Nigeria is also negotiating the return of thousands of 16th to 18th-century metal objects looted from the ancient kingdom of Benin and currently held by museums and art collectors across the United States and Europe…reports Asian Lite News
The United Kingdom has returned 32 gold and silver treasures stolen from the Asante Kingdom more than 150 years ago in what is today’s Ghana on a six-year loan, Ghanaian negotiators have said.
The artefacts, comprising 15 items from the British Museum and 17 from the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A), were looted from the court of the Asante king during the turbulent 19th-century clashes between the British and the Asante people.
Ghanaian authorities have for years tried to reclaim gold treasures looted by British soldiers from the Asante kingdom, which is also known as Ashanti.
The accord will see the relics, including gold and silver regalia associated with the Asante Royal Court, showcased at the Manhyia Palace Museum in Kumasi, the capital of the Ashanti region, as part of the yearlong celebration honouring the king’s silver jubilee.
Ivor Agyeman-Duah, the chief negotiator, confirmed the items’ return, telling the AFP news agency on Saturday that they were given to the palace on loan.
It comes as international momentum and campaigning has grown for museums and institutions to have African artefacts returned from former colonial powers.
Nigeria is also negotiating the return of thousands of 16th to 18th-century metal objects looted from the ancient kingdom of Benin and currently held by museums and art collectors across the United States and Europe.
Two years ago, Benin received two dozen treasures and artworks stolen in 1892 by French colonial forces during the sacking of the royal Palace of Abomey.
“These cherished artefacts, which hold immense cultural and spiritual significance for the Ashanti people, are here as part of a loan agreement for an initial three years and renewable for another three,” Agyeman-Duah said.
“It marks a significant moment in our efforts to reclaim and preserve our heritage, fostering a renewed sense of pride and connection to our rich history,” he added, noting that the exhibition will be held from May 1.
The returned items include a 300-year-old Mponponso sword used in swearing-in ceremonies.
A gold peace pipe and gold discs worn by officials responsible for cleansing the king’s soul are also among 17 items the V&A plans to lend to the Ghanaian museum.
Objects selected from the British Museum consist mainly of royal regalia looted from the palace in Kumasi during the Anglo-Asante wars. The items will be loaned under two separate three-year agreements.
The first tank is already showing its capabilities on trials. All will be tested under operational conditions to validate their performance and make refinements, before another 140 are built and delivered to the British Army…reports Asian Lite News
With advanced armour and devastating firepower, the Challenger 3 boasts an impressive range of state-of-the-art technology, making it the most lethal and survivable tank ever operated by the British Army.
The latest of eight Challenger 3 prototypes rolled off the Rheinmetall BAE Systems Land factory production line in Telford as the Defence Secretary had an opportunity to meet the engineers and apprentices who have worked on this crucial programme.
The first tank is already showing its capabilities on trials. All will be tested under operational conditions to validate their performance and make refinements, before another 140 are built and delivered to the British Army.
“In a more dangerous world, the need for vehicles such as the Challenger 3 is imperative, as the threats facing the UK evolve. This tank will be at the heart of the British Army’s warfighting capabilities and will be integral to the UK’s deterrence,” said Defence Secretary Grant Shapps.
“The hard work and dedication on show in Telford and across the country is instrumental in driving forward UK defence innovation and delivering for our forces in the frontline.”
Providing the Army’s Main Battle Tank, the Challenger 3 will remain in service until at least 2040. This third iteration of the Challenger series includes a state-of-the-art turret with a more capable smoothbore gun, which is compatible with NATO ammunition, as well as improved armour and sensors.
The Army’s Director Programmes, Major General Jon Swift OBE said: “Challenger 3 will be at the heart of the Army’s Armoured Brigade Combat Teams, alongside Ajax and Boxer, and is critical to the Army’s warfighting capability and the UK’s contribution to NATO. The delivery of these prototype vehicles, the first of which has already started trials, marks a significant milestone on the Army’s modernisation journey.”
