Article: The U.S. Shouldn’t Let China Take the Lead on Trade

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The U.S. Shouldn’t Let China Take the Lead on Trade

Editorial Board, 26 May 2021

However loudly U.S. politicians vow to compete with China, they seem happy to quit the field and let Beijing win in one crucial area: trade. If President Joe Biden hopes to build a coalition in Asia to counterbalance China’s rise, he can’t afford such defeatism.

U.S. allies such as Japan are especially eager to see the U.S. join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) — the 11-nation free-trade agreement that in its original form was intended to cement U.S. ties to Asia. Yet administration officials continue to dodge questions about the deal. At the same time, according to Bloomberg News, China has begun exploratory talks on its own possible accession. Continue reading “Article: The U.S. Shouldn’t Let China Take the Lead on Trade”

Article: Crown still exposed to money laundering

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Crown still exposed to money laundering

Gus McCubbing, 26 May 2021

Crown faced pushback after cutting by half the length of a historical review into the presence of money laundering in its bank accounts, a royal commission has heard.

Provisional results from the review show indications of money laundering as recently as February, an inquiry into whether Crown remains suitable to keep its licence for its Melbourne operations was told on Wednesday. Continue reading “Article: Crown still exposed to money laundering”

Article: UK daily: President urges Britain to curb Belarus money laundering activity

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UK daily: President urges Britain to curb Belarus money laundering activity

Andrew Whyte, 26 May 2021

President Kersti Kaljulaid has called on the United Kingdom to join the European Union in opposition to the Alexander Lukashenko regime in Belarus, along with those of other anti-democratic governments which often use London as a conduit for large scale money-laundering activities, British daily The Guardian reports.

Appearing on BBC Radio 4’s World at One program Tuesday, the president noted that she had already raised the issue in 2018 following the poisoning of Russian former intelligence officer Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in the southern English town of Salisbury – thought to be the work of Skripal’s former employer, the GRU – The Guardian reports. Continue reading “Article: UK daily: President urges Britain to curb Belarus money laundering activity”

Article: Businessman convicted of money laundering at Kilkenny Court

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Businessman convicted of money laundering at Kilkenny Court

Court Reporter, 26 May 2021

A businessman has been convicted of money laundering at Kilkenny Circuit Court. Bartholomew Ohanya, 42 Carin na Rí, Singland Road, Limerick, pleaded guilty to the charge.

The offence was discovered as gardaí investigated a report a lady in Spain had been deceived of €126,650.
Gardaí examined the accounts of the man who deceived her and could clearly see the money coming in. They could also see transfers from the man to Mr Ohanya. Between June 25, 2018, and September 4, 2018, there were five electronic transfers totalling €21,000. They also saw €25,000 in 14 cash lodgements from the man. Continue reading “Article: Businessman convicted of money laundering at Kilkenny Court”

Article: S.Africa’s ex-president Zuma pleads not guilty to corruption charges

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S.Africa’s ex-president Zuma pleads not guilty to corruption charges

Reuters, 26 May 2021

South Africa’s former leader Jacob Zuma pleaded not guilty on Wednesday to corruption, fraud, racketeering and money laundering charges relating to a $2 billion arms deal when he was deputy president.

Zuma, who was president between 2009-2018, faces 18 charges relating to the 1999 deal. He has rejected the charges and says he is the victim of a politically motivated witch hunt by a rival faction of the ruling African National Congress.

Zuma, who also faces a separate inquiry into corruption during his time as president, is accused of accepting 500,000 rand ($34,000) annually from French arms company Thales, in exchange for protecting the company from an investigation into the deal. Continue reading “Article: S.Africa’s ex-president Zuma pleads not guilty to corruption charges”

Article: Opinion | CEOs are grossly overcompensated while workers suffer

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LIVE: Nexia BT Associates Back In Court In Corruption And Money Laundering Case

Lucas DiBlasi, 26 May 2021

Nearly every large company in the United States laid workers off, furloughed them or cut their salaries last year, all the while paying their CEOs incredible amounts of money.

After losing $4 billion, Norwegian Cruise Lines doubled the pay of CEO Frank Del Rio to $36.4 million. Hilton, the world’s second-largest hotel company, laid off about 22% of their global corporate staff before paying their CEO, Chris Nassetta, nearly $56 million.

And what’s Nassetta’s take on the year? He told investors he’s “pounding the table with optimism” and will be able to “return even more capital than we were pre-Covid to our shareholders.” Continue reading “Article: Opinion | CEOs are grossly overcompensated while workers suffer”

Article: China Tries to Temper Rising Commodity Prices

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China Tries to Temper Rising Commodity Prices

Quentin Webb and Stella Yifan Xie, 26 May 2021

China is trying to cool red-hot markets for key industrial commodities such as iron ore, seeking to ensure runaway prices for these raw materials don’t hurt the broader post-pandemic recovery.

