Topic: Union Jack

U.S. Treasury Secretary Jack Lew expressed outrage over the European Commission's ruling against Apple, arguing the move infringes on American tax jurisdiction. Critics point to Lew's history as a former Citigroup executive during the 2008 financial crisis as context for his protective stance toward multinational corporations. The U.S. government fears the EU ruling will allow companies to offset European payments against American tax liabilities, reducing domestic revenue.

Former Ambassador to the Soviet Union Jack Matlock provided a historical perspective on the Ukraine conflict, noting that Crimea was added to Ukraine by "fiat" in the 1950s. Matlock argued that Ukraine is a deeply divided society and that U.S. involvement often has a negative effect. His interview was abruptly cut off by the news host as he began criticizing American foreign policy.

Queen Elizabeth II and actor Sean Connery issued contrasting messages regarding the Scottish independence vote. Media reports suggest that Scottish independence could damage the alliance between the United Kingdom and the United States and require a redesign of the Union Jack flag. Speculation arises that the U.S. interest in the region is primarily tied to North Sea oil resources.

Former U.S. Ambassador to the Soviet Union, Jack Matlock, appears in a clip from "Democracy Now!" to discuss the Ukraine situation. Matlock argues that Russia will continue to intervene as long as there is a prospect of Ukraine joining NATO. He describes Ukraine as a complex, artificially constructed state that requires internal agreement between its eastern and western regions.