#Union Budget 2020 analysis

[thinkinglegal]

Comparative Analysis of the 2024 and 2020 Union Budgets for Startups: A Business Lawyer's Perspective

"In a landmark move, the 2024 Union Budget slashes the angel tax, unleashing a new era for Indian startups."

The Union Budgets of 2020 and 2024 have brought significant changes to India's startup ecosystem, as noted by business lawyers and industry experts. Referring to an article by Vaneesa Agrawal, business lawyer and founder of Thinking Legal business law firm, titled "Budget2020: Boost to Start-Up Ecosystem," highlighting the importance of budget reforms for startups, this article builds on this analysis and explores the key differences and their potential impact on the entrepreneurial landscape.

The 2020 Union Budget: Immediate Relief and Digital Transformation

The 2020 budget was crafted against the backdrop of the looming COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on providing immediate relief to startups and accelerating digital transformation. One of the key measures, as highlighted by business lawyers across India, was the extension of the tax holiday for eligible startups until March 31, 2021. 

From a business lawyer's perspective, this provision allowed qualifying startups to claim 100% tax exemption on profits for three consecutive years within their first decade of incorporation, provided their annual turnover did not exceed ₹25 crore in any financial year.

Vaneesa Agrawal, a prominent business lawyer specializing in startup law, noted, "The extension on tax holiday offered a crucial financial buffer for startups, allowing them to reinvest profits into growth rather than allocating funds for tax liabilities."

Business lawyers also highlight that the second most significant aspect of the 2020 budget was its emphasis on digital transformation. Substantial resources were allocated to enhance the digital economy, with a particular focus on fintech and digital payment systems. 

"This initiative aligns with the government's vision of achieving a $5 trillion economy, recognizing startups as key drivers of innovation and GDP growth."

- Vaneesa Agrawal, Prominent Business Lawyer

For business lawyers in the startup space, this digital push meant an increased focus on regulatory frameworks surrounding digital transactions, data privacy, and cybersecurity. It necessitated a deeper understanding of the evolving legal landscape in these areas to better advise clients navigating the digital economy.

The 2024 Union Budget: Long-term Growth and Sustainable Ecosystem

Fast forward to 2024, and business lawyers see a marked shift in the government's approach. The 2024 Union Budget demonstrates a more comprehensive strategy aimed at creating a sustainable ecosystem for startup growth and innovation.

One of the most significant changes for startups, as most business lawyers note, is the abolition of the angel tax for all classes of investors, effective from April 1, 2024. This move addresses a long-standing concern in the startup community. The angel tax, introduced in 2012 to prevent money laundering through inflated valuations, had inadvertently created compliance burdens for startups, making it challenging to attract investment.

Vaneesa Agrawal, a seasoned business lawyer with extensive experience in startup law, commented on this development: "The abolition of the angel tax simplifies the funding process and is likely to trigger a significant increase in capital inflow from angel investors."

Business lawyers anticipate a potential increase of 30-40% in capital from angel investors. From this Vaneesa Agrawal highlights that this change necessitates a shift in legal advisory services, focusing more on structuring deals and ensuring compliance with other regulatory requirements rather than navigating the complexities of the angel tax.

The 2024 budget also introduced new funding mechanisms and tax incentives for startups operating in emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, healthcare, and clean technology. Business lawyers highlight that such a targeted approach reflects the government's commitment to fostering innovation in sectors critical for India's economic growth and sustainability.

For business lawyers and anyone in the legal industry, this shift means developing expertise in sector-specific regulations and understanding the nuances of intellectual property rights in these emerging fields. It also opens up new avenues for legal services in areas like technology transfer agreements and cross-border collaborations in research and development.

Simplification of Compliance: A Common Thread

Both the 2020 and 2024 budgets recognized the need to reduce regulatory burdens on startups. However, as business lawyers notice, the 2024 budget takes more concrete steps in this direction. It proposes measures to streamline regulatory approvals and simplify income tax provisions related to reopening and reassessment.

For instance, the 2024 budget limits the reopening of assessments to cases where escaped income exceeds ₹50 lakh and restricts the maximum period for reopening to five years. In search cases, the time limit for assessments has been reduced from ten years to six years. Business lawyers say that these changes provide greater certainty and reduce the compliance burden on startups, allowing them to focus more on growth and less on navigating complex regulatory frameworks.

Vaneesa Agrawal, a prominent business lawyer, comments, "The simplification of compliance processes in the 2024 budget is a significant step forward. It allows startups to redirect resources from regulatory navigation to core business activities, potentially accelerating innovation and growth."

Extension of Tax Holidays: Continuity in Policy

One area of continuity between the two budgets is the extension of tax holidays for startups. While the 2020 budget extended the deadline to March 31, 2021, the 2024 budget further pushes this to March 31, 2025. This extension allows newly established startups to benefit from a three-year tax holiday, crucial for those in their early growth stages.

For business lawyers, this continuity provides a stable framework for advising clients on tax planning and structuring their operations to maximize the benefits of these tax holidays.

"This policy continuity provides a stable environment for startups to plan their finances and growth strategies in the crucial early years."

- Vaneesa Agrawal

Conclusion: A Shift Towards Sustainable Growth

In comparing the 2020 and 2024 Union Budgets, we see a clear evolution in the government's approach to fostering the startup ecosystem. While the 2020 budget focused on immediate relief and digital transformation in response to the pandemic, the 2024 budget takes a more long-term view, emphasizing sustainable growth and innovation.

Reflecting on these changes, Vaneesa Agrawal observes, "The 2024 budget represents a paradigm shift in India's approach to startup policy. 

The abolition of the angel tax, simplification of compliance processes, and targeted support for emerging technologies in the 2024 budget mark a significant shift towards creating a more conducive environment for startups. These changes not only reduce the burdens on startups but also open up new opportunities for growth and innovation.

