Panama Covid-19 update – Easter Sunday, despite the showers, and the pandemic, the archbishop managed to give Easter blessings via a National Air Service helicopter, in which he made a tour to bless with the Blessed Sacrament to different sectors of Panama, Panama West and Columbus districts… It also seems that the movement of people into the interior to visit family etc for Easter involved a total of 88,181 vehicles, with another 20,636 travelling by sea…
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health has announced that the Directorate of Pharmacies and Drugs has already begun the process of reviewing the Chinese Sinovac vaccine. At the same time, a quarter of a million AstraZeneca doses have been announced as being allotted to panama, where only the Pfizer vaccine has been used to date – though the Directorate also recently authorised emergency use of the Russian Sputnik V vaccine.
Today, 304 new cases reported, with 4 more fatalities. With 4,749 active cases, there are 67 people in ICU and 230 in other wards.
4 APRIL 2021
THAI PIGS SMUGGLED INTO CAMBODIA VIA LAOS; ORIGINS HIDDEN DUE TO AFRICAN SWINE FEVER
On 4 April, The Star in Malaysia reported that over 100 pigs originating in Thailand have been smuggled into Cambodia via Laos. Cambodian authorities say the pigs were imported through Laos to hide their origin as Thailand faces an outbreak of African Swine Fever..
SPANISH POLICE ARREST 100 GANG MEMBERS WHO SMUGGLED DRUGS IN SPEED BOATS
On 3 April, ABC News reported that Spanish police have said they arrested 100 members of a gang which ferried hashish and marijuana from Morocco to Spain in high powered speed boats. During a series of raids, police seized more than 5 tonnes of hashish and 230 kg of marijuana.
THE PANAMA PAPERS: FINDING TAX OFFENCES AMONG CANADIANS
On 4 April, Small Cap News reported that, in its latest update on investigations since the 2016 Panama Papers leak, the Canadian Tax Agency (CRA) reported that it has completed about 200 audits of the Canadian taxpayers named on those financial documents, and the Canadian Tax Authority has found violations in 35 cases. However, so far the Canadian Tax Agency has not submitted a single indictment. In Canada, little has been seen compared to what has happened in other countries, according to the director for tax justice at Canadians for Tax Justice.
https://www.smallcapnews.co.uk/the-panama-papers-finding-tax-offenses-among-canadians-rci/
CORRUPTION IN CHINA: EX-BOSS OF ARMS COMPANY NORINCO PLACED UNDER INVESTIGATION
On 4 April, the South China Morning Post reported that the former head of one of China’s largest weapons manufacturers is under investigation for alleged corruption. Yin Jiaxu was Communist Party chief and chairman of China North Industries Group Corporation (Norinco) until his retirement in 2018. Norinco has diversified its business as part of Beijing’s push for military-civilian fusion and has interests in railway construction, car parts and oil development. In November, the US imposed sanctions prohibiting any US investors from owning shares in 31 Chinese companies, including Norinco, over their ties with the People’s Liberation Army.
RUSSIA EXTENDS SPACE COOPERATION WITH US UNTIL 2030
On 3 April, Rferl reported, that sanctions notwithstanding, Russia’s government has extended a space cooperation agreement with the US until 2030, one of the few remaining partnerships between Moscow and Washington amid worsening relations. The agreement, first signed in 1992, laid the groundwork for wide-ranging, space-related projects and research between NASA and Roskosmos space agencies.
https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-extends-space-cooperation-with-america-until-2030/31185293.html
US COURT AUTHORISES SERVICE OF JOHN DOE SUMMONS SEEKING IDENTITIES OF TAXPAYERS WHO HAVE USED CRYPTOCURRENCY
On 1 April, a DoJ news release said that a federal court has made an order authorising the IRS to serve a “John Doe” summons on Circle Internet Financial In., or its predecessors, subsidiaries, divisions, and affiliates, including Poloniex LLC, seeking information about US taxpayers who conducted at least the equivalent of $20,000 in transactions in cryptocurrency during the years 2016 to 2020. The IRS is seeking the records of Americans who engaged in business with or through the digital currency exchanger headquartered in Boston.
MUMBAI IDENTIFIED AS THE COCAINE CAPITAL OF INDIA
On 2 April, yahoo News reported that the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has reportedly identified Mumbai as the cocaine capital of India. It is said that 2,499 kg of cocaine seized in Sri Lanka, Port Elizabeth, and Panama over the past 2 years was supposed to be transported to India.
https://in.news.yahoo.com/ncb-red-flags-mumbai-indias-130854450.html
UKRAINE’S FUGITIVE EX-JUDGE “KIDNAPPED” IN NEIGHBOURING MOLDOVA
On 4 April, UNIAN reported that Ukrainian fugitive ex-judge Mykola Chaus, who was put on the international wanted list by Interpol on bribery charges, is reportedly kidnapped by a group of unidentified armed men in the center of Chisinau.
https://www.thecybersecurityhub.com
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