EU summit will focus on Iran war, loan to Ukraine blocked by Hungary
Brussels (AP): European Union leaders are holding a summit in Brussels on Thursday for talks on the Iran war, energy prices, migration and an enormous loan for war-ravaged Ukraine being held up by Hungary.
Many of those leaders have deflected entreaties by US President Donald Trump to send military assets to secure the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway for the global flow of oil, gas and fertiliser.
Rising energy prices because of the war and fears in Europe of a new refugee crisis have pushed leaders to make the Middle East one of the top priorities at the summit.
The European Commission, the EU's executive branch, has floated the idea of a “toolbox” of measures to lower energy prices for leaders to discuss because no single policy will work across the myriad markets in the 27-nation bloc to blunt economic shocks from the war, according to a senior European diplomat who wasn't authorised to be publicly named so spoke on condition of anonymity.
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The summit will also focus on a long-brewing standoff between Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and most other EU nations.
The last EU summit was held in December at a Belgian castle, where the leaders including Orban agreed to a 90 billion-euro (USD 104 billion) loan for Ukraine for help overcoming a budget shortfall in the country as it grapples with a grinding war with Russia.
But a month later, Orban backtracked after the Druzhba oil pipeline was disabled in January after what Ukrainian officials said was a Russian drone attack.
The pro-Russia leader, who has held office in Hungary since 2010, is running an aggressive media campaign villainising both Brussels and Kyiv as he seeks reelection next month.
“If there is no oil, there is no money,” Orban said in a social media post on Tuesday.
To get Ukraine the much-needed loan, EU leaders and diplomats will lobby Orban and Slovakia's prime minister, Robert Fico, whose government has also taken pro-Russia stances.
On Tuesday, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen offered for the EU to pay to repair the Druzhba pipeline and the development of alternative fuel lines for Hungary and Slovakia.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that any obstruction to the loan is “absolutely unfair” and that there is “no alternative” for the embattled nation than those funds as it faces a severe budget crisis because of the war, which began on February 24, 2022.
“There may be alternatives in terms of financing mechanisms, but there is simply no alternative to strengthening our army,” Zelenksyy said on Wednesday.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz told lawmakers in Berlin on Wednesday that the EU must swiftly reach an agreement on the 20th package of sanctions against Russia and the loan.
He said that he would “advocate for that emphatically” in Brussels and that “we must not take into consideration a single country in the European Union that is currently setting up this blockade in Europe now for domestic political reasons and because of an election campaign that is being conducted there.”
Merz said, in urging for more sanctions, that “the needs of the moment call for us to increase the pressure on Moscow together – the US and the European partners together."
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VHP to approach corporates over workplace issues regarding Hindu women, says senior leader
Hassan (Karnataka) (PTI): The VHP will approach corporate and industry bodies across the country to ensure that Hindu women are not "targeted or victimised" at workplaces, a senior leader of the organisation said on Tuesday.
Addressing a press conference here, VHP Organising General Secretary Milind Parande said the Hindu organisation will meet national associations of various industries and raise concerns over alleged incidents involving "love jihad" and forced conversions in workplaces. The term "love jihad" is used by right-wing groups to allege a conspiracy by Muslim men to lure Hindu women into relationships and marriage to convert them to Islam.
"The VHP will systematically meet national associations of various industries across the country. We will ensure that in any workplace--not just IT but all industries--Hindu women are not targeted or victimised," he said.
Raising concerns over alleged targeting of Hindu women in workplaces, Parande said, "Hindu society is being targeted and is facing distress. Such tendencies are not acceptable in any civilised society." He also urged introspection within the Muslim community.
"The entire community should consider what values are being imparted to its younger generation. Such tendencies are not acceptable in any civilised society," he said.
Parande said that rising incidents could lead to the entire Muslim community coming under suspicion.
The Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader's remarks come in the wake of the alleged harassment and religious coercion at the Nashik unit of IT Tata Consultancy Services (TCS).
He said his ongoing visit to Karnataka was part of a nationwide organisational tour aimed at expansion.
The aim is to expand the organisational reach. "During this visit, certain issues in Karnataka have come to our attention," he said.
He also flagged cattle smuggling as a major concern, alleging that large-scale transportation of cattle was taking place from Karnataka towards neighbouring states.
"Although the cow protection law was passed here in 2020, it is not being implemented strictly," he alleged, demanding identification of smuggling routes and action against vehicle owners and drivers involved.
"We demand that the routes used for smuggling be identified. Such vehicles should be confiscated if the offender is a repeat offender. This is a matter that needs serious attention," he said.
He alleged that there appears to be a biased and discriminatory attitude against pro-Hindu activists. This gives the impression of an anti-Hindu approach.
He called for stricter enforcement of laws.
"The law must be implemented strictly, that is our demand. Who else will enforce it if not the government," he said, adding that VHP workers act within the legal framework.
Responding to a question on attacks on cow protection activists, Parande said, "There must be a balanced discussion. First, why is the transportation happening? Who will talk about that? Thousands of times, laws are being violated and cattle are being slaughtered. Otherwise, anger in Hindu society will naturally rise," he added.
Parande urged the administration to identify routes and curb smuggling.
He said the VHP will do whatever is necessary. It is ready to face hardships, even imprisonment if necessary.
Touching upon the Women's Reservation Bill, he said, "This is not the failure of the central government but of the opposition," adding that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP were capable of responding to criticism.
