Europe

Credit card donations to WikiLeaks once again flowing through Iceland

"International credit card donations to WikiLeaks are flowing again after an Icelandic court ruling forced MasterCard’s and Visa’s local agent to process payments, the companies involved in processing the funds said. One of WikiLeaks’ most important sources of funding – donations made from Visa and MasterCard users around the globe – was cut off in 2010 when the firms stopped processing donations to WikiLeaks’ direct payment line in Iceland. Their move came after criticism by the United States of the anti-secrecy organization’s release of thousands of sensitive U.S. diplomatic cables, which embarrassed Washington." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingCredit card donations to WikiLeaks once again flowing through Iceland

Bolivian President Morales’ Flight Diverted On Suspicions He Was Transporting Edward Snowden

"Bolivia's foreign minister David Choquehuanca has told reporters that France and Portugal abruptly cancelled air permits, causing the plane to make an unscheduled landing in Vienna, Austria. He said the cancellations were made over 'technical issues' but that further investigation revealed 'there appeared to be some unfounded suspicions that Mr. Snowden was on the plane'. 'We don't know who invented this lie,' Mr Choquehuanca added. Austrian Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Schallenberg told The Associated Press that Snowden is not with Morales and that the Bolivian president is spending the night at a Vienna hotel." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingBolivian President Morales’ Flight Diverted On Suspicions He Was Transporting Edward Snowden

French competition watchdog raids Apple stores

"French competition authorities last week raided several stores of US tech giant Apple following a complaint by failed local firm eBizcuss of unfair trade practices, officials said Tuesday. Officials from the Autorite de la Concurrance confirmed the raids but did not say where they took place and how many outlets were affected. Apple did not comment. The Les Echos financial daily said the the investigators wanted to probe Apple’s relations with its distributors. The firm has been accused of favouring its own stores with the supply of new devices." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingFrench competition watchdog raids Apple stores

EBay’s double tax base prompts calls for investigation

"Britain and Germany may have missed out on a combined $1 billion in sales tax since online marketplace eBay picked a tiny Luxembourg office as its base for EU sales, a shift that lawmakers say should now be investigated. EBay, which is headquartered in San Jose, California, moved into Europe in 1999 when it established eBay International in Berne. Switzerland's low income tax regime for foreign companies was highly beneficial for the auction site. The Swiss base also meant, initially, that the company didn't have to charge EU customers VAT. But in 2003, Brussels changed the rules." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingEBay’s double tax base prompts calls for investigation

France’s triumphant ‘Joan of Arc’ vows to bring back franc and destroy euro

"'We cannot be seduced,' she said, brimming with confidence after her party secured 46pc of the vote a week ago. Her candidate trounced the ruling Socialists in their own bastion of Villeneuve-sur-Lot. 'The euro ceases to exist the moment that France leaves, and that is our incredible strength. What are they going to do, send in tanks?' 'Europe is just a great bluff. One side there is the immense power of sovereign peoples, and on the other side are a few technocrats,' she said. It is her defence of the French welfare model and her critique of capitalism that gives her a Leftist hue -- some call it 1930s national socialism -- so far in outlook from Britain's UKIP." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingFrance’s triumphant ‘Joan of Arc’ vows to bring back franc and destroy euro

No-Income-Tax Monaco Again Threatened With ‘Tax Haven’ Blacklist Status

"Monaco, which was for a long time considered a black sheep because of its lack of transparency, is still clouded by its very attractive financial legislation. It is a haven for its inhabitants, who don’t pay income tax or inheritance tax. That is, with the notable exception of U.S. and also French nationals, as per a convention signed 50 years ago signed by General de Gaulle. Today pressure is mounting on Monaco. The world powers have launched a new war on tax evasion. During their recent Northern Ireland meeting, the members of the G8 agreed to an automatic exchange of information for tax purposes." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingNo-Income-Tax Monaco Again Threatened With ‘Tax Haven’ Blacklist Status

Dutch court finds six coffee shop owners guilty of selling cannabis to non-residents

"A Dutch court on Wednesday fined six coffee shop owners and workers for selling cannabis to non-residents, in a victory for Dutch authorities’ fight against drug tourism. Prosecutors had sought up to one-month suspended jail terms for the owners and staff of cannabis cafes in Maastricht for selling pot to foreign non-residents in defiance of a controversial law. The court was relatively lenient as the coffee shops had deliberately flouted the law because they hoped the case would set a legal precedent in their favour, arguing that the residence criterion was unconstitutional." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingDutch court finds six coffee shop owners guilty of selling cannabis to non-residents

Regulation Means The Bitcoin Gold Rush Will Not Happen In The US, Say Experts

"Europe is better positioned as a better place to create Bitcoin-based startups than the US. That was the message coming out of Bitcoin London today, the first major conference in London to cover startups, investors and business models. Covering the broad sweep of Bitcoin businesses, technologists and institutions, the conference heard that the US may have made a fatal strategic mistake in classifying Bitcoin as if it were money. Bitcoin is being treated in many different ways: as money, as an asset class, as the first highly secure P2P global information exchange, as a technology platform and even as a if it were a startup entity in its own right." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingRegulation Means The Bitcoin Gold Rush Will Not Happen In The US, Say Experts

3 big revelations from the newly leaked NSA documents

"Perhaps the most damning new revelation is that the U.S. government may have been spying on friends as well as foes. Thirty-eight embassies and missions are outlined as 'targets' on one document, reports the Guardian. The document details the range of spying techniques employed, 'from bugs implanted in electronic communications gear to taps into cables to the collection of transmissions with specialized antennae.' Along with 'traditional ideological adversaries' and 'sensitive Middle Eastern countries,' the unofficial roster of spy targets includes French, Italian, and Greek embassies, as well as Japan, Mexico, South Korea, India, and Turkey." Continue reading →

Continue Reading3 big revelations from the newly leaked NSA documents

3 big revelations from the newly leaked NSA documents

"Perhaps the most damning new revelation is that the U.S. government may have been spying on friends as well as foes. Thirty-eight embassies and missions are outlined as 'targets' on one document, reports the Guardian. The document details the range of spying techniques employed, 'from bugs implanted in electronic communications gear to taps into cables to the collection of transmissions with specialized antennae.' Along with 'traditional ideological adversaries' and 'sensitive Middle Eastern countries,' the unofficial roster of spy targets includes French, Italian, and Greek embassies, as well as Japan, Mexico, South Korea, India, and Turkey." Continue reading →

Continue Reading3 big revelations from the newly leaked NSA documents