International

Headlines

America’s aggressive use of sanctions endangers the dollar’s reign

EVER SINCE the dollar cemented its role as the world’s dominant currency in the 1950s, it has been clear that America’s position as the sole financial superpower gives it extraordinary influence over other countries’ economic destinies. But it is only under President Donald Trump that America has used its powers routinely and to their full extent,...

What is the future of the rich world’s housing markets?

MOORE’S LAW states, roughly, that computing power doubles every two years. Time and again experts predicted its demise—surely, they reasoned, computers cannot continue getting exponentially more powerful. Yet it held for at least half a century. More people are starting to wonder whether housing may have its own version of Moore’s law. Over the...

Home ownership is in decline

MORE THAN nine in ten Singaporeans are homeowners, a higher rate than in any other rich country. And what a nice place it is to live. The city-state is rich, stable and has virtually no crime. The streets are clean. Singapore seems to confirm what conservatives have long believed: that home ownership makes for richer, happier folk. Lee Kuan Yew, its...

Politicians are finally doing something about housing shortages

TO GET A sense of why London has such expensive housing, visit Tottenham Hale. You might expect that, next to an Underground station where central London is accessible within 15 minutes, there would be plenty of houses. In fact, there is a car wash. The land on which the car wash sits is officially classified as “green belt” land, which means that...

A decade on from the housing crash, new risks are emerging

DURING THE broadcast of the 39th Super Bowl in 2005, there was an advert for mortgages from a firm called Ameriquest. “Don’t judge too quickly,” ran the slogan. “We won’t.” Ameriquest also sponsored the half-time show, where Paul McCartney opened with “Drive My Car”. Two years later and the firm was no more, part of the wider crisis...

Finance

Building the Perfect Meal With Sheep Lungs and a Suitcase

Some smugglers drive it across the border from Canada. Others sneak it through airports or send it in the mail, wrapping the contraband in T-shirts and towels to deceive the authorities. A few even make it at home.But this is no international drug ring. It is the black market for Scottish haggis, a savory pudding of boiled sheep innards wrapped in a...

London Police Are Taking Surveillance to a Whole New Level

LONDON — London’s police department said on Friday that it would begin using facial recognition technology in the city to identify people off the street in real time with video cameras, adopting a level of surveillance that is rare outside of China.The decision is a major development in the use of a technology that has set off a worldwide debate...

When the Prince of Wales Is Your Landlord

NEWQUAY, England — People who move to Nansledan, a new residential community in the southwestern corner of England, must abide by certain rules.Homes and doors can be painted only certain colors, including pastel pink and eggshell blue. Local businesses are welcome to set up shop, but no fast-food chains, please. And don’t think of tampering with...

London Police Amp Up Surveillance With Real-Time Facial Recognition

LONDON — London’s police department said on Friday that it would begin using facial recognition technology in the city to identify people off the street in real time with video cameras, adopting a level of surveillance that is rare outside of China.The decision is a major development in the use of a technology that has set off a worldwide debate...

For Haggis Purists in the U.S., the Law Is No Obstacle

Some smugglers drive it across the border from Canada. Others sneak it through airports or send it in the mail, wrapping the contraband in T-shirts and towels to deceive the authorities. A few even make it at home.But this is no international drug ring. It is the black market for Scottish haggis, a savory pudding of boiled sheep innards wrapped in a...

Legal

Whistleblowers Root Out Corruption

The U.S. government relies upon whistleblowers to drive its recoveries under the False Claims Act.  See our analysis here of how the Act’s qui tam provisions work, especially in healthcare, by Colin Jennings, Marisa Darden, and Ayako Hobbs.… Continue Reading The post Whistleblowers Root Out Corruption appeared first on The Anticorruption Blog. Read...

False Claims Act Recoveries Back On The Rise

After a dip in the 2018 fiscal year, False Claims Act (FCA) settlements and judgments are back and climbing. The Department of Justice (DOJ) recently announced that it had obtained more than $3.05 billion from FCA settlements and judgments for the 2019 fiscal year. 2018 may have just been an aberration after the 2010s saw...… Continue Reading The...

Recent South African Publication on Non-Profit Organizations and Financial Crimes

South Africa’s Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC) recently issued a public compliance communication on anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism relating to non-profit organizations (NPOs). The publication aimed to create “awareness within the NPO sector around the vulnerabilities that NPOs face,” and sets out Financial Action...

