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Banking

Israel rebuffs calls for ceasefire; Lebanon strike angers Hezbollah

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:Hezbollah says response will be 'firm and strong' after strike kills 3 children in LebanonBlinken says Palestinian Authority should have central role in future of GazaPalestinian telecommunications company Paltel says communications, internet service cut again across GazaGAZA/RAMALLAH, Nov 5 (Reuters) - Israel on Sunday rebuffed growing international pressure for a ceasefire and said its forces had encircled Gaza City as the top U.S. diplomat scrambled to contain a crisis that threatened to cause further escalation in neighbouring Lebanon.Gaza was under "unprecedented bombardment" from Israel on Sunday, Palestinian news agency...
Finance

EU court says $748 million Belgian tax scheme is illegal state aid

BRUSSELS, Sept 20 (Reuters) - European Union's second-top court on Wednesday backed an EU competition regulator's decision against a 700-million-euro ($748 million) Belgian tax scheme for 55 multinationals, in a major win for EU antitrust chief's crackdown on sweetheart tax deals.The Luxembourg-based General Court had in 2019 annulled Margrethe Vestager's decision after Belgium and about 30 of the companies challenged it.Beneficiaries of the Belgian scheme that dated from 2005 included U.S. manufacturer Magnetrol, oil company BP (BP.L), chemical producer BASF (BASFn.DE), Wabco, Cellio, Atlas Copco (ATCOa.ST) and Belgacom, now Proximus...