The Dispatch

Finland extends Russia border closure indefinitely

By Essi Lehto Finland will indefinitely extend the closure of land border crossings with Russia and add several ports to a list where travel from its eastern neighbour is prohibited,…

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Finnish police say bullying was motive for school shooting

Finnish police said on Wednesday the motive for a school shooting on the outskirts of Helsinki on Tuesday, in which one 12-year-old died, was bullying. "The suspect has said during…

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Several people injured in Finnish primary school shooting

Several people were injured in a shooting at a primary school in Finland early on Tuesday, and a suspect was later apprehended, Finnish police said in a statement. The shooting…

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Terrorism threat against Denmark has increased, security service says

COPENHAGEN, March 21 (Reuters) - The threat of terrorism in Denmark and against its interests abroad has increased, the Nordic country's PET security and intelligence service said on Thursday. The…

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Iceland volcano erupts again, spewing fountains of lava

A volcano in Iceland erupted on Saturday for the fourth time since December, the country's meteorological office said, spewing smoke and bright orange lava into the air in sharp contrast…

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Finland moves to block asylum seekers from entering via Russia

By Essi Lehto HELSINKI, March 15 (Reuters) - Finland plans to adopt temporary legislation that will allow its border authorities to block asylum seekers seeking to enter its territory from…

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Denmark to start conscripting women for military service

Denmark will boost its defence budget by 40.5 billion Danish crowns ($5.9 billion) over the next five years to meet NATO targets and address major defence shortcomings "in a world…

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Helsinki Airport likely to face a shortage of aviation fuel

Helsinki Airport is likely to face a shortage of aviation fuel by the beginning of next week, if political strikes by logistics workers continue for the planned two-week period. "Normally,…

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Finland joins Swedish, French navies for submarine threat drills

The Finnish, French and Swedish navies will participate in joint anti-submarine threat countermeasure drills off of Sweden's west coast, starting later this week. Finland will take part in the Marex…

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Malta among countries who participated in Europewide police operation against depictions of child sexual abuse

Malta was one of the countries that participated in a Europol coordinated operation child sexual abuse that led to the arrest of over 50 people. The foundation of the operation…

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Finland to participate in ASPIDES and Prosperity Guardian operations in Red Sea

Finnish President Alexander Stubb and the government's Ministerial Committee on Foreign and Security Policy have decided that Finland will participate in joint military operations to restore security in the Red…

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Sweden joins NATO as war in Ukraine prompts security rethink

WASHINGTON/STOCKHOLM, (Reuters) - Sweden joined NATO in Washington on Thursday, two years after Russia's invasion of Ukraine forced it to rethink its national security policy and conclude that support for…

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Sweden police arrest suspected Islamists believed to prepare attack

STOCKHOLM, (Reuters) - Swedish police on Thursday apprehended four people on suspicion of preparing a terrorist crime tied to violent Islamist extremism, the Sapo security service and prosecution agency said.…

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Finland joins first NATO collective defence drill

The Nordic Response 24 military exercise led by Norway begins on Monday in the northern parts of Finland, Sweden and Norway. The 12-day drill is significant for Finland as in…

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Norway’s King Harald on his way home from Malaysia

OSLO, March 3 (Reuters) - Norway's King Harald was discharged from a Malaysian hospital on Sunday and was flying home on a medical evacuation plane, according to Norwegian media reports,…

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Finland inaugurates Alexander Stubb as president for the NATO era

By Anne Kauranen HELSINKI, March 1 (Reuters) - Alexander Stubb took office as Finland's president on Friday, ready to oversee a new era after it joined NATO in response to…

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Hope Norway’s king may soon return home from Malaysia

Norway's King Harald may return home from Malaysia in a few days following his hospitalisation, the Norwegian royal household said . "His majesty the king's physician reports today that the…

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Finland declares that Ukraine is free to use its weapons to bomb Russia

Ukraine can use weapons provided by Finland to hit targets on Russian soil, senior officials in Helsinki said. Finland's Defense Minister Antti Häkkänen said his country has not set any restrictions…

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Finland in recession as GDP drops again

HELSINKI, Feb 29 (Reuters) - The Finnish economy again fell into recession during the second half of 2023, the national statistics agency said on Thursday, as high inflation and soaring…

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Sweden clears final hurdle to join NATO as Hungary approves accession

Hungary's parliament approved Sweden's NATO accession on Monday, clearing the last hurdle before the historic step by the Nordic country whose neutrality lasted through two world wars and the simmering…

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To increase interest in national defense, Finland plans to open 300 shooting ranges.

