By Siddhant Sibbal

Indian foreign policy is not known for thinking out of the box. But in an increasingly changing world, New Delhi is looking for new partners and it has got not one but five.

On Tuesday, India will take part in the first-ever India-Nordic countries summit.&nbsp;

This is the second time ever such a summit is taking place. The last time such a summit took place was during the tenure of US president Barack Obama. And India aims to get a lot from it.&nbsp;

Nordic countries have globally-recognised strengths in clean technologies, environmental solutions, port modernisation, food processing, health, agriculture infrastructure, skill development and innovation. These are focus areas of India’s development. India’s flagship programmes like Clean Ganga, Swachh Bharat, and Smart Cities could get boosts from them.&nbsp;

India’s trade with the Nordic countries totalled around US $5.3 billion in 2016-17. The cumulative Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) from the Nordic countries to India stands at US $2.5 billion.

Part of the reason for the summit is India’s growing ties with Stockholm. This will be after three decades that an Indian PM is visiting the country. The last time an Indian PM visited Sweden was in 1988. High-level political engagements have only grown. &nbsp;

Sweden is a valued Indian partner in trade, technology and investment. Over 170 Swedish companies have invested US $1.4 billion in India since 2000. Some 70 Indian companies have invested in Sweden. The India-Sweden annual bilateral trade stands at around US $1.8 billion.&nbsp;

The Indian PM met Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Löfven in New York on September 25, 2015. During the course of 2017, the two spoke over the telephone 4 times.&nbsp;

When the Indian PM arrives in Stockhlm, the focus will be on sectors such as business, science and technology, energy and smart cities.

India-Sweden trade ties have been good and are gaining momentum. Over 170 Swedish companies are at present in India.

Sweden has things that world can learn for it.&nbsp;

It has a feminist foreign policy and feminism forms a major pillar of its foreign policy. It has come up with its own terminology: “hen” instead of hon (her) or han (he). Uppsala in Sweden got a female archbishop in 2014. It is also the world’s first cashless society.&nbsp;

Only one per cent of transaction are done in cash, all the others use digital modes of payments.&nbsp;

The Nordic countries have been an influential voice in the world and at the UN. The first and second secretary generals of the UN were from Nordic countries. The first was Norway's Trygve Lie and the second was Sweden's Dah Hammarskjold.&nbsp;

Nor can the security angle be ignored. The Pakistani diaspora has been an important factor in the Nordic countries. They form the third-largest immigrant group in Sweden and Denmark, a group that has been an influential factor in Nordic’s politics.. Norway has the largest diaspora of Pakistanis in Scandinavia.&nbsp;

But all in all, Modi's visit is about opening a new chapter in India-Nordic ties. A chapter that looks at engaging with the Nordic countries as a single entity instead of separate units. A pan-Nordic idea, a pan-Nordic engagement.

Nordic countries have globally-recognised strengths in environmental solutions, port modernisation, food processing, health, agriculture infrastructure, and innovation. These are focus areas of India’s development. India’s flagship programmes like Clean Ganga, Swachh Bharat, and Smart Cities could get boosts from them

By Siddhant Sibbal Indian foreign policy is not known for thinking out of the box. But in an increasingly changing world, New Delhi is looking for new partners and it has got not one but five. On Tuesday, India will take part in the first-ever India-Nordic countries summit. This is the second time ever such a summit is taking place. The last time such a summit took place was during the tenure of US president Barack Obama. And India aims to get a lot from it. Nordic countries have globally-recognised strengths in clean technologies, environmental solutions, port modernisation, food processing, health, agriculture infrastructure, skill development and innovation. These are focus areas of India’s development. India’s flagship programmes like Clean Ganga, Swachh Bharat, and Smart Cities could get boosts from them. India’s trade with the Nordic countries totalled around US $5.3 billion in 2016-17. The cumulative Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) from the Nordic countries to India stands at US $2.5 billion. Part of the reason for the summit is India’s growing ties with Stockholm. This will be after three decades that an Indian PM is visiting the country. The last time an Indian PM visited Sweden was in 1988. High-level political engagements have only grown. Sweden is a valued Indian partner in trade, technology and investment. Over 170 Swedish companies have invested US $1.4 billion in India since 2000. Some 70 Indian companies have invested in Sweden. The India-Sweden annual bilateral trade stands at around US $1.8 billion. The Indian PM met Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Löfven in New York on September 25, 2015. During the course of 2017, the two spoke over the telephone 4 times. When the Indian PM arrives in Stockhlm, the focus will be on sectors such as business, science and technology, energy and smart cities. India-Sweden trade ties have been good and are gaining momentum. Over 170 Swedish companies are at present in India. Sweden has things that world can learn for it. It has a feminist foreign policy and feminism forms a major pillar of its foreign policy. It has come up with its own terminology: “hen” instead of hon (her) or han (he). Uppsala in Sweden got a female archbishop in 2014. It is also the world’s first cashless society. Only one per cent of transaction are done in cash, all the others use digital modes of payments. The Nordic countries have been an influential voice in the world and at the UN. The first and second secretary generals of the UN were from Nordic countries. The first was Norway's Trygve Lie and the second was Sweden's Dah Hammarskjold. Nor can the security angle be ignored. The Pakistani diaspora has been an important factor in the Nordic countries. They form the third-largest immigrant group in Sweden and Denmark, a group that has been an influential factor in Nordic’s politics.. Norway has the largest diaspora of Pakistanis in Scandinavia. But all in all, Modi's visit is about opening a new chapter in India-Nordic ties. A chapter that looks at engaging with the Nordic countries as a single entity instead of separate units. A pan-Nordic idea, a pan-Nordic engagement.

