'Completely unacceptable': Germany condemns China for targeting German aircraft with laser, summons envoy
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
29 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
PM Modi meets Maldives President Muizzu in reset of ties after ‘India Out' row
Prime Minister Narendra Modi formally held talks with President Mohamed Muizzu of the Maldives on Friday evening. Modi's two-day trip to the island nation, which comes immediately after his landmark visit to the UK, holds strategic significance as Muizzu had come to power in 2023 on an 'India Out' poll campaign. Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a ceremonial welcome on his arrival in Malé on Friday. Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu also present.(DPR PMO/ANI) Modi landed in Male early Friday, and is the first foreign leader to visit President Muizzu. India is expected to extend a line of credit worth $565 million to the Maldives, and talks on a Free Trade Agreement are expected to formally begin. Also read | India-UK sign FTA, PM Starmer calls it 'most significant' deal since EU exit Modi will also remotely inaugurate the expansion of an international airport on the island of Hanimadhoo, which India is helping to finance. On Saturday, he will attend celebrations of Maldives' 60th anniversary of independence from Britain. How India-Maldives relations came back on track Relations between the two countries soured soon after Muizzu took office with a pledge to end the Maldives' 'India first' policy, and upgraded ties with China. New Delhi, however, regained its influence as it helped to prevent the $7.5-billion Maldives economy from defaulting on its debt, a Reuters report analysed. Muizzu visited India last October, and has visited China too — the two countries are Male's largest lenders — to secure financial support. Also read | India-UK sign FTA, PM Starmer calls it 'most significant' deal since EU exit Before Modi left for his trip, Indian foreign secretary Vikram Misri said steady diplomacy had helped to rebuild India-Maldives ties: 'There will always be events that will impact or try to intrude on the relationship. But I think this is testimony to the kind of attention that has been paid to the relationship, and including attention at the highest levels.' Former Maldives foreign minister Abdulla Shahid told Reuters that Modi's visit indicated Muizzu had "decided to step back and correct the narrative". The Maldives is a 'very important partner' in India's Neighborhood First policy MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions) vision, the Indian foreign secretary said in his briefing earlier in the week.
Time of India
38 minutes ago
- Time of India
India's UK trade deal skips carbon tax exemption, hits steel and aluminium exports: GTRI
India was unable to secure a carve-out from the UK's upcoming carbon tax regime under the newly signed Free Trade Agreement (FTA), a shortcoming that could hurt Indian exports of carbon-intensive products such as steel and aluminium from 2027, according to think tank Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI). The UK government plans to implement its Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) starting January 2027, following the European Union's lead in imposing climate-linked levies on imports with high carbon footprints, PTI reported. Only Trusted Hands Will Get India's Data: Sunil Bharti Mittal on UK FTA's Bigger Tech Diplomacy Play GTRI founder Ajay Srivastava said India's failure to negotiate a CBAM exemption in the UK FTA creates a trade imbalance. 'From January 2027, the UK can impose carbon taxes on Indian steel and aluminum, even as we grant UK goods duty-free access. That's a serious asymmetry,' Srivastava said, adding, 'Expect the same treatment in India's trade agreement with the EU.' he said. According to GTRI estimates published in May, India's exports worth $775 million to the UK — including iron, steel, aluminium, fertiliser and cement — may face higher tariffs once Britain enforces CBAM. The tax is expected to range between 14% and 24%, affecting key industrial exports. The UK would become the second major economy after the EU to apply such a border adjustment on emissions, initially targeting sectors such as iron and steel, aluminium, fertiliser, hydrogen, ceramics, glass and cement. India has previously expressed strong concerns over carbon border taxes, labelling them discriminatory and a potential trade barrier. A government official familiar with the negotiations said that while an exemption could not be secured in the current deal, New Delhi has preserved its right to seek remedies if future carbon measures materially impact Indian exports. The official noted that provisions for retaliation or rebalancing of concessions remain on the table if such tariffs are imposed. Stay informed with the latest business news, updates on bank holidays and public holidays . AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
The Hindu
39 minutes ago
- The Hindu
Hong Kong issues bounties for 19 overseas activists on subversion charges
Hong Kong police announced bounties on Friday (July 25, 2025) for information leading to the arrest of 19 overseas activists, accusing them of national security crimes. Political dissent in Hong Kong has been quashed since Beijing imposed a sweeping national security law in 2020 after huge, sometimes violent pro-democracy protests the year before. Many opposition figures have fled abroad, while others have been arrested and sentenced to years in jail. Police said the 19 activists were involved in what they called a 'subversive organisation', Hong Kong Parliament — a pro-democracy NGO established in Canada. On July 1, Hong Kong Parliament said on social media that it was holding an unofficial poll online to form a 'legislature', aimed at 'opposing one-party dictatorship and tyranny and pursuing Hong Kong people ruling Hong Kong'. In a statement on Friday (July 25, 2025), police accused the group of seeking to 'unlawfully overthrow and undermine the fundamental system' of the Chinese and Hong Kong authorities. The investigation into the organisation is ongoing, the police said, warning that they 'will offer bounties to hunt down more suspects in the case if necessary'. They also called on the accused to 'return to Hong Kong and turn themselves in, rather than make further mistakes'. A reward of HK$200,000 ($25,500) each was offered for 15 of the activists, while the four others were already wanted for HK$1 million, the statement said. Symbolic bounties The bounties are seen as largely symbolic given that they affect people living abroad in nations unlikely to extradite political activists to Hong Kong or China. Friday's (July 25, 2025) announcement is the fourth time the financial hub's authorities have offered rewards for help capturing those alleged to have violated the city's national security laws. According to the Hong Kong police's website, as of Friday (July 25, 2025) there are now 34 people wanted for national security offences, including secession, subversion, or foreign collusion. Previous rounds of bounties were met with intense criticism from Western countries, with Hong Kong and China in turn railing against foreign 'interference'. Hong Kong has also previously cancelled the passports of other pro-democracy activists on its wanted list, under its second homegrown national security law enacted in 2024. As of July 1, authorities had arrested 333 people for alleged national security crimes, with 165 convicted in Hong Kong. Earlier this month, Hong Kong police arrested four people, including a 15-year-old, who were allegedly part of a group in Taiwan that called for the overthrow of the Chinese Communist Party. This week police said they had arrested an 18-year-old for writing 'seditious words' on a toilet wall in a commercial building.
