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Medical marijuana bill reaches Senate plenary
The bill seeking to legalize medical marijuana in the Philippines has reached the Senate plenary, the first time in the history of the upper chamber, according to a cannabis lawyer......»»
TikTok facing ban in America; penalized $384 million in Europe
The US House of Reps has passed a bill to ban TikTok unless it cuts ties to Communist China. Chinese parent ByteDance must sell TikTok to another nationality in six months or be shut down......»»
Senate concurrence needed to revoke SMNI franchise’
The revocation of the legislative franchise of Sonshine Media Network Inc. by the House of Representatives would have to be approved by the Senate first before it can take effect – in accordance with the usual legislative route, lawmakers said yesterday......»»
Iran women’s activist Narges Mohammadi wins peace Nobel
The Nobel Peace Prize was on Friday awarded to imprisoned rights campaigner Narges Mohammadi, honored for her fight against the oppression of women in Iran. Mohammadi's award comes after a wave of protests that swept Iran after the death in custody a year ago of a young Iranian Kurd, Mahsa Amini, arrested for violating Iran's strict dress rules for women. Mohammadi, a 51-year-old journalist and activist, has spent much of the past two decades in and out of jail for her campaign against the mandatory hijab for women and the death penalty. She is the vice-president of the Defenders of Human Rights Centre founded by Iranian human rights lawyer Shirin Ebadi, herself a Nobel Peace Prize laureate in 2003. Mohammadi was honored "for her fight against the oppression of women in Iran and her fight to promote human rights and freedom for all," said Berit Reiss-Andersen, the head of the Norwegian Nobel Committee in Oslo. "Her brave struggle has come with tremendous personal costs. Altogether, the regime has arrested her 13 times, convicted her five times, and sentenced her to a total of 31 years in prison and 154 lashes," Reiss-Andersen said in the jury's citation. Speaking to reporters after the announcement, she called for Mohammadi's release. "If the Iranian authorities make the right decision, they will release her. So she can be present to receive this honor, which is what we primarily hope for," she said. The recent protests in Iran "accelerated the process of realizing democracy, freedom, and equality in Iran," a process that is now "irreversible", Mohammadi told AFP last month in a letter written from her prison cell. She and three other women held with her at Tehran's Evin prison burned their hijabs to mark the anniversary of Amini's death on 16 September. Iran is ranked 143rd out of 146 countries on the World Economic Forum's gender equality ranking. Iranian authorities cracked down harshly on last year's "Woman, Life, Freedom" uprising. A total of 551 protesters, including 68 children and 49 women, were killed by security forces, according to Iran Human Rights, and thousands of others were arrested. The movement has since continued in other forms. In what would have been unthinkable a year ago, women now go out in public without the headscarf, in particular in Tehran and other big cities, despite the risks. Wearing the hijab is one of the pillars of the Islamic Republic. Authorities have stepped up controls, using surveillance cameras among other things, and have arrested actresses who post pictures of themselves on social media without the hijab. No prospect of freedom In September, Iran's conservative-dominated parliament announced heavier penalties for women who refuse to wear it. "This year's Peace Prize also recognizes the hundreds of thousands of people who in the preceding year have demonstrated against the theocratic regimes policies of discrimination and oppression targeting women," Reiss-Andersen said. Offenders will face heavy prison sentences if the "Hijab and Chastity" bill is approved by Iran's Guardian Council. Incarcerated this time since November 2021, Mohammadi has not seen her children, who live in France with her husband, for eight years. Considered a "prisoner of conscience" by Amnesty International, she told AFP in her letter that she had "almost no prospect of freedom." The prize comes on the 20th anniversary of the Nobel Peace Prize awarded to Ebadi, who was honored "for her efforts for democracy and human rights", especially those of women and children. This year's prize also symbolically coincides with the 75th anniversary of the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights. In 2003, Ebadi defied conservative Iranians by refusing to wear the hijab when she received her prize in Oslo. If she remains behind bars, Mohammadi will not be able to make the trip to Oslo to receive her award, consisting of a diploma, a gold medal, and $1 million, at the annual prize ceremony on December 10. The Peace Prize has on several occasions honored jailed activists, including last year when it went to Ales Bialiatski of Belarus, whose prize was accepted by his wife, and Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo in 2010, whose chair remained empty. The post Iran women’s activist Narges Mohammadi wins peace Nobel appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Palace prolongs tax amnesty law
