DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ 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.

☆ Factbox: Petteri Orpo, Finland's likely next prime minister
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

HELSINKI, April 2 (Reuters) - Here is a profile of Finland's conservative National Coalition Party leader Petteri Orpo, who said he would have the first chance of forming a coalition government after his party looked set to win the most seats in parliament in Sunday's election. FISCAL CONSERVATIVEBorn in 1969 in rural south-west Finland, the 53-year-old Orpo has a university degree in political science. He has been a member of parliament since 2007 and became head of the National Coalition in 2016 after challenging his predecessor Alexander Stubb, a former prime minister, for the party leadership. Considered a moderate and a smooth negotiator, Orpo has held several government posts, including as minister of agriculture and forestry from 2014 to 2015, interior minister from 2015 to 2016 and finance minister from 2016 to 2019. Married and with two children, he is also a reserve officer in Finland's national defence force.

☆ Factbox: Finland's outgoing Prime Minister Sanna Marin
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/3] Finland's Prime Minister and Social Democrats leader Sanna Marin speaks at the party's parliamentary election event in Helsinki, Finland April 2, 2023. Lehtikuva/Emmi Korhonen via REUTERSHELSINKI, April 2 (Reuters) - Here is a profile of Finland's outgoing Prime Minister Sanna Marin, whose left-wing Social Democrats lost a parliamentary election on Sunday, although they might still join the next coalition with election winner the National Coalition Party. Born in 1985 in Helsinki, she grew up near Finland's south-western industrial hub of Tampere with her mother and her mother's girlfriend. Only six months in, then-party chair Antti Rinne was forced to resign over his handling of labour strikes, and the Social Democratic Party (SDP) chose Marin to replace him as prime minister. Marin soon found herself managing Finland's response to the COVID-19 pandemic and then Europe's energy crunch caused by neighbouring Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

With no party seen as holding a decisive lead the election is likely to be followed lengthy coalition talks, although whichever party wins on Sunday will have the first attempt at forming a government. Opinion polls show her Social Democrats, the biggest party in the outgoing coalition government, in a dead heat with the rightist National Coalition Party and the nationalist Finns Party, with all three seen winning some 18.7-19.8% of ballots. It has promised to curb spending and stop the rise of public debt, which has reached just over 70% of GDP since Marin took office in 2019. "It's been going on for 30 years - more debt, debt, debt - and good services, fine, but on borrowed money." The Finns Party, too, calls for austerity but its main goal is to reduce what its leader Riikka Purra has called "harmful" immigration from developing countries outside the European Union.

☆ Finland's Marin in battle over state spending to stay in power
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-30 | by ( Anne Kauranen | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Marin says spending on education and health services is key to securing economic growth. Her rivals, Petteri Orpo of the right-wing National Coalition Party and Riikka Purra of the nationalist Finns Party, are calling for fiscal austerity to restore government finances. Marin's Social Democrats believe economic growth will help Finland stop accruing more debt and, if need be, prefer raising taxes over spending cuts. Marin has rejected forming a government with the Finns Party, calling it "openly racist" during a debate in January - an accusation Purra sternly rejected. Her party would also push back Finland's carbon neutrality target which Marin's ruling coalition set for 2035.

☆ Turkish parliament ratifies Finland's NATO accession as Sweden kept waiting
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The Turkish parliament was the last among the 30 members of the alliance to ratify Finland's membership after Hungary's legislature approved a similar bill earlier this week. Finland and Sweden asked to join NATO last year in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. "NATO membership will strengthen Finland's security and improve stability and security in the Baltic Sea region and Northern Europe," the Finnish government said in a statement following the Turkish parliament vote. Twe Turkish parliament's ratification of Finland's NATO membership is set to be approved by President Tayyip Erdogan and then published in the country's Official Gazette. When Finland's instrument of accession document reaches the U.S. State Department, the Nordic country will formally become a NATO member.

