US Economic Freedom Hits Historic Low – theTrumpet.com

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The United States is no longer among the worlds top 15 freest economies. In fact, according to an annual index released by the Heritage Foundation on Wednesday, the U.S. fell from being the sixth-freest economy in the world when President Barack Obama took office in 2009 to being the 17th freest economy in the world today.

The U.S. economic freedom score for 2017 was 75.1 out of 100. This means economic freedom in the U.S. has fallen to its lowest level since the Heritage Foundation started keeping track in 1995. America now ranks behind such nations as Chile, Estonia, Hong Kong, Singapore and the United Arab Emirates. Since the Heritage Foundation ranks countries with scores above 80 as economically free, it has only ranked the U.S. as mostly free since 2009.

The Heritage economic freedom index is calculated based on 12 factors of economic freedom, including property rights, government spending, freedom from corruption, fiscal freedom, monetary freedom, business freedom, labor freedom, trade freedom, investment freedom and financial freedom. The 2017 report lists large budget deficits, an enormous national debt, a substantial expansion of government bureaucracy and an increased tax burden as contributing factors to the decline in Americas economic freedom.

Another index of economic freedom, published by the Fraser Institute, shows that the U.S. fell from being second freest economy in 1980 to being the 16th freest economy in 2014. According to this assessment, U.S. economic freedom actually rose from 1980 to 2000 but has been in steady decline since the turn of the millennium.

The Fraser Institute reports that the U.S. economic freedom index fell from 8.07 to 7.75 between 1980 and 2014, while Chinas economic freedom index rose from 3.64 to 6.45 during the same time period. As the U.S. turns its back on Adam Smith-style capitalism and China turns its back on Mao Zedong-style communism, both nations are adopting a mixed socialist market economy where property is privately owned but micromanaged by government bureaucrats.

Germany and most members of the European Union also have economic freedom scores in the moderately free zone, a category associated with mixed socialist market economies and authoritarian bureaucracies.

For the past two centuries, the form of government championed by Britain and Americaa form of government that has at its heart some important biblical principleshas spread throughout the Western world. Yet, in recent years, nations around the globe have been turning their back on the Anglo-American methods of economic management.

Even many key American officials have adopted an approach similar to Barack Obamas philosophy that nations should not debate the ideologies of capitalism and communism, but instead should pursue a mixed economy that uses bits of Communist theory and bits of capitalist theory.

To see where this dangerous decline in economic freedom is leading, please read Democracy Is Dying.

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US Economic Freedom Hits Historic Low - theTrumpet.com

Sounds of freedom rattling to far reaches of area – Jacksonville Daily News

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Sarah Hauck

What has been dubbed the sound of freedom has been a constant reminder of the areas proximity to Camp Lejeune, particularly in the last week.

As part of an extended training exercise aboard Camp Lejeune artillery blasts have been heard into the wee hours of the morning, causing quite a stir even farther and later than normal.

While many residents are used to the blasts and booms that sometimes rattle windows and doors, many will admit that the last weeks activities have been more, well, active than usual.

The excessive military-related noise is scheduled to end Monday, Camp Lejeune-New River Director of Public Affairs Nat Fahy said.

Some residents have contacted to base to share their frustrations, including some asking if such exercises could be moved elsewhere, he said.

Due to recent fiscal constraints and budget cuts, the Marine Corps is emphasizing home station training, which saves the cost of transporting large amounts of Marines, ammunition, and military equipment to remote locations, Fahy said in response to the residents concerns. Additionally, due to the return of many Marines who were deployed in Afghanistan and Iraq for the last 15 years, many more Marines are at Camp Lejeune. This means that there are more Marines conducting more training so that they can stay ready to fight when the nation calls on them.

A Hubert resident since 1987, Dawn Morton said the occasional blast has become something she and her husband have become accustomed to.

There seems to be less down time between the largest booms, and it usually doesnt continue after 11 p.m. she said.

Morton said the extra noise in the later hours kept her awake the other night, something she isnt used to with the noise.

Camp Lejeune issued a noise advisory early last week to warn the community of the quiet hour violations due to the exercise.

Morton said, however, the cracks in the sheet rock, pictures being broken when they are vibrated off the walls and her pets seeming nervous during the explosions are things she expected when she bought her home.

Were not military, but we love this area and respect and cheer for our military neighbors, she said.

Former Marine and Queens Creek resident Tim Carmody said the blasts have woken his 2-year-old up, which is frustrating. One of the worst parts for him? The late night shoots after 12 a.m. when you are awoken at 1-2 a.m. when your day starts at 3:30-4 a.m., he said.

Carmody said his familiarity with artillery from his time in the military hasnt been able to prevent him from being startled a time or two by the current operations.

The family never would have settled in Hubert had they known the disturbance from the base exercises would be so common, he said.

I lived off of Gum Branch in the Half Moon area and dont recall hearing it, Carmody said. The worst there was the flight path, which wasnt too bad.

In the initial noise advisory Camp Lejeune issued cited weather also playing a factor in how readily heard the artillery blasts may be during the exercise.

On occasions, weather conditions can also greatly affect hownoisetravels, Fahy previously told the Daily News. Variations in temperatures at higher atmospheres can create a trap-like effect that bounce sound waves back toward the ground, creating areas of high intensity sound miles away from the sounds source.

The additional artillery noise outside of quiet hours is part of a comprehensive live fire and maneuver exercise supported by 10th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, Fahy said.

Quiet hours are normally 12:01 - 6 a.m. Monday-Saturday and from 12:01 a.m.-noon on Sundays, Fahy said.

The base releases a noise report every Friday in ongoing effort to keep the community informed.

That report can be found at lejeune.marines.mil/news/noise-advisories.

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Sounds of freedom rattling to far reaches of area - Jacksonville Daily News

EDITORIAL: The United States continues to drop on the Heritage Foundation’s index of economic freedom – Las Vegas Review-Journal

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The 1987 movie, Planes, Trains and Automobiles, featured a scene in which John Candys character is driving the wrong direction on an interstate while Steve Martins character sleeps in the passenger seat. A concerned motorist on the proper side of the highway pulls alongside the wayward vehicle and begins honking, then rolls down his window and hollers, Youre going the wrong way. To which Mr. Candy replies, How would he know where were going?

