
UK police arrest 55 at parliament rally supporting banned Palestine Action Group
Palestine Action was proscribed following an incident in which members broke into a Royal Air Force base and caused damage to aircraft, protesting Britain's continued support for Israel amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza.Under the new legislation, affiliation with the group can carry a prison sentence of up to 14 years. Since the ban came into effect, police have arrested numerous supporters at rallies across the country.Palestine Action has condemned the ban as 'authoritarian' and is challenging the decision in court, with a hearing scheduled at London's High Court on Monday. The group has consistently targeted UK-based defence and logistics companies linked to Israel since the start of the conflict in Gaza.- EndsMust Watch

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Business Standard
21 minutes ago
- Business Standard
India, UK dismantle trade walls with landmark deal amid global tensions
India and the United Kingdom (UK) on Thursday signed a modern and comprehensive trade agreement, marking a major milestone in their bilateral relationship at a time of rising geopolitical polarisation and trade wars. Under the agreement, 99 per cent of Indian exports will enter the UK duty-free, while 90 per cent of UK goods will gain market access in India with zero tariffs. The deal, known as the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), was signed by Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and his British counterpart Jonathan Reynolds, 42 months after negotiations began in January 2022. The signing took place in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his British counterpart Keir Starmer at Chequers, the official countryside retreat of the British PM, in the Chiltern Hills of Buckinghamshire. 'This agreement is more than just an economic partnership; it is a blueprint for shared prosperity. On the one hand, it paves the way for enhanced market access in the UK for Indian textiles, footwear, gems and jewellery, seafood, and engineering goods…. On the other hand, UK-made products such as medical devices and aerospace components will become more accessible and affordable for Indian consumers and industries,' Modi said during the joint press statement in the UK. The agreement will come into effect once ratified by both countries. While the Union Cabinet in India has approved the deal, it still requires approval from the UK Parliament. CETA will reduce India's applied trade-weighted average tariff on goods imports from the UK from 15 per cent to 3 per cent, according to the UK government. However, the agreement does not address how to deal with the UK's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism when it comes into force in January 2027, despite India having raised concerns. India has granted tariff concessions on alcohol and automobiles -- key demands from the UK -- though in a staggered manner. Tariffs on whisky will be reduced from 150 per cent to 40 per cent over 10 years. For cars, where tariffs currently stand as high as 110 per cent, rates will fall to 10 per cent but within a quota. India will also eliminate or gradually phase out duties on consumer goods including soaps, perfumes, shaving creams and nail polish. However, the deal does not extend concessions to electric, hybrid and hydrogen-powered vehicles for the first five years. Tariff cuts have also excluded products such as apples, cheese, whey, gold bars, and smartphones, with India seeking to protect sensitive domestic sectors. Britain, in turn, has excluded meat, rice, sugar and eggs from tariff liberalisation. A standalone Double Contributions Convention (DCC) was also signed alongside the CETA. The treaty will prevent double payment of social security contributions -- roughly 20 per cent -- for a period of three years, benefiting an estimated 75,000 Indian professionals working in the UK. As part of the deal, India has committed to granting UK firms access to its vast government procurement market. British companies will be able to bid for around 40,000 tenders annually, with a total value of at least £38 billion. UK-origin goods with just 20 per cent domestic content will be treated as 'Class II' local suppliers under India's Public Procurement Order, a category previously reserved for Indian suppliers with 20–50 per cent local content. Experts said the move signals a shift away from using public procurement as a lever for domestic industrial development. 'The 20 per cent local content rule allows UK firms to use up to 80 per cent inputs from third countries -- such as China or the European Union -- while still receiving preferential treatment, effectively diluting the benefits that programs like 'Make in India' and Atmanirbhar Bharat were designed to protect,' according to a report released by Delhi-based think tank GTRI.


The Hindu
21 minutes ago
- The Hindu
Letters to The Editor — July 25, 2025
UK-India FTA It has been an exceptionally expedition and it has turned out to be fruitful. This new development heralds a new era of innovation, exploration, and opportunities for both nations which have had a complex history. Balagopal Gopinath, Keerikkad, Alappuzha, Kerala Maharashtra Bill I write this letter as the Deputy Director (News), Directorate General Of Information and Public Relation, Government of Maharashtra. The Editorial ('Danger of thought', July 24) is a gross misrepresentation of a necessary and carefully considered legislative measure. The Maharashtra Special Public Security (MSPS) Bill is aimed at providing the legal framework for handling unlawful activities of unlawful organisations that are a part of the united front of banned CPI(Maoist) and other left-wing extremist organisations. The Government of Maharashtra is steadfast in its commitment to upholding both the security of its citizens and the democratic freedom enshrined in the Constitution. The MSPS Bill does not exhibit police thought. The legislation targets organisations whose actions, whether through the written or spoken word, signs, or other activities, 'constitute a danger or menace to public order, peace and tranquillity'. This is a critical distinction. The Bill is not aimed at commentators, critics, or political opponents engaging in legitimate dissent. It is designed to tackle the insidious, overground network of Maoist front organisations that engage in the recruitment, fundraising, and radicalisation of youth and professionals, thereby fuelling violence and threatening to undermine the constitutional order. Varsha Andhale, Mumbai


Time of India
33 minutes ago
- Time of India
Two Coimbatore youths held for assault and robbery
Coimbatore: Two youths were arrested on Wednesday for assaulting and robbing a Telangana-based youth in the city on July 10. The arrested have been identified as A Sakthivel, 21, a painter, and S Shankar, 21, an student in a private college. Police said Praveen Conti, 21, from Telangana, had come to the city on a personal visit. He was staying at a hotel at Race Course. On July 10, when he was waiting outside the hotel, two youths on a motorcycle, assaulted him and robbed him of his mobile phone. Praveen suffered injuries in the assault and was hospitalised. He lodged a complaint with Race Course police who registered a case. Police subsequently arrested the two youths involved in the assault and robbery and remanded them in judicial custody. Meanwhile, police said Sakthivel was previously accused in four other cases, including a murder case which he had committed at the age of 17. Similarly, Shankar is also an accused in four other cases in various police stations.