Modi heads to Sweden: Clean tech, skill development — Nordic countries have what India needs

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend India's&nbsp;first ever summit with five Nordic countries on April 17.

The five Nordic countries Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden will be looking to give fresh impetus to their ties with India.

PM Modi will meet the leaders of the five countries to discuss a range of global issues including trade, investment and environment.

India is co-hosting the summit with Sweden and therefore PM Modi will be received by the king of Sweden Carl XVI Gustaf. He will also hold bilateral meetings with the Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Löfven and members of business community in Sweden.

India’s trade with Sweden is around 1.8 billion dollars every year and over 170 Swedish companies have invested some 1.4 billion dollars in India over the past two decades. Sweden’s flagship IKEA has just entered the Indian market introducing its unique lifestyle brand to the country. The multinational group is said to be looking at empowering the female workforce in India.

Another almost ritualistic event for PM Modi is to meet the local Indian community. Indians in Sweden feel India can gain from Sweden’s environmental drive, technology and culture.

In 2016-17 alone, India’s trade with the region was of 5.3 billion dollars, while foreign direct investment was of 2.5 billion dollars. The Nordic countries indeed have globally recognised strengths in clean technologies, environmental solutions, port modernisation, food processing, health, agriculture infrastructure, skill development and innovation, which constitutes India's top priorities.

The Summit places India as the point of interest for the five nations.

The five Nordic countries Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden will be looking to give fresh impetus to their ties with India

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend India's first ever summit with five Nordic countries on April 17. The five Nordic countries Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden will be looking to give fresh impetus to their ties with India. PM Modi will meet the leaders of the five countries to discuss a range of global issues including trade, investment and environment. India is co-hosting the summit with Sweden and therefore PM Modi will be received by the king of Sweden Carl XVI Gustaf. He will also hold bilateral meetings with the Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Löfven and members of business community in Sweden. India’s trade with Sweden is around 1.8 billion dollars every year and over 170 Swedish companies have invested some 1.4 billion dollars in India over the past two decades. Sweden’s flagship IKEA has just entered the Indian market introducing its unique lifestyle brand to the country. The multinational group is said to be looking at empowering the female workforce in India. Another almost ritualistic event for PM Modi is to meet the local Indian community. Indians in Sweden feel India can gain from Sweden’s environmental drive, technology and culture. In 2016-17 alone, India’s trade with the region was of 5.3 billion dollars, while foreign direct investment was of 2.5 billion dollars. The Nordic countries indeed have globally recognised strengths in clean technologies, environmental solutions, port modernisation, food processing, health, agriculture infrastructure, skill development and innovation, which constitutes India's top priorities. The Summit places India as the point of interest for the five nations.

First India-Nordic countries summit: India co-hosting summit with Sweden

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be visiting Sweden and England from April 16 to April 20. PM Modi will participate in the first-ever India-Nordic Summit along with this year's Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).&nbsp;

PM Modi is expected to reach Stockholm on April 16 in what will be the first prime ministerial visit from India to Sweden in the last three decades. Former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi was the last Indian Prime Minister to have visited the country in the year 1988.&nbsp;

PM Modi's agenda will include dialogue and discussions in the areas of innovation, technology and education.&nbsp;

Here's a quick look at the rough itinerary of PM Modi's visit to the two European countries.&nbsp;

1. The Prime minister will hold a bilateral summit with his Swedish counterpart Stefan Lofven on April 17 to discuss regional and global issues at length.&nbsp;

2. India and Sweden will also co-host the first ever India-Nordic Summit on April 17. The event is expected to see the Prime Ministers from four Nordic countries of Denmark, Finland, Iceland and Norway in attendance.&nbsp;

3. An India-Sweden Innovation Partnership is also expected to be launched.&nbsp;

4. The Prime Minister will leave for Britain on April 17. PM Modi's last visit to Britain was in November 2015. The English Prime Minister Theresa May's visited India in November 2016. The two leaders are likely to hold a bilateral dialogue on April 18.&nbsp;

5.&nbsp;In what has been categorised as an "unprecedented" welcome, PM Modi will hold not just one but two meetings with his British counterpart Theresa May on Wednesday before they begin formal deliberations as part of the multilateral Commonwealth summit on Thursday, PTI reports.

