The Dispatch

Newest NATO member Finland to spend 2.3% of GDP on defence

NATO's newest member Finland plans to spend 2.3% of its gross domestic product (GDP) on defence next year, its defence ministry said on Monday. In July, NATO's 31 member-nations agreed…

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Photo Story: New Miss Denmark crowned

Nikoline Uhrenholt Hansen poses for a photo after she was crowned as Miss Denmark 2023 during the final show in the Cirkusbygningen in Copenhagen, Denmark. Hansen, 20, won the title…

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Danish government prepares bill to stop Koran burnings

The Danish government said on Friday it was proposing legislation that would make it illegal to burn copies of the Koran in public places, part of the Nordic country's effort…

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Sweden raised its terrorist alert to the second highest level

Sweden raised its terrorist alert to the second highest level on Thursday, saying it had thwarted attacks after Koran burnings and other acts against Islam's holiest text outraged Muslims and…

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Britain warns of possible terrorist attacks in Sweden

LONDON, Aug 13 (Reuters) - Britain on Sunday warned citizens going to Sweden of possible terrorist attacks following Koran burnings by anti-Islam activists that have outraged Muslims. In updated travel…

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Danish air force intercepts Russian bombers headed to Dutch NATO airspace

The Danish air force has intercepted two Russian bombers that were identified over Denmark and flying towards the area that the Netherlands monitors for the NATO military alliance, the Dutch…

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Photo Story: Warnings for heavy storms and strong winds issued in Denmark

Danish emergency services and passersby look at a fallen tree close to the amusement park Tivoli after a heavy storm hit Copenhagen, Denmark, 07 August 2023. Danish Meteorological Institute (DMI)…

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Sweden accuses Russia of spreading false claims about Koran burnings to harm Nato bid

The Swedish authorities have accused Russia of trying to influence how Koran burnings are viewed around the world through disinformation campaigns written in Arabic. It is believed to be part…

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Finnish academic Mika Aaltola to run for president

HELSINKI (Reuters) - Finnish foreign and security policy think-tank chief Mika Aaltola, a political outsider whose profile has been boosted by his role as a TV commentator on the Ukraine…

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Denmark to tighten border control amid Koran burnings

Danish police are tightening border controls following recent burnings of the Koran that have affected the security situation, the justice ministry said late on Thursday, following a similar decision by…

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Sweden to boost border controls after Koran burnings

By Johan Ahlander and Simon Johnson Threats to Sweden have increased after recent Koran burnings, the country's government said, adding it had strengthened border controls to give police wider authority…

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Swedish migration agency re-examining residency permit of Koran burner

(Reuters) - The Swedish migration agency said it is re-examining the residency permit of an Iraqi refugee who is behind several Koran desecrations in Stockholm in recent weeks, which have…

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Norway, Finland battle rapid spread of bird flu

By Louise Rasmussen COPENHAGEN, July 28 (Reuters) - Norway and Finland face record outbreaks of bird flu this year which have killed thousands of seagulls and other species, put livestock…

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Swedish PM ‘extremely worried’ as further Koran burnings planned

STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson is "extremely worried" about the consequences if more demonstrations go ahead in which the Koran is desecrated, he said on Thursday, amid…

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Limited political support in Sweden to ban Koran burnings

By JohanAhlander STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - There is limited political will in Sweden to ban Koran burnings that have upset large parts of the Muslim world and it would be complicated…

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Protest burning of Torahs and Bibles to be held outside Israeli Embassy in Stockholm

Swedish authorities have approved a protest involving the burning of Torahs and Bibles outside the Israeli Embassy in Stockholm, Sweden’s national radio broadcaster reported. A person who has applied to…

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Biden arrives in Helsinki to welcome Russian neighbor Finland to NATO

HELSINKI, July 13 (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden on Thursday closes out a week focused on rallying NATO unity behind Ukraine with a day-long visit to new member and…

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UPDATED: Turkey gives green light to Swedish NATO membership bid

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan agreed to forward to parliament Sweden's bid to join the NATO military alliance, appearing to end months of drama over an issue that had strained the bloc…

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Swedish court convicts man of helping Kurdish militants, boosting Sweden’s NATO bid

A Swedish court on Thursday found a man guilty of attempting to finance the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), in a ruling that could help end Turkey's veto of Sweden's application to…

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Biden shows support for Sweden’s NATO bid in talks with PM

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. President Joe Biden showed support for Sweden's entry into NATO in talks with Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson on Wednesday as doubts linger that Turkey will lift its…