Finland has announced it will open 300 shooting ranges in a bid to encourage citizens to take a greater interest in national defence. A member of Finland’s defence committee said…

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Sweden has around 62,000 persons linked to criminal gangs, police say

STOCKHOLM, Feb 23 (Reuters) - About 62,000 persons are active in, or have connections to, criminal networks in Sweden, the police said on Friday, where the authorities have struggled for…

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Russia is biggest security threat to NATO-hopeful Sweden, security service says

STOCKHOLM, Feb 21 (Reuters) - Russia is the main international security threat to Sweden, and foreign enemies may try to exploit an elevated risk of extremist violence from Islamists and…

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Finland says thousands of migrants are seeking to enter via Russia

Finland said on Tuesday that "thousands" of third-country migrants were waiting to cross the border onto its territory from Russia. Finland closed all crossings on its 1,340 km (830 mile)…

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Hungary to vote on Sweden’s NATO accession on Feb 26

Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson will travel to Budapest on Friday to meet his Hungarian counterpart Viktor Orban before Hungary's parliament takes a long-delayed vote on Sweden's bid for NATO…

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Norway ready to step up defence needs

Norway is "ready to stand up and be counted" on defence spending ahead of a NATO Washington summit in July, the Nordic country’s prime minister told Reuters on Saturday, adding…

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Sweden must join NATO now, German defence minister says

BRUSSELS, Feb 15 (Reuters) - Sweden's planned joining of the NATO military alliance is overdue and needs to happen now, Germany's Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said on Thursday. "Any further…

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Finland’s new president sees no limit to NATO ties, Ukraine support

By Anne Kauranen HELSINKI, (Reuters) - Alexander Stubb declared himself winner of Finland's presidential election on Sunday after a campaign built on promises to make the most of his country's…

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Iceland volcano fades but leaves residents in the cold

Iceland's latest volcanic eruption waned on Friday but left a trail of damage to roads and pipelines, cutting hot water to parts of the Reykjanes peninsula during freezing temperatures. The…

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Sweden ends investigation into Nord Stream pipeline blasts

STOCKHOLM, Feb 7 (Reuters) - Swedish prosecutors said on Wednesday they would drop further investigation into explosions on the Nord Stream 1 and 2 gas pipelines, confirming earlier media reports.…

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Swedish economic growth ‘subdued’ in 2024, IMF says

OSLO, Feb 5 (Reuters) - Sweden's economic growth is projected to remain subdued in 2024 following a mild recession last year, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said in a regular…

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Finland joins NATO operations with fighter jets, mine clearing vessel

HELSINKI, Feb 2 (Reuters) - Finland will send up to eight fighter jets and a mine hunting navy vessel to take part in NATO's joint operations in 2024, the country's…

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Finnish workers begin strikes against labour reforms, welfare cuts

HELSINKI, Feb 1 (Reuters) - Some 290,000 Finnish workers will begin two days of strike action on Thursday to protest against the right-wing government's planned labour market reforms and proposed…

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Olli Rehn to return to Bank of Finland, ECB Jan. 31

HELSINKI, Jan 29 (Reuters) - Olli Rehn, whose campaign to become Finnish president ended on Sunday, will on Jan. 31 return to the position of governor of the Bank of…

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Danish frigate departs for the Red Sea to assist US-led operation

By Jacob Gronholt-Pedersen KORSOR NAVAL BASE, Denmark, Jan 29 (Reuters) - Denmark on Monday sent a frigate to the Red Sea, where it will participate in a U.S.-led coalition to…

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Stubb and Haavisto continue to second round in Finland’s presidential race

By Anne Kauranen and Essi Lehto Centre-right Stubb wins first round Stubb will face liberal Haavisto in 2nd round Second round will be held on Feb. 11 HELSINKI, (Reuters) -…

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What you need to know about the 2024 Finnish presidential election

By Elviira Luoma and Canan Sevgili (Reuters) - Finland holds a presidential election on Jan. 28 in a new era marked by the country joining the Western military alliance NATO…

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Finland’s presidential hopefuls vie to offer toughest stance on Russia

Finns vote in first NATO-era presidential election on Jan 28 President leads foreign and security policy Finns' stance toward Russia hardened since Ukraine war By Anne Kauranen HELSINKI, (Reuters) -…

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Finland’s Stubb extends lead in opinion poll ahead of election

