Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, the leader of the Awami Muslim League (AML), predicted that the political situation in Pakistan would be evident by June 20, as crucial decisions are anticipated during this phase.
In a succession of tweets, the former interior minister stated that PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari and JUI-F chief Fazlur Rehman had asserted that elections would be conducted, whereas PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif had linked elections to a level playing field.
He lamented that the public and the Constitution had been neglected and claimed that the “planners” had turned a blind eye to the realities on the ground. He stated that people look up to the judiciary.
He stated that prison threats could not influence public opinion.
According to him, the World Bank had painted a grim picture of the national economy, while the government was reveling.
Assaulting Mr. Zardari, he demanded to know where his economic expertise was between 2008 and 2013 when his party was in power. According to him, the IMF was hesitant to restart the loan program, and the dollar continued to advance against the Pakistani rupee.
The head of AML stated that a fraction of 100 individuals oppressed millions of citizens. The government’s foreign exchange reserves amounted to $4 billion, but “Zardari is making plans for $100 billion,” he made fun of the former president.
He stated that the entire nation condemned the May 9 incident and stood with the “great army”
Federated Farmers presented its post-election policy rewind wishlist.
It proposed 12 policy reforms, including rethinking the Emissions Trading Scheme’s forestry standards and net-zero objectives, eliminating the ute tax, modifying freshwater restrictions, and reforming the Resource Management Act.
President Wayne Langford said the demand followed significant rural regulatory change.
“The intent of these regulations may have been good, but the reality of the execution and implementation has been nothing short of disastrous for our farmers,” Langford said.
“The consequence is a long list of extremely restrictive and impracticable laws that tie us up in red tape and add unneeded expenditures.
“We just want the government to get the settings right so farmers can invest, grow, and focus on farming.”
National’s first 19 farm-focused policies were released in April
Langford looked forward to discussing new rules with farmers at Fieldays at Mystery Creek next week.
“We’ve had a few sneak peeks, so I’d encourage farmers to keep an eye on the papers next week, and I’ll be up at Fieldays, so anyone there can pull me aside and tell me what you think about what’s coming out.”
“I think you’ll see some of the policy announcements over the next three months before the election reflect the work they’ve been doing as well.”
Federated Farmers’ policy shift was an urgent methane goal review, as National’s agricultural spokesman Todd McClay called government-industry cooperation He Waka Eke Noa “dead” and Wayne Langford called it “sleepy” this week.
“I am anxious about where they believe it will go and just the degree of involvement for such an important issue, right? The farming industry wants things cleaned up as much as everybody else, but we’re being held up by a silent administration that’s not providing us the answers.”
The administration announced Wednesday a strategy to cease crisis-mode spending and return to budgetary health.
In a draft of yearly economic and fiscal policy guidelines given before Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy, the administration promised to normalize expenditure.
It also examines local government expenditures and state pandemic subsidies.
Kishida told the gathering that the government “will promote economic and fiscal reform steadily” under the guidelines that will be announced in mid-June.
The administration kept its fiscal 2025 primary budget surplus aim but did not include it in the proposed guidelines.
The proposal pledged to limit crisis-mode expenditure.
The proposal also stated that child-related policies are “the most effective investment for a bright future” and that the government will work to increase the birthrate.
The document called for the country to lead global supply chains for vital products including next-generation semiconductors.
The government said Japan will lead worldwide debates on dangers and build generative AI tools for fast expanding artificial intelligence technology.
The administration expected 2% consumer inflation and wage growth from the Bank of Japan.
The document suggested the government will restructure the job market through reskilling.
After many issues with the My Number personal identification system, the administration committed to ensure safety and restore public trust. The proposal also proposes working with the private sector to boost My Number card use.
It has been noted that the government’s new Development Cooperation Charter will address issues such as digitalization and food and energy security in developing nations, as well as efforts to strengthen supply chains.
The official development assistance (ODA) mandate will be revised for the first time in eight years.
Amidst the severe fiscal situation in Japan, there has been some public criticism of the large quantity of taxpayer funds allocated to aid for developing countries.
The new charter will emphasize the benefits created by development assistance for Japanese society and the Japanese economy through, among other means, the promotion of Japanese enterprises abroad.
