National

India and EU Engage in Trade and Technology Discussions Following Commitment to Finalize FTA Agreement

Published

12 months ago

March 1, 2025

With India and the European Union (EU) set to finalize a bilateral Free Trade Agreement (FTA) by the end of the year, high-level ministerial delegations from both sides convened last night for the second meeting of the India-EU Trade and Technology Council (TTC).

The meeting was co-chaired by India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, and Minister for Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw.

On the EU side, the session was co-chaired by Executive Vice-President Henna Virkkunen, Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security Maros Sefcovic, and Commissioner for Start-ups, Research, and Innovation Ekaterina Zaharieva, according to a joint statement.

Established in April 2022 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, the India-EU TTC serves as a vital bilateral platform to tackle challenges at the intersection of trade, technology, and security.

Both India and the EU, as two large democracies with open market economies and shared values, are natural allies in a multipolar world. The enhancement of their bilateral relations and the increasing strategic alignment respond to the evolving global geopolitical landscape and a mutual interest in fostering global stability, economic security, and sustainable inclusive growth.

In this context, both parties reiterated the significance of a rules-based international order, emphasizing full respect for principles such as sovereignty, territorial integrity, transparency, and peaceful dispute resolution.

The TTC underscores the shared recognition between the EU and India of the critical relationship between trade and technology, acknowledging the potential for mutually beneficial cooperation that can bolster both economies while addressing related security challenges.

Additionally, both sides noted the promising opportunities within their partnership to bolster resilience, enhance connectivity, and advance the development of green and clean technologies, as highlighted in the press release.

This meeting marked the second gathering of the TTC, following the inaugural meeting held in Brussels on May 16, 2023. The recent Ministerial Meeting offered political direction for future endeavors, with a stock-taking meeting scheduled for November 24, 2023, to assess progress made by the three TTC working groups.

National

Three Burned Alive as Car Falls from Bridge in Gujarat’s Rajkot

Published

2 weeks ago

January 31, 2026

Namma Kudla

Gujarat: A tragic accident claimed the lives of three people in Gujarat’s Rajkot district on Monday.A car fell from a bridge and caught fire, killing all occupants on the spot.

The incident occurred on the Gondal–Atkot highway.The car was travelling from Chhota Udepur towards Gondal.

According to reports, the vehicle hit the bridge’s safety barrier.After the collision, the car fell nearly eight feet into a small stream below the bridge.

Soon after the fall, the car caught fire.The occupants were trapped inside the vehicle and were unable to escape.All three were burned alive and died at the scene.

Police and fire personnel rushed to the spot after receiving information.The fire was later brought under control.The bodies were recovered and sent for post-mortem examination.

The exact cause of the accident is under investigation. Further details are awaited.

National

Girl Records Reels Inside Jail, Video Sparks Debate

Published

2 weeks ago

January 30, 2026

Namma Kudla

Bhopal: A young woman has come under public attention after recording reels inside a jail while meeting her boyfriend.

The incident happened at Raipur Central Jail in Chhattisgarh, which is known for high security. Mobile phones are strictly not allowed inside the jail. Despite this rule, the woman carried her phone into the visitor room.

She recorded videos while talking to her boyfriend during the meeting. In the video, she speaks emotionally about visiting him on his birthday. She says she feels sad because she cannot stay with him on his special day.

After the meeting, she uploaded the video on her social media account. The video quickly went viral on different platforms. The inmate seen in the video is identified as Tarakeshwar.

He is currently lodged in Raipur Central Jail. He is an accused in a case under the NDPS Act. The incident has raised serious questions about jail security.

People on social media are criticising jail staff and officials. Many users are asking how a mobile phone was allowed inside the jail.

They are also questioning the checking process at the jail entrance. So far, jail authorities have not given any official reaction.

National

MBBS Student Alleges She Was Drugged, Raped by Friend in Delhi Hotel

Published

4 months ago

October 6, 2025

Namma Kudla

New Delhi: An 18-year-old MBBS student has accused a 20-year-old male friend of drugging and sexually assaulting her at a hotel in Delhi’s Adarsh Nagar area. The alleged incident took place on September 9, police officials said.

According to the complaint, the accused, who is also a medical student, invited the woman to “Hotel Apple” on the pretext of spending time together. Once there, he allegedly gave her a drink laced with drugs and then raped her.

The survivor told police that the accused recorded obscene videos and took pictures during the assault. He later threatened to make the content viral if she reported the incident.

The woman, a native of Jind in Haryana, is currently staying at the hostel of Baba Saheb Ambedkar Medical College in Rohini, Delhi.

Based on her complaint, police have registered a case under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code. A search is underway to locate and arrest the accused, officials added.

In a separate case earlier this month, a school manager in Uttar Pradesh was arrested for allegedly raping a Class 8 student. In February, a tuition teacher in Delhi’s CR Park area was accused of repeatedly raping a 15-year-old student over three years and threatening her with blackmail.