May 2024 - cypherpunks - lists.cpunks.org

13 Judges Boycott Columbia Clerks Over Protest Response
by Gunnar Larson 07 May '24

07 May '24

13 Judges Boycott Columbia Clerks Over Protest Response <https://www.law360.com/newyork/articles/1834122?nl_pk=ac5a3855-e47c-4403-be…> By Lauren Berg A group of 13 federal judges told Columbia University's president Monday they won't hire students who attend the university or its law school as clerks, calling it an "incubator of bigotry" for its handling of student protests over the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, according to a copy of their letter that U.S. District Judge Alan Albright shared with Law360. Letter attached | Read full article » <https://www.law360.com/newyork/articles/1834122?nl_pk=ac5a3855-e47c-4403-be…> | Save to favorites » <https://www.law360.com/newyork/articles/1834122?nl_pk=ac5a3855-e47c-4403-be…>

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Pensions Watchdog Targets More Scheme Consolidation
by Gunnar Larson 07 May '24

07 May '24

Pensions Watchdog Targets More Scheme Consolidation <https://www.law360.co.uk/financial-services-uk/articles/1833249?nl_pk=a94fc…> By Joel Poultney The Pensions Regulator detailed on Friday 22 "priority outcomes" that will drive its work for the next three years, with policies reflecting its vision of "fewer, larger schemes" in the market, which a trade body described as ambitious. Read full article » <https://www.law360.co.uk/financial-services-uk/articles/1833249?nl_pk=a94fc…> | Save to favorites » <https://www.law360.co.uk/financial-services-uk/articles/1833249?nl_pk=a94fc…>

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The Best Therapy For Lawyers, According To Ex-Lawyers
by Gunnar Larson 06 May '24

06 May '24

The Best Therapy For Lawyers, According To Ex-Lawyers <https://www.law360.com/mergersacquisitions/articles/1829234?nl_pk=a34c25b5-…> By Cara Bayles Attorneys-turned-therapists say no one understands the stresses of being a lawyer like another lawyer. They also say their clients sometimes struggle at first with treatment that prioritizes feelings, mindfulness and even body awareness over the intellectualizing and rationalizing that make them successful at their jobs. Read full article » <https://www.law360.com/mergersacquisitions/articles/1829234?nl_pk=a34c25b5-…> | Save to favorites » <https://www.law360.com/mergersacquisitions/articles/1829234?nl_pk=a34c25b5-…>

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Boeing Can't Avoid Pre-Conception Toxic Birth Defect Claims
by Gunnar Larson 06 May '24

06 May '24

Boeing Can't Avoid Pre-Conception Toxic Birth Defect Claims <https://www.law360.com/insurance/articles/1833614?nl_pk=59612751-8689-4b1e-…> By Rachel Riley A Washington state judge said Friday that the child of two Boeing factory workers can sue the aerospace giant for negligence based on harm he allegedly suffered before he was conceived, allowing him to accuse the company of failing to warn his parents about toxic chemicals they were exposed to on the job. Read full article » <https://www.law360.com/insurance/articles/1833614?nl_pk=59612751-8689-4b1e-…> | Save to favorites » <https://www.law360.com/insurance/articles/1833614?nl_pk=59612751-8689-4b1e-…>

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Conn. Dentists Settle Govt's Illegal Patient Recruiting Suit
by Gunnar Larson 06 May '24

06 May '24

Conn. Dentists Settle Govt's Illegal Patient Recruiting Suit <https://www.law360.com/governmentcontracts/articles/1833456?nl_pk=4126fe73-…> By Brian Steele Two Connecticut dental practices and their co-owners have settled a federal false claims lawsuit accusing them of making illegal payments to a patient recruiter to generate business through Medicaid, agreeing to fork over about $187,000 over five years, plus 4% interest. 2 documents attached | Read full article » <https://www.law360.com/governmentcontracts/articles/1833456?nl_pk=4126fe73-…> | Save to favorites » <https://www.law360.com/governmentcontracts/articles/1833456?nl_pk=4126fe73-…>

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Re: Blinken Denies US Human Rights ‘Double Standard’ for Israel
by Gunnar Larson 06 May '24

