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☆ Denmark, Netherlands to donate 14 Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

COPENHAGEN, April 20 (Reuters) - Denmark and the Netherlands will jointly donate 14 Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine, the two countries said on Thursday. The Leopard 2A4 tanks, which will be bought from a third party and refurbished, are expected to be delivered in the first quarter of 2024, they said in a joint statement. "It is absolutely crucial for the hope of a peaceful and secure Europe that we do not let the Ukrainians fight the battle alone," Denmark's acting Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen said. In February, Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands also announced they will pool resources to restore at least 100 old Leopard 1 tanks from industry stocks and supply them to Ukraine this year and next. Reporting by Nikolaj Skydsgaard, Louise Rasmussen, editing by Terje SolsvikOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Europe’s Largest Nuclear Reactor Launches as Continent Splits Over Atomic Energy
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-17 | by ( Sune Engel Rasmussen | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

The Olkiluoto island, off Finland’s west coast, houses three nuclear reactors. Finland has started regular electricity output at Europe’s largest nuclear reactor, a move that contrasts with developments in other European countries, where opposition to nuclear power is stronger. The long-delayed Olkiluoto 3 reactor is the first new European nuclear-power facility to open in 16 years. Alongside two other nuclear reactors on the Olkiluoto island off Finland’s west coast, the new 1.6-gigawatt reactor will eventually produce nearly one-third of the country’s electricity.

☆ SAS will not use second tranche of $700 mln Apollo loan
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

COPENHAGEN, April 17 (Reuters) - SAS (SAS.ST) will not be using the second tranche of its $700 million debtor-in-possession (DIP) term loan in the second quarter of the year, due to stronger than expected development of the airline's liquidity, the airline said on Monday. SAS may, depending on the development of its liquidity, continue discussions with Apollo regarding access to the second tranche of the DIP term loan at a later stage of the Chapter 11 process. The airline will continue to pursue other financing initiatives that could boost its liquidity at a lower cost than a near-term use of the second tranche of the DIP term loan. Reporting by Louise Breusch Rasmussen, editing by Terje SolsvikOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Sega offers $776 million for Angry Birds maker Rovio
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

HELSINKI, April 17 (Reuters) - Japan's Sega Sammy Holdings Inc (6460.T) has agreed to launch an offer for Finland's Rovio Entertainment (ROVIO.HE), the maker of the Angry Birds mobile game, for 706 million euros ($775.8 million), the companies said in a joint statement on Monday. Tokyo-based Sega will offer 9.25 euros per share for Rovio, a 19% premium over Friday's closing price of 7.775 euros. Rovio, which has been conducting a strategic review, on Saturday said it was in talks with Sega over a possible tender offer. The Wall Street Journal had reported on Friday that a deal between the two companies was imminent. Israeli peer Playtika (8II.F), had made a preliminary bid in January to buy Rovio for 683 million euros, but the Angry Birds maker confirmed last month talks had ended.

☆ Iran Makes Fresh Push to Force Women to Wear Hijab
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-16 | by ( Sune Engel Rasmussen | Aresu Eqbali | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Some women without hijabs shopped in a Tehran bazaar on Thursday. TEHRAN—Iranian authorities launched a fresh campaign to force women to wear a headscarf, or hijab, as the clerical establishment seeks to reassert its grip on power months after women’s rights protests morphed into a nationwide movement against the Islamic Republic. As part of the new campaign, which began Saturday, Iranian police said they would use surveillance tools to identify and prosecute women who didn’t wear the headscarf.

☆ An artist turned a studio that's 18 feet high into a tiny home and rents it on Airbnb for $112 a night
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-16 | by ( Jyoti Mann | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Sheree Rasmussen repurposed an artist's studio that her late partner built into a tiny home rental. She wanted to honor his life by letting others enjoy the space while making money on Airbnb. The 70-year-old now earns about $2,200 a month renting out the bright red tower that's 18 feet high. "When Clive passed away I pondered over what to do with it because it is such a unique building," Rasmussen told Insider. Now she rents it out for about C$150 ($112) a night.

