Ahead of that budget, Starmer said that, while dealing with that black hole was essential for creating the stability necessary for growth, all decisions would be made against the objective of growth
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said that his government’s first budget next month wouldn’t take steps that undermine his goal to generate growth, but warned that unfunded spending commitments could damage the economy.
Elected in July, Starmer has said he has a dire inheritance left by the previous Conservative administration, and new finance minister Rachel Reeves has warned that taxes are likely to rise in her first budget on Oct. 30 because of what she said was a 22 billion pound ($29 billion) black hole in the public finances.
Ahead of that budget, Starmer said that, while dealing with that black hole was essential for creating the stability necessary for growth, all decisions would be made against the objective of growth.
“If it promotes economic growth, it’s in the Yes column; if it inhibits economic growth, then it’s in the No column,” Starmer said.
“And because I believe that stability is vital for economic growth — I don’t think we’re going to get economic growth if we don’t stabilize the economy — we’re going to do the really hard stuff now.”
Labour has committed to a fiscal rule that day-to-day costs are met by revenues and debt must be falling as a share of the economy within five years under a budget’s forecast.
Asked if he would tweak fiscal rules to promote growth, amid concern from some economists about underinvestment in the economy, Starmer said it was a matter for the budget but strong fiscal rules were important.
“I’ve always thought it’s important to borrow to invest,” Starmer said, though he warned he didn’t want a repeat of the unfunded budget measures that sparked a crisis that forced Conservative Prime Minister Liz Truss from office in 2022.
“Unfunded commitments for spending are just as bad (as unfunded tax cuts) and likely to have the same impact on the economy.”
Meanwhile, The economy continued to flatline in July on a month-on-month basis, flash figures published from the Office for National Statistics showed last week.
Gross domestic product (GDP) came in below the expectations of economists polled by Reuters, who had forecast growth of 0.2%. The country also logged no GDP growth in June.
Britain’s dominant services sector showed slight growth of 0.1% in the month to July, while production and construction output fell by 0.8% and 0.4%, respectively.
Britain’s economic growth was up 0.5% in the three month to July, slightly below economist expectations and the 0.6% recorded in the second quarter ending in June.
“The economy recorded no growth for the second month running, though longer term strength in the services sector meant there was growth over the last three months as a whole,” Liz McKeown, director of economic statistics at the ONS, said.
The economy had recorded modest but steady expansion almost every month so far this year, having emerged from a shallow recession at the start of the year.
The reading is the first under Starmer’s new Labour government, which was elected on July 4. Finance Minister Rachel Reeves said the print left her “under no illusion” of the challenges faced by the economy.
“I will be honest with the British people that change will not happen overnight. Two quarters of positive economic growth does not make up for fourteen years of stagnation,” Reeves said.
It comes ahead of the forthcoming Oct. 30 Autumn Statement, when Reeves will reveal her annual budget. She has already warned will be painful after she said she inherited a £22 billion ($29 billion) hole in the public finances from the former Conservative government. He predecessor Jeremy Hunt has denied the claims, describing the alleged black hole as “fiction.”
Lindsay James, investment strategist at Quilter Investors, said the prospect of tax raises could add further caution to consumer spending over the coming months. “Tax rises have been flagged ahead of the Autumn Budget, and consumers and businesses may feel rather more cautious heading into the winter months as they await details from the Treasury,” she said.
But she added that further movement in interest rates anticipated from the Bank of England could help ease wider growth pressures. The central bank is set to meet next week for its latest policy decision, after cutting rates for the first time in four years last month.
The auto giant has already been making the EQS sedan in India and has sold around 500 units, as per reports….reports Asian Lite News
As the market for luxury cars and top-notch electric vehicles (EVs) ramp up in India amid friendly government policies and shifting ‘generational mindset’, more and more global automakers are lining up to manufacture/assemble vehicles in India.
