Category Archives: Business

Business, Law Enforcement

STATE-WIDE PLASTIC BAN LOOMS IN CALIFORNIA

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imageLos Angeles, California – Plastic bags are already banned in many cities and counties in California, but a comprehensive and radical proposal by legislators could make all plastics a thing of the past in this environmentally-conscious sunny state.

The proposal, supported by a bi-partisan group of lawmakers but vehemently opposed by private business, would totally ban all forms of plastic – from grocery and shopping bags to smart phone cases to debit and credit cards.  Yes, you heard that right: debit and credit cards.

State senators have argued that it is not enough to ban single-use or even reusable plastics. “We must also target the source and cause of the demand for these non-biodegradable items,” they said.

“Almost everyone uses debit and credit cards – also known simply as ‘plastics’ – to shop,” the senators pointed out, ” so if plastic cards are also banned, people will stop shopping and there would be no need for plastic bags or goods. It’s a simple case of supply and demand.”

 

Business, International, Law Enforcement, Politics

PHILIPPINE TAXWOMAN GOES AFTER THE BIG FISH: MANNY PACQUIAO AND ROSE FOSTANES

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L-R: Pacquiao, Fostanes, Henares
L-R: Pacquiao, Fostanes, Henares

Manila, Philippines – Got money? Watch out,  Kim Henares will go after you.

Henares is the commissioner of the Philippines’ Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), the counterpart of the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS).  She has gained the reputation of going after the big fish – Filipinos like world boxing champion Manny Pacquiao and newly-crowned X Factor Israel winner Rose Fostanes. Henares wants a chunk of their earnings abroad.

Analysts say that Henares’ actions are a desperate attempt to  save her tax agency from bankruptcy. The BIR, which many Filipinos consider among the most corrupt agencies, continues to face declining revenues due to  widespread tax evasion schemes especially among the country’s richest tycoons.

However, The Adobo Chronicles learned that Pacquiao and Fostanes are joining hands to challenge Henares in court and prevent her from taxing their foreign earnings. In papers to be filed in court  today, Pacquiao and Fostanes claim that the BIR has no authority to collect taxes from their prize money earned in the U.S.  and Israel, respectively.

“That is why the agency is called Bureau of INTERNAL Revenue,” lawyers said, so earnings outside the Philippines should be off limits to  the tax agency.”

Makes perfect sense.

Business, Sports

49ERS AND SEAHAWKS WILL PLAY TO A HALF-EMPTY STADIUM

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imageSeattle, Washington – CenturyLink Field, the Seattle Seahawks’ home stadium, seats 67,000 people, but Sunday’s game between the Seahawks and the San Francisco 49ers will play to just half capacity, thanks to the Seahawks’ brilliant idea not to sell tickets to anyone whose billing address has any zip code in California.

Seahawks fans are notoriously the noisiest football fans in all of th US of A. They seemed threatened by the equally passionate 49er fans, so they were hoping to shut out the latter from watching the game live in Seattle. The winner of this game moves on to the Superbowl.

CenturyLink Field is poised to lose millions of dollars from the expected half capacity,  not to mention lost revenue from beer and hotdog sales. A brilliant plan that backfired.

Meanwhile, sports bars and other venues in California that will show the game on their large screen TVs are in for brisk business on a Sunday preceding a holiday (Martin Luther King) .

Go 49ers!