Day: September 16, 2025

Bill includes suite of reforms to improve criminal justice system for survivors of rape and sexual violence

The unique Scottish verdict of not proven, long considered a global legal anomaly, could be scrapped this week as the Holyrood parliament votes on the country’s most radical shake-up of criminal justice in decades.

Scotland is the only country in the world to offer juries the not proven verdict alongside guilty and not guilty, a poorly defined historical oddity that dates back to the 18th century.

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Labour MPs talking openly about replacing PM as poll suggests just 26% of Labour members have favourable view of him as party leader

Good morning. Keir Starmer chairs cabinet this morning having lost his deputy PM, his ambassador to Washington and his strategy chief all within less than a fortnight.

The Commons starts a four-week recess this evening, which will provide some respite. (If MPs are out of Westminster, they are less likely to engage in dissident plotting.) But before they head off, MPs will spend three hours in a debate on Peter Mandelson, which is likely to focus on whether Starmer was right to appoint him in the first place and whether he has been fully candid about what he knew about the Mandelson emails to Jeffrey Epstein when he defended the ambassador at PMQs last week.

Only 25% of them think Labour is heading in the right direction.

Only 26% of them have a favourable opinion of Starmer as leader, against 59% of them who view him unfavourably.

Lucy Powell, who was sacked by Starmer as leader of the Commons, has a clear lead over Bridget Phillipson, the education secretary, in the contest to be deputy leader. Phillipson is viewed as the loyalist, pro-Starmer candidate, while Powell is seen as the choice for members who want to express some dissent.

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Malawi Begins Pivotal Elections Amid Economic Turmoil

Malawi commenced voting early Tuesday, September 16, 2025, in general, parliamentary, and local elections marked by intense competition. Incumbent President Lazarus Chakwera is contesting re-election against former President Peter Mutharika, who is currently leading in several polls, reports 24brussels.

Polls opened at 6:00 am local time (04:00 GMT) with 17 candidates on the ballot, and they are set to close at 4:00 p.m. local time (2:00 p.m. GMT). Approximately 7.2 million Malawians are eligible to vote, according to the Malawi Electoral Commission.

Voters face a significant decision between two leaders whose past administrations were marred by claims of cronyism, corruption, and economic mismanagement. With the country grappling with fuel shortages, power outages, and soaring food prices, the stakes are high.

Both candidates have pledged to revitalize Malawi’s agriculture-dependent economy, which is hindered by ongoing climate challenges. Inflation has surged past 27%, and the cost of living has skyrocketed by 75% over the past year, as reported by the NGO Centre for Social Concern. Analysts indicate that these economic issues are central to voters’ concerns.

These elections mark Malawi’s first national vote since the controversial 2019 presidential election was annulled due to widespread irregularities, leading to a rerun in 2020. The outcome of this election is poised to shape Malawi’s political landscape and economic future significantly.

Belgium Pushes for End to Japanese Pear Import Ban

Belgium’s Minister for the Economy, Employment and Agriculture, David Clarinval, has called on Japan to lift its 13-year ban on Belgian pear imports, emphasizing the need to resume negotiations between Belgium’s Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain (FAVV) and Japanese food safety authorities. Clarinval raised the matter during discussions in Tokyo with his Japanese counterpart, Shinjiro Koizumi, expressing optimism about advancing the dialogue, reports 24brussels.

The ban was imposed due to concerns over the potential introduction of invasive insect species through the fruit. Clarinval noted that Belgium exports approximately 230 million euros’ worth of agricultural products to Japan annually, highlighting the economic significance of the relationship.

Japan is Belgium’s third-largest trading partner

During his visit, Clarinval also participated in Belgian National Day celebrations at the World Expo in Osaka. He underscored Belgium’s economic strengths, pointing out that Japan ranks as Belgium’s third-largest trading partner in Asia and its second-largest investor outside Europe. The Belgian pavilion at the Expo showcases advancements in the country’s pharmaceutical and life sciences sectors.

In addition to the pear import discussions, Clarinval indicated that collaboration opportunities between Belgium and Japan extend beyond agriculture to include sectors such as energy, digital technologies, and defense.

Accompanying Clarinval in Tokyo are Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot and Digitalisation and Public Buildings Minister Vanessa Matz. The delegation is set to engage in bilateral meetings, including dialogues with state minister Yoshimasa Hayashi, who serves as the secretary-general for outgoing Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba.

Carmaker says it will freeze production until at least 24 September as it continues investigations

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Jaguar Land Rover has extended its shutdown on car production, as Britain’s biggest carmaker grapples with the aftermath of a cyber-attack.

JLR said on Tuesday it will freeze production until at least next Wednesday, 24 September, as it continues its investigations into the hack, which first emerged earlier this month.

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