In the charter, developing countries will be referred to as “equal partners” of Japan, and it will be stated that Japan will take the lead in promoting and implementing transparent and fair rules in light of China’s strategy of plunging countries into a debt trap in order to gain access to infrastructure, such as ports.
The charter, which is anticipated to be adopted by the Cabinet shortly, will also include policies to combat climate change and other challenges facing developing countries, as well as the food crisis precipitated by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Historically, official development assistance was provided in response to a proposal from a developing country. Under the new charter, Japan will capitalize on its strengths and offer developing nations proactive aid project ideas.
After the Cabinet authorizes the charter, the Foreign Ministry will publish a document on offer-style ODA with examples of specific aid projects relating to the development of social infrastructure, medical care, and education.
A bhagva (saffron) rally steadily approached Indira Bhavan, the Madhya Pradesh Congress state office, while drums beat louder. Kamal Nath welcomed them.
Kamal Nath’s fans chanted his name as he spoke, his voice hoarse from campaigning in Mandsaur district. “Jai Shri Ram” was his next choice once they died down.
After reciting Hanuman Chalisa, the Hindutva-supporting Bajrang Sena joined the Congress.
Under Kamal Nath, the Congress has unambiguously moved to the right. The soft Hindutva, which went farther than most Congress initiatives, started as a way to deflect BJP claims that the party was anti-Hindu and is now strong enough to make the BJP take note.
Kamal Nath began by portraying himself as a Hanuman bhakt, holding religious events centered around the Lord Ram devotee, setting up a massive Hanuman idol on his political turf Chhindwara, and even courting controversy when he cut a temple-shaped cake with Hanuman’s portrait on it on his birthday last November.
On June 6, the Bajrang Sena merged. The Hindutva group’s goals—protecting cows and Hindu saints, building gaushalas, and paying temple priests monthly—match the Congress’s current promises.
Bajrang Sena is Congress’s new friend in Madhya Pradesh
Deepak Joshi, a former BJP politician whose father Kailash Joshi led a BJP administration in MP, led the organization’s transition into the Congress. Deepak joined the Congress in May after feeling ignored by the state BJP.
His new party saw his “value” in less than a month. Joshi claims he met with the Bajrang Sena multiple times to encourage them to join the Congress, stressing them the party shared their ideological goals.
Ranveer Pateria, Bajrang Sena national president, said they campaigned for Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath last year for his second term and for Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
The Bajrang Sena, founded 10 years ago in Chhatarpur district, Bundelkhand, has chapters in over 12 states and several lakh members. Pateria founded it. For present, only Madhya Pradesh is merged.
Pateria recalls, “They did not like what I was doing. While they were constrained to their leader-approved programs, I organized hundreds of bike rallies. They begged me to obey the organization, so I gave up.”
He says he founded the Bajrang Sena after meeting Mahant Nritya Gopal Das, president of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust (for building the Ram temple in Ayodhya).
Since then, bike rallies, cow protection campaigns, and a Kama Sutra demonstration outside Khajuraho shrine have attracted new recruits.
In 2018, senior politician Raghunandan Sharma, one of the founding BJP leaders in Madhya Pradesh, who led the BJP Yuva Morcha, joined the Bajrang Sena.
Sharma informed The Indian Express that BJP CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan was a Yuva Morcha friend. “We rode motorcycles around the state, helping the BJP grow in districts.”
He quit the BJP due to disagreements with the state leadership, especially over the SC/ST Atrocities Act. Sharma said the party blamed him for their 2018 Assembly election loss.
Madhya Pradesh protested the Chouhan government’s SC/ST Act dilution
The Bajrang Sena believes Sharma’s entrance caused the BJP administration to target it for its cow protection programs, leading to arrests. The Sena then attacked the Chouhan administration over gaushala work, further separating it from the BJP.
During the Covid shutdown, the Bajrang Sena distributed food ration packages in the most impoverished Hindi heartland areas and gained new adherents.
Bajrang Sena Delhi section president Bhupendra Singh adds, “We wanted to give the BJP in Madhya Pradesh a jolt.” No other state has joined the Congress. This experiment will be watched.”
Bajrang Sena leaders would campaign for the Congress in the Assembly elections. We will inform every village that Kamal Nath is a Hanuman bhakt and would build gaushalas across the state and supports Hinduism. Pateria predicts the state will beat the BJP.
