Ukraine: Washington refuses in writing a key demand from Moscow, but seeks a "diplomatic way"

The United States rejected, in its written response to Russia, one of Moscow's main demands, by refusing to close NATO's door to Ukraine, but claim to have proposed a "diplomatic way" to avoid a new war. The long-awaited letter delivered by the US ambassador to the Russian Foreign Ministry comes amid extreme tensions on the Russian-Ukrainian border, where Washington has said it expects a possible attack by Russian forces by mid-February. . "Everything indicates" that President Vladimir Putin "will use military force at some point, perhaps between now and mid-February," said US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman. She stressed, however, that the opening of the Beijing Olympics on February 4 could influence "its calendar", to avoid offending Chinese President Xi Jinping during this major event for China. Tensions have risen steadily in recent months around Ukraine, with Moscow accused of moving tens of thousands of troops to the border in preparation for an offensive. Russia demands guarantees for its security, including the rejection of kyiv's accession to NATO.

North Korea fired unidentified 'projectile', says South Korean military

North Korea fired an "unidentified projectile" into the sea on Thursday, according to the South Korean military, in what would be the sixth weapons test this year for the nuclear-armed country. "North Korea fired an unidentified projectile into the East Sea," also known as the Sea of Japan, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said. The last time North Korea tested so many weapons in a month was in 2019, after talks between its leader Kim Jong Un and then US President Donald Trump broke down. Since then, talks between the two countries have stalled, and international sanctions and border closures to guard against Covid-19 have brought the North Korean economy to its knees.

IN SHORT

The self-employed, auto-entrepreneurs whose activity is penalized by the fifth wave of Covid-19, will benefit from reductions in social security contributions and "exceptional financial assistance", announced to AFP the Minister Delegate for SME Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne.

The Senate with a right-wing majority adopted Wednesday evening in first reading a reform of borrower insurance cut from its flagship measure, the possibility of changing it at any time, but expanded with new provisions on the health component.

Heroic, the French handball players snatched their ticket for the semi-finals of the Euro by overthrowing Denmark (30-29), Wednesday in Budapest in their last group match, and can continue to dream of a third continental title.