6. A memorandum of understanding on the return of illegal immigrants, which had expired in 2014, will be renewed to take into account biometric and other developments in the field.

7. PM Modi's UK visit will have a particular focus on the India-UK technological partnership and the central feature of this will be his second meeting with Theresa May on Wednesday at the Francis Crick Institute in London, where a new India-UK Technical Alliance is expected to be among a series of announcements.

8. The Prime Minister will also meet Indian-origin scientists working on cancer research, malaria and other tropical diseases before going in to the India-UK CEOs Forum.

The Ministry of External Affairs has indicated that around 10-12 deliverables, including innovation-related MoUs between NASSCOM and Innovate UK and between NITI Aayog and its counterpart in the UK, are expected to be accompanied by a formal joint statement at the end of the bilateral leg of the visit on Wednesday.

9.&nbsp;Prime Minister Modi is also among only three senior world leaders attending CHOGM to be invited for an audience with Queen Elizabeth II on Wednesday evening.

10. PM Modi's royal welcome will include a special event hosted by Prince Charles, during which the heir to the British throne will drive up in a Tata Motors' first-ever electric Jaguar to symbolise the India-UK technical collaboration.

"The welcome being accorded to the Indian Prime Minister is unprecedented in many ways. It reflects the importance the UK attaches to the visit and shows the mature level of India-UK ties," said an official involved with the preparations for the visit.&nbsp;

Modi's visit to Britain has been themed "Living bridge and tech partnership".&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

PM Modi's UK visit will have a particular focus on the India-UK technological partnership

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be visiting Sweden and England from April 16 to April 20. PM Modi will participate in the first-ever India-Nordic Summit along with this year's Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM). PM Modi is expected to reach Stockholm on April 16 in what will be the first prime ministerial visit from India to Sweden in the last three decades. Former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi was the last Indian Prime Minister to have visited the country in the year 1988. PM Modi's agenda will include dialogue and discussions in the areas of innovation, technology and education. Here's a quick look at the rough itinerary of PM Modi's visit to the two European countries. 1. The Prime minister will hold a bilateral summit with his Swedish counterpart Stefan Lofven on April 17 to discuss regional and global issues at length. 2. India and Sweden will also co-host the first ever India-Nordic Summit on April 17. The event is expected to see the Prime Ministers from four Nordic countries of Denmark, Finland, Iceland and Norway in attendance. 3. An India-Sweden Innovation Partnership is also expected to be launched. 4. The Prime Minister will leave for Britain on April 17. PM Modi's last visit to Britain was in November 2015. The English Prime Minister Theresa May's visited India in November 2016. The two leaders are likely to hold a bilateral dialogue on April 18. 5. In what has been categorised as an "unprecedented" welcome, PM Modi will hold not just one but two meetings with his British counterpart Theresa May on Wednesday before they begin formal deliberations as part of the multilateral Commonwealth summit on Thursday, PTI reports. 6. A memorandum of understanding on the return of illegal immigrants, which had expired in 2014, will be renewed to take into account biometric and other developments in the field. 7. PM Modi's UK visit will have a particular focus on the India-UK technological partnership and the central feature of this will be his second meeting with Theresa May on Wednesday at the Francis Crick Institute in London, where a new India-UK Technical Alliance is expected to be among a series of announcements. 8. The Prime Minister will also meet Indian-origin scientists working on cancer research, malaria and other tropical diseases before going in to the India-UK CEOs Forum. The Ministry of External Affairs has indicated that around 10-12 deliverables, including innovation-related MoUs between NASSCOM and Innovate UK and between NITI Aayog and its counterpart in the UK, are expected to be accompanied by a formal joint statement at the end of the bilateral leg of the visit on Wednesday. 9. Prime Minister Modi is also among only three senior world leaders attending CHOGM to be invited for an audience with Queen Elizabeth II on Wednesday evening. 10. PM Modi's royal welcome will include a special event hosted by Prince Charles, during which the heir to the British throne will drive up in a Tata Motors' first-ever electric Jaguar to symbolise the India-UK technical collaboration. "The welcome being accorded to the Indian Prime Minister is unprecedented in many ways. It reflects the importance the UK attaches to the visit and shows the mature level of India-UK ties," said an official involved with the preparations for the visit. Modi's visit to Britain has been themed "Living bridge and tech partnership". (With inputs from agencies)

