Category: corporate corruption

Thousands of Aussies trapped in mortgage prison

The number of people at risk of becoming mortgage prisoners in Australia has jumped by 42% since the Reserve Bank started lifting the cash rate, with NSW households struggling the most. This was according to new data from personal finance marketplace and advice company Compare Club. The data  was released ahead of the Reserve Bank’s March cash rate meeting, where…

Court Finds Gross Negligence, Orders Oil Company to Pay United States and State of California $65 Million

The United States and California filed the suit alleging that HVI Cat Canyon, which previously owned and operated multiple oil and gas production facilities in Santa Barbara County, California, was liable for:

12 oil spills into waters of the United States in violation of the Clean Water Act;
17 oil spills into waters of the state in violation of state law;
Reimbursement of the federal and state governments’ costs of cleaning up the oil spills;
Natural resource damages under state law for harm to fish, plant, bird, or animal life and habitat; and
Numerous violations of federal Oil Pollution Prevention Regulations identified in 16 EPA inspections across 11 facilities.

Massachusetts: Gloucester violations of the Clean Water Act – Undertreated sewage from the city’s existing water treatment facility results in disease causing organisms and toxic pollutants

The U.S. Department of Justice, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts have entered into a consent decree with the City of Gloucester, Massachusetts, to resolve violations of the Clean Water Act regarding the city’s water pollution control facility that discharges undertreated effluent into Massachusetts Bay.

Undertreated sewage from the city’s existing water treatment facility results in a variety of harmful discharges into Massachusetts Bay, including disease causing organisms and toxic pollutants.

Another Norfolk Southern train derails in Ohio

A Norfolk Southern train derailed in Clark County on Saturday, prompting Clark County officials to ask residents to shelter in place out of “an abundance of caution.” “The Clark County Emergency Management Agency is asking residents within 1,000 feet of a train derailment at Ohio 41 near the Prime Ohio Business Park to shelter-in-place out of an abundance of caution,”…

Justin Trudeau faces calls for a public inquiry: Beijing Canada tried to sway election outcomes in favour of the Liberals

Leaked intelligence reports: China provided secret funding to 11 candidates. Liberals were warned one of their candidates might have been compromised by China. Chinese diplomats and proxies made undeclared cash donations and hired international Chinese students to volunteer for candidates full-time.

Brazil orders police probe into Bolsonaro jewellery scandal

A news outlet reported that jewels worth more than $3m were discovered in the backpack of a former aide in October 2021.

Ratings Deceit: S&P sued for deceitful CDO ratings

Royal Park Investments (RPI), the so-called “bad bank” of the former Fortis, has filed a billion-dollar claim against rating agency S&P. De Tijd writes this and appears from media reports in the Cayman Islands, the place where the lawsuit was filed.

doTERRA International LLC: Permanent Injunctions and Civil Penalties against Distributors of Essential Oils and Nutritional Supplements

The Justice Department, together with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), today announced the entry of stipulated orders for permanent injunction and civil penalty judgments against three distributors in relation to their allegedly deceptive COVID-19 claims made when marketing essential oils and nutritional supplements.

Justice Department Sues Jacksonville, North Carolina-based Goines Towing Company For Violating Rights of Servicemembers

The Justice Department today filed a lawsuit in the Eastern District of North Carolina alleging that Billy Joe Goines, the owner and operator of Goines Towing & Recovery (Goines), auctioned off, sold or otherwise disposed of motor vehicles owned by servicemembers using court judgments obtained without filing proper military affidavits, in violation of federal law.

Florida’s Lakeland Regional Medical Center Agrees to Pay $4 Million to Settle Common Law Allegations for Impermissible Medicaid Donations

Lakeland Regional Medical Center (LRMC) in Lakeland, Florida, has agreed to pay the United States $4 million to resolve allegations that it made donations to a local unit of government to improperly fund the state’s share of Medicaid payments to LRMC. 

US Justice Dept says it wants execs to foot bill for corporate misconduct: Will this actually happen?

It’s less radical than it sounds. The DOJ isn’t looking to REQUIRE such punishment. It proposes giving “discounts on fines for companies that seek to claw back compensation from corporate wrongdoers.” The punishment is likely to hurt about as much as being hit in the head by a balloon.

EU mulls billions in funding to quicken artillery shell production

WASHINGTON — European Union leaders are expected to debate proposals this month for the bloc to get involved in buying 155mm artillery shells, as member states seek to restock their depleted inventories and help Ukraine’s forces defend themselves.

The shortage is high on the political agenda, with defense ministers expected to tee up decisions at a March 7-8 meeting in Stockholm, Sweden, an EU spokesperson told Defense News.

Estonia has been pushing for the bloc to get involved in producing more ammunition faster, circulating a paper behind the scenes in Brussels last month that called for €4 billion (U.S. $4.3 billion) in extra funds to catch up.

“Ramping up the European defense industry’s output is one the most pressing issues right now,” according to the document, obtained by Defense News. “Russia fires Europe’s monthly artillery production rate in a single day in Ukraine. The urgent need for increasing our defense industrial capacity is clear.”

RT: Moscow issues warning of nuclear clash: Washington’s efforts add fuel

Western efforts to stoke the Ukraine conflict could lead to a direct military clash of nuclear powers, Moscow has warned.

Putin condemns ‘terrorist attack’ in Russia’s Bryansk Region targeting two settlements Thursday

Russian President Vladimir Putin has commented on a Ukrainian cross-border attack in Bryansk Region.

India top court orders probe into allegations against Adani Group

Court asks market regulator to investigate possible lapses in securities law or other regulatory disclosures by group.

What went wrong in Greece? All to know about deadly train crash

At least 46 people were killed when a passenger train collided head-on with a cargo train outside the city of Larissa.