May 18, 2022

Daily News Brief

*) Finland and Sweden submit NATO membership application Finland and Sweden have handed in their bids to join the US-led alliance NATO. The alliance’s Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said, "I warmly welcome the requests by Finland and Sweden to join NATO. You are our closest partners.” The process usually takes eight to 12 months, but Türkiye has also voiced its objections to the nordic countries’ membership bids, criticising them for supporting terror groups. In order for a country to join NATO, unanimous approval is required, which equals the approval of all 30 existing allied countries. *) Hundreds of Ukrainians defending Azovstal plant surrender Hundreds of Ukrainian fighters have surrendered to an uncertain fate after weeks holed up in the tunnels below Mariupol's Azovstal steel plant. Russia's Defence Ministry said 265 fighters had surrendered, including 51 who were seriously wounded. Ukraine says it's working to save its fighters still trapped inside or evacuated from the southern city. However, the speaker of the lower house of Russian parliament said the Ukrainian fighters should be brought to “justice”. *) North Korea’s Kim blasts officials for failing to deal with Covid North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has lashed out at state officials for failing to combat the coronavirus as the number of known cases crossed 1.7 million. Chairing a meeting of the ruling party's Politburo, Kim said there was "immaturity in the state capacity for coping with the crisis", the official Korean Central News Agency said. He also slammed the "non-positive attitude, slackness and non-activity of state leading officials", the agency reported. *) Bashaga to run rival administration from Libya’s Sirte Libya's eastern parliament-appointed premier Fathi Bashagha has said he will base his administration in the northern city of Sirte. The move came after Bashagha attempted to forcibly enter the capital Tripoli to seat his government there, but was repulsed by the UN-backed government. The attempt triggered fierce clashes between fighters on both sides, forcing Bashagha to leave the city. Libya has had two rival administrations since March when the east-based parliament appointed Bashagha as prime minister despite UN-supported Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah. And, finally... *) Russian gymnast banned for pro-war 'Z' symbol A Russian gymnast who sported the ‘Z’ symbol on a medal podium has been banned for one year from International Gymnastics Federation events. 20-year-old artistic gymnast Ivan Kuliak's singlet had the letter 'Z' prominently placed as he stood next to Ukrainian contender at a World Cup event in Doha in March. Kuliak must also return his bronze medal and prize money of $500. The 'Z' has been seen daubed on Russian tanks and vehicles in Ukraine and has come to symbolise support for the offensive.