The European Union has issued a strong warning to Pakistan over alleged human rights violations, cautioning that the country could lose its preferential GSP+ trade status if meaningful reforms are not implemented. The European Commission's latest assessment raises concerns over enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, restrictions on freedom of expression, and the use of anti-terrorism and blasphemy laws against journalists, dissidents and religious minorities. The report also states that many of Pakistan's reforms remain largely on paper and have not resulted in significant improvements. The EU has urged Islamabad to strengthen accountability, improve labour protections, reform controversial laws, and ensure greater protection for minorities before revised GSP+ rules come into effect in 2027.

EU warns Pakistan over human rights violations | Islamabad risks losing gsp+ trade benefits

Russian President Vladimir Putin and the head of Mali's junta, Colonel Assimi Goita, discussed security and economic relations between their two countries, both sides reported on Wednesday.

During the phone talks, "at the initiative of the Malian side", the two leaders paid "particular attention" to trade and economic relations, including the delivery of cereals, fertilisers and fuel from Russia to Mali, the Kremlin said in a press release.

Colonel Goita thanked Putin "for the humanitarian aid provided, as well as for the help given to ensure security, neutralise the terrorist threat and stabilise the situation" in his country, the Kremlin added.

The landlocked Sahel state has been battling a security crisis since jihadist and separatist insurgencies broke out in the north in 2012.

It has since August 2020 been ruled by a military junta, which broke a long-standing alliance with France and other Western partners in the fight against jihadism and turned to Russia for political and military assistance.

Mali received shipments of Russian military supplies in March and August 2022, and again in January 2023.

In March, the Malian army received several aircraft from Russia.

"Very satisfied with my telephone conversation" with Putin, Goita said on Twitter.

"We had direct and sincere exchanges on subjects of common interest and on our desire to strengthen our diplomatic, economic and security relations", he added.

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Russian President Vladimir Putin and the head of Mali's junta, Colonel Assimi Goita, discussed security and economic relations between their two countries, both sides reported on Wednesday.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and the head of Mali's junta, Colonel Assimi Goita, discussed security and economic relations between their two countries, both sides reported on Wednesday. During the phone talks, "at the initiative of the Malian side", the two leaders paid "particular attention" to trade and economic relations, including the delivery of cereals, fertilisers and fuel from Russia to Mali, the Kremlin said in a press release. Colonel Goita thanked Putin "for the humanitarian aid provided, as well as for the help given to ensure security, neutralise the terrorist threat and stabilise the situation" in his country, the Kremlin added. The landlocked Sahel state has been battling a security crisis since jihadist and separatist insurgencies broke out in the north in 2012. It has since August 2020 been ruled by a military junta, which broke a long-standing alliance with France and other Western partners in the fight against jihadism and turned to Russia for political and military assistance. Mali received shipments of Russian military supplies in March and August 2022, and again in January 2023. In March, the Malian army received several aircraft from Russia. "Very satisfied with my telephone conversation" with Putin, Goita said on Twitter. "We had direct and sincere exchanges on subjects of common interest and on our desire to strengthen our diplomatic, economic and security relations", he added. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Mali junta leader discusses security, economy with Putin

China releases white paper on trade friction with US

Moody&#39;s Investors Service cut Britain&#39;s credit rating outlook to &quot;negative&quot; on Friday, saying the vote to pull out of the European Union could hurt its economic prospects. 
 
While retaining the country&#39;s overall rating at a high &quot;Aa1&quot;, Moody&#39;s said after the Brexit vote that it expects the country&#39;s growth to slow, economic policy-making to suffer and the country&#39;s finances to weaken while it struggles through the details of the breakup. 
 
&quot;During the several years in which the UK will have to renegotiate its trade relations with the EU, Moody&#39;s expects heightened uncertainty, diminished confidence and lower spending and investment to result in weaker growth,&quot; it said. 
 
&quot;Over the longer term, should the UK not be able to secure a favorable alternative trade arrangement with the EU and other countries, the UK&#39;s growth prospects would be materially weaker than currently expected.&quot; 
 
During the talks with the European Union on how to structure future political, economic and trade relations, Moody&#39;s believes that many investment and spending decisions in the country will be put on hold. 
 
Much depends on the future trade relationship between Britain and the EU. Currently trade is completely open between the two. 
 
Moody&#39;s also said that the change in government that will come with the resignation of Prime Minister David Cameron will create uncertainty over the country&#39;s financial discipline. 
 
It said that Britain&#39;s savings from not having to contribute to the EU budget will not compensate for the negative effects of lower growth. 
 
(AFP)

Country's overall rating stays at a high 'Aa1'

Moody's Investors Service cut Britain's credit rating outlook to "negative" on Friday, saying the vote to pull out of the European Union could hurt its economic prospects. While retaining the country's overall rating at a high "Aa1", Moody's said after the Brexit vote that it expects the country's growth to slow, economic policy-making to suffer and the country's finances to weaken while it struggles through the details of the breakup. "During the several years in which the UK will have to renegotiate its trade relations with the EU, Moody's expects heightened uncertainty, diminished confidence and lower spending and investment to result in weaker growth," it said. "Over the longer term, should the UK not be able to secure a favorable alternative trade arrangement with the EU and other countries, the UK's growth prospects would be materially weaker than currently expected." During the talks with the European Union on how to structure future political, economic and trade relations, Moody's believes that many investment and spending decisions in the country will be put on hold. Much depends on the future trade relationship between Britain and the EU. Currently trade is completely open between the two. Moody's also said that the change in government that will come with the resignation of Prime Minister David Cameron will create uncertainty over the country's financial discipline. It said that Britain's savings from not having to contribute to the EU budget will not compensate for the negative effects of lower growth. (AFP)

Britain's credit rating outlook cut to 'negative'

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