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Oana Țoiu, the acting Minister of Foreign Affairs of Romania, warned that Russia should not use bread as a weapon, emphasizing the importance of the Black Sea for global food security in the context of attacks on ships in the region and the need for a ceasefire. #MareaNeagră #SecuritateAlimentară #Rusia (translated)

Jari Mäkäräinen criticized Sanna Ukkola's writing about the Prime Minister's meeting with Imam Sharmarke Said Aw-Mussen. According to Mäkäräinen, Ukkola regarded the meeting as ordinary work and believed that the imam, who was born in Turku, was being asked impossible questions regarding Sharia. Mäkäräinen argued that asking the imam was not a misunderstanding: in his view, the imam left open whether Sharia would be applied in Finland in family or criminal law matters. Mäkäräinen wrote that, according to him, freedom of religion did not justify the establishment of a parallel legal system alongside Finnish laws. He claimed that in Muslim-majority countries, freedom of religion, women's equality, and individual rights were not realized in liberal democracies due to Islamic doctrine and Sharia. He cited Lebanon as an example, where he believed the growth of the Muslim population and political organization undermined previous balance and led to civil war. In France, Sweden, Belgium, and Britain, he mentioned the visibility of parallel societies, honor-based violence, segregation of areas and schools, and pressure to accept practices related to Sharia. In Finland in the 2000s, Mäkäräinen claimed that groups with a Muslim background who had immigrated were connected to the overrepresentation of sexual offenses, unemployment, use of social security, and demands for their own rules. He believed that distinguishing criticism of Islam from calls for deportation did not make questions about Sharia suspect. According to Mäkäräinen, the primacy of the Finnish Constitution and criminal law should be clear in all matters, and Finland did not need to repeat the experiences of countries where the application of Sharia had been tried. https://t.co/bGpZ7VaTux #uskonnonvapaus #integratio #muslimit (translated)

The author said that Islam could be criticized harshly and mentioned that he had done so himself. However, according to him, urging an imam born in Finland to return to his home country and the cheering of thousands of people were something entirely different. #monikulttuurisuus #kotoontuminen #uskonto #FI (translated)

Henri Vanhanen wrote that he doubted whether Vladimir Putin had a realistic understanding of the situation in the war in Ukraine or whether he would be willing to accept information contrary to his own views. Vanhanen assessed that in Russia's system, reporting bad news to the leadership could be dangerous and that the military leadership, subordinates, or the president's inner circle might distort or filter information. Vanhanen referred to a recent assessment by the think tank ISW, which stated that Ukraine's successful counteroffensive in northern Donetsk had shattered Russia's plan to encircle the region's key defensive cities from two directions. According to him, Russia's goal of capturing the entire Donetsk region appeared to be further away as a result. Vanhanen wrote that Putin might continue the war to achieve unrealistic goals if he believed that Russia was closer to victory than reality suggests. He deemed it even more concerning that Putin might be receiving accurate information but did not want to believe it. Vanhanen emphasized that Russia's military failure, in his view, might not necessarily change Putin's goals or his desire to continue the war. He believed that an unrealistic situational picture could lead to the prolongation of the war and taking greater risks, and he appealed for continued support for Ukraine and to resist Russia's military pressure. https://t.co/Lb2advefv2 #Ukraina #Putin #sota (translated)

Regina Laska wrote that Donald Trump announced an immediate energy ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine and stated that both sides had agreed. According to her, Volodymyr Zelensky initially had no knowledge of this. Later, he said the report was new to him, but Ukraine was ready to cease attacks on Russian energy facilities, provided that Russia would no longer attack Ukrainian power plants. Laska wrote that there was no initial confirmation from the Kremlin, and Russian attacks continued. According to Ukrainian sources, among others, power plants in Kyiv and Kharkiv were hit. She also referred to Trump's earlier claim from September 14 that both sides had agreed to spare energy facilities; however, a sustainable ceasefire did not emerge from that. The author placed the announcement within a series of Trump's statements: on Friday, he announced a diesel deal with Putin and a US waiver for Russian diesel deliveries; on Saturday, he said Ukraine needed a new president; and on Sunday, he declared a ceasefire, to which this president allegedly agreed. Laska described this as contradictory since Zelensky had simultaneously been portrayed by Trump as a potential negotiating partner, even though he was unaware of the agreement. Furthermore, Laska wrote that seven US senators - four Republicans and three Democrats - legally challenged Trump's diesel deal with Putin. They accused the government of not involving Congress as required and demanded the withdrawal of the deal. While the US Treasury had issued a license, its sufficient legal basis was disputed. In a satirical scene, Laska imagined Trump reacting by putting down his phone, splattering a freshly painted wall while drinking, and possibly firing the painter afterward. #Trump #Ukraine #Russland (translated)

