German carmakers are seeing the future in a rosier light than last month, a leading economic institute says. Positive developments regarding exports to the US and China are a major factor driving the increased optimism. The German car industry, one of the main drivers of the country's economy, is looking to the future with more confidence than it has in recent times, according to the Munich-based Ifo Institute for Economic Research. In March, the business climate index in the sector climbed from a low of -9.9 points in February to reach -5.8 points. Improved future expectations on the part of car manufacturers were largely responsible for the rise, with the index going up from -29.5 points to -18.7 points. The German automobile industry seems now "to have finally left the economic low point in the second half of 2023 and is looking into the future with regained confidence," said Ifo research Anita Wölfl. Export hopes driving optimism Export prospects showed particularly positive growth, with a jump of 23.7 points to reach 13.8 points — the highest level since April 2023. One reason for the increased optimism seems to be positive developments in the US and China, Germany's two main export markets. In addition, only a few manufacturers reported supply chain problems. The positive outlook among the key German auto industry may prove a boon for the rest of the German economy that has been forecast to see only low growth forecasts in 2024. Carmakers' assessment of the current situation, however, showed a slight dip, falling from 11.9 to 8.1 points.

Mentioning that powerful opposition is a must for democracy, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said today (Sunday) the opposition parties have failed to earn people’s confidence due to lack of efficient leadership. “The existing opposition parties have failed to achieve the confidence and trust of the people due to lack of leadership. But there is no doubt that powerful opposition is a must for democracy,” she said. The Prime Minister was addressing a ceremony as the chief guest marking the inauguration of the Jatiya Sangsad’s Mujib Borsho programme, Mujib Borsho Website 2020-2021 and digital edition of the speech of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban in the parliament. The premier said the parliament has a role in the continuation of the country’s democracy as the representatives of the people get the scope to say something here about the welfare of the people. Sheikh Hasina, also the Leader of the House, said that her government is not creating any sort of problems in running the parliament, but they have worse experiences while they were in opposition. The Prime Minister thanked the Speaker for running the parliament in a neutral manner and thus attaining global recognition. Stating the attempts made by the governments of Ziaur Rahman, Ershad and Khaleda Zia to erase the name of the Father of the Nation, she said, “It is proved that history can never be erased.” The Prime Minister said that the new generation now knows the true history of the Liberation War after 21 years. The true history would inspire the new generation to be patriots, she continued. She said that the governments of Zia, Ershad and Khaleda have destroyed many documents to erase the name of Bangabandhu from the history of Liberation War and the Language Movement. The Prime Minister said her government has already published seven volumes of the 14 volumes of documents of the Pakistani intelligence agencies which were mainly against Bangabandhu. One can know the real history of the country’s independence from reading the volumes, she added. Sheikh Hasina, eldest daughter of Father of the Nation, said that she has been preserving all the visitors’ books with comments of the head of governments and states of different countries and also the commoners so that the people can know many things about the history from those. The Prime Minister thanked all concerned especially the Speaker for taking various programmes marking the Mujib Borsho for celebrating the birth centenary of Father of the Nation, particularly launching an website having various speeches, pictures and information about life of Bangabandhu. “I personally believe that the website will be important and timely for the researchers,” she continued. The Primer said they have extended the Mujib Borsho till December 16 this year as they have a plan to take extensive programmes to observe the Golden Jubilee of the country’s independence and the birth centenary of Father of the Nation if the coronavirus situation improves in the days to come. Bangabandhu had a dream to give the Bangalee nation a separate country and bring smile in the faces of the people to change their lots by giving them a beautiful life free from hunger and poverty, she said. The Prime Minister said Bangabandhu was not able to materialize his dream completely as he was murdered along with most of his family members on August 15 in 1975. She said her government has been working untiringly to implement the dream of Father of the Nation. JS Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury and Nabil Ahmed spoke on the occasion while Chief Whip Noor-E-Alam Chowdhury was present on the dais. Source: BSS AH

