Month: October 2022

The proposed cut was part of a debt-driven economic package that has bombed with the markets, the electorate and much of the ruling Conservative party.

The abrupt reversal raised questions about his and Prime Minister Liz Truss’s right-wing policy agenda, less than a month after taking power and a day after both vowed to stay the course.

“What a day. It has been tough,” Kwarteng said in a speech to the Tories’ annual conference in Birmingham, central England.

But he told delegates that “we need to focus on the task in hand”, implicitly criticising his Tory predecessors by saying there was a need to boost the economy out of its “slow, managed decline”. “To grow the economy we really do need to do things differently,” he said.

Kwarteng pointedly avoided any specific mention of his about-face on the proposed scrapping of the 45 percent top rate of income tax.

But he insisted his and Truss’s contentious plans, which include axing a cap on bankers’ bonuses and reversing a planned rise in corporation tax, as well as a recent hike in national insurance contributions, were “sound” and “credible”.

“It will increase growth,” he added in the speech, which was delayed by an unspecified security alert at the venue. Police lifted the alert about an hour later.

Earlier, Kwarteng said he had never considered resigning over the furore caused by the proposals, saying only that the decision to drop the tax cut was because it had become a “distraction”.

On the markets, the intention to pay for the cuts with billions more in extra borrowing had sent the pound tumbling to a record low against the dollar and UK government bond yields soaring. The pound rebounded Monday as the government partially reversed course.

Nevertheless, Kwarteng and Truss remain in the eye of a political storm, given the perceived unfairness of the package, which could yet see cuts to spending and benefits amid Britain’s worst cost-of-living crisis in generations.

As late as Sunday, the finance chief had been due to tell the conference that “we must stay the course”, according to a preview of his speech released by the Conservatives.

Truss on Sunday admitted communication errors in how the September 23 economic package had been presented, but agreed she was “absolutely committed” to abolishing the top tax rate.

Within 24 hours, though, the 47-year-old prime minister — only in the role since September 6 — had performed one of most striking government U-turns in recent memory.

Truss told the BBC she had not discussed axing the high-earners’ tax band with her cabinet, who only seemed to learn of the reversal along with the public on Monday.

The draft agreement floated by US envoy Amos Hochstein aims to settle competing claims over offshore gas fields and was delivered to Lebanese and Israeli officials at the weekend.

Lebanese authorities, who confirmed receipt of the terms on Saturday, have pledged to deliver a reply “as quickly as possible”, following a flurry of recent announcements from Beirut that a deal with Israel was close.

Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid told his cabinet on Sunday that the US proposal “strengthens Israel’s security and Israel’s economy”. His government was “discussing the final details, so it is not yet possible to praise a done deal”, Lapid said.

The draft agreement aims to settle competing claims by Lebanon and Israel over offshore gas fields

“However, as we have demanded from the start, the proposal safeguards Israel’s full security-diplomatic interests, as well as our economic interests.” Lebanon and Israel have no diplomatic relations and their land border is patrolled by the United Nations.

They reopened negotiations on their maritime border in 2020, but the process was stalled by Lebanon’s demand that the map used by the United Nations in the talks be modified.

Progress resumed after Lebanon appeared to modify its position, specifically concerning the Karish field, which Israel claims as its territory and not open to negotiation.

The head of the powerful Lebanese Shia movement Hezbollah, Seyed Hasan Nasrallah, had threatened Israel with attacks if it began production from Karish.

But Nasrallah on Saturday called the US proposal “a very important step”.

Netanyahu opposes move

Lapid said Israel had been seeking an agreement with Lebanon “for over a decade”. He added that his government does “not oppose the development of an additional Lebanese gas field, from which we will of course receive the share we deserve”, in an apparent reference to the Qana field, which could be subject to a revenue sharing mechanism under the US proposal.

Lapid said the Hochstein proposal will be submitted for final approval following a legal review.

Progress towards the deal comes before Israel’s November 1 election, its fifth vote in less than four years.

Former premier Benjamin Netanyahu, a staunch foreign policy hawk seeking a return to power, took to social media moments after Lapid’s statement emerged, warning that the right-wing government he intends to form after the vote could undo any pact.

“If this illegal ploy passes, it won’t oblige us,” Netanyahu said.

Crown Prince Sheikh Meshal al-Ahmad al-Sabah, who has taken over most of the ruling emir’s duties, asked the outgoing government headed by Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Nawaf al-Sabah to remain in a caretaker capacity until a new cabinet is formed.

Kuwait, an OPEC oil producer, held early elections on Sept 29 after Sheikh Meshal dissolved parliament in a bid to end a political standoff bet­ween the cabinet, which is appointed by the royal family, and the 50-member assembly which is democratically elected and more independent than similar bodies across the region.

The crown prince had appointed Sheikh Ahmad prime minister in July after opposition lawmakers in the dissolved parliament pressed for a new premier and for the removal of the parliament speaker, who bowed out of the September polls.

Stalemates between Kuwait’s government and parliament have often led to cabinet reshuffles and dissolutions of the legislature over the decades, hampering investment and reforms.

Earlier on Sept 29, voters chose to shake up their parliament, sending conservative candidates and two women to the assembly.

The tragedy on Saturday night in the city of Malang also saw 323 people injured after officers fired tear gas in a packed stadium to quell a pitch invasion, triggering a stampede.

“We ask the national police to find the perpetrators who have committed crimes in the next few days,” Indonesia’s chief security minister Mahfud MD said in a broadcast statement, without specifying who he was referring to.

“We asked them to unveil who has perpetrated the crimes and that action must be taken against them and we also hope the National Police will evaluate their security procedures,” he added, announcing a task force for the investigation had been formed.

