
Air sirens part of life, nearly 1,500 Indian students still in Ukraine: Malayali doctor
He is currently on a short visit to his ancestral house at Edappally.
'Air sirens have become a part of our lives. As they sound, we will all go to the underground shelters. The country has an underground metro system and the stations will be packed with people when the air sirens go off,' Menon said at the Changampuzha Park as part of a talk on 'Devastation Due to War: A First-Hand Account'.
While most of the foreign citizens have fled the country, many foreign students pursuing higher education have returned, he said.
'There are now only around 50 Indians continuing to reside in the country. However, there are nearly 1,500 Indian students. The medical course there is of six years. Those who were studying up to third or fourth year courses have migrated to universities in other countries like Georgia. But the students in the final year semesters (5 and 6) have returned and are studying in universities located close to eastern Europe,' he said.
Menon is set to return to Ukraine on July 19. Having settled down in Kyiv, Ukraine's capital, he is running a medical consultancy there.

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Business Standard
19 minutes ago
- Business Standard
Europe, China agree to take action on climate change during Beijing summit
China and the European Union have issued a joint call to action on climate change during an otherwise tense bilateral summit in Beijing on Thursday riven with major disagreements over trade and the war in Ukraine. The two economic juggernauts issued a joint statement on climate change, urging more emission cuts and greater use of green technology and affirming their support for the Paris Climate Agreement as well as calling for strong action at the upcoming COP30 climate summit in Brazil. In the fluid and turbulent international situation today, it is crucial that all countries, notably the major economies, maintain policy continuity and stability and step up efforts to address climate change, the joint statement said. Their climate agreement was a silver lining on a stormy day where European leaders demanded a more balanced relationship with China in talks with President Xi Jinping. They highlighted trade in their opening remarks, calling for concrete progress to address Europe's yawning trade deficit with China. As our cooperation has deepened, so have the imbalances, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said. We have reached an inflection point. Rebalancing our bilateral relation is essential. Because to be sustainable, relations need to be mutually beneficial. Little movement expected Expectations were low ahead of the talks, initially supposed to last two days but scaled back to one. They come amid financial uncertainty around the world, wars in the Middle East and Ukraine, and the threat of US tariffs. Neither the EU nor China is likely to budge on key issues. European Council President Antonio Costa called on China to use its influence over Russia to bring an end to the war in Ukraine a long-running plea from European leaders that is likely to fall again on deaf ears. Xi called for deeper cooperation between China and Europe to provide stability in an increasingly complex world. Both sides should set aside differences and seek common ground, he said, a phrase he often uses in relationships like the one with the EU. China is willing to strengthen coordination on climate and make greater contributions to addressing climate change, he said, but he pushed back against EU restrictions on Chinese exports. We hope the EU will keep its trade and investment markets open, refrain from using restrictive economic and trade tools and provide a good business environment for Chinese companies to invest and develop in Europe, he said, according to a readout posted online by state broadcaster CCTV. US tariff threats weigh on EU-China cooperation Besides trade and the Ukraine war, von der Leyen and Costa were expected to raise concerns about Chinese cyberattacks and espionage, its restrictions on the export of rare earth minerals and its human rights record in Tibet, Hong Kong and Xinjiang. The EU, meanwhile, has concerns about a looming trade battle with the United States. Europe is being very careful not to antagonise President Trump even further by looking maybe too close to China, so all of that doesn't make this summit easier, said Fabian Zuleeg, chief economist of the European Policy Centre. It will be very hard to achieve something concrete. China's stance has hardened on the EU, despite a few olive branches, like the suspension of sanctions on European lawmakers who criticised Beijing's human rights record in Xinjiang province, where it is accused of a widespread campaign of repression against the Uyghurs. China believes it has successfully weathered the US tariffs storm because of its aggressive posture, said Noah Barkin, an analyst at the Rhodium Group think tank. China has come away emboldened from its trade confrontation with Trump. That has reduced its appetite for making concessions to the EU, he said. Now that Trump has backed down, China sees less of a need to woo Europe. Trade disputes range from rare earths to EVs Like the US, the 27-nation EU bloc runs a massive trade deficit with China around 300 billion Euros (USD 350 billion) last year. It relies heavily on China for critical minerals and the magnets made from them for cars and appliances. When China curtailed the export of those