Panama Papers: Denmark buys leaked data to use in tax evasion inquiries

Denmark has become the first country in the world to buy data from the Panama Papers leak, and now plans to investigate whether 500-600 Danes who feature in the leaked offshore archive may have evaded tax.

Denmark’s tax minister, Karsten Lauritzen, said he has paid DKK9m (£1m) for the information, which comes from the Panamanian law firm Mossack Fonseca. He said an anonymous source approached the Danish government over the summer.

The source sent over an initial sample of documents and the government reviewed them. After concluding they were genuine, it secretly negotiated support for the controversial deal from political parties in parliament, the minister said.

“Everything suggests that it is useful information. We owe it to all Danish taxpayers who faithfully pay their taxes,” Lauritzen said, admitting that he had originally been “very wary”. He added: “The material contains relevant and valid information about several hundred Danish taxpayers.”

The Panama Papers, published in April, were the biggest leak in history. The archive includes 12.7m documents. There are details of offshore companies – half of them incorporated in the British Virgin Islands, a UK tax haven – as well as of secret “beneficial owners”.

An anonymous source, “John Doe”, gave the archive to the German newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung. An international consortium of journalists from 180 media organisations including the Guardian examined the leaked files, which featured several heads of state and politicians.

It is unclear if John Doe is the same source who sold information to the Danes. Lauritzen said he did not know who the source was. The government communicated with him – or her – via encrypted channels, he said, after being put in touch by a tax authority in another country.

This raises the prospect that other European countries may discreetly be buying data on their own citizens. In 2014, German tax officials paid about €1m (£850,000) for files from a much smaller Mossack Fonseca leak. They carried out raids on customers of Commerzbank, suspected of evading tax.

Source: The Guardian UK

Christian Eriksen signs new long-term Tottenham Hotspur contract

Christian Eriksen has signed a new contract with Tottenham Hotspur that will keep him at the club until 2020.

Eriksen, 24, has been in negotiations with the club since March over a new deal and his new contract is worth around £75,000-per week, making him one of Spurs' top earners alongside Harry Kane, Mousa Dembele, Hugo Lloris and Erik Lamela.

The Denmark international joined Spurs from Ajax in 2013 and has become one of their most influential players. In 33 Premier League appearances last season he scored six goals and set up 13 as the club finished third.

"It's gone really quickly," Eriksen told the club's official website. "It's my fourth season now and yet it doesn't feel like that, it feels more like a second season and it's more and more exciting.

"There is a great future at this place and I wouldn't have signed if I didn't see that. It's a very good group of people, players who connect with each other, staff who connect with the players and we all have an idea of where we want to go, and hopefully we'll achieve it."

It was reported last week that Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino personally intervened in the contract talks amid fears they would affect the player's form.

Negotiations remained cordial, according to PA Sport throughout the summer but they had reached a stalemate last month, before Pochettino persuaded both sides they needed to come to a resolution.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan unsure of fitness ahead of Manchester derby

Henrikh Mkhitaryan says he is "not sure yet" if he will be fit for the Manchester derby this weekend.

The midfielder, who made a £26m move from Borussia Dortmund to Manchester United in July, missed Armenia's World Cup qualifier against Denmark on Sunday night with a thigh injury.

Mkhitaryan underwent a scan on the problem, which was sustained in an off-the-ball collision with Marek Suchy during the first half of Armenia's friendly with the Czech Republic last Wednesday, and was expected to be out for around 10 days.

In a post on Instagram, he confirmed he is a major doubt for Saturday's game against Manchester City.

"I continue extensively my rehabilitation, but I'm not sure yet if I will be fit for the derby this weekend," he said. 

"I'm motivated as ever and plan to put all my energy to be in great shape as soon as possible... A simple devotion to what I love most - football!

"Thanks for sending me your love and support."

Mkhitaryan has featured in all four of Manchester United's games so far this season, all of which have resulted in victories.

Rio Olympics: Nigeria to play Germany in semi-finals

Mikel Obi

Team Nigeria captain Mikel Obi scored a goal and set up Aminu Umar as Nigeria’s U-23 national team on Saturday night defeated Denmark 2-0 in Salvador to reach the semi-finals of the men’s football event of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

Nigeria will now play Germany, who defeated Portugal 4-0, in the semi-final on Wednesday in Sao Paulo.

The U-23 team, the 1996 football champions of the Games, set up a clash with the Europeans, who were beaten 4-0 by Brazil in their final Group A game. Group B leaders Nigeria had defeated Japan and Sweden 5-4 and 1-0 respectively, before losing their final Group B game to Colombia 2-0.

It was a revenge of sorts for the African champions, who were thrashed 6-2 by the Danes at the Suwon Invitational tournament in South Korea in June.

Coach Samson Siasia brought on Aminu Umar for the injured Oghenekaro Etebo, while South Africa-based goalkeeper, who kept in the defeat to Colombia, also returned to the bench as Emmanuel Daniel retained his place back in the starting line-up.

Denmark had rattled the Nigerians as early as the 11th minute when Kasper Nielsson’s ferocious volley crashed against the woodwork with goalkeeper Emmanuel Daniel beaten.

But the 1996 Olympic champions stunned their European counterparts just four minutes later with Mikel grabbing the opener after good work by the dangerous Imoh Ezekiel.

Nigeria’s preparations in Atlanta as well as their participation at the Games have been trailed by controversies, with the squad arriving in Manaus from just six hours before their opener against Japan, after being stranded for days in the US.

The team skipped training on Thursday and threatened to boycott the game against Denmark on unless they were paid their outstanding allowances at the Games, as well as the unpaid five months salaries and allowances of the coaches.

They were paid their allowances before the game on Saturday.