Faisal said he does not feel comfortable in the shared room in an adult hotel he was sent to and has felt suicidal…reports Asian Lite News
Children seeking asylum in the UK are being forced to share hotel rooms with adults as a result of the Home Office’s new “maximization” program, The Guardian newspaper reported on Monday.
The policy aims to double the capacity in hotels used to house refugees by putting two people in rooms designed for a single occupant, in an attempt to reduce the costs of accommodating migrants while their asylum requests are processed.
The Refugee Council has warned that child refugees are frequently incorrectly identified as adults at UK borders, which exposes them to serious safety risks and the dangers have been heightened by the new room-sharing policy.
The Guardian spoke to seven young asylum seekers living in Yorkshire who said they told border guards they were 16 or 17 when they arrived in the UK, but were all wrongly classified as adults by officials who recorded their ages as ranging from 22 to 26. Refugee Council workers who interviewed the young people, and verified their identity documents where available, believe mistakes were made.
Faisal, a 16-year-old who arrived in the UK in August on a small boat from Eritrea, said he was given a document that correctly noted the day and month of his birth but incorrectly stated the year as being 10 years earlier than it really was, thereby recording his age as 26.
A French-Arabic interpreter had been assigned to his case rather than a Tigrinya-speaking interpreter, and as a result Faisal said he struggled to understand what was being said to him.
“Maybe the interpreter gave them the wrong information. They made me 10 years older; I couldn’t understand it,” he told The Guardian.
Faisal said he does not feel comfortable in the shared room in an adult hotel he was sent to and has felt suicidal.
“I’m sharing with a man who’s about 30,” he added. “I feel lost. Sometimes I put my head under the bedding and cry. I miss my mom.”
Three Afghan teenagers said they had digital photos of their national identity cards that proved they were children but were unable to show them to officials at the border because their phones had been confiscated during the screening process on arrival.
The age of one of them, Mohammed, whose identification papers show he is 16, was recorded as 22 at the border.
“They put my birthday down correctly, but they put 2001 instead of 2007,” he said. “I said: ‘That’s not the right year,’ and they said, ‘Don’t worry, a case worker will sort it out for you later.’”
But Mohammed said he was unable to have the mistake corrected and was put in a hotel room with a 40-year-old man who smokes at the window, attracting the attention of hotel security guards.
It was not clear to the seven boys in Yorkshire exactly how officials at the border assessed their ages. Only one of them was aware of being given what he thought was a physical examination.
India’s trade ministry didn’t reply to an email seeking comment…reports Asian Lite News
India and the UK don’t expect a free trade agreement to be announced until after state elections in the South Asian nation are completed in December, according to people with knowledge of the matter.
There are still some differences around whether taxation will be included in a proposed investment protection pact, as well as the UK’s demand that tariffs be cut on electric vehicle exports to India, one of the people said, asking not to be identified as the deliberations are private.
There isn’t any firm deadline but an announcement could be made after the vote concludes and results are out December 3, another person told Bloomberg.
The deal, when concluded, would be a major milestone for two of the world’s largest economies that share a long history. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak would likely showcase the deal as a benefit of Brexit, while it would help his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi tout more local manufacturing and job creation when he seeks a third term next year.
India’s trade ministry didn’t reply to an email seeking comment.
A spokesperson for the UK Department for Business and Trade said both administrations “continue to work towards an ambitious trade deal that works for both countries.”
Meanwhile, India and the UK trade ministers last week reviewed the progress of ongoing negotiations for the proposed free trade agreement (FTA). The discussions between the two nations have reached the final stage.
Both the nation’s respective ministers are in Japan currently for the Group of Seven (G7) trade ministers meeting in Osaka. The developments were reviewed by Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and the UK Secretary of State for Business and Trade Kemi Badenoch, reported PTI.
Goyal informed via the social media platform, X (formerly known as Twitter) that he and the UK trade minister ‘discussed the progress of India-UK Free Trade Agreement negotiations’.
