Google chief rejects call for ‘responsible capitalism’
Google executive chairman Eric Schmidt rejected the idea put forward by Labour leader Ed Miliband that the search giant should practise “responsible capitalism”, arguing the company simply follows international tax laws – which he described as “irrational”.
Speaking at Google’s annual Big Tent event in the UK, Schmidt said one of his key concerns about reform of the tax structure was that the company might be “doubly or triply taxed”. Asked by Labour MP Stella Creasy how he would reform the tax s [...]
Icelanders to vote on EU membership
22 May 2013
Last updated at 11:02 ET
“EU No Thanks: opinion polls suggest most Icelanders are now against joining the EU
Iceland’s newly elected government has called off talks with Brussels on EU membership and promised a referendum to give Icelanders their say.
Iceland applied to join the European Union in July 2009, a year after it suffered one of Europe’s worst financial crises.
Negotiations began nearly three years ago, but big sticking points remain.
Opinion polls suggest most Icelanders are now ag [...]
Does Oklahoma natural disaster prove there is no supernatural God?
Tragedy in Oklahoma: tornadoes devastate a community, an elementary school is leveled and the death toll stands at 24 dead.
Does the idea of the existence of a loving God get swept away in the wake of such storms like a tin building or mobile home?
Looking at the outpouring of prayer and the massive faith-based response to help those affected, it doesn’t seem to be the case. In fact, it appears to be just the opposite. I’ve lost count of the times I’ve read or heard the phrase, “Our thoughts and prayers are with the peo [...]
U.K. can do more to boost economy: IMF
The U.K. should bring forward spending on infrastructure, such as the London Crossrail project, according to the IMF.
The U.K. should spend more on infrastructure projects this year and cut corporate taxes to shore up its fragile economic recovery, said the International Monetary Fund.
Recent evidence of an upturn in activity was encouraging but the world’s sixth-largest economy was still a long way from a “strong and sustainable recovery,” the IMF said, following a two-week consultation with U.K. officials.
The U. [...]
Derby fancy Telescope fails to impress in Lingfield racecourse gallop
Telescope, the leading British hope for the Derby, failed to impress in a racecourse gallop at Lingfield on Wednesday ahead of a possible bid for the Epsom Classic a week on Saturday.
The Sir Michael Stoute-trained colt was pushed out to 8-1 by the bookmaker Coral after he struggled home ahead of two stable companions in a seven-furlong workout. Stoute described the performance as “workmanlike” and has delayed a decision on whether his charge will run in the Derby until after a gallop at his Newmarket base on Saturday.
Stou [...]
Coburn: Kids the reason for offsets
Sen. Tom Coburn invoked the children saved at two schools demolished by a tornado in Moore, Okla., on Wednesday as he defended his insistence on cutting spending elsewhere in the budget to pay for emergency aid.
“Look, my constituents don’t want us to charge our everyday living expenses to their kids,” the Oklahoma Republican said on CBS “This Morning.” “The very kids that were rescued from the school, the very kids we’re interested in, why should we saddle them when we’re wasting money?”
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FYI: Are Unvaccinated Kids Really Causing The Whooping Cough Resurgence?
There were more cases of whooping cough in the U.S. in 2012 than in any year since 1955, provisional data suggest. The disease, which still sounds a little old-fashioned to these young ears, has been on the rise in America since 1980. What’s going on?
It’s easy to blame parents who choose not to vaccinate their kids, based on anti-science beliefs. Indeed, researchers have found that unvaccinated kids have sparked whooping cough (scientifically known as pertussis) and measles outbreaks in certain schools.
Yet because their [...]
Cricket’s Samsung Galaxy S4 sells June 7 for $600
The Samsung Galaxy S4 will be available on Cricket Wireless.
(Credit:
Lynn La/CNET)
LAS VEGAS — Cricket announced on Wednesday that it’ll sell Samsung’s Galaxy S4 smartphone starting June 7.
The superpremium handset sells for the hefty sum of $599.99, but buyers can also put $55 down and space out monthly payments .
Cricket’s version of the
Galaxy S4 includes the same high-end hardware specs you’ll find on any carrier, like a 5-inch HD screen, 13-megapixel camera, and a TV remote control. However, itR [...]
Costa Concordia charges announced
22 May 2013
Last updated at 15:59
Capt Schettino could face 20 years in jail if convicted
The captain of the Costa Concordia cruise ship which ran aground off Italy with the loss of 32 lives is to be tried on 9 July.
Capt Francesco Schettino faces charges of multiple manslaughter and abandoning ship.
The ship crashed into the island of Giglio off Tuscany in January 2012 before tipping onto its side.
Capt Schettino denies the charges and says that without his actions many more people would have died.
Much of the case aga [...]
Sony shares surge on spin off talk
Sony CEO Kazuo Hirai has said the company’s entertainment division is off limits.
Sony shares spiked to their highest level in two years Wednesday as the company said it would consider a proposal to spin off its movie and music division.
Hedge fund titan Dan Loeb first floated the idea last week, simultaneously announcing that he has amassed a stake of more than 6% in the electronics and entertainment firm.
Loeb’s Third Point hedge fund is now one of Sony’s largest shareholders, and the firm’s position could [...]
Home town funeral for Olympic sailor
22 May 2013
Last updated at 16:10
Andrew ‘Bart’ Simpson lived in Sherborne, Dorset with his wife and two children
The funeral of Olympic sailing champion Andrew Simpson will be held in his home town, the Royal Yachting Association has confirmed.
A service at Sherborne Abbey, Dorset on 31 May will be followed by a reception at the town’s castle.
The 36-year-old 2008 Beijing Olympic gold medallist died when his catamaran flipped over during training for the America’s Cup in San Francisco Bay.
Nicknam [...]
Pfizer to spin off Zoetis stake to shareholders
Wed May 22, 2013 8:52am EDT
(Reuters) – Pfizer Inc said on Wednesday it will spin off its majority stake in animal health business Zoetis Inc to shareholders by allowing them to swap Pfizer stock for Zoetis stock at a 7 percent discount.
Pfizer, the largest drugmaker, sold Zoetis shares in an initial public offering in February that raised $2.2 billion. Pfizer retained an 80 percent stake in Zoetis after the IPO and now plans to unwind that, starting with this offer.
The offer would allow shareholders to excha [...]