Luxembourg tax deal whistle blower accused of theft

eurozoneThe person accused of lifting the lid on Luxembourg’s tax deals with dozens of multinational companies has had the book thrown at him – or her, as the identity of the accused is being kept secret.

Whoever it is, they are now accused of all sorts of misdeeds as the LuxLeaks revelations severely embarrassed the current president of the EU, Jean-Claude Juncker who was the Luxembourg PM for a decade.

Lost Disney film found near the Arctic

WALTDISNEYA Walt Disney Christmas cartoon film, believed lost, has been found near the Arctic Circle.

Empty Socks, the first Christmas film ever made by Disney, dates from 1927.

British sale of Eurostar attracts interest

tgvPotential buyers are gathering to snap up the UK government’s 40% stake in Eurostar.

The sale, announced in October, is part of a £20bn privatisation push which should help in reducing the country’s debt. The sale of the high-speed rail operator could raise as much as £500m for the Treasury.

A new shake-up in the Madeleine case?

NICOLAWALLThe Operation Grange investigation by the Metropolitan Police into the disappearance of  Madeleine McCann is said to be “upbeat” and set to continue despite mounting costs, a top resignation and apparently still no breakthrough in sight.

The latest episode in this extraordinary case, with Scotland Yard detectives questioning ten people in Faro, does not seem to have resulted in any meaningful progress.

TAP Christmas strike may yet be averted

tapSome deft work from Pires de Lima this afternoon gave hope to thousands of Christmas travellers pre-booked on TAP flights.

The Economy Minster said after a meeting with the TAP multi-trade union group that on Monday we will know if his proposals have been accepted and whether the planned four day strike can be averted.

Spain lashes out at migrants and its own protestors

refugeesSpain is prepared to pass a law which will allow it to expel north African migrants who gain entry into the country’s enclaves there.

The law also imposes heavy fines for protests outside parliament buildings or strategic installations. This has drawn criticism for being an attempt to halt protests over the government’s handling of the economic crisis.

A22 tolls three years on - an expensive mistake

a22Tolls on the Via do Infante have cost drivers in the Algarve €70 million over the past three years, according to Estradas de Portugal which noted today that the toll income is steadily rising.  

The Via do Infante Users Committee (CUVI) still is deeply involved in highlighting the damage the tolls have done to the Algarve’s regional economy and are continuing its programme of protests to have the tolls suspended on economic and safety grounds.

Corruption rife in Bulgaria

Corruption in the EU’s poorest state has reached record levels, according to a new report.

yachtThe research by the Study for Democracy, a Sofia-based think tank, found the number of people participating in corruption is now the highest in 15 years, and has increased despite significant pressure from Brussels on Bulgaria to improve in its fight against corruption.