Mainstream News

Brazilian authorities face fresh protests against government corruption despite concessions

"Authorities in Sao Paulo and Rio, Brazil’s two biggest cities, canceled the transit fare hikes that had been the initial spark for two weeks of nationwide protests. But there is no sign that the movement, which has no political coloration and no clearly identified leadership, is about to lose steam. Initially ignited by the fare increases, the protest fed on widespread resentment at the billions of dollars the government is spending on the Confederations Cup, the World Cup and the 2016 Summer Olympics. The demonstrators instead want higher funding for education and health and a cut in salaries of public officials, railing against rampant corruption within the political class." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingBrazilian authorities face fresh protests against government corruption despite concessions

Belgium opens beer temple in former stock market building

"Beer has always been one of Belgium’s biggest money-spinners but now Brussels is going a step further, announcing plans Thursday to open a temple to the amber nectar in its old stock exchange building. The 'Temple of Belgian Beer' project finds a use for the grand 19th century building near the Belgian capital’s famed Grand Place, which is fronted by corinthian columns and resembles a classical temple. The Brussels Bourse was abandoned by stockbrokers in 1996 after the computerisation of the financial markets and then became a site for temporary exhibitions." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingBelgium opens beer temple in former stock market building

Dolce and Gabbana jailed over tax evasion

"An Italian court on Wednesday sentenced fashion house duo Dolce and Gabbana to one year and eight months in prison for tax evasion of around one billion euros ($1.33 billion), according to media reports. Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana were found guilty of having transferred control of their brands to a shell company in Luxembourg in 2004 and 2005 to avoid paying Italian taxes." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingDolce and Gabbana jailed over tax evasion

Associated Press CEO: Sources will no longer speak to us because of phone monitoring

"The US government’s secret seizure of Associated Press phone records had a 'chilling effect' on newsgathering by the agency and other news organizations, AP’s top executive said Wednesday. 'Some longtime trusted sources have become nervous and anxious about talking with us,' AP president and chief executive Gary Pruitt said in a speech to the National Press Club. 'In some cases, government employees we once checked in with regularly will no longer speak to us by phone. Others are reluctant to meet in person … Journalists from other news organizations have personally told me that it has intimidated both official and nonofficial sources from speaking to them as well.'" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingAssociated Press CEO: Sources will no longer speak to us because of phone monitoring

WikiLeaks: Journalist Michael Hastings Under FBI Investigation Before Death

"The document-leaking organization WikiLeaks says journalist Michael Hastings called the organization's attorney hours before his death Tuesday in a fiery one-car crash in Los Angeles. Hastings, 33, was known as a hard-charging reporter who caused Gen. Stanley McChrystal to lose his job as commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan with an explosive 2010 story in Rolling Stone, in which he quoted McChrystal offering unsavory commentary about the Obama administration. In his final article, Hastings wrote of revelations that the NSA was harvesting large quantities of phone and Internet information. The FBI declined to say if Hastings was under investigation." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingWikiLeaks: Journalist Michael Hastings Under FBI Investigation Before Death

FBI knew earlier of Boston bombing suspect Tsarnaev

"Deceased Boston Marathon bombing suspect Tamerlan Tsarnaev came to the attention of the FBI on at least two occasions prior to a Russian government warning in March 2011 that said he appeared to be radicalizing, FBI Director Robert Mueller said in Congressional testimony this week. The earlier references have led some lawmakers to question whether the FBI acted too quickly in closing an assessment of Tsarnaev's potential ties to terrorism done in response to the Russian request." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingFBI knew earlier of Boston bombing suspect Tsarnaev

Central Bank Injects Cash After China Money Rates Jump to Records

"The People’s Bank of China added 50 billion yuan ($8.2 billion) to the financial system today after a cash squeeze drove money-market rates to record highs. The sum was supplied to a single lender through 'targeted liquidity operations' and more banks were in talks to obtain financing. A PBOC press official said he was unaware of the matter. Bank of China Ltd. announced on its microblog that it made all payments on time today and has never had a capital default. A spokesman for Industrial & Commercial Bank of China Ltd. declined to comment on whether the lender received any financing from the central bank." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingCentral Bank Injects Cash After China Money Rates Jump to Records

Young Turks seek greater liberty, not revolution

"Ask the younger protesters who have taken to Turkey’s streets over the past two weeks what they are fighting for, and the response is simple: 'More freedom'. At the forefront are a generation who, unlike their parents, have grown up in an increasingly outward-looking and fast-growing economy, a new middle class with satellite TV, smartphones and social media connections with friends around the world. Ironically it is Erdogan who has driven that change, overseeing a near-tripling in nominal wealth over his past decade in power. But for the young protesters in Ankara, Istanbul and other cities around Turkey, he has created a generation whose aspirations he no longer understands." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingYoung Turks seek greater liberty, not revolution

U.S. now has most Spanish speakers outside Mexico

"Latinos are now the largest minority in the United States at 52 million people, 50 percent more than a decade ago, according to the Pew Research Hispanic Center. Except for Mexico, that is more Spanish-speakers than in any country of Latin America, and projections are that the figure will triple by 2050, when one of every three people in the US will be of Latino origin. A record 12.5 million Hispanics voted in the November 2012 election in which Barack Obama won a second term. He took 71 percent of the Latino vote." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingU.S. now has most Spanish speakers outside Mexico

DoJ Files Action to Collect Multiple 50 Percent Civil FBAR Penalties in U.S.A. vs. Zwerner

"On June 11, 2013, the U.S. government filed a Complaint to collect multiple civil FBAR penalties in the amount of $3,488,609.33 against Carl R. Zwerner of Coral Gables, Florida for his alleged failure to timely report his financial interest in a foreign bank account. According to the Complaint, from 2004 through 2007, Mr. Zwerner, a U.S. citizen, had a financial interest in an account at ABN AMRO Bank in Switzerland (hereinafter, 'the Swiss bank account') and that the balance of the Swiss bank account from 2004-2007 was at all times greater than $10,000 and that, as such, on or before June 30, 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008, Mr. Zwerner was required to file an FBAR." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingDoJ Files Action to Collect Multiple 50 Percent Civil FBAR Penalties in U.S.A. vs. Zwerner