What is fyi.news?

What is fyi.news

fyi.news is a contemporary news platform designed for the people of today who utilize a social media-first approach. Our goal is to curate and present the most important daily news in a simple, interactive, and easy-to-understand format, always maintaining transparency, objectivity, and integrity.

How does it work? / How do we operate? / What are our values?

• The journalists at fyi.news operate with full editorial freedom and independence. The administrative and commercial teams have no input on the content.

• At fyi.news, we are committed to objectivity, science, human equality, and freedom.

• Each day, we choose the five most important news topics and present them with integrity, objectivity, and transparency.

• Our journalistic content is written by real people with verified identities. No news is generated by AI. There are no bots or fake accounts. We closely monitor technological developments, and if, in the future, artificial intelligence can enhance our work and be integrated into our operations, this text will be updated to reflect our new guidelines.

• We take full journalistic responsibility for everything published on our platforms in order to provide our readers with the highest standard of fact-checking. We are open to any fact-checking review by certified organizations.

• Each article we publish is intended to inform, analyze, and explain. fyi.news will never be a platform for misinformation.

• Whenever an article includes an opinion or commentary, it will be clearly labeled and obvious to the reader.

• We will always maintain transparency about our finances.

• We take your data seriously. We will always be transparent, and you will always know how your data is handled.

• Our team members’ political views and beliefs will never influence our news content.

fyi.news: Anti-Corruption and Anti-Bribery Policy

February 2024

1. Anti-Corruption and Anti-Bribery Policy Statement

fyi.news enforces a zero-tolerance policy on bribery and corruption. Employees and business partners must maintain the highest standards of ethical conduct and integrity and comply with all relevant laws, regulations, treaties, and agreements.

2. Applicable Laws

fyi.news fully complies with the laws of the countries it operates in. All individuals working for or with fyi.news are required to adhere to these laws strictly. This includes directors, executives, employees (permanent staff, contractors, and freelancers—referred to as “Personnel”) and any individuals or legal entities providing services on behalf of fyi.news (referred to as “Service Providers” and, collectively with Personnel, “Affiliated Persons”).

Applicable anti-corruption laws include, but are not limited to:

a) measures adopted for the enforcement of national and international conventions and guidelines, including the United Nations Convention against Corruption (“UN Convention”), the Council of Europe Criminal Law Convention on Corruption (“Criminal Law Convention”), and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions (“OECD Convention”).

b) The 40 recommendations and 9 particular recommendations of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), which set globally accepted standards for combating money laundering. It’s important to note that the Applicable Laws cover more than just bribery of public officials; bribery of private individuals is also illegal. Therefore, this Policy applies to bribery involving anyone, regardless of their role or status.

Anti-corruption laws typically prohibit bribery and require the maintenance of financial records. Violations of these laws can result in serious criminal and civil penalties.

3. Who This Policy Applies To

Strict compliance with the requirements of Applicable Laws and this Policy is mandatory for all fyi.news Personnel and, where required by their engagement terms, for Service Providers.

All fyi.news personnel and Service Providers bound by their engagement terms must review and comply with this Policy as a condition of their employment or engagement.

Any Affiliated Person who knowingly encourages illegal conduct, overlooks suspicious circumstances, or fails to comply with applicable laws or this Policy, including fyi.news executives and employees, will face disciplinary action, up to and including termination. Service Providers may also face contractual penalties, including potential termination of their relationship with fyi.news.

4. Bribery Prevention Training

The Board of Directors of FYI NEWS MON AE requires ethical business practices and compliance with all applicable laws. This Policy reinforces fyi.news’s commitment to anti-corruption training.

General anti-bribery training is mandatory for all fyi.news Personnel. It includes education and awareness of bribery risks and how the organization manages them.

Advanced training may be provided for specific fyi. news Personnel, tailored to the risks associated with their roles. This training is conducted periodically, with a maximum interval of 24 months between sessions.

Fyi.news will also provide advanced anti-bribery training and refresher courses to Service Providers with higher corruption risks, where necessary. If fyi.news does not provide the training directly, it will encourage Service Providers to conduct their own anti-bribery training.

5. Responsibility for Compliance

The CEO of fyi.news or any designated individual or entity is responsible for ensuring compliance and overseeing the implementation of this policy. The CEO must regularly request information from relevant Affiliated Persons regarding any gifts or hospitality they have given or received from business contacts during the previous quarter.

6. Reporting Suspected Violations

Any suspected violation of the law or this Policy must be reported immediately via email to ethics@fyi.news (attention: Christos Christodoulopoulos).

