OECD crackdown on tax havens seen lacking teeth
DALLAS (Reuters) – Over the past year, the number of countries on an Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development “gray list” of tax havens that have not fully implemented internationally agreed upon tax standards has dropped to 17 from more than 40.
The OECD hails this as progress in a campaign to stamp out untaxed and illicit cash flows across the world, but critics say that the compliance bar was set far too low.
The global rainbow invasion and a synthetic paradox
I’ve pursued and caught rainbow trout in many places, some of them unlikely. I caught hundreds in South Africa when I was based there. Here in the United States, I’ve had them hit my flies and brought them to my net in Texas and Oklahoma. I’ve done the same in the mountain states of New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming and Utah, states that, at least in the popular imagination, are more associated with trout and rainbow in particular.
I also managed to land one magnificent rainbow in Alaska during a reporting trip there in 2008. Of the hundreds of rainbow trout that I have caught, that one stands out because it was the only one that was swimming where it belonged.
Economy not “out of woods”: Bernanke
DALLAS (Reuters) – The U.S. economy still faces significant headwinds, including a housing sector that has yet to recover convincingly and an ailing employment market, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said on Wednesday.
In a speech that suggested the central bank chief was in no rush to begin raising interest rates, Bernanke outlined a number of challenges to the country’s growth outlook.
U.S. economy not “out of woods”-Bernanke
DALLAS, April 7 (Reuters) – The U.S. economy still faces
significant headwinds, including a housing sector that has yet
to recover convincingly and an ailing employment market,
Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said on Wednesday.
In a speech that suggested the central bank chief was in no
rush to begin raising interest rates, Bernanke outlined a
number of challenges to the country’s growth outlook.
Penn. Gov finds natgas drillers cool to tax idea
DALLAS, March 25 (Reuters) – Pennsylvania Governor Edward
Rendell told an energy conference on Thursday that he invited
energy companies to discuss his proposed tax on drilling in the
natural gas-rich Marcellus Shale, but got few takers.
In his 2010 budget plan unveiled in February, Rendell
proposed taxing companies that extract natural gas from the
Marcellus Shale. A tax could generate hundreds of millions of
dollars in revenue for the cash-strapped state.
U.S. natural gas industry fights back on fracking
DALLAS (Reuters) – U.S. natural gas industry officials on Thursday defended a controversial drilling technique known as hydraulic fracturing as the industry braces for possible new government regulations.
Hydraulic fracturing injects millions of gallons of water, sand and a proprietary mix of chemicals up to two miles underground where it breaks open fissures in the gas-bearing shale to allow the gas to be extracted.
Bush says “tired of politics”
Former U.S. President George W. Bush said in Dallas on Thursday that he was weary of politics but hoped his institute would play a role in public policy debates.
“The truth of the matter is, I am tired of politics,” Bush, back to his Texas energy roots, told a conference on natural gas sponsored by the George W. Bush Institute and Southern Methodist University’s Cox Maguire Energy Institute.
But he said he and his wife Laura were “not just interested in retiring” to the family ranch in Crawford, Texas.
Abortion looms as election issue after U.S. reforms
DALLAS (Reuters) – Concern over federal funding for abortion, which nearly torpedoed historic U.S. healthcare reforms signed by President Barack Obama on Tuesday, now looms as a potent issue for congressional elections in November.
Obama clinched the votes he needed for the reforms in the House of Representatives by winning over a handful of Democratic abortion rights opponents with a promise of an executive order affirming current restrictions.
Stupak now target of all sides in abortion debate
Up until a few days ago Bart Stupak, an unassuming Democratic congressman from Michigan, was a hero among American activists opposed to abortion rights (who refer to themselves as “pro-life”). This was because Stupak had managed to insert strong language in the House of Representatives version of the healthcare bill aimed at preventing any federal tax funds from being used for abortion.
What a difference a weekend makes. President Barack Obama clinched the votes he needed to win passage for his healthcare overhaul on Sunday by winning over a handful of Democratic abortion rights opponents, led by Stupak, with the pledge of an executive order affirming restrictions on the use of federal funds for the procedure.
Pacquiao easily outpoints Clottey to keep title
ARLINGTON, Texas (Reuters) – Filipino Manny Pacquiao produced a dominating display to outclass Ghanaian Joshua Clottey and retain his WBO welterweight title with a unanimous points victory on Saturday.
Pacquiao’s speed and relentless punching proved too much for his bigger opponent, who offered little attacking threat in front of nearly 51,000 fans at Cowboys Stadium, the home of the Dallas NFL team.
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