Director General Land for Defence, Equipment and Support, Lieutenant General Simon Hamilton CBE said: “Delivering the capability the Army needs to be more lethal is vital in an increasingly uncertain and dangerous world. The Challenger 3 Programme is a cornerstone of the Army’s Future Soldier modernisation, and I am delighted to see the Army, DE&S and RBSL collaborating together to provide our soldiers with a world-class Main Battle Tank made here in the UK.”
Challenger 3 is being delivered by Rheinmetall BAE Systems Land (RBSL) under a £800 million contract, creating a number of highly skilled roles, with nearly 300 jobs generated within RBSL, including 130 engineers and 70 technicians, with an additional 450 jobs across the UK.
Woodward stressed the vital importance of UNRWA’s role in aid delivery within Gaza and called upon Israel to grant unhindered access to UNRWA and other humanitarian agencies operating in the region…reports Asian Lite News
UK Ambassador Barbara Woodward underscored the urgent need for action as Palestinians in Gaza confront a dire humanitarian crisis, including an imminent risk of famine.
In a recent session at the UN Security Council, Woodward emphasised UNRWA’s crucial role in providing essential services to Palestinian refugees, particularly in Gaza where the humanitarian situation is dire.
Woodward stressed the vital importance of UNRWA’s role in aid delivery within Gaza and called upon Israel to grant unhindered access to UNRWA and other humanitarian agencies operating in the region.
Recognising UNRWA as the primary provider of humanitarian relief in Gaza, Woodward emphasised the need for increased aid flows and urged Israel to facilitate the UN’s minimum operating requirements to ensure the safety of humanitarian operations.
She also acknowledged UNRWA’s broader role in providing crucial health, education, and humanitarian services across the region, supporting millions of Palestinians in Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon. She emphasised the importance of this support for regional stability, particularly in the current critical juncture.
Woodward addressed allegations of UNRWA staff involvement in attacks on Israel, expressing the UK’s deep concern. She noted ongoing investigations by the UN Office for Internal Oversight Services into these allegations and underscored the importance of robust management reform within UNRWA, including enhanced independent oversight and detection systems.
She also highlighted the upcoming independent review led by former French foreign minister Colonna, focusing on UNRWA’s neutrality, processes, and systems. She emphasized that the UK will review its funding position based on the findings and recommendations of this review.
The ambassador also paid tribute to the 178 UNRWA staff tragically killed in Gaza, offering condolences to their families and honouring their dedicated service.
No famine in Gaza, says Netanyahu
Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday met at the Prime Minister’s Office in Jerusalem with British Foreign Secretary David Cameron and German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock.
During the meetings, Prime Minister Netanyahu reiterated that Israel would maintain its right to self-defence.
The Prime Minister thanked the British Foreign Secretary and the German Foreign Minister for their unequivocal support and for their countries’ unprecedented standing up in defense of the State of Israel against Iran’s attack.
Prime Minister Netanyahu also briefed them on the scope of the humanitarian assistance and the continued fighting in Gaza.
Prime Minister Netanyahu rejected the claims of international organisations regarding famine in Gaza and said that Israel was going above and beyond in the humanitarian sphere. (ANI/TPS)
One major retailer said the wholesale price of potatoes was up 60% year on year as much of the crop had rotted in the ground…reports Asian Lite News
The UK faces food shortages and price rises as extreme weather linked to climate breakdown causes low yields on farms locally and abroad.
Record rainfall has meant farmers in many parts of the UK have been unable to plant crops such as potatoes, wheat and vegetables during the key spring season. Crops that have been planted are of poor quality, with some rotting in the ground.
The persistent wet weather has also meant a high mortality rate for lambs on the UK’s hills, while some dairy cows have been unable to be turned out on to grass, meaning they will produce less milk.
Agricultural groups have said the UK will be more reliant on imports, but similarly wet conditions in European countries such as France and Germany, as well as drought in Morocco, could mean there is less food to import. Economists have warned this could cause food inflation to rise, meaning higher prices at supermarkets.
Tom Bradshaw, the president of the National Farmers’ Union, said markets had “collapsed” as farmers fail to produce food in the punishing conditions. He said: “We’re going to be importing a lot more product this year.”
One major retailer said the wholesale price of potatoes was up 60% year on year as much of the crop had rotted in the ground.