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Finnish minister resigns over Nazi references

HELSINKI, June 30 (Reuters) - Finland's economy minister Vilhelm Junnila resigned on Friday after just 10 days in office, the nationalist Finns Party said, over earlier statements he had made…

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Sweden hikes key rate, says fight against inflation not over

Riksbank raises policy rate by 25 bp to 3.75% Sees at least one more rate hike this year Steps up sales of government bonds Considers hedging part of foreign exchange…

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New Koran burning in Sweden risks escalating tensions with Turkey

Swedish police have authorized another Quran-burning in Stockholm planned for Wednesday afternoon, risking new tensions with Turkey as Sweden waits for Ankara’s backing for it to gain entry to the…

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EU should not ‘lower the bar’ to take in Ukraine, says Denmark – FT

June 29 (Reuters) - Denmark supports EU membership for Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia and the western Balkans but "geopolitical circumstances" did not justify skating over governance reforms, Finance Minister Lars Løkke…

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New Finnish minister survives no-confidence vote over Nazi references

By Anne Kauranen HELSINKI, June 28 (Reuters) - Finland's economy minister Vilhelm Junnila survived a no-confidence vote in parliament on Wednesday called by the opposition over references he made that…

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Swedish police approve small anti-Koran demonstration at mosque

STOCKHOLM, June 28 (Reuters) - Swedish police have given the go-ahead for a small demonstration to take place outside a Stockholm mosque on Wednesday at which the organisers said they…

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Sweden sees ’cause for concern’ on retailer margins as food prices surge

EU countries watching food prices closely Sweden competition authority says sector 'oligopolistic' Says margins 'had better be' connected to costs But difficult to isolate exact cause of inflation By Marie…

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One killed, several injured in roller coaster accident in Sweden

STOCKHOLM, June 25 (Reuters) - One person was killed and several were injured in a roller coaster accident at the Grona Lund amusement park in the Swedish capital on Sunday,…

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Finland’s central bank governor to run for president

HELSINKI, June 21 (Reuters) - Finnish central bank Governor Olli Rehn said on Wednesday he plans to run for president next year when Finland is due to elect a new…

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Finland’s parliament backs Petteri Orpo as PM, replacing Sanna Marin

Finland's newly elected parliament on Tuesday voted in favour of National Coalition Party leader Petteri Orpo to become prime minister, as widely expected, ushering in a right-wing government and ending…

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Norway proposes 40% gender quota for large and mid-size unlisted firms

OSLO, June 19 (Reuters) - Large and mid-size private firms in Norway must have boards comprising at least 40% women, Norway's government proposed in a bill on Monday, in a…

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Swedish defence must adapt to match ‘long-term’ Russian threat -lawmakers

STOCKHOLM, June 19 (Reuters) - A special Swedish parliamentary defence committee said on Monday the country's defence must focus on the threat posed by Russia and a military attack could…

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Swedish parliamentary report says Russian attack cannot be ruled out – SVT

STOCKHOLM, (Reuters) - A Swedish parliament defence committee report said a Russian military attack against Sweden cannot be ruled out, Swedish public service broadcaster SVT said , citing sources. Sweden…

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Sweden braces for fallout from property slump

SBB, landlord with public property, at centre of fallout Minister says ready to act if more 'accidents' Swedish house prices drop by a fifth By Simon Johnson, John O'Donnell and…

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Finland’s right-wing parties strike deal to form government

HELSINKI, June 15 (Reuters) - Finland's conservative National Coalition (NCP), winner of April's parliamentary election, has reached agreement to form a majority government with the eurosceptic, anti-immigration Finns Party and…

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The global nuclear arsenal grew last year, SIPRI says

STOCKHOLM, June 12 (Reuters) - The number of operational nuclear weapons rose slightly in 2022 as countries implemented long-term force modernisation and expansion plans, a leading conflict think-tank said on…

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NATO may base troops in Sweden before Stockholm joins

STOCKHOLM, June 9 (Reuters) - Sweden will allow NATO to base troops on its territory even before it formally joins the defence alliance, the prime minister and defence minister said…

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Finland’s Foreign Minister Haavisto to run for president

HELSINKI, June 8 (Reuters) - Finland's Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto said on Thursday he will run for president in next year's election, hoping to succeed Sauli Niinisto who is stepping…

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Denmark’s Mette Frederiksen in play as new NATO chief ahead of White House visit

