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Greece loses fight over lower taxes for locally brewed spiritsGreece lost a fight to set a lower excise tax on two traditional spirits tsipouro and tsikoudia versus imported products after Europe’s top court on Thursday backed the European Commission’s view that such preferential treatment would breach EU laws. Small or so-called two-day distillers of the two beverages also enjoyed a super-reduced rate of around 6%. Both spirits, which are made from grapes, have protected designation of origin labels, an EU designation to promote and protect the names of quality agricultural products and foodstuffsThe Commission said the lower taxes indirectly protected tsipouro and tsikoudia from competition from similar imported products.
Giant manta ray ‘begs snorkeler to help save her life in incredible encounter’'That manta absolutely understood what was going on. Jake went down again and again and she just remained still for him'A giant manta ray has been filmed appearing to beg a professional diver for help saving her life.The three-metre-wide sea creature is shown swimming up to snorkelling guide Jake Wilton and flipping over in the water – apparently to show him fish hooks embedded in her right eye.
Thomas Cook in £750m rescue deal talksTroubled travel company Thomas Cook is in £750m rescue talks with banks and its largest shareholder, Fosun.The measures, which have not been finalised, would see the Chinese investor buy the firm's tour business.Thomas Cook's chief executive, Peter Fankhauser, said the proposal was "not the outcome any of us wanted" but insisted it was "pragmatic".He told the BBC that customers did not need to worry because their holiday bookings were "secure".
Northern Irish civil servant paid £10,000 after claiming offence over walking past Queen's portraits A senior Northern Ireland civil servant was paid £10,000 in compensation because he was offended at having to walk past portraits of the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh, it has emerged.His complaints led to the portraits being removed at his request, and replaced by a picture of the Queen meeting Martin McGuinness, the former deputy first minister of Northern Ireland and ex-IRA leader.
Energy Minister Says Greece Facing Power BlackoutsWith parts of Greece’s capital having experienced some blackouts, new Energy Minister Costis Hatzidakis said there could be power cuts because the debt-crushed state-owned public utility “is stretched to its limits.”New Democracy took over from the Radical Left SYRIZA that was ousted in July 7 snap elections and leaving behind an electric company on the verge of collapse, partially because the Leftists wouldn’t allow power to be cut for some people who couldn’t pay for electricity.
What is the Thomas Cook rescue deal and what does it mean for holidaymakers?Thomas Cook is in advanced talks with China’s Fosun over a £750m rescue packageThomas Cook has announced a dramatic financial restructuring, which it hopes to complete by September.These are the key questions and answers about the oldest brand in travel.
Heathrow strike: Airport could be ‘shut down’ over summer as more than 4,000 workers walk outHeathrow airport will be “shut down” this summer by a series of strikes involving 4,000 workers, the Unite union has warned.Unite members across the airport’s four terminals have given notice of six days of walk-outs in a dispute over pay.More than 4,000 airport employees, including security guards, engineers, passenger service operatives and passenger service drivers, are set to stage industrial action on Friday 26 and Saturday 27 July, Monday 5, Tuesday 6, Friday 23 and Saturday 24 August, in a move that could potentially shut down the airport.The first two and last two dates are expected to be very busy weekends.British Airways, which has the majority of operations at Heathrow, says it plans to operate as normal. Unite members at Stansted airport who work as check-in staff for easyJet have called a series of strikes beginning on 25 July and continuing every weekend in August.
Germany, France, Greece and Spain host 68% of illegal migrants in EU, Eurostat report finds68% of illegal migrants present in the EU live in four EU countries: Germany, France, Greece and Spain, but numbers vary greatly.Germany claims the highest number of non-EU illegal migrants in 2018, with 134,100. France is second with 105,900. They are 93,400 [Greece?] and 78,300 in Spain.