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Ukraine Sends Delegation to US for Security Guarantees, Recovery Talks

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Ukraine has sent a high-level delegation to the United States for talks focused on security guarantees and a post-war recovery package, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Friday. He expressed hope that the agreements could be finalised and signed on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos next week. The discussions come as Ukraine seeks firm commitments to prevent any future Russian aggression once the war ends.

Zelenskiy said Kyiv also wants greater clarity from Washington on Russia’s position toward U.S.-backed diplomatic efforts to end the nearly four-year conflict. While noting progress in negotiations with the U.S., he acknowledged differences on certain issues. Ukrainian officials estimate the country will need around $800 billion for post-war reconstruction, and Zelenskiy said Ukraine has completed its part of the work on a proposed “prosperity package” to unlock recovery funding.

Ukraine’s ambassador to the U.S., Olga Stefanishyna, said senior officials, including the head of the presidential office and top security leaders, will hold bilateral talks in Miami to refine the agreements. Zelenskiy accused Russia of stalling peace efforts, citing continued strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, and renewed calls for increased air defence support, warning that shortages of ammunition have already left parts of the power grid vulnerable.

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Czech Republic Shuts Its Last Deep Coal Mine, Ending 250-Year Legacy

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The Czech Republic is set to close its last deep hard coal mine at the end of January, marking the end of more than 250 years of underground coal mining in the Ostrava region. Final extraction is underway at the CSM mine in Stonava near the Polish border, as low global coal prices, rising mining costs and Europe’s green transition have made deep mining economically unviable. The shutdown brings to a close an industry that once powered Central Europe’s industrial growth.

State-owned miner OKD had planned to shut the mine earlier, but soaring energy prices following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine temporarily extended operations. However, kilometre-deep shafts and increasing operational costs proved unsustainable. For miners, the closure carries emotional weight, ending generations of underground work that shaped the region’s identity and economy. OKD now employs about 2,300 workers, with further job cuts expected in the coming months.

Once an industrial powerhouse employing over 100,000 miners, the Ostrava basin has been reshaped by decades of mine closures. While unemployment remains above the national average, retraining programmes, foreign investment and EU support have helped stabilise the region. Backed by funding from the EU’s Just Transition programme, OKD is planning a post-coal future that includes energy storage, data infrastructure and alternative power projects, signalling a shift from underground mining to new above-ground industries.

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Nobel Committee Says Prize Stays with Laureate Even if Medal Is Given Away

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The Nobel Peace Prize remains permanently tied to the individual or organisation that wins it, even if the physical medal is given away, the Norwegian Nobel Committee clarified on Friday. The statement came a day after Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado handed her Nobel medal to U.S. President Donald Trump, who has said he plans to keep it. The committee stressed that the honour and recognition of the prize cannot be transferred.

According to the Nobel Committee, while the medal, diploma and prize money are tangible items, the Nobel Prize itself is an immutable historical record. Machado’s award also includes a diploma and prize money of 11 million Swedish crowns. The committee noted that there are no rules restricting what laureates may do with these items, meaning they are free to keep, donate, sell or give them away.

However, the committee emphasised that the identity of the laureate never changes. Regardless of the fate of the medal or other components, the original recipient remains recorded as the Nobel laureate. Citing past examples, the committee noted that previous winners have donated or sold their medals, including Nobel laureates who used them for political gestures or humanitarian fundraising, without altering the official status of the prize.

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Gas Leak Triggers Explosion and Fire in Utrecht

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A large explosion followed by a fire in the Dutch city of Utrecht was caused by a gas leak, local officials have confirmed. The incident occurred on Thursday afternoon at a house near Visscherssteeg, a narrow alley in the city centre. Four people were injured, though Utrecht Mayor Sharon Dijksma said none of the injuries were life-threatening.

The exact cause of the gas leak remains unknown, but authorities have said it is not believed to be deliberate. Firefighters battled the blaze for several hours before bringing it under control. Thick plumes of smoke were seen rising above the area as emergency services secured the scene.

Eyewitnesses described hearing a “deafening bang” that left buildings damaged and streets littered with rubble and shattered glass. Several nearby shops and homes suffered structural damage, prompting evacuations. Residents were advised to avoid the area while safety checks continued.

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AI-Generated Song Barred from Sweden’s Official Music Charts

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An AI-created folk-pop song that topped Spotify’s Sweden Top 50 has been barred from the country’s official music charts, reigniting debate over artificial intelligence and creativity. The track, Jag vet, du är inte min (“I Know, You’re Not Mine”), performed by a digital artist named Jacub, amassed over five million streams within weeks, making it Sweden’s biggest song of 2026 so far. However, Sweden’s music industry body ruled that the song does not qualify for chart rankings because it was primarily generated using AI.

Investigations by journalists revealed that Jacub is not a conventional artist, with no public performances or social media presence. The song is linked to executives at Denmark-based Stellar Music, including members of its AI division. The producers, calling themselves Team Jacub, argued that AI was only a tool in a human-led creative process and said the song’s popularity proved its artistic value. They described Jacub as an “artistic project” driven by real human emotions and experiences.

The explanation failed to convince IFPI Sweden, which enforces a rule excluding mainly AI-generated music from its national charts. The decision comes as Sweden positions itself at the forefront of the AI economy, even as creators warn of revenue losses from AI-generated content. While organisations like Billboard allow AI-generated tracks if they meet performance criteria, Sweden’s tougher stance highlights growing global divisions over how AI-made music should be recognised and regulated.