The Board of Directors will take appropriate action, including considering whether to involve legal counsel to conduct a confidential internal investigation. The Affiliated Person should not take further steps until the Board of Directors responds.

7. Whistleblower Protection

This Policy prohibits any retaliation against individuals who, in good faith, report concerns about potential violations.

fyi.news will not engage in or permit retaliatory actions against anyone who submits a good-faith report of potential misconduct to management or the Board of Directors.

fyi.news encourages individuals to provide their name when submitting reports. However, even anonymous reports will be taken seriously, and anonymity will be protected as much as possible.

Any questions regarding this Policy should be directed to ethics@fyi.news.

8. Record Keeping

fyi.news will maintain records and communications related to the implementation and operation of this Policy for as long as deemed appropriate and by applicable laws.

Records may include memoranda, emails, audit reports, or other documentation of the Policy’s operation. Confidential records will only be disclosed as permitted or required by law.

9. Cooperation with Authorities

fyi.news is committed to cooperating with authorities in compliance with applicable laws and regulations while protecting the confidentiality of all parties involved.

fyi.news may receive legal requests (e.g., subpoenas) or inquiries from law enforcement or government authorities regarding investigations related to corruption or money laundering. Any member of fyi.news who receives such a request must immediately refer it to the CEO, who will inform the Board of Directors and seek legal counsel. Only these individuals or their representatives can respond to legal requests or inquiries and communicate with government authorities regarding such investigations.

Anti-Corruption Policies and Procedures

10. Policy on Travel Benefits, Gifts, and Hospitality

Good faith hospitality, along with other promotional or business expenses aimed at enhancing fyi.news’s image, showcasing its activities, or fostering positive relationships, is recognized as a standard and essential part of business practices.

However, it is important to note that hospitality, promotional expenses, or similar business expenses can be used as bribes, which is illegal. This risk increases if the travel benefit, gift, or hospitality is excessively large.

No travel benefit, gift, or hospitality should be offered in exchange for business advantages or any unlawful benefit. Similarly, these should not be provided if they are intended to influence, or could be perceived as influencing, a business decision by the recipient.

All gifts must comply with applicable laws, be of modest value, have a promotional purpose, be appropriate for the occasion, or have a customary or ceremonial nature. Cash gifts or cash equivalents are strictly prohibited.

An Affiliated Person may give or receive gifts or hospitality, provided they do not exceed 50 euros per gift or 250 euros per person for any hospitality event (and a total value of 2,500 euros within a financial year). Any such gift must be recorded correctly in the company’s books, and any received gift must be reported to the CEO in writing.

Affiliated Persons who wish to offer gifts or hospitality that exceed these limits must seek and obtain prior approval from the CEO and the Board of Directors, which includes the following:

• the date the proposed hospitality/gift is provided;
• the names of all providers and recipients of the hospitality/gift;
• the nature of the hospitality/gift (e.g., “dinner at [x]”);
• the purpose of the hospitality/gift (e.g., “building a business relationship with [x]”);
• the per-person cost for each recipient outside of fyi.news;
• the applicable policy regarding public officials;
• confirmation that the offer or acceptance of the hospitality/gift is not intended to influence a decision-maker to gain or provide a business advantage improperly.

Affiliated Persons must not pay for or reimburse travel or accommodation for the family or friends of third parties. fyi.news does not cover or reimburse costs for “side trips” for third parties.

11. Policy on Benefits to Public Officials

Personnel and Affiliated Persons are prohibited from offering any travel benefit, expense reimbursement, gift, or hospitality to public officials, except in the following cases:

(a) Gifts may be given during recognized gift-giving periods, provided they are properly recorded in the Gift and Hospitality Register and comply with legal requirements regarding their nature and value.

or

(b) Travel benefits, expense reimbursements, gifts, or hospitality may be offered with explicit prior written approval from the CEO and the Board of Directors, who must evaluate:

• the nature and value of the travel benefit, expense reimbursement, gift, or hospitality;
• the specific circumstances;
• the legality of the offer under applicable law;
• the frequency of such offers to any particular public official;

and confirm that:

• any travel arranged by fyi.news serves a legitimate business purpose or is for the fulfillment of a specific contract.

If approval is granted, the benefit must be properly recorded in accordance with legal requirements.

12. “Facilitation” Payments and “bribes”

These are strictly prohibited.

Facilitation payments are bribes paid to public officials to expedite or facilitate the performance of their duties for the payer’s benefit. Employees are prohibited by law from offering, requesting, or accepting facilitation payments for services required.

