Fwd: The Morning: How the world sees Ukraine

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From: The New York Times <nytdirect@nytimes.com>
Date: Mon, Apr 18, 2022 at 3:23 AM
Subject: The Morning: How the world sees Ukraine
To: <stevescott@techacq.com>

The West's stance against Russia's invasion is not shared worldwide.

View in browser|nytimes.com April 18, 2022 Continue reading the main story SUPPORTED BY By Ian Prasad Philbrick Good morning. The West is arming Ukraine and punishing Russia. Today we look at the countries that aren't. Volodymyr Zelensky addressed the U.N. Security Council this month.Timothy A. Clary/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images The 'messy middle' If you live in most any Western country, your government's support for Ukraine, including sending weapons and imposing sanctions on Russia, can give the impression of a united global response to Vladimir Putin's invasion. But that isn't the case. Most of the world's 195 countries have not shipped aid to Ukraine or joined in sanctions. A handful have actively supported Russia. Far more occupy the "messy middle," as Carisa Nietsche of the Center for a New American Security calls it, taking neither Ukraine's nor Russia's side. "We live in a bubble, here in the U.S. and Europe, where we think the very stark moral and geopolitical stakes, and framework of what we're seeing unfolding, is a universal cause," Barry Pavel, a senior vice president at the Atlantic Council, told me. "Actually, most of the governments of the world are not with us." Today's newsletter offers a guide to some of those countries and why they have committed to their stances. National interests India and Israel are prominent democracies that ally with the U.S. on many issues, particularly security. But they rely on Russia for security as well and have avoided arming Ukraine or imposing sanctions on Moscow. "In both cases, the key factor isn't ideology but national interests," says my colleague Max Fisher, who has written about Russia's invasion. India is the world's largest buyer of Russian weapons, seeking to protect itself from Pakistan and China. India joined 34 other countries in abstaining from a United Nations vote that condemned Russia's invasion of Ukraine, as you can see on the map below. And India appears to be rebuffing Western pleas to take a harder line. The United Nations vote took place on March 2. Some countries did not formally submit votes. | Source: United Nations Israel coordinates with Russia on Iran, its chief adversary, and in neighboring Syria (with which Russia has a strong relationship). Russian-speaking émigrés from the former Soviet Union also make up a sizable chunk of the Israeli electorate. Israel's prime minister has avoided directly criticizing Putin, and though its government has mediated between Ukraine and Russia, little has come out of the effort. Several Latin American, Southeast Asian and African countries have made similar choices. Bolivia, Vietnam and almost half of Africa's 54 countries declined to support the U.N. resolution condemning Russia. Some rely on Russian military assistance, said Bruce Jones, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution. Others don't want to risk jeopardizing trade relations with China, which has parroted Russian propaganda about the war. Those countries "might be more accurately described as disinterested," Max says, unwilling to risk their security or economies "for the sake of a struggle that they see as mostly irrelevant." West skeptics Some countries, citing the West's history of imperialism and past failures to respect human rights, have justified opposing its response to Ukraine. South Africa's president blamed NATO for Russia's invasion, and its U.N. ambassador criticized the U.S. invasion of Iraq during a debate last month about Ukraine's humanitarian crisis. Other countries, including some that voted to condemn Russia's invasion, accuse the West of acting counterproductively. Brazil's U.N. ambassador has suggested that arming Ukraine and imposing sanctions on Russia risk escalating the war. "There's nothing intellectually incoherent between viewing Russia's actions as outrageous and not necessarily fully siding with the West's reaction to it," Jones told me. Autocratic leaders — including in the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Nicaragua — may also feel threatened by Ukraine's resistance and the West's framing of the invasion as a struggle between democracy and authoritarianism, experts said. "They're concerned that this could inspire opposition movements in their own countries," Nietsche said. Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping in Beijing in February.Alexei Druzhinin/Sputnik, via Agence France-Presse — Getty Images Russia's friends China, with all its economic and military might, has seen the war as a chance to enhance its own geopolitical standing as a counterweight to the U.S. while still maintaining ties to Russia. The countries recently issued a joint statement proclaiming a friendship with "no limits." But China has struggled with the delicate balancing act of honoring that commitment without fully endorsing Russia's invasion: Beijing has denounced Western sanctions but has not appeared to have given Russia weapons or economic aid. "China's support for Russia, while very important, is also carefully hedged and measured," Max says. Four countries — North Korea, Eritrea, Syria and Belarus — outright voted with Russia against the U.N. resolution condemning the invasion of Ukraine. Belarus is a former Soviet state whose autocratic leader asked Putin to help suppress protests in 2020 and allowed Russia to launch part of its invasion from within Belarus. Russia intervened in Syria's civil war on behalf of the Moscow-aligned government there, and Syria is sending fighters who may aid Russian forces in Ukraine. What's next? It's not unusual for countries to avoid picking sides on big global issues. Several stayed neutral during World War II; dozens sought to remain free of both