The German luxury carmaker Mercedes-Benz has just launched the EQS SUV which is assembled locally in India, which is now the second country to assemble the EQS SUV outside of the US. The made-in-India luxury EV is priced at Rs 1.41 crore.
The auto giant has already been making the EQS sedan in India and has sold around 500 units, as per reports.
Mercedes-Benz is reportedly making an additional investment of Rs 200 crore in 2024 towards manufacturing operations, new product start-ups and digitisation of manufacturing processes in India.
Santosh Iyer, MD and CEO of Mercedes Benz India, said the localisation of the EQS SUV “manifests our local competencies, creates value for Indian customers and supports the government’s vision of ‘Make in India.’”
In May this year, Tata Motors-owned Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) said it plans to start assembling the flagship Range Rover model, along with Range Rover Sport, in India for the first time, significantly bringing down the prices.
The company’s Pune plant currently assembles the Range Rover Velar, Range Rover Evoque, Jaguar F-PACE, and Discovery Sport models. The India-assembled Range Rovers will be available for delivery by the end of this month while Range Rover Sport will arrive in the market by August.
According to N. Chandrasekaran, Chairman of Tata Sons, the local assembly of the flagship models marks an inflection point for the India subsidiary and shows the confidence the company has in the market.
As per industry data, the sale of luxury cars from brands like Lamborghini, Ferrari, McLaren and Aston Martin are experiencing strong demand in the Indian market. According to a latest wealth report by Knight Frank, India is likely to see more ultra-wealthy individuals, with those possessing a net worth exceeding $30 million to reach 19,908 by 2028 — up from 13,263 in 2023.
Sales Surge on Heavy Discounts
After sluggish sales in the first five months of this fiscal, automobiles and consumer electronics companies saw some surge in demand due to discounts and promotional offers during the ongoing Ganesh Chaturthi and Onam festivals, multiple reports said.
“In view of festivals like Onam, Navratri, Diwali, and Dussehra, electronics, automobile and smartphone companies are offering discounts of up to 30 percent to customers,” the reports stated.
Maruti Suzuki reported a 10 per cent increase in bookings in Kerala before Onam and deliveries in Maharashtra and Karnataka rose similarly on the first day of Ganesh Chaturthi.
Two-wheeler sales surged by 15 to 16 per cent during Onam.
During the festive season, vehicle sales may increase by 15 per cent from the average of 3,30,000 units in the first five months of the current financial year.
Sales of consumer electronics may see an increase of 7 to 8 per cent compared to last year. Sales of frost-free refrigerators increased by 15 per cent during Onam. However, sales of single-door refrigerators have declined by 6 to 7 per cent.
Sales of fully automatic washing machines have increased by 12 to 13 per cent, while those of semi-automatic washing machines have increased by 4 to 5 per cent.
Earlier a report said that the upcoming festive season in India is likely to see the creation of up to 10 lakh jobs with a notable surge in gig and female workforce participation. Many industries are gearing up for a rise in hiring, including retail, hotel, e-commerce, logistics, consumer goods, banking, financial services, insurance (BFSI), and retail, according to NLB Services, a technology and digital talent solutions provider.
Among these industries, e-commerce will see the highest demand with a 22 per cent increase over last year.
The win made India the most successful team in the tournament’s history with a record-extending five titles…reports Asian Lite News
Defender Jugraj Singh’s decisive strike in the 51st minute helped the Indian Men’s Hockey Team successfully defend their Asian Champions Trophy title, clinching a hard-fought 1-0 victory over hosts China in the final at the scenic Moqi Hockey Training Base, China Daur Ethnic Park, Hulunbuir, on Tuesday.
The win made India the most successful team in the tournament’s history with a record-extending five titles. India also became the only team to win the title five times, having retained the trophy for the second consecutive edition after their triumph in 2023. India had previously achieved back-to-back titles in 2016 and 2018.
