Ex-head of Vatican bank has archive on senior Italian and Church figures

Ettore Gotti Tedeschi, the former head of the Holy See’s bank compiled a secret dossier of compromising information about the Vatican because he feared for his life, it was claimed. 

Telegraph UK, by Nick Squires, 07 Jun 2012

Ettore Gotti Tedeschi  Photo: REUTERS/Remo Casilli

In the latest twist in a scandal which has convulsed the papacy of Benedict XVI, Mr Tedeschi reportedly gave copies of the documents to his closest confidantes and told them: “If I am killed, the reason for my death is in here. I’ve seen things in the Vatican that would frighten anyone.”

One of the documents was reportedly titled “internal enemies” and contained the names of senior clergy and powerful Italian politicians.

Other emails and letters related to “money of dubious provenance” being allegedly funnelled through the Vatican bank, according to Corriere della Sera.

Appointed in 2009, the 67-year-old banker was sacked as head of the Vatican’s bank on May 24 – the day after the Pope’s butler was arrested on suspicion of stealing confidential letters from Benedict’s desk and leaking them to journalists.

Mr Gotti Tedeschi was allegedly ousted by Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, who as the Vatican secretary of state is the Pope’s deputy, in a dispute over efforts to improve the transparency of the scandal-ridden bank, known formally as the Institute for Religious Works.

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Mr Gotti Tedeschi appeared to have compiled the dossier as a means of him defending himself against charges of incompetency, mismanagement and possible money laundering.

The reforms were intended to clean up the Vatican’s finances so that it could be included on the OECD's “white list” of countries least at risk from money laundering and other financial irregularities.

Earlier this year the city state was listed as a “jurisdiction of concern” for money laundering in the US State Department’s annual International Narcotics Control Strategy report.

Mr Gotti Tedeschi was so fearful for his safety that he hired bodyguards and sought advice from a private investigation agency, the Italian media reported.

The sensational claims evoked memories of one of the Vatican’s darkest chapters – the mysterious death in 1982 of Roberto Calvi, nicknamed “God’s Banker”, who was president of Italy’s largest private bank, the Banco Ambrosiano.

After the bank, which had close links with the Vatican, went bankrupt, Calvi was found hanged from scaffolding beneath Blackfriars Bridge in London, amid suspicions that he had been murdered by mafia godfathers as punishment for losing money they had invested in the bank.

“Gotti Tedeschi was nicknamed ‘the Pope’s banker’ and he feared meeting the same end as ‘God’s banker,’” said Il Fatto Quotidiano, a daily newspaper with a reputation for investigative reporting.

The secret dossier allegedly compiled by Mr Gotti Tedeschi was discovered by Carabinieri police after they raided his home and office in Milan and Piacenza, both in northern Italy, on Tuesday.

He was questioned by prosecutors for up to nine hours on Tuesday and Wednesday, during which he reportedly told them: “I’m afraid for my life”.

The raid was part of a separate investigation involving allegations of bribery at Finmeccanica, an Italian defence company that has extensive interests and thousands of employees in the UK.

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No respite for pope as more documents leaked

(SaLuSa channelled by Mike Quinsey, March 16, 2012)
“…. Each project is underway and that will result in a sudden wealth of information reaching you. Events are such that the facts can no longer be kept hidden, and with that there will be an explosion of people coming forward to tell what they know. It may take longer where the Vatican is concerned, as it is akin to a secret society that has kept its dark secrets hidden well away. However, nothing will remain concealed for too long, as you are entitled to know the truth and the extent to which you have been deceived….”  

(Matthew channelled by Suzanne Ward, June 3, 2012)

“ ….   5. Because the dissemination of accurate information is crucial, another good indicator of the light’s progress is that mainstream media censorship clearly is on the decline. For instance, even though the Vatican is one of the kingpins under the Illuminati umbrella, it now is public knowledge that investigation into the Vatican’s financial affairs is underway. Ultimately this will lead to uncovering the cesspool of darkness in that tiny sovereign state, including that it is the international headquarters of satanic worship and a vast storehouse of stolen art treasures. …."  New

US military suicide rate hits one per day

BBC News, 8 June 2012

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Suicides have outnumbered combat
deaths in US troops in 2008 and 2009

Suicide among US troops has sharply increased this year, hitting a rate of almost one death per day, figures show.

