Police arrest 13 after 761 migrants arrive in Cyprus in four days

Police arrest 13 after 761 migrants arrive in Cyprus in four days

Immigration authorities in Famagusta and Larnaca arrested 13 people suspected of facilitating illegal entry into the Republic after 761 Syrian nationals arrived on the island aboard 13 vessels. The alleged navigators of the boats, all reportedly Syrian nationals, are in custody. Radar detected three new boats on Tuesday evening, with one carrying 27 people intercepted southeast of Cape Greco, another dinghy with 236 migrants found overloaded, and a third carrying 22 individuals directed to a fishing shelter. Several individuals involved in these incidents have been arrested, with the Interior Minister warning that Cyprus may not be able to cope with increased migration flows. Cyprus is demanding practical solidarity from other EU member states in dealing with the situation.

Cash flows to Cyprus increase, amid money laundering fears

Cash flows to Cyprus increase, amid money laundering fears

– €90 million out of €101.6 million declared in cash transactions have no prosecutions before court.
– Most cash declarations at airport customs offices are for the purchase of real estate.
– In the beginning of 2023, 25% of entities were designated as high risk for money laundering, terrorist funding, and tax avoidance.
– There is currently no limit on the amount of cash someone can use to purchase something in Cyprus, as long as purchases over €10,000 are declared to the tax commissioner.

Cabinet ratifies police and FBI cooperation

Cabinet ratifies police and FBI cooperation

Fact: The memorandum of cooperation between Cyprus’ police and the FBI will strengthen Cyprus’ law enforcement with expertise to combat money laundering and investigate cases involving financial crime.

Calls for transparency on First Lady, ’s social support fund

Calls for transparency on First Lady, ’s social support fund

Fact: MPs called for more transparency over the social support fund managed by the First Lady during a House ethics committee meeting.

Legal Services to meet over monastery scandal

Legal Services to meet over monastery scandal

A meeting at the state Legal Services will be held this week on potential financial crimes and money laundering at the Osiou Avakoum monastery.

Biden’s tax-hike plan would cost the US economy nearly 800K jobs

Biden's tax-hike plan would cost the US economy nearly 800K jobs

President Biden has proposed tax hikes targeting corporations and wealthy Americans to reduce the national debt. The Tax Foundation found that these tax increases could reduce economic output by 2.2% in the long run, slash wages by 1.6%, and kill about 788,000 full-time equivalent jobs. Biden’s proposal includes a 25% minimum tax rate on households worth more than 0 million, raising the capital gains tax rate, quadrupling the corporate stock buyback tax to 4%, raising the corporate tax rate to 28%, increasing the Medicare tax paid by wealthy Americans, implementing a global minimum tax on multinational corporations, and closing the carried interest loophole used by private equity and hedge fund managers. The tax increases would reduce the federal deficit by about trillion and help fund new programs like a monthly tax credit for homeowners, child care subsidies, and lower prescription drug costs. The corporate income tax proposal is considered the most harmful to economic growth, with higher taxes on corporations alone potentially reducing GDP by 0.9%, wages by 0.8%, and full-time equivalent jobs by 192,000. The proposals are unlikely to gain support in Congress, especially from Republicans who control the House.

Google to destroy browsing data to settle consumer privacy lawsuit

Google to destroy browsing data to settle consumer privacy lawsuit

Google agreed to settle a lawsuit by destroying billions of data records related to secretly tracking the internet use of people who thought they were browsing privately.

Why Big Corporations Get Special Tax Breaks and You Don’t, by Jim Hightower

Why Big Corporations Get Special Tax Breaks and You Don't, by Jim Hightower

– Free market ideologues justify corporate greed over public need by fabricating stories about how tax windfalls will be invested for the common good, but in reality, the money is simply pocketed by corporate executives.
– The Institute for Policy Studies analyzed financial data of 35 profitable corporations, including Tesla, T-Mobile, and Duke Energy, and found that they paid zero in federal taxes and received nearly billion in refunds over a four-year period.
– Asbestos, a cancer-causing product banned in over 50 countries, continues to be used in the U.S., causing the deaths of thousands of Americans each year, especially firefighters. Despite efforts to ban it, the EPA under Trump did nothing, but under Biden, a ban is set to take effect in twelve years due to industry lobbying.
– Political hucksters who push to eliminate regulations may be putting corporate profits over public safety, as seen in the case of asbestos. Trump has promised to eliminate regulations if elected again, raising concerns about who will benefit from such actions.

Rich and retired: the boom beneficiaries who finance Germany’s far right

Rich and retired: the boom beneficiaries who finance Germany’s far right

Germany has seen a decline since the 1970s, with the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party gaining support. The party relies on private donations, with wealthy, elderly backers like Hartmut Issmer, who gave 250,000 euros last year. These donors, mainly businessmen, have views they are unafraid to share and are disproportionately influential. AfD’s treasurer mentioned a positive trajectory for donations, but if the party fails to replace its ageing donor base, that could change. The party is under scrutiny for extremism and racism, making it toxic for potential sympathizers. Mainstream parties receive more significant donations from large companies and associations compared to the AfD.

Fast-food companies seeing low-income diners pare orders

Fast-food companies seeing low-income diners pare orders

Fact: Roughly a quarter of low-income consumers, defined as those making less than ,000 a year, said they were eating less fast food and about half said they were making fewer trips to fast-casual and full-service dining establishments.