"The United States withdrew trade privileges from Bangladesh Thursday, citing dangerous conditions for workers in the wake of a factory building collapse that killed over 1,100 people. Multiple recent tragedies in the country’s huge garment sector 'have served to highlight some of the serious shortcomings in worker rights and workplace safety standards in Bangladesh,' said US Trade Representative Michael Froman." Continue reading →
"Attempts to prevent Indians from buying gold are contributing to them buying poor man’s gold, or silver. There has been a massive increase in silver demand in India in recent months and the government's meddling and controls in the gold market will likely led to even more demand for silver. While India imported 1,900 tonnes of silver in 2012, in the first five months of 2013 alone, imports have touched 2,400 tonnes. According to industry estimates, silver imports during the January-March quarter stood at 760 tonnes. Imports shot up 720 tonnes in April alone, and in May, they further swelled by 920 tonnes." Continue reading →
"As more ridiculous anti-gun laws continue to be passed, the future of DIY gun building and parts is looking better all the time. People should always be able to go to the gun store and purchase fully-assembled guns. But, doing this could subject you to invasive scrutiny from government, higher prices, higher taxes, or flat-out denial based on variety of fabricated reasons. On demand CNC parts and 3-D printing services will soon bring the art of building your own guns to a whole new level." Continue reading →
"The Reserve Bank of India has expressed concern over the rise of 'virtual currencies' which are the likes of bitcoin. Virtual currencies or crypto currencies have also come under the focus of the police. In its financial stability report, RBI has for the first time raised the issue of virtual currency in India. 'The unregulated link between virtual currency (if permitted), and traditional currency with a legal tender status poses challenges as the complete control over the differently denominated virtual currency is given to its issuer, who governs the scheme and manages the supply of money at will,' RBI said." Continue reading →
"Brazil’s ruling party is reviving a proposal to tax millionaires’ wealth to help pay for measures demanded by protesters staging the largest demonstrations in two decades. The move is part of a congressional rush to pass laws that placate demands from protesters for cheaper transportation, better education, and less corruption. Over the past three weeks, more than 1 million Brazilians have taken to the streets. The proposal, which has been considered for at least 25 years, came back to life as pressure for more spending coincides with a tighter budget. President Dilma Rousseff’s Workers Party, known as the PT, agreed this week to push for the approval of the bill." Continue reading →
"The IRS allows some of its 90,000 employees to use company charge cards to buy work-related items, such as office supplies. However, employees made a host of 'improper' purchases -- ranging from a dinner averaging $140 per person to Thomas the Tank Engine rubber wristbands. The inspector general said the IRS has been negligent when it comes to catching employees who circumvent $3,000 caps on transactions, by splitting purchases into several transactions. The agency also doesn't have a good record at turning off credit cards as soon as employees depart or retire." Continue reading →
"I know this because I had my hands literally on the paperwork for these sort of things -- they went after high-ranking military officers; they went after members of Congress, both Senate and the House, especially on the intelligence committees and on the armed services committees and some of the -- and judicial... They went after lawyers and law firms. They went after judges. One of the judges is now sitting on the Supreme Court that I had his wiretap information in my hand. Two are former FISA court judges. They went after State Department officials. They went after people in the executive service that were part of the White House -- their own people." Continue reading →
"Dempsey said that since his appointment as head of the Joint Chiefs in 2011 'intrusions into our critical infrastructure have increased 17-fold.' Some 4,000 cyber-security experts would join the ranks over the next four years, while some $23 billion would be spent on tackling the threat. Dempsey said Cybercom was now organized in three divisions. One team was in charge of countering enemy attacks, another was tasked with offering regional support while a third was responsible for protecting some 15,000 US military computer networks. In addition, the military now had a manual which allowed it to cooperate with Homeland Security and the FBI." Continue reading →
"The Obama administration for more than two years permitted the National Security Agency to continue collecting vast amounts of records detailing the email and internet usage of Americans, according to secret documents obtained by the Guardian. The documents indicate that under the program, launched in 2001, a federal judge sitting on the secret surveillance panel called the Fisa court would approve a bulk collection order for internet metadata 'every 90 days'. The collection of these records began under the Bush administration's wide-ranging warrantless surveillance program, collectively known by the NSA codename Stellar Wind." Continue reading →
"A New York immigration judge halted the deportation of an American citizen’s Colombian husband on Wednesday just moments after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the Defense of Marriage Act, according to an activist group aiding the couple’s legal defense. Brooks’ husband Steven came to the U.S. with his family as a child, and after the two married in New York state Brooks filed a green card petition to help Steven become a permanent resident on the path to citizenship. That green card petition caused a problem with his visa status and suddenly, Steven was facing deportation. Appeal was denied on the grounds that federal law did not recognize their marriage." Continue reading →