Bangladesh must address labour and human rights issues, says European Union

The European Union has expressed its concern over the labour and human rights situation in Bangladesh and called upon the government to increase the pace of the implementation of the National Action Plan on labour sector and the recommendations of the Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review to retain duty free market access to the economic bloc.

According to the second joint Staff Working Document on the EU’s enhanced engagement with three GSP beneficiary countries — Bangladesh, Cambodia and Myanmar — published on November 21, the EU’s Generalised Scheme of Preferences are linked to beneficiary countries’ respect to the international standards on human rights, labour rights, environment and climate, and good governance.

The European Commission report on the Generalised Scheme of Preferences covering the period 2020-2022 identified legal obstacles to the right to establish and operate trade unions, anti-union discriminations, shortcomings related to labour inspection, gaps in implementing occupational health and safety, and persistence of child and forced labour as the key concerns in the aspect of labour rights.

It also listed deficiencies regarding freedom of expression, freedom of assembly and association and civil society space, as well as cases of alleged torture, ill-treatment, extrajudicial killings, and enforced disappearances as key concern in the aspect of human rights.

Enhanced engagement is conducted by the European Commission services and the European External Action Service, aiming to facilitate and incentivise beneficiary countries to make progress on critical areas with regard to the 15 core human rights and labour rights international conventions listed on the GSP Regulation.

Article 19 of the GSP Regulation (2) provides that the preferences may be withdrawn from any GSP beneficiaries in case of serious and systematic violation of the principles of the core human and labour right conventions.

The European Commission report said that Bangladesh remained by far the most important EBA beneficiary in terms of exports to the EU and about 50 per cent of its exports go to the EU.

According to the EU data, Bangladesh’s exports to the economic bloc were reported at 23.9 billion euro in 2022 which was 53.5% higher compared with 2021.

More than 90% of Bangladesh’s exports to the EU are ready-made garments.

Over the reporting period of 2020-2022, the 27-member bloc regularly informed Bangladesh of its concerns and conducted two monitoring missions in October 2019, and in March 2022.

The EU report observed that most of the changes to the Labour Act/EPZ Labour Act requested by the ILO Committee of Experts for a number of years either have not been addressed or addressed partially only.

It said that limited progress has been recorded in the reporting period with respect to human rights concerns expressed by the EU.

“With regard to cases of alleged torture, ill-treatment, extrajudicial killings, and enforced disappearances, on multiple occasions in 2021 and 2022, the UN Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights expressed deep concern about the government’s failure to complete investigations and bring the perpetrators to justice”, the EU report said.

As part of the enhanced engagement discussions on human rights, the EU repeatedly expressed concern about some of the provisions of the Digital Security Act and encouraged Bangladesh to fully implement the recommendations that the Human Rights Council made, the report read.

In September 2023, the Digital Security Act was replaced by the Cyber Security Act and the preliminary analysis showed that the Cyber Security Act was not fully aligned with international human rights standards, the EU said.

The report recommended that the authorities in Bangladesh should increase the pace of implementing the commitments on labour rights included in the NAP and ILO Road map.

With respect to the key concerns on human rights, the authorities in Bangladesh should improve freedom of expression, freedom of assembly and civil society space; investigate cases of alleged torture, ill-treatment, extrajudicial killings, and enforced disappearances; fully implement the recommendations of the Human Rights Council’s UPR, including the abolition of the death penalty.

‘The full compliance with the GSP relevant international conventions should also be seen in the light of the expected future graduation of Bangladesh from LDC status, which would imply moving from the EBA arrangement to standard GSP, the report mentioned.

An EU High-Level mission, led by Paola Pampaloni, deputy managing director of the Asia and Pacific Department at the European External Action Service, visited Bangladesh in November 12-16 and held several meetings with the government, labour leaders and businesses.

In a meeting with the high officials of the government, the EU delegation once again recommended bringing labour laws in full compliance with international standards and to remove the minimum membership requirement to form trade union.

They also conveyed to the government that the EU wanted to see a free, fair, and participatory election in Bangladesh.

 

Saudi Arabia extends oil production cuts

The Ministry of Energy announced that Saudi Arabia plans to prolong its one million barrels per day voluntary production cut, initiated in July 2023, until the end of the first quarter in 2024.

This collaborative decision involves coordination with select OPEC Plus nations, maintaining the Kingdom's production at around 9 million barrels per day until March 2024.

“A phased return of these additional cut volumes will be executed, contingent upon market conditions, to bolster overall market stability,” an official source at the ministry said.

The announcement emphasized that this voluntary cut is an augmentation to the earlier disclosed 500 thousand barrels per day reduction, declared in April 2023, which is slated to persist until the culmination of December 2024.

The source underscored that this supplementary voluntary cut is part of the collective precautionary measures taken by OPEC Plus countries to fortify efforts aimed at upholding the stability and equilibrium of global oil markets.

 

OPEC Plus to cut output by one million bpd

OPEC Plus oil producers are likely to agree output cuts of at least one million barrels per day (bpd) for early next year led by Saudi Arabia rolling over its voluntary additional cut and smaller curbs by others, two delegates told Reuters ahead of a virtual OPEC+ meeting on Thursday.

Saudi Arabia, Russia and other members of OPEC Plus pump more than 40% of the world's oil, or some 43 million bpd. They currently have cuts of about 5 million bpd in place.

According to Reuters a preliminary agreement has been reached for a cut of more than one million bpd.

This would include Saudi Arabia extending the voluntary cut of one million bpd it has had in place since July plus additional contributions from other members, sources said.

It was unclear how much other members would contribute, sources said. A third source said a new reduction would be agreed on Thursday without providing a figure.

"It depends on other group participants, could be near or more," the third source said when asked about the possible one million bpd cut.

With Saudi Arabia's voluntary output cut of one million bpd and a Russian export cut of 300,000 bpd both set to expire at the end of this year, the focus is on plans for 2024.

Benchmark Brent crude futures were up to US$83.95 a barrel at 1221 GMT on Thursday, on track for a third day of gains on expectations of fresh cuts from OPEC Plus.

Earlier, two delegates involved in the discussions said fresh cuts for 2024 could potentially take one million to two million bpd in production off the market in the first quarter of 2024.

RBC Capital Markets analyst Helima Croft said that Saudi Arabia, which began its additional voluntary one million bpd in July, would not want to shoulder additional cuts alone.

"We could envision a scenario where Russia and Saudi Arabia roll over their cut through the first quarter of 2024 and assemble a coalition of the willing individual producers prepared to make voluntary adjustments," she added.

The focus is on lower output with prices down from near US$98 in late September and concerns brewing over weaker economic growth in 2024 and expectations of a supply surplus.

The International Energy Agency (IEA) this month forecast a slowdown in 2024 demand growth as the last phase of the pandemic economic rebound dissipates and as advancing energy efficiency gains, expanding electric vehicle fleets and structural factors reassert themselves.

OPEC Plus sources this week said discussions had been proving difficult, as evidenced by the group postponing their meeting which was scheduled for November 26.

Plans now call for an OPEC only ministers’ virtual meeting on Thursday at 1100 GMT and a wider OPEC Plus meeting at 1400 GMT.

Sources said the delay was sparked by disagreement over output quotas for African producers; a matter they said had largely been resolved.

