UK COURT DEALS BLOW TO THERESA MAY’S LISBON TREATY PLAN

The all-powerful GST Council on Thursday agreed to give a little more relief to the poor and a little more grief to the rich in the goods and services tax (GST) slated to take effect on April 1 next year.

The council did not give in to the demands that the number of rates be reduced, since the ideal GST has just one rate. The number of rates remains four, though the lowest comes down from the earlier proposal of 6% to 5%, and the highest goes up from 26% to 28%. The two standard rates — which will apply to the bulk of the items — are 12% and 18%.

There will be no tax on essential items such as food — this is likely to beat down inflation, which has afflicted food items in particular. The lowest rate of 5% is on items of common use and the highest for luxury goods that now attract a total tax — value-added tax and excise — of 30 to 31%.

“I hope the indirect tax outgo for the common man will be marginally

The air force has launched an investigation into the circumstances under which an officer shot himself in the head after being allegedly ticked off by a three-star air marshal for poor shooting skills last week.

Wing Commander Rajesh Tiwari fared poorly during an impromptu test of firing skills conducted by Western Air Command chief Air Marshal SB Deo during a visit to the Sirsa air force station.

IAF sources said Tiwari was hurt about being admonished in the presence of officers and airmen. He was found dead in his official vehicle with a gunshot wound to his head the next day. A court of inquiry has been instituted.