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Category: Europe

Home › Politics › Europe
September 13, 2024 0 In Europe

2 men charged with stealing a famous Banksy image from a London art gallery

A Banksy painting, Girl With Balloon, on display at the Grove Gallery in London after it was stolen on Sunday, then recovered and returned to the gallery, Friday Sept. 13, 2024. (James Manning/PA via AP)

A Banksy painting, Girl With Balloon, on display at the Grove Gallery in London after it was stolen on Sunday, then recovered and returned to the gallery, Friday Sept. 13, 2024. 

LONDON, United Kingdom –

 Two men have been charged with burglary over the theft of an artwork by street artist Banksy that was taken in a smash-and-grab raid on a London gallery.

The Metropolitan Police force said Friday that Larry Fraser, 47, and James Love, 53, are alleged to have taken “Girl with Balloon” from the Grove Gallery on Sunday night.

The suspects appeared at Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court on Thursday and were ordered detained until their next hearing on Oct. 9.

Surveillance camera footage showed a masked man smashing a glass door before dashing in and taking the picture from a wall. Police said they have recovered the work, which is valued in court documents at 270,000 pounds (US$355,000). Nothing else was reported stolen.

The stolen work is one of several versions of “Girl with Balloon,” a stenciled image of a child reaching for a heart-shaped red balloon. Originally stenciled on a wall in east London, the picture has been endlessly reproduced, becoming one of Banksy’s best-known images.

Another version partially self-destructed during a 2018 auction, passing through a shredder hidden in its frame just after it was purchased for 1.1 million pounds (US$1.4 million) at Sotheby’s.

The self-shredded work, retitled “Love is in the Bin,” sold for 18.6 million pounds (US$25.4 million at the time) in 2021.

Gallery manager Lindor Mehmetaj said he was “horrified and petrified” by the theft and grateful to have the picture back.

“We are very lucky, but it is very unusual to have it recovered,” he said, adding that the crime may have increased the work’s value.

“Typically when fine art and masterpieces are stolen, the financial value can skyrocket,” Mehmetaj said. “Hopefully, it is going to be the same for this Banksy.”

Bansky, who has never confirmed his full identity, began his career spray-painting buildings in Bristol, England, and has become one of the world’s best-known artists. His mischievous and often satirical images include two policemen kissing, armed riot police with yellow smiley faces and a chimpanzee with a sign bearing the words, “Laugh now, but one day I’ll be in charge.”

His paintings and installations sell for millions of dollars at auction and have drawn thieves and vandals.

This summer a series of animal-themed stencils showed up around London. One of them, a howling wolf on a satellite dish, was removed by a masked man less than an hour after it was confirmed as authentic. An image of a gorilla at London Zoo and piranhas in a police sentry box in London’s financial district were both removed by the authorities for safekeeping.
September 10, 2024 0 In Europe, Lifestyle

EU’s top court dismisses Apple’s final appeal against order to pay Ireland 13B euros in back taxes

LONDON –

The European Union’s top court on Tuesday rejected Apple’s final legal challenge against an order from the bloc’s executive commission to repay 13 billion euros in back taxes to Ireland, bringing an end to the long-running dispute.

The European Court of Justice overruled a lower court’s earlier decision in the case, saying it “confirms the European Commission’s 2016 decision: Ireland granted Apple unlawful aid which Ireland is required to recover.”

The case drew outrage from Apple when it was opened in 2016, with CEO Tim Cook calling it “total political crap.” Then-U.S. President Donald Trump slammed European Commissioner Margrethe Vestager, who spearheaded the campaign to root out special tax deals and crack down on big U.S. tech companies, as the “tax lady” who “really hates the U.S.”

The European Commission, the bloc’s executive branch, had accused Apple of striking an illegal tax deal with Irish authorities so that it could pay extremely low rates. The European Union’s General Court disagreed with that in its 2020 ruling, which has now been overturned.

“We are disappointed with today’s decision as previously the General Court reviewed the facts and categorically annulled this case,” Apple said in a statement.

“There has never been a special deal,” the company said.

Eight years ago, the ruling that found Ireland had granted a sweetheart deal that let Apple pay almost no taxes across the European bloc for 11 years dramatically escalated the fight over whether America’s biggest corporations are paying their fair share around the world.

The EU head office said that Ireland granted such lavish tax breaks to Apple that the company’s effective corporate tax rate on its European profits dropped from 1 percent in 2003 to a mere 0.005 percent in 2014. Apple has disputed such figures.

The ruling that has now been upheld was one of a number of aggressive moves by European officials to hold U.S. businesses, particularly big tech companies, accountable under the EU’s rules on taxation, competition and privacy.
September 10, 2024 0 In Europe

Frenchman on trial for rape of drugged wife is hospitalized, lawyer says

Police officers walk in the Avignon courthouse prior to the trial of Dominique Pelicot, in Avignon, southern France, Sept. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Lewis Joly)
AVIGNON, France – A 71-year-old man on trial in France accused of drugging his wife and inviting dozens of strangers to rape her in their home was hospitalized on Tuesday for medical checks and treatment, his lawyer told journalists.

Dominique Pelicot, the main defendant in a trial that is set to run until December and has appalled France, had been due to testify later in the day but the presiding court judge ordered him to undergo medical tests first.

“Mr Pelicot is not trying to shirk his responsibility, he will not shirk his responsibility,” defence lawyer Beatrice Zavarro said, adding that her client started to show symptoms of what could be a bladder infection or colic on Friday.

