Promoting a More Inclusive and Sustainable Development for China
China can achieve more inclusive and sustainable development with coordinated reforms across a broad range of areas that maximize development impact and address its development challenges, says the World Bank Group’s new Systematic Country Diagnostic...
Energy Union: consumers to have more choice and greater energy security
More competition in the electricity market, better information to consumers and small energy producers and plans to tackle shortages during crises are addressed in this energy package.
Millions in Myanmar to Benefit from Disaster Preparedness
The Launch Workshop for the Myanmar Southeast Asia Disaster Risk Management Project, which will strengthen Myanmar’s disaster preparedness, was held on February 20, with national and local government officials reporting on implementation progress....
Animal testing of cosmetics: MEPs call for worldwide ban
MEPs point out that this has not prevented the EU cosmetics industry from thriving and providing around two million jobs. However, around 80% of countries worldwide still allow animal testing and the marketing of cosmetics tested on animals.
IMF Staff Concludes Visit to West Bank and Gaza
An International Monetary Fund (IMF) staff team led by Karen Ongley visited East Jerusalem and Ramallah during February 4–14, 2018, to assess recent economic developments in the West Bank and Gaza. The IMF team met with Finance Minister Shukry Bishara...
Agriculture Is Creating Higher Income Jobs in Half of EU Member States but Others Are Struggling
Half of EU member states have leveraged the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) to significantly reduce poverty and drive higher incomes in farming, while other countries are still lagging, according to the latest World Bank study.
Taxing internet platforms partly by user participation may be possible, but likely to be controversial
The Chartered Institute of Taxation (CIOT) has welcomed the Government’s commitment to ‘value creation’ remaining as the basis to decide where and how much to tax multinational companies. But the CIOT cautions that the Government’s push for reforms to...
New income tax regime requires rethink of Holyrood’s fiscal oversight
The Chartered Institute of Taxation (CIOT) in Scotland has renewed its call for the introduction of an annual Scottish Finance Bill to improve public and parliamentary scrutiny of the devolved taxes.
CIOT backs report’s recommendations on making tax policy
Commenting on the report, ‘Responsible tax: New rules for Brexit Britain?’, published on Feb 21, 2018 by the thinktank CoVi, CIOT Tax Policy Director John Cullinane said: “This report is a welcome contribution to the debate on the future of UK tax...
IMF Executive Board Concludes 2017 Article IV Consultation with Australia
On February 7, the Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) concluded the 2017 Article IV consultation with Australia.
