Page 759 - Politics
Macron wants to 'significantly' cut income taxes
French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday promised to "significantly" reduce income tax for workers in France, while defending his controversial decision to scrap a wealth tax early in his term. "I want cuts for people who work by significantly reducing income taxes," Macron said during a speech in which he is laying out his response to five months of anti-government protests. "I have asked the government to implement this tax cut by financing it through the elimination of some tax breaks available for companies, by the need to work longer, and reductions in our public spending," Macron added. Macron said he was aware of complaints about his decision to reform a special tax on the earnings of millionaires in the months following his election in May 2017. He said it would be reviewed in 2020 and sought to justify it, saying it was designed to stimulate investment in the French economy. He also stressed that part of the tax -- on the property of high-earners -- had been retained. "It
Note ban, GST by 'two-men army' hit economy: Shatrughan
Actor-turned-politician Shatrughan Sinha said Thursday that demonetisationand Goods and Services Tax (GST) imposed by the "two-men army" hit the country's economy hard. Sinha, former BJP leader who is contesting the Lok Sabha election from Patna Sahib on Congress ticket, was campaigning here for Sanjay Nirupam and Urmila Matondkar, Congress nominees from Mumbai North West and Mumbai North. Sinha, in his earlier speeches, used to call Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit shah as "two-men army". "Demonetisationand GST by the two-men army hit the country's economy hard," he said at the rally. Claiming that no senior BJP leader had inkling about the "dictatorial" decision of demonetisation, Sinha said he was the first leader from within the saffron party to oppose it. "Economy was hit hard due to demonetisation, giving rise to unemployment. GST hit the small traders hard," he said. He joined the BJP as he admired its stalwarts, Atal Bihari Vajpayee and L K ...
Acting speaker issues notice to Rane on disqualification plea
Goa's acting assembly speaker Michael Lobo has issued a notice to Health Minister and BJP MLA Vishwajit Rane in connection with a disqualification petition filed against him. Lobo has also issued a notice to the petitioner, Independent MLA Prasad Gaonkar. The speaker has asked both of them to appear before him on May 2, Gaonkar said. The Independent MLA had filed the disqualification petition before the then Speaker Pramod Sawant against Rane, who resigned as a member of the assembly soon after getting elected in 2017 and then joined the BJP. Rane, elected on a Congress ticket from Valpoi, had resigned from assembly membership minutes after taking oath and later also quit the party. He then joined the BJP and was inducted into the Cabinet. Rane entered the assembly after winning from the Valpoi seat in a bypoll in August 2017. "The speaker has issued a notice to me and Rane last week, asking us to appear before him on May 2 in connection with the disqualification ...
ECI in process of acting on SC direction over TMC candidate's complaint: Sources
The ECI is in the "process" of acting on a Supreme Court order to initiate action on a complaint by TMC candidate Mahua Moitra against BJP leader Mahadev Sarkar for allegedly making sexually coloured remarks against her, a senior functionary said Thursday. A bench of Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justices Deepak Gupta and Sanjiv Khanna directed the Election Commission of India to pass the order "forthwith". "Having regard to the limited prayer made and the time available, we direct the competent authority in the Election Commission of India to pass necessary orders forthwith...," the bench said. "The order was received this (Thursday) afternoon. It (action) is under process based on that," the senior functionary said. Senior advocate Indira Jaising, appearing for Moitra, said during an election campaign, Sarkar made sexually coloured remarks against the TMC candidate before the public. She said less than 48 hours are left for campaigning for the Lok Sabha polls in the Krishna Nagar ..
Re-poll peace in one booth of Nagaland
Re-poll was held peacefully at one booth in Wokha district of Nagaland, where 77.4 per cent voter turn out was recorded on Thursday, an election office said here. The Election Commission on April 23 had announced fresh polling at the booth in Tyui assembly segment after it was found that Deputy Chief Minister Y Patton had entered the polling station with multiple voters slip to cast vote on April 11. The ruling People's Democratic Alliance's consensus candidate Tokheho Yepthomi of the NDPP and Congress' K L Chishi are in a straight contest in the lone Lok Sabha seat of Nagaland.
