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Below is a summary of the current world news briefing.
Finland centre-right eyes coalition talks as defeated Marin mulls future
Outgoing Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin has had to contemplate her future after conceding defeat in a close parliamentary election on Sunday that saw her centre-right opponent Petteri Orpo win the right to try to form a coalition government. Despite gaining three seats, Marin’s left-wing Social Democrats (SDP) came in third with 43 seats in the 200-seat parliament, behind Olpo’s centre-right National Coalition Party on 48 and nationalist Finland. 46 seats for people.
Analysis – Russia’s arrest of journalist deepens Biden detainee challenge
Even before Russia detained Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich on Wednesday, the Biden administration was at an impasse over another American being held by Moscow: Paul Whelan, a 16-year-old in a Russian prison. Former U.S. Marine Corps member. With tensions between the world’s two largest nuclear powers strained to the brink over Russia’s war in Ukraine, officials in Washington have been unable to reach a deal for months to release Whelan, who was arraigned by a Russian court in 2020. Convicted of espionage.
Macron says France will prepare ‘end of life’ bill this year
President Emmanuel Macron said on Monday that France must improve the availability of palliative care and would have a draft bill by the end of summer on whether some form of euthanasia should be allowed. He said the bill would build on the work of 184 randomly appointed French citizens who have been discussing the issue since December. They wrapped up their work this weekend with 76 percent saying they were in favor of removing some form of aid for those who want it.
Ukraine says its troops continue fighting in Bakhmut, mocks Russian claim to have captured city
Ukraine’s military said its troops engaged Russian forces near the Bahmut administrative complex on Monday, and scoffed at Russian claims that mercenary fighters had taken over the eastern city after months of fighting. A Ukrainian spokesman said the Russians had raised the victory flag not on a building but on “some kind of toilet”.
Bomb kills Russian war blogger in St. Petersburg cafe
Vladlen Tatarsky, a prominent Russian military blogger, was killed by a bomb blast at a St. Petersburg cafe on Sunday, in what appeared to be the second incident on Russian soil of a figure closely tied to the Ukraine war. Assassination. Russia’s State Investigative Committee said it had opened an investigation into the murder. The governor of St. Petersburg said 25 people were injured, 19 of whom were being treated in hospital.
Philippines reveals locations of 4 new strategic sites for US military deal
The Philippines on Monday identified four more military bases that the United States could access, nearly double the number included in a defense agreement seeking to advance a decades-old alliance between the Philippines. The expansion of the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) underscores the Philippines’ strategic importance to the former colonial ruler, the United States, at a time of growing concerns over China’s behavior in the South China Sea and tensions over self-governing Taiwan.
Chinese spy balloon gathers intelligence at U.S. military site – NBC News
Chinese balloons flying over the United States were able to gather intelligence from several U.S. military bases and transmit it back to Beijing in real time, despite the Biden administration’s efforts to prevent it, NBC News reported Monday. NBC quoted two current senior U.S. officials and a former senior administration official as saying the high-altitude balloon controlled by Beijing was able to fly over some sites several times before it was shot down on Feb. 4, sometimes in a figure-of-eight formation.
Finland to join NATO on Tuesday – Stoltenberg
NATO Chairman Jens Stoltenberg said on Monday that Finland will join the alliance on Tuesday, a move that will make Finland safer and the alliance stronger. “We will be flying the Finnish flag for the first time at NATO headquarters. It’s a good day for Finland’s security, for Nordic security and for NATO as a whole,” he told reporters in Brussels.
Germany’s Schulz stresses support for Romania, Moldova in Bucharest
German Chancellor Olaf Schulz visited Romania on Monday to underscore Western support for the key NATO ally that borders Ukraine, as well as for neighboring Moldova, which has looked particularly vulnerable since Russia’s invasion last year. Moldovan President Mayasandu, who accused Moscow of fomenting unrest in her small former Soviet republic, was due to meet Schulz and Romanian President Klaus Iohannis in Bucharest later in the day.
Trump to fly to New York court under tight security to surrender
Former U.S. President Donald Trump will fly from Florida to New York City on Monday as security tightens in Manhattan as he faces a scheduled arraignment over hush money payments to porn stars ahead of the 2016 election. Trump, the first former U.S. president to face criminal charges, will be arraigned, fingerprinted and photographed in court in downtown Manhattan on Tuesday. His lawyer said he will enter a not guilty plea.
(According to agency opinion.)
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