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Ukraine breaths relief

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As a high-level conference between Russia and Ukraine has concluded positively, Kyiv has breathed relief.

In the crucial meeting, Volodymyr Zelensky has represented Ukraine and Vladimir Putin his country, Russia.

The meeting has been mediated by France and Germany. Angela Merkel and Emmanuel Macron have represented their countries respectively.

Both Russia and Ukraine has agreed to sign a cease fire agreement. The agreement is expected to bring peace to the eastern region of Ukraine, which is at present under the clutches of a rebel force supported by Russia.

Moscow and Kyiv have also decided to swap all those who have been booked in connection with the military action in the eastern region of Ukraine.

Despite all these, the meeting has remained silent on some of the very sensitive issues, like the Ukraine’s longstanding demand of making the eastern region of the country free from the clutches of Russia.

Ukraine has also refused to comment on the Russian demand that a key rebel held territory in the eastern region of Ukraine should be declared as a special territory. It has also declined to speak on the demand that the members of the rebel force who has secured the control of some regions in the eastern region of Ukraine should be awarded amnesty.


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Trending

Finland’s Sanna Marin to become world’s youngest PM

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Sanna Marin, the Prime Minister of Finland, is set to become the youngest Prime Minister of the world, after Ukraine’s Oleksiy Honcharuk, 35, and New Zealand’s Jacinda Arden, 39.

At present, the Finnish ‘PM to be’ is only 34 year old. Currently, she is the transport minister of the country.

The road towards her induction has been paved after Antti Rinne resigned from the post of the PM of Finland recently as one of the coalition partners of the centre-left coalition lost confidence in him for his inability to address a recent strike effectively.

The new alternative has been selected by the Social Democratic party itself. Interestingly, the nomination of a woman to the post of the PM of Finland makes the country a true women-led government. At present, all the five parties, which make the coalition, are led by women.


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News

Accounts used to leak sensitive US-UK trade talk documents taken down

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Those social media accounts used to leak some sensitive documents pertain to the UK-US trade talk has been taken down by the online platform which was used to do the act.

It was Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn who brought the attention of the common public of the European country of the United Kingdom at first to the leaked documents.

He quoted the documents during a campaign session recently. He used the documents to justify his comment that the present UK government tries to sell the country’s National Health Service.

The documents had appeared in the social media platform at least a month before the Labour leader quoted those in the said campaign.

The social media platform has found the links the leaked documents have with some accounts based in Russia.

The majority of those accounts that has been taken down are those which have links with Russia. The social media suspects the action as a coordinated effort.

Meanwhile, the Labour Party has called the leak a positive act.

The leak is expected to give a serious blow to the, already embattled, Conservatives.

The big question that remains is whether the Labour Party will be able to use the leak in its favour in the upcoming election in the United Kingdom.


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Lockdown continues in France

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In the second day of the strike also, the public life has been hugely disrupted in the European country of France.

The strike, which began last day by workers against the pension reforms introduced by President Emanuel Macron, is expected to last at least till Monday.

A prominent workers’ organisation has acknowledged the rumour that the strength of the strike will remain unchanged until Monday.

The ongoing strike has badly disrupted the transport facilities in the country. The strike has literally put the country in the state of complete lockdown.

The strike is a big blow to Mr. Macron. What it mocks is the reformer image of the present French President.

Some workers’ unions are likely to meet today to decide their future course of action.

Last day, in several cities in the country, the strike has turned violent.

Meanwhile, there are rumours that an effort is on to bring the agitated unions to a discussion table with the country’s government.

The ongoing protest is expected to make a serious dent on the effort of Mr. Macron to emerge as the saviour of Europe.

The strength of a leader is the support he/she enjoys in his homeland. The moment he loses that his future as a leader is over.


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News

France frozen

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A nationwide strike, organised by workers who are unhappy with Emanuel Macron’s pension reforms, have almost completely frozen the European country of France.

Along with transport workers, even police, lawyers and hospital and airport staffs have come out in support of the strike.

The strike has badly affected the transportation system in the country. Several flights have been cancelled. The rail transport has cut down its number of services. The road transport is almost completely in a standstill state.

The present strike is the most serious strike the European country of France has witnessed in its recent history.

Mr. Macron, who came to power as a solution to the problems the French people face, is now largely unpopular in the country.

The anti-establishment wave, which helped Mr. Macron to march to power, is at present against him.

Most of his reforms have ended up against the interest of the people of the country. The controversial pension reform is one of them.

If the things progress in this manner, the wave that helped him to win the power of the country itself will push him down from the seat of power.

What Mr. Macron represents at present is failed populism. The rest of the Europe has a lesson in the French experience.


