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FTA with EU by end of 2025, says PM Modi as bloc's next chair Cyprus vows ‘better ties'
Modi, on an official visit to the east Mediterranean island, said there were unlimited possibilities in expanding economic ties with Cyprus in a visit aimed at pushing forward India's global trade agenda read more
India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Cyprus' President Nikos Christodoulides hold a joint press conference after their meeting at the presidential palace in Nicosia, Cyprus. Reuters
India expects to finalise a free trade agreement with the European Union by the end of this year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Monday, while Cyprus, which assumes the EU presidency in 2026, said better ties would be its priority.
Modi, on an official visit to the east Mediterranean island, said there were unlimited possibilities in expanding economic ties with Cyprus in a visit aimed at pushing forward India's global trade agenda.
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'We are working on finalising a mutually beneficial India-EU trade agreement by the end of this year,' Modi said in joint remarks with Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides.
India is pursuing a trade link by sea and rail known as the India-Middle East-Europe Corridor, but the visit is being held in the shadow of an escalating crisis in the Middle East.'We agree the India - Middle East Europe Corridor will pave the way for peace and prosperity in the region,' Modi said.
Cyprus, which has close relations with India through its shared membership of the Commonwealth, is offering facilities to be a first point of entry to Europe and a transhipment hub, Christodoulides said.
'A strengthening of EU-India relations will be among the priorities of the Cypriot EU presidency,' Christodoulides said. Cyprus assumes the rotating six-month presidency of the bloc in early 2026.
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India Gazette
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HL Indian students in Iran to be relocated- Foreign Ministry
New Delhi is planning to relocate some Indian students in Iran to "safer places" within the country, and is also exploring "other feasible options" for their safety, the Indian foreign ministry said on Monday. More than 1,500 Indian students, most of them from the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir, are stranded in Iran, the NDTV news channel said on Monday. Parents of the stranded Indian students have appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar, requesting their intervention to ensure the safe return of their children, local media said. Israel launched "Operation Rising Lion" on Friday against Iran, which retaliated with missiles attacks against the Jewish state. Since then, both countries have launched further missile barrages against each other. The majority of Indian students in Iran, who are primarily pursuing medical degrees in cities such as Tehran, Shiraz, and Qom, are now awaiting assistance to return home, the NDTV news channel has reported. On Monday the Indian Embassy in Tehran said it isclosely monitoringthe security situation and is in constant touch with the students. The embassy, which on Sunday, advised all Indian nationals and Persons of Indian Origin to remain vigilant, has provided a link to a Google Docs form on its X account to provide their contact details. The mission has also provided a link to a Telegram group and asked Indian citizens to join it to receive updates. All flights to and from Iran have been suspended, with the country's airspace remaining indefinitely closed for commercial aviation. According to a report by news magazine The Week, five Indian students, including three from Kashmir and two from Maharashtra, were injured in Israeli airstrikes. "Around 300 of us were shifted to a safer location, which I cannot reveal for security reasons," a student was quoted as saying to the magazine. New Delhi has requested that Tehran facilitates the safe evacuation of its stranded citizens. Iran said on Monday that although the country's airspace is currently closed, all land borders remained open, allowing for safe evacuation. India enjoys warm ties with Iran's neighbor Armenia, which is seen as a safe destination for Indian students. (