[prasannareddy]

Driving Financial Inclusion: The Transformative Impact of Car Finance in Today's Market

Car financing includes a range of financial products that provide funds to customers to acquire a car without full payment through cash or lump pay. There are various financial products available in the car loan categories. These services are provided by financing companies or specialist car manufacturers. Furthermore, rise in global average price of a vehicle and increase in demand for vehicles are some of the factors that propel the car finance market growth. However, increase in alternatives to cars with rideshare services and massive growth in debts of borrowers are some of the factors that hamper the market growth. Allied Market Research published a report, titled, "Car Finance Market by Distribution Channel (Banks, OEMs, Credit Unions, and Others), Vehicle Age (New Vehicles and Used Vehicles), Application (Personal and Commercial), and Purpose (Loans and Lease): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2020-2027." According to the report, the global car finances industry was pegged at $1.29 billion in 2019, and is expected to hit $2.33 billion by 2027, registering a CAGR of 14.3% from 2020 to 2027.

Drivers, restraints, and opportunities-

Rise in global average price of automobiles and increase in demand for vehicles fuel the growth of the global car finance market. On the other hand, emergence of rideshare services and surge in debts from various borrowers curtail down the growth to some extent. However, enactment of technologies in existing product lines and untapped potential of emerging economies are expected to create multiple opportunities for the key players in the industry.

Request Sample Report: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/4336

Covid-19 scenario-

The outbreak of the pandemic has resulted in sharp decline in consumer trends and preferences toward purchasing cars. Accordingly, the global car finance market has been considerably affected. However, the overall situation is gradually being ameliorated across the world and the market is expected to get back to its position soon. At the same time, it's worth mentioning that people across the world have started preferring private way of transportation over selecting public transport which, in turn, has provided the market with a mixed effect. The banks segment to lead the trail by 2027-

Based on distribution channel, the banks segment accounted for nearly two-fifths of the global car finance market share in 2019 and is anticipated to maintain the lion's share throughout the study period. The OEMs segment, on the other hand, would portray the fastest CAGR of 15.5% by 2027. This is attributed to the fact that banks tend to provide car financing at a discounted rate and they involve easier loan process as well as timely services.

Enquire More: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/purchase-enquiry/4336

The new vehicles segment to dominate during the estimated period-

Based on vehicles age, the new vehicles segment contributed to more than half of the global car finance market revenue in 2019 and is expected to rule the roost during the forecast period. This is because consumers taking new cars via financing methods are provided with multiple features by the manufacturer, distributor or dealer having several tie-ups with other providers in the market. Simultaneously, the used vehicles would manifest the fastest CAGR of 14.6% from 2020 to 2027, owing to rise in demand for used cars with customized models, limited budget for availing car loans, and changing business preferences toward vehicles.

Asia-Pacific, followed by Europe and North America, to rule the roost-

Based on geography, Asia-Pacific, followed by Europe and North America, held the major share in 2019, garnering more than two-fifths of the global car finance market. The same region would also register the fastest CAGR of 15.4% by the end of 2027. This is due to rise in the number of middle class customers for buying new cars and increase in their disposable incomes.

𝑰𝒇 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒚 𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒄𝒊𝒂𝒍 𝒓𝒆𝒒𝒖𝒊𝒓𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒔, 𝒂𝒔𝒌 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒄𝒖𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒎𝒊𝒛𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-for-customization/4336?reqfor=covid

Frontrunners in the industry-

Bank of America Corporation Ford Motor Company Volkswagen Finance Private Limited. Capital One Daimler AG General Motors Financial Company, Inc. Ally Financial Inc. Hitachi Capital Corporation JPMorgan Chase & Co. Toyota Financial Services

Related Reports:

Buy Now Pay Later Market https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/buy-now-pay-later-market-A12528

B2B Payments Market https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/b2b-payments-market-A08183

Marine Insurance Market https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/marine-insurance-market-A11321

Travel Insurance Market https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/travel-insurance-market

Insurance Third Party Administrator Market https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/insurance-third-party-administrator-market-A12542

Parametric Insurance Market https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/parametric-insurance-market-A14966

[examophobia]

https://examophobia.com/product/commerce-by-rankers-coaching/

Printed Notes of Commerce by Rankers’ Coaching

1. Taxation(Assessment ) 26th edition year- 2023/2024

Scanner

Residential Status

Salaries

2). Financial Management and Markets year- 2023/2024

Nature & scope of FM

Analysis of Financial Statements

Capital Budgeting

Cost of Capital

Capital structure Planning

Divided Policy

Working Capital Management

Corporate Restructuring

3. Human resource management (11th Edition) year- 2023/2024

4.Industrial relations( 11th Edition) year- 2023/2024

Meaning, Nature

Formation of Trade Unions

Nature of Industrial Disputes

5.Organisation theory (13edition) year-2023                                                 

Nature of Organisation

Organisation Goals

Evolution of Organisation Theory

6.Organisation behavior year- 2023-2024

Meaning & concept of organization Behaviour

Personality

Perception

7.Cost accounting. (Commerce and Accountancy) 9th Edition  year- 2020/2022

Meaning, Nature & scope of HRM

Human Resource Planning

Recruitment Process

Training & Development process

Performance appraisal

Salary & wage administration, Job Evaluation

Employee welfare,pRomotions,Transfers & Separations

8. Financial Institution year-2023-2024

9. Audit

[thxnews]

IMF Global Debt Insights: Vitor Gaspar's Analysis

Vitor Gaspar, Director of the IMF Fiscal Affairs Department, shared crucial insights on the global debt landscape, unveiling a trajectory that has witnessed unprecedented shifts over the past 75 years. As fiscal authorities and policymakers navigate through challenges, this analysis provides a comprehensive view of debt dynamics and policy trade-offs.  

Global Debt Peaks in 2020: The Pandemic's Impact

The fiscal world saw an extraordinary transformation in 2020 when global debt reached its pinnacle at 258 percent of GDP. The pandemic year left an indelible mark on economies worldwide, and this was evident in the towering debt levels. However, the subsequent two years witnessed a substantial rebound in economic activity. This, coupled with an unexpected inflation surge, lowered global debt by 20 percentage points of GDP. As a result, debt levels returned to nearly two-thirds of pre-pandemic benchmarks.  

