HSBC Admits it Helped Wealthy Costumers Dodge Taxes

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Photo Credit: The Fiscal Times By Steve Slater and Joshua Franklin. British bank HSBC Holdings Plc admitted failings by its Swiss subsidiary in response to media reports it helped wealthy customers dodge taxes and conceal millions of dollars of assets.

“We acknowledge and are accountable for past compliance and control failures,” HSBC said late on Sunday after news outlets including French newspaper Le Monde and Britain’s The Guardian published allegations about its Swiss private bank.

The Guardian, along with other news outlets, cited documents obtained by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) via Le Monde. HSBC said that its Swiss arm had not been fully integrated into HSBC after its purchase in 1999, allowing “significantly lower” standards of compliance and due diligence to persist.

The Guardian alleged in its report that the files showed HSBC’s Swiss bank routinely allowed clients to withdraw “bricks” of cash, often in foreign currencies which were of little use in Switzerland. HSBC also marketed schemes which were likely to enable wealthy clients to avoid European taxes and colluded with some to conceal undeclared accounts from domestic tax authorities, the Guardian added. (Read more about how HSBC admits it helped wealthy costumers dodge taxes HERE)

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Claims That HSBC Aided Tax Evaders

By Chad Bray. HSBC found itself under fire again on Monday after news reports over the weekend provided more details about long-running accusations that its Swiss private banking arm helped clients hide billions of dollars in assets from international tax authorities before 2007.

In a report released on Sunday, the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, an organization based in Washington, said that secret documents revealed that bank employees had reassured clients that HSBC would not disclose details of their accounts to tax authorities in their home countries and discussed options to avoid paying taxes on those assets. Also contributing to the report were the newspaper Le Monde in France, The Guardian in Britain, the BBC program “Panorama” and CBS News’s “60 Minutes.”

The documents were stolen from HSBC by a former employee in Switzerland in 2007 and were given to the French authorities, who in 2010 shared them with officials in Britain, Spain and the United States, among other nations. Some of those jurisdictions have used the information to seek back taxes and penalties from individuals, and the British bank has paid fines to the United States related to those disclosures. (Read more from this story HERE)

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Reports of Massive Explosion in Ukraine, Likely not Tactical Nuke, but Obama Shaken [+videos]

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Ukraine: Artillery Fire, Not ‘Tactical Nuke’ Attack, Sets Off Large Donetsk Explosion

[Editor’s note: A number of sites, such as Alex Jones’ Info Wars, suggested that the explosion was nuclear, but that seems to be a stretch. Nuclear detonations create significant EMP (electro-magnetic pulse) that would almost certainly have destroyed the electronic cameras recording the events.]

On Sunday night, a series of YouTube videos appear to show a large explosion in Donetsk, Ukraine (several can be watched here). However, it wasn’t a “tactical nuclear weapon,” as some social media users claimed, but just a big blast–reportedly Ukrainian army artillery fire hitting an ammunition depot held by the rebel Donetsk People’s Republic.

Videos that were uploaded Feb. 8 show a massive explosion going off in the distance, with an orange-red fireball lighting up the night sky.

While many details remain unclear, preliminary reports say it was a an artillery attack on a weapons depot owned by the breakaway Donetsk People’s Republic. According to Ukrainian news site TSN.ua, right-wing politician Dmitry Yarosh said the blast killed about “200 terrorists,” destroyed 20 Grad rockets, and trucks filled with ammunition. (Read more from about the reports of a tactical nuke in Ukraine HERE)

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New York Times Warn About Russia “Nuclear Saber Rattling” in Ukraine

By JOHN J. MEARSHEIMERFEB. The possibility that Mr. Putin might end up making nuclear threats may seem remote, but if the goal of arming Ukraine is to drive up the costs of Russian interference and eventually put Moscow in an acute situation, it cannot be ruled out. If Western pressure succeeded and Mr. Putin felt desperate, he would have a powerful incentive to try to rescue the situation by rattling the nuclear saber.

Our understanding of the mechanisms of escalation in crises and war is limited at best, although we know the risks are considerable. Pushing a nuclear-armed Russia into a corner would be playing with fire.

Advocates of arming Ukraine recognize the escalation problem, which is why they stress giving Kiev “defensive,” not “offensive,” weapons. Unfortunately, there is no useful distinction between these categories: All weapons can be used for attacking and defending. The West can be sure, though, that Moscow will not see those American weapons as “defensive,” given that Washington is determined to reverse the status quo in eastern Ukraine.