By Jacob Gronholt-pedersen and Louise Rasmussen COPENHAGEN (Reuters) - Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen will meet U.S. President Joe Biden in Washington on Monday, amid speculation that the White House…

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NATO can’t accept new members while they are in the midst of a war – Germany

OSLO, June 1 (Reuters) - NATO's door remains open for new members, but the alliance cannot be joined by a country while it is in the midst of a war,…

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Nato’s Stoltenberg: Russia cannot veto Ukraine’s NATO accession

OSLO, June 1 (Reuters) - All NATO allies agree that Ukraine will become a member of the alliance, NATO secretary general Jens Stoltenberg said on Thursday. "All allies agree that…

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NATO launches Arctic manoeuvres, vowing to protect newest member Finland

By Anne Kauranen ROVAJARVI, Finland, (Reuters) - NATO countries are in the middle of Arctic military manoeuvres, vowing on Tuesday to defend their newest member, Finland, which is hosting its…

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NATO seeks to narrow differences over Ukraine membership bid

By Sabine Siebold BRUSSELS (Reuters) - NATO foreign ministers will seek to narrow divisions over Ukraine's membership bid at a meeting in Oslo this week, with allies at odds over…

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Sweden, Turkey to hold NATO discussions ‘soon’

STOCKHOLM, May 29 (Reuters) - The foreign ministers of Sweden and Turkey will meet "soon" to discuss Stockholm's delayed bid to join NATO, the Swedish foreign ministry said on Monday.…

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Denmark wants to lower abortion age without parental consent to 15

COPENHAGEN (Reuters) - Denmark wants to lower the age of abortion without parental consent to 15 years from 18 currently, in line with the country's age of consent, minister for…

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Finland says Russia set to terminate agreement on military visits

OSLO, May 24 (Reuters) - Russia has informed neighbouring Finland that it will terminate a bilateral agreement on mutual visits to military installations, the Finnish defence ministry said late on…

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Norway PM says Sweden should be admitted to NATO in July

OSLO, May 22 (Reuters) - NATO's Vilnius summit in July should give approval for Sweden to become a member of the organisation, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere told foreign…

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Around 27 injured in Finland bridge collapse, many of them children

HELSINKI, May 11 (Reuters) - Around 27 people, a majority of them children, were injured on Thursday when a pedestrian bridge collapsed in the Finnish city of Espoo, just outside…

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Finland prime minister divorces husband

HELSINKI (Reuters) - Finland's outgoing Prime Minister Sanna Marin has filed for divorce jointly with her husband of three years Markus Raikkonen, they said on Instagram. "We are grateful for…

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Norway’s King Harald hospitalised, in stable condition

OSLO, May 8 (Reuters) - Norway's King Harald has been hospitalised to receive treatment for an infection, the royal household said in a statement on Monday. The 86-year-old monarch was…

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Denmark proposes spending extra $5.7 bln for armed forces over 10 years

COPENHAGEN, May 4 (Reuters) - Denmark's government on Thursday proposed allocating an extra 38 billion Danish crowns ($5.65 billion) over the coming 10 years to upgrade its armed forces and…

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Head of Sweden’s No. 2 party calls for rethink of relations with EU

STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - Sweden should seek more exemptions from EU laws as part of a reset in relations with the 27-member bloc, the head of the Sweden Democrats, the country's…

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Finland’s election winner seeks to govern with anti-immigration party

HELSINKI, April 27 (Reuters) - Finland's conservative National Coalition, winner of this year's parliamentary election, said on Thursday it hopes to form a majority government together with the anti-immigration Finns…

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Sweden accidentally hits Norway with research rocket

STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - A research rocket launched by Sweden Space Corp (SSC) early on Monday from Esrange Space Center in northern Sweden malfunctioned and landed 15 km (9.32 miles) inside…

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Ukraine war spurs record global spending on military, Stockholm think tank says

STOCKHOLM, April 24 (Reuters) - Global military spending rose to a record last year as Russia's war in Ukraine drove the biggest annual increase in expenditure in Europe since the…

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Man sets himself on fire in front of U.S. embassy in Denmark

COPENHAGEN, April 21 (Reuters) - An 18-year-old Danish man set himself on fire in front of the U.S. Embassy in Copenhagen on Friday, police said. The fire was put out…

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Swedish govt sees deeper downturn as it launches inflation-focused budget bill

STOCKHOLM, April 17 (Reuters) - The economic downturn in Sweden this year will be somewhat deeper than initially thought, the government said in a fresh economic forecast on Monday as…

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