complaints

Policy elites blind to tax burden

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Policy elites blind to tax burden

President William Ruto believes that Kenyans are not overtaxed, citing the concept of ‘tax effort’ as a measure of tax revenue as a percentage of GDP. He argues that the government needs to increase tax effort to fund infrastructure projects and meet international standards for service delivery. However, he criticizes the reliance on IMF advice and GDP statistics, pointing out data quality issues and the impact of high taxes on citizens and businesses. Ruto suggests assessing the impact of taxes on the cost of living through household surveys to determine if Kenyans are indeed overtaxed.

Corbyn to run as independent in UK election

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Corbyn to run as independent in UK election

Jeremy Corbyn, former leader of Britain’s Labour Party, announced he will run as an independent candidate in the upcoming general election on July 4. Labour suspended Corbyn in 2020 due to handling of anti-Semitism complaints. Despite not being included in the shortlist for candidates for his Islington North seat, Corbyn decided to run independently, stating that members of Islington North Labour were denied the right to choose a candidate.

Cyprus road deaths rise; pedestrians, foreigners affected more

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Cyprus road deaths rise; pedestrians, foreigners affected more

Road fatalities in Cyprus have increased in 2024, despite efforts to improve safety with traffic cameras and campaigns. There has been a 41% rise in road deaths compared to the same period in 2023, with most fatalities now occurring in urban areas due to drivers using mobile phones. Alcohol-related deaths are down, but complaints about speeding and inattention persist. Limassol and Nicosia have the highest number of fatalities this year, while Paphos has had no deaths. Pedestrians and foreign nationals are disproportionately affected by the increase in accidents.

Strovolos cats eat kittens in stressful confinement, as welfare association demands measures

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Strovolos cats eat kittens in stressful confinement, as welfare association demands measures

The Cat Protection and Welfare Association (P.A.W.S.) is urging authorities to take action against an individual accused of neglecting cats held in cages for months in Strovolos. P.A.W.S. president Dinos Agiomamitis alleges that the cats, including three who gave birth in captivity, are suffering due to prolonged confinement, with stress causing the mothers to kill and eat their kittens. Despite repeated complaints, relevant bodies like the police and veterinary services have failed to intervene. The cats endured poor conditions, including exposure to harsh weather that led to flooding in the cages. P.A.W.S. is requesting the Attorney General prosecute the individual for animal cruelty, while Strovolos Municipality has already filed charges against the owner for illegal structures housing the cats. The accused reportedly lives away from the location and feeds the cats wet bread twice a week.

Livingston Chamber Criticizes Proposed NJ Business Tax Hike

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Livingston Chamber Criticizes Proposed NJ Business Tax Hike

The Livingston Chamber of Commerce opposes a proposed 2.5 percent tax hike on high-earning businesses in New Jersey, which would fund NJ Transit.

IWW Cyprus: Workers spend the majority of their daily lives in undemocratic workplaces

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IWW Cyprus: Workers spend the majority of their daily lives in undemocratic workplaces

The Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) is a global labor union that has been organizing in Cyprus since 2020. The IWW stands out from traditional trade unions by being a union for all workers, including minorities, migrants, and sex workers. The IWW is not trying to be friendly with employers and government, unlike traditional unions. The IWW is a horizontal organization that values transparency and full participation rights for all members. The IWW encourages workers to join traditional trade unions as well. In Cyprus, the IWW organizes all workers under one big union, unlike traditional federations divided by profession or sector. The IWW aims to prioritize organizing over mere mobilizing and believes in forming strong relationships with fellow workers.

Prisoners , ‘scared for their safety’ anti-torture report finds

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Prisoners , ‘scared for their safety’ anti-torture report finds

The Nicosia central prisons in Cyprus are overcrowded, with some accommodation blocks operating at more than 300 percent of their design capacity. Prisoners are forced to sleep on mattresses on the floor and urinate in bottles due to lack of access to toilets at night. The report also highlighted instances of violence against prisoners, including staff slapping prisoners and using wooden sticks to intimidate them. Additionally, there were concerns raised about racist behavior, inter-prisoner violence, and the development of informal prisoner hierarchies within the prison.

How to inspect secondhand farm machinery

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How to inspect secondhand farm machinery

Purchasing secondhand farm machinery can be a cost-effective way to equip agricultural operations without the hefty price tag of new equipment.

Consumers warned about internet shopping platform

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Consumers warned about internet shopping platform

The Cypriot Union of Consumers and Quality of Life has warned consumers about purchasing items from the internet platform Temu, which does not respect European consumer safety legislation. The organisation calls on the government consumer protection service to investigate the platform and take measures. Temu was hit with a European Union complaint over a potential breach of online content rules under the EU’s Digital Services Act. BEUC lodged a grievance with the European Commission and 17 of its members in various countries also filed complaints with their national authorities against Temu for using manipulative practices and breaching the EU’s Digital Services Act.

Temu faces EU scrutiny over alleged consumer protection violations

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Temu faces EU scrutiny over alleged consumer protection violations

Temu, a popular e-commerce app in the EU with 75 million monthly users, is under scrutiny for potential breaches of consumer protection laws. The European consumer rights organization BEUC and national bodies have filed complaints alleging the use of manipulative design tactics to pressure users into purchases, lack of transparency on seller information, and violations of the Digital Services Act. Temu has pledged to cooperate and investigate the allegations. Similar concerns have been raised in Germany and South Korea, with the app expected to face stricter compliance requirements as a “very large” digital platform under the DSA.