☆ Blue Jays end Rays perfect start to season with 6-3 win
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-15 | by ( Steve Keating | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/5] Apr 14, 2023; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays relief pitcher Jordan Romano (68) prepares to throw out Tampa Bay Rays catcher Christian Bethancourt (14) for the final out in the ninth inning in a 6-3 Blue Jays win at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY SportsTORONTO, April 14 (Reuters) - The Tampa Bay Rays perfect start to the season came to an ugly end with a 6-3 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday as the 1884 St. Louis Maroons all-time record remained out of reach. But Tampa's record chase was undone in a horrific fifth inning that saw the Blue Jays bust open a tight 2-1 contest scoring four runs with much of the Tampa Bay damage self-inflicted. "Everything just didn't go our way that inning," Rays manager Kevin Cash told reporters. The Rays were playing from the back foot from the very start with Rasmussen serving up a solo home run to Jays leadoff man George Springer.

☆ Norway to Expel 15 Russian Diplomats Accused of Espionage
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-13 | by ( Sune Engel Rasmussen | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. Distribution and use of this material are governed by our Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law. For non-personal use or to order multiple copies, please contact Dow Jones Reprints at 1-800-843-0008 or visit www.djreprints.com. https://www.wsj.com/articles/norway-to-expel-15-russian-diplomats-accused-of-espionage-aede77e2

☆ MLB roundup: Rays crush A's, run opening win streak to 9
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +11 min

The Rays' matched the 2003 Kansas City Royals for the hottest streak to start a season in baseball's wild-card era. The Rays' plus-57 run differential through nine games is the largest ever in MLB since 1900. Padres starter Seth Lugo (2-0) gave up one run on five hits and four walks with five strikeouts over six innings to earn the win. Chicago starter Michael Kopech (0-2) gave up one run and two hits in six innings, with three walks and five strikeouts. Rangers starter Jon Gray (1-1) allowed Edwin Rios' two-run homer in the second inning.

☆ Donald Trump Hush-Money Case: Meet the Key Players
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-07 | by ( Wall Street Journal | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Finland Joins NATO: What This Historic Alliance Expansion Means Finland became the 31st member of NATO in a historic expansion of the alliance in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. WSJ’s Sune Engel Rasmussen explains what this accession means for the bloc and security in Europe. Photo: Thomas Trutschel/Zuma Press/Johanna Geron

☆ Volvo Car's sales up 8% in March
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

COPENHAGEN, April 5 (Reuters) - Sweden-based Volvo Car AB (VOLCARb.ST) said on Wednesday its sales increased by 8% year-on-year in March to 63,132 cars, helped mainly by the company's fully electric cars. Volvo Car, majority-owned by China's Geely Holding (0175.HK), said in a statement its fully electric models made up 41% of all its cars sold globally in the first three months of this year. In Europe, Volvo Car's fully electric models made up 62% of overall sales in the first three months of 2023. In February, the group's total car sales were up 22%, helped by a 187% month-on-month jump for its recharge models, with fully electric cars accounting for 19% of total sales. (This story has been refiled to say Volvo Car instead of Volvo Cars in paragraph 2)Reporting by Louise Breusch Rasmussen, editing by Essi LehtoOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Finland's Marin steps down as party leader
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/6] Social Democratic Party SDP Chair and Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin meets media at the Parliament in Helsinki, Finland on April 5, 2023. Lehtikuva/Heikki Saukkomaa via REUTERSHELSINKI, April 5 (Reuters) - Finland's outgoing Prime Minister Sanna Marin is stepping down as leader of the Social Democratic party, she said on Wednesday, adding she will serve as a regular lawmaker in the newly elected parliament from next week. "I will start my work as member of parliament next week and I hope I can also lead a calmer life," Marin told a news conference, adding she would not run for president. Marin sought another term as Finland's leader in last Sunday's election but her party came third behind the right-wing National Coalition and the Finns parties. Reporting by Essi Lehto, editing by Louise Rasmussen and John StonestreetOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Finland Joins NATO in Historic Move Prompted by Russia, as Sweden Waits
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-04 | by ( Sune Engel Rasmussen | Daniel Michaels | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

BRUSSELS—Finland officially joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organization Tuesday, a historic security policy shift prompted by Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine that more than doubles the alliance’s border with Russia and rearranges the security landscape in Northern Europe. The Nordic nation became the 31st member of the alliance nearly a year after it applied for membership, alongside Sweden, a process delayed by NATO members Turkey and Hungary, which have hesitated to ratify Stockholm’s bid.

