVSA amid ongoing sanctions. The U.S. Treasury Department's revocation of key licenses has thrown major energy partnerships into disarray. These licenses allowed Chevron, a Houston, TX–based integrated oil and gas company, Repsol S.A. REPYY, a Spain-based integrated oil and gas company, and others to maintain a foothold in Venezuela's lucrative oil sector. Without these authorizations, companies are required to wind down their operations by May 27, leaving critical questions unanswered regarding asset management, staffing and the legal future of billions of dollars in energy infrastructure investments. The uncertainty comes as PDVSA, grappling with economic instability and reduced oil production, has shifted to a model of accepting only prepaid or barter-based oil transactions, canceling multiple cargoes, including those allocated to Chevron. Industry insiders reveal that energy giants are appealing to Washington for a reinstatement of the 2020-2022 license framework, which permitted continued presence in Venezuela without allowing production expansion or oil exports. This middle-ground solution would prevent a complete foreign exodus and shield companies from total asset loss while ensuring Venezuela's state-owned oil and natural gas company does not resume a pattern of unpaid dividends and accumulating debts to its partners. Chevron remains the last standing U.S. oil firm in Venezuela, holding minority shares in four key joint ventures responsible for approximately 25% of the country's oil output. This unique position gives Chevron not only a strategic advantage but also places it at the center of the United States's geopolitical energy calculus. Despite canceled shipments and a recent suspension at the Petropiar upgrader, Chevron continues to maintain its staffing and logistical framework, leveraging local presence to remain poised for potential license reissuance. Chevron's CEO, Mike Wirth, has publicly highlighted the strategic value of a continued U.S. corporate footprint in Venezuela. In interviews, he warned that a full withdrawal would create a vacuum quickly filled by oil firms from Russia and China, potentially undermining U.S. interests in the hemisphere. "We are the only American company that remains on the ground in Venezuela," Wirth stated. "If we were to leave, American energy interests would be displaced by foreign competitors." European players like Spain's Repsol are following suit. Josu Jon Imaz, CEO of Repsol, confirmed that it is still in contact with U.S. officials, citing a shared desire to maintain operational continuity and strategic interests in Venezuela's oil industry. These companies, while refraining from public disclosure of their formal license requests, are unified to retain minimum operational capacities, including local offices, key employees and access to pre-sanctioned infrastructure, even if oil exports remain restricted. Chevron was previously owed $3 billion by PDVSA, a debt largely recovered through export allowances granted under a 2022 license. However, pending dividend repayments remain unresolved and a forced withdrawal would not only jeopardize recovery but also lock billions in stranded assets. As PDVSA continues plans to nationalize joint ventures and self-manage crude exports, foreign partners are scrambling to mitigate risks and negotiate terms that prevent wholesale asset seizure or indefinite deferment of outstanding debts. With oil production in Venezuela already suffering due to years of underinvestment, mismanagement and international sanctions, experts estimate a 15-30% decline in national output by 2026 if foreign firms are forced out without licensing alternatives. Despite holding the world's largest proven crude reserves, Venezuela lacks the capital and technology to revitalize its energy sector without international collaboration. The current standoff could further cripple the country's output, isolate its economy and deepen global oil supply instability. As Chevron and Europe's oil firms await a decision from the Trump administration, the situation highlights a delicate balance between implementing sanctions and preserving U.S. influence in global energy markets. A renewed license regime could offer a pragmatic path forward, maintaining pressure on the Maduro government while safeguarding American and allied investments in one of the most oil-rich nations on Earth. The coming weeks will prove decisive, not only for Chevron and its European counterparts but for the broader geopolitical alignment in Latin America's energy sector. Currently, CVX holds a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell), while REPYY has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Investors interested in the energy sector might look at some better-ranked stocks like Comstock Resources, Inc. CRK and Expand Energy Corporation EXE, each holding a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) at present. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Comstock Resources is valued at $7.10 billion. In the past year, its shares have risen 113.6%. Comstock Resources, an independent energy producer in the United States, holds approximately 1.1 million acres primarily within the highly prospective Haynesville and Bossier shale regions of North Louisiana and East Texas. The company's core business involves the acquisition, exploration, development and production of natural gas and oil from these assets. Expand Energy is valued at $27.13 billion. In the past year, its shares have risen 24.5%. Based in Oklahoma City, OK, Expand Energy is an independent natural gas production company. With significant interests in shale formations across Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia and Louisiana, Expand Energy focuses on the acquisition, exploration and development of properties for producing oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Chevron Corporation (CVX) : Free Stock Analysis Report Comstock Resources, Inc. (CRK) : Free Stock Analysis Report Repsol SA (REPYY) : Free Stock Analysis Report Expand Energy Corporation (EXE) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research ( Zacks Investment Research Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