UK Prime Minister Theresa May has seen off a bid to remove her government from power, winning a no confidence vote by 325 to 306. Rebel Tory MPs and the DUP - who 24 hours earlier rejected the PM's Brexit plan by a huge margin - voted to keep her in Downing Street, reports BBC. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn argued that May's "zombie" administration had lost the right to govern. The PM won the vote by a margin of 19, including 10 votes from the DUP. Had the party voted against her, she would have lost by one. Giving her reaction to the result, May told MPs she would "continue to work to deliver on the solemn promise to the people of this country to deliver on the result of the referendum and leave the European Union". She invited leaders of all parties to have individual meetings with her on the way ahead for Brexit - starting tonight with offers made to the Westminster leaders of Labour, the Liberal Democrats, the SNP and Plaid Cymru - but called on them to approach them with a "constructive spirit". "We must find solutions that are negotiable and command sufficient support in this House," she added. But Corbyn, who tabled the no confidence motion, said in the Commons that before any "positive discussions" could take place, the prime minister should rule out a no-deal Brexit. "The government must remove clearly, once and for all, the prospect of the catastrophe of a no-deal exit from the EU and all the chaos that would come as a result of that," he told MPs. His spokesman later said that Downing Street had spoken to the Labour leader's office before the vote about a prospective meeting, but that he was not expected to go to No 10 this evening. The party's deputy leader, Tom Watson, told BBC News that it was not "unreasonable" for Corbyn to say: "Are you serious?" He added: "We're very amenable to talks, but I think the prime minister needs to show us that she's actually serious about that. "Is she actually going to concede on some of these red lines? Are they going to be meaningful to us?" Corbyn's no confidence motion was backed by all the opposition parties, including the Scottish National Party and the Liberal Democrats. His party has not ruled out tabling further no confidence motions - but Corbyn is under pressure from dozens of his own MPs and other opposition parties to now get behind calls for a further EU referendum instead. The leader of the SNP in Westminster, Ian Blackford, met May following the vote to discuss a way forward with Brexit. After the meeting, he wrote to the PM and called for a "clear gesture of good faith" from her, by confirming that the extension of Article 50, a ruling out of a no-deal Brexit and the option of a second EU referendum would form the basis of future discussions. Blackford has also written to Corbyn, along with other opposition leaders, to urge him to back another referendum as Labour's official position. He added: "We must see concessions from the prime minister, as well as Jeremy Corbyn, to break the Brexit impasse." The leader of the Liberal Democrats, Vince Cable said it would be "silly not to talk" to the government, but agreed with Blackford that no deal had to be taken off the table, as well as the PM having a "willingness" to discuss another referendum - which is the party's preference. Sir Vince also reiterated his calls for Corbyn to get behind the "People's Vote" too now that he had lost his no confidence motion. "He has now got to change his position and come behind the 'People's Vote' or he will just be seen, and will be, a handmaiden of Brexit," he told BBC News. Former Green Party leader Caroline Lucas made a similar call on Twitter, saying: "The leader of the opposition was right to try to bring down this toxic, failing government. "But now MPs have had their say on the Brexit deal, he needs to give the people a say over our future relationship with our nearest neighbours." Plaid Cymru's Westminster Leader, Liz Saville Roberts, and the party's Brexit spokesman, Hywel Williams, confirmed they would meet May this evening but their view is the "only way to break the deadlock" is for another referendum. The leader of the DUP in Westminster, Nigel Dodds, said the result showed the importance of the confidence and supply arrangement between his party and the Conservatives. After the 2017 election, the Tories agreed a financial package with the DUP in exchange for support on certain issues, giving them a working majority in Parliament. He said the agreement was "built on delivering Brexit" and that he was looking forward to "working in the coming days to achieve that objective". How have Tory MPs reacted? The Conservatives showed unity over the confidence vote, with all 314 members able to vote backing the PM. But there are still divisions within the party over the way forward with Brexit. The Prime Minister's official spokesman said she would meet with Eurosceptic MPs from her own benches on Thursday to discuss proposals. When asked about the possibility of pursuing a customs union with the EU - the proposal that Labour supports - Work and Pensions Secretary Amber Rudd told Politics Live that "everything should be on the table". But speaking to the BBC's political editor Laura Kuenssberg, International Trade Secretary Liam Fox said that "a customs union means no independent trade policy" and would lead to a "major reduction in the benefits of Brexit". "As the prime minister says, Brexit has to mean Brexit, not a different relationship that doesn't actually deliver on Brexit," he added. During her statement, May reiterated a promise to return to the Commons on Monday to give MPs another vote on her plans. "The House has put its confidence in this government," she said. "I stand ready to work with any member of this House to deliver Brexit and ensure that this House retains the confidence of the British people." MHK

