One of Costco's secret weapons is coming back

Costco diehards, don't fret: The beloved food court, known for its $1.50 hot dog and soda combo and giant menu boards, is coming back to life, albeit slowly.

http://rss.cnn.com/~r/rss/edition_world/~3/0z-vXeugVR8/index.html

Ukraine looks to Canada for help with NATO membership as Russian military buildup grows

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https://www.reddit.com/r/worldnews/comments/mlq0gy/ukraine_looks_to_canada_for_help_with_nato/

Truck driver expresses 'deep remorse' after deadly Taiwan train crash

A driver whose truck was allegedly involved in a deadly train crash in eastern Taiwan has issued a tearful apology, saying he is "deeply remorseful."

http://rss.cnn.com/~r/rss/edition_world/~3/dtbRNIvhHBE/index.html

British man becomes viral sensation after interview with CNN

CNN's Cyril Vanier catches up with 91-year-old Martin Kenyon, who became an overnight sensation after speaking to CNN when he took his first dose of the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine at Guys Hospital in London.

http://rss.cnn.com/~r/rss/edition_world/~3/-82qa3VT3uA/uk-british-grandfather-martin-kenyon-vanier-pkg-intl-hnk-vpx.cnn

Separation Agreement vs. Court Action

A common first question when approaching a family law lawyer regarding your separation, custody and access issues is whether you should proceed by way of a separation agreement or court action. Both have pros and cons, and both can lead to a successful outcome if it fits your family.

A separation agreement is a document that is negotiated either between the parties, or between counsel and does not involve a judge or court room. The document is drafted using the parties input and wishes, and can encompass all issues regarding the marriage breakdown. This agreement can be as unique as the family, and include clauses to reflect the realities of the family. The greatest pro of this if, done right, it can save the family significant money and a protracted fight in court, and be more customizable to the family it’s about, there is much more freedom to draft your agreement as you wish. But, a separation agreement can be made only by both parties consenting to each paragraph, so if the parties cannot agree, a separation agreement cannot happen. Practically, this can mean days or weeks of negotiation, only for negotiations to fail and a court proceeding must be brought to have the issues settled.

A court action is commenced by issuing court documents, your spouse responding, and proceeding to be in front of a judge for conferences, motions, and eventually a trial. This approach allows a neutral third party, a judge, to make a decision based upon evidence, submissions, and the law, and to craft an Order the parties must abide by. The court process can take multiple years to finish, and can be very costly to litigants. But, when one or both parties cannot agree, it puts the decision making into the hands of a judge well versed in the law to decide for them may be the only option. While this can be a stark contrast between a separation agreement, due to the longevity of a court case, there is ample opportunity for counsel to negotiate and come to a settlement that is made into a court order on consent of both parties. But, if the decision is left to a judge, your family’s future including custody and access to your children as well as how to deal with your property is decided by a judge who does not know you or your family.

By retaining a lawyer, they will be able to properly assess which route is best for you based on your family dynamics, and the viability of negotiation based on each parties starting points on all substantive issues in your case. They use their expertise to help you make a choice with which path will be the most cost and time effective for you. At the end of the day, your family law lawyer wants to ensure you are content with the process, and it sets your family up for a good outcome.

Apple Wins Legal Battle Against EU 14.3 Billion Irish Tax Order

The order pertained to two separate Irish tax rulings that reduced the tax burden of Apple’s two Irish subsidiaries – Apple Sales International and Apple Operations Europe – over the course of two decades, reaching as low as 0.005% in 2014, which the European Commission found to constitute illegal state aid.

The General Court disagreed, however, stating that there was insufficient evidence to demonstrate that Apple’s subsidiaries had been granted a selective economic advantage under EU competition rules.

“The General Court annuls the contested decision because the Commission did not succeed in showing to the requisite legal standard that there was an advantage for the purposes of Article 107(1) TFEU1,” judges said on Wednesday.

“This case was not about how much tax we pay, but where we are required to pay it,” Apple said in a comment on the ruling. “We’re proud to be the largest taxpayer in the world, as we know the important role tax payments play in society.”

The Irish government, which also appealed the 2016 order, insisted that Apple’s treatment was always “in line with normal Irish taxation rules.”

The decision is a loss for the European Commission, though the body has 14 days to appeal the ruling at the European Court of Justice.

https://www.lawyer-monthly.com/2020/07/apple-wins-legal-battle-against-eus-e14-3-billion-irish-tax-order/

Novartis Agrees $347 Million Settlement for Bribery Charges

Novartis International AG has reached settlements with the US Department of Justice (DOJ) and the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to resolve all currently active investigations into the allegedly improper conduct of its overseas subsidiaries.

In a statement, DOJ assistant attorney general Brian Benczkowski described the company as having “profited from bribes that induced medical professionals, hospitals, and clinics to prescribe Novartis-branded pharmaceuticals and use Alcon surgical products,” and concealing evidence of said bribery by falsifying records.

According to the agreement reached, Novartis Greece paid employees to provide “improper benefits” of its drug Lucentis to doctors between 2012 and 2015 to boost sales, and falsified records to conceal evidence of criminality.

A similar scheme was conducted by Alcon Pte Ltd, Novartis’s former subsidiary in Vietnam, where employees made corrupt payments through a third party to staff at state-run medical centres to boost sales of intraocular lenses. Again, records were falsified to record the issued bribes as consulting, marketing and human resource expenses.

With the settlement payments – which total $234 million to the DOJ and $113 million to the SEC – “all outstanding FCPA investigations into the company are now closed,” according to a statement issued by General counsel Shannon Thyme Klinger.

“Today’s settlements represent another milestone in our commitment to resolving legacy compliance issues and ensuring that Novartis truly lives its values.”

The Greek government has announced that it will be seeking compensation from Novartis for losses incurred by the state in connection with the bribery scandal.

https://www.lawyer-monthly.com/2020/06/novartis-agrees-347-million-settlement-for-bribery-charges/