Friday, February 24, 2012

Links Feb 24

London Conference on Somalia - Communique
Feb 23 - "We agreed on the importance of ... disrupting terrorist finances, and called on countries in the region to implement the Financial Action Task Force’s recommendations on combating money laundering and the financing of terrorism."

See also:
Solving the Pirate Problem: Let’s Start with the Banks Task Force Blog

Jun 17, 2011 - "It is only by cutting off finances that we can hope to effectively root out piracy ... the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) needs to 'get serious about including piracy within its mission of highlighting how money launderers and terrorists raise and move funds'".

And on why all this matters:

Humanitarian Aid and Security In Somalia: Separate, But Still Unequal? Refugees International
Feb 23 - "Yet we are all aware that humanitarianism does not take place in a vacuum. Unless and until a political solution is found to the problems in Somalia, the humanitarian crisis will be never-ending."

And interesting to consider:
“Somalia has slightly higher standards than Wyoming and Nevada.” (Corporate Secrecy Edition) naked capitalism
June 2011 - Opening with "We’ve taken an interest in tax havens thanks to Nicholas Shaxson’s book Treasure Islands, which is a must read", this illuminating piece on corporate secrecy cites Jason Sharman observing a comparison on the standards of Somalia and the U.S. in corporate transparency.

Sierra Leone launches online mining database to increase transparency Guardian

Feb 1 - "By collecting, recording and publishing data on the country's extractive industry, the government hopes to combat corruption and malpractice". Hat tip: Sandra Kidwingira.

India: Vodafone moves HC against transfer pricing issue Zee News
Feb 23 - "UK-based telecom operator Vodafone on Thursday said it has filed a writ petition in the Bombay High Court challenging a tax demand made by the Income Tax Department." Hat tip: Offshore Watch. See earlier blog on the Vodafone case here.

Swiss Rubik tax deals are effectively defunct, but zombie refuses to die EU Observer
Feb 24 - See new blog by TJN's Nick Shaxson, for EU Observer.

Swiss ‘clean money’ strategy is lipstick on a pig Task Force Blog
Feb 24 - Updated and expanded blog, posted earlier on TJN site.

A welcome step by Obama towards ending corporate tax haven abuse Tax Research UK
Feb 24 - See Richard Murphy's comments on: "As FinFacts has reported in Ireland: "The Obama Administration has proposed a minimum tax on profits of US companies in foreign jurisdictions that if implemented will reduce the attraction of Ireland’s low-tax foreign direct investment regime and imperil the tax haven activities of high profile companies such as Microsoft, Google and Facebook..."

UK: Life imitates art, as Berkshire countryside inspiring Watership Down is threatened by developing zealots Daily Mail

Feb 22 - "To avoid UK taxes on the profits they make, they vest their land ownership in tax haven based “shell” companies." ... [Land speculators] are making huge tax free fortunes from the violation of our countryside." Hat tip: Carol Wilcox.

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