The scene comes to mind amid the release this week of the Heritage Foundations economic freedom index. Were going the wrong way.

The Hill reported Wednesday that the United States slipped six spots from last year, coming in at 17th among 180 countries. The nations 75.1 ranking out of 100 a dead-solid C is its worst ever showing and continues a trend in which the United States has moved backward in eight of the past nine years.

Hong Kong, Singapore and New Zealand topped the list, with respective scores of 89.8, 88.6 and 83.7. Switzerland (81.5) and Australia (81.0) were the only other countries to score 80 or more, the studys threshold to be considered economically free. Countries between 70 and 79.9 are considered mostly free.

The United States: Land of the mostly free. Pretty inspiring.

The index is weighted in 13 components, and the United States fared miserably in three of those areas: tax burden (65.3), government spending (55.9) and fiscal health (53.3). On the bright side, however, improvements in all three of those issues could be on the horizon.

President Donald Trump and the Republican-controlled Congress have already stated their intention to pass long-overdue tax reform. The president has also spoken in no uncertain terms about peeling back bloat in government spending and staffing, as the federal debt approaches $20 trillion.

Should Congress and the president successfully steer through saner tax policy and more sound spending legislation, Americas flat-lining F score of 53.3 in fiscal health will also almost certainly improve.

Its a simple formula. Now, Congress and President Trump need to slam the brakes on this careening car, do a quick U-turn and start accelerating in the right direction. Make America great again? An obvious place to start would be to make this country economically free again.

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EDITORIAL: The United States continues to drop on the Heritage Foundation's index of economic freedom - Las Vegas Review-Journal

Liberia Ahead Of Ukraine In Index of Economic Freedom 2017 – Global News Network

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Liberian Leader, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf

Ukraine increased its points from 46.8 to 48.1 score on a scale of 0 to 100, falling from 162nd to 166th position among 180 countries (178 a year ago), according to the Heritage Foundation annual study.

Liberia, Chad, Afghanistan, Sudan and Angola are ahead of Ukraine (with scores from 49.1 to 48.5). Suriname, Bolivia, Guinea and Turkmenistan follow Ukraine (with scores from 48 to 47.4). All these countries are in the group of repressed economies (49.9-40 scores).

Ukraines economy has contracted deeply and remains very fragile. Ongoing disruptions of the countrys productive and export capacities and significant capital outflows have put increasing pressure on the currency and reserves, severely undermining monetary stability, according to the study.

The overall soundness of fiscal policy has deteriorated substantially, and public deficits and debt have increased sharply. The rule of law remains fragile and is further undercut by judicial ineffectiveness.

A strong commitment to structural reforms to reduce corruption and open the economy further to Western investment and financial institutions will be crucial in helping to stabilize the economy. The government has launched a comprehensive set of reforms to restore growth, but progress is not yet evident, reads the study.

Financial freedom is estimated at 30 points, government integrity at 29.2, investment freedom at 25, and judicial effectiveness at 22.6, while trade freedom was assessed at 85.9 and tax burden at 78.6.

The top five countries of the index with 89.8-81 score are Hong Kong, Singapore, New Zealand, Switzerland and Australia.

SOURCE: News Now/ Heritage Foundation annual study

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Byron Moore: Position, Pace and Power perform like a pro – Monroe News Star

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Q: Being somewhat late to the retirement preparation game, Im trying to put as much as I can into a rather aggressive set of mutual funds so as to maximize my return. I still have twenty years or so to go, but I kind of just got started. What else do I need to be thinking about?

Byron Moore(Photo: Submitted)

A: Playing the entire game and finishing well.

Two weeks ago, 111 million people watched the Atlanta Falcons play 3 really good quarters of football against the New England Patriots. Unfortunately for them, the game lasted four full quarters. And an overtime. Looking dominant in the first two quarters, and still confident after three, the Falcons allowed the Patriots to claw their way back to tie the game by the end of regulation play.

In overtime, it only took eight plays for quarterback Tom Brady to take his team 75 yards to score the winning touchdown. The Pats were victorious. The Dirty Birds were gassed.

It doesnt matter who is in the lead after one, two or three quarters of a football game. It only matters what the score is at the end of the game. Not a bad financial lesson to remember.

Whether in football, a foot race, a military battle or a financial life, it is the amateurs that start out at a full sprint. The pros understand that winning is about position, pace and power. In that order.

If youre building a skyscraper, you start with the foundation phase. Next you have a building phase. Finally, you enjoy the occupation phase. Thats what you were working towards all along. If you start on the building phase first, because you are behind or late to the game, youll lose even more time later when the building you thought would last begins to fall apart because the foundation was never laid.

Youll be ahead at the end of three quarters, only to lose the game.

So what do I mean by position, pace and power?

Position. The first thing a master chess player does is put all his pieces in position to protect his own king and put the other player in check mate. There is a constant awareness of playing both offense and defense. Moves are being made with both the beginning of the game and the end of the game in mind.

So position means to strategize with a comprehensive financial plan, protecting yourself and your financial assets now and in the future, and coordinating your assets so as to maximize their productivity later (at the end of the game).

Pace. Pace means to maximize the amount of your assets with a savings and investment plan. This is what it sounds like you are intent on doing now, but perhaps without an appreciation for the length of the race. This is where the inexperienced believe they need to start, naively skipping the position phase. If this is you, go back. Youre not saving yourself time, but costing it when you can least afford the loss.

Power. Power means to optimize with a retirement income plan. For most of us, the purpose of a financial plan is to attain financial independence that state in which we go to work because we want to, not because we have to. Work becomes a choice, not a chore. We no longer have to work, because our money can work for us.

Few who are not retired appreciate how wide the gap is between accumulating assets and turning those assets into income during retirement. Spend too freely from your pile of assets and you may run out of money during retirement. But if you are not able to generate a sufficient income in retirement, are you really financially independent?

