Day: May 17, 2023

Another official from the Martinelli era (Martinelli was President 2009-14) is facing trial. Federico Suárez, former head of the Ministry of Public Works (MOP), is one of 9 people against whom criminal proceedings have been begun.

https://www.laestrella.com.pa/nacional/230517/llaman-juicio-federico-suarez-exministro-mop-peculado

Meanwhile, last night was a noisy night, or at least the early evening was, as a neighbour hosted a party for the CD political party. Any party or meeting here seems to involve unnecessarily loud music but, just as one was getting used to the party, a diablo rojo (a former US school bus that used to be the main form of public transport here, and a few of which still exist) festooned with party flags arrived, adding its own excessive noise…. Of course, what I should have done was gone over and joined in. The primaries are coming, and the Presidential election is next year.

17 MAY 2023

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/KoIvM842y

On 17 May, The Independent reported that the House of Commons Treasury Committee has called for consumer trading in unbacked crypto assets to be treated in regulation as gambling.

https://www.independent.co.uk/tech/cryptocurrency-trading-regulation-treasury-committees-b2340266.html

https://mondovisione.com/media-and-resources/news/uk-house-of-commons-treasury-select-committee-report-regulating-crypto-report/

https://mondovisione.com/media-and-resources/news/cryptouk-strongly-rejects-treasury-committees-crypto-gambling-claim-cryptou/

On 17 May, the EU Commission put forward proposals for the most ambitious and comprehensive reform of the EU Customs Union since its establishment in 1968.  A new EU Customs Authority will oversee an EU Customs Data Hub which will act as the engine of the new system.  Over time, the Data Hub will replace the existing customs IT infrastructure in EU Member States.  The legislative proposals will now be sent to the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union for agreement, and to the European Economic and Social Committee for consultation.

https://taxation-customs.ec.europa.eu/customs-4/eu-customs-reform_en

https://kpmg.com/us/en/home/insights/2023/05/tnf-proposed-reform-eu-customs-union.html https://www.internationaltradecomplianceupdate.com/2023/05/17/eu-proposals-envisioning-most-ambitious-and-comprehensive-reform-of-eu-customs-union-since-1968-published/