Stocks weighed down by Crypto ‘meltdown’, tariff uncertainty

Bitcoin slumped below $80,000 on Friday for the first time since November, while equities diverged following President Donald Trump’s latest volley of tariffs.Concerns about the global economy fuelled by fears of a global trade war, coupled with disappointing results this week from AI chip darling Nvidia, have led investors to exit investments seen as risky.One of the most volatile assets currently is bitcoin, which briefly dived below $80,000 on Friday for the first time since November.Its low of $78,225.84 was more than 25 percent off the levels above $109,000 touched last month as Trump entered office, and was down 20 percent in the past week alone.”The crypto sector is suffering a bit of a meltdown today,” said Trade Nation analyst David Morrison.He noted that another popular cryptocurrency, ethereum, had lost nearly half its value since mid-December. “According to some analysts, that represents not just a correction, but a full-blown bear market,” he added, noting that bitcoin had lost most of the gains made since Trump was elected in November.Morrison said the gains were driven by hopes of a much friendlier regulatory environment, which have now unravelled to some extent.City Index and FOREX analyst Fawad Razaqzada said the broad tech-sector weakness and tariff threats were also putting downward pressure but that $80,000 was a key resistance level. “A decisive break below $80K would bring into focus the long-term support area” of around $70,000 he said.After a relatively upbeat month on equity markets, Trump dealt a fresh blow this week by confirming that 25 percent tariffs on products from Mexico and Canada would be effective from March 4.He also announced another 10 percent hike on Chinese goods would go into effect next week, and warned the European Union that it could be hit with 25 percent duties.”The countdown to Trump’s tariffs coming into force is now in the final few days and investors have got the jitters,” said Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell.Hong Kong and mainland Chinese stock markets fell sharply Friday, with China hitting back saying further US tariffs would “seriously impact dialogue” between the two countries on narcotics control, Trump’s stated reason to hike tariffs.”Tariffs are back in the crosshairs, and a market that had reduced its sensitivity to recent tariff headlines has had to reconsider that reaction function,” said Chris Weston, head of research at the broker Pepperstone.In Europe, London posted a solid gain after Trump held out the prospect of a “great” trade deal with Britain after meeting with Prime Minister Keir Starmer at the White House on Thursday.Eurozone stocks struggled for most of the day due to tariff concerns, but Paris ended the day with a small gain and Frankfurt flat, as Trump received Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House.Wall Street stocks rose after the US Federal Reserve’s preferred inflation measure cooled slightly, dipping to 2.5 percent in the 12 months to January.eToro US investment analyst Bret Kenwell said the reading “takes some of the recent inflation worries off the table” and “may help spark a relief rally in stocks”.Stocks have struggled in recent weeks, many analysts warning that Trump’s plans to slash taxes, regulations and immigration will reignite inflation.A number of weak economic readings have also stoked concerns that the US economy is slowing down. – Key figures around 1630 GMT -New York – Dow: UP 0.3 percent at 43,352.92 pointsNew York – S&P 500: UP 0.2 percent at 5,872.39New York – Nasdaq Composite: UP 0.2 percent at 18,571.74London – FTSE 100: UP 0.6 percent at 8,809.74 (close)Paris – CAC 40: UP 0.1 percent at 8,111.63 (close)Frankfurt – DAX: FLAT at 22,551.43 (close)Tokyo – Nikkei 225: DOWN 2.9 percent at 37,155.50 (close)Hong Kong – Hang Seng Index: DOWN 3.3 percent at 22,941.32 (close)Shanghai – Composite: DOWN 1.9 percent at 3,370.52 (close)Euro/dollar: UP at $1.0400 from $1.0398 on ThursdayPound/dollar: DOWN at $1.2584 from $1.2600Dollar/yen: UP at 150.31 from 149.79 yenEuro/pound: UP at 82.65 pence from 82.52 pence West Texas Intermediate: DOWN 1.0 percent at $69.66 per barrelBrent North Sea Crude: DOWN 1.1 percent at $72.74 per barrelburs-rl/jj

