Asian Lite News Archive

Category: EU News

  • EU mulls counter measures against Turkey

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    Member states of the European Union (EU) have agreed to prepare counter measures in response to Turkey’s naval activities in the Eastern Mediterranean. Following an urgent meeting convened by the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell, the 27 member states on Friday agreed that the recent naval mobilisations by Turkey…

  • Social distancing lowered virus spread by 45% in Europe

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    A new study has revealed that social distancing during the six weeks of the Covid-19 pandemic has reduced infection rates by up to 45 per cent in Europe, according to the University of Southern Denmark. “In these smartphone times, we have access to so much data that we can monitor pandemics in a completely new…

  • Women’s Int’l Cricket back in action

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    Women’s international cricket returned on Wednesday for the first time since the final of the T20 World Cup as Austria host Germany in the first of five T20Is. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all women’s T20I cricket had been postponed, but on Wednesday, it returned after seven months when Australia defeated India in front of…

  • EU supports neighbours in COVID-19 fight

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    The European Union (EU) has agreed Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) with eight non-EU partners to help their businesses limit the economic fallout of the coronavirus pandemic, the European Commission said. As of Tuesday, MoU have already been agreed with Albania, Georgia, Jordan, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Ukraine, the Commission said in a press…

  • Raikkonen breaks Schumacher’s Laps Record

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    Alpha Romeo driver Kimi Raikkonen surpassed legendary racer Michael Schumacher’s most laps record during the 70th Anniversary Grand Prix at Silverstone. Raikkonen has now raced a total of 16,845 laps in his career and he went past Schumacher’s mark, who had raced a total of 16,825 laps during the course of his illustrious career. The…

  • Greece begins patch up work

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    Greece appoints new finance minister, creditors ponder post-No vote scenario….reports Asian Lite News Greece appointed a new finance minister after Yanis Varoufakis announced his resignation even as the country voted “No” to a bailout offer in a landmark referendum. Heads of European institutions held a teleconference to discuss the consequences of the historic vote. Euclid…

  • EU crisis will linger till Euro exists

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    When the idea of a common currency was floated, it was politically impossible to reject. Principles of Economics 101 were abandoned and the Euro was introduced in 1999. This was of course an economic policy blunder …writes Vatsal Srivastava A great economic experiment began in 1951 with the formation of the European Coal and Steel…

  • Greece – A nation divided

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    Greece has missed the deadline for a €1.6bn (£1.1bn) payment to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), hours after eurozone ministers refused to extend its bailout….reports Asian Lite News Greece is the first advanced country to fail to repay a loan to the IMF and is now formally in arrears. There are fears that this could…

  • EU thaws ties with Latin America

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    European Commission (EC) president Jean-Claude Juncker, the European Council chief Donald Tusk and Ecuadorian president Rafael Correa concluded a “fruitfull” summit that brought together the leaders the European Union and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (Celac), Efe news agency reported. Correa, whose country chairs the pro-tempore presidency of Celac for this year,…

  • No 10 bars EU citizens to vote on referendum

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    Citizens of Commonwealth and Ireland besides the British voters will decide on UK’s In and Out referendum, No 10 said in a statement Prime Minister David Cameron will meet European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker at Chequers today to discuss issues related to UK-EU relations. Legislation for the voting eligibility of the referendum – which the…

  • Brexit secret papers sent to The Guardian

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    Senior officials of Bank of England mistakenly sent confidential documents related to the UK exit of EU to The Guardian newspaper. The officials are secretly researching the financial shocks that could hit Britain if there is a vote to leave the European Union in the forthcoming referendum. According to the confidential email, the press and most staff…

  • 100-Day Plan to set II Term Agenda

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    Prime Minister David Cameron will launch a 100-day plan to set an agenda to fulfill the election promises including the referendum on EU, boundary changes and the abolition of the Human Rights Act. The prime minister will assign Chancellor George Osborne to negotiate with Brussels, while confidante Michael Gove will deal with the abolition of…

  • Clothing giants urged to help Rana Plaza victims

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    The European Parliament adopted a strongly worded resolution to mark the Second Anniversary of the Rana Plaza building collapse in Bangladesh, which caused the the death of over 1100 people and left some 2500 people injured. The Rana Plaza building collapse was Bangladesh’s worst-ever industrial disaster and the deadliest accidental structural failure in modern history. While 27…

  • Farage’s UKIP =  BNP in New Bottle

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    Farage couldn’t understand why people kept calling him a Nazi…writes Yaseen Patel Hot on the heels of Channel 4’s The First 100 days of UKIP’ which was a fictional account, if the United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP) ever come into power- incidentally also the most complained about programme ever comes another. The BBC’s ‘Meet the UKippers’. This…

  • EU court rules against benefit tourists

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    Cameron claims victory as EU Court of Justice’s rules against benefit tourism  A new judgment issued today by the European Court of Justice has confirmed that migrants cannot move to another Member state solely to claim benefits and that the UK is fully able to impose the restrictions it wants on so-called benefits tourism. The…

  • India, Belgium renew ties

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    Minister of State for External Affairs Gen. (retd) V.K. Singh met Belgium’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Didier Reynders, the Indian embassy said. According to an embassy press release, V.K. Singh congratulated Reynders on behalf of the Indian government on the election of the new government in Belgium and his own re-appointment. He reaffirmed…

  • EU to ban fish from Sri Lanka

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    The European Union (EU) has decided to ban the import of fisheries products caught by vessels flagged in Sri Lanka from entering the EU market after three months time from now, the EU office said here in a statement. The European Commission had in November 2012 sent a warning to Sri Lanka saying, they were…

  • Gorbachev raps US over Europe

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    The last leader of the Soviet Union, Mikhail Gorbachev, has lashed out at the US and its President, Barack Obama, for describing Russia as one of the major threats to global security and “provoking” quarrels in Europe. “The main virus (in the world) is America and its leadership ambitions,” Gorbachev told the Russian News Service…

  • Sarkozy returning to politics

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    Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy has re-launched his political career with a rally near the city of Lille, media reported Friday. Last week, Sarkozy had announced that he would seek the leadership of the centre-right Union for a Popular Movement (UMP) party, BBC reported. The development came after the suspension Wednesday of a case against…

  • Eurozone needs fund to fuel growth

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    More investments were the only way for the European Union (EU) to accelerate its too slow recovery, finance ministers agreed at the Ecofin meeting held in Italy’s Milan. Italian Finance Minister Pier Carlo Padoan, who chaired the meeting in the country of the rotating EU presidency, said discussions were focused on measures to stimulate investments,…

  • EU delays Ukraine deal

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    EU delays implementation of association agreement with Ukraine The European Union (EU) announced to delay implementation of the association agreement with Ukraine until the end of 2015. EU Trade Commissioner Karl De Gucht, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Pavlo Klimkin and Minister of Economic Development of the Russian Federation Alexei Ulyukayev in a trilateral…

  • Italian marine being treated for stroke

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    Massimiliano Latorre, one of the two Italian marines facing trial in India for killing of two Indian fishermen in 2012, was discharged from a hospital here Sunday where he had been admitted after he suffered a transient ischemic attack or a mini stroke. Italian news agency ANSA, quoting medical sources in New Delhi, said that…

  • Apollo strikes deal with Man United

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    India-based Apollo Tyres strikes a deal with one of Europe’s most favourite football clubs to promote the brand in 69 countries across the world. Apollo Tyres in association with Manchster United will set up eco-friendly football pitches by using 100% recycled rubber from its own tyres to engage with the communities in the grass-root level.…

  • Ebola arrives in Europe

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    Ebola outbreak reaches the European shores as the first case was confirmed in Spain.  Doctors Without Borders (MSF) said the crisis gripping Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone would only get worse and warned there was no overarching strategy to handle the world’s worst outbreak of the disease. Spain has been preparing to accept Europe’s first…

  • UK gears up to mark WW1

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    World leaders are gathering in Belgium for one of a number of ceremonies marking 100 years since Britain joined World War One. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will be at the Liege event, as the Prince of Wales and PM attend a Glasgow service. UK buildings from Downing Street to the Blackpool Tower will turn…

  • Ebola virus a threat to UK

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    Britain’s chief scientist Sir Mark Walport said the Ebola virus and other deadly foreign diseases are a “potential major threat” to Britain. Sir Mark told the Daily Telegraph Ebola was a threat because of how “interconnected” the world is now. Public Health England has issued a national alert to UK doctors amid fears the virus,…

  • UK tightens benefit system

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    British Prime Minister David Cameron has announced a new plan that will allow the government to cut European Union (EU) migrants’ entitlement to benefits after just three months of claims, media reports said. “We want an immigration system that puts Britain first so if you come here illegally … we will make it harder for…

  • Labour MEPs seek peace in Gaza

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    Labour MEPs including North West’s Afzal Khan played a leading role in successful efforts to win strong, across-the-board parliamentary backing to call for an immediate ceasefire to end the death toll in Gaza. Richard Howitt MEP, Labour’s European spokesperson on foreign affairs, took part in negotiations for a resolution agreed by the European Parliament condemning…

  • Cameron to unveil final list today

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    British Prime Minister David Cameron is due to complete the final appointments in his biggest ministerial reshuffle later ahead of questions from MPs in the Commons, BBC reported. The prime minister made sweeping changes to his front bench, replacing Education Secretary Michael Gove and Foreign Secretary William Hague. Some junior posts are yet to be filled.…

  • PICS: Fireworks lit up Paris

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    Fireworks explode around the Eiffel Tower during the Bastille Day celebrations in Paris, capital of France. Bastille Day marks the July 14, 1789, storming of the Bastille prison by angry Paris crowds that helped spark the French Revolution. The French capital enjoyed a fireworks show , exceptionally fired from the Eiffel Tower.

  • SURVEY – Tories ahead of Labour

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    Nigel Farage’s Ukip support has plunged back from its high point of the European elections, giving a boost to all the established Westminster parties and pushing the Tories into the lead, according to a new Guardian/ICM poll. Ukip drops back into single figures to stand on 9%, down seven points from last month’s score of 16%.…

  • Clegg joins Srebrenica Memorial

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    British Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg commits to a Britain free from threats or harm on Srebrenica Memorial Day, 11 July   Today, 11 July, the international community remembers the Bosnian genocide, marking the 19th anniversary of when generations of families were wiped out. The Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg is one of many politicians Four Mothers of Srebrenica…

  • UK rushes surveillance legislation

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    Prime Minister David Cameron and his Liberal Democrat deputy, Nick Clegg, have unveiled emergency surveillance legislation that will shore up government powers to require phone and internet companies to retain and hand over data to the security services, The Guardian reported. The emergency legislation – due to be debated on Tuesday and complete all its…

  • Germany expels top US spy in espionage row

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    The German government Thursday decided to deport a representative of the US intelligence agencies in Berlin in view of the emerging US spy row. The German government took US espionage cases “very seriously”, Xinhua cited German government spokesman Steffen Seibert as saying Thursday in a statement. The representative of the US intelligence agencies at the…

  • EU seeks Afghan poll probe

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    EU urges Afghanistan to probe fraud in presidential poll The European Union (EU) called on the Afghanistan authorities to properly investigate the “serious” allegations of fraud in presidential election. “We note the publication of the preliminary results of the second round of the presidential election in Afghanistan and the fact that these results are subject…

  • Asian illegal migrants concern EU

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    Kavita Bajeli-Datt meets EU Commissioner for Home Affairs Cecilia Malmström in Brussels. The EU wants to discuss illegal migration with Modi government. In 2012, EU member-states returned around 12,000 Indian citizens found to be staying irregularly. Afghanistan (33,500) and Pakistan (29,000) are the two top countries from where illegal migrants were found staying illegally in EU. The European…

  • Sarkozy held over poll probe

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    French ex-President Nicolas Sarkozy has been detained for questioning over alleged influence peddling, BBC reported. The decision to detain him at Nanterre, near Paris, is an unprecedented step against a former president. Mr Sarkozy’s lawyer was questioned on Monday on suspicion of seeking inside information about a case against the former leader. The latest developments…

  • Queen’s historic visit to Belfast

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    Hard-core Republican and former IRA commander Martin McGuinness have shaken hands for the first time. It happened at the Lyric Theatre in Belfast, during an event organised by a charity, Co-Operation Ireland, which works to bring communities together. The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh toured several landmarks in Belfast including the 19th century Belfast prison…

  • PM toughens stance on Juncker

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    British Prime Minister David Cameron will call for a vote from fellow EU leaders on the next European Commission president if there is an attempt to rubber-stamp Jean-Claude Juncker in the role, BBC reported. Mr Cameron opposes the ex-Luxembourg PM, whom he sees as preventing EU reforms, and will demand a vote at a summit…

  • UK turns heat on EU leaders

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    British Prime Minister David Cameron has called for “bold leadership” in a newspaper article laying out his criteria for the new president of the European Commission. This comes as Britain leads a campaign, with Sweden and the Netherlands, to block the candidacy of Luxembourg’s ex-prime minister, Jean-Claude Juncker. German Chancellor Angela Merkel has publicly backed…

  • Recession hits Europe, America

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    The economic crisis in Europe and North America led to more than 10,000 extra suicides, according to figures from UK researchers. A study, published in the British Journal of Psychiatry, showed “suicides have risen markedly”. The research group said some deaths may have been avoidable as some countries showed no increase in suicide rate, BBC…

  • CBI in London over Airbus deal

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    A Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) team is to visit London next week to inquire into alleged graft in the purchase of Airbus aircraft almost a decade ago, informed sources said. The team will examine Airbus Executive Vice President Kiran Rao in connection with alleged irregularities in the over Rs.8,399-crore deal for 43 aircraft for…

  • ROME – A world quite like ours

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    Vikas Datta says the ancient Rome is almost like ours Picture a metropolis where citizens live in multi-storey buildings, throng streets teeming with people from all over the world, eagerly follow and gossip over the foibles of the rich and famous, are keenly involved in governance which however is a preserve of a professional breed of…

  • ECB aims to stem deflation

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    Vatsal Srivastava in his column Currency Corner ays European Central Bank has acted strongly to combat deflation The markets began 2014 looking to move in the direction of how two underlying themes play out – the “great rotation” and the “great normalisation”. Asset managers were bullish on equities. Since the financial crisis, money had largely…

  • UK threatens leave EU

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    German magazine Der Spiegel says British Prime Minister M David Cameron warned that the UK could leave the EU if Luxembourg ex-PM Jean-Claude Juncker became president of the European Commission. It reported Mr Cameron as saying that the appointment could destabilise his government, which may bring forward referendum plans on EU membership. Downing Street has…

  • Far-right victory to derail euro

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    Asian Lite looks in to the consequences of euroskeptic’s victory in the EU elections Anti-euro and anti-orthodox parties now account for at least a third of seats in the European Parliament. While the swing towards anti-Europe parties UKIP and the Front Nationale were widely anticipated in the UK and France, Germany’s anti-euro AfD party won…

  • EU leaders to review policies

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    The debacle in the elections prompt European Union leaders to re-evaluate the EU bloc’s agenda.  European Council President Herman Van Rompuy said leaders of the 28 member states had asked him to launch consultations on future policies. He was speaking after a meeting in Brussels to discuss big election gains by populist and far-right parties,…

  • Brussels Too Big, Bossy

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    British Prime Minister David Cameron has arrived for an EU summit, saying his message to other leaders was that “Brussels has got too big, too bossy, too interfering”. After the rise in votes for Eurosceptic parties, he said: “The European Union cannot just shrug off these results and carry on as before. We need change.”…

  • PM on damage control mission

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    Prime Minister David Cameron will travel to Brussels for an informal dinner with other EU leaders where the election EU results will be discussed. Following the debacle in the elections, Mr Cameron has pushed the case for changes in the relationship between Brussels and EU member states in a series of phone calls to other…

  • Eurosceptics sweep EU polls

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    Kaliph Anaz of Asian Lite, top Asian newspaper for British Asians, says the danger of the rise of  Eurosceptic parties is that Europe’s prolonged economic malaise boosts their support to the tipping point where they are eventually able to engineer their country’s withdrawal from Europe’s institutions Despite robust economic figures, Eurosceptic parties take lead as results…