Currently, discussions between the officials of both countries on going on to remove differences on issues like rules of origin and the services sector, with the target of concluding these talks for the FTA as soon as possible.
Notably, India and the UK initiated discussions for a trade agreement in January 2022, with Diwali 2022 as the deadline for concluding these talks. However, the negotiations had to be postponed due to political developments in the UK.
The agreement involves 26 chapters, including goods, services, investments, and intellectual property rights. Both countries are also negotiating an investment treaty as a separate agreement, which involves facilitating the promotion and protection of investments by parties in the other nation.
The major disagreement regarding the FTA is about the mechanism for settlement of disputes. The industry in India is asking for greater access for it’s skilled professionals from sectors such as IT, and healthcare in the UK market, apart from market access for several goods at nil customs duty.
McDonald’s suspension follows days of internal Labour tensions over the party’s position on the Israel-Gaza war…reports Asian Lite News
Andy McDonald has been suspended as a Labour MP, after the party said he had made “deeply offensive” comments relating to the Israel-Gaza war.
The MP for Middlesbrough used the phrase “between the river and the sea” in a speech at a pro-Palestinian rally.
Critics of a chant which contains the phrase argue it implicitly calls for the destruction of Israel. But McDonald said his words were intended as “a heartfelt plea for an end to the killings” in the region. He will now sit as an independent MP, pending an investigation.
In his speech at a demonstration on Saturday, McDonald, a former shadow minister under Jeremy Corbyn, said: “We will not rest until we have justice. Until all people, Israelis and Palestinians, between the river and the sea, can live in peaceful liberty.”
The phrase “from the river to the sea” refers to the land between the River Jordan and the Mediterranean, and features in a chant which has been heard at pro-Palestinian demonstrations.
Earlier this month, Home Secretary Suella Braverman urged police chiefs to consider interpreting the chant as an “expression of a violent desire to see Israel erased from the world”. Israel and most Jewish groups agree.
This interpretation is disputed by some pro-Palestinian activists who say that most people chanting it are calling for an end to Israel’s occupation of the West Bank and blockade of Gaza, not the destruction of Israel itself.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s spokesman has said the phrase is “a deeply offensive chant to many.” McDonald said he was “saddened” by his suspension and believed it would be overturned after he explained his views to the party’s investigation.
In a statement, he said there had been “a number of misrepresentations of my words in the media”, which had “furthered baseless and extremely harmful accusations against me”.
He added that his words “should not be construed in any other way than they were intended, namely as a heartfelt plea for an end to the killings in Israel, Gaza, and the occupied West Bank, and for all peoples in the region to live in freedom without the threat of violence”.
A Labour spokesperson said McDonald’s comments at the weekend “were deeply offensive, particularly at a time of rising antisemitism which has left Jewish people fearful for their safety”.
“The chief whip has suspended the Labour whip from Andy McDonald, pending an investigation,” the spokesperson said. Former shadow chancellor John McDonnell said the suspension was “unjust” and “absolutely nonsensical”.
“He turned a slogan some are concerned about into a peace plea,” McDonnell added. Momentum, a left-wing Labour campaign group, branded McDonald’s suspension “an appalling and opportunistic attempt from the Starmer leadership to silence those speaking out in solidarity with Palestine”.
The Labour Muslim Network described the suspension as “obscene and deeply offensive”. “The fundamental right to live in peace, with liberty and self determination is one which should be applied to all peoples,” the group said in a statement.
“The only conclusion that can be drawn is that those who have made this decision do not see Palestinian and Muslim life as deserving of this fundamental principle.”
McDonald’s suspension follows days of internal Labour tensions over the party’s position on the Israel-Gaza war.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has not called for a ceasefire, instead backing humanitarian pauses to help aid reach Gaza. In stopping short of backing a full ceasefire, the Labour leader is aligned with the UK government, as well as the US and EU.
