Mea Culpa: Why Europe's Recalibrating On Palestine
Rashmee Roshan Lall
Aug 14, 2025, 21:51 IST
Israel's oldest allies in Europe are shifting course. France & Britain, who birthed the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, now lead Western nations to pledge recognition of Palestinian statehood – isolating US
It's a measure of the depths of horror evoked by images and accounts from Gaza that even colonialists of yesteryears seem seized by an attack of conscience. Or karma?
With Israel promising to take over Gaza City, even Germany announced a break with the country for which it has always felt a special responsibility due to the Holocaust. Chancellor Merz promised to suspend arms exports that Israel could use in Gaza. Germany is Israel's biggest supplier of arms after US – this would be Berlin's first punitive measure against a country it has unwaveringly supported.
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First Post
15 minutes ago
- First Post
Germany faces a China wall as it aims major upgrade of its military
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz wants his country to have the strongest military in Europe by 2031. But China's near monopoly on rare earth minerals could derail such plans for rearmament and military modernisation. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz wants his country to have the strongest military in Europe, but China's near monopoly on rare earths could derail the plan. Merz has built a war chest of €500 billion (584.35 bn) for the military modernisation, rearmament, and infrastructure development. But there are some things that even money and political will cannot buy, such as the 17 'rare earth' minerals. These minerals are not actually scarce but are called 'rare' because they are found with other minerals and are very difficult to mine and refine. China controls around 70 per cent of rare earths' mining and around 90 per cent of rare earths' production. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Rare earths are needed in nearly every modern product from household devices like cell phones to cars and fighter planes and missiles. In recent years, China has used the near monopoly on rare earth supplies for leverage in international politics. It leveraged to bring Trump to his knees in the trade war. Now, Merz's ambitions for Germany, and Europe's broader rearmament programme, is at the risk of being derailed. Rare earths are a must for military Rare earths are not just a must for automobiles and communication devices but are required in almost every modern weapon and military system. For example, F-35 fighter planes need anywhere between 418–920 kilograms of multiple rare earths, such as neodymium, praseodymium, yttrium, gadolinium, and cerium, which are used in radar, stealth coatings, and various sensors, and glasses. Similarly, Eurofighter Typhoon uses hundreds of kgs of rare earths in total, such as neodymium and samarium for actuators; yttrium and gadolinium for avionics and radars, and praseodymium and lanthanum for engine or turbine alloys and sensors. Here is a not-so-exhaustive list of rare earths and their applications in military systems: Rare earths' applications in military systems. Germany has already placed orders for thousands of military vehicles, missiles, and ammunitions, and defence firms have revved up their production lines. But all of it come to a grinding halt if China would tomorrow decide to stop rare earth supplies. But the limitation is not limited to just rare earths. The European Union (EU) imports as much as 95 per cent of its strategic raw materials, and relies on non-EU countries for 90 per cent of such imports, the Federation of German Industries (BDI) told Politico. See the chart below to understand China's domination in global rare earth supplies. China's place among world's rare earths' suppliers. Beyond rare earths, China controls around half of the world's supply of 'critical minerals'. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Among such minerals, the BDI told Politico that tungsten, graphite, titanium, and high-purity magnesium, are the backbone of high-end military systems, which are used in radars, electric motors, missile guidance fins, thermal sights, and drone propulsion, and most of these minerals come from China. If China-sourced materials suddenly fall away, that could stop Germany's defense industrial plans in their tracks, Jakob Kullik, a researcher at Chemnitz University of Technology and an expert on rare earth policy, told Politico.
News18
39 minutes ago
- News18
Opinion: Need To Protect Both Stray Dogs & Pedestrians From Cruelty
Last Updated: No one is advocating cruelty towards dogs, but it must also be ensured that stray dogs don't maul pedestrians Following media reports of a boy being mauled by a pack of stray dogs, the Supreme Court's two-member bench on August 11 suo motu ordered removal of stray dogs from Delhi's streets. Predictably, the order attracted the ire of animal activists and the orchestrated campaign by them on social media, among others, made the apex court relent in favour of a three-member bench which is all set to hear the matter afresh from August 14. The Chief Justice of India (CJI) relented, apparently discarding the wishes of the judges who heard the matter in the run-up to the August 10 edict and read the Riot Act to those obstructing its execution. As it is, Delhi has a couple of sterilisation centres, which are by no means rescue centers as known in the Western world, particularly in the US. To be sure, the national capital region is unequal to the gargantuan task of locating as many as two lakh stray dogs in animal centres, but there is no gainsaying the fact that stray dogs menace Indian streets. Only the squeamish would equate human lives with the lives of stray dogs and rationalise such equality with quixotic arguments like 'though they menace the streets, they also play the role of scavengers!" Returning the sterilised dogs to streets is no answer as the only relief from such denouement would be they cannot multiply themselves. But they would continue to maul the unsuspecting passers-by. The entire USA is conspicuous by stray dogs. Most of the households have pets, usually dogs of various breeds and pedigrees. The owners are tasked with keeping them on leash while walking them and cleaning up their poops in keeping with the polluter pays principle. The masters wait for their pets to complete pooping and thereafter mop the nauseating excreta in a black plastic bag for eventual disposal into the nearest dustbin. BTW, they are loath to touch their own offsprings' excreta with diapers rescuing them from this disgusting and distasteful chore. In the state of Massachusetts, for example, owners constantly dread the prospect of their dogs being killed in the event of them biting someone the second time. In contrast, in India even the domesticated pets pounce on unsuspecting people in the absence of tight leash. The short point is no one is advocating cruelty towards dogs, but it must also be ensured that stray dogs don't maul pedestrians. The insane number of stray dogs across the country is thus a legacy issue, century-old callousness in belling