The UK government on Tuesday flagged financial implications as one of the factors it had to consider while reflecting upon demands for a formal apology for the Jallianwala Bagh massacre to mark its centenary this week.

UK Foreign Office minister Mark Field told a debate on Jallianwala Bagh massacre at Westminster Hall in the House of Commons complex that while it was important to draw a line under the past over the shameful episode in history, repeatedly issuing apologies for events related to the British Raj came with their own problems.

I have slightly orthodox views on Britain's colonial past. I feel little reluctant to make apologies for things that have happened in the past, the minister said.

He added: There are also concerns that any government department has to make about an apology, given that there may well be financial implications to making an apology.

I feel we perhaps debase the currency of apologies if we are seen to make them for many, many events.

However, while reiterating the UK government's deepest regret over the massacre in Amritsar on April 13, 1919, Field stressed that the issue of appropriately marking the sombre 100th anniversary remains a work in progress and an active debate was taking place amongst ministers and senior officials.

Importantly, our modern relationship with India is focussed on the future, on pooling our strengths However, I also recognise that the relationship is framed in part by the past, Field said, adding that he had been compelled by the latest debate to take a message back to Downing Street that perhaps a little more is required than the deep regret already expressed by the UK government.

Something is holding us back fulfilling the full potential of the flourishing relationship (with India) and I do accept that it (Jallianwala Bagh) perhaps grates particularly strongly, the minister said.

The debate, tabled by Conservative Party MP Bob Blackman, included a series of cross-party British MPs speaking on the enduring and very deep feelings and emotions the monstrous event continues to rise across the world.

Veteran Indian-origin Labour MP Virendra Sharma called for a formal apology to be made by British Prime Minister Theresa May, with others echoing the demand and also raising the prospect of a physical memorial to be constructed in memory of those who lost their lives.

Many of the MPs included an account of General Dyer firing on a Baisakhi gathering at Jallianwala Bagh in Amritsar on April 13, 1919, without warning and blocking the main exit of the park with his soldiers and armoured vehicles.

Dyer is recorded as having continued to fire for 10 minutes even as the thousands gathered in the grounds tried to escape, leaving thousands dead and injured.

Blackman, in wrapping up the outcomes of the latest UK parliamentary intervention over the massacre, said the key messages that came out of the debate was that the incident must form part of the school curriculum in the UK and that a formal apology for the incident remains the right thing to do.

The Westminster Hall event follows a debate in the House of Lords in February when a government minister had confirmed that UK foreign secretary Jeremy Hunt was "reflecting" on demands for a formal apology to mark the centenary of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre this month.

In their capacity as members of a newly-formed Jallianwala Bagh Centenary Commemoration Committee (JBCC), Indian-origin peers Lord Meghnad Desai and Lord Raj Loomba had also written to Theresa May calling for a formal apology.

The JBCC, chaired by businessman and philanthropist Sardar Balbir Singh Kakar and made up of a number of Indians and non-resident Indians (NRIs) including members of the International Punjab Forum, is planning a commemorative event in the House of Lords on Saturday to mark the centenary of the massacre on April 13, 1919.

The UK government on Tuesday flagged financial implications as one of the factors it had to consider while reflecting upon demands for a formal apology for the Jallianwala Bagh massacre to mark its centenary this week.