But dozens of Labour councillors, and senior figures including mayors Sadiq Khan and Andy Burnham, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar, and some frontbenchers, have called for a formal ceasefire. The Conservatives have had their own party discipline issues over the Israel-Gaza war, with a ministerial aide earlier being sacked from his government role after calling for a ceasefire.
A statement from the Palestine Solidarity Campaign accused Braverman of dehumanizing Palestinians with her comments…reports Asian Lite News
Home Secretary Suella Braverman has been heavily criticized after branding recent pro-Palestinian demonstrations in Britain “hate marches.”
Hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets of London and other British cities for a third successive weekend demanding a ceasefire in Gaza, after which police confirmed five people had been charged on Saturday.
Braverman said: “To my mind there is only one way to describe those marches; they are hate marches. What we’ve seen over the last few weekends, we’ve seen now tens of thousands of people take to the streets following the massacre of Jewish people, the single largest loss of Jewish life since the Holocaust, chanting for the erasure of Israel from the map.”
She added that police were concerned there were a “large number of bad actors who are deliberately operating beneath the criminal threshold in a way which you or I or the vast majority of the British people would consider to be utterly odious.”
A statement from the Palestine Solidarity Campaign accused Braverman of dehumanizing Palestinians with her comments.
A spokesperson said: “Braverman has previously sought to link the Palestinian flag, the symbol of Palestinian nationhood and struggle for liberation from military occupation and apartheid, with support for terrorism — urging police to treat those displaying it as ‘suspects.’
“She has falsely asserted the chant ‘From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free’ is a call for the eradication of Jewish Israelis, when it is actually a call for the dismantling of the system of apartheid that affects all Palestinians, whether in Gaza, the West Bank or Israel.
“By so doing she is contributing to a climate of intolerance, a dehumanizing of Palestinians, including British Palestinians, and is further threatening the right to protest in this country. Her remarks will be condemned by anyone who respects democratic freedoms, the implementation of international law, and the humanity of Palestinians.”
The PSC said it would continue to organize large-scale protests and that it remained confident hundreds of thousands of British citizens would join the demonstrations.
Sunak and other leaders have increasingly joined the industry itself in arguing current regulation of frontier AI is likely insufficient for the challenges it will pose…reports Asian Lite News
The government will welcome foreign political leaders, tech industry figures, academics and others this week for a two-day summit billed as the first of its kind on artificial intelligence (AI).
The gathering, set to be attended by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, US Vice President Kamala Harris, EU chief Ursula von der Leyen and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, will focus on growing fears about the implications of so-called frontier AI.
The most advanced generation of AI models have prompted concerns around everything from job losses and cyber attacks to humans losing control of the systems they have designed.
Sunak and other leaders have increasingly joined the industry itself in arguing current regulation of frontier AI is likely insufficient for the challenges it will pose.
“My vision, and our ultimate goal, should be to work towards a more international approach to safety where we collaborate with partners to ensure AI systems are safe before they are released,” the British leader said in a speech this week.
“We will push hard to agree the first ever international statement about the nature of these risks,” he added, proposing the creation of an international expert panel similar to one formed for climate change.
London, which initiated the gathering, has insisted it is taking the lead at the behest of US President Joe Biden, and because the two countries have some of the leading companies in the sector.
But it has reportedly had to scale back its ambitions around ideas such as launching a new regulatory body amid a perceived lack of enthusiasm.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is one of the only world leaders, and only G7 leader, attending the conference, which starts on Wednesday.
Sunak’s spokesman told reporters this week that “getting all the right people around the table to discuss this important issue” represented “an enormous achievement in itself”.
The summit will be held at a deliberately symbolic location: Bletchley Park, where top British codebreakers cracked Nazi Germany’s “Enigma” code, helping to hasten the end of World War II.
From smartphones to airports, AI is already ubiquitous in everyday life, but its progress has accelerated with the development of technologies such as ChatGPT.
