Alternative News

The Drone War Doctrine We Still Know Nothing About

"In these attacks, known as 'signature strikes,' drone operators fire on people whose identities they do not know based on evidence of suspicious behavior or other 'signatures.' According to anonymously sourced media reports, such attacks on unidentified targets account for many, or even most, drone strikes. Despite that, the administration has never publicly spoken about signature strikes. What is the legal justification for signature strikes? What qualifies as a 'signature' that would prompt a deadly strike? Do those being targeted have to pose a threat to the United States? And how many civilians have been killed in such strikes?" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingThe Drone War Doctrine We Still Know Nothing About

Mexico’s audit office tells Bank of Mexico to verify gold held at Bank of England

"The Mexican government audit office has reprimanded the Bank of Mexico for failing to verify its supposed purchase of $4.5 billion of gold vaulted at the Bank of England. The audit office confirms a complaint last year that the Bank of Mexico had purchased only 'paper gold' at the Bank of England and had no idea of the number of bars it had supposedly purchased, nor of the purity of the bars. The audit office has recommended that the Bank of Mexico 'make a physical inspection with the counterparty that has the gold under its custody, in order to be able to verify and validate its physical wholeness and the compliance with the terms and conditions of dealing with this asset.'" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingMexico’s audit office tells Bank of Mexico to verify gold held at Bank of England

Nervous Brussels urges Italy to stick to austerity

"The European Commission has urged any future government in Italy to keep on implementing deficit-cutting measures, despite the fact that over half the electorate voted for anti-austerity parties. 'Last Friday the Italians were speaking quite clearly about debt-reduction commitments as well as a series of other commitments. These Italian commitments remain in force and the commission expects compliance,' commission spokesperson Olivier Bailly said. His comments come after elections in Italy put former comedian Beppe Grillo, who ran on an anti-austerity ticket and has called for a referendum on euro membership, in kingmaker position." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingNervous Brussels urges Italy to stick to austerity

Italian Business Taxpayers Feel ‘Persecuted’

"A nationwide poll of 2,500 businesses by Confedercontribuenti, an association of Italian taxpayers, has found that they are being harassed in their dealings with the country’s complex tax system, which is viewed as extremely complex and persecutory. On average, each company receives about 29 annual alerts regarding its obligations tothe system’s various tax authorities and collectors. Above all, it is calculated that it takes each business an average of about 250 hours per year to resolve the issues raised by the total of 13 different institutions responsible for the Italian tax and social security system." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingItalian Business Taxpayers Feel ‘Persecuted’

Australian Gov Now to Seize People’s Live Bank Accts – If ‘Inactive’

"The government will from May 31 be able to transfer all money from accounts that have not been used for three years into their own revenues. Households face losing up to $109 million from their family savings as the Federal government moves to seize cash from inactive bank accounts. After legislation was rushed through parliament, the government will from May 31 be able to transfer all money from accounts that have not been used for three years into their own revenues ... The law is forecast to raise $109 million this year as inactive accounts for three years or more are raided by Treasury. The money can be reclaimed from ASIC but the process can take months." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingAustralian Gov Now to Seize People’s Live Bank Accts – If ‘Inactive’

Aaron Swartz is Dead, Now White House Adjusts Rules

"In what has to be one of the more cynical moves in recent US political history, the White House has announced (see above) that more information freely distributed is better than less information available on via subscription. This turn of events come about six weeks after the death information activist Aaron Swartz, who supposedly killed himself when faced with severe prosecution over the intent to distribute 'non-legal' publicly-funded information to the public. Swartz faced over 30 years of jail time for his 'crime,' and apparently committed suicide over his prosecution, we learn, after all, that such 'laws' are fungible and can be changed." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingAaron Swartz is Dead, Now White House Adjusts Rules

Jury Nullification Activist Jailed 145 Days for Distributing Info

"Vietnam Era Veteran, peaceful freedom activist, and local small businessman, Mark Schimdter, has been jailed for 145 days by Judge Belvin Perry. Schmidter’s sentence began Thursday after he was found guilty for distributing jury nullification info outside of Perry’s self-imposed 'free speech zone' during the Casey Anthony trial. Furthermore, the very rule he was found to be in violation of has been overturned." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingJury Nullification Activist Jailed 145 Days for Distributing Info

How To Get Kicked Off Your Flight

"Have you ever given some thought to how easily you can be removed from an airline flight, told to gather your belongings and leave the plane immediately because you've been deemed a 'risk to the flight?' It's easier than you might think for it to occur. Flight attendants have the power to have you removed at will, specifically their will." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingHow To Get Kicked Off Your Flight

Always a One-Way Street–Er, Flight

"Kansas is treading ground Texas did in 2011, with 21 members of its legislature introducing a bill that would prohibit the TSA’s sexual assault at airports. And 'experts' once again predict problems arising from such courage, chief among them that 'the U.S. Constitution bars states from regulating the actions of the federal government.' Why do we never hear a peep from these 'experts' about the Fourth Amendment’s ban of unreasonable search and seizure?" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingAlways a One-Way Street–Er, Flight