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Bulgaria Heads for Snap Election After Parties Reject Government Mandate

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Bulgaria is heading for another snap election after the country’s main political parties refused to form a government, President Rumen Radev said on Friday. His announcement follows the rejection of a final mandate by the Alliance for Rights and Freedoms, clearing the way for the eighth election in just four years.

None of the parties in Bulgaria’s fragmented parliament hold enough seats to secure a stable majority. Earlier this week, both the GERB-SDS bloc and the reformist PP-DB alliance turned down Radev’s request to try to form a governing coalition after the previous administration resigned.

Former Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov’s coalition stepped down last month amid sustained street protests over corruption and proposed tax increases. With all mandates now declined, Radev is expected to appoint a caretaker government and call early elections, as Bulgaria seeks political stability to unlock EU funds, boost investment, and tackle long-standing corruption.

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Italy’s Data Privacy Watchdog Faces Corruption Probe

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Italian finance police have searched the headquarters of the country’s data protection authority as part of a probe into alleged corruption and embezzlement, according to judicial sources. Rome prosecutors are investigating the agency’s president, Pasquale Stanzione, along with three other board members, over claims of excessive spending and irregularities linked to regulatory decisions.

Stanzione said he was “absolutely serene” when questioned by reporters, but declined to say whether he would resign. The opposition 5-Star Movement said the investigation had damaged the credibility of the authority and called for Stanzione to step down, intensifying political pressure on the watchdog’s leadership.

The Italian data protection authority, known as the Garante, is one of the European Union’s most active enforcers of digital privacy rules and has frequently taken action against major technology companies. In recent years, it has fined and briefly banned OpenAI’s ChatGPT, blocked China’s DeepSeek chatbot over privacy concerns, and last week warned AI platforms, including Elon Musk’s Grok, about the risks of generating deepfake images without user consent.

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IMF Sees Global Economy Holding Firm Despite Trade and Geopolitical Shocks

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The International Monetary Fund’s upcoming growth forecasts are expected to show that the global economy remains resilient to trade disruptions, with overall performance still “fairly strong,” IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said in an interview with Reuters. Speaking during a visit to Kyiv, Georgieva indicated the IMF could slightly raise its projections again, following a recent upgrade by the World Bank.

In its October outlook, the IMF lifted its 2025 global growth forecast to 3.2%, citing a smaller-than-expected drag from U.S. tariffs, while keeping its 2026 estimate at 3.1%. Georgieva said the January update, due on January 19, would likely reinforce the message that trade shocks have not derailed global growth, even though risks remain tilted to the downside.

She cautioned that geopolitical tensions, rapid technological shifts and heavy investment in artificial intelligence pose potential threats if productivity gains fail to materialise. Georgieva also warned that many countries have not built sufficient financial buffers to handle future shocks, noting that the IMF is already running 50 lending programmes and may see demand rise if global conditions worsen.

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Rome Cuts Historic Centre Speed Limit to 30 kph to Boost Safety

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Rome has implemented a new 30 kph (19 mph) speed limit throughout its historic centre, joining other European capitals like London, Paris, and Brussels in efforts to make city streets safer. The reduced limit, nearly half of the previous 50 kph cap, aims to lower accidents and reduce pollution in areas crowded with cars, residents, and tourists. Authorities plan a gradual enforcement period of 30 days to help drivers adjust.

City transport chief Eugenio Patane emphasized that lower speeds save lives, noting that speeding contributes to 7.5% of road accidents in Rome. Similar initiatives in Bologna have shown promising results, with road accidents dropping 13% and fatalities falling by nearly 50% after introducing a 30 kph limit. Mayor Roberto Gualtieri has also expanded the number of speed cameras and encouraged alternatives to private cars to further improve safety and air quality.

Reactions among residents and drivers are mixed. Some, like scooter rider Barbara Barattolo, welcomed the change as a measure to reduce risks on busy streets. Others, including taxi driver Cristiano, criticized the limit as excessively low in certain areas. Authorities estimate the new regulation will cut noise levels in the city centre by around 2 decibels, addressing long-standing complaints about congestion and pollution.

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Ukraine Declares Energy Emergency as Winter Cold and Russian Strikes Batter Kyiv

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Ukraine has declared a state of emergency in its energy sector, particularly targeting Kyiv, as ongoing Russian attacks continue to leave thousands of residents without power amid harsh winter conditions. Overnight temperatures in the capital recently dropped to around -20°C, exacerbating the humanitarian impact of missile and drone strikes that disrupted electricity, heating, and water supplies. President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Moscow of deliberately exploiting the severe cold as part of its war strategy.

Following a special cabinet meeting, Zelensky announced the creation of a 24/7 task force to repair energy infrastructure and procure essential equipment from abroad. Emergency help points are being expanded across Kyiv to provide heat and power to residents, with a possible easing of the midnight curfew. The First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy has been tasked with overseeing these emergency operations.

Russian attacks on energy systems have also affected south-eastern Ukraine, leaving over one million people without heating and water at times. Ukraine’s largest private energy provider, DTEK, reports constant strain from repeated waves of drone, cruise, and ballistic missile attacks, struggling to maintain power for 5.6 million Ukrainians as the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion approaches.

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