Supplies of potatoes have also been affected by a 10% reduction in the area planted last year as farmers switched to less weather dependent and more financially secure crops. Industry insiders said they expected a further 5% fall in planting this year.
Jack Ward, chief executive of the British Growers Association, said: “There is a concern that we won’t ever have the volumes [of potatoes] we had in the past in the future.”
He said wholesale prices were too low for farmers to generate enough income to cope with high fuel, labour and machinery costs as well as the effects of climate breakdown. “We are not in a good position and it is 100% not sustainable.”
Supplies of carrots and parsnips, which are left in the ground and so also affected by sodden soils, are also much lower than usual, pushing up prices.
Martin Lines, the chief executive of Nature Friendly Farming Network, said: “The impact in the UK this year will significantly affect potatoes and the salad crop. Farmers are already facing delays in planting, with many fields in poor condition. If planting occurs at all, it will likely be late, potentially leading to a shortage of root vegetables and potatoes this coming winter.
“Some farmers have ceased planning for planting altogether, opting instead to put fields into fallow or switch to alternative crops. This could also result in shortages of wheat, barley and pulses as it’s currently unprofitable to grow these due to the lateness of the season and low forecasted prices.”
Guy Singh-Watson, the founder of the organic vegetable box company Riverford, said he had so far planted “virtually no veg”. “Some overgrown plants cannot wait any longer to go in the ground, and will have to be ditched.”
While retailers often turn to imports to fill gaps on shelves, farmers across Europe are enduring a similarly difficult start to the year, with difficulties developing winter crops and sowing spring crops.
Amber Sawyer, an analyst at the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit, said last year almost a third of the UK’s tomatoes, and more than two-thirds of its raspberries and brussels sprouts, came from Morocco.
“As climate change worsens, the threat to our food supply chains – both at home and overseas – will grow,” Sawyer said.
Scientists have said this is just the beginning of shocks to the food supply chain caused by climate breakdown and that without rapid action to drive down emissions by ceasing to burn fossil fuels, the current system is unsustainable.
UK unemployment soars to six-month high
Britain’s unemployment rate rose unexpectedly to the most in six months as the number of jobs in the economy shrank, an indication of cooling in the once red-hot labor market.
The jobless rate rose to 4.2% in the three months through February after a reading of 3.9% in the previous period, the Office for National Statistics said Tuesday. It was the biggest jump since 2020, when the country was emerging from pandemic lockdowns.
The figures provided a tentative sign that inflationary pressures in the jobs market are cooling. But the report also showed wage growth, which the Bank of England is watching carefully, remained stubbornly high, easing to 6%. That was only slightly down from the 6.1% reading previously and above the expectations of economists.
“Easing pressure in the labor market keeps the Bank on track for a summer rate cut,” said Yael Selfin, chief economist at KPMG UK. “The rise in the unemployment rate paints a picture of a less tight labor market. The exact timing of the first rate cut will be a hot debate.”
The policymakers have been reluctant to signal a shift away from their fight against inflation because of concerns that continued strong pay growth will fuel price rises.
The pound slipped back 0.2% against the dollar to $1.2422 following the release. Traders’ bets on BOE interest-rate cuts were little changed, with the market implying two quarter-point reductions by the end of the year. The first cut is fully priced by September, with an 80% chance of an earlier cut in August.
Reading on the labor market have been clouded with problems in deriving the official data. The ONS for months has urged caution in interpreting its figures on employment, unemployment and inactivity due to a plunge in the number of responses it receives to its surveys.
The British Foreign Secretary said it was more important to concentrate on freeing the Israeli hostages, getting aid supplies…reports Asian Lite News
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and British Foreign Secretary David Cameron were in Israel on Wednesday for crisis diplomacy talks.
Cameron spoke in favour of a measured response by Israel to Iran’s recent attack.
He hopes the country responds “in a way that is smart, as well as tough, but it’s also does as little as possible to escalate this conflict”.
The British Foreign Secretary said it was more important to concentrate on freeing the Israeli hostages, getting aid supplies into the Gaza Strip and achieving a ceasefire there.
