Free Republic

TARP Recipient BNP Paribas got $4.9bn of bailouts from the U.S. Taxpayer - Today, as the WSJ reports we learn BNP Paribas has been funding transactions in Iran, Syria and other countries subject to U.S. Sanctions since 2002. The bank set aside $1.1 billion to settle investigations by the Department of Justice and the Federal Reserve but as the NY Times reports, investigations are playing out on multiple fronts - centering on whether the firm did "a significant amount" of business in "blacklisted" countires (and routed the deals through the US financial system). Via WSJ, “...an internal probe conducted over...

LAGOS (AFP) - Police in the northwest Nigerian state of Kebbi, home to the Argungu fishing festival, have released on bail this year's champion, arrested last week for allegedly smuggling his winning monster catch already dead into the river, a police chief said Sunday. The fishing champion, somewhat confusingly called Bello Argungu, was arrested Friday on suspicions of having smuggled a dead 65 kilogram (140 pound) fish into the river before the start of the picturesque festival. He then pulled his "catch", which drew gasps of admiration, out of the river and walked off with prizes that included a car...

A man who allegedly threatened to blow up a train from Glasgow on Friday has appeared before a court in Paisley.The sheriff heard that Mohammed Hakeem, who is 42, was arrested further down the line at Port Glasgow. Solicitor Paul Langan said his client denied the charge, which was brought as a racially aggravated offence under the Crime and Disorder Act. Mr Hakeem, from Glasgow, was granted bail by Sheriff James Spy and was due to appear in court again next month. It is alleged he committed a breach of the peace, conducted himself in a disorderly manner while...