statism

Activists launch campaign against ‘autonomous weapons’: Killer robots must be stopped

"A new global campaign to persuade nations to ban “killer robots” before they reach the production stage is to be launched in the UK by a group of academics, pressure groups and Nobel peace prize laureates. The Stop the Killer Robots campaign will be launched in April at the House of Commons and includes many of the groups that successfully campaigned to have international action taken against cluster bombs and landmines. They hope to get a similar global treaty against autonomous weapons." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingActivists launch campaign against ‘autonomous weapons’: Killer robots must be stopped

Defense industry consultants advise Arab nations on crowd control products

"Defence experts who say many lives could have been saved during Arab uprisings if states used proper crowd control measures sought to tap into a growing market at an Abu Dhabi arms fair. Anti-riot vehicles with sophisticated acoustic repellents have boldly taken their place alongside the likes of Eurofighter’s Typhoon warplane and the bristling firepower of rocket launchers at the arms industry’s biennial quest for petrodollars in the Gulf emirate." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingDefense industry consultants advise Arab nations on crowd control products

France’s Hollande Invades Mali, Wins UNESCO Peace Prize

"This is France's second war in Africa in several years. The first we have written about at length – the destabilization of the Ivory Coast on behalf, partially, of France's cocoa interests and the empowerment of Alassane Ouattara. His opponent, Laurent Gbagbo is on trial now in front of the International Criminal Court for the crime of trying to insist on his lawful election. Hollande, who now lords over an increasingly aggressive and unjust France that has started two wars in about as many years, has just received a peace prize. Conclusion: Oh, the irony." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingFrance’s Hollande Invades Mali, Wins UNESCO Peace Prize

Tens of Thousands Protest in Spain (as Santa Claus dies)

"On Saturday, tens of thousands marched in cities throughout Spain to protest deep bankster driven 'austerity' measures taken by the government. The people are clearly fed up. The sad part of this is that most have no clue as to what are the proper measures that should be taken to reverse the deteriorating economic situation. The only way Spain gets out of its deteriorating situation is by cutting the red tape that makes it difficult for businesses to operate, and to also cut taxes and government spending, so that the country moves away from its current bureaucratic mess and closer to a free market that can spur energy and creativity." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingTens of Thousands Protest in Spain (as Santa Claus dies)

Top Spanish official in graft scandal

"A former treasurer of Spain’s ruling People’s Party (PP) hid away his wealth in a Swiss bank account. Court documents from an on-going judicial investigation into former PP treasurer Luis Barcenas revealed the account held up to €22 million, reports Reuters. The party, along with the opposition socialists, has helped govern the nation for the past three decades. In 2011, the conservatives won the general elections and unseated the socialists. Barcenas was the People's Party financial chief for 28 years until 2009 when he became the focal point of an investigation for allegedly accepting bribes from businesses vying for lucrative government contracts." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingTop Spanish official in graft scandal

Investigation ordered after Spanish politicians got ‘salaries’ from private companies

"Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy ordered Monday an internal investigation into the finances of his centre-right Popular Party which was shaken by allegations of under-the-table payments to party officials. The centre-right newspaper El Mundo reported Friday that senior members of the party, which Rajoy has led since 2004, had received undeclared salaries, mainly from private companies, over a 20-year period. Citing unnamed former members of the Popular Party leadership, the newspaper said the party’s former treasurer Luis Barcenas distributed envelopes containing thousands of euros to party officials on top of their official salaries." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingInvestigation ordered after Spanish politicians got ‘salaries’ from private companies

Japan Ramps Up its Monetary Race to the Bottom

"So, the model for Japan today is their version of the New Deal. I'll assume that Japanese politicians will ignore that connection between easy money, inflation and war, and forget that such policies ended rather badly for the Japanese in 1945. LRC's own Mike Rogers reports from Tokyo that 'Japan's Debt Explosion [is] Coming Up'. Earlier, Rogers wrote that even the monied upper classes are starting to worry. Standards of living continue to fall or go nowhere." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingJapan Ramps Up its Monetary Race to the Bottom

In China, Widening Discontent Among the Communist Party Faithful

"Barely two months into their jobs, the Communist Party’s new leaders are being confronted by the challenges posed by a constituency that has generally been one of the party’s most ardent supporters: the middle-class and well-off Chinese who have benefited from a three-decade economic boom. Ordinary Chinese buy into a grand bargain: the party guarantees economic growth, and in exchange the people do not question the way the party rules. Now, many whose lives improved under the boom are reneging on their end of the deal, and in ways more vocal than ever before. Their ranks include billionaires and students, movie stars and homemakers." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingIn China, Widening Discontent Among the Communist Party Faithful

China Accounts For Nearly Half Of World’s New Money Supply Since 2005

"After having less than half the total US deposits back in 2005, China has pumped enough cash into the economy using various public and private conduits to make even Ben Bernanke blush: between January 2005 and January 2013, Chinese bank deposits have soared by a whopping $11 trillion, rising from $4 trillion to $15 trillion! We have no idea what the real Chinese GDP number is but this expansion alone is anywhere between 200 and 300% of the real GDP as it stands now." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingChina Accounts For Nearly Half Of World’s New Money Supply Since 2005

China ousts police chief ‘who owns hundreds of houses’

"A Chinese police chief has been sacked after reports he owned hundreds of houses and a false identity card, state media said Wednesday in the latest scandal to fuel public outrage over corruption. Zhao Haibin was stripped of his public offices for 'engaging in business deals using a fake identity card', the state-run Xinhua news agency reported, citing the Lufeng city government in the southern province of Guangdong. The case is the latest of a series involving officials owning multiple houses with different identity cards and residence permits." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingChina ousts police chief ‘who owns hundreds of houses’