Apparent ‘Narco-Ledger’ Points to Widespread Bribery by Slain Cartel Leader
Mexican officials are facing renewed scrutiny following the discovery of a ledger purportedly showing a series of bribes paid by slain Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) leader Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera to police, security forces, and other authorities.
When a U.S. Anti-Bribery Law Is a Statecraft Weapon, Not a Domestic Deterrent
Washington is increasingly turning U.S. anti-corruption enforcement into an instrument of economic statecraft—a shift that threatens to undercut decades of American efforts to fight illicit activity abroad.
U.S. Military’s Growing Drug War Lands in Ecuador
The United States and Ecuador have begun joint military operations in the South American nation against “designated terrorist organizations,” the Pentagon said Tuesday night.
Russia Skirts Sanctions to Keep Shahed Drones in Air with German Parts
Russia is exploiting a network of front companies, influence agents, and third-country logistics routes to obtain German-made components needed for its attack drones and missiles.
Niger Wants to Sell 1,000 Tons of Uranium. ISIS Wants to Seize It
A shipment of about 1,000 tons of uranium moved out of northern Niger in recent months and is now stranded at a military airbase in the capital, Niamey, where it faces heightened security risks after an attack by Islamic State militants.
To Bypass Russia Sanctions, Newly Sold Foreign Cars Often Take a Detour in China
Tens of thousands of foreign-brand cars are reaching Russia via China through gray-market channels that often circumvent sanctions and automakers’ pledges to exit the Russian market.
U.N. Exempts 17 Humanitarian Aid Projects from Sanctions on North Korea
A United Nations committee has approved exemptions from North Korea sanctions to allow a new round of humanitarian aid projects to proceed, Reuters reported on Friday, citing an unnamed diplomatic source.
U.S. Threatens Algeria with CAATSA Sanctions over Russian Jet Fighter Deal
The United States has warned it could impose sanctions on Algeria over reports the North African country is moving ahead with a purchase of Russia’s Sukhoi Su-57E stealth fighter jets.
Trump Administration Readies License to Extract Venezuelan Oil
The Trump administration is preparing to issue a broad Treasury Department license as soon as this week that would allow companies to pump oil in Venezuela, a move aimed at easing U.S. sanctions and jump-starting investment in the country’s decaying energy infrastructure.
African Wealth is Increasingly Flowing to Asian Financial Hubs
African elites and companies are increasingly routing money through Dubai, Singapore and Hong Kong as traditional offshore centers such as Switzerland tighten scrutiny, according to a new University of Oxford working paper reported by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists.