Page 70 - European Union

EU imposes sanctions on top Russia officials, banks, trade as war continues

The European Union agreed on Saturday to impose new sanctions on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine targeting more officials and organisations accused of supporting the war, spreading propaganda or supplying drones, as well as restricting trade on products that could be used by the armed forces. The EU's Swedish presidency said the sanctions "are directed at military and political decision-makers, companies supporting or working within the Russian military industry, and commanders in the Wagner Group. Transactions with some of Russia's largest banks are also prohibited. Asset freezes were slapped on three more Russian banks and seven Iranian entities - companies, agencies, political parties or other organizations - that manufacture military drones, which the EU suspects have been used by Russia during the war. The new measures, proposed by the EU's executive branch three weeks ago, were only adopted after much internal wrangling over their exact make-up, and made public one day aft

I will get personally involved: German Chancellor on India-EU FTA

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Saturday underlined the importance of the proposed free trade agreement (FTA) between India and the European Union for boosting two-way trade and said he will personally get involved to see its early fruition. After holding wide-ranging talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Scholz said the finalisation of the FTA and the investment protection pacts will contribute significantly to expand India-Germany trade as well. The German Chancellor said he and the Indian prime minister are committed to finalising the deal. "We want to further deepen trade relations between the European Union and India and this is why we speak strongly for the free trade agreement. It is an important topic and I will get personally involved to ensure that this does not drag on," he said. Scholz said over 1,800 German companies are operating in India and have provided thousands of jobs. "India has so much talent to offer and we want to benefit from that cooperation. We want

European Union slaps sanctions on top Russia officials, banks, trade

The European Union agreed on Saturday to impose new sanctions on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine targeting more officials and organizations accused of supporting the war, spreading propaganda or supplying drones, as well as restricting trade on products that could be used by the armed forces. The EU's Swedish presidency said the sanctions "are directed at military and political decision-makers, companies supporting or working within the Russian military industry, and commanders in the Wagner Group. Transactions with some of Russia's largest banks are also prohibited. Asset freezes were slapped on three more Russian banks and seven Iranian entities companies, agencies, political parties or other organisations that manufacture military drones, which the EU suspects have been used by Russia during the war. The new measures, proposed by the EU's executive branch three weeks ago, were only adopted after much internal wrangling over their exact make-up, and made public one day after

European Union agrees for new sanctions against Russia on war anniversary

The European Union on Friday, the first anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, agreed to a new round of sanctions against Moscow, Deutsche Welle (DW) reported.This comes as the tenth sanction package to be adopted by the EU member states.European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen had promised Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during her visit to Kyiv earlier this month that the EU would "aim to have the tenth package of sanctions in place" by the one-year mark of Russia's invasion, according to DW.The new sanctions target entities supporting war and spreading Russian propaganda.According to Sweden, which took over the Council's rotating presidency at the beginning of the year, the new measures "targeted restricted measures against individuals and entities supporting the war, spreading propaganda or delivering drones used by Russia in the war.""Together, the EU member states have imposed the most forceful and far-reaching sanctions ever to help Ukraine ...

Free trade agreement with EU may take longer to conclude, says Piyush Goyal

Union commerce minister Piyush Goyal on Friday said a free trade agreement with the European Union (EU) will take longer as negotiations with the 27-country bloc will be prolonged. Active negotiations for the FTAs (free trade agreements) are ongoing with two-three countries and the EU, Goyal said speaking at the Technotex event here organised by industry lobby Ficci. He said there will soon be some "good news", the pact with the EU may take longer. "EU will take a longer time, because there are 27 countries which have to come on the same page," the minister said. Last year, India signed FTAs with Australia and United Arab Emirates. Reports had suggested that the country is in talks with other countries including the United Kingdom, Israel and Canada. Goyal said the government is mulling to come out with a production linked incentive scheme for the finished goods sector, but did not elaborate on the same. He said the government has received applications for only Rs 250 crore for .

European Union carbon price passes symbolic 100 euros as reforms bite

The price of releasing planet-heating carbon into the atmosphere rose above 100 euros (about $107) in the European Union for the first time this week, a signal that experts said Wednesday speaks for the bloc's efforts to make polluting costlier. The EU has laid down a path to become carbon neutral by 2050, meaning it would only emit as much carbon dioxide as can be absorbed again through natural or artificial means. In 2005 it established an emissions trading system, or ETS, where major emitters have to buy allowances for every ton of CO2 they release. The price, calculated per ton of carbon dioxide or equivalent greenhouse gas emissions, had long remained under 25 euros before rising sharply about two years ago. It had hovered around 90 euros for the past year until Tuesday, when it passed the 100-euro mark for the first time. No one thought it would be likely or feasible that the price would go up to such a level in such a short time, said Michael Pahle, who heads the energy polic

China-US superpower rivalry grows after war sweeps away multipolar world

The world order that seems to be emerging out of the Ukrainian rubble looks an awful lot like that of the Cold War

