Italy calls for Ukraine truce, peace talks with Putin - newspaper

At the 602nd Plenary Session of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) on January 21–22, 2026, Marilena Raouna, Cyprus’ Deputy Minister for European Affairs, outlined the priorities of the Cypriot Presidency of the Council of the European Union. Under the motto “An Autonomous Union. Open to the World,” the Presidency focuses on strengthening EU security and preparedness, boosting competitiveness, advancing enlargement and global partnerships, reinforcing social cohesion and inclusion, and shaping a robust long-term EU budget for 2028–2034. The agenda highlights defense and water resilience, migration management, Single Market reforms, digital sovereignty, trade expansion, social protection, and strategic investment to enhance Europe’s resilience and global role. #CyprusPresidency #EUPresidency #EuropeanUnion #EESC #EUAutonomy #EUCompetitiveness #EUSecurity #EUMigration #EUEnlargement #EUTrade #EUSocialPolicy #EUBudget #MFF2034 #DigitalSovereignty ------------------------------------------------- Subscribe to the Amaravati Today, AT World News channel and tap the bell icon to receive notifications whenever we go live https://www.youtube.com/@atnewsroom #atworldnews #atworld #AmaravatiToday Source/Courtesy: EU

On January 22, 2026, the European Parliament held a key plenary debate in Strasbourg on drones and new systems of warfare. Led by Latvian MEP Reinis Pozņaks (ECR), the own-initiative report urges the EU to rapidly integrate drone and counter-drone capabilities, strengthen strategic autonomy through a European drone industry, and enhance protection of critical civilian infrastructure. The debate took place amid rising security concerns, including Russian hybrid warfare tactics and repeated drone incursions near European airports and military sites. MEPs exchanged views with Commission Executive Vice-President Roxana Mînzatu ahead of a scheduled vote on the report and resolution. The discussion aligns with preparations for the European Drone Defence Initiative under the Defence Readiness Roadmap 2030 #EUParliament #EuropeanDefence #DroneWarfare #EUDefense #HybridThreats #CounterDrone #SecurityPolicy #EuropeanUnion #DefenceTechnology #RussiaUkraine #StrategicAutonomy #MilitaryInnovation #EUPolitics #DefenceReadiness #Strasbourg ------------------------------------------------- Subscribe to the Amaravati Today, AT World News channel and tap the bell icon to receive notifications whenever we go live https://www.youtube.com/@atnewsroom #atworldnews #atworld #AmaravatiToday Source/Courtesy: EU

During the January 19–22, 2026 plenary session, Members of the European Parliament debated a new Action Plan to implement the European Pillar of Social Rights (EPSR). The discussion builds on the 2021 Action Plan and the EU’s 2030 social targets. On January 22, Executive Vice-President for Social Rights and Skills Roxana Mînzatu responded to MEPs’ oral questions, outlining priorities for the upcoming plan, expected to be formally published in 2026. Key themes included updating Europe’s social rulebook to address digitalisation and AI in the labour market, workers’ mental health, the rising cost of living, job insecurity, the right to disconnect, gender pay equality, and a fair transition to green jobs. The debate highlighted the EU’s effort to balance economic transformation with strong social protections. #EUParliament #EuropeanUnion #SocialRights #EPSR #EUSocialPolicy #DigitalJobs #AIandWork #RightToDisconnect #GenderEquality #GreenJobs #CostOfLiving #LabourRights #EU2026 #PlenarySession #EUPolitics ------------------------------------------------- Subscribe to the Amaravati Today, AT World News channel and tap the bell icon to receive notifications whenever we go live https://www.youtube.com/@atnewsroom #atworldnews #atworld #AmaravatiToday Source/Courtesy: EU

During the European Parliament plenary session held from January 19–22, 2026, MEPs debated a European Commission statement on joint action against the rising use of the death penalty worldwide. The discussion was driven by alarming data showing a sharp increase in executions in 2025, concentrated in a small number of countries. MEPs strongly condemned developments in Iran, where authorities intensified crackdowns on nationwide protests, reportedly killing hundreds and fast-tracking death penalty trials for detainees. The European Union reaffirmed its unequivocal opposition to capital punishment in all circumstances, calling it a violation of human dignity and an ineffective crime deterrent. The debate highlighted the need for coordinated international action, including support for legal moratoriums, opposition to executions for drug-related crimes and minors, and stronger sanctions against regimes using executions as repression tools. Parliament also welcomed the 2026 World Congress against the Death Penalty in France as a key global milestone. #EuropeanParliament #DeathPenalty #CapitalPunishment #HumanRights #EUForeignPolicy #IranProtests #Executions2025 #AbolishDeathPenalty #EUValues #GlobalJustice #WorldCongress #France2026 #HumanDignity #InternationalLaw #AmaravatiToday ------------------------------------------------- Subscribe to the Amaravati Today, AT World News channel and tap the bell icon to receive notifications whenever we go live https://www.youtube.com/@atnewsroom #atworldnews #atworld #AmaravatiToday Source/Courtesy: EU