13. Use of fyi.news Assets and Financial Record Accuracy

fyi.news and service providers required to do so under the terms of their engagement must maintain accurate accounting records and implement a system of internal controls to ensure accountability for their assets.

fyi.news requires that all financial transactions be accurately recorded in its financial records in line with generally accepted accounting principles.

fyi.news, its Personnel, and service providers subject to such restrictions are prohibited from maintaining undisclosed or unrecorded funds or assets for any purpose. Examples of such undisclosed or unrecorded funds or assets include:

• numbered offshore bank accounts;
• bank accounts containing fyi.news funds but held in the names of individuals;
• unrecorded cash or “black box” funds; or
• real estate or personal property held by a Board member or legal representative.

14. Prohibited Payment Methods

Affiliated Persons may not make payments to any individual, agent, consultant, distributor, or other party without an approved contract.

Properly documented invoices must support all payments.

Checks may only be written to “cash” or “bearer” when fyi.news has received an invoice for the payment and proof from the beneficiary. This payment, along with copies of the invoice and proof, must be accurately recorded in the company’s books.

15. Political Donations

Political donations are not allowed under any circumstances.

16. Operations Involving Investments or Transactions with Business Partners

fyi.news requires that all investments and transactions with Business Partners be documented in writing. Any proposed business transaction involving public officials or state-owned enterprises is subject to enhanced due diligence, which may include hiring an investigative service to review any intermediaries engaging with public officials on behalf of fyi.news.

17. Further Guidance

Any questions regarding this Policy should be directed to ethics@fyi.news.

Anti-Corruption Policy for Third Parties

18. Operations

fyi.news works with third-party providers to deliver services.

fyi.news requires that all providers it enters into contractual relationships with must not engage in any illegal activities or bribery on behalf of fyi.news. Any third party, whether an individual or entity, may only contract with fyi.news if they agree to this condition.

19. Contract Terms

All third parties must be engaged by fyi.news through a formal written contract. The contract must, at a minimum, include the following:

• compensation structure;
• any applicable discounts;
• the types of services provided;
• whether fees are tied to results (such as commissions) or paid as a lump sum;
• anti-corruption provisions to minimize the risk of bribery by the third party to fyi.news; and
• the provision of anti-corruption certificates by third parties upon request from fyi.news.

Anti-Money Laundering Policy

20. Framework

fyi.news aims to ensure its operations, personnel, facilities, products, and services are used solely for legitimate business purposes. This Policy has been adopted to educate fyi.news Personnel about money laundering and to establish guidelines and standards designed to protect fyi.news from being unknowingly used to facilitate money laundering or other illegal activities.

Effective prevention starts with fyi.news Personnel. All Personnel must be familiar with this Policy and understand how to prevent, detect, and report suspicious activities and transactions to the CEO and the Board for review.

21. What is Money Laundering

Money laundering is generally defined as the process of hiding the origins and ownership of proceeds from illegal activities and disguising assets to make them appear legitimate.

It can involve proceeds from any serious crime, including but not limited to drug trafficking, insider trading, bribery, tax evasion, embezzlement, bank or financial fraud, and mail fraud.

Money laundering transactions don’t have to involve cash and can include any financial transaction such as check deposits, withdrawals, transfers, or movement of funds, securities, or other assets. It can be a single transaction or a series of transactions.

In most countries, it is a crime to conduct or assist in a financial transaction with “knowledge” or “willful blindness” that the transaction involves criminal proceeds. Willfully ignoring suspicious activity can result in money laundering charges.

It is also illegal to receive funds with “knowledge” that they come from criminal activities.

Anti-Money Laundering Procedures

22. Detection and Reporting of Suspicious Activity

fyi.news and its personnel must be vigilant for possible money laundering or suspicious activity. It is strictly prohibited for any member of fyi.news to engage in money laundering, either knowingly or through willful blindness. Personnel must not advise or assist anyone attempting to evade anti-money laundering laws or bypass this Policy.

Under no circumstances may fyi.news Personnel notify or “tip off” any party involved in suspicious or illegal activities that their actions are under investigation.

If any Personnel believe a transaction is suspicious, they must immediately notify the CEO.

If they are unable or unwilling to report the matter to the CEO, they should use one of the Whistleblowing channels available on the fyi.news website.

23. Cash and Cash Equivalents

To minimize the risk of fyi.news being used in money laundering schemes, fyi.news requires documentation for handling cash and cash equivalents (e.g., checks, money orders). This documentation is intended to prevent money launderers from using fyi.news to avoid reporting requirements for cash and cash-equivalent transactions.