Archiv: Korruption / Bestechung / Betrug / Geldwäsche / corruption / bribery / fraud / money laundering / breach of trust


28.10.2024 - 02:39 [ Japan Today ]

Japan‘s ruling bloc loses lower house majority

The dismal results underscored deepening distrust in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party due to a slush funds scandal, signaling a seismic shift in the support that enabled it to return to power in 2012 after a spell in opposition.

The coalition would still fall short of a majority in the powerful lower house even if Ishiba accepts back into the LDP former party lawmakers who ran as independents after being denied LDP endorsement over the scandal. The party fell short of 200 seats in the 465-member chamber.

28.10.2024 - 02:31 [ Tagesschau.de ]

Regierungskoalition in Japan verliert laut Hochrechnungen ihre Mehrheit

Die LDP regiert Japan seit Jahrzehnten fast ununterbrochen. Einige Parteimitglieder, die in den Parteispendenskandal verwickelt sind, hatte die LDP nicht als offizielle Kandidaten für die Wahl zugelassen. Mehrere von ihnen verloren Prognosen zufolge ihre Sitze. Diejenigen, denen die Unterstützung der LDP verweigert wurde, hatten enge Beziehungen zum ermordeten Ministerpräsidenten Shinzo Abe, der auch nach seinem Rücktritt als Parteivorsitzender 2020 erheblichen Einfluss auf die LDP ausgeübt hatte.

16.10.2024 - 05:11 [ theCradle.co ]

Israeli opposition leader calls to revive ‚South Lebanon Army‘ to assist with occupation

(October 10, 2024)

Lapid advocated regime change in Lebanon, saying, “the international community will need to appoint a sort of oversight committee for Lebanon to manage its civilian life for a set period until elections can be held and a new government can take control.”

Crucial to this effort would be the establishment of a collaborator Lebanese army loyal to Israel and its Western and Gulf allies.

(…)

Lapid claimed it would be easy to recruit Lebanese by paying soldiers in a new army $500 a month. New recruits would then be trained by French, Emirati, and US military officers.

The South Lebanon Army (SLA) was established by Israel in 1976 after the collapse of the Lebanese government due to civil war.

10.10.2024 - 03:10 [ Reuters ]

U.S. approved secret nuclear power work for Saudi Arabia

(March 27, 2019)

Many U.S. lawmakers are concerned that sharing nuclear technology with Saudi Arabia could eventually lead to a nuclear arms race in the Middle East. (…)

Last month, Democratic House members alleged in a report that top White House aides ignored warnings they could be breaking the law as they worked with former U.S. officials in a group called IP3 International to advance a multibillion-dollar plan to build nuclear reactors in the Middle East, including Saudi Arabia.

30.08.2024 - 13:40 [ Politico / Fabio De Masi ]

THE WIRECARD HUNTER RETURNS:

Erschienen im Politico Newsletter:

THE WIRECARD HUNTER RETURNS: Fabio De Masi made his name as one of the key players in Germany’s Bundestag that helped hold Wirecard to account after the high-flying fintech company was revealed to be engaging in fraud on a massive scale. Now De Masi, who already served once as MEP in 2014, is back in Brussels. He’s sitting in the ECON committee and he thinks that there’s plenty more financial malfeasance to dig up.

21.04.2024 - 06:50 [ Flughafen-berlin-kosten.de ]

Flughafen Berlin (BER) Kosten

Wieviel der neue Berliner Flughafen (BER) den Steuerzahler bis zur Eröffnung gekostet hat
7.079.900.000 Euro

(…)

≈ umgerechnet…

8.697.665 Kita-Plätze

09.04.2024 - 11:15 [ Haaretz ]

The Truth About Israel, Iran and 1980s U.S. Arms Deals

(Nov. 26, 2010)

In the aforesaid period Netanyahu served as deputy to Moshe Arens, when he was Israel‘s ambassador to Washington, D.C. (1982-83 ).

(…)

The recently revealed documents deal with an operation dubbed „Tipped Kettle,“ involving weapons the Israel Defense Forces looted from the Palestine Liberation Organization during Operation Peace for Galilee in Lebanon, and their transfer to the Contras – opponents of the socialistic Sandinista regime in Nicaragua.