U.S. and Soviet influence during the Cold War. But if the war in Ukraine drags on, Jones said, neutral countries could come under stronger international pressure to condemn Moscow. And for countries with close ties to Russia, even neutrality can be an act of courage. More on Ukraine The fate of Mariupol, in the southeast, hinges on a battle at a steel factory, where Ukrainian forces are holding out. Capturing Mariupol would create a land bridge between Russia's stronghold in Crimea and eastern Ukraine. Russian forces fired missiles at Lviv, in western Ukraine, killing at least six people. It's part of a pattern of attacking cities even as they prepare for an offensive in the east. In Russia, brutal crimes by soldiers are rarely investigated or acknowledged — let alone punished. A Ukrainian village is haunted by the disappearance of five men who went to feed the cows. Continue reading the main story A MESSAGE FROM Apple Apply for Apple Card on iPhone Use Apple Card right away when you apply on iPhone. Terms apply. Apply now THE LATEST NEWS The Virus The White House recommended that Americans over 60 get a second Covid booster shot. (Anyone 50 or older is eligible.) Scientists are looking for clearer ways to explain Covid risks. Economic data shows that China's strict lockdowns are hurting its vast economy. Other Big Stories Donald Trump has transformed Mar-a-Lago's bridal suite into a shadow G.O.P. headquarters, from which he has raised over $120 million. It has become more deadly to be homeless in the U.S., especially for men in their 50s and 60s. A spring storm is heading toward the Northeast, particularly New York, and may bring heavy, wet snow. Marine Le Pen, the far-right contender to become France's president, has proposed a ban on Muslim women wearing head scarves in public. Opinions To win the next election, Democrats need to deliver on their promises from the last one, Senator Elizabeth Warren argues. Gail Collins and Bret Stephens discuss Elon Musk's bid to buy Twitter. Journalism like this is only possible with subscribers. Support the reporting that goes into The Morning. Subscribe to The Times with this special offer. MORNING READS Devon Henry and his company have taken down 23 monuments in the South.Sanjay Suchak Monuments: A Black contractor has become Virginia's go-to Confederate statue remover. The future: A.I. is mastering language. Should we trust what it says? Soul mates: More than 50 years after Otis Redding's death, Zelma Redding hasn't stopped loving him. Scene report: A casual dinner series has become one of the most coveted invitations in Los Angeles. Quiz time: The average score on our latest news quiz was 9.3. Can you do better? A Times classic: Actually, cats like people! Lives Lived: Kevin Lippert began by selling reprints of classics from the trunk of his car and became what one architect called an "impresario for the culture of architecture." He died at 63. ARTS AND IDEAS A Barnes & Noble store in Hingham, Mass.Cody O'Loughlin for The New York Times Books' big-box embrace Once upon a time, Barnes & Noble was the nemesis of indie booksellers across America. Now, it's important to their survival, The Times's Elizabeth Harris reports. Many book enthusiasts and writers used to see the chain as "strong-arming publishers and gobbling up independent stores," Elizabeth writes. But in today's book landscape, upended by online sales, Barnes & Noble helps readers discover new titles and publishers stay invested in distributing in physical stores, a boon for booksellers of all sizes. "It would be a disaster if they went out of business," a literary agent said. "There's a real fear that without this book chain, the print business would be way off." Barnes & Noble's success stemmed from offering big discounts on best sellers and an enormous variety of books. Amazon supersized that formula: Its discounts are steeper, it has a seemingly endless selection of books, and it now sells more than half the physical books in the U.S. What's lost in that process are the accidental finds — the books that readers pick up in a store. Such discovery in chain and indie bookstores is crucial for writers who aren't established names. "The more Amazon's market share grows, the less discovery there is overall, and the less new voices are going to be heard," the founder of an independent publisher said. PLAY, WATCH, EAT What to Cook Bobbi Lin for The New York Times Citrus-dressed salmon roasted over potatoes is a flavorful one-pan meal. What to Listen to Get to know Tokischa, a gleefully raunchy Dominican rapper who has collaborated with J Balvin and Rosalía. What to Read Jennifer Grey, the "Dirty Dancing" star, opens up about rhinoplasty gone wrong, the implosion of her career and more in a memoir. Late Night "Saturday Night Live" featured Easter greetings from political figures and a flute solo by Lizzo. Now Time to Play The pangram from yesterday's Spelling Bee was chemical. Here is today's puzzle — or you can play online. Here's today's Wordle. Here's today's Mini Crossword, and a clue: Team (five letters). If you're in the mood to play more, find all our games here. Thanks for spending part of your morning with The Times. See you tomorrow. P.S. A 1949 cartoon in The Times depicted Stalin as the Easter Bunny. Here's today's front page. "The Daily" is about student loans. "Sway" features the playwright Tony Kushner. Claire Moses, Tom Wright-Piersanti, Ashley Wu and Sanam Yar contributed to The Morning. You can reach the team at themorning@nytimes.com. Sign up here to get this newsletter in your inbox. Need help? Review our newsletter help page or contact us for assistance. You received this email because you signed up for the Morning newsletter from The New York Times, or as part of your New York Times account. To stop receiving these emails, unsubscribe or manage your email preferences. Subscribe to The TimesGet The New York Times app Connect with us on: Change Your EmailPrivacy PolicyContact UsCalifornia Notices The New York Times Company. 620 Eighth Avenue New York, NY 10018

