People have lunch in a restaurant, Wednesday July 1, 2009 in Paris. France's restaurant bills could start looking a little slimmer thanks to a nearly fourfold drop in sales taxes. The measure allowing a reduction of VAT, or value-added tax, from 19.6 percent to 5.5 percent went into effect Wednesday. Poster at left reads: New menu plus new VAT equals lower prices. AP Photo logo AP Photo 4 months ago

People have lunch in a restaurant, Wednesday July 1, 2009 in Paris. France's restaurant bills could start looking a little slimmer thanks to a nearly fourfold drop in sales taxes. The measure allowing a reduction of VAT, or value-added tax, from 19.6 percent to 5.5 percent went into effect Wednesday. Poster at left reads: New menu plus new VAT equals lower prices.

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  1. BERLIN - NOVEMBER 08: Anni Friesinger Postma (L) of Germany speaks to her coach Gianni Romme (R) before the women 500 m - Division A race during the Essent ISU World Cup Speed Skating on November 8, 2009 in Berlin, Germany.
  2. BERLIN - NOVEMBER 08: Anni Friesinger Postma of Germany prepairs before the women 500 m - Division A race during the Essent ISU World Cup Speed Skating on November 8, 2009 in Berlin, Germany.
  3. A mother explains to her children about poppy wreaths laid at a war memorial following a Remembrance service in Hartley Wintney, a village 40 miles southwest of London on November 8, 2009. Services are held across the country to remember servicemen and women who have been killed in past and current conflicts.
  4. Emergency teams work to remove the rubbles and find missing workers on November 8, 2009 in the Massana valley in northwest Andorra, after two more workers died overnight after a bridge under construction in the Pyrenees principalty of Andorra collapsed, bringing the death toll to five. Police are investigating to determine the causes of the accident at the bridge that was to link the tunnel to a road leading to two nearby villages.
  5. Flavia Pennetta of Italy celebrates with her team captain Corrado Barazzutti after defeating Melanie Oudin of the U.S. at the end of their Fed Cup final tennis match in Reggio Calabria November 8, 2009.
  6. A physically handicapped passenger boards a government-run boat at Sadarghat in Dhaka November 8, 2009. River transport workers enforced an indefinite strike from Saturday midnight to realise their list of 22 demands, disrupting movement of vessels across the country. The demands include a proper pay scale, effective application of riverine laws and stopping harassment and robbery on river routes, Bangladesh River Transport Workers Federation said.
  7. A statue of the Merlion, a symbol of Singapore, is seen illuminated at dusk overlooking the Marina Bay area in Singapore November 8, 2009. Singapore will host the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meetings from November 11 to 14.
  8. A statue of the Merlion, a symbol of Singapore, is seen illuminated in front of the city-state's financial district at dusk in Singapore November 8, 2009. Singapore will host the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meetings from November 11 to 14.
  9. A former serviceman looks on from the ranks of The British Legion as they gather before the war memorial following a on Remembrance Sunday service in Hartley Wintney, a village 40 miles southwest of London, on November 8, 2009. Services are held across the country to remember servicemen and women who have been killed in past and current conflicts.
  10. Un person walks on November 8, 2009 past a placard reading in French 'from peaceful revolution to united Germany' on the grills of the german embassy in Paris. France is staging a big celebration for the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall to make amends for not fully sharing the euphoria of the event in 1989, the minister for Europe said.
  11. Jyoti Randhawa of India hits the ball from the water hazard at the 18th green during the final round of the HSBC Champions golf tournament at Shanghai Sheshan International Golf Club Sunday, Nov. 8, 2009 in Shanghai, China. Phil Mickelson of the U.S. won the tournament with 17 under. Randhawa finished the Third place with the score of 8 under.
  12. Ashley Wagner of the United States performs during the exhibition skating of the NHK Trophy Figure Skating competition in Nagano, central Japan, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2009.
  13. Phil Mickelson of the U.S., right, reacts as he putts close to the tin cup at the 18th green during the final round of the HSBC Champions golf tournament at Shanghai Sheshan International Golf Club Sunday, Nov. 8, 2009 in Shanghai, China. Mickelson won the tournament.
  14. Phil Mickelson of the U.S. flashes his thumbs up to spectators at the 18th green during the final round of the HSBC Champions golf tournament at Shanghai Sheshan International Golf Club Sunday, Nov. 8, 2009 in Shanghai, China. Mickelson won the tournament as he finished 17 under.
  15. Residents raise slogans during a rally, protesting against relocating Futenama Marine airfield on the southern island of Okinawa, in Ginowan, Japan, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2009. Japanese Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada said Sunday that no deal on relocating U.S. troops on the Japanese island can be expected during President Barack Obama's visit this week, saying the issue needs more time to resolve. The banner reads: "Oppose relocation within the prefecture (state)." ** JAPAN OUT, MANDATORY CREDIT, FOR COMMERCIAL USE ONLY IN NORTH AMERICA.
  16. Tiger Woods of the United States drops the ball after his ball went into water hazard at the 18th green during the final round of the HSBC Champions golf tournament at Shanghai Sheshan International Golf Club Sunday, Nov. 8, 2009 in Shanghai, China. Phil Mickelson of the U.S. won the tournament with 17 under. Woods finished 12 under.