(…)

Part II was patently illegal – a blatant effort by the White House to violate a Congressional order and to cook up a strange deal involving the sale of American weapons (originally supplied to the IDF ) to anti-American Iran, for use in its war with Iraq; the release of Western hostages being held in Lebanon by Iranian-controlled Hezbollah; and the financing of Contras‘ activities thanks to the difference between the sum paid by the Iranians and the true value of the weapons – minus a profit for those engaged in the deal.

(…)

The CIA had direct intelligence connections with the Mossad, but in the affair of the captured weapons the American agency preferred to hide behind the Pentagon.

15.03.2024 - 16:07 [ International Consortium of Investigative Journalists ]

How US lawyers and bankers aided powerful Haitian tycoons now sanctioned over corruption by Canada

(07.02.2023)

In the early 1990s, the U.S. government sanctioned Bigio, his wife, son and others for their support of a military coup that ousted Haiti’s first democratically elected president. Years later, a member of a Haitian militia ‒ or private army ‒ accused Bigio and another businessman of paying for the 1993 assassination of a prominent democracy activist, according to Jeb Sprauge, author and University of California Riverside research associate. Authorities in Haiti did not charge Bigio with or accuse him of wrongdoing.

15.03.2024 - 15:30 [ New Republic ]

The Billionaire Oligarch Who’s Enabling Haiti’s Murderous Gangs

(16.12.2022)

For years, Haitians have said Bigio and other oligarchs are complicit in the violence strangling the nation: This year 1,448 people have been killed, with another 1,005 kidnapped for ransom. Until now, however, the international community has stayed mostly silent about Haiti’s corrupt elite. (…)

Daniel Foote, the former U.S envoy to Haiti who resigned in September 2021 to protest against the disastrous American policy, told me that he thinks Canada and the U.S. State Department are working together to economically punish Bigio and the others. But he suspects that the United States cannot follow Canada’s example by imposing stiff sanctions, possibly because Bigio may be a U.S. citizen and thus entitled to due process. In theory, however, U.S. prosecutors could bring cases against Bigio and other oligarchs for funding the vicious gangs whether these defendants have U.S. citizenship or not. As things stand, inaction is much more likely.

12.03.2024 - 17:05 [ Middle East Eye ]

‚Egypt is aiding Israel‘: The Palestinians charged a fortune to escape Gaza‘s war

Ali had to pay $15,000, in what is referred to as a “travel coordination fee”, to a travel agency liaising with an Egyptian state-linked company to allow his family to leave Gaza via the Rafah border crossing in northeastern Egypt.

This is curently the only way for Palestinians who do not have another nationality to cross to Egypt.

The Gaza travel company acts as an intermediary between the Palestinians wishing to leave Gaza and an Egyptian company, Hala, which has a de facto monopoly over the exit of Palestinians via the Rafah crossing.

07.03.2024 - 18:42 [ NewArab.com ]

Is Netanyahu prolonging the Gaza war to cling to power?

“In short, the longer he’s embroiled in war, the longer he can put off some kind of domestic political shift,” Zonszein said.

Netanyahu is playing up the challenges of holding elections during wartime and has made dramatic assertions like: “Hamas and Hezbollah want Israel to go to early elections, it would be a victory for them”.

However, the majority of Israelis still believe that Netanyahu’s wartime decision-making is primarily motivated by political interests, according to an opinion poll conducted by the Israeli Channel 13.

02.03.2024 - 19:00 [ ZDF ]

Ex-Wirecard-Manager in Russland: Geheimidentität von Jan Marsalek aufgedeckt

(01.03.2024)

2018 gehörte Wirecard zu den 30 wertvollsten deutschen Unternehmen, 125 Milliarden Euro an Geldtransaktionen fließen über den Dienstleister. Darunter sind auch Zahlungen deutscher Behörden, etwa Überweisungen an V-Leute. Sicherheitskreise äußern die Sorge, Wirecard-Finanzdaten könnten auch an ausländische Dienste geflossen sein. Ein riesiges Sicherheitsrisiko, das bislang nicht einmal ansatzweise behördlich aufgeklärt wurde.

01.02.2024 - 11:29 [ Middle East Eye ]

War on Gaza: Charity says Egypt intelligence-linked firm charging $5,000 to get aid over border

An international charity with extensive experience in providing emergency aid in wars, famines and earthquakes throughout the Middle East and in Afghanistan is being forced to pay $5,000 a truck to a company linked to Egypt’s General Intelligence Service (GIS) to get aid into Gaza.

