logo
Indonesia will not introduce new taxes in 2026, finance minister says

Indonesia will not introduce new taxes in 2026, finance minister says

Reuters8 hours ago
JAKARTA, Aug 15 (Reuters) - Indonesia will not introduce any new tax in 2026 to support its tax revenue target and the government will instead rely on internal reforms to increase revenue, Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati said on Friday.
Indonesia's President Prabowo Subianto on Friday proposed to parliament a $234 billion budget, targeting a 9.8% increase in revenue.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Rachel Reeves tax grab for woke training & mobiles for migrants makes my teeth itch… here's what Govt SHOULD be doing
Rachel Reeves tax grab for woke training & mobiles for migrants makes my teeth itch… here's what Govt SHOULD be doing

The Sun

time12 minutes ago

  • The Sun

Rachel Reeves tax grab for woke training & mobiles for migrants makes my teeth itch… here's what Govt SHOULD be doing

AS I'm sure you know, you are taxed on the money you earn. And you must pay more taxes every time you buy anything or go anywhere or fill your car up with fuel or buy a pint or get your hair cut or go on an aeroplane. 5 And if by some miracle you manage to die with a few savings in the bank, they even tax your kids on those. It's your money. You earned it. You paid tax on it. And then they tax it again. It makes my teeth itch. However, for many years, you have been able to pass money on to your children, tax free, providing you live for seven years after the gift is made. But now we are hearing they're even going to tax you on that. Yup. You want to help your kids get on the property ladder. Well you can't because that infernal woman, Rachel Reeves, has decided that it'd be better if you gave your money to her instead. I seriously doubt that. Let me give you an example of the problem. Near to where I live, the local council — which gets a quarter of its cash from the Government — decided to spend £51million on a new park and ride facility next to the busy A40. It was completed last year and it's very snazzy with 850 spaces, charging points for electrical cars, and attractive spaces where commuters can shelter from the rain. Lovely. Apart from one small thing: It's not connected to the road network. Seriously, there's no way anyone can access it, so it's sitting there now, a gigantic blot on the landscape and it cannot be used for parking or riding because neither a bus, nor a car can get into it. Raising taxes will kill off growth, Reeves warned as she pledges to rip up business red tape So they have taken 51million of your pounds. And wasted them. And they are doing that sort of thing, every day, across the whole country. And now Rachel Reeves is saying she needs your money more than your children do so that she can waste it on other stupid stuff like diversity training, and pronoun days and treats for illegal immigrants, all of the net zero nonsense. I don't think Reeves is an unpleasant person. But I do think that she and Starmer and Rayner and Lammy are a bit thick. Lammy especially. 5 5 He can't even go fishing without getting into trouble. That's why they can't get it into their heads that taking our hard-earned money and wasting it is seriously annoying. And it's even more annoying when they want yet more money so they can waste that too. It's really not that difficult to get your head round what needs to be done. Don't raise taxes. Just spend less. A TURN OFF TO DRIVING ONE of my oldest friends lost his driving licence recently, having been caught speeding four times in the last three years. He sounds reckless, until I tell you that the speeds involved were 25, 26, 31 and 35. And this ridiculous attitude to people breaking idiotic 20mph limits is just the tip of the anti-car iceberg. It's now virtually impossible to get a driving test, and if by some miracle you do eventually get a licence, you won't want to buy a car because it bongs at you if you drive too quickly or stray out of lane or take your eyes off the road. I drove a Toyota recently which had a bonging paddy fit and flashed up a message saying, 'Sit up straight'. What's next? 