EU copyright law gets green light
The European Union is set to get new copyright laws after an agreement was reached late on Wednesday between EU officials, MEPs and diplomats from member states, The Financial Times reports. Andrus Ansip, the EU’s commissioner for digital policy says the new law will introduce “modern copyright rules fit for the digital age”. Under the new legislation, digital platforms will be forced to remove user-generated content that is in breach of intellectual property law. It also gives publishers the right to charge search engines, aggregators, and other sites if they reproduce more than “single words or very short extracts” of new stories, according to The Verge, which says the law is basically a “link tax”. But memes and Gifs will be permitted if they are for non-commercial use. Politico cites MEP Axel Voss saying the agreement “met the thin lines everyone can agree on”.
Singapore free trade agreement
On a busy day for the European Parliament, MEPs on Wednesday passed legislation that gives the go ahead for a free-trade agreement between the European Union and Singapore. Channel News Asia cites a Facebook post from Singapore foreign minister Vivian Balakrishnan saying that the agreement “broaden cooperation” in areas such as education, transport, air services and science and technology. Bloomberg says the deal “continues a campaign to counter the protectionism of U.S. President Donald Trump.”
Saudis, Panama and Nigeria added to EU blacklist
Reuters reports that Saudi Arabia, Nigeria and Panama have been added to an EU blacklist as part of a crackdown on money laundering. Other new additions to the list include Libya, Botswana, Ghana and the Bahamas. The list now stands at 23 countries, though Bosnia, Guyana, Laos, Uganda and Vanuatu have been removed. The European Commission says the new countries have “strategic deficiencies in their anti-money laundering and countering terrorist financing regimes”. Reuters cites EU sources that say the UK was urging for the exclusion of Saudi Arabia.
Manafort lied, says judge
Donald Trump’s former presidential campaign chairman Paul Manafort breached his plea deal as part of Robert Mueller’s inquiry into Russian election interference, a judge has ruled. The Guardian reports that Manafort was found to have made false statements to Mueller’s team, the FBI and a grand jury about his interactions with alleged Russian intelligence operative Konstantin Kilimnik. The BBC says the ruling means Manafort could face harsher sentences or have charges against him re-filed.
Job openings for hangmen in Sri Lanka
The Guardian reports on an advertisement for two hangmen in Sri Lanka following president Maithripala Sirisena’s pledge to crackdown on drug trafficking. The paper says the president has been inspired by the tough stance taken in the Philippines by Rodrigo Duterte.
“Frozen” fandom forewarning
Parents with daughters under the age of 8, and anyone with friends who love a cheesy musical, can brace themselves now for a flurry of “Frozen” merchandise shopping next Christmas. The sequel to the Disney smash hit is set for release on 22 November and the first trailer has just been unveiled, The Guardian reports and has the clip.
Today’s breakfast briefing was written by Duncan Roberts