TRS party formation day events to be low-key this year
The ruling TRS in Telangana Thursday decided to keep its 18th formation day events a low-key affair this year, in view of the model code of conduct for Lok Sabha elections. TRS working president K T Rama Rao asked the partymen to keep the formation day celebrations on April 27 a low key affair as the model code of conduct was still in force, a party statement said. He urged the party leaders and workers to hoist party flags to mark the occasion.
Opposition should find a leader first: Uddhav
Shiv Sena Chief Uddhav Thackeray said Thursday that Opposition parties, which do not even have a prime ministerial candidate, are making tall promises. He was addressing a rally at Chakan near Pune for Shiv Sena MP and candidate from Shirur Lok Sabha seat Shivajirao Adhalrao Patil. "We have a strong PM candidate in Narendra Modi. But if you ask them (Opposition) who is your PM candidate, they say first give us votes and we will see later. "Today they do not have PM candidate and these people talk about improving the condition of the country....first go and search for a leader," the Sena chief said. "Everyone in Opposition's alliance wants to sit in the PM's chair, but this is not a game of musical chairs," he quipped. Adhalrao Patil has a connection with the people of his constituency and he will win a fourth term with a bigger margin, Thackeray said. In a dig at actor Dr Amol Kolhe, who quit the Sena ahead of the polls and has been fielded by the NCP in Shirur, ...
Biden asked Obama 'not to endorse' him for president
Former US vice president Joe Biden, who launched his White House bid Thursday, said he asked old boss Barack Obama not to endorse him because Democrats should try to win the nomination on their own merits. Shortly after Biden's announcement, a source familiar with Obama's thinking said he was "unlikely" to endorse this early, noting that the 44th president believed the robust primary debate in the run-up to 2008 had shaped him into a better candidate. "I asked president Obama not to endorse," Biden told reporters in Wilmington, Delaware, adding: "Whoever wins this nomination should win it on its own merits." Biden is the latest of 20 candidates seeking the Democratic nomination, a field that includes senators Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren and Kamala Harris, several current and former members of the House of Representatives and Obama's former cabinet member Julian Castro. Asked why he believed he is the party's best choice to go up against President Donald Trump in 2020, Biden ...
Last 5 years were about sincere effort, next five will be about results: Modi
A day before filing his nomination papers, Prime Minister Narendra Modi Thursday said while the past five years were about his government making sincere efforts, the next five will be about results. Addressing a meeting here that capped a day which included a massive roadshow and a Ganga 'aarti', Modi also laid stress on national security. He said a new India gives a befitting reply to terror. In an apparent reference to the attack on a Central Reserve Police Force, the prime minister said, They killed 40 jawans in Pulwama, we have killed 42 terrorists in that area. He said this is the way his government functions. Modi added that the world backed India in its fight against terror. He also referred to the recent bomb blasts in Sri Lanka, saying innocent people observing Easter had lost their lives. The prime minister will file his nomination papers Friday, seeking a second term in the Lok Sabha from the constituency. Modi said he will not claim that whatever he wished for the ...
Biden's announcement heats up Democratic presidential race (News Analysis)
Former Vice President Joe Biden formally announced on Thursday he was bidding for the Democratic Party nomination for President, putting the crowded race into high gear.
