Britain committed to Israel’s security, PM Starmer tells Netanyahu
Britain committed to Israel’s security, PM Starmer tells Netanyahu/node/2573551/world
Britain committed to Israel’s security, PM Starmer tells Netanyahu
Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer makes a statement on the evolving situation in the Middle East, inside 10 Downing Street in London, Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024. (AP)
Britain committed to Israel’s security, PM Starmer tells Netanyahu
Starmer condemned Iran’s attack on Israel, which began during the leaders’ conversation, in the “strongest terms,” the spokesperson added
Updated 01 October 2024
Reuters
LONDON: British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has expressed to Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday his country’s “steadfast commitment” to Israeli security and protection of civilians after Iran’s missile attack.
A spokesperson for Starmer’s office said the prime minister spoke with Netanyahu on Tuesday afternoon, and the leaders discussed the escalating situation across the Middle East.
Starmer condemned Iran’s attack on Israel, which began during the leaders’ conversation, in the “strongest terms,” the spokesperson added.
Iran fired a salvo of ballistic missiles at Israel on Tuesday in retaliation for Israel’s campaign against Tehran’s Hezbollah allies in Lebanon, and Israel vowed a “painful response” against its enemy.
Alarms sounded across Israel and explosions could be heard in Jerusalem and the Jordan River valley after Israelis piled into bomb shelters. Reuters journalists saw missiles intercepted in the airspace of neighboring Jordan.
Starmer also spoke with Jordan’s King Abdullah, and they underscored the urgent need for a ceasefire in both Lebanon and Gaza.
“The prime minister said he will work alongside partners and do everything possible to push for de-escalation and push for a diplomatic solution,” the spokesperson said.
How the US election works, from how ballots are counted to when we will know the result
With its electoral college system, staggered results, and early voting options, understanding how the election functions can be daunting
To cut through the jargon and complexities of the democratic process, here is a breakdown of all you need to know to survive election day
Updated 26 sec ago
GABRIELE MALVISI
LONDON: Early voting has already begun in the US to decide who will form the next administration in what many believe is among the most consequential — and hotly contested — elections in a generation.
Almost every poll published over the past week has placed the two main contenders, Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Kamala Harris, neck and neck in the race for the White House.
Analysts predict the result could come down to just a handful of votes. The outcome could have huge implications not only for domestic policy, but also for the international order.
With extensive media coverage, election jargon, and an overwhelming volume of information, understanding the process can feel daunting. Here is a breakdown of all you need to know to survive election day.
The polls
Polls are often excellent indicators of general voter sentiment. However, recent US elections have shown they are far from foolproof.
In 2016, almost every major polling firm predicted Hillary Clinton would defeat Donald Trump. However, pollsters failed to capture Trump’s unexpected support, leading to a surprise victory that confounded many.
In 2020, polls correctly tipped Joe Biden as the likely winner, but underestimated the actual vote share Trump would receive. In the week before the election, polls gave Biden a seven-point lead, yet Trump managed to close the gap by several points on Election Day.
With most polls indicating a close race on Tuesday, many are wondering whether the pollsters have got it right this time around.
Electoral college
About 244 million Americans are eligible to vote in this year’s election. If the turnout matches 2020’s record 67 percent, about 162 million ballots will be cast across 50 states.
A recent Arab News-YouGov poll indicated that Arab Americans are likely to vote in record numbers, with more than 80 percent of eligible voters saying they intend to participate — potentially swinging the outcome in several key states.
When voters cast their ballots, they do not vote directly for their preferred presidential candidate. Rather, they vote for a slate of “electors” who formally choose the president — a process known as the electoral college system.
Due to the quirks of this system, the candidate with the most votes nationally may not necessarily win the presidency. This was the case with Hillary Clinton in 2016 and Al Gore in 2000, both of whom won the popular vote but lost the election.
The electoral college creates what could be defined as 51 mini elections — one in each state and another for Washington, D.C. In 48 states and D.C., the candidate with the majority vote takes all the electors from that state.
However, Maine and Nebraska have a different system, allocating electors by district, meaning their electoral votes may be split between candidates.
