Latest news with #Amendment)Bill2025
Time of India
4 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
90% plaints against private hosps this yr about billing
Kolkata: Around 90% of the 2,058 complaints against private hospitals, nursing homes and other clinical establishments—this works out to be nine out of 10 complaints—that reached the West Bengal Clinical Establishment Regulatory Commission this year till May pertain to billing issues. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now "Most of the complaints we received pertain to billing, making it important to make the billing system transparent. While our order was in the form of an advisory, the govt's move will make it a law," said WBCERC chairperson Ashim Kumar Banerjee. The advisory Banerjee mentioned was the one issued by the health panel in 2020, asking private facilities to set up display boards with details, such as package, rates for OPD, bed, doctor fees. The Bengal govt on Monday moved a bill in the state assembly, seeking to make it mandatory for private health facilities not to inflate their fixed treatment rates, including packages, with hidden charges. The bill says for treatment costs not covered under fixed rates, the patient party must be informed of the possible costs and any rise must be communicated within 24 hours. The bill mandates that the rates must be properly displayed at hospitals and on websites. While private hospitals appreciated the state decision to move to The West Bengal Clinical Establishments (Registration, Regulation and Transparency) (Amendment) Bill 2025, they said they hoped it would be practical. "This is a good move by the govt as there needs to be some form of regulation, especially in the billing part so that hidden charges are not extracted from patients," said Peerless Hospital CEO Sudipta Mitra. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Most private hospitals in Kolkata have boards displaying charges on certain packages, bed charges, doctor fees, OPD rates. But hospitals pointed out it was not possible to display all the charges, especially those of tests, that numbered beyond 2,000. "Due to these billing disputes, the public has a negative idea about private hospitals. We are yet to know the nitty-gritty of this move, but such a step towards making transparent billing is welcome," said Subhashis Datta, GM (operations), Ruby General Hospital. In the bill, the state has also tried to address the inordinate delay in issuing or renewing licences to private hospitals, proposing to cap it at 90 days. "We don't want private facilities to suffer for the want of licence renewal unnecessarily. If they don't get a renewed licence from the department within 90 days, it can be extended for 90 more days. This is a temporary measure. We have brought an amendment with more stringent measures, under which the govt will ensure the licence application will be disposed of within the period," said Chandrima Bhattacharya, junior health minister.
Business Insider
4 days ago
- Business
- Business Insider
Ruto initiates a new law to wipe the stain from Kenya's financial image
In response to money laundering and terrorist financial activities in Kenya, the president of the country recently signed the Anti-Money Laundering and Combating of Terrorism Financing Laws (Amendment) Bill 2025. Kenya's president signed the Anti-Money Laundering and Combating of Terrorism Financing Laws (Amendment) Bill 2025. The law aims to strengthen Kenya's financial regulatory framework and address illicit financial activities. Kenya has been under increased international scrutiny, including placement on the EU's high-risk country list. William Ruto's decision to sign the bill not only stems from the need to combat Kenya's financial crimes challenges, but also to position the country as a leader in East Africa's financial integrity and regulatory reforms. 'Kenya is keen on pursuing reforms that cement our position in the region as a leader in financial integrity and regulatory reform,' the president stated. The bill's signing reinforces this vision by sealing gaps that facilitate illicit financial flows via property transactions and the use of shell companies," he added. Since February 2024, Kenya has been on the Financial Action Task Force's grey list, officially designated as a jurisdiction 'under increased monitoring' due to strategic deficiencies in its anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-terrorist financing (CTF) framework, according to Global Financial Integrity. On June 10, 2025, the EU placed Kenya on its list of 'high‑risk third countries' for money laundering and terrorist financing due to lingering strategic deficiencies. The union added Kenya to its list alongside other African countries, including Algeria, Angola, Côte d'Ivoire, Kenya, and Namibia. Being included in the list means that these countries are now considered high-risk jurisdictions, requiring EU financial institutions to apply enhanced due diligence measures when dealing with transactions involving them. Given the contradiction between these unflattering designations and Kenya's ambition to be a leader in East Africa's financial landscape, Kenyan parliamentary members approved the anti-money laundering bill in April 2025, which amended several Acts of Parliament. The law addresses technical compliance deficiencies identified by the Eastern and Southern Africa Anti-Money Laundering Group (ESAAMLG), according to Tuko.