Threat of Iranian Cyberattack Matters to Your Organization

The ongoing Iran-US tensions, and potential for retaliatory cyberattacks, alert each organization to prepare to defend against a cyberattack. Iran has a history of sophisticated cyberattacks in response to increased tensions. In a new client alert, our Data Privacy & Cybersecurity team recommends a thorough review of your people, facilities, networks,...

Rare Due Process Reprieve for Company Penalized by OFAC for Violating Ukraine Sanctions

Following a ruling issued last week by a federal judge in Texas, ExxonMobil Corporation (“ExxonMobil”) will not have to pay a previously issued penalty for contracting with Russia’s state-owned PJSC Rosneft Oil Company (“Rosneft”), since it was not provided fair notice by the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control...

Deals

Seequent continues investment in innovative geoscience technology for world’s major resource challenges Minalytix partnership and minority shareholding demonstrates Seequent’s commitment to advancing solutions to help customers solve challenges within mining and applied geosciences

Minalytix partnership and minority shareholding demonstrates Seequent’s commitment to advancing solutions to help customers solve challenges within mining and applied geosciences Seequent, a world leader in the development of geoscience analysis, modelling and collaborative technologies, continues its investment in geoscience technology and innovation...

Qualitest announces investment from Bridgepoint for Majority Stake

World’s largest independent software testing and quality assurance company will use investment to accelerate global acquisition strategy and product development Qualitest, the world’s largest pure-play outsourced software testing and quality assurance specialist, announced today that Bridgepoint, an international private equity group, has...

Accountants reveal how AI will change deal-making - forever

The ability to predict and shape the long term success of global takeovers is often seen as the “holy grail” for CEOs, investors and their advisors. A new report from chartered accountancy body ICAEW and Drooms, a leading data solutions company, reveals that some key decision making may soon be taken away from humans and guided instead by the application...

US dominates global M&A securing nine out of ten of the largest 1H19 deals

Mergermarket publishes its Q2 2019 global report London, United Kingdom 2nd July 2019: Mergermarket, the leading provider of M&A data and intelligence, has published its Q2 2019 report in which all but one of the ten largest deals targeted US-based companies, six of which were the result of domestic consolidation. Amid heightened geopolitical...

Uber to acquire Careem to expand the greater Middle East regional opportunity together

Careem to become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Uber, operating as an independent company under the Careem brand and led by Careem foundersOpportunity for both companies to rapidly expand and capitalise on the region’s underpenetrated mobility opportunity and growing digital economy Transaction would be largest-ever technology industry transaction...

Acq Lite

At World’s Biggest Dog Show, Pups That Give New life to Disabled Owners

EDITOR’S NOTE: This news is courtesy of iCopyright, so GNN has no control over the ads. Please remember we do not endorse the advertisements. The post At World’s Biggest Dog Show, Pups That Give New life to Disabled Owners appeared first on Good News Network. Read More

Stranger Sets Off Incredible Chain of Good Deeds That Saved 6 Lives

Six lives were saved at a hospital this week, and it is all thanks to one woman's decision to “be selfless for a day”. The post Stranger Sets Off Incredible Chain of Good Deeds That Saved 6 Lives appeared first on Good News Network. Read More

10 Things I Wish I Would Have Told My Kids

Mindfulness is the ability to pay attention to your current experience—both the internal and external—without judgment. Practicing mindfulness allows us to make wiser choices and pursue healthier and more beneficial avenues in life. Had I learned them earlier in life, I would have taught my kids the valuable life lessons that I’ve gleaned from...

DIY or Die: How an Industrious Outback Nurse Diagnosed His Own Heart Attack and Stayed Alive

The nurse was stationed at his medical outpost 100 miles away from the nearest hospital when he realized that he was about to have a heart attack. The post DIY or Die: How an Industrious Outback Nurse Diagnosed His Own Heart Attack and Stayed Alive appeared first on Good News Network. Read More

Daily Dose of Cute: Dachshund Shows Off Skills by Maneuvering Maze of Plastic Water Bottles

If you’re mourning the end of the Winter Olympic Games in Pyeongchang, you might like these games of skill involving a long-haired Dachshund. Takao showed off his thinking abilities earlier this week when he successfully maneuvered a maze of plastic water bottles that was erected by his owner. In the videos posted to his Instagram page, the...