The only way to solve the Ukraine crisis is diplomatically, not militarily. Germany’s chancellor, Angela Merkel, seems to recognize that fact, as she has said Germany will not ship arms to Kiev. Her problem, however, is that she does not know how to bring the crisis to an end. (Read more from this story HERE)

See also Putin Threatens to Use Nukes in Ukraine

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Matt Drudge Warns that “Obama Knows Something Terrible is Coming”

In a tweet yesterday, Matt Drudge said this about Obama’s Grammy appearance:

Despite Refusing to Meet With Netanyahu, Biden and Kerry Had No Problem Meeting With This Left-Wing Israeli Politician

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US Vice President Joe Biden and Secretary of State John Kerry both met informally with Zionist Camp co-leader Isaac Herzog — head of the Labor Party and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s chief rival in the Israeli elections — on the sidelines of a security conference in Munich, Germany on Saturday

Their discussions reportedly revolved around security matters and the Zionist Camp’s defense strategy.

The meetings were not formally scheduled, and no photographs were immediately issued.

Herzog also met with the EU’s Foreign Affairs Chief Federica Mogherini and German FM Frank-Walter Steinmeier on the sidelines of the conference.

The Biden-Kerry meetings with Herzog came a day after Biden’s office said the vice president would be abroad and would not attend a contentious speech on Iran Netanyahu is set to deliver to Congress on March 3. Netanyahu’s planned address has infuriated the Obama administration, which accused the Israeli leader of breaching protocol as the visit was not coordinated with the White House. Both Kerry and President Barack Obama said last month that they would not meet with Netanyahu during the visit, citing its proximity to the March 17 elections. (Read more about Joe Biden and John Kerry meeting with the Israeli politician HERE)

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Bosnian Immigrants in US Charged with Aiding ISIS-Linked Syrian Extremists

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Photo Credit: The Blaze By Oliver Darcy. Six Bosnian immigrants have been charged with aiding extremists in Syria thought to be connected to the Islamic State, a federal indictment unsealed Friday revealed.

“Today’s charges and arrests underscore our resolve to identify, thwart, and hold accountable individuals within the United States who seek to provide material support to terrorists and terrorist organizations operating in Syria and Iraq,” Assistant Attorney General John P. Carlin said in a statement . . .

Charged in the indictment are Ramiz Zijad Hodzic, 40, his wife Sedina Unkic Hodzic, 35, and Armin Harcevic, 37, all of St. Louis County, Missouri; Nihad Rosic, 26, of Utica, New York; Mediha Medy Salkicevic, 34 of Schiller Park, Illinois; and Jasminka Ramic, 42, of Rockford, Illinois.

The individuals are charged with conspiring to provide material support and resources to terrorists and providing material support to terrorists. Hodzic and Rosic are also charged with conspiring to kill and maim persons in a foreign country. (Read more about the people aiding Syrian extremists HERE)

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CIA Investigating ISIS Claims That Jordanian Air Strike Killed U.S. Aid Worker

By Fox News. U.S. intelligence officials are investigating a claim by ISIS that its sole known remaining American hostage, an aid worker held for nearly a year and a half, has been killed, and the terrorist group’s claim that her death came in a Jordanian airstrike, sources told Fox News.

Kayla Mueller, 26, whose identity had previously not been revealed at the request of the U.S. government and her family as the Pentagon worked to secure her, is believed to be the last American hostage the terrorist army is holding, since the beheading of Peter Kassig, a 26-year-old American aid worker, killed in November. In its statement, ISIS also claimed Mueller was the only person killed in the airstrike, claiming none of its fighters injured or killed.

“We are obviously deeply concerned by these reports,” said National Security Council spokeswoman Bernadette Meehan. “We have not at this time seen any evidence that corroborates ISIL’s claim.”

Late Friday night, the Mueller family released a statement saying “we are still hopeful that Kayla is alive.” Addressing those who held Kayla, her family said,”We have sent you a private message and ask that you respond to us privately. We know that you have read our previous communications.” (Read more from this story HERE)

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After Pilot’s Burning, Jordan’s King Steps Up Fight Against ISIS, Orders More Bombings

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Photo Credit: BBC By BBC. Jordan says its warplanes have carried out their first air strikes on Islamic State (IS) targets since the militants released a video showing the killing of a captured Jordanian pilot.

On their way back, the planes flew over the village of pilot Moaz al-Kasasbeh.

Their flight coincided with a visit to the village by Jordanian King Abdullah II, who was meeting the pilot’s family.

The king has vowed to the step up the fight against IS. Jordan is part of a US-led coalition bombing the militants.

Lt Kasasbeh was captured by the militants last year after his F-16 fighter jet crashed in Syria. IS this week released a video showing the pilot being burned alive in a cage, sparking calls for revenge in Jordan. (Read more about the king’s fight against ISIS HERE)

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ISIS Crucifying, Burying Children Alive

By Reuters. Islamic State militants are selling abducted Iraqi children at markets as sex slaves, and killing other youth, including by crucifixion or burying them alive, a United Nations watchdog said on Wednesday.

