Air India fatal crash in Gujarat impacts Tairāwhiti's Indian community
'Our hearts go out to everyone affected by this tragic event,' Tairāwhiti Multicultural Council (TMC) president Arish Naresh told the Gisborne Herald
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RNZ News
3 days ago
- RNZ News
Britain and India sign free trade pact during Modi visit
By Alistair Smout and Manoj Kuma , Reuters Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. (File photo) Photo: Kabir Jhangiani / NurPhoto / NurPhoto via AFP Britain and India signed a free trade agreement on Thursday during a visit by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, sealing a deal to cut tariffs on goods from textiles to whisky and cars and allow more market access for businesses. Talks on the trade pact were concluded in May after three years of stop-start negotiations, with both sides hastening efforts to clinch a deal in the shadow of tariff turmoil unleashed by US President Donald Trump. The agreement between the world's fifth and sixth largest economies aims to increase bilateral trade by a further 25.5 billion pounds by 2040. It is Britain's biggest trade deal since it left the European Union in 2020 but its impact will be a fraction of the effect of leaving the orbit of its closest trading partner. It is India's biggest strategic partnership with an advanced economy, and it could provide a template for a long-mooted deal with the EU and for talks with other regions. Both sides hailed as historic a deal which will take effect following a ratification process, likely within a year, after which firms such as whisky distiller Diageo and carmakers including BMW, Nissan, Aston Martin and Tata-owned Jaguar Land Rover could benefit from lower duties. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said there would be huge benefits for both countries, making trade cheaper, quicker and easier. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Photo: STEPHANIE LECOCQ / AFP "We've entered a new global era, and that is one that requires us to step up, not to stand aside... by building deeper partnerships and alliances," Starmer said in a statement next to Modi at his Chequers country residence. Modi called the agreement "a blueprint for our shared prosperity," highlighting how Indian goods from textiles to jewelry and seafood would secure better market access. The countries also agreed a partnership covering areas such as defence and climate, and aim to strengthen co-operation on tackling crime. Modi spent nearly three hours with Starmer before going to meet King Charles at his Sandringham Estate. Under the trade agreement, tariffs on Scotch whisky will drop to 75 percent from 150 percent immediately, and slide to 40 percent over the next decade. Tariffs on drinks such as brandy and rum will be cut to 110 percent initially and end up at 75 percent. On cars, India will cut duties to 10 percent within five years from current levels of up to 11 percent under a quota system that will be gradually liberalised. In return, Indian manufacturers will gain access to the British market for electric and hybrid vehicles, also under a quota system. Under the deal, 99 percent of Indian exports to Britain will benefit from zero duties, including textiles, and Britain will have reductions on 90 percent of its tariff lines, with the average tariff UK firms face dropping to 3 percent from 15 percent. But the projected boost to British economic output, of 4.8 billion pounds a year by 2040, is small compared to Britain's gross domestic product of 2.6 trillion pounds in 2024. The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) has forecast that UK exports and imports will be about 15 percent lower in the long run than if Britain had stayed in the EU. Britain's Labour government, in power for a year, has launched a reset of ties with the EU to smooth trade friction and won some tariff relief from the United States. "In an era of rising protectionism, today's announcement sends a powerful signal," said Rain Newton-Smith, chief executive of the Confederation of British Industry. The Confederation of Indian Industry called it a "strong foundation for deeper market access." The deal will facilitate easier access for temporary business visitors although visas are not covered. The sides also agreed that workers will no longer have to make social security contributions in both India and Britain while on temporary postings to the other. British firms will be able to access India's procurement market for projects in sectors such as clean energy, and the trade deal also covers services sectors such as insurance. India did not manage to secure an exemption from Britain's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism - which could levy higher taxes on polluters from 2027 - as part of the deal. - Reuters
1News
7 days ago
- 1News
Trump tells NFL team to restore Redskins name or he'll pull stadium
US President Donald Trump is threatening to hold up a new stadium deal for Washington's NFL team if it does not restore its old name of the Redskins that was considered offensive to Native Americans. Trump also said on Sunday that he wants Cleveland's baseball team to revert to its former name, the Indians, saying there was a "big clamouring for this" as well. The Washington Commanders and Cleveland Guardians have had their current names since the 2022 seasons, and both have said they have no plans to change them back. Trump said the Washington football team would be "much more valuable" if it restored its old name. "I may put a restriction on them that if they don't change the name back to the original 'Washington Redskins,' and get rid of the ridiculous moniker, 'Washington Commanders,'' I won't make a deal for them to build a Stadium in Washington," Trump said on his social media site. ADVERTISEMENT His latest interest in changing the name reflects his broader effort to roll back changes that followed a national debate on cultural sensitivity and racial justice. The team announced it would drop the Redskins name and the Indian head logo in 2020 during a broader reckoning with systemic racism and police brutality. The Commanders and the District of Columbia government announced a deal earlier this year to build a new home for the football team at the site the old RFK Stadium, the place the franchise called home for more than three