Current affairs
Finland is preparing to apply for NATO membership
Finland is preparing to apply for membership of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). On 15 May, the Government submitted a report to Parliament on Finland’s accession to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and proposed that the President of the Republic decide that Finland will apply for membership in NATO after Parliament has been heard.
Covid-19 situation in mainland China
During April, China has reported the highest number of Covid-19 infections since the beginning of the pandemic, including the initial outbreak in Wuhan in the spring 2020. The majority of infections have been reported in Shanghai and in the province of Jilin in northeastern China, both of which have seen strict lockdowns in large areas. Extensive PCR-testing has been initiated in Beijing and the near-total lockdown in Shanghai continues.