Turkey Says No To Finland, Sweden NATO membership
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says he will not approve of Sweden and Finland obtaining NATO membership.
Russia
Prosecutors say Sussmann ‘manipulated and used’ FBI to smear Trump, gin up October surprise in 2016
Prosecutors argued Tuesday, the opening day of a criminal trial testing special counsel John Durham’s Russia investigation, that a Clinton campaign lawyer “used and manipulated the FBI” with anti-Trump dirt to create an October surprise in the 2016 election.
Sweden, Finland To Join NATO
Sweden and Finland confirmed Sunday that they would apply for membership in the NATO military alliance in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. In Sweden, the ruling Social Democrats said they backed joining the world’s most powerful security organization.
Russia reportedly fires at Israeli jets
In what may indicate a serious shift in Russia’s previously cordial attitude toward Israel, Russian forces on the ground reportedly fired at Israeli jets while they were carrying out airstrikes on Iranian terrorist targets in Syria last week, CBN News reports.
Putin warns Russia will respond if NATO strengthens Sweden and Finland militarily
Russian President Vladimir Putin warned the West Monday that Russia would “certainly” respond if the military capabilities of Sweden and Finland are bolstered following their decision to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), Reuters reports.
McDonald’s Sells Business In Russia Amid Global Worries
McDonald’s, the U.S. fast-food franchise which came to symbolize American capitalism and even a peace theory, is selling its business in Russia.
Finland Formally Applies For NATO Membership
Finland has formally applied for membership of the NATO military alliance citing concerns about the Russian invasion of Ukraine, where Russian troops face stiff resistance in the east.
Hungary “Praised” For Blocking EU Sanctions Against Patriarch
Patriarch Ignatius Aphrem II of the Syriac Orthodox Church has thanked Hungary for not supporting European Union sanctions against the Russian Orthodox Church leader.
Hungary’s First Female President Condemns Russia At Inauguration
Hungary’s first female and youngest-ever president was inaugurated Saturday during church-backed ceremonies where she condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
NATO To Discuss Finland, Sweden Membership
Foreign ministers from NATO are gathering in Berlin as Finland and Sweden move closer to joining the Western military alliance despite warnings from Moscow amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Putin’s War Backfiring as NATO Now Set to Expand with New Additions Like Finland, Sweden
Vladimir Putin’s war on Ukraine is backfiring, big time. By invading Ukraine, Putin intended to keep NATO from expanding along Russia’s border. Instead, the opposite is unfolding. Today, Finland announced that it wants to join NATO, and Sweden is expected to follow.
G7 Gathers For Three Days Dominated By Talk Of Ukraine War
Foreign ministers and representatives from the Group of Seven leading industrialized nations (G7) gathered on Germany’s Baltic coast on May 12 for a three-day meeting dominated by the Russian invasion of Ukraine and its wider impact, including on food and energy supplies.
Fusion GPS must hand over docs to Durham, but he can’t use them at trial
The judge in the case against Democratic cybersecurity lawyer Michael Sussmann ruled that John Durham’s team may review two dozen emails improperly withheld following Clinton campaign claims of attorney-client privilege — but the special counsel cannot use the records at next week’s trial.
Sri Lanka Has New Leader As Violence Spreads
Bankrupt Sri Lanka appointed a new prime minister hoping to quell worsening civil unrest in which at least nine people died this week, and more than 300 were injured.
Wives Ukraine Soldiers Ask Pope To Save Their Husbands’ Lives
The wives of two Ukrainian fighters still holed up in the steel plant of Ukraine’s bombed-out city of Mariupol’s begged Pope Francis to save their lives.
Britain Offers Sweden, Finland Military Support
Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson signed security declarations with Sweden and Finland after Russia warned the Nordic nations not to join the NATO military alliance.
U.S. Warns Ukraine War Will Last Long
United States intelligence officials warned Wednesday that Russia was preparing for a long war in Ukraine and that a victory in the eastern Donbas region may not mean the battle is over.
Hungary Refuses To Join Oil Embargo; EU Chief Returns Empty-Handed
The European Union’s chief executive left Budapest empty-handed Monday after failing to convince Hungary to agree on an EU oil embargo against Russia.
Russia’s President Defends Invasion On Victory Day
Isolated from the Western world and facing unprecedented sanctions, Russia’s president defended his Ukraine invasion, invoking World War II, but without signaling an escalation.
Israel: ‘Russia Apologizes For Calling Hitler Jewish’
Israel says Russia’s President Vladimir Putin has apologized after his foreign minister said that Nazi leader Adolf Hitler had “Jewish blood.”