Cincunri Sakia

Minggu, 19 Mei 2019

Brexit: New UK PM will not alter withdrawal deal - Coveney - BBC News

Ireland's deputy prime minister has ruled out any renegotiation of the Brexit withdrawal deal if Theresa May is replaced as UK prime minister.

Speaking on RTÉ, Tánaiste Simon Coveney said "the personality might change but the facts don't".

He described Mrs May as a "decent person" and strongly criticised Conservative MPs at Westminster.

Mrs May has promised to set a timetable for the election of her successor after the next Brexit vote.

Mr Coveney described political events at Westminster as "extraordinary", as he questioned the logic of politicians who believed a change of leader would deliver changes to the agreement struck by Mrs May.

He said Conservative MPs were "impossible" on the issue of Brexit.

"The EU has said very clearly that the Withdrawal Agreement has been negotiated over two-and-a-half years, it was agreed with the British government and the British cabinet and it's not up for renegotiation, even if there is a new British prime minister," he said.

He told RTÉ's This Week programme that many British politicians "don't, quite frankly, understand the complexity of politics in Northern Ireland".

"They have tried to dumb this debate down into a simplistic argument whereby it's Britain versus the EU, as opposed to two friends tying to navigate through the complexity of a very, very difficult agreement," he added.

Mr Coveney also said the Irish government would continue to focus significant efforts and financial resources towards planning for a no-deal Brexit scenario, following Friday's collapse of Brexit talks in the UK.

He said time was of the essence for the UK to get a deal through Parliament, adding that he was concerned Britain would not "get its act together over summer" and leave without a deal.

On Wednesday, Mrs May announced that MPs would vote on the bill that would pave the way for Brexit in the week beginning 3 June.

If the bill is not passed, the default position is that the UK will leave the EU on 31 October without a deal.

Brexit had been due to take place on 29 March.

But the UK was given an extension until 31 October after MPs three times voted down the withdrawal agreement Mrs May had negotiated with the EU - by margins of 230, 149 and 58 votes.

Let's block ads! (Why?)

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-48330965

2019-05-20 00:08:21Z
52780299083345

Switzerland gun control: Voters back EU regulations - BBC News

Voters in Switzerland have backed a tightening of gun laws to conform with European Union regulations.

Almost 64% of voters in Sunday's referendum supported tougher restrictions on semi-automatic and automatic weapons, final results show.

Switzerland is not an EU member, but risked removal from the open-border Schengen Area if it had voted "no".

Nearly 48% of Swiss households own a gun - among the highest rates of private ownership in Europe.

The EU had urged the country to tighten its laws in line with rules adopted by the bloc following the 2015 Paris terror attacks.

The rules restrict semi-automatic and automatic rifles and make it easier to track weapons in national databases.

The EU's initial proposal sparked criticism in Switzerland, because it meant a ban on the tradition of ex-soldiers keeping their assault rifles.

Swiss officials negotiated concessions, but some gun activists argued that the rules still encroached on citizens' rights.

What does the projected result tell us?

Analysis by Imogen Foulkes BBC News, Geneva

Opponents of the new gun laws described them as a diktat from Brussels, being forced on non-EU member Switzerland against its will. The Swiss national identity, with its long tradition of gun ownership, was, they argued, being undermined.

But Sunday's nationwide referendum shows voters think differently: they have overwhelmingly backed the new gun laws, following their government's advice.

The Swiss seem keen to co-operate in the EU's attempts to prevent terror attacks, and to keep their often tricky relations with Brussels as smooth as possible.

Why is the EU concerned about Swiss gun laws?

After the 2015 Paris attacks, the EU issued Schengen members with new restrictions on automatic and semi-automatic weapons.

The rules called for:

A ban on weapons capable of rapidly firing multiple rounds
Automatic and semi-automatic weapons to either be banned or heavily restricted
Each owner of such a weapon, and the weapon itself, to be known to police across Europe
All essential weapon components to be clearly labelled and registered electronically

The EU hoped the rules would help to protect people across Europe, and prevent a repeat of the 2015 attacks.

Failure to adopt the changes could have forced Switzerland to leave the Schengen zone and the Dublin joint system for handling asylum requests.

What did Swiss officials say?

The Swiss government urged voters to back the changes.

It said gun enthusiasts would not notice the new rules, while adopting them would allow Switzerland to retain its Schengen membership.

Officials said membership of the zone had been beneficial to the economy and to fighting crime.

Let's block ads! (Why?)

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-48328867

2019-05-19 15:22:30Z
52780298964309

Exit polls show India's Modi-led coalition likely to win majority - Al Jazeera English

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ruling alliance led by right-wing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is likely to win a majority in parliament in the mammoth Indian general elections that ended on Sunday, most exit polls show.

