Italian authorities have detained 10 people believed to be members of a criminal group that fraudulently obtained government grants worth 17 million euro (US$18,3 million) for the renovation and improvement of building facades.

Multinational corporations registered in Luxembourg are believed to be using a loophole in the country’s tax system to circumvent European Union transparency regulations and underpay tax.

Canada released on Monday its 2021 federal budget in which it announced intentions to create a public registry of corporate beneficial ownership, dedicating CAD2.1 million (US$1.68 million) to the development of the project over the next two years.

French environment minister François de Rugy, who has allegedly been paying for fancy dinners, including lobsters and fine wines, with taxpayers’ money, resigned on Tuesday, but has denied the claims and accused media of lynching him,Le Monde reported.

Three members of Nepal’s Tax Settlement Commission were charged with embezzlement Sunday in the largest corruption case filed to date by the country’s anti-graft agency.

Two contracts, published by the Serbian Center for Investigative Journalism (CINS) on Monday, illustrate how generous a Serbian government agency has been in providing financial aid to a local private TV channel mostly known for running reality shows, telenovelas and “American Idol”-type singing competitions. The highly popular, privately owned TV Pink, watched daily by millions of people in the Balkans, has also been a platform for government-friendly propaganda.