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EU Stands Firm on Denmark’s Sovereignty Amid U.S. Greenland Interest

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The European Union has strongly reaffirmed its support for Denmark’s sovereignty over Greenland, following repeated comments from U.S. President Donald Trump regarding the potential acquisition of the Arctic island. European Council President Antonio Costa emphasized the importance of Denmark’s territorial integrity, calling it an “essential issue” for the EU in an interview on Wednesday. Costa’s statement aligns with the position of EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, who declared that the bloc would not entertain any negotiations over Greenland’s status.

Trump has expressed that Greenland, a semi-autonomous territory of Denmark, holds strategic significance for U.S. national security, and has even suggested the possibility of using military or economic power to secure the island. The U.S. operates a military base in northwestern Greenland, which functions as a ballistic missile early-warning system. However, both Denmark and Greenland have firmly rejected Trump’s claims, with Greenland’s Prime Minister Mute Egede stating that the island’s people should determine their own future.

In response to growing concerns about Arctic security, NATO and Denmark have agreed to bolster Arctic defense measures, with Denmark committing to an additional $2 billion in defense spending. Despite the tensions over Greenland, both Greenland and Denmark have made it clear that the island is not for sale, maintaining their position on the region’s territorial sovereignty.

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Italian PM Giorgia Meloni Under Investigation Over Release of Libyan Police Officer

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Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni revealed on Tuesday that she is under judicial investigation after her government’s controversial decision to release Libyan police officer Osama Elmasry Njeem, wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for alleged crimes against humanity, including murder, torture, and rape. Njeem was repatriated on an Italian state aircraft days after being detained in Turin, prompting demands from the ICC for an explanation, as they had not been consulted.

Meloni, along with Justice Minister Carlo Nordio, Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi, and intelligence undersecretary Alfredo Mantovano, faces accusations of aiding and abetting a crime and misuse of public funds. Opposition leaders have ridiculed the government’s justification, with Piantedosi set to address parliament on Wednesday regarding the decision, which has strained relations between Rome and the ICC.

The prime minister defended her actions, calling the investigation politically motivated. Meloni pointed to previous probes against her government figures, including the recent acquittal of Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini over a migrant standoff case. Lucio Malan, Senate leader of Meloni’s Brothers of Italy party, accused the judiciary of using “politicized justice” to undermine the government amid ongoing legal reforms.

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Britain and EU Clash Over Post-Brexit Fishing Rights in Hague Tribunal

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Britain and the European Union have taken their first legal dispute over post-Brexit fishing rights to the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague. The case, which began on Tuesday, centers on whether Britain’s ban on fishing sandeels in its North Sea waters breaches the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA). A three-member panel of legal experts from France, New Zealand, and South Africa will hear arguments for three days and deliver a final ruling by late April. The ban, justified by Britain as necessary for ecological balance, has sparked tensions, with the EU calling it discriminatory and disproportionate.

Though the financial impact is minor, with Britain estimating a maximum revenue loss of £45 million for non-UK vessels, the political ramifications could be significant. A ruling against the ban may lead to EU retaliation, potentially straining Britain’s efforts to “reset” relations with the bloc under Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Environmental groups and Brexiteers have also urged the government to stand firm, creating further complications.

The case highlights broader tensions between the UK and EU, as both sides aim to resolve trade and regulatory disagreements post-Brexit. Britain is also exploring a veterinary agreement to ease food trade and closer defense cooperation with EU leaders. The fishing ban specifically affects Danish fleets that harvest sandeels for animal feed and oil production, while British vessels do not target the species.

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British Businesses Set to Cut Pay Awards Amid Tax Hikes and Economic Pessimism

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A majority of British businesses are planning to reduce staff pay awards in response to upcoming payroll tax increases, according to surveys published on Monday. Incomes Data Research (IDR) revealed that 69% of employers surveyed were moderately or extremely likely to slow pay rises to offset the tax hike announced by Finance Minister Rachel Reeves in her October budget. Over half of respondents said they were “extremely likely” to scale back pay increases, with one-third also considering redundancies. The survey, covering 168 employers and 1.2 million workers, found that 43% expect pay rises between 3.0% and 3.99%, while only 14% anticipate increases of 4% or more.

