Agriculture Minister Maria Panayiotou launched the ‘e-Kofini’ pricewatch platform for fruits and vegetables, which provides biweekly alerts on prices. The platform lists average prices from farmers organizations and major supermarkets to provide transparency and keep consumers informed. The first pricewatch showed a significant difference between producer and retail prices for various products.
More than 1,200 people have signed up to participate in the government’s “e-Kofini” channel on the communication app Viber. The platform lists prices for locally sourced fruit and vegetables, providing transparency in terms of retail prices and the prices producers are receiving. Retail prices for products like tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchinis, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, onions, peppers, beans, peas, bananas, watermelons, melons, and strawberries are updated every Monday and Thursday. Retail prices are considerably higher compared to those sold by producer groups and organizations, sometimes more than double the price.
The agriculture ministry has launched a new price observatory for fruit and vegetable products named ‘e-Kofini’ to ensure transparency and fair prices in the local market. Selling prices are obtained from verified fruit and vegetable producer groups and organizations, with data collected twice a week to highlight price differences. The aim is to inform consumers about expected prices of local fruit and vegetables, improving market transparency.
Digital Taxation around the World | Tax Foundation Skip to content taxA tax is a mandatory payment or charge collected by local, state, and national governments from individuals or businesses to cover the costs of general government services, goods, and activities. policies, a significant number of countries adopted unilateral tax measures targeted at digital businesses, … Read more
– Uganda has a fiscal deficit of 5.6 percent in 2023
– World Bank suspended funding to Uganda over anti-homosexuality law
– Traders in Kampala protested against high taxes and enforcement tactics
– Uganda has a narrow tax base, with tax collections totaling less than 14 percent of GDP
– Only 1 million Ugandans pay tax out of a population of almost 50 million
– Top 1,000 taxpayers contribute more than three-quarters of all tax revenue collections
– Uganda’s tax regime is less effective than many of its Sub-Saharan counterparts
– Tax regime is perceived as unfair by ordinary citizens
– Tax laws have elements of being progressive, particularly in personal income taxation
– Uganda faces challenges in raising sufficient funds for public services and economic development
– Reforms are needed in personal income tax rates, VAT threshold, presumptive tax thresholds, and business taxation
– Greater transparency in public spending and service delivery can improve taxpayer morale and compliance
Fact: The pharmaceutical industry pays the lowest effective tax rate in 2022 at 11.6%, with some companies like Pfizer and Abbvie paying even lower rates.
Columbia University has begun suspending pro-Palestinian student activists who refused to dismantle a protest camp on campus after negotiations failed. The crackdown follows similar protests at other university campuses across the U.S. Students are demanding divestment, transparency in university finances, and amnesty for those disciplined for participating in protests. The protests have sparked intense debate over freedom of expression and hate speech, with some students facing censure for criticizing the Israeli government or expressing support for Palestinian rights. Other campuses, like UCLA, have seen clashes between pro-Israeli activists and pro-Palestinian protesters. Law enforcement tactics, such as the use of pepper spray and flash-bang charges, have been criticized. Arrests have occurred at various universities, including Virginia Commonwealth University and Virginia Tech.
The European Union has identified 200 essential “critical medicines” to address shortages and ensure consistent supply across member states. The EU is promoting cooperation among countries to allow for drug procurement from nations with available stocks. The Critical Medicines Alliance aims to help smaller states like Cyprus, which often struggle with stock levels. Efforts include strengthening EU drug production capacity, creating European stockpiles, and aligning funding to tackle shortages. Elena Panayiotopoulos, Cyprus’ Director of Pharmaceutical Services, emphasized the importance of addressing medicine shortages that disrupt treatment and endanger patients. The EU Regulation ‘HTA’ will provide Cyprus with a common clinical assessment in 2025 to help access innovative treatments and effective medicines.
– The UAE has introduced a federal corporate tax to strengthen its economic future.
– The tax policy aligns with international standards and aims to solidify the UAE’s position as a global financial center.
– Corporate tax rates are set at 0% for annual incomes up to AED375,000 and 9% beyond that threshold.
– The UAE is committed to sustainable development goals and has reformed tax policies to support economic growth and inclusivity.
– The UAE has joined the BEPS programme and supports global tax fairness initiatives.
– Regulatory decisions have been made to guide the implementation of the corporate tax law in the UAE.
– The Ministry of Finance is conducting public awareness sessions to ensure understanding of the new tax law.
Fact: Innovate Change Casino and similar entities are facing increased operational costs due to the need to comply with enhanced regulatory standards, which include technology upgrades, compliance and legal advisory services, staff training, licensing and certification fees, and operational adjustments.