Power is the natural result of proper positioning and patient pacing. Power should result in a balance of sufficient income, sufficient liquidity and sufficient safety nets to let you sleep well at night. Power is what the whole game is about.

If you want to run with the rest of the amateurs, sprint your guts out and forget how long this race really is.

But if you want to play the game like a pro, prioritize these practices:

Position. Pace. Power.

BYRON MOORE:The power and peril of compound interest

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The road to financial freedom – ABS-CBN News

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MANILA - Financial independence is the ability to live comfortably on ones savings without having any debt. One may raise his eyebrows and just shrug off the idea of financial freedom as something unattainable.

What makes it difficult for an individual to become free financially depends on several factors. If you would like to live comfortably and provide everything that your family needs, you must learn how to make things work for you.

1. Create a plan.

This means being able to visualize what you want to achieve. Financial experts can help you determine how much you need to achieve financial independence. The plan differs with every individual. But what is certain is that when you make your plan early on in life, it will produce a better outcome.

2. Learn how to budget your expenses.

Set a certain amount for the things that you need to spend on monthly. Then save the money that is left. There should be no thinking of having some cash to spend on beer or for a night out. Think of it as your way of abstaining yourself from every little money-sucking activity.

3. Use plastic wisely

When credit cards were first introduced, it was meant to be a way of helping out consumers buy things that are necessary when they do not have enough money to spend on. However, the evil minds started to use it as a means of acquiring things more than they can actually afford. Save money on credit cards by paying your dues on time.

4. Provide safety nets.

Set an amount that will serve as part of your emergency fund or for insurance. It may be best to open up an account for that. You should be able to have the amount of money needed if you suddenly need to have an appliance fixed or other unexpected expenses.

5. Eliminate debt.

More than having housing loans or car loans, people have just gotten into this hype of acquiring so many things without realizing that the things that they have bought may not have any use to them at all. Imagine how malls would encourage their customers to buy things at a discounted price.

6. Consider your career choice.

Any form of additional income should be taken as an opportunity to increase your stakes at financial independence. Of course, choosing to put up your own business may have risks, but if your heart is it, there should be no stopping you from taking that step.

7. Consider your living space

You may be living in a huge apartment where half of your salary goes to every month. You may want to consider moving into a small, inexpensive one so you can save a few hundred pesos to add to your emergency funds.

8. Consider investing in stocks, bonds or real estate.

Let experts tell you how things work and be diligent enough to do your homework. Remember to deal with credible people so you will not fall for investment scams.

To become financially independent means you have to be careful with every step you take. There is always a bit of sacrifice on matters that we want to achieve. But with these little sacrifices come big outcomes.

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For questions and more information, you may contact Armando "Butz" Bartolome by email: philfranchiseguru@gmail.com or on Twitter https://twitter.com/philfranguru. His website is http://www.gmb.com.ph

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Katy Perry’s New Music Video Might Just Be Her WILDEST Yet – TeenVogue.com

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After months of anticipation, Katy Perry released her new single "Chained to the Rhythm" just a few days ago. Now, she's back to tease the music video, and from what we can tell so far, it's going to at least take place in a fictional amusement park called "Oblivia."

Admission is free See you next Tuesday," Katy wrote on Twitter, noting that the video will be out early next week. The video teaser itself looks like an old fashioned amusement park advertisement. "Do you need an escape? Are you ready to dance your troubles away?" It begins. "Welcome to Oblivia, the world's newest and craziest amusement park." It goes on to tease a few of the rides at the "amusement park," before leaving viewers with a call to action: "So leave your white picket fence and explore utopia."

The name of the park, "Oblivia," may be a play on the word "oblivious," or the saying that "ignorance is bliss." We can assume this because the lyrics of "Chained to the Rhythm" point to a similar theme: "Are we tone deaf? Keep sweeping it under the mat," begins the chorus. "Thought we could do better than that/I hope we can/So comfortable, we're living in a bubble, bubble/So comfortable, we cannot see the trouble, trouble." Of course, there are obvious political undertones here, and Katy has gone so far as to say that this is the era of "Purposeful Pop."

This would not be the first time Katy has used an elaborate fictional setting in a music video before (think of the Candyland set up in "California Girls," or the mazes in "Wide Awake"). It's just a few more days until we see the extent of what Katy and her team have come up with next. In the meantime, put on your rose colored glasses, and check out the whole teaser below!

Related: The Beauty Evolution of Katy Perry, from Teen Dream to Pop Queen

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Oceania Cruises Reveals New 2017 Voyages To Cuba – Caribbean360.com (subscription)

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FLORIDA, United States, Friday February 17, 2017 Oceania Cruises, the worlds leading culinary- and destination-focused cruise line, has announced an additional series of journeys to Cuba in November and December this year.

Ranging in length from six to 13 days with departures from Miami in November and December, these voyages include the lines first calls to Cienfuegos and Santiago de Cuba, in addition to Havana.

The fall cruises will be offered on Insignia which caters to 684 passengers, with the first trip departing Miami on November 14.

There is tremendous demand from consumers for voyages to Cuba and our inaugural voyages to the island have been a sell-out success, stated Bob Binder, President and CEO of Oceania Cruises.

An Oceania Cruises voyage is the best way to experience all Cuba has to offer with nine UNESCO World Heritage Sites, warm and welcoming people, and a burgeoning culinary scene.

All voyages and excursions will fully comply with existing US Federal Regulations.

Destination Highlights:

Havana, Cuba

The door to Cubas soul, Havana captivates with its larger-than-life culture, sultry rhythms and weathered beauty. Take a relaxing stroll along the evocative Malecn, the quintessentially Cuban thoroughfare and get lost among the Baroque facades and colonial cobblestone alleys of Old Havana. Visit the grandiose Capitolio Nacional and explore the world-class Cuban art collection at Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes, which showcases everything from colonial-era paintings to countless masterpieces from Cubas famed Vanguard Period. Enjoy memorable explorations such as touring one of Havanas venerable old cigar factories for an inside look at the birthplace of these world-famous cigars and the centuries-old process of how they are made.