Fwd: Portugal Versus Panama

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From: Kathleen Peddicord <editorial@liveandinvestoverseas.com>
Date: Mon, Apr 18, 2022 at 4:40 PM
Subject: Portugal Versus Panama
To: <stevescott@techacq.com>

Panama Vs. Portugal: Comparing The Five Flags | Too Many Emails?

Portugal Versus Panama April 18, 2022 Lisbon, Portugal PLUS: Can You Have A Gun In Belize?… The Benefits Of Raising Children Overseas… Choosing Cartagena… Get Up Close With The Real Panama... You probably know at least a little about Panama City... It's right next to the Panama Canal. It's a vibrant, electric place of business, banking, and entertainment. And it's the hub from which you can easily reach most major cities in the Americas. But there's more to Panama than meets the eye... Ignore the Panama of the news and the marketing hype... This video footage reveals the real Panama. Dear Overseas Opportunity Letter Reader, Kathleen and I are en route today from Paris to Lisbon in time to host this week's Live And Invest In Portugal Conference. Repositioning from the New World to the Old, as we did over the weekend, reminds me that Americans often dismiss Europe for offshore lifestyle and investment options thinking the region is too complicated or too expensive. The truth is that some European countries can be cheaper than destinations that might much sooner come to mind for obtaining residency or investing in real estate. Portugal is one of them. Indeed, the go-offshore opportunities in Portugal are many, ranging from real estate investment in short-term rentals and renovation projects to residency and citizenship programs of note. Panama, where I spend at least half my year these days and where I've been investing for more than 20 years, is, for many, a granddaddy offshore haven. How does Portugal stack up against the competition? Here's an offshore-flag-by-offshore-flag comparison… Real Estate Investment Property markets in Portugal sailed through the pandemic. Prices have appreciated steadily over the past two years, and markets have remained active and liquid with people buying remotely thanks to video walk-throughs. The country changed its Golden Visa requirements disqualifying the more active markets along the coast, including Lisbon and Porto. That has changed the focus for Golden Visa buyers. Property prices in general in Portugal remain low for Europe, but they aren't the absolute bargain they were when I bought back in 2015. New construction or the lack thereof is one reason prices have remained strong. Net rental yields are down from when I bought in 2015, as well. You can find properties netting 5% or more annually, but they are rare. More realistic right now is closer to 4%. Still, for those wanting to be in Europe, Portuguese real estate offers excellent value. Panama, on the other hand, is offering up pandemic bargains. One developer I know had to repossess units from buyers who weren't able to keep up with payments. He's re-releasing these at relative bargain pricing. Similar story for another developer whose third-party investor bailed on the project. Those units are on sale now at a discounted US$2,000 a square meter. The short-term rental market has come back strong in Panama and contacts in the industry report a growing number of people looking to move to Panama but not buy… meaning long-term rental demand, as well. You should expect net yields in the range of 5% to 8% in most areas. Neither Lagos nor any of the other towns along Portugal's Algarve coast can compete with Panama City for access. On the flip side, Panama City doesn't have the Old World charm of Lagos and the rest of the Algarve. The primary benefit you have buying in Portugal right now is thanks to the currency. The dollar is roaring in euroland. Residency Panama offers more than a dozen residency visa options and qualifying for them can be easy... but not cheap. Between government fees and attorney costs, expect a pensionado residency visa to run you about US$3,000 all in. You need at least US$1,000 a month from a pension or Social Security to qualify for Panama's retirement visa. In Portugal, you need 1,200 euros. A couple in Panama needs US$1,250, 1,500 euros in Portugal. The cost of applying for a resident visa in Portugal will run you about the same as in Panama. For this fee, you'll also get help from your immigration attorney setting up a bank account, obtaining the required tax ID number, and other processes related to becoming a legal resident. Citizenship Pensionado residency status in Panama didn't originally lead to citizenship, but pensioners petitioned for that to change and, in theory, can now qualify. The requirement is five years of permanent residency status. I don't know any pensionado residency holders who have applied for citizenship in Panama so cannot speak to the ease or the speed of the process. I do, however, know a couple of people who applied for citizenship under a different residency program after their five years of permanent residency. In one case, the naturalization process took more than three years. In other words, don't expect to have that second passport from Panama quickly once you're eligible to apply. Portuguese residency can lead to citizenship after five years of legal residency… and, fascinating and charming to me, after 10 years of illegal residency. If you're able to get away with living in Portugal for 10 years without formalizing your status, the Portuguese seem to think you deserve the chance to continue. I don't recommend putting the theory to the test. A