The OPEC Plus meeting coincides with the opening of the United Nations' COP28 climate summit being hosted by OPEC member the United Arab Emirates.

 

 

 

Iranian oil output 3.1 million barrels per day

The US Energy Information Administration (EIA) in a report disclosed Iranian crude oil output at 3.1 million barrels per day (bpd). This indicates Iranian oil output has risen 500,000 bpd in the current year.

On October 29, the spokesman of the Iranian Oil, Gas and Petrochemical Products Exporters’ Union said that Iran’s oil production has increased to 3.4 million barrels per day, despite the US sanctions aimed at curbing oil exports and the associated revenue to Iran’s government.

“The latest reports show that Iran’s oil production has increased to 3.4 million barrels per day, while it was about 2.9 million barrels per day until recently,” Hamid Hosseini told IRNA.

Given that previously closed oil wells have been reopened and returned to the production cycle, Iran can increase its oil production to 3.8 million bpd, he said.

“If we seek to increase oil exports from 3.8 million barrels per day to 4.2 million bpd in the 7th National Development Plan, we need to invest an average of US$25,000 for each barrel of oil. Since these oil wells, we have the opportunity to increase the oil production to 3.8 million barrels per day,” he explained.

Hosseini also said that about 40,000 bpd have been added to the country’s oil production from the Sepehr and Jafir oilfields, which can help with the economic growth of the country.

 

India to add coal-fired power plants to avoid outages

According to a Reuters report, India aims to add 17 gigawatts of coal-based power generation capacity over the next 16 months, its fastest pace in recent years, to avert outages due to a record rise in power demand.

The expansion drive comes ahead of this week's UN climate summit COP28, where France and the United States are expected to clamp down on financing for coal plants. India is dependent on coal for 73% of its power generation.

The world's fastest growing major economy has added an annual average of 5 gigawatts of coal-based electricity generation capacity over the last five years, but it is also ramping up renewable energy.

Yet it will fall short of satisfying power demand if it does not expand the number of its coal plants, said two government officials, who did not want to be named as they are not authorized to speak to media.

In the next four months, India plans to add nearly 3 gigawatts of coal-fired generation, while the following fiscal year, starting from April 01, 2025, will see it add 14 gigawatts, or its highest level in eight years, according to internal government documents seen by Reuters.

To ensure completion of projects, New Delhi has begun a review of 38 coal generation plants whose construction has been held up for years, moving to resolve issues over equipment and land acquisition delays, the two officials said.

The government expects 28 of these projects to become operational in the next 18 months, it told power producers in a presentation at a meeting on November 21.

Such projects include state-run power company NTPC's 660-megawatt unit in the eastern state of Bihar which has been delayed for 13 years, and two in the neighbouring state of Jharkhand held up for five years.

At the meeting, Power Minister R. K. Singh told public and private power generators that India would have to add coal-based thermal capacity, to meet requirements growing at an unprecedented rate.

He also urged private companies to set up fresh coal-based power generation capacity to meet night-time demand and assured them of financial assistance.

Industry officials said such a call was being made for the first time in a decade since most private investments in the coal-fired power sector had stopped around the year 2012, partly because of India's green energy push.

While the coal expansion drive aims to meet an expected rise of 10% in demand during peak hours in fiscal year 2024-25, India remains committed to meet a national commitment of half of fuel generation capacity from non-fossil fuels by 2030.

Since adding 22 gigawatts of capacity in the fiscal year 2015/16, India cut back on plans to expanding coal-fired plants as the government opted for alternate energy capacity, officials have said.

Now India wants coal-fired plants sufficient to meet power demand of 384 gigawatts by the fiscal year 2031/32, revised up 5% from an earlier projection of 366 gigawatts, the government documents showed.

The government consequently revised up its estimate of coal-based power requirement by 9%, to 283 gigawatts.

"We have now modeled a stressed scenario factoring in a below-normal monsoon and a corresponding demand spike, such as we experienced in Aug-Oct this year," one of the government officials said.

That stress accounts for delays in the commissioning of 86 gigawatts of non-fossil capacity by fiscal 2031/32.

In the lead-up to Thursday's climate summit in Dubai, the European Union, United States and UAE have rallied support for a deal to triple global renewable energy installed by 2030.

More than 100 countries have backed this deal, officials told Reuters, but countries including China and India are not yet fully on board.

 

Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline, seeking exemptions

The Government of Pakistan (GoP) is reportedly using diplomatic channels to engage with the US authorities to seek exemption from sanctions on multi-billion Pakistan –Iran (IP) Gas Pipeline Project.

Minister for Power and Petroleum, Muhammad Ali recently visited Iran to discuss the project and other energy sector related issues. During the meeting both sides agreed to develop consensus to proceed with the project.

The Gas Sales and Purchase Agreement (GSPA) between Pakistan and Iran was signed in June 2009 and became effective after completing the Conditions Precedents in June 2010.

Under the project, Iran will supply gas from onshore gas processing facility at Assaluyeh to traverse a distance of 1,150 Kms up to Iran-Pakistan border (Iran Section).

Pakistan section of the pipeline is to be laid from Iran-Pakistan border up to Nawabshah in Pakistan covering a distance of over 781 Km. Iran is obligated to supply 750 MMCFD under GSPA.

According to sources, Pakistan and Iran are engaged in the revival of the project. The technical team from Pakistan visited Iran in January 2023 to discuss the way forward. The Iranian technical team visited Pakistan in August 2023 wherein possible implementation options were discussed.

The Prime Minister constituted a high level Ministerial Oversight Committee (MOC) for the project to find robust workable solutions and recommend way forward keeping in view its economic viability, financing as well as political and diplomatic consequences. The Committee is holding regular meetings and considering steps that can be taken for implementation.

Based on recommendations of the Committee, Petroleum Division and Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) are actively engaged with US authorities to seek exemption from sanctions. Alternative, project implementation options are also being explored to fulfill Pakistan’s obligations under GSPA.

Pakistan is actively pursuing legal and diplomatic avenues to implement the project. International legal counsels are also engaged to help seek waiver from US sanctions and formulate workable implementation options.

 

Hamas invites Elon Musk to visit Gaza

A Hamas senior official invited US billionaire Elon Musk on Tuesday to visit the Palestinian Gaza strip to see the extent of destruction caused by the Israeli bombardment.

"We invite him to visit Gaza to see the extent of the massacres and destruction committed against the people of Gaza, in compliance with the standards of objectivity and credibility," Hamas' senior official Osama Hamdan said in a press conference in Beirut.

On Monday, Elon Musk, the social media mogul assailed for his endorsement of an anti-Jewish post, toured the site of the Hamas assault on Israel and declared his commitment to do whatever was necessary to stop the spread of hatred.

Musk owns the X social media platform.

Hamdan's comments come one day after a temporary truce between Israel and Hamas was extended for an additional 48 hours.

"Within 50 days, Israel dropped more than 40,000 tonnes of explosives on the homes of defenseless Gazans," he said, "I call on US President Biden to review the US relationship with Israel and to stop supplying them with weapons."

Speaking on the destruction of Gaza incurred by Israel since the conflict began on October 07, Hamdan called on the international community to quickly send specialized civil defense teams to help retrieve bodies still trapped under the rubble. According to the Palestinian foreign ministry, thousands are still trapped.

