IRS Now Sending Personal Account Information to Foreign Governments

In the past, the U.S. government has sent information about foreigners’ US financial-accounts to government authorities abroad, and has received such information about U.S. taxpayers’ overseas accounts.

However, the Wall Street Journal reports that the agency’s new initiative makes the sharing automatic and its scope much larger.

Conflict over Natural Resources

BERLIN/LIMA (Own report) – The Catholic relief organization Misereor is sharply criticizing the new “Raw Materials Partnership” accord, concluded between the Federal Republic of Germany and Peru. Misereor writes that it fears “an aggravation” of the already growing “social conflicts developing around mining projects” in this South American country. This recently signed raw materials treaty grants German companies privileged access to Peru’s resources. The German government has now “signaled the Peruvian government” that “the expansion of the raw materials sector takes priority” over social and ecological regulations affecting that sector. The “raw materials partnership” is one of the measures Berlin is implementing within the framework of its “raw materials strategy” adopted in 2010, to be able to stand its ground in the global competition for access to the most important natural resources – particularly in relationship to China. Peru is an important source of metallic raw materials for Germany. The guarantee of raw materials is more important to Berlin than Misereor’s misgivings.

Blackwater Founder Advising Chinese Firms On Risk In Africa

Blackwater founder and Navy SEAL Erik Prince is helping Chinese firms “take the drama out of Africa” by consulting on how they should do business on the continent, according to a report in FireDogLake.com.

Formed in 1997 to provide training support to military and law enforcement, Blackwater USA worked with SEAL and SWAT teams. The security firm won its first U.S. government contract after the bombing of the USS Cole off of the coast of Yemen in October 2000. Blackwater subsequently trained more than 100,000 sailors.