Indeed, Otto, it’s merely a coincidence. Colombia is increasing imports from various countries, not just the USA. All data from this link. The 2014 data only goes until October, so this decline might not be… Colombia’s Trade Shift Raises Questions About Economic Transparency
Nick Miroff has a fascinating article in tomorrow’s Washington Post discussing palm oil in Colombia: …the rapid growth of the palm industry is revealing new evidence of a boom that has benefited from the displacement… Colombia’s Palm Oil Industry: A Displacement Crisis Fueled by Violence and Exploitation
A tweet by the Devil pointed me to this interesting WSJ article. It mentions that Goldman Sachs, through an entity named “Oak Finance Luxembourg SA,” lent $835 million to Banco Espírito Santo just weeks prior… Goldman Sachs’ Deceptive Maneuver to Shift Pdvsa Debt Exposed as Portuguese Taxpayers Face Financial Fallout
The US is adding more targeted sanctions on additional individuals from Venezuela. There are numerous reasons to oppose such actions, yet I keep hearing the same old narrative about how the Venezuelan government (or “regime,”… US Sanctions on Venezuela Highlight Duplicity and Evade Accountability
Ken Silverstein, a prominent investigative reporter in the US, has sharpened his skills and remarkable memory on the offshore anonymous corporation scene, particularly focusing on the law firm Mossack Fonseca & Co. from Panama. This… The Dark Side of Offshore Corporations and Their Unscrupulous Architects
Here’s an oil-exporting country that is leveraging the current low oil prices to eliminate subsidies. While this may prove challenging when prices increase again, they are at least making an effort. The smoothness of this… Malaysia’s Reckless Move to Eliminate Fuel Subsidies Amid Low Oil Prices
Page 24 of OECD foreign bribery report The OECD has released a new report on corruption. This document serves as a useful guide for those looking to uncover scandal stories. According to the OECD, state-owned… Corruption’s Deep Roots in State Enterprises Reveal Systemic Failures in Governance
This week, I stumbled upon a curious securities filing from US Oil Sands Inc. dating back to 2012. It contains an intriguing detail: There’s nothing strange about investment companies buying shares in an oil firm.… Shocking Revelations about Pacific Rubiales and Derwick Associates Unveil Corporate Conflicts and Misleading Filings
Reuters reported yesterday: Venezuela’s state-owned oil company PDVSA is leveraging the sale of its Citgo Petroleum Corp refining assets to obstruct ConocoPhillips from obtaining a pending arbitration award, as stated by the U.S. oil firm… ConocoPhillips Accuses PDVSA of Manipulating Citgo Sale to Evade Financial Liabilities
Taken without permission from Photobucket. Click for original. In July, Venezuelan General Hugo “Pollo” Carvajal arrived in Aruba by plane to assume his new role as a diplomat in the Caribbean island nation. Instead of… The Mysterious Journey of N9GY Raises Serious Questions About Diplomatic Cover-ups
To be completely honest, friends, I didn’t see this coming—probably a result of shedding the paranoia that nearly all Venezuelans wear like a second skin. I thought I was safe in central London. That was… Chavismo extiende sus garras hasta Londres con el asalto a una bloguera en plena luz del día
In Chile, authorities have detained Cristian Labbé, former mayor of Providencia, on accusations of conspiring to kidnap and murder individuals during General Augusto Pinochet’s military dictatorship. Labbé, who served as Pinochet’s bodyguard, was allegedly involved… Former Pinochet Bodyguard Cristian Labbé Detained for Alleged Crimes Against Humanity in Chile
In a decision that surprised few, a tribunal at the World Court’s International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes ruled that Venezuela is responsible for expropriating ExxonMobil’s Cerro Negro heavy oil project, along with… Venezuela’s Debt to ExxonMobil Signals Ongoing Economic Mismanagement and Legal Failures
You might consider attending Harvard to learn from Francisco Monaldi. You could hire Daniel Kerner from Eurasia Group for a hefty fee. Or you might spend months waiting for a meeting with Ali Moshiri from… The Oil and Gas Industry’s Critical Insights on Argentina and Venezuela Remain Ignored Despite Expert Voices
ALFA, a major Mexican conglomerate, announced in May that it had acquired 31,437,700 shares of Pacific Rubiales Energy Corp. (PRE.to), representing 10% of the company. This purchase was made at $18.43 per share, which was… Alfa’s Risky Financial Gamble with Pacific Rubiales Energy Exposes Major Losses