Remembering Norman Tebbit, working-class Tory, originator of the ‘cricket test'
As a young man, Tebbit, who died on Monday aged 94, developed the individualistic, pro-enterprise philosophy that would make him a natural fit for Thatcher's new conservatism — a marked departure from the post-War, Keynesian consensus until then: Nationalised industries, strong trade unions and welfare state. Thatcher's 1979 victory would see much of this demolished, leaving a legacy that remains deeply divisive. Tebbit played his part, weakening the powers of unions, driving privatisation and, as party chairman, leading a successful re-election campaign in 1987. He retired from frontline politics afterwards to care for his wife, who had been left disabled by an IRA bombing.
A working-class Tory who died a baron, Tebbit's life was not without its paradoxes: He developed his animosity for certain union practices early on, but later served as a union official during his career as a pilot and even went on strike. Always a plain speaker and a caustic wit, he was once asked if God existed. 'He ought to,' he said.
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Business Standard
32 minutes ago
- Business Standard
'Asia must open up': ADB president says world won't return to pre-Trump era
Asian economies must embrace openness and reform like never before, Masato Kanda, president of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) said in an interview with Nikkei. The former Japanese currency chief took charge of the Manila-headquartered multilateral lender in February, shortly after Donald Trump returned to the White House for a second term—an event Kanda described as having 'completely changed the world'. Since taking office, Kanda has held discussions with leaders including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chinese Premier Li Qiang, and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. 'Those leaders all agree that we must use this crisis as an opportunity for reform to build more resilient domestic and regional economies,' he said. 'There will never be a return to a world before Trump,' Kanda said, stressing that Asian economies must diversify away from over-reliance on the US market and global supply chains. 'Strengthening the domestic markets of Asian countries and regions is an important task.' $10 billion investment in Asean grid, Indian metros To support regional resilience and integration, the ADB has pledged up to $10 billion for the Asean Power Grid—an initiative aimed at enhancing cross-border electricity connectivity and energy security in Southeast Asia. Kanda also confirmed the bank's proposal to invest another $10 billion in urban infrastructure projects across India, including metro systems. 'You don't see such a project at that scale in other regions,' he noted, citing India's demographic dividend and its rising role as a regional investment hub. Beyond 'China plus one' While global supply chains have already begun shifting away from China, Kanda cautioned that Southeast Asia, previously buoyed by the 'China Plus One' strategy, is now itself vulnerable, particularly under the weight of fresh US trade barriers. 'The concept still holds, but it must evolve,' he said. 'Diversification must extend beyond final goods markets to include raw material sources and intermediate suppliers.' Asia must not turn inward: ADB president Kanda warned that in the face of growing protectionism in the West, Asia cannot afford to become inward-looking. He urged countries in the region to deepen trade integration not just within Asia but with Europe as well. Speaking on the sidelines of the ADB's annual meeting in Italy earlier this year, Kanda said European leaders had expressed strong interest in strengthening economic ties with Asia, which they view as the world's primary growth engine. 'Reform momentum is building across Asia,' he said, highlighting efforts by regional leaders to dismantle structural barriers such as land-use restrictions and capital controls. 'They understand that survival cannot come from relying on gimmicks.' Kanda also called for prudent macroeconomic policies, warning that without sustainable public finances and a normalised monetary stance, governments may lack the flexibility to respond to future crises. US relations and China lending Despite political changes in Washington, the ADB maintains what Kanda described as a "constructive relationship" with the United States. He pointed to the bank's ability to increase lending by 50 per cent since 2009 without expanding its capital base, calling it an efficient use of donor funds. On US pressure to halt lending to China, Kanda said discussions were ongoing among shareholders. Current ADB loans to China have declined sharply and are now focused on global public goods such as environmental sustainability and biodiversity. ADB trims India forecast amid US tariff pressure The ADB's latest Asian Development Outlook, released last week, revised India's GDP growth forecast for the financial year 2025–26 (FY26) down to 6.5 per cent from the previous 6.7 per cent, citing the impact of US tariff policy and broader global slowdown. Despite this downward revision, the ADB noted that India remains one of the fastest-growing major economies globally. 'This revision is primarily due to the impact of US baseline tariffs and associated policy uncertainty,' the report said. It warned that beyond lower export demand, investment flows may also be affected by heightened uncertainty. Inflation forecasts have also been revised downward to 3.8 per cent for FY26, following a faster-than-expected decline in food prices.
News18
2 hours ago
- News18
Will Shashi Tharoor Take Part In Parliament's Operation Sindoor Debate? Congress Says...