Australia in Champions Trophy semis after rain hit Afghanistan’s chances

Australia qualified for the Champions Trophy semi-finals on Friday after their Group B match against Afghanistan ended without a result in persistent rain in Lahore on Friday.Chasing 274 for victory at Gaddafi Stadium, Australia were 109-1 in 12.5 overs when rain stopped play, giving them four points in their three games.Afghanistan, who have three points from two games, need England to beat South Africa by a big margin in Karachi on Saturday to sneak into the last four on net run-rate.Afghanistan’s -0.99 net run-rate is inferior to South Africa’s 2.14 despite beating former world champions England by eight runs in Lahore on Wednesday.  Australia were well placed to chase down the target with opener Travis Head not out after a 40-ball 59 not out spiced with nine boundaries and a six.Steve Smith was unbeaten on 19 after Matthew Short was dismissed for 20.Heavy rain stopped play and as water pooled in the stadium the umpires ended the match  at 20:55 (1555 GMT)Afghanistan had totalled 273 all out in 50 overs  after they winning the toss and batting. Sediqullah Atal hit 85 and all-rounder Azmatullah Omarzai 67 as they sought a win to seal a semi-final berth.In overcast conditions, Afghanistan lost opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz for nought in the first over to Spencer Johnson.Ibrahim Zadran, hero of Afghanistan’s win over England in the first match with the highest-ever Champions trophy score of 177, added 67 for the second wicket with Atal before he fell for 22 to spinner Adam Zampa.Atal and skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi (20) put on 68 for the fourth wicket before Australia fought back with four wickets for just 40 runs.Atal’s 95-ball innings included six fours and three sixes.At 199-7 Afghanistan were in danger of being dismissed for a below-par total, but Omarzai held the innings together, smashing five sixes in a 63-ball knock and adding an invaluable 74 runs with the last three wickets.Rashid Khan chipped in with a 17-ball 19 with two boundaries.Ben Dwarshuis was the best Australian bowler with 3-47. Zampa took 2-48 and Johnson finished with 2-49.

Hunger-striking mother of jailed UK-Egyptian activist on glucose drip

An Egyptian-British mother on hunger strike in protest against the detention of her activist son in Cairo has been given a glucose drip after being hospitalised in London, a campaign group said on Friday.Laila Soueif, 68, has been on hunger strike for 152 days and was admitted to London’s St Thomas’s Hospital late on Monday due to “dangerously new lows” in her blood sugar and sodium levels, as well as her blood pressure.She had previously turned down artificial glucose, despite being warned there was an “immediate risk to life”, but agreed at the request of her daughters Sanaa and Mona to take one dose “in an effort to extend her life”, campaign group Free Alaa said in a press release.Soueif has lived on only coffee, tea and rehydration sachets since September 29, 2024, the date that marked five years in detention for her son Alaa Abdel Fattah.Fattah, 43, a pro-democracy and rights campaigner, was arrested by Egyptian authorities in September 2019 and later given a five-year sentence for “spreading false news”. His family criticised his trial as a “farce” and has demanded he be released having completed his sentence.Soueif started the drip on Thursday and the dose was given to her over the course of 12 hours “due to the dangers of the intervention at this stage in her hunger strike”, said the campaign group.”Doctors at the hospital have stressed that this is a temporary intervention, that they cannot guarantee it will extend Laila’s life, and that if it does it will be for a limited time, possibly only a few hours, and if lucky a few days,” they added.Soueif has lost almost 30 kilograms (66 pounds) since starting her hunger strike, which she has vowed to continue until her son is released.For weeks, Soueif braved London’s bitter cold to demonstrate outside Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s Downing Street office each working day since the date she says her son should have been released.Sanaa Seif called on Starmer to take urgent action.”When we met Keir Starmer he asked us for more time and promised that he would do all he could to free my brother,” she said.”I don’t think we’ll be able to convince mum to do this again. So we desperately urge the prime minister to use this time well,” she added.

Deux ans après la collision ferroviaire, la Grèce en colère proteste massivement et dans la violence

