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HELSINKI (Reuters) – Finland will decide to apply for NATO membership on May 12, Finnish newspaper Iltalehti reported late on Sunday, citing anonymous government sources. The decision to join will come in two steps on that day, with Finnish President Sauli Niinisto first announcing his approval for the Nordic neighbour of Russia to join the …

Finland will decide to apply for NATO membership on May 12, says Iltalehti newspaper Read More »

STOCKHOLM (Reuters) – Finland will almost certainly apply for membership in NATO, Sweden’s Foreign Minister Ann Linde told Swedish television on Sunday. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has forced both Sweden and its eastern neighbour Finland to review beliefs that military neutrality is the best means of ensuring national security. “We know more or less that …

Finland almost certainly to apply for NATO membership, says Swedish Foreign Minister Read More »

By Dominique Vidalon and Noemie Olive PARIS (Reuters) -Police fired tear gas to push back black-clad anarchists who ransacked business premises in Paris on Sunday during May Day protests against the policies of newly re-elected President Emmanuel Macron. Thousands of people joined May Day marches across France, calling for salary increases and for Macron to …

Violence erupts in May Day protests in Paris, marchers criticise re-elected Macron Read More »

BEZIMENNE, Ukraine (Reuters) – Cowering in the labyrinth of Soviet-era bunkers far beneath the vast Azovstal steel works, Natalia Usmanova felt her heart would stop she was so terrified as Russian bombs rained down on Mariupol, sprinkling her with concrete dust. Usmanova, 37, spoke to Reuters on Sunday after being evacuated from the plant, a …

Mariupol evacuee recounts heart-stopping terror in the bunkers of Azovstal Read More »

By Philip Pullella VATICAN CITY (Reuters) – Pope Francis on Sunday described the war in Ukraine as a “macabre regression of humanity” that makes him “suffer and cry”, calling for humanitarian corridors to evacuate people trapped in the Mariupol steelworks. Speaking to thousands of people in St. Peter’s Square for his noon blessing, Francis again …

Pope says Mariupol ‘barbarously bombarded’, implicitly criticising Russia Read More »

BERLIN (Reuters) – Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Sunday rejected criticism that Germany was not showing leadership in western efforts to supply Ukraine with heavy weapons to repel Russia’s invasion, saying that he’d rather be cautious than make hasty decisions. Scholz is under pressure at home and abroad to supply Ukraine with heavy arms such as …

Scholz defends Germany’s caution on sending heavy arms to Ukraine Read More »