Europe

Amazon.com gets $252 million tax bill from France

"The back taxes, penalties and interest that the French are seeking from Amazon relate to earnings in France for the years 2006-10 and 'the allocation of income between foreign jurisdictions.' Amazon reduces its exposure to corporation tax in France and most of the rest of Europe by reporting European sales through a Luxembourg-based holding company, taking advantage of the tiny Duchy’s relatively generous taxation of non-domestic earnings." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingAmazon.com gets $252 million tax bill from France

Directed History: A Fact of Life?

"Last Wednesday, just before Angela Merkel flew to London to tell David Cameron how desperately she wants Britain to stay in the EU, she told the European Parliament: 'Of course the European Commission will one day become a government, the European Council a second chamber and the European Parliament will have more powers – but for now we have to focus on the euro and give people a little more time to come along.' In other words, the EU is still on track to become precisely that 'government of Europe' that Jacques Delors was boasting about in 1989 (to which Mrs Thatcher famously responded 'No, no, no')." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingDirected History: A Fact of Life?

EU suspends aircraft emissions trading rules

"The European Union has agreed to suspend its rules that require airlines flying to and from airports in the EU to pay for their carbon emissions. The rules had been unpopular with countries outside Europe such as the US, China and India. Climate commissioner Connie Hedegaard said she had proposed 'stopping the clock for one year'. The EU brought in the Emissions Trading Scheme on 1 January. India and China have been among the most vocal opponents of the ETS, with India banning its airlines from complying with it in April." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingEU suspends aircraft emissions trading rules

Interpol elects French woman as first female president

"Ballestrazzi, 58, became a police commissioner in France in 1975 and was already vice-president for Europe on Interpol’s executive committee. French Interior Minister Manuel Valls, who attended the Interpol assembly earlier this week, said Ballestrazzi was 'a great police woman'. Valls said her experience with organised crime would serve her well in fighting drug trafficking, mafias from southern and eastern Europe as well as growing political violence that requires a coordinated international response." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingInterpol elects French woman as first female president

Now EU Seeks to Ban the Family

"Books which portray 'traditional' images of mothers caring for their children or fathers going out to work could be barred from schools under proposals from Brussels. An EU report claims that 'gender stereotyping' in schools influences the perception of the way boys and girls should behave and damages women's career opportunities in the future. Critics said the proposals for 'study materials' to be amended so that men and women are no longer depicted in their traditional roles would mean the withdrawal of children's classics, such as Enid Blyton's The Famous Five series, Paddington Bear or Peter Pan" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingNow EU Seeks to Ban the Family

UK lawmakers urge tough new press rules

"More than 40 members of Britain’s ruling Conservative party have urged Prime Minister David Cameron to impose tough new press rules overseen by regulators outside the industry, in an open letter published in the Guardian on Friday. Senior members, including former foreign secretary Malcolm Rifkind and former party chairmen Caroline Spelman and Lord Fowler were among those calling for Cameron to reject the industry’s recommendations for self-regulation." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingUK lawmakers urge tough new press rules

Man arrested for posting image of burning poppy on Twitter

"Kent Police said in a statement that the man, from Aylesham, was detained last night on suspicion of making malicious telecommunications and that he was in custody awaiting interview. The force does not say whether the arrested man actually burned the poppy, or just posted the photo online. The arrest was met with incredulity on Twitter, where people mounted a fierce discussion over civil liberties." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingMan arrested for posting image of burning poppy on Twitter

Money Laundering Accusations Could Delay Cyprus Bailout

"Cyprus had applied in June to become the fifth nation to receive a bailout in the euro crisis. But there are no signs whatsoever that Cyprus is willing to commit to a serious austerity program, sources in Brussels said. The talks could now be delayed by accusations that Cyprus is lax on money-laundering. Banks in Cyprus hold $26 billion (€20.33 billion) in deposits by Russian investors. According to the BND, most of this money has been illegally moved abroad to evade Russian tax authorities. By Cypriot standards it's a tremendous sum given that the island's entire annual GDP amounts to €17 billion." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingMoney Laundering Accusations Could Delay Cyprus Bailout

Money Laundering Accusations Could Delay Cyprus Bailout

"Cyprus had applied in June to become the fifth nation to receive a bailout in the euro crisis. But there are no signs whatsoever that Cyprus is willing to commit to a serious austerity program, sources in Brussels said. The talks could now be delayed by accusations that Cyprus is lax on money-laundering. Banks in Cyprus hold $26 billion (€20.33 billion) in deposits by Russian investors. According to the BND, most of this money has been illegally moved abroad to evade Russian tax authorities. By Cypriot standards it's a tremendous sum given that the island's entire annual GDP amounts to €17 billion." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingMoney Laundering Accusations Could Delay Cyprus Bailout

French officials abuse visa-free travel to spy on tax dodgers in Switzerland

"The French tax officials reportedly travel to Switzerland with a friend or family member when they are supposed to be officially on holiday. They use private credit cards for all purchases in Switzerland and to avoid being caught by Swiss customs or radars, the officials purportedly use cars with interchangeable number plates or take a train. Once in Switzerland they travel around to make sure Swiss-based companies allegedly belonging to French citizens actually have real offices, employees and clients." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingFrench officials abuse visa-free travel to spy on tax dodgers in Switzerland