Tag Archives: Europe

Inside ‘Liberland,’ the Place of No Taxes Where Crowdfunding Rules

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“Liberland, or the Free Republic of Liberland to give it its full title, is a would-be sovereign state founded April 13 by Vit Jedlicka and two fellow libertarians. Its total area of approximately seven square kilometers would make it the third smallest sovereign state in the world, after the Vatican and Monaco. It’s sandwiched between Croatia and Serbia on the western bank of the Danube River. The objective is to build a country where honest people can prosper with minimal interference from a centralized government. All taxes will be voluntary, and the nation’s services – such as power, healthcare and waste disposal – will be run either by private enterprises or through crowdfunding campaigns.”

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-07-21/inside-liberland-the-place-of-no-taxes-where-crowdfunding-rules

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For Norway, Oil at $50 Is Worse Than the Global Financial Crisis

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“When the financial crisis brought the global economy to its knees, Norway was largely unscathed. But oil under $50? That’s another story.  Unemployment peaked at about 3.7 percent in 2010 in the post-crisis aftermath. Falling oil prices already pushed the jobless rate to 4.3 percent in May, the highest in at least 11 years, and that was before a renewed drop in Brent crude.  If the government has to withdraw money from its $875 billion sovereign wealth fund, it will be a historical step. It’s either that, or heavily rein in fiscal spending at a time when the country needs it most.  Taking money from the fund wasn’t planned for at least a few decades and no finance minister wants that to be their legacy.”

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-08-10/for-norway-oil-at-50-is-worse-than-the-global-financial-crisis

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Italy’s army bringing down the cost of medical marijuana

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“In a heavily-guarded lab in Florence, many hundreds of a new type of marijuana plant are being grown. It’s part of the Italian army’s latest mission, to grow medical grade cannabis for the nation.  General Giocondo Santoni directs the business unit at the military pharmaceutical facility in Florence.  ‘We expect to make this drug available by the end of this year in a quantity of about 100 kilos (220 lbs), which is double the amount that we are currently importing from the Netherlands.’  Italy legalised the use of medical marijuana in 2007, meaning patients suffering from cancer, sclerosis and chronic pain have relied on the plant for relief.  For 25ml of cannabis oil, it can cost more than 400 euros per month.”

http://www.euronews.com/2015/07/29/italy-s-army-bringing-down-the-cost-of-getting-high-on-medical-marijuana/

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Inside Barcelona’s Bitcoin Drug Lab

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“At the headquarters of Energy Control in Barcelona, Northern Spain, a nondescript envelope arrives. Hidden inside, between layers of cardboard and tape, are two fluorescent pink pills purchased from one of many eBay-style marketplaces on the dark web.  For €50-worth of bitcoin, the non-profit provides anyone in the world with a breakdown of the substances contained in their drugs – and the quantity – no questions asked.  Energy Control has been carrying out drug checking in raves and at its labs since 1998. Its dark web service, introduced in April 2014, operates under the same premise: to reduce harm among users by arming them with facts.”

http://www.coindesk.com/inside-barcelonas-bitcoin-drug-lab/

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European Court of Justice Official Proposes Bitcoin VAT Exemption

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“Citing existing exemptions for currency and money transactions in Europe’s VAT Directive, Advocate General Juliane Kokott urged the court to opt against applying a tax to bitcoin purchases and sales. She further argued that bitcoin, while not legal tender, is still a form of money.  Swedish tax officials asked the ECJ to look into the matter last June. At the time, the Skatterverket – Sweden’s tax office – challenged a court decision that ruled bitcoin transactions in the country should be exempt from VAT.  The publication of the European Court of Justice’s opinion follows the release of bitcoin VAT exemptions by various EU member states.”

http://www.coindesk.com/european-court-of-justice-official-proposes-bitcoin-vat-exemption/

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Italy to invest $2bn in Iran projects as Tehran gets back to business

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“Italy and Iran have signed a deal which could see investment in Iranian projects worth $2 billion. The agreement aims at reviving trade and economic ties between the countries after Western sanctions against Tehran are removed.  The countries plan joint industrial, construction and infrastructure projects, and have already agreed on expanding commercial transactions and promoting relations. The Italian bodies signed a memorandum of understanding in Tehran with Iran’s economy ministry and central bank.  The parties expect a €3-billion increase in Italian exports to Iran in the next three years, mostly in the mechanical engineering, energy and transport sectors.”

http://www.rt.com/business/311672-italy-iran-investment-relations/

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LOT Polish Airlines Now Accepts Bitcoin

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“LOT Polish Airlines is now accepting bitcoin payments, meaning the digital currency can be used to pay for flights to more than 60 global destinations.  Tickets can be purchased on LOT‘s desktop and mobile websites.  LOT now accepts bitcoin alongside payment methods including American Express, PayPal, MasterCard and Visa.  With the decision, LOT becomes the latest eastern European air carrier to accept bitcoin, following airBaltic in July 2014 and Air Lituanica in August of last year. Mexico’s TAR later became the first air carrier in Latin America to accept bitcoin in June.”

http://www.coindesk.com/lot-polish-airlines-accept-bitcoin/

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Police Confiscate 11,000 Bitcoin Wallets; Shut Down Dark Web Site

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“As the final legal chapters close on Ross Ulbricht’s Silk Road website held within the ‘Dark Web’, the proliferation of many, many more dark markets is making international news. Authorities have closed down one of these Dark Web havens, and have confiscated thousands of bitcoin wallets in association with its use.  Under code name ‘Operation Babylon’, Italian officials have shut down the site that hosted over 14,000 members, performing over 170,000 transactions using Tor’s web browser.  Over 200 drug dealers are claimed to have used the site for trafficking purposes, but this may be only one site of its kind out many. The website is said to have been masterminded by an Italian near Naples.”

http://cointelegraph.com/news/115043/police-confiscate-11000-bitcoin-wallets-shut-down-dark-web-site

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UberPOP halts service in France after clampdown, protests

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“After fierce protests last week by licensed French taxi drivers who argue it threatens their livelihood with unfair competition, France took two executives from California-based Uber into custody and said they will face trial in September.  France’s legal clampdown was the latest setback for Uber in Europe. An Italian court in May banned unlicensed car-sharing services, two months after a German court issued a similar ban and imposed stiff fines for violations of local transport laws. Prime Minister Manuel Valls welcomed the decision but said France’s licensed taxis needed to improve the quality of their service, often criticized by locals and foreign visitors.”

http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/07/03/us-france-uber-idUSKCN0PD0Y320150703

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Uber executives detained by police in Paris

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“Two executives working for Uber in Paris have been arrested following months of fraught legal battles over the app-based ride hailing service.  The two unnamed executives were detained on Monday, city prosecutor Agnes Thibault-Lecuivre confirmed to the Associated Press. Details of any possible charges were not released immediately by authorities, with the prosecutor saying merely that they were in custody for questioning over ‘illicit activities’.  Uber has naturally argued, as it has in London and other cities, that it should not be punished for its technical innovation and convenience advantage over older cab systems that are unable or unwilling to innovate.”

http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2015-06/29/uber-paris-arrests

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