☆ President Zelenskyy among large crowds mourning 'Da Vinci,' a celebrated 27-year-old battalion commander killed near Bakhmut
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-12 | by ( Isobel Van Hagen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Ukrainian President Zelenskyy attended the funeral of a celebrated soldier who was killed earlier this week. Dmytro Kotsiubailo's call sign was "Da Vinci," and he was 27 years old when he died. Kotsiubailo's call sign was "Da Vinci" — as the soldier gave up on his dream of becoming an artist to fight for Ukraine, according to NPR. He led a battalion called the "Da Vinci Wolves." "I handed over to Oksana Kotsiubailo, Da Vinci's mother, the Cross of Military Merit, which her son was posthumously awarded.

☆ Fact Check-Finnish government letter accusing Biafran separatist of international terrorism is fabricated
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-22 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

A letter accusing a Finnish-Nigerian lawyer of “an act of international terrorism” which appears to be signed by Finland’s prime minister is a fake, according to a government spokesperson and the addressee himself. The fabricated letter, dated Feb. 15 and topped with the Finnish government emblem, is addressed to Simon Ekpa (yle.fi/a/74-20018695), a Biafran separatist based in Finland (here), (here), (here). Signed off by “Sanna Mirella Marin”, the name of Finland’s prime minister, the note says Ekpa has committed “an act of international terrorism” for encouraging people to boycott the Feb. 25 presidential election in Nigeria (read more about the election (here), (here)). But a Finnish government spokesperson told Reuters via email: “The image being circulated does NOT show an authentic letter from Finland’s prime minister.”Ekpa also reacted to the letter on Twitter (here). The letter in not authentic, according to the Finnish government and Simon Ekpa.

☆ Russia's war in Ukraine backfired by uniting NATO, even as cracks emerged over nearly a year of fighting
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-30 | by ( Jake Epstein | John Haltiwanger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

When Putin invaded Ukraine, he miscalculated the response from Western countries. NATO has been largely united in its response to Russia's war, consistently providing Kyiv with military aid. Russian President Vladimir Putin has effectively succeeded in remaking the Western bloc, Araud said, adding that "the Western alliance is back." After the Soviet Union collapsed, both Finland and Sweden became NATO partner countries but stopped short of pursuing full membership. Even under the intense pressure of war, the alliance is "holding the way that they have in the past," he said.

☆ New Zealand's Ardern leaves legacy of kindness, disappointments
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-19 | by ( Praveen Menon | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

"Be strong, be kind," New Zealand's youngest prime minister in more than a century repeated through her eventful tenure, but her empathetic leadership and crisis management skills often masked her government's shortcomings. Ardern made global headlines in 2020, presiding over New Zealand's most diverse parliament, with more than half the members women and the highest number of indigenous Maori lawmakers. Ardern said it was "totally unacceptable in 2017 to say that women should have to answer that question in the workplace". Less than three months later, Ardern brought the baby, Neve Te Aroha, to the U.N. General Assembly in New York. “I wonder whether or not anyone ever asked Barack Obama and John Key if they met because they were of similar age,” Ardern said, in reference to the former U.S. president and New Zealand prime minister.

WELLINGTON, Jan 19 (Reuters) - The shock resignation of New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, who altered the face of global politics when she was elected the world's youngest female head of state, throws a spotlight on the demands faced by women in power. "We need people like Jacinda Ardern in politics. [1/2] New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern during the Australia-New Zealand Leaders' Meeting at the Commonwealth Parliamentary Offices in Sydney, Australia, on Friday, July 8, 2022. "Certainly she really challenges the male stereotype of being a prime minister." Former Prime Minister Helen Clark said Ardern had done an "extraordinary job" in leading New Zealand through major crises.

☆ Davos 2023: What you need to know about the WEF on Tuesday
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-17 | by ( Kathryn Lurie | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The European Union will counter the U.S.'s game-changing Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), described in Davos as the most significant climate legislation since the 2015 Paris Agreement, with its own green deal. Liu's visit to Davos contrasts with the conspicuous absence of Russia, a key ally whose invasion of Ukraine China has refused to condemn. What was most needed, Kerry said, was "money, money, money, money, money, money, money." The slopes continued to be dominated by discussions about Davos' hottest topic in 2023 - Chat GPT and generative AI. For daily Davos updates in your inbox sign up for the Reuters Daily Briefing hereEditing by Leela de Kretser and Alexander SmithOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Davos 2023: Finland's Marin vows years of Ukraine support
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