the cat. So, the belated start made in Delhi, thanks to the SC initiative, has invited rebellion as any revolutionary, paradigm-changing law does. But can any sensible person allow dogs to roam the streets despite knowing sooner or later they are going to attack those who cross their paths or even an innocent passerby? Of course, there are people who rear them in their own self-interest without allowing them entry into their houses, lest they are messed up and ensure at least a monthly visit to the pet's store. For example, security guards of apartments lighten their vigil by allowing street dogs to take over in the nocturnal hours. Even house owners feed stray dogs so that they act as watchdogs without sullying their houses and unduly inflating their monthly grocery bills. In the US, dog rescue centres house abandoned dogs. They are eventually handed over to those who want to adopt them. Since the number of abandoned dogs is few, they don't pose an insurmountable logistics issue as is being witnessed in Delhi in the wake of the avant-garde judgment of the Apex Court. But then every initiative meets with resistance and logistics issues. Therefore, till adequate number of rescue centres are built spanning decades, NGOs and animal lovers must come forward and adopt a stray dog or two. If they are not entirely altruistic, they can use such adopted stray dogs to breed healthy puppies. Dog breeding is a thriving industry. For some prized breeds, the going price is as much as $5,000 in the US. The animal welfare lobby in India can lobby for income tax incentives for the adopters cum breeders. No civilised country can countenance cruelty to animals. In Switzerland, for example, those walking the dogs must adorn their necks with a red light, lest it is run down by a speeding car. But India has allowed stray dogs to swamp us. Willy-nilly, therefore, they must be culled after extensive campaign for their adoption by pet lovers and breeders. This case arguably is an unfolding one, but it would be a litmus test for the three arms of our government. Any pussyfooting would project us as status quoists. Because if we get rid of stray dogs and mandate cleansing of poops of domesticated dogs by their masters for the nonce, we would have taken the first decisive step in cleaning up our environs. Concomitantly, we must also read the Riot Act to the spitters and litterers. The writer is a senior columnist. He tweets @smurlidharan. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18's views. view comments First Published: August 18, 2025, 19:03 IST News opinion Opinion: Need To Protect Both Stray Dogs & Pedestrians From Cruelty Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
The Hindu
an hour ago
- The Hindu
Top news of the day: INDIA bloc considering impeachment motion against CEC Gyanesh Kumar; after Putin, Trump set to meet Zelenskyy, and more
INDIA bloc considering impeachment motion against CEC Gyanesh Kumar The Opposition INDIA bloc is considering to move an impeachment motion against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, sources told The Hindu. The decision was taken at the meeting of INDIA bloc floor leaders on Monday (August 18, 2025). After Putin, Trump set to meet Zelenskyy Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders will meet U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington on Monday (August 18, 2025) to map out a peace deal amid fears the U.S. president could try to pressure Kyiv into accepting a settlement favourable to Moscow. Parliament passes Bill to consolidate law relating to ports, facilitate ease of doing business The Rajya Sabha on Monday (August 18, 2025) passed The Indian Ports Bill, 2025, which seeks to consolidate the law relating to ports, promote integrated port development, facilitate ease of doing business, and ensure optimum utilisation of India's coastline. The Indian Ports Bill 2025, which was passed by the Lok Sabha on August 12, was introduced in the Upper House on Monday amid noisy protests by the Opposition. Chief Election Commissioner's press briefing raises more questions than providing answers to issues highlighted by INDIA bloc: T.N. CM Stalin Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK president M.K. Stalin, on Monday (August 18, 2025), said Sunday's press conference by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar has raised more questions than providing answers to the issues highlighted by the INDIA bloc on 'vote theft.' Debate rages in Kerala over stray dog control as rabies takes a toll on lower-income groups The Supreme Court's directive asking the Delhi government to remove all stray dogs from the streets and relocate them to shelters within eight weeks has sparked off an intense debate on social media and various platforms, with animal rights activists and citizens, including celebrities, arguing that removing all strays from the streets is not only inhumane and impractical, but also unlikely to solve the rabies problem. CEC did not answer our questions, acting like a BJP spokesperson: Opposition Accusing Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar of acting like a BJP spokesperson, opposition parties on Monday (August 18, 2025) said he failed to answer their questions on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and issues related to voter list irregularities. Russian President Putin dials PM Modi; briefs him on Alaska summit Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday (August 18, 2025) briefed Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his summit talks with U.S. President Donald Trump on ending the war in Ukraine. Mr. Putin spoke to Mr. Modi on phone, three days after the high-profile summit in Alaska that ended without a ceasefire deal. Australia cancels far-right Israeli lawmaker's visa Australia has cancelled the visa of an Israeli lawmaker from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's governing coalition who has advocated against Palestinian statehood and called for Israel to annex the occupied West Bank. GST rate rejig: Nirmala Sitharaman to address GoM meet to put forth Centre's rate cut proposal on August 20 Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will on Wednesday (August 20, 2025) address a crucial meeting of a group of ministers of States as she makes a case for the sweeping GST reforms that will slash tax rates and lead to reduction in prices of common use items. DRG Jawan killed, three injured as IED planted by Maoists explodes in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur A Jawan of the Chhattisgarh Police's District Reserve Guard (DRG) was killed and three other personnel were injured when an improvised explosive device (IED) planted by Maoists went off in Bijapur district on Monday (August 18, 2025), officials said. Pakistan coach Mike Hesson urges Babar Azam to improve strike rate for T20 comeback Former Pakistan captain Babar Azam has been told to improve his batting against spin and boost his overall strike rate to be considered for Twenty20 Internationals, coach Mike Hesson said. Babar is Pakistan's batting mainstay in other formats but has not played a T20 International since their tour of South Africa late last year.