Former minister and Congress leader Sajjan Singh Verma praises Joshi and Sharma for bringing the Bajrang Sena to the Congress and discusses how the BJP used Hanuman to attack the Congress in the Karnataka elections and lost. He told The Indian Express, “The real Hanuman bhakt is Kamal Nathji.” and their election assistance is up to them.”
However, Congress is not pleased. A top party leader adds, “We are moving away from our core ideology and playing on their (BJP) pitch. We’ll suffer long-term. Our policies, not foot-soldiers, will win votes. We have enough staff.”
Party spokesperson K K Mishra denies these worries. “The Bajrang Sena is far-right. However, a Hindutva group has defected from the BJP and Sangh Parivar to join a secular party. That’s our pride. He claims ideology won’t hinder us.
The state’s BJP, which is floundering, dismissed the Bajrang Sena’s new alliance as a publicity stunt. Home Minister Narottam Mishra questioned the Bajrang Sena’s reach and acceptance to media. “Had anyone heard about the Bajrang Sena’s name before yesterday?” Mishra said.
According to Trend, Susan Elliott, President and CEO of the National Committee on American Foreign Policy (NCAFP), stated that Azerbaijan has completed a large number of infrastructure projects in Karabakh in the post-war era following the second Karabakh war in 2020.
Elliott made the comment during an international event that was held in the city of Shusha in Azerbaijan and was titled “Reconstruction, peace and integration: energy, economy, environment, and capital.”
Maintaining calm between Azerbaijan and Armenia is crucial.
“Here, life and the economy are swiftly making a comeback, and people are moving back to the areas they once called home.
Azerbaijan and Armenia are currently engaged in a peace process, which is another key topic. The people of Azerbaijan and Armenia need to find a way to live in peace with one another. She emphasized that there will be no break in our support for this procedure.
The Nizami Ganjavi International Center has been responsible for the organization of this event. There are going to be as many as thirty previous heads of state and governments present at the occasion.
The event will take place over the course of two days, with the first day taking place in Shusha and the second day taking place in Ganja.
Evelyn Partners, a renowned wealth management and professional services firm, found that most UK business owners with a turnover of £5m or more are planning a departure.
65% of UK business owners want to sell, with 40% aiming to do so within a year.
Fast-exiting business owner
23% of UK business owners have hastened their exit plans in the previous year.
Politics drove this choice. With a General Election scheduled for 15 months and Labour leading the polls, 25% of UK business owners cited concerns over a potential change in government and tax regime as the main reason for accelerating their exit plans.
Business owners also struggle with finance and long-term investment. 25% of business owners have been persuaded to sell owing to persistent difficulties acquiring long-term finance, while 18% have cited the rising cost of this capital. 19% of exiters cited a significant investor’s departure.
18% of company owners sold owing to post-Brexit trade issues, while 23% sold due to high inflation raising labor, energy, and material costs.
25% of company owners want to access their firm equity to address personal financial issues.
23% of business owners accelerated their leave plans in the last year, while 36% postponed them.
Tom Shave, Evelyn Partners Partner, said, “After a number of challenging years for business owners, it’s understandable that many might be considering their position for the years ahead. Business owners worry about tax changes including capital gains tax increases as the General Election approaches.
“Operations and long-term funding remain challenges for businesses. Thus, many business owners see the current atmosphere as a good opportunity to reap their achievements.
However, some have postponed their leaving plans due to economic uncertainties and concerns that they may not obtain the greatest price for their firm, as indicated by a slowdown in M&A activity.
Owner exit tactics
Business owners favor private equity exits. 20% of exiting business owners want to sell to private equity, 11% want to sell a minority interest, and 9% want to sell a controlling stake.
18% of firm owners choose employee ownership trusts to depart.
Exit strategies business owners are pursuing as their preferred option
Employee Ownership Trust
18%
Family succession
16%
Sale to a trade buyer
14%
Management buy out
14%
Minority sale to private equity
11%
IPO
10%
Majority sale to private equity
9 %
Winding the business down via liquidation
7%
Tom Shave added: “Exit routes will be unique to each business owner, and while there are clear trends for certain strategies in the current environment, it is important they pursue an exit strategy that is best for them and their business.