Last Updated: Amid reports of a rift between Shashi Tharoor and the Congress, the MP is unlikely to speak in the Parliament on 'Operation Sindoor' despite being approached by party leaders. Congress leader Shashi Tharoor, who has drawn condemnation from a section within his party for supporting the Centre's post-Pahalgam foreign policy, is unlikely to speak in the debate on 'Operation Sindoor' in the Parliament. The development has once again put Tharoor's reported rift with the Congress high command under the scanner. Congress MPs who are willing to speak in Parliament need to request the Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP) office for the same, according to party sources who explained the protocol of how speakers were selected. The sources said Tharoor never sent his name. The Congress leadership even reached out to him and asked him if he was willing to speak, but Tharoor refused, according to the sources. Shashi Tharoor, who led one of the multi-party delegations to world capitals to put forth India's stance against terrorism, had said that a lot of people have been very critical of him because of his stand supporting the armed forces and the central government in connection with India's response to Pakistan in the form of 'Operation Sindoor'. On Sunday, the Congress issued a whip to its Lok Sabha MPs, mandating their presence in the House for three days starting Monday, with a debate set to take place on the Pahalgam terror attack and 'Operation Sindoor'. The BJP-led ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the Opposition are expected to field their top guns during the discussion in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, and lock horns over the two issues steeped in national security and foreign policy imperatives. view comments First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
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First Post
2 hours ago
- First Post
History Today: When Austria-Hungary's declaration of war on Serbia began World War I
World War I began on July 28, 1914, after Austria and Hungary declared war on Serbia. This came just a month after Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria and his wife were killed by Serbian nationalist Gavrilo Princip in Sarajevo. On this day in 2005, the Irish Republican Army formally announced the end of its decades-long armed campaign read more On July 28, 1914, Emperor Franz Joseph of Austria-Hungary signed the declaration of war, effectively launching the Great War. Wikimedia Commons World War I, one of the most defining events of the 20th century, began on July 28, 1914, with Austria and Hungary declared war on Serbia. This was a direct response to the killing of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria and his wife by a Serbian nationalist. If you are a history geek who loves to learn about important events from the past, Firstpost Explainers' ongoing series, History Today, will be your one-stop destination to explore key events. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD On this day in 2005, the Irish Republican Army, popularly known as the IRA, announced a formal end to its armed campaign. This marked a monumental step towards lasting peace in Northern Ireland. In 1932, the first zombie movie, White Zombie, was released. Here is all that happened on this day. World War I began Just a month after the killing of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria and his wife by a Serbian nationalist in Sarajevo, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia on July 28, 1914. The assassin, Gavrilo Princip, was a Bosnian Serb nationalist with ties to Serbian secret societies, leading Austria-Hungary to hold Serbia directly responsible. This was what led to World War I, also known as the Great War. By the end of 1914, major powers across Europe, Africa, Asia, and beyond were involved. Wikimedia Commons On July 28, 1914, Emperor Franz Joseph of Austria-Hungary signed the declaration of war, effectively launching the Great War. Within days, Europe's major powers were drawn in. Russia, allied with Serbia, began mobilising against Austria-Hungary. Germany then declared war on Russia on August 1 and France on August 3. It also invaded Belgium. That act triggered Britain's entry into the war on August 4, due to its treaty obligations to protect Belgian neutrality. What could have been a localised conflict spiralled into a global war due to a complex web of alliances, rising nationalism, militarism, and imperial competition. By the end of 1914, major powers across Europe, Africa, Asia, and beyond were involved. The war, which introduced new technologies like machine guns, tanks and poison gas, killed over 16 million people. IRA announced the end of its armed campaign The Irish Republican Army (IRA) formally announced the end of its decades-long armed campaign on July 28, 2005, marking a monumental step towards lasting peace in Northern Ireland. The IRA, a paramilitary organisation, had fought since the late 1960s for Northern Ireland to leave the United Kingdom and unite with the Republic of Ireland. Its campaign involved bombings, assassinations, and armed attacks, resulting in thousands of deaths. The British government and unionist forces opposed the IRA's goal, leading to a brutal and deeply divisive conflict. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In the years leading up to 2005, peace efforts had gained ground. The Good Friday Agreement of 1998 was a major step, establishing a power-sharing government in Northern Ireland and calling for the disarmament of paramilitary groups. While some IRA activity continued post-agreement, pressure mounted from political allies like Sinn Féin, the public, and international mediators to shift to peaceful means. In a recorded statement broadcast on July 28, the IRA said it would 'end the armed campaign' and pursue its objectives 'exclusively through peaceful political means.' The group also committed to decommissioning its weapons and cooperating with independent arms inspectors, a critical gesture for trust-building. The first zombie movie was released The first full-length zombie film, White Zombie, was released on this day in 1932. Directed by Victor Halperin, this black-and-white horror classic introduced the concept of the zombie to cinema. Set in Haiti, White Zombie tells the story of a young woman, Madeleine, who is turned into a zombie by a voodoo master named Murder Legendre, played chillingly by Lugosi. Using traditional Haitian folklore rather than modern viral infection tropes, the film portrays zombies as mindless slaves controlled through black magic rather than reanimated corpses. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD A scene from the White Zombie movie which released in 1932. Wikimedia Commons Though it was a low-budget production, White Zombie made a significant impact. Its eerie atmosphere, haunting score, and Lugosi's mesmerising performance helped it stand out in the early days of horror cinema. While critics at the time gave mixed reviews, the film eventually gained a cult following and is now considered a landmark in horror history. This Day, That Year On this day in 1976, an earthquake in China's Tangshan killed more than 240,000 people. In 1821, Peru declared its independence from Spain. King Henry VIII of England privately married his fifth wife, Catherine Howard, on this day in 1540.