Filipinos may now avail the estate tax amnesty for another two years after the proposal seeking such an extension lapsed into law. Although the tax amnesty program has already expired nearly two months ago, Republic Act 11956 now allows Filipinos to settle their estate tax debts until 14 June 2025. The Senate passed a bill to extend the tax amnesty for another year last 29 May. The following day, the House of Representatives also passed the bill. The Constitution says that the president has 30 days after getting a bill to say whether he wants to veto it or not. If he doesn’t, the bill becomes law as if he had signed it. Lapsed into law A copy of the law showed that RA 11956 became a law on 5 August since Marcos neither signed nor vetoed the bill. Estate tax is a tax on the right of a deceased person to leave their property to their children and beneficiaries. According to the new law, Filipinos can pay the amnesty tax online or manually. Proponents of the bill mentioned that the amnesty tax would help Filipinos who have been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic and have had trouble paying their taxes because of the health crisis’ effects on their finances. In RA 11956, the Secretary of Finance and the Commissioner of Internal Revenue are tasked to come up with the appropriate rules and regulations within 30 days of the law going into effect. The post Palace prolongs tax amnesty law appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Bill extending estate tax amnesty deadline to 2025 lapses into law
The tax amnesty program expired on June 14, but the freshly enacted Republic Act (RA) No. 11956 grants Filipinos an extension until June 14, 2025 to fulfill their estate tax obligations......»»
UNITED AND PRODUCTIVE House of Representatives
Given its record harvest of legislation, the House of Representatives under the leadership of Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez concluded the First Regular Session of the 19th Congress on a high note. Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez Speaker - 19th Congress, House of Representatives First Regular Session Legislative Accomplishments BILLS PASSED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES LEDAC Priority Bills: SIM Registration Act (RA 11934) Postponement of Barangay and SK Elections to October 2023 (RA 11935) Amending the Fixed Term of the AFP Chief of Staff and other High-Ranking Officials (RA 11939) Agrarian Reform Debts Condonation (RA 11953) Maharlika Investment Fund (RA 11954) Magna Carta of Seafarers E-Governance Act / E-Government Act Negros Island Region Virology Institute of the Philippines Passive Income and Financial Intermediary Taxation Act National Disease Prevention Management Authority or Center for Disease Control and Prevention Medical Reserve Corps Philippine Passport Act Internet Transaction Act / E-Commerce Law Waste-to-Energy Bill Free Legal Assistance for Police and Soldiers Apprenticeship Act Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) Law Magna Carta of Barangay Health Workers Valuation Reform Eastern Visayas Development Authority Leyte Ecological Industrial Zone Government Financial Institutions Unified Initiatives to Distressed Enterprises for Economic Recovery National Citizens Service Training Program Rightsizing the National Government National Land Use Act 30-Year National Infrastructure Program Department of Health Specialty Centers Act/Regional Specialty Hospitals Ease of Paying Taxes Local Government Unit Income Classification Amendment to Universal Health Care Act Bureau of Immigration Modernization Act Philippine Salt Industry Development Act Social Impact Bills: HB 5001 - No exam fees in private HEIs for underprivileged students who rank in the top 10 in high school HB 00005 - On-site, in-city, near city, and off-city resettlement program based on people's plan HB 0227 - Protection and welfare of caregivers HB 00988 - Increasing service incentive leave HB 00454 - Enhanced protection, security, and benefits for media workers HB 4477 - Greater responsibility and accountability from private employment agencies, amending Batas Kasambahay HB 04479 - Expanding prohibited acts of discrimination against women on account of sex, amending Labor Code HB 06416 - Strengthening mental health services of state universities and colleges HB 06483 - Abolition of "no permit, no exam" practice in college HB 06509 - Free legal assistance to uniformed personnel for the performance of duty HB 06492 - Freedom of Religion Act HB 00206 - Lowering the optional retirement age of government workers from 60 to 56 HB 06574 - Promotion and delivery of mental health services in basic education HB 06572 - Establishment of public schools of the future in technology HB 06680 - Free full insurance coverage to all qualified agrarian reform beneficiaries HB 01270 - Protection and promotion of the welfare of workers in the film, television, and radio entertainment industry HB 06716 - Mandating the establishment of fisherfolk resettlement areas HB 06718 - Protection and incentives for freelance workers HB 07354 - Evacuation centers in every city and municipality