Des centaines de milliers de personnes criant leur colère dans la rue, des heurts violents entre policiers et protestataires: deux ans après la catastrophe, la Grèce a commémoré vendredi la collision ferroviaire de 2023 sur fond de mécontentement grandissant à l’égard du gouvernement Mitsotakis. A Athènes, dans une grande émotion collective, plus de 180.000 personnes, selon la police, se sont retrouvées devant le Parlement avant que le rassemblement ne dégénère.Des pierres et des cocktails Molotov ont été jetés sur les forces de l’ordre déployées en masse et qui ont répondu en lançant des gaz lacrymogènes. Trente personnes ont été blessées au cours de ces violences et 27 ont été arrêtées, selon la police.Sur l’ensemble du territoire, plus de 325.000 personnes se sont rassemblées, selon les décomptes de la police grecque.De nombreux commentateurs assuraient n’avoir pas vécu une telle mobilisation depuis les protestations massives durant la crise financière.Elle dépasse en tous cas très largement celle des manifestations qui avaient eu lieu après l’accident ferroviaire le 28 février 2023 dans lequel 57 personnes ont perdu la vie. La Grèce est en outre quasiment à l’arrêt en cette journée de grève générale très suivie.”On veut que la justice soit rendue”, a réclamé l’un des manifestants à Athènes, Dimitris Korovesis, 16 ans, alors que les Grecs exigent des réponses sur les causes exactes de la collision frontale entre deux trains.”La Grèce tue ses enfants” et “encore combien de vies?”, lisait-on aussi sur des pancartes brandies à Athènes.Une minute de silence a été observée en présence de proches de victimes, dont la pédiatre Maria Karystianou qui porte aujourd’hui le combat de ces familles endeuillées réclamant des comptes aux autorités.”Pour ceux d’entre nous qui avaient leurs enfants et leurs proches dans ce train, une partie de notre âme (…) ne reviendra jamais”, a lancé Mme Karystianou. Elle a vu dans ces rassemblements massifs “une union de citoyens pour l’éclaircissement (de l’affaire), pour apporter la justice en Grèce”.- “Dissimulation” -De nombreux protestataires dénoncent une “dissimulation” présumée des responsabilités dans le pire accident ferroviaire en Grèce, une accusation qui occupe presque tout le champ politique et médiatique depuis des semaines.Transports à l’arrêt, écoles, universités, administrations fermées, le pays a aussi massivement répondu à l’appel à une grève générale de 24 heures.Dans le centre d’Athènes, la plupart des magasins et cafés ont baissé leur rideau en signe de solidarité dans une Grèce profondément bouleversée par cette catastrophe devenue un “traumatisme collectif”, selon le Premier ministre conservateur, Kyriakos Mitsotakis.Le 28 février 2023, peu avant minuit, un train reliant Athènes à Thessalonique (nord), avec plus de 350 passagers à son bord, avait heurté de plein fouet un convoi de marchandises dans la vallée de Tempé, à environ 350 km au nord de la capitale.Les deux trains avaient circulé l’un vers l’autre sur la même voie sur plusieurs kilomètres sans qu’aucun système d’alarme ne soit déclenché.Etrillé par l’opposition qui accuse son gouvernement de vouloir cacher les causes véritables de l’accident, le Premier ministre se retrouve en difficulté politique.Outre l’erreur humaine imputée au chef de gare local, l’enquête avait immédiatement révélé de graves négligences sur le réseau ferré.”Des erreurs humaines fatales se sont combinées aux défaillances chroniques de l’État, bouleversant violemment nos certitudes”, a reconnu M. Mitsotakis dans un message sur Facebook vendredi.Plus de 40 personnes ont été poursuivies mais aucune n’a encore été jugée. Aucun haut responsable politique n’a été inquiété, alimentant la rancoeur de la population dans un pays où la défiance à l’égard des politiques est déjà grande.Le gouvernement ne cesse de rejeter les accusations de l’opposition qui évoque un “plan organisé” de dissimulation pour protéger de hauts responsables. De telles thèses sont des tentatives de “déstabiliser” le pays, a dénoncé M. Mitsotakis, qui a fustigé “l’instrumentalisation politique de la douleur humaine”.- Cargaison illégale -Un rapport d’experts financé par les familles des victimes a conclu en janvier que le train de marchandises transportait une cargaison illégale de produits chimiques explosifs, ce qui aurait contribué au nombre élevé de victimes.Jeudi, un rapport accablant de l’agence grecque de sécurité de l’aviation et des chemins de fer a notamment révélé la destruction de preuves cruciales dans les jours qui ont suivi l’accident.Ces experts ont également indiqué qu’il y avait une “présence possible” d’un “carburant inconnu” sur le lieu de l’accident.Les partis d’opposition veulent déposer une motion de censure la semaine prochaine 

Deux ans après la collision ferroviaire, la Grèce en colère proteste massivement et dans la violence

