MADRID: Barcelona's Gerard Pique will be forced to pay 2.1 million euros (US$2.36 million) to Spain's tax authorities after his conviction for rights-image fraud was confirmed, a legal source told AFP on Wednesday (Jul 10).According to a May 13 decision the country's National Court rejected Pique's appeal against the 2016 sentence which required the former Spain international to pay 1.5 million euros in tax arrears and a 600,000 euros fine.The tribunal concluded Pique had faked the handover of his rights images to his Kerad Project company to pay less tax for 2008, 2009 and 2010.Pique, a World Cup and European Championships winner retains the right to appeal to Spain's supreme court.The verdict comes a month after his wife, Colombian musician Shakira, was questioned by a judge near the Catalan city over alleged evasion of 14.5 million euros in taxes.Her press team released a statement in which they said the artist was innocent.The centre-back's former teammate at the Camp Nou Neymar is … [Read more...] about Footballer Gerard Pique handed 2.1 million tax bill
1 million a month
RM500 million a year from exports to China
PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia is expected to generate RM500 million a year from the export of frozen durian to China. About 1,000 tonnes of premier durian, such as Musang King (D197) and Black Thorn (D200), will be exported monthly to the country, Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Datuk Salahuddin Ayub said at the launch of the first export of frozen durian to China yesterday. “The export of frozen durian are expected to reach RM500 million a year.” Salahuddin said permission to export whole frozen durian was given to the first group of five companies that met the standard operating procedure, that are stringent. “Those companies are Exofruits Industry, JL Food Industries, PHG Ever Fresh Food, Top Fruits and KAMI Food Services. The ministry hopes that more companies will get export approval in the near future,” he added. He urged interested companies to consult and register with the Department of Agriculture. Salahuddin said Malaysia’s efforts to … [Read more...] about RM500 million a year from exports to China
US Women’s Open winner to get $1 million after prize boost
The United States Golf Association said in a statement prize money for the 119th US Open at Pebble Beach and the 74th US Women's Open at Charleston had each been increased by $500,000. It means the US Women's Open purse will total $5.5 million. The $1 million winner's cheque on offer in Charleston this week will be the richest payout in the history of women's golf. Top women's players welcomed the news of the prize money hike on Tuesday. "I think it's amazing news," Lexi Thompson told reporters in South Carolina. "I think it is very well-deserved, but I think overall golf is just growing as a sport. The players are very excited about the news, and hopefully we can just keep on improving." The US Open, meanwhile, which takes place at Pebble Beach from June 13-16, will see its total purse increase to $12.5 million. "The USGA is committed to providing an unparalleled experience to every player competing in its championships," USGA championships director John Bodenhamer said … [Read more...] about US Women’s Open winner to get $1 million after prize boost
Prayut vague over workers’ demand for Bt5,000 a month pension
The workers demanded that the Social Security Office (SSO) pension be increased to no less than Bt5,000 a month. After a merit-making ceremony presided over by Labour Minister General Adul Sangsingkeo at the Royal Thai Army Sports Stadium in Phya Thai district, workers from 17 labour organisations marched to Kilawet 2 Stadium in Din Daeng district. They held placards demanding better working and living conditions. Prayut presided over the National Labour Day event at Kilawet and received the workers’ list of demands from their representative, Thawee Techateerawat. Some of the demands have already been met, but most were awaiting legal amendments, Prayut said, without elaborating on which of the demands his government had implemented. He told workers that Thailand has the world’s fourth-lowest unemployment rate and that his government had vowed to help raise labour skills to international standards. There were 3.9 million unemployed workers in … [Read more...] about Prayut vague over workers’ demand for Bt5,000 a month pension
My brother’s in jail. Why does talking to him require hundreds of dollars a month and 1990s technology?
/https://www.thestar.com/content/dam/thestar/opinion/contributors/2019/04/30/my-brothers-in-jail-why-does-talking-to-him-require-hundreds-of-dollars-a-month-and-1990s-technology/anthony_morgan.jpg)
By Anthony Morgan Opinion Tues., April 30, 2019 “One of us goes in, and we all go through it …” — Drake, “Headlines” Incarceration is seldom a solo affair. It’s true that the individual person subjected to carceral control bears the brunt of the physical, emotional, psychological, social and financial costs of being forced to surrender their freedom to the state. However, this painful price isn’t paid by the incarcerated person alone: their friends, family members and others who care about them suffer their own sizeable share of loss, sadness, fear and frustration precipitated by their loved one’s incarceration. My family, that is my mom, my sister, Toni, and I, know this reality viscerally well. I have a younger brother, Theo (not his real name), who is currently serving a multi-year sentence in one of Ontario’s federal correctional institutions. This latest stint follows more than a decade of … [Read more...] about My brother’s in jail. Why does talking to him require hundreds of dollars a month and 1990s technology?