October 14, 2015 nº 1,682 - Vol. 13
"Worry' is a word that I don't allow myself to use."
Dwight David Eisenhower
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ACLU sues psychologists over CIA torture program
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) filed a lawsuit Tuesday against two psychologists who devised the torture techniques used on three former Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) prisoners. The CIA contracted psychologists James Mitchell and John "Bruce" Jessen, who allegedly designed and persuaded the CIA to adopt their torture techniques as official practice of the CIA. According to the lawsuit, they personally took part in many of the torture sessions and oversaw the entire program's implementation. The two surviving plaintiffs are Suleiman Abdullah Salim, a fisherman from Tanzania, and Mohamed Ahmed Ben Soud, a refugee at his time of capture. The third plaintiff, Gul Rahman died, allegedly as a result of the torture. The lawsuit was filed in the US District Court for the Eastern District of Washington under the Alien Tort Statute.
Judge wants to know: is iphone unlockable?
A US federal judge has invited Apple Inc. to file a legal brief on whether the company has the ability to disable the security of an iPhone that federal investigators are trying to access.
FBI no longer checks its records for 'nonserious' crimes
The Federal Bureau of Investigation said it has stopped vetting arrest records it receives from states to determine whether they are serious enough for inclusion in a massive database used to conduct background checks.
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Chinese hackers arrested after US request
Chinese police have arrested hackers after the US government supplied them with a list of cybercrime suspects. The hackers are believed to have stolen research and development information from several US firms. The stolen trade secrets and plans were passed to Chinese firms that are rivals of the US businesses which were hit. Some of the recipients are believed to be state-run organizations. The US and China have regularly swapped accusations about who is behind the cyber attacks they suffer.
China chain imposes 'filial piety tax' on employees
An unusual policy by a company in China where employees are made to give part of their salary to their parents has sparked debate online on filial piety. The company, an unnamed beauty salon chain, wanted to promote good moral values among its employees. Respect for parents is considered a key value in Chinese society and culture. China in 2013 passed a law aimed at encouraging filial piety, mandating that those who live apart from their elderly parents must visit them frequently.
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Acuerdo
Perú y Suiza firman un acuerdo por un monto no reembolsable de US$ 6.8 mlls. para el "Programa de Apoyo a la Agenda de Competitividad 2014-2018.
(Presione aquí)
Papel
Grupo Gondi y WestRock alcanzaron un acuerdo para combinar sus operaciones en México, creando así una empresa líder en papel y empaque de cartón en el país.
(Presione aquí)
Petrobras
La petrolera estatal brasileña Petrobras cerró un acuerdo con el Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC Leasing) para una operación de financiamiento por US$ 2,000 mlls. durante diez años. La operación tiene como marco el acuerdo de cooperación para la creación de un vínculo de largo plazo entre Petrobras y el ICBC, que se firmó durante la visita del primer ministro chino, Li Keqiang, a Brasil en mayo pasado.
U.S. bill proposes mandatory minimums for sanctions violators
Convicted sanctions violators would face a new minimum sentence of five years behind bars under bipartisan sentencing changes proposed in the U.S. Senate.
Australia begins mass data retention under new law
Large amounts of telecommunications metadata must now be kept for two years by Australian telecommunications companies, under a new law which came into effect on Tuesday. It covers data on who called or texted whom and for how long, as well as location, volume of data exchanged, device information and email IP data. It also makes it much easier for authorities to access the records. The new law has caused heated debate among Australians. Some have said the laws - an expansion of existing rules on what data can be retained - are justified, but others have raised concerns about civil liberties or potential flaws in the scheme.
ICC to probe possible war crimes in Russia-Georgia conflict
The prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) has said she will investigate Russian and Georgian forces over possible war crimes. The investigation relates to a five-day conflict in 2008 centered on South Ossetia, a breakaway region of Georgia. Allegedly, South Ossetian forces killed up to 113 ethnic Georgian civilians, and both sides killed peacekeepers; Russian forces may have participated in the killing of civilians, she added. The war began with an operation by Georgia, which hoped to seize back South Ossetia.
Migrant crisis: Germany considers 'transit zones' on borders
Germany is considering setting up "transit zones" on its borders, where migrants would be kept while their asylum claims are assessed. But Angela Merkel said the proposal would only work in certain cases, and would "not help for thousands and thousands of refugees". Her Social Democrat (SPD) coalition partners oppose the idea. Thousands of protesters in the anti-immigration Pegida movement have staged another big rally in Dresden.