Chinese officials, led by Premier Li Keqiang, have stepped up their rhetoric on natural resources since mid-May. The national cabinet, or State Council, which Mr. Li chairs, said last week it would take steps to ensure adequate supply and stable prices for commodities. Continue reading “Article: China Tries to Temper Rising Commodity Prices”

Article: LIVE: Nexia BT Associates Back In Court In Corruption And Money Laundering Case

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LIVE: Nexia BT Associates Back In Court In Corruption And Money Laundering Case

Yannick Pace, 25 May 2021

Former Nexia BT partners Brian Tonna, Manuel Castagna, Karl Cini and manager Katrin Bondin Carter are back in court this afternoon as the compilation of evidence in the state’s case against them continues. They have been charged, together with seven others including former OPM chief of staff Keith Schembri, with a host of criminal charges stemming from two magisterial inquiries.

All four of the accused have been granted bail, with a magistrate deciding in the last sitting that there was enough prima facie evidence for the four to stand trial. Continue reading “Article: LIVE: Nexia BT Associates Back In Court In Corruption And Money Laundering Case”

Article: EML took five days to reveal money laundering concerns

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EML took five days to reveal money laundering concerns

James Frost, 25 May 2021

The Brisbane-based firm, which specialises in pre-paid gift cards and reloadable sports betting cards, revealed it was alerted to the Central Bank of Ireland’s (CBI) concerns about the risk of money laundering in a letter to its wholly owned subsidiary PFS Card Services Ireland Limited (PCSIL) late on Thursday, May 13. Continue reading “Article: EML took five days to reveal money laundering concerns”

Article: Crown spiked review of new money laundering rules

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Crown spiked review of new money laundering rules

Patrick Hatch, 25 May 2021

Crown Resorts stopped an independent review of new anti-money laundering controls early this year after preliminary findings suggested it was not complying with measures to prevent criminal infiltration of its bank accounts.

Neil Jeans, principal at the anti-money laundering consultancy Initialism, told Victoria’s royal commission into Crown on Tuesday that Crown commissioned him in early 2021 to review its recent ban on cash deposits and third-party transfers to its patron bank accounts. Continue reading “Article: Crown spiked review of new money laundering rules”

Article: Stitt voices support for investigation of meatpacking industry and prices

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Stitt voices support for investigation of meatpacking industry and prices

Cory Smith, 25 May 2021

TULSA, Okla. (KTUL) – Gov. Kevin Stitt and Blayne Arthur, the Oklahoma Secretary of Agriculture, sent a letter last week to the U.S. attorney general in support of the investigation into price-setting in the meatpacking industry.

They say the lack of competition in the meatpacking industry means possible “market manipulation” that squeezes profits for Oklahoma’s 52,000 cattle operations.

“The substantial margins between the live cattle prices our ranchers receive and the retail prices consumers pay at the grocery store are a continuing source of concern and frustration for Oklahoma’s beef industry,” reads part of the letter. Continue reading “Article: Stitt voices support for investigation of meatpacking industry and prices”

Article: No closure yet for BW scandal

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No closure yet for BW scandal

Raul J. Palabrica , 25 May 2021

Finally, after more than two decades, a trial court has rendered a decision on a scandal that almost caused the collapse of the Philippine stock market in 1999.

The court found Johnny Yap, then president of Solar Securities Inc., a stockbroker, guilty of stock manipulation of the shares of BW Resources Corp., a listed gaming company, and sentenced him to 14 years in prison and to pay a fine of P1 million.

The evidence presented showed that Yap engaged in the sale and purchase of BW stocks 142 times through parties with common owners. Continue reading “Article: No closure yet for BW scandal”

Article: Investors accuse Elon Musk of market manipulation, launches a new meme cryptocurrency – $STOPELON

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Investors accuse Elon Musk of market manipulation, launches a new meme cryptocurrency – $STOPELON

Afroz Ahmad, 25 May 2021

On his social media pages, billionaire Elon Musk has repeatedly endorsed cryptocurrencies. However, he seems divided regarding whether he is actually a supporter, especially after the recent market crash.

Many have appreciated his support for digital assets like Dogecoin and bitcoin. On the other hand, many people have accused him of manipulating the crypto market using his position and his huge following. Some crypto enthusiasts want Elon to stop tweeting about the subject, and focus more on building cars instead. As they are running a somewhat campaign against the CEO of Tesla. Continue reading “Article: Investors accuse Elon Musk of market manipulation, launches a new meme cryptocurrency – $STOPELON”

Article: What is market manipulation?

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What is market manipulation?

Thomas Dixon, 25 May 2021

“The market is manipulated by big sharks.”

“The price isn’t moving when it should be.”

And a lot more. That’s how people on the internet speak about stock manipulation or market manipulation. But, what is it, really?

What is manipulation?
Psychologically speaking, manipulation is a form of social control that uses indirect, misleading, or underhanded techniques to alter the behavior or opinion of others. Such tactics could be called exploitative and devious since they further the manipulator’s objectives at the cost of others. Continue reading “Article: What is market manipulation?”