products in response to Trump's tariffs, European automakers cried foul. The EU has imposed tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles to support its carmakers by balancing out Beijing's heavy auto subsidies. China would like those tariffs revoked. The rapid growth in China's market share in Europe has sparked concern that Chinese cars will eventually threaten the EU's ability to produce its own green technology to combat climate change. Business groups and unions also fear that the jobs of 2.5 million auto industry workers could be put in jeopardy, as well those of 10.3 million more people whose employment depends indirectly on EV production. China has launched investigations into European pork and dairy products, and placed tariffs on French cognac and armagnac. It has criticised new EU regulations of medical equipment sales and fears upcoming legislation that could further target Chinese industries, said Alicia Garcia-Herrero, a China analyst at the Bruegel think tank. The EU has leverage because China needs to sell goods to the bloc, Garca-Herrero said. The EU remains China's largest export market, so China has every intention to keep it this way, especially given the pressure coming from the US, she said. China bristles at EU sanctions over Russia's war against Ukraine. The latest package included two Chinese banks that the EU accused of links to Russia's war industry. China's Commerce Ministry protested the listing and vowed to respond with necessary measures to resolutely safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises and financial institutions. The EU looks beyond Beijing and Washington Buffeted between a combative Washington and a hardline Beijing, the EU has more publicly sought new alliances elsewhere, inking a trade pact with Indonesia and drafting trade deals with South America and Mexico. Costa and von der Leyen visited Tokyo the day before their meetings in Beijing, launching an alliance with Japan to boost economic cooperation, defend free trade and counter unfair trade practices. Both Europe and Japan see a world around us where protectionist instincts grow, weaknesses get weaponised, and every dependency exploited, von der Leyen said. So it is normal that two like-minded partners come together to make each other stronger.


India.com
19 minutes ago
- India.com
Geeta Gopinath's husband cleared UPSC twice, topped exam in 1996, left IAS due to..., his name is...
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Mint
19 minutes ago
- Mint
India opens up autos, services, liquor to UK; gains access in goods
Cosmetics, chocolates, medical devices and aerospace goods from the UK are set to become sharply cheaper in India after the two countries signed a landmark trade deal on Thursday, while Indian seafood, textiles, leather footwear, and gems and jewellery get to enter the UK duty-free. Lovers of Scotch whiskey and imported cars have reason to cheer too, though the duty benefits will unroll over the years—and in the case of automobiles, there will be stiff quotas on how many vehicles can be imported at lower duty, after which regular tariffs kick in. The agreement kept out the UK's contentious carbon border tax, as well as post-study work visas for Indian students in the UK. On professionals moving between the two countries too, the liberalization was modest. The agreement marks a significant reset in bilateral economic relations, and unveils an ambitious joint roadmap for cooperation through 2035. Expansive deal The India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) is among the most wide-ranging deals ever concluded by India, and the most expansive trade pact signed by the UK in the Indo-Pacific after it left the European Union. The deal takes effect once both parliaments ratify it, which may take six months or more. Both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the deal as a win for their nations. Nearly 45% of India's exports to the UK will now enter duty-free, offering a significant boost to India's labour-intensive sectors. Tariffs on Indian processed food falls from 70% to zero, making them sharply cheaper in the UK. The UK will immediately drop tariffs on most Indian goods, including engineering products, chemicals, base metals, and marine items, where Indian exports will now enjoy zero duty instead of existing rates of 8% to 20%. The deal grants India preferential access to the UK's $37.5 billion agri-market, even as New Delhi safeguarded sensitive sectors such as dairy, fresh apples, and vegetable seeds from tariff concessions. Cheaper British goods Tariffs on the UK's soaps, perfumes, shaving creams, and nail polish, as well as chocolates and medical devices, will drop from an average of 20% to around nil. Indian fishermen and marine exporters are major gainers, given that the UK's duties on these items, currently as high as 20%, drops to zero, opening up a $5.4 billion opportunity. India has kept items such as gold bars, smartphones, blue-veined cheese, walnuts, and specific agricultural items out of the ambit of tariff concessions. The UK, too, has shielded its dairy, semi-milled rice, solid cane sugar and several processed meat items. Automobiles, liquor The FTA allows the UK to ship to India up to 20,000 completely built units (CBUs) in the first year at 30%—against the current rate of 110%—depending on engine capacity. (From the 20,001st vehicle, 95% duty will apply in first year and it will gradually reduce to 50% in 10th year and onwards). The quota will expand to 37,000 CBUs by year five and then taper to 15,000 by year 15. Electric, hybrid and hydrogen vehicles get no concessions in the first five years. After that, India will allow up to 4,400 premium EVs in sixth year at 50%, with tariffs reduced to 10% by year 10 —limited only to vehicles priced above £40,000 CIF. The cap of 22,000 total vehicles over 15 years remains unchanged. The liberalization model is quota-based and designed to benefit luxury vehicles while protecting India's mass-market auto segment. 