The truce agreed last week was the first halt in fighting in the seven weeks since Hamas attacked Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking about 240 hostages back into Gaza, according to Israeli tallies.

In response to that attack, Israel has bombarded the enclave and mounted a ground offensive in the north. At least 16,000 Palestinians have been killed, Palestinian health officials say, and hundreds of thousands displaced.

Iran finalizes deal to buy Russian fighter jets

Iran has finalized arrangements for the delivery of Russian made Sukhoi su-35 fighter jets and helicopters, Iran's deputy defence minister told Iran's Tasnim news agency on Tuesday, as Tehran and Moscow forge closer military relations.

Iran's air force has only a few dozen strike aircraft, including Russian jets as well as ageing US models acquired before the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

"Plans have been finalized for Sukhoi Su-35 fighter jets, Mil Mi-28 attack helicopters, and Yak-130 jet trainers to join the combat units of Iran's Army," Iran's deputy Defence Minister Mehdi Farahi said.

The Tasnim report did not include any Russian confirmation of the deal.

In 2018, Iran said it had started production of the locally-designed Kowsar fighter for use in its air force. Military experts believe the jet is a carbon copy of the F-5, first produced in the United States in the 1960s.

 

 

Can Nikki Haley be the next US president?

According to The Hill, the political wing of the conservative network led by billionaire Charles Koch has endorsed former South Carolina Governor, Nikki Haley for president, throwing its weight behind a top Republican challenger to former President Trump.

Americans for Prosperity Action (AFP) released a memo Tuesday backing Haley, who served as ambassador to the UN during the Trump administration, arguing she is the strongest candidate to defeat Trump in the GOP primaries as well as President Biden in next year’s general election.

This marks the first time the deep-pocketed group has thrown its support behind a Republican candidate in a presidential primary and opens up vast resources for Haley’s challenge to Trump.

“AFP Action is proud to throw our full support behind Nikki Haley, who offers America the opportunity to turn the page on the current political era, to win the Republican primary and defeat Joe Biden next November,” reads the memo from AFP senior adviser Emily Seidel.

“She has what it takes to lead a policy agenda to take on our nation’s biggest challenges and help ensure our country’s best days are ahead. With the grassroots and data capability we bring to bear in this race, no other organization is better equipped to help her do it,” it continued.

The memo stated the group was getting involved in a presidential primary for the first time because it wants a candidate who will turn the page on the past. It added that Trump and Biden will only further perpetuate the country’s downward spiral in politics.

This comes nearly a year after the conservative network signaled it would not back Trump in the Republican primary, saying it would support a candidate who represents a new chapter. The endorsement demonstrates the group’s attempt to distance the Republican Party from Trump, who the group said would lose to Biden.

“In sharp contrast to recent elections that were dominated by the negative baggage of Donald Trump and in which good candidates lost races that should have been won, Nikki Haley, at the top of the ticket, would boost candidates up and down the ballot, winning the key independent and moderate voters that Trump has no chance to win,” the memo states.

Haley has battled Florida Governor Ron DeSantis as the top challenger to Trump in the GOP race and has seen her standing in polls tick up amid several strong debate performances. Trump, for his part, has maintained large leads in polls both nationally and in early voting states.

DeSantis’s campaign panned the AFP Action endorsement in a statement released Tuesday, saying the establishment is lining up behind a moderate who has no mathematical pathway of defeating the former president.

AFP Action acknowledged DeSantis in its memo, praising him as a strong advocate for many important freedom-oriented policies and fiscal responsibility in the Sunshine State. The group noted that it endorsed his successful gubernatorial reelection bid last year.

“We also understand that some of the Governor’s supporters, including some who support AFP, will be disappointed in our decision,” the memo reads.

“However, as the 2024 primary season heats up, we are entering a time period that demands choices. Donald Trump won the nomination in 2016 largely because of a divided primary field, and we must not allow that to happen again, particularly when the stakes are even higher in 2024.”

Haley welcomed the group’s endorsement in a statement, reiterating that the 2024 election “is a choice between freedom and socialism, individual liberty and big government, fiscal responsibility and spiraling debt.”

Americans for Prosperity

 

AMERICANS FOR PROSPERITY CHARLES KOCH JOE BIDEN NIKKI HALEY NIKKI HALEY RON DESANTIS RON DESANTIS

 

 

Iran: Deylaman Destroyer a great addition to Caspian Sea fleet

Pointing to Iran’s warm relations with all Caspian Sea littoral states, General Mohammad Bagheri, the chief of joint staff of Iran’s Armed Forces has said that the Deylaman destroyer sends a message of peace and friendship to all neighbors of the Islamic Republic. 

On the sidelines of the inauguration ceremony of the Deylaman destroyer, the senior Iranian commander called the unveiling great for all the armed forces staff and Iranian people since the destroyer has joined Iran’s Caspian Sea fleet.

The destroyer is part of an Iranian class of similar ships called the Mowj class which weigh around 1,500 tons and are based on the Jamaran destroyer which was launched in 2010.

The new destroyer joins ships such as the Dena, Sahand, and Damavand, along with the Jamaran. 

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony of the Deylaman destroyer in Bandar Anzali, Bagheri described the vessel as a great addition to Iran's Caspian Sea fleet. 

Chief Commander of the Army Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi, Navy Commander Rear Admiral Shahram Irani, and a number of top military officials were also present at the ceremony. 

He said the Iranian Navy plays a leading role in increasing the country's sustainable deterrent power in the face of the enemies. 

The top commander praised Iranian young scientists for their role in manufacturing the homegrown destroyer, which was built under imposed sanctions using world-class technology and the participation of Iranian industries, knowledge-based companies, and academic centers. 

He further hailed the young scientists, who turned the we can mindset into action.

General Bagheri also stressed that Iran enjoys warm relations with all Caspian Sea littoral states and that the destroyer sends a message of peace and friendship to all neighbors of the Islamic Republic. 

He also added to the importance of security of sea transportation and readiness for any unexpected incident.

“It is necessary for the armed forces to be fully prepared,” said General Bagheri, highlighting the necessity of manufacturing the Deylaman destroyer, which was deployed in the Caspian Sea to carry out its missions well.

Speaking on the occasion of November 28, the National Day of Navy in the Iranian calendar, Iran's Navy Chief, Rear Admiral Shahram Irani, said on Friday that Deylaman is a powerful vessel that can act very well in the fields of detection, interception, and rescue. 

He also announced that two military drills will take place in the Indian Ocean; one includes a rescue exercise with Oman, to which other countries are invited, and the other would involve a sustainable security exercise with more countries in the northern parts of the Indian Ocean.

‘Progressive and deterrent powers’

Rear Admiral Alireza Tangsiri, the commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps Navy, likened the Iranian Navy and the IRGC to intertwined fists that have turned into an advancing and deterrent power in various aspects.

On the commemoration of Iran’s Navy Day, Rear Admiral Tangsiri wrote a message to Iran’s Navy Chief, Rear Admiral Shahram Irani, saying November 28 is reminiscent of the braveries of Iranian Navy soldiers, who protect and guard the borders of Islamic Iran. 

“They have become a source of honor for the Islamic Revolution,” the IRGC Navy chief said.

