Latest Europe News & Updates

Washington, July 8 (IANS) A coordinated international law enforcement operation has led to the arrest of 24 alleged members of three transnational organised crime groups across the United States, Canada and Europe, with US authorities accusing the networks of murder, extortion, drug trafficking and other violent crimes stretching across several continents. The US Department of Justice said on Tuesday (local time) that 37 defendants have been charged in three federal indictments unsealed in Calif…

New Delhi, July 7 (IANS) India has significantly expanded its global outreach to secure supplies of critical minerals and strengthen semiconductor supply chains, signing partnerships with 24 countries while holding negotiations with 11 others over the past two years.The initiative forms part of the government’s broader strategy to reduce dependence on concentrated supply sources and ensure long-term access to minerals essential for clean energy, electric vehicles (EVs), advanced manufacturing, d…

New Delhi, July 7 (IANS) The Khalistan challenge remains significant, with counter-terror agencies maintaining heightened vigilance to prevent any resurgence of militancy. Despite sustained efforts by pro-Khalistan elements to revive the movement in Punjab, they have achieved little success so far.Close coordination between the Punjab Police, intelligence agencies and other central agencies has led to the arrest of nearly 117 people and the busting of eight Khalistan-backed modules.An Intelligen…

Washington, July 7 (IANS) President Donald Trump departed the White House on Monday evening (US time) for Ankara, where he will seek to press NATO allies to accelerate defence spending, strengthen burden sharing and expand defence industrial cooperation during this week’s alliance summit.Trump is scheduled to arrive in the Turkish capital on Tuesday afternoon, where he will be greeted by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. He will participate in a State Arrival Ceremony and Honour Guard rev…

Rome, July 6 (IANS) The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) is changing its skin and focusing on an increasingly central role for Europe in defence, local media reported. On the eve of the Ankara summit, the Alliance’s Secretary General Mark Rutte explained that the model of recent years “was not sustainable”, reiterating the need to rebalance the weight between the United States and Europe. Rutte also acknowledged Donald Trump’s role in increasing military spending by allies, stating that…

Ankara, July 6 (IANS) As leaders of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) prepare to meet in Ankara this week, the alliance is seeking to project unity at a time when disagreements over strategic priorities, defence spending, and its long-term purpose have become increasingly difficult to conceal.The summit, set for Tuesday and Wednesday, comes against a backdrop of diverging approaches to the recent US military operation against Iran, continued debate over ambitious defense spending tar…

Rome, July 5 (IANS) The fire emergency in the France-Spain border region continued on Sunday, as in the Eastern Pyrenees, the vast blaze that broke out in the Trevillach area regained strength, fueled by wind and heat, devastating approximately 1,500 hectares of vegetation, reports said. Over 700 firefighters are engaged in extinguishing operations, while dozens of people have been evacuated. Meanwhile, in Catalonia, the large fire on the Costa Brava, which destroyed over 2,200 hectares, has bee…

New Delhi, July 5 (IANS) The Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme has emerged as a key pillar of India’s energy transition and biofuel strategy, which has saved the country’s foreign exchange by reducing crude oil imports, lowered greenhouse gas emissions, and strengthened farmers’ incomes through new market opportunities, according to a government factsheet issued on Sunday.From 2014-15 up to May 2026, the ethanol blending programme has resulted in a saving of over Rs 1.90 lakh crore in forei…

New Delhi, July 5 (IANS) Five semiconductor plants are expected to be operational across the country by the end of 2026, according to Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.Of the 12 semiconductor projects approved by the central government, three are now in commercial production, with two more set to be inaugurated in the coming months, he said.Prime Minister Narendra Modi had earlier launched the country’s first and second semiconductor plants on February 28 and March 31, 2026, respectively.With the …

New Delhi, July 4 (IANS) The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) has revised the domestic Indian Athletics Series calendar to provide promising athletes with additional competition opportunities ahead of the Glasgow Commonwealth Games and the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.Announcing the revised schedule on Saturday, AFI president Bahadur Singh Sagoo said the changes were made keeping in mind athletes who narrowly missed qualification for the two major international events.”The Indian Athletics Series…