Welcome being accorded to Modi by Britain is 'unprecedented', says official

North Korea&rsquo;s foreign minister landed in Sweden on Thursday for talks, prompting speculation that the two-day trip could lay the groundwork for a possible meeting between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

A Swedish Foreign Ministry spokesman said Ri Yong Ho was in Stockholm to discuss with Swedish counterpart Margot Wallstrom the security situation on the Korean peninsula and Sweden&rsquo;s diplomatic representation of the United States in North Korea.

Sweden, which is not a member of the US-led NATO military alliance, has been mentioned as a potential location for a possible face-to-face meeting between Trump and Kim.

&ldquo;If it is the case that the main players want Sweden to play a role, to facilitate, to be a forum or a link or whatever else, we are prepared to do that,&rdquo; Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven told Swedish news agency TT.

&ldquo;But it must be the main players who decide, in that case, what role Sweden will have.&rdquo;

North Korean state media confirmed Ri&rsquo;s trip on Friday, saying he had flown to Sweden to speak with his counterpart on &ldquo;bilateral relations and issues of mutual concern&rdquo;. It did not mention engagement with the United States.

US State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert told a regular news briefing in Washington she was aware of the Stockholm meeting but the United States would not take part.

&ldquo;We don&rsquo;t have any information that that meeting is about what we anticipate to be a meeting between the United States, other parties, and North Korea,&rdquo; she said, referring this question to the Swedish government.

&ldquo;We are not sending any representation,&rdquo; she added.

Nauert said the United States was preparing for a possible summit with North Korea in good faith but had yet to hear directly from North Korea on the matter.

With a diplomatic presence in Pyongyang that goes back to the 1970s, Sweden may be able to help smooth the path for such a meeting, even if it does not end up hosting the talks.

&ldquo;This meeting will hopefully lead to clarity about what North Korea wants from a high-level meeting and what the time-frame is and what the conditions will be - for example, should there be any preliminary meetings,&rdquo; a source with knowledge of the situation said.

&ldquo;It is not even certain that North Korea wants to have a meeting.&rdquo;

The source said it was important to build confidence between Washington and Pyongyang, adding: &ldquo;The United States wants to have help with consular matters and North Korea wants to be sure that no one is going to invade.&rdquo;

Since Trump&rsquo;s surprise announcement last week that he was willing to meet Kim, speculation has mounted over what location might be chosen to host what would be the first meeting between serving leaders of the two countries.

Sweden acts as a diplomatic representative in North Korea for the United States, which has no embassy there and has helped with the release of US citizens held by the reclusive state.

In its statement, Sweden&rsquo;s foreign ministry noted that the UN Security Council had unanimously condemned North Korea&rsquo;s nuclear weapons and missile programmes and demanded their &ldquo;complete, verifiable and irrevocable elimination&rdquo;.

&ldquo;Sweden fully supports the Security Council resolutions. The aim of the visit is to contribute to the effective implementation of the resolutions,&rdquo; the ministry said.

Ri landed in Sweden on Thursday for talks, prompting speculation that the two-day trip could lay the groundwork for a possible meeting between Trump and Kim Jong Un