Des centaines de milliers de personnes criant leur colère dans la rue, des heurts violents entre policiers et protestataires: deux ans après la catastrophe, la Grèce a commémoré vendredi la collision ferroviaire de 2023 sur fond de mécontentement grandissant à l’égard du gouvernement Mitsotakis. A Athènes, dans une grande émotion collective, plus de 180.000 personnes, selon la police, se sont retrouvées devant le Parlement avant que le rassemblement ne dégénère.Des pierres et des cocktails Molotov ont été jetés sur les forces de l’ordre déployées en masse et qui ont répondu en lançant des gaz lacrymogènes. Trente personnes ont été blessées au cours de ces violences et 27 ont été arrêtées, selon la police.Sur l’ensemble du territoire, plus de 325.000 personnes se sont rassemblées, selon les décomptes de la police grecque.De nombreux commentateurs assuraient n’avoir pas vécu une telle mobilisation depuis les protestations massives durant la crise financière.Elle dépasse en tous cas très largement celle des manifestations qui avaient eu lieu après l’accident ferroviaire le 28 février 2023 dans lequel 57 personnes ont perdu la vie. La Grèce est en outre quasiment à l’arrêt en cette journée de grève générale très suivie.”On veut que la justice soit rendue”, a réclamé l’un des manifestants à Athènes, Dimitris Korovesis, 16 ans, alors que les Grecs exigent des réponses sur les causes exactes de la collision frontale entre deux trains.”La Grèce tue ses enfants” et “encore combien de vies?”, lisait-on aussi sur des pancartes brandies à Athènes.Une minute de silence a été observée en présence de proches de victimes, dont la pédiatre Maria Karystianou qui porte aujourd’hui le combat de ces familles endeuillées réclamant des comptes aux autorités.”Pour ceux d’entre nous qui avaient leurs enfants et leurs proches dans ce train, une partie de notre âme (…) ne reviendra jamais”, a lancé Mme Karystianou. Elle a vu dans ces rassemblements massifs “une union de citoyens pour l’éclaircissement (de l’affaire), pour apporter la justice en Grèce”.- “Dissimulation” -De nombreux protestataires dénoncent une “dissimulation” présumée des responsabilités dans le pire accident ferroviaire en Grèce, une accusation qui occupe presque tout le champ politique et médiatique depuis des semaines.Transports à l’arrêt, écoles, universités, administrations fermées, le pays a aussi massivement répondu à l’appel à une grève générale de 24 heures.Dans le centre d’Athènes, la plupart des magasins et cafés ont baissé leur rideau en signe de solidarité dans une Grèce profondément bouleversée par cette catastrophe devenue un “traumatisme collectif”, selon le Premier ministre conservateur, Kyriakos Mitsotakis.Le 28 février 2023, peu avant minuit, un train reliant Athènes à Thessalonique (nord), avec plus de 350 passagers à son bord, avait heurté de plein fouet un convoi de marchandises dans la vallée de Tempé, à environ 350 km au nord de la capitale.Les deux trains avaient circulé l’un vers l’autre sur la même voie sur plusieurs kilomètres sans qu’aucun système d’alarme ne soit déclenché.Etrillé par l’opposition qui accuse son gouvernement de vouloir cacher les causes véritables de l’accident, le Premier ministre se retrouve en difficulté politique.Outre l’erreur humaine imputée au chef de gare local, l’enquête avait immédiatement révélé de graves négligences sur le réseau ferré.”Des erreurs humaines fatales se sont combinées aux défaillances chroniques de l’État, bouleversant violemment nos certitudes”, a reconnu M. Mitsotakis dans un message sur Facebook vendredi.Plus de 40 personnes ont été poursuivies mais aucune n’a encore été jugée. Aucun haut responsable politique n’a été inquiété, alimentant la rancoeur de la population dans un pays où la défiance à l’égard des politiques est déjà grande.Le gouvernement ne cesse de rejeter les accusations de l’opposition qui évoque un “plan organisé” de dissimulation pour protéger de hauts responsables. De telles thèses sont des tentatives de “déstabiliser” le pays, a dénoncé M. Mitsotakis, qui a fustigé “l’instrumentalisation politique de la douleur humaine”.- Cargaison illégale -Un rapport d’experts financé par les familles des victimes a conclu en janvier que le train de marchandises transportait une cargaison illégale de produits chimiques explosifs, ce qui aurait contribué au nombre élevé de victimes.Jeudi, un rapport accablant de l’agence grecque de sécurité de l’aviation et des chemins de fer a notamment révélé la destruction de preuves cruciales dans les jours qui ont suivi l’accident.Ces experts ont également indiqué qu’il y avait une “présence possible” d’un “carburant inconnu” sur le lieu de l’accident.Les partis d’opposition veulent déposer une motion de censure la semaine prochaine 