Brazil lawmakers move to oust house speaker Eduardo Cunha
Lawmakers moved to oust the powerful head of Brazil's lower house of Congress for alleged corruption, complicating a crisis that has upended the nation's politics and worsened a deep recession. Fifty legislators from seven political parties asked the ethics committee of the Chamber of Deputies to open a process to remove Eduardo Cunha, who authorities say pocketed millions in bribes as part of a graft ring at state-run oil giant Petróleo Brasileiro SA, or Petrobras.
Apple facing huge chip patent bill after losing case
Apple faces a bill of $862m after losing a patent lawsuit. The University of Wisconsin successfully claimed that Apple used its microchip technology without permission in some iPhones and iPads. The case relates to use of the technology in the iPhone 5s, 6 and 6 Plus - but an additional lawsuit making the same claim against Apple's newest models, the 6S and 6S Plus, has also been filed. In court papers, the university claimed Apple ignored its offers to license the patent, which would mean paying a fee for its continued use. Therefore the university said Apple was willfully infringing the patent, something which, if the court agrees, could carry a heavier fine. The precise amount Apple may have to pay will be decided at a later stage in the court proceedings. Despite recent well-publicized truces between some big tech firms, fierce patent battles are still being fought in courts globally.
Italy senate votes to diminish its own power
In what is deemed a victory for Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, Italy's senate has voted to cede most of its power. Senators backed plans to reduce their number by two-thirds, remove the chamber's power to bring down a government, and limit its ability to block legislation. The moves aim to end decades of political instability in the country. However, because it involves a change to the constitution, the bill introducing the changes will have to return to the senate again next year, and pass twice through the lower house. This will give opponents considerable opportunity to oppose the reforms.
Beer giants AB InBev and SABMiller agree takeover terms
The world's two biggest beer producers are set to merge after SABMiller accepted an increased takeover offer from rival Anheuser-Busch InBev. SABMiller said it had agreed "in principle" a £44-a-share offer, after four previous attempts from AB InBev. If the deal, worth about £70bn, goes ahead, the newly-created firm will make about 30% of the world's beer. AB InBev had made four previous bid approaches for SABMiller - at £38, £40, £42.15, and £43.50 per share - but they had been rejected by SABMiller, which argued they undervalued the company. In a statement, the boards of the two firms said they had now "reached agreement in principle on the key terms of a possible recommended offer". The two companies have not yet formally finalized the terms of an offer, but the latest development means they have extended the City deadline for a firm offer until 28 October. (Click here)
Police end guard at Wikileaks founder's embassy refuge
Police will no longer be stationed outside the Ecuadorean embassy in London where Wikileaks founder Julian Assange has sought refuge since 2012. Met Police officers had been there since Assange sought asylum to avoid extradition to Sweden over a rape allegation, which he denies. The Met said it had cost £12.6m and was "no longer proportionate" - but it would still try to arrest him. Wikileaks said the decision did not change Assange's situation.
US Supreme Court hears arguments on resentencing for juvenile lifers
Three years ago, the court struck down mandatory life sentences in cases involving juvenile defendants. Should that ruling be applied retroactively to those sentenced to life long ago?
Arkansas judge orders disclosure of lethal injection data
Arkansas was ordered Monday to release information about the suppliers of its lethal injection drugs to attorneys of death row inmates challenging the state's execution secrecy law. Executions were temporarily halted [AP report] on Friday by Pulaski County Circuit Court Judge Wendell Griffen [official profile] for eight inmates that were scheduled to die between October 21 and January 14. In his Monday order, Griffen stated that the state must "identify or otherwise object to disclosure" of the manufacturer, distributor, seller or supplier of the three lethal injection drugs used by the state by October 21. A spokesperson for the office of Attorney General Leslie Rutledge said that she was "considering her options" on how to move forward. The state may submit a request for a protective order for the manufacturer and supplier information if it so chooses. Griffen also scheduled a hearing for March 1 to consider a request by an inmate to make the execution halt permanent under Arkansas's secrecy laws.
South Africa to leave ICC
A South African deputy minister said Sunday that the nation will leave the International Criminal Court (ICC) [official website], opining that the court has "lost its direction." Following criticism for ignoring [JURIST report] an ICC directive to arrest the president of Sudan, Obed Bapela of the ruling African National Congress (ANC) [party website] told reporters [Reuters report] that South Africa will continue to uphold "the flag of human rights" independent of the ICC. Bapela indicated that powerful ICC nations "trample" human rights and pursue "selfish interests," and some African leaders have questioned the ICC's indictment of Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir [BBC report] as being another in a long line of decisions biased against Africans.
