24th January 2018
CHINA PURSUING ANTI-SURVEILLANCE SATELLITE WEAPONS
The Cipher Brief reports that China is aggressively pursuing capabilities such as anti-satellite (ASAT) weapons that could diminish the U.S. military’s reconnaissance, navigation and communications in case of war in the South China Sea or on the Korean Peninsula. The article claims that it has spent more than a decade exploring technology for interfering with foreign satellites. Non-kinetic means have included directed energy or cyber capabilities, while kinetic approaches include direct-ascent missiles and co-orbital platforms travelling alongside satellites in orbit. Much of this counter-space research has taken place with dual-use capabilities that provide a level of deniability. That could be hiding Chinese intent to develop ASAT capabilities for deployment during a time of crisis.
https://www.thecipherbrief.com/beijing-goes-boldly-anti-satellite-weapons-frontier
US CAPACITY TO BLOCK NORTH KOREAN SHIPMENTS AND REVENUE “INADEQUATE”
In an article in the Washington Free Beacon CIA Directors is quoted as saying that the US believes its capacity to block international shipments into North Korea is inadequate amid US efforts to choke off revenue to Pyongyang’s military programmes. He also said that a fundamental risk of North Korea developing its missile and nuclear capabilities is proliferation to rogue states such as Iran.
24 COUNTRIES’ PLEDGE ON CHEMICAL WEAPONS USE – AND NEW WEBSITE
The Anadolu Agency reports that foreign ministers and diplomats from 24 countries have endorsed a set of commitments aimed at strengthening co-operation in the fight against chemical weapons amid reports of a suspected attack using such prohibited arms in Syria. The commitment to the new plan, initiated by France, was made during a conference on International Partnership against Impunity for the Use of Chemical Weapons in Paris. Under the partnership, which does not replace existing international mechanisms, countries will share information on the subject and compile lists of people involved in the use of chemical weapons. As part of the partnership, a website has been launched. It compiles a list with all the names of the individuals and entities that have been sanctioned by the participating countries — in particular the US, EU and France – for their role in chemical attacks in the development of chemical programmes-
https://www.noimpunitychemicalweapons.org/-en-.html
http://aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/24-states-endorse-paris-plan-to-fight-chemical-weapons/1040350
INTERNET OF THINGS TO BOOST INTERNATIONAL MARKET FOR SENSORS
Security Info Watch reports that, according to a report by Frost & Sullivan, the total sensors market in security and surveillance applications, which includes such sensors as image, LiDAR, RFID, motion, gesture, biometric, sound, flame detection, smoke detection, biosensor, gas, and explosion detection, was worth just north of $6.2 million in 2016, with image sensors holding the largest market share at 23%. By 2023, the market is expected to be nearly double that at just over $12 million. This increase is said to be due to the proliferation of the Internet of Things driving new opportunities for sensors in security and surveillance applications. The Asian-Pacific (APAC) market is the fastest growing due to rapid infrastructure development, strong economic growth, and favourable government regulations.
ITALY – NEW MEASURES TO SIMPLIFY DUAL-USE EXPORT TRANSACTIONS AND SANCTIONS RELATED TO TRADE EMBARGOES AND PROLIFERATING MATERIALS
On 22nd January, Paul Hastings LLP published an article saying that a new law had come into force in Italy on 17th January that aimed to organise and simplify the authorization procedures for the export of dual-use items and technologies and torture/repression goods, and definitively adapt the Italian legal framework to applicable EU Regulations. The new Decree is described as being the only national source governing dual-use items/technologies transactions, replacing previous obsolete and fragmented rules, with the aim of providing companies with a more friendly and clear legal framework. The article claims that Italy authorises 1500 to 1800 exports of dual-use and strategic items with an overall value of €1 billion, and is the eighth biggest exporter of dual-use items and technologies. The article goes on to provide basic details of the new law, the types of licence available and the sanctions for breaching its provisions.
https://www.paulhastings.com/publications-items/details/?id=9febed69-2334-6428-811c-ff00004cbded
LARGE INCREASE IN NORWAY’S ARMS EXPORTS
News in English reports that statistics bureau SSB (Statistics Norway) show that sale proceeds from Norway’s weapon exports reached $436 million. That’s up by nearly NOK 1.5 billion from the year before, marking an increase of nearly 80%. Aftenposten reported that around half the value of the weapons exported went to fellow NATO member countries. Of them, the US bought NOK 655 million worth of Norwegian defence material and Poland NOK 382 million. Sales to non-NATO nations, however, were nearly triple those in 2016, mostly because Oman bought “weapons and weapon parts” for more than NOK 1 billion – making it Norway’s single-biggest weapons customer after it ordered and took delivery last year of a Norwegian Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS) from state-owned Kongsberg Gruppen.