Iraqi boys aged under 18 are increasingly being used by the militant group as suicide bombers, bomb makers, informants or human shields to protect facilities against U.S.-led air strikes, the U.N. Committee on the Rights of the Child said.

“We are really deeply concerned at torture and murder of those children, especially those belonging to minorities, but not only from minorities,” committee expert Renate Winter told a news briefing. “The scope of the problem is huge.”

Children from the Yazidi sect or Christian communities, but also Shi’ites and Sunnis, have been victims, she said. (Read more from this story HERE)

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Top Islamic Authority Calls for Crucifying, Chopping Off Limbs of ISIS Terrorists

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Photo Credit: The Blaze
The institution widely regarded as the premier learning center for Sunni Islam called to brutally punish Islamic State members after the release of the video apparently showing a captive Jordanian pilot being burned alive, an act it described as contrary to the Muslim religion.

The Grand Sheikh of Al-Azhar Ahmed al-Tayib issued a statement following the burning alive of Lt. Muath al-Kaseasbeh saying the brutal act “requires the punishment mentioned in the Koran for these corrupt oppressors who fight against God and his prophet: killing, crucifixion or chopping of the limbs,” Agence France-Presse reported.

The head of the Cairo-based institution expressed his “strong dismay at this cowardly act” and referred to the Islamic State as a “satanic, terrorist” organization.

Muslim clerics have emphasized that burning someone to death is considered despicable by the Islamic faith.

Islamic State extremists released a video Tuesday that appeared to show the Jordanian pilot being burned alive in a cage. (Read more about what the top Islamic authority said HERE)

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ISIS Releases Horrific Video Burning Jordanian Pilot ALIVE; Jordan Retaliates, Executes Two Including Woman

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By Yahoo News. The Islamic State group released a video Tuesday purportedly showing the burning alive of a Jordanian pilot, in the jihadists’ most brutal execution yet of a foreign hostage.

The highly produced 22-minute video released online showed images of a man purported to be the pilot Maaz al-Kassasbeh, who was captured in December, engulfed in flames inside a metal cage.

Jordanian state television confirmed the death and said Kassasbeh had been killed on January 3, before the jihadists offered to spare his life and free a Japanese journalist in return for the release of an Iraqi would-be suicide bomber held in Jordan . . .

Kassasbeh, a 26-year-old first lieutenant in the Jordanian air force, was captured on December 24 after his F-16 jet crashed while on a mission over northern Syria as part of the US-led coalition campaign against the jihadists . . .

The release of the video of the pilot’s purported murder came days after IS beheaded a second Japanese hostage within a week. (Read more about the horrific death of the Jordanian pilot HERE)

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Grieving Father Kills 7 ISIS Terrorists in a Revenge Attack

By Gareth Roberts. An Iraqi man has reportedly gunned down seven Islamic State (ISIS) terrorists in a revenge attack for the death of his son.

A string of reports claim Basil Ramadan, said to be in his 60s, opened fire with an AK-47 assault rifle on a group of ISIS militants at a checkpoint in the city of Tikrit.

He killed seven before he was shot dead on Sunday morning.

Local media say ISIS terrorists executed Ahmed Ramadan, an 18-year-old college student, earlier this year.

He was killed alongside seven other young men who were accused of collaborating with the Iraqi security forces, reports say. (Read more from this story HERE)
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Jordan Executes Two ISIS Terrorists – Including a Woman – In Retaliation

By FoxNews.com. Jordan said it had executed 2 prisoners early Wednesday after a new video surfaced on the Internet Tuesday showing ISIS burning alive a Jordanian pilot the terror group had held since December.

Government spokesman Mohammed al-Momani said that prisoners Sajida al-Rishawi and Ziad al-Karbouli were executed. Al-Rishawi has been on death row for her role in a triple hotel bombing in the Jordanian capital Amman in 2005 that killed dozens. Over the past week, Jordan had twice offered to swap her for the pilot, Lt. Muath al-Kaseasbeh. However, officials have said his captors did not deliver proof he was still alive, and the swap never moved forward.

The 44-year-old Iraqi woman’s suicide belt did not detonate at the time of the Amman attack and she fled the scene, but was quickly arrested. After a televised confession, she recanted, but her appeal was turned down.

Al-Rishawi had family ties to the Iraqi branch of Al Qaeda, a precursor of ISIS. Ziad Al-Karbuli was a former aide to Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the Jordanian Al Qaeda operative who was killed in 2006. (Read more from this story about the retaliatory executions for the Jordanian pilot burning HERE)

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British Parliament Approves ‘Three-Parent Babies’, ‘Designer Babies’

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Photo Credit: Telegraph By Steven Ertelt. Members of the British parliament today voted to make Britain the first country in the world to allow scientists to create three-parent genetically-engineered embryos, sometimes called “designer babies.”

