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Apple should pay €13bn Irish tax, argues EU lawyer

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A legal adviser to the European Court of Justice has recommended a reassessment of the ruling that permitted Apple to evade €13 billion in back taxes. The original decision, overturned three years ago, alleged that the Irish government had provided Apple with illegal tax breaks. Advocate General Giovanni Pitruzzella contends that the previous ruling overlooked crucial legal errors and failed to adequately assess methodological mistakes that, according to the European Commission, tainted the tax rulings in Apple’s favor. Although this legal opinion is not binding, the court typically leans towards such recommendations in the majority of cases.

Apple responded to the recent development, with a spokesperson emphasizing that the initial ruling explicitly stated that the company received no selective advantage or state aid. The tech giant believes this position should be upheld. In 2016, the European Commission determined that Apple had received preferential treatment from the Irish government, resulting in a significantly lower tax rate compared to other companies. The Commission argued that this amounted to illegal aid granted to Apple by the Irish state and symbolized its efforts to combat what it perceived as significant tax avoidance by multinational corporations.

The Irish government has consistently argued against the repayment of back taxes by Apple, asserting that the country’s loss was justified in making itself an appealing destination for large companies. Ireland, with one of the lowest corporate tax rates in the EU, serves as Apple’s regional base for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. While corporate tax rates fall under national jurisdiction, the EU wields substantial power in regulating state aid. In this case, the EU contended that Ireland, by applying very low tax rates to Apple, was providing an unfair subsidy.

Two years ago, the General Court, responsible for the initial ruling’s overturning, deemed the European Commission’s decision legally flawed. However, the recent recommendation from the advocate general suggests that this ruling itself may now face reconsideration, potentially reviving the debate over Apple’s back taxes.

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Jewish fears as German support for Israel is challenged on streets

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Chancellor Olaf Scholz expressed deep concern and condemnation over recent antisemitic attacks in Germany during an event commemorating the anniversary of the November pogroms of 1938, also known as “Kristallnacht.” Despite Germany’s historic responsibility and diplomatic support for Israel, social discord has arisen, particularly amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.

The rise in antisemitism in Germany, exacerbated by incidents like the throwing of petrol bombs at a Berlin synagogue, has heightened anxiety due to the nation’s Nazi past. Cases of antisemitism were already increasing before the Hamas attacks, with a significant number attributed to the far right.

Senior politicians have called for people, especially from the political left and Muslim backgrounds, to distance themselves from Hamas actions. Germany’s commitment to Israel’s security, a fundamental aspect of its foreign policy, is facing challenges on the streets, as evidenced by protests with placards expressing dissent.

Some individuals, like Nadim Jarrar, advocate for a more open discussion on Israel’s actions, while others, such as Sami, emphasize the need to express pain about the situation in Gaza. Germany’s vice-chancellor, Robert Habeck, acknowledges that criticism of Israel is allowed but emphasizes the non-negotiable nature of Israel’s right to exist.

However, there are concerns about the integration policy in Germany, with instances of antisemitic and anti-Israel sentiments surfacing during protests. Felix Klein, the government’s Commissioner for Jewish life in Germany, highlights the problem when criticism turns into hate denying Israel’s right to exist.

Despite the genuine anguish felt in Germany over the safety of Jewish people, there is also anger in some communities about the perceived reluctance of political classes to criticize Israel, contributing to a complex and evolving societal debate.

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Transgender people can be baptised and be godparents, Vatican says

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According to recent announcements from the Vatican’s doctrinal office, the Catholic Church is allowing transgender individuals to be baptized, serve as godparents at a baptism, and act as witnesses at weddings, as long as these actions do not cause scandal or confusion among the faithful. This updated stance reflects Pope Francis’s efforts to create a more inclusive environment for LGBT individuals within the Church. The decision was prompted by inquiries from Brazilian Bishop José Negri, with the response signed by the head of the dicastery, Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, and approved by Pope Francis.

Regarding baptism, the document emphasizes that transgender individuals, even those who have undergone hormone treatment and gender reassignment surgery, may be baptized under the same conditions as other believers, provided that their baptism does not result in public scandal or disorientation among the faithful.

