Jari Pauna

Sweden is often viewed as a a liberal utopia in Europe and beyond, with the country of 10.5 million people known for its stable economy, high quality of life and open and progressive society. ➡️ But its center-right coalition government — which is propped up by the nationalist and right-wing Sweden Democrats party — has adopted an increasingly restrictive stance on immigration. ➡️ The country is trumpeting its lower numbers of immigrants, but economists say the economic benefits are debatable, with growth and productivity among the factors to consider. ➡️ Trade unions have expressed concerns that some of the government’s proposals go too far and will create labor shortages in many industries. Read more: https://cnb.cx/4eVixrk

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Book Talk: Neutrality After 1989 Neutrality in the growing hostility between the US on the one hand and Russia and China on the other is the ardent wish of most states around the world. During the Cold war, neutrality worked out very well for certain states including Finland and Austria; just as since then, it has worked well for states like Singapore and Vietnam. Washington’s policy however has been to try to pull states firmly into the US orbit. Partly for that reason, neutrality is an under-studied subject, both intellectually and practically. A rare and very valuable book on neutrality in recent decades, Neutrality Since 1989: New Paths in the Post-Cold War World, was edited by Naman Karl-Thomas Habtom. He will be joined by Anatol Lieven, director of the Eurasia program at the Quincy Institute, to discuss the book and the advantages and problems of neutrality for states today. The conversation will take place on …

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Lots of interesting things are happening on the payment market! In a recent article by Dagens Industri, a project known as "Nexus" is being discussed. The project's goal is to interconnect different countries' "Swish-systems", so that money can cross boarders and currencies in seconds and at almost no cost. The European Central Bank has recently expressed their interest in this project... Soooo, if we're lucky we might have an international and instant Payments system in near the future 💱 💰 🤩 Read more in the article below 👇 https://lnkd.in/dEzSB-3s

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📍 The duty on Russian liquefied natural gas is a mechanism to reduce Russia's revenues. According to the Finnish organization CREA, since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, Russia has earned almost €800 billion from the sale of energy resources. Of this, €33 billion was paid by EU countries for Russian LNG. Russian LNG is imported to the EU at a zero rate under the Most Favored Nation (MFN) regime, as Russia is a member of the World Trade Organization. At the same time, after the imposition of sanctions on pipeline gas in 2022, Russian LNG supplies only increased. Since September 2022, Russian LNG imports to the EU have increased by almost 40%. And the share of Russian LNG has risen from 11% to nearly 20%. Also, EU countries continue to sign long-term contracts with Russia to purchase LNG until 2040. However, it is already possible to force Russia to pay a 'war tax' by imposing a duty on Russian LNG at the EU level. 👉 This was stated by Olga Balytska, a lawyer and member of the CES Supervisory Board, at the conference 'Make Russia Pay' 2024 held by the International Centre for Ukrainian Victory: 💬 "According to Article 21 of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) of 1947, countries may restrict the most favored nation treatment for security reasons or by the UN Charter. The EU has the legal right to impose a duty exclusively on Russia if it can justify it as a matter of national security or international stability." Read more via the following link: https://lnkd.in/gY2fZYsw 🌐 The decision will be made by the EU Council, which is composed of trade ministers from the member states. The next meeting of the Council is scheduled for October this year. Hungary currently heads the EU, and Poland will take over the presidency in 2025.

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Finland is building a fence across its border with Russia and Norway is considering doing the same. ***** The Finnish government was prompted to close all crossing points from Russia to Finland in late 2023 after more than 1,300 third-country migrants without proper documentation or visas — an unusually high number — entered the country in three months, just months after the nation became a member of NATO. To prevent Moscow using migrants in what the Finnish government calls Russia’s “hybrid warfare,” Helsinki is currently building fences with a total length of up to 200 kilometers (124 miles) in separate sections along the border zone that makes up part of NATO’s northern flank and serves as the European Union’s external border. ***** https://lnkd.in/dYx6uXXf A couple of takeaways here: The most obvious is that border security is an issue for every country, and those who aspire to be in government should make secure borders a top priority. Another takeaway is that Russia is being symbolically excluded from “Europe” by these measures. For better or worse, the countries on the European continent which currently aspire to greater cooperation and integration will not, it seems, include Russia. If Putin included among his aspirations for Russia being a great power within Europe, that ambition is fundamentally foreclosed to him. Europe does not want a Putin-led Russia within its community of nations.