Trump’s Gaza ‘riviera’ should be for Gazans, says minister

US President Donald Trump’s idea to rebuild the Gaza Strip as a swanky riviera is unacceptable unless it is for Gazans themselves to live in, a Palestinian minister said on Friday.”It’s very good to rebuild Gaza as a riviera — but with its people in it,” said Palestinian minister of state for foreign affairs Varsen Aghabekian.Trump’s vision for Gaza involves the United States taking over the occupied Palestinian territory, resettling its Palestinian inhabitants elsewhere and transforming the war-ravaged strip into a riviera for “world people”.Aghabekian said displacing Gazans elsewhere was “unacceptable, by all means”.”Let it become a riviera,” she said, “but for its people, who have been suffering for such a long time and deserve that their place becomes a riviera rather than a besieged place that smells of death.”Aghabekian was speaking to the United Nations correspondents’ association ACANU during a visit to Geneva to address the UN Human Rights Council.She said it would be a “natural development” for her Palestinian Authority to run the territory instead of the militant group Hamas in future.”Palestinian national interests should supersede any other factional interests,” she said.”The running of Gaza would be through the legitimate authority of the state of Palestine and its arm the government. That’s how we see it for the future of Gaza.”- ‘Gaza-isation’ of West Bank -Hamas called on Friday for international pressure on Israel to enter the next phase of a ceasefire between them that has largely halted the war in Gaza, as negotiations were resuming in Cairo.The fragile ceasefire, which came into effect on January 19, “has to be maintained at any cost”, said Aghabekian.The ceasefire has seen the release of Israel hostages from Gaza, with Hamas staging elaborate handover ceremonies, and Palestinian prisoners from Israeli detention.Aghabekian said hostages should be treated with respect and within the law.”We would hope that there would be no more exhibitions of such parades in the future and that the release of the rest of the hostages and moving into the second phase takes place smoothly,” she said.Hundreds of Palestinians, some kept in Israeli jails for years, have been freed in the West Bank under the ceasefire.”These people need a lot of rehabilitation. They need to integrate into a society that is already struggling and suffering, so there are a lot of issues of concern,” Aghabekian said.Israel’s military began a major raid against what they said were Palestinian militants in the West Bank over a month ago, in the longest continuous offensive in the occupied territory in two decades.”The situation on the West Bank is extremely volatile,” Aghabekian said.”What we are being threatened with is the Gaza-isation of the West Bank, which means that people are afraid that the model that has been exercised on the Gaza Strip — the genocidal, atrocious, brutal attacks — are transferred to the West Bank.”

