November 10, 2014 nº 1,566 - Vol. 12
"All courses of action are risky, so prudence is not in avoiding danger - it’s impossible -, but calculating risk and acting decisively."
Niccolò Machiavelli, The Prince
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Loretta Lynch to face tough questioning by lawmakers
As a trial prosecutor in Brooklyn 15 years ago, Loretta Lynch faced a daunting task: Walk a key witness in a high-profile New York City Police Department brutality case through testimony that could send his fellow officers to prison for decades. Lynch, nominated Saturday to become the nation's next attorney general, questioned officer Eric Turetzky during trial, breaking the "blue wall of silence" surrounding police misconduct and carefully recount what he saw in a Brooklyn station house on the night Abner Louima, a Haitian immigrant, was taken to the building's bathroom and sodomized by officers with a broken broomstick. Associates say Lynch's pursuit of justice and her ability to remain calm in the eye of a public storm will be a key asset for her both during the confirmation process and, if she is approved, as the nation's top law-enforcement official. If confirmed, Lynch, a 55-year-old veteran prosecutor, would be stepping into a role that long has been a lightning rod for controversy. Much of the tough questioning she's expected to face from congressional lawmakers stems from a soured relationship between congressional Republicans and outgoing Attorney General Eric Holder, who raised the enmity of legislators for his positions on everything from terrorism to voting rights to an Internal Revenue Service probe.
Email at work: unions await key ruling
Business groups are bracing for a ruling by federal regulators that could require employers to let workers use company email systems to communicate about ways to work together to improve wages and working conditions, potentially giving unions a powerful organizing tool. The National Labor Relations Board, which resolves workplace disputes and oversees union elections in most of the private sector, is considering reversing a 2007 ruling that employees don't have a statutory right to use employers' email systems for such purposes. Since then, the board's makeup has changed—all five members were appointed by Obama. Also, the NLRB's general counsel, whose opinion can hold sway at the agency, has urged the board to reverse the 2007 decision, saying email is a primary way that workers communicate with each other and is vital to their rights under federal labor law to work together for mutual aid and protection—with or without a union. The board is considering the question as part of a case in which a union said a California communications company's email rule is too restrictive and violates the rights the board should be protecting. The case has drawn input from unions and business groups alike, who are watching it as one of several pending cases the board is expected to use to put its stamp on federal labor policy.
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Shanghai-Hong Kong Stock Connect gets China go-ahead
Regulators have approved a long-awaited plan to connect the Hong Kong and Shanghai stock exchanges. The Shanghai-Hong Kong Stock Connect will allow investors to trade across the border for the first time and is set to begin on 17 November. It means global investors will now have access to Chinese stocks from Hong Kong, potentially resulting in $3.8bn worth of trades a day. The tie up is seen as a key milestone in the capital market liberalization of China - the world's second largest economy - where authorities keep a strong grip on the yuan currency.
China's economic risks 'not scary'
The risks facing China's economy are not "scary", President Xi Jinping has told global business leaders. In a speech to chief executives ahead of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit he sought to dispel concerns about the economy. "There are indeed risks (to growth), but it's not so scary," he said. China also announced a deepening of its energy ties with Russia, with the countries agreeing a major new gas pipeline linking the two nations.
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For-profit colleges sue government over new student loan regulations
The Association of Private Sector Colleges and Universities on Thursday filed a lawsuit against the federal government challenging recently enacted "gainful employment" regulations that would penalize schools for not preparing students for their chosen career paths. The regulations require that career training programs provide evidence that their graduates are making enough money to pay back their student loans. If the school fails to show this, they risk losing their federal aid. The US Department of Education (DOE) estimated that approximately 1,400 schools could be affected. The group filed the lawsuit against Education Secretary Arne Duncan, claiming that the new rule is "unlawful, arbitrary, and irrational." "This regulation, and the impact it will have on student access and opportunity, is so unacceptable and in violation of federal law that we were left with no choice but to file suit," stated Steve Gunderson, president of the Association. The DOE is confident that the rule falls within its legal authority and will protect students and taxpayers.
