January 19, 2023

*) Türkiye tells US to delink F-16 jet sale from Nordic NATO bids Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu has said that the United States must approve a 20 billion dollar sale of F-16 fighter jets to Türkiye. Cavusoglu said after a meeting with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken that the important thing on the sale of F-16 jets is whether the Biden administration will be determined. The Turkish minister said the Biden administration should not waste the deal because of objection by some senators and should also convey to Congress that NATO bids by Finland and Sweden are not linked with F-16 sale. *) Huge US weapons package for Ukraine The US is finalising a massive package of military aid for Ukraine that US officials say is likely to total as much as 2.6 billion dollars. It's expected to include for the first time nearly 100 Stryker combat vehicles and at least 50 Bradley armoured vehicles to allow Ukrainian forces to move more quickly and securely on the front lines in the war with Russia. The officials said the numbers could change as the Biden administration goes through final deliberations on the package. *) New Zealand's Jacinda Ardern to quit as PM next month New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern plans to stand down no later than early February and will not seek reelection, Ardern has said in a televised statement. Fighting back tears, she said the general election will take place on October 14 and her last day as prime minister will be on February 7. Ardern faced a tough election campaign this year. *) France braces for nationwide strike against Macron's pension reform Trains will grind to a halt in France, classrooms will be shut, and businesses will be disrupted as workers walk off their jobs in an attempt to derail a planned pension reform. The nationwide day of strikes and protests is a major test for President Emmanuel Macron, but also for the unions. Opinion polls show French voters overwhelmingly reject a reform that the government says is vital to ensure the pension syst