As of 3 June, the army's 2012 active-duty suicides reached 154, compared with 130 in the same period last year, the Pentagon confirmed to the BBC.

The number far exceeds US combat deaths for the same period.

"We are deeply concerned about suicide in the military," a Pentagon spokeswoman said, adding it was "one of the most urgent problems" they faced.

While the reasons for the increase are not entirely understood, the army's own data suggest soldiers with multiple combat tours are at greater risk. But a portion of those taking their own life have never deployed, the figures show.

Suicide among troops had levelled off during 2010 and 2011, but 2012 has seen the fastest pace since the US war in Afghanistan began in 2001.

Strength or weakness?

News of the suicide rate increase comes despite years of effort by the US military to encourage troops to seek help for mental health problems.

Those efforts include setting up confidential telephone hotlines and placing more mental health specialists near the battlefield.

But reports suggest that some in the military continue to believe that going for help is seen as a sign of weakness.

Last month, Major General Dana Pittard, a commander in the 1st Armored Division, retracted an Army blog post made in January in which he told soldiers considering suicide to "act like an adult".

Gen Pittard also counselled soldiers to seek help, but his remarks drew public rebuke from top Army officials, including the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Martin Dempsey.

Gen Dempsey said he disagreed with Gen Pittard "in the strongest possible terms", the Associated Press reported.

Pentagon spokeswoman Cynthia Smith told the BBC that "suicide prevention is first and foremost a leadership responsibility".

"Seeking help is a sign of strength," she added.

Related Articles:

Military movie censorship ‘makes Americans warlike’ - New !

"Healing the Military Energies in our family Tree" – Jun 13, 2011 (Kryon channelled by David Brown)
“ … There’s much violence and anger throughout the world; when we look at the Middle East, we can see that changes are coming there. The West has a lot of power over the Middle East, but that power will begin to dissolve. The Muslim people of this world will begin to have their own power, and their own prosperity, and they will begin to disconnect from the Western World. This disconnection doesn’t have to be violent as violence only happens when somebody hangs onto what doesn’t belong to them....

... What Military Energy means if we use an analogy: it would be like putting grinding paste into the oil of your motor car. Once you release these energies you will begin to feel lighter as you disconnect from this reality, and, you will find it easier and easier to release any other negative emotions. Military Energies are the core of all your problems...."

(Matthew channelled by Suzanne Ward, June 3, 2012)
“….   22. Beyond those myriad personal situations, beyond the civilian casualties in war zones, and beyond the financial burdens to the peoples whose nations are at war is the global emotional impact. It can be said that the condition coined post traumatic stress disorder is endemic to Earth. No one is immune to this battle energy that permeates your world, no one can escape the ravages that centuries of bloodshed have inured generation after generation to accept as humankind’s nature and lot in life. Yet, the fear of dying is just as pervasive, and that sets up a paradox that minds have to come to terms with. …" - New !

‘Gay cure’ no longer reimbursed

RNW, 5 June 2012

The outgoing health minister has decided that health insurers no longer have to pay for a controversial therapy intended to ‘cure’ gay people as provided by the Christian organisation 'Different'.

In her letter to parliament, Health Minister Edith Schippers argues that when Christians suffer psychologically because of homosexual feelings, this does not mean they have a psychiatric disorder. In the absence of a disorder, there is no justification for psychiatric treatment.

The minister writes that Different is entitled to provide pastoral counselling to patients who experience their homosexual feelings as a burden, but such counselling should not be covered by any health insurance.

Early this year, parliament was up in arms when it learned that Different was trying to 'cure' homosexuals and that health insurers were obligated to pay for the treatment.