“More business owners are exiting through employee ownership trusts. Setting up an employee ownership trust is faster than going to market and gives business owners more control over the firm’ price than external exits, where the market determines the value.
However, business owners should assess how their exit strategy corresponds with their future business and personal goals, such as producing revenue, aligning with succession plans, or releasing maximum equity to explore a new project. Business owners selling are the most personal. Therefore, founders should seek comprehensive guidance that incorporates the business and human aspects of their selling plans.”
On Wednesday, Thaksin Shinawatra’s daughter Paetongtarn claimed he hopes to return in July, but it depends on the country’s status.
At Pheu Thai Party headquarters, Ms Paetongtarn claimed Thaksin was planning for his comeback, which may include government agencies.
Ms. Paetongtarn said her family prepared “in terms of convenience and safety” for his homecoming.
“Many forms of reception are being prepared because it is not known what will be required, or happen,” she added.
Ms Paetongtarn said the family awaited Thaksin’s instructions on what further to do to prepare for his return.
His July return was unaltered. “However, it also depends on the political and national situation,” she stated.
His return matters. I’d like him to come back when things are calm. Ms. Paetongtarn stressed suitability.
Thaksin will face punishment upon his return regardless of the administration.
While abroad, a military revolution overthrew Thaksin on September 19, 2006. Besides a 2008 visit to Thailand, he has lived in self-imposed exile.
The Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions condemned him to 12 years in four instances in his absence.
In the first instance, the court found him guilty of abuse of authority in his then-wife Khunying Potjaman’s acquisition of state-owned Ratchadapisek land below market value. He received a two-year sentence in October 2008. The court judgment terminated in October 2018 after 10 years.
In the second instance, Thaksin was sentenced to two years in prison for misconduct in the two- and three-digit lottery.
Thaksin received three years in prison for authorizing 4 billion baht in Export-Import Bank of Thailand loans to Myanmar in the third case. His family’s telecoms enterprise bought equipment with the loans.
In the fourth instance, the former prime minister was sentenced to five years for employing nominees to hold Shin Corp. shares. Political office holders cannot own telecommunications firm shares by law.
The second, third, and fourth court rulings have not expired.
The Pratap Foundation, a major Rajput community organization that includes Shekhawat, accused Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot of targeting a “rising Rajput leader” on Monday, escalating the conflict between Gehlot and Shekhawat.
Gehlot has often accused Shekhawat of complicity in the Sanjivani Credit Co-operative Society fraud. The Union Minister disputed such charges, stating Gehlot’s words were motivated by “political vendetta” because he beat the CM’s son, Vaibhav Gehlot, in Jodhpur in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
At a June 2 ceremony, Gehlot continued his attack: “I called up Bhagwan Singh Rolsahabsar who is his (Shekhawat’s) guru (and head of the Kshatriya Yuvak Sangh). I phoned that nice guy and said, “Bhagwan Singh ji, this chela (disciple) of yours, people are sinking because of him, please help the people get their money.” He may be compelled to do nothing.”
“Speak up about the money which has sunk,” the CM said, asking “why the Enforcement Directorate (ED) was not probing the case”.
Rajput group sends warning to Congress amid Gehlot-Shekhawat fight ahead of elections
On June 5, the Pratap Foundation, affiliated with Rajasthan’s main Rajput group, the Kshatriya Yuvak Sangh, sent Gehlot a three-page letter criticizing his Rolsahabsar statements. The Kshatriya Yuvak Sangh, created by former MP Tan Singh, denies political involvement, unlike the Karni Sena.
Senior Pratap Foundation member Mahaveer Singh Sarvadi wrote to Gehlot: “You are the CM of the state. Your false accusations about Shree Bhagwan Singh Sahab are not respectful. Please consider this. Honourable Bhagwan Singh ji cannot participate in politics for personal gain.”
“Many cases like Sanjivani happen in the state,” the letter says, supporting Shekhawat. However, one politician is defaming another by bringing up the Sanjivani issue. Everyone understands…Sanjivani case inquiry has lasted four years. Character assassination of our emerging leader Gajendra Singh Shekhawat is unacceptable.”
