Mainstream News

How Bank of England ‘helped Nazis sell gold stolen from Czechs’

"Bank of England records detailing its involvement in the transfer and sale of gold stolen by Nazis after the invasion of Czechoslovakia were revealed online on Tuesday. The gold had been deposited during the 1930s with the Bank of International Settlements (BIS), the so-called Central Banker's bank, as the Czechoslovak government faced a growing threat from Germany. The document goes on to detail how a request was made in March 1939 to transfer gold, then worth £5.6m, from a Czech National Bank account at the BIS to an account operated by Germany's Reichsbank. Some £4m of the gold went to banks in the Netherlands and Belgium, while the rest was sold in London." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingHow Bank of England ‘helped Nazis sell gold stolen from Czechs’

JPMorgan’s Latest Guilt-Free Payoff

"There was that awful phrase again, in JPMorgan Chase & Co.'s settlement with U.S. energy regulators: The company 'neither admits nor denies the violations.' The $410 million pact between JPMorgan and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission doesn't do much good for the rest of us. For years the Securities and Exchange Commission has been the agency that gets the most criticism for these sorts of 'no-admit' settlements. The SEC has long defended their use by pointing, in part, to the many federal agencies that routinely do the same thing. The energy regulators just gave the SEC a new high-profile example." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingJPMorgan’s Latest Guilt-Free Payoff

Somalis Face a Snag in Lifelines From Abroad

"Humanitarian groups, politicians and Somalis themselves are now sounding the alarm over plans by the British bank Barclays to suspend the accounts of a number of money transfer companies used to send money to developing countries — rather than risk a run-in with regulators over potentially abetting the financing of terrorists or money laundering. The looming cutoff, expected to occur next Saturday, comes at a time when more and more Somalis have returned from abroad to invest in their home country, build new businesses and jump-start the nation’s economy after years of chaos." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingSomalis Face a Snag in Lifelines From Abroad

Interpol issues global security alert after prison breaks

"Interpol issued a global security alert on Saturday advising its members to increase their vigilance against attacks after a series of prison breaks in Iraq, Libya and Pakistan that the agency is investigating to determine if they were linked. The Lyon, France-based Interpol said given that al Qaeda was suspected to be involved in some of the incidents, it was asking its 190 member countries to watch out for information connected to the prison breaks, with an aim to determine whether they were coordinated and also locate the escaped prisoners." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingInterpol issues global security alert after prison breaks

Interpol issues global security alert after prison breaks

"Interpol issued a global security alert on Saturday advising its members to increase their vigilance against attacks after a series of prison breaks in Iraq, Libya and Pakistan that the agency is investigating to determine if they were linked. The Lyon, France-based Interpol said given that al Qaeda was suspected to be involved in some of the incidents, it was asking its 190 member countries to watch out for information connected to the prison breaks, with an aim to determine whether they were coordinated and also locate the escaped prisoners." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingInterpol issues global security alert after prison breaks

US issues global travel alert over Al Qaeda threat, prepares to close embassies

"The State Department issued a worldwide travel alert on Friday to U.S. citizens over an Al Qaeda terror threat as Washington prepared to close its embassies and consulates throughout the Muslim world this Sunday over security concerns. U.S. officials have not offered many details on the nature of the threat, but apparently are taking it seriously. A White House official said Friday night President Obama was being updated on 'a potential threat occurring in or emanating from the Arabian Peninsula.' 'There is a significant threat stream and we're reacting to it,' said Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingUS issues global travel alert over Al Qaeda threat, prepares to close embassies

US issues global travel alert over Al Qaeda threat, prepares to close embassies

"The State Department issued a worldwide travel alert on Friday to U.S. citizens over an Al Qaeda terror threat as Washington prepared to close its embassies and consulates throughout the Muslim world this Sunday over security concerns. U.S. officials have not offered many details on the nature of the threat, but apparently are taking it seriously. A White House official said Friday night President Obama was being updated on 'a potential threat occurring in or emanating from the Arabian Peninsula.' 'There is a significant threat stream and we're reacting to it,' said Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingUS issues global travel alert over Al Qaeda threat, prepares to close embassies

Al-Qaida chief Ayman al-Zawahiri says U.S. behind coup against Mohamed Morsi

"The head of al-Qaida has accused the US of overthrowing the former Egyptian president Mohamed Morsi, but also said he was responsible for his own downfall by for trying to appease Washington. Ayman al-Zawahiri, an Egyptian, said Morsi, who was deposed in a coup on 3 July, was targeted for being an Islamist by a conspiracy of secularists, Coptic Christians, and Egypt’s 'Americanised' army. But in his 15-minute internet audio message posted online on Friday, Zawahiri condemned Morsi’s Muslim Brotherhood for having 'tried its best to satisfy America and the secularists' by relinquishing jihad, usually defined by al-Qaida to mean armed struggle." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingAl-Qaida chief Ayman al-Zawahiri says U.S. behind coup against Mohamed Morsi

Al-Qaida chief Ayman al-Zawahiri says U.S. behind coup against Mohamed Morsi

"The head of al-Qaida has accused the US of overthrowing the former Egyptian president Mohamed Morsi, but also said he was responsible for his own downfall by for trying to appease Washington. Ayman al-Zawahiri, an Egyptian, said Morsi, who was deposed in a coup on 3 July, was targeted for being an Islamist by a conspiracy of secularists, Coptic Christians, and Egypt’s 'Americanised' army. But in his 15-minute internet audio message posted online on Friday, Zawahiri condemned Morsi’s Muslim Brotherhood for having 'tried its best to satisfy America and the secularists' by relinquishing jihad, usually defined by al-Qaida to mean armed struggle." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingAl-Qaida chief Ayman al-Zawahiri says U.S. behind coup against Mohamed Morsi

Putin Shows Global Mojo to Russians as U.S. Fumes Over Snowden

"Russian President Vladimir Putin is showing his gamesmanship on a global stage by giving his voters what they want with the asylum granted to ex-U.S. contractor Edward Snowden, while leaving the White House flustered. The decision is backed by almost twice as many Russians as those against it and those who view Snowden’s role as positive outnumber negative assessments three to one. Putin, who used Russia’s oil-powered wealth accumulation to build support for his 13-year rule, is facing an economy that threatens to slide into recession." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingPutin Shows Global Mojo to Russians as U.S. Fumes Over Snowden