“It’s clear to me that what’s going to happen in this year, in these next two, three years, in 200 years, (is that) historians will have a name for this period,” Aldo Faisal, an AI and neuroscience professor, said at a briefing this month.
While the potential of AI raises many hopes, particularly for medicine, its development is seen as largely unchecked.
In his speech, Sunak stressed the need for countries to develop “a shared understanding of the risks that we face”.
However, the lack of world leaders, particularly from G7 countries, has dominated discussion of the summit in Britain. Ahead of the meeting, the G7 powers agreed on Monday on a non-binding “code of conduct” for companies developing the most advanced AI systems.
In the US, the White House announced its own plan to set safety standards for the deployment of AI that will require companies to submit certain systems to government review.
And in Rome, ministers from Italy, Germany and France called for an “innovation-friendly approach” to regulating AI in Europe, as they urged more investments to challenge the US and China.
China will be present, but it is unclear at what level. News website Politico reported London invited President Xi Jinping, to signify its eagerness for a senior representative.
Beijing’s invitation has raised eyebrows amid heightened tensions with Western nations and accusations of technological espionage. Although the UK sees itself as the driving force behind international cooperation on AI, its emphasis on potential disasters has dismayed some in the sector.
They would prefer to stress existing AI issues, such as a lack of transparency in the models designed by companies and their racial or gender bias, rather than the more alarmist fears noted by Sunak.
Detractors have also noted that the common ethical principles the UK wants to establish are likely to clash with the interests of AI labs and tech giants, which are predominantly Chinese and American.
That could limit the likelihood of anything meaningful emerging from the summit.
More than 100 UK and international organisations, experts and campaigners published an open letter Monday to Sunak, branding the summit a “missed opportunity” and too tailored towards “big tech”.
The coalition — which includes unions, rights groups like Amnesty International and tech community voices — warned “communities and workers most affected by AI have been marginalised,” with the invites “selective and limited”.
Measures such as the reduction of corporate tax rates, the enhancement of ease of doing business, and progressive reforms in the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) policy have further bolstered India’s appeal as an investment destination. Initiatives like ‘Skill India’ have focused on harnessing the potential of the country’s young population, with nearly 65% of Indians under the age of 35…reports Asian Lite News
In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and amidst escalating geopolitical conflicts, India’s trajectory as a Global Manufacturing Hub has gained substantial momentum. Fueled by a combination of strategic initiatives undertaken by the Government and conducive factors such as an abundant labour force and innovative ideas of a growing young population, the nation is positioning itself as a formidable alternative to its eastern neighbour, China.
The Indian government has long been committed to fostering a conducive environment for higher and sustainable economic growth and to attract a large chunk of foreign investments. The efforts for more and more ease of doing business have also been intensified in recent years.
One of the most compelling indicators of India’s potential lies in its robust economic resilience. In the post-pandemic era, India has exhibited consistent growth, surpassing 7% annually in the last two financial years 2021-22 and 2022-23 and anticipations for the current financial year are also high. The Indian government’s ambitious target of being the third-largest economy by 2027-28 has garnered widespread attention, with experts increasingly optimistic about its feasibility.
Recently, in October 2023, according to S&P Global, India is poised to become the world’s third-largest economy by 2030, outstripping economic powerhouses such as Germany and Japan. Projections indicate that India’s nominal GDP, currently standing at USD 3.5 trillion, will soar to a staggering USD 7.3 trillion by 2030, surpassing even the Japanese economy, and solidifying India’s position as the second-largest economy in the Asia-Pacific region.
According to the recent IMF report, India’s GDP growth rate, according to calendar year, is projected at 6.3% in 2024, 6.3 % in 2025, 6.3% in 2026 and 6.3% in 2027, significantly higher than China’s GDP growth rate of 4.1% in 2024, 4.1% in 2025, 4.0% in 2026, and 3.6% in 2027.
