In The News

Holder Promises Snowden Will Face Justice

Jamie Smyth, Geoff Dyer, Paul J Davies June 25, 2013
US Attorney General Eric Holder has accused Edward Snowden, the source behind the National Security Agency leaks, of endangering lives of citizens in the US and those in allied nations, and vows to prosecute the computer technician. In the run-up to the G8 Summit in Northern Ireland, EU Justice Commissioner Viviane Reding has said that an agreement was reached with Holder to form a joint US-EU...

Bitcoin Will Continue to Function Beyond the Reach of Government and Law

James Ball June 5, 2013
Bitcoin is a novel currency that lacks government backing and is instead defined by mathematical rules, thus putting it largely out of the reach of law enforcement. According to James Ball of the Guardian, Bitcoin’s potential was recently exposed by an investigation into Liberty Reserve out of Costa Rica. Liberty Reserve is accused of a $6 billion money laundering scheme as “a popular hub for...

Chinese Hackers Linked to Attack on Australian Spy Agency

Neil Hume May 29, 2013
Secrets are not secure on the internet, with hackers intent on prying into every online nook and cranny. An Australian Broadcasting Corporation documentary claims that Chinese hackers have stolen the blueprint for Australia’s new intelligence agency before it even opens, reports Neil Hume for the Financial Times. China is Australia’s largest trade partner. “The report also claimed several...

India Outsourcing Under Scanner After $45-mn Global ATM Heist

PTI May 10, 2013
Outsourcing by financial institutions is under new scrutiny in the wake of two massive bank heists spanning at least 24 countries. The thieves targeted two payment processing companies, one in India and the other in the United States, hacking computer systems that process MasterCard debit cards issued by two UAE banks, reports the PTI news agency in India. In two separate attacks, the organizers...

Pope Condemns Bangladesh “Slave Labor”

May 9, 2013
Pope Frances, an advocate for the poor, has stepped up on May Day to denounce workers conditions in Bangladesh and compare their condition to “slave labor.” He linked work with dignity and argued that providing extra work for others is a higher purpose than making profits, reported BBC news and Vatican Radio. More than 700 people died in a building collapse near Dhaka, the country’s worst...

Can Western Companies Put an End to Bangladesh Factory Disasters?

Pramila Jayapal May 1, 2013
Responsible corporations prioritize workplace safety. Building-structure codes, fire and smoke alarms, multiple exits, limited work hours and other standard safety regulations are documented to prevent accidents. Consumers may appreciate low prices, but will avoid brands that become associated with brutal workplace conditions. A factory fire in November and a building collapse in April have put...

Lone Wolf Terrorists – No Easy Catch

Bruce Riedel April 30, 2013
Vigilance and a global crackdown on terrorism have so far deterred those trying to plot attacks on a grand scale in the US. A bigger challenge may be impromptu attacks by disgruntled young men, like the bombing at the Boston Marathon by two brothers, young adults whose Chechen immigrant parents had largely deserted them in the US. So far, the surviving suspect claims the attack was not part of a...