The resignation comes a day after the Tory peer was accused of putting “improper pressure” on the Privileges Committee’s probe into former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s partygate denials to MPs…reports Asian Lite News
UK Environment Minister Zac Goldsmith on Friday quit as a government minister and criticised Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, accusing him of showing “apathy” on climate change issues.
Taking to Twitter, Goldsmith, in a two-page resignation letter, posted: “It has been a privilege to have been able to make a difference to a cause I have been committed to for as long as I remember. But this govt’s apathy in the face of the greatest challenge we face makes continuing in my role untenable. Reluctantly I am therefore stepping down.”
“Was horrified at the government abandoning its environmental commitments and withdrawing its leadership on the world stage,” Goldsmith wrote in the resignation letter, BBC reported.
He wrote: “The problem is not that the government is hostile to the environment, it is that you, our prime minister, are simply uninterested. That signal, or lack of it, has trickled down through Whitehall and caused a kind of paralysis.”
The resignation comes a day after the Tory peer was accused of putting “improper pressure” on the Privileges Committee’s probe into former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s partygate denials to MPs.
Extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances continue in Balochistan: rights body(IN)
The state has launched a wave of arrests, seizures and punishments across Pakistan to terrorise Ahmadis into submission. The Baloch have decided not to celebrate the important festival. It is not that they are forbidden like the Ahmadis. They are angry at Pakistan for thousands of disappeared Baloch … writes Dr Sakariya Kareem
As the world celebrates Eid, in Pakistan thousands of Baloch have decided to abstain from any celebration and thousands of Ahmadias have been forced to stay clear of any celebration out of fear of retribution from the state and the Sunni majority.
Days before the celebration, Ahmadis, who are not treated as Muslims by Pakistan and the majority of its citizens, were instructed not to take part in the celebrations which others were entitled to. An Ahmadi in Pakistan is not legally and otherwise allowed to practise his faith, or follow its traditions and festivals.
Pakistan’s dreaded ‘enforced disappearances’ expand from Balochistan to Punjab.(photo:IN)
While everyone in Pakistan can wish each other, to join in community feasting and celebrations, Ahmadis cannot dare to. If anyone does, they will invite instant punishment from the state or from several extremist parties that have called for the boycott of the Ahmadi community from any Eid celebration.
The state has launched a wave of arrests, seizures and punishments across Pakistan to terrorise Ahmadis into submission. The Baloch have decided not to celebrate the important festival. It is not that they are forbidden like the Ahmadis. They are angry at Pakistan for thousands of disappeared Baloch. These men and women have been abducted by state agencies and kept in secret prisons for months and years. Their fault has been to raise their voice against state repression.
The Baloch want the state and other citizens to know the pain of family members who have been running from pillar to post to know what happened to their loved ones. Daughters and sons have been on the streets for days and weeks seeking answers from the state. Parents have been knocking at the doors of courts for some reprieve. Many are sitting in protest outside the Karachi Press Club and other prominent places where they expect the media to take notice of their plight.
This is what a grieving daughter wrote: Today marks another day of unbearable uncertainty, the 14th year of my father’s disappearance. My father, a pillar of strength and love, still remains in the shadow of tyranny. The agony of not knowing his whereabouts, his safety, or when we’ll be reunited tears at my heart.“ Another daughter, Mehlab, has a heart full of sorrow for her father Dr Deen Mohammad who was abducted by state agencies in 2009.
“When families of Missing Persons no longer have in the justice system, we will uphold our own justice,” says the grief-stricken daughter. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan has decided to support the Baloch stand during Eid. The commission said Dr Deen Mohammad Baloch had disappeared 14 years ago and his family since had been seeking an answer from the state. “ And received none. This Eid, HRCP stands in solidarity with his daughter, and with all other victims of enforced disappearances.”
The family members of the disappeared Baloch protest the Supreme Court’s concerns for the safety of 102 persons in military custody for the May 9 violence but the same court stayed a 2019 Peshawar High Court ruling directing the state to transfer hundreds of prisoners from the military’s secret prisons to regular jails in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
This round of the national ban targets single-use and hard-to-recycle items, which was expected to stop 150 million produce bags from ending up in landfills each year…reports Asian Lite News
New Zealand’s major supermarkets have been preparing for the second phase of the national plastics ban starting from Saturday, which will see the phase-out of more single-use plastics.