'Clean your teeth'? So cars are annoying, you can't drive them at more than walking speed and now comes news that the drink-drive limit is being lowered to a point where you can't pop to the shops in your motor if you've had so much as a sherry trifle. Plus, unless you can see the bracelet Neil Armstrong left on the moon, your eyes aren't good enough, so you'll have to use the bus instead. Naturally, we are told this is all to save the NHS from the cost of patching up the victims of car accidents. But that's rubbish. It's the drive for net zero. They are making driving so difficult, no one will want to do it. Welcome to stadium of hate, Sophie 5 I WAS astonished to hear this week that after posting pictures of herself at an Oasis gig, the Game Of Thrones actress Sophie Turner was slammed by a follower who said she must have forgotten she's a mother. Really? So people with children aren't allowed to go out ever? Honestly, I'm beginning to realise that the world was a much nicer place when strangers weren't able to talk to each other. Social media is like a gigantic football stadium . . . where the rival fans can sit where they like. There's going to be trouble. And there is. LEONARDO DICAPRIO tells us that although he's 50, he feels 32. Yeah, but watch out, mate. I was 19 my whole life. Until I got to 65, when all of a sudden, I became 109. NO PET FOOD A ZOO in Denmark has found itself in a spot of bother after asking local people to donate their pet guinea pigs and rabbits. So they can be fed to the big cats . . . We even read this week of a little girl who donated her poorly pony. Which was turned by the zoo keepers into a lion's lunch. I should explain at this point that the animals are not being eaten alive. They are 'gently' killed before being turned into food. But I can see why everyone's getting their knickers in a twist. Because like you, I can't understand why you'd look at your little hamster whizzing round in his wheel and think, 'You know what. I'd like to feed that to a leopard.' You may say this is hypocrisy as I now spend my days farming. But I have a simple rule on the matter. I never eat anything that had a name. DEAD END ON NAME THE boy wonder Kaleb Cooper, who manages my farm, received word this week that his wife was in labour. 'Right,', he said. 'I'll be there when I've finished harvesting this field.' 5 How farmerish is that?!?! Happily, he finished in time to welcome what for him is baby number three, and then our thoughts turned to a name. One of our mates suggested it should be named after the field he was harvesting when the call came through. Nice idea, except for one small detail. The field was called 'Deadman'. Despite the interruption, we did get the harvest finished. And thanks to the drought we've had this year, it was dismal. Seriously, you could fit all the grain we ended up with in a Hoover bag. And this, after the appalling wet weather of last year, which resulted in the country's second- worst harvest on record. A lot of farmers are going to be in a proper financial mess as a result. But at least we have a government which has their back. No, wait . . .