Gehlot said Tuesday, “I had spoken about Bhagwan Singh Rolsahabsar and I got a letter today from his organization about why I took his name. After appreciating him, Shekhawat would listen to him because he was a disciple of Rolsahabsar. Poor will benefit. Bhagwan Singh ji constantly promotes the needy. I erred.”
Sarvadi told The Indian Express, “After the CM’s recent statement, I had spoken to people of our community. They believe CM Gehlot is targeting Gajendra Singh Shekhawat politically. We wrote the letter due of community anger.”
The Kshatriya Yuvak Sangh’s 75th anniversary celebration in 2021, which included leaders and lawmakers from all parties, showed its importance in Rajasthan’s politics.
Shekhawat, Rajendra Rathore, Khachariyawas, and Rathore spoke during the ceremony.
BJP supporters are Rajputs. The Congress capitalized on the community’s discontent with the saffron party after the encounter of gangster Anandpal Singh and the sidelining of senior leaders like Jaswant Singh during former CM Vasundhara Raje’s tenure in the 2018 Lok Sabha elections. The Pratap Foundation’s criticism before December’s Assembly elections may not bode well for the party.
Democratic Party (DP) chairman Lee Jae-Myung stated Wednesday that he will assume “unlimited responsibility” for the controversy surrounding the innovation committee’s head’s selection and resignation earlier this week.
Progressive political activist Lee Rae-kyung was designated DP Chairman Lee’s innovation committee chairman on Monday, but he resigned nine hours later after outrage.
“It is the duty of the party’s chairman to take unlimited responsibility for the results,” DP leader Lee told reporters at the National Assembly in western Seoul regarding the issue surrounding his appointee’s swift resignation.
“The party leader must always be held accountable for what happens in the party,” he said, without specifying how.
Lee Rae-kyung, chair of the progressive non-profit media platform The Tomorrow, was criticized for his claims that the South Korean Navy corvette ROKS Cheonan sank by self-detonation in March 2010 instead of being torpedoed by the North, as the South Korean-led multinational investigation concluded. The Cheonan sinking killed 46 sailors.
Lee pledges “unlimited responsibility” for appointment.
Lee, a member of the DP group close to the party president, announced his resignation Monday, citing a “political witch hunt” over his private statements.
This follows allegations from the DP section opposed to Lee Jae-myung that the chairman is avoiding accountability and not reforming the party.
Even other DP leaders criticized Lee for not verifying the new innovation committee head’s selection.
As the DP faced various issues, including charges that lawmakers and party members received cash envelopes as bribes before a 2021 national conference to install Song Young-gil as party leader, it launched a new innovation committee.
Rep. Kim Nam-kuk, who became an independent member, also faced suspicions about the 2021 party convention and his bitcoin transactions.
Lee is indicted for bribery and breach of trust related to two Gyeonggi land development projects from his time as Seongnam mayor.
DP Rep. Lee Sang-min told KBS radio Wednesday that Lee Jae-myung “responded very inappropriately” to the cash envelope claims and cryptocurrency incident involving his close aide Rep. Kim Nam-guk.
Rep. Kwon Chil-seung, the DP’s senior spokesman and former minister of SMEs and startups, was also criticized for insulting Choi Won-il, the former captain of the 2010 Cheonan corvette.
Kwon asked Choi on Monday, “How dare you can make such bold demand after killing the sailors under your command?”
Survivors said the skipper wouldn’t leave until his crew was rescued.
After public criticism, Kwon issued a press statement saying he “sympathizes” with the victims’ families and survivors and meant to convey that “a commander must feel responsibility on a different level.”
People Power Party (PPP) MPs, including party chairman Kim Gi-hyeon, said on Wednesday, “Many people are angered by the behavior of the DP leadership.”
Kim requested DP Chairman Lee’s apologies and severe punishment for senior spokesperson Kwon’s statements.
In a news conference on Wednesday, Kwon apologized to the Cheonan captain.
“As a political party spokesman, I apologize to all those who may have been hurt, including the bereaved families of the Cheonan sailors, for using inappropriate expressions,” Kwon stated, bending his head.
Kwon further asserted that in an earlier parliamentary meeting, perhaps during his stint as SMEs minister, he “stated that the Cheonan incident was the work of North Korea.”