The second round will ban plastic produce bags and stickers, plates, bowls, cutlery, and straws, the Ministry for Environment said on Friday.
Those plastics will be taken off the shelves from Saturday, with businesses to be possibly fined up to NZ$100,000 ($60,853) if they do not comply.
This round of the national ban targets single-use and hard-to-recycle items, which was expected to stop 150 million produce bags from ending up in landfills each year, according to the Ministry for Environment.
Last October, single-use plastic cotton buds, drink stirrers and most plastic meat trays were banned from sale or manufacture in the first phase-out.
“Stopping the sale of these plastic products will reduce waste to landfill, improve our recycling systems and encourage reusable or environmentally responsible alternatives,” Environment Minister David Parker said last September.
On average, every year each New Zealander sends about 750 kg of waste to landfill. Some products can’t be recycled and are unnecessary, Parker said.
Other PVC and polystyrene food and beverage packaging will be banned from mid-2025, according to the three-year phase-out plan.
The arms package is to include 30mm ammunition, spare parts for wheeled vehicles and other items…reports Asian Lite News
The US Department of Defence’s Defence Security Cooperation Agency, on Thursday, approved the Foreign Military Sale (FMS) for an estimated cost of USD 332.2 million.
The arms package is to include 30mm ammunition, spare parts for wheeled vehicles and other items, a statement from the agency said. This is the 10th arms-sales package to Taiwan under US President Joe Biden.
“The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States of 30 mm Ammunition and related equipment for an estimated cost of USD 332.2 million.
The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale today,” the Department of Defence’s Defence Security Cooperation Agency said in a statement.
“The Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States (TECRO) has requested to buy various unclassified 30 mm ammunition, including 30 mm High Explosive Incendiary-Tracer rounds, 30 mm multi-purpose rounds, and 30 mm training rounds; engineering technical services, including configuration control, production support, ammunition testing, and Load, Assemble, and Pack services; other technical services, including sourcing and acquisition assistance, Navy civilian personnel costs, contract support services, support on technical data requests, responses to Requests for Information, up to two (2) Program Management Reviews per year, and testing and documentation associated with contract procurements; and other related elements of logistic and program support. The estimated total cost is USD 332.2 million,” it added.
According to the statement, the proposed sale serves the US national, economic, and security interests by supporting the recipient’s continuing efforts to modernize its armed forces and to maintain a credible defensive capability. It will also help to improve the security of the recipient and assist in maintaining political stability, military balance, and economic progress in the region.
The proposed sale will contribute to the sustainment of the recipient’s CM34 Armored Vehicles, enhancing its ability to meet current and future threats. This ammunition will contribute to the recipient’s goal of maintaining its military capability while further enhancing interoperability with the United States. The recipient will have no difficulty absorbing this ammunition into its armed forces.
The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region.
After the US approved the arms sale, Taiwan thanked the State Department and tweeted, “We appreciate @StateDept approving the #FMS of 30mm ammunition and related equipment, as well as Cooperative Logistics Supply Support Arrangement. Both FMS are under the procedure of notifying @congressdotgov.”
“These #FMS are based on #TaiwanRelationsAct and #SixAssurances, providing the need for enhancing our defence capacity as well as maintaining regional stability,” it added. (ANI)
An employee fills the tank of a car at a fuel station in southwest Pakistan's Quetta on Feb. 1, 2015. Pakistan's Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) has reduced petroleum prices to 18 rupees per liter for February. (Xinhua/Irfan/IANS)
The development comes amid the Pakistan government’s hope of clinching the International Monetary Fund (IMF) agreement on a fresh Standby Arrangement (SBA) for six to nine months….reports Asian Lite News
Pakistan government is mulling raising the Petroleum Development Levy (PDL) on petrol and diesel from Pakistani Rupees (PKR) 50 to PKR 55 per litre with effect from July 1, 2023, Pakistan-based The News International reported.
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s Ministry of Finance has informed the Senate Standing Committee on Finance that the petroleum development levy was worked at PKR 60 per litre for accomplishing its target of PKR 879 billion in the next fiscal year, against the revised target of PKR 542 billion for the outgoing financial year 2022-23 which is due to end on June 30, The News International reported. The Pakistan government’s consideration of increasing the PDL on petrol and diesel raises questions on whether the government has received the Memorandum of Economic and Financial Policies (MEFP) for the fresh bailout package under the Standby Arrangement (SBA) programme for the next six to nine months. The staff-level agreement could not be signed without a broader agreement on MEFP.