A convergence of various factors has facilitated India’s emergence as a dominant manufacturing force, presenting an enticing opportunity for international investors and businesses to explore new horizons. Foremost among these factors is India’s burgeoning consumer base, which ranks as the world’s largest. The rapid expansion of the middle class has transformed the nation into a thriving market for goods and services.
As the second-largest consumer of mobile phones and the foremost importer of arms, India offers a promising landscape for businesses contemplating a shift in their operations. India has become the second-largest mobile phone manufacturing country, with cumulative shipments of locally produced handsets crossing two billion during the 2014-2022 period. By adopting a steady government policy and the incredible contribution of the Indian defence industry, India has accomplished a considerable achievement in defence exports. In the Financial Year 2022-23, the exports have reached an all-time high at around Rs 16,000 crore. There has been a rise of over ten times in defence exports since 2016-17.
The Indian government’s proactive policy adjustments have served to unlock key sectors for investment, stimulate job creation, and revitalize the nation’s infrastructure. The Government has proactively pursued initiatives to attract foreign investments, prominently exemplified by the ‘Make in India’ campaign launched in 2014. This ambitious program aims to generate 100 million jobs, emphasizing the nation’s commitment to fostering a conducive environment for business growth.
Measures such as the reduction of corporate tax rates, the enhancement of ease of doing business, and progressive reforms in the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) policy have further bolstered India’s appeal as an investment destination.
Initiatives like ‘Skill India’ have focused on harnessing the potential of the country’s young population, with nearly 65% of Indians under the age of 35. The initiative aims to equip this demographic dividend with the requisite skills, ensuring a workforce that is both skilled and cost-effective, with labour costs significantly lower than those in China. The initiatives in the infrastructure segment like NIP (National Infrastructure Pipeline) and Gati- Shakti are creating employment opportunities for unskilled, semi-skilled skilled workforce in the infrastructure development and construction sectors. With the identification of over 7600 key infrastructure projects under the National Infrastructure Pipeline, valued at approximately $1.5 trillion, India is poised to overhaul its logistical framework, enhancing its manufacturing capabilities. Government CAPEX has also reached at Rs.10 lakh crore for the current financial year 2023-24.
India’s impressive leap to the 63rd position in the Ease of Doing Business ranking among 190 countries underscores the concerted efforts made by the government to streamline regulatory procedures and reduce bureaucratic hurdles. Supporting measures such as the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes have further invigorated the manufacturing sector. PLI scheme for large-scale electronics has emerged as the most successful scheme while generating employment opportunities and leading to a significant increase in exports of smartphones.
India has witnessed a substantial influx of foreign direct investment, receiving a record $230 billion over the past three financial years. Anticipations are that the country will be a USD 100 billion FDI destination in the next 2-3 years. For enhancing of ease of doing business, more than 40,000 compliances have been reduced.
On the exports front, there was a 15% increase in India’s exports to a record $770 billion during FY2022-23 from USD 670 billion in 2021-22. There is a more than 100% increase in India’s exports from USD 375 billion in 2010-11. And India aims to achieve exports of USD 1 trillion each in goods and services by 2030. According to the recent IMF report, India’s export growth is projected at 4.7% in 2024, 4.3% in 2025, 4.3% in 2026 and 4.4% in 2027, significantly higher than China’s export growth of 1.0% in 2024, 3% in 2025, 3% in 2026, and 3% in 2027.
The focus of the Government these days is to reduce the costs of doing business; and to make manufacturing processes more and more competitive which will lead to large economies of scale, increased volumes and enhanced exports. The focus on developing waterways and port projects, with an anticipated investment of around Rs 6 lakh crores, is set to significantly reduce logistical costs, rendering Indian manufacturing more cost-effective. Emphasizing the untapped potential of waterways for trade, India is looking to scale up its usage, considering that it currently conducts a mere 3.5 per cent of its trade through waterways, significantly lower than other leading economies.
