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A new, dangerous job in Mogadishu: tax collector

"Militias extorted cash from civilians during much of the last two decades of chaos. Now Mogadishu has a government in place, but shopkeepers view the taxman as the latest in a long line of troublemakers. That makes tax collection one of the riskier jobs in Mogadishu: Five tax collectors have been killed so far this year, following the killings of 10 last year. The idea of paying taxes for social services seems outlandish in a nation where few have seen functioning hospitals or schools. One obstacle tax collectors face is philosophical: If it's an established fact that government leaders in Somalia steal tax money, why should citizens pay?" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingA new, dangerous job in Mogadishu: tax collector

European envoy meets with Egyptian ex-president Morsi

"Egypt’s rulers allowed an EU envoy to meet deposed President Mohamed Mursi, the first time an outsider was given access to him since the army overthrew him and jailed him a month ago, and she said she found him in good health. The White House, treading a fine line with a pivotal Arab ally that it funds with $1.3 billion a year in military aid, said on Monday it 'strongly condemns' Saturday’s bloodshed, and urged respect for the right to peaceful protest. 'Violence not only further sets back the process of reconciliation and democratization in Egypt, but it will negatively impact regional stability,' spokesman Josh Earnest said." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingEuropean envoy meets with Egyptian ex-president Morsi

Wall Street: The Next Fed Chief Should Keep the Presses Running

"'Monetary policy has little scope to stimulate the economy,' Summers suggested in September 2008, 'given how low interest rates already are and the problems in the financial system.' Since then, the Fed has bought $2.3 trillion in Treasury and mortgage bonds. It also increased the money supply to unprecedented levels. In contrast, the other front-runner, Federal Reserve vice chair Janet Yellen, said back in March she would not taper anytime soon. CNBC’s poll of Wall Street analysts indicated they believed Yellen would better manage a financial crisis. Translation: She is more likely to keep the presses hot." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingWall Street: The Next Fed Chief Should Keep the Presses Running

Refugees detail widespread abuse at Australian asylum camp

"Australian Immigration Minister Tony Burke described as 'horrific' explosive claims that asylum-seekers at one of its processing camps in Papua New Guinea are being raped and tortured. A former senior official at the Manus Island facility also detailed 'almost daily' self-harm and attempted suicides while warning weapons were being accumulated in readiness for a break-out attempt. The allegations come just days after Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd announced that the facility would be massively expanded to accommodate 3,000 people, from the original 600, as part of a new hardline plan to send all asylum-seeker arrivals to Papua New Guinea." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingRefugees detail widespread abuse at Australian asylum camp

Crisis in Egypt: ‘We didn’t have space in the fridges for all the bodies’

"Tens of thousands of pro-Morsi supporters have camped outside the Rabaa al-Adawiya mosque since late June, when Morsi’s overthrow began to seem likely. Egypt’s interior minister has made it clear that he intends to clear Rabaa as soon as possible, and Saturday’s nearby massacre was considered an attempt to intimidate the protesters into leaving. Hundreds of thousands of anti-Morsi protesters also turned out on Friday to support a call by Egypt’s army chief, Abdel Fatah al-Sisi, for a crackdown on what he called terrorists – a move sceptics saw as a veiled threat to protesters at Rabaa." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingCrisis in Egypt: ‘We didn’t have space in the fridges for all the bodies’

VIDEO: Police Attacks on Protesters in Egypt

"Egyptian police have killed at least 72 people in an attack on pro-Morsi protesters early Saturday. An activist named Mohamed El-Zahaby recorded video Saturday that showed the pre-dawn street fighting, filmed from behind the pro-Morsi lines, reports NYT. Warning: the below video shows graphic images of wounded and dead protesters." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingVIDEO: Police Attacks on Protesters in Egypt

At least 70 supporters of Mohamed Morsi killed by security services in Cairo

"Egypt’s troubled transition reached a new nadir of bloodletting today when at least 70 supporters of toppled President Mohamed Morsi were gunned down during a sustained attack by the security services – three weeks after the army committed a similar massacre in nearly exactly the same spot. Doctors at the scene said they believed more than 100 people may have been killed. An exact tally has not yet been confirmed, but the massacre ranks as one of the worst single incidents of violence since the fall of Hosni Mubarak two and a half years ago. Clashes continued this morning as police squared off against thousands of protesters close to Nasr City." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingAt least 70 supporters of Mohamed Morsi killed by security services in Cairo

Obama Change.gov Promises Disappear from Web

"It may be that Obama's description of the importance of whistleblowers went from being an artifact of his campaign to a political liability. It wouldn't be the first time administration positions disappear from the internet when they become inconvenient descriptions of their assurances. Obama's vision for lobbying transparency has similarly been discarded along the way, but the timing here suggests that the heat on Obama's whistleblower prosecutions has led the administration to unceremoniously remove their previous positions." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingObama Change.gov Promises Disappear from Web

Seven killed, hundreds injured in new round of dueling protests in Egypt

"At least seven people were killed and hundreds wounded in scattered violence across Egypt during mass rallies for and against the army’s overthrow of Islamist President Mohamed Mursi, who was placed under investigation for murder. With hundreds of thousands taking to the streets on Friday, the new bloodshed deepened the turmoil convulsing the Arab world’s most populous country, and could trigger a decisive move by the military against Mursi’s Muslim Brotherhood. The country of 84 million people forms a bridge between the Middle East and North Africa and receives $1.5 billion a year in mainly military aid from Washington." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingSeven killed, hundreds injured in new round of dueling protests in Egypt

U.S. condemns ‘outrageous’ Tunisia assassination

"The United States on Thursday condemned the assassination of a leading critic of Tunisia’s ruling Islamists, saying violence had no place in the country’s transition to democracy. Tunisian MP Mohamed Brahmi was shot dead outside his home Thursday in the second such slaying this year, with fingers again pointed at the authorities. 'We offer our sincere condolences to Mr. Brahmi’s family, friends and colleagues and to the people of Tunisia,' State Department deputy spokeswoman Marie Harf said, adding US officials 'strongly condemn' the killing." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingU.S. condemns ‘outrageous’ Tunisia assassination