Dublin Live
10-06-2025
- Politics
- Dublin Live
Ireland to introduce three new terrorist offences under new plans
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Ireland will introduce three new terrorist offences under plans to be discussed by Cabinet on Tuesday morning. Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan will discuss the publication of the Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) (Amendment) Bill 2025 when Ministers meet in Government Buildings. The Terrorist Offences Bill will allow for the prosecution of a broader range of terrorist activities in light of the evolving nature of terrorism, sources said on Monday evening. The Bill provides for the addition of three new terrorist offences which are directed at what was branded the "foreign terrorist fighter phenomenon". This will make receiving training for terrorism, travelling for the purpose of terrorism and organising or facilitating travelling for the purpose of terrorism criminal offences. It will also permit courts to treat the fact that the offence was committed against a child as an aggravating factor when sentencing a person for recruiting or providing training. It is understood that these changes will bring Ireland's counter-terrorism laws into line with other EU member states and will facilitate Ireland's participation in enhanced counter-terrorism networks across the EU. This will give An Garda Síochána the ability to tap into those networks to respond to both domestic and cross-border terrorist threats. Elsewhere, Tánaiste Simon Harris will tell Cabinet that he is concerned about the EU's list of potential retaliatory tariffs on the US. The EU last month produced a list of counter tariffs it will impose on the US if President Donald Trump does not row back on proposed measures. He initially announced 20% tariffs on goods entering the US from the EU but then implemented a 90-day pause and said a 10% tariff would apply. President Trump then announced that a 50 per cent tariff would apply from June 1 after he suggested that negotiations with the EU were "going nowhere". However, he reinstated the 90-day pause following a phone call with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. It expires on July 8. At this morning's Cabinet meeting, the Tánaiste will tell his colleagues that Ireland has particular concerns about the list of proposed countermeasures in relation to the aviation, the medtech and agrifood sectors. These concerns are being conveyed to the Commission, including in a letter from the Tánaiste to EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič sent ahead of the closure of the EU's public consultation period today. The Tánaiste's letter will state that the countermeasures should not harm EU businesses and consumers more than the US, that the EU should be mindful to avoid unnecessarily escalating trade tensions and that the impact of measures must also not be implemented disproportionately, either on any one Member State, one sector or one individual company. Where possible, Mr Harris wrote, the EU should try to avoid imposing unnecessary costs on EU companies. The Tánaiste will tell colleagues that discussions on a possible trade deal between the EU and the US are advancing with technical talks taking place in Washington DC in recent days. If no solution is reached, the EU will implement its countermeasures on July 14. The Tánaiste will seek Cabinet approval for a plan designed to retain and incentivise highly skilled specialists in the Air Corps. Under the proposals, a Service Commitment Scheme, currently used by Air Corps pilots, will be extended to Air Traffic Control personnel. Elsewhere, new college places in the health, disability and education sectors will be created under a plan being brought by Higher Education Minister James Lawless, Health Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill and Children's Minister Norma Foley. This funding will support the creation of 461 additional annual places in these priority professions each year from now on, with the majority of new places commencing in 2025. This immediate expansion will include Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, Speech and Language Therapy, Radiation Therapy, Radiography, Podiatry, Social Work, Medical Science, and Dietetics. Minister for Education Helen McEntee will update Cabinet on progress being made in providing new special education classes for the 2025/26 school year. She has asked for all timelines for the 2026/27 school year to ensure better planning and ensure that children are accepted into new special classes much earlier. Join our Dublin Live breaking news service on WhatsApp. Click this link to receive your daily dose of Dublin Live content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. For all the latest news from Dublin and surrounding areas visit our homepage.
