Archive for February, 2013
Israeli Banks Said to Be Implicated in U.S. Tax Evasion
February 17th, 2013Via: Bloomberg: A California man born in Israel agreed to plead guilty to conspiring with people at Bank Leumi Le-Israel Ltd. and Mizrahi Tefahot Bank Ltd. to hide offshore accounts and income from the U.S. Internal Revenue Service, according to court filings and people familiar with the matter. Zvi Sperling was accused Feb. 14 by […]
‘Pope Will Have Security, Immunity by Remaining in the Vatican’
February 17th, 2013Via: Reuters: Pope Benedict’s decision to live in the Vatican after he resigns will provide him with security and privacy. It will also offer legal protection from any attempt to prosecute him in connection with sexual abuse cases around the world, Church sources and legal experts say. “His continued presence in the Vatican is necessary, […]
Facebook Gets a Multibillion-Dollar Tax Break
February 16th, 2013Via: Bloomberg: It hasn’t drawn much attention, but Facebook’s first annual earnings report contains an accounting gem: a multibillion-dollar tax deduction for the cost of executive stock options and share awards. Even though Facebook (FB) reported $1.1 billion in pre-tax profits from U.S. operations in 2012, it will probably pay zero federal and state taxes—and […]
German Homeschool Case May Impact U.S. Homeschool Freedom
February 16th, 2013Via: Home School Legal Defense Association: Uwe and Hannelore Romeike fled from Germany to the United States after their family was vigorously prosecuted (fines, forcible removal of their children, threats of jail and more) for homeschooling. Initially, the Romeikes were granted political asylum, but the U.S. government appealed that decision to the Board of Immigration […]
SEC Files Lawsuit Against ‘Certain Unknown Traders’ Over Heinz Call Options
February 16th, 2013*yawn* Via: CNBC: Acting just one day after the surprise announcement that H.J. Heinz would be acquired by Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway and Brazil-based 3G Capital for $23.3 billion, the SEC has gone to court to freeze assets associated with what it calls “highly suspicious options trading.” Related: Insider Crimes, Funny Money and Options Rackets
Vatican’s New Bank Chief Has Military Ship Links
February 15th, 2013Via: AP: The Vatican was drawn into a new controversy Friday after acknowledging that its bank’s new president is also chairman of a shipbuilder making warships — a significant conflict for an institution that has long shunned ties to military manufacturing. The Vatican announced to great fanfare that Pope Benedict XVI had signed off on […]
Berlusconi on Bribery
February 15th, 2013Via: Financial Times: Former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi has defended the need for bribery in winning contracts for Italy’s multinationals, as politicians campaigning in general elections have been forced to respond to a welter of corruption scandals revolving around the nexus of politics and business. “Bribes are a phenomenon that exists and it’s useless to […]
Hundreds Injured After Meteorite Crashes in Russia
February 15th, 2013Update: Meteorite Hits Central Russia, More than 500 People Hurt Via: Reuters: More than 500 people were injured when a meteorite shot across the sky and exploded over central Russia on Friday, sending fireballs crashing to Earth, shattering windows and damaging buildings. — DA14, is that you? Turn the volume down before you play these: […]
Missouri House Bill 545 Would Make Possession of Many Semi Automatic Weapons a Felony
February 15th, 2013Good luck with that. Via: Missouri House of Representatives: 4. Any person who, prior to the effective date of this law, was legally in possession of an assault weapon or large capacity magazine shall have ninety days from such effective date to do any of the following without being subject to prosecution: (1) Remove the […]
Ben Zygier: Prisoner X
February 14th, 2013Via: Reuters: An Australian immigrant, reported to have been recruited by Israel’s Mossad spy agency, was charged with grave crimes before he committed suicide in an Israeli jail, one of his lawyers said on Thursday. The closely guarded case has raised questions in Australia and Israel about the suspected use by the Mossad of dual […]