06 May '24

On Wed, May 1, 2024, 5:06 AM Gunnar Larson <g(a)xny.io> wrote: > Katerina: > > How are you? > > May I have more time to complete the MOOC section two final quiz? > > Thank you, > > Gunnar > > 9th Circ. Says Calif. Bar Didn't Violate Student's Fed. Rights > <https://www.law360.com/legalethics/articles/1831430?nl_pk=153d4a8a-6fb9-4a5…> > > By Lauren Berg > > The Ninth Circuit on Tuesday affirmed the dismissal of an octogenarian law > school student's claims that the State Bar of California violated his 14th > Amendment protected rights when it refused to excuse his delay in taking a > first-year exam, saying the California Supreme Court has original > jurisdiction over admission matters. > > Opinion attached | Read full article » > <https://www.law360.com/legalethics/articles/1831430?nl_pk=153d4a8a-6fb9-4a5…> > | Save to favorites » > <https://www.law360.com/legalethics/articles/1831430?nl_pk=153d4a8a-6fb9-4a5…> > > > On Tue, Apr 23, 2024, 3:32 AM Gunnar Larson <g(a)xny.io> wrote: > >> Katerina: >> >> On the MOOC forum, I made a human rights post a couple weeks ago. >> >> I do not see it on the forums. Do you have a copy of it by chance? >> >> Thank you, >> >> Gunnar >> >> ---- >> >> Blinken Denies US Human Rights ‘Double Standard’ for Israel >> https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-04-22/blinken-denies-us-human-… >> >> >> The US is examining allegations of human rights and international law >> violations in Gaza — by both Israel and Hamas — and will not apply a double >> standard, Secretary of State Antony Blinken told reporters in Washington on >> Monday. >> >

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Memo #4 - Goldman Sachs Deferred Prosecution Agreement
by Gunnar Larson 06 May '24