To reward the team’s efforts, Hockey India announced a cash prize of INR 3 lakh for each player and INR 1.5 lakh for each support staff member.
The final saw both teams jostling to find their rhythm early on, with India’s Vivek Sagar Prasad creating the first major chance as he slipped into the circle and set up Sukhjeet, whose audacious shot between his legs forced a swift save from Chinese goalkeeper Wang Weihao. India applied steady pressure in the first quarter, probing for openings, while China adopted a half-court press to counterattack when India’s defence was exposed.
India’s forward line, including Rajkumar, Sukhjeet, Nilakanta, and Raheel, consistently tested the Chinese defence, while captain Harmanpreet Singh narrowly missed with a penalty corner flick. China responded with a penalty corner of their own, but Krishan Pathak was sharp to deny Jiesheng Gao’s attempt.
The second quarter saw India slowing the game’s tempo, searching for gaps in China’s tight defence. Sukhjeet earned another penalty corner late in the half, but Harmanpreet’s shot deflected off the post. China’s Benhai Chen then launched a counterattack, only for Jugraj Singh to make a crucial sliding tackle, keeping the score 0-0 at half-time.
The third quarter brought increased intensity from India, but China’s defence remained steadfast. Harmanpreet’s passes found Abhishek on multiple occasions, but they struggled to convert. China earned two penalty corners midway through the quarter, but Pathak’s reflexes kept the score level. China ended the quarter by putting pressure on the Indian defence, but India held firm.
China’s Changliang Lin made a couple of dangerous runs early in the fourth quarter, but India soon took control. India’s persistence paid off when, with time running out, Harmanpreet found Jugraj in the circle, and he expertly slotted the ball into the bottom-right corner to give India the crucial lead.
Riding on the support of the capacity partisan crowd, China responded by pushing forward in search of an equaliser, leading to an end-to-end finale. However, India remained composed, controlling possession and running down the clock to secure the 1-0 win and their fifth Hero Asian Champions Trophy title.
Award Winners:
Player of the Tournament – Harmanpreet Singh – India
Top Goal Scorer of the Tournament – Yang Jihun (9 Goals) – Korea
Promising Goalkeeper of the Tournament – Kim Jaehan – Korea
Best Goalkeeper of the Tournament – Wang Caiyu – China
Rising Star of the Tournament – Hanan Shahid – Pakistan’
We are losing faith in the various institutions at central or local government level that rule our lives. This is a very worrying development. What it means is that politicians can emerge who seek and even win power by saying the system is corrupt and cannot be trusted, writes Mihir Bose
The night after the fire at Grenfell Tower I was doing the Paper Review on BBC News, a program that no longer exists. The papers we were reviewing reported the fire extensively with all of them reporting how the fire had started, how many may have died, at that time there was no definite number of the people killed, and praise for how the fire brigade had responded. There was nothing about cladding or the real causes of the fire. The papers had complete confidence that the authorities bore no responsibility for this disaster and that they would handle the aftermath with great care giving attention to those who had survived. Sir Martin Moore-Bick’s enquiry shows how wrong the papers were although it has taken us seven years to learn the truth.
The 1,700-page final report makes it very clear the fire “was the culmination of decades of failure by central government and other bodies in positions of responsibility in the construction industry to look carefully into the danger of incorporating combustible materials into the external walls of high rise residential building and to act on the information available to them”.
In the days after the fire much was made that there was cladding at Grenfell to improve energy efficiency leading to criticism about those who campaign about energy. That says the report was not the case. The “initial motive for cladding Grenfell Tower was to improve its physical appearance and to prevent it looking like a poor relation” to a building next door. The argument to improve energy efficiency came later. The report makes it clear there was always a relentless focus on cost.
In the days after the fire much was made about how well the survivors were being looked after. But the report says survivors were “comprehensively failed” and “left to fend for themselves”. They were “abandoned” without information after the fire had taken place, killing 72 people, and this was a fire scene that was described as a “horror film” and “war zone”. The survivors were not sure who had escaped and as they looked for loved ones they experienced feelings of “utter helplessness and despair”. For the survivors there is “long-lasting trauma” and their “lives have been changed forever”.