2022 Snapshot: $235 Trillion and China's Ascent

In 2022, the total debt liabilities of governments, non-financial corporations, and households globally amounted to a staggering $235 trillion, equivalent to 238 percent of GDP. Notably, China's debt trajectory stood out, with a rapid ascent from 1 percent of global debt in 1995 to 20 percent in 2022. This shift not only surpassed global debt growth but also outpaced Chinese GDP, effectively converging China's debt ratio with that of the United States.  

The Global Debt Database: A Comprehensive Resource

Gaspar emphasized that these findings are part of the IMF's Global Debt Database, which provides in-depth insights into the global debt landscape over time, offering a valuable resource for policymakers and economists alike.  

The Debt Challenge: Slowing Growth, Rising Interest Rates, and Budget Deficits

As we look to the future, one question looms large: Will total debt continue its upward trend? Gaspar suggests that this is indeed likely to be the case. Notably, major global economies, with the United States and China at the forefront, play a significant role in this trend. Slowing growth, rising real interest rates, and expanding budget deficits all contribute to the resurgence of global public debt. The result is substantially higher debt levels that are expected to grow at a faster pace compared to pre-pandemic projections.   Risk of Sovereign Debt Defaults: Low but Present Despite the high levels of debt and associated vulnerabilities, Gaspar asserts that the risk of a "systemic" wave of sovereign debt defaults remains low, providing some reassurance in the current fiscal landscape.  

The Fiscal Equation: Balancing Act

Gaspar delves into the intricate challenge faced by all nations—the need to balance the fiscal equation. Rising debts, increasing borrowing costs, and expanded public expectations of budget roles have set the stage for a complex policy trade-off. Gaspar notes that many countries are grappling with tighter fiscal policies to manage public finance risks and contribute to central banks' efforts to meet inflation targets.   A Global Pragmatic Side Deal for Climate Action In the face of impending climate crises, Gaspar highlights the imperative for a global pragmatic side deal among major players such as the United States, China, India, the European Union, and the African Union. Such a deal could significantly impact climate action and financial stability. Gaspar underscores the importance of incorporating a carbon price floor, transfers, and revenue-sharing mechanisms to bridge financial divides and achieve sustainable development goals.   IMF's Role in Financial Stability In conclusion, Gaspar emphasizes the IMF's pivotal role in maintaining sound public finances and financial stability. Urgent support from member countries is essential to bolster quota resources and secure funding for the concessional Poverty Reduction and Growth Trust and the Resilience and Sustainability Trust.  

Navigating the Policy Trilemma

Gaspar's analysis concludes with an astute observation: the policy trilemma holds true not only for climate action but also for any policy objective that requires additional budget spending. As countries grapple with a multitude of spending pressures and political red lines limiting taxation, the challenge remains to balance the fiscal equation. Whether through recalibrating policy ambitions or adjusting taxation red lines, a smart policy mix offers a way forward in the complex landscape of fiscal choices.   Sources: THX News & IMF. Read the full article

[stevecarell600]

Remote Towers Market Demand, Regional Analysis and Key Players Profiles by 2027

The Global Remote towers Market, also known as remote tower control (RTC) or remote air traffic control (ATC), represent a modern innovation in the field of aviation. They involve the use of technology to provide air traffic control services for airports from a remote location, rather than having controllers physically present in a traditional control tower at the airport. The global remote towers market size was valued at USD 40 million in 2019 and is projected to reach USD 584.3 million by 2027, exhibiting a CAGR of 31.05% during the forecast period (2020 – 2027).

Informational Source:

Here's Some Key Information about Remote Towers Market are:

Overview: Remote towers use a combination of cameras, sensors, and data communication technology to provide air traffic control services. High-definition cameras are installed at the airport to capture real-time images of the runway, taxiways, and the airspace.

Remote Tower Center: The core of remote tower technology is the Remote Tower Center (RTC). This is where air traffic controllers work, remotely monitoring and controlling multiple airports from a centralized location. The RTC is equipped with advanced displays, communication tools, and automation systems to assist controllers.

Benefits:

Cost-Effective: Remote towers can serve multiple airports from a single center, reducing the need for physical towers and on-site personnel at each location.

Enhanced Safety: The use of cameras and sensors can improve visibility, especially in adverse weather conditions, ensuring safer operations.

Flexibility: Remote towers can be easily reconfigured or expanded to accommodate changes in air traffic and airport operations.

24/7 Operations: Remote towers enable continuous air traffic control services, even at smaller airports that may not have had 24/7 staffing.

Safety Measures: To ensure the safety and security of remote tower systems, they are equipped with redundancy and fail-safe mechanisms. There are backup systems and protocols in place to handle technical failures or cyber threats.

Regulatory Approval: Remote tower technology must adhere to strict regulations and standards set by aviation authorities in different countries. Regulatory bodies such as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the United States and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) have developed guidelines for remote tower operations.

Implementation: The implementation of remote towers varies by region and country. Some regions have fully embraced remote tower technology, while others are in the testing and evaluation phase. The adoption of remote towers depends on factors like air traffic volume, budget, and the need for advanced ATC services.

Challenges: Despite the benefits, remote towers face challenges such as cybersecurity concerns, data latency issues, and the need for skilled personnel to operate the technology effectively.

Future Prospects: Remote tower technology is expected to continue evolving, with improvements in automation, artificial intelligence, and data analytics. It may become more commonplace at airports, especially in regions where cost-efficiency and advanced ATC services are a priority.

Overall, remote towers represent a significant advancement in air traffic control technology, offering the potential to improve safety, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness in aviation operations.

[insights10]

The life insurance market in India has seen significant growth over the years, driven by increasing awareness about financial planning and the need for life insurance. With a population of over 1.3 Bn people, India is one of the fastest-growing economies in the world, and the life insurance market has become a crucial component of its financial sector.