06 May '24

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ajVVx6NGB9wd2GDXfLRftf0RVFpqjl8WWITvdNV… March 10, 2022 BY ELECTRONIC MAIL Mr. John Marzulli United States Department of Justice Eastern District of New York 271 Cadman Plaza East Brooklyn New York, 11201 John.Marzulli(a)usdoj.gov Re: Memo #4 - Goldman Sachs Deferred Prosecution Agreement Dear Mr. Marzulli: The Department of Justice has yet to respond to Memo #1, Memo #2 and Memo #3 with our recent inquiry to the 1Malaysia Development Berhad Deferred Agreement. Goldman Sachs' Deferred Prosecution Agreement <https://www.justice.gov/usao-edny/pr/goldman-sachs-resolves-foreign-bribery…> with the United States of America is in potential breach, with ethical enforcement being concerned. Memo #4 aims to associate the malfeasance in Malaysia with war crimes of aggression (in the planning, initiation, or execution of a large-scale and serious act of aggression), leveraging the world’s only military divided capital city Nicosia, Cyprus. 1. Additionally, Memo #4 aims to earn the DOJ’s assessment of New York State’s regulatory marketplace manipulation deriving the war crime against peace, related to the planning, preparation, initiation, waging or participation in a common plan or conspiracy related to a war of aggression, which can only apply in relation to international armed conflict. 2. In this case, the first challenge is to observe and consider the simple idea that the DOJ’s Deferred Prosecution Agreement with Goldman Sachs alone, through means of regulatory arbitrage naively fails to recognize the ‘cause and effect’ relationship at play at the inception of Memo #4’s assertion of war crimes. 3. Even with the best of intentions, perhaps unknowingly the DOJ may be amplifying the effect of potential war crimes by indirectly supplementing the root cause of the problem and financial model of the Deferred Agreement being self-policing. Mr. Marzulli, there has been an active United Nations peacekeeping mission in Cyprus since the 1964 Turkish military invasion and occupation of the northern third of Cyprus. Only Turkey recognises the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, while there is broad recognition that the ongoing military presence constitutes occupation of territories that are under Turkish military control. - The graduate education behind Memo #4 is a product of the University of Nicosia’s (UNIC) main campus, located adjacent to the United Nations Buffer Zone that separates the invaded Turkish Republic of North Cyprus and the Republic of Cyprus, which joined the European Union in 2004. - Memo #4 is also a product of United Nations consultancy, based at its Manhattan headquarters, where (today, what is now xNY.io - Bank.org) was credited with increasing the breadth and accessibility of reference content from the world’s most important multinational organization. - Memo #4’s subject of war crimes has preeminent association with such projects as the Audio Visual Library of International Law. Over the following sections, Memo #4 will provide a detailed timeline that would constitute real concern of the war crime of aggression yielding the war crime against peace in active war conflict in the world’s only military divided capital, funded from Manhattan Island. The Bank of Cyprus and Illegal Short Selling Irregularities of Turkey’s Markets Mr. Marzulli, turn this matter as we will, and look at it from any side whatsoever, and it presents the appearance of a cross-border act of aggression. Goldman Sachs’ potential disrespect to the Deferred Agreement’s core values has cultivated new crimes that aim to manipulate cross-border war crime regulatory frameworks. - On April 02, 2021 the Financial Times reported that Turkey fined Goldman Sachs over alleged irregularities in short selling, just a week after foreign investors pulled $1.9B from the country’s stock and bond markets. Turkey’s Capital Markets Board said that Goldman Sachs was among 10 securities firms that had placed orders for short selling without proper notification, violating rules enacted previously that temporarily prohibited such transactions. - On April 20, 2021 the CyprusMail (Cyprus’ only English Language daily newspaper) reported Goldman Sachs International acted as Global Coordinators and Dealer Managers in a $330M bond issuance for the Bank of Cyprus. Given the active military conflict in Cyprus, Memo #4 notes that there is one place on the planet you are not supposed to do this sort of thing. Furthermore, the DOJ’s Deferred Agreement with Goldman Sachs may have been tainted with the potential war crime of aggression, risking international peace and the lives of United Nations peacekeepers, while jeopardizing the United States of America’s financial security. Concern of New York Prime Bank Instrument Fraud and Marketplace Manipulation The United States Department of the Treasury warns that Prime Bank Instrument Fraud schemes have attracted significant international attention, since individuals and organizations have lost billions of dollars worldwide. "Prime Bank Instrument Fraud" is the general term given to prime bank fraud schemes that go by many different names. During April 2021, Goldman Sachs could not in good faith (and, plausible deniability) make any reasonable claim of holding a pristine relationship with Turkey’s Central Bank or with Cyprus’ largest financial institutions, given the 1Malaysia Development Berhad scandal and then pending Deferred Prosecution Agreement with the United States of America. - Memo #4 suggests that Goldman Sachs developed a Prime Bank Instrument Fraud program to level out yo-yo market dynamics caused by failed marketplace manipulation exercises in Turkey