German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is due to travel to Sweden on Monday to hold talks with the prime ministers of Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Iceland and Norway. The main topics of discussion are expected to be the security situation in Europe,…
Finland shooting: Child held after pupil aged 12 shot dead at school in Vantaa
A child has died and two others have been seriously wounded in a shooting at a school in Finland, police say. Police said all three victims were 12 and that a suspect, also aged 12, had fled but was later…
Sweden officially becomes 32nd member of NATO in Washington ceremony
Sweden on Thursday officially became the 32nd member of NATO after a nearly two-year delay and a longstanding policy of nonalignment. Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson delivered the NATO Instrument of Accession to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Washington,…
NATO launches historic Nordic response drill in Finland, Norway and Sweden
NATO kicked off an exercise on Monday to defend its newly expanded Nordic territory when more than 20,000 soldiers from 13 nations take part in drills lasting nearly two weeks in the northern regions of Finland, Norway and Sweden. With…
NATO extends Stoltenberg mandate for 1 more year
NATO’s 31 member states decided to prolong the mandate of Jens Stoltenberg as its General Secretary with one year until 1 October 2024. He has led the organisation for ten years. Stoltenberg was appointed NATO General Secretary shortly after Russia’s…
Finland lawmakers approve center-right Petteri Orpo as PM
The newly-elected parliament of Finland on Tuesday voted for National Coalition Party (NCP) leader Petteri Orpo to replace Social Democrat Sanna Marin as prime minister. The decision — essentially a formality — ushers in a new right-wing coalition under Orpo…
Finland’s prime minister Sanna Marin files for divorce
Finland’s outgoing prime minister, Sanna Marin, has filed for divorce jointly with her husband of three years, Markus Raikkonen, they said on Instagram on Wednesday. “We are grateful for the 19 years together and our beloved daughter. We will remain…
27 injured, mostly children, in Finland after footbridge collapses
Twenty-seven people were injured in Finland when a pedestrian bridge collapsed near Helsinki on Thursday. Most of those hurt were children after the accident involving a temporary bridge, near a construction site in Espoo next to Helsinki, the emergency service…
Finland joins NATO as Russia’s war rages on in Ukraine
Finland has joined NATO in a historic shift triggered by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Finnish Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto completed the accession process by handing over an official document to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken at NATO headquarters in…
Finland to join Nato military alliance on Tuesday
Finland will become the 31st member of Nato on Tuesday, the Western military alliance’s secretary general has announced. The application was prompted by the invasion of Ukraine by Russia, with which Finland shares a long border. Turkey had delayed the…