Day: March 25, 2024

Another big fire, this time in the city centre (and the second such fire in a city warehouse in recent months), with firefighters in action for hours. In good news, heartwarming photo of a tough firefighter and a rescued cat…

So far, 558 cases of dengue have been reported in Panama. Apparently, there are 4 types in circulation, spread by the same mosquito that is the vector for malaria, and this is before the start of the rainy season – usually the peak time for mosquitos.

25 MARCH 2024

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Working Paper 51 from the Basel Institute on Governance says that asset recovery tools are integral to combating corruption, organised crime, sanctions evasion and other profit-motivated crimes. However, in many participating states of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), the range of asset recovery tools available to law enforcement and criminal justice agencies is limited.  This Working Paper identifies legislative mechanisms in OSCE participating states that empower the state to confiscate suspected or proven proceeds of crime.

https://baselgovernance.org/sites/default/files/2024-03/WP-51.pdf

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On 25 March, the EU updated the information on restrictions on state-owned enterprises.

https://finance.ec.europa.eu/eu-and-world/sanctions-restrictive-measures/sanctions-adopted-following-russias-military-aggression-against-ukraine/frequently-asked-questions-sanctions-against-russia_en

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On 25 March, the EU advised that it had added to the EU autonomous list of persons, groups, undertakings and entities associated with ISIL(Da’esh) and Al-Qaeda and subject to sanctions.

https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2024/03/25/isil-daesh-and-al-qaeda-council-adds-a-person-and-an-entity-to-its-autonomous-list-of-sanctions

https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=OJ:L_202400954

https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=OJ:L_202400953

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On 25 March, a Notice from HM Treasury advised that the UK had, alongside the UK, designated 2 individuals and 1 entity.  The Isle of Man followed suit.

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/66015bc9a6c0f7f514ef9164/Notice_Cyber_250324.pdf

https://www.gov.im/news/2024/mar/25/financial-sanctions-cyber

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On 25 March, OFAC advised that, with the UK, it has taken action against actors affiliated with the Chinese state-sponsored APT 31 hacking group.

https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy2205

https://ofac.treasury.gov/recent-actions/20240325

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On 25 March, OFAC advised that it has sanctioned 13 entities and 2 individuals for operating in the financial services and technology sectors of the Russian Federation economy including persons developing or offering services in virtual assets that enable the evasion of US sanctions.  5 entities were designated for being owned or controlled by OFAC-designated persons.  Many of the individuals and entities designated facilitated transactions or offered other services that helped OFAC-designated entities evade sanctions.

https://ofac.treasury.gov/recent-actions/20240325

https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy2204

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On 25 March, the Council of Europe advised that MONEYVAL has officially launched its 6^th round of mutual evaluations; and that Latvia has stepped up to be the first country assessed under the new round.  A high-level exchange was followed by a training for the authorities and the private sector.  It was aimed at familiarising all national stakeholders involved in the evaluation with the underlying standards and methodology.

https://www.coe.int/en/web/moneyval/home/newsroom/-/asset_publisher/zTE3FjHi4YJ7/content/moneyval-launches-the-evaluation-process-of-latvia

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With March not yet over, Panamanian authorities have registered the entry into the country of almost 100,000 irregular migrants through the Darién jungle so far this year. Panama registers a daily average of 1,208 irregular travelers, of which 22% (21,804) this year are minors.

The global Corporate Affairs and Marketing company LLYC is said to have identified the 10 most significant reputational risks for Panama today. these are – The El Niño Phenomenon; Corruption; “A fragile democracy”; Social polarisation; The lack of water in the Panama Canal; Education; Personal insecurity; Unemployment; Poverty and inequality; and a health Crisis and the future of the Social Security Fund.

https://www.laestrella.com.pa/economia/los-principales-riesgos-reputacionales-que-tendra-panama-para-el-2024-la-firma-global-de-corporate-affairs-y-marketing-llyc-lanzo-el-informe-panama-AD6599103

24 MARCH 2024

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