Awami League General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader said, people have no confidence over the mix leadership of Jatiya Oikya Prokriya. He said this at an election preparing meeting at his electoral area in Kabirhat upazila on Tuesday. At that time he said, who are the leaders of these 10-party, 20-party and 30-party? Who will guide them? Is any movement possible without leader? Obaidul Quader said, BNP has gone to home. They still are unable to do movement to make free their party Chairperson Khaleda Zia. What movement will they do regarding election? He said, BNP once upon a time did lootings by creating Hawa Bhaban. Now they are hatching conspiracy to take power. Their aim is to create Khawa Bhaban. People of Bangladesh will not allow succeeding this evil activity. Kabirhat upazial Awami League president Nurul Amin Rumi, Ekramul Karim Chowdhury MP, Kabirhat upazial Chairman Kamrun Nahar Sheuly, Kabirhat municipal Mayor Jahirul Haque Raihan and others delivered speech on the occasion. AH  

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said, the present Election Commission (EC) has gained people’s confidence by this time through holding fair elections in two city corporations and in some local government levels. The Prime Minister said this on Friday while  addressing  the nation on completion of the fourth year of her second consecutive term in office after completion of tenth parliament election. Bangladesh Television and Bangladesh Betar telecasted live this address which started at 7:30 pm. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said, I took the oath as the Prime Minister for third time on this very day after elected in 2014. I have appeared before you to convey my heartfelt gratitude. I have tried heart and soul to uphold your dignity and keep up the trust and confidence that you bestowed upon me. People would judge to what extent I have been succeeded or failed. People were deprived of development for 28 years. Many welfare oriented programs taken by Awami League were shut down. Awami League was barred from taking power in 2001 following conspiracy. But the country is experiencing development as Awami League is in power for nine years. She said, nobody will be jobless or poor in future. We have taken different programs for eradicating poverty and unemployment. Activities to ensure social security also have been taken. The premier said, Padma bridge and metro rail will be constructed. The whole country will be under rail communication coverage. Bangabandhu satellite will be launched soon. Per capita income has reached to 1610 dollars. Poverty rate came down to 22 percent. Election time government will be formed before the election according to the constitution. Everybody should remain alert so that any quarter cannot try to unease the situation centering the election. Prime Minister said, we have taken the initiatives to make the quality of life developed and easy through building a digital Bangladesh by announcing the declaration of change. For this reason people are now getting 200 types of services. Bangladesh is developing as we have got the chance of running the country for nine consecutive years. Thus the people are getting the benefits. She said, there are more achievements in per capita income increase, GDP size expansion, poverty rate reduction, decreasing inflation, foreign investment increase, remittance increase as well as increase of foreign currency reserve. Moreover increased size of budget also proved that the country stepped into the lower-middle income country. She upheld the success of establishing new power plants, food security and increased power production as well as spreading health service in the village level. She also highlighted the lootings, role of Hawa Bhaban after the election of 2001 as well as militancy, terrorism and grenade attack. She also said about atrocities of BNP-Jamaat after the election.  The premier upheld execution of the trials of war criminals and killers of Father of the nation including trial of BDR killings. She highlighted government’s success of combating militancy. She also praised the role of law enforcing agencies. Upholding people are all source of power the Prime Minister said that all should look forward so that the development trend will not be halted. Sheikh Hasina said that opportunities have been created through increasing salaries of the workers, establishing 100 economic zones to attract foreign investment. The Prime Minister said, I just want to say that Father of the nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman made this country independent based on some idealism and spirits. He made the struggle of independence with a view to make the country free from hunger, poverty and illiteracy for the concept of ensuring beautiful life of people. AH