Finland to use proceeds from frozen Russian assets to supply ammunition to Ukraine
Finland will supply ammunition to Ukraine by using proceeds from frozen Russian assets, the Finnish defense ministry said on Monday.
'Finland has been selected as one of the states implementing European Union measures to supply Ukraine with defense materiel using proceeds from frozen Russian assets,' the ministry said in a statement.
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Pope Leo prays for reconciliation and dialogue
VATICAN CITY: Pope Leo XIV criticized the surge of nationalist political movements in the world as he prayed on Sunday for reconciliation and dialogue — a message in line with his pledges to make the Catholic Church a symbol of peace. The pope celebrated Sunday Mass in St. Peter's Square in front of tens of thousands of faithful, and asked the Holy Spirit to 'break down barriers and tear down the walls of indifference and hatred.' 'Where there is love, there is no room for prejudice, for 'security' zones separating us from our neighbors, for the exclusionary mindset that, tragically, we now see emerging also in political nationalisms,' the first American pontiff said. Leo's homily did not call out current events and conflicts, nor identify individual leaders. But his choice of language was significant, encouraging people to 'open borders' within their hearts and minds. The address marked a month since the former Robert Prevost from Chicago was elected pope, and came during a Sunday mass to celebrate Pentecost held under sunny skies in St. Peter's Square. Before mass, the 69-year-old pontiff made a turn around the sprawling Baroque square in his popemobile to the enthusiastic cheers of the crowd, estimated by the Vatican at around 80,000 people. Leo said the church 'must open the borders between peoples and break down the barriers between class and race.' People must move 'beyond our fear of those who are different,' he said. The pope also said the Holy Spirit was an antidote for toxic relationships marked by 'suspicion, prejudice, or the desire to manipulate others.' 'With great pain,' Leo cited 'cases where an unhealthy desire marks relationships for domination, an attitude that often leads to violence, as is shown, tragically, by numerous recent cases of femicide.' Leo also cited the dangers of social media, saying it risked making people 'ever more alone' within a 'vortex of individualism.' 'Constantly connected, yet incapable of 'networking'. Always immersed in a crowd, yet confused and solitary travelers,' he said. Since his election, Leo has offered to mediate between leaders of countries at war, and earlier this week, he had his first telephone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Several speeches of the new pontiff — including among his first words from St. Peter's Basilica when he became pope on May 8 — have focused on building bridges between individuals and peoples.
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Kemi Badenoch says she refuses to speak to women in burqas at constituency surgeries
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