Pakistani authorities have said that the two sides exchanged draft MEFP several times. However, it was not yet clear whether it was regarding the ninth review of the expiring Extended Fund Facility or the fresh SBA programme, according to The News International report.
Through the Finance Act 2023-24, Pakistan’s government sought powers for amendment of the Petroleum Products (Petroleum Levy) Ordinance, 1961 (XXV of 1961) in the Fifth Schedule, in column (1). Earlier, the Pakistan government needed the parliament’s consent to fix the maximum limit of petroleum level, The News International reported.
The development comes amid the Pakistan government’s hope of clinching the International Monetary Fund (IMF) agreement on a fresh Standby Arrangement (SBA) for six to nine months.
On Tuesday, Pakistan and International Monetary Fund (IMF) held consultations to take a final decision on two options. With diminishing chances for achieving the ninth review under the USD 6.5 billion EFF program scheduled to end on Friday, Pakistan and the IMF will have to enter a fresh bailout package under the SBA programme of USD 2.5 billion for the next six to nine months.
Earlier on Tuesday, Shahbaz Sharif spoke to the IMF chief over the phone after meeting her thrice from Thursday to Saturday. During the telephonic conversation, the IMF chief acknowledged Pakistan’s Finance Minister Ishaq Dar and his team’s efforts for attempting to revive the loan after policy matters were discussed in Paris, The News International reported.
Furthermore, the Pakistan PM’s Office released a statement that the IMF chief and Shehbaz Sharif discussed matters related to the stalled bailout programme, the report said. Pakistan’s PM expressed hope that coordination on the points of the bailout programme would result in the IMF’s decision in a day or two. (ANI)
About USD 500 million will be allocated to support reforms that help improve economic governance, enhance growth and competitiveness, and protect the poor and vulnerable…reports Asian Lite News
The World Bank has approved USD 700 million for two operations to help Sri Lanka implement foundational reforms to restore macroeconomic stability and sustainability and support an inclusive, private-sector-led recovery and growth path.
“The World Bank Board of Directors also approved USD 700 million in financing for two operations to help Sri Lanka implement foundational reforms that restore macroeconomic stability and sustainability, mitigate the impact of current and future shocks on the poor and vulnerable, and support an inclusive and private-sector-led recovery and growth path,” World Bank announced in a press release. About USD 500 million will be allocated to support reforms that help improve economic governance, enhance growth and competitiveness, and protect the poor and vulnerable.
Furthermore, USD 200 million has been approved to support Sri Lanka in providing better-targeted income and livelihood opportunities to the poor and vulnerable and improving the responsiveness of the social protection system.
“The Sri Lanka Resilience, Stability and Economic Turnaround (RESET) Development Policy Operation (USD 500 million) will support reforms that help improve economic governance, enhance growth and competitiveness, and protect the poor and vulnerable. It will provide budget support in two equal tranches against agreed prior actions,” World Bank announced in a press release.
Flag of Sri Lanka
It further said, “The Social Protection Project (USD 200 million) seeks to support Sri Lanka in providing better-targeted income and livelihood opportunities to the poor and vulnerable and improving the responsiveness of the social protection system.”
On Wednesday, the World Bank Group’s Board of Executive Directors discussed the new Country Partnership Framework (CPF) for Sri Lanka, which aims to help restore economic and financial sector stability and build a strong foundation for a green, resilient, and inclusive recovery.
The Country Partnership Framework comes at a time when Sri Lanka is facing an economic crisis that is affecting people’s lives and livelihoods.
According to World Bank’s press release, Sri Lanka’s poverty rate is estimated to have doubled from 13.1 to 25 per cent between 2021 and 2022.
“The extent of the crisis in Sri Lanka is unprecedented, but offers a historic opportunity for deep reforms to reset the country’s economic storyline,” said Faris H Hadad-Zervos, World Bank Country Director for Sri Lanka.
He further said, “The CPF supports this shift. Through a phased approach, the World Bank Group strategy focuses on early economic stabilization, structural reforms, and protection of the poor and vulnerable. If sustained, these reforms can put the country back on the path towards a green, resilient and inclusive development.”