He added that he planned to discuss this with the Israeli government and the Palestinian Authority.
Baerbock and Cameron met Israeli President Isaac Herzog and planned to hold further talks with top Israeli officials in a separate but coordinated manner, according to the German Foreign Office.
Baerbock also met with Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz during the visit, her seventh since the deadly October 7 attacks on Israel led by the Palestinian militant group Hamas.
She is also set to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Opposition leader Benny Gantz, who is a member of the Israeli war Cabinet, before leaving Israel later on Wednesday.
At the centre of the discussions is fears that the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip could erupt into a major regional war.
Iran launched significant air attacks on Israel last Saturday in response to a strike on the Iranian embassy in Damascus.
Israeli officials are now vowing a harsh counter-attack against Iran.
Israel’s allies worry such a response could fuel a spiral of violence and are urging restraint.
Baerbock is also likely to address the humanitarian situation of the suffering civilian population in Gaza. In recent weeks, she has repeatedly called on Israel to allow more aid deliveries to the Palestinian territory.
The two top diplomats reviewed international efforts to enhance the response to the escalating humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip…reports Asian Lite News
UAE Foreign Minister H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan discussed with his UK counterpart David Cameron recent developments in the region and their fallout on regional and global peace and security.
During a phone conversation, the two top diplomats reviewed international efforts to enhance the response to the escalating humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip, and the urgency of fast-tracking the sustainable and safe delivery of humanitarian aid to civilians in the Strip.
H.H. Sheikh Abdullah affirmed the importance of exercising the utmost restraint to avoid serious repercussions, and the region being pulled into new levels of instability. He also stressed that dialogue, diplomatic channels, adherence to the rule of law and respecting the United Nations Charter are essential tools in resolving conflicts and promoting peace and stability in the region and the world and the prosperity of nations worldwide.
The government has also re-classified violence against women and girls as a national threat…reports Asian Lite News
Despicable people who create sexually explicit deepfakes will face prosecution under a new law going through its parliamentary journey, the British government said on Tuesday.
Deepfake refers to images and videos made to look hyper-realistic, with the victim usually unaware and unable to give their consent. Under the new offence, those who create such images without consent face a criminal record and an unlimited fine. If the deepfake content is then shared more widely, offenders could be sent to jail.
The creation of deepfake sexual images is despicable and completely unacceptable irrespective of whether the image is shared, said Laura Farris, UK Minister for Victims and Safeguarding.
It is another example of ways in which certain people seek to degrade and dehumanise others – especially women. And it has the capacity to cause catastrophic consequences if the material is shared more widely. This government will not tolerate it. This new offence sends a crystal-clear message that making this material is immoral, often misogynistic, and a crime, she said.
Last year, reforms in the UK’s Online Safety Act criminalised the sharing of deepfake intimate images for the first time. The new offence, which will be introduced through an amendment to the Criminal Justice Bill, will mean anyone who makes sexually explicit deepfake images of adults maliciously and without consent can now also face prosecution. It will apply to images of adults as the country’s law already covers this behaviour where the image is of a child under the age of 18.
The Ministry of Justice said the Bill, which continues its passage through Parliament, is also creating a range of new criminal offences to punish those who take or record intimate images without consent or install equipment to enable someone to do so. The government has also re-classified violence against women and girls as a national threat, meaning the country’s police must prioritise their response to it, just as they do with threats like terrorism.
Under the Bill, a new statutory aggravating factor will be brought in for offenders who cause death through abusive, degrading or dangerous sexual behaviour or so-called rough sex, often used as a defence in such legal cases.
A new statutory aggravating factor for bitter former partners who murder at the end of a relationship is also a part of reforms following recommendations made in the Domestic Homicide Sentencing Review three years ago.
The offence will be introduced through an amendment to the criminal justice bill, which is making its way through parliament. Laura Farris, the minister for victims and safeguarding, said the creation of deepfake sexual images was “unacceptable irrespective of whether the image is shared”.
“It is another example of ways in which certain people seek to degrade and dehumanise others – especially women. And it has the capacity to cause catastrophic consequences if the material is shared more widely. This government will not tolerate it.