'This sends a positive signal to UK exporters but does not compromise India's EV localization or Make-in-India push," said an Indian automotive executive. 'This is for the first time that India has included automobiles and alcoholic beverages under a tariff liberalization framework in an FTA, which marks a significant shift," a senior official involved in the negotiations told Mint. For alcoholic beverages, including Scotch whisky, brandy, and rum, the 150% duty will be halved over 10 years for products meeting a Minimum Import Price (MIP) threshold of $5 per litre or $6 per 750 ml bottle. This is expected to help premium brands gain better access without affecting the domestic market for low-cost spirits. 'It's more of a market access gesture than a consumption game-changer," said Vinod Giri, a liquor industry expert. Social security pact The Double Contribution Convention (DCC) agreed by the two countries ensures that employees temporarily working in the other country pay social security contributions only in their home country, avoiding dual contributions for up to three years. Among the non-tariff elements, the FTA includes legally binding commitments on services, investment, government procurement, and intellectual property. UK-based financial and professional services will gain guaranteed market access and equal treatment under India's investment rules. Indian workers in the UK will be exempt from social security contributions for three years, a move expected to benefit around 75,000 individuals. On mobility, India will be allowed to send up to 1,800 professionals annually—including chefs, yoga instructors, and classical musicians—to work temporarily in the UK. The pact also sets up institutional mechanisms for cooperation in customs procedures, rules of origin, and digital trade. The FTA is expected to deliver fresh investments worth nearly £6 billion from the UK into India. British companies, including Rolls-Royce and Airbus, announced new aviation contracts and joint manufacturing deals at the signing ceremony. 'India is an important market for our business," said Rolls-Royce CEO Tufan Erginbilgic. 'We welcome the provisions in this FTA that bring us closer to international standards and future aerospace growth." Vision 2035 Both leaders also unveiled the UK-India Vision 2035, a broad strategic roadmap that outlines cooperation in defence manufacturing, border security, climate action, and education. A Defence Industrial Roadmap has been launched to steer joint development and procurement. The two sides also pledged deeper coordination on technology, intelligence sharing, and tackling organized crime. India has opened several critical segments of its services economy to British firms, offering unprecedented access in sectors such as accounting, auditing, financial services (with the FDI cap in insurance retained at 74%), telecom (allowing 100% FDI), environmental services, and auxiliary air transport. UK firms will now be able to offer telecom, construction, and related services in India without needing to set up a local entity, and will enjoy national treatment—ensuring they are treated on par with domestic firms, as per the FTA document. Professional qualifications India has also agreed to recognize UK professional qualifications in select areas such as law and accounting, although legal services as a sector remain closed. The pact guarantees no numerical caps on UK service providers and grants commercial presence rights across several domains. India has maintained regulatory carve-outs in sensitive areas such as legal practice, taxation, and national security, and full mutual recognition of professional qualifications remains limited. In contrast, the UK's offer on services is more cautious, with limited liberalization beyond select areas such as computer services, consultancy, and environmental services. 'The UK has allowed an annual quota of 1,800 temporary visas for roles like yoga instructors and classical musicians, but has not made binding commitments on broader mobility categories such as business visitors or IT professionals," said Ajay Srivastava, founder of Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI), a think tank. 'The UK's decision not to restore post-study work visas also remains a point of contention for Indian students, as the agreement does not override the UK's existing points-based immigration system," he said. With tariff elimination of up to 18% under the CETA, India's engineering exports to the UK are projected to nearly double over the next five years, crossing $7.5 billion by 2029–30, a commerce ministry statement said. 'As India has not secured a carve-out or exemption clause on CBAM, we've lost a vital opportunity to protect our carbon-intensive exports," said GTRI's Srivastava. 'From January 2027, the UK can impose carbon taxes on Indian steel and aluminium, even as we grant UK goods duty-free access. That's a serious asymmetry. We should expect similar treatment under the India-EU FTA as well."