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of having lifeinsurance as a safety net, leading to an increase in demand for life insurance products. The industry has responded by launching new products and services that cater to the changing needs of customers, such as term plans with COVID-19 coverage and digital platforms that enable customers to buy insurance online. Here are some key trends in the India Insurance Market: ◾ Swiss Re announced investing Rs. 920 crores in Paytm's insurance business in October 2021 ◾ In FY23*, the public and private sectors' respective shares of first-year premiums were 31.42% and 67.72% ◾ The private sector's share of general and health insurance in India increased from 48.03% in FY20 to 49.3% in FY21 ◾ RelianceNippon LifeInsuranceSiddipet (RNLI) secured a 40,000-square-foot space from adanirealty in BKC on a five-year lease in November 2020 for use as its corporate headquarters ◾ Life Insurance Corporation of India, the nation’s sole public sector life insurer, remained the market leader with about 67.72% of the new business market share in FY23 ◾ A record first-year premium income of Rs. 206,893.51 crores (US$ 25.32 Bn) was attained by LIC in FY23 under the individual assurance business ◾ In June 2021, LIC Housing Finance Limited declared its intention to raise Rs. 2,334.69 crores (US$ 312.43 Mn) by issuing equity shares to LIC in a preferential manner ◾ As part of the banking and insurance industry restructuring outlined in the Union Budget 2021, Finance Minister Ms. Nirmala Sitharaman declared that LIC’s initial public offering (IPO) would take place in FY22 ◾ The Indian government intends to sell a 7% interest in LIC in 2022 for a total price of Rs. 50,000 crores ($6.62 Bn). This is the largest initial public offering (IPO) in India Overall, the life insurance market in India is poised for continued growth, driven by favorable demographic trends, increasing financial literacy, and the need for long-term financial planning. Write us 📧 at info@insights10.com for the detailed analysis

[back-and-totheleft]

"The United States does not care about Ukraine"

When Oliver Stone presented his autobiography in 2020, he admitted that if he hadn't directed a conventional film since 2012 it was because "he wasn't inspired" and he didn't feel "the necessary fire" inside him . Maybe that's why his latest documentary is a return to the subject he touched on three decades ago in JFK: the assassination of John Kennedy. JFK Revisited, which Stone presented this Monday at the BCN Film Fest, resumes the investigation based on the analysis of official documents declassified in recent years and once again dismantles the Warren Commission report. It is a more thorough compilation than the 1991 film, even too much, and with little news of interest about the case beyond documenting that there were two other conspiracies to assassinate the president weeks before the mass murder. The conclusions, of course, are the same: the magic bullet theory is ridiculous, the FBI and CIA conspired to cover up the assassination, and the history of the United States would have been much better had they not removed Kennedy.

"JFK was the last truly popular president, I'm sure he would have won the 1964 election," defends Stone. "Since his death, no one has had the ability to change things or the courage to challenge the CIA, which controls foreign policy." 

For the director of Platoon, Kennedy was "a warrior of peace" who warned about the danger of having "a pax Americana imposed by force of arms, which is exactly what we have now." Kennedy's goal, says Stone, was not to encourage American imperialism: “He was Irish and his family had fought against the English, he knew the history of Ireland from top to bottom. He had good relations with Nasser's Egypt and the Middle East and wanted to invest in South America, not the military. Kennedy had been in the military and therefore knew how the influence and the military budget had grown and the danger that this entailed." The filmmaker, in fact, puts NATO as an example of a "completely superfluous" organization. And he adds: "If you think that being part of NATO provides security to Spain, you are crazy."

A "reasonable and rational" man

Stone insists that his main interest is not politics ("I make movies, I'm a director, the thing is, politics is good material for drama," he says), but just go through the list of politicians that he has portrayed from fiction or documentary throughout his career: Nixon, Castro, George W. Bush, Hugo Chávez. The last was Vladimir Putin, whom he interviewed in 2017 in a documentary series that offers a friendly and positive profile of the Russian president. He hasn't spoken to him in three years, but he says he doesn't think he's changed "or lost his mind." "He is a reasonable and rational man who thinks before he speaks, like a chess player. Putin is a good son of Russia who works in the interest of his people. He comes from the lower class and grew up a patriot, not a KGB agent. 

The director also does not hesitate to comment on Marine Le Pen the day after the far-right's best results in a French election. "They love to say that he is from the extreme right, but I don't know if he is," he says. "Some of the things he says are common sense, like questioning the role of NATO in the European Union. Before, the old Europe did not stand firm and always marched under the orders of the United States." For Stone, Le Pen is just "shaking things up" and he doesn't think it's bad. "Doing this is extreme right-wing, they say. But I'm on the left and I'm in favor of immigrants. So these labels no longer work."

"The United States does not care about Ukraine"

In line with his support for Putin, Oliver Stone produced the documentary Ukraine on Fire in 2019 , which analyzes the country's history from a point of view that coincides with the pro-Russian narrative and attributes the 2014 revolution to the interference of the United States. Russia's invasion of Ukraine, he says, has not changed his mind about the conflict between the two countries. "In Ukraine there is a long history of anti-Russian sentiment and discrimination against the ethnic Russian population," he says. "This has been the basis of the country's policy since the 2014 coup that forced out President Yanukovych with the support of the United States, which has spent a lot of money in Ukraine to destabilize Russia. The United States does not care about Ukraine or the death of Ukrainians."

Stone, in fact, gets fired up at mentioning the war crimes allegations against Russia's actions in Ukraine. "It's typical Western propaganda," he assures. "What is the point of talking about war crimes? It's a war, that's what happens in wars. But saying it's Russia's policy is the stupidest thing I've ever heard." The director recalls the accusations against Saddam Hussein ("We turned him into a monster comparable to Hitler") and points to China as the next target of the United States. "For a while we were fine with them, but now they are our enemies and we accuse them of genocide, like in Russia, but things are not that simple. Our strategy is to point at others and shout loudly 'War crimes!', but in this way, we are perverting the purpose of the Nuremberg trials." Interestingly, the only question Stone has refused to answer during the meeting with the press was about Will Smith's slap to Chris Rock at the Oscars. "I always have problems if I say things without thinking them through," he explained.