HB 04605 - Right of married women to retain their maiden surnames HB 06772 - Presidential power to suspend or adjust PhilHealth premium increases HB 07387 - Expanding the services for crop insurance HB 07535 - P1 million for centenarians HB 07561 - Mandatory insurance coverage and benefits for all line workers HB 07584 - Abolition of "no permit, no exam" in elementary and secondary classes HB 07909 - Extension of estate tax amnesty HB 07718 - Strengthening the law against illegal recruitment Quote (SFMGR): “As the House of Representatives amply demonstrated, we remain committed to implementing policies that will further stimulate economic activity, attract investments, and generate employment opportunities for our fellow Filipinos. We will not allow any distraction to derail our efforts at finding appropriate and timely solutions to the problems affecting the lives of our people.” House Leaders: Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio "Dong" D. Puno Deputy Speakers: Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo Isidro T. Ungab Roberto V. Puno Camille A. Villar Kristine Singson-Meehan Raymond Democrito C. Mendoza Ralph G. Recto Vincent Franco "Duke" D. Frasco Majority Leader Manuel Jose "Mannix" M. Dalipe Minority Leader Marcelino C. Libanan Senior Deputy Majority Leader Ferdinand Alexander "Sandro" A. Marcos The post UNITED AND PRODUCTIVE House of Representatives appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
PBBM signs Maharlika bill next week — Zubiri
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is expected to sign the controversial Maharlika Investment Fund bill into law next week, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri said Wednesday. Citing the Presidential Legislative Liason Office, Zubiri said Marcos will sign the MIF bill on 18 July. “The PLLO said it will be signed on 18 July,” he told reporters in a text message. The PLLO advocates for all internal and external support in shepherding the President’s legislative agenda, administration-sponsored policy interests, and all other legislative-related concerns of the executive branch. Aside from the MIF bill, the Senate chief noted that the President is also expected to sign the Estate Tax Amnesty Extension bill. The Daily Tribune has sought confirmation from the Presidential Communications Office regarding the issue, but it had yet to respond at press time. The post PBBM signs Maharlika bill next week — Zubiri appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Zubiri signs enrolled Maharlika Investment Fund bill
Senate President Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri on Wednesday signed the controversial Maharlika Investment Fund bill in Washington, D.C., a crucial requirement before the Senate transmits it to Malacañang for President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s approval. Zubiri, who is currently in the United States for an official trip, signed the enrolled copy of the bill at the Philippine Embassy in Washington D.C. Senate Secretary Renato Bantug personally flew to the United States to get the Senate chief’s signature. Aside from the MIF bill, Bantug also brought with him two enrolled measures such as the Estate Tax Amnesty Extension Act and the Act recognizing Baler, Aurora, as the birthplace of Philippine Surfing. “The Maharlika bill is a priority measure, and the Estate Tax Amnesty Extension is very time-sensitive. Many people are waiting for these bills. Fortunately, the enrolled copies were already prepared by the time Secretary Bantug was set to join us in Washington,” Zubiri said in a statement. “So he was able to bring them along with him, instead of letting them sit in the Senate waiting for my return, and I was able to sign them on Philippine soil, here in the embassy,” he added. He clarified that Bantug was supposed to be part of the Senate delegation and “only brought the enrolled bills with him.” Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel “Babe” Romualdez, and Senator Francis Tolentino, who are part of the working visit, witnessed the signing. According to Zubiri, the Estate Tax Amnesty Extension Act is set to be sent to Malacañang for the signature of the President, while the Maharlika Investment Fund Act is set to be sent to the House of Representatives for the signature of the Speaker. “We have a few more days of meetings here in Washington, but with these enrolled bills already signed, we can send them out straightaway upon our return,” he said. The Senate chief refused to answer questions about how the chamber addressed the different terms and prescriptive periods found in Sections 50 and 51 of the MIF bill. He, however, noted that “the corrections were thoroughly discussed by the majority bloc in our Viber group, including the letter of correction sent by Senator Mark Villar.” In the approved version of the MIF bill, Section 50 prescribes a 10-year period for the prosecution of crimes and offenses, while Section 51 provides a 20-year period. The post Zubiri signs enrolled Maharlika Investment Fund bill appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Zubiri: 22 measures ready for signing