Worst local authorities for using bailiffs to chase unpaid council tax bills – how to get help if you've fallen behind
Worst local authorities for using bailiffs to chase unpaid council tax bills – how to get help if you've fallen behind

The Sun

time12 minutes ago

  • The Sun

Worst local authorities for using bailiffs to chase unpaid council tax bills – how to get help if you've fallen behind

THOUSANDS of families are being chased for council tax debts by bailiffs. If you miss one bill you could end up with a debt collection letter demanding your entire year's bill is paid in full. 1 Rules are set to change due to a government intervention - but not until a few years. Here, JAMES FLANDERS reveals the areas where bailiffs are being called into chase debts by local councils - and how to get help if you're affected. Stop the knock! Council tax debt is rocketing, with £6.6billion owed to local authorities in England alone - a figure that's risen by £642million in the last year. Households face annual rises to bills each April - but miss one bill and could end up being chased by debt collectors due to current rules. Use of bailiffs by councils have increased by an average of 13 per cent in the last year, according to Freedom of Information data compiled by Money Advice Trust on The Sun's behalf. And the average bill for anyone looking for help is up 46 per cent to £1,958, according to National Debtline. Toby Murray from Debt Justice said: 'Council tax debt is skyrocketing, and people on the lowest incomes are bearing the brunt. 'Rather than supporting residents who are struggling with debt, councils send in the bailiffs - bringing additional fees, intimidation and fear. 'The government must act now to ban bailiffs from council tax debt collection." Here we reveal the areas worst affected by bailiff use according to the FOI data. The data shows dramatic increases in bailiff referrals between 2023 and 2024. Wealden District Council saw a staggering 664 per cent rise, East Lindsey District Council jumped by 556 per cent, Three River by 455 per cent and Lewisham soared by 435 per cent. Meanwhile, Birmingham leads in the sheer volume of cases, with 46,688 households referred to bailiffs last year. Other councils with high referral numbers include Barnet (32,772), Manchester (27,076), Croydon (25,380), and Liverpool (25,269). Grace Brownfield from the Money Advice Trust said: 'If the government is serious about tackling this problem, they will also need to invest more funding in local Council Tax Support schemes. "We need to stop people falling behind with council tax in the first place." How to get help Families struggling with council tax can get a break with the 'breathing space' scheme, which pauses payments and other debts for 60 days. To access the scheme, you'll need a referral from a debt adviser. You can do this for free by visiting During the 60-day period, you'll be protected from bailiffs and legal action while receiving expert advice to find long-term solutions. You should also reach out to your council to check if you're eligible for money off your council tax bill. Single-person households can get 25 per cent off, while pensioners, low-income families, and those on the guarantee element of Pension Credit could qualify for a full reduction. Richard Lane of StepChange, said: 'Always check if you qualify for council tax discounts, work out what you can afford, and contact your council to arrange a repayment plan. 'If you're still struggling, reach out to free and impartial debt advice charities.' For help with council tax or other debts, free support is available from Citizens Advice (0800 144 8848), StepChange (0800 138 1111), and National Debtline (0808 808 4000). Change is coming - but not until few years In June the government announced plans to shake-up council tax collection rules, by extending payment deadlines and cracking down on aggressive enforcement action if payments are missed. One option being considered is to spread payments over 12 months instead of ten, reducing the average monthly bill for a band D property by £38 a month. The consultation ends in September and it will use this to decide on the next steps, but it hasn't confirmed when new rules could come into force. Beat the bailiff If a bailiff or enforcement agent knocks at your door, lock your doors first, as they can enter through unlocked ones. Ask for proof of identity and the reason for their visit. Legitimate bailiffs must carry court or agency-issued ID, including a photo, name, and details of who they represent. Always verify their ID before letting them in. The most common type of bailiff is a Certificated Enforcement Agent, who collects unpaid rent, council tax, parking fines, or child support. If they lack proof of authorisation, tell them to leave and call 999 if they refuse. If the debt is yours, ask for a full breakdown of what's owed and to whom. You're not responsible for someone else's debt, even if it belongs to your adult child or partner. If it's your debt, tell the bailiff to leave and say you'll speak to a debt charity, and to your creditor to make arrangements to pay. They'll normally leave if you tell them to, and you should then make arrangements to repay your debt. For vulnerable individuals - such as those who are disabled, seriously ill, pregnant, or parents of young children - extra protections apply, including more time to pay and not being visited alone. SYLVIE Denne, 56, from Croydon, has endured four nervous breakdowns and crippling financial stress after discovering her council tax arrears had soared to £13,000. The ordeal began in 2019 when bailiffs demanded £2,500 in unpaid council tax. Her daughter, Rachael, took out a loan to cover the debt, thinking the issue was resolved. But in 2021, Sylvie received a letter stating she owed £13,000 in arrears dating back to 2008 due to incorrect payments. On Universal Credit, Sylvie offered to pay £200 monthly on top of her regular £150 bill, but Croydon Council insisted on £360. By 2022, a court summons revealed she still owed £7,000 after missing payments for a year. The financial strain has taken a toll on Sylvie's mental and physical health. 'I'm unwell, living hand to mouth, and terrified every time a letter arrives,' she said. Rachael, deeply concerned about her mum's wellbeing, criticised the council's handling of the situation. 'Their communication is shocking. Mum sacrifices essentials just to avoid the stress of bailiffs knocking on the door,' she said.