In order to maintain this upward growth trend and reinforce its status as a global manufacturing centre, India is actively targeting crucial markets for mutually beneficial trade relationships. Alongside significant trade partners such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan, and Russia, India is also intensifying its trade engagements with Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. India has recently concluded Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with the UAE and Australia, while also actively pursuing an FTA with the UK and EU.
Looking ahead, India aims to consolidate its presence in sectors such as digital services, IT and ITES, consumer goods, food processing, and lifestyle products, leveraging its rich cultural heritage and skilled workforce. Simultaneously, the nation seeks to expand its foothold in established sectors like automobiles, electronics, and medical devices, further fortifying its industrial prowess.
As India embarks on this transformative journey, the benefits are expected to extend beyond economic dividends. A surge in employment opportunities, augmented GDP growth, and increased per capita income are poised to trigger a social renaissance, amplifying access to superior education and healthcare for India’s 1.4 billion citizens.
Embracing this unprecedented wave of transformation, India is poised to redefine its economic landscape, charting a path toward prosperity and sustainable growth. As the nation treads uncharted territories, it remains resolute in its pursuit of a future marked by progress, prosperity, and resilience.
The report stated the JI mobilised a massive crowd of protesters at Embassy Road, including people from different walks of life including workers and teachers….reports Asian Lite News
The Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) held a protest criticising the stance of the interim government in Pakistan on the situation in Gaza, Dawn News reported on Monday, adding that thousands of protesters gathered on the streets in support of Palestine amid the ongoing Israeli offensive against Hamas.
The report stated the JI mobilised a massive crowd of protesters at Embassy Road, including people from different walks of life including workers and teachers.
JI chief Emir Sirajul Haq lamented the interim government not being proactive amid the situation in Gaza, the report stated, adding that the protesters also questioned the inaction of Muslim rulers saying that the Ummah “would not forgive the rulers of the Islamic world if they failed to take practical steps to safeguard the people of Palestine”.
He also called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, demanding that the US withdraw its support for Israel.
“Israel’s violation of all international laws and norms and its defiance of the UN General Assembly’s call for a ceasefire has been further aggravated by the launch of a ground assault on Gaza,” he said.
He expressed concern over the mounting death toll, pointing out the disruption of internet services in the besieged region, according to the report.
Further, according to Dawn News, the party had planned to hold the demonstration outside the US embassy, but the venue was changed after the district administration arrested about 20 party workers on Saturday.
Criticising the administration’s crackdown against JI workers, Haq said the government was “frightened when we announced the march in front of the US Embassy” and called it “unfortunate”.
“I want to ask who do you want to make happy. It was impossible for us to withdraw the call of the march,” he said, claiming that the police “brutally tortured” several JI workers.
The JUI-F’s protest in Quetta was also addressed by the party’s emir Maulana Fazlur Rehman.
He said the US was “no longer a superpower” and the government should remove the “shackles of US slavery and stand up against it”.
“Why aren’t our leaders openly declaring support for the Muslims of Gaza,” he asked, addressing the gathering at Ayub Stadium.
“If our rulers continue to show cowardice today, then the Pakistani nation will stand against its rulers,” he said.
He also stressed the need to convene a meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to adopt a new stance in accordance with the evolving situation in Gaza.
Hamas leader Naji Zaheer also addressed the event saying the people of Palestine would not surrender and would fight for a separate state. (ANI)
People cross border into Pakistan at the border crossing point of Torkham between Pakistan and Afghanistan on Sept. 5, 2021. (Photo by Saeed Ahmad/Xinhua/IANS)
The deadline applies to all illegal foreign nationals, including Afghan refugees, who are expected to return to their respective countries….reports Asian Lite News
Thousands of Afghans are now rushing to Afghanistan, with only two days remaining until the October 31 deadline for the repatriation process, The Express Tribune newspaper reported.
The Express Tribune is a daily English-language newspaper based in Pakistan.
Tuesday marks the final day for illegal foreign nationals to leave the country, and official sources have confirmed that the government will stick to its plan, deciding against extending the deadline for voluntary repatriation.
