How the Trumps Struck Crypto Gold from Questionable Sources
Eric and Donald Trump Jr. have turned a family-branded cryptocurrency venture into a cash machine that eclipses the Trump Organization’s traditional businesses, according to a Reuters investigation that traces opaque token purchases by overseas investors and a wave of U.S. policy shifts friendly to digital assets.
Colombia says ELN Laundered $225 Million through Front Companies
Colombia’s Prosecutor General’s Office accused the National Liberation Army (ELN) of running a two-decade money-laundering network that washed more than $225 million (COP 885 billion) in illicit proceeds through a web of shell and front companies across the country, according to a statement cited by Colombia Reports.
U.S. Lifts Sanctions on Bosnia’s Milorad Dodik after Lobbying by Trump Allies
The Trump administration has lifted U.S. sanctions on Milorad Dodik, the powerful Serbian nationalist who led Republika Srpska in Bosnia and Herzegovina until earlier this month, following an intensive lobbying effort by figures close to former President Donald Trump.
How a NZ Maritime Insurer Purportedly Helped Provide Cover for Banned Oil Sales
A New Zealand–based marine insurer played a pivotal role in keeping a fleet of tankers carrying Iranian and Russian oil moving to Asian markets despite Western sanctions, according to a Reuters investigation that has prompted scrutiny from authorities in Wellington.
After Years of Compliance Curbs, JPMorgan to Resume Dollar-Clearing in Angola
JPMorgan Chase will provide U.S.-dollar clearing services in Angola, becoming the first major American lender to reengage with the African nation following major corruption scandals and years of anti-money laundering (AML) compliance restrictions, Bloomberg reported.
Growing Mafia Power Puts Belgium at Risk of Becoming ‘Narco-State’: Judge
Belgium is in danger of evolving into a “narco-state” as organized crime penetrates key institutions and exploits Antwerp’s giant port to smuggle cocaine into Europe, an investigating judge warned in an open letter cited by the Financial Times.
Lego Products Still Reach Russia via Europe Despite Company Exit
Lego toys manufactured in the Czech Republic continue to enter Russia through European trading companies more than two years after the Danish group halted direct sales, according to customs data cited in a new investigation by the Czech outlet Page Not Found and reporting by the Kyiv Independent.
HSBC Sets Aside $1.1 Billion for Madoff Litigation
HSBC Holdings Plc will take a $1.1 billion provision in its third-quarter results to cover potential liabilities tied to investor lawsuits linked to Bernard Madoff’s Ponzi scheme, Bloomberg reported.
Westpac Hit with A$20-Million Fine over Home‑Loan Violations
Australia’s Federal Court has ordered Westpac’s mortgage brand RAMS Financial Group to pay A$20 million (about US$13 million) after finding widespread breaches in the way it arranged home loans, including approvals supported by falsified pay slips, Reuters said.
EU Lawmakers Urge Tougher Global Crackdown on Wildlife Trafficking
European lawmakers will push for wildlife trafficking to be recognized as organized crime by 2030 and for tougher global enforcement at next month’s United Nations meeting on endangered species, Euronews reported.