Germany plans to tax major tech companies like Google and Meta at 10%, targeting tax avoidance and boosting media funding. Culture Minister Wolfram Weimer leads the effort, aiming for a fairer contribution from digital firms.
🔍 Key Points: ✔ Legislation: A bill is in progress, with talks on voluntary payments. ✔ Global Trend: Matches similar taxes in Britain, France, India, and Canada. ✔ Trade Tensions: May strain U.S. relations, as past efforts faced backlash. ✔ Concerns: Higher consumer costs and digital slowdown are debated.
📌 Next Steps: Germany’s coalition supports the tax, but a final decision is pending. Chancellor Friedrich Merz will soon visit Washington for discussions.
Germany plans to tax major tech companies like Google and Meta at 10%, targeting tax avoidance and boosting media funding. Culture Minister Wolfram Weimer leads the effort, aiming for a fairer contribution from digital firms.
🔍 Key Points: ✔ Legislation: A bill is in progress, with talks on voluntary payments. ✔ Global Trend: Matches similar taxes in Britain, France, India, and Canada. ✔ Trade Tensions: May strain U.S. relations, as past efforts faced backlash. ✔ Concerns: Higher consumer costs and digital slowdown are debated.
📌 Next Steps: Germany’s coalition supports the tax, but a final decision is pending. Chancellor Friedrich Merz will soon visit Washington for discussions.
Telegram today rolling out an update which brings with it several new features.The update also adds interactive emoji. When you send one of the select animated emoji in chat, you can now tap on it to initiate a full screen animation. The update also adds interactive emoji. When you send one of the select animated emoji in chat, you can now tap on it to initiate a full screen animation. This is then visible to you or anyone else who's also present in chat at the moment. The animations are also accompanied by vibrations. This is then visible to you or anyone else who's also present in chat at the moment. The animations are also accompanied by vibrations.
Telegram hopes to raise $1bn with a convertible bond private placement
The super secure UAE-based Telegram messenger service, developed by Russian-born software icon Pavel Durov, is looking to raise $1bn through a bond placement to a limited number of investors from Russia, Europe, Asia and the Middle East, the Kommersant daily reported citing unnamed sources on February 18, 2021.The issue reportedly comprises exchange bonds that could be converted into equity in the messaging service that is currently 100% owned by Durov and his brother Nikolai.Kommersant reports that the price of the conversion would be at a 10% discount to a potential IPO should it happen within five years.The minimum bond placement is said to be set at $50mn, but could be lowered to $10mn. Five-year bonds could carry an annual coupon of 7-8%.