-Xavi Serra interviews Oliver Stone for ARA, Apr 25 2022 [x] Translated from Catalan

[aakashmalhotra]

Deloitte India throws some light on Union Budget 2020 where you can get your required details in almost every topic by the experts

[rudrjobdesk]

Budget 2020: बजट में इस्तेमाल होने वाले इन 10 शब्दावलियों के बारे में कितना जानते हैं आप?

Budget 2020: बजट में इस्तेमाल होने वाले इन 10 शब्दावलियों के बारे में कितना जानते हैं आप?

आज से चंद दिनों बाद यानी 1 फरवरी को वित्त मंत्री निर्मला सीतारमण अपना दूसरा बजट (Budget 2020-21) पेश करने वाली हैं। इस बजट पर पूरे देश की नजर होगी।  वित्त मंत्री निर्मला सीतारमण बजट में अर्थव्यवस्था को रफ्तार देने के लिए कई घोषणाएं कर सकती हैं। वित्तमंत्री के पिटारे से क्या-क्या निकलेगा ये तो 1 फरवरी को ही पता चलेगा, लेकिन बजट की कुछ ऐसी शब्दावलियां हैं जिन्हें आपको जानना जरूरी है। आइए जानें 10…

[mariacallous]

Moldova’s president: Our democracy’s survival depends on joining the E.U.

Maia Sandu is a woman on a democratic mission in a war-torn neighborhood — the first honest president that Moldova has elected since breaking away from Russia in 1991. After a series of pro-Russian oligarchs enriched themselves at the expense of this small former Soviet republic, Sandu, a 50-year-old former World Bank employee and education minister, formed her own political party in 2016 to fight corruption. She was appointed prime minister in 2019 and elected president in 2020. Now, instead of focusing fully on criminal justice reforms, she is navigating the shock waves of Russia’s war against neighboring Ukraine and the impact of Russian cutbacks on gas sales to Europe. The Post’s Lally Weymouth sat down with Sandu this week in the presidential offices in Chisinau. Edited excerpts of their conversation:

Weymouth: How do you see the war in Ukraine going?

Sandu: We have condemned the Russian aggression against Ukraine from the very first day. One year ago, none of us would have thought we would have a full-fledged war in Europe. Ukraine is fighting for the free world and is also defending us.

Do you expect the war to go on for a while?

We all want this war to end as soon as possible and Ukraine to recover its territories.

How do you see President [Vladimir] Putin’s actions — his conscription, driving people to flee from Russia to avoid being drafted and his nuclear threats?

We have condemned the actions Russia has been taking. The war has created a lot of pain for Ukraine, but Moldova has also been affected significantly. Our analysis shows that the risk of Russia using nuclear weapons is small, but it should not be excluded.

You’ve spoken about your need to move your country away from its traditional neutral status.

Unfortunately, Russian propaganda has been trying to mislead people in Moldova that neutral means you should not have a defense sector or you should not invest in your defense sector, which is not true. In the constitution it says that we are a neutral country. At the same time, it says that the country should have an army and the army should be able to defend the country. So we are saying that because of the war in Ukraine, we should be more concerned about our security and should invest more than we invested in the past in our defense sector.

What’s the most important thing to you personally?

I do believe that our chance to survive as a democracy — and democracy is very important to us — is to integrate into the European Union. We want to stay part of the free world.

How [else] has Moldova been affected by the war?

It has caused the energy crisis which is affecting Moldova. Because of this war, we have high inflation and todayMoldovans pay a price for gas seven times higher than last year. We are also paying a higher price for electricity. Moldova is not a rich country, which means that in people’s budgets, the share of spending on energy and on food is very high.

[Russia’s state-owned energy company] Gazprom threatened to cut off Moldova’s gas supply on Oct. 1. They did not cut off the supply entirely but reduced it by 30 percent. Will you turn to the open market?

The problem is the price. There is still gas on the market, but the prices are very high. They are 10 times higher than last year. Before, we had 100 percent of gas provided by Gazprom. … We will be able to buy gas on the Romanian market, but the question is whether we will be able to afford such prices.

So the gas supply for this month is taken care of?

It is for this month. We will have to see how things develop in the next few months.

People say that your citizens will spend 50 percent of their money on energy and electricity this winter.

The government will try to compensate those with low incomes. The government has some (gas) reserves but not [enough to last] long.

People say that Ilan Shor, a Moldovan oligarch who was convicted in a Moldovan court in 2017 of stealing over $1 billion, is living in Israel and working with the Russians to undermine your government.

He was involved in a banking-sector fraud, which was a significant scheme [involving] a $1 billion fraud of three banks, one of which was a state bank. He left the country when we were elected because he and the other crooked oligarchs realized we are serious when we talk about justice-sector reform and strengthening the independence of the anti-corruption institutions. Now they have been working together with pro-Russian political parties in Moldova, trying to undermine our efforts.

Do you intend to retrieve the money stolen by Mr. Shor and the others?

We need the big countries, including the U.S., to help us stop the movement of dirty money from one country to another and to recover the money that was stolen. People who paid taxes had their money stolen from the state budget. They feel the injustice.

How many pro-Russian parties are in Moldova?

There are two political parties which are in the parliament, one of which is openly pro-Russian. Another is not openly declared as pro-Russian but has close ties to Russia.

How is the reform of the justice system going?

We are making progress in reforming justice and prosecution. But building institutions takes time.

Are you satisfied by the pace of reform?

We would like it to happen sooner, but we need to respect the conditions of the E.U.

You hear people complaining that the reforms are too slow.

If you wait too long to enact reforms, it may be difficult to explain to people who gave us their support to fight corruption.

You have managed to achieve E.U. candidate status for Moldova in record time.

To us, E.U. integration is very important. This is probably the only way for us to be able to save and consolidate democracy in this difficult region.