He said, "Undoubtedly, Iran’s maritime policy will pave the way for providing tranquility and security for the Iranian people.”

The commander also said that we would not stop a second in treading the path of progress.  

He also paid tribute to the martyrs of Operation Morvarid, offering congratulations on Iran's Navy Day to the Navy chief, staff and their families.

Israel-Hamas war fueling fears in United States

Incendiary rhetoric about the war between Israel and Hamas is contributing to a stark rise in Islamophobia and antisemitism in the United States — and raising the risk that violent words could turn into actions. 

Three 20-year-old Palestinian men were shot and injured near the University of Vermont on Saturday after being confronted by a white man with a handgun while walking along a street — incident federal authorities are investigating as a possible hate crime. 

Attorney General Merrick Garland said Monday a sharp increase in threats against Jewish, Muslim and Arab communities across the US has been recorded since the beginning of the war, which has highlighted sharp divisions in American society over the Middle East, particularly on college campuses.

“There is understandable fear in communities across the country,” Garland said. 

Susan Benesch, director of the Dangerous Speech Project and a faculty associate at Harvard’s Berkman Klein Center for Internet and Society, said that since October 07 there has been a tremendous amount of awful content circulating online about Israel and Palestine, much of which is false or demonizing.

“Much of it conflates Hamas with all Palestinians, and even Muslims, and on the other side, it conflates the Israeli leadership with all Israelis, and even all Jews,” Benesch said, “That makes it easy for people who are consuming that rhetoric … to want to take revenge against the people who are perceived by them to be members of the largest of those groups — that is to say, Muslims on one side and Jews on the other.” 

In the first four weeks following Hamas’s surprise attack on Israel’s southern border, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) — the nation’s largest Muslim advocacy organization — documented a 216% increase over the previous year in reports of anti-Muslim or anti-Arab bias.   

The Anti-Defamation League (ADL), which fights hate and antisemitism, similarly documented a 388% increase in antisemitic incidents in the US over the first two weeks of the war, compared with the same period last year. 

Conflict between Israelis and Palestinians has erupted over decades many times before, but the unprecedented attack launched by Hamas on October 07 — and the subsequent bombardment of Gaza in the weeks since — has created some of the deepest political rifts the US has seen on the matter in modern history.

Those fractures have been put under a microscope in the past 52 days, during which supporters of both sides have taken to American streets in droves to protest.  

“This conflict has polarized people not only in the United States, but all over the world more quickly and severely than any other event,” Benesch said. “Even people who have no personal ties to either side are extremely passionate and agitated about it.” 

In Congress, zealous rhetoric and acts by some lawmakers have only further steeped divisions in an already polarized nation. 

Ryan Zinke introduced a bill earlier this month that could ban Palestinians from entering the US and possibly expel those who are already here. Zinke described the bill as the most anti-Hamas immigration legislation I have seen, conflating all Palestinians with the militant group. 

GOP presidential nominee Ron DeSantis, meanwhile, has suggested the US should not take in any Palestinian refugees from Gaza because they are all antisemitic.

The only Palestinian American serving in Congress Rashida Tlaib was censured earlier this month over her criticism of Israel. She posted a video on X, formerly known as Twitter, that said President Biden supported the genocide of the Palestinian people and included clips of protesters chanting from the river to the sea, a phrase defined by the Anti-Defamation League as antisemitic.  Tlaib defended her stance, saying she will not be silenced and I will not let you distort my words. 

Republican presidential candidate Chris Christie on Sunday placed some blame on former President Trump, suggesting his intolerant language rubbed off on the rest of the country. Trump was harshly criticized during his presidency for promoting antisemitic tropes and Islamophobic beliefs.  

“When you show intolerance towards everyone, which is what he does, you give permission as a leader for others to have their intolerance come out,” Christie told CNN of Trump. “So intolerance towards anyone encourages intolerance towards everyone. And that’s exactly what’s going on here.” 

Garland said Monday that the Justice Department is closely monitoring the impact the conflict may have in inspiring extremists at home and abroad, opening discussions with local law enforcement and community leaders to discuss any threats.  

When people are horrified, they often seek accountability, Benesch said. An Illinois landlord, for example, was charged with a hate crime last month after being accused of stabbing and killing a 6-year-old Muslim boy in suburban Chicago — a striking example of people who are “neither Palestinian nor Israeli becoming violent” in response to the conflict, she said.  

Tensions have been especially high on American college campuses for students on both sides who have said they fear for their safety at school. Threats and attacks on Jewish and Arab Muslim students have seen a marked rise since the war began with heated protests sometimes turning violent.

The Palestinian men shot in Vermont on Saturday are all US university students. The man who pleaded not guilty to the shooting was a 48-year-old white man. Two of the victims were American citizens, while a third was a legal resident. Two of the victims at the time of the shooting were wearing keffiyehs, a type of scarf associated with the Palestinian cause.

Benesch said fiery rhetoric on the rise in the US since the start of the war could cause some Americans to take matters into their own hands, no matter how misguided those efforts may be.

“Someone who wants revenge, who wants to hold someone responsible, sometimes wants to do that personally,” Benesch said. “In this country … it’s easier to find a Jew than an Israeli — and it’s exactly the same thing on the other side.”

 

Iran-India committed to strengthen relations

India and Iran have stated their unwavering commitment to fostering better ties in many areas of cooperation. Hossein Amir Abdollahian, Iranian Foreign Minister, stated that senior officials from both nations are committed to strengthening their relations at a meeting with Indian Foreign Secretary Shri Vinay Kwatra in Tehran.

Kwatra pointed out that the Indian government is adamant about deepening its ties with Iran and that it expects that via working together, the two nations’ economic ties would grow in a number of areas, such as traditional medicine, agriculture, and fishing.

The Indian diplomat expressed New Delhi’s commitment to sending humanitarian help to the Palestinian people while applauding Iran’s leadership position in West Asia.

Expressing satisfaction with the political consultations between the two countries, he said, “The Indian government, at the highest levels, is firmly determined to enhance relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran.”

Earlier, the Indian foreign secretary attended the 18th round of political consultations between Iran and India.

A broad range of political, economic, and consular matters, as well as regional and global trends, were covered during the four-hour meeting. The agenda for the future phase of the two nations’ relations was also discussed at the conference.

In a phone conversation in August, President Ebrahim Raisi of Iran and Indian Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi discussed ways to enhance bilateral relations, mutual cooperation and the realization of the full potential of Chabahar Port.

Raisi stated that Iran and India should increase their cooperation in the areas of transportation and energy security.

The Iranian president emphasized the need for increased dialogue along the North-South Corridor.

“Iran seeks to strengthen regional convergence and develop economic relations with all countries across the globe, particularly those in Asia, in this regard,” Raisi noted.

The president remarked that historical similarities between Iran and India provide solid justification for the development of ties at all levels.

For his part, the Indian prime minister praised long-term collaboration with Iran. India, he asserted, was prepared to complete the necessary paperwork for the project’s completion.

The Indian prime minister was quoted by the ministry as saying that the relationship between Tehran and New Delhi is underpinned by close historical and civilization connections, including strong people-to-people contacts.