In the process, the babies, born from genetically modified embryos, would have DNA from a mother, a father and from a female donor. The British parliament voted 382 to 128 in favor of the technique and Prime Minister David Cameron allowed a free vote on the issue and voted for it.

Conservative lawmaker Fiona Bruce said the measure would lead to “designer babies.”

“Where will it lead? The answer has to be that we stop here. The answer has to be that we say this is a red line in our country, as in every other country in the world, that we will not cross,” she said during the debate.

Dr. Peter Saunders, a pro-life physician from Britain and a leading campaigner against three-parent embryos, says members of Parliament were worried Britain would appear scientifically backwards if it did not approve the plan. (Read more about the three-parent embryos HERE)

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Why the UK Voted to Allow ‘Three-Parent Babies’

By Arthur Bright. Britain’s House of Commons voted overwhelmingly today to legalize the creation of so-called “three-parent babies.” Though advocates of the move say it will help prevent a debilitating and often lethal condition, many warn that the procedure, if well-intentioned, opens the door to ethical and safety questions that have yet to be sufficiently grappled with . . .

The newly approved line of research is meant to address genetic defects found in the mitochondria of eggs and embryonic cells.

Mitochondria are structures, found within all human cells, that convert food into energy. They have their own genetic material, distinct from the DNA found in cellular nuclei, that is inherited solely from the biological mother.

Defects in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) can cause a range of diseases that are particularly devastating as they strike early in childhood, are largely untreatable, and are inherited: The BBC highlighted one instance in 2012 where a mother lost seven children to mtDNA-related conditions, most in infancy . . .

Although the theory is appealing, it has yet to be shown effective in practice, particularly for humans. The Center for Genetics and Society, a Berkeley, Calif.-based nonprofit focused on medical ethics and governance, writes that the safety of mitrochondrial replacement techniques has yet to be shown – and has much higher stakes, because the treatment is irreversible. The techniques “could cause immediate problems for any child born from these techniques, but could also cause problems later in life. Any problems that arise would additionally be passed on to future generations.” (Read more from this story HERE)

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Incredible: 3,600 Year Old Mummy Suggests Brain Surgery was Performed

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Photo Credit: Daily MailA skull that’s more than three and a half millennia old has revealed signs of an early form of brain surgery.

The perforated skull belongs to a mummified woman found in the Xiaohe tomb in China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

Experts said that the hole, which measures around 2 inches (50mm) in diameter, was most likely an early form of craniotomy . . .

This procedure has been performed since prehistoric times, and cave paintings indicate that ancient people believed the practice would cure epileptic seizures, headaches and mental disorders.

Lead archaeologist Zhu Hong who made the discovery said: ‘[The wound] suggests the female, who died in her 40s, must have lived for at least a month, or even longer, after receiving the surgery.’ (Read more from “Mummy Suggests Brain Surgery” HERE)

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Mayor of London: Islamic Jihadists are Porn-Obsessed W*****s

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By Rose Troup Buchanan. Boris Johnson has said that Islamic jihadists are “literally w*****s” who turn to extremism when “they are rejected by women”.

The London Mayor claimed, in an interview for The Sun, that the individuals who travel to Syria and Iraq to fight for Isis, also known as the Islamic State, needed to be demystified after he was handed an MI5 probe revealing the ‘typical’ profile of many of the young men.

Mr Johnson, 50, said: “If you look at all the psychological profiling about bombers, they typically will look at porn. They are literally w*****s. Severe onanists.” . . .

His remarks come following a highly publicised trip to northern Iraq to meet Peshmerga fighters. (Read more about what the mayor of London said HERE)

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Saudi Imam Who Raped and Tortured Daughter to Death Released for Blood Money

By Albawaba News. A Saudi religious scholar who raped his five-year-old daughter and tortured her to death has been ordered to pay “blood money” to the mother following a short term in jail, members of female rights group, Women to Drive, said on Saturday.

A statement released by the group said the man’s daughter, Lama, was admitted to hospital on 25 December 2011 having sustained multiple injuries including a crushed skull, a broken arm and ribs and extensive bruising and burns.

According to the victim’s mother, hospital staff told her that her “child’s rectum had been torn open and the abuser had attempted to burn it closed”.

Lama died in October 2012.

Despite the brutality of the crime, the activists say a judge has ruled: “Blood money and the time the defendant had served in prison since Lama’s death suffices as punishment.” (Read more from this story HERE)

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