Obama nominates Loretta Lynch as attorney general
Obama has nominated New York federal prosecutor Loretta Lynch to replace Eric Holder as US attorney general. If the Senate confirms her appointment, Lynch will be the first African-American woman to head the US justice department. Obama said she would bring "passion and intelligence" to key priorities such as reforming criminal justice. He said that Lynch "doesn't look to make headlines, she looks to make a difference. She's not about splash, she is about substance". Lynch - a North Carolina native and Harvard-trained lawyer - was one of several candidates Holder had recommended to succeed him. (Click here)
Tribal court convicts Farc fighters
An indigenous court in western Colombia convicts seven left-wing Farc guerrillas over the murder of two leaders of the Nasa tribe. Five were sentenced to between 40 and 60 years in jail and two others will receive 20 lashes. The two victims had been removing posters praising a Farc leader when they were killed. Indigenous authorities in Colombia have jurisdiction in their own territories unless this contravenes national law. The verdict and sentences were decided after several hours of debate by an assembly of about 3,000 members from the indigenous reserve in the Cauca province town of Toribio.
Catalonia poll 'backs independence'
An informal vote on independence for the Spanish region of Catalonia has shown more than 80% in favor, officials say. The non-binding vote went ahead after Spain's constitutional court ruled out a formal referendum. Speaking beforehand, Spanish Justice Minister Rafael Catala dismissed the exercise as "fruitless and useless".
Detroit bankruptcy exit plan approved by US judge
US judge Steven Rhodes has approved of Detroit's plan to exit from bankruptcy, 16 months after the city became the largest ever in the US to go broke. The plan includes a 4.5% cut to the pension plans of general retirees, spending $1.7bn to demolish abandoned buildings and other measures to erase nearly $7bn of debt. Judge Rhodes said he found the plan fair and reasonable. The verdict was expected after most major creditors struck deals. In announcing his approval, Judge Rhodes said that the plan, which limits cuts to city retirees, "borders on miraculous".
Huge raid to shut down 400-plus dark net sites
Silk Road 2.0 and 400 other sites believed to be selling illegal items including drugs and weapons have been shut down. The sites operated on the Tor network - a part of the internet unreachable via traditional search engines. The joint operation between 16 European countries and the US saw 17 arrests, including Blake Benthall who is said to be behind Silk Road 2.0. Experts believe the shutdown represents a breakthrough for fighting cybercrime. Tor, as well as hosting legitimate sites, is home to thousands of illegal marketplaces, trading in drugs, child abuse images as well as sites for extremist groups. It's important to remember that the dark net isn't all about illegal activity. Indeed its best known tool the anonymising browser Tor was created by a US intelligence agency to help its operations and to assist people living under repressive regimes.
Balloons mark fall of Berlin Wall
Some 8,000 balloons are released over Germany's capital at the culmination of events marking 25 years since the fall of the Berlin Wall. Earlier, Chancellor Angela Merkel said the fall of the wall had shown the world that its destruction shows that dreams can come true and "nothing has to stay as it is."
Asia-Pacific nations agree to go after corruption
Nations attending the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Beijing have agreed to cooperate on the extradition of corrupt officials, a move backed by the US and pushed by China, which has been on a drive to clean up bribery and money laundering in its Communist Party. Secretary of State John Kerry said: "Corruption not only creates an unfair playing field, it not only distorts economic relationships, but corruption also steals from the people ... who believe the system can work for everyone." The informal network will share information among anti-corruption and law enforcement authorities in the region.
AT&T to buy Mexican wireless provider Iusacell for $2.5 billion
For AT&T, the move fit into a strategy that it has articulated for more than two years: diversifying its revenue by moving into foreign markets. The deal comes five months after AT&T sold its stake in América Móvil, Mexico's biggest phone company, after agreeing to buy DirecTV for $48.5 billion. The American company later acknowledged that it would begin competing directly against its onetime partner.
Financial stability board to propose stricter capital rules for global banks
The plan would require global systemically important banks to hold twice as much capital, 6 percent, as required by Basel III rules. It is intended to spare taxpayers from having to bail out big banks in the event of another financial crisis.
First illegal immigrant with law license makes a go of his profession
Sergio Garcia is a civil litigation lawyer in California who represents clients in car accidents. He doesn't practice immigration law, which Garcia says surprises many people because of his high-profile battle to become the first known immigrant in the country without legal permission to become a licensed attorney. "No way, man," Garcia said. "Not after what I've been through." Garcia, 37, a native of Mexico, won his license after a bruising five-year legal and political battle that included a ruling in January from the California Supreme Court. It came after Gov. Jerry Brown signed a specially crafted bill passed by the Legislature to let Garcia practice law.