Cienfuegos, Cuba

Situated in a beautiful bay in the heart of Cubas fertile agricultural region on the southern coast, Cienfuegos will quietly charm you with its French spirit, tranquil seaside setting and neoclassical architecture. Known as La Perla del Sur (the Pearl of the South), Cienfuegos was originally founded by French settlers and its city center is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Rich in educationally engaging diversions, its historic center features well-preserved 19th-century structures, gorgeous plazas and a layout inspired by the Spanish Enlightenment. Discover the ornate and eclectic Palacio de Valle and take in the stunning views as you explore Punta Gorda, the perfect spot to enjoy the sunset. Step back in time at Teatro Terry with a performance by local artists or discover nearby Trinidad, a remarkably well-preserved colonial town recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site and anchored by its impressive Plaza Mayor, an open-air museum of Spanish colonial architecture.

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Oceania’s Riviera — smooth sailing with glorious food – ConsumerAffairs

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Oceania bills itself as the worlds largest upper premium cruise line and claims to offer the "finest cuisine at sea."After sailing Oceanias Riviera I must agree -- the food was divine. While the Riviera is a beautiful ship with superb service, the highlights of my ten days at sea all involve food.

It always takes a few days on a new cruise ship to find your way around. Whats the best place for morning coffee? What time do the breakfast venues open? Which lunch options to choose? Is one dinner setting better than another? Oceania offers many choices; the following, except the cooking school, at no extra charge.

I love early morning coffee and enjoy watching the sun rise. It took a few days to discover that the Terrace Caf, the ships buffet restaurant, has wicker tables outside with cushions and when the weather cooperates, its a lovely place to greet the morning. Some days I brought my book and stayed, eating breakfast al fresco.

When early port days necessitated a quick breakfast, room service, available 24 hours a day, provided the best alternative. On sea days, it was lovely to eat a multi-course breakfast in The Grand Dining Room.

Both the Terrace Caf and The Grand Dining Room offer unlimited lattes and cappuccinos and a wide variety of fresh fruit. I was particularly fond of their fruit salad; finely diced so small it resembles a mosaic.

Lunch options are so plentiful, why wait until noon? Once I found the Waves Grill, the ships answer to pool-side dining, I was hooked. Located in a glass enclosed shaded area, how to choose between an array of hamburgers, veggie burgers, salmon burger, paninis, and chicken? And dont forget the addictive French fries. Lighter options include hearty salads; this was my choice when indulging in dessert, such as gelato, ice cream sundaes, milkshakes, or fresh smoothies.

An afternoon tea lovers dream is available daily from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Its a formal affair with beautifully set tables, warm scones with cream and preserves, and an amazing array of tea sandwiches, pastries, and cakes.

Dinner choices were so plentiful. There are four specialty restaurants on the Riviera. Toscana is an elegant Italian restaurant and the Polo Grill a classic steakhouse. Both are like special occasion restaurants you might visit at home.

Stellar choices are Jacques, the first restaurant to bear Jacques Pepins name and Red Ginger, a unique take on Asian classics in a stunning setting. The Grand Dining Room is beautiful and offers different selections daily.

For a casual dinner, I enjoyed the Terrace Caf. The tables are set with tablecloths at dinnertime, making it a lovely, casual option. Weather permitting, how special to dine al fresco under the stars.

The Riviera boasts a cooking school, fee required, offering hands-on instruction. I took the two-hour Fish Master Class where I learned to prepare five types of fish. I not only picked up new cooking techniques, but got to eat the fruits of my labor.

Id be remiss if I did not mention the bread. They bake it all day long and I have never had such delicious bread.

While the Oceania has many merits, their unique food venues and meals are a stand-out. I cant wait to be back onboard.

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Oceania's Riviera -- smooth sailing with glorious food - ConsumerAffairs

Crystal Esprit Performs Seychelles Rescue – Cruise Industry News … – Cruise Industry News

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Details February 18, 2017

Crystal Cruises said its Crystal Esprit yacht conducted a rescue at sea yesterday (February 16) after responding to a distress call in the Seychelles Islands. The ship rescued 12 French nationals and brought them onboard -- three children and 9 adults.

The groups catamaran was dragged from their mooring buoy and ran aground close to shore. The area was experiencing extremely inclement weather yesterday, causing fatal damage to the catamaran which the group ultimately had to abandon, and faced potential loss of life.

The crew aboard Crystal Esprit along with the Seychelles Coast Guard operated under darkness, heavy rain and high swell but carried out the operation efficiently, and safely transferred the group onto a Zodiac and they yacht before they were relocated to land, according to a statement.

Crystal Esprit departed as planned this morning, heading for Aride Island. The rescued passengers from the catamaran were transferred to Praslin Island.

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Lego’s New Pirates of the Caribbean Ship Can Open Itself Up Like a Skeleton’s Ribcage – Gizmodo

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Image Credit: Gizmodo/Andrew Liszewski

Pirates of the Caribbean 5's Super Bowl trailer gave us a look at an amazing ghost ship in the film, captained by Jacks new rival, the undead Captain Salazar. Now, Lego has revealed its turning the Salazars ghost ship into a humongous new modelone that can open itself up just like the one in the movie, which is totally freaky for a ship.

Revealed at New York Toy Fair this morning, the 2,200 piece Silent Mary set might just be one of the most bizarre ships Lego has ever made, either in their own traditional Pirate-themed lines or for Pirates of the Caribbean. The whole ship doesnt actually have a baseits hull is all decayed and lined like a skeletal rib cage, and floats in the air (through movie magic in the film, the Lego version has its own stands to support it, of course). Yahoo got some more pictures of the ship with its biggest action feature, however: the front half of the whole thing can tilt itself up like it does in the trailer.

It looks totally weird, and yet kind of awesome in Lego form. The detailing to get the grungy, decaying look of the whole thing is really well done.