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Endomines has published H1-2024 report. Read how we have made a significant turnaround in our business 👇 https://lnkd.in/drfeCnHT

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Prof. Glenn Diesen Have we become too dumb and propagandised for #democracy? - When the #US #Congress approved the invasion of #Iraq, 66% of #Americans believed Saddam Hussein had contributed to the 9/11 attacks, while only 21% said he was not involved. https://lnkd.in/eKwKUsAU. - In #Britain, the majority believes the UK and US did the most to defeat Nazi Germany (42% UK, 12% US). Only 6% answered the Soviet Union did the most to defeat Nazi #Germany despite approximately 85% of German casualties occurring on the Eastern front with everything else being a sideshow. https://lnkd.in/ePiPqM4y - The most basic information about the current war in #Ukraine is completely absent in the #media's reporting. For example, the well-documented and overwhelming evidence that Russia invaded primarily to prevent #NATO expansion is simply not reported. Making the public believe that the #war is merely about opportunistic territorial expansion reduces support for a diplomatic solution and manufactures consent for the notion that "weapons are the path to peace" in a war against the world's largest #nuclear power. - Democracy requires an informed public to make informed decisions. Walter Lippman, Edward Bernays and the other main scholars on #propaganda argued democracies are more reliant on propaganda. When sovereignty resides with the people, it is of greater importance to control their beliefs to steer the group in the desired direction! My 2 cents: It is easier to fool people than to prove to them that they have been fooled!

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Czech power company EPH is one of Europe’s top polluters, exploiting taxpayers with its scheme: buy coal assets from utilities going green, run them hard, and then cash in on government compensation meant for the coal phase-out. But now there's a twist. EPH is stashing its coal assets in a new sister company, EP Energy Transitions, in an attempt to look “greener”. This doesn’t just mislead investors—it helps EPH dodge billions in cleanup costs for shut down mines and environmental restoration. Unmask the real EPH👇 https://lnkd.in/dCmNEwy6 Urgewald

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The war will end where it began: Ukraine creates conditions for F-16 strikes on Crimea. Western experts believe that if Ukraine wins the Russian war, it will happen in the temporarily occupied Crimean peninsula. The Hague Center for Strategic Studies says that Ukraine is "preparing the ground" for future airstrikes following the arrival of F-16 fighter jets. Defense forces currently strike Russian weapons on the peninsula and attack the Crimean Bridge to disrupt the occupier’s logistics. Ukraine is also destroying Russian ground-based air defense systems. "If a limited number of fighter jets can have a real impact, it is precisely in Crimea and over the Black Sea, which becomes fully accessible after the air defense problem in Crimea is resolved," experts noted. The Center for Strategic and International Studies believes that Russia's loss of Crimea will allow Ukraine to use it as a bargaining chip in future negotiations. The Center for the Analysis of European Politics is convinced that Ukraine's restoration of control over the Black Sea and the return of the peninsula, or even applying sufficient pressure on these territories to threaten Putin, "will mean the end of the war." https://lnkd.in/d9XCYj_9

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🇩🇰🇺🇦 Long-range drones, ATGMs, missiles and artillery. Ukraine and Denmark have signed a number of agreements worth $629 million. The Ministry of Strategic Industries of Ukraine and the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine have concluded a number of relevant implementation agreements with the Ministry of Defense of Denmark: https://lnkd.in/esS5zF26 An innovate Copenhagen-run arms assistance initiative has tripled Ukrainian production of a vital howitzer, by tapping into hundreds of millions of russian Euros sequestered in Danish banks to pay for the artillerypieces. The funding framework that purchased the Bohdana howitzers made Denmark the first NATO nation to invest directly in weapons production in Ukraine. Alexander Kamyshin, the defense production advisor to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, said that the best way for 🇳🇴Norway to support Ukraine’s defense would be to invest in Ukrainian arms production at home, like neighboring Denmark has done. 🔗Read more via Kyiv Post: https://lnkd.in/gGu8rKsQ Troels Lund Poulsen Ole Egberg Mikkelsen Dmytro Klimenkov #defense #defensetech #DIH #DefenseInnovationHighway

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🌍 Innovative Use of Bitcoin Mining: Heating a Town in Finland 🌍 Marathon Digital is breaking new ground by using Bitcoin mining to provide heating for a town in Finland. This creative approach not only enhances sustainability but also showcases the multifaceted benefits of cryptocurrency mining. Key highlights: Sustainability: Utilizing excess heat from mining operations to warm homes, reducing energy waste and carbon footprint. Economic Impact: This initiative offers a cost-effective heating solution for residents, highlighting the economic advantages of integrating crypto mining with local infrastructure. Technological Innovation: Marathon Digital's project demonstrates how advanced technologies can address real-world challenges, promoting a more sustainable and interconnected future. This development exemplifies the potential of cryptocurrency mining to contribute positively to communities and the environment. Read more about this innovative project and its impact here: https://lnkd.in/gighAb2h #Bitcoin #Cryptocurrency #Mining #Sustainability #Innovation #Blockchain #Fintech #DigitalAssets #CryptoNews #GreenTech

