[DAWN] Two senior executives of a collapsed peer-to-peer lender were sentenced to life in prison and 24 others punished over what has been called China's biggest-ever Ponzi scheme, state media reported on Tuesday.
A Ponzi scheme is a fraudulent operation where investors are promised quick returns on their investments but are actually paid from the investments of new investors instead of legitimate business activities.
The company, Ezubao, swindled more than 900,000 investors out of $7.6 billion, mainly between 2014 and 2015.
The brazenly luxurious lifestyles of top Ezubao bosses drew wide attention to the long-running case, one of the several recent high-profile trials to shine a light on pervasive fraud and corrupt practices in the Chinese financial industry.
The company was alleged to have fabricated most of the projects on its website and paid old debts with money from new investors.
Ding Ning, head of Ezubao's parent company Yucheng Holdings, was sentenced by a Beijing court to life in prison for charges ranging from fraudulent fundraising to illegal possession of a gun, the People's Daily reported.
Posted by: Fred ||
09/13/2017 00:00 ||
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[NYPost] A 22-year-old National Guardsman from Pennsylvania was accused of threatening to kill Vice President Mike Pence, officials said.
William Dunbar, of Berlin, Pa., was on duty at the Army National Guard Training Center when he said, "If someone pays me enough money, I will kill the vice president," Richland County cops said.
Witnesses said they alerted commanding officers after they heard Dunbar make the threat twice on Saturday.
He was charged with disorderly conduct and making terroristic threats, both misdemeanors.
Dunbar was taken to Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center for evaluation and then to county prison, where he was held on $250,000 bond, officials said.
#6
Brrrr! Lena the Love Bug was curvy
And, off of her additives, swervy:
Cis-gender rear-enders
And queer fender-benders
And dragging and chicken with Herbie!
#15
She's right -- that's the best swimsuit for her, though I have to wonder whether she lost about fifty pounds in real life or thanks to someone's photoshop skills.
[Iran Press TV] Hurricanes Harvey and Irma might have caused up to $200 billion in damage to the US states of Texas and Florida, similar to the costs from Hurricane Katrina that devastated New Orleans in 2005, according to an estimate from Moody's Analytics.
Harvey battered Houston with record amounts of rain and flooding last month, killing more than 70 people. Irma wreaked havoc across much of Florida and other southeastern coastal states over the past few days. The storm has claimed at least seven lives and left over six million people without power.
"While at this point it’s hard to know how much [damage there is], the storms seem likely to have caused $150 billion to $200 billion in total damage to homes and furnishings, vehicles, commercial real estate, and public infrastructure. This is comparable to the property loss resulting from Hurricane Katrina," Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody's Analytics, said.
The economist added that a critical factor in determining the effect on the economy is "how much insurance money and government aid flows to the impacted regions, and how quickly these funds get there."
Economists expect the recent storms to lower the US economic growth by about one percentage point in the third quarter of this year.
Harvey knocked offline almost a quarter of US oil refining capacity and caused widespread power outages, bringing the Houston metropolitan area to a standstill. The impact was visible in last week’s rise in unemployment claims, the biggest since 2012.
Irma threatened $1.2 billion worth of crops in Florida. This could lead to higher prices of food for some time.
Posted by: Fred ||
09/13/2017 00:00 ||
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#1
What the heck happened in Houston 2012 which caused the unemployment requests to rise faster than this biblical flood?
[Iran Press TV] Russia on Tuesday strongly condemned a new education law in Ukraine, saying it will infringe on the rights of Russian-speakers.
The law, approved Sept. 5 by the Ukrainian parliament, restructures Ukraine's education system and specifies that Ukrainian must be the main language used in schools, rolling back the option for lessons to be taught in other languages.
The Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement Tuesday that the law is designed to "forcefully establish a mono-ethnic language regime in a multi-national state" and alleged that it violates Ukraine's constitution and Kiev's international obligations.
Ukrainian officials have rejected the suggestion that minority languages will be sidelined.
Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin wrote on Twitter earlier this week that the law will not hamper the free development of languages other than Ukrainian.