When fully built, the Silent Mary is a beast of a vessel, even without the ability to contort itself in ways no other ship cancoming in at 26 inches from bow to stern, and 18 inches tall from bottom to the top of its tallest decrepit mast. Aside from the ship itself, the set comes with a small rowboat for the heroes to desperately sail away from the Mary in, and eight minifigures: Jack Sparrow, Henry, and Carina, and then villains Lieutenant Lesaro, Captain Salazar, Officer Magda, Officer Santos, and the Silent Mary Masthead itself. That last one feels like a bit of a cheat addition if you ask me, but overall, the ship itself is a really intriguing looking kit, even if its not a traditional pirate ship.

The Silent Mary will set you back $200 when it releases April 1.

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Lego's New Pirates of the Caribbean Ship Can Open Itself Up Like a Skeleton's Ribcage - Gizmodo

Caribbean/American legislator dispels rumours about immigration sweep – Jamaica Observer

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NEW YORK, United States (CMC) A Caribbean/American legislator has sought to dispel rumours about immigration sweeps at, among other places, a popular Caribbean department store and major hospital in Brooklyn.

New York City Council Member Jumaane Williams, the son of Grenadian immigrants, who represents the predominantly Caribbean 45th Council District in Brooklyn, said that he and his staffers have been following up on the many rumours, as we can.

Many of the rumours about immigration sweeps at Bobbys Department Store and the expansive Kings County Hospital in Brooklyn, among other places, are being circulated primarily on social media.

We have spoken to owners of the commuter van lines, as well as the management at Bobbys Department Store, and have confirmed that at this time there have not been general indiscriminate stops made by ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) agents over the past few days, said Williams, who is also deputy leader of the New York City Council.

There have, however, been incidents of people posing as immigration officials in efforts to scam people for money, he said, noting in addition, we remain in touch with the mayors office.

The best thing an understandably concerned community can do is be armed with accurate information. To that end, we ask everyone to make an effort to substantiate information before spreading as rumours. Unfortunately, the immigrant community has reason to be worried and should stay vigilant.

Williams has been among the Caribbean communitys most vocal critics of the Trumps administration immigration policies.

On January 25, Trump signed an executive order vastly expanding who is considered a priority for deportation, the New York Times said.

This has prompted further outrage from Caribbean/American legislators, who have called for a very strong stance against the new presidents immigration policies.

My office recommends: First, if you hear info about ICE activity, please continue to forward them to us, Williams said.

Second, if you should see activity you suspect are ICE actions, please send any concrete information that can safely and without interference be obtained.

You should also call your local precinct as they may be ICE impersonators looking to scam unsuspecting people, he added, stating that the New York Police Department [NYPD] is not currently working with immigration officials; and, as policy, does not randomly ask people about their immigration status.

Williams, however, said concerns about immigration checkpoints and raids, whether rumours or not, are evidence of the mass hysteria that has taken hold of communities across the country, because of Trump.

This administration, from day one, has done everything in its power to marginalize people, create a culture of fear, and divide Americans, he said.

The Presidents erratic behaviour only makes it more difficult for our communities, as evidenced by his recent announcement about the possibility of deploying 100,000 National Guard troops for immigration round ups, Williams added.

I stand with my New York City colleagues in government in standing against Trump on actions against our immigrant brothers and sisters.

On Friday, the White House denied reports of a plan to deploy as many as 100,000 National Guard troops as part of a nationwide deportation force that would help to augment federal agents and local authorities newly deputized to enforce Trumps immigration policies.

On Friday, ICE officials disclosed that criminal immigrants from Guyana and Jamaica were among 41 people arrested in the New York metropolitan area this month.

ICE said the offenses included 12 people with convictions for sex-related crimes, including three cases of rape and six involving offenses against children; nine with convictions for driving under the influence; three with robbery convictions; and two with convictions for distribution or sale of cocaine.

All of the convictions listed qualified as deportable offenses under the previous Obama administration.

On Friday, Caribbean Community (CARICOM) leaders expressed concern that Trumps immigration policies could result in a reduction of travel to the Caribbean.

We must obviously be concerned with the recent issue related to immigration, and the impact it will have on our citizens and on tourism, Grenadas Prime Minister Dr Keith Mitchell, told reporters at the conclusion of the two-day CARICOM summit in Guyana.

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Caribbean air will send February temperatures soaring in Cornwall – Cornwall Live

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Tropical air from the Caribbean will set temperatures soaring over the next few days across Cornwall to around double the average temperature for February.

It's after an incredibly mild half term that's seen us reaching for the sunhats, grabbing the barbecues and heading for the beach in Cornwall.

Temperatures could peak at 16C nationally and up to 14C in Cornwall on Monday thanks to a jet stream moving up from the tropics which has dominated the past week and brought us mild, if a little cloudy, weather.

Read more: Nurdles pollution at record levels in Cornwall as 100,000 tiny plastic pellets found on one beach alone

Emma Salter, Met Office metereologist, said: "Nationally speaking, things are rather on the mild side with the temperatures peaking on Monday around 16 degrees. That's come from the tropics.

Read more: Culdrose Air Day cancelled because there are not enough Royal Navy staff around

"It might brighten up later today. The next few days will stay on the cloudy side so although it will be rather warm there will be dsome outbreaks of light rain. A lot of hill fog and sea fog around in the mornings.

"As for those temperatures in Cornwall, we can probably expect to see today 11 or 12C today and tomorrow and on Monday we're looking at 13C possibly 14 degrees in the south west. Monday is the peak mildest day but it will remain mild into Tuesday and Wednesday.

"Normally it would be 7 or 8C so it is a really mild for the time of year. It's originated over the caribeean Bahamas. The jet stream is quite far north at the moment. It's kept the UK on the warm side of the jet."

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Caribbean air will send February temperatures soaring in Cornwall - Cornwall Live

New LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean sets revealed at New York Toy Fair 2017, coming in May [News] – The Brothers Brick

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We are pleased to bring you on-site coverage of New York Toy Fair 2017, where LEGO has officially revealed a brand new set for the upcoming film, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales. The fifth installment of the highly popular Disney Pirates of the Caribbean film franchise his theaters May 26, 2017.