☆ Finland Joins NATO in Historic Move, Sparking Russian Outcry
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-04 | by ( Sune Engel Rasmussen | Daniel Michaels | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

BRUSSELS—Finland officially joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organization on Tuesday, a historic security-policy shift that was prompted by Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine and which has spurred a furious response from the Kremlin. With officials preparing to hoist Finland’s blue-and-white flag at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu told a military conference in Moscow that the West was escalating its confrontation with Russia. He reminded participants that Belarus would soon have the ability to strike enemy targets with tactical nuclear weapons after Mr. Putin said last week that Moscow planned to base the Iskander-M missile system there.

☆ MLB roundup: Padres go back-to-back in 9th, edge D-backs
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +11 min

The A's were down 10-8 when Seth Brown followed a walk to Aledmys Diaz with a two-run homer off Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase in the last of the ninth. Angels 7, Mariners 3Shohei Ohtani and Taylor Ward hit two-run homers as Los Angeles defeated host Seattle. Yankees 8, Phillies 1Anthony Rizzo ignited a five-run fifth inning with a two-run homer, and host New York cruised to victory over Philadelphia. His counterpart, Jose Berrios (0-1), allowed eight runs, nine hits and two walks while striking out seven in 5 2/3 innings. Ozzie Albies hit a two-run homer and Austin Riley had a solo shot for the Braves, who have won three of four games to start the season.

☆ Sanna Marin Faces Tight Election as Finland Prepares to Join NATO
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-02 | by ( Sune Engel Rasmussen | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Finns are voting in an election Sunday that could determine whether Prime Minister Sanna Marin will lead the country as it enters NATO in a few days’ time, after a campaign dominated by the economic and security aftershocks of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Though the outcome won’t affect Finland’s accession to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, which marks a new course for the country after decades of nonalignment, polls indicate a tight race that could unseat Ms. Marin, who has gained international fame for her feminist politics. Given that no party is large enough to command a majority without governing partners, Finland may be headed into lengthy negotiations to form a ruling coalition.

☆ Finland’s Sanna Marin Defeated in Election Ahead of NATO Ascension
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-02 | by ( Sune Engel Rasmussen | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Finland’s Prime Minister Sanna Marin suffered defeat in Sunday’s general election, days before the country was set to enter NATO, after a campaign dominated by the economic and security aftershocks of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Petteri Orpo , the leader of the center-right National Coalition Party, claimed election victory and was projected to gain about 20.8% with nearly all the votes counted. Ms. Marin’s Social Democratic Party came third with 19.9% of the vote, narrowly behind the right-wing populist Finns Party gaining 20%, in its best result to date.

☆ Orsted to build two wind farms offshore Taiwan
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Companies Orsted A/S FollowOSLO, March 31 (Reuters) - Orsted (ORSTED.CO) has made a final investment decision to go ahead with its planned 920 megawatt (MW) Greater Changhua 2b and 4 offshore wind farms in Taiwan with expected completion by the end of 2025, the Danish energy group said on Friday. The offshore wind farms are expected to begin onshore construction in 2023 with fabrication of components in 2023-2024. The projects will be funded by Orsted's capital as well as debt from the domestic Taiwanese market, backed by an Orsted parent company guarantee. The company did not say how much it would invest in the wind farms. Reporting by Terje Solsvik, editing by Louise RasmussenOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Sweden summons Russia's ambassador over "legitimate target" statement
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

OSLO, March 29 (Reuters) - Sweden's foreign ministry said on Wednesday it will summon Russia's Stockholm ambassador to complain about an "attempt at interference" with the Swedish NATO application process. Sweden and Finland in 2022 both sought NATO membership shortly after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and are hoping to complete the process this year. The Russian ambassador in a statement on the embassy's web site said joining NATO made the Nordic countries "a legitimate target for Russian retaliatory measures, including those of a military nature". A Swedish foreign ministry spokesperson told Reuters the ambassador would be summoned. "The foreign ministry is summoning the Russian ambassador to protest this obvious attempt at interference," Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom separately told news agency TT.