DAVOS, Switzerland, Jan 17 (Reuters) - Finland is prepared to support Ukraine in its war with Russia for as long as necessary, Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin said on Tuesday while speaking at the annual World Economic Forum in Davos. "I think the only message that we need to send is that we will support Ukraine as long as needed. One year, two years, five years, 10 years, 15 years," Marin said. In 2022, the Finnish government spent some 300 million euros on support to Ukraine, around 190 million of it on buying defence equipment. For daily Davos updates in your inbox sign up for the Reuters Daily Briefing hereReporting by Anne Kauranen, editing by Terje SolsvikOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Finnish leader says the brutal truth is Ukraine shows Europe isn't 'strong enough' without the US
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-02 | by ( John Haltiwanger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

"I must be brutally honest with you, Europe isn't strong enough right now," Sanna Marin said. "We would be in trouble without the United States," Marin added. "I must be brutally honest with you, Europe isn't strong enough right now. We would be in trouble without the United States," Marin said during remarks at a think tank in Sydney, Australia, per Reuters. "The United States has given a lot of weapons, a lot of financial aid, a lot of humanitarian aid to Ukraine and Europe isn't strong enough yet," Marin said.

☆ Ukraine war shows Europe too reliant on U.S., Finland PM says
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

HELSINKI, Dec 2 (Reuters) - Russia's invasion of Ukraine has shown that Europe is too reliant on the United States for its own security, Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin said on Friday. We would be in trouble without the United States," Marin told an audience at the Lowy Institute. She added she had spoken with many U.S. politicians who had said they think Europe should be stronger. "The United States has given a lot of weapons, a lot of financial aid, a lot of humanitarian aid to Ukraine and Europe isn't strong enough yet," Marin said. "We have to make sure that we are building those capabilities when it comes to European defence, European defence industry."

☆ See the moment Jacinda Ardern fired back at reporter's question about gender
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-30 | by ( ) edition.cnn.com time to read: 1 min

New Zealand's Jacinda Ardern and Finland's Sanna Marin quickly shot down a reporter who asked if their similar age and gender was the reason for their official meeting.

☆ Jacinda Ardern and Sanna Marin hit back at reporter's question on age and gender
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-30 | by ( ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

As two of the youngest heads of government and among a small percentage of female world leaders, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and her Finnish counterpart Sanna Marin have long faced questions about their age and gender. But they were quick to shoot down a journalist who asked about the purpose of the first-ever visit to New Zealand by a Finnish prime minister on Wednesday. Marin (second left) and Ardern (right) held bilateral talks in Auckland, New Zealand. Because two women meet it’s not simply because of their gender.”Marin, 37, who is in New Zealand with a Finnish trade delegation, emphasized the country’s growing trade ties. “We are meeting because we are prime ministers,” she said in response.

☆ Europe is too dependent on China for technologies, Finland's PM says
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

HELSINKI, Nov 17 (Reuters) - Europe is currently too reliant on China for technologies and should be wary of this dependency, Finland's Prime Minister Sanna Marin said on Thursday. Reporting by Anne Kauranen, editing by Terje SolsvikOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Finland urges Turkey, Hungary to swiftly approve Swedish, Finnish NATO bids
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Lehtikuva/Vesa Moilanen/via REUTERSHELSINKI, Nov 1 (Reuters) - Finland's Prime Minister Sanna Marin on Tuesday urged Hungary and Turkey to swiftly approve the Swedish and Finnish applications for membership of the NATO defence alliance. Hungary and Turkey are the only two remaining NATO members to not yet have ratified the applications. "All eyes are now on Hungary and Turkey. Finland and Sweden last week reiterated they would join NATO at the same time, presenting a united front to Turkey. Reporting by Essi Lehto and Anna Ringstrom, editing by Terje SolsvikOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Finland, Sweden promise to join NATO together in united front to Turkey
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Sweden's new Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and Prime Minister of Finland Sanna Marin during their joint news conference after their official meeting at the PM's official residence Kesaranta in Helsinki, Finland, October 28, 2022. Lehtikuva/Vesa Moilanen/via REUTERSHELSINKI, Oct 28 (Reuters) - Finland and Sweden will joint NATO at the same time, their prime ministers said on Friday, presenting a united front to Turkey which has raised questions about both their applications. Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin said on Friday Turkey's president had told her he had more questions for Sweden than for her country. "It is very important for us, of course, that Finland and Sweden would join NATO hand in hand," Marin told reporters at a joint press conference in Helsinki with her Swedish counterpart. "It's completely legitimate that Turkey gets confirmation that Sweden is doing what Sweden has committed to do within the framework of the agreement," he added.

