Europe digest

Roundup

EUROPEAN UNION

European activists deported by Israel

Israel deported Greta Thunberg on Monday after the 22-year-old Swedish activist and 170 others were detained when a flotilla carrying aid to Gaza was intercepted last week. Israeli officials said deportees included French, Greek, Italian, Slovak, United Kingdom, and United States citizens, and dismissed mistreatment claims as "fake news". So far, Israel's Foreign Ministry has announced the deportations of 341 of the 479 people who were on the 42 boats in the Global Sumud Flotilla. As of Tuesday, another 138 remained in detention, with more than 40 on hunger strike, organizers said. Israel has called the voyage a stunt.

Renewable energy at 'crucial turning point'

New figures showing renewable energy has, for the first time, overtaken coal as the world's leading source of electricity have been called a "crucial turning point". Malgorzata Wiatros-Motyka, a senior analyst at the Ember think tank, said the supremacy of renewables in the first half of the year "marks the beginning of a shift where clean power is keeping pace with demand growth". China maintained its status as the world's leading renewable energy generator, increasing its wind and solar capacity by more than the rest of the world put together. The United States and European Union's use of fossil fuels rose.

Steel tariffs and import quotas to impact UK

The European Union has unveiled plans to raise tariffs on imported steel, sparking alarm in the United Kingdom's beleaguered steel industry. The European Commission, the EU's executive arm, has outlined proposals to half the volume of steel that can be imported into the bloc, above which a new 50 percent tariff would apply. Measures could take effect early next year. The EU accounts for 78 percent of British steel sold overseas and UK officials said they are seeking "urgent clarity".

UNITED KINGDOM

Chinese car giant BYD accelerating its sales

Chinese automaker BYD's sales in the United Kingdom surged by 880 percent during September compared to the same month last year. The Shenzhen-based electric vehicle giant said the breakthrough means the UK is now the company's largest market outside China. Bono Ge, country manager for BYD UK, said the success was "100 percent" due to the company's UK team and its retailer partners and their "determination in driving BYD forward and spreading the word about our brand up and down the country". He said BYD will launch new plug-in hybrid and electric cars in the coming months, and has just opened its 100th UK retailer.

PM says country will not grant more visas to India

United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer has said his country will not relax its visa rules for India. He made the comments during a visit to the country in the aftermath of a new trade agreement between them. Starmer, who is leading a delegation of more than 100 entrepreneurs, cultural leaders, and university vice-chancellors, wants to increase investment in his country to stimulate economic growth. But he told the BBC, that while there are "massive opportunities" to improve ties with India, London will not bow to pressure to allocate more visas to Indian workers and students.

ITALY

Meloni accused of complicity in genocide

Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and two of her ministers have been referred to the International Criminal Court, or ICC, over claims they have been complicit in genocide because of their support for Israel in its activities in Gaza. Meloni told Italian state broadcaster RAI that Italy's minister of defense and its foreign minister have all been named in documents submitted to the ICC. Meloni and her government have been under pressure recently, following massive demonstrations in which hundreds of thousands of people have demanded an end to Israel's two-year-old offensive in Gaza.