I hear that you hate to talk about yourself.

This is not about me, this is about Moldova and its people.

But you’re the president of Moldova.

I know, but there is an entire team trying to help. And we’ve got to thank the Moldovan people. When some of these corrupt people tried to impose an authoritarian regime, they went to the streets to protest. We appreciate democracy no matter how difficult it is economically.

Do you live here [in the presidential offices]?

There is a house that the former president lived in, but I don’t want to spend people’s money on my electricity consumption, so I stay in my apartment and pay for my own electricity.

I don’t believe [I am making] a sacrifice. It is a sacrifice for some of our ministers who left jobs which paid 10 times higher. We have to go through this because we have to change the situation.

Is the president paid the same as the ministers?

My salary is less than 1,000 euros a month. It’s a poor country.

What made you believe you could do this?

The choice was that I either leave the country or try to change things. I never planned to become a politician, but seeing so many corrupt people in politics, and [seeing] corruption seeping into state institutions, there was no future for this country.

What made you think that it wasn’t hopeless?

I just felt it was my duty to try. I love this country.

[beardedmrbean]

EXCLUSIVE — The National Education Association, the nation's largest teachers union, spent more than twice as much money on politics-related expenditures than on its membership, an analysis of the union's filings shows.

The data, compiled by the right-to-work nonprofit organization Americans for Fair Treatment, shows the teachers union donated $66 million to political activities and another $117 million to "contributions, gifts, and grants" that were primarily political donations.

The data reviewed by Americans for Fair Treatment, which was provided exclusively to the Washington Examiner, showed that the political activities donations totaled 18% of the union's $374 million budget for 2020-2021. The "contributions, gifts, and grants" totaled 32% of expenditures.

BIDEN RULE COULD FORCE CHARTER SCHOOLS TO CLOSE, FORMER EDUCATION OFFICIAL WARNS

Meanwhile, only 9% of the NEA's budget was spent on direct assistance to its members, who pay an annual fee of $200 to maintain their membership in the union.

"The National Education Association’s political and charitable spending in 2020-2021 makes the NEA look more like a political organization than a membership organization," Americans for Fair Treatment told the Washington Examiner. "The union spent $2 on politics for every $1 it spent on representing its members."

The largest beneficiary of the NEA's political spending was its own political action committee, the NEA Advocacy Fund, which received $15.7 million from the union in the 2020-2021 school year.

Other donations included $6.7 million to the State Engagement Fund, which funnels donations to left-wing political groups and Democratic candidates. A similar organization, the Strategic Victory Fund, received $1.85 million from the union.

Donations to both organizations were counted among the union's "contributions, gifts, and grants" expenditures rather than as political activities. The union also designated as a contribution a $1 million donation to Future Forward USA Action, a political action committee that backed then-candidate Joe Biden's 2020 presidential campaign.

The political donations by the NEA dwarfed the $48.8 million in political activities and $5.9 million in contributions spent by the nation's second-largest teachers union, the American Federation of Teachers, according to Americans for Fair Treatment. The combined total of the AFT's political spending was less than 30% of its 2020-2021 expenses, as opposed to the nearly 50% spent by the NEA.

"Those numbers show where [the NEA's] priorities lie,” said Americans for Fair Treatment CEO David Osborne.

In addition to supporting political action committees backing Democratic candidates, the NEA also made sizable donations to liberal advocacy groups, including a $125,000 donation to the nonprofit organization Project 2043, which helps "companies and nonprofit organizations achieve their Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility goals."

The project's website includes multiple phrases and verbiage often associated with critical race theory, which says U.S. institutions and culture are systemically racist and oppressive to racial minorities.

The NEA has previously supported the use of critical race theory in developing classroom curricula, even as Democratic politicians and liberal pundits have claimed the theory is not taught in public schools.

The NEA did not respond to a request for comment.

[jordanianroyals]

Princess Dina Mired of Jordan wants to improve global cancer control in her new role 

Wednesday, 18 Jul 20183:30 PM MYT By WONG LI ZA

Despite jetlag and a back-to-back schedule, Princess Dina Mired still looked sharp, without a strand of hair out of place.

More importantly, she knows her facts and does not hesitate to speak her mind.

The Princess of Jordan was in Kuala Lumpur for a four-day visit, on the invitation of the National Cancer Society of Malaysia (NCSM) to promote the upcoming World Cancer Congress (WCC) to be held in Kuala Lumpur in October.

The down-to-earth princess was warm and in good spirits as she met young cancer patients at the NCSM premises in Kuala Lumpur before having one-to-one interviews with members of the media.

Princess Dina, 52, is president-elect of the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) – the world’s largest international cancer-fighting organisation with over 1,000 members in 164 countries – and a global advocate for cancer control and non-communicable diseases (NCD).

She was also the Honorary Chairperson of the Jordan Breast Cancer Programme from 2006-2016, advocating early detection and screening of breast cancer for women in Jordan.

In 2011, she was chosen to deliver the keynote speech on behalf of civil society at the first ever United Nations High-level Meeting on NCDs, raising cancer’s profile on the global health agenda.

The Jordanian princess also led the King Hussein Cancer Foundation (KHCF) in Jordan as director-general for 15 years, elevating the organisation’s standing into a leader in the global movement for people affected by cancer.

Born Dina Mohammad Khalifeh, Princess Dina married Prince Mired Raad in 1992. Together, they have three children – Princess Shirin, 25, Prince Rakan, 23 and Prince Jafar, 16.

For the princess and her family, cancer was something that they came face-to-face with 20 years ago.

In 1997, their second child Prince Rakan was diagnosed with leukaemia when he was barely two years old. He had a relapse during his treatment and underwent bone marrow transplant, with the donor being his sister Princess Shirin.

Prince Rakan successfully completed his treatment in 2000. (Source: The Star)

Asked how that experience has changed her and the family, the princess replied, “I think nobody who goes through such a traumatic journey comes out the same. When you go through something like that, you really understand that the most important and precious thing in life is health. Because when you lose it, you lose control, and you cannot do anything,” she said, as her voice and eyes softened.

