Panama Covid-19 update – speaking on TV news the Health Minister has said that the issue of compulsory vaccination “is being discussed”. Meanwhile, the executive director of Health Services and Benefits of the Social Security Fund (CSS) has told the institutional directors, hospitals, polyclinics and other care units of the entity to make sure that the health facility “does not prescribe” Ivermectin and Hydroxychloroquine for the management of patients with Covid-19.
Not surprising anyone, the health ministry has also confirmed that Panama is now seemingly in a “fourth wave” os the pandemic, and that so far 46 Omicron (apparently it is officially SARS-CoV-2 virus (B.1.1.529)) cases have been confirmed.
No data on new cases today yet…
30 DECEMBER 2021
HMRC FRAUD SQUAD TAKES BACK £1 BILLION FROM OFFENDERS
A news release from HMRC on 30 December advised that more than £1 billion has been recovered from the proceeds of crime and tax offenders since the formation of a specialist HMRC fraud squad – launched in April 2016, as the department’s Fraud Investigation Service (FIS).
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/hmrc-fraud-squad-takes-back-1-billion-from-offenders
GARUDA INDONESIA INVESTIGATED FOR ALLEGED AIRPLANE LEASE CORRUPTION
On 30 December, Tempo reported that the Attorney General’s Office (AGO) is reportedly investigating a suspected corruption case within Garuda Indonesia, which involves aircraft lease.
https://en.tempo.co/read/1544892/garuda-indonesia-investigated-for-alleged-airplane-lease-corruption
VIETNAM: FORMER HANOI LEADER BROUGHT TO TRIAL OVER POWER ABUSE
On 28 December, the Phnom Penh Post reported that former Hanoi People’s Committee chairman Nguyen Duc Chung was brought to trial on December 27 on a charge of “abusing position and power while performing duties”. The case involved illegal interference in bidding activities, enabling the Nhat Cuong company to win contracts. Chung is said to have abused his position and power to illegally interfere in bidding activities for a deal on the digitisation of business registration documents in 2016 at the Vietnamese capital’s Department of Planning and Investment.
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/international/former-hanoi-leader-brought-trial-over-power-abuse
SYRIAN PRIVATE AIRLINES COMPANY “CHAM WINGS” INCREASES ACTIVITY DESPITE SANCTIONS
On 28 December, Enabbaladi reported that sanctions imposed on the Syrian Cham Wings Airlines company have failed to limit its apparent activity.
ASSUNTA MARESCA, FIRST FEMALE BOSS IN CAMORRA MAFIA, DIES AGED 86
On 30 December, the Guardian reported that a former beauty queen who shot to fame when she killed her husband’s killer in Naples at the age of 18 and went on to become the first female boss in Italy’s powerful Camorra mafia clan has died aged 86.
MALTA: MAGISTRATE SAYS THERE IS SUFFICIENT EVIDENCE TO INDICT 2 LIBYAN MEN AND 5 COMPANIES ACCUSED OF USING HAWALA MONEY TRANSFER SYSTEM TO LAUNDER MONEY
On 30 December, Malta Today reported that a magistrate has decreed that there is sufficient evidence to indict, noting they had declared zero income to the authorities, whilst depositing hundreds of thousands in their respective bank accounts and registered 25 luxury vehicles in their names.
“ECONOMIC COERCION”—NEW EU JARGON FOR LOBBYING BY THIRD COUNTRIES
An article from Dentons on 30 December asks if the European Commission’s proposed Regulation to prevent foreign government economic coercion measures ever work in practice?
https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/economic-coercion-new-eu-jargon-for-6932549/
INDIAN NUCLEAR MISSILE PROLIFERATION: EFFECT ON SOUTH ASIAN STRATEGIC STABILITY
On 30 December, an Opinion piece from Eurasia Review says that the proliferation of supersonic and hypersonic weapons is echoing in South Asia which could be disastrous for the regional peace and stability.
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