As for the emergency accommodation provided by the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, which was extensively reported in the weeks after the fire and praised, this was not adequate and arrangements for obtaining food at some hotels made some people “feel like refugees”. “Survivors described it as living in a limbo, with no space to heal.”
The papers on the day I did the Paper Review and immediately afterwards praised the London Fire Brigade. The report says, “One significant shortcoming was a failure to recognise the possibility that in the event of a fire in a high-rise residential building a large number of calls seeking help, both from within and outside the building, might be generated. The LFB failed to take any steps to enable it to respond effectively to that kind of demand. As a result, when faced with a large number of calls about people needing to be rescued from Grenfell Tower, both those in the control room and those responsible for handling that information at the fireground were forced to resort to various improvised methods of varying reliability to handle the large amount of information they received.”
An apartment building is engulfed by a massive fire in western London, Britain, June 14, 2017. (Xinhua/Han Yan/IANS)
All this means there is a gap growing between those who rule us and the reality we experience. Grenfell is not the only example and comes after the shocking Post Office and contaminated blood scandals. In all of these cases people relied on government to help them only to find that they not only did not but often did not want to. Their attitude was the one the great dramatist Bertolt Brecht mocked when living in communist East Germany. “Some party hacks decreed that the people had lost the government’s confidence and could only regain it with redoubled effort. If that is the case, would it not be simpler, If the government simply dissolved the people and elected another?”
Looking at the government’s response to these scandals you do get the impression our government, despite being democratic, would like to elect another people.
Now in many developing countries this is common. I remember when I was living in India there was a coal mine disaster. Immediately a figure was given out by the authorities about how many had died. I was told that figure was obviously wrong. It had been understated. It was much higher.
In these former colonial countries suppressing the truth is not uncommon and they are, you could say, carrying on in the way the colonial authorities behaved. So, there is still discrepancy about how many were killed by the British at Jallianwala Bagh when General Dyer ordered his troops to shoot innocent people gathered in an Amritsar park. Read any history book on the subject and you will find two figures. One given in the Hunter inquiry appointed by the British Raj is 379 and the other figure, given by a rival inquiry held by the Congress party, is well over a 1,000. There is similar disagreement about how many people died in the Bengal famine, the worst famine in south Asian history, during the war with the difference running into millions, the British Raj figure being the smaller one. But then it suited a conqueror to conceal the truth. That in free India people do not believe what the government says after a disaster shows how in that respect society has not changed.
But however Britain behaved in its colonies, something many people in this country do not know and even now cannot come to terms with, we in Britain are supposed to be different. Here a disaster is followed by a report of inquiry which makes recommendations. Grenfell is part of that tradition. It is very likely that as a result of this report there will be changes in building regulations, the defects of which the report highlights. It recommends a single regulator, answerable to a government minister, so that officials and industry can be held to account. The government may well accept that recommendation to show it is responding. The police are also conducting a major inquiry with potential crimes under investigation including corporate manslaughter, fraud and misconduct in public office.
One problem is the time it has taken. The inquiry took seven years to finish its work, interrupted by Covid. Any trial as a result of the police investigation may not take place until 2027, ten years after the fire.
But more that, like former colonial countries, what the Grenfell fire shows is that we as a country now face a huge problem. We are losing faith in the various institutions at central or local government level that rule our lives. This is a very worrying development. What it means is that politicians can emerge who seek and even win power by saying the system is corrupt and cannot be trusted. In America this has happened and may happen again this November.