The incident unfolded when fans of home team Arema FC stormed the pitch at the Kanjuruhan stadium after their loss 3-2 to bitter rivals Persebaya Surabaya.

Police responded by launching volleys of tear gas into packed terraces, prompting spectators to rush en masse to small gates where many were trampled or suffocated, according to witnesses.

Police described the incident as a riot in which two officers were killed but survivors accuse them of overreacting and causing the deaths of scores of spectators, including a five-year-old boy.

“One of our messages is for the authorities to investigate this (incident) thoroughly. And we want accountability, who is to blame?” said 25-year-old Andika, who declined to give his last name.

“We want justice for our fallen supporters,” he said.

‘Murderer!’

Outside the Kanjuruhan stadium on Sunday evening, people held a vigil beneath the roaring lion statue — the club’s symbol — to honour the victims. But fresh graffiti daubed on the walls of the stadium revealed bubbling anger towards the authorities.

“My siblings were killed. Investigate thoroughly,” read one message scrawled on the stadium’s shutters, accompanied by a black ribbon and the date of the tragedy.

“ACAB”, an acronym for “all cops are bast****”, was sprayed on another wall.

In Jakarta, hundreds of football fans gathered outside the country’s biggest stadium on Sunday chanting “murderer! murderer!”, singing songs in support of Arema FC and placing police tape on the complex’s fence.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo announced a probe into the incident, but rights groups said it should be independent and officers should be held accountable for using tear gas in a confined area.

“We call on authorities to conduct a swift, thorough, and independent investigation into the use of tear gas at the stadium and ensure that those who are found to have committed violations are tried in open court,” Amnesty International said in a statement.

“This loss of life cannot go unanswered.”

Mahfud said the task force would be chosen in the next 24 hours and would consist of government officials, analysts, ministry representatives, football organisation officials, academics and members of the media.

He said authorities would announce the results of the probe as soon as possible.

“It is estimated the task can be concluded in the next two or three weeks,” he said.

‘Fans died in players’ arms’

Anger against the authorities gathered pace online, with many critical posts going viral in Indonesia.

“Investigate thoroughly. Firing tear gas in a closed space full of humans is a serious violation,” read one tweet that was liked 11,000 times.

An online petition titled “The police must stop using tear gas” gathered nearly 6,000 signatures by Monday morning.

The fallout came as more information emerged about the stampede, with Arema FC’s Chilean football coach saying “fans died in the arms of players”.

“The boys passed by with victims in their arms,” Javier Roca told Spanish broadcaster Cadena Ser. “I think the police overstepped their mark.”

Fan violence is an enduring problem in Indonesia.

Witnesses of Saturday’s violence say fans of the home team Arema invaded the pitch after their loss to Persebaya Surabaya.

Persebaya Surabaya supporters had not been allowed to buy tickets to the game, due to the fear of violence.

After the deadly stampede, Arema fans threw rocks at officers and torched vehicles including a police truck on the streets of Malang, according to the police.

FIFA’s president Gianni Infantino called the tragedy a “dark day” for football but stopped short of calling for any action by authorities.

The world football governing body’s safety guidelines prohibit the carrying of crowd control gas by police or stewards at pitchside.

World football united to mourn the tragedy, with Spanish clubs holding a minute’s silence and top teams across Europe sending their condolences online.

Pakistan Army and Frontier Corps, Balochistan, in support of the civil administration, continue carrying out relief and rehabilitation operations in the areas hit by the devastating floods.

The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Balochistan, in a handout issued here on Sunday, said the Pakistan Army and FC were assisting the civil administration to provide relief to the flood victims.

It said that as many as 13 relief camps were working in the flood-affected areas of Kohlu, Bolan, Sibi, Dera Murad Jamali, Jafarabad, Nasirabad, Sohabatpur and Jhal Magsi districts, where flood-hit people were provided with cooked food along with other facilities.

During the last 24 hours, as many as 2,661 ration packets, 35,400 water bottles, 3,095 kilogrammes of edibles, including tea leaves, oil, rice and sugar, blankets, mosquito nets, warm clothes and hygiene kits were distributed in Bolan, Sibi, Kalat, Khuzdar, Awaran, Jafarabad, Nasirabad, Jhal Magsi, and Sahabatpur districts.

Under the supervision of the Pakistan Army and FC Balochistan, six collection points were also established in Quetta for the relief of flood victims so that timely assistance could be provided to the deserving people.

“A total of 55 free medical camps were organised by Pakistan Army, FC Balochistan, Pakistan Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) and welfare organisations during the last 24 hours to control epidemics and other diseases in the flood-affected districts, in which 4,521 patients were treated.

The ISPR handout further noted that efforts were afoot to restore the damaged infrastructure.

Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa is scheduled to meet with the senior Biden administration this week during an official visit to the United States (US), sources told The News.

A day earlier, Gen Bajwa met the military advisor to Secretary-General United Nations (UN) Birame Diop and discussed matters of mutual interest and regional security situation. The devastation caused by the recent floods also came under discussion.

The army chief was expected to reach Washington DC over the weekend, however, it was not officially confirmed till the filing of this report.

Pakistani officials at the embassy are also tight-lipped about the army chief’s visit, but other sources said that the army chief is expected to be in the US for a week.

It is also expected that during his time here, he might be holding meetings with senior defence, intelligence, and national security, as well as Centcom officials, starting Monday (today).

The army chief landed in New York on Friday.

The last time General Bajwa was on an official visit to the US was in 2019 along with then-prime minister Imran Khan.