EU
European Parliament bribery scandal puts spotlight on dark underbelly of EU institutions
December 17, 2022
The European Parliament is considered a cornerstone of European democracy and is meant to play the role of the sole pan-EU, democratically-elected body to represent the people of the EU and keep a check on the bureaucrats and their opaque ways of working that is often considered ...
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EU’s Chips Act offers unique opportunities to enhance ties with India
December 10, 2022
The adoption of the European Union’s Chips Act Position Paper by the Council of Europe about a week ago is a “watershed moment” in EU’s quest to become a dominant player in the global semiconductor ecosystem. The Council of the European Union consists of the Heads...
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European heatwaves linger on at fag end of summer
August 26, 2022
Last week of August is meant to be rather pleasant in Europe as the summer wanes but leaves enough of sun to keep the clouds and rain at bay. The normal temperatures are in mid-20°C and minimums around 15°C. But on August 25, Paris was still sweltering at 33°C and Koln in Germ...
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France brings Indo-Pacific to centre stage in European Union
February 23, 2022
Even while the global attention has been fixated on the volatile security situation in Ukraine and the mounting tensions between an increasingly assertive Russia and the Western powers, France hosted a unique gathering of almost 60 ministers and senior representatives from around...
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Unwanted close encounters in Space
January 23, 2022
Last month, China lodged a vocal protest at the United Nations against the United States, accusing its multi-billionaire Elon Musk’s SpaceX of irresponsible and unsafe behaviour in the Space on multiple occasions. China said that the manoeuvres by SpaceX had brought it perilous...
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Migrant deaths reach new highs in 2021
January 3, 2022
About a fortnight ago, the International Organisation for Migration, the United Nations body in charge of migrants and their interests, said that over 160 migrants had died off the coast of Libya as they were trying to cross the Mediterranean Sea and reach Italian coasts. Last we...
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Belarus-Poland standoff, Channel tragedy put focus on EU’s poor migrant policy
December 2, 2021
Six years after it was faced with a crippling flow of migrants, from war-hit and natural disaster affected parts of Middle East and South Asia, Europe is having a tough time again with migrants. In the worst-ever such incident in decades, dozens drowned in the English Channel as ...
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Lessons from flare up of Covid-19 across Europe
November 29, 2021
Recently, in its most alarming statement in months, the World Health Organisation warned that Europe was once again the epicentre of the Covid-19 pandemic and that it was the only region in the world where the number of cases was rising still. The warning came as a range of natio...
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New pathways needed to conclude EU-India FTA negotiations
November 12, 2021
It was way back in 2007 that the European Union and India opened negotiations for a free trade agreement between the two regions as part of the Strategic Partnership between the two sides signed in 2004. Now, over 14 years later, the agreement is still nowhere in sight, even thou...
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German elections mark troubled transition to post-Merkel era
September 23, 2021
No politician has dominated the political landscape not just in post-war Germany but also across the European Union as has German Chancellor Angela Merkel who has been setting the tone for her country as well as the EU for nearly two decades now. But as Merkel hangs up her gloves...
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Brexit done, time to put UK-India ties on new footing
January 11, 2021
At the stroke of the midnight on December 31, 2020, the United Kingdom left the EU single market and the Customs Union after 47 years of membership of the European Union. While this was a cause of celebration for some, it was a sombre moment for many others not only in the UK but...
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Google & Facebook face anti-trust heat across globe
December 17, 2020
Few had imagined the scenario even five years ago, but the seemingly invincible Big Tech firms Google, Amazon, Facebook and Apple are all facing the heat of competition authorities across the globe as government regulators finally wake up to the threats to a fair and free market ...
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