Headlines

The Pandora Papers reveal the secret offshore holdings of more than 330 politicians and 130 billionaires, as well as celebrities and royals. The files also shed light on the financial dealings of fraudsters, drug dealers, fugitive cult leaders and corrupt sports officials.

 Washington DC, Dec.6.– With the addition of more than 15,000 companies, foundations and trusts, ICIJ’s Offshore Leaks database now has information on more than 800,000 entities registered in secrecy jurisdictions coming from five different investigations.

The International Consortium of Investigative Journalists is publishing data on the beneficial owners of more than 15,000 offshore companies, foundations, trusts, and other entities from the Pandora Papers investigation. The records were incorporated into the Offshore Leaks database and come from two offshore services providers: Panamanian law firm Alemán, Cordero, Galindo & Lee (Alcogal) and Fidelity Corporate Services, headquartered in the British Virgin Islands.

Washington, DC, Dec. 10.– On 27 August as flags flew at half-staff over the Edwin Cardinal O'Brien Pastoral Center in honor of the 13 U.S. Military members killed outside Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan, His Excellency, the Most Reverend Timothy P. Broglio, Archbishop for the Military Services, USA (AMS), issued the following statement:

“Receiving the news about the tragic loss of Marines and a Corpsman in Afghanistan while in San Diego for the first AMS convocation of 2021, I immediately joined the assembled priests to pray for the repose of their souls and the consolation of their families. Together we beg the Prince of Peace for a time of dialogue and a profound respect for the priceless value of human life.”

On 17 August, His Excellency commented on the Taliban takeover:

Dallas, Dec. 9.– Dr. Elida Dakoli is an accomplished pianist who has played on some of the world’s grandest stages. She holds a prestigious degree and teaches at a respected college in Texas. She is also a founder and the first chairperson of a victims’ rights advocacy group.

For all her success, it nearly never happened. Dr. Dakoli grew up in Albania during that country’s dangerous 40-year experiment with Communism.

As Afghanistan fell, her husband, a commando in the Afghan Special Forces, and his family fled, with a hand from a Green Beret Italian buddy

Rome, Nov.26 (AP).– National Geographic magazine’s famed green-eyed “Afghan Girl” has arrived in Italy as part of the West’s evacuation of Afghans following the Taliban takeover of the country, the Italian government said Thursday.

The office of Premier Mario Draghi said Italy organized the evacuation of Sharbat Gulla after she asked to be helped to leave the country.