Prosecutors said Pelicot offered sex with his wife on a website and filmed the abuse. Fifty other men accused, over the period of a decade, of raping her when she was knocked unconscious by the drugs are also on trial.

Zavarro has told French media Pelicot admits to his crimes. The other defendants were of all ages and walks of life, French media said, adding that some admitted to being guilty while others said they thought the wife had pretended to be asleep.

They each face up to 20 years in jail if found guilty.
September 10, 2024 0 In Europe, Uncategorized, World

California Line Fire prompts National Guard ground, air forces deployment

The fire was at 5% containment as of Monday night, Cal Fire said.

Firefighting teams battling the southern California Line Fire achieved 5% containment of the blaze Monday night, with 23,714 acres burned.

Cal Fire’s latest update on the wildfire in San Bernardino County east of Los Angeles said 38,002 structures were threatened, though it noted there was so far no damage to buildings or any additional casualties beyond the three firefighters injured previously.

Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Monday that the California National Guard will support the ongoing response to the Line Fire, the cause of which is still unknown.

Members of the Mill Creek Hotshots monitor the Line Fire Monday, Sept. 9, 2024, near Angelus Oaks, Calif.
Gregory Bull/AP

“We’re pouring resources into this incident aggressively by deploying more air and ground support through the California National Guard,” Newsom said in a statement. “This is on top of nearly 2,000 firefighters, nearly 200 engines, and air assets we already have tackling this fire. California stands with these communities and has their backs.”

Monday saw most fire activity in the north and east edges of the wildfire, Cal Fire said, adding, “The fire could remain active overnight as vegetation remains critically dry.”

Firefighters monitor the advancing Line Fire in Mentone, Calif., Monday, Sept. 9, 2024.
Eric Thayer/AP

MORE: Southern California’s Line wildfire surpasses 21,000 acres amid evacuation orders

“Stronger winds are predicted Tuesday which could help fire spread and contribute to longer range spotting. Mid-week cooling may moderate fire activity and increase fuel moistures,” Cal Fire said.

The fire — active since Sept. 5 — is burning in steep and rugged terrain, making access difficult, Cal Fire said. Firefighters, its update added, are working to build “control lines” to contain the blaze.

Evacuation orders are in place for 8,800 structures, with another 29,200 structures under evacuation warnings.

Firefighters monitor the advancing Line Fire in Angelus Oaks, Calif., Monday, Sept. 9, 2024.
Eric Thayer/AP

Four UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters for water bucket dropping operations and two C-130 aircraft with Modular Airborne Fire Fighting Systems will be among the resources deployed by the National Guard, Newsom said.

Eighty troops split into four 20-person hand crews and one military police company to assist the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department with traffic control in evacuated areas.
September 5, 2024 0 In Europe, Health Science, Lifestyle

Nearly 1 in 10 moms regret the name they chose for their baby, according to survey

U.S.

Nearly 1 in 10 moms regret the name they chose for their baby, according to survey

In 2022, Kylie Jenner gave birth to her second baby, a son named Wolf — and then famously changed his name to Aire. Jenner revealed that she felt pressured to sign the birth certificate and chose the name in haste, instantly regretting it. And it turns out some degree of regret over a baby name occurs in nearly 1 in 10 moms, according to a survey from

BabyCenter.

The baby names blog surveyed 478 parents and found 9% regret the name they chose for their baby. In Jenner’s case, she and her son’s father, Travis Scott, “just didn’t feel like it was him.” So, months after he was born, Wolf became Aire.

It took a while for Jenner to find the perfect name for Aire and she even called him Knight for some time. “[A]nd my daughter, still to this day, is like, ‘Do you remember when Aire’s name was Knight?'” she recently told British Vogue. “And I’m like, ‘No.’ And she’s like, ‘That was so funny, Mom. I like Knight better.’ And I’m like: ‘You know what, we are not doing this again.'”

About 6% of parents in the survey went on to legally change their baby’s first or last name, which can be a lengthy process.

Some survey respondents told BabyCenter that the regret they felt didn’t last — and if it did, using a nickname or legally changing their child’s name has helped.

But what causes the regret? Ten percent of those surveyed shared sentiments like Jenner’s, saying their child’s name just didn’t suit their personality.

Fifteen percent of those surveyed said their baby’s name was mocked or critiqued.

Amy Schumer said in a standup act that she changed her baby’s name — Gene Attell Fisher — because it sounded like “genital fisure.” She had chosen her son’s middle name to honor comedian Dave Attell, and changed his middle name to David.

The survey found 20% said they prefer their child’s nickname, while 15% said they prefer their middle name.

Serena Williams’ first daughter is named for her husband, Alexis Ohanian, but they call her by her middle name, Olympia.

Podcaster and actress Casey Wilson named her son Henry Bear, and said on her “Bitch Sesh” podcast she wished she made his first name Bear. She now calls him Bear, but it is unclear if she legally changed his name.

Eleven percent of the parents surveyed said while they like their child’s name, it is culturally-specific and they chose to refer to the child with an English language name.

And some parents have difficulty choosing a name from the start. While some sift through the options in baby name books or websites, others go as far as to hire baby name consultants. Baby name consultant Colleen Slagen told Inside Edition she charges $250 to $400 for name consultations.

On TikTok, a baby name consultant who goes by @emdoodlesandstuff on the app tries to predict social media influencers’ baby names based on their online personalities and aesthetics — and those are some of the criteria she uses when helping clients choose names for their babies. She also takes into account names they like but don’t want to use, and family names.

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