As the first regular session of Congress ended Wednesday, a total of 22 proposed measures moved a signature of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. away from becoming laws. Of the 22 approved bills, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri boasted that eight were approved by the Senate. “The Senate produced a total of six measures enacted into law — four of national application and two local laws,” Zubiri said in a statement on Thursday. “Twenty-two bills are now also up for the President’s signature — seven of them national, 15 local. Two national bills are pending in the bicameral conference committee, and six more national bills have been approved on third reading,” he added. Zubiri said eight measures approved by the Senate are priority measures of the administration. Three of these measures had passed into law, namely, the SIM Registration Act, the Act Postponing the Barangay Elections and the AFP Fixed Term Law. Meanwhile, the Condonation of Unpaid Amortization and Interest on Loans of Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Act, the Regional Specialty Centers Act, the Extension of the Estate Tax Amnesty Act, and the Maharlika Investment Fund Act are awaiting the signature of the President. The Trabaho Para sa Bayan Act was approved by the Senate on the third reading and needs only its House counterpart before it can move forward. The Maharlika Investment Fund bill was one of the last measures approved by the chamber after a 12-hour marathon session that ended at 2:32 in the morning of Wednesday. Zubiri stressed that the Senate in the first regular session of the 19th Congress had stood up to its mandate by making sure that the bills approved by the chamber were “quality” measures. “While this scoreboard shows the quantity of our output, it does not describe the quality of each of these measures,” he said. “True to our tradition, we do not agree to proposals without discussion, nor embrace ideas without debate. We improve before we approve. We do not trade scrutiny for speed,” he said. He credited the performance of the Senate to his colleagues. “All of the senators across the majority and the minority have toiled very hard, from the committee hearings to the rigorous debates and interpellations in plenary,” he said. “If the Senate has had an excellent performance thus far, it is all thanks to them,” he added. He also highlighted various local measures taken up by his fellow senators, which he said would “infuse much-needed funding into local governments and schools.” The post Zubiri: 22 measures ready for signing appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Diokno lauds Senate nod on bill extending estate tax amnesty
Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno recently expressed his support for the Senate's approval of the proposed measure that would extend the estate tax amnesty period until 14 June 2025. Diokno said this in a statement after senators unanimously passed Senate Bill No. 2219 on third reading last Monday with 24 affirmative votes and no negative votes or abstentions. “[The extension] will allow errant taxpayers to settle their estate tax liabilities affordably, enable the government to collect additional revenues, and strengthen tax compliance,” Diokno said. “The timely enactment of this measure is crucial, as it will provide much-needed relief to individuals and families facing extraordinary circumstances while supporting the national government’s efforts to spur development by incentivizing the regularization of assets,” Diokno added. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is expected to sign the estate tax amnesty bill before his second State of the Nation Address, Diokno said. The bill extends the availment period of the estate tax amnesty for another two years, past the original expiration of 14 June 2023. Additionally, the measure amends the original law to also cover the unsettled estates of decedents who died on or before 31 May 2023. allows taxpayers to settle their outstanding estate taxes in two years without penalties or interest. Taxpayers can pay the tax due through any authorized agent bank, revenue district office, or authorized tax software provider. The bill also streamlines the documentary requirements that should be submitted to the BIR. From the enactment of the law in 2019 until 31 March 2023, the national government collected P7.41 billion from 133,860 beneficiaries who availed of the estate tax amnesty. The post Diokno lauds Senate nod on bill extending estate tax amnesty appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Outcry as Uganda’s anti-gay bill signed into law