North Korea’s foreign minister landed in Sweden on Thursday for talks, prompting speculation that the two-day trip could lay the groundwork for a possible meeting between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. A Swedish Foreign Ministry spokesman said Ri Yong Ho was in Stockholm to discuss with Swedish counterpart Margot Wallstrom the security situation on the Korean peninsula and Sweden’s diplomatic representation of the United States in North Korea. Sweden, which is not a member of the US-led NATO military alliance, has been mentioned as a potential location for a possible face-to-face meeting between Trump and Kim. “If it is the case that the main players want Sweden to play a role, to facilitate, to be a forum or a link or whatever else, we are prepared to do that,” Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven told Swedish news agency TT. “But it must be the main players who decide, in that case, what role Sweden will have.” North Korean state media confirmed Ri’s trip on Friday, saying he had flown to Sweden to speak with his counterpart on “bilateral relations and issues of mutual concern”. It did not mention engagement with the United States. US State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert told a regular news briefing in Washington she was aware of the Stockholm meeting but the United States would not take part. “We don’t have any information that that meeting is about what we anticipate to be a meeting between the United States, other parties, and North Korea,” she said, referring this question to the Swedish government. “We are not sending any representation,” she added. Nauert said the United States was preparing for a possible summit with North Korea in good faith but had yet to hear directly from North Korea on the matter. With a diplomatic presence in Pyongyang that goes back to the 1970s, Sweden may be able to help smooth the path for such a meeting, even if it does not end up hosting the talks. “This meeting will hopefully lead to clarity about what North Korea wants from a high-level meeting and what the time-frame is and what the conditions will be - for example, should there be any preliminary meetings,” a source with knowledge of the situation said. “It is not even certain that North Korea wants to have a meeting.” The source said it was important to build confidence between Washington and Pyongyang, adding: “The United States wants to have help with consular matters and North Korea wants to be sure that no one is going to invade.” Since Trump’s surprise announcement last week that he was willing to meet Kim, speculation has mounted over what location might be chosen to host what would be the first meeting between serving leaders of the two countries. Sweden acts as a diplomatic representative in North Korea for the United States, which has no embassy there and has helped with the release of US citizens held by the reclusive state. In its statement, Sweden’s foreign ministry noted that the UN Security Council had unanimously condemned North Korea’s nuclear weapons and missile programmes and demanded their “complete, verifiable and irrevocable elimination”. “Sweden fully supports the Security Council resolutions. The aim of the visit is to contribute to the effective implementation of the resolutions,” the ministry said.

North Korean foreign minister arrives in Sweden

The Winter Olympics got underway on Friday and the first gold has been decided.

Sweden&#39;s Charlotte Kalla claimed the first gold of the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics.

Kalla won the women&#39;s skiathlon cross country race ahead of Norway&#39;s Marit Bjoergen, preventing her from collecting an unprecedented third straight gold medal in the event.

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10FEB Cross-Country Skiing Ladies&#39; 7.5km + 7.5km Skiathlon 
101 크로스컨트리 스키 &ndash; 여자 7.5km + 7.5km 스키애슬론 
 
Gold???? KALLA Charlotte / SWE ???????? 
Silver???? BJOERGEN Marit / NOR???????? 
Bronze???? PARMAKOSKI Krista / FIN???????? 
 
Congratulations!축하합니다!???? <a href="https://t.co/SLA4NLuEmx">pic.twitter.com/SLA4NLuEmx</a>
&mdash; PyeongChang 2018 (@pyeongchang2018) <a href="https://twitter.com/pyeongchang2018/status/962239601493475330?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 10, 2018</a></blockquote>
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But Bjoergen still became the most decorated woman in Winter Olympics history as she claimed her 11th medal. Third came Finland&#39;s Krista Parmakoski.&nbsp;

Gold medals will also be decided Saturday in speed skating, short-track speed skating, ski jumping and biathlon.

&nbsp;

Charlotte Kalla won the women's skiathlon cross country race ahead of Norway's Marit Bjoergen

The Winter Olympics got underway on Friday and the first gold has been decided. Sweden's Charlotte Kalla claimed the first gold of the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics. Kalla won the women's skiathlon cross country race ahead of Norway's Marit Bjoergen, preventing her from collecting an unprecedented third straight gold medal in the event. 10FEB Cross-Country Skiing Ladies' 7.5km + 7.5km Skiathlon 101 크로스컨트리 스키 – 여자 7.5km + 7.5km 스키애슬론 Gold???? KALLA Charlotte / SWE ???????? Silver???? BJOERGEN Marit / NOR???????? Bronze???? PARMAKOSKI Krista / FIN???????? Congratulations!축하합니다!???? pic.twitter.com/SLA4NLuEmx — PyeongChang 2018 (@pyeongchang2018) February 10, 2018 × But Bjoergen still became the most decorated woman in Winter Olympics history as she claimed her 11th medal. Third came Finland's Krista Parmakoski. Gold medals will also be decided Saturday in speed skating, short-track speed skating, ski jumping and biathlon.

Sweden's Kalla Charlotte wins first gold medal of Winter Olympics

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/maldives-emergency-special-operations-unit-breaks-supreme-court-gates-31918">Maldives emergency: Special operations unit enter Supreme Court, arrest Chief Justice Abdullah Saeed</a>

The US today condemned the Maldives government declaring that it stands with the people of Maldives and urged the government and military to &quot;respect the rule of law&quot;. Media reports said Chief Justice Abdullah Saeed, judge Ali Hameed and judicial service administrator Hassan Saeed who were in the premises were arrested.&nbsp;

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/business-economy/wall-street-crash-dow-jones-plunges-to-historic-low-sp-500-nasdaq-hit-31929">Wall Street crash: Dow Jones plunges to historic low, S&amp;P 500