“This new offence sends a crystal clear message that making this material is immoral, often misogynistic, and a crime.”
Yvette Cooper, the shadow home secretary, supported the announcement, saying: “It’s welcome that the government has accepted Labour’s calls to criminalise the creation of deepfake pornography. Superimposing somebody’s image on to sexually explicit photos and videos is a gross violation of their autonomy and privacy, which can cause enormous harm, and it must not be tolerated.
“It’s essential that the police and prosecutors are equipped with the training and tools required to rigorously enforce these laws in order to stop perpetrators from acting with impunity.”
Deborah Joseph, the editor-in-chief of Glamour UK, welcomed the planned amendment.
“In a recent Glamour survey, we found 91% of our readers believe deepfake technology poses a threat to the safety of women, and from hearing personal stories from victims, we also know how serious the impact can be,” she said.
“While this is an important first step, there is still a long way to go before women will truly feel safe from this horrendous activity.”
Earlier this year, the European Union proposed a new law to criminalise the sharing of sexually explicit images created using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to prevent the rise of sexual exploitation of women online.
“The latest disgusting way of humiliating women is by sharing intimate images generated by AI in a couple of minutes by anybody. Such pictures can do huge harm, not only to pop stars but to every woman who would have to prove at work or at home that it was a deep fake,” European Commission Vice President Věra Jourová had told Politico.
The document says that a sentence of death will neither be sought nor imposed….reports Asian Lite News
The US has provided assurances requested by the High Court in London which could finally pave the way for WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange to be extradited from Britain.
Last month, the High Court ruled that, without certain US guarantees, Assange, 52, would be allowed to launch a new appeal against being extradited to face 18 charges, all bar one under the Espionage Act, over WikiLeaks’ release of confidential US military records and diplomatic cables.
Those assurances — that in a US trial he could seek a First Amendment right to free speech and that there was no prospect of new charges which could see the death penalty being imposed — have now been submitted by a deadline which fell on Tuesday.
The document, seen by Reuters, states that Assange “will have the ability to raise and seek to rely upon at trial the rights and protections given under the First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States.” However it adds that a decision on the “applicability of the First Amendment is exclusively within the purview of the US courts.”
The document also says that a sentence of death will neither be sought nor imposed.
“These assurances are binding on any and all present or subsequent individuals to whom authority has been delegated to decide the matters,” it said.
There will now be a further court hearing in London on May 20, but his lawyers have previously described US assurances given in other cases as not “worth the paper they’re written on,” echoing similar criticism from human rights group Amnesty International.
Assange’s wife Stella, whom he married while in prison in London, said the guarantees did not satisfy their concerns, describing them as “blatant weasel words.”
“The United States has issued a non-assurance in relation to the First Amendment, and a standard assurance in relation to the death penalty,” she said in a statement.
“The diplomatic note does nothing to relieve our family’s extreme distress about his future — his grim expectation of spending the rest of his life in isolation in US prison for publishing award-winning journalism.”
There was no immediate comment from the US Department of Justice or a High Court spokesperson.
Last week, US President Joe Biden said he was considering a request from Australia to drop the prosecution, which Assange’s US lawyer described as “encouraging.”
It was not clear what influence, if any, Biden could exert on a criminal case, but the Wall Street Journal has also reported that discussions are underway about a potential plea bargaining deal.
Assange, who is an Australian citizen, has spent more than 13 years in various legal battles in the English courts since he was first arrested in November 2010.
To his many supporters, he is an anti-establishment hero who is being persecuted for exposing US wrongdoing and details of alleged war crimes in secret, classified files.
Dubai, Dec 01 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets United Kingdom Prime Minister Rishi Sunak during the 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28), in Dubai on Friday. (ANI Photo)
On March 12, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and UK counterpart Rishi Sunak reaffirmed their commitment to work towards an “early conclusion of a mutually beneficial FTA…reports Asian Lite News
A team from India’s commerce ministry will head to United Kingdom (UK) this week as both sides look to iron out outstanding issues pertaining to the proposed Foreign Trade Agreement (FTA) between them, Commerce Secretary Sunil Barthwal said on April 15.