Portuguese passport is an EU passport, meaning that, once you've qualified for one, you could live and work in any EU nation. An EU passport is one of the world's most useful travel documents, allowing for visa-free to more destinations than a Panamanian passport. In both cases, you'll need to show you have "settled" in the country and have spent significant time in the country. You can't get residency as a backup plan, spend the minimum time in the country required to maintain your residency (one day every two years in the case of Panama), and expect to have your naturalization approved. Taxes This is where Panama eclipses most competition. With its jurisdictional approach to taxation and tax exemptions for bank interest and agricultural income as well as tax incentives for tourism projects and businesses operating in certain targeted zones (Panama Pacífico, for example), Panama makes it possible for you to organize your life and your business so that you and it pay little or no tax. Portugal is not a no-tax or even a low-tax jurisdiction, but it does offer options for reducing your tax burden. Specifically, the country has what they call the Non-Habitual Resident (NHR) Program. Under the NHR, as a new resident in Portugal, you receive a break on taxes on most if not all of your income for 10 years. I recommend seeking local tax advice to understand how this would play out given your circumstances before applying. As Portugal taxes residents on worldwide income, the NHR tax exemption can be an important advantage. To qualify for the NHR program, you must not have been resident in Portugal at any point during the previous five years. Lief Simon Editor, Offshore Living Letter P.S. This week's Live And Invest In Portugal Conference is sold out. However, if you weren't able to secure a seat in the room with us in Carvoeiro, you don't have to miss out. You can participate live thanks to our Portugal Virtual Pass. Go here now for the details. Access Livestream For The Biggest Portugal Event Of The Year We've set up a livestreaming option that puts you right inside the room of this incredibly popular conference this week.  Our Live And Invest In Portugal Virtual Pass, lets you access the same insights as those with us on the ground, including: The top regions for lifestyle or investment... the best beach towns... the most charming Old World towns... the best-value coastal markets... and how much you should expect to spend on rent or when buying a home in each one...  How to choose where to base yourself... and where to rent for the equivalent of US$600 a month or less...  Lessons learned from both the good and the bad experiences of resident expats who were once just like you...  Full details on Portugal's residency and retirement visas, including duty-free import of your household goods and vehicles, tax benefits, easy maintenance, and more... Take a look at the full details, here. MAILBAG "Kathleen, I would like to thank you and your entire team for your valuable information. Every day I get emails from you with interesting information. "I am myself a third-culture kid, having lived and still working in many different countries with my family. "Our 12-year-old son has lived already in seven different countries, and he has this amazing capacity to adapt fast and make friends immediately, just as you describe in your writings, in countries such as China, Philippines, Cameroon, Guinea Conakry, Sri Lanka, France, and currently in Indonesia. "He speaks fluently four languages and learning now French. Despite the fact that with our lifestyle we have considerable experience in living, renting, and buying property in different countries (Colombia in Bogotá and France in Evian), I still learn every day from your emails. We bought thanks to your recommendation in Panama, and we hope to invest more in the future. "Thank you very much for all your great advice. "Best regards." --Iris B., Indonesia *** "Kathleen, just a quick letter to say that my Colombian wife and I have just purchased a two-bedroom apartment on the beaches of Cartagena, Colombia. "Cartagena is a beautiful city with so much growth going on. Currently, we are renting the apartment out and seeing a nice profit, plus we have a place to stay on our trips. "We want to thank you and your organization for helping to start our offshore adventure into the international real estate world." --Brian and Marcela B., United States *** "Kathleen, this is probably an unusual question. I am a U.S. resident with a totally clean record who is greatly concerned with the direction I see my country is heading. Truthfully, I would like to see my family and me outta' here! "I am also a gun collector, and my collection means a great deal to me. Do you know if I can import my collection to Belize?" --Marshall G., United States Belize expat and correspondent Con Murphy responds: No, you can't… though you may be able to import individual guns, one at a time. Once you've established residency in Belize, you can apply for a permit for a long-arm hunting or target-shooting gun permit. These are fairly easily available. To get a concealed-carry permit you will need to show cause for needing one, but that cause can be as simple as a lady living alone, a person who has reason to carry cash, etc. You can then import one gun per permit, but you will not be issued more than one permit per application and you won't be allowed multiple applications in a single year. I know people who have imported several guns into the country, but it took them years. More From Live and Invest Overseas

