TOI correspondent from Washington: Hours after top Trump aide Stephen Miller audaciously asserted US “right” over Greenland, leaders of eight European nations on Tuesday stood up for Denmark and its self-governing constituent, bringing the 75-year old transatlantic alliance to a crossroad.“Greenland belongs to its people. It is for Denmark and Greenland, and them only, to decide on matters concerning Denmark and Greenland,” leaders of France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, Denmark and the U.K said in a rare joint statement, pushing back at the US position.

In stunning remarks on CNN on Tuesday, White House Deputy Chief of Staff and Trump immigration czar Stephen Miller questioned Denmark’s right to Greenland, while asserting that it is the formal position of the Trump administration that the long-recognized Danish realm should be part of the United States.“By what right does Denmark assert control over Greenland? What is the basis of their territorial claim? The United States is the power of Nato . For the US to secure the Arctic region, to protect and defend Nato and Nato interests, obviously Greenland should be part of the United States,” Miller said.The Trump aide repeatedly rebuffed the host’s question if he could take the military option off the table, scoffing at Greenland’s 30,000 population and asserting “We wouldn’t need military action…nobody is gonna fight the US militarily over the future of Greenland.”Indeed, the European statement, while pushing back at US claims, was not exactly muscular, preferring to remind Washington of mutual Nato obligations to defend the Arctic. It said that security in the Arctic must be achieved collectively with Nato allies, including the United States, by upholding the principles of the UN Charter, including sovereignty, territorial integrity and the inviolability of border, adding “These are universal principles, and we will not stop defending them.““Nato has made clear that the Arctic region is a priority and European allies are stepping up. We and many other allies have increased our presence, activities and investments, to keep the Arctic safe and to deter adversaries. The Kingdom of Denmark—including Greenland—is part of Nato ,” the statement said.Individually, European leaders have made stronger statements. Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has said any US invasion of Greenland would spell an end to Nato , and Germany’s foreign minister Johann Wadephul has warned that the United States will be at war with Europe if it grabs Greenland, asserting Nato members will have an obligation to defend Denmark if it was attacked by the US. “Greenland is part of the Kingdom of Denmark. And since Denmark is a member of Nato , Greenland will, in principle, also be subject to Nato defence,” he said. Greenland, a Danish colony from 1721 until 1953, is now an autonomous constituent country within the Kingdom of Denmark, locked in a relationship known as the Rigsfællesskab or “Unity of the Realm.”While it is largely self-governing, Denmark controls Foreign Affair, Defense & National Security, and Monetary Policy. No administration before Trump’s had challenged this arrangement. Miller faced questions on the Trump White House position on Greenland after his wife, also a former White House staffer, posted on social media map of Greenland draped in US colors with the word “Soon” – soon after the US infiltration into Venezuela and its abduction of President Nicolas Maduro. The answers were a cold, chilling assertion of US “right” over Greenland that seemed to answer the question now raging across global capitals: Who’s next?

A Hindu widow in Bangladesh was tortured, raped and tied to a tree before her hair was cut by two local men, one of which had “an evil eye on the woman and made repeated indecent advances,” according to local outlet Bangladesh Partidin.In the tragic incident, which happened in Jhenaidah district on Saturday night, the 40-year-old woman was reportedly subjected to brutal torture by men who had followed her for the past two and a half years.

According to the complaint and the victim’s statement, around two-and-a-half years ago, the Hindu widow woman had purchased a two-storey house and 300 decimals of land for 20 lakh taka from Shahin and his brother, residents of Nandipara under the Kaliganj municipal area. After the purchase, Shahin allegedly began casting an evil eye on the woman and made repeated indecent advances. When she rejected him, he continued “to harass her in various ways”.The woman, after suffering the torture, lost consciousness. Later, the local residents rescued her in an injured condition and admitted her to Jhenaidah Sadar Hospital. Dr Mohammad Mustafizur Rahman, superintendent at Jhenaidah General Hospital, said the woman initially did not disclose the crime. “Later, through medical examination, we came to know that she had been subjected to torture,” he told the local news outlet.Jhenaidah additional superintendent of police Bilal Hossain said, “We have called the victim to the police station and registered her complaint. After completing the investigation, the police will take strict legal action against those responsible.”The two local men have been arrested in Kaliganj after the survivor subsequently lodged a complaint against Shahin and his accomplice at the Kaliganj police station.

Experienced wicketkeeper-batter Jonny Bairstow has expressed his take about England’s prospects at the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, scheduled to be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka. With the tournament fast approaching, Bairstow believes England’s depth of experience and growing familiarity with subcontinent conditions will play a decisive role in shaping their campaign.

Balanced and bold provisional squad for England

England recently unveiled their provisional 15-member squad for the marquee event, drawing attention for a mix of seasoned campaigners and bold selections. One of the most talked-about inclusions has been fast bowler Josh Tongue, who is yet to make his limited-overs debut for England. The selection underlines England’s willingness to back potential and raw skill alongside proven performers.

The leadership mantle has been handed to Harry Brook, marking a new chapter in England’s white-ball journey. The squad also boasts experienced names such as Jos Buttler, Adil Rashid, and Jofra Archer, ensuring a strong core of players who have performed on the biggest stages.

Jonny Bairstow opens up on England’s chances at the T20 World Cup 2026

Currently featuring for Sunrisers Eastern Cape in the SA20 League, Bairstow was asked about England’s chances in Asian conditions, traditionally considered challenging for visiting teams. The veteran batter stressed that the current England setup is far better prepared than in the past, thanks to frequent tours and franchise cricket exposure in the region.

According to Bairstow, several England players have spent considerable time playing in India and Sri Lanka, allowing them to understand pitches, climate, and tactical nuances. This accumulated experience, he feels, will help England adapt quickly once the tournament begins.