The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is projected to win 287 seats in the 545-member lower house of parliament, called the Lok Sabha, followed by 128 for the Indian National Congress party-led opposition alliance, CVoter exit poll said on Sunday.

According to another poll released by Times Now television, Modi's alliance is likely to win 306 seats, a clear majority. The network projected 142 seats for the United Progressive Alliance (UPA), led by the Indian National Congress.

190410110402766

Another TV channel, Sudarshan News, projected 313 seats to the NDA and 121 to the UPA. To rule, a party needs the support of 272 legislators. Votes are to be counted on Thursday.

One poll by Neta Newsx, however, forecast Modi's alliance falling 30 seats short of a majority.

Exit polls, which have a mixed record in a country with an electorate of 900 million people, were released minutes after India concluded its mammoth seven-phase national elections, which began on April 11.

As the final polling booths closed at 12:30 GMT, a huge security cordon was thrown around the voting machines and boxes of paper votes used in the vote for 542 seats in the world's biggest election.

Modi's constituency in Varanasi, the holy city in Uttar Pradesh state, was also among those to vote.

Acrimonious election

Critics say Modi has stoked fear among the country's Hindu majority of the potential dangers posed by the country's Muslims and Pakistan, and promoted a Hindu-first India.

But Modi's supporters say the prime minister and his allies are simply restoring Hinduism to its rightful place at the core of Indian society.

190503075428819

The opposition, led by the Indian National Congress and its leader Rahul Gandhi, have accused him of pursuing divisive policies, neglecting the economy and leaving many farmers in ruin.

Gandhi, 48, tried several lines of attack against Modi, in particular over alleged corruption in a French defence deal and over the plight of farmers and on the economy.

Modi's government fell short on creating jobs for the million Indians entering the labour market every month, the shock introduction of a currency ban in 2016, while Indian banks struggle with huge bad debts.

New Delhi-based Centre for Media Studies estimates that the outlay on this election could top $7bn, making it one of the priciest contests globally, with the lion's share of the spending by the BJP, news agency AFP said.

SOURCE: Al Jazeera and news agencies

Let's block ads! (Why?)

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/05/exit-polls-show-india-modi-led-coalition-win-majority-190519132926941.html

2019-05-19 14:04:00Z
52780299867229

India election 2019: Exit polls suggest Narendra Modi back as PM - BBC News

India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is on course to win the general election, exit polls suggest.

The BJP and the main opposition Congress party battled it out with powerful regional rivals in a bruising campaign over seven phases of polling.

Results will be announced on 23 May. Analysts warn exit polls have often been wrong in the past.

Many saw the election as a referendum on Mr Modi who won a landslide in 2014.

Four exit polls saw big wins for the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), predicting that it would win anywhere between 280 and 315 seats, far more than the opposition Congress.

A party or coalition needs 272 to form a government.

India votes 2019

The election began on 11 April and was held in seven phases for security and logistical reasons. With 900 million eligible voters, it is the world's biggest exercise in democracy.

Political parties have not commented on the projections so far. However as voting ended, there was a flurry of meetings by opposition leaders, sparking speculation.

What were the key issues this election?

The economy is perhaps the biggest issue, with farming in crisis, unemployment on the rise and growing fears that India is heading for a recession.

Under Mr Modi, the world's sixth-largest economy has lost some of its momentum. Growth hovers around 7% and a leaked government report claims the unemployment rate is the highest it has been since the 1970s.

A crop glut and declining commodity prices have led to stagnant farm incomes, leaving many farmers saddled with debt.

Many also see this election as a battle for India's identity and the state of its minorities. A strident - and at times violent - Hindu nationalism has become mainstream in the past five years, with increased attacks against minorities, including the lynchings of dozens of Muslims accused of smuggling cows.

And national security is in the spotlight after a suicide attack by a Pakistan-based militant group killed at least 40 paramilitary police in Indian-administered Kashmir in February. India then launched unprecedented air strikes in Pakistan, prompting Pakistan to respond in kind and bringing the two countries to the brink of war.

Let's block ads! (Why?)

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-48328259

2019-05-19 13:47:59Z
52780299867229

Swiss gun control: Projections suggest voters approve EU rules - BBC News

Voters in Switzerland have backed a tightening of gun laws to conform with European Union regulations, early projections suggest.

The projections indicate that 67% of voters in Sunday's referendum supported tougher restrictions on semi-automatic and automatic weapons.

Switzerland is not an EU member, but risked removal from the open-border Schengen Area if it had voted "no".

Switzerland has a long tradition of gun ownership.

Nearly 48% of households there own a gun, putting it among the highest rates of private ownership in Europe.

