Norway's former PM charged with gross corruption over Epstein links
Former Norwegian Prime Minister Thorbjørn Jagland has been charged with "gross corruption" due to his association with US sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, according to police reports.
This charge followed the Council of Europe's lifting of Jagland's immunity, which he had previously held due to his diplomatic status. Jagland firmly denies any criminal wrongdoing and is ready to cooperate with authorities, his lawyer said.
Emails released by the US government suggest that Jagland organized both personal and family visits to Epstein's residences in Paris, New York, and Palm Beach after Epstein's conviction for a child sex offence.
ECB Fines Crédit Agricole €7.6 Million Over Climate Failures
The European Central Bank has imposed a fine of €7.6 million ($9 million) on Crédit Agricole for inadequately managing significant climate-related and environmental risks.
In a statement released last week, the ECB noted that "Crédit Agricole did not sufficiently assess the materiality" of these risks within the stipulated deadline. This violation spans 75 days in 2024.
The ECB has been increasingly raising its standards for how banks should modify their risk-management strategies to address the repercussions of climate change. The central bank is closely monitoring critical risks, including the financial effects of extreme weather on physical assets and supply chains, as well as the risk that high-carbon companies may depreciate over time.
EU seeks to ban all Russian crypto transactions
The EU is aiming to prohibit all cryptocurrency transactions with Russia as part of its strategy to prevent Moscow from utilizing assets beyond the conventional banking system to bypass sanctions.
The European Commission has suggested this comprehensive approach rather than merely targeting Russian crypto entities that emerged from already-sanctioned platforms. Brussels asserts that these entities are instrumental in facilitating trade for goods supporting the Kremlin’s military efforts in Ukraine.
Additionally, Brussels has proposed restrictions on the export of specific dual-use products to Kyrgyzstan, accusing Kyrgyz companies of supplying banned materials to Russia, including machinery and electronics utilized in weaponry and drones.
This proposed ban would mark the first application of anti-circumvention measures, a key element of the EU's 20th package of sanctions following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