The charity, which does not want to be named to avoid obstruction to its relief efforts in Gaza, spoke to Middle East Eye in outrage at having to pay what it openly describes as a bribe to a state-linked agent.

28.01.2024 - 16:43 [ Nachdenkseiten ]

Peru: Die alte Republik und ihre lebenden Toten

Das beschämende Spektakel, dass die Bürger definitiv mehr und mehr von denjenigen entfernt, die behaupten, ihre Vertreter zu sein, hat schon seit Langem nichts mehr mit dem Gesetz und der Verfassung zu tun, sondern mit den persönlichen Begehrlichkeiten dieser Personen.

Das Argument von Anfang 2023, dass sie mit einem Terroranschlag konfrontiert seien, ist widerlegt worden. Jetzt besteht der Terrorismus-Vorwand nicht mehr, und wir haben eine politische Krise, die vielleicht sogar noch schlimmer ist als die von vor einem Jahr. Das Land ist weiterhin unregierbar, aber nicht wegen der Mobilisierung von denen „da unten”, sondern wegen der unersättlichen Gier von denen „da oben”.

28.01.2024 - 10:30 [ Fabio De Masi ]

Wer steckt hinter dem Geheimdienstnetzwerk um Jan Marsalek?

Die Staatsanwaltschaft stellte jedoch keinen Haftbefehl gegen Marsalek aus, obwohl unmittelbare Flucht- und Verdunkelungsgefahr bestand, sondern ließ ihn am 19. Juni 2020 in Begleitung mindestens eines österreichischen Verfassungsschützers seelenruhig aus Deutschland herausspazieren. Sein Anwalt, der kürzlich dem Landgericht München einen angeblichen Brief von Jan Marsalek übermittelte, versicherte, Marsalek wolle das Geld nur auf den Philippinen „suchen“. Die Ermittlungen gegen den Fluchthelfer von Herrn Marsalek vom Verfassungsschutz wurden später eingestellt, da dieser ja nur „Reisehelfer“ gewesen sei. Schließlich habe zum Zeitpunkt der Flucht kein Haftbefehl gegen Marsalek vorgelegen. Ein Schelm, wer Böses dabei denkt.

03.01.2024 - 08:55 [ Middle East Eye ]

War on Gaza: OIC and Arab League must back South Africa‘s ICJ case on Israel

Beyond material progress and architectural marvels that rival ancient wonders, a truly progressive state is marked by its commitment to accountability and justice – a domain where some established democracies have faltered.

After enduring a harrowing 85 days of bombardment resulting in nearly 22,000 killed, including more than 8,000 children and 6,000 women, 1.9 million displaced and the collapse of the health infrastructure, South Africa, a signatory of the Genocide Convention has finally called upon the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to examine the crisis.

This long-awaited step reflects a crucial recognition of the international community‘s role in conflict resolution and human rights protection.

14.12.2023 - 20:22 [ Bernd Haake / Twitter ]

Der üble Trickser #Scholz hat auf dem #EU Gipfel dafür gesorgt daß der korrupte #Orban nicht an der Abstimmung über Beitrittsverhandlungen mit der Restukraine teilnimmt. Orban hat dafür 10 Milliarden € kassiert; das Prinzip der Einstimmigkeit konnte so pro forma gewahrt werden.

14.12.2023 - 20:15 [ mepassistant / Twitter ]

So it seems 10 billion euros will buy you a „constructive abstention“ from Orban, where he maintains his position formally (both to save face and maintain his national narrative) but does not prevent the EU and the other Member States from moving forward.

04.12.2023 - 15:43 [ Noga Tarnopolsky נגה טרנופולסקי نوغا ترنوبولسكي / Twitter ]

After 2 months of war recess, Netanyahu‘s corruption trial has resumed in a slow, technical day with few present as PM fights for political & personal survival.

Defense asked if pace can be slowed to 2ce a week & judges suggest upping to 4 x week.(No pics allowed in courtroom.)

04.12.2023 - 11:00 [ Times of Israel ]

Netanyahu corruption trial resumes

An emergency order that Justice Minister Yariv Levin put in place for the courts when the war with Hamas began expired last week, and most courts have been ordered to resume normal operations.

Netanyahu is currently exempted from attending the hearings but may be called to testify in a few months.

