A hard act to swallow

Article Abstract:

The tax reform initiated by Australian Prime Minister John Howard could have serious implications for the business community. The reform package calls for a 10% broad-based goods and services tax and nine other indirect taxes, and reduced marginal income tax rates for individuals. However, the area that is causing most concern among Australia's business community are the proposals included in the business tax reform package, including the taxation of trusts as companies, the implementation of a full franking imputation system, and the possible introduction of a 30% company tax rate. The full franking concept is similar to the imputation system and advance corporation tax introduced but eventually discarded in the UK, which also taxes profits distributed out of tax-preferred income. Meanwhile, the 30% company tax rate would levy tax on brought forward non-franked profits.

Public Finance Activities, Corporate Income Taxes, Australia, Taxation, Corporate taxes, Tax reform, Corporations, Tax policy

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A Slow Comeback

Article Abstract:

Five years after its accident in 1979, the Three Mile Island Unit 2 nuclear reactor cleanup has not progressed very far, but may proceed soon. The initial stabilization and decontamination of the containment building and the assessment of the interior damage of the reactor are complete. Reactor disassembly and defueling, the most costly and dangerous steps, are yet to begin. Data gathering techniques have included video probes, sonar topography, core-debris sampling, control- rod-driven-mechanism lead-screw analysis, and underhead radiation survey. Approaches being considered for removing fuel and fission products from the core are manual, long-handled tools and robotics applications. A glossary of nuclear power terms and a chronology of cleanup milestones are given. Diagrams illustrate the damaged core and video images from the core void are shown.

Nuclear energy, Nuclear power plants, Robots, Electric power plants, Radioactive wastes, Radiation, United States, Hazardous Materials, Safety, Power Plants

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Weil joins Pentagram

Article Abstract:

Argentinian architect and industrial designer Daniel Weil has joined Pentagram Corp in what some industry observers describe initially as outrageous. Weil's past major projects include Esprit and Knoll International. He is best known for his polemic pieces and is expected to provide a Modernist perspective minus the dogma to the company. Pentagram idustrial designer Kenneth Grange believes that Weil's experience as an architect, interior and industrial designer will widen the company's traditionally graphics-oriented market thrust.

Eating places, Officials and employees, Appointments, resignations and dismissals, Graphic arts industry, Pentagram Corp., Weil, Daniel

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