http://www.newsinenglish.no/2018/01/23/critics-blast-jump-in-weapon-exports/
GOLD FROM THE DRC – A UGANDA PERSPECTIVE
The Dispatch in Uganda carries an interesting article providing a slightly different perspective on gold mining and related issues in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). It starts by noting that in a bid to find a lasting solution to the political problems in the DRC, the UN is looking at, among others, the sources from which the different rebel groups in DRC derive their finances and is bent on making sure that these sources are blocked. In most of the reports compiled by the UN to this effect, it has been noted that the illegal trade in Congolese minerals is one of the biggest sources of income for rebel groups. The most readily available minerals in Congo are gold, diamonds, coltan and cassiterite and it is these, according to the UN reports, that are keeping rebellion in Congo alive. However, the article then goes on to report the activities and lives of the people on the ground, and how the gold is removed to Uganda and Tanzania. The reporter even travels to Dubai to interview a representative of a company called Asia Exchange Centre (AEC), linked to people mentioned in a UN report on illegal gold mining in DRC. Finally, the article also reports a major Russian-owned gold refinery recently opened in Uganda – despite the country so far having minimal gold deposits, said to be set up to use and legitimize DRC gold, and with the stated intention of having appropriate export licences for its output.
http://dispatch.ug/2011/05/12/trade-congolese-gold-dilemma/
EUROPEAN SUPERVISORY AUTHORITIES’ OPINION ON USE OF INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS IN AML/CFT
On 23rd January, Mondo Visione reported that the Joint Committee of the 3 European Supervisory Authorities (EBA, EIOPA and ESMA – together referred to as ESA) have published an Opinion on the use of innovative solutions by credit and financial institutions when complying with their customer due diligence (CDD) obligations. This Opinion is described as part of the ESAs’ wider work on creating a common understanding on the responsible and effective use of innovation by credit and financial institutions, which can enhance their AML/CFT controls. The news release from the ESA points out that EU law is technology-neutral and does not set out in detail how these CDD measures should be applied, giving an opportunity to financial and non-financial innovators to explore new ways of meeting institutions’ CDD obligations. While these innovations can improve the effectiveness and efficiency of AML/CFT controls, there is a risk that they could weaken ML/TF safeguards, if applied unthinkingly. An example of new technology use are solutions that involve non-face-to-face verification of customers may contain built-in features that can establish whether the identity document presented belongs to the person presenting it. The ESA aim to foster the development of a common understanding between national competent authorities across the EU of the appropriate use of innovative solutions and encourage national competent authorities to support those solutions where these improve the effectiveness and efficiency of AML/CFT compliance.
The Opinion proposes that national competent authorities should consider –
- oversight and control mechanisms;
- the quality and adequacy of CDD measures;
- the reliability of CDD measures;
- delivery channel risks; and
- geographical risks.
ISRAEL – 11 ARRESTED IN ILLEGAL GAMBLING BUST AFTER RAID ON GAMBLING BOAT
On 24th January, the Jerusalem Post reported that the Israel Tax Authority and the Israel Police have detained 11 suspects in an investigation of laundering money obtained from illegal gambling. The investigations are a continuation of the police investigation in August 2017, in which policemen raided a gambling boat in Eilat. In August, police raided the Atlantic X ship in Eilat Port. It is suspected that the boat operated as an illegal gambling ship. The police also suspect that either gambling or the beginning of a crime took place on land in Israel.
www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Eleven-detained-suspected-of-laundering-gambling-gains-539651
EXAMPLE OF HOW PRIVATBANK USED “LOANS” TO GET MONEY OUT OF UKRAINE
Reuters on 24th January reports that when Ukrainian company Profit signed a $48.5 million deal with a British firm in 2014, it became part of what prosecutors in Ukraine say was a potentially criminal scheme that moved $1.7 billion from the country’s biggest lender to offshore accounts. A loan from under-investigation PrivatBank paid for a purchase from Trade Point Agro Ltd. It is alleged that Trade Point Agro failed to deliver the goods and deposited the money in PrivatBank’s Cyprus branch, and when a Ukrainian court ruled against Trade Point Agro and ordered it to repay Profit, Trade Point Agro did not appeal against the ruling but did not pay the money back. This has been given an example of how money was fraudulently extracted from the bank and Ukraine.
