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First Post
27-05-2025
- Business
- First Post
EU member Ireland moves against Israel over Gaza clean-up operation, to ban imports from occupied areas
If the bill is passed, Ireland would make importing goods from the occupied regions of Palestine a criminal offence. However, the law will not seek a boycott of Israeli products read more A drone view shows displaced Palestinians sheltering in tents set up near the rubble of buildings destroyed during the Israeli offensive, amid a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, in Gaza City on February 17, 2025. Reuters File Ireland has moved to table a bill that would ban imports from the occupied territories of Palestine, a first such move by an EU member to curtail products made by Israeli settlements in Gaza. 'Given the scale and gravity of what we're now seeing with the deprivation of aid and the bombardment of Gaza … this is an appropriate course of action to take,' Simon Harris, the country's deputy prime minister, told the Financial Times. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The settlements consist of residential, agricultural, and commercial developments in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, located beyond Israel's internationally recognised borders. How will it affect trade? If the bill is passed, Ireland would make importing goods from the occupied regions of Palestine a criminal offence. However, the law will not seek a boycott of Israeli products. A ban on exports from the occupied territories is largely symbolic, given that trade is limited to physical goods like dates, oranges, olives, and some timber, with a total value of just €685,000 over the four years from 2020 to 2024. Conor O'Neill, the head of advocacy and policy at Christian Aid Ireland, said, 'This is a massive welcome step, it is the first time a trade measure of this kind has been applied to Israel by any EU country. After decades of saying and repeating that illegal settlements are totally illegal and that the EU is opposed to them, this is the first time that words are being matched with action.' EU reviews deal with Israel Last week, the EU ordered a review of its cooperation deal with Israel and Britain halted trade talks with it as European nations took a tougher line over the Gaza war. France renewed its commitment to recognise a Palestinian state, a day after Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu angrily hit back at Britain, France and Canada for threatening action over his country's military offensive and blockade of Gaza. EU foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas said 'a strong majority' of the 27 member states at a foreign ministers' meeting backed the move in a bid to pressure Israel. 'Countries see that the situation in Gaza is untenable, and what we want is to really help the people, and… to unblock the humanitarian aid so that it will reach the people,' Kallas told journalists. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD With inputs from agencies
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First Post
20-05-2025
- Politics
- First Post
'A drop in the ocean': Israel allows UN aid trucks to enter Gaza after 11 weeks
Israel has allowed a small shipment of UN humanitarian aid, including baby food, into Gaza for the first time in 11 weeks. The UN has said that it is 'just a drop in the ocean.' read more Palestinians gather at the site of an Israeli strike on a house as rescuers attempt to remove casualties from under the rubble, in Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip, on April 13, 2025. Reuters File Israel has said it allowed five UN trucks carrying humanitarian aid, including baby food, into Gaza after an 11-week blockade, BBC reported. In response, the UN's humanitarian chief said the aid was just 'a drop in the ocean' compared to what the 2.1 million Palestinians in Gaza urgently need, as experts warn of a growing risk of famine amid ongoing strikes that continue to claim lives, including those of civilians. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he agreed to let in a small amount of aid following pressure from US senators. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'We must not reach a situation of famine, both from a practical and a diplomatic standpoint,' Netanyahu said, addressing growing criticism within Israel. This is a developing story.
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First Post
12-05-2025
- Business
- First Post
Conflict with India won't have large fiscal impact, says Pakistan finance minister
Aurangzeb described India-Pakistan conflict as a 'short duration escalation' with minimal fiscal impact, stating it can be 'accommodated within the fiscal space which is available to the government of Pakistan' read more Pakistan Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb speaks during an interview at the 2025 annual IMF/World Bank Spring Meetings in Washington, DC, U.S., on April 25, 2025. Reuters File Pakistan's Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb on Monday said the recent military escalation with arch-rival India won't have a large fiscal impact on Pakistan and can be managed within the current fiscal space, with no need for a new economic assessment. In an online interview with Reuters, Aurangzeb said trade talks with the US — which played a key role in mediating the ceasefire between India and Pakistan — were expected to progress in 'short order.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD He added that Pakistan was considering increased imports of high-quality cotton and soybeans, and was also exploring other asset classes, including hydrocarbons. On Monday, US President Donald Trump said the US is prepared to assist India and Pakistan following their ceasefire agreement, attributing the de-escalation in part to trade pressure, which he claimed played a major role in halting the conflict. Pakistan currently faces a 29% tariff on exports to the U.S. due to an estimated $3 billion trade surplus, though the tariffs are under a 90-day suspension announced in April. Meanwhile, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) approved a $1 billion loan disbursement to Pakistan on Friday, as part of a broader $7 billion bailout package. Aurangzeb confirmed that the tranche would be received on Tuesday. The IMF executive board also approved a fresh $1.4 billion loan to Pakistan under its climate resilience facility. The federal budget for the next fiscal year, starting July, will be finalised within the next three to four weeks, with scheduled budget talks with the IMF to take place from May 14-23, he said. Regarding the India-Pakistan conflict, Aurangzeb described it as a 'short duration escalation' with minimal fiscal impact, stating it can be 'accommodated within the fiscal space which is available to the government of Pakistan'. When questioned about potential increased military spending in the upcoming budget, Aurangzeb deferred comment, saying it was premature to discuss specific plans. However, he said: 'Whatever we need to do in terms of ensuring that our defence requirements are met will be met.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Tensions between India and Pakistan began mounting after the April 22 attack in Indian Kashmir on Hindu tourists that killed 26 people, sparking the worst clashes between the nuclear-armed neighbours in more than two decades. On Saturday a ceasefire in the Himalayan region was announced by Trump, following four days of fighting and diplomacy and pressure from Washington. With inputs from agencies
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First Post
06-05-2025
- Science
- First Post
Pakistan unveils AM3505 radar to monitor Indian military activity across land and air
The AM3505 is capable of tracking enemy movements at distances of up to 350 kilometers and detecting aircraft flying at altitudes of up to 60,000 feet, according to a report read more Pakistan's national flag at the Mausoleum of Muhammad Ali Jinnah in Karachi, Pakistan on August 14, 2022. Reuters File Pakistan has unveiled its first long-range ground surveillance radar, the AM3505, designed to monitor Indian military activity across both land and air. According to a News 18 report, the AM3505 - co-developed by the National Radio and Telecommunication Corporation (NRTC) and Blue Surge - is capable of tracking enemy movements at distances of up to 350 kilometers and detecting aircraft flying at altitudes of up to 60,000 feet. The radar system can also identify friend or foe equipment — including artillery, tanks, and aircraft — at ranges of up to 450 kilometers, added the report. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The radar is equipped with advanced anti-jamming technology, enabling reliable performance even in harsh weather conditions such as fog, rain, and storms. It can be fully operational within 30 minutes and operates on just 400 watts of power. Featuring a portable design, the system can be quickly deployed and relocated, enhancing Pakistan's overall defensive flexibility. The AM3505 reflects the dedication and innovation of Pakistani scientists and engineers in advancing the nation's technological self-reliance. With inputs from agencies
