French President wants 160% increase in beer taxesOctober 31, 2012 - 18:39 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - French President Francois Hollande is pushing through legislation to increase taxes on beer by 160%, according to RTE News. He wants help to fund struggling social security programs as France tries to lower a budget deficit hit hard by the economic crisis. The tax would affect local brewers and the 30% of imported beer the French drink. The Brewers of Europe trade group called the measure a ''kick in the teeth" for brewers. They have seen production plummet by 6% and consumption by 8% in the EU since the economic crisis began in 2008. Belgium and Germany could be the worst affected once the new legislation kicks in. Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | Concept to complete Yerevan Cascade discussed at city hall A conceptual proposal to complete the Cascade complex in downtown Yerevan has been presented by Jean-Michel Wilmotte. Pashinyan visits flood-hit region Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on Saturday, June 8 visited the disaster area in the Lori province. €3.5 mln EU grant to support justice reforms in Armenia The European Union has paid €3.5 mln grant to Armenia within a €11mln program on Support to Justice Reforms. Yerevan reacts to Baku’s proposal to see Minsk Group abolition Alen Simonyan has declared that Armenia is taking steps aimed at concluding a peace treaty with Azerbaijan. |