 

Russian oil trade with India faces snags

One of Russia's most lucrative oil trade routes since the imposition of Western sanctions over the Ukraine conflict faces a major challenge because of the drawbacks of payment in currencies other than US dollar, with no short-term solution in sight.

For decades, the US dollar has been the currency of international oil trade and efforts to find alternatives have been thwarted by the difficulties of conversion, as well as political obstacles.

The problems flared when India - which has become Russia's biggest buyer of seaborne oil since European customers retreated - insisted in July on paying in rupees and the trading activity nearly fell apart, according to three sources familiar with the matter.

The sources, who requested anonymity, said the Russian oil suppliers - who also could not be named because of the issue's sensitivity - could not do deals in Indian rupees because of informal guidance from the Russian central bank it would not accept the currency.

One Russian banking source close to the Russian central bank said receiving revenue in a non-convertible currency with little value outside India was pointless. Russia has limited opportunities to spend rupees as its imports from India are insignificant, another source said.

Around mid-August, at least two major Russian oil companies threatened to divert around a dozen tankers carrying up to a million ton oil that was heading to India and other destinations.

As a temporary solution to the clash involving Indian deals, the cargoes were paid for in a combination of the Chinese yuan, the Hong-Kong dollar as a transition currency into the yuan and the UAE dirham, which is pegged to the US dollar.

However, the problem remained of finding a viable alternative to the dollar, and that the problems affect buyers in Africa, China and Turkey which have become top buyers of Russian oil.

The biggest issue, however, concerns India, which has been buying more than 60% of Russian seaborne oil. It is the biggest overall buyer of seaborne Russian crude after China.

The problems are likely to worsen as scrutiny on the trade increases. Washington imposed the first sanctions on owners of tankers carrying Russian oil priced above a Western price cap in recent weeks, the first enforcement of the cap since it was introduced late last year.

Since Western sanctions imposed on Russia in February 2022, Moscow has shifted from transactions in US dollars and euros, the world's dominant currencies, and is largely locked out of the international banking system.

According to five traders involved, less than 10% of Russia's output of roughly 9 million barrels of oil per day (bpd) is sold in dollars and euros.

The Russian central bank cannot operate in dollars because of sanctions, and while Russian exporters theoretically can use the currency, avoiding it has the advantage of making it harder for the United States and other Western governments to monitor their trade.

The alternatives lead to high levels of risk for both parties to a deal.

India in the first months of this year owed about US$40 billion to Russia for oil and other supplies.

India encourages rupees to be spent on its territory and has imposed punitive exchange rates on converting rupees into other currencies, amounting on occasions to over 10% of the amount converted.

The situation could ease if Russia imported more goods from India, which could be paid for in rupees.

Instead, India has been importing more from Russia, while Russia has been a major importer of cars, equipment and other goods from China.

India's imports from Russia reached US$30.4 billion in April-September, with its trade deficit with Moscow widening to US$28.4 billion as compared to about US$17 billion in the same period last year, according to the data posted on the Indian commerce ministry website.

Ivan Nosov, head of the Indian branch of Russia's top state bank Sberbank, said Russian exporters will have to help India to increase its exports.

"If you help increase Indian exports, there will immediately be a lot of help from various Indian associations. You create a company in India, do a small localization and you will get more opportunities," he said.

India's top refiner Indian Oil Corp is struggling to settle some payments, mainly for the purchase of Russia's light, sweet Sokol grade from the Sakhalin 1 project.

The IOC has said it has been unable to pay for the Sokol deliveries because the company supplying the grade has yet to open an account in UAE dirhams to receive payment, a source said.

Russian officials and oil executives have pressed Indian buyers to pay in Chinese yuan, which for Russia is a more useful currency.

For India, using the currency of a regional rival is highly sensitive, although Indian private refiners have switched back to the yuan due to the lack of other options since the clash earlier this year.

Indian state refiners have turned to the UAE dirham, but that has been complicated by additional clearing requirements as Washington's tougher line makes other governments wary.

From October, several UAE banks have tightened control over Russia-focused clients to ensure compliance with the price cap, according to five oil trading and bank sources.

At least two UAE banks have introduced price cap compliance declarations for the clients involved in Russian crude, oil products and commodity trading, the sources said.

BRICS an evidence of failure of Modi Doctrine

According to, Alan Paul Varghese, an independent foreign affairs and geopolitical analyst based in New Delhi, it became clear that India continues its alignment with the West and Israel.

At the BRICS Plus extraordinary meeting hosted by South Africa on the conflicts in West Asia, it became clear that India continues its alignment with the West and Israel. While most of the members reiterated how Israel’s settler colonialism is the root cause of the conflict, Indian external affairs minister S. Jaishankar stood firm on blaming Hamas. He also stated that there can be no compromise to terrorism.

The Modi doctrine of diplomacy for the past nine years has stagnated India’s internal reputation and aspirations. Narendra Modi had skipped the online meeting due to the election campaigns in poll-bound states.

Though the officials stated that Modi was preoccupied with the campaign schedules, it is obvious that the outcome of the extraordinary meeting was anticipated.

In a close examination of recent diplomatic events by India, one can categorically see how the Modi doctrine is failing to capture its promised achievements.

While the economy is trailing and seldom benefitted through trade agreements, the only resort of Narendra Modi and Jaishankar was their self-projection as the leader of the Global South.

It is noteworthy that the extraordinary meeting succeeded the Voice of Global South Summit which had references to ongoing genocide in Palestine.

BRICS Plus comprising of mostly countries from the global south has proved that India is isolated for its stand on the Israel-Palestine issue. This isolation has a serious impact on the future geo-political prospects of India.

In evaluating the BRICS extraordinary meeting Iran urged the members to cease economic and military interactions with Israel. Vladimir Putin who attended the meeting criticized the US monopolization of mediation efforts. He urged the international community to unite in an effort to achieve a speedy de-escalation and a ceasefire in Gaza, as well as a political solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and added that the BRICS nations and regional actors could play a leading role in this process.

This can be a possible indication of Argentina’s disassociation from BRICS as Milie, a far-right economist is a proactive supporter of dollarizing the economy. 

Xi Jinping in his address said “The root cause of the Palestinian-Israeli situation is the fact that the right of the Palestinian people to statehood, their right to existence, and their right of return have long been ignored. It has been often reiterated that the only viable way to break the cycle of Palestinian-Israeli conflict lies in the two-state solution, in the restoration of the legitimate national rights of Palestine, and in the establishment of an independent State of Palestine. There can be no sustainable peace and security in the Middle East without a just solution to the question of Palestine. China calls for early convening of an international peace conference that is more authoritative to build international consensus for peace and work toward an early solution to the question of Palestine that is comprehensive, just, and sustainable.”

Saudi Arabia called for the cessation of arms and ammunition supplies to Israel.

Argentina’s newly elected President Javier Milie condemned Hamas and demanded that Israel must adhere to international humanitarian law.

India had three diplomatic events before this extraordinary meeting. The ICC World Cup, Voice of Global South Summit, and ministerial dialogue between India and Australia.

During the World Cup Modi tried for cricket diplomacy by inviting his counterparts of the UK and Australia. Though Rishi Sunak expressed his readiness, due to some reasons he didn’t make his presence.

A sideline discussion with Anthony Albanese prior to the 2+2 ministerial dialogue was expected to boost talks in favour of India. But Albanese prioritized the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit over his QUAD partner.