Earlier in March, the Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) approved a 48-month extended arrangement under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) with an amount of SDR 2.286 billion (395 per cent of quota or about USD 3 billion) for Sri Lanka. (ANI)
Why has China decided to extend its military exercises around Taiwan?.(photo:IN)
Earlier, from June 27-28, Taiwan said 11 Chinese aircraft crossed the Taiwan Strait median line…reports Asian Lite News
Taiwan tracked nine Chinese military aircraft and four naval ships around Taiwan between 6 am on June 29 (Thursday) and 6 am on June 30 (Friday), reported the country’s Ministry of National Defense (MND).
“9 PLA aircraft and 4 PLAN vessels around Taiwan were detected by 6 a.m.(UTC+8) today. R.O.C. Armed Forces have monitored the situation and tasked CAP aircraft, Navy vessels, and land-based missile systems to respond these activities,” Taiwan’s Defence Ministry said in a tweet. “9 PLA aircraft and 4 PLAN vessels around Taiwan were detected by 6 a.m.(UTC+8) today. 1 of the detected aircraft had entered Taiwan’s southwest ADIZ. R.O.C. Armed Forces have monitored the situation and tasked CAP aircraft, Navy vessels, and land-based missile systems to respond to these activities,” the ministry said in a statement.
Earlier, from June 27-28, Taiwan said 11 Chinese aircraft crossed the Taiwan Strait median line.
Out of 11 People’s Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft, three were tracked in Taiwan’s Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ), including one BZK-005 reconnaissance drone that crossed the Taiwan Strait median line in the southwest corner of the zone, according to the Taiwan News citing the country’s Ministry of National Defense (MND).
One WZ-7 reconnaissance drone and one Harbin Z-9 anti-submarine warfare helicopter were also tracked in the southwest sector of the ADIZ, according to Taiwan News.
In response, Taiwan sent aircraft and naval ships and used land-based missile systems to monitor PLA activity.
This month, Beijing has sent 318 military aircraft and 142 naval ships around Taiwan. Moreover, China has increased its use of grey zone tactics since September 2020, by incrementally increasing the number of military aircraft and naval ships operating around Taiwan, Taiwan News reported.
Grey zone tactics are defined as “an effort or series of efforts beyond steady-state deterrence and assurance that attempts to achieve one’s security objectives without resort to direct and sizable use of force,” as per Taiwan News.
Recently, Taiwan tracked 24 Chinese military aircraft and five naval ships between June 11 and June 12.
Ten of the 24 People’s Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft, including four Shenyang J-11 fighter jets, four Shenyang J-16 combat jets, and two Sukhoi Su-30 fighter planes, entered Taiwan’s air defence identification zone (ADIZ) and crossed the Taiwan Strait median line, according to the MND. (ANI)
Thabang Linus Kholumo, the High Commission of the Kingdom of Lesotho said that he is impressed by the Indian democracy and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s governance…reports Asian Lite News
India is promoting its own technology and largely contributing to bringing down the carbon footprint, Thabang Linus Kholumo, the High Commission of the Kingdom of Lesotho said here on Thursday.
He was speaking on the occasion of Boiler Expo 2023 here in the national capital. Speaking to ANI, Kholumo said, “I am really impressed because India is promoting its own technology and its own people. The motto of ‘Make in India’ and ‘Make for the World’ is highly promoted. Today it is Boilers, tomorrow it will be something else. The contribution of India in reducing the contamination of the environment to bring down the carbon print is very high and very appreciated. I am doing my best to contribute to the reduction of the carbon print in the world”.
“In our country (Lesotho), we have very less carbon print. But, for the world, these technologies are highly appreciated, because it will save our environment,” he added.
He also said that he is impressed by the Indian democracy and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s governance.
“When it comes to democracy in India, I think I am equally impressed, because people here have the freedom to do what they like, what they know and the government is actually promoting that. The government is exposing them for the world to see. That it democracy and it is best,” he said.
On Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Kholumo said, “He (PM Modi) is the Prime Minister of the world. Everybody likes him. I like his style of governance. He is promoting India. And India is going to be a superpower very soon. Its economy is growing, its people are growing, and the glory goes to the Prime Minister”.
Kanhaiya Lal Ganju, the honorary consulate of the Union of Comoros, also expressed optimism about the event and said that it will help in taking new technologies across the world including in Africa.