“A team from India is going this week to the UK and some are already there. This is a continuation of the 14th round of talks,” Barthwal added.
Separately, the ministry on April 15 said, India and UK have made “good progress and majority of difficult issues are towards resolution.”
“A couple of key priority issues to seal the deal are being ironed out to have a balanced outcome,” the ministry added.
Negotiations between India and the UK for a trade agreement began on January 2022 with an initial deadline of Diwali 2022. There are 26 chapters in the pact, which include goods, services, investments, and intellectual property rights.
On March 12, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and UK counterpart Rishi Sunak reaffirmed their commitment to work towards an “early conclusion of a mutually beneficial FTA.”
Both sides are still looking to agree on matters around market access with one of the sticking points being London’s reluctance over New Delhi’s stand that British automakers have to step up the utilisation of local components in their vehicles to 45 percent to avail of concessions in India.
Recently, a team from UK visited India from March 5-7 to negotiate on outstanding issues. For the proposed FTA between India and European Union (EU), the eight round of talks is being planned in May or June 2024 in Brussels. India and EU completed the seventh round of negotiations in February 2024.
South Sudanese troops arrive in Congo under EAC regional force mandate.(Photo:Twitter)
The United Nations says war has forced nearly 11 million from their homes and sent two million refugees into neighbouring countries…reports Asian Lite News
Britain has sanctioned three businesses said to be funding groups in Sudan’s catastrophic war, as a crisis summit heard it was becoming one of the worst humanitarian disasters in decades.
Envoys on Monday met in Paris to try to raise $1bn (£0.8bn) in aid to stop the African nation tipping into famine and mass death after a year of fighting.
The United Nations says war has forced nearly 11 million from their homes and sent two million refugees into neighbouring countries.
Food supplies and aid cannot cross front lines and much of the country’s agricultural land is out of use. As famine looms, worst-case scenarios modelled by Western experts and diplomats predict the death toll could hit thousands per day within months.
Some 25 million in the region are unable to feed themselves properly, with at least five million on the cusp of famine. War erupted a year ago from a long-simmering rivalry between the de-facto president, Gen Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and his deputy, Gen Mohamed Hamdan Dagaloa, known as Hemedti.
Fighting between the army and Hemdeti’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia has turned much of the country of nearly 50 million into a war zone. Britain said Alkhaleej Bank, Al-Fakher Advanced Works and Red Rock Mining would be subject to an asset freeze, limiting their financial freedom.
Alkhaleej Bank is accused of being key to the RSF financing its operations, while the militia allegedly uses Al-Fakher Advanced Works to export gold. Red Rock Mining is accused of providing funds to the Sudanese Army.
David Cameron, Foreign Secretary, said: “The businesses that support the warring parties must be held to account, alongside those responsible for human rights abuses. The world must not forget about Sudan. We urgently need to end the violence.”
Envoys met in Paris to try to raise $1bn (£0.8bn) in aid to stop the African nation tipping into famine
Sudanese groups and envoys to the country complain that it has become a “forgotten conflict” as the world’s attention is fixed on wars in Ukraine and Gaza.
The United Nations has this year asked for $2.7bn (£2.2bn) to get food, health care and other supplies to 24 million people in Sudan. Donors have so far given less than five per cent.
António Guterres, UN Secretary General, said the nation was trapped in the “nightmare of bloodshed”. “We cannot let this nightmare slide from view,” he told the conference.
“It’s time to support the Sudanese people. It’s time to silence the guns,” he added.
After a year of war, Sudan descended into what has been called a “blood soaked playground” for regional powers backing different factions and fighting proxy wars.
Russia, Iran, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, the Saudis and even Ukraine are all backing sides.
Stephane Sejourne, French foreign minister, said the Paris conference aimed to mobilize funding to help Sudanese victims of both a “terrible war” and “international indifference.”
“It’s a colossal task,” she said. “It’s a war the Sudanese people did not want, a war that only produces chaos and suffering.”
Annalena Baerbock, Germany’s foreign minister, said in the worst case, one million could die of hunger this year. She said: “We can manage together to avoid a terrible famine catastrophe, but only if we get active together now.”