EU law and order vote to be held in Commons
MPs are due to vote on whether the UK should sign up to a range of law and order measures drawn up by the EU. Among the policies MPs will debate is whether the UK should keep the powers of the European Arrest Warrant (EAW), which allows police to extradite suspects quickly between EU states. Its supporters say Britain risks becoming a "safe haven" for criminals without its extradition powers. But some Tory MPs say it is unnecessary and can cause miscarriages of justice.
Time
How Mitch McConnell Won the Day (US midterm elections)
Newsweek
Mikhail Gorbachev Warns Ukraine Conflict Could Lead to a New Cold War
Business Week
The year ahead: 2015
The Economist
America after the mid-terms. Welcome back to Washington
Der Spiegel
Generation Merkel. Unkritisch, ehrgeizig, unpolitisch? Die jungen Deutschen zwischen 18 und 30
L'Espresso
Ecco chi scappa dal fisco italiano
China and Japan leaders hold talks in Beijing
Al Jazeera, Doha, Qatar
After death threats, Palestinian food-serving U.S. restaurant closes
Haaretz, Liberal daily, Tel Aviv, Israel
Businesses urge more free childcare
BBC News, Centrist newscaster, London, England
N.Korea frees U.S. men
CNN International, London, England
MTV EMAs 2014: One Direction sweep up as they pick up three awards on the night... but fail to attend the ceremony
Daily Mail, Conservative daily, London, England
New baby for war widow: Christina Schmid shows off Isabelle Rose after losing her bomb disposal husband five years ago
Daily Mail, Conservative daily, London, England
Berlin celebrates the Trabant, iconic East German symbol
EuroNews, International news, Ecully Cedex, France
Ex-PM Fillon to sue Le Monde over Sarkozy claims
France 24, Issy-les-Moulineaux, France
Cars out of Taksim, Turkey's new economic plan says
Hurriyet Daily News, (Liberal, English-language), Istanbul, Turkey
Postcard from... Fujairah
Independent The, London, England
Major Ukrainian TV provider drops Russian channels
Moscow News The, Independent, Moscow, Russia
Catalonia poll shows backing for independence
Telegraph The, Conservative daily, London, England
Sesame Street: 10 surprising facts
Telegraph The, Celebrity news, London, England
Xi Jinping hopes to keep healthy ties with Taiwan
China Post, English-language daily, Taipei, Taiwan
Korea Agrees FTA with China
Chosun Ilbo, Conservative daily, Seoul, South Korea
In pics One World Trade Center reopens
Hindustan Times, New Delhi, India
Upcoming IT zone hots up Nandi realty
India Times, Conservative daily, New Delhi, India
Abe denies plan to delay tax hike, dissolve Diet
Japan Times, Independent centrist, Tokyo, Japan
Obama says Asia trade pact could be 'historic'
New Zealand Herald, Conservative daily, Auckland, New Zealand
Ukraine President cancels trip over protests in eastern Ukraine
Straits Times, Pro-government, Singapore
'I wanted someone to hug'
Sydney Morning Herald, Centrist daily, Sydney, Australia
Canucks beat Ducks 2-1 in shootout
Taiwan News, English-language daily, Taipei, Taiwan
Stable ties with Japan in interest of both nations: Xi Jinping
The Economic Times, Business, Mumbai, India
Iraq says ISIS leader wounded in airstrike, U.S. can't confirm
Canadian Broadcasting Centre, Toronto, Ontario
China-Japan meeting signals a thaw in relations between Asian powerhouses
Globe and Mail The, Centrist daily, Toronto, Canada
Liberty Reserve Brought Down By 'Joe Bogus': How The Feds Arrested Arthur Budovsky
International Business Times, Business news organization, New York, U.S
Massachussetts Schools Welcome New Students Who Fled Danger
IPS Latin America, International cooperative of journalists, Rome, Italy
Honda CEO says to prioritize quality over sales target
Reuters, Business News, New York, U.S
China's Xi and Japan's Abe hold landmark meeting
Reuters, World News, New York, U.S
Prison bus offers lifeline for inmates and families to stay connected
Toronto Star, Toronto, Ontario
African Ebola crisis fund is set up
BBC News, Centrist newscaster, London, England
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