Pakistan police kill bomber, militant to thwart attack on Japanese nationals
Fact: Police in Pakistan’s Karachi shot down a suicide bomber and a militant who attacked a vehicle carrying five Japanese nationals, all of whom survived.
government
Our View: State bureaucratic inefficiency is a running joke
– Bureaucratic inefficiency in state services leads to delays in processing citizens’ applications.
– Almost 20,000 applications are pending at town planning authorities and 100,000 cases are open at Lands and Surveys offices.
– Applications for benefits and pensions take months to be processed.
– Deputies are spending 80% of their time dealing with citizens’ application delays.
– Interior Minister attributes delays to incomplete forms, understaffing, and poor digitalization.
– Evaluation of public employees is unrelated to deliverables and meeting targets.
– Government has failed to improve service to citizens due to fear of Pasydy, lack of service culture, and slow digitalization.
– Christodoulides government has not taken significant action to improve service to citizens.
Cyprus , ‘consistent’ on Kosovo non-recognition
Cyprus maintains its long-standing position of not recognizing unilaterally declared independence, including that of Kosovo. Cyprus’ Foreign Minister is expected to vote against Kosovan membership in the Council of Europe. The resolution passed inviting Kosovo to join the Council of Europe and have three seats in the Pace, similar to Cyprus.
UK financial sector seeks stronger accountability of regulators
A new sector-wide body could help ensure that Britain’s financial regulators fully comply with their new remit of aiding international competitiveness when writing rules.
Health minister hails year one achievements (Updated)
Health Minister Michael Damianos praised his ministry’s accomplishments during the first year of President Nikos Christodoulides’ tenure, highlighting the implementation of expenses coverage plan for patients sent abroad for treatment, the increase in subsidy for infertility treatment, and the preparation of new health strategies including better management of patients with mental health problems and nutritional disorders. Additionally, investments in infrastructures and medical equipment in public hospitals worth €22 million were approved.
Cyprus denies allegations of migrant pushbacks
Cyprus denied allegations of pushing back and threatening migrants during an operation off the coast of Lebanon. The individuals were provided with food and blankets before being sent back, and Cyprus did not push back any of the boats. The UNHCR and EU define pushback as forcibly returning migrants without access to international protection or asylum procedures. The Republic of Cyprus stated that it respects international conventions and acts within the framework of legality. Interior Minister Constantinos Ioannou emphasized that their actions regarding migration flows comply with international regulations.
How Burdensome Are Your State’s Nonresident Income Tax Filing Laws?
Fact: Nearly half the states in the US require individuals to file nonresident individual income tax returns if they work for even a single day within that state.
Freeland’s new federal budget hikes taxes on the rich to cover billions in new spending | CBC News
Fact: Ottawa plans to spend .9 billion more than planned over the next five years, with a projected billion deficit this fiscal year.
Canada Hikes Capital Gains Tax to Raise Billions for Housing – BNN Bloomberg
Canada will raise capital gains taxes on businesses and wealthy individuals to help pay for new spending aimed at making housing more affordable and improving the lives of young people. Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland said the government will tax Canadian companies on two-thirds of their capital gains, up from half currently.
Capital gains tax change draws ire from some Canadian entrepreneurs worried it will worsen brain drain | CBC News
The federal government’s budget includes an increase in the inclusion rate of the capital gains tax from 50% to 67% for businesses and trusts, generating an estimated billion in new revenue. This change will impact 40,000 individuals and 307,000 companies in Canada. Some members of the business community believe that expanding the taxable amount will hurt productivity, investment, and entrepreneurship in Canada, potentially leading to a brain drain.