Panama Covid-19 update – it is reported that, since 7 January, some 42,000 pediatric doses against Covid-19 have been applied to Panama children aged 5 to 11 years in the 15 days, a daily average of 2,837. Meanwhile, the Health and Education Ministries have reported that, to date, 39.3% of school age children have been vaccinated – some 315,000 students out of a total of 800,000 in the country. Education authorities expect to have 90% of the student population vaccinated by 7 March, when the new school year begins; and 93% of the 48,000 teachers in the public sector have been vaccinated and have the complete vaccination schedule.
Active cases up by 1,635, at 85,748; 10,629 new cases and 9 new fatalities today, with 79 9up 11) in ICU and 715 (up 53) in other wards. testing continues to show a high hit-rate, at 36.3% (and the queues for testing at very long, according to my parents-in-law, who went for a test today – though there is the option of being tested at home).
22 JANUARY 2022
REPORT: CRYPTO-GIANT BINANCE KEPT WEAK MONEY LAUNDERING CHECKS
On 21 January, Business Today in India carried a feature about Binance and based on an investigation by Reuters. The report makes various claims, including that it withheld information about its finances and corporate structure from regulators, and also maintained weak checks on customers, despite concerns raised by senior company figures, and acted against its own compliance department’s recommendations.
ANALYSTS POINT TO LOGGING AND MINING TO EXPLAIN SOLOMON ISLANDS UNREST
On 13 January, Mongabay carried an article saying that unrest was stoked by the prime minister’s decision to end diplomatic ties with Taiwan and instead side with Beijing, stirring up anti-Chinese sentiment. However, it is said that some analysts say the true causes of discontent lie in the cosy relationships between officials and the foreign logging and mining firms that are ravaging the country.
HOW TO PREVENT AFGHAN AID MONEY FROM REACHING TERRORISTS
On 20 January, an article in Foreign Policy argues that humanitarian aid must be linked to an effective independent monitoring system. It says that the track record of large-scale financial aid to Afghanistan is not exactly promising, and the level of waste and corruption was staggering.
https://foreignpolicy.com/2022/01/20/afghanistan-aid-money-taliban-terrorists/
DEVELOPMENTS IN CUM-EX IN 2021
On 6 January, an article in ThoughtLeaders4 FIRE Magazine said that past 12 months have seen matters come to a head on a number of issues in relation to Cum-Ex. It says that while the use of Cum-Ex was uncovered by German authorities in 2012, investigations have only gathered pace in recent years. And 2021 has been, arguably, the most significant year in terms of those investigations.
https://thoughtleaders4.com/images/uploads/news/Article10_2021_Developments_in_CUM-EX_1.pdf
THE INTERACTION OF CONFISCATION ORDERS AND CONSTRUCTIVE TRUSTS
On 6 January, an article in ThoughtLeaders4 FIRE Magazine was concerned with the case of the Crown Prosecution Service v Aquila before the Supreme Court which considered whether a company could assert its rights under a constructive trust in the face of confiscation orders obtained by the CPS over the proceeds of crime.
THE SEARCH FOR THE RUSSIAN ASSETS OF THE KAZAKH PRESIDENT’S FAMILY
On 17 January, Rferl carried an article saying that an investigation by its Russian Service and Current Time, a Russian-language network run by Rferl in cooperation with VOA, into the Russian assets of President Qasym-Zhomart Toqaev’s family has revealed indications that the once-intertwined business interests of Kazakhstan’s current and former presidents have been unravelling.
https://www.rferl.org/a/toqaev-family-russian-assets/31658512.html
CYPRIOT LAWMAKERS HAVE PASSED A BILL ON WHISTLEBLOWING SAFEGUARDS AFTER YEARS OF DELAYS AND PRESSURE FROM THE EU
On 21 January, Ekathimerini reported that the legislation aligns further protections to whistleblowers at the national level with the EU Whistleblowing Directive.
https://www.ekathimerini.com/economy/1176040/cyprus-lawmakers-pass-bill-protecting-whistleblowers
MALAYSIAN PROTESTERS DEMAND RESIGNATION OF ANTI-GRAFT CHIEF
On 22 January, Channel News Asia reported that hundreds of Malaysians rallied in the capital, demanding that Azam Baki, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission’s (MACC) top official, resigns over a stock trading controversy where he owned millions of shares. Azam has denied any wrongdoing.
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/malaysia-kl-protest-azam-baki-anti-graft-chief-macc-2452936
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