Mainstream News

Newspapers accused of ‘shameful’ complicity for hiding existence of secret U.S. drone base

"US news organisations are facing accusations of complicity after it emerged that they bowed to pressure from the Obama administration not to disclose the existence on a secret drone base in Saudi Arabia despite knowing about it for a year. On Tuesday, following Monday’s disclosure by NBC of a leaked Justice Department white paper on the case for its controversial targeted killing programme, the Washington Post revealed it had previously refrained from publishing the base’s location at the behest of the Obama administration over national security concerns. The New York Times followed with its own story." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingNewspapers accused of ‘shameful’ complicity for hiding existence of secret U.S. drone base

Florida growers leery of cost of FDA’s new food safety rules

"It remains to be seen how the new rules — 1,200 pages total to be published in the Federal Register — will affect Florida growers and shippers. The act, signed into law by President Barack Obama two years ago, represents a major shift in the agency's approach to food safety — from reaction to foodborne illnesses to a focus on prevention of microbial contamination. The rules to put the law into effect have been stalled in the U.S. Office of Management and Budget for more than a year." Continue reading →

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Jail Time For Obamacare Supermarket Food Labeling

"The proposed regulation would require store owners to label prepared, unpackaged foods found in salad bars and food bars, soups and bakery items. Erik Lieberman, regulatory counsel at the Food Marketing Institute, said testing foods for nutritional data will require either expensive software or even more costly off-site laboratory assessments. Failure to get it right comes with stiff penalties: 'If you get it wrong, it's a federal crime, and you could face jail time and thousands of dollars worth of fines.' The FDA says much of ObamaCare is aimed at helping Americans live healthier lives, and these proposed labeling requirements would help them do just that." Continue reading →

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Treasury Surpasses Debt Limit on First Day of Ceiling’s Suspension

"That didn’t take long. The U.S. Treasury quickly surpassed the old debt ceiling as it unwound measures it had used to stay under the legal limit. The daily Treasury statement for Monday, released with the typical one-day lag, shows U.S. debt subject to the statutory limit at $16.435 trillion. That’s over the $16.394 trillion limit that was suspended when President Barack Obama signed new legislation Monday. Treasury had stayed just under that old cap since Dec. 31. A Treasury official Tuesday said the increase reflects the department unwinding measures it took to stay below the limit in the interim. That includes $31 billion getting repaid to federal retirement funds." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingTreasury Surpasses Debt Limit on First Day of Ceiling’s Suspension

Minnesota’s Snowbird Tax

"Income earned in the state is already taxed regardless of residence status, but many retirees or vacationers own a home in the state and live there only for the summer. The new tax would hit income not earned in Minnesota by those who don't currently spend the requisite six months and a day in the state to qualify as a taxable resident. So, for example, if you returned to the land of 10,000 taxes only for July and August, you'd suddenly have to pay the taxman in St. Paul on dividend checks sent to your main residence in St. Pete. The state Revenue Department predicts the tax would raise $30 million over two years." Continue reading →

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Charlottesville, Virginia Becomes First City to Pass Anti-Drone Legislation

"Charlottesville, Va., has become the first city in the United States to formally pass an anti-drone resolution. The resolution passed by a 3-2 vote and was brought to the city council by activist David Swanson and the Rutherford Institute, a civil liberties group based in the city. The measure also endorses a proposed two-year moratorium on drones in Virginia. Councilmember Dede Smith, who voted in favor of the bill, says that drones are 'pretty clearly a threat to our constitutional right to privacy'." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingCharlottesville, Virginia Becomes First City to Pass Anti-Drone Legislation

To Kill an American

"There were not too many surprises in the newly disclosed 'white paper' offering a legal reasoning behind the claim that President Obama has the power to order the killing of American citizens who are believed to be part of Al Qaeda. We knew Mr. Obama and his lawyers believed he has that power under the Constitution and federal law. We also knew that he utterly rejects the idea that Congress or the courts have any right to review such a decision in advance, or even after the fact. Still, it was disturbing to see the twisted logic laid out in black and white. It had the air of a legal justification written after the fact for a policy decision that had already been made." Continue reading →

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Silent Circle’s latest app democratizes encryption. Governments won’t be happy.

"Back in October, the startup tech firm Silent Circle ruffled governments’ feathers with a 'surveillance-proof' smartphone app to allow people to make secure phone calls and send texts easily. Now, the company is pushing things even further—with a groundbreaking encrypted data transfer app that will enable people to send files securely from a smartphone or tablet at the touch of a button. (For now, it’s just being released for iPhones and iPads, though Android versions should come soon.) That means photographs, videos, spreadsheets, you name it—sent scrambled from one person to another in a matter of seconds." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingSilent Circle’s latest app democratizes encryption. Governments won’t be happy.

Britons with data on Amazon, Apple and Google cloud servers in America can be snooped on in secret by U.S. government

"Britons who store their data on cloud-based servers in America could have all their files rooted through in secret by the U.S. government, it emerged today. Campaigners say a renewed piece of American legislation will allow federal agencies to spy on foreign nationals without warning. The U.S. government granted itself the right to snoop after its secret rubber-stamping of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA). This means anyone abroad using the internet storage facilities provided by American companies like Amazon, Google, and Apple, open themselves up to investigation by the federal authorities - while Americans are protected because of their constitution." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingBritons with data on Amazon, Apple and Google cloud servers in America can be snooped on in secret by U.S. government

U.S. Stepped In To Halt Mexican General’s Rise

"That back-channel communication provides a rare glimpse into the United States government’s deep involvement in Mexican security affairs. The American role in a Mexican cabinet pick also highlights the tensions and mistrust between the governments despite proclamations of cooperation and friendship. In the end, General García Ochoa did not get the job. Instead, it went to Gen. Salvador Cienfuegos Zepeda, who Mexican officials said had become close with Mr. Peña Nieto when he served as governor of the state of Mexico and General Cienfuegos commanded the area’s military base." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingU.S. Stepped In To Halt Mexican General’s Rise