71042 Silent Mary will be available beginning May 1, 2017, and will retail for $199.99.

LEGO has also released several official photos of the Silent Mary.

In addition to the new ship, LEGO had the two new BrickHeadz: Captain Jack Sparrow and Captain Armando Salazar.

Dont miss the rest of our Toy Fair 2017 coverage here on The Brothers Brick:

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New LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean sets revealed at New York Toy Fair 2017, coming in May [News] - The Brothers Brick

Silver Airways adds more non-stop flights to the Bahamas – WFLA

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FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (WFLA) Silver Airways is making it easier (and cheaper) to fly to the Bahamas. The largest US carrier to the Bahamas has rolled out additional non-stop trips from Florida to the Bahamas, adding nearly 25 percent more flights to their schedule.

Travelers in Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach and Tampa will also see increased number of trips to Bimini, Eleuthera, Marsh Harbour (Abacos) and Treasure Cay (Abacos).

The airline is offering fares from $69 at silverairways.com today through February 27, 2017, for travel on or before May 3, 2017.

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Silver Airways adds more non-stop flights to the Bahamas - WFLA

Hendrix students travel to Bahamas for mission trip – Log Cabin Democrat

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A group of Hendrix College students spent part of their winter break on a mission trip to Eleuthera Island in the Bahamas.

Associate Vice President for Development Wayne Clark, who accompanied the ten students, said they partnered with One Eleuthera Foundation. He said the group spent time working in a garden and recycling center, conducted breast cancer awareness surveys, taught in local schools, assisted with plumbing work and conducted research to help start a junior college.

Clark said hes been at Hendrix College for 22 years and every year the school takes a mission trip.

He said around 15 years ago, the school started making the trips more affordable to students and numbers went up. Since then, the college has committed that those mission trips are such a good idea that costs have remained low enough for students to go.

Clark said they feel strongly that these trips are providing multiple benefits to students including the impact they have.

While they have been criticized for spending money on the trip instead of sending the finances straight to the nonprofit, he said what cant be measured is the change in the students when they realize their love and desire to serve.

Its those kind of things you cant measure, Clark said.

Hendrix has worked with the Eleuthera Foundation for more than 15 years and five mission trips have traveled to the island.

Clark said the teams dont go there to teach the people how to do something the right way, but they are there to learn from the residents and their way of life while serving and helping them with whatever they need.

We feel like its building bridges and building relationships and learning from other cultures and other people, he said. [Eleuthera Foundation is] such a great nonprofit that practices that same philosophy.

Clark said the students did a great job and were challenged in multiple ways.

Theres emotional things you deal with and theres physical stuff you go through, he said.

Clark said he often has students who are impacted so much that they return for a longer time frame to serve, which is inspiring to him. He said he loves getting to be a part of that.

You see that growth all the ways peoples eyes are opened, Clark said.

The ten students who participated in the trip were Ethny Ashcraft, Katie Bell, Graydon Carter, Isabella Crang, Miracline Ebijoyeldhas, Andrew Fleming, Mackenzie Gearin, Amanda Jimerson, Claire Nissen and Melissa Sorby.

The Miller Center trip has helped me form meaningful relationships with my Hendrix peers and the community members of Eleuthera, Ebijoyeldhas said. This trip has opened my eyes to the needs of communities other than my own and my potential role in serving those needs I hope to take the kindness and compassion the people of Eleuthera have showed me back to our Hendrix home.

Through the trip, Jimerson said she learned about the importance of starting conversations with just the intent of listening.

I have learned that we all have something to gain from one another, even if just through sharing experiences and ideas, she said.

After traveling with Hendrix on more than 20 mission trips, Clark said he learns something new about himself each time.

He said hes learned a lot about people society often dismisses.

I look at people different now, Clark said. Ive had some pretty great experiences.

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Hendrix students travel to Bahamas for mission trip - Log Cabin Democrat

Hefty 13ft tiger shark is a local record-breaker in the Bahamas – Earth Touch

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The famed "tiger beach" on Grand Bahama has long been known for aggregations of its namesake shark, but the another island in the Bahamas archipelago, South Bimini,has been vying for some attention this week. Researchers there recently tagged and released a 13-foot (3.96m) record-breaker.

TheBimini Biological Field Station - Sharklab suspects thatthis gorgeous female is at least 20 years old, judging by size alone.To be clear, tiger sharks can get bigger than this they max out at around 20 feet (5.5m) but this individual is the largest the team has tagged in these waters.(For a bit of perspective, that boat measures 22 feet.)

And this isn't the first noteworthy appearance of late. "Not even two weeks ago we acoustically tagged a record male tiger shark (3.72m) ... two record sharks within this month!" the team wrote on Facebook.

Even for an experienced crew, handlingsuch a large animal can be challenging. Tiger sharks are less sensitive to stress than some of their kin (like hammerheads), but conducting each workup quickly and carefully is of upmost importance.

"This female tiger shark was so large that we struggled measuring her on the boat," the researchers said. "Luckily [principal investigator] Matt Smukallcame to the rescue, and measured the girth of the shark underwater, as you can see pictured."

The animal was fitted with a small acoustic tag, which will broadcast her whereabouts for years to come each time she cruises past one of the many receivers in the region.

We know that these cosmopolitan sharks inhabit tropical and sub-tropical waters worldwide, but researchers still want to learn more about the places these top predators regularly visit.Tags like this one can help us better understand how tiger sharks use critical habitat and more importantly, where that critical habitat is.

Some have speculated that the shark's large girth (close on sixfeet) indicates pregnancy, but Smukall and his team note that it's tough to say with certainty.

"It is very difficult to determine pregnancy without an ultrasound," he says. "For her size, she was had an average girth measurement. So if she was pregnant she was most likely not very far along in term."

Recent studies do suggest that at least parts of the Bahamas act as a nursery for tiger sharks, so thepossibility remains.