FIRST US CONVICTION INVOLVING USE OF HAWALA TO LAUNDER DRUGS MONEY
The LA Business Journal on 24th January reported that Federal prosecutors had announced the conviction of a man in an unusual scheme that used an informal network of brokers to launder money from sales of illicit drugs – this was said to be the first major case in the U.S. of someone being tried for laundering drug money through a network of brokers known as hawala. Harinder “Sonu” Singh, 32, was found guilty of conspiracy to commit money laundering, conspiracy to – and operating of – an unlicensed money transmitting business. The indictment alleged that Singh used this hawala network to transfer money he received from narcotics traffickers, including some associated with the Sinaloa Cartel based in Mexico’s Sinaloa province. Federal agents succeeded in wiretapping calls in the Punjabi language that allowed them to track the transfers.
http://labusinessjournal.com/news/2018/jan/23/monrovia-man-convicted-scheme-using-brokers-launde/
ONECOIN DENIES INVOLVEMENT IN CRIME
The Sofia Globe on 24th January reported that cryptocurrency business OneCoin claimed that media reports about a crime group using OneCoin are “untrue and misleading to the public”. This was 4 days after Bulgaria’s Special Prosecutor’s Office said that it was involved in an international operation to neutralise a large-scale pyramid structure involving commercial fraud, multi-level marking and money laundering through the creation and distribution of OneCoin.
https://sofiaglobe.com/2018/01/23/onecoin-reports-of-money-laundering-untrue-and-misleading/
UK SURVEY OF ADDICTIVE PRESCRIPTION DRUGS
On 24th January, Sky News reported that Public Health England had been asked to carry out a survey of the “growing problem” of prescription drug addiction. It is said that 1 patient in 11 is now being prescribed potentially addictive drugs. The US is in the grip of a crisis over opiod over-use, and the aim of the UK survey is to seek to prevent such a crisis in the UK.
http://www.manxradio.com/news/uk-news/prescription-drug-addiction-study-to-avoid-us-style-epidemic/
EUROPEAN COMMISSION PUBLISHES A REPORT ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE UNION CUSTOMS CODE
On 22nd January, CCH Daily carried a piece that said that an EU report had found no major legislative problems during first 8 months of implementation of the UCC, and any technical errors that have become evident since it replaced the Community Customs Code in May 2016 have been rapidly solved.
https://www.accountancylive.com/cch_uk/cln/news_005379_union_customs_code_report
https://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/node/1039_enws/
AMENDED CHINESE OVERSEAS INVESTMENT AUTHORISATION AND MONITORING PROCEDURES INTRODUCED
HKTDC on 24th January reported that new rules in China mean that all investments in geographical regions or business sectors deemed to be “sensitive” will now be subject to approval by the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC). This stipulation applies to all projects either directly launched by mainland investors or via any overseas enterprises controlled by them. In the case of projects deemed to be “non-sensitive”, it is only required that details of the project are filed with the relevant body.
RUSSIAN LNG FOR THE US
On 24th January Reuters recounted the tale of how the US will continue importing LNG this winter, despite Trump claims to make the US free of reliance on foreign energy. Even more surprising: that the country could import its first Russian LNG produced by Yamal LNG, a facility subject to US financial sanctions – the controlling share of Yamal LNG is owned by Russia’s Novatek, which has been under US financial sanctions since 2014 due to Russia’s annexation of Crimea and the war in eastern Ukraine., The cargo at the heart of the controversy is carried by the Gaselys, a tanker that was approaching Boston after various delays and an unusually circuitous course generated intense speculation among energy analysts – the gas was even temporarily stored at the Isle of Grain in the UK. The article also reflects on the success of the Russian LNG sector, despite sanctions and other concerns.
