World
Even with pretax profits, many big companies pay zero US tax
The Associated Press FILE – In this April 13, 2014 file photo, the Internal Revenue Service Headquarters (IRS) building is seen in Washington. More than 50 of the largest U.S. companies paid nothing in federal income taxes last year, even though they reported big pretax profits as a group. That’s according to the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, a group that believes the tax system needs to raise more revenue. (AP Photo/J. David Ake, File) More than 50 of the largest U.S. companies paid nothing in federal income taxes last year, even though they reported big pretax profits as a group By STAN CHOE and KEN SWEET AP Business Writers (https://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory/pretax-profits-big-companies-pay-us-tax-76842308) 2 April 2021 NEW YORK — Just as President...
US reiterates support for Taiwan after China sends jets into island’s airspace -france24
Taiwanese tank troops line up for photographs after a drill in Hsinchu military base ahead of the Chinese New Year holiday on January 19, 2021. © Sam Yeh, AFP Text by:NEWS WIRES The U.S. has reaffirmed its support for Taiwan following China’s dispatch of warplanes near the island in an apparent attempt to intimidate its democratic government and test the resolve of the new American presidential administration. The U.S. State Department on Saturday said it was concerned by China’s “pattern of ongoing attempts to intimidate its neighbors, including Taiwan.” “We urge Beijing to cease its military, diplomatic, and economic pressure against Taiwan and instead engage in meaningful dialogue with Taiwan’s democratically elected representatives,” Ned Price, a spokesman for ...
Japan is developing wooden satellites to send into orbit by 2023 in an effort to cut down on space junk – businessinsider
Space junk is becoming an increasing concern. Getty Isobel Asher Hamilton Kyoto University is teaming up with Japanese forestry company Sumitomo Forestry to develop a wooden satellite to send into orbit. The idea is that a device made of wood could safely burn upon re-entry and would create less space junk. Space junk is becoming a growing concern amongst experts, who say it poses an environmental hazard. Kyoto University is teaming up with a Japanese forestry company to develop wooden satellites to shoot into orbit by 2023 in an effort to cut down on space junk, the BBC reports. Kyoto University professor and Japanese astronaut Takao Doi told the BBC the advantage of a wooden satellite is that if it falls out of orbit and burns up on re-entry, it wouldn’t release as many harmful par...
Coronavirus: France finds first case of new variant-BBC
ReutersFrench health worker holds a test tube after administering a nasal swab (file image) France has confirmed the first case in the country of the more contagious coronavirus variant recently identified in the UK. The French health ministry said the person was a French citizen in the central town of Tours who had arrived from London on 19 December. The ministry said he was asymptomatic, and currently self-isolating at home. The appearance of the new coronavirus variant in England triggered travel curbs with dozens of countries. US imposes Covid tests on UK airline passengers UK has two cases of variant linked to South Africa Fresh air: The forgotten coronavirus weapon France closed its border but ended its ban on Wednesday, providing people tested negative before travelling. Thousands o...
China reportedly demanded that big Chinese tech companies like Alibaba process stolen US data for the nation’s top spies upon request-businessinsider
Madoka Ikegami – Pool/Getty Images; Samantha Lee/Business Insider Katie Canales China has demanded that the nation’s tech companies process stolen data for Chinese intelligence agencies upon request, according to a Wednesday report from Foreign Policy. The outlet spoke to 36 US officials who said the arrangement represents the “commercial wing” of the Communist Party. Authorities are able to view data stolen in breaches like the 2015 attack on the US Office of Personnel Management, as well as the attacks on Marriot, Equifax, and Anthem. One source told the outlet that it would be like if the CIA stole data for insight into the Chinese government and gave it to “Google or Amazon or Microsoft” to process before handing it off to US officials. The stolen da...
Can we call that democracy?
Trump pardons former campaign chairman Manafort, associate Roger Stone – The Gardian By Steve Holland PALM BEACH, Fla. (Reuters) – U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday granted pardons to former campaign chairman Paul Manafort and former adviser Roger Stone, sweeping away the most important convictions under the long-running Russia election probe. Trump also issued a pardon for Charles Kushner, a real estate developer and the father of Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner. Trump, taking advantage of a right granted by the Constitution only to the president, has issued two groups of pardons in as many days, and more are anticipated as Trump faces the end of his presidency on Jan. 20. The announcement came just after Trump arrived in Palm Beach, Florida, for the holiday sea...
Laurent Gbagbo granted passport, will return to Ivory Coast this month-AfricaNews
By Africanews Last updated: 04/12 – 18:04 Ivory Coast Ivory Coast has finally issued passports to former president Laurent Gbagbo, which will allow him to return from exile in Belgium. Gbagbo has been based in Belgium since he was acquitted on war crime charges last year at the International Criminal Court. With his documents in hand, his lawyer says he’s planning to return to the Ivory Coast this month. Gbagbo has been a vocal critic of President Alassane Ouattara, who was recently elected for a controversial third term, which sparked deadly clashes that killed 85 people. He had hoped to run against him in the October 31 vote but was barred from running after authorities cited a criminal conviction for misappropriating funds from the central bank. Gbagbo also had no passport t...
Congo President to seek re-election after 36 years at the helm-Africasneews
The President of the Republic of Congo Denis Sassou Nguesso has led the country for 36 years. – By Africanews and AFP Congo politics The president of the Republic of Congo, Denis Sassou Nguesso, who is one of the world’s longest-serving leaders, will seek a fourth term in elections due next March, the country’s ruling coalition said on Thursday. The 77-year-old has led the central African country, also called Congo-Brazzaville for a total of 36 years since he first became president in 1979. His bid to run for the top job comes after nominations by the 17 parties that make up his presidential majority. “The presidential majority believes that of all its leaders, it is President Sassou Nguesso who holds all the trump cards,” said Pierre Moussa, acting...
Hearing on human rights abuses, impunity in Haiti open to public – haitiantimes
By Sam Bojarski Students from Jacques Roumain High School lead protest march demanding justice for murdered classmate Evelyne Sincere. Throughout 2020, human rights groups have raised the alarm about the rise in kidnappings and gang violence in Haiti. “Insecurity, for me, brings me trauma, it brings me stress,” Sophonie, 16, of Thomassin, said in a phone interview. The Haitian Times has withheld Sophonie’s last name due to ongoing insecurity concerns. “It’s not normal, because everybody’s afraid. We are afraid of each other,” said Sophonie. Human rights groups have drawn a link between insecurity and human rights violations, some of which they say are committed by state-connected actors. On Dec. 10 at 2 p.m. Eastern Time, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR), will hold a v...