The UK government on Tuesday flagged financial implications as one of the factors it had to consider while reflecting upon demands for a formal apology for the Jallianwala Bagh massacre to mark its centenary this week. UK Foreign Office minister Mark Field told a debate on Jallianwala Bagh massacre at Westminster Hall in the House of Commons complex that while it was important to draw a line under the past over the shameful episode in history, repeatedly issuing apologies for events related to the British Raj came with their own problems. I have slightly orthodox views on Britain's colonial past. I feel little reluctant to make apologies for things that have happened in the past, the minister said. He added: There are also concerns that any government department has to make about an apology, given that there may well be financial implications to making an apology. I feel we perhaps debase the currency of apologies if we are seen to make them for many, many events. However, while reiterating the UK government's deepest regret over the massacre in Amritsar on April 13, 1919, Field stressed that the issue of appropriately marking the sombre 100th anniversary remains a work in progress and an active debate was taking place amongst ministers and senior officials. Importantly, our modern relationship with India is focussed on the future, on pooling our strengths However, I also recognise that the relationship is framed in part by the past, Field said, adding that he had been compelled by the latest debate to take a message back to Downing Street that perhaps a little more is required than the deep regret already expressed by the UK government. Something is holding us back fulfilling the full potential of the flourishing relationship (with India) and I do accept that it (Jallianwala Bagh) perhaps grates particularly strongly, the minister said. The debate, tabled by Conservative Party MP Bob Blackman, included a series of cross-party British MPs speaking on the enduring and very deep feelings and emotions the monstrous event continues to rise across the world. Veteran Indian-origin Labour MP Virendra Sharma called for a formal apology to be made by British Prime Minister Theresa May, with others echoing the demand and also raising the prospect of a physical memorial to be constructed in memory of those who lost their lives. Many of the MPs included an account of General Dyer firing on a Baisakhi gathering at Jallianwala Bagh in Amritsar on April 13, 1919, without warning and blocking the main exit of the park with his soldiers and armoured vehicles. Dyer is recorded as having continued to fire for 10 minutes even as the thousands gathered in the grounds tried to escape, leaving thousands dead and injured. Blackman, in wrapping up the outcomes of the latest UK parliamentary intervention over the massacre, said the key messages that came out of the debate was that the incident must form part of the school curriculum in the UK and that a formal apology for the incident remains the right thing to do. The Westminster Hall event follows a debate in the House of Lords in February when a government minister had confirmed that UK foreign secretary Jeremy Hunt was "reflecting" on demands for a formal apology to mark the centenary of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre this month. In their capacity as members of a newly-formed Jallianwala Bagh Centenary Commemoration Committee (JBCC), Indian-origin peers Lord Meghnad Desai and Lord Raj Loomba had also written to Theresa May calling for a formal apology. The JBCC, chaired by businessman and philanthropist Sardar Balbir Singh Kakar and made up of a number of Indians and non-resident Indians (NRIs) including members of the International Punjab Forum, is planning a commemorative event in the House of Lords on Saturday to mark the centenary of the massacre on April 13, 1919.

UK flags financial implications of Jallianwala Bagh apology, calls it 'work in progress'

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-plans-to-take-action-against-terrorists-operating-from-its-soil-information-minister-fawad-chaudhary-201103">Pakistan plans to take action against terrorists operating from its soil: Information Minister Fawad Chaudhary</a>

Pakistan plans to take action against militant groups operating on its soil, a minister said on Monday, amid global pressure to act after a suicide bomber killed 40 Indian paramilitary police in Kashmir last month.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/as-india-pakistan-fight-fear-and-anxiety-rise-in-last-village-before-border-201115">As India &amp; Pakistan fight, fear and anxiety rise in </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/as-india-pakistan-fight-fear-and-anxiety-rise-in-last-village-before-border-201115">last</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/as-india-pakistan-fight-fear-and-anxiety-rise-in-last-village-before-border-201115"> village before </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/as-india-pakistan-fight-fear-and-anxiety-rise-in-last-village-before-border-201115">border</a>

As the tension between India and Pakistan continues to simmer, it is the villagers caught between the two neighbours who suffer.&nbsp;

Since the Indian Air Force's air strike on Balakot, 35-year-old Madan Lal has been worried about the safety of his two children. His eyes and ears have been transfixed on the television ever since the strike, as have those of the other villagers.&nbsp;

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/after-saying-it-will-pakistan-does-not-ban-hafiz-saeeds-jud-fif-201111">After saying it will, Pakistan does not ban Hafiz Saeed's JuD &amp; FiF</a>

Pakistan's flip-flop on terror continues with an updated list of terrorist organisations in the country saying 26/11 mastermind Hafiz Saeed's Jamaat ud Dawa (JuD) and Falah-e-Insaniat (FiF) have not been banned. The list, issued by the Pakistani Interior Ministry's NACTA or National Counter-Terrorism Authority of Pakistan on March 4, lists the JuD and FiF as organisations "under watch".

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/junior-british-foriegn-minister-meets-foreign-secretary-in-india-reiterates-londons-call-that-pakistan-must-act-on-terror-201072">'Pakistan must act on terror,' junior British foreign minister says in India</a>

Britain's Junior Foreign Minister Mark Field was in India from March 1 to 3, during which time he met Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale and discussed recent tensions between India and Pakistan. He said the UK stands "shoulder-to-shoulder with India in condemnation of the appalling terror attack in Pulwama".

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/business-economy/india-incs-foreign-borrowings-down-45-in-january-2019-201096">India Inc's foreign borrowings down 45% in January 2019</a>

India Inc's external commercial borrowings (ECBs) fell by 45 per cent to $2.42 billion in January 2019 as compared to the year-ago period, data from RBI has shown.