Donald Trump is the classic example of that. His whole strategy is to call his opponents liars and say he is the only man telling the truth. So much so that he has refused to accept his defeat in the last Presidential election and still insists he was cheated by the rigging of the vote. That is the sort of thing that we hear after elections in developing countries. That it is now coming from the country proud to have been the first to democratically elect its head of state shows how things have changed. It is because of such distrust that Trump’s followers do not find it outrageous that in the Presidential debate with Kamala Harris he claimed that Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Illinois were eating cats despite the city authorities saying there was no evidence of it. When you have lost faith in institutions you will believe anything, and Trump thrives on it. He knows his followers will believe whatever he says and that is the path to power.
Our politicians in Britan do not go that far but there is growing sense in this country that when they, or an institution they run, says something they may be hiding the truth.
Sir Keir Starmer has promised to restore our trust in government. This may explain why he has become the merchant of gloom. But if this turns out to be just a political weapon to paint the Conservatives as unable to govern and not quite the whole truth then it will do nothing to restore trust. The distrust between the governors and the governed will in fact grow and we will be faced with politicians emerging in this country who are in the mould of Trump profiting from such alienation. A lot is riding on Starmer to fulfil his promise to make us believe that we can trust those we elect to rule us to tell it like it is.
(Mihir Bose is the author of Thank You Mr Crombie Lessons in Guilt and Gratitude from the British.)
The rating agency does not foresee any near-term impact on the credit quality of India Inc. either….reports Asian Lite News
Recent political developments in Bangladesh haven’t had a significant impact on India’s trade and going forward, the effect will vary based on industry or sector-specific nuances and their trade exposure, asserted Crisil Ratings.
The rating agency does not foresee any near-term impact on the credit quality of India Inc. either.
However, it believes a prolonged disruption can affect the revenue profiles and working capital cycles of some export-oriented industries for which Bangladesh is either a demand centre or a production hub. That, and the movement in the Bangladeshi currency taka, will bear watching.
Sectors such as cotton yarn, power, footwear, soft luggage, and fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) may see a small but manageable negative impact while ship-breaking, jute, and readymade garments should benefit. For most others, the impact will be insignificant.
India’s trade with Bangladesh is relatively low, accounting for 2.5 per cent of its total exports and 0.3 per cent of total imports last financial year. Merchandise exports mainly comprise cotton and cotton yarn, petroleum products, and electric energy, while imports largely consist of vegetable fat oils, marine products and apparel.
For cotton yarn players, Bangladesh accounts for 8-10 per cent of sales, so the revenue profile of major exporters could be affected.
“Their ability to compensate sales in other geographies will be an important monitorable,” Crisil said.
Companies into footwear, FMCG and soft luggage could also see some impact because of manufacturing facilities located in Bangladesh.
“These facilities faced operational challenges during the initial phase of the crisis. However, most have since commenced operations, though a full ramp-up and the ability to maintain their supply chain will be critical,” said the rating agency.
Engineering, procurement and construction companies engaged in power and other projects in Bangladesh could see execution delays this financial year as a sizeable portion of their workforce has been recalled to India for almost a month now. With only a gradual ramp-up in workforce expected, revenue could be lower this fiscal compared with earlier expectations, the rating agency asserted.
CRISIL Ratings said it will monitor the situation closely and keep assessing the impact on credit quality. (ANI)
Shahriar Kabir is the president of the advisory council of the group named “Ektarer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee”…reports Asian Lite News
Bangladesh Police have arrested a top leader of an advocacy group that was vocal in demanding trial for war criminals in the 1971 Bangladesh liberation war against Pakistan, police said on Tuesday.
“We have arrested Shahriar Kabir,” a police official told ANI over the phone.
“There are 10 cases against him for murders and other crimes”, the Dhakha Police said without further details. Kabir will be produced in court later in the day.
Shahriar Kabir is the president of the advisory council of the group named “Ektarer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee”.
“The police have detained Shahriar Kabir from his residence in Mohakhali in capital Dhaka on Moday midnight”, said Kazi Mukul, Executive President of Ektarer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee.