The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) added to the bleak outlook, reporting only a slight improvement in business sentiment for the next three months. The CBI’s growth indicator rose marginally to -22 in January from a two-year low of -24 in December, as businesses across sectors, including manufacturing, services, and retail, remained pessimistic. Alpesh Paleja, the CBI’s interim chief economist, warned that plans to cut staff and raise prices could exacerbate challenges for policymakers trying to balance growth and inflation control.

These findings come as the Bank of England prepares to announce its interest rate decision on February 6. Most economists expect a quarter-point rate cut, though the long-term trajectory remains uncertain. Meanwhile, Reeves has defended her tax increases as a one-off measure to stabilize public finances, ahead of an upcoming speech outlining her strategy to accelerate Britain’s sluggish economic growth.

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Irish Parliament Vote for Prime Minister Delayed Amid Opposition Protests

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The election of Micheál Martin as Ireland’s new prime minister was delayed by a day after chaotic scenes in the parliament, Dáil Éireann, on Wednesday. The disruption stemmed from protests by opposition lawmakers over speaking rights for independent legislators backing the incoming coalition government. The speaker was forced to suspend proceedings four times before adjourning the session to Thursday morning.

Martin, set to lead a coalition of Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil, and independents, criticized the opposition, particularly Sinn Féin, for what he called a “subversion of the Irish constitution.” He emphasized the importance of electing a taoiseach and forming a government, expressing dismay at the day’s events. Outgoing premier Simon Harris, who was poised to become deputy prime minister, described the disruptions as “stunt politics on speed.”

The delay has postponed Martin’s appointment of new ministers, with the government aiming to finalize the cabinet before the upcoming U.S. presidential inauguration. The opposition’s protest centered on government-supporting independents retaining extended speaking rights, a contentious issue that remains unresolved. Sinn Féin’s David Cullinane accused the coalition and independents of engaging in “stroke politics” that prompted the standoff.

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Lukashenko Set for Seventh Term as Belarus Holds Presidential Election

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Belarus is set for a presidential election on Sunday, with five candidates appearing on the ballot. However, Alexander Lukashenko, who has ruled for 31 years, is assured of victory in what the exiled opposition has labeled a sham election. Opposition leaders have urged voters to reject all candidates as Lukashenko, 70, claims he is too focused on governance to campaign. Critics argue the election lacks genuine competition, as independent media is banned, and around 1,250 political prisoners remain detained, according to human rights groups.

Lukashenko’s tenure has been marked by protests and international condemnation, especially after mass demonstrations against alleged election fraud in 2020. Security forces cracked down on dissent, jailing opposition leaders or forcing them into exile. While recent prisoner releases suggest an attempt to mend ties with the West, opposition figures like Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya say these moves are strategic, aiming to secure sanctions relief amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.

As a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Lukashenko allowed Belarus to serve as a launchpad for Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Analysts suggest that a potential end to the war could open opportunities for Lukashenko to balance relations between Russia and the West, as he has done in the past. However, exiled opposition leaders, including Ivan Kravtsov, admit to struggling to remain relevant as Belarusians prioritize survival over politics.

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Prince Harry’s Legal Battle Against Murdoch’s Newspaper Group Begins in High Court

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Prince Harry’s legal fight against Rupert Murdoch’s News Group Newspapers (NGN) commenced at the High Court in London on Tuesday. The royal, alongside former senior lawmaker Tom Watson, is suing NGN over allegations of unlawful activities, including phone-hacking and private investigator misconduct, carried out by journalists for its publications, The Sun and the defunct News of the World, between 1996 and 2011. Harry seeks accountability, claiming that senior figures within the organization were aware of, and covered up, widespread wrongdoing. His legal team intends to prove that top executives misled police and destroyed crucial evidence to conceal unlawful actions.

In a mission described by Harry as being driven by the pursuit of truth rather than financial gain, he aims to hold the media giant responsible for its actions. The prince’s older brother, Prince William, previously settled his own case against NGN in 2020. Although NGN has paid millions of pounds in previous settlements, the publisher has firmly denied the claims and intends to fully defend its position in court. The trial, which is expected to last for eight weeks, will initially focus on the extent of phone-hacking and other unlawful activities carried out by the newspaper group.