Britain's rights watchdog warns against heavy-handed policing amid Gaza demos
Britain's rights watchdog warns against heavy-handed policing amid Gaza demos

Rhyl Journal

time30 minutes ago

  • Rhyl Journal

Britain's rights watchdog warns against heavy-handed policing amid Gaza demos

The Equality and Human Rights Commission has written to Home Secretary Yvette Cooper and Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley to remind them that the 'right to protest is a cornerstone of any healthy democracy'. The letter, from EHRC chairwoman Baroness Kishwer Falkner, raised concerns about 'reports of police engagement with individuals participating in forms of protest that are not linked to any proscribed organisation'. The commission referenced a report by the Guardian newspaper about a woman said to have been threatened with arrest under the Terrorism Act for holding a Palestinian flag and signs saying 'Free Gaza' and 'Israel is committing genocide'. The woman was reportedly told by police that her demonstration in Canterbury, Kent, in July expressed views supportive of Palestine Action, an organisation which has been banned by the Government. The woman said neither of her signs mentioned Palestine Action and that she had told police she did not support any proscribed organisations. Kent Police confirmed it had 'received correspondence from a legal firm representing a person spoken to by officers in Canterbury on July 14 2025' after the Guardian reported the woman is taking legal action against the force. Baroness Falkner said any interference with protest rights 'must be lawful and assessed case-by-case'. She added: 'Heavy-handed policing or blanket approaches risk creating a chilling effect, deterring citizens from exercising their fundamental rights to freedom of expression and assembly through fear of possible consequences. 'This concern extends beyond those directly affected by police engagement to the broader health of our democracy, because the perception that peaceful protest may attract disproportionate police attention undermines confidence in our human rights protections.' The EHRC said Government and police authorities must 'ensure that all officers receive clear and consistent guidance on their human rights obligations' when it comes to protests. 'This guidance should ensure that the appropriate balance is maintained between public safety and the protection of essential human rights,' Baroness Falkner added. Palestine Action was proscribed by the UK Government in July, with the ban meaning that membership of, or support for, the group is a criminal offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison, under the Terrorism Act 2000. More than 500 people were arrested last weekend on suspicion of displaying an item in support of a proscribed group, as demonstrations took place in central London. Downing Street has described Palestine Action as 'violent' and said it has committed 'significant injury' as well as criminal damage, adding that evidence and security assessments shared in closed court supported its proscription. Palestine Action said Downing Street's accusations were 'false and defamatory' and 'disproven by the Government's own intelligence assessment'. Asked for their response to the EHRC letter, the Home Office referred to Ms Cooper's previous statement about last week's march, in which she said: 'The right to protest is one we protect fiercely but this is very different from displaying support for this one specific and narrow, proscribed organisation.' The Metropolitan Police declined to comment when asked for their response to the letter. Meanwhile, campaigners including Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth and Quakers in Britain have written to the Attorney General asking for prosecution decisions of those arrested at the London march at the weekend to be delayed until after further legal action over Palestine Action's proscription. A High Court hearing is set to take place in November challenging the group's ban as a terror organisation. In their letter to Attorney General Richard Hermer, the groups argued that 'prosecuting individuals for offences connected to that proscription before the court has determined its legality raises significant legal and moral questions' and said delaying prosecution decisions 'would demonstrate restraint, fairness and respect for the ongoing legal process'. The Attorney General's office has been contacted for comment. Separately, the Liberal Democrat party's home affairs spokeswoman, Lisa Smart, has written to the Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation, Jonathan Hall, calling on him to review part of the Terrorism Act, to assess whether it is being used correctly or if it 'requires amendment to prevent misuse in future'. She said: 'Acts of terrorism, antisemitic hate and violence, and violent disorder should all be punished to the fullest extent of the law and are totally unacceptable. 'It is right that the police already have the powers to make clear to organisations and individuals that we, as a society, will not stand for it and the consequences will be serious. 'In the case of arresting hundreds of peaceful protesters not engaging in these actions, in a country that prides itself on democratic debate, these measures appear disproportionate. 'The Conservatives clamped down on the right to protest peacefully and this Labour Government now risks doing the same.'

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store