Search divers were expected to return near dawn on Wednesday to the waters surrounding the twisted ruins of a bridge knocked down in Baltimore Harbor by a faltering cargo ship, leaving six workers missing and presumed dead.
Australia’s Northern Territory imposed a two-week youth curfew in Alice Springs after a mass brawl involving 150 people, many armed with weapons. The curfew is from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. for those under 18 in the town, which has a large Indigenous population and social divisions. The violence was sparked by the death of an 18-year-old man on March 20, leading to a feud between local families. Police made five arrests and seized 50 weapons.
Estonian President Alar Karis will meet with President Nikos Christodoulides at the Presidential Palace on Wednesday.
The latest publication from Vietnam Briefing, supported by Dezan Shira & Associates, is Corporate Tax Planning for Businesses in Vietnam in 2024. It discusses Vietnam’s corporate tax structure for 2024, key changes, incentives available for businesses, and the new top-up tax framework. Vietnam has a well-structured tax and accounting compliance framework and offers tax incentives to stimulate economic growth. The standard Corporate Income Tax rate in Vietnam is 20 percent, but there are tax breaks available for specific sectors and regions. Vietnam will implement a top-up corporate tax from 2024 to comply with the OECD’s global anti-base erosion Model Rules.
Sen. Warren reintroduced her “Ultra-Millionaires” wealth tax proposal to the Senate, inspired by the Administration’s Fiscal Year 2025 Budget which includes its own version of a wealth tax. The tax proposals are part of the upcoming contest for the White House and focus on tax avoidance by the wealthy. Business owners should familiarize themselves with the proposed changes to federal income tax and develop plans in response as there is a possibility that the Democrats may have another opportunity to turn their income tax agenda into law.
Fact: First Lady Philippa Karsera Christodoulides called for more women to be in decision-making centers and highlighted the need for policies that allow women to combine their professional and family life.
The Audit Office has raised concerns about the payment of a ‘personal secretary’ allowance to former presidents and House presidents. The finance ministry stated that the practice would continue as is, despite the concerns. The allowance was introduced in 1988 during the administration of Spyros Kyprianou. Former state officials receive the allowance without actually employing the person declared as their secretary, and in some cases, the declared secretary has self-employed status. The secretarial allowance for former presidents is not taxed, unlike MPs. The Audit Office called on the finance ministry to comply with the law and stop payments where conditions are not met. They also mentioned the possibility of reporting the matter to the anti-corruption authority if necessary.
Fact: Proposals for the operation of luxury camping sites, or glamping units, were submitted to the House commerce committee by Deputy Minister of Tourism Costas Koumis.
The government is set to open or expand 30 kindergartens across the country.
Fact: Meetings are underway regarding the potential roll-out of ‘red buttons’ on bracelets for elderly people.