Posted by: Fred ||
09/13/2017 00:00 ||
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[Iran Press TV] The Constitutional Court of Spain has suspended another referendum law ratified in the regional parliament of Catalonia as Madrid struggles to block a vote of independence in the region planned for earlier next month.
The court, which serves as the highest Spanish authority on constitutional issues, said on Tuesday that the law outlining a legal framework for the October 1 referendum of independence in Catalonia would be suspended until judges decide its compliance with the Spanish constitution.
The Catalonia parliament had approved the law on September 6 along with another decision to endorse the referendum itself. The Constitutional Court in Madrid had earlier suspended the first law and warned that it would punish civil servants contributing to the vote in any form.
Posted by: Fred ||
09/13/2017 00:00 ||
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[DAWN] The bodies of the teenaged couple, allegedly electrocuted for contracting a free will marriage, will be exhumed for postmortem examination on Wednesday in the supervision of a magistrate and a medico-legal officer, SHO Shah Latif Town Amanullah Marwat told Dawn on Tuesday.
Initial investigation into the murder suggests that the family members of the couple gave them electric shocks until they died before secretly burying the bodies at a graveyard in Sherpao Colony, Ali Hasan Brohi goth, he said.
Earlier while talking to Dawn, Malir SSP Rao Anwar said that the police came to know about the dual murder through an informer and a case was filed on behalf of the state. Subsequently, police enjugged Don't shoot, coppers! I'm comin' out! the fathers as well as some other family members of both the victims.
The families were enraged over the marriage of the 15-year-old girl and the 17-year-old boy, who had run away from their houses last month, he added.
The accused confessed to their crime, according to the police, and revealed that a jirga was involved in declaring death sentence to both the victims.
Posted by: Fred ||
09/13/2017 00:00 ||
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[DAWN] The National Assembly on Tuesday echoed with a debate about the lack of freedom and safety faced by minorities in Pakistain as MNA Khaleel George discussed the matter of alleged lynching of Christian schoolboy in Vehari last month.
"Sheron Masih lost his life because he drank water in the same glass as the other boys," George said, adding that this is a moment of deep reflection for the nation.
"Our school curricula need to be revised to reflect interfaith harmony. The minorities of this country feel alone at the moment."
While expressing grief on Sheron Masih's death, Shazia Marri said, "Mashal Khan also lost his life as a result of intolerance within an educational institution."
"This mindset is fast becoming prevalent in our institutions and society, while the state has shut its eyes," she added.
"No liberal feels safe in Pakistain. The question is Why is the National Action Plan not being implemented?", Marri asked.
Speaking on the matter, Pakistain Tehrik-e-Insaf ...a political party in Pakistan. PTI was founded by former Pakistani cricket captain and philanthropist Imran Khan. The party's slogan is Justice, Humanity and Self Esteem, each of which is open to widely divergent interpretations.... 's Asad Umar voiced said, "It is our responsibility to take care of this nation's minorities," adding, "The real danger is this mindset that promotes violence in the society."
"The ones maligning the name of religion and Pakistain by falsely calling this Islam need to be brought to justice," Umar said while demanding strict action against the forces promoting violence in the society.
Last month, a class IX student of the Government MC Model High School, Burewala, died when his class fellows punched and thrashed him on the school premises.
Sheron Masih, of Chak-461/EB, wanted to leave the school during recess for home but his classmate Ahmed Raza, trying to be a good cop, tried to stop him.
He kicked and punched Sheron, who collapsed on the school premises and later, he was received dead at the Burewala Tehsil Headquarters Hospital.
Sub-Inspector Kashif said that Ahmed had thrashed and kicked Sheron. The victim's family claims the attack was religiously motivated.
Posted by: Fred ||
09/13/2017 00:00 ||
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[DAWN] SIALKOT: A police official was filmed beating a woman on Monday on the Daska judicial complex premises.
The footage, which went viral on social media sites and was broadcast by TV channels, shows Satrah cop shoppe’s Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Sarwar Dogar repeatedly slapping the woman, identified as Zakia Bibi, in the presence of several onlookers.