Uganda announced Monday that President Yoweri Museveni had signed into law draconian new measures against homosexuality described as among the world's harshest, prompting condemnation from human rights and LGBTQ groups as well as Western powers. US President Joe Biden called for the immediate repeal of the measures he slammed as "a tragic violation of universal human rights", and threatened to cut aid and investment in the East African country. Museveni's office said the Anti-Homosexuality Bill 2023 was among six pieces of legislation the president signed into law on Sunday. Lawmakers passed a new draft of the legislation earlier this month, vowing to resist what they said was outside interference in their efforts to protect Uganda's values from Western immorality. The amended version said that identifying as gay would not be criminalized but "engaging in acts of homosexuality" would be an offense punishable with life imprisonment. Although Museveni had advised lawmakers to delete a provision making "aggravated homosexuality" a capital offense, lawmakers rejected that move, meaning that repeat offenders could be sentenced to death, though Uganda has not carried out capital punishment for several years. A rights group announced later Monday that it had filed a legal challenge with Uganda's High Court, arguing that the legislation was "blatantly unconstitutional". "By criminalizing what we call consensual same-sex activity among adults, it goes against key provisions of the constitution including rights on equality and non-discrimination," said Adrian Jjuuko, executive director of the Human Rights Awareness and Promotion Forum. Deeply repressive law Biden said he had asked his National Security Council to assess what the law means for "all aspects of US engagement with Uganda", including services providing AIDS relief and other assistance and investments. He said the administration would also consider sanctions against Uganda and the restriction of entry into the United States of people engaging in human rights abuses or corruption there. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said the Ugandan government had "an obligation to protect all of its citizens and uphold their basic rights". "Failure to do so will undermine relationships with international partners," he warned in a statement. Britain, the former colonial power in Uganda which criminalized homosexuality during its rule, said it was "appalled" and called the law "deeply discriminatory". "It will increase the risk of violence, discrimination, and persecution, will set back the fight against HIV/AIDS," Britain's Minister for Development and Africa Andrew Mitchell said. The UN Human Rights Office, whose commissioner Volker Turk in March described the bill as "among the worst of its kind in the world", also condemned its passage into law. "It is a recipe for systematic violations of the rights of LGBT people & the wider population," the office said on Twitter. Ashwanee Budoo-Scholtz, Africa deputy director for Human Rights Watch, told AFP that it was "discriminatory and is a step in the wrong direction for the protection of human rights for all people in Uganda". Amnesty International also said the signing of this "deeply repressive law is a grave assault on human rights". But the legislation has broad public support in Uganda, a majority Christian country that has pursued some of the toughest anti-gay legislation in Africa, where around 30 nations ban homosexuality. "We have stood strong to defend the culture, values, and aspirations of our people," parliament speaker Anita Among, one of the bill's main proponents, said in a statement. Living in fear Discussion of the bill in parliament was laced with homophobic slurs, and Museveni himself referred to gay people as "deviants". Frank Mugisha, executive director of Sexual Minorities Uganda, said the law would "bring a lot of harm" to the country's already persecuted LGBTQ community. "We feel so, so, so worried," he told AFP. The revised bill said, "A person who is believed or alleged or suspected of being a homosexual, who has not committed a sexual act with another person of the same sex, does not commit the offense of homosexuality". An earlier version also required Ugandans to report suspected homosexual activity to the police or face six months imprisonment. Lawmakers agreed to amend that provision, and instead, the reporting requirement pertained only to suspected sexual offenses against children and vulnerable people, with the penalty raised to five years in jail. Anyone who "knowingly promotes homosexuality" faces up to 20 years in jail, while organizations found guilty of encouraging same-sex activity could face a 10-year ban. Aid cuts Reaction from civil groups in Uganda has been muted following years of authoritarian rule under Museveni. But the European Parliament voted in April to condemn the bill and asked EU states to pressure Museveni to not implement it, warning that relations with Kampala were at stake. Asuman Basalirwa, the MP who sponsored the bill, said that aid cuts were expected and that Among, the parliament speaker, had already been informed her US visa had been revoked. The bill also risked undermining progress in combating HIV/AIDS in Uganda, according to a statement by UNAIDS, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, and the US President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief. There has never been a conviction for consensual same-sex activity since independence from Britain in 1962. The post Outcry as Uganda’s anti-gay bill signed into law appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Senate approves bill extending estate tax amnesty to 2025
Voting 24-0, senators approved Senate Bill 2219 which, if enacted into law, would amend Republic Act 11213 or the “Tax Amnesty Act”......»»
