"Major powers plan to offer to ease sanctions barring trade in gold and other precious metals with Iran in return for Iranian steps to shut down the nation's newly expanded Fordow uranium enrichment plant, Western officials said on Friday." Continue reading →
"A Japanese city devastated by the 2011 tsunami has received anonymous gifts of gold worth more than $250,000 in a phenomenon dubbed a 'goodwill gold rush' ahead of the second anniversary of the disaster. The president of the company which operates the port in the northeastern city of Ishinomaki last week received a parcel containing two slabs of gold each weighing one kilogram (2.2 pounds). The parcel had been sent anonymously from Nagano city northwest of Tokyo with no message. A non-profit group in Ishinomaki that has been supporting its revival had also received two kilograms of gold bullion and at least one more group got more than one kilogram." Continue reading →
"A Japanese city devastated by the 2011 tsunami has received anonymous gifts of gold worth more than $250,000 in a phenomenon dubbed a 'goodwill gold rush' ahead of the second anniversary of the disaster. The president of the company which operates the port in the northeastern city of Ishinomaki last week received a parcel containing two slabs of gold each weighing one kilogram (2.2 pounds). The parcel had been sent anonymously from Nagano city northwest of Tokyo with no message. A non-profit group in Ishinomaki that has been supporting its revival had also received two kilograms of gold bullion and at least one more group got more than one kilogram." Continue reading →
"According to the Financial Secrecy Index, America ranked #5 in 2011 in banking secrecy, trailing only after Switzerland, the Cayman Islands, Luxembourg and Hong Kong. America created FATCA to destroy its competition, forcing other countries to provide America with financial data while rejecting reciprocity. With America pushing Switzerland, the Cayman Islands, Luxembourg and Hong Kong to drop down the ranks in financial secrecy, will America finally succeed in achieving its goal of becoming the world’s largest and most secret tax haven at the expense of innocent Americans abroad whom it harmed in the process?" Continue reading →
"According to the Financial Secrecy Index, America ranked #5 in 2011 in banking secrecy, trailing only after Switzerland, the Cayman Islands, Luxembourg and Hong Kong. America created FATCA to destroy its competition, forcing other countries to provide America with financial data while rejecting reciprocity. With America pushing Switzerland, the Cayman Islands, Luxembourg and Hong Kong to drop down the ranks in financial secrecy, will America finally succeed in achieving its goal of becoming the world’s largest and most secret tax haven at the expense of innocent Americans abroad whom it harmed in the process?" Continue reading →
"Families will be forced to pay tax on jewellery and other heirlooms under controversial new plans drawn up by the Liberal Democrats. Under the scheme, tax inspectors would get unprecedented new powers to go into homes and value rings, necklaces, paintings, furniture and other family treasures. Householders would be forced to pay a new ‘wealth’ levy on the assets – with the threat of fines for those who refused to let snoops value their possessions. A policy document seen by The Mail on Sunday spells out how the taxman ‘may have to visit homes to test values of jewellery, paintings, etc’." Continue reading →
"Traditionally, the functions of the US Treasury and the Department of State were completely separate. However, we are seeing a continued erosion of this distinction as troubling economic times continue. The US passport renewal form mandates that the applicant supply his Social Security Number (SSN) if he has one. A $500 penalty applies for failure of a passport applicant to provide the SSN, unless reasonable cause can be established. In addition, the statute mandates that the State Department must provide your SSN and foreign residence information to the Department of Treasury, and to notify the IRS if you refuse. So, you lose either way." Continue reading →
"Traditionally, the functions of the US Treasury and the Department of State were completely separate. However, we are seeing a continued erosion of this distinction as troubling economic times continue. The US passport renewal form mandates that the applicant supply his Social Security Number (SSN) if he has one. A $500 penalty applies for failure of a passport applicant to provide the SSN, unless reasonable cause can be established. In addition, the statute mandates that the State Department must provide your SSN and foreign residence information to the Department of Treasury, and to notify the IRS if you refuse. So, you lose either way." Continue reading →
"Some people are worried about the future of the U.S. dollar and they believe that moving from the States is a way to distance themselves from its possible decline. Well, yes and no. While diversifying your asset holdings by currency is often a wise move, the truth is that if you're a U.S. citizen you'll never be able to walk away from the dollar completely -- even if you move overseas. Likewise if you're a Canadian or citizen of any other country -- it's hard to totally divorce yourself from your national currency. Here are two reasons why." Continue reading →
"Some people are worried about the future of the U.S. dollar and they believe that moving from the States is a way to distance themselves from its possible decline. Well, yes and no. While diversifying your asset holdings by currency is often a wise move, the truth is that if you're a U.S. citizen you'll never be able to walk away from the dollar completely -- even if you move overseas. Likewise if you're a Canadian or citizen of any other country -- it's hard to totally divorce yourself from your national currency. Here are two reasons why." Continue reading →