Witnesses set to testify include former Prime Minister Gordon Brown, actors Hugh Grant and Sienna Miller, singer Lily Allen, and Heather Mills, former wife of Paul McCartney. As the case progresses, Harry is set to take the stand himself in February. NGN, which closed News of the World in 2011, denies the allegations, with a spokesperson stating that the claims are “wrong” and will be vigorously contested through testimony from experts and senior staff.

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Iranian Singer Tataloo Sentenced to Death for Blasphemy

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Iranian singer Amir Hossein Maghsoudloo, widely known as Tataloo, has been sentenced to death on blasphemy charges by the Supreme Court, overturning a prior five-year jail term. Reformist newspaper Etemad reported that the court reopened his case after a prosecutor’s objection, with the death sentence issued for insulting Islam’s Prophet Mohammed. The verdict is not final and remains subject to appeal.

Tataloo, a 37-year-old underground musician renowned for his fusion of rap, pop, and R&B, had been living in Istanbul since 2018 but was extradited to Iran in December 2023. He has been in detention since then, facing additional sentences, including 10 years for promoting “prostitution” and accusations of spreading anti-government propaganda and publishing “obscene content.”

Previously, Tataloo garnered attention for his controversial public persona and political ties. He met with ultra-conservative figures, including the late Iranian president Ebrahim Raisi, and once released a pro-nuclear program song in 2015. His sentencing marks a dramatic turn in a career that straddled both underground music and political intrigue.

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Noyb Files Privacy Complaint Against Chinese Firms Over EU Data Transfers

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Vienna-based privacy advocacy group Noyb (None Of Your Business) has filed a landmark privacy complaint against six Chinese companies, including TikTok, Shein, Xiaomi, and AliExpress, alleging unlawful transfers of European Union (EU) user data to China. The complaints, filed across four European countries, seek to halt data transfers and impose fines of up to 4% of global revenues under the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). The companies reportedly admitted to sending user data to China or undisclosed third countries suspected to be China, raising concerns over inadequate data protection in the authoritarian state.

This marks Noyb’s first complaint against Chinese firms, though it has previously targeted U.S. tech giants like Apple, Alphabet, and Meta, resulting in significant fines and investigations. According to Noyb, GDPR prohibits data transfers to countries that fail to meet EU privacy standards. “China is an authoritarian surveillance state, and transferring Europeans’ personal data there is clearly unlawful,” stated Kleanthi Sardeli, a Noyb data protection lawyer. Companies implicated include TikTok, AliExpress, Shein, Temu, Xiaomi, and Tencent’s WeChat.

Chinese firms have been increasingly scrutinized by global regulators, with TikTok particularly under fire. The app faces a federal ban in the U.S. and is under European Commission investigation for allegedly failing to limit election interference, notably in Romania’s presidential elections. The case underscores mounting global concerns about data privacy and foreign surveillance risks tied to Chinese technology companies.

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British Financial Services Minister Tulip Siddiq Resigns Amid Corruption Allegations

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British Minister for Financial Services Tulip Siddiq resigned on Tuesday following weeks of scrutiny over her financial ties to her aunt, Sheikh Hasina, the former prime minister of Bangladesh. Siddiq, 42, denied any wrongdoing but acknowledged her position could become a distraction to the government. While the ethics adviser cleared her of breaching the ministerial code, he noted her lack of vigilance regarding the reputational risks posed by her family’s associations.

Siddiq’s resignation comes as Prime Minister Keir Starmer faces political pressure following the departure of a second minister in two months. Starmer swiftly replaced Siddiq with former pensions minister Emma Reynolds. The resignation is linked to allegations of corruption and money laundering involving Hasina, who was ousted in 2023. Bangladeshi authorities claim financial irregularities tied to infrastructure projects and a $12.65 billion nuclear power contract may have benefited Siddiq’s family.

Documents revealed Siddiq lived in a property gifted by a lawyer associated with Hasina and acquired another from a developer linked to the Awami League. Bangladesh’s interim government, led by Muhammad Yunus, vowed to recover stolen funds and urged Siddiq to seek forgiveness for her actions. Despite Siddiq’s denials, her ties to properties and financial transactions connected to Hasina remain under investigation.

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