Dawn learned the ASI had brought Saania Akhtar, the daughter-in-law of Zakia, to produce her before Civil Judge Waqas Hashmi. Saania was reportedly rescued by police from her captors after three months of abduction.
Zakia told Dawn the police official was teasing Saania and when she confronted him, the official humiliated her in front of the public. She alleged the police were keeping Saania at the all-male cop shoppe. She said her daughter-in-law had been kidnapped three months ago, and now instead of arresting the kidnappers, the police were harassing them in the case.
Police, however, said Zakia along with some other women, tried to get Saania free and beat the officials. District Police Officer Dr Abid Khan ordered a probe into the matter.
Posted by: Fred ||
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[DAWN] One of the reasons for the increase in the country’s population was that Afghan refugees were counted alongside Pak citizens, Chief Census Commissioner Asif Bajwa said on Monday.
Addressing a presser, the chief statistician said the Pakistain Bureau of Statistics would soon announce the actual number of Afghans living in Pakistain. "We will be in a position to estimate the exact number once reports are finalised," he said, adding that Afghans would be declared "non-locals".
Since 2005, after getting proof of residence cards, Afghan refugees were allowed to live among Pakistani citizens. At the time of the 1998 census, all Afghan refugees were living in refugee camps.
According to statistics provided by the UNHCR, around 1.3 million Afghan refugees are currently in Pakistain. But unregistered Afghan refugees are reportedly present in much greater numbers.
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09/13/2017 00:00 ||
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[WashingtonExaminer]'Pumpkin spice just doesn't taste as good when you add a shot of racism,' a feminist leader explained as the fall flavor began to pop up in coffee shops around the country. This is a shockingly weird claim, but it shouldn't be surprising.
In an editorial published last month, we wrote about the Left's effort to broaden the boundaries of concepts such as white supremacy and racism in a way that impugns the conduct of well-meaning people. Now, a feminist nonprofit is running a campaign to convince festive imbibers of Pumpkin Spice Lattes they're unknowingly boosting the cause of white supremacy.
The co-founder of UltraViolet issued the "shot of racism" statement Sept. 6. I knew Starbucks had a secret menu, but the baristas must really be keeping these racism shots on the down low. Continues.
Posted by: Vast Right Wing Conspiracy ||
09/13/2017 10:30 ||
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#1
Just when I think we have about reached peak insanity, I'm proven wrong.
Meows nasty Narcissus poeticus,
"A sketch from me liber viaticus:
Confusing their bods
With the all-knowing gods,
A priestess of Bast, and her catechist."
[PJMedia] There are people who say that someone who claims they were raped should always be believed. There are even some people who think women are either incapable of lying about being raped or that women are too morally pure to stoop to telling falsehoods about such a heinous crime.
...For example, take the story of young Koh Tsuruta, formerly of Augustana University, as reported by The College Fix:
...She said Tsuruta chased her down as she tried to leave his apartment. That’s an important nugget that the incompetent investigators ignored, particularly because she wasn’t exactly a credible person.
There's just one problem with that tidbit. Tsuruta lost most of his feet in an accident several years prior to this. In other words, he can't chase anyone, anywhere.
Further, the woman in question is reportedly a serial accuser who has claimed she was sexually assaulted by multiple men and even is alleged to have threatened to report an ex-boyfriend for rape. So, an American University expels a handicapped man - incapable of running, for running down and raping his victim caveman style. A highly decorated and well thought of general gives an openly pro-Hezbollah Muslim access to critical national security information. And GOPers elected on the promise to abolish Obamacare drag their feet.
Do I detect a pattern?
[The Hill] In three days, the director of the FBI and the attorney general are required to come before the House Intelligence Committee under the threat of being held in contempt.
Committee Chairman Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Calif.) has issued a subpoena to both agencies to provide information on how the FBI has utilized a controversial opposition research dossier compiled by a former British spy, Christopher Steele, in its investigation into Russian election interference. Neither responded by the Sept. 1 deadline.
According to the highest ranking Democrat on the committee Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), the subpoena is a partisan effort. Schiff argues it undercuts the basis of the FBI’s investigation into Russia’s active measures by discrediting the dossier and thereby any further intelligence the FBI may have derived from it. If this is true, the Republicans, in their attempt to help the president, may end up helping Russia as well.