In total, 538 electors are distributed among the states. A candidate must secure at least 270 of these to win the presidency.
In the unlikely case that no candidate has the required 270 electoral college votes, then a contingent election takes place. This means the House of Representatives, the lower chamber of the US Congress, votes for the president.
How votes are counted
When the polls close on election day, the count begins. In most cases, in-person votes are counted first, followed by early and mail-in ballots.
Results from smaller or less contested states often come in early, while larger, key battleground states like Pennsylvania or Georgia may take hours — or days — to finalize due to stringent verification steps, including signature checks and ballot preparation for electronic scanning.
States like Florida, where mail-in ballots are processed in advance, may report results relatively quickly. Other states, particularly those with late processing times for absentee ballots, might not finalize their tallies until days later.
State and local poll officials collect, verify, and certify the popular vote in each jurisdiction, following procedures for accuracy before final certification by governors and designated officials.
In response to unprecedented threats in 2020, many polling stations have now installed panic buttons, bulletproof glass and armed security to ensure safety across the more than 90,000 polling sites nationwide.
Mail-in and early votes
Although election day is held on the first Tuesday after Nov. 1, many Americans vote early. Early voting allows citizens to cast ballots in person, while others opt for mail-in ballots.
This year, early and mail-in voting are once again expected to play a crucial role, with millions of ballots already cast. President Biden voted early on Monday in his home state of Delaware.
US President Joe Biden casts his early-voting ballot in the 2024 general election in New Castle, Delaware, on October 28, 2024. (AFP)
States vary in how they handle mail-in ballots, with some processing them before election day and others waiting until polls close. In closely contested states, the volume of mail-in ballots could be a decisive factor, potentially delaying results.
Voting by mail has grown in popularity. According to ABC News, as of Tuesday, more than 25.6 million Americans have already returned mail ballots, and more than 65 million — including military personnel serving overseas — have requested absentee ballots.
In 2020, a comparable number voted by mail, though the COVID-19 pandemic significantly increased reliance on this option.
Despite its growing popularity, the mail-in voting system has faced accusations of fraud. During the last election, authorities and the postal service were strained by millions of extra ballots.
At the time, Trump said that mail-in voting was a “disaster” and “a whole big scam,” claiming that the Democrats had exploited the system to “steal” the election. The Democrats claim those allegations contributed to the Capitol Hill attack of Jan. 6, 2021.
This election cycle, some states, including Michigan and Nevada, have passed laws permitting early counting of mail-in ballots, which should lead to faster results. However, most states’ absentee voting policies have seen minimal changes, leaving tensions high.
Authorities are closely monitoring the process. In a sign of just how tense the situation has become, officials announced on Tuesday that they were searching for suspects after hundreds of votes deposited in two ballot drop boxes in the Pacific Northwest were destroyed by fire.
When will a winner be declared?
Indiana and Kentucky will be the first states to close their polls at 6 pm ET, followed by seven more states an hour later, including the battleground state of Georgia, which in 2020 voted for Biden. North Carolina, another critical swing state which picked Trump last time around, closes at 7:30 pm ET.
By around 8 p.m. ET, many states will have reported results, most of which are expected to follow traditional patterns. However, early results in solid Republican states like South Carolina could hint at trends in neighboring battlegrounds like Georgia.
By 9 p.m. ET, polls in key swing states such as Arizona, Wisconsin and Michigan close, with results trickling in soon after. By midnight ET, most of the nation will have reported, with Hawaii and Alaska closing shortly after, likely providing a clearer picture.
Pennsylvania, which is seen as a bellwether of the overall election outcome, aims to announce its results by early morning on Nov. 6.
The timing of a winner declaration ultimately depends on how close the race is in these key states. If one candidate establishes a clear lead in pivotal swing states early, a winner could be projected by major networks, as Fox News controversially did in 2020, calling Arizona for Biden hours ahead of other broadcasters.
If the race remains tight in crucial states like Pennsylvania, Arizona, or Michigan — all won by Biden last time around — the results may be delayed, possibly into the next day or later.