07.11.2023 - 17:03 [ Haaretz ]

With Netanyahu‘s Coup in Full Swing, His Trial Is Stuttering. Not by Accident

(05.03.2023)

The trial and the coup are now simultaneously underway, but while the first is lumbering along, the second is galloping forward. The hearings in the Jerusalem District Court will resume only after Passover. Until the judges return from their hiatus, the wings of the High Court of Justice might be clipped, the Judicial Appointments Committee might be under full control of the politicians, or Israel might be in the throes of a historic constitutional crisis.

07.11.2023 - 16:40 [ Haaretz ]

Mendelblit, Don’t Delay

(14.02.2018)

The police announcement Tuesday – that the investigations into two cases involving Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had been completed – came 13 months after Attorney General Avichai Mendelblit decided that a “preliminary examination” of the allegations, which itself took six months, should become full-fledged criminal investigations.

01.11.2023 - 18:04 [ US House Committee on Oversight and Accountability ]

Comer Reveals How Joe Biden Received Laundered China Money

House Committee on Oversight and Accountability Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) today released a video and bank records memorandum revealing how Joe Biden received $40,000 in laundered China money from the account of his brother, James Biden, and his sister-in-law, Sara Biden, in the form of a personal check.

The money trail begins in July 2017 when Hunter Biden demanded payment from his Chinese Communist Party (CCP) linked associate. On July 30, 2017, Hunter Biden sent a message to Raymond Zhao—a CEFC associate—demanding a $10 million dollar capital payment and claimed his father, Joe Biden, was sitting in the room. CEFC is a Chinese energy company linked to the CCP. The Bidens began working with CEFC when Joe Biden was Vice President.

01.11.2023 - 18:03 [ Reuters ]

Donald Trump Jr. to testify at father‘s civil fraud trial

Donald Jr., an executive vice president at the Trump Organization and a co-defendant in the case, will be the first of Trump’s adult children to take the stand, followed by Eric and Ivanka Trump. Their father is set to testify on Monday.

06.10.2023 - 10:02 [ Reuters ]

U.S. approved secret nuclear power work for Saudi Arabia

(March 27, 2019)

Many U.S. lawmakers are concerned that sharing nuclear technology with Saudi Arabia could eventually lead to a nuclear arms race in the Middle East. (…)

Last month, Democratic House members alleged in a report that top White House aides ignored warnings they could be breaking the law as they worked with former U.S. officials in a group called IP3 International to advance a multibillion-dollar plan to build nuclear reactors in the Middle East, including Saudi Arabia.

05.10.2023 - 14:30 [ chitowngringa #Boycott Bibi-BenGvir / Twitter ]

A unity government destroys Gantz and Lapid, especially Gantz politically, and will allow Bibi to remain in charge until his death followed by a Likud puppet. It means that there will be NO democracy in Israel in the future, which is what you don‘t seem to understand.

Plus on a personal level, it appears humiliating and degrading for anyone to be forced to „kneel“ and serve as Bibi‘s powerless slave ministers. Gantz wants to be PM, not spend what remains of his political career pouring Miss Piggy‘s pink champagne for her.

21.08.2023 - 08:21 [ BBC ]

Leftist leads Ecuador presidential poll count amid spike in violence

The snap election was called after President Guillermo Lasso – a conservative former banker – dissolved parliament to avoid impeachment.

Sunday‘s voting was peaceful, much to the relief of Ecuadoreans fearful of the political violence that has taken hold of the country.

21.08.2023 - 08:14 [ CNN ]

Ecuador election heads to run-off vote, with González to face surprise second-place Noboa

Days after Villavicencio’s murder, a left-wing local party official, Pedro Briones, was shot dead in Esmeraldas province.

Gunfire interrupted Noboa’s caravan on Thursday as he was traveling in Guayas province, but authorities say the presidential candidate was not the target of the incident.

14.08.2023 - 16:40 [ Reuters ]

U.S. approved secret nuclear power work for Saudi Arabia

(March 27, 2019)

Many U.S. lawmakers are concerned that sharing nuclear technology with Saudi Arabia could eventually lead to a nuclear arms race in the Middle East. (…)

Last month, Democratic House members alleged in a report that top White House aides ignored warnings they could be breaking the law as they worked with former U.S. officials in a group called IP3 International to advance a multibillion-dollar plan to build nuclear reactors in the Middle East, including Saudi Arabia.