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**A Nordic Wind Blows East** Finland's president, Alexander Stubb, is set to visit China later this week. The trip comes as Europe seeks to diversify its economic ties and as China looks to shore up support in the face of growing geopolitical tensions. The visit is expected to focus on deepening bilateral economic relations. With its strengths in technology and innovation, particularly in areas like clean energy and environmental technologies, Finland offers a compelling proposition for China. Meanwhile, China's vast market and manufacturing capabilities provide significant opportunities for Finnish firms. This economic synergy has the potential to yield substantial benefits for both countries. Experts anticipate that collaboration in areas such as green technology and sustainable development could not only boost bilateral trade but also contribute significantly to global efforts to combat climate change. However, the visit also occurs against strained Sino-European relations, marked by trade disputes and geopolitical rivalry. Finland, with its unique position as a bridge between Europe and Asia, could play a pivotal role in navigating these complex dynamics. By fostering closer ties with China, Finland may be able to influence European policy towards China and mitigate the risks of decoupling. President Stubb will accompany a substantial delegation during his state visit to China. This delegation includes key ministers and government officials, along with a group of business leaders. The President's value-based realism and pragmatic approach will guide his foreign policy decisions on China. https://lnkd.in/gH2PeB8a

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Northern European countries support Ukraine's Victory Plan. In a joint statement made at the fourth Ukraine-Northern Europe summit in Reykjavik, the prime ministers of Iceland, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden stated that they support the Victory Plan. "We will work to facilitate its implementation and strengthen Ukraine's position on the eve of the second Peace Summit on the way to a lasting peace based on international law, including the UN Charter," the document says. It also emphasizes that "the future of Ukraine is in NATO." The statement notes that the countries of Northern Europe have provided Ukraine with more than €20B in the form of military, financial, and humanitarian aid. They also emphasized their interest in further cooperation with Ukraine's defense industry. "€195M has already been allocated for purchases in the defense industry of Ukraine," the document states. According to Northern European leaders, one funding source for such initiatives can be surplus profits from frozen Russian assets. "Russia's assets should remain immobilized until it stops its aggressive war and compensates Ukraine for its losses," the leaders added. https://lnkd.in/dZe6y2GR

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🇺🇦 Ukrainian forces have launched a successful counteroffensive against 🇷🇺 Russia, seizing villages and the crucial #Sudzha #gas #interconnection #point, through which about half of 🇷🇺 Russia's gas exports to 🇪🇺 EU customers pass daily. This unexpected advance, the first to penetrate 🇷🇺 Russian territory without relying on military intelligence units, has caused European #gas #prices to reach unprecedented levels in 2024. 🇺🇦 Ukrainian forces have advanced 10 km into 🇷🇺 Russia, achieving a key tactical victory in just 48 hours. The Sudzha facility, vital for #Gazprom’s #gas exports to several 🇪🇺 European countries, including 🇦🇹 Austria, 🇸🇰 Slovakia, 🇮🇹 Italy, and 🇭🇺 Hungary, remains operational. However, its proximity to ongoing combat raises the risk of it becoming involved in military operations or #sabotage. #Note * #Energy #geopolitics is now the #primary #force #driving #markets. #EnergyGeopoliticsBlackSwam🦢⛽️

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drone

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The OpenID AB/Connect Working Group recommends approval of the OpenID for Verifiable Presentations (#OID4VP) Implementer's Draft. https://lnkd.in/em8guH_k If approved, this will be the third Implementer’s Draft of this specification. It has 3 major changes: 🦆 Introduces the Digital Credentials Query Language (DCQL - pronounced "duck-l"); this is an alternative to Presentation Exchange 🔏 Introduces the transaction data mechanism that enables a binding between the user's identification/authentication and the user’s authorization, for example to complete a payment transaction, or to sign specific document(s) using QES (Qualified Electronic Signatures). 🛡 Removes the client_id_scheme parameter and instead makes the client id scheme a prefix on the client_id; this addresses a security issue with the previous solution. Read more at: https://lnkd.in/e4sBYfdn Torsten Lodderstedt Kristina Yasuda Joseph Heenan Dr. Daniel Fett

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