Zubiri to Salceda: Want Senate to pass tax measures fast? Submit them early
Senate President Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri on Tuesday pushed back against Albay 2nd District Representative Joey Salceda’s challenge to the Senate to act fast on proposed measures seeking to extend the tax amnesty. In a Viber message to reporters, Zubiri stressed that the House of Representatives should have passed the measure before the Holy Week if it had wanted the Senate to approve them before the sine die adjournment on 2 June. “If Congressman Salceda wanted it quicker, then they should have passed it before the Holy Week break,” he said. “It has to be first transmitted to the Senate before any action can be made, that’s the Constitution.” Zubiri noted that House Bill No. 7909 was only transmitted to the upper chamber on Tuesday after the House of Representatives approved it on Monday. “First of all, all tax measures emanate from the House of Representatives and they just passed that on 3rd reading and only transmitted to the Senate today,” he said. “The committee is about to hear the bill on Friday. Hopefully, it will be sponsored by Monday next week.” The Senate chief reminded Salceda of the first reading requirement of the Constitution on legislation. “I'm sure Congressman Salceda is not ignorant of the first reading requirement of the Constitution on legislation, thereafter the three-day rule for committee hearings,” he said. “After which, we sponsor the measure in plenary and then pass it on second reading, which takes another three days for the third reading unless the measure is certified as urgent by Malacañang.” Zubiri continued: "We are going to act on the matter with dispatch but it would have been better if the House passed it earlier." Earlier this week, Salceda, who chairs the House Committee on Ways and Means, urged the Senate to act on the HBN 7909 immediately, fearing that it would “expire” should the upper chamber fail to approve it before the sine die adjournment. HBN 7909 aims to provide tax amnesty extension to heirs of individuals whose estate taxes remain unpaid as of December 31, 2021. Should the upper chamber fail to act on it before the sine die adjournment on 2 June, the amnesty will lapse on 1 June 2023. The post Zubiri to Salceda: Want Senate to pass tax measures fast? Submit them early appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
House approves estate tax amnesty extension
By a vote of 259-0, the House of Representatives approved on Monday a measure extending the estate tax amnesty, which is one month away from its initial due, for another two years. House Bill 7909, approved on final reading, seeks to amend the Tax Amnesty Act to extend coverage and period of availing of the estate tax amnesty from 15 June this year to 14 June 2025. The House-passed legislation aims to ease taxpayers' financial burdens and make up for lost time in their estate tax settlement obligations, which were hampered by the Covid-19 pandemic's multiple lockdowns. The measure was approved by the House ways and means panel, chaired by Albay Rep. Joey Salceda, on 25 April. The Tax Amnesty Act, signed on 14 February 2019 by then-President Rodrigo Duterte, provides taxpayers with a one-time opportunity to settle their tax obligations through an estate amnesty program that offers reasonable tax relief to estates with outstanding estate tax liabilities. On 30 June, he signed RA 11569, which amended Section 6 of RA 11213, extending the estate tax amnesty until 14 June 2023. Proponents of House Bill 7909 pushed for a two-year extension to account for those still struggling to meet the documentary requirements due to the pandemic disruptions. The post House approves estate tax amnesty extension appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Charles III crowned king at first UK coronation in 70 years
Charles III on Saturday finally met his date with destiny after a lifetime as heir to his late mother Queen Elizabeth II, as he was officially crowned king in the first coronation in Britain since 1953. At exactly 12:02 pm (1102 GMT), the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby placed the solid gold St Edward's Crown on Charles's head as a sacred and ancient symbol of the monarch's authority. Cries of "God Save the King" rang out from the 2,300-member congregation at Westminster Abbey and trumpet fanfares sounded at the climax of the solemn religious confirmation of his accession. Outside, ceremonial gun salutes blasted out across land and sea while bells pealed in celebration at churches. Charles, 74, will wear the St Edward's Crown only once during his reign. His wife, Camilla, 75, was