The guidance also addresses other questions raised by Bishop Negri. It allows for transgender individuals who have undergone hormone treatment and gender reassignment surgery to serve as godparents, but acknowledges that priests may refuse this request if there is a risk of scandal or disorientation within the Church community.

Furthermore, the Vatican’s response suggests that the decision to baptize a child of same-sex parents or those who use a surrogate mother should be based on the expectation that the child would be raised within the Catholic faith. Similarly, it suggests that individuals in same-sex relationships can serve as godparents at a Church baptism if they lead a life that adheres to the teachings of the faith.

This announcement builds upon Pope Francis’s recent statements indicating a more compassionate approach towards LGBT individuals within the Church, including the possibility of priests blessing same-sex couples. However, the Church still maintains its position that same-sex relationships are considered “objectively sinful” and does not recognize same-sex marriage.

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Art Entertainment News Trending

Woman with a Watch: Picasso masterpiece of ‘golden muse’ sells for £113m

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A 1932 masterpiece by Pablo Picasso recently sold for $139 million, making it the second most expensive piece by the artist ever sold. Titled “Femme a la Montre” (Woman with a Watch), it portrays Marie-Therese Walter, Picasso’s French muse and lover, and was previously owned by the late art collector Emily Fisher Landau.

Picasso’s relationship with Walter, which began when she was 17 and he was 45, was clandestine as he was still married to Ukrainian ballerina Olga Khokhlova. The painting depicts Walter seated in a chair against a blue backdrop.

Picasso’s artistic contributions, which spanned eight decades, were diverse, with his experimentation with various styles and themes making him one of the most influential artists of the 20th century. His notable contributions include inspiring the “Cubism” movement, known for depicting objects and people from multiple perspectives simultaneously.

Despite his artistic legacy, questions have arisen in recent years regarding his behavior, with allegations of cruelty, womanizing, and coercive conduct. Picasso, born in Malaga in 1881 and raised in Barcelona, relocated to Paris in 1904. He had four children and passed away in 1973 at the age of 92.

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Spanish fury at Pedro Sánchez’ controversial amnesty plan for power

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Protests led by right-wing groups against Spain’s acting Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez have escalated in violence, underscoring the tensions surrounding his push for a contentious amnesty law. Approximately 7,000 demonstrators converged outside the headquarters of Sánchez’s Socialist party in Madrid on Tuesday. The Prime Minister is striving to secure an investiture vote that would enable him to form a new government and avert a potential snap election.

To attain parliamentary support, Sánchez must enlist the backing of Catalan separatists. The demonstrations in Madrid, along with other cities, have grown increasingly aggressive, with 29 police officers and 10 protestors sustaining injuries during Tuesday night’s clashes. Sánchez took to social media to assert, “They will not break the Socialist Party.”

Following the failure of the conservative People’s Party (PP) leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo to establish a government in September, Sánchez, who came second in the July general election, is on the verge of securing adequate parliamentary support for a coalition government with the left-wing alliance Sumar.

To gain the support of Catalan parties, Sánchez has agreed to an amnesty for several hundred Catalan politicians and activists facing legal action related to the failed secession attempt in 2017. This move has faced intense criticism, with opponents accusing Sánchez of jeopardizing Spain’s unity and manipulating the amnesty for political survival.

The opposition, particularly the far-right Vox party, has vehemently opposed the amnesty, calling for continued protests and urging the police to defy ‘illegal’ orders. Despite internal support within the Socialist Party, several senior members, including former Prime Minister Felipe González, have spoken out against the initiative, emphasizing its potential to disrupt social harmony in Spain. A division has also emerged within the judiciary, reflecting the deep political polarization over the amnesty.

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Global Climate News Trending

‘Virtually certain’ that 2023 will be warmest year after October record

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New data strongly suggests that 2023 will undoubtedly be the warmest year on record, marked by deadly heatwaves, floods, and fires. The EU’s climate change service reports that global average air temperatures in October 2023 were 0.4C higher than the previous record set in 2019, making it the fifth consecutive month of record warmth. Researchers predict that extreme global temperatures will persist into 2024.