3 “GHOST BUILDERS” SENTENCED FOR £1 MILLION HOUSING VAT FRAUD
CCH Daily reports that 3 fraudsters have been sentenced to a total of 10 years’ in jail after stealing over £1 million in VAT repayments for building houses that never existed, while 2 of the scammers have been sentenced in their absence after absconding. The fraud was discovered by HMRC’s VAT Repayment Taskforce which carried out checks on the businesses after no credible evidence of any property sales was provided to HMRC.
https://www.accountancylive.com/trio-sentenced-ps1m-property-vat-scam?src=ilaw
CHINA TRIES TO SUPRESS PROTESTS AFTER COLLAPSE OF FRAUDULENT INVESTMENTS
ABC News reports that Chinese authorities are struggling to quell protests following the collapse of an investment scheme police say took as much as $4.7 billion from millions of depositors. Qianbao.com adds to a string of failures of Chinese financial ventures blamed on fraud or mismanagement that have prompted protests and complaints of official indifference to the suffering of small investors. In a separate case, the founder of an online lender was sentenced in September to life in prison on charges he defrauded investors of $7.7 billion.
MALI’S FRAGILE PEACE
ETH Zurich reports that despite a large international civilian and military presence, Mali continues to struggle with widespread insecurity and Islamist extremism, and that key reasons relate to Mali’s chronic poverty problems, ethnic tensions and a weak state apparatus.
UK SIGNS UP TO OECD TAX CO-OPERATION PILOT
CCH Daily reports that the UK has signed up to a voluntary programme being tested out by the OECD’s Forum on Tax Administration that will use country-by-country reports and other information to facilitate open and co-operative multilateral engagements between multinational groups and tax administrations. The initiative, called the international compliance assurance programme (ICAP) was launched in Washington DC and includes 8 member tax administrations: Australia, Canada, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Spain, UK, US.
https://www.accountancylive.com/oecd-pilots-international-tax-compliance-assurance-programme
The programme handbook is at –
JERSEY FSC EXPLAINS HOW IT PROBES REGULATED ENTITIES
Tax News on 24th January reported that the Jersey FSC, has published a guide setting out how it will conduct examinations of regulated persons, from first contact to conclusion.
https://www.lowtax.net/news/Jersey-FSC-Explains-How-It-Probes-Regulated-Entities_76284.html
JERSEY REGULATORS AGREE TO SHARE INFORMATION
Tax News also reported on 24th January that Jersey’s financial services regulator, FSC, and the Law Society of Jersey have signed an MoU on information sharing concerning “dual regulated” persons. Under the terms of the memorandum, information held on persons under the supervision of both authorities may be exchanged in connection with that person’s application to be registered, licensed, or recognised.
https://www.lowtax.net/news/Jersey-Regulators-Agree-To-Share-Information_76285.html
UK CYBER SECURITY BREACHES SURVEY 2018
The UK Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport on 24th January released a survey detailing business and charity action on cyber security and the costs and impacts of cyber breaches and attacks, to inform Government policy on cyber security and how Government works with industry to make Britain one of the most secure places to do business online. The Department says that it is being published in advance of the full report of the 2018 Cyber Security Breaches Survey, to provide insight into how aware and prepared businesses and charities are for the General Data Protection Regulation (or GDPR), the foundation of the new Data Protection Act which is due to be introduced in May 2018.
JUST BECAUSE THE HEADLINE CAUGHT MY EYE – SAUDI ARABIA BANS BOTOX FROM CAMEL BEAUTY PAGEANT
http://www.customstoday.com.pk/saudi-arabia-bans-botox-from-camel-beauty-pageant/
UAE AIRPORTS FACE LESS STRESS FROM NEW US CARGO REGULATIONS
Customs Today on 24th January reported that the 2 hub airports of the UAE, Dubai and Abu Dhabi, face less pressure compared to other Gulf hubs, in adhering to new air cargo compliance procedures and additional screening ordered by the US, aviation experts said. Already both airports are fully compliant with all regulatory security requirements across their operations and the new US requirement for additional screening therefore will have minimal impact on freight movements to the US, they said. US authorities is requiring additional screening of cargo on flights departing for the US from 5 Middle East countries.
http://www.customstoday.com.pk/uae-airports-face-less-stress-from-new-us-cargo-regulations/
TRADER PLEADS GUILTY TO $13 MILLION WIRE FRAUD SCHEME
On 23rd January, Law 360 reports that Thomas Lindstrom, 49, an Illinois trader is accused of exploiting a Chicago Board of Trade rule to create false profits and cause his firm to fold after losing more than $13 million and has pleaded guilty to wire fraud over the scheme.