Henri Vanhanen criticized Donald Trump's actions in the Ukraine war, noting that he declared agreements about which there was uncertainty, while pressuring Ukraine in a way that benefited Vladimir Putin. As a recent example, Vanhanen pointed to Trump’s announced energy ceasefire. According to him, Volodymyr Zelensky heard about it practically for the first time from the media, Russia had not confirmed the agreement, and continued, according to Zelensky, attacks on Ukraine's power plants. Vanhanen asked what kind of ceasefire it was if the other party did not know what had been agreed upon. He suggested that Zelensky had to be cautious of Trump’s criticism to avoid being blamed for obstructing peace. Vanhanen referred to the Financial Times reporting that the United States threatened to cut off arms and intelligence supplies to Ukraine unless the country stopped attacks on Russian energy infrastructure. He also wrote that Trump agreed to buy Russian diesel, demanded Ukraine to cease attacks on Russian oil refineries, and encouraged a change of leadership in Ukraine. Vanhanen estimated that the war in Iran and the resulting fuel prices, the upcoming midterm elections, and the need to show results might explain Trump’s urgency to secure an agreement. According to him, Trump aimed for cheaper diesel and a visible peace political achievement, while Putin would benefit from a decrease in attacks on Russia’s energy sector. Vanhanen noted that the alignment of these goals seemed to occur at Ukraine’s expense. Vanhanen stated that he did not oppose a ceasefire if it protected Ukrainians and also bound Russia. However, he observed that for Trump, merely declaring an agreement seemed to suffice, even without information about its terms or Russia's commitment. Vanhanen assessed that Russia would benefit from a situation in which the United States sought a quick agreement and Ukraine was cautious not to offend Trump. In such conditions, he believed Putin could gain concessions from Trump without Russia needing to win against Ukraine at the negotiating table. #Ukraina #Trump #Venäjä (translated)

Henri Vanhanen wrote that Finland should take seriously Russia's alleged plans to assassinate leaders of the European defense industry. According to him, European intelligence services had warned that Russia had intensified its assassination plots targeting business executives. Possible targets included not only large arms manufacturers but also smaller defense technology companies, especially manufacturers of drones and their components. Vanhanen referred to a plan revealed in 2024 to assassinate Armin Papperger, CEO of the German company Rheinmetall. He wrote that more recent intelligence data indicated broader and more systematic actions beyond individual cases. According to Vanhanen, Russia's intention was to undermine the European defense industry, intimidate its business leaders, complicate support for Ukraine, and disrupt the strengthening of Europe's defense capabilities. Vanhanen urged an urgent assessment of whether the protection of key personnel in Finland's defense industry is adequate. He suggested that the security police, police, and defense administration work together with companies to identify individuals at special risk and ensure preemptive action against threats. He proposed, if necessary, strengthening personal protection, enhancing counterintelligence efforts against companies, and improving information sharing among authorities. According to Vanhanen, Finland should not wait for the first attack on its territory before preparing. https://t.co/xVZMYe1R7e #Puolustusteollisuus #Venäjä #Suomi (translated)

Henri Vanhanen wrote that Volodymyr Zelensky was ready to hold elections in Ukraine if Vladimir Putin agreed to a 60-day ceasefire. Vanhanen noted that this was not a new concession, as Zelensky had made the same proposal in February and required sufficient security guarantees to hold the elections. Vanhanen interpreted the proposal as a message to Donald Trump, who, in his view, had repeatedly questioned Zelensky’s position and called for elections in Ukraine. According to Vanhanen, holding elections would require the United States to get Russia to stop hostilities for a sufficient period. He found it contradictory that Ukraine was being asked to hold elections in the midst of an invasion, while Russia had not agreed to a ceasefire that would allow for it. Vanhanen also pondered how strong Trump’s pressure on Zelensky had become, referring to Trump’s recent statements regarding Ukrainian leadership. He believed that the replacement of the Ukrainian president should not become a substantive goal of peace negotiations, but rather that Ukrainians should choose their own leader. According to Vanhanen, Trump should have used his influence to promote a ceasefire rather than forcing Ukraine to defend the legitimacy of its democracy. #Ukraina #Zelenskyi #Trump (translated)