In 2020, it took four days to project Biden’s win due to a high volume of mail-in ballots. Experts caution that similarly close results this year could lead to a comparable delay.
Possible controversy
As in previous years, the outcome of the election will likely be contested. Delays in ballot counting, especially from mail-in votes, could fuel disputes in states where margins are tight.
Both parties have prepared legal teams to challenge issues surrounding ballot validity, recounts, or other contested results.
Concerns over voter intimidation, misinformation and unsubstantiated allegations of fraud may further stoke tensions, despite the rigorous safeguards put in place.
In its latest assessment, the International Crisis Group noted that while conditions differ from 2020, political divisions remain sharp and risks of unrest remain high, especially if results are contested or take days to finalize.
As the world watches Tuesday’s election closely, there is widespread hope for a fair and peaceful process, marking a fitting conclusion to this tense political season.
French court overturns ban of Israeli companies at defense trade fair
Decision came amid rising tensions between Israel and France, after Emmanuel Macron criticized the civilian casualties in Gaza and Lebanon
French leader had insisted that stopping the export of weapons used by Israel in both operations was the only way to halt the two conflicts
Updated 3 min 24 sec ago
AFP
PARIS: A Paris commercial court on Wednesday threw out a French government decision to ban Israeli companies from setting up stands or exhibiting hardware at the Euronaval defense trade fair, according to a decision seen by AFP.
The court ordered the organizers “to suspend the execution of the measures adopted against the Israeli exhibiting companies whose stands were prohibited at the Euronaval 2024 exhibition until the closing date of the exhibition,” the judgment said.
In mid October, the French government told Euronaval organizers that Israeli delegations taking part in the trade fair this year, from November 4-7, would not be permitted to set up a stand of exhibit hardware, sparking outrage from Israel.
The decision came amid rising tensions between Israel and France, after President Emmanuel Macron criticized the civilian casualties in the Israeli campaigns against Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
The French leader had insisted that stopping the export of weapons used by Israel in both operations was the only way to halt the two conflicts.
A lawyer who represented the Israeli companies after they appealed the ban, Patrick Klugman, hailed Wednesday’s decision as “a victory for the rule of law.”
“Whatever the stated intention, from the highest level of the State to the organizing company, the action which we had to take note of here was manifestly ill-founded and illegal,” he said.
Euronaval is a biennial event that attracts naval defense exhibitors from around the world.
At the end of May, the presence of Israeli defense manufacturers at the Eurosatory land defense and security exhibition was banned by the government, before finally being authorized by the French courts.
Biden, Cyprus president discuss administration push to win ceasefires in Gaza and Lebanon
Christodoulides said he was “quite optimistic” that a Lebanon ceasefire deal could emerge in one to two weeks
Updated 45 min 51 sec ago
AP
WASHINGTON: President Joe Biden and Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides on Wednesday discussed a new effort by the US administration and mediators in the Middle East to forge ceasefires to end fighting in Lebanon and Gaza.
Christodoulides leads the European Union nation closest to Gaza. The small Mediterranean island nation has played a critical role in efforts to get humanitarian aid into Gaza since the war between Hamas and Israel began more than a year ago.
He said that Biden and White House officials briefed him on the latest stepped-up efforts by the US administration and other mediators but declined to offer further details about the discussion.
“The most important, the number one priority of the international community now is to have a ceasefire in the region,” Christodoulides told reporters after his Oval Office talks with Biden.
He added that situation on the ground changes daily but that he was “quite optimistic” that a Lebanon ceasefire deal could emerge in one to two weeks.
Senior White House officials Brett McGurk and Amos Hochstein will visit Israel on Thursday for talks on possible ceasefires in both Lebanon and Gaza, and on the release of hostages held by Hamas, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said. She said CIA Director Bill Burns will head to Egypt on Thursday to discuss those efforts.
A proposal to end the war between Israel and Hezbollah calls for a two-month ceasefire during which Israeli forces would withdraw from Lebanon, and Hezbollah would end its armed presence along the country’s southern border, according to two US officials familiar with the talks said. The officials were not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity.