This year has already seen numerous records shattered, with July potentially being the hottest month in 120,000 years and September surpassing the previous record by an astonishing 0.5C. Although October wasn’t as scorching as September, it still set a new record for the month by a significant margin of 1.7C compared to the pre-industrial average.

Multiple scientific organizations, including Copernicus, NOAA, and Berkeley Earth, assert that there is a more than 99% probability that 2023 will go down as the warmest year on record. Climate scientist Zeke Hausfather from Berkeley Earth emphasizes the persistent trend of record-setting months, indicating no sign of reversal.

While the scientific implications of these unprecedented temperatures are alarming, the real-world consequences are even more concerning. Dr. Friederike Otto from Imperial College London highlights the human suffering, including thousands of deaths, displacement, and livelihood losses, caused by extreme heatwaves and droughts exacerbated by these extraordinary temperatures.

The primary driver of this heatwave is the continuous release of carbon dioxide from burning fossil fuels. This year’s rise in temperatures is further compounded by the emergence of an intense El Niño event, causing warm waters to surface in the eastern Pacific Ocean and release additional heat into the atmosphere. Researchers are still uncertain about the nature of this particular El Niño event, as it appears to deviate from previous occurrences and may be contributing to greater ocean surface heating compared to past El Niño events.

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News Trending War

Ukraine war: Grenade birthday gift kills army chief Zaluzhny’s aide

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A tragic incident recently occurred in Ukraine, resulting in the death of Major Hennadiy Chastyakov, a close aide to the head of Ukraine’s armed forces, Valery Zaluzhny. The incident took place during Chastyakov’s birthday celebration, where a grenade from a colleague exploded, causing his death and seriously injuring his 13-year-old son. Initial reports suggested that Chastyakov had triggered the grenade while trying to take it away from his son, but subsequent investigations revealed that it was an accident.

The Ukrainian Interior Minister, Ihor Klymenko, urged the public to await the official investigation, calling the incident a “tragic accident” resulting from the mishandling of ammunition. However, it was later discovered that there were five more grenades in Chastyakov’s flat, allegedly presented as gifts from a fellow army officer. Two similar grenades were found in the possession of the said colonel.

Photographs from the scene depicted several grenades alongside gift bags, suggesting that Chastyakov had brought them home in a bag with a bottle of whiskey. Reports indicated that the colleague had given him the bottle, jokingly mentioning the gift of combat grenades alongside the whiskey.

Valery Zaluzhny expressed deep sorrow over Chastyakov’s loss, describing him as a dependable support since the start of the Russian invasion in February 2022. This tragedy adds to the challenges faced by the Ukrainian military, following a recent missile strike that claimed the lives of 19 soldiers during an awards ceremony in Zaporizhzhia. The decision to hold the ceremony in a volatile area drew considerable criticism.

Pro-presidential MP Maryana Bezulha criticized the negligence that led to Chastyakov’s death, emphasizing that grenades are meant for military use, not as presents. Some Ukrainian commentators questioned the official cause of the explosion, raising speculations about a potential targeted attack on Gen Zaluzhny during Chastyakov’s birthday celebration.

Regarding the ongoing conflict with Russia, the commander in chief expressed concerns about the current technological stalemate, drawing parallels to World War I. While he acknowledged the fatigue among the people, President Volodymr Zelensky and the Kremlin denied any notion of a deadlock in the war. Zelensky emphasized the need for unity and announced the postponement of the upcoming presidential elections due to the ongoing war and martial law.

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News Trending

Europe to develop commercial space capsule

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The European Space Agency (ESA) is introducing a new competition to develop a robotic capsule for transporting cargo to and from the International Space Station, with the maiden voyage planned for 2028. This marks a significant departure from ESA’s conventional project management approach. The winning company will receive some financial support and technical assistance from ESA but must operate the capsule commercially. It will be responsible for partially funding the development and providing the re-supply service to ESA, which will act as the primary customer.

If successful, the company may be tasked with upgrading the capsule to transport ESA astronauts, and potentially, it could be adapted for missions to other destinations such as the Moon. A dedicated team within ESA has been allocated an initial budget of €75m to initiate the competition.

