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Greenland's Pro-Business Party Secures Victory Amid Trump's Greenland Ambitions

  In a decisive win, Greenland's pro-business opposition party, Demokraatit, emerged victorious in Tuesday’s parliamentary election, overtaking the ruling left-wing coalition. The election spotlighted U.S. President Donald Trump's controversial pledge to gain control of the island. Demokraatit, which advocates for a gradual path to independence from Denmark, claimed 29.9% of the votes — a significant leap from its 9.1% in 2021. Meanwhile, the Naleraq party, which pushes for rapid independence, followed with 24.5% of the votes. Since assuming office in January, Trump has repeatedly stressed his desire to bring Greenland under U.S. control, citing national security concerns — a proposal that has faced widespread rejection among Greenlanders.
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Punjab Approves Excise Policy 2025-26: Eases Curbs on Liquor Vends, Increases Country Liquor Quota

 


The Punjab Cabinet, led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, has approved the Excise Policy for 2025-26 in a meeting today, with an aim to boost state revenue and reform the liquor trade landscape. The new policy introduces several key changes, including easing curbs on liquor vends and enhancing the country-made liquor quota.

Key Highlights:

  • Revenue Target: The state government has set an ambitious target of Rs 11,020 crore in excise duties for the year, aiming to increase revenue by Rs 800 crore over the previous year's collection.

  • E-Tendering for Liquor Vends: The policy reverts to the 2022 system of allotting liquor vends through e-tenders, ensuring transparency and fair competition in the process.

  • Increased Quota for Country Liquor: A significant change in this year's policy is the increase of the country-made liquor quota by 3%, catering to growing demand in the state.

  • Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL): The government will continue with the open quota policy for IMFL, which allows flexibility in the allocation.

  • Bottling Plants: The policy also opens the door for new bottling plants to be established within the state, potentially stimulating the local economy and creating jobs.

  • Auction of 207 Licensing Units: A total of 207 groups (licensing units) will be auctioned, increasing the number of retail outlets and strengthening the liquor distribution network.

Other Key Amendments:

  • Birth and Death Certificates: The government has introduced amendments to the issuance of birth and death certificates, making it mandatory for doctors to specify both the date and the reason for death. This aims to bring more accuracy and transparency to the process.

  • NRI Commission Report: The report from the NRI Commission was also tabled during the meeting, addressing issues pertinent to the non-resident Indian community.

With these changes, the Punjab government aims to streamline operations, increase revenue, and provide more opportunities in the liquor trade while keeping a balance with public health and safety regulations.

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