The core weakness of Modi doctrine – neglecting the neighbours was visible in the failed innings of cricket diplomacy. In the interview given to The Hindu, Australian finance minister Penny Wong in reply to a question on whether India’s urge to take action against the Khalistan group was fulfilled, she said “ ….In relation to that I’d say is we respect your sovereignty. And we also are very clear about the line between peaceful protests, freedom of expression, and violence and vandalism.”

She has already clarified that the cooperation with India is for the balancing of power to counter China. The failed cricket diplomacy, Australia’s stand on the India-Canada standoff, and the statements by Wong proved how India has turned into a vassal of the Western countries under the Modi doctrine.

The current stand of the union government has isolated India in the Global South. Meanwhile, China is on the verge of emerging as the new dominant player in West Asian geopolitics. In the background of the Saudi-Iran peace deal that was brokered by China, Arab countries held direct talks with Beijing.

The officials holding meetings with China were from Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt, Indonesia, Palestinian authorities, and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, among others. Succeeding this South Africa, one of the strongest allies of China in the African continent hosted the virtual meeting of BRICS. Joining the dots, China is set to emerge in the role of mediator. Arab countries met Chinese diplomats to give a strong message to the USA too.

With the BRICS extraordinary meeting, China was able to successfully entrap the United States between the Zionist pressure for continuous aggression and the Middle East pressure for a ceasefire. One will not be mistaken to assume that China is working to diminish the outreach of US in West Asia.

Though, a joint declaration was not issued from the statements of various leaders except Jaishankar all others demanded a ceasefire and held Israel’s settler colonialism as the reason for the conflict. They endorsed the initiatives of Arab countries for establishing peace. South African parliament has voted for the closure of the Israel Embassy in Pretoria.

Undoubtedly India has trailed from its glorious legacy of being the voice of global south. China emphasized on the strategy that India forgot during the Modi era. In the past, India’s diplomacy focused on creating a New Economic World Order based on the liberation of Asian, African, and Latin American countries from neo-colonialism. The Non-Aligned Movement led by India comprised countries that gained independence from colonial regimes.

These were not powerful countries but had the potential of multiple dimensions. It was never the service or submission to power that helped India and NAM to develop their influences. China has built deep economic cooperation with African and Asian post-colonial countries than with the Western countries.

Bharath Karnad assessed Modi’s foreign policy as “bowing to the powerful and bullying the weak.” Such policies only result in the rupture of the country’s power.

In an article written by Rahul Nath Choudhary in East Asia Forum, he noted that the majority of free trade agreements signed by India failed to cater better results. In the period between 2017 and 2022, India’s exports to its FTA partners increased by 31%, while its imports increased by 82%. India’s FTA utilization remains very low at around 25%, while utilization for developed countries typically is 70% to 80%. 

The alternative for this – bilateral agreements and multilateral forums can be achieved if India could revamp another NAM based on multipolarity and de-dollarization. If the escalation continues in West Asia the future of India’s Middle East Corridor will be forever at a crossroad. Even a peace treaty based on the intervention of China and BRIC countries will bring the same fate.

 

Al-Aqsa Storm reaction to 75 years of Israeli occupation

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Ali Bagheri Kani has said that the massive anti-Israeli operation carried out by Hamas was a logical response by the Palestinian people to the ongoing Israeli occupation.

During a news conference at the Iranian embassy in Bangkok on Sunday, Bagheri Kani told reporters that Hamas’s October 07 Operation Al-Aqsa Strom was a legitimate reaction to Israel’s brutality against Palestinians.  

“The crisis in the occupied Palestinian territories did not erupt as the result of the developments that took place on October 07. The operation launched by Hamas was the Palestinians’ natural and legitimate reaction to the 75-years-long occupation of their land by the Zionist regime,” he said.

He also expressed worry about the fate of foreign captives, particularly Thai nationals, imprisoned in Gaza as a result of the Hamas operation. 

According to Bagheri Kani, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian took the subject of Thai detainees seriously during his recent travels to Lebanon and Qatar, where he spoke with key officials of Palestinian resistance groups.

Bagheri Kani met a variety of high-ranking Thai officials during his brief visit in Bangkok, including Wan Muhamad Noor Matha, the president of the National Assembly, Anutin Charnvirakul, the deputy prime minister, and Chatchai Bangchuad, the acting chairman of the National Security Council.

The two parties emphasized the long-standing friendly relations between the two countries and the necessity of fostering bilateral connections, particularly in the areas of business and tourism.

Following seven weeks of bombing, a four-day truce in the Gaza Strip has allowed Hamas to free 26 Israeli prisoners, including women and children, along with 14 Thai nationals and a Filipino on two separate occasions.

78 Palestinian women and children were released from Israeli jails in response.

Iran assumed a key mediation role in the recent conflict in Gaza, successfully facilitating the release of 10 Thai nationals who were captured and brought to the Gaza Strip during the Hamas operation on October 07. 

Following a request from Thailand's government, Iran offered its good offices for the captives' release, resulting in the unconditional freedom of the individuals. 

Over a dozen Thai captives are still held in the besieged Gaza Strip. Iran has reportedly supplied Bangkok with vital information regarding their current conditions.

Since October 07, Iran has embarked on an extensive diplomatic campaign aimed at averting the loss of innocent lives in the region.

The Iranian foreign minister undertook three regional tours, engaging with leaders in Qatar, Lebanon, Iraq, and Turkey to discuss the ongoing situation.

 

Israeli-linked tanker seized in Gulf of Aden

Reportedly, unidentified armed individuals have seized a tanker carrying a cargo of phosphoric acid in the Gulf of Aden on Sunday, the vessel's managing company and a US defense official said.

The incident, involving the chemical tanker Central Park, is the latest in a series of attacks in Middle Eastern waters since a brutal war between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas broke out on October 07.

It followed a seizure of an Israeli-linked cargo ship by Yemen Houthis, allies of Iran, in the southern Red Sea last week. The group, which also fired ballistic missiles and armed drones at Israel, vowed to target more Israeli vessels.

"US and coalition forces are in the vicinity and we are closely monitoring the situation," the US official said.

Central Park, a small chemical tanker (19,998 metric tons), is managed by Zodiac Maritime, a London-headquartered international ship management company owned by Israel's Ofer family. The Liberian-flagged vessel was built in 2015 and is owned by Clumvez Shipping Inc, LSEG data showed.

Zodiac Maritime said in a statement Central Park, which is carrying a full cargo of phosphoric acid, was involved in a suspected piracy incident while crossing international waters, approximately 54 nautical miles off the coast of Somalia.

Phosphoric acid is mostly used for fertilizers.

"Our priority is the safety of our 22 crew onboard. The Turkish captained vessel has a multinational crew consisting of a crew of Russian, Vietnamese, Bulgarian, Indian, Georgian and Filipino nationals," the statement added.

Britain's Maritime Trade Operations agency (UKMTO) said on Sunday it was aware of a possible attack in southwest Aden and called on other vessels to exercise caution.

The US has blamed Iran for unclaimed attacks on several vessels in the region in the past few years. Tehran has denied involvement.