The Ekattorer Ghatak-Dalal Nirmul Committee was established in January 1992 by a group of individuals to advocate for the trial of those who committed crimes against humanity during the War of Independence from Pakistan.
According to the Dhaka Tribune, on August 20, Mufti Harun Izhar Chowdhury, Hefazat-e-Islam’s joint secretary, filed a complaint over allegations of crimes against humanity and mass killing with the International Crimes Tribunal. These accusations were made against former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and 23 others in connection with a Hefazat-e-Islam rally on May 5, 2013, at Shapla Chattar in Motijheel. One of the alleged accused is Shahriar Kabir.
Shahriyar Kabir is a Bangladeshi journalist, filmmaker, human rights activist, and author of several books focusing on human rights, communism, fundamentalism, history, and the Bangladesh war of independence.
Earlier, Bangladesh police detained two senior journalists from an area near the India-Bangladesh border in northern Mymensingh. The detained journalists Shyamal Dutta and Mozammel Babuare are alleged to be close to ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
A month ago, a student-led movement ousted Sheikh Hasina as Prime Minister of Bangladesh, after weeks of protests and clashes that killed over 600 people. Sheikh Hasina fled to India on August 5 and an interim government led by Nobel Peace laureate Muhammad Yunus was formed. (ANI)
Despite claims of having sufficient support for the constitutional amendments, the government’s reluctance to present the package appears to be largely due to opposition from the JUI-F….reports Asian Lite News
The much-anticipated ‘Constitutional Package’ failed to make its way to the parliament even on Tuesday as the Pakistan government deferred presenting the proposed amendments, saying that it would bring the legislation before the house after a consensus had been achieved, Dawn reported.
Despite claims of having sufficient support for the constitutional amendments, the government’s reluctance to present the package appears to be largely due to opposition from the JUI-F. The government’s efforts to address the objections through backchannel negotiations are ongoing.
Although the package was not presented to parliament, a draft of the proposed constitutional changes began circulating widely on social media and mainstream outlets, offering a glimpse into the government’s plans for the judiciary.
According to leaders from the PML-N, this draft was not intended to be the final version. The government plans to incorporate feedback from opposition parties before finalising the document.
Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar clarified in the National Assembly that the draft shared was a preliminary working paper rather than the conclusive draft.
Barrister Aqeel Malik, an aide to the Prime Minister on legal matters, mentioned in a television interview that objections to certain clauses of the proposed bill were the reason it wasn’t tabled in parliament on Monday.
“There were some objections to some of the clauses of the proposed bill, that was why it could not be tabled in parliament [on Monday],” he stated.
He further emphasised that the government aims to secure a consensus and is prepared to amend the proposal accordingly, indicating that the bill would not be presented until broader agreement is achieved, as reported by Dawn.
PML-N leader Tariq Fazal Chaudhry announced on TV that the government plans to make another attempt to pass the package within the next two to three weeks. He noted that the government needs 13 opposition votes to achieve the two-thirds majority required for the constitutional amendment.
Earlier on Monday, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met with a delegation from the PPP, led by Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari. The discussion focused on securing support for the ‘Constitutional Package’. According to the Prime Minister’s Office, both parties reviewed the proposed amendments in depth and agreed to broaden the consultation process.
Prime Minister Shehbaz emphasised that constitutional amendments fall within the purview of parliament’s rights and stated that the proposed changes aim to deliver immediate and effective justice. He encouraged PPP leaders to continue their involvement in the consultative process.
Dawn reported citing sources that while the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (F) and Imran Khan-founded Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) have largely agreed with the package’s provisions, including the creation of a constitutional court, they oppose a proposal to extend the tenure of the Chief Justice and other Supreme Court judges.
Senator Irfan Siddiqui announced that the ‘Constitutional Package’ would not be presented to parliament on Monday, leading to the prorogation of both the Senate and National Assembly sessions.