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(Photo: Alexandria)

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Jeremy Marks: 'I began to think that perhaps we’d got it
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Russia tightens laws on the right to protest

Deutsche Welle, 6 June 2012

Against the backdrop of new anti-Putin protests, the Russian parliament has tightened the laws on the right to assembly and protest. Opposition members and human rights activists have criticised the move.

The Russian Internet is seething. Whether on Facebook, Twitter or on the blogger platform LiveJournal, the Russian parliament's decision to tighten laws on the right to assembly is being hotly debated.

"It's just a pyrrhic victory," wrote the blogger Andrej Malgin on the website of the Kremlin-critical radio broadcaster Echo of Moscow. The implementation of the changes to law will allow the domestic political situation in Russia "to explode." The co-founder of the civil society group League of Voters, Dmitri Oreskin is of a similar opinion. "It's clear that those in power have no concrete answer to the call for fair trials and fair elections and are simply trying to silence protestors," Oreskin told DW.

Penalties softened

Putin is likely to sign the new
legislation on the right to assembly

The ruling party United Russia pushed through multiple changes to the law during a nine-hour marathon sitting in the State Duma, all of which relate to the right to assembly. Participators in public protests and other gatherings can now expect a fine of between 250 and 7000 euros ($310 - $8,760) if, for example, people are injured during a demonstration or damage to property occurs. Civil servants can expect fines double this amount. Businesses can also be fined up to 25,000 euros ($31,300).

As an alternative to the fines, community work is also being proposed in future. Whoever can't or won't pay the fine will be forced to work 200 hours for the community - for example, sweeping the streets of Moscow. The punishments were much harsher in the original proposals. But after a wave of criticism from the public, plans for higher fines were abandoned. A member of congress from United Russia, Saled Omarov, said that this indicated the "humane attitude" of those in power.

Criticism from the human rights council 

The State Duma passed the new
legislation unusually quickly

The State Duma appeared to be short on time. The changes to the law were pushed through unusually quickly, according to observers. The opposition party A Just Russia had already made a failed attempt to delay the process with hundreds of amendments. But the new laws were already signed off by the Federation Council - the upper house of the Russian parliament - just a few hours after the Duma had passed them.

At the last minute, the Human Rights Council tried to get the Russian President to stop the new laws beings passed. The Council leader Mikhail Fedotov wrote that the decision by the Duma was an "error." Tighter laws on the right to assembly would lead to "grave human rights abuses and the further entrenchment of existing conflicts within society." But the leader of the Federation Council, Valentina Matviyenko, said that "for some reason or other," Fedotov's letter had not been received on Wednesday.

The new laws will now be handed to President Vladimir Putin to sign. His press officer explained that Putin would check them in detail. In the opinion of the President, the rights and freedoms of citizens should not be limited, Putin's spokesman said.

Adding fuel to the fire 

There was a March of Millions at
the beginning of May

The tightening of laws on the right to assembly were agreed just a few days before a massive protest is due to take place in Moscow. The opposition has plans for a new "March of Millions" on Russia Day on June 12. It probably won't be millions, but it could well be tens of thousands.

The wave of protests, stemming from the allegations of fraud following the parliamentary elections in December 2011, has died down in the past few months. The tightening of laws relating to the right of assembly may well give protestors new incentive, according to observers in Russia. "People shouldn't be prevented from airing their views publically," the leader of the Left Front and protest organizer Sergei Udaltsov told DW. He's certain that the protests could well lead to mass unrest.

Moscowlawyer Vadim Prochorov, who repeatedly represents the opposition in court, believes that sections of the opposition movement could become radicalized. However, a section of the urban middle-classes could also retreat from the protests due to the threat of harsher penalties, he said.

Author: Roman Goncharenko / hw

Editor: Michael Lawton

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South African campaigners unite against secrecy bill

South African campaigners unite against secrecy bill

JM Coetzee and Nadine Gordimer among those who say bill is country's first attack on democracy since apartheid ended

guardian.co.uk, Stewart Maclean and David Smith in Johannesburg, Wednesday 6 June 2012

Nadine Gordimer: 'The intention of the bill is to aid the government in the
cover up of corruption.' Photograph: Tiziana Fabi/AFP/Getty Images

Secrecy laws planned for South Africa fundamentally threaten free speech and investigative journalism, and could have a chilling effect on the rest of Africa, a united front of human rights lawyers, newspaper editors and Nobel prize-winning writers have warned in interviews with the Guardian.