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News

Russia introduces bill that curtails freedom of speech

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Russian President Vladimir Putin has introduced a controversial bill that can reduce the freedom of speech to a level in which it is almost unrecognisable.

The newly introduced law empowers the country the right to register bloggers, journalists and social media users as foreign agents.

That simply means the Russians who use the social media platforms to criticise the Putin’s government are at the risk of falling into the list of foreign agents.

The bill is also a clear threat to the Russian journalists who do not buy the idea of the projection of Mr. Putin as a leader who should not be criticised.

Mr. Putin’s Russia is known for its opposition to the idea of the freedom of speech and expression.

The present Russia is one of the very few countries which are almost completely intolerant towards dissent.

It often suppresses dissent with force. The new bill is seen as a latest method to suppress the possibility of the emergence of dissent.


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Crime News Sports

Austrian Olympic champion awarded five years imprisonment for child abuse

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A renowned Austrian Olympic judo champion, Peter Seisenbacher, who won two Olympic gold medals in the year 1984 and the year 1988, has been awarded a tough sentence of five years imprisonment for abusing two of his students while working as a coach.

The incidents led to the cases happened in 1990s and 2000s. The victims were children then.

The court has found no reason to disbelief the statements given by the victims.

The trial was supposed to begin in the year 2016 itself. But, it was delayed as he briefly disappeared prior to the scheduled date. Later, he surfaced from his hiding in Georgia and fled to Ukraine. Only few months has passed since he was handed over to Austria by Ukraine.

He denied all allegations triggered against him.

As per the judgement, the Olympian will have the right to approach a higher court challenging the verdict delivered by the present court.


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International Relations Trending

France unhappy with US’ protectionist attitude

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A new statement made by France President Emanuel Macron clearly indicates that the European country of France is unhappy with the protectionist attitude of the United States of America.

As the NATO members are at the doorstep of a crucial meeting, the statement made by France is of great importance.

Beneath the statement lies a clear message that France no longer trusts the security offered by the US.

Its advice for Europe is crystal clear. It wants to see a European army formed, against the interest of the NATO leader.

The root of the crisis lies in the disinterest of the US to use its money for the betterment of the NATO and to engage more with its NATO allies.

The change of attitude was evident when the US reduced its spending on the NATO budget imposing pressure on its allies to spend more on the said budget and when it decided to pull out its force from Syria, paving way for the aggression of Turkey, without discussing the decision with its NATO partners.

Though Germany’s decision on this matter is not different, it is not that adamant as that of its neighbour.

Undisputedly, a European army is a German dream too.

From an aggressive China and an unpredictable Russia to a protective US, Germany and France are no short of reason for the consideration of their dream plan.


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Crime Trending

Malta journalist murder case: Arrested businessman approaches Prez seeking pardon in exchange of information

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In a move which can be considered as a breakthrough in the investigation into the murder of Malta journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, a renowned businessman, Yorgen Fenech, who was booked in connection with the case recently, has approached the president of the country, seeking a presidential pardon in exchange of a important lead he can give to take the investigation in the case to the next level.

His lawyer has recently approached a court seeking the dismissal of the chief investigative officer of the investigative team, which investigates the sensitive murder case, on the ground of his connection with some close supporters of Malta PM Joseph Muscat, who were recently found to have links with the brutal murder.

Interestingly, the businessman has not approached the cabinet with his pardon request, but has approached the president instead.

If the aforesaid developments are closely observed, what his possible revelation can be predicted.

Since the murder of the journalist, the Malta PM is under serious pressure to leave his seat of power.

Malta, a country which is not a fan of violent protest, has already witnessed some violent protest for the first time in its history in this issue.

It seems that the future of the present government in Malta hinges on the words of the arrested businessman.

There are reports that the government has already come out openly against the idea of offering pardon to the businessman in exchange of the lead he can provide to help the investigation.


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International Relations News

France, Turkey relation hits new low

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The bilateral relation between France and Turkey has hit a new low, with the latter calling the former terrorist sponsor.

A senior official from Turkey said France was supporting terrorist groups. He has also triggered several other allegations against France.

The Turkey official’s statement against France has come days after the European superpower hosted an official from the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Force.

Turkey considers some of the organisations led by the Kurds as terrorist groups. The organisation hosted by France is very close to some of the organisations which Turkey considers as terrorist groups.

The France-Turkey issue is not a new thing. France was one of the first European powers which came forward openly against Turkey strongly with the latter attacked some Kurdish controlled regions in Syria in the name of creating a safe space for the Syrian migrants who were displaced from their homeland due to the Syrian War.

France has not yet responded to the provocative statement made by Turkey. The European superpower is likely to respond in the same manner.

If the things progress this way, the scheduled NATO meeting, going to take place in the UK in the near future, is less likely to be smooth.


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