The deadline applies to all illegal foreign nationals, including Afghan refugees, who are expected to return to their respective countries.
In order to ensure compliance, law enforcement agencies have completed the geo-fencing and geo-mapping of illegal residents, according to The Express Tribune.
Once the deadline has passed, action will be taken against those found to be residing in the country illegally, including the confiscation of all their movable and immovable assets.
As many as 86,000 undocumented Afghan nationals have so far returned to their country while one hundred and forty-nine families returned to Afghanistan in one hundred and seventy-four trucks during the last twenty-four hours.
An ethnic Hazara, Sadiq fled Afghanistan last year because he was attacked and beaten by members of the Taliban regime. Now, the 25-year-old faces expulsion from Pakistan and he fears a return to his home country could amount to a death sentence, according to Dawn.
He said, “Going to Kabul would be like going to a graveyard to be buried.”
He recalled how the Taliban had stormed his house in the Afghan capital and abducted him to find out the location of other family members who had worked for the previous government.
“I fear they will … kill me this time for running away. They have their eyes on me,” he said.
Sadiq, who lives in Karachi with his family, said he had made no preparations to leave as he could see no future in Afghanistan.
Many Afghans fear deportation to their native land, where human rights are in a state of collapse, but the risks are particularly high for Hazaras like Sadiq, according to Dawn.
The predominantly Shia community has faced decades of persecution by the Taliban.
“The genocide of Hazaras in Afghanistan is still going on. The Taliban are trying to take the Hazara areas in Afghanistan under various pretexts,” said Amir, a Hazara in Kabul who declined to give his full name.
Hazara families have been evicted from their homes and farms by the Taliban, in many cases with only a few days’ notice and without any chance to prove their legal claims, residents and rights campaigners said. (ANI)
Zhang said China and Russia have maintained a high-level bilateral relationship and the relations between the two militaries exhibit strong development momentum….reports Asian Lite News
China has said it is ready to work with Russia to actively respond to various security threats and challenges and jointly safeguard global strategic balance and stability, Chinese state media agency Xinhua reported on Wednesday.
The vice chairman of China’s Central Military Commission Zhang Youxia on Monday held talks with visiting Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu who is attending the 10th Beijing Xiangshan Forum.
Zhang said China and Russia have maintained a high-level bilateral relationship and the relations between the two militaries exhibit strong development momentum.
He said China stands ready to work with Russia to actively respond to various security threats and challenges and jointly safeguard global strategic balance and stability, as per Xinhua.
Shoigu, meanwhile, said Russia is ready to deepen pragmatic exchanges and cooperation with China and continue to enhance relations between the two countries and the two militaries.
The Russian Defence Minister, during the 10th Xiangshan Security Forum in China, said that Moscow remains ready for discussions on the “post-conflict resolution” of the Ukrainian crisis and further “coexistence” with the West, the Russian News Agency TASS reported.
“In case the necessary conditions are created, we remain ready for political discussions on a realistic basis, both on the post-conflict resolution of the Ukrainian crisis and on the further coexistence with the West as a whole,” Shoigu said at the event.
He further said that Russia is determined to continue military and military-technical cooperation with interested countries in the Asia-Pacific region, including the supply of equipment and joint exercises.
“We are determined to continue military-technical cooperation with interested states, including the supply and maintenance of military equipment, personnel training, joint exercises, ship visits, and other relevant events,” TASS quoted Shoigu as saying.
The Russian Defence Minister also said that Moscow’s withdrawal of ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) does not mean the dismantling of this mechanism of military-strategic balance.
“As for our country’s withdrawal from ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, this is only a desire to ensure balance with the United States of America, which has never ratified this treaty. Dismantling it is out of the question,” Shoigu said.
Shoigu arrived in Beijing on Monday on a working visit, during which participated in the Xiangshan Security Forum.
“The head of the Russian military department will make a report at the plenary session on the topic ‘Responsibility of large states and cooperation in the field of global security’,” the Russian Ministry of Defense said.