Domestic firms had raised $5.40 billion from overseas sources during January 2018.

Pakistan plans to take action against terrorists operating from its soil: Information Minister Fawad Chaudhary Pakistan plans to take action against militant groups operating on its soil, a minister said on Monday, amid global pressure to act after a suicide bomber killed 40 Indian paramilitary police in Kashmir last month.

Pakistan plans to take action against terrorists operating from its soil: Information Minister Fawad Chaudhary Pakistan plans to take action against militant groups operating on its soil, a minister said on Monday, amid global pressure to act after a suicide bomber killed 40 Indian paramilitary police in Kashmir last month. As India & Pakistan fight, fear and anxiety rise in last village before border As the tension between India and Pakistan continues to simmer, it is the villagers caught between the two neighbours who suffer. Since the Indian Air Force's air strike on Balakot, 35-year-old Madan Lal has been worried about the safety of his two children. His eyes and ears have been transfixed on the television ever since the strike, as have those of the other villagers. After saying it will, Pakistan does not ban Hafiz Saeed's JuD & FiF Pakistan's flip-flop on terror continues with an updated list of terrorist organisations in the country saying 26/11 mastermind Hafiz Saeed's Jamaat ud Dawa (JuD) and Falah-e-Insaniat (FiF) have not been banned. The list, issued by the Pakistani Interior Ministry's NACTA or National Counter-Terrorism Authority of Pakistan on March 4, lists the JuD and FiF as organisations "under watch". 'Pakistan must act on terror,' junior British foreign minister says in India Britain's Junior Foreign Minister Mark Field was in India from March 1 to 3, during which time he met Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale and discussed recent tensions between India and Pakistan. He said the UK stands "shoulder-to-shoulder with India in condemnation of the appalling terror attack in Pulwama". India Inc's foreign borrowings down 45% in January 2019 India Inc's external commercial borrowings (ECBs) fell by 45 per cent to $2.42 billion in January 2019 as compared to the year-ago period, data from RBI has shown. Domestic firms had raised $5.40 billion from overseas sources during January 2018.

News brief: Big stories of the day

Ford is replacing CEO Mark Fields as it struggles to keep its traditional auto-manufacturing business running smoothly while remaking itself as a nimble, high-tech provider of new mobility services.

The 114-year-old automaker said Fields is retiring at the age of 56 after 28 years at the company. Fields will be replaced by Jim Hackett, who joined Ford&#39;s board in 2013. Hackett has led Ford&#39;s mobility unit since March of last year.

In three years as CEO, Fields began Ford&#39;s transition from a traditional automaker into a &quot;mobility&quot; company, laying out plans to build autonomous vehicles and explore new services such as ride-hailing and car-sharing. Under Fields, Ford achieved a record pretax profit of $10.8 billion in 2015 as SUV and truck sales soared in the US.

But there were rumblings that Fields wasn&#39;t focused enough on Ford&#39;s core business, as popular products like the Fusion sedan grew dated and Ford lagged behind rivals in bringing long-range electric cars to the market.

The stock price sagged, and electric car maker Tesla even passed Ford in market value. Ford&#39;s stock price has fallen almost 40 per cent since Fields became CEO in July 2014.

Hackett is the former CEO of Steelcase, one of the world&#39;s largest office furniture companies. He is credited with transforming that company, in part by predicting the shift away from cubicles and into open office plans.

But he first had to cut thousands of jobs and moved furniture production from the US to Mexico to stem massive losses at the company.

Ford&#39;s Executive Chairman, Bill Ford said in an interview that Hackett is the right person to lead Ford as it expands into new business areas, like making self-driving shuttles, because he&#39;s a &quot;visionary&quot; who knows how to remake a business. Car companies are facing increasing competition from Google, Uber and others as they try to plot their next moves.

&quot;These are really unparalleled times, and it really requires transformational leadership during these times,&quot; Bill Ford said.

Hackett also served as the interim athletic director at the University of Michigan from 2014 to 2016. In that role, he lured star football coach Jim Harbaugh.

Bill Ford insisted that Fields wasn&#39;t fired. He called Fields &quot;an outstanding leader&quot; who orchestrated the company&#39;s turnaround a decade ago when he was head of Ford&#39;s Americas division.

&quot;He and I sat down Friday and really decided this was the right time for him to go and for us to have new leadership,&quot; Bill Ford said. &quot;People can speculate all they want about that. But the fact is, he is (retiring), and I feel we&#39;ve got a great leader in Jim.&quot;

And Ford hasn&#39;t kept up with rivals in the electric car market. General Motors&#39; Chevrolet Bolt electric car, with 238 miles of range, went on sale last year; Ford is working on an electric SUV with 300 miles of range, but it&#39;s not due out until 2020.