The protection of state information bill – dubbed the "secrecy bill" – envisages draconian penalties of up to 25 years in prison for whistleblowers and journalists who possess, leak or publish state secrets. It has been described as the first piece of legislation since the end of apartheid in 1994 to undermine South Africa's democracy.

Opponents of the bill fear that, with South Africa often regarded as a beacon of democracy and freedom on the continent, it could be used as an excuse by repressive African regimes for renewed crackdowns on journalists and activists.

Among those to attack the proposed legislation is JM Coetzee, the Nobel laureate and double Booker prize winner, making a rare public intervention.

"The legislation is transparently intended to make life difficult for pesky investigative journalists, and generally to save incompetent or corrupt bureaucrats from being embarrassed," Coetzee, born in Cape Town but now resident in Australia, said in an email. "Its sponsors have very likely been emboldened by the push that has taken place all over the western world since 2001 to erect a wall of secrecy around the more dubious actions of the state, and to make it a crime to breach that wall."

Coetzee joins fellow Nobel laureate Nadine Gordimer in calling global attention to measures they believe are calculated to help the government conceal evidence of corruption. Gordimer, whose books were banned under white minority rule, said: "It is quite obvious why this bill has come about – the government is making no attempt to hide the truth that its intention is to aid the cover-up of corruption.

"I wrote during the apartheid regime and I fought against the apartheid regime. Three of my books were banned. What we are doing now is going back to apartheid censorship under a new guise."

Today, South Africa boasts arguably the freest press in Africa, with no shortage of revelations about shady deals or satirical cartoons lampooning politicians' foibles. Freedom of expression, including freedom of the press and other media, has been protected under the constitution. But opponents of the bill believe the gains of the past 18 years are under threat and warn that the rest of the continent is watching. In neighbouring Zimbabwe, journalists continue to be harassed and arrested, while state broadcasters remain firmly under President Robert Mugabe's control.

Andrew Feinstein, a former African National Congress (ANC) MP whose exposure of a corrupt multibillion-pound arms deal might have resulted in his prosecution under the new laws, said: "I think that if this democracy continues to weaken – and I believe it has over the past few years – there is no doubt that that has a knock-on effect, because I think for many countries in Africa the comparison is always made with South Africa as this bright shining star of democracy. If that comparison no longer holds, it lets a lot of other countries off the hook in many ways."

Nic Dawes, editor of South Africa's Mail & Guardian newspaper, said: "We're already hearing from people elsewhere on the continent that their politicians and government officials are saying to them: 'You see, they're even doing this in South Africa, so there's no reason why we shouldn't be doing it here.'

"That's one of the most dangerous things about the bill: the excuse it will give to other countries elsewhere in the region, that had been opening up, to begin to tip in the other direction. It's really very disturbing."

South Africa, in turn, is feeling the repercussions of the phone hacking saga and debate over press regulation in Britain, Dawes added. "Almost every time that I have a discussion with someone about either the protection of state information bill or the ANC's proposals for statutory media regulation, the British phone hacking scandal is brought up as an example of why these kinds of moves are necessary."

The governing ANC defends the bill as a necessary update to laws made 30 year ago during apartheid. The party claims it will tighten national security and is not aimed at the media. The bill is under review by South Africa's parliament and, following pressure from activists, has already been subject to many revisions.

But hopes of a climbdown on the bill were dashed on Wednesday when the state security department rejected amendments proposed by the ANC. Dennis Dlomo, the department's acting director general, rejected calls to limit the power of the ministry to delegate classification powers, reduce penalties and limit the heavy onus placed on the accused.