Microsoft's Xbox makes case for Activision merger amid EU scrutiny

Microsoft's Xbox video game division has announced new partnerships with Nintendo and chipmaker Nvidia as it tries to persuade European regulators to approve its planned USD68.7 billion takeover of game publishing giant Activision Blizzard. A key audience for the announcements were the European Union antitrust regulators who held a closed-door meeting Tuesday with executives from Microsoft and some of their competitors, including Sony and Google. Microsoft announced a 10-year agreement with chipmaker Nvidia to bring Xbox games to Nvidia's cloud gaming service. Microsoft also said it has now signed a similar deal with Nintendo, formalizing a commitment it revealed late last year. What it does not have is an agreement with Xbox's chief rival, PlayStation-maker Sony, which has sought to convince antitrust regulators around the world to stop the Activision Blizzard merger. The all-cash deal, which is set to be the largest in the history of the tech industry, faces pushback from regulat

EU, NATO, Ukraine to ramp up arms production, procurement: Officials

NATO will help Ukraine develop a procurement system that is effective, transparent and accountable, the NATO Secretary General added

EU trusts India's G20 Presidency to find a way in Russia-Ukraine war: Envoy

"We're not living in a business-as-usual situation. The Russian invasion of Ukraine is totally unjustified, a clear violation of the UN Charter," he said

UK PM Rishi Sunak set for his biggest political test yet with Brexit deal

Sunak oversaw a diplomatic flurry in recent days, holding meetings with parties in Northern Ireland and with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to lay the groundwork

EU formally bans gas, diesel car sales from 2035 to boost EV transition

In a move to boost the transition to electric vehicles (EVs), the European Parliament has approved the law to ban the sale of new gas and diesel cars in the EU, starting in 2035.

575 small firms hiring employees laid off by tech giants: Report

India third in global tech-hiring geographies; USA and European Union lead

EU forecasts economic growth for the year, but inflation still painful

The European Union's executive branch has raised its economic growth forecast for the year, saying Europe will narrowly avoid a recession and has already passed its inflation peak as natural gas prices fall from astronomical highs. But the European Commission warned Monday that the high prices plaguing consumers will keep holding back the economy for months to come. Growth for 2023 should reach 0.8 per cent for the 20 EU countries that use the euro currency, the commission said in its winter economic outlook. That is an increase from 0.3 per cent expected in the last outlook from November. For the broader 27-nation bloc, growth was estimated at 0.9 per cent, also up from 0.3 per cent. Getting credit for the improvement was the high level of natural gas storage that has alleviated fears of energy rationing over the winter. European utilities and governments raced to line up new supplies after Russia cut off most natural gas deliveries to Europe amid the war in Ukraine. Prices for .

Indian refiners may buy Russian oil for domestic demand, export own: Report

With these imports, India can maintain a domestic inventory of refined products like petrol and diesel

Indian private refiners may gain from EU's ban on Russian oil products

Indian refiners can process cheap Russian crude into products, and export to Europe

European Union assures Ukraine of support as Zelensky visits Brussels

Ukraine and the EU are "one family," European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen added, and that the country can depend on Europe's continued support in its fight against Russia

Ukraine's Zelenskyy makes emotional appeal for European Union membership

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Thursday that a Ukraine that is winning its war with Russia should be a member of the European Union, arguing the bloc wouldn't be complete without it. Zelenskyy made his appeal during an emotional day at EU headquarters in Brussels as he wrapped up a rare, two-day trip outside Ukraine to seek new weaponry from the West to repel the full-scale invasion that Moscow has been waging for nearly a year. As he spoke, a new offensive by Russia in eastern Ukraine was under way. Zelenskyy, who also visited the UK and France, received rapturous applause and cheers from the European Parliament and a summit of the 27 EU leaders, insisting in his speech that the fight with Russia was one for the freedom of all of Europe. A Ukraine that is winning is going to be member of the European Union, Zelenskyy said, building his appeal around the common destiny that Ukraine and the bloc face in confronting Russia. Europe will always be, and remain Europe as long as

Big Russia presence in India Energy Summit indicates stronger ties

The European Union ban on seaborne Russian fuel shipments, coupled with earlier restrictions on the bloc's crude purchases, give more impetus for Moscow to ramp up the flows to India

EU Parliament planning for possible Zelenksyy visit in upcoming days

The European Union's legislature was preparing plans Monday to host Volodymyr Zelenskyy should the Ukraine president decide to come to Brussels to attend an EU summit later this week. Two sources in the parliament, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue, said such plans are only meant to prepare the legislature to host Zelenskyy if security conditions permit him to attend Thursday's meeting. When he would come, we would be ready, said one of the sources, stressing that because of security concerns any decision could only come at the last moment. EU leaders from 27-nation bloc will be gathering for Thursday's summit in Brussels, enabling Zelenskyy to meet all major leaders of the bloc in one day. Zelenskyy has often addressed EU summits only through video calls from Ukraine. Zelenskyy has long had an open invitation to come to Brussels if he chose to. It remains unclear whether Zelenskyy would be able to travel as Russian forces are keeping ...