NATO newcomer Finland is now a 'front-line state' for the alliance, Finnish president says

COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — Finnish President Alexander Stubb said Tuesday that joining the NATO alliance a year ago has transformed his country into a "front-line state," given that it has doubled the military bloc's border with Russia. Finland, which became the 31st NATO member in...

Sweden's parliament passes a law to make it easier for young people to legally change their gender

COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — The Swedish parliament passed a law Wednesday lowering the age required for people to legally change their gender from 18 to 16. Those under 18 still need approval from a guardian, a doctor and the National Board of Health and Welfare. No longer required...

Sweden expels a Chinese journalist, calling her a threat to national security, report says

COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — Sweden has expelled a Chinese journalist, saying the reporter was a threat to national security, Swedish media reported on Monday. The journalist, an unnamed, 57-year-old woman, was arrested by the Swedish security service in October and expelled by the...

Quran-burning Iraqi man who faces an expulsion order from Sweden plans to seek asylum in Norway

STOCKHOLM (AP) — An Iraqi man who carried out several Quran burnings in Sweden told a newspaper on Wednesday that he would seek asylum in neighboring Norway in the wake of a deportation order by authorities in Stockholm. Salwan Momika, 37, has staged several burnings and...

German police detain 2 Afghans for plotting an attack near Swedish parliament over Quran burnings

BERLIN (AP) — German police detained on Tuesday two Afghan citizens accused of planning to attack police near the Swedish parliament in response to the burning of copies of the Quran, the Muslim holy book, federal prosecutors said. The suspects, identified only as Afghan citizens...

Iraq's former defense minister wanted in Sweden for fraud is arrested at the Stockholm airport

COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — Iraq’s former defense minister, who holds dual Iraqi-Swedish citizenship, has been arrested in Sweden, authorities said Tuesday. He is suspected of illegally receiving benefits in the Scandinavian country. Prosecutor Jens Nilsson told Swedish...

Sweden’s flag is raised at NATO headquarters to cement its place as the 32nd member of the alliance

BRUSSELS (AP) — Sweden’s flag was raised at NATO headquarters on Monday, cementing the Nordic country’s place as the 32nd member two years after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine persuaded its reluctant public to seek safety under the alliance’s security umbrella. ...

Greta Thunberg and other climate activists block entrance to the Swedish parliament

STOCKHOLM (AP) — A group of climate activists including Greta Thunberg on Monday blocked the entrance to the Swedish parliament, advocating for sweeping reforms to tackle climate disasters. Some 40 activists held signs reading ”Climate Justice Now” as they sat in front of at...

Sweden officially joins NATO, ending decades of post-World War II neutrality

WASHINGTON (AP) — Sweden on Thursday formally joined NATO as the 32nd member of the transatlantic military alliance, ending decades of post-World War II neutrality and centuries of broader non-alignment with major powers as security concerns in Europe have spiked following Russia’s 2022...

Sweden officially joins NATO after completing its accession process, ending decades of post-WWII neutrality