Dlomo also shrugged off pressure from campaigners to include a public interest defence clause, saying: "They want a post-disclosure test of public interest. We want a pre-disclosure test. The last point on this is really simple. What if a whistleblower gives away top secret, legitimately classified information?"

In response Alf Lees, an MP for the main opposition party, the Democratic Alliance, asked: "The department surely does not want to create the impression that it wishes to protect alleged criminals or punish those who earnestly expose corrupt and criminal behaviour?"

Keeping up pressure for reform is vital, according the civil society alliance Right2Know, which has organised protests against the bill. Murray Hunter, one of its coordinators, said: "The secrecy bill has united people across the boundaries of space, race, class and ideology – from leafy suburbs to townships and informal settlements, shop floors and office blocks, university campuses and old-age homes. We can't stop pushing now; in fact, now's the time to start."

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Corruption watchdog says business and politics 'too cozy'

Deutsche Welle, 6 June 2012

Related Article

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The anti-corruption group Transparency International says close ties between business and government across Europe have undermined economic stability. It singles out southern European countries as expecially corrupt.

The 63-page document showed a "strong correlation" between failure to rein in public spending and inability to tackle graft.

"This report raises troubling questions at a time when transparent leadership is needed as Europe tries to resolve its economic crisis," said Cobus de Swardt, the organization's managing director in a statement ahead of the publication.

The report assessed the situation across 25 European countries and found Greece, Italy, Portugal and Spain to have serious deficits in public-sector accountability and deep-rooted problems of inefficiency and malpractice.

It said that, among the European Union's new members, Bulgaria and Romania continued to cause the most concern, as the anti-corruption laws they had introduced to comply with EU demands had not borne fruit.

Transparency International praised the Denmark, Norway and Sweden for curbing corruption and found that whistleblowers who draw attention to wrongdoing were well-protected only in Norway and the UK.

It criticized Denmark, Germany and the UK for their lack of regulation when it comes to political party financing. Twelve countries were found to have no limits on political donations by individuals, and 17 lacked codes of conduct for members of parliament.

The group also called on the European Union to set an example by adopting strict rules for its own institutions. It made wide-ranging recommendations suggesting codes of conduct for parliamentarians and compulsory registers for lobbying activities.

Transparency International is a global network. The non-governmental organization has more than 90 national chapters and is funded by membership fees and donations.

rg/ncy (AP, dpa)

US military in row over Facebook breast-feeding picture

BBC News, 2 June 2012

The Washington National Guard has criticised two servicewomen for being photographed in military uniform while breast-feeding their babies.

The photos were posted on the Facebook website by a support group at Fairchild Air Force Base called Mom2Mom.

The group's leader, Trysta Chavez, said the photos were meant to promote World Breast-Feeding Week in August.

Military officials said it was a breach of the rules to use the uniform to promote non-military causes.

National Guard spokesman Captain Keith Kosik told the BBC that there was no regulation against breast-feeding in uniform.

But he said the National Guard took issue with the uniform being used "by an outside entity for a cause", regardless if it was a positive one.

Capt Kosik said the women were unlikely to face disciplinary action.

The Mom2Mom group posted a message on their Facebook page defending their actions, and insisting that they supported the military "110%".

"The military photographs were never meant to exploit, promote or to use the uniform to help our group," the message said.

"These were for our local community to raise awareness for World Breast-Feeding Week in August. Our mission is to help raise awareness, educate and support breast-feeding mothers."

The photos, taken by another military spouse at Fairchild, quickly went viral after being posted online.

"It's sad that this is such an issue," Ms Chavez said. "It's a taboo really."

Mom2Mom Breastfeeding Support Group

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Disney, Michelle Obama to Stop Junk Food Ads on Kids' TV, Web Sites

Jakarta Globe, June 05, 2012

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Los Angeles. Walt Disney Co, owner of the ABC broadcast network and a suite of cable channels, will stop accepting some junk-food ads on TV programs, radio shows and Web sites aimed at children, according to sources with knowledge of the plan.

A Mickey Check identifies products

 that meet Disney’s nutrition standards.