"Our data suggests that Tiger Beach may function as a refuge habitat for females to reach maturity as well as a gestation ground where pregnant females benefit from calm, warm waters year-round that help incubate the developing embryos and speed up gestation,"University of Miami shark biologist Dr Neil Hammerschlag told us last year.

At the time, he and his colleagues had justcaptured the first-ever tiger shark sonogram:

As you can see, tiger sharksproduce large litters but the pups are inefficient swimmers, and extremely vulnerable in the early stages of life. Learning where these threatened animals go to breed is a crucial step in better protecting future generations.

"The entire Sharklab was ecstatic to catch such a large shark," saysSmukall. "The Bahamas is far ahead of most other countries and has protected sharks within its waters. One major concern is that large sharks like this will frequently travel outside of the protected waters of the Bahamas and are [then] susceptible to fisheries."

Pregnant or not, the presence of this shark is a welcome one. Like othertop predators, these animals play a key part ina balanced ecosystem. Spotting such a healthy female is good news, and we're happy to report she was released without any trouble.

Was this Bimini behemoth headed for the gestation grounds off Tiger Beach? Are tiger sharks using the waters around Bimini in similar ways? With any luck, we'll soon find out.

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Topheader image: Shutterstock

Sarah Keartes is Earth Touch's resident 'queen of nerdery'. A self-proclaimed Attenborough wannabe with a serious shark addiction, she is likely to be spotted performing dissections and wielding lightsabers ... sometimes simultaneously. Find her on Twitter @sarahkeartes VIEW more from this CONTRIBUTOR

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Hefty 13ft tiger shark is a local record-breaker in the Bahamas - Earth Touch

Offshore Yuan Exposed to Onshore Risks as Spread Narrows – DailyFX

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Fundamental Forecast for the Yuan:Neutral

The USD/CNH set a higher low this week than the previous two weeks. The onshore Yuan, on the other hand, remained within a tight range for the third consecutive week. The two Dollar/Yuan pairs have been driven by different themes of recent: The Dollars strength weighted more on the offshore pair, while the onshore Yuan eyed more on moves from Chinas Central Bank. As the spread between the offshore Yuan and the PBOCs guided level narrows, this segregation could be eased over the following periods.

In terms of the offshore pair, the odds and timing of the U.S. Federal Reserve raising rates, as well as expectations on U.S. President Trumps tax cuts plan have been primary drivers to its trend and this likely continue to be the case. Fed Chair Yellens two-day testimony added mixed moves to Dollar pairs, including the USD/CNH. Next week, the U.S. economic calendar is dotted with housing and labor gauges, which are expected to add volatility to Dollar pairs.

On Chinas side, event risks would be low amid a light calendar; the major focus will be on Chinas Central Bank. The top policymaker has been reducing excessive Yuan liquidity since the Lunar New Year, targeting at bring monetary policy back to normal from slightly loose. However, this tweaked credit strategy did not bring much impact to the offshore Yuan over the past few weeks. Normally, a tighter policy would send the countys currency higher. Lets take a look first at why it did not work, as this may help us find out when it will.

The PBOC has been using open market operations as well as lending facilities to withdraw excessive cash from the financial market. Suspending and resuming liquidity injections through reverse repos and increasing target lending rates aim to delicately adjust liquidity to desirable levels. These moves are different from a hike in reserve requirement ratio which will have a long-lasting effect to the economy and in turn a greater impact to the Yuan.

More importantly, the offshore Yuan was already stronger than the guided level set by the PBOC. Since early January, the offshore Yuan has been both above the onshore Yuan and the Yuan fix (except during the Lunar New Year) until this week. This means that from the regulator point of view, the offshore Yuan might have been already overvalued.

However, as the spread between the offshore Yuan and the Yuan fix narrows, this could be changed. The PBOC has strengthened the Yuan fix for four consecutive days this past week. On Wednesday, the offshore Yuan dipped below the PBOCs guided level, the first time in two weeks. As of 1:40pm EST, the reversed spread has expanded to 50 pips. Traders will want to keep a close eye on the PBOCs guidance next week. If the policymaker continues to recognize levels of the offshore Yuan, the link between the onshore and offshore markets could strengthen again, and onshore policies may weigh more on the offshore pair.

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Offshore Yuan Exposed to Onshore Risks as Spread Narrows - DailyFX

Vineyard Power vying for offshore wind farm – Cape Cod Times (subscription)

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Doug Fraser @dougfrasercct

CHATHAM This June, the state will solicit bids seeking offshore wind farms to produce 400 megawatts of electricity. Its the first of four phases of what state officials hope will be 1,600 megawatts of offshore power; 15 percent of what the state uses annually, enough power to replace what will eventually be lost when Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station shuts down.

Submitting a bid in June will be the first tangible step for a group of Marthas Vineyard residents who started the Vineyard Power energy cooperative six years ago in response to a lot of the things they didnt like about the nowdefunct Cape Wind project. It has 1,400 members and claims the cooperative represents 5,000 people on the island.

Richard Andre, president of Vineyard Power, said their prospects improved dramatically when Gov. Charlie Baker signed legislation in August that required that powerutilities solicit and contract for 1,600 megawatts of offshore wind power as part of their energy portfolio by 2027.

Then, we knew we would have a buyer for our power, Andre said.

Vineyard Power representatives came to the headquarters of the Cape CodCommercial Fishermens Alliance in Chatham on a stormy Wednesday to get feedback from fishermen.

Perhaps it was fitting that there werent many fishermen in the audience, because Andre said that unlike Cape Wind, which was sued by Vineyard fishermen and hotly contestedby many Cape fishermen, they havent received any negative feedback.

We identified our site in 2009 as an area with the least amount of fishery conflicts, Andre said.

The process was helped considerably by the federal government in 2009 when theBureau of Energy Management mapped out areas of the ocean with good wind and relatively few conflicting uses or environmental concerns. John Pappalardo, CEO of the Cape Cod Commercial Fishermens Alliance, was part of the team that helped to eliminate large areas that were valuable for fishing, shellfishing or for fish habitat.

This zone was much larger. We shaved a huge piece out of it primarily because of scallops, Pappalardo said.

