Panama Covid-19 update – cases still keep appearing, with another 348 reported today, and 2 more fatalities. Meanwhile, other figures slowly drop – or should do, perhaps, as active cases have actually risen to 4,063, as have the number of people in hospital wards other than the ICU – 317 (up 20 on yesterday). However, ICU occupancy remains the same at 57.
17 APRIL 2021
ITALY RELEASES SUSPECT SAYING PANAMA NEVER RATIFIED EXTRADITION TREATY
On 16 April, Newsroom Panama reported that the Italian Ministry of Justice is said to be perplexed at Panama’s National Assembly not having ratified the bilateral extradition treaty that would have facilitated the surrender of Adolfo Chichi De Obarrio , former private secretary of former President Ricardo Martinelli. The treaty was signed by both countries in 2013, and the Italian Senate did ratify it in 2016 and it has been in force in Italy since November 2018. The article says that published reports reveal that when he was appointed to the $5,000-a-month job he had less than $20 in his bank account, but 5 years later he was a millionaire who spent $700,000 on his wedding.
https://menafn.com/1101931528/Italians-mystified-at-inaction-of-Panama-Assembly
EU DATA PROTECTION: UK ADEQUACY DECISION IS ONE STEP CLOSER
On 16 April, an article from White & Case LLP published an article saying that, on 14 April, the European Data Protection Board announced that it had adopted 2 Opinions on the draft UK adequacy decisions issued by the European Commission on 19 February. The EDPB’s take on the draft adequacy decisions is broadly positive, and will come as welcome news to UK and EEA businesses with cross-border data flows. Under the Trade and Cooperation Agreement, transfers of personal data from the EEA to the UK can continue unrestricted until 1 May, a deadline automatically extended to 1 July unless either side objects. After this appropriate safeguards (e.g., Standard Contractual Clauses) will be needed in order to transfer personal data from the EEA to the UK, unless the draft adequacy decisions are approved.
https://www.whitecase.com/publications/alert/uk-adequacy-decision-one-step-closer
US ISSUES NEW GUIDANCE ON NORD STREAM 2 SANCTIONS
On 16 April, Dentons reported that on 9 April the US Department of State issued updated guidance on how it plans to implement the high-profile statutory sanctions authority targeting the Nord Stream 2 pipeline and the Turkstream pipeline, with the US retaining discretion on whether and how to impose sanctions on project participants.
https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/us-issues-new-guidance-on-nord-stream-2-5318913/
https://www.state.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/PEESA-As-Amended-Public-Guidance.pdf
NEARLY $3.6 MILLION WORTH OF FAKE CARTIER BRACELETS SEIZED BY US CUSTOMS
A news release from US Customs & Border Protection on 16 April reported that officers in Cincinnati inspected a large shipment from China and found what appeared to be 242 fake Cartier Love bracelets. It explained that Cartier has configuration trademarks on their Love bracelet and has recorded those trademarks with CBP. Furthermore, a company does not have to put a “Cartier” wordmark or design on their products to violate these trademarks. In this instance, further inspection of the bracelets revealed that their shape and design replicated the protected Cartier configuration.
COCAINE SEIZURES ON THE HONDURAS ATLANTIC COAST HIGHLIGHTS THE REGION’S IMPORTANCE IN THE TRANSNATIONAL DRUG TRADE
On 16 April, Insight Crime published a report saying that a string of bumper cocaine seizures on the Honduras Atlantic has provided a stark reminder of the region’s importance in the transnational drug trade. Between January and mid-April 2021, Honduran authorities seized some 4 tons of cocaine in the department of Colón. It says that Colón’s recent spike in cocaine seizures is a sign that the smuggling routes passing through the department are experiencing a relative boom.
https://insightcrime.org/news/cocaine-spike-puts-spotlight-on-honduras-atlantic/
US CUSTOMS ISSUES FORCED LABOUR FINDING ON CERTAIN GLOVES
On 16 April, an article from Baker McKenzie was concerned with a notice of finding that certain disposable gloves produced in Malaysia by the Top Glove Corporation Bhd with the use of convict, forced or indentured labour are being, or are likely to be, imported into the US. This finding applies to any merchandise described in Section II of the notice that is imported on or after 29 March. It also applies to merchandise which has already been imported and has not been released from CBP custody before 29 March.
https://globalcompliancenews.com/united-states-cbp-issues-forced-labor-finding-on-certain-gloves/
UN EXTENDS MEASURES AGAINST ILLICIT PETROLEUM EXPORTS FROM LIBYA
On 16 April, a news release from the UN advised that the Security Council had adopted 2 Resolutions which extended the authorisation of measures against the illicit export of crude oil and other petroleum products from Libya as well as the mandate of the panel of experts helping to oversee them, while also approving modalities for a new, Libyan-led and Libyan-owned ceasefire monitoring mechanism.
https://www.un.org/press/en/2021/sc14496.doc.htm
SriLankan AIRLINES BILLION DOLLAR LAWSUIT AGAINST AIRBUS CONTINUES
On 14 April, Simple Flying reported that the airline is continuing to pursue its lawsuit against Airbus. The lawsuit revolves around murky allegations of bribery, reputational damage, and lost income. The case links to a 2020 settlement and a court finding that Airbus had engaged in bribery in relation to aircraft deals. Sri Lankan Airlines is seeking damages concerning the loss of reputation, interest, and other expenses.
https://simpleflying.com/srilankan-airlines-airbus-lawsuit/
UK SAILORS WITH BOATS IN EUROPE GRANTED RETURNED GOODS RELIEF EXTENSION
On 30 March, Yachting Monthly reported that UK boat owners, whose vessels were in the EU at the end of the Brexit transition period, now have an extra 6 months until 30 June 2022 to qualify for Returned Goods Relief (RGR). HMRC had announced that owners of boats which have been in the UK under present ownership and were in the EU at the end of the transition period, could avoid paying a second VAT payment if the vessel returned to the UK before 31 December 2021; and this applied regardless of when the boat left the UK.
US EFFORTS TO COMBAT TRADE-BASED MONEY
https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-20-314r
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