“It is a great privilege for me to have come to this exhibition at the invitation of the Global Trade and Technology Council of India. I am very pleased to see that the companies which have participated here are as old as 90 years, 100 years and that is very amazing to see. And all these companies who are here, are exhibiting their products, they are doing innovation,” he said.
He added, “When they are having an exhibition, this will help develop the industry and many other things. And I am very pleased that this technology can be taken to Africa because Africa needs such type of technologies. Africa is a developing area in this part of the world. So, therefore, we will pass on this information to our countries which I represent or we all represent. And I was told that one company has already established one factory in Mongolia. Similarly, they can do it in Africa also”. (ANI)
His Highness and Bill Gates discussed the potential to enhance collaboration and initiatives to combat global epidemic diseases…reports Asian Lite News
UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on Thursday received a phone call from Bill Gates, the co-president of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. During the call, Gates congratulated His Highness on the occasion of Eid Al-Adha, wishing the UAE and its people continued well-being and prosperity.
His Highness and Bill Gates discussed the potential to enhance collaboration and initiatives to combat global epidemic diseases, such as “Polio”. They acknowledged the significant advances made in this field in recent times, as well as the need to address “neglected tropical diseases”.
The two sides also reviewed the role of the “Reaching the Last Mile” Forum in mobilising and accelerating global efforts to support underdeveloped societies in eradicating life-threatening diseases that impede their social and economic development and progress, other humanitarian, developmental, and health partnership initiatives that the two sides support to improve the humanitarian response to the challenges faced by numerous societies and nations around the world.
The call also covered the significance of COP28, which will be hosted by the UAE by the end of this year. The event will mark the first comprehensive global evaluation of progress made in implementing the goals of the Historic Paris Agreement for climate and in advancing coordinated climate action and accelerating global efforts to address the consequences of climate change.
In this context, His Highness and Bill Gates discussed the value of modern technology and innovation in advancing efforts to find effective and long-lasting solutions to environmental issues, noting that innovation is a key component in addressing such challenges, protecting the environment and its natural resources, and achieving sustainable development.
The two sides also discussed ways that COP28 and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation may work together to address the impact of climate change on human health.
Sheikh Mohammed thanked Bill Gates for his Eid greetings, emphasising the UAE’s determination to contribute to advancing international cooperation in combating diseases that endanger people’s lives and impede development, as well as the country’s support for various qualitative initiatives and global efforts in this regard.
During the call, Bill Gates praised the UAE’s essential humanitarian role in delivering relief to numerous societies throughout the world under varied conditions and in a way that significantly benefited the targeted beneficiaries. He also hailed the UAE’s charitable initiatives tackling global diseases and epidemics around the world. (ANI/WAM)
The $3 billion funding, spread over nine months, is higher than expected for Pakistan….reports Asian Lite News
After an eight-month delay, the Pakistan government and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) have finally reached a staff-level pact on a $3 billion stand-by arrangement as the cash-strapped nation is teetering on the brink of default, media reports said on Friday.
The deal however, is subject to approval by the IMF’s Executive Board in July, reports Dawn news.
The $3 billion funding, spread over nine months, is higher than expected for Pakistan.
The country was awaiting the release of the remaining $2.5 billion from a $6.5 billion bailout package agreed in 2019, which expired on Friday.
To help secure the deal, the State Bank of Pakistan had raised its main interest rate to a record high of 22 per cent on Monday.
“The economy has faced several external shocks such as the catastrophic floods in 2022 that impacted the lives of millions of Pakistanis and an international commodity price spike in the wake of Russia’s war in Ukraine,” the BBC quoted Nathan Porter, IMF’s mission chief for Pakistan, as saying in a statement issued on Friday.
“As a result of these shocks as well as some policy missteps… economic growth has stalled,” he added.
On Thursday night, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar had said that a staff-level agreement for a crucial bailout deal with the IMF was “very close” and expected in the next 24 hours, Dawn news reported.
Dar had earlier told media that the government was working on a mechanism to try to unlock the full $2.5 billion pending under the IMF programme.
Amid the ongoing economic crisis, Pakistan’s annual inflation rate hit a fresh record high in May of almost 38 per cent.
Over the last year the Pakistan rupee also fell by around 40 per cent against the US dollar.