https://www.law360.com/articles/1004722
JERSEY BREXIT LAW
On 23rd January Jersey has taken the first step in a series of Brexit-related measures with a draft law laying the foundation for the changes Jersey will need to make as a result of Brexit being lodged by the Minister for External Relations. The European Union Repeal and Amendment Law will enable the States to swiftly implement changes to local legislation and ensure a smooth transition to Jersey’s new relationship with the EU.
https://www.gov.je/News/2018/Pages/Minister-lodges-Brexit-law.aspx
STM TO LEAVE GIBRALTAR FOR UK
On 24th January, International Adviser reported that STM Group Plc, the cross border financial services provider, said it will move its headquarters out of Gibraltar, where it is subject to a police Money Laundering Unit investigation, and relocate to the UK this month.
https://international-adviser.com/stm-move-hq-gibraltar/
HRW REPORT REVEALS MASSIVE RIGHTS ABUSES IN THAILAND FISHING INDUSTRY
On 24th January, the Jurist website reported that Human Rights Watch NGO has released a report and a 15-minute video at the European Parliament documenting widespread rights abuses and forced labour conditions in Thailand’s fishing fleets. Called “i,” the report details the trafficking of migrant fishers from neighboring countries in SE Asia for fishing work in Thailand under conditions where the workers are prevented from changing employers, not paid on time or paid below the minimum wage. According to the report, migrant workers do not receive Thailand’s labour law protections and do not have the right to form a labour union.
LARGE INCREASE IN UK COURT CASES FAILING DUE TO DISCLOSURE PROBLEMS
On 24th January the BBC reported that the number of prosecutions in England and Wales that collapsed because of a failure by police or prosecutors to disclose evidence increased by 70% in the last 2 years, and in the last year, 916 people had charges dropped over a failure to disclose evidence – up from 537 in 2014-15. A CPS spokesperson said the number of dropped cases due to evidence disclosure failures represented just 0.15% of the total number of prosecutions.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-42795058
On the National Police Chiefs’ Council website, Chief Constable Nick Ephgrave, NPCC Lead for Criminal Justice comments on changing the culture on disclosure. He says that an issue facing the investigator, then, is how can one realistically review and document all of that, especially when they may have seized a number of devices? He says that by the end of the month, the NPCC will publish the finalised plan for driving improvements with ambitious timescales because it wants to do all it can, as quickly as it can, to get disclosure right.
US MAN SENTENCED FOR WILDLIFE IMPORTS
The LA Times reported that a California man was sentenced Monday to 5 months in federal prison for smuggling king cobras into the US hidden in potato chip cans, federal prosecutors said. Rodrigo Franco, 35, pleaded guilty to one count of wildlife smuggling in September. Franco was arrested in July after a months-long investigation that also involved the seizure of a young crocodile, 3 alligator snapping turtles and 5 diamondback terrapins, all of which are protected species, federal officials said. For months, according to federal court records, Franco used WhatsApp, a smartphone messaging platform, to negotiate shipments of animals to and from Hong Kong.
www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-snake-smuggling-sentencing-20180123-story.html
ARE E-SPORTS THE NEXT BIG SENSATION?
CMS Law asks this question, saying that when talking about eSports it is important to differentiate between eSports and competitive gaming. There are some computer games that people may like to play, such as FIFA’s football games, but which other people are not willing to watch their peers play. When it comes to eSports only a few computer games are capable of attracting high volume audiences.
http://www.cms-lawnow.com/ealerts/2018/01/is-esports-the-next-big-sensation
US AND INDONESIA TO BOOST DEFENCE TIES
Janes.com reports that Indonesia and the US have agreed to expand defence collaboration including efforts to support additional US military sales to the SE Asian country, officials said following US Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis’ visit to Jakarta.
http://www.janes.com/article/77300/indonesia-us-to-boost-defence-trade-ties
HOW TO INVESTIGATE COMPANIES FOUND IN THE OFFSHORE LEAKS DATABASE
On 24Th January the ICIJ published the final of a 3-part series on ways to search its Offshore Leaks Database that now includes more than 680,000 entities from 55 secrecy jurisdictions. The first installment was How to search the Offshore Leaks Database by location. The second looked at the network and metadata in the database.
https://www.icij.org/blog/2018/01/investigate-companies-found-offshore-leaks-database/
CONNECTED COMPLIANCE: THE BUSINESS CASE FOR COMPLIANCE INTEGRATION
A Baker McKenzie survey of compliance leaders across 537 multinational companies with a UK turnover of £1 billion or more uncovers the challenges associated with redefining compliance in today’s complex business world.