and Cyprus. - Systematic bank fraud and/or marketplace manipulation of any kind between Turkey and Cyprus could constitute the war crime of aggression. - Furthermore, Memo #4 argues that Goldman Sachs may have tried to bambooze governments in New York, Cyprus and Turkey through regulatory arbitrage loopholes, while Goldman seemingly may have not considered the totality of such actions as war crimes. Turkey has the highest inflation in Europe. It has the second-highest rate of inflation among emerging markets, just behind Argentina. It has the 13th highest inflation rate in the world, ranking it between South Sudan and Nigeria. After Goldman Sachs was fined for illegal stock and bond market short selling by the Turkish government, logic would argue further malfeasance potentially could have been avoided by the DOJ’s 1Malaysia Development Berhad investigation. - On April 15, 2021 CNBC reported that Goldman Sachs (note, the previous section’s milestones of April 02, 2021 and April 20, 2021) crucially removed its bias toward Turkey tightening interest rates. Goldman issued guidance highlighting the fact that the bank thought that, “…the removal of the tightening bias against rising inflation expectations suggests that the TCMB (Turkish Central Bank) now has a more dovish reaction function.” - On August 14, 2021 the CyprusMail reported serious concern among economists about data reporting from the Turkish Statistical Institute. Ahmet Takan, a former official with the office of the Turkish prime minister, acted as a whistle blower, warning that Turkey potentially was manipulating inflation data. - On September 1, 2021 Reuters reported that Goldman Sachs hiked Turkish growth forecasts. Goldman economists issued guidance stating, "Overall, the Turkish economy has been able to grow faster than we thought without a deterioration in its external balances, as the pickup in foreign demand has been very supportive." - On November 30, 2021 Reuters reported that Goldman Sachs trimed Turkey’s 2022 growth forecast. Goldman Sachs' Murat Unur stated, "We think that the GDP figures released today tell us little about the pace of economic activity going forward as the recent sell-off in the Lira is likely to impact economic activity significantly" Mr. Marzulli, the DOJ’s Deferred Prosecution Agreement with Goldman Sachs was signed on October 21, 2021. The timeline of events above do not coincide with terms and conditions of the Deferred Agreement mandated by the United States of America. Furthermore, as an international graduate scholars of the world’s only military divided capital on the planet, xNY.io - Bank.org should be protected from any association of crimes against peace, related to the planning, preparation, initiation, waging or participation in a common plan or conspiracy related to a war of aggression, which can only apply in relation to international armed conflict. War Crimes Against Humanity Mr. Marzulli, xNY.io - Bank.org is concerned that potential breaches to the Deferred Agreement are impacting our global enterprise. Crimes against humanity can be committed in peacetime as well as during an armed conflict. Even a single act could fall under this exclusion ground provided it forms part of a widespread or systematic attack against a civilian population and the act is committed by any person (including a civilian) who had knowledge of the attack and the link of the act to the attack. 1. We are looking to learn more about the DOJ’s approach to assessing any potential breaches to the Deferred Agreement’s mandates as we determine New York State’s role in cross-border bank regulation and corresponding innovation beyond war crimes against humanity. 2. In order to establish whether a war crime or a crime against humanity has been committed, the case officer should consult the relevant international instruments and case law. 3. Crimes against humanity are fundamentally inhumane acts, committed as part of a systematic or widespread attack. Inhumane acts, which could reach this threshold when committed pursuant to or in furtherance of a State or organizational policy (potentially, New York State bank regulation). 4. Persecution against any identifiable group or collectivity on political, racial, national, ethnic, cultural, religious, gender, or other grounds that are universally recognised as impermissible under international law. 5. Furthermore, we have made 28 highlights to the Deferred Agreement providing supporting reference to Memo #4’s overarching premise. xNY.io - Bank.org submits Memo #4 for DOJ consideration of other inhumane acts of a similar character intentionally causing great suffering, or serious injury to body or to mental or physical health. Some crimes against humanity would require an additional specific intent, such as Goldman Sachs willfully disrespecting New York State and/or overall peace and security of the United States of America. Memo #1, Memo #2, Memo #3 and Memo #4 outline instances that correspond with the associated definitions of the potential war crimes abroad and jeopardize the future of bank innovation from New York, at great sacrifice to the Homeland. We hope to learn the DOJ’s approach to comment on Memo #4’s subject matter or, without delay refer these concerns to the International Criminal Court and/or International Court of Justice for comment. Respectfully yours with anticipation, Gunnar Larson - xNY.io <http://www.xny.io> | Bank.org <http://bank.org>MSc <https://www.unic.ac.cy/blockchain/msc-digital-currency/?utm_source=Google&u…> - Digital Currency MBA <https://www.unic.ac.cy/business-administration-entrepreneurship-and-innovat…> - Entrepreneurship and Innovation (ip) G(a)xNY.io +1-646-454-9107