Senator Siddiqui also said that the draft circulated was not the final version and needed further refinement with input from all parliamentary parties. He added that JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman had not outright rejected the package but sought more time to review the proposed amendments
Siddiqui affirmed hope that the government would refine the proposal over the next two weeks to address all stakeholders’ concerns before presenting it again. He noted that there were no objections to the establishment of a constitutional court, intended to handle constitutional matters and reduce the backlog in the Supreme Court, which currently has over 60,000 pending cases.
Siddiqui mentioned that the delay was partly due to the government’s attempt to keep all ruling alliance members in the capital, which had become challenging. (ANI)
The CFJ reported that 15 of the accused face mandatory death sentences if convicted. …reports Asian Lite News
A new report by Clooney Foundation for Justice (CFJ), a US-based nonprofit organisation that works to advance justice and protect human rights around the world, revealed that Pakistan’s blasphemy laws are being misused.
Many defendants are facing false accusations, long legal battles, and extended pre-trial detention because judges are wary of upsetting religious groups, reported Voice of America (VOA).
The CFJ reported that 15 of the accused face mandatory death sentences if convicted. However, the report indicated that there has been minimal progress in most cases, with 217 out of 252 hearings being adjourned, which has resulted in many defendants remaining in pre-trial detention.
In Pakistan, making derogatory remarks about Islam or the Prophet Muhammad is punishable by death under the country’s blasphemy laws, although no executions have ever been carried out under these laws.
The CFJ’s report criticised these laws for their inconsistency with international standards, particularly the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).
According to Voice of America, the report found that many blasphemy accusations are poorly substantiated, with complainants frequently lacking direct evidence of the alleged acts and sometimes unable to identify the specific blasphemous statements.
Despite existing safeguards, such as the need for government approval to press charges, these procedures are often ignored. The report also noted that defendants are frequently arrested without warrants, denied bail, and face repeated adjournments due to absent witnesses, which prolongs their legal struggles.
The CFJ called for Pakistan to repeal its blasphemy laws, improve the standards for filing accusations, deter false claims, and reform court processes to avoid interminable delays.
The report also highlighted the increasing prevalence of mob violence against those accused of blasphemy, with some cases not even reaching trial.
Voice of America reported that Pakistani officials had not immediately responded to the CFJ’s findings, which come ahead of the United Nations Human Rights Committee’s review of Pakistan scheduled for October 17.
The report follows recent incidents, including the killing of a man in Balochistan by a police officer while he was in custody on blasphemy charges. The victim, a Muslim, was arrested for allegedly making derogatory remarks about the Prophet Muhammad.
Earlier in June, a 73-year-old Christian man died in Punjab after being attacked by a mob for allegedly insulting Islam. Additionally, a Muslim man was lynched in Swat Valley, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, after being accused of desecrating the Quran. (ANI)
Chinese fighter jets were mobilised to track the aircraft, reinforcing their commitment to defending territorial integrity and regional stability….reports Asian Lite News
China has expressed strong disapproval after its military shadowed a U.S. aircraft that flew over the Taiwan Strait on Tuesday.
The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) vowed to protect national sovereignty, following the transit of a U.S. P-8A anti-submarine patrol aircraft through the politically sensitive region.
According to PLA spokesperson Li Xi, Chinese fighter jets were mobilised to track the aircraft, reinforcing their commitment to defending territorial integrity and regional stability.
Beijing regards Taiwan as a breakaway province and asserts control over the Taiwan Strait, while the U.S. Navy maintains that the P-8A flight was in line with international law, supporting free navigation in the Indo-Pacific.
Taiwan’s defence ministry confirmed the aircraft’s passage, reporting no unusual activity.
The incident follows China’s criticism of Germany, whose military ships recently passed through the same waterway, and occurs amid continued U.S. support for Taiwan, including a recent $228 million arms deal to support Taiwan’s aircraft maintenance.