India and EU to finalise free trade agreement by year-end

India will finalise a “mutually beneficial” free trade deal with the European Union by the end of this year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Friday after meeting with EU chief Ursula von der Leyen.”We have asked our teams to work out a mutually beneficial bilateral free trade agreement by the end of this year,” Modi said in New Delhi.Von der Leyen, who is on a two-day visit to India with her college of commissioners, is seeking to hedge against her bloc’s souring relations with the United States and said they were “expecting a lot from our trade negotiators”.Deeper access to India’s rapidly expanding market was at the top of the delegation’s agenda, and the EU chief looked visibly pleased after her meeting with Modi and his ministers.The EU is already India’s largest trading partner, accounting for 124 billion euros ($130 billion) worth of trade in goods in 2023 — more than 12 percent of total Indian trade, according to Brussels.The Indian market offers many opportunities for sectors ranging from defence to agriculture, cars and clean energy. Yet, protected by high tariffs, it currently accounts for only 2.2 percent of EU trade in goods.”We have tasked our teams to build on this momentum and finalise our FTA before the end of the year,” von der Leyen said in a statement after the meeting.Standing beside Modi, the EU chief added: “We told them they should surprise us”. The bloc is pushing for a trade deal that lowers entry barriers for its cars, spirits, wines and other products.India meanwhile hopes for higher EU investments in areas such as clean energy, urban infrastructure and water management.New Delhi is also pushing for easier mobility for its skilled workforce and higher investments for ventures in India.Von der Leyen’s visit, billed as the first of its kind to the world’s fifth-largest economy, comes days after US President Donald Trump announced a slew of tariffs against both friends and foes.- ‘Blueprint’ for the future -The EU also hopes to find common ground with India on their shared concerns over China’s growing influence in the Asia-Pacific, building resilient supply chains, and the governance of new technologies including artificial intelligence.”I can announce that we are exploring a future Security and Defence Partnership with India in the mould of the partnerships we have with Japan and South Korea,” von der Leyen said on Friday before meeting Modi. “This will help us step up our work to counter common threats, whether on cross-border terrorism, maritime security threats, cyber-attacks or the new phenomenon we see: attacks on our critical infrastructure.”New Delhi hopes to gain from coordinated efforts towards building resilient supply chains by wooing businesses looking to move out of China with tax breaks, simplified investment laws, better infrastructure and access to its massive domestic market.Creating enough jobs for millions of workers in the world’s most populous country is one of the biggest challenges for Modi’s government.A joint statement late Friday said that the two leaders also discussed international issues, such as the conflict in the Middle-East and the war in Ukraine.”They expressed support for a just and lasting peace in Ukraine based on respect for international law, principles of the UN charter and territorial integrity and sovereignty,” it said. India has resisted Western pressure to distance itself from Moscow, its traditional supplier of military hardware, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.Indian officials said that the two sides discussed expanding defence exchanges, naval exercises, and cooperating on Indian efforts to diversify and localise its military hardware manufacturing.Their joint statement added that they’d also “further deepen” engagement on semiconductor ecosystems, trusted telecommunications, high-performance computing, recycling of batteries for electric vehicles and marine plastic litter.India and the EU “have a shared view on peace, security, stability and prosperity” of the Asia-Pacific region, Modi said after the meeting.This visit “is unprecedented… and we have taken many important decisions on trade, technology, innovation, green growth, security, skilling, and mobility — a blueprint (for future) has been prepared,” he added. 

India and EU to finalise free trade agreement by year-end

India will finalise a “mutually beneficial” free trade deal with the European Union by the end of this year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Friday after meeting with EU chief Ursula von der Leyen.”We have asked our teams to work out a mutually beneficial bilateral free trade agreement by the end of this year,” Modi said in New Delhi.Von der Leyen, who is on a two-day visit to India with her college of commissioners, is seeking to hedge against her bloc’s souring relations with the United States and said they were “expecting a lot from our trade negotiators”.Deeper access to India’s rapidly expanding market was at the top of the delegation’s agenda, and the EU chief looked visibly pleased after her meeting with Modi and his ministers.The EU is already India’s largest trading partner, accounting for 124 billion euros ($130 billion) worth of trade in goods in 2023 — more than 12 percent of total Indian trade, according to Brussels.The Indian market offers many opportunities for sectors ranging from defence to agriculture, cars and clean energy. Yet, protected by high tariffs, it currently accounts for only 2.2 percent of EU trade in goods.”We have tasked our teams to build on this momentum and finalise our FTA before the end of the year,” von der Leyen said in a statement after the meeting.Standing beside Modi, the EU chief added: “We told them they should surprise us”. The bloc is pushing for a trade deal that lowers entry barriers for its cars, spirits, wines and other products.India meanwhile hopes for higher EU investments in areas such as clean energy, urban infrastructure and water management.New Delhi is also pushing for easier mobility for its skilled workforce and higher investments for ventures in India.Von der Leyen’s visit, billed as the first of its kind to the world’s fifth-largest economy, comes days after US President Donald Trump announced a slew of tariffs against both friends and foes.- ‘Blueprint’ for the future -The EU also hopes to find common ground with India on their shared concerns over China’s growing influence in the Asia-Pacific, building resilient supply chains, and the governance of new technologies including artificial intelligence.”I can announce that we are exploring a future Security and Defence Partnership with India in the mould of the partnerships we have with Japan and South Korea,” von der Leyen said on Friday before meeting Modi. “This will help us step up our work to counter common threats, whether on cross-border terrorism, maritime security threats, cyber-attacks or the new phenomenon we see: attacks on our critical infrastructure.”New Delhi hopes to gain from coordinated efforts towards building resilient supply chains by wooing businesses looking to move out of China with tax breaks, simplified investment laws, better infrastructure and access to its massive domestic market.Creating enough jobs for millions of workers in the world’s most populous country is one of the biggest challenges for Modi’s government.A joint statement late Friday said that the two leaders also discussed international issues, such as the conflict in the Middle-East and the war in Ukraine.”They expressed support for a just and lasting peace in Ukraine based on respect for international law, principles of the UN charter and territorial integrity and sovereignty,” it said. India has resisted Western pressure to distance itself from Moscow, its traditional supplier of military hardware, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.Indian officials said that the two sides discussed expanding defence exchanges, naval exercises, and cooperating on Indian efforts to diversify and localise its military hardware manufacturing.Their joint statement added that they’d also “further deepen” engagement on semiconductor ecosystems, trusted telecommunications, high-performance computing, recycling of batteries for electric vehicles and marine plastic litter.India and the EU “have a shared view on peace, security, stability and prosperity” of the Asia-Pacific region, Modi said after the meeting.This visit “is unprecedented… and we have taken many important decisions on trade, technology, innovation, green growth, security, skilling, and mobility — a blueprint (for future) has been prepared,” he added. 