The EU had urged the country to tighten its laws in line with rules adopted by the bloc following the 2015 Paris terror attacks.

The rules restrict semi-automatic and automatic rifles and make it easier to track weapons in national databases.

The EU's initial proposal sparked criticism in Switzerland, because it meant a ban on the tradition of ex-soldiers keeping their assault rifles.

Swiss officials negotiated concessions, but some gun activists argued that the rules still encroached on citizens' rights.

What does the projected result tell us?

Analysis by Imogen Foulkes BBC News, Geneva

But Sunday's nationwide referendum shows voters think differently: they have overwhelmingly backed the new gun laws, following their government's advice.

The Swiss seem keen to co-operate in the EU's attempts to prevent terror attacks, and to keep their often tricky relations with Brussels as smooth as possible.

Why is the EU concerned about Swiss gun laws?

After the 2015 Paris attacks, the EU issued Schengen members with new restrictions on automatic and semi-automatic weapons.

The rules called for:

A ban on weapons capable of rapidly firing multiple rounds
Automatic and semi-automatic weapons to either be banned or heavily restricted
Each owner of such a weapon, and the weapon itself, to be known to police across Europe
All essential weapon components to be clearly labelled and registered electronically

The EU hoped the rules would help to protect people across Europe, and prevent a repeat of the 2015 attacks.

Failure to adopt the changes could have forced Switzerland to leave the Schengen zone and the Dublin joint system for handling asylum requests.

What did Swiss officials say?

The Swiss government urged voters to back the changes.

It said gun enthusiasts would not notice the new rules, while adopting them would allow Switzerland to retain its Schengen membership.

Officials said membership of the zone had been beneficial to the economy and to fighting crime.

Let's block ads! (Why?)

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-48328867

2019-05-19 13:41:33Z
52780298964309

India election 2019: Exit polls suggest Narendra Modi back as PM - BBC News

India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is on course to win the general election, exit polls suggest.

The BJP and the main opposition Congress party battled it out with powerful regional rivals in a bruising campaign over seven phases of polling.

Results will be announced on 23 May. Analysts warn exit polls have often been wrong in the past.

Many saw the election as a referendum on Mr Modi who won a landslide in 2014.

Four exit polls saw big wins for the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance, predicting that it would win anywhere between 280 and 315 seats, far more than the opposition Congress.

A party or coalition needs 272 to form a government.

Political parties have not commented on the projections so far. However as voting ended, there was a flurry of meetings by opposition leaders, sparking speculation.

The election began on 11 April and was held in seven phases for security and logistical reasons. With 900 million eligible voters, it is the world's biggest exercise in democracy.

Let's block ads! (Why?)

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-48328259

2019-05-19 13:12:25Z
52780299867229

Swiss voters approve tax and pension overhaul: TV - Reuters

Swiss Finance Minister Ueli Maurer attends a news conference after the vote on the Corporate Tax Reform Act III in Bern, Switzerland February 12, 2017. REUTERS/Pierre Albouy

ZURICH (Reuters) - Swiss voters easily approved on Sunday a shake-up of the country’s corporate tax system, heading off what its finance minister had called an existential threat to Switzerland’s role as a business hub, projections for Swiss broadcaster SRF showed.

The projections from the gfs.bern polling outfit saw the measure passing in the binding referendum by a 66-34 percent margin.

The vote on tax reform and pension finance defuses a long-running row over favorable Swiss tax rates for multinational corporations. Acceptance was vital to prevent the country being branded a low-tax pariah, Finance Minister Ueli Maurer has said.

Two years ago, under the Swiss system of direct democracy, voters rejected an attempt to overhaul the tax system, which critics say gives the country an unfair advantage in attracting global companies.

Under pressure from the European Union and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, the Swiss had promised to meet international standards and eliminate special low tax rates that benefit around 24,000 foreign companies based in Switzerland.

The government plans to scrap special tax status for these companies that pay corporate rates in individual cantons as low as 7.8% to 12%, compared with 12 to 24 percent for “normal” Swiss companies.

Cantons in turn will lower their tax rates for normal companies to deter them from leaving.

To cover the resulting revenue shortfall of around 2 billion Swiss francs ($1.98 billion), the federal government will increase the share of federal tax that cantons get.

To allay fears that corporations would benefit at the expense of citizens, the package increases annual contributions to the state pension system by 2 billion francs by raising contributions from employers and workers and having the federal government chip in more.

Reporting by Michael Shields; Editing by Alison Williams

Our Standards:The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Let's block ads! (Why?)

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-swiss-tax-idUSKCN1SP0AO

2019-05-19 11:11:00Z
52780298964309