https://globalcompliancenews.com/connected-compliance-20180124/
THE MOLDOVA-TRANSDNIESTRIA DILEMMA: LOCAL POLITICS AND CONFLICT RESOLUTION
The Carnegie Moscow Center on 24th January published an update on the situation in respect of the Moldova/Transdniestra situation. It concludes that it is unlikely that the 2018 election will alter the fundamental divisions and balance in the Moldovan population – only real reform, economic growth, and an end to the endemic corruption are likely to change that enduring reality. It also comments that “one cannot engage in mediation in pursuit of a settlement of a protracted conflict such as that between Moldova and its breakaway Transdniestrian entity without being a hopeless optimist”.
http://carnegie.ru/commentary/75329
“BEING A CRS OFFICER IN CALAIS, I KNOW IT’S A USELESS JOB”
Medium carries this anonymous piece, originally published in French in a journal called ebdo, recounting the experiences of a CRS (riot police) officer in Calais.
INDIA’S NUCLEAR & MISSILE PROGRAMMES
Following the launch of India’s Agni-V medium-range ballistic missile this podcast from Arms Control Wonk discusses India’s (oft overlooked) nuclear and missile programmes from rail mobile missiles to the guy who flooded India’s only ballistic missile submarine (which allegedly out of use after diving with a hatch open…).
https://www.armscontrolwonk.com/archive/1204687/agonizing-over-the-agni/
EU ISSUES GUIDANCE, FACTSHEET ETC RE NEW DATA PROTECTION RULES
On 24th January the EU Commission published guidance to facilitate a direct and smooth application of the new data protection rules (GDPR) across the EU as of 25th May. With just over 100 days left before the application of the new law, the guidance outlines what the Commission, national data protection authorities and national administrations should still do to bring the preparation to a successful completion. The Commission also launches a new practical online tool to help citizens, businesses, in particular SME, and other organisations to comply and benefit from the new data protection rules. A press release, Q&A ad factsheet are also available online.
Online tool – http://europa.eu/rapid/europa.eu/dataprotection
News release – http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-18-386_en.htm
Q&A – http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-18-387_en.htm
Factsheet – http://europa.eu/rapid/europa.eu/dataprotection
EU: STEPPING UP THE FIGHT AGAINST RADICALISATION
On 24th January, the European Commission issued a news release that said that in its interim report, the High-Level Expert Group on Radicalisation – set up by the Commission in July 2017 – called for more systematic exchanges on anti-radicalisation between Member States, practitioners and researchers as well as stronger EU support. As a first step to follow up on these recommendations, the Commission will strengthen the co-ordination at EU level to prevent terrorism. The Commission will also strengthen action against radicalisation in prisons, and against terrorist propaganda both online and offline. The Commission is urging online platforms to speed up their efforts to remove online terrorist content as quickly as possible, and is looking into more specific steps to improve the response to terrorist content online, before deciding whether legislation is needed. Following the territorial losses of Daesh in Syria and Iraq, a Commission-organised conference in April will discuss how Member States are dealing with returnees, including women and children.
http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-18-381_en.htm
HOME OFFICE CIRCULAR 6/2017 – UK FIREARMS CONTROL
This Circular is about the new legal provisions on firearms in the Policing and Crime Act 2017 which brought into effect the majority of the recommendations made in the Law Commission’s report ‘Firearms Law – Reforms to Address Pressing Problems’ and made some further changes to the existing firearms legislation. This Circular sets out details of the amendments that the 2017 Act has made to existing firearms legislation, which include a new definition of a “firearm”, a new offence of possessing articles to convert an imitation firearm, defines the exception for airsoft weapons
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/circular-0062017-firearms-controls
Further UK firearms licensing guidance is available at –
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/firearms-licensing-police-guidance
US ADDS 16 INDIVIDUALS, 6 SHIPS AND 9 COMPANIES TO NORTH KOREAN SANCTIONS LISTS
On 24th January WISN.com and the Washington Post reported that OFAC had added 16 individuals, 6 vessels and 9 companies, including North Korea’s Ministry of Crude Oil Industry, to its North Korean sanctions lists. The sanctions are said to be due to North Korea’s “ongoing development of weapons of mass destruction” and “continued violations” of UN Security Council Resolutions, US Treasury officials said in a statement. The Post points out that several of the 16 individuals sanctioned work in China near the North Korean border at the Korea Ryonbong General Corporation, which the Treasury Department already has sanctioned. According to the Treasury Department, Ryonbong supports North Korea’s military, helping it acquire chemicals, drilling equipment, hoses, metal and machines. Some work for Ryonbong in Russia or Georgia, including 1 said to arrange jobs overseas for North Korean laborers whose salaries largely go to the North Korean government. The sanctioned companies are from China and North Korea.
