More news about the Panama corruption papers

Panama Papers Q&A: What is the scandal about?

April 6, 2016. A huge leak of documents has lifted the lid on how the rich and powerful use tax havens to hide their wealth. The files were leaked from one of the world’s most secretive companies, a Panamanian law firm called Mossack Fonseca.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-35954224

Panama Papers: Here’s who has been caught in the fallout of the Mossack Fonseca leak

Updated April 6, 2016. The unprecedented leak of more than 11 million documents from Panamanian law firm Mossack Fonseca has revealed some of the hidden financial dealings of the world’s rich and powerful.

Here’s a look at some of the more high-profile people feeling the heat after the scandal broke.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-04-05/who-has-been-caught-in-the-panama-papers-fallout/7299666

(And see item ‘Panama Papers: Australian pair linked to companies striking mining deals with North Korea’ listed above in the Nuclear/Uranium section of this digest.)

Panama Papers: Mossack Fonseca founder protests innocence, says company was ‘hacked’

The Panamanian lawyer at the centre of a data leak scandal that has embarrassed a clutch of world leaders says his firm is a victim of a hack from outside the company, and has filed a complaint with state prosecutors.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-04-06/panama-papers-mossack-fonseca-founder-protests-innocence/7303922

Obama calls for international tax reform amid Panama Papers revelations

April 6, 2016. Unscripted remarks come as Justice Department confirms it is examining US links to leaked documents from Panama-based tax firm Mossack Fonseca

http://www.theguardian.com/news/2016/apr/05/justice-department-panama-papers-mossack-fonseca-us-investigation

The Panama Papers couldn’t come at a worse time for the Coalition

The avoidance of tax by corporate executives and the very rich is the last thing the Turnbull Government needs as it prepares for a federal budget that is likely to be anchored by a cut in the company tax rate, writes Peter Lewis.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-04-06/lewis-liberals-and-the-panama-papers/7302494

Panama shell games

Tuesday 5 April 2016. Over 11 million tax and financial records have been leaked from a Panamanian based law firm. What’s in the records reveals how global elites evade taxes and use shell companies to launder money.

Politicians and financial regulators are scrambling to provide answers on how to slow down the criminal exploitation of national tax systems.

Guest: Jason Sharman, Professor and Director, Centre for Governance and Public Policy at Griffith University.

http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/latenightlive/panama-shell-games/7300660

The Guardian view on the Panama Papers: secret riches and public rage

April 5, 2016. Resentment of a financial elite has been simmering for years. Now the biggest-ever leak moves the focus to politicians. Tackling tax avoidance is the only way to restore trust

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/apr/04/the-guardian-view-on-the-panama-papers-secret-riches-and-public-rage

France to put Panama back on list of tax havens: finance minister

April 5, 2016. Paris (AFP) – France will put Panama back on its list of countries that do not cooperate in efforts to track down tax dodgers, Finance Minister Michel Sapin said Tuesday in the wake of the Panama Papers revelations.

“France has decided to put Panama back on the list of uncooperative countries, with all the consequences that will have for those who have transactions” with the central American state, Sapin told parliament.

https://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/31276729/france-to-put-panama-back-on-list-of-tax-havens-finance-minister/

Iceland’s leader resigns, first casualty of Panama Papers

Apr 5, 2016. Iceland’s Prime Minister Sigmundur David Gunnlaugsson resigned on Tuesday, becoming the first casualty of leaked documents from a Panamanian law firm which have shone a spotlight on the offshore wealth of politicians and public figures worldwide.

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-panama-tax-idUSKCN0X10C2

(Note links provided to related Reuters coverage.)

Panama papers: China censors online discussion

4 April 2016. China appears to be censoring social media posts on the Panama Papers document leak which has named several members of China’s elite, including President Xi Jinping’s brother-in-law.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-35957235

(Note links provided to related BBC coverage.)