Biden, meanwhile, thanked Cyprus for helping move badly needed humanitarian aid into Gaza and for the Mediterranean nation’s cooperation in response to Russia’s war in Ukraine.
The meeting, the first Oval visit by a Cypriot president since 1996, comes days after US and Cypriot officials announced the countries are launching a strategic dialogue aimed at bolstering security and stability in a crisis-wracked region through initiatives including counterterrorism training of personnel from Middle Eastern countries and fighting sanctions evasion.
The new coordination is just the latest example of Cyprus tightening relations with the US after decades of walking a tightrope between Washington and Moscow. Cyprus has moved closer to the US since Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
“Today we stood against Russia’s vicious onslaught against Ukraine, we launched a strategic dialogue, we increased cooperation across a range of issues, from energy security to artificial intelligence, and we surged humanitarian aid, delivering 8000 metric tons to Gaza,” Biden said.
The US is also funding a center on the island nation under the acronym CYCLOPS that trains personnel from Cyprus and neighboring countries on maritime and cybersecurity as well as counterterrorism techniques.
The Cyprus government has also stepped up coordination with local law enforcement, the US Department of Justice and the FBI to help combat the evasion of sanctions against Russia and other countries.
The FBI is helping train Cypriot police in identifying and prosecuting cases of illegal financing and attempts to evade US, European Union and UN sanctions imposed on any third country.
Last month, Cyprus and the US signed a defense cooperation framework agreement that outlines ways the two countries can enhance their response to regional humanitarian crises and security concerns.
Christodoulides said Cyprus has proven to be a “predictable and reliable partner of the United States in a region of great geopolitical importance.”
Earlier this year, Cyprus helped the US establish a Gaza maritime corridor for the shipborne delivery of humanitarian aid to the Palestinian territory.
The $230 million temporary pier project was derided as a boondoggle by critics and was beset by turbulent weather, security threats and sweeping personnel restrictions. The Pentagon pulled the plug on the effort after about four months.
The Biden administration had set a goal of the US sea route and pier providing food to feed 1.5 million people for 90 days. It fell short, bringing in enough to feed about 450,000 people for a month before shutting down, according to a USAID inspector general’s report.
Asian contribution to Britain’s war campaigns deserves greater recognition: Campaigners
Politicians, Muslim community leaders highlight heroism of Victoria Cross recipient Khudadad Khan
They are calling for new historical education in schools as part of anti-racism, anti-Islamophobia push
Updated 30 October 2024
Arab News
LONDON: Politicians and Muslim community leaders in the UK are calling for greater recognition in schools of Asian soldiers who fought for Britain during the two world wars, The Guardian reported on Wednesday.
The appeal comes on the 110th anniversary of the first Muslim recipient of the Victoria Cross medal.
Campaigners say greater awareness of the sacrifice of Commonwealth soldiers could help tackle racism and Islamophobia in the UK.
The story of Khudadad Khan is at the center of the appeal. The machine-gunner was injured in 1914 as he tried to prevent German troops from capturing vital territory in France and Belgium, holding off an enemy advance long enough for reinforcements to arrive despite being wounded and outnumbered.
He was the only survivor of the battle, and was presented with the Victoria Cross by King George V in 1915.
After the war Khan returned to Pakistan, which was then part of pre-partition India. The Imperial War Museum in London displays his Victoria Cross.
Khan’s heroism is being highlighted by Leeds Imam Qari Asim, chair of the Mosques and Imams National Advisory Board; Labour MP Calvin Bailey; and House of Lords member Sayeeda Warsi, whose two grandfathers fought in the Second World War.
They say Khan’s story should feature prominently during the 80th anniversary commemorations of VE Day next year as part of a larger campaign to combat racism and Islamophobia in Britain.
Asim highlighted his alarm over the nationwide rioting that took place earlier this year. “It was frightening this summer to see a toxic minority attacking mosques and threatening Muslims in their community,” he said.
“If they knew this country’s history — what Khudadad Khan and thousands of other Muslim soldiers did for Britain in the world wars — perhaps they would think differently.
