TOP NEWS

Putin's Russia  

USA: Putin can forget he's getting Alaska back  

 

Is Russia Claiming Alaska?  

 

The issue has been swirling on social media since Vladimir Putin signed a decree last week to set aside money to reclaim Russian assets abroad, including former territories from the days of the Russian Empire and the Soviet Union.  

 

Which areas are meant is not clear, which has led to joking speculation that Russia may regret the sale of Alaska to the United States in 1867. 

 

- I think I speak for everyone in the US government when I say that he [Putin, eds. note] absolutely will not get it back, says US Foreign Ministry spokesperson Vedant Patel, according to The Hill.  

 

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The Israel-Hamas warThe reactions 

The UN chief sees Israel's rejection of the two-state solution 

  

UN Secretary-General António Guterres directed sharp criticism at Israel when the General Assembly met on Tuesday.  

 

Among other things, he said that Israel's rejection of a two-state solution is "unacceptable". 

 

- The right of the Palestinian people to build their own independent state must be recognized by everyone, said the UN chief according to AFP.  

 

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu strongly dismissed any talk of a two-state solution last week, prompting criticism from much of the world, including the United States.  

 

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Germany's growth  

Train strike in Germany started - believed to cost one billion euros  

 

A major train strike has begun in Germany. The German train drivers' union GDL has announced a six-day strike for the employees of Deutsche Bahn. The strike is expected to affect thousands of passengers and put a wet blanket over the economy, writes Deutsche Welle.  

 

The strike covers both passenger and goods traffic.  

 

"The European freight traffic over the Alps, to Poland and Scandinavia as well as the ports in the Netherlands and Belgium is also affected," the railway writes in a statement. 

 

It is the fourth train strike since November. The union demands, among other things, that shift workers should be allowed to reduce their working hours - from 38 to 35 hours a week - while maintaining their pay. 

 

Deutsche Bahn describes it as a "strike against the German economy". Assessors believe that the price tag risks landing at over a billion euros.

 

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Israel-Hamas war Eurovision Song Contest 

Iceland can boycott the ESC in Sweden if Israel is involved 

 

Iceland may boycott the Eurovision Song Contest in Sweden in the spring. This is because Israel must be involved at the same time as the war in Gaza rages on in full swing, writes the country's public service company RÚV.  

 

The decision must be made together with the winner of the song competition Söngvakeppnin, which is chosen in mid-March.  

 

Both RÚV and several of the artists are concerned that Israel will participate, according to the TV channel's manager Stefán Eiríksson. 

 

- 10,000 people here in Iceland have signed a petition demanding that we boycott Eurovision if Israel participates. It is of course something we have to take into account, he says to SVT's Kulturnyheterna.