Your one-stop destination for all the top international stories of the day.
Was Navalny ‘killed’ because he was close to being freed?
Was Alexei Navalny ‘killed’ because he was close to being released in a prisoner-swap deal?
She has claimed that Navalny and 2 US nationals were part of a prisoner swap deal being negotiated to release Russian hitman Vadim Krasikov serving a life sentence in a German prison
Kremlin spokesperson Dimitri Peskov told the Financial Times he was ‘not aware of such agreements’
Putting Western troops on the ground in Ukraine ‘not ruled out’
Over 20 European heads of state and other leaders gathered in Paris discussed how to help Ukraine as the war with Russia is now in the third year. One of the discussions involved sending Western troops on the ground in Ukraine to fight Russia although there was no consensus on it. French President Emmannuel Macron said “we will do everything possible so that Russia cannot win the war. Nothing can be ruled out.”
Sweden all set to join NATO
Sweden has taken a key step closer to full NATO membership after Hungary, which was holding out for months, finally ratified the Scandinavian nation’s membership to NATO.
The vote came after a visit by the Swedish PM last week where the two countries signed an arms deal.
PM Ulf Kristersson said, “Sweden is leaving behind 200 years of neutrality and
military non-alignment behind.”
Both Sweden and Finland pushed for NATO membership soon after Russia invaded
Ukraine in February 2022. Turkey, another nation that had dragged its feet on Sweden’s membership, came through in January.
Sweden will be the 32nd member country of NATO
Biden hopeful of Israel-Hamas ceasefire by March 4
US President Joe Biden is hopeful that Israel and Hamas can reach a deal by next week.
Israel and Hamas officials are negotiating for a possible ceasefire in Qatar
Though the ceasefire talks started in February, Israel rejected a four-and-a-half-month truce proposal by Hamas. Negotiators are now aiming for a six-week cessation of hostilities before the start of Ramzan. The release of Israeli hostages is part of the negotiation agenda.
Last week, the US vetoed a UN Security Council resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
Woman in Arabic-script dress saved from mob in Pakistan
This terrified woman in Lahore was cowering for cover – all because of her dress. The Arabic-script on her attire angered the mob in the market who accused her of blasphemy. This senior police officer is trying to explain to the crowd that the text on the dress isn’t blasphemous. The petrified woman was rescued from the market after the police intervened