Bairstow placed particular emphasis on Buttler’s success in the Indian Premier League (IPL), describing it as a valuable knowledge base for the squad. Buttler’s understanding of Indian conditions, bowlers, and match situations is expected to benefit younger or less experienced players in the group.

Also READ: England unveils provisional squad for T20 World Cup 2026, no place for Jamie Smith

Bairstow noted that such shared insights can bridge gaps for those who have not played extensively in the subcontinent, creating a more unified and confident unit ahead of the global event.

“Look, they’ve got a lot of experience, haven’t they? People have been playing over there, such as Jos Buttler, who is doing exceptionally well in the Indian Premier League. So, he’ll be passing on knowledge to guys who haven’t got quite as much. And we’ll wait and see,” Bairstow told reporters.

Preparations begin with Sri Lanka tour

England’s road to the T20 World Cup will begin with a tour of Sri Lanka, where they are scheduled to play three ODIs followed by three T20Is starting January 22. The series is expected to serve as an important preparatory phase, offering players valuable match practice in similar conditions to those they will encounter during the World Cup. England will open their T20 World Cup 2026 campaign against Nepal on February 8.

Also READ: No Mohammad Rizwan as Pakistan unveils provisional squad for the T20 World Cup 2026

Mumbai: People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals India (PETA India) has filed an application before the Supreme Court in the petition related to the stray dogs issue, urging the court to reconsider its order for the jailing of dogs from various areas and the rounding up of cows in “an out-of-sight-out-of-mind approach”; and instead issue directions for the humane, lawful, and scientifically grounded management of community animals in accordance with roadmaps submitted by PETA India.In its application, the NGO cautioned the apex court against the warehousing of dogs for life in cramped and underfunded facilities, warning that such measures are not only cruel and unscientific but also unworkable at scale, a major public health risk, and would divert public resources away from real solutions, including the implementation of the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules 2023, and ultimately worsen human–animal conflict. PETA India also urged the Court to stay the implementation of the Animal Welfare Board of India’s SOP, which recommends large-scale shelters that allot a mere 20 square feet per dog—roughly the size of a traditional funeral pyre.Among other recommendations, PETA India urged the Supreme Court to reaffirm and strengthen the implementation of the ABC Rules, 2023, rather than focus on punitive, knee-jerk displacement measures that repeatedly failed wherever they were attempted. It submitted for the court’s consideration 2 comprehensive, expert-driven roadmaps, which were also sent to the Prime Minister, states and union territories, and the Animal Welfare Board of India.Grounded in the principles of Ahimsa and Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, these roadmaps provide preventive, evidence-based, and legally sound solutions that address root causes, including illegal pet shops and breeders and the abandonment of dogs by impulse-buyers, as well as the abandonment of male calves and cows when their milk production wanes by the dairy sector.For community dogs: time-bound, area-wide implementation of the ABC Rules, 2023; expansion via smaller-scale sterilisation and rabies-vaccination capacity; closure of illegal breeders and pet shops; prohibition of foreign dog breeds bred for use in illegal dogfights; protection of community feeders; and strong govt incentives for adoption.“The lifelong incarceration of dogs in spaces the size of a funeral pyre—and the relocation of stray cattle into already overcrowded and underfunded gaushalas—is not population management; it is cruelty dressed up as policy,” said Shaurya Agrawal, Policy Associate, PETA India. “India already has lawful, science-based frameworks to address stray dog and cow populations that need to be implemented in a time-bound manner,” he added.PETA India emphasised before the court that confining countless dogs and an ever-growing number of stray cattle is neither feasible nor humane. With an estimated 62 million free-roaming dogs and 5 million stray cattle (and counting due to dairy industry abandonment) in India, there is no infrastructure, funding, or administrative capacity to confine even a fraction of the population without triggering enormous suffering and mass disease outbreaks.Through its application, PETA India urged the Supreme Court to ensure that any directions issued in the matter uphold constitutional values, existing animal-protection laws, and India’s long-standing commitment to compassionate coexistence.

Punjab minister Barinder Kumar Goyal (File photo)

Punjab minister and senior AAP leader Barinder Kumar Goyal on Tuesday criticised the Congress government in Himachal Pradesh for allegedly imposing an “illegal” financial burden of Rs 500 crore on the Bhakra Beas Management Board.Addressing a press conference here, Goyal, who holds the water resources portfolio, also said the proposed “new cess” is against the federal principles and has no legal basis.The move, which will directly harm Punjab’s interests, amounts to a conspiracy against the state, he claimed.The minister said earlier also the Himachal Pradesh government tried to impose a water cess, which was withdrawn after it was challenged for being illegal.“After the previous attempt failed, the Congress government has come up with another arbitrary levy without explaining under which law it has been imposed,” he said.Goyal also claimed that there is no clarity as to how the value of Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) land, its machinery and infrastructure were assessed.He alleged that the Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister (Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu) earlier spoke of imposing a 4 per cent tax, which was later reduced to 2 per cent, before finally declaring Rs 500 crore as the state’s share.Terming the decision unconstitutional, Goyal said Punjab has a major stake in the BBMB and the levy would adversely affect the state.The Punjab government had written to the BBMB, calling the levy illegal and unacceptable, he said.“We will fight this issue before the BBMB, in courts and at every appropriate forum,” Goyal said.The minister also accused the Congress of historically harming Punjab’s interests, particularly on issues of water.He criticised the Punjab Congress leaders for remaining silent on the issue, alleging that they are not standing up for the state.The AAP government, under Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, will not allow any injustice or financial exploitation of Punjab, and will strongly oppose any illegal cess. PTI