Meanwhile, Taiwan Ministry of National Defence detected 9 Chinese military aircraft, 13 naval vessels, and one official ship around its territory from 6 am (local time) on Tuesday till 6 am (local time) on Wednesday, Taiwan News reported.
According to Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defence (MND), of the nine People’s Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft, six crossed the Taiwan Strait median line in the country’s northern air defence identification zone (ADIZ).
In response, Taiwan sent aircraft and naval ships and deployed coastal-based missile systems to monitor PLA activity, as per Taiwan News.
“9 PLA aircraft, 13 PLAN vessels, and 1 official ship operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 6 of the aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait. We have monitored the situation and responded accordingly,” Taiwan’s MND said on X.
Further, the ministry also shared another post in which they reported a significant increase in People’s Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft activity near Taiwan.
According to the MND, a total of 15 PLA aircraft were detected. The aircraft, which included J-16 and KJ-500, were observed operating in various areas.
Twelve of the detected aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered the northern, central, and southwestern Taiwan’s Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ).
“Overall 15 #PLA aircraft in various types (including J-16, KJ-500, etc.) were detected from 0820hr today. Out of which, 12 crossed the median line of the #Taiwan Strait and entered the northern, central, and southwestern ADIZ,” said Taiwan MND on X.
This latest Chinese military activity adds to a series of similar provocations by Beijing in recent months. China has increased its military activities near Taiwan, including regular air and naval incursions into Taiwan’s ADIZ and military exercises near the island.
So far this month, Taiwan has tracked 260 Chinese military aircraft and 141 ships. Since September 2020, China has increased its use of gray zone tactics by incrementally increasing the number of military aircraft and naval vessels operating around Taiwan.
The US Congress has been notified of the sale and is expected to grant its approval…reports Asian Lite News
The US State Department has approved a potential military sale to Taiwan valued at approximately USD 228 million amid heightened tensions with China, reported Focus Taiwan.
According to US Department of Defence’s Defence Security Cooperation Agency, the sale involves the return, repair, and reshipment of spare parts and related equipment. This includes both classified and unclassified components for aircraft, as well as associated engineering, technical, and logistics support services.
The US Congress has been notified of the sale and is expected to grant its approval. Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed its appreciation for the US’s continued support of Taiwan’s security under the Taiwan Relations Act and the Six Assurances.
Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defence also highlighted the strategic importance of this sale, noting that ongoing grey zone tactics by China have impacted Taiwan’s training and operational readiness. The ministry further highlighted that this aviation-related equipment would enhance the combat readiness and safety of Taiwan’s Air Force.
According to CNA, this marks the 16th military sale to Taiwan authorised by the Biden administration, underscoring sustained US support.
Over the past five years, US-Taiwan relations have grown significantly, particularly in terms of military cooperation and economic ties, as tensions with China continue to escalate. Under President Joe Biden, the US has intensified its support for Taiwan through increased arms sales and military exchanges.
In 2021, the US approved a significant arms deal with Taiwan that included F-16 fighter jets and anti-ship missiles, further demonstrating a firm commitment to Taiwan’s defence. Recently, Taiwan’s defence ministry announced that the delivery of F-16V fighter jets, which were purchased from the US, is now expected to begin in 2026, following the resolution of production and delivery issues, reported Focus Taiwan.
Additionally, the US has advocated for Taiwan’s inclusion in various international organizations and forums, from which it has historically been excluded due to China’s objections.
For example, in 2021, the US supported Taiwan’s bids to join the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).
High-level meetings between US and Taiwanese officials have also deepened bilateral economic and technological collaboration, particularly in the semiconductor industry, where Taiwan plays a key role. Despite the strengthening partnership, the US maintains its “One China” policy, officially acknowledging Beijing’s claims over Taiwan while maintaining unofficial relations with Taipei.
China has strongly condemned US actions, ramping up military activities around Taiwan in response to what it views as provocations. (ANI)
