UK fines Citibank’s London branch £4.7 million for breaches of Russia sanctions
The UK Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI), part of HM Treasury, has imposed a monetary penalty of £4,732,830.58 on the London branch of the US bank Citibank N.A. (CBNA London). The penalty was imposed for breaches of the financial sanctions regime in respect of Russia, established under the Russia…
Head of Germany’s largest drug cartel arrested in Spain
Spanish police in Malaga have arrested a man German authorities regard as the likely leader of an international criminal organisation and had been hunting for about five years. The operation was carried out jointly by Spain’s National Police and Germany’s Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA). Investigators say the suspect ran…
Eleven EU countries call for limits on the foreign-policy veto
Eleven European Union member states have called for a review of how the bloc takes foreign-policy decisions and for consideration of limits on individual countries’ veto power. The proposal would mean moving, in some cases, from unanimity to qualified majority voting. A joint letter to EU High Representative for Foreign…
Burnham vows to rewrite the rules of British politics
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham used his first statement in the House of Commons to promise a package of reforms, from a review of the electoral system and the rules on political donations to stronger public control of the water sector and an overhaul of social care. The statement was…
Germany accuses Russia of attempted sabotage at Leipzig airport
Berlin has officially held Moscow responsible for an attempted sabotage at the strategically important Leipzig/Halle Airport. The statement was made by Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul and Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt. On August 4, a drone carrying explosives and a detonator was discovered in a restricted cargo area of the airport,…