By Anne Kauranen HELSINKI, Jan 18 (Reuters) - Finnish centre-right presidential front-runner Alexander Stubb slightly extended his lead against liberal Green Party member Pekka Haavisto in a new opinion poll…

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Queen Margrethe, Denmark’s uniting figure, set to step down from throne

By Louise Rasmussen and Johannes Birkebaek COPENHAGEN (Reuters) - During her 52-year reign Denmark's Queen Margrethe II has become a uniting figure for Danes, inspiring broad support for the monarchy…

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Norwegian court told mass killer Breivik still dangerous and should stay isolated in Norway jail

Anders Behring Breivik, the far-right fanatic who killed 77 people in twin attacks in Norway in 2011, remains "very dangerous" and should be kept in isolation in prison, a court…

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Finland to extend Russia border closing

Finland will extend the closure of its border with Russia, which had otherwise been set to end on Jan. 15, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Sari Essayah told national broadcaster…

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Norwegian mass killer Breivik says sorry, calls prison a ‘nightmare’

By Gwladys Fouche TYRISTRAND, Norway, (Reuters) - Norwegian mass killer Anders Behring Breivik told a court on Tuesday he was sorry for what he had done and broke down in…

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Delivery of Danish F-16 jets to Ukraine delayed by several months

Denmark’s donation of F-16 war jets to Ukraine will be delayed by up to six months, Danish newspaper Berlingske reported, citing the country’s Ministry of Defense. Kyiv has long argued…

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Mass killer Breivik sues Norway in bid to end prison isolation

OSLO, Jan 8 (Reuters) - Anders Behring Breivik, the far-right fanatic who killed 77 people in a bombing and shooting rampage in Norway in 2011, will ask a court on…

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Norway sends 2 fighter jets to Denmark for Ukraine training mission

OSLO, Jan 3 (Reuters) - Norway will send two F-16 fighter jets to Denmark to contribute to the training of Ukrainian pilots on the use of the U.S.-made airplane, the…

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Denmark to send frigate to U.S.-led task force in Red Sea

COPENHAGEN (Reuters) - Denmark will send a frigate to participate in the U.S.-led Red Sea operation next month, the Danish Defence Minister said on Friday. Several countries, led by the…

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Health alert after parrot fever infects humans in Sweden

Parrot fever is surging in Sweden, with 12 people infected this month alone, amid concerns that the outbreak could escalate. The flu-like disease – spread by wild birds including parakeets…

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Sweden edges closer to NATO after vote in Turkish parliamentary commission

By Huseyin Hayatsever The Turkish parliament's foreign affairs commission approved Sweden's NATO membership bid on Tuesday in a key step towards enlarging the Western bloc after 19 months of delays…

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Norwegian cruise ship loses navigation ability in North Sea during storm

By Jacob Gronholt-pedersen COPENHAGEN (Reuters) - The Norwegian cruise ship MS Maud suffered a power outage after a rogue wave shattered windows on the bridge while it sailed in the…

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Finland to sign defence pact with US

By Anne Kauranen and Essi Lehto HELSINKI, (Reuters) - Finland will on Monday Dec. 18 sign a defence cooperation agreement with the United States, the Finnish government said this week,…

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Denmark makes arrests on suspicion of attack preparations

COPENHAGEN, Dec 14 (Reuters) - Copenhagen police and the Danish Security and Intelligence Service (PET) said on Thursday they had made several arrests in a coordinated action across the country…

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Denmark passes law to ban Koran burnings

By Louise Rasmussen Denmark's parliament on Thursday passed a law making it illegal to burn the Koran in public places, seeking to deescalate tensions with Muslim countries after a spate…

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Finland to close entire Russian border for 2 weeks to stop asylum seekers

By Essi Lehto Finland will close its entire border with Russia to travellers for the next two weeks in a bid to halt the unusually large flow of asylum seekers…

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Seismic activity wanes in Iceland but eruption alert remains

By Johannes Birkebaek Icelandic authorities said they were still on alert for a volcanic eruption in the southwest Reykjanes peninsula, although the odds were falling after a drop in seismic…

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Finland has closed all passenger border crossings with Russia but one

HELSINKI, Nov 24 (Reuters) - Finland has temporarily closed all but one of its eight passenger crossings to Russia in response to an unusually high inflow of migrants for which…

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Finland to close all but northernmost border crossing with Russia

By Essi Lehto HELSINKI (Reuters) - Finland will close all but the northernmost crossing point on its border with Russia from midnight on Friday in a bid to halt a…

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