crowned queen in a simpler ceremony soon afterwards. The build-up to the Christian ceremony of prayer and praise -- steeped in 1,000 years of British history and tradition, with sumptuous robes and priceless regalia -- has been mostly celebratory. But even before Charles and Camilla left Buckingham Palace for a rainy procession to the abbey, police arrested dozens of protesters using new powers rushed onto the statute book to crack down on direct action groups. The anti-monarchy movement Republic -- which wants an elected head of state -- said six of its organisers were detained, while climate activists Just Stop Oil said 19 of its number were held. Nevertheless, dozens of Republic activists held aloft banners on the route of the procession route, declaring: "Not My King." Both Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International voiced concern at the arrests. "This is something you would expect to see in Moscow, not London," HRW said. London's Metropolitan Police has some 11,500 officers on the streets in one of its biggest-ever security operations. It has warned that it has an "extremely low threshold" for protests. As well as being the first coronation in 70 years, it was the first of a king since 1937. It was only the second to be televised and the first in colour and streamed online. Changes Much of the two-hour Anglican service, in which Charles pledged "I come not to be served but to serve", would have been recognisable to the 39 other monarchs crowned at Westminster Abbey since 1066. But while many of the intricate rituals and ceremonies to recognise Charles as his people's "undoubted king" remained, the king sought to bring other aspects of the service up to date. Female bishops and choristers participated for the first time, as did leaders of Britain's non-Christian faiths, while its Celtic languages -- Welsh, Scottish Gaelic and Irish Gaelic -- featured prominently. A gospel choir sang for the first time at a coronation while a Greek choir intoned a psalm in tribute to Charles's late father, Prince Philip, who was born on the island of Corfu. As king, Charles is the supreme governor of the Church of England and has described himself as a "committed Anglican Christian". But he heads a more religiously and ethnically diverse country than the one his mother inherited in the shadow of World War II. As such, he sought to make the congregation more reflective of British society, inviting ordinary members of the public to sit alongside heads of state and global royalty. In another change, the coronation themes mirrored his lifelong interest in biodiversity and sustainability. Seasonal flowers and foliage were brought from the wind-battered Isle of Skye in northwest Scotland to Cornwall at the tip of England's southwest coast to fill the abbey. Ceremonial vestments from previous coronations were reused, and the anointing oil -- created from olives on groves on the Mount of Olives and perfumed with essential oils -- was vegan. Charles was anointed out of sight of the congregation behind a three-sided screen in front of the High Altar, to the strains of Handel's soaring anthem "Zadok the Priest", sung at every coronation since 1727. Opposition Rishi Sunak -- Britain's first prime minister of colour, who gave a reading from the Bible at the service -- has described the coronation as "a proud expression of our history, culture and traditions". But not everyone is convinced: polling indicates waning support for the monarchy, particularly among younger people. Charles's eldest brother Prince Andrew -- sidelined due to his friendship with the late convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein -- was booed as he headed to the abbey. Another royal exile, Prince Harry, who has criticised the family since leaving for the United States in 2020, attended the coronation on his own. Overseas, Charles's position as the hereditary monarch and head of state of 14 Commonwealth countries looks increasingly fragile. Jamaica and Belize both signalled this week that they are moving toward becoming republics, while Australia, Canada and others may eventually follow suit. Britons struggling with the soaring cost of living have meanwhile questioned why taxpayers should stump up for the coronation, with the bill estimated to be over £100 million ($126 million). Support Yet the huge crowds of royal fans that have been building all week on The Mall outside Buckingham Palace indicate that the royals still have a central role in British culture and history. Many of those camping out to watch have flown in from abroad, underlining the royal family's untouched position as Britain's leading global brand. Christine Wilen travelled from Niagara Falls in Canada for the event. "I'm very excited to be here, to be part of this history," said Wilen, wearing a visor and sweatshirt in Canadian colours. "It's just too good an opportunity to miss," said Nick Demont, 60, outside the abbey. "There's a good chance I won't see another one." The post Charles III crowned king at first UK coronation in 70 years appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Tax Amnesty Act extension now moving
