Haiti

The 12th July 2010 marked 6 months since the devastating earthquake that struck the Caribbean island of Haiti earlier this year.  The earthquake’s epicentre, which measured 7.0 on the Richter scale, was just south of the capital, Port au Prince, and levelled all but the smallest of structures, leaving an estimated 230,000 dead, 300,000 injured and a further estimated 1.3 million homeless. For those fortunate enough to have survived the initial quake, weeks of tremors that shook the already destabilised capital and further reduced buildings to piles of rubble and twisted steel followed.

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Posted date 20-07-2010


Googling

We’ve all done it.  Approached by the name of a new client, potential partner or investor, we’ve typed their name into the world’s favourite internet browser, checked a few of the links on the first page and ‘Googled’ them.  Sometimes, this alone can provide some very useful information about a subject. You can occasionally get an idea of a person or company’s general  profile (high or low) and hints of  a major red flag from these ten links that come up right away.  

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Posted date 20-07-2010


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Bribery Act

The introduction of the Bribery Act, which was voted through the House of Commons on 8 April 2010 and is expected to come into force in October 2010, is going to have a great effect on the way British companies operate aboard. The Act brings together numerous parts of previous legislation relating to corruption and bribery under one bill making it easier for Serious Fraud Office or other law enforcement organisations to prosecute British companies and nationals.

Surveillance

Surveillance is increasingly being considered by clients to monitor the movements of an individual in order to gain information. Whilst surveillance can be used as an effective tool in many investigations, in order to obtain the best results and be cost effective, certain issues must be considered before the operation commences:

Pakistan at the crossroads

At no other time in its 62 years has the survival of Pakistan looked so fragile. Events of the last few months have generated media headlines of 'failed state' and 'Pakistan on the brink' with the more alarmist observers pointing to a possible scenario of the 'Balkanisation' of the country. International perception has been badly (some say irretrievably) damaged with the consequent impact on foreign direct and institutional investment. But are things as bad as they appear?

Sudan

The largest country on the African continent is not high on the list of favourites among foreign direct investors. Issues such as Darfur, the regime in Khar-toum, the years of civil war between north and south, and the impact of US sanctions (intriguingly, except for gum Arabic, which is the only item that is exempt sanctions because it is the essential ingredient for Coca Cola) have blighted most opportunities. That is before the recent ruling by the ICC for the arrest and trial of the sitting President of the country.

Offshore Tax Havens

As unravelling fraud and extravagant bonus payments continue to dominate international headlines, there has been an increase in interest in offshore tax havens and the need to better regulate the most secretive tropical islands and mountainous retreats. London, where punitive financial sanctions were discussed as the next step in dealing with these havens.

India

India has become a focal point of late; with the Mumbai terrorist attack unprecedented in the country catching global attention, October‟s mission to the moon, and its longstanding nuclear power, India's position as a regional power in South Asia and growing presence as an international player are indisputable. As the world's second most populous country, its vast potential is difficult to ignore; huge amounts of wealth are being created by Indians investing not just locally but internationally. Four of the top ten richest individuals in the world are from India. Still, the country faces challenges politically and commercially because of its caste, religious and regional tensions.