Tepak salary concerns raised in committee
Fact: Salaries for the month of March were disbursed to Tepak employees using reserves from the university’s pension fund.
government
Samsung Electronics, SK hynix Report Zero Corporate Taxes – Here’s Why
Samsung Electronics and SK hynix did not pay corporate taxes last year due to operating losses caused by the semiconductor industry downturn.
Tennessee lawmakers still at odds over business tax cut as session enters final days • Tennessee Lookout
House and Senate lawmakers are still in disagreement over Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee’s .9 billion business tax cut proposal. The sticking points include how many years of refunds to give and a requirement in the House version for the revenue department to disclose the names and amounts of refunds companies receive. Both versions would eliminate the property portion of the state’s franchise tax, resulting in 0 million in annual lost revenue for the state. The Senate passed a version similar to Lee’s proposal, offering three years of refunds without requiring disclosure of recipients. The House version offers 1-2 years of refunds and includes the disclosure requirement. The conference committee is working to resolve the differences between the two versions.
HMRC collected £95.2 billion in business taxes in the last tax year – Accountancy Age
Fact: £95.2 billion was collected in business taxes from April 2023 to March 2024.
UK Conservative mayor keeps distance from Sunak in bid to avoid local election wipeout
Andy Street, the mayor of the West Midlands, is distancing himself from British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s government ahead of local elections. Street, a Conservative, has built a personal brand that downplays his party allegiance and has even had public disagreements with Sunak. The upcoming local elections are seen as a defensive one for the Conservatives, with Street facing a tough race against the Labour candidate despite his positive approval ratings. Street’s ability to attract voters who wouldn’t usually vote Conservative may give him a chance in the election.
Reuters: Israeli military to launch Rafah operation immediately, awaits approval
Israel is conducting an assault on Hamas in Rafah, the last Gaza Strip city not yet targeted by a ground offensive. The Israeli military is focusing its attacks on areas in the north of Gaza where they had previously withdrawn troops. Aid agencies have expressed concern over the potential humanitarian crisis in Rafah, where over 1 million people have been displaced. Israeli strikes in the past 24 hours have killed at least 79 Palestinians, with heavy shelling reported in northern Gaza and suburbs of Gaza City. Residents are questioning the reasons for the renewed violence, with one resident suggesting it may be due to aid finally reaching the area. The Israeli military has not provided immediate comment on the recent developments.
Fixed yields attract investors ahead of rate cuts
Investors are rushing into fixed yield opportunities before interest rates are cut, as central banks signal looser monetary policies due to cooling inflation.
Racist violence surges in Greece, report finds
Attacks against migrants, refugees, and LGBT people in Greece surged to their highest level in nearly a decade last year, with 158 attacks recorded in 2023.
20 years since the Annan plan referendum
– A referendum was held on April 24, 2004, to reunite Cyprus under the Annan plan.
– 65% of Turkish Cypriots voted in favor, while 76% of Greek Cypriots voted against the plan.
– The plan was never implemented, and Cyprus remains divided.
– The Greek Cypriot electorate rejected the specific solution offered in the plan.
– The current status quo encourages the Greek Cypriot side’s uncompromising attitude.
Cabinet approves extension to state health service funding
The Cabinet approved a bill granting a one-year extension to the state health services (Okypy) to address deficits. The bill will head to plenum on Thursday before its operations are suspended ahead of the upcoming elections.