A container ship managed by an Israeli-controlled company was hit by a suspected Iranian drone in the Indian Ocean, causing minor damage to the vessel but no injuries, a US defence official said on Saturday.

Hamas fighters rampaged into Israel on October 07, killing 1,200 people. Since then, Israel has rained bombs on Gaza, killing about 14,000 people, roughly 40% of them children, Palestinian health authorities say.

Bangladesh Election: Awami League and others

According to reports, besides finalizing candidates for its own party and alliance partners, the ruling Awami League (AL) is considering providing some seats to parties willing to join the next election amid boycotts by major opposition parties.

The ruling party is now passing a busy time to select its own contestants while working with seat-sharing mechanisms to create opposition as the last date of filing nominations is approaching for the January 07, 2024 election.

Candidates for the election can submit nomination papers until November 30, 2023. The AL is likely to announce candidates for 300 constituencies on Sunday.

The AL-led alliance partners are now adamant about joining the election as a coalition and are now lobbying for more seats than the 11th parliamentary polls amid uncertainty over the participation of the main opposition BNP.

During the past general election held in 2018, the AL candidates contested for 261 seats and refrained from participating for 26 seats in favour of the Jatiya Party, five seats in favour of the Workers Party of Bangladesh, three each in favour of Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal-Jasod and Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh, and one each in favour of the Bangladesh Tarikat Federation and Jatiya Party.

“We are negotiating with AL for more nominations for our party in the forthcoming election. We are pressing for more seats than in the previous elections,” Workers Party president Rashed Khan Menon told New Age.

He said that there was time until the withdrawal of nomination papers to settle the issue.

AL joint general secretary AFM Bahauddin Nasim said that they would declare the party candidates first and then think about nominating candidates from partners.

Asked about the AL’s negotiation with other lesser-known political parties, he said that it was part of the party’s policy.

“We believe that any registered political party can join an election if they want. Anyone can create alliances with anyone having similar ideologies,” he said.

He said that there might be many political strategies, and nothing could be guaranteed.

In addition to regular partners, some small parties, including the newly formed Trinamool BNP, are also lobbying the Awami League for seats in exchange for promising to join the polls.

Leaders of Trinamool BNP and some Islamic parties, including Islami Oikya Jote, Bangladesh Islami Font, Bangladesh Khelafat Andolan, Bangladesh Muslim League, Islamic Font Bangladesh, Bangladesh Supreme Party, Bangladesh Islami Oikya Jote, and Jamiat-e-Ulama-e-Islam Bangladesh, met Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in recent days to discuss their respective election strategies.

Neither the prime minister’s office nor AL or the parties made any formal statements about the outcome of those meetings.

The allegation has it that the Trinamool BNP and Bangladesh Nationalist Movement, labelled as King’s Party by many, are negotiating with AL to become the opposition in the parliament.

The newly-formed alliance Jukta Front, led by the Kalyan Party, demanded a few seats, although AL insiders said they could end up with one seat for Kalyan chairman Syed Muhammad Ibrahim, a retired major general.

BNM, Bangladesh Supreme Party, Bangladesh Muslim League, and Bangladesh Khelafat Andolan may also get one seat, party insiders said.

Jasod, a partner of the Awami League, finalized 181 candidates, said the party general secretary, Shirin Akhter.

“We want to join the polls with the alliance. The alliance is not only for joining polls but also a place of ideology”, she added.

Shirin said that many parties were now willing to join their alliance, creating difficulties.

At a briefing on Friday, AL general secretary Obaidul Quader said that they were not thinking so seriously about the political alliance in terms of sharing seats.

“The party will not give nominations to anyone who cannot win an election and does not have popularity among the people”, he added.

AL presidium member Abdur Rahman told New Age that the party’s seat-sharing plan has no connection with BNP’s joining or boycotting elections.

‘Our leader, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, will give nominations to eligible candidates from the alliance. The party will give candidates for 300 seats, and then our leader will decide about other alliances,’ he said.

According to AL insiders, there is a possibility that its alliance partners may participate in the polls independently with their own party electoral symbols.

In that case, the AL may not give nominations to any of its aspirants in some constituencies to create a pathway for them to win.

The ruling AL has decided to participate in the 12th Jatiya Sangsad election in alliance in some constituencies and alone in other consultancies, AL office secretary Biplob Barua told reporters on October 18, 2023.

The AL-led alliance was formed in 2005 and came to power for three consecutive terms in 2009, 2014, and 2018.

The Workers Party, Jasod, Ganatantri Party, and Jatiya Party-JP are among the most active parties in the alliance.

Ganatantri Party president Shahadat Hossain hoped that prime minister Sheikh Hasina would make it suitable for all.

“The prime minister will meet with the alliance soon. We can tell it only after the meeting”, he added.

AL’s preparation for the forthcoming election is underway at a time when the leaders and activists of the main opposition BNP and its allies keep facing arrest, raids, prosecution, and conviction.

 

An illustration of corrupt US political system

Recent news out of Michigan, where actor and union organizer Hill Harper is running for US Senate and Rashida Tlaib has recently angered pro-Israel lawmakers and donors for her staunch support for Palestinian rights, offered an illustration of the corruption of the American political system, said one progressive House member late Wednesday.

As Politico reported, Harper recently rejected US$20 million from an anti-Palestinian rights entrepreneur, Linden Nelson, who offered the money in exchange for Harper dropping out of his Senate race and running instead against Tlaib for her House seat.

The offer came on October 16; the day Tlaib joined Cori Bush in introducing a resolution to back an immediate de-escalation and cease-fire in Gaza. The blockaded enclave was then nine days into a relentless bombardment by Israel, which was launched October 07 in retaliation for Hamas' attack on southern Israel but had already killed nearly 3,000 Palestinian civilians, including 1,000 children, at the time.

The death toll has now grown to more than 14,500 people, including 6,000 children.

Tlaib, the only Palestinian American member of Congress, has been the subject of vitriol from lawmakers who believe the US should continue supporting Israel regardless of what human rights groups and the United Nations have warned may amount to war crimes in Gaza. Earlier this month, 22 Democrats joined Republicans in voting to censure Tlaib for using the rallying cry for Palestinian rights, "From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free."

Pro-Israel Democrats are reportedly searching for a candidate to primary Tlaib, and last month, according to Politico, Nelson reached out to Harper offering US$10 million in bundled donations directly to his campaign and US$10 million in independent expenditures—if he would agree to be that House candidate instead of continuing his Senate run.

"The fact that in the US just one wealthy person can make a call and offer millions to unseat an official they dislike tells you everything about the corruption of our politics," said Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

Nelson has been involved with the powerful American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) in the past, and has donated to both Democratic and Republican lawmakers.

AIPAC told The Hill that it "was absolutely not involved in any way in this matter" and said Nelson has not donated to the organization in over a decade, but considering the group's efforts to defeat other pro-Palestinian rights progressives in recent elections, Ocasio-Cortez expressed skepticism.

Harper, who is running for Debbie Stabenow's seat against the more conservative Elissa Slotkin, echoed Ocasio-Cortez, saying Nelson's rejected offer exemplifies a "broken political and campaign finance system that's tilted towards the wealthy and powerful."

"I'm running to be a voice for the people," said Harper. "I'm not going to run against the only Palestinian American in Congress just because some special interests don't like her. I'm running because I want to break the stranglehold wealthy special interests have on our politics, whether it's the Israel lobby, the NRA, or Big Pharma."