14.08.2023 - 16:32 [ Salon.com ]

„You‘re not serious people“: Congress called out for ignoring Jared Kushner‘s „huge scandal“

(August 11, 2023)

During his tenure in the Trump administration, Kushner was tasked with managing Middle East policy, resulting in him building a relationship with Saudi Arabia‘s Crown Prince and leading efforts to create the Abraham Accords, which established Israel‘s diplomatic relations initially with Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates, and later with Morocco and Sudan.

14.08.2023 - 16:20 [ Yahoo.com ]

Comer says Kushner ‘crossed the line of ethics’ with Saudi deal

(August 11, 2023)

“I’ve been vocal that I think that what Kushner did crossed the line of ethics,” Comer said on CNN when asked to respond to Christie’s claim. “What Christie said — it happened after he left office. Still no excuse, Jake, but it happened after he left office.

21.07.2023 - 15:52 [ CNN ]

No indictment for Netanyahu

(20. April 1997)

Netanyahu told CNN‘s Walter Rodgers he was „glad that the truth came out,“ and said the entire incident was „blown out of proportion and twisted out of shape.“

„It‘s politics,“ he said in an interview shortly after the attorney general released his report. „Of course there were people out to get us. But this is going nowhere. It‘s done. It‘s finished.“

21.07.2023 - 15:42 [ Haaretz ]

Netanyahu Is Fulfilling the Doomsday Prophecy of This Supreme Court Justice

“There already are legislative initiatives meant to increase political involvement in appointing judges, as well as curtailing the Supreme Court’s authority, apparently for the purpose of preventing judicial review of government actions…all I can say is this: first, this is a crude threat, unseen heretofore by the judiciary, meant apparently to influence its rulings; second, these steps are a surefire recipe for critically damaging democracy and for perpetuating corruption.”

These pointed words were written in 2008 by Supreme Court Justice Edmond Levi, who was part of the panel hearing a petition against a decision by then-Attorney General Menachem Mazuz to grant a lenient plea bargain to former President Moshe Katsav.

08.07.2023 - 14:20 [ Haaretz ]

Hollywood Mogul Milchan Treated His Netanyahu Testimony as He Treats Everything Else: A Commodity

With careful consideration, it is plausible to suggest that Milchan‘s decision may have been influenced by the judges‘ proposal to withdraw the bribery charge in Case 4000, which was presented just before his testimony. The witness perceived this case to overshadow his own involvement, often remarking that the magnitude of „hundreds of millions of dollars“ cannot be compared to indulgences in cigars and champagne. This positioning allowed Milchan to assume a supporting role in the unfolding narrative, but an unexpected turn of events thrust him into the spotlight. Being fluent in the language of power, it appears that Milchan recognized Netanyahu‘s resurgent influence and chose not to risk challenging him.

05.07.2023 - 12:20 [ Times of Israel ]

Netanyahu in weekend interview: Overhaul necessary as Supreme Court ‘too powerful’

(27 March 2023)

In an interview recorded Saturday night, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insisted his government’s planned judicial overhaul was necessary as the Supreme Court is “too powerful,” claiming the controversial attempts to neuter the court would result in a “stronger democracy.”

While the interview was expected to air Monday evening, it was released online hours earlier amid concerns it was fast becoming outdated as the country was roiled by mass protests and Netanyahu was expected to announce a freeze to the controversial overhaul.

28.06.2023 - 13:56 [ Jerusalem Post ]

Netanyahu trials: Milchan improved PM‘s image in Israeli media

Milchan had also introduced Mozes to Australian businessman James Packer, who „really liked each other.“ Netanyahu had also asked Milchan to look into laying the groundwork for news mogul Rupert Murdoch, who the prime minister felt had business and political interests aligned with the Netanyahu administration.

Under Case 2000, Netanyahu is accused of having engaged in fraud and breach of trust for meeting with Mozes about advancing legislation to cripple his news competitor in exchange for positive coverage.

28.06.2023 - 13:45 [ APNews.com ]

Hollywood mogul acknowledges gifts to Netanyahu may have been ‘excessive’ in 2nd day of testimony

He said he had instructed his aides to give the Netanyahus “whatever they want” and was assured by the prime minister that there was nothing illegal going on.

26.06.2023 - 19:22 [ Haaretz ]

If There Was Ever a Time for Israel‘s Protesters to Wake Up, It‘s Now

If there was a time to wake up, once again, with all our strength against the judicial coup – that time is now. This is not a drill; it‘s back with us. The protest leaders promised in the beginning that they „sleep with their boots on.“ Now it‘s time to put ours on.