Day: October 18, 2019

Insight Crime on 18^th October reported that a government official tied to the ruling party in Nicaragua is alleged to have led a sophisticated drug trafficking ring that moved cocaine through Central America, adding to longstanding suspicions of official party links to the international drug trade.  Francisco Sarria García (aka “El Doc”) is a representative of the Central American Parliament (Parlacen) on behalf of the governing Sandinista National Liberation Front (Frente Sandinista de Liberación Nacional — FSLN).

https://www.insightcrime.org/news/brief/nicaragua-governments-alleged-drug-trade-ties-deepen-arrest/

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On 18^th October, yle reported that a public list of non-compliant firms is meant to spur them to meet the requirements of a new AML law.  It is planning to establish its first “wall of shame” for companies and other so-called “reporting entities” that have not taken the necessary steps to prevent money laundering in line with the 2017 Anti-Money Laundering Act.

https://yle.fi/uutiset/osasto/news/finland_founds_wall_of_shame_to_prevent_money_laundering/11027324

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On 18^th October, FATF published an update on its so-called “grey” list of countries with deficiencies in their AML/CFT systems.  While the listed jurisdictions have strategic AML/CFT deficiencies they have also developed an action plan with FATF; and each jurisdiction has provided a written high-level political commitment to address the identified deficiencies.  FATF welcomes these commitments.

http://www.fatf-gafi.org/publications/high-risk-and-other-monitored-jurisdictions/documents/fatf-compliance-october-2019.html

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On 18^th October, FATF released a notice advising of its Plenary in Paris.  In major strategic initiatives, it considered –

• the money laundering risk from stablecoins and other emerging assets; and
• understanding and leveraging the use of “digital identity”.

Various mutual evaluation reports and follow-up reports were considered; and, in respect of jurisdictions with strategic AML/CFT deficiencies –

• Ethiopia, Sri Lanka and Tunisia are no longer subject to monitoring – taken off “grey” list;
• Iceland, Mongolia and Zimbabwe are now subject to monitoring – added to “grey” list;
• considered Pakistan’s progress – kept on “grey” list, with further consideration in February; and
• continuing to monitor Iran’s actions to address deficiencies in its AML/CFT system. Iran will remain on the FATF Public Statement until the full Action Plan has been completed.  Until Iran implements the measures required to address the deficiencies identified with respect to countering terrorism-financing in the Action Plan, FATF will remain concerned with the terrorist financing risk emanating from Iran and the threat this poses to the international financial system

Other matters considered were –

• promoting and facilitating more effective supervision at national level – with a programme of outreach to national supervisors approved, which aims to explore ways of making supervision more effective;
• new Best Practices on Beneficial Ownership for Legal Persons approved;
• new work on combating the laundering of proceeds of illegal wildlife trade.  FATF will work to develop good practices in tackling the financial flows linked to illegal wildlife trade; and
• strategic review – to consider the experience of the conduct of mutual evaluations to date, and how to go forward.

http://www.fatf-gafi.org/publications/fatfgeneral/documents/outcomes-plenary-october-2019.html

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On 18^th October, a Notice from HM Treasury advised that the entry for Anjem CHOUDARY in the Consolidated List had been amended in line with preceding UN and EU amendments.  On the ISIL/Al-Qaida sanctions lists, he was released from prison in the UK in October 2018 but is on licence until April 2021.

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/840555/Notice_ISIL_2019_1731.pdf

This blog is primarily for my own use, to keep informed and up to date. However, if you would like to say thank you (and perhaps help me get a new, better laptop when I am away…) you can “buy me a coffee” at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/KoIvM842y

The Law Society Gazette reported on 17^th October that the UK government has pledged to not use “Henry VIII” powers to make Brexit legislation after a public law charity threatened legal action.  This followed a statutory instrument was laid empowering officials to amend VAT or customs and excise law by public notice following Brexit.  Henry VIII clauses in a bill enable ministers to amend or repeal provisions in an act of parliament using secondary legislation, by way of statutory instruments.  The Public Law Project argued that the Cross-border Trade (Public Notices) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 went beyond the powers of its parent act, the Taxation (Cross-border Trade) Act 2018, and it is said that the government has treated the regulations as ‘revoked with immediate effect’.

https://www.lawgazette.co.uk/news/government-revokes-brexit-regulation-after-judicial-review-threat/5101836.article

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On 17^th October, Nuclear Threat Initiative reported that the IAEA has advised that its new low enriched uranium (LEU) bank is now operational in Kazakhstan.  The LEU Bank will provide countries investing in nuclear power an assured supply of fuel to use for peaceful purposes without incurring the significant costs of building their own enrichment facilities and without adding to global proliferation risks.

https://www.nti.org/newsroom/news/iaea-low-enriched-uranium-bank-becomes-operational-kazakhstan-historic-achievement-nti-backed-initiative/

More information on the LEU Bank is at –

https://www.nti.org/analysis/articles/iaea-leu-bank-investment-more-secure-future/

This blog is primarily for my own use, to keep informed and up to date. However, if you would like to say thank you (and perhaps help me get a new, better laptop when I am away…) you can “buy me a coffee” at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/KoIvM842y

On 18^th October, Deutsche Welle reported on an outcome of the FATF Plenary in Paris.  It reports that FATF has decided not to place Pakistan in its “black list,” for now; but Pakistan has been given 4 months to prove it is fighting terror financing.  A statement said that FATF strongly urges Pakistan to swiftly complete its full action plan by February 2020 and otherwise, should significant and sustainable progress not be made across the full range of its action plan by the next Plenary, the FATF will take action.  The FATF grey list which features Pakistan also has on it Ethiopia, Yemen, Iraq, Syria, Serbia, Sri Lanka, Trinidad and Tobago, Vanuatu and Tunisia.

https://www.dw.com/en/pakistan-avoids-fatf-black-list-gets-stern-warning/a-50870561

This blog is primarily for my own use, to keep informed and up to date. However, if you would like to say thank you (and perhaps help me get a new, better laptop when I am away…) you can “buy me a coffee” at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/KoIvM842y

On 15^th October, Bellingcat published an article saying that being able to track the movements of aircraft belonging to powerful individuals and armed forces can add important details to stories, or even uncover entire new narratives.  There are several commercial and hobby websites that allows one to do just that.  The purpose of this guide is to get one up-to-speed on how to start tracking flights and, by the time you finish this guide, you will be able to fire up your browser and start watching the virtual skies.

https://www.bellingcat.com/resources/how-tos/2019/10/15/a-beginners-guide-to-flight-tracking/

https://www.nti.org/analysis/articles/iaea-leu-bank-investment-more-secure-future/