En Inde, des brasseuses de bière veulent changer les mentalités

Dans le monde en vogue de la bière artisanale indienne, Varsha Bhat fait figure d’exception. Non seulement elle est l’une des quelques brasseuses du pays, mais en plus elle est l’une des rares femmes à goûter elle-même aux plaisirs de la bière. C’est avec fierté qu’elle revendique sa place dans ce secteur très largement masculin, dans une Inde où les femmes amatrices d’alcool restent souvent pointées du doigt.A 38 ans, elle s’est battue pour s’imposer dans cette profession, passant outre les remarques désobligeantes de ses collègues masculins qui doutaient de sa capacité à porter de lourds sacs de houblon ou à résister à la pression.Après une décennie dans ce secteur, elle est aujourd’hui maître brasseuse dans un des pubs les plus populaires de Bangalore, où se retrouvent les jeunes diplômés de la “tech” indienne. “Les femmes peuvent faire les mêmes choses que les hommes, de l’élaboration de recettes au travail physique, en passant par la gestion d’une équipe”, assure Varsha Bhat. “Il y avait des préjugés (…) nous brisons ces stéréotypes et barrières”. Avec ses universités et instituts de formation renommés, Bangalore est largement considérée comme une ville plus permissive, notamment en matière de consommation d’alcool, que le reste du pays le plus peuplé de la planète.Selon les statistiques du gouvernement, 99% des femmes indiennes ne boivent pas d’alcool.Et si à peine un quart des femmes du pays en âge de travailler sont officiellement employées, ce chiffre monte jusqu’à 40% dans l’agglomération de Bangalore.Lynette Pires, 32 ans, en fait partie.Chercheuse dans le secteur pharmaceutique, elle a très vite été attirée par l’univers de la brasserie.Mais pour se faire une place dans cet univers masculin qui ne la prenait pas au sérieux, elle aussi a dû forcer la porte.- “Inspirer et épauler”- “Se tenir là, au milieu d’une majorité d’hommes, et essayer de faire passer son point de vue ou les amener à écouter… cela s’apprend”, se souvient cette femme originaire de Goa (ouest), employée d’une brasserie populaire du sud de la mégapole.Il y a quatre ans, elle a fondé avec une dizaine d’autres femmes un Collectif des brasseuses destiné à “inspirer et épauler” celles qui veulent embrasser cette carrière.Contrairement aux idées reçues, les femmes ont longtemps occupé une place de choix dans l’histoire de la brasserie.La première recette de bière répertoriée remonte à 1.800 ans avant Jésus-Christ, concoctée en hommage à Ninkasi, la déesse de la bière dans la mythologie sumérienne.A cette même époque, en Mésopotamie, le Code de Hammurabi, un recueil de lois du nom du roi de Babylone (de 1795 à 1750 avant JC), évoquait spécifiquement des femmes brasseuses.Au regard de cette histoire, “dire de la bière qu’elle est une boisson pour les hommes est stupide et relève de l’ignorance”, estime Girija Chatty, autrice de podcasts sur l’industrie de la bière en Inde.La Constitution indienne de 1949 enjoint au gouvernement d’interdire la consommation d’alcool, sauf “à des fins médicales”, une clause largement ignorée, sauf dans certains Etats.Même parmi la petite minorité d’Indiens qui en boivent, le fossé entre les sexes est immense. L’Inde compte près de quinze fois plus d’hommes que de femmes qui en consomment, selon une enquête gouvernementale publiée en 2022. Les idées préconçues ont la vie dure mais Girija Chatty préfère en rire. “Si les femmes peuvent gérer des hommes amers”, plaisante-t-elle, “elles peuvent très bien gérer de la bière amère.”