Harper himself has called for a "humanitarian cease-fire" in Gaza this month, saying in a statement, "The answers to ensure long-term peace and security for Israelis and Palestinians are neither simple nor pain-free, but one truth stands firm: violence against defenseless children, trapped and frightened, is abhorrent, regardless of who is behind it."

Saurav Ghosh, director for federal reform at the Campaign Legal Center, told Politico that Harper and Nelson would have broken the law if they had moved forward with the deal.

Nelson's offer, said Jewish-led anti-Zionist group IfNotNow, is "a clear example of how groups like AIPAC and its super PAC, Democratic Majority for Israel try to undermine the will of voters and attack representatives who truly represent our values."

Production of medicinal plants in Iran

Reportedly over 400,000 people are working in the production of medicinal plants in Iran. Also, 32,000 people are working in packaging of these plants.

As stated by Ministry of Health, Iran holds some 40% share of the market for medicinal plants in the neighboring countries.

“A large volume of pharmaceuticals, supplements, food products, and beverages are exported to Iraq, Turkey, Georgia, Armenia, and Afghanistan,” IRNA quoted Hamidreza Banafsheh as saying in late October.

Iran is among the leading countries in the field of medicine and health technology, supplying 98% of pharmaceutical items to the domestic market, the official noted.

“Nearly 450 out of 1,400 knowledge-based companies are active in the field of herbal medicines, biotechnology, and food industries.”

He went on to say that the National Institute for Medical Research Development aims at expanding exports of medicinal products.

Since most of the raw materials for the production of herbal medicines are native to the country, these products can internationally compete with those of the other countries, he added.

Besides, some 15 to 20 percent of Iran's herbal medicines are unique in the world. Iran has the capacity to introduce new herbal medicines to the world, he highlighted.

Producing and commercializing pharmaceutical plants are the best ways to introduce the rich resources of herbal medicines which, in addition to making foreign currency revenues for the country, will lead to the scientific authority of Iran in this field, he concluded.

According to the chairman of the Union of Medicinal Plants Exporters of Iran, the country’s export of medicinal plants can be increased through compliance more with the world standards.

Mohammad-Ali Rezaei Kamal-Abad stated that world standards are increasing due to the health-oriented consumption of herbal products, and failure to comply with these standards will lead to the return or destruction of these products.

“In the past years, poisons have entered the country, which are not only not used in other countries, but have also caused water and soil pollution in our country”, he lamented.

Referring to the importance of agricultural product export standardization, he added, “Standardization is done in our country, but this standardization is not up-to-date. With the coordination of ministries, expenditure and updating of information can help to standardize agricultural products and develop the export of these products”, he commented.

He said that having more than 11 climates out of 13 climates, Iran has 8,000 varieties of medicinal plants, which is at least twice as much as Europe.

 

Pakistan Stock Exchange benchmark index posts 3.55%WoW increase

During the week ended on November 24, 2023 the benchmark index of Pakistan Stock Exchange skyrocketed to touch an all time high of 59,086 points on Friday, reflecting a significant increase of 3.55%WoW.

Positive developments encircled the current account deficit narrowing to US$74 million in October, a decline of 91%YoY, keeping in line with shortage of dollars in the market needed to open L/Cs.

During 4MFY24, FDI rose by 7% to US$ 525 million which further contributed to the bullish market. Moreover, the IT export remittances for July-October increased by 4.4%YoY to US$893 million and total borrowing fell by US$0.41 million to US$3.85 billion.

International oil prices (Brent Crude) fell significantly to US$78.93/barrel on Wednesday amidst delayed OPEC Plus meeting, but recovered to US$81.42/barrel on Friday.

Market participation witnessed a decline, with an average daily traded volume of 657 million shares, marking 8.9%WoW decrease from the earlier week's average of 721.3 million shares.

On the currency front, the rupee appreciated by 0.39%WoW against the greenback, closing at PKR285.37/US$ on Friday.

Other notable news for the week included: 1) foreign exchange reserves by Pakistan’s central bank dropped by US$217 million to US$7.2 billion, 2) power generation cost fell by 19% in first four months of the current financial year, 3) Dr. Shamshad Akhtar said Pakistan’s GDP likely to grow by 2% to 2.5% during the ongoing financial year, 4) power ministry recovered PKR55 billion from delinquent consumers, 5) during 4MFY24 developmental projects worth PKR300.9 billion were approved under PSDP and 6) Nepra approved PKR1.52 per unit surcharge on KE consumers.

Woollen, Leasing Companies, and Glass & Ceramics were amongst the top performers, while Synthetic & Rayon, Tobacco, and Refinery were amongst the laggards.

Major net selling was recorded by Banks with a net sell of US$5.03 million. Individuals absorbed the selling with a net buy of US$3.52 million.

Top performing scrips included: PGLC, BNWM, GHGL, ABOT, and PSMC, while top laggards were: UNITY, EFUG, CNERGY, PIOC, and OGDC.

Analysts forecast positive outlook of the market owing to favorable economic developments like easing inflation and expected positive economic recovery in the current fiscal year. While the market is flourishing, analysts strongly advise the market participants to avoid potential pitfalls and instead concentrate on companies with robust fundamentals.

Furthermore, considering companies with healthy dividend yields can be a prudent strategy for navigating inflation safely.

 

 

Bolton terms hostage swap a very bad deal

Former US Ambassador to the UN John Bolton has slammed the Hamas hostage and cease-fire agreement reached as a very bad deal for Israel.

“The deal itself, at least as I understand the terms as they’ve been announced, is a very bad deal for Israel,” Bolton said. “It’s another swap of hostages — innocent victims — for criminals that are in Israeli jails at a ratio of 3:1 in favor of the Hamas terrorists.”

Bolton made the comments Wednesday on the Cats & Cosby radio show with host John Catsimatidis.

The deal was announced late Tuesday after hours of difficult negotiations within the Israeli cabinet. It frees about 50 of the approximately 240 hostages held by Hamas over the course of four days, beginning no sooner than Friday. An undisclosed number of Palestinian prisoners will also be released.

Fighting in the ongoing war between the two sides will cease during the exchanges, a halt which will be extended by one day for every 10 hostages released.

The agreement was the culmination of weeks of negotiations between the United States, Qatar, Israel and Hamas, and is expected to result in a window for increased humanitarian aid for the enclave.

Bolton said Israel folded, accepting the deal due to pressure from the Biden administration, which he claims is no longer backing Israel as strongly as it has previously.

“I don’t see how this, on net, benefits Israel strategically,” he said. “I’m sure the Israeli Defense forces get some benefit from a pause…but fundamentally, time is on Hamas’ side here.”

“I do understand humanitarian concerns, but there are 220 hostages and 9 million other Israeli citizens who are threatened, not just by Hamas but by Hezbollah and fundamentally by Iran,” he continued.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has faced extreme domestic pressure to focus efforts on rescuing the hostages taken by Hamas militants at the beginning of the conflict early last month.

Over 1,200 Israelis died at the start of the war, in the attack which resulted in the hostage-taking. Israel’s air and ground campaign since has killed over 12,000 Palestinians, including over 4,600 children, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.