January 31, 2023

*) Finland would not allow burning of Quran: police As per local media, police in Finland have said the public burning copies of Islam's holy book, the Quran, would not be allowed in the country. The National Police Board said burning a copy of the Quran would likely violate religious peace, which is a punishable offence in Finland. The public burning or other desecration of a book held sacred by a religious community would be met with police intervention, the police further said. *) Scores killed, dozens injured in Pakistan mosque suicide attack A suicide bomber struck a crowded mosque inside a police compound in the Pakistani city of Peshawar, killing at least 80 people and wounding dozens others. Overnight, at least nine more bodies were recovered as rescuers sifted through the rubble of the mosque's collapsed wall and roof. Many of the injured were taken to the Lady Reading Hospital after a bomber detonated his suicide vest as worshipers, including many policemen, were praying inside the mosque. *) Biden says 'no' to US sending F-16 jets to Ukraine US President Joe Biden said he will not be sending F-16 fighter jets to help Ukraine against Russia. "No," he said when asked by reporters at the White House if he was in favour of sending the jets, which Ukraine's leaders have said are at the top of their latest weapons wish list. Biden said he will be visiting Poland, the key hub in the nearly year-long, massive Western effort to support Ukraine against Russian attack. *) Top NATO negotiator says Sweden's share of PKK terror funding larger than Finland's Sweden has a larger share of PKK terror group financing as compared to Finland, Stockholm's chief NATO negotiator said. Speaking to the state-owned radio, Oscar Stenstrom said: "Unlike Finland, we have a larger share of funding for the PKK from Sweden." Both countries are bidding to join the NATO alliance, but are faced with opposition from Türkiye due to their ties and tolerance toward the PKK terrorist organisation and its offshoots. And finally