Sugary drinks, processed foods, alcohol and tobacco are big killers: why the G20 should add its weight to health taxes: By 2030, non-communicable diseases will account for 75% of all deaths annually. Eight percent of these will be in the global south. Most of these diseases are what we call silent killers: type 2 diabetes, …
South Africa’s fight over VAT raises a key question: who should bear the burden of taxes?: The unprecedented postponement of the tabling of South Africa’s 2025 budget because of disagreement within the coalition government over a two percentage point increase in value added tax (VAT), highlights the country’s dilemma. The government needs to raise revenue …
Taxes on e-cigarettes: South Africa must strike a balance between economic arguments and health concerns: ilkov_igor/Shutterstock The 21st century has seen a massive expansion in the ways that people can consume tobacco and nicotine. Innovative new products include electronic nicotine delivery systems (“ENDS” or e-cigarettes) and heat-not-burn (HnB) products. One of the challenges this has …
Ukraine war increasingly seen as ‘fought by the poor’, as Zelensky raises taxes and proposes strict mobilisation laws: After the failure of Ukraine’s 2023 counteroffensive, Kyiv finds itself at a major crossroads and with no easy options. The demand late last year by the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky, for the mobilisation of an additional 500,000 …
Why energy companies are making so much profit despite UK windfall taxes: The UK has increased its windfall tax on profits from oil and gas extraction. CloudVisual/Shutterstock Russia’s invasion of Ukraine last year caused oil and gas prices to surge, triggering a cost of living crisis in many countries, including the UK. To pay for …
Kenya’s president wants taxes to replace foreign debt – seven ways to get there: There are fears that Kenya's debt has been funding mostly government salaries. Yasuyoshi Chiba/AFP via Getty Images In the run-up to Kenya’s 2022 polls, economic issues, particularly public debt and joblessness, took centre stage. The Kenya Kwanza team led by William …
More South Africans are smoking – higher taxes and stronger law enforcement are needed: South Africa has seen an increase in people who smoke. Lefty Shivambu/Gallo Images via Getty Images Tobacco use imposes a significant health and economic burden on countries. Research estimates that the cost of smoking in South Africa amounted to 0.97% of …
Truss cut the most popular taxes — this wasn’t an accident, but it may be a mistake: The recent U-turn on cutting the top rate of income tax has shown that even a government willing to “do unpopular things” to grow the UK economy is constrained by the need for public support. The negative public …
Cost of living crisis: the UK needs to raise taxes not cut them – here’s why: Shutterstock Taxation has turned out to be the main issue dividing the two candidates in the current Conservative Party leadership contest. While Rishi Sunak wants to hold off making tax cuts until after the cost of living crisis has …
How multinationals avoid taxes in Africa and what should change: There is an urgent need to clamp down on tax evasion in Africa. Getty Images In developing countries, and the sub-Saharan region especially, the scale of unmet basic needs is enormous. It is estimated that 3 billion people in the developing world subsist on less …
Checkpoint ‘taxes’ make South Sudan one of the most expensive places to move goods: Checkpoint in rural South Sudan. This has been set up by government security forces. iStock /Getty Images Plus When South Sudan became independent 10 years ago, oil revenues were supposed to fuel the economy of the world’s newest country. But shortly …
Rishi Sunak wants to cut taxes – and Boris Johnson’s spending plans aren’t his only problem: Zuma Press Inc/ Alamy Ever since Margaret Thatcher was in Downing Street, an important part of Conservative party narrative has been the need for low taxes. This goes alongside the fear of excessive deficits that explained why David Cameron …
Rishi Sunak’s fight to raise taxes to reform social care is nothing compared to financial battles ahead: The UK government’s widely trailed announcement that it will increase national insurance taxes by more than one percentage point to fund reform of the social care system and help fund the NHS has triggered a fierce political debate. …
South Africa in the news: Corporate SA’s taxes funding the latest economic recovery package: The National Treasury yesterday presented a R36.2 billion socio-economic relief package to boost activity, after civil unrest earlier this month left destruction costing the economy nearly R50bn.: “South Africa” – BingNews SA records big jump in new COVID infections; 520 new …
African countries must consider legal challenges to sugar taxes before pursuing policies: Shutterstock Sales of unhealthy foods and beverages in sub-Saharan Africa are skyrocketing. This is leading to an increase in obesity related conditons such as diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular disease. These diseases are projected to become the leading cause of death in sub-Saharan Africa …
Why African countries need reliable local data on sugary drinks taxes: Appropriately designed taxes on sugar-sweetened beverages would result in proportional reductions in consumption. Shutterstock Diets in sub-Saharan Africa are changing as more countries advance from low-income to middle-income status. People’s eating habits are shifting from food rich in starchy staples, vegetables and fruits to …
We mapped the landscape for taxes on sugary drinks in seven African countries: The competing interests of economic growth and public health aren't being managed well. Shutterstock Preventing diet-related noncommunicable diseases in sub-Saharan Africa and decreasing the burden on fragile healthcare systems is an urgent priority for governments. This urgency is exacerbated by the COVID-19 …
Use Linux to do your taxes: In 2021, there are more reasons why people love Linux than ever before. In this series, I’ll share 21 different reasons to use Linux. Here’s how to use Linux to do your taxes. read more: Opensource.com sethkenlon Supporting Open Source. Have you tried: Visiting Port Elizabeth?