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Campus Protests Over Gaza Open a Pandora’s Box for Wall Street Megabanks that Underwrote $8 Billion of Israel’s Bonds in March
by Gunnar Larson 06 May '24

06 May '24

https://wallstreetonparade.com/2024/05/campus-protests-over-gaza-open-a-pan… By Pam Martens and Russ Martens: May 6, 2024 ~ Goldman Sachs Protester (Thumbnail) Protestor Wears a Swamp Creature Costume Outside Goldman Sachs Headquarters, January 17, 2017 The pro-Palestinian protestors on college and university campuses across the U.S. have opened a pandora’s box for the Wall Street megabanks that underwrite billions of dollars in Israel bonds – including $8 billion in March of this year – at a time when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s conduct of the war in Gaza has come under broad condemnation. U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont, who is Jewish, described Netanyahu’s war operation as follows on the April 28 edition of CNN’s State of the Union: “Right now, what Netanyahu’s right-wing, extremist and racist government is doing is unprecedented in the modern history of warfare. They have killed in the last six-and-a-half months 33,000 Palestinians, wounded 77,000, two-thirds of whom are women and children. “They have destroyed over 60 percent of the housing. They have destroyed the health care system. They have destroyed the infrastructure, no electricity, very little water. And, right now, we are looking at the possibility of mass starvation and famine in Gaza. “When you make those charges, that is not antisemitic. That is a reality. So, our job is to condemn Hamas, a terrorist organization that started this war, condemn in every form antisemitism, Islamophobia, and other forms of bigotry. But we do have to pay attention to the disastrous and unprecedented humanitarian disaster taking place in Gaza right now.” On February 12 of this year, President Joe Biden warned Israel against its plan to invade Rafah, a city in the southern portion of Gaza. Israel had previously ordered civilians in Gaza to uproot their families and relocate there for safety. But less than a month after President Biden issued his warning, four megabanks on Wall Street underwrote $8 billion in bonds for Israel. Those banks are: BNP Paribas, Bank of America, Deutsche Bank, and Goldman Sachs. Citigroup’s Citibank is the fiscal agent, paying agent, transfer agent and registrar on the bonds. This morning, Israel’s military has issued evacuation orders for Rafah, suggesting an attack there may be imminent. NPR reports the following this morning: “Since late March, Israeli air strikes have hit Rafah almost daily, killing nearly 300 Palestinians, most of them women and children, according to hospital records and the Palestinian Center for Human Rights.” The megabanks on Wall Street are not the only facilitators of funding to Israel. According to a recent SEC filing by Israel, the U.S. has contractually pledged the following to Israel: “Israel receives military assistance from the United States and has received economic assistance from the United States averaging approximately $3 billion per year since 1987, including by way of loan guarantees. U.S. foreign assistance to Israel has reduced by way of a phase-out of the U.S. Economic Support Fund, however, the level of its Foreign Military Financing assistance to Israel has increased. In 2016, the United States and Israel reached an agreement on a package of at least $38 billion in U.S. military aid over the course of 10 years ($3.8 billion per year).” The same SEC document explains the U.S. loan guarantees on certain Israel bonds as follows: “In 1992, the United States approved up to $10 billion in loan guarantees during U.S. fiscal years 1993 through 1998 to help Israel absorb the influx of immigrants over this period. Israel completed its financings under this program in January 1998. In April 2003, the United States approved up to $9 billion in additional loan guarantees for Israel, and the loan guarantee program has been extended over the years and in 2012, the United States and Israel entered into an agreement establishing a new framework for administering its loan guarantee program provides Israel with access to up to approximately $3.8 billion in future loan guarantees as part of the initial $9 billion commitment. Most recently in January 2023, the United States extended the program until September 2028. The loan guarantee program aims to support Israel’s comprehensive economic program and to create conditions for high and sustainable growth.” In addition, the foreign aid package that was passed by the U.S. Senate and signed by President Biden on April 24, includes $15 billion in military assistance to Israel and $9 billion in humanitarian relief for Gazans. The lion’s share of the $95 billion package, $61 billion, was earmarked for Ukraine, which has been under attack by Russia since February of 2022. Supplementing bond underwriting by megabanks on Wall Street, Israel owns its own broker-dealer in the United States – the Development Corporation for Israel, also known simply as Israel Bonds. Various iterations of the corporation operate in Germany, England, Canada and elsewhere. According to its website, global sales of Israel Bonds have exceeded $1 billion in each of the past four years. Numerous supporters of Israel have raised the alarm that the way Netanyahu is conducting the war in Gaza is doing irreparable harm to Israel’s reputation around the world. The fact that Israel needs the confidence of the capital markets in order to issue its sovereign debt securities might be a topic that President Biden and campus protestors need to emphasize in their pleas for a ceasefire.

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Kwok's Ex-Chief Of Staff Pleads Out Before $1B Fraud Trial
by Gunnar Larson 06 May '24

06 May '24

Kwok's Ex-Chief Of Staff Pleads Out Before $1B Fraud Trial <https://www.law360.com/fintech/articles/1833383?nl_pk=d2b3e7ef-ab62-4a62-80…> By Rachel Scharf The former chief of staff to exiled Chinese billionaire Ho Wan Kwok pled guilty in Manhattan federal court on Friday to participating in a $1 billion investor fraud, less than three weeks before she was scheduled to go to trial alongside her erstwhile boss. Order attached | Read full article » <https://www.law360.com/fintech/articles/1833383?nl_pk=d2b3e7ef-ab62-4a62-80…> | Save to favorites » <https://www.law360.com/fintech/articles/1833383?nl_pk=d2b3e7ef-ab62-4a62-80…>

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Sentencing Delayed For Ex-Fintech Exec In Crypto Case
by Gunnar Larson 06 May '24

06 May '24

Sentencing Delayed For Ex-Fintech Exec In Crypto Case <https://www.law360.com/fintech/articles/1830853?nl_pk=d2b3e7ef-ab62-4a62-80…> By Carolina Bolado Sentencing for the CEO of fintech company Hydrogen Technology Corp. was delayed Friday after a dispute over how to calculate the amount of money lost in the conspiracy to manipulate the market for Hydrogen's digital assets. 2 documents attached | Read full article » <https://www.law360.com/fintech/articles/1830853?nl_pk=d2b3e7ef-ab62-4a62-80…> | Save to favorites » <https://www.law360.com/fintech/articles/1830853?nl_pk=d2b3e7ef-ab62-4a62-80…>

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