A proposed law that seeks to extend the deadline of application for estate tax amnesty for another two years has moved forward in the House of Representatives. The House committee on ways and means, chaired by Albay Rep. Joey Salceda, adjourned its deliberations on Tuesday with the approval of House Bill 7409 after garnering 31 pro-votes from its members. The measure, filed on 2 March, seeks to extend the Tax Amnesty Act, or Republic Act 11213, from 15 June this year to 14 June 2025 to provide taxpayers with economic relief and the opportunity to settle estate tax obligations, which procedure was hampered by the Covid-19 pandemic’s multiple lockdowns. Speaker Martin Romualdez and his nephew, Senior Deputy Speaker Sandro Marcos of Ilocos Norte, are among the bill’s proponents, with three other House leaders. Salceda, during the deliberation, stressed the significance of the bill’s passage, explaining that the provision of additional time is necessary as many families have not yet settled the estates of their deceased relatives. “An estate tax is a tax on the right of the deceased person to transmit the estate to lawful heirs and beneficiaries. RA 11213 was passed to provide taxpayers immunity from the payment of estate taxes until 15 June 2021. However, the pandemic hampered the settlement of estates, which to begin with, is inherently challenged by family sensitivities,” said the chairman. “To give people more time to settle estates, we extended the estate tax amnesty from 15 June 2021, to 14 June 2023, by enacting RA 11569 last Congress. We also streamlined the procedure by removing the requirement of proof of settlement in the payment of the estate tax under the same law. Now that the extended deadline — 14 June 2023 — is upon us, we are informed that this tax amnesty is yet to be optimized.” RA 11213, signed on 14 February 2019 by then-President Rodrigo Duterte, provides taxpayers with a one-time opportunity to settle their tax obligations through an estate amnesty program that offers reasonable tax relief to estates with outstanding estate tax liabilities. On 30 June, he signed RA 11569, which amended Section 6 of RA 11213, extending the estate tax amnesty until 14 June 2023. However, proponents of the bill are advocating for a two-year extension to account for those still struggling to meet the documentary requirements due to the pandemic rage. Meanwhile, during the proceeding, Nueva Ecija Rep. Ria Vergara motioned that a provision stating that heirs who received a donated estate worth P1 million or less no longer have to pay the 6 percent donor’s tax to be included in the proposal, which Salceda later approved. People seeking amnesty under the current system are expected to pay tax at a rate of 6% based on the decedent’s total net estate (or net undeclared estate if a previously filed estate tax return) at the time of death. HB 7842, filed by AGRI Rep. Wilbert Lee on 11 April, also pushes for a two-year extension of the estate tax amnesty period, but it has yet to be referred to Salceda’s panel for deliberation. Last week, Deputy Speaker Ralph Recto urged President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to certify the bill as urgent, claiming this move will make people “save billions” while the government will “earn billions.” The post Tax Amnesty Act extension now moving appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Green light for Tax Amnesty Act extension
On May 24, 2021, with 23 affirmative votes, the Senate Committee on Ways and Means approved on third and final reading Senate Bill 2208 (SB 2208), which amends Section 6 of Republic Act 11213 (RA 11213), otherwise known as the “Tax Amnesty Act.” The bill sought to extend the estate tax amnesty for two years or until June 14, 2023......»»
Dozens of Paris protesters arbitrarily detained : Amnesty
A slate of detentions carried out on December 12 during a Paris protest by tens of thousands of people against France's controversial security bill were "arbitrary", Amnesty International France said Monday......»»
House passes bill for amnesty on estate taxes
The House of Representatives on Tuesday approved on third and final reading a bill extending estate tax amnesty......»»