ZeroFox Physical Security Intelligence Daily Brief - January 31, 2025

ZeroFox Physical Security Intelligence Daily Brief - January 31, 2025

ZeroFox physical security experts collect, curate, and analyze information derived from open and proprietary sources for comprehensive context of the circumstances surrounding global events. Here is today’s daily roundup of major developments.

Brief Highlights

• Competitiveness Compass on EU businesses Released
• Estonian Defense Minister Floats Possibility of Tax to Transit Baltic Sea
• Leader of Koran burnings assassinated in Stockholm, Sweden

Competitiveness Compass on EU Businesses Released

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen released the European Union's "Competitiveness Compass" report. The report is a growth strategy for the 27 EU member states to help rebuild the economic competitiveness of EU businesses that have, since COVID-19, been overtaken across sectors by cheaper and more efficient foreign companies. One of the key components is deregulation, with the European Union imposing significantly more rules on companies than elsewhere. Another is lowering energy prices, with EU companies negatively impacted by higher operating costs due to more expensive energy. Arguably, the biggest component is attracting new investments to let an advanced technology company emerge in the European Union. The European Union lacks any competitors to companies like Google or Amazon, and the lack of economic competitiveness is arguably the key reason.

Estonian Defense Minister Floats Possibility of Tax to Transit Baltic Sea

Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur suggested shipping firms may need to pay a fee to transit the Baltic Sea to cover the costs of protecting undersea cables. Pevkur's comments follow a series of damaged cables in the Baltic Sea.

Leader of Koran Burnings Assassinated in Stockholm, Sweden

Activist Salwan Momika has been shot dead while live-streaming on TikTok in the Swedish capital, Stockholm. Momika was known for his high-profile Koran burnings outside of mosques, which often attracted thousands of freedom of expression protesters as well as counter-protesters. The Koran burnings caused violence outside of Swedish embassies in Muslim-majority countries while inspiring other episodes of violence. Iran has been accused of orchestrating Momika's assassination after earlier accusations that Iran was orchestrating acts of sabotage against Israeli entities in the fall of 2024.