>>21455931

Bodies found in sunken superyacht ‘are Mike Lynch and daughter’

21 August 2024

Mike Lynch and his 18-year-old daughter Hannah are believed to be among five bodies found in the search of the luxury superyacht Bayesian on Wednesday.

Specialist cave divers continued their search for the missing passengers for a third day, breaking through a 3cm-thick pane of glass to gain access to the £30 million vessel.

Inside, Italian authorities believe that the divers found Mr Lynch and his daughter, along with three other passengers who had gathered on the vessel to celebrate the tech tycoon’s acquittal in a fraud trial.

Four bodies have been brought ashore. Salvo Cocina, the director of Sicily’s civil protection agency, said rescuers had found another body but were yet to recover it. One person remains missing.

Mr Cocina told The Telegraph that he believed Mr Lynch and his daughter had been found.

He added: “On behalf of myself and my colleagues, I would like to express my deepest sympathy to the families of the victims and express our condolences to them at this difficult time”.

Jonathan Bloomer, the chairman of Morgan Stanley International; his wife, Judy Bloomer; Chris Morvillo, the Clifford Chance lawyer; and Neda Morvillo, his wife, are the other passengers missing since the yacht sank.

With help from remotely controlled underwater vehicles, divers began scouring the wreckage of the Bayesian from 8am. The yacht is lying intact on its starboard side, 165ft underwater.

Three body bags were seen being taken to the port of Porticello where dozens of emergency service staff were waiting. One was seen being put into the back of an ambulance.

In the nearby town of Termini Imerese, prosecutors have opened an investigation into the disaster. They will seek to establish what caused the yacht to sink and establish any criminality.

Prosecutors will investigate the keel on the superyacht after divers found it was “partially elevated”.

Experts have suggested that the keel would normally be fully extended for extra stability when faced with bad weather.

Prosecutors will investigate the keel on the superyacht after divers found it was “partially elevated”.

Experts have suggested that the keel would normally be fully extended for extra stability when faced with bad weather.

A tornado over water, known as a waterspout, had struck the 184ft yacht with 22 people on board as it moored overnight off Porticello, a fishing village 10 miles east of Palermo.

A team of four British inspectors from the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) also arrived in Porticello to look at the site of the sinking.

The MAIB is looking into what happened because the Bayesian was flying a British flag and is not involved in the search for the remaining missing passenger, it is understood.

More:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/08/21/bayesian-superyacht-sicily-sinking-missing-mike-lynch/

>>21456015

Nope, lefty fuckery

"might" be having regrets, "possibly"

Elon was going to back out, then the lawyers started screaming

>>21456131

Investigating Halliburton

Feb 11, 2004

ADMITTED BRIBING NIGERIAN OFFICIALS: In a 2002 filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Halliburton has admitted that “one of our foreign subsidiaries operating in Nigeria made improper payments of approximately $2.4 million” during the time Vice President Cheney was the company’s CEO. [Source: Dallas Morning News, 1/9/04]

ADMITTED BRIBING KUWAITI OFFICIALS: Halliburton had to pay $6.3 million to the Army after two employees took kickbacks in return for awarding a Kuwaiti-based company with lucrative work supplying U.S. troops in Iraq. [Sources: Reuters, 2/11/04; WSJ, 1/23/04]

NIGERIA INVESTIGATING BRIBERY CHARGES: Nigeria is conducting an investigation into “allegations that a Halliburton subsidiary paid $180 million in bribes to land a natural gas project contract” in that country during the time Vice President Cheney was the company’s CEO. [Source: NYT, 2/7/04]

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, SEC INVESTIGATING NIGERIA BRIBERY CHARGES: The Justice Department and the SEC are investigating whether Halliburton Co. was involved in the payment of $180 million in possible kickbacks to obtain contracts to build a natural gas plant in Nigeria during a period in the late 1990’s when Vice President Dick Cheney was chairman of the company. [Source: Newsweek, 2/4/04]

HALLIBURTON EVADED U.S.SANCTIONS TO DO BUSINESS WITH IRAN: The Treasury Department reopened a 2001 inquiry that “centered on the legality of the business dealings between Iran and a Halliburton subsidiary incorporated in the Cayman Islands.” Under Cheney’s leadership, the company used loopholes that allowed “companies to get around the sanctions and conduct business through foreign subsidiaries as long as these entities are not run by Americans.” [Source: Reuters, 2/11/04]

HALLIBURTON EVADED U.S.SANCTIONS AND DID BUSINESS WITH IRAQ: “According to oil industry executives and confidential United Nations records… Halliburton held stakes in two firms that signed contracts to sell more than $73 million in oil production equipment and spare parts to Iraq while Cheney was chairman and chief executive officer of the Dallas-based company.” [Source: Wash. Post, 6/23/01]

HALLIBURTON OVERCHARGED FOR MEALS: Halliburton has to pay the Pentagon for $27.4 million in overcharges for meals served to troops abroad. The company allegedly billed the government for meals that were never served to troops. Auditors are now looking into the company’s food contracts at more than 50 other locations. [Source: LA Times, 2/3/04].

