EU to unveil investment package for Greenland, boost Arctic defence spending: official

The European Union will present a major investment package for Greenland, a self-governing Danish territory, and boost spending on Arctic-adapted defense equipment, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Friday.

Von der Leyen said that the EU is working to enhance its relationship with Greenland and that "the Commission will soon put forward a substantive package of investments."

She added that the EU will step up Arctic security cooperation with partners including the UK, Canada, Norway and Iceland, and channel defense funds into Arctic-ready assets such as a European icebreaker.

"This has become a real geopolitical necessity for Greenland,"she said.

Leaders of EU member states held an emergency summit in Brussels Thursday night to discuss U.S. threats related to Greenland and weigh possible next steps.

EU to unveil investment package for Greenland, boost Arctic defence spending: official

EU to unveil investment package for Greenland, boost Arctic defence spending: official

EU to unveil investment package for Greenland, boost Arctic defence spending: official

EU to unveil investment package for Greenland, boost Arctic defence spending: official

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has announced that Brazil will grant exemptions from certain categories of short-term visas to Chinese citizens, in reciprocity for China's visa exemption policy for Brazilian nationals, the Brazilian presidency said on Friday.

According to an official statement, the decision was made in the context of deepening cooperation between Brazil and China, with the aim of further facilitating people-to-people exchanges and promoting bilateral interaction.

The Brazilian government said the specific implementation date of the visa-free policy will be announced at a later time.

Brazil to grant exemptions from certain categories of short-term visas to Chinese citizens