Going through such a journey also puts things into context, she added.

“I think what happens is when you come out the other end, you start to enjoy the simple things in life, and you stop sweating the small stuff. You put things into perspective and, I think, you almost say that it’s a blessing to had the cancer because you got the wake-up call,” she said.

Princess Dina readily admitted that they were lucky to be able to afford to go for treatment abroad in the United States and Britain, and that her husband and immediate family were very supportive.

“And even with all of that, it was still very hard, so just imagine the poor people who have to go through cancer. I always say the equation for poverty and cancer is catastrophe.

“So I think people should realise and remember this fact because people who lack financial and emotional support need a lot more support,” she emphasised.

Fighting tobacco and cancer head-on

In line with her cancer advocacy, Princess Dina is also Honorary Chair of the Tobacco Free Portfolios steering committee and Honorary President of the Harvard University Global Task Force for Expanded Access to Cancer Control and Care in the Developing World.

Having been briefed about the local fight against tobacco in Malaysia during her visit, she shared some advice.

“Malaysia, I understand, has had some successes. You raised the price of cigarettes a little, banned smoking in some places, but unfortunately, even though those are positive steps, they are limited.

“I would love for Malaysia to be able to make a dent in the fight against tobacco, and to stop the new generation from smoking. The amount of price hike needs to be able to deter new and young customers from buying cigarettes,” she said.

She pointed out that Malaysia is a signatory to the World Health Organisation’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, which has clear guidelines pertaining to things like smoke-free areas, advertising, packaging and labelling.

“I think the people, decision-makers and policy makers should understand that because the wings of the tobacco industry have been clipped in Europe, America and so on, it needs new markets and therefore, is zooming in on the Middle East, Asia and Africa. Why? Because we don’t have strict regulations,” said Princess Dina, who holds a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting and Financial Analysis from Warwick University and a Master’s degree in International Banking and Financial Services from Reading University, both in Britain.

“People need to know that CEOs of big tobacco industries don’t smoke because they know there are thousands of chemicals in it. They know how harmful it is but what they do is they focus on our youth, get them addicted, take our money and then go and sunbathe somewhere!” said Princess Dina unreservedly.

Overall, she commented that Malaysia has some good treatment plans and early detection programmes, but felt that Malaysia’s national cancer control plan needs to be implemented and not just be “sitting on the shelf”.

“What’s the point of having it then? But if it is costed, has a budget and there is an action plan with deadlines and KPIs (key performing index), then it’s going to trickle down to all the policy makers,” she urged.

She also highlighted the need for the country to update the national cancer registry, which was last updated in 2011.

“We are in 2018. How can policy makers make better decisions or know the successes or weaknesses if you don’t have the numbers? Other countries have moved on not only with cancer data, but with non-communicable diseases’ data. And this doesn’t cost money, just political will and organisation,” she emphasised.

Bridging the gap

One of the key roles of UICC is to narrow the gap of cancer control between developing and developed countries.

“What we work on is to unite the global cancer response because many organisations in the cancer community, in earlier years, were working in silos, meaning the cancer agenda was not top priority in the global health community,” said Princess Dina, who will commence her term as UICC President, the first from the Arab region, in October this year.

UICC also holds governments accountable when it comes to implementing the Global NCD Action Plan 2013-2020, which wants to reduce premature mortality from NCDs by 25% by the year 2025. The action plan came about after the UN Political Declaration on the Prevention and Control of NCDs was adopted in 2011.

Equitable access to care is another goal of the UICC.

“The gap has been narrowed but if countries continue at the rate they are at now, we will not be able to reach our goals by 2020.

“And what that means is, we are not saving the lives that we should be saving. People are dying needlessly due to lack of political will and lack of focused policies to fight cancer head-on to make it part and parcel of the health agenda,” she pointed out.

The WCC will be held for the first time in Malaysia, and South-east Asia, in October, bringing together over 3,500 cancer control and public health experts from 150 countries, with 500 renowned speakers.

The programme includes about 90 multi-disciplinary sessions and will cover topics ranging from obesity, tobacco control, HPV vaccination and screening programmes as well as complimentary medicines and economics of cancer care.

The World Cancer Leaders’ Summit – a major annual high-level policy meeting dedicated exclusively to furthering global cancer control – will be held on the first day of the Congress.

The WCC is organised by the UICC every two years in a UICC member country. This year’s congress is hosted by NCSM.

“It is a great opportunity for Malaysia to capitalise not only on the Cancer Leaders’ Summit but also on the Congress. It is an amazing knowledge-sharing event, with a wealth of opportunity to meet top experts in one place and to unite the national effort.

“It is also the time to advocate and pressure decision-makers that cancer and NCD should be the top priority for the Malaysian government, especially with the new government. This is the time to do it right,” she said in conclusion.

[atlanticcanada]

Defund the police? This is how much Canadian cities spend

An analysis by CTVNews.ca of 18 of Canada’s largest cities, regions and provincial capitals found more than half allocated 15 per cent or more of their 2020 operating budget to policing, with cities in Western Canada budgeting 20 per cent or more.

Coast-to-coast, from Vancouver to Charlottetown, P.E.I., Canadian cities are spending 15 to 20 per cent or more of their budget on law enforcement, the bulk of it coming from municipal taxes. Cities that do not have a municipal force were excluded from the analysis.

Cries to defund the police have rung out in protests across the United States, sparked by the death of George Floyd, seen in a video pleading and gasping for air as a white Minneapolis police officer pressed a knee against his neck -- long after he had already gone silent.

Read More: Cost to run some municipal police departments have ballooned since 2015

Around the world and in Canada, cities are also facing public pressure to reduce their law enforcement budgets to reallocate funds to other areas including mental health and community social support services.

It is a contentious issue, however. Ontario Premier Doug Ford has already dismissed the idea for the Ontario Provincial Police, saying he believes in strengthening policing through better community involvement. 

