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“It is difficult to imagine: A rogue nation chose to evade sanctions not by hiding money in North Korea or China or Russia but in the United States. And they did so in our home state of New York…” Reps. Carolyn Maloney and Peter King on their bipartisan effort to tackle anonymous shell companies. E.J. Fagan and Michael Findley, co-author of Global Shell Games, agree that “we undermine our own interests by making it harder to enforce sanctions…” (NY Daily News, Austin American Statesman)
Facing tough love from traditional allies, Greece and other struggling countries are embracing China’s cash and influence. Beijing is stirring up “red hot patriotism”among Chinese students on Australian campuses. In China itself, corrupt officials aresiphoning off poverty relief funds. (NYT, SCMP, AFR)
Paul Manafort allegedly used a DC legal team headed by a former Obama White House counsel to help whitewash Viktor Yanukovych’s government. As uncertainty continues to swirl, a brief history of Trump’s business dealings in Russia. (Daily Beast, WaPo)
An Oxford University professor quit his post after a controversial donor of Russian origin also gave money to the Trump campaign. (Guardian)
Hong Kong will introduce legislation banning anonymous companies - but the provisions are “weak and dissatisfactory,” says Neeti Biyani. (Diplomat)
A Pakistani bank has opted to close its New York branch after a dispute with regulators over anti-money laundering compliance. (WSJ)
Finally… Is “WhopperCoin” - yes, that’s a crypto-currency launched and run by Burger King - the next big money laundering scam in Russia? (BBC)
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