Meanwhile, Mary Barra who became GM&#39;s CEO about six months before Fields became Ford&#39;s has made a series of headline-grabbing moves, such as forming a partnership with the ride-hailing company Lyft and pulling GM out of unprofitable markets, including Europe, India and South Africa.

Still, GM faces unhappy investors of its own with its stock slightly below the $33 initial public offering price from November 2010.

Ford also made investments in new mobility companies and announced it would have a self-driving shuttle on the road by 2021, but its efforts haven&#39;t swayed investors. Hackett is confident he can placate Wall Street.

&quot;The way that that gets fixed is the nature of the innovation and the ideas making their way into the market,&quot; Hackett said.

&quot;It even sounds a little corny but the stock price is a consequence of the actions we&#39;re going to take to make the company more fit, more profitable and a more fun place to work.&quot;

(AP)

Ford is replacing CEO Mark Fields as it struggles to keep its traditional auto-manufacturing business running smoothly

Ford is replacing CEO Mark Fields as it struggles to keep its traditional auto-manufacturing business running smoothly while remaking itself as a nimble, high-tech provider of new mobility services. The 114-year-old automaker said Fields is retiring at the age of 56 after 28 years at the company. Fields will be replaced by Jim Hackett, who joined Ford's board in 2013. Hackett has led Ford's mobility unit since March of last year. In three years as CEO, Fields began Ford's transition from a traditional automaker into a "mobility" company, laying out plans to build autonomous vehicles and explore new services such as ride-hailing and car-sharing. Under Fields, Ford achieved a record pretax profit of $10.8 billion in 2015 as SUV and truck sales soared in the US. But there were rumblings that Fields wasn't focused enough on Ford's core business, as popular products like the Fusion sedan grew dated and Ford lagged behind rivals in bringing long-range electric cars to the market. The stock price sagged, and electric car maker Tesla even passed Ford in market value. Ford's stock price has fallen almost 40 per cent since Fields became CEO in July 2014. Hackett is the former CEO of Steelcase, one of the world's largest office furniture companies. He is credited with transforming that company, in part by predicting the shift away from cubicles and into open office plans. But he first had to cut thousands of jobs and moved furniture production from the US to Mexico to stem massive losses at the company. Ford's Executive Chairman, Bill Ford said in an interview that Hackett is the right person to lead Ford as it expands into new business areas, like making self-driving shuttles, because he's a "visionary" who knows how to remake a business. Car companies are facing increasing competition from Google, Uber and others as they try to plot their next moves. "These are really unparalleled times, and it really requires transformational leadership during these times," Bill Ford said. Hackett also served as the interim athletic director at the University of Michigan from 2014 to 2016. In that role, he lured star football coach Jim Harbaugh. Bill Ford insisted that Fields wasn't fired. He called Fields "an outstanding leader" who orchestrated the company's turnaround a decade ago when he was head of Ford's Americas division. "He and I sat down Friday and really decided this was the right time for him to go and for us to have new leadership," Bill Ford said. "People can speculate all they want about that. But the fact is, he is (retiring), and I feel we've got a great leader in Jim." And Ford hasn't kept up with rivals in the electric car market. General Motors' Chevrolet Bolt electric car, with 238 miles of range, went on sale last year; Ford is working on an electric SUV with 300 miles of range, but it's not due out until 2020. Meanwhile, Mary Barra who became GM's CEO about six months before Fields became Ford's has made a series of headline-grabbing moves, such as forming a partnership with the ride-hailing company Lyft and pulling GM out of unprofitable markets, including Europe, India and South Africa. Still, GM faces unhappy investors of its own with its stock slightly below the $33 initial public offering price from November 2010. Ford also made investments in new mobility companies and announced it would have a self-driving shuttle on the road by 2021, but its efforts haven't swayed investors. Hackett is confident he can placate Wall Street. "The way that that gets fixed is the nature of the innovation and the ideas making their way into the market," Hackett said. "It even sounds a little corny but the stock price is a consequence of the actions we're going to take to make the company more fit, more profitable and a more fun place to work." (AP)

Ford names Jim Hackett as new CEO

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UK flags financial implications of Jallianwala Bagh apology, calls it 'work in progress'

News brief: Big stories of the day

Ford names Jim Hackett as new CEO