At over 500 feet tall, the 40 to 70 turbines that would be constructed in the first phase would be spaced more than a half mile apart. Andre told the audience there would be no reduced speed or areas closed to navigation or fishing. It has not been determined yet whether there could be anything like a kelp or mussel farming operation using components of the turbine. There would be money available to reimburse fishermen displaced during construction work.

By locating them 12 miles offshore, Andre said the turbines would only be visible on extremely clear days and, even then, would be far off in the distance.

We wanted a different model than Cape Wind. We wanted there to be local benefit, local employment, and local input into the project, Andre told the audience. Weve met with over 20 fishing groups since March of 2016.

Vineyard Power partnered with Vineyard Wind, which holds the lease on the 260 square miles of ocean 12 miles south of the island. Vineyard Wind is a subsidiary of Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, a Danish company that invests pension funds from NorthernEurope. It has $3.5 billion in assets, Andre said, and is primarily focused on renewable energy projects. CIP has managed and invested in over 1,000 megawatts of offshore wind turbines currently being built in Europe, according to its website.

Three companies, Deepwater Wind, another Danish company, Dong Energy, and Vineyard Power hold the three federal leases in federal waters south of the Vineyard that were designated as appropriate for offshore wind through an ocean zoning process. In September, the three companies signed letters of intent to use the state-run $113 million New Bedford Marine Commerce Terminal, which had been built in anticipation of the ill-fated Cape Wind offshore wind farm being constructed.

This December, Eversourceacquired 50 percent ownership of the offshore wind farm proposed by Dong Energy.

All three offshore wind companies could be submitting bids this summer, Andre said. Price is the primary consideration, and he anticipates the winning bid will be in the mid-teens per kilowatt hour as compared with Cape Winds prices, which were over 20 cents. Each subsequent bid phase is required to start at a lower price than the previous ones as improved technology and economies of scale reduce costs. Europe, where they have been producing such power for decades, has seen offshore wind drop to 10 cents, Andre said.

The area south of the Vineyard has been rated the best or second best on the East Coast for the strength and consistency of its wind, Andre toldthe audience.

Vineyard Wind ships were out on Nantucket Sound this summer and fall doing seismic and sonar testing on the sea bed to determine what type of foundation would be required for the turbines.

Environmental studies of impacts on birds and marine life, and permitting, will continue for another two years. Construction could start as early as 2020 and take two years. It will take about 2,000 construction workers for the first phase, and Andre said the plan is to employ a lot of local workers.

The company with the winning bid would also have to get state permits to run cables, which will be buried 6 feet deep in the sea bed, to the mainland.

Follow Doug Fraser on Twitter:@dougfrasercct

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Vineyard Power vying for offshore wind farm - Cape Cod Times (subscription)

IRS Cracks Down on Offshore Tax Cheats – CPAPracticeAdvisor.com

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The Internal Revenue Service says that hiding money or assets in unreported offshore accounts remains on its 2017 list of tax scams known as the Dirty Dozen.

Since the first Offshore Voluntary Disclosure Program (OVDP) opened in 2009, there have been more than 55,800 disclosures and the IRS has collected more than $9.9 billion from this initiative alone.

In addition, another 48,000 taxpayers have made use of separate streamlined procedures to correct prior non-willful omissions and meet their federal tax obligations, paying approximately $450 million in taxes, interest and penalties. The IRS conducted thousands of offshore-related civil audits that resulted in the payment of tens of millions of dollars in unpaid taxes. The IRS has also pursued criminal charges leading to billions of dollars in criminal fines and restitutions.

"Offshore compliance remains a top IRS priority. We've collected $10 billion in back taxes in recent years with 100,000 taxpayers making use of our voluntary disclosure programs," said IRS Commissioner John Koskinen. "The IRS receives more foreign account information each year, making it harder to hide income offshore. I urge taxpayers with international tax issues to come forward and get right with the system."

Compiled annually, the Dirty Dozen lists a variety of common scams that taxpayers may encounter anytime, but many of these schemes peak during filing season as people prepare their tax returns or hire people to help with their taxes.

Illegal scams can lead to significant penalties as well as interest and possible criminal prosecution. The IRS Criminal Investigation Division works closely with the Department of Justice to shut down scams and prosecute the criminals behind them.

Hiding Income Offshore

Over the years, numerous individuals have been identified as evading U.S. taxes by attempting to hide income in offshore banks, brokerage accounts or nominee entities. Then access the funds using debit cards, credit cards or wire transfers. Others have employed foreign trusts, employee-leasing schemes, private annuities or insurance plans for the same purpose.

The IRS uses information gained from its investigations to pursue taxpayers with undeclared accounts, as well as bankers and others suspected of helping clients hide their assets overseas.

While there are legitimate reasons for maintaining financial accounts abroad, there are reporting requirements that need to be fulfilled. U.S. taxpayers who maintain such accounts and who do not comply with reporting requirements are breaking the law and risk significant fines, as well as the possibility of criminal prosecution.

Since 2009, tens of thousands of individuals have come forward to voluntarily disclose their foreign financial accounts, taking advantage of special opportunities to comply with the U.S. tax system and resolve their tax obligations. And, with new foreign account reporting requirements being phased in over the next few years, hiding income offshore is increasingly more difficult.

At the beginning of 2012, the IRS reopened the Offshore Voluntary Disclosure Program following continued strong interest from taxpayers and tax practitioners after the closure of the 2011 and 2009 programs. This program will be open for an indefinite period until otherwise announced.

Third-Party Reporting

Under the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) and the network of intergovernmental agreements between the U.S. and partner jurisdictions, automatic third-party account reporting has entered its second year. The IRS continues to receive more information regarding potential non-compliance by U.S. persons because of the Department of Justices Swiss Bank Program. This information makes it less likely that offshore financial accounts will go unnoticed by the IRS.

Potential civil penalties increase substantially if U.S. taxpayers associated with participating banks wait to apply to OVDP to resolve their tax obligations.

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IRS Cracks Down on Offshore Tax Cheats - CPAPracticeAdvisor.com