News from around the globe………

Ireland takes steps to raise tax rates for highest income earners.

High earners enjoyed nearly 60 tax reliefs

Isn’t it strange how some countries deal with problems? It’s no surprise that the rich receive favorable tax treatment in every country. What’s surprising is the manner in which different countries are approaching this situation. In America there seems to be little desire (from either party) to eliminate any except the most egregious of the tax rules that favor the rich. A study conducted by the Irish government found that high income earners were afforded generous(and questionable) tax breaks. The government used the study as a basis to end many tax breaks and raise the rates on Ireland’s highest income earners.

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India lacks own Military Industrial Complex problem….so it imports one.

Banning foreign defence contractors is a loss for both country and firms: Experts

The government of India has prohibited several global military contractors from bidding on military contracts for the next 10 years. The contractors were banned after the Indian government found sufficient evidence of foreign military contractors bribing government officials to win lucrative contracts. Currently, India does not have the domestic production ability necessary to meet the needs of its military. The usual suspects are listed in this article.

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Lula’s legacy could suffer as vote buying trial begins in Brazil.

Mensalão Corruption Trial Begins in Brazil

As our own country is increasingly tolerant of political corruption, Brazil appears to be moving into an era of intolerance for governmental corruption. The scope of this scandal is enormous. Lula has not yet been implicated in the vote buying scandal, but his chief of staff was the alleged master mind.

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Nigerian civil unrest continues as violence between Muslims and Christians increases.

Survivors relive Kogi church shooting - Death toll put at 19

Violence continues in Nigeria as Muslim attacks on Christians increase in the State of Kogi. Nigeria can be best described as a complex country with seemingly insurmountable problems. Nigeria experienced a devastating civil war from 1967 through 1970. The causes of that war were myriad, however, they could reasonably be condensed into the central issue of the control of the country’s oil wealth. Based on the ethnic and religious civil unrest the country is currently experiencing it is more likely than ever that Nigeria will break apart as Yugoslavia and the Sudan.