decades. Trump's ability to hold up the deal remains to be seen. President Joe Biden signed a bill in January that transferred the land from the federal government to the District of Columbia. The provision was part of a short-term spending bill passed by Congress in December. While DC residents elect a mayor, a city council and commissioners to run day-to-day operations, Congress maintains control of the city's budget. Josh Harris, whose group bought the Commanders from former owner Dan Snyder in 2023, said earlier this year the name was here to stay. Not long after taking over, Harris quieted speculation about going back to Redskins, saying that would not happen. The team did not immediately respond to a request for comment following Trump's statement. The Washington team started in Boston as the Redskins in 1933 before moving to the nation's capital four years later. The Cleveland Guardians' president of baseball operations, Chris Antonetti, indicated before Sunday's game against the Athletics that there weren't any plans to revisit the name change. ADVERTISEMENT "We understand there are different perspectives on the decision we made a few years ago, but obviously it's a decision we made. We've got the opportunity to build a brand as the Guardians over the last four years and are excited about the future that's in front of us," he said. Cleveland announced in December 2020 it would drop Indians. It announced the switch to Guardians in July 2021. In 2018, the team phased out "Chief Wahoo' as its primary logo. The name changes had their share of supporters and critics as part of the national discussions about logos and names considered racist. Trump posted Sunday afternoon that "The Owner of the Cleveland Baseball Team, Matt Dolan, who is very political, has lost three Elections in a row because of that ridiculous name change. What he doesn't understand is that if he changed the name back to the Cleveland Indians, he might actually win an Election. Indians are being treated very unfairly. MAKE INDIANS GREAT AGAIN (MIGA)!" Matt Dolan, the son of the late Larry Dolan, no longer has a role with the Guardians. He ran the team's charity endeavours until 2016. Matt Dolan was a candidate in the Ohio US Senate elections in 2022 and 2024 but lost. Washington and Cleveland had another thing in common — David Blitzer was a member of Harris' ownership group with the Commanders and held a minority stake in the Guardians.
Otago Daily Times
17-07-2025
- Otago Daily Times
Potentate visits city
His Highness, the Maharaj Sir Bhawani Singh, Bahadur of Jhalawar, the first of India's princes to visit New Zealand, arrived in Dunedin from Christchurch by the express last Highness is accompanied by Lieutenant-colonel R.A E. Benn, the Administrator of Jhalawar, Dr Bhoratia, Mr Khan (ADC), and two Indian valets. Mrs Benn is also included in the party. The Maharaj is the guest of the New Zealand Government, and Mr A. Wilson, tourist agent, Auckland, is in charge of the tour. The Mayor (Mr H.L. Tapley) and Mr D.B. Theomin welcomed his Highness on his arrival at the railway station. His Highness expects to leave on Monday for Queenstown, and will return to Dunedin on Wednesday, and will leave on Thursday. During his brief stay in Dunedin it is anticipated that he will be able to visit to several of the leading industrial factories, and also to make a motor trip on the Taieri. When approached last night, Lt-col Benn informed a representative of the Otago Daily Times that his Highness would not talk on political subjects. He was making his present tour expressly for health reasons, and while in New Zealand intended to visit the various beauty spots in the dominion. He said that Sir Bhawani was a great traveller, and had visited most of the countries in Europe. He took a keen interest in scientific matters, and it was during a period when he was carrying out research work at Oxford that his health had given way and he had been forced to travel to recuperate. Sir Bhawani is a noted educationalist, having founded district schools in his State, and is a great lover of books. His is said to be one of the finest libraries in India, the collection comprising between thirty and forty thousand books. He is keenly interested also in various branches of science. He was a member of a large number of scientific bodies in London and Paris. After he left New Zealand he would return to England via Panama, and would proceed thence through Italy to India. Work-life balance A neighbour of mine says that he put on a casual labourer to do some digging —15 shillings a day of eight hours. The man arrived twenty minutes late, but had "started on time" — came from South Dunedin. At ten he held a stop-work meeting across the street fence with a friend who chanced to be loafing around; at eleven he appeared at the kitchen door for morning tea and smoke-ho; from twelve to one was his lunch hour; at three, smoke-ho again and afternoon tea. — by 'Civis' Oil company mobilises An extensive scheme of distribution in Australia and New Zealand has been adopted by the Vacuum Oil Co, and will involve an outlay of £2,000,000. The idea behind the scheme is to distribute motor spirit, oils and kerosene even to outback parts expeditiously and at a minimum of cost. This is calculated to facilitate materially the development of rural areas and to increase the means of transport. Bulk-handling depots will be set up at Wellington, Christchurch, Auckland and Dunedin. In all towns of over 5000 people, what are termed tank stations will be erected at a cost of £20,000 each. The oils and motor spirit will be transported from the central depots to the inland tank stations by means of tank trucks on railways. In this way supplies will be constantly passing to the tank stations, the capacity of which will vary according to the requirements of the districts. A fleet of tank cars and wagons will also be maintained by the company to expedite despatch to country districts. The manager of the company (Mr Cornforth) states that the fleet of oil steamers will carry cargoes to the principal ports where the company has established depots. Although the complete scheme will not be working until October, certain portions of it may be utilised as they become available. The elimination of tins and cases in the distribution of petrol and oils is an important factor of the scheme. — ODT , 18.7.1925