BJP-BJD match-fixing evident in Odisha, claims Raj Babbar
Actor-turned Congress leader Raj Babbar Thursday claimed that the BJP and the BJD have entered into "match-fixing" in Odisha, which can ensure another term for the state's ruling party. In return, the BJD will reciprocate the gesture in the event of a hung-parliament, the Uttar Pradesh Congress president alleged. "It is evident that there is match-fixing in Odisha. Both the BJP and the BJD are playing a friendly match and pretending animosity. The BJP may need the BJD's support in the post-poll scenario. The two parties are misleading the people," he claimed. So, whoever wins in the polls, the people of Odisha will lose, the Congress leader said at poll meetings in Kendrapara and Bhadrak Lok Sabha constituencies. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik are cheating the people by denying them basic rights and social justice, Babbar alleged. Lashing out at Modi, he said during 2014 elections, the BJP had promised to accord special category status to
Ram Kripal Yadav, Misa Bharti file nominations for Pataliputra
Union minister Ram Kripal Yadav and RJD chief Lalu Prasad's eldest daughter Misa Bharti on Thursday filed their nominations for the Pataliputra Lok Sabha seat. A former confidant of Prasad, Yadav had quit the RJD and joined the BJP ahead of the 2014 Lok Sabha polls in which he defeated Bharti by a margin of less than 40,000 votes. Yadav was accompanied by a number of senior BJP leaders, including Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, who is the party candidate in the adjoining Patna Sahib constituency. Bharti, who is a sitting member of the Rajya Sabha, was accompanied by her mother Rabri Devi who carried a photograph of her husband, who is serving sentences in fodder scam cases - and brother Tej Pratap Yadav. RJD heir apparent Tejashwi Yadav, the younger of Prasad's two sons, was conspicuous by his absence, though party sources claimed he was busy in election campaign. There had been speculations that Yadav wanted MLA Bhai Virendra to contest from the Pataliputra ...
Want to develop Maharashtra's future leadership: Sharad Pawar on LS ticket to grandson
NCP supremo Sharad Pawar on Thursday said that his party has given Lok Sabha ticket to his grandson, Parth, so that it could develop leaders for tomorrow."We have fielded young candidates in many constituencies. Today we have Parth Pawar who is also a young candidate of Congress and NCP. We want to raise leaders for Maharashtra of the future. We have that responsibility hence we have given the opportunity to Parth," Pawar said while addressing a rally here."Any beginner may face setbacks initially, but he learns from it and marches ahead. Today it is our responsibility to stand with them and vote for them to help win this election," he added.Son of Ajit Pawar, Parth is a third generation leader from the Pawar family. He has been fielded against Shiv Sena's Shrirang Appa in Maval.Targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Pawar criticised how people at the former's rallies were not allowed to walk out."I have seen rallies of Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi and even Yashwantrao Chavan but ...
Central Administrative Tribunal stays suspension of IAS officer who checked PM's chopper
The Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) on Thursday stayed the suspension of Mohammed Mohsin, the Indian Administrative Slogan (IAS) officer who checked Prime Minister Narendra Modi's chopper in Odisha's Sambalpur."It cannot be said that SPG Protectees are eligible for anything and everything... There was a news report indicating that heavy packages were taken away from the Prime Minister's cavalcade into another vehicle and sped away in another vehicle in Karnataka. Questions were raised about it but apparently, no action followed," the order copy read."Election officials have checked private vehicles of Chief Minister Kumaraswamy more than once and no action followed... the Chief Minister of Odisha's vehicles were also checked," it further read.Staying the Election Commission's suspension order, the bench said, "Even though Election Commissioner may have supervisory power over the employees under their control at that moment of time, once they are out of it powers of Election ...
Pak expresses regret over India suspending cross Loc trade
Pakistan on Thursday expressed "regret" over India's decision to shun all cross LoC trade saying confidence-building measures are "important"."Trade and other confidence-building measures are important between the neighbouring countries and Indian decision to stop the trade is regrettable," Radio Pakistan quoted Foreign Office Spokesperson Mohammad Faisal as saying.He also said that Pakistan is "committed" to Kartarpur Corridor and awaits the next meeting with India in this regard.On April 17, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) issued orders to suspend the cross LoC trade in Jammu-Kashmir with effect from April 19.MHA had said in a statement that this action has been taken as the Government of India has been receiving reports that the cross LoC trade routes are being misused by Pakistan based elements for funnelling illegal weapons, narcotics, and fake currency.During the ongoing investigations of certain cases by the National Investigative Agency, it has been brought out that a ...