Disney Chief Executive Bob Iger and first lady Michelle Obama plan to make an announcement on Tuesday in Washington, the sources said.

The United States faces an obesity epidemic. Nearly one-third of US children are overweight or obese, and a 2006 Institute of Medicine report said junk food marketing contributed to childhood obesity.

The Disney move follows New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg's announcement last week of a plan to ban sugary drinks larger than 16 ounces (about half a liter) in most restaurants, theaters, delis and vending carts throughout the city.

The ban, also aimed at fighting obesity, would affect drinks equivalent to what McDonald's Corp calls small and has incensed food and beverage makers, many of which have agreed to voluntary nutritional measures.

Disney plans to cut advertising during children's programming on its networks such as ABC and Disney XD or its kid-focused websites for foods that fail to meet minimum nutrition requirements, the sources said.

A Disney spokeswoman declined to comment on Tuesday's announcement.

The media and entertainment conglomerate introduced voluntary guidelines in 2006 that prohibited licensing of Mickey Mouse and other Disney characters for foods that fail to meet minimum nutrition the requirements.

The guidelines set limits on the amount of calories, fat and added sugar for main and side dishes and snacks.

Last year, top US food and drink makers including Kraft Foods, Coca-Cola and Kellogg Co agreed to voluntary nutrition criteria for products advertised to children.

Reuters

First lady Michelle Obama speaks at an event with Walt Disney 

Company to announce new standards for food advertising.

Photograph: Michael Reynolds/EPA

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PM calls in adviser on ministerial interests over Lady Warsi

Inquiry follows Warsi's apology for failing to disclose business interest with relative who travelled with her on official visit

guardian.co.uk, Rajeev Syal, Monday 4 June 2012

Lady Warsi apologised for failing to disclose her shared business interest
 with a relative who travelled with her to Pakistan on an official visit.
Photograph: David Jones/PA

The political career of Lady Warsi has received another blow after she apologised to the prime minister – and was then referred to the independent adviser on ministers' interests for failing to properly declare her business interests.

Warsi, the Conservative party co-chair, wrote to David Cameron admitting that she failed to tell civil servants and the Pakistan High Commission of her shared business links with her husband's second cousin, who accompanied her on an official trip to the country.

Cameron has responded by referring her to Alex Allan, his adviser on ministers' interests. Allan has been asked to consider whether Warsi broke the ministerial code.

Warsi's apology may not be enough to stop a party-wide whispering campaign against her following a slew of allegations, including that she has claimed living expenses that she was not entitled to, and that she failed to declare rental income.

Warsi denies over-claiming expenses and said that her failure to declare rental income was "an oversight".

Cameron has until now defended Warsi. She is popular among many non-party members but has riled backbench Conservative MPs with her forthright views, and has been criticised for a perceived lack of experience.

In a letter to the prime miniser, Warsi said she was "sorry" for the embarrassment caused by the undeclared relationship with Hussain, who assisted the British High Commission with outreach events in Pakistan in July 2010. Their business relationship was disclosed in the Sunday Telegraph.

Warsi wrote that Hussain was her husband's second cousin and this fact was "widely known", including to her private office and the British High Commission.

However, she said she did not realise the need to declare that they had "a common business interest as minority shareholders in a small food company".

"I sincerely regret that I did not consider the significance of this relationship with Mr Hussain when the arrangements for the visit were being made. In retrospect, I accept that I should have made officials aware of the business relationship between Mr Hussain and myself, and for this I am sorry.

"I regret that this failure may have caused embarrassment to the government."

Cameron said he accepted her apology but was asking Allan to "consider the issues that have been raised with respect to the ministerial code and to provide advice to me as rapidly as possible".

The prime minister has faced criticism for refusing to refer Jeremy Hunt, the culture secretary, to Allan over the conduct of his special adviser Adam Smith during his dealings with Rupert Murdoch's empire over the BSkyB bid.

Labour accused Hunt of misleading parliament and said he had broken the ministerial code, which states that ministers are responsible for the conduct of their special advisers. Labour claims he should be sacked.