“We should do more to raise awareness, among Muslims and non-Muslims alike, of this service and sacrifice. We are all part of Britain’s history and that’s something we can commemorate together.”
Research conducted earlier this year by Focaldata for British Future found that 77 percent of the UK public believe that it is important for integration that school students are taught “shared history.”
A further 85 percent agreed that the history of all Commonwealth soldiers who fought for Britain should be taught in school.
Warsi said: “We saw the very worst of Britain this summer, as an angry few turned their anger first on ethnic and faith minorities, and then on the police doing their job to protect people.
“Next month we will remember the men and women whose service and sacrifice helped defend our freedoms.
“Those armies in the world wars included men like Khudadad Khan and soldiers from Africa and the Caribbean; they included both my grandfathers, too. Then, as now, Britain is at its best when we stand together.”
UK’s Labour government hikes taxes in first budget
Reeves said £25 billion would come from hiking employers’ national insurance — a payrolls tax used to help pay for social care
Changes to inheritance tax will raise more than £2 billion while the government is also hiking taxation on capital gains and property purchases
Updated 30 October 2024
AFP
LONDON: Britain’s new Labour government on Wednesday announced major tax hikes and higher borrowing to meet Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s aim of investing for long-term growth.
In the highly-anticipated fiscal update — the first under the center-left government after 14 years of Conservative rule — finance minister Rachel Reeves said tax increases would raise an additional £40 billion ($52 million).
Addressing parliament in a speech lasting more than one hour, Reeves also confirmed changes to fiscal rules that will allow the government to invest billions more in public services.
“This government was given a mandate,” Reeves told MPs.
“To restore stability to our country and to begin a decade of national renewal. The only way to drive economic growth is to invest, invest, invest,” she insisted.
Labour won a landslide general election in July and had already announced a raft of economic measures, including improved workers’ rights and minimum wages, a vast green-energy plan and plans for mass building of homes.
Ahead of the budget, it also drew strong criticism for scrapping a winter-fuel benefit scheme for millions of pensioners, hurting Starmer’s approval rating in polls.
“I am restoring stability to our public finances and rebuilding our public services,” Reeves said Wednesday.
Reeves said £25 billion would come from hiking employers’ national insurance — a payrolls tax used to help pay for social care.
Changes to inheritance tax will raise more than £2 billion while the government is also hiking taxation on capital gains and property purchases as part of its plans to claw back money.
The pound won back ground as Reeves spoke, while London’s stock market was little changed.
“At this stage, massive tax rises have not spooked financial markets,” said Kathleen Brooks, research director at traders XTB.
The government kept its pledge not to raise income taxes, employee national insurance charges, or value added tax.
Outgoing Tory leader Rishi Sunak, Britain’s former prime minister, said the budget contains “broken promise after broken promise.”
Ahead of her tax and spend plans, Reeves made a technical change to the way UK debt is measured to allow her to borrow more, even though the country’s public sector borrowing is now at levels last seen in the 1960s.
To boost investment, the chancellor will use a wider measure of debt that takes into account the future returns on investment.
Reeves on Wednesday said the extra investment in capital infrastructure projects would start to “repair the fabric of our nation.”
The government will invest billions of pounds to rebuild schools, hire teachers and fund childcare.
In a surprise move, she extended the freeze on fuel duty until next year.
The cash-strapped National Health Service will receive a substantial boost, with the day-to-day health budget receiving an increase of nearly £23 billion.
Alongside the budget, Reeves said Britain’s economy was set to grow faster than forecast this year and next.
The nation’s gross domestic product will expand 1.1 percent in 2024 and by 2.0 percent next year — above estimates given in March by the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR), Britain’s fiscal watchdog.
Britain is benefiting from its annual inflation rate dropping to under the Bank of England’s 2.0-percent target, easing a cost-of-living crisis.
The International Monetary Fund this month also estimated that Britain’s economy would grow 1.1 percent in 2024.
Looking beyond next year, the OBR on Wednesday downgraded Britain’s growth forecasts for the 2026-2028 period.