Acting Pentagon boss cleared of ethics wrongs by internal inquiry
Acting US Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan was on Thursday cleared of any ethics violations in an internal Pentagon investigation into links with his former employer Boeing, where he worked for 30 years. The report's findings clear the way for President Donald Trump to officially nominate Shanahan as permanent defense secretary, a post that must be confirmed by the Senate. "We determined that Mr Shanahan fully complied with his ethics agreements and his ethical obligations regarding Boeing and its competitors," the Pentagon's Inspector General's office said in a statement. In March, the government watchdog Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) filed a complaint to the Inspector General's office following media reports that Shanahan, when serving as deputy defense secretary, had privately promoted Boeing over its main rival Lockheed, which is building the F-35 fighter jet. "Mr Shanahan reportedly praised Boeing in discussions about government contracts, said ...
Last 5 years were of hard work, next 5 of results: Modi
Making an emotional appeal in his constituency, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday urged people of Varanasi to give him five more years and promised that while the last five years were for "hard work (purusarth) and change (badlav)", the next five would be for "results (parinam) and India's prestige (pratishtha)".
EU slams Russian 'attack' after passport change for Ukraine
The European Union condemned Moscow on Thursday for making it easier for people in separatist areas of east Ukraine to obtain Russian passports, calling it a fresh assault on the war-torn country's sovereignty. The controversial decree signed by President Vladimir Putin "is another attack on Ukraine's sovereignty by Russia", a spokeswoman for EU foreign affairs chief Federica Mogherini said in a statement. "The timing of such a decision immediately after Ukraine's presidential election... shows Russia's intention to further destabilise Ukraine and to exacerbate the conflict," the spokeswoman added. The EU urged Russia "to refrain from actions that are against the Minsk agreements and impede the full reintegration of the non-government controlled areas into Ukraine". Germany and France on Thursday also condemned Moscow, saying the move undermined the Minsk peace agreements. That deal was signed by the leaders of Russia, Ukraine, France and Germany in the Belarus capital of Minsk in ...
Russia firm to take over Syria port for 49 years: Damascus
A Russian firm is to take over Syria's largest port for 49 years and invest USD 500 million in expanding it, the transport minister in Damascus said Thursday. A deal would be signed for the "management, expansion and operation" of Tartous port with Russian company Stroytransgaz, Transport Minister Ali Hammoud was quoted as telling pro-government newspaper Al-Watan. "The length of the contract -- 49 years -- was decided after a feasibility study" so both sides could reap benefits, it said. Russia has a naval base in Tartous and has been a key ally of President Bashar al-Assad's regime in Syria's eight-year civil war, providing it with crucial military backing. The minister on Tuesday told Syrian state television that the port, which started operating in the 1960s, was not deep enough to allow heavy ships to dock. "Tartous is an old port whose docks range between four and 13 metres (13 and 43 feet) deep," he said. The current facilities are not suitable for ships heavier than 30-35 ...
Contest election before saying I fled field: Pawar to Uddhav
Nationalist Congress Party supremo Sharad Pawar Thursday dared Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray to contest an election, and said even a small "wrestler" from the NCP can beat him in the electoral arena. Pawar was addressing a rally at Manchar in support of NCP's candidate from Shirur Lok Sabha constituency Dr Amol Kolhe. Thackeray had taken a jibe at Pawar, who had earlier announced that he would contest the election from Madha but later withdrew. "He (Uddhav) said that Sharad Pawar left the (playing) field....I have contested and won 14 elections, so when I decided that as I am nearing 80 I should stop and the new generation should come forward, these people are saying I left the field," he said. "I request him to take the field at least once.... forget me, even a small wrestler of mine (NCP) can beat you," he said, using sports analogy. While Bal Thackeray built the Shiv Sena from scratch, Uddhav, his son, inherited it without doing anything, the NCP chief ...