☆ EU leaders seek united front on China dependency
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BRUSSELS, Oct 21 (Reuters) - European Union leaders expressed increasing concern on Friday about economic reliance on China, mindful of the gas dependency built up with Russia that Moscow has exploited, and said they needed a united stance towards Beijing. The EU has regarded China since 2019 as a partner, economic competitor and systemic rival. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz did not speak to reporters before Friday's summit session, but the EU leaders that did agreed the 27 EU members needed to present a common front. "China is best dealt with when we are 27, not when we are one on one vis-à-vis China," he said. Finnish counterpart Sanna Marin stressed the EU needed to avoid building future dependencies and instead promote stronger cooperation between democratic countries.

☆ India stops journalist from flying to U.S. to receive Pulitzer Prize
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-20 | by ( The Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +2 min

NEW DELHI — A Pulitzer Prize-winning Kashmiri photojournalist said Wednesday that Indian immigration authorities prevented her from flying to the United States to receive the award even though she had a valid visa and ticket. Sanna Irshad Mattoo was scheduled to fly to New York on Monday to receive the Pulitzer Prize but was blocked by officials at New Delhi’s airport, she said. Saqib Majeed / SOPA Images/Sipa USA via AP fileMattoo was working on assignment for Reuters, which won the 2022 Pulitzer Prize for Feature Photography for coverage of the Covid-19 crisis in India. Journalists have long braved threats in the restive region as the Indian government seeks to tighten control over the media. Their situation has grown worse since India revoked the region’s semi-autonomy in 2019, with dozens arrested, interrogated and investigated under harsh anti-terror laws.

☆ India stops Pulitzer-winning journalist from travelling to US
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

NEW DELHI, Oct 19 (Reuters) - Indian authorities have stopped a photojournalist from boarding a flight to the United States, where she had planned to attend a ceremony to receive a Pulitzer Prize. Mattoo, who holds an Indian passport, said she was stopped at immigration at New Delhi airport on Monday night and prevented from travelling to the United States despite holding a valid visa and a ticket. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Register"Being able to attend the award ceremony was a once in a lifetime opportunity for me," Mattoo said on Twitter on Tuesday. The Himalayan region is claimed in full by both India and neighbouring Pakistan, but both countries only control parts of it. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterReporting by Devjyot Ghoshal; Editing by Sanjeev Miglani and Angus MacSwanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Old men helped cause the Soviet Union's collapse. Historians say it's a warning sign for the United States.
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-26 | by ( John Haltiwanger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +15 min

The Soviet Union became a gerontocracy in its final years, contributing to its collapse. And Reagan was right: Soviet leaders had consistently died on the job. "It doesn't matter whether it's the Soviet Union or the United States — there's always a clash" between older and younger generations, Grunewald said. They were afraid to let it go," said Zubok, the author of "Collapse: The Fall of the Soviet Union." And that did become a central factor in the demise of the Soviet Union."

☆ We went inside the lab at Vertex, a company that dodged the market downturn to become one of the best-performing biotechs of 2022
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-21 | by ( Andrew Dunn | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

A mosaic of human cells inside Vertex Pharmaceuticals' cell and gene-therapy laboratory. The four-story, 267,000-square-foot space is home to Vertex's cell and gene-therapy unit, with about 375 people now residing in the modern-industrial building. That has led to going after unrelated diseases like sickle cell, diabetes, muscular dystrophy, kidney disease, and pain. For instance, Vertex's approach to sickle cell is led by its CRISPR gene-editing program. Vertex PharmaceuticalsThe next test of Vertex's strategy will be an experimental treatment called exa-cel, its CRISPR gene-editing program for sickle cell.

Search resuls for: "Sanna"

25 mentions found