Former Goldman Sachs Investment Banker Sentenced in $2.7B Bribery and Money Laundering Scheme

A former managing director of The Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (Goldman Sachs) was sentenced today to 10 years in prison for his role in a multibillion-dollar bribery and money laundering scheme involving Malaysia’s state-owned investment and development fund, 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).

“Today, Roger Ng was sentenced for his role in a massive and egregious bribery and money laundering scheme involving the bribery of high-level foreign officials in Malaysia and the United Arab Emirates and theft of billions of dollars meant to benefit the Malaysian people,” said Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The Justice Department remains firmly committed to holding accountable individuals who engage in corruption, undermine the rule of law, and abuse our financial system to launder their illicit funds.  This sentence sends a strong message to criminals around the world:  if you violate our laws, we will bring you to justice.”

CEO of Major Defense Contractor Frank Rafaraci Charged with Bribery

The chief executive officer (CEO) of Company 1, a multi-national corporation headquartered in Malta and with operations in the United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates, Singapore, and the United States was charged with bribery in an indictment returned on September 30, 2019.

ASIC launches legal action against business lenders

  ASIC has launched court proceedings against two business lending specialists, Green County Pty Ltd and Max Funding Pty Ltd, alleging they issued personal loans without being licensed and without undertaking proper inquiries. ASIC has alleged Green County and Max Funding did not make reasonable inquiries about the purpose of loans, which led to Green County providing personal loans to…

Full Tucker Carlson video: White House slams Fox News host Carlson over Jan 6 segment

Carlson has been criticised for TV segment that used cherry-picked video to portray US Capitol rioters as peaceful.

Australia to buy as many as five nuclear subs from United States

Submarines are part of the AUKUS pact with the UK, which may also jointly develop a vessel with Australia.

US issues warrant for $25m aeroplane owned by Russian Rosneft: Boeing 737-7JU

The United States government has requested and obtained a warrant to seize a Russian aircraft valued at $25m, according to a statement released on Wednesday.

The US-made plane, a Boeing 737-7JU, is accused of travelling from a foreign country to Russia, in violation of US law and sanctions implemented after Moscow’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

The plane was last in the US in 2014, according to the statement from the US Attorney’s Office for New York’s Eastern District. But the US alleges the plane has flown in and out of Russia “at least seven times, in violation of federal law”.

Okinawa governor wants more power to prosecute US troops

A recent controversy has called into question the agreement that decides who prosecutes U.S. troops in Japan.

House votes down Gaetz bill to withdraw troops from Syria

The House rejected Matt Gaetz’s war powers resolutions to pull 900 U.S. troops from Syria days after a visit from Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Mark Milley.

Lawmakers revisit ‘breakdown’ of Afghanistan evacuations

House lawmakers reexamined shortfalls from the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan.

Opposition besieges Georgian parliament

Thousands of demonstrators surrounded the legislature in Tbilisi in protest against the “foreign agents” law Read Full Article at RT.com

Switzerland clarifies stance on military aid to Ukraine

Switzerland won’t break its constitutional neutrality to assist in the supply of military aid to Ukraine, its president has said Read Full Article at RT.com

US imposes new Iran sanctions relating to violence against women

U.S. officials have unveiled the latest round of sanctions on Iran over its government’s violence toward women and girls amid the anti-regime protests happening around the country. In a news release, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the Treasury Department has implemented sanctions on multiple Iranian officials, company presidents, security leaders and companies for their role in the crackdown on…

Nord Stream attack: Leaked US intel. suggests pro-Ukrainian group behind sabotage + Corruption Ledger #RealityCheck

The new intelligence reviewed by US officials suggested the perpetrators behind the sabotage were “opponents of President Vladimir V Putin of Russia”, the Times reported, but did not specify the members of the group and who organised and paid for the operation, which would have required skilled divers and explosives experts.

India tightens control of crypto

India has imposed money-laundering regulations on trade in cryptocurrencies, according to a government release published on Tuesday, in the latest step to tighten control of the sector. A range of crypto transactions, namely the exchange, transfer, safekeeping and administration of virtual assets, now fall under the Prevention of Money-Laundering Act (PMLA), the notification from the Ministry of Finance published by The Gazette of India states. The PMLA obliges financial institutions to keep a record of all transactions for ten years, provide the records to officials in necessary, and to verify clients’ identity.

Former U.S. Congressional Candidate Pleads Guilty in Conduit Campaign Contribution Case

Lynda Bennett, 65, of Maggie Valley, North Carolina, was a primary candidate for North Carolina’s 11th Congressional District in 2020. In late December 2019, Bennett borrowed $25,000 from a family member, representing that she needed the money for personal expenses because she had to spend a large amount of her own money on her campaign. The day after depositing the loaned money into a personal account, Bennett then caused $80,000, including the $25,000 in loaned funds, to be transferred to the bank account of Lynda Bennett for Congress (LBC), her authorized federal campaign committee. Under the FECA, Bennett was required to report a loan from a third-party individual as a campaign contribution. Bennett knowingly and willfully violated the FECA by reporting through LBC that the full $80,000 was a loan to her campaign using her own personal funds, rather than disclosing that $25,000 of that amount was a loan from another individual.

Chinese foreign minister warns of conflict unless U.S. changes course -AP + Corruption Ledger #RealityCheck

BEIJING — Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang warned Tuesday that Beijing and Washington are headed for “conflict and confrontation” if the U.S. doesn’t change course, striking a combative tone at a moment when relations between the rivals are at a historic low.