https://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/sanctions/OFAC-Enforcement/Pages/20180124.aspx?src=ilaw
US WATCHDOG ACTS AGAINST ONLINE CRYPTOCURRENCY PLATFORM
On 24th January, Finance Magnate reported that the US derivatives watchdog CFTC said that it has filed charges against privately-held My Big Coin Pay, the corporate parent of the online cryptocurrency payment platform and virtual wallet website MyBigCoin.com. In a criminal complaint filed in Massachusetts district court, the CFTC describes how My Big Coin sold digital tokens known as “MBC” as part of a purported ICO
10 YEAR SENTENCE SOUGHT FOR RUSSIAN FORMER GOVERNOR IN BRIBERY CASE
Rferl reported on 24th January that in Russia the state prosecutor in the high-profile trial of the Kirov region’s ex-governor, Nikita Belykh, who is charged with bribery, has asked the court to sentence him to 10 years in prison. Russian investigators detained him in June 2016, saying they had caught him accepting a bribe of €400,000 at a restaurant in the capital. Once a leader of a liberal opposition party, the Union of Right Forces, Belykh was one of the few provincial governors not to be closely allied with President Putin. Putin dismissed him from his post after his arrest.
https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-belykh-governor-10-year-sentence-fine/28994246.html?src=ilaw
BRIGHTON FOOTBALLER AND WIFE ARRESTED ON TAX FRAUD CHARGES
The Brighton & Hove News on 24th January reported that Brighton and Hove Albion striker Glenn Murray and his wife Stacey were arrested yesterday as part of an investigation into a suspected £1.1 million tax fraud. Both were arrested on suspicion of evading Income Tax and VAT, and cheating the public revenue.
JERSEY CHARITY REGISTER TO BE OPERATIONAL IN MAY 2018
On 24th January Tax News reported that Jersey’s Assistant Chief Minister recently lodged draft regulations with the island’s parliament to enable a new charity register to be introduced on May 1st.
https://www.lowtax.net/news/Jersey-Charities-Register-To-Be-Up-And-Running-By-May-76294.html
AIRLINE STEWARD SMUGGLED DRUGS INTO UK
An NCA news release on 24th January reports that a former airline steward caught with a kilo of heroin at Manchester airport has been jailed for 8 years following a NCA investigation. Zohaab Sadique, 30, of Oldham, flew to Dubai on an Emirates Airline flight in January last year and picked up the drugs. He smuggled them back on the return flight, during which he served food and drink to business class passengers.
IS FAKE $100 “SUPERNOTE” IN CIRCULATION IN US?
Keneth Rijock in his blog on 24th January comments on a “disturbing report” from South Korea, regarding the latest iteration of the infamous North Korean counterfeit US $100 bill, known as the “Supernote,” raises the question: Is it in general circulation in the US, and abroad, and why have no warnings been posted? The December discovery of a counterfeit Series 2006 A $100 note in Seoul has raised alarms in Asia, but curiously, not in the US, which is the generally accepted target of any North Korean attack upon the American economy.
IN SENATE COMMITTEE, WITNESSES QUESTION US GOVERNMENT’S PREPAREDNESS, RESPONSE, COMMITMENT TO COMBATING DISASTERS INCLUDING CBRN CONTAMINATION
Homeland preparedness on 24th January reports that reduced and episodic funding from the US Government has stakeholders questioning the true commitment federal lawmakers have for sustaining the nation’s preparedness and response capabilities during a catastrophic event linked to infectious diseases, natural disasters or chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear (CBRN) agents. This was highlighted in a Senate committee hearing on 23rd January, it seems.
ISLE OF MAN CONFIRMS ASSET FREEZES ON ANDREY KOSTANINOVICH LUGOVOY & DMITRI VADIMOVICH KOVTUN
On 24th January the Isle of Man announced that under Island law, the asset freezes imposed by HM Treasury on the Russians also have effect in the Island.
raytodd.blog 