featured News

Irish Parliament Vote for Prime Minister Delayed Amid Opposition Protests

By 72 0

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.

Pic Courtesy: google/ images are subject to copyright

featured News

Lukashenko Set for Seventh Term as Belarus Holds Presidential Election

By 94 0

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.

Pic Courtesy: google/ images are subject to copyright

featured News

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

By 85 0

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.

Pic Courtesy: google/ images are subject to copyright

featured News

Iranian Singer Tataloo Sentenced to Death for Blasphemy

By 106 0

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.

Pic Courtesy: google/ images are subject to copyright

featured News

Noyb Files Privacy Complaint Against Chinese Firms Over EU Data Transfers

By 75 0

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.

Pic Courtesy: google/ images are subject to copyright

featured News

British Financial Services Minister Tulip Siddiq Resigns Amid Corruption Allegations

By 84 0

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.

Pic Courtesy: google/ images are subject to copyright

featured News Uncategorized

Zoran Milanovic Secures Second Term as Croatia’s President

By 106 0

Zoran Milanovic has been re-elected as Croatia’s president, winning nearly three-quarters of the vote in the presidential election. His opponent, Dragan Primorac, backed by the ruling Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ), managed just 25% of the vote, marking the party’s worst-ever electoral performance. The outcome reflects a resounding endorsement of Milanovic despite his frequent critiques of the government.

Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic, leader of the HDZ, offered a muted response, refraining from congratulating Milanovic and criticizing him as offering “nothing.” Milanovic, in contrast, extended an olive branch, stating he would “offer a hand” to the prime minister. As a ceremonial head of state, Milanovic’s role is constitutionally non-partisan, yet his presidency has been marked by outspoken criticism of the government on issues such as corruption, inflation, and healthcare.

A seasoned politician, Milanovic served as prime minister from 2011 to 2016 and led the centre-left Social Democratic Party (SDP) for nearly a decade. His presidency has also seen controversy, including a failed attempt to run for prime minister last year, ruled unconstitutional by the courts. While Milanovic has condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, his criticism of Western military support for Kyiv has drawn international attention.

Pic Courtesy: google/ images are subject to copyright

featured News

Germany’s Habeck and Scholz Criticize Trump’s Divisive Tactics and Greenland Proposal

By 113 0

Germany’s Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck has accused US President-elect Donald Trump of attempting to undermine European unity, calling for a united European front in response. Speaking to Deutschlandfunk, Habeck claimed Trump’s past efforts to strike individual deals with European nations sought to fracture EU solidarity and warned of potential trade policy attacks targeting German products. Highlighting Germany’s significant trade surplus with the US, he stressed the importance of EU backing in trade matters.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz also criticized Trump for reigniting controversial remarks about acquiring Greenland and Canada, asserting that borders must not be altered by force. During a news conference, Scholz emphasized the principle of border inviolability as foundational to international peace. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen dismissed Trump’s renewed proposal for Greenland, reaffirming the territory’s autonomy. Trump’s comments on his Truth Social platform, advocating for Greenland to join the US, have drawn sharp rebukes from European leaders.

Adding to the strain in transatlantic ties, Tesla CEO Elon Musk, a Trump ally, publicly criticized German leaders and voiced support for Germany’s far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. Scholz responded by reaffirming Germany’s commitment to NATO and Western values, emphasizing the importance of border security. As Trump’s inauguration approaches, European leaders brace for renewed challenges to relations with the US.

Pic Courtesy: google/ images are subject to copyright

featured News

Ukrainian Strike Hits Russian Fuel Depot, Disrupting Strategic Operations

By 111 0

The Ukrainian military announced a targeted strike on a fuel storage depot in Engels, a city in Russia’s Saratov region, approximately 600 kilometers from the Ukrainian border. The overnight attack ignited a blaze at the depot, which supplied a critical air base used by Russian planes to launch missiles into Ukraine. Ukraine’s General Staff stated that the strike significantly disrupted Russian strategic aviation, hampering their ability to target Ukrainian cities and civilian infrastructure.

Russian officials confirmed a major drone attack in the area, with Saratov Governor Roman Busargin reporting fire damage at an industrial site in Engels caused by falling debris. No injuries were reported, but authorities responded by restricting flights at airports in Saratov, Ulyanovsk, Kazan, and Nizhnekamsk. The incident reflects escalating tensions as Ukraine expands its reach into Russian territory using domestically developed long-range weapons.

Ukrainian presidential advisor Alexander Kamyshin attributed the attack to Ukraine’s indigenous arsenal, emphasizing the effectiveness of locally produced capabilities with the hashtag #MadeInUkraine. Last year, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy highlighted Kyiv’s development of weapons with a range of up to 700 kilometers, with recent strikes proving their ability to hit targets over 1,000 kilometers away. This marks a shift in Ukraine’s strategy amid restrictions on the use of Western-supplied long-range weapons.

Pic Courtesy: google/ image are subject to copyright

featured News

Italian Journalist Cecilia Sala Freed from Detention in Iran

By 130 0

Cecilia Sala, an Italian journalist detained in Iran last month, has been released and is on her way back to Rome. The 29-year-old journalist was arrested on December 19, following the detention of Iranian engineer Mohammad Abedini in Milan, who was suspected of supplying drone technology linked to the deaths of US soldiers. Sala had been held in solitary confinement at Tehran’s Evin prison, sparking widespread outrage in Italy.

The Italian government, led by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, announced her release, crediting “intense work through diplomatic and intelligence channels” for securing her freedom. Sala’s partner, Daniele Raineri, shared the emotional news, quoting her saying, “I’ll see you soon.” The journalist’s plane was en route to Rome, where she is expected to land later today.

While the exact reasons for Sala’s release remain unclear, Iranian authorities initially claimed her detention was due to violations of the Islamic Republic’s laws. However, US officials indicated that her arrest might have been connected to Abedini’s case, suggesting she could have been used as “political leverage.” The Italian government has taken a proactive role in her case, with Giovanni Caravelli, head of Italy’s foreign intelligence service, reportedly traveling to Tehran to facilitate her return.

Pic Courtesy: google/ images are subject to copyright