PENTAGON INVESTIGATING OVERCHARGING FOR GAS: A Pentagon investigation is continuing after an audit found Halliburton overcharged the Army by $61 million for gasoline delivered to Iraq as part of its no-bid contract to help rebuild Iraq’s oil industry. [Sources: LA Times, 2/3/04; AP, 12/12/03]

PENTAGON INVESTIGATING UNSANITARY KITCHENS: The Pentagon reported finding “blood all over the floor,” “dirty pans,” “dirty grills,” “dirty salad bars” and “rotting meats … and vegetables” in four of the military messes the company operates in Iraq. [Source: AFP, 12/14/03]

HALLIBURTON GOUGING IN THE BALKANS: The General Accounting Office found in 1997 Halliburton “billed the Army for questionable expenses for work in the Balkans, including charges of $85.98 per sheet of plywood that cost $14.06. A year 2000 follow-up report on the Balkans work that found inflated costs, including charges for cleaning some offices up to four times a day.” [Source: AP, 12/12/03]

HALLIBURTON GOUGING CALIFORNIA BASE: In February 2002, Halliburton paid $2 million in fines “for defrauding the government of millions of dollars by inflating prices for repairs and maintenance for work.” [Source: NYT, 6/13/02]

HALLIBURTON’S ACCOUNTING: The SEC investigated Halliburton for disreputable accounting practices in 1998 under Cheney’s watch. Halliburton increased revenue by $89 million in the fourth quarter of 1998 “by postponing possible losses from customers’ nonpayments.” [Source: Wash. Post, 6/16/02]

https://www.americanprogress.org/article/investigating-halliburton/

>>21456253

Canada #62 >>21452188

Harley-Davidson hits brakes on diversity

The iconic US bike maker has dropped its policies after pressure from critics who previously accused it of going “totally woke”

American motorcycle maker Harley-Davidson has ended its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiative, becoming the latest major US company to distance itself from ‘woke’ policies.

DEI refers to measures aimed at ensuring equal representation for people of all backgrounds, regardless of their race, gender, or disability status.

The iconic motorbike brand, known for its robustly masculine image, said it would instead focus on “retaining our loyal riding community.”

Harley-Davidson was targeted last month by conservative influencer Robby Starbuck, who has pledged to “expose” companies for their “woke policies” and to “bring sanity back to corporate America.”

In a statement on X (formerly Twitter) on Monday, Harley-Davidson said it would review all sponsorships and outside organizations with which it affiliates.

The bike manufacturer said it would be moving forward focusing “exclusively on growing the sport of motorcycling.” It also stated that it was “saddened by the negativity on social media over the last few weeks.” The company suggested that it would drop some sponsorships, which could include LGBTQ Pride festivals, and end its relationship with the Human Rights Campaign, a leading LGBTQ advocacy group.

Harley-Davidson has been a corporate member of the Wisconsin LBGT Chamber of Commerce, and has reportedly funded Pride-themed events. The company has come under fire from many US bikers for taking part in various LGBTQ initiatives, and had reportedly lost some of its fanbase.

In July, Starbuck claimed that the brand had been “one of the most beloved brands in America but recently on CEO Jochen Zeitz’s watch, they’ve gone totally woke,” as he launched his campaign against the motorcycle maker’s policies. In its statement, the Milwaukee-based firm also said it had not “operated a DEI function since April 2024,” and that it does not have “hiring quotas” or “supplier diversity spend goals.” Starbuck welcomed the company’s move on X, praising it as “another win for our movement.”

Earlier, American rural retailer Tractor Supply and farm equipment maker John Deere also backtracked on their corporate diversity policy following pressure campaigns led by the activist. Critics of DEI have questioned the efficacy of initiatives aimed at making organizations more diverse and inclusive, leading to pressure on companies to scale back certain programs.

https://www.rt.com/news/602848-harley-davidson-drops-diversity/