Sheep Esports Brazil reported that the Grand Final of CBLOL reached a peak of 289,000 viewers in the match between FURIA and LOS, setting a new record for the second split. The publication also listed FURIA vs LOUD, with 205,000 viewers; LOUD vs LOS, with 196,000; paiN vs LOUD, with 191,000; and paiN vs RED, with 156,000. https://t.co/aXkFPoq4fk #CBLOL #Esports #FURIA (translated)

Karri Kivi and Teemu Niikko are completely at odds about the upcoming league system of the SM-league, where Kivi questions the pressures that the 12-team A-league places on players and coaches, while Niikko warns about the B-league potentially being of low quality. #SMliiga #Jääkiekko #Urheilu (translated)

Henri Vanhanen wrote that Donald Trump's Russia policy may not have been guided by a coherent strategy. According to him, Trump made decisions one by one, seeking quick political gains, and then had to fix the consequences. In his assessment, Vanhanen linked Trump's diminished commitment to arming Ukraine, the energy price increases resulting from the war in Iran, and the recent diesel trade with Russia. He believed that trade could bolster the Russian economy and give Vladimir Putin a means to pressure Ukraine into halting strikes on Russia's oil refineries. Vanhanen also criticized Trump for condemning strikes that he claimed weakened Russia's war economy. Vanhanen noted that Trump’s administration had not sought significant new funding from Congress for arming Ukraine. According to him, previously agreed deliveries had continued, and European countries had purchased American weapons for Ukraine. He stated that Trump was not fundamentally on the side of Ukraine or Europe but was primarily pursuing his own interests. According to Vanhanen, Finland's security should not be built on the assumption that there is a plan behind Trump's decisions that would turn in favor of Europe. He urged preparedness for the possibility that U.S. aid could be delayed or smaller than expected, to strengthen the availability of defense equipment and air defense, and to deepen cooperation with Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Britain, Poland, and the Baltic countries. He also believed that Europe should be able to support Ukraine and maintain economic pressure on Russia by its own means. #Trump #Venäjä #Ukraina (translated)

Henri Vanhanen wrote that Finland had paid billions of euros because, in his opinion, the geopolitical risks posed by Russia were not taken seriously in time. He referred to Fortum's Uniper transactions, in which he claimed nearly six billion euros were lost, as well as Rosatom's assertion that it had won the arbitration concerning the Hanhikivi nuclear power project against Fennovoima. Vanhanen noted that the final resolution and possible compensation were still unclear. Vanhanen said the losses were in the billions and had also been a detriment to taxpayers. According to him, lessons should have been learned from these cases that geopolitics and security policy could not be separated from economic decision-making. He wrote that warnings about Russia's aggression had been issued for years, but economic interests often outweighed them, and he felt that Finland could no longer afford to ignore the realities of global politics until the billion-euro bill arrived. https://t.co/Omv0fRGsLq #geopolitiikka #turvallisuuspolitiikka #Suomi (translated)

Leena Pihanurmi wrote that there were approximately 140,000 Muslims living in Finland and that, according to her, 884,000 people suffered from gambling-related harms when close relatives were included. She asked when the Prime Minister would invite her to a roundtable discussion to talk about the costs of gambling harms for individuals and society. Pihanurmi stated that she would present scientific evidence of the costs incurred by taxpayers due to these harms. She listed the consequences of gambling harms, including economic despair, family poverty, debt collection, mental health issues, domestic violence, divorces, suicides, and family murders. In addition, she asked why particularly the National Coalition Party had, in her opinion, promoted gambling. Pihanurmi said she would emphasize the prevention of gambling and present concrete ways to reduce gambling, similar to smoking. #uhkapelaaminen #pelihaitat #suomi (translated)

XristosUE commented on a video thread about the Olympiacos–Efes match, noting the return of Milutinov, the dominance in rebounds, and the excellent performance of Jones. He mentioned the intensity in defense, with more energy and better communication from the weak side, as well as the "Pack the Paint" tactic that, as he said, Bi wanted. He also highlighted the Fournier–Vezenkov cooperation in the pick-and-roll, McIntyre's vertical play, Montero's versatility, and the energy of Ward and Enjai. He described the second period as very poor and mentioned an especially interesting week in Spain. #Olympiacosbc #Basketball #EuroLeague (translated)

Elina Hiltunen wrote that she had a positive attitude towards the discussion, but questioned what kind of issues her discussion partner promoted. She said she understood that this person was advocating for their own and Islam's interests, but asked whether such should be acceptable in Finland, especially from the ruling party. Additionally, Hiltunen inquired whether the discussion partner supported sharia law. #keskustelu #Suomi #islam (translated)