Skipping down to the bottom line. Don't miss the author info:
Revealing our hand to Russia at this stage of the investigation could significantly jeopardize the FBI’s efforts. In receiving a subpoena from a committee that is rife with partisan infighting and where the information may be sought for political, rather than national security purposes, the FBI is right to be concerned about sharing its methods and sources. Perhaps in not responding to the request, they are simply putting their country first ‐ for once, the committee should do the same.
Asha Rangappa is a former special agent in the Counterintelligence Division of the FBI in New York City. She is currently an associate dean at Yale Law School. Follow her on Twitter @AshaRangappa_.
#1
Trial balloon anyone? 'Cone of Silence' coming soon! National Security demands it, sez author, former FBI Counterintelligence agent and Yale Law School plant associate dean.
Sources and methods leaked? From all accounts it would appear former Special Branch employee (now disappeared) Christopher Steele and his alleged Russian contacts were the sources. The 'method' was his authored dossier.
#2
Asha Rangappa is a former special agent in the Counterintelligence Division of the FBI in New York City. She is currently an associate dean at Yale Law School.
Swamp dweller. If she is opposed to this, then it can only be a good thing.
Posted by: Herb McCoy7309 ||
09/13/2017 1:23 Comments ||
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#3
The FBI seemed to have purchased it yet it made its way over to the Illary's campaign.
[TheDrive] On July 25, 1991, drivers traveling south along Highway 83 past Bismark, North Dakota came across an odd sight, a seemingly innocuous tractor trailer truck stopped along the road, guarded by police and heavily armed federal agents and leaking smoking goop. What local residents didn’t necessarily know ‐ and the Department of Energy wouldn’t tell them at the time ‐ was that they had seen a specialized truck for discreetly carrying nuclear weapons and other radioactive cargoes. These tractor trailers are booby trapped with countermeasures such as immobilizing foam and self-destruct systems, which all sound right out of a Hollywood blockbuster. They belong to the Office of Secure Transportation (OST), which has a checkered record of safety and disciplinary issues.
This eventually became OST, now part of the larger National Nuclear Security Administration, who continues to be in charge of moving America’s most dangerous weapons and other hazardous nuclear material "of strategic amounts" safely around the country. Before that, there were a variety of different organizations that handled disparate nuclear transportation operations.
"There are several things going on where the truck is and we’re looking at that area," was the cryptic response Ben McCarty, a Department of Energy spokesperson, gave the Bismark Tribune when they asked for answers following the 1991 incident. "We have operational responsibility for the vehicles and we’re checking it thoroughly." Continues w/ pix and vid.
#1
In the 1980s on the interstate near Bozeman MT I saw a military style convoy going on the opposite side: a semi truck trailer bracketed by black Chevy Suburban-type vehicles, police cruisers fore & aft, Humvees with what looked like guns in turrets, and several helicopters overhead with what looked like MGs in their open side doors, gunners in place. Nothing "discreet" about that operation.
#2
...Worked with these folks a couple times while I was in SAC. Fun Fact: Not only are the drivers armed, the Government authorized them any weapon they wanted, and paid for it.
Mike
Posted by: Mike Kozlowski ||
09/13/2017 4:59 Comments ||
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A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
[DAWN] Two senior executives of a collapsed peer-to-peer lender were sentenced to life in prison and 24 others punished over what has been called China's biggest-ever Ponzi scheme, state media reported on Tuesday.
[Daily Mail, Where America Gets Its News] 
[DAWN] The bodies of the teenaged couple, allegedly electrocuted for contracting a free will marriage, will be exhumed for postmortem examination on Wednesday in the supervision of a magistrate and a medico-legal officer, SHO Shah Latif Town Amanullah Marwat told Dawn on Tuesday.
[DAWN] The National Assembly on Tuesday echoed with a debate about the lack of freedom and safety faced by minorities in Pakistain as MNA Khaleel George discussed the matter of alleged lynching of Christian schoolboy in Vehari last month.