EU Justice and Home Affairs ministers gather in Nicosia, Cyprus, from January 21–23, 2026, for the first informal meeting under the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU. The Home Affairs session focuses on key security and migration priorities, including a new EU returns policy, lessons from Cyprus’s rise in voluntary departures, and progress on the Migration and Asylum Pact. Ministers also review interoperability of EU border IT systems and Cyprus’s upgraded border infrastructure as it seeks full Schengen membership. The meeting underscores Nicosia’s symbolism and calls for a united European response to shared challenges. #EUJHA #EUMigration #SchengenArea #EUHomeAffairs #CyprusPresidency #BorderSecurity #MigrationPolicy #EUSummit #ReturnsPolicy #EUJustice #SchengenExpansion #Nicosia #EuropeanUnion #HomeAffairsMinisters #EUSecurity ------------------------------------------------- Subscribe to the Amaravati Today, AT World News channel and tap the bell icon to receive notifications whenever we go live https://www.youtube.com/@atnewsroom #atworldnews #atworld #AmaravatiToday Source/Courtesy: EU

Former UK Defence Secretaries Sir Ben Wallace and Sir Grant Shapps, alongside ex-Armed Forces Minister James Heappey, appeared before the House of Commons Defence Committee on January 20, 2026. The hearing examined a catastrophic 2022 Ministry of Defence data breach that exposed personal details of nearly 19,000 Afghans seeking relocation to the UK. The inquiry focused on the controversial use of a secret “super-injunction” that concealed the breach from the public for almost two years. Wallace criticised the prolonged gagging order and cited negligence as the root cause, while Shapps defended the injunction as necessary to protect lives and UK Special Forces. The session also addressed Parliament being kept in the dark and the covert Afghanistan Response Route evacuations. #UKPolitics #DefenceCommittee #DataBreach #SuperInjunction #Afghanistan #MinistryOfDefence #BenWallace #GrantShapps #JamesHeappey #HouseOfCommons #NationalSecurity #PressFreedom #BBC #TheIndependent ------------------------------------------------- Subscribe to the Amaravati Today, AT World News channel and tap the bell icon to receive notifications whenever we go live https://www.youtube.com/@atnewsroom #atworldnews #atworld #AmaravatiToday Source/Courtesy: UK Parliament

Prime Minister’s Questions on 21 January 2026 saw a heated exchange between UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch. The session was dominated by tensions in UK–US relations, as Starmer strongly criticised former US President Donald Trump’s proposal to acquire Greenland and his threat of 25% tariffs on European allies, stating the UK would “not yield” to such pressure. Badenoch attacked the government over the Chagos Islands agreement, calling it a national security failure, while Starmer defended the deal by citing international court rulings against the previous Conservative government. The debate also marked the first PMQs since Robert Jenrick’s defection to Reform UK and featured sharp exchanges over legal protections for British veterans. #PMQs #UKPolitics #KeirStarmer #KemiBadenoch #TrumpTariffs #Greenland #ChagosIslands #UKUSRelations #BritishParliament #HouseOfCommons #ReformUK #Veterans #GlobalPolitics #Europe #US ------------------------------------------------- Subscribe to the Amaravati Today, AT World News channel and tap the bell icon to receive notifications whenever we go live https://www.youtube.com/@atnewsroom #atworldnews #atworld #AmaravatiToday Source/Courtesy: UK Parliament

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese addressed the media at Parliament House, Canberra, on January 21, 2026, following the late-night passage of landmark federal legislation. The Prime Minister confirmed the Senate approval of the Combating Antisemitism, Hate and Extremism (Criminal and Migration Laws) Act 2026, described as the toughest hate crime reforms in Australia’s history. Albanese announced a National Day of Mourning on January 22 to honour the 15 victims of the December 2025 Bondi Beach terror attack, addressed rising antisemitism, and outlined major firearm reforms, including a national gun buyback and stricter import controls. The briefing also took place amid significant political fallout, including Coalition walkouts and frontbench resignations. #AustraliaPolitics #AnthonyAlbanese #HateSpeechLaws #GunLawReform #BondiBeachAttack #NationalDayOfMourning #Antisemitism #AustralianParliament #Canberra #GunBuyback #FederalLegislation #BreakingNews #WorldNews #PressConference ------------------------------------------------- Subscribe to the Amaravati Today, AT World News channel and tap the bell icon to receive notifications whenever we go live https://www.youtube.com/@atnewsroom #atworldnews #atworld #AmaravatiToday Source/Courtesy: Australia Parliament