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Thanks for reading Overseas Opportunity Letter, a free daily email service brought to you six days a week by Live and Invest Overseas publications. To learn more or to subscribe, see: https://www.liveandinvestoverseas.com Free Live and Invest Overseas Resources: Offshore Living Letter Overseas Property Alert In Focus: Belize In Focus: Panama In Focus: Europe Live and Invest Overseas Confidential More Live and Invest Overseas Resources: Overseas Living Letter Panama Letter Simon Letter Global Property Advisor International Health Insurance Report Residency Guide Overseas Living Unlimited All Access Pass Live and Invest Overseas is: Founder and President: Kathleen Peddicord Publisher: Harry Kalashian Chief Real Estate Editor and Offshore Living Letter Editor: Lief Simon Overseas Property Alert Editor: Con Murphy Latin America Correspondent: Lee Harrison Editor At Large: Kat Kalashian Intrepid Correspondent: Paul Terhorst Euro-Correspondent: Lucy Culpepper Our writers and contributors greatly value your comments, questions, and feedback, good and bad. If you have a particular area of expertise you'd like to share insights on, we'd love to hear from you. Reach us at: Editorial@liveandinvestoverseas.com. We welcome letters to the editor and do our best to respond to every reader email we receive. Please note that, if you would prefer that we not publish your letter to the editor, please indicate that in your email. Otherwise, please understand that we might choose to include your letter in one of our publications. Copyright © 2022 Live and Invest Overseas. All Rights Reserved. Protected by copyright laws of the United States and international treaties. If you have any questions or feedback, get in touch at CustomerService@liveandinvestoverseas.com. We sent this email to you because you or someone using your email address subscribed to this service. If you have not already done so, please whitelist Overseas Opportunity Letter. This will help us ensure you get every e-letter without interruption. Nothing in this e-letter or any communication with Live and Invest Overseas, its employees, or its agents may be construed as counsel on personal investments. Employees, the Principals, as well as Live and Invest Overseas may be invested in specific markets, companies, or real estate opportunities covered in the material. Live and Invest Overseas may also have marketing agreements and/or receive advertising fees, commissions, or other compensation from companies, developers, or individuals with investments, products, or services covered in our publications. You should always seek professional investment or legal advice and do your own due diligence, including the thorough review of any business plan, private placement memorandum, or offering material of any kind before investing or buying products or services covered in our publication. While Live and Invest Overseas does its own due diligence before writing about or recommending any investment, product, or service, you as our reader may not rely on this due diligence or substitute it for doing your own due diligence. Live and Invest Overseas is not responsible for the success or failure of any investment, the increase or decrease of any real estate purchase, or the successful fulfillment of any product or service about which we write. This newsletter may be used only pursuant to the subscription agreement, and any reproduction, copying, or distribution (or redistribution), electronic or otherwise (including on the worldwide web), in whole or in part, is strictly prohibited without the express written permission of the publisher, Live and Invest Overseas, Calle Alberto Navarro, Casa No. 45 (El Cangrejo), Panama, Republic of Panama.

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