In recent months, several deaths that followed “wellness checks” by Canadian police have sparked further discussion over whether police officers are properly trained or even the appropriate authority to deal with someone having a mental health crisis, in particular those who are Black, Indigenous, or a person of colour.

Read more: This is what alternatives to defunded policing could look like

In June, 62-year-old Ejaz Choudry was killed in his home by police in Mississauga, Ont., after the family said it called a non-emergency helpline because he was having a mental health episode. Paramedics who arrived called the police after Choudry was seen with a knife in his hand. Earlier in the month, Chantel Moore, an Indigenous woman, was shot and killed by police in New Brunswick during another wellness check, while Regis Korchinski-Paquet, a Black, Indigenous woman, fell from her apartment balcony in Toronto last month while police officers were in her home.

BIGGEST POLICE BUDGET IN CANADA

At the end of June, Toronto city council rejected a 10 per cent cut to the police budget, about $107 million, and instead passed a motion on police reform that includes implementing body cameras and overhauling the way Canada’s largest municipal police force responds to people in crisis.

A 10 per cent reduction would have meant cutting about 1,000 police officers, according to the Canadian Press, a move that could take years to implement due to collective bargaining agreements with the union.

The Toronto Police Service operating budget for 2020 is $1.22 billion, about 9 per cent of the city’s $13.53 billion operational budget for 2020. More than $3 billion is distributed for various social support and development programs including employment, social assistance, child-care, long-term care services, helping under-resourced neighbourhoods, housing and shelter support. 

Read More: Outrage and calls to 'defund police' in Canada

In early June, the Vancouver Police Board rejected a motion by city council calling for a 1 per cent cut to the police’s $339 million budget, about 21 per cent of the city’s $1.62 billion operating budget for 2020. 

Meanwhile, Edmonton city council approved a motion in early July that included cutting the police service’s budget by $11 million over the next two years amid weeks of debate around police reform.

South of the border, the city of Los Angeles voted on July 1 to cut police department hiring, slashing the LAPD’s budget by US$150 million. The cut brings the department’s staffing down to its lowest level in 12 years, the Los Angeles Times reported. The city said the money would eventually be reallocated into services like hiring programs and summer youth jobs for Black, Latino and other marginalized communities.

.polopoly_embed {max-width: 100% !important;}

BIGGEST LINE ITEM ON THE BUDGET

For cities in Western Canada including Victoria, Vancouver, Saskatoon, Regina, Winnipeg, policing accounts for at least 20 per cent of their 2020 operating budgets. Among them, all but Vancouver have policing as the city’s biggest expenditure. (Utilities is listed as Vancouver’s biggest operating expenditure in its 2020 budget, though annual financial reports show that police is the city’s biggest expense.)

In Victoria, the police force accounts for roughly 23 per cent of the city’s total operating expenses for 2020. For Vancouver, Saskatoon and Regina, it’s just over 20 per cent. Edmonton and Calgary are the exceptions.

The Winnipeg Police Service is getting $304.1 million this year, or 26.6 per cent of the city’s $1.14 billion tax-supported operating expenditures. It is the largest percentage among the cities examined by CTVNews.ca. By comparison, community services in Winnipeg are getting $115 million, or 10 per cent of the budget.

As in many other cities, a petition has been circulating calling for change and defunding the Winnipeg police. Chief Danny Smyth said in June that it was too early to “just say defund the police and forward that all to social services” but added there was room for conversation on what such a move could look like. 

Even places with modest budgets, like Charlottetown, P.E.I., which has a budget of $59.7 million, allocates more than 16 per cent to police. In Fredericton, N.B., more than 14 per cent of its $124.4 million budget (including capital expenditures) goes to policing. That portion is more than 18 per cent if capital expenditures are excluded.

In larger southern Ontario, Toronto-area cities and regions including Hamilton, Waterloo, Peel, and York, hundreds of millions of dollars are spent each year on policing. Peel and York, which have similar operating budgets of approximately $2.5 billion, spend about $445.8 million and $384.2 million, respectively, or 17 and 16 per cent. The Waterloo Regional Police, which also serves Kitchener, Ont., accounts for just over 17 per cent of the region’s operating budget. Hamilton’s police budget accounts for nearly 19 per cent of the city’s net operating budget. (That portion is halved however, if calculated based on the tax and rate supported gross operating expenditure).

Nearly all cities that spend roughly 10 per cent or less on policing have operating budgets of at least $1 billion. These include Toronto, Calgary, Ottawa, Quebec City, Montreal and Halifax, which has a budget just shy of a billion.

Read More: The numbers behind calls to 'defund the police'

According to Statistics Canada data, the average salary among municipal police officers was $100,962 for 2017/2018, the latest year in which data is available. And while police spending has increased, the number of police officers per 100,000 people has been shrinking, the data showed.

In the United States, data varies depending on the source, but the percentage allocated to police departments for the 10 largest cities in the country ranged from 6 per cent to 17.4 per cent based on an analysis by U.S. News & World Report. Data compiled by the Center for Popular Democracy, a progressive advocacy group, which includes other cities, showed that percentage ranged as high as 20 to 45 per cent, with such cities as Minneapolis accounting for more than 35 per cent and Milwaukee making up nearly 48 per cent.

One important caveat to note is that cities are all structured differently and may report their finances or categorize their spending differently as well, so a true apples-to-apples comparison is extremely difficult. A few cities include utilities as part of its operating expenses, for example, while many do not.The Canadian police data in this analysis was collected and calculated based on figures presented in 2020 budget proposals and reports released by each city and region. As much as possible, comparable figures were used. In general, total operating budget or expenditure budget excluding capital expenditures as presented in the budget reports were used. In some cases, for example, figures provided may be net of recoveries and/or transfers, terms for certain types of financial transactions in accounting.

Infographics by Mahima Singh. With files from CTV News’ Graham Slaughter and Colin D’Mello in Toronto and Danton Unger in Winnipeg

from CTV News - Atlantic https://ift.tt/300l3aC