Dead on arrival? Dutch Parliament kills ACTA before EU vote

RT.com, 29 May, 2012

Protesters wearing Anonymous Guy Fawkes masks take part in a
 demonstration against controversial Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement
(ACTA) (AFP Photo/Jean-Philippe Ksiazek)

Lawmakers in Holland have voted to strike down the international Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA), slammed by many as a free speech and information access choker. Dutch MPs have also ruled the government will never sign any such agreement.

The Dutch parliamentarians have opted not to wait for the EU’s vote on ACTA which is set for June, with consultations kicking off already this Thursday.

"The treaty should be taken off table, whatever the decision the European Parliament should take," said MP Kees Verhoeven, a major sponsor of Tuesday’s motion in the Dutch Parliament.

Lisa Neves Goncalves, a spokeswoman for the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation, said the government had earlier this year stated it would not sign off on the treaty until it was clear it did not breach the Dutch or EU constitution.

As the controversial bill is making its slow way through the EU Parliament, the UK Pirate Party, the Open Rights Group (ORG) and the French La Quadrature Du Net are calling for more anti-bill rallies.

"The votes this Thursday, in three of the Committees responsible for offering 'Opinions' on the treaty, will really affect whether the European Parliament ultimately rejects ACTA or not. It is important that your MEP understand people's concerns. And calling your MEP will help make this happen," says the Open Rights Group in a blog post.

ACTA is an international agreement aimed at protecting intellectual property. It somewhat resembles the US’s Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA), which was shelved by lawmakers after protests.

The European Union suspended efforts to ratify the treaty in February amid a storm of protest from activists who say the agreement would stifle free speech and access to information. 

Thousands demonstrated across the EU against giving big firms the power to ban people from using the Internet for illegally swapping files. Twenty-two countries in the bloc signed up to the agreement, with a vote on its ratification due this summer in Brussels.

The US, most of the EU, Australia, Canada, Japan and several other countries have signed the ACTA treaty, but none of these signatories' parliaments have yet ratified it. This last step would make the agreement viable. As soon as ACTA is ratified by any six nations, the convention will come into force.

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A run for her money: Saudi princess flees from $7 million hotel bill

RT.com, 02 June, 2012

Shangri-La Hotel in Paris (AFP Photo / Eric Piermont)

Princess Maha al-Sudairi was caught trying to sneak out of a luxury Paris hotel in the dead of night – leaving her entourage of 60 people and an unpaid bill of US$7.4 million behind.

Police were called to the scene, and the Saudi Arabian embassy was also contacted in the incident. As the former wife of the man second in line to the throne, the cash-strapped princess – who has been occupying an entire hotel floor since Christmas – enjoys diplomatic immunity.

This means there is practically no way of forcing her to fork over the funds, and the five-star Shangri-La hotel is facing a battle royale. The director of the establishment has already tried to quash the rumors, saying there are no problems with any of the hotel clients and “no unpaid bills at the moment” – which is technically true, as the princess was prevented from skipping out on hers.

It is understandable why the hotel would do everything to protect their patrons, even the ones who appear to be a financially-challenged flight risk. But having this particular royal in your customer list seems to be as useful as having monopoly money, as it is not the first time she has suffered cash flow issues.

Just a few years ago, while staying at a different five-star hotel in Paris, al-Sudairi spent money like it was going out of style. She was accompanied by a representative of her entourage, who would present store managers with an official “payment to follow” document. Unfortunately, it never did.

The princess became a royal pain in the neck for international luxury brands like Dior and Chaumet, and exclusive Parisian boutiques like O Caprices De Lili, owing over US$15 million to 30 stores. But al-Sudairi’s diplomatic status meant there was nothing anyone could do. As a royal aide told reporters: "I'm afraid we can't go around settling bills for the Princess's knickers."

She certainly seems to have got them in a twist again this time. It is unclear whether the Shangri-La hotel chain will seek to pursue the matter in court, but judging by past experiences, it will simply join the company of the Hotel Crillion and the George V – both of which are still waiting for payment to follow.

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