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European Commission Confirms Billions Lost in VAT Gap
An estimated €193 billion in VAT revenues (1.5% of GDP) was lost due to non-compliance or non-collection in 2011, according to a new study on the VAT Gap in Member States. The study was funded by Commission as part of
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The War on Tax Evasion: How a Good Pursuit Gets Ugly
At first glance, the showdown between the US government and the Swiss banks seems to have produced a satisfactory outcome: Tax dodgers can no longer park their undeclared monies in Switzerland without fear of discovery. Under a new bilateral deal,
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Barking Up the Wrong Tree in St. Petersburg: G20 Hijacked by Syria Conflict
The world leaders gathered today in St. Petersburg for the G20 summit were supposed to discuss the slowdown of global economic growth and ways to combat tax evasion. This agenda has now been largely supplanted by developments in Syria and
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Christopher Colford, World Bank: Competitive Cities Can Meet the Challenge of Job Creation
Focusing policies on competitive industries can provide jobs for the impoverished, hungry, restive urban millions As magnets for talent and crucibles of creativity, dynamic cities are the pacesetters for innovation in this era of relentless global competition. Vibrant metropolitan regions
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Looking for a Fig Leaf: US & UK Mull Punitive Action against Syria
Here we go again. The US and Britain are whipping themselves once more into a frenzy over the actions of an evil strongman in the Middle East. This time around the recipient of American and British ire is Syrian president
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Assaulting Freedom to Protect Freedom: UK Government Gets Tough on Press
Legislation aimed at preventing acts of terrorism is now being misused to intimidate reporters and the media they work for. In the UK, police authorities invoked Schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act 2000 to question for nine hours David Miranda,
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Elusive Democracy: While Voters Fume, Brussels Fixes the Caravan
The European Union has weighed in on the grave issues concerning caravan safety. EU authorities are currently in the final stages of assembling a comprehensive set of regulations aimed at standardizing technical inspection procedures. The European Parliament will debate this
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Alison Cooper Calls for Realistic and Intelligent Targets
Alison Cooper is the CEO of Imperial Tobacco and her track record since taking up this office in 2010 has clearly demonstrated her leadership skills. She is carefully manoeuvring the company through the challenges the tobacco industry faces while maximising
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As Spain and Argentina Team Up, Royal Navy Sets Sail for Gibraltar
A significant chunk of the Royal Navy has set sail for the Mediterranean and the Gulf region on what is billed a “routine deployment”. The British fleet now underway is to engage in a long series of exercises – collectively
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Political Game Changer in Turkey: The Decline and Fall of the Deep State
It has taken a court in Turkey almost five years to wrap up the trial of 531 suspected members of Ergenekon, an ultra-nationalist organization bent on overthrowing the government. On Monday the court handed down its last verdicts: 19 life
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