“The forum is attended by representatives of senior management, ministers of defense and leading experts from the countries of the Asia-Pacific region, as well as a number of European countries,” TASS quoted the Russian Defense Ministry.
The 10th Xiangshan Security Forum is being held from October 29-31, with official delegations from over 90 countries being in attendance, including the United Kingdom, Iran, Russia, Saudi Arabia, and the United States, in addition to academics and diplomats, TASS reported. (ANI)
An assembled quadcopter drone was recovered from the farming field adjacent to Nestha village during the search operation….reports Asian Lite News
The Border Security Force (BSF) and Punjab police, in a joint operation, foiled another narcotics smuggling attempt during which a drone was also recovered on Monday, said a press release by BSF, Punjab Frontier.
On the basis of specific information received regarding the presence of a drone, a joint operation was launched by BSF and Punjab Police on the outskirts of Nestha village in Amritsar district during afternoon hours on Monday.
An assembled quadcopter drone was recovered from the farming field adjacent to Nestha village during the search operation.
Earlier, the BSF in a joint operation with the Punjab Police recovered a drone that had contraband items taped to it, said a press release by BSF on Saturday.
The search operation launched during the morning hours of Saturday at around 8:30 am led to the recovery of a drone that had contraband items, suspected to be heroin, attached to it with the help of tape, said the official statement.
The press release mentioned that the recovered drone was a quadcopter
Punjab’s battle against drone drug trafficking
Punjab is currently grappling with a significant challenge – the infiltration of drones and drugs into its territory and recent events have once again highlighted the pervasive issue of drug trafficking in the state, with suspicions pointing towards Pakistan as a likely source, as reported by Khalsa Vox.
In a joint operation carried out by the Border Security Force (BSF) and the Punjab Police, two significant seizures occurred within just two days, further intensifying concerns about the persistent drug trade via drones.
On October 28, in Ferozepur, Punjab, BSF troops intercepted a suspected drone near Gatti Mattar village, successfully recovering two packets of illegal items weighing about 1.630 kilograms, believed to be heroin. This recovery demonstrated the vigilance and cooperation between the BSF and local law enforcement, the Khalsa Vox reported on Monday.
Similarly, on October 29, another incident took place in Amritsar, Punjab, underlining the seriousness of the situation. The BSF recovered a Chinese-made drone from the outskirts of Bhaini village. In this operation, the drone was found in a fully damaged state, along with one packet of suspected heroin weighing 2.146 kilograms, wrapped in blue polythene. The recovered drone was identified as a Quadcopter, a DJI Mavic 3 Classic model, manufactured in China.
These consecutive incidents emphasize an increasing trend of drone usage for smuggling narcotics into Punjab, posing a significant threat to the region’s safety and security, as reported by Khalsa Vox.
The Border Security Force and Punjab Police have been proactive in their efforts to combat this menace. Their quick response to the presence of suspected drones and coordinated search operations has resulted in multiple successful interceptions. These achievements showcase the dedication of the security forces in Punjab who are working tirelessly to protect the state from the harmful effects of drug trafficking.
The use of drones in drug smuggling is an emerging trend, demanding creative measures to efficiently identify and stop these airborne risks. The recovery of Chinese-manufactured drones in these recent occurrences raises questions regarding their source and potential external connections.
Khalsa Vox reported citing some intelligence reports consistently indicating the role of drug cartels based in Pakistan in coordinating drone-assisted smuggling operations. These cartels, aided by local facilitators, have been utilising Punjab as a transit point for their illegal drug trade. This situation carries significant consequences, impacting not only the state’s security but also the health and well-being of its residents, given the ongoing issue of drug addiction.
Efforts to combat the drone threat are in progress. Technological advancements and improved surveillance techniques are being explored to identify, track, and neutralise unauthorised drones. Furthermore, there is a pressing requirement for international collaboration to address this cross-border issue comprehensively. (ANI)