☆ Trump is 'going about business as usual' and enjoying higher polling on the day he claimed he'd be arrested, his lawyer says
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-21 | by ( Jacob Shamsian | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Donald Trump said he would be arrested on Tuesday. Trump is "going about business as usual" and enjoying rising poll numbers, his lawyer said. A Secret Service officer stands in front of former President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate, Tuesday, March 21, 2023, in Palm Beach, Florida. Alina Habba, an attorney for Donald Trump, arrives at Trump Tower in New York, Tuesday, March 21, 2023. AP Photo/Bryan WoolstonOn Truth Social, Trump spent Monday and Tuesday bragging about his poll numbers and criticizing Bragg.

☆ Spring training roundup: Max Fried stays unbeaten, Braves blank Twins
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

Ozuna's home run -- his first of the spring -- came in the third inning and completed the scoring. Twins starter Kenta Maeda (0-1) gave up five runs (all earned) and five hits in four innings. For the Blue Jays, starter Alek Manoah (1-2) gave up one run and five hits in six innings. Rockies 7, Royals (split squad) 0 (six innings)German Marquez tossed five shutout innings as visiting Colorado blanked Kansas City in Las Vegas. Elehuris Montero and Michael Toglia went deep for the Rockies, while Matt Beaty doubled for the Royals' only extra-base hit.

☆ Data released by China suggests COVID-19 virus may have come from raccoon dogs and 'strengthens' Wuhan wet-market theory
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-19 | by ( Bethany Dawson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Newly released genetic data from Wuhan has found raccoon dog DNA blended with the COVID-19 virus. Since the first COVID-19 death in Wuhan on January 11, 2020, the virus has killed 6,873,477 people worldwide. This suggests that the virus may have infected the animals, according to the scientists. "We continue to call on China to be transparent in sharing data and to conduct the necessary investigations and share the results. Since the first COVID-19 death — which was recorded in Wuhan, China, on January 11, 2020 — the virus has killed 6,873,477 people around the world, according to WHO data.

☆ Iran Protests in Far-Flung Enclave Pose New Challenge to Tehran
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-17 | by ( Sune Engel Rasmussen | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

In a remote corner of southeastern Iran, protesters from a Sunni Muslim minority are pushing for more rights and autonomy in a sustained challenge to the government, which had largely managed to tamp down last year’s nationwide protests. On Friday, large crowds of residents of Zahedan, the provincial capital of Sistan-Baluchistan, took to the streets following noon prayers to protest against the government, according to unverified footage on social media.

☆ Turkey’s President Approves Finland’s NATO Membership Bid
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-17 | by ( Jared Malsin | Sune Engel Rasmussen | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Finland’s President Sauli Niinistö, right, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met in Ankara on Friday. ANKARA, Turkey—Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Friday that his country would allow Finland to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, paving the way for an important enlargement of the alliance in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Mr. Erdogan announced his decision standing alongside Finland’s President Sauli Niinistö in Turkey’s capital Ankara, following nearly a year of diplomatic wrangling after the Turkish leader threatened to block both Finland and Sweden from entering the alliance over concerns about their ties to Kurdish militant groups.

ROSTOCK, Germany—The small marina on the edge of this north German city is a popular summertime spot for recreational sailors. German intelligence believes it was also the jumping-off point for the sabotage of the Nord Stream gas pipelines, an assault on Europe’s civilian energy infrastructure unprecedented since World War II. On Sept. 6, a small group set out from Rostock aboard a rented yacht, the Andromeda, a slender 50-foot-long, single-masted sloop, ostensibly on a pleasure cruise around Baltic Sea ports. Within two weeks, the group returned the boat and disappeared.

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