Ex-auditor sues bank of Internet
Bank of Internet USA has become one of the country's top-performing banks by churning out high-cost mortgages to wealthy individuals with complex finances. But in a federal lawsuit, a former internal auditor of the bank contended that Bank of Internet was cutting corners as it grew at a rapid pace. The auditor, Matt Erhart, said in the suit that he was fired after revealing what he believed to be wrongdoing at the bank to federal regulators and management at Bank of Internet. The complaint, filed in federal court in the Southern District of California, said that Bank of Internet violated federal laws that seek to protect whistle-blowers.
Dewey & LeBoeuf leaders cleared of some charges; jury deadlocked on others
The criminal trial of three former leaders of the law firm Dewey & LeBoeuf is slowly becoming a story about the ordeal of the jurors, who have been deliberating the defendants' fate for 17 days after sitting through a trial that began in late May. On Tuesday in Manhattan, the jury of seven women and five men reached a partial verdict — for the second time in a week — that acquitted the men of some of the dozens of charges against them. But the jury told the trial judge it remained deadlocked on 93 other counts, including the most serious charges.
Ireland, accused of giving tax breaks to multinationals, plans an even lower rate
The country will cut its 12.5 percent corporate tax rate in half for revenues pegged to patents and other intellectual property.
'Ballot selfie law' faces scrutiny from federal judge
If you enter the voting booth this November and, as a proud voter, you snap a selfie with your ballot and share it on Facebook, you could be committing a felony. Indiana's "ballot selfie law," which was created by state lawmakers to prevent voter fraud, made it illegal to take such photos. Whether that law will remain in place in the upcoming municipal elections is now up to a federal judge to decide.
US airdrops ammunition to rebels fighting ISIL in Syria
Al Jazeera, Doha, Qatar
About 20 Palestinians infiltrate Israel from Gaza
Haaretz, Liberal daily, Tel Aviv, Israel
Two RAF dead in Afghan crash named
BBC News, Centrist newscaster, London, England
How Rubio's age cuts both ways
CNN International, London, England
Carey Mulligan confirms sex of baby girl on Graham Norton show
Daily Mail, Conservative daily, London, England
Robbie Williams tribute singer 'raped woman as she slept'
Daily Mail, Conservative daily, London, England
Six-hundred-year-old Henry V warship 'found in English river'
EuroNews, International news, Ecully Cedex, France
French PM Valls in Saudi Arabia to sign 'significant' armaments deal
France 24, Issy-les-Moulineaux, France
NATO and Russia now face-off in Syrian waters
Hurriyet Daily News, (Liberal, English-language), Istanbul, Turkey
'Blood moon' prompts Mormon announcement: This is NOT the end of the world
Independent The, London, England
Did three men actually survive the escape from Alcatraz?
Telegraph The, Conservative daily, London, England
What time and when does The Apprentice 2015 start on TV? Claude Littner, Jack Dee and everything you need to know
Telegraph The, Celebrity news, London, England
iPhone 6s owners decry Samsung chips
China Post, English-language daily, Taipei, Taiwan
China Must Not Be Fooled by N.Korea's About-Face
Chosun Ilbo, Conservative daily, Seoul, South Korea
Pope Francis makes historic first US visit
Hindustan Times, New Delhi, India
Japan, Iran ministers agree on bilateral investment pact during Tehran talks
Japan Times, Independent centrist, Tokyo, Japan
California governor bans Redskins name at public schools
New Zealand Herald, Conservative daily, Auckland, New Zealand
Ukraine President cancels trip over protests in eastern Ukraine
Straits Times, Pro-government, Singapore
Beat the post holiday blues
Sydney Morning Herald, Centrist daily, Sydney, Australia
Dell said to be facing $60 billion in total debt with EMC deal
The Economic Times, Business, Mumbai, India
Don't expect Russia's expansion into Syria to end anytime soon
Canadian Broadcasting Centre, Toronto, Ontario
Zimbabwe will not charge U.S. dentist for killing Cecil the lion
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
Brazil's 'new middle class' struggles as economy plunges
Reuters, Business News, New York, U.S
Latest attempt to end Guinea-Bissau's political crisis collapses
Reuters, World News, New York, U.S
Trudeau, Mulcair reject any suggestion of backing a Harper minority government
Toronto Star, Toronto, Ontario
Zimbabwe clears Cecil the lion killer
BBC News, Centrist newscaster, London, England
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