Irish Daily Mirror
10-06-2025
- Politics
- Irish Daily Mirror
Cabinet to discuss introducing three new terrorist offences
Ireland will introduce three new terrorist offences under plans to be discussed by Cabinet on Tuesday morning. Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan will discuss the publication of the Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) (Amendment) Bill 2025 when Ministers meet in Government Buildings. The Terrorist Offences Bill will allow for the prosecution of a broader range of terrorist activities in light of the evolving nature of terrorism, sources said on Monday evening. The Bill provides for the addition of three new terrorist offences which are directed at what was branded the 'foreign terrorist fighter phenomenon'. This will make receiving training for terrorism, travelling for the purpose of terrorism and organising or facilitating travelling for the purpose of terrorism criminal offences. It will also permit courts to treat the fact that the offence was committed against a child as an aggravating factor when sentencing a person for recruiting or providing training. It is understood that these changes will bring Ireland's counter-terrorism laws into line with other EU member states and will facilitate Ireland's participation in enhanced counter-terrorism networks across the EU. This will give An Garda Síochána the ability to tap into those networks to respond to both domestic and cross-border terrorist threats. Elsewhere, Tánaiste Simon Harris will tell Cabinet that he is concerned about the EU's list of potential retaliatory tariffs on the US. The EU last month produced a list of counter tariffs it will impose on the US if President Donald Trump does not row back on proposed measures. He initially announced 20% tariffs on goods entering the US from the EU but then implemented a 90-day pause and said a 10% tariff would apply. President Trump then announced that a 50 per cent tariff would apply from June 1 after he suggested that negotiations with the EU were 'going nowhere'. However, he reinstated the 90-day pause following a phone call with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. It expires on July 8. At this morning's Cabinet meeting, the Tánaiste will tell his colleagues that Ireland has particular concerns about the list of proposed countermeasures in relation to the aviation, the medtech and agrifood sectors. These concerns are being conveyed to the Commission, including in a letter from the Tánaiste to EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič sent ahead of the closure of the EU's public consultation period today. The Tánaiste's letter will state that the countermeasures should not harm EU businesses and consumers more than the US, that the EU should be mindful to avoid unnecessarily escalating trade tensions and that the impact of measures must also not be implemented disproportionately, either on any one Member State, one sector or one individual company. Where possible, Mr Harris wrote, the EU should try to avoid imposing unnecessary costs on EU companies. The Tánaiste will tell colleagues that discussions on a possible trade deal between the EU and the US are advancing with technical talks taking place in Washington DC in recent days. If no solution is reached, the EU will implement its countermeasures on July 14. The Tánaiste will seek Cabinet approval for a plan designed to retain and incentivise highly skilled specialists in the Air Corps. Under the proposals, a Service Commitment Scheme, currently used by Air Corps pilots, will be extended to Air Traffic Control personnel. Elsewhere, new college places in the health, disability and education sectors will be created under a plan being brought by Higher Education Minister James Lawless, Health Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill and Children's Minister Norma Foley. This funding will support the creation of 461 additional annual places in these priority professions each year from now on, with the majority of new places commencing in 2025. This immediate expansion will include Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, Speech and Language Therapy, Radiation Therapy, Radiography, Podiatry, Social Work, Medical Science, and Dietetics. Minister for Education Helen McEntee will update Cabinet on progress being made in providing new special education classes for the 2025/26 school year. She has asked for all timelines for the 2026/27 school year to ensure better planning and ensure that children are accepted into new special classes much earlier.
HKFP
29-05-2025
- Business
- HKFP
Hong Kong's legislature passes bill to increase airport departure tax to HK$200, effective from Oct 1
Hong Kong's airport departure tax will increase to HK$200 starting from October 1, after lawmakers passed a bill on Wednesday to green light the raise. Out of 84 lawmakers who took part in the vote on the Air Passenger Departure Tax (Amendment) Bill 2025, 77 voted in favour. Two lawmakers voted against the bill while five abstained. The increase will see the city's airport departure tax for adults rise from the current HK$120 to HK$200, representing a 67 per cent hike. The tax is built into the cost of flight tickets, and those purchased before October 1 will not be affected. Joseph Chan, the acting secretary for financial services and the treasury, said in the Legislative Council on Wednesday that the tax hike is expected to bring the government an additional revenue of around HK$1.6 billion. He acknowledged that some lawmakers had expressed worry that the increase would weaken the competitiveness of the Hong Kong International Airport, but said the government has already struck a balance between increasing revenue and reducing the impact on passengers. The official added that the airport departure tax has not been increased in 22 years, and that the government believes a raise of HK$80 was affordable. Perry Yiu, a lawmaker for the tourism sector, was one of the two who voted against the bill. He criticised the government for rejecting the industry's proposal for a phased tax increase and halving the raise, adding that the higher tax would negatively affect the economy's recovery. Gary Zhang, a legislator who also voted down the bill, said the government did not provide a scientific analysis into the impact of the tax raise on different groups of passengers, especially those preferring budget airlines. Exemptions expanded Currently, passengers who arrive and depart Hong Kong within the same day are exempted from the airport departure tax. Chan said authorities are planning to extend the exemption to those departing within the next day, meaning those who stay in the city for less than 48 hours would not have to pay the tax, following lawmakers' suggestions. The government also plans to exempt those transiting through the airport after arriving via land or sea ports, a move to attract more passengers from the Greater Bay Area, Chan said. He said the government is drafting relevant subsidiary legislation and will submit it to the legislature 'as soon as possible' to allow the two exemptions to be implemented on October 1. 'I would like to emphasise that the two exemptions… are expected to significantly enhance the competitiveness of the Hong Kong International Airport for transit passengers, and these transit travellers will also drive… the hotel, dining, and retail sectors in Hong Kong,' Chan said in Cantonese.
