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PULSE POINTS:
❓What Happened: Britain and India have reached a free trade agreement to reduce tariffs on various products, including Scotch whisky.
👥 Who’s Involved: British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the British and Indian governments.
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📍 Where & When: Announcement made in London, negotiations started over three years ago.
💬 Key Quote: “This is the biggest trade deal that we, the UK, have done since we left the EU, and it’s the most ambitious trade deal that India has ever done,” said Prime Minister Starmer.
⚠️ Impact: The agreement is expected to boost bilateral trade by £25.5 billion (~$34.1 billion) annually and significantly increase Scotch whisky exports to India.
IN FULL:
Britain and India have announced a significant free trade agreement to slash tariffs on a range of products, including Scotch whisky. This long-awaited deal comes after more than three years of negotiations.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer hailed the agreement as a “landmark” event, describing it as “fantastic news for British business, British workers and British shoppers.” His Indian counterpart, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, echoed this sentiment, calling the deal “ambitious and mutually beneficial.”
“This is the biggest trade deal that we, the UK, have done since we left the EU, and it’s the most ambitious trade deal that India has ever done,” Prime Minister Starmer said.
The British government detailed that the agreement would cut Indian import taxes on goods such as whisky, cosmetics, medical supplies, and automotive parts. Notably, tariffs on whisky and gin will be reduced from 150 percent to 75 percent, eventually dropping to 40 percent over the next decade. Automotive tariffs will see a significant decrease from over 100 percent to 10 percent under a quota system.
India’s Trade Ministry emphasized that 99 percent of Indian exports would be exempt from import duties under this new agreement. Trade Minister Piyush Goyal stated, “This brings us closer to our goal of becoming a global economic powerhouse,” highlighting the deal’s potential to enhance India’s role in global value chains.
The agreement, which covers both goods and services, is projected to increase bilateral trade by the equivalent of $34.1 billion annually. Mark Kent, CEO of the Scotch Whisky Association, described the deal as “transformational,” noting its potential to boost Scotch whisky exports to India by $1.3 billion over the next five years.
Formal talks for this free trade agreement began in 2022, following Brexit. Prior to Brexit, Britain was unable to strike any bilateral trade deals, as the European Union (EU) controls its member states’ trade policy.
PULSE POINTS:
❓What Happened: Nearly 30,000 ceramic poppies are displayed at the Tower of London to commemorate 80 years since the end of World War II in Europe.
👥 Who’s Involved: The installation was designed by Tom Piper, with ceramic flowers created by artist Paul Cummins.
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📍 Where & When: The Tower of London, display open until Armistice Day, November 11.
💬 Key Quote: Tom Piper stated, “Everywhere these poppies have been, they have brought people together, with their own stories of sacrifice, commemoration, and hope for the future.”
⚠️ Impact: The installation aims to reflect the loss of life through war and provide a space for remembrance, continuing the tradition of poppies as symbols of remembrance in the United Kingdom.
IN FULL:
A display of nearly 30,000 ceramic poppies is currently on exhibit at the Tower of London, marking Victory in Europe (VE) Day on May 8, and 80 years since the conclusion of World War II in Europe. The installation, titled “The Tower Remembers,” features red poppies arranged to resemble a cascading “wound” at the heart of the historic Norman fortress, a site that endured bombing during the Blitz.
Designer Tom Piper conceived the artistic endeavor, and artist Paul Cummins crafted the ceramic poppies. This new display follows a 2014 installation at the same site, which featured 888,246 poppies, each symbolizing a military life lost during the First World War. That earlier installation, “Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red,” attracted over five million visitors.
Reflecting on the 2014 installation, Piper remarked that while the scale of that project could not be replicated, he recognized that “smaller installations could still carry great emotional power.” He emphasized the poppies’ role in uniting people through shared stories of sacrifice and hope, stating, “Everywhere these poppies have been, they have brought people together, with their own stories of sacrifice, commemoration, and hope for the future.”
The poppies, on loan from the Imperial War Museums’ collection, can be viewed as part of the general admission to the Tower of London. A portion of the display is also visible from the public footpath. The installation will remain in place until Armistice Day on November 11, commemorating the armistice agreement that ended the First World War.
In the United Kingdom, poppies have long been a symbol of remembrance, worn to honor those who lost their lives in the world wars and other conflicts. Poppies grew across many shell-blasted First World War battlefields in France and Belgium after the fighting, with the flower becoming an enduring symbol of the fallen.
Russia, meanwhile, plans its own Victory Day parade on May 8. However, this year, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has made veiled threats of a possible attack on the parade, which will be attended by several major world leaders, including China’s Xi Jinping.
WATCH:
🌺 The Tower Remembers display is now open! 🌺 The almost 30,000 ceramic poppies pour across the lawn within the Tower walls, reminding us of loss through war, and of the long-lasting impact of conflict.
📆 6 May – 11 Nov 2025
➡️ https://t.co/zH9zctgR5K#TowerPoppies @I_W_M pic.twitter.com/XV3WGlayXL
— The Tower of London (@TowerOfLondon) May 6, 2025
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English (US) ·