The concept was well received by ESA member states at a summit in Seville, Spain. This procurement model emulates the successful strategy employed by NASA, which transitioned to outsourcing space vehicle services to private companies, leading to the emergence of SpaceX. ESA hopes to replicate NASA’s access to faster, more innovative, and cost-effective space technologies.

Anna Christmann, a leading aerospace policy figure in the German government, emphasized the shift in ESA’s approach, stating that while public funding initiates such competitions, it attracts private investment. ESA member states have also committed to adopting this approach for long-term rocket procurement, as current European launchers are facing significant challenges.

The Seville summit also highlighted the role of satellites in aiding European nations’ net-zero goals, including using space data to optimize air travel routes and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, ESA introduced the Zero Debris Charter to promote responsible practices in space operations. The UK is championing a new regulatory framework to incentivize responsible behavior and create a market for orbital debris removal services.

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News Trending

Hamburg Airport hostage drama ends after 18 hours

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A hostage incident at Hamburg Airport, involving a young child, concluded after 18 hours, as stated by local authorities. On Saturday night, a 35-year-old man breached security and drove onto the airport tarmac with his four-year-old daughter. Parking beneath a plane, he surrendered to the authorities without resistance and was subsequently apprehended. The child was reported to be unharmed, according to the police.

The disruption led to delays in several inbound and outbound flights, although operations have now resumed. At approximately 20:00 local time, the perpetrator fired his weapon into the air and hurled burning bottles from the vehicle, causing a commotion. While it remained unclear if he had explosives, he halted the car close to a fully occupied commercial flight, prompting the safe evacuation of all passengers on board.

Reportedly, the individual’s motive stemmed from disagreement with authorities over custody arrangements, expressing a desire to travel to Turkey with the child. Police spokeswoman Sandra Levgruen shared that he felt his life was in disarray, as per German broadcaster ZDF. Authorities attributed his actions to an “extraordinary psychological state” due to the custody conflicts with his ex-wife. The man had previously faced allegations of kidnapping the child when he took her to Turkey without permission, resulting in an investigation last year. The mother later returned the child to Germany.

Following the incident, Hamburg Mayor Peter Tschentscher extended his support to the mother, child, and their family. Meanwhile, the airport pledged to swiftly restore regular operations, having originally planned 286 flights with around 34,500 passengers for the day.

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News Trending War

Ukraine war: Military chiefs in Kyiv under pressure over deadly Russian strike

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Ukraine’s military leadership is facing severe backlash after a recent Russian missile strike reportedly resulted in significant Ukrainian casualties. According to Ukrainian media and Russian military bloggers, over 20 Ukrainian soldiers were killed during an award ceremony near the southern frontlines on Friday. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky emphasized that the incident was avoidable and announced the initiation of criminal proceedings.

Several Ukrainian soldiers and military experts have criticized the decision to hold the ceremony in an area vulnerable to strikes, highlighting that Russian drones routinely monitor Ukrainian troop activities to facilitate air and artillery attacks. Disturbing drone footage shared on a Russian Telegram channel purportedly captured the moment of the deadly strike, displaying bodies of Ukrainian soldiers on the ground.

Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov confirmed the deaths and ordered a full investigation into the tragedy. The use of an Iskander-M, a Russian short-range ballistic missile, was reported by Ukraine’s Strategic Command (StratCom), resulting in civilian casualties as well. While the specific location of the attack has not been publicly disclosed by Kyiv, Ukrainian media suggests it was a village near the frontline, potentially Dymytrovo, known as Zarichne after Ukraine’s renaming in 2016.

The incident occurred during a ceremony marking Artillery Day, dedicated to honoring military personnel serving in artillery and missile units. Various social media posts, including those by Ukrainian soldier Ruslan Kahanets and volunteer Serhiy Sternenko, criticized the decision to organize the event, calling for accountability and systemic changes to prevent similar tragedies in the future.

The sentiment among some Russian military bloggers implies that such incidents are occurring more frequently, urging Ukrainian military leaders to reassess their strategies. This recent strike has sparked anger among Ukrainian citizens, who demand punishment for those responsible for organizing the ill-fated ceremony. As investigations continue, the focus remains on establishing the truth and implementing measures to prevent such occurrences from happening again.

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