links – Dec 20

Corrupt money hides in Dubai, officials turn blind eye – Eva Joly Thomson Reuters

UAE (Dubai) is ranked at 16th position on the 2013 Financial Secrecy Index.

Austria’s outspoken finance minister replaced Financial Times (paywall)

The Austrian Ostritch has been ostracised. See also: Austria’s Coalition Accord Sets Out AEI Tax Stance Tax-News, and recent blog Austria, Luxembourg continue to defend dirty money, undermine EU

Budget deal a victory for oil payment transparency Oxfam

What our leaders promised us for Christmas Eurodad

On EU leaders and tax justice promises.

Wealth magnet Singapore challenges private banks swissinfo

See also: Standard Chartered says private bank client statements stolen in Singapore Reuters

Swiss agree to EU savings tax talks swissinfo

See also reported in swissinfo:

Corporate tax reforms to go out to consultation

Swiss hold on to Egyptian and Tunisian funds

UBS funding casts doubt on university independence

United States: A Race To Disclose Secret Offshore Accounts: New Justice Department Program Pits Swiss Banks Against Their U.S. Accountholders mondaq

See also: US Treasury signs anti-tax evasion pacts with six jurisdictions Reuters

Cayman news: corruption accounts for more suspicious activity reports; company registrations “robust” Financial Secrecy Media Monitor

India losing patience with Cyprus on tax pact Cyprus Mail

Insight: The Great British tax giveaway Reuters

UK: Tax avoidance: a capital idea! Private Eye

Private Eye’s superb dig into French-domiciled owner of Daily Mail, Lord Rothermere. Via BVI, Bermuda, Switzerland, Jersey.

UK: The complex tax lives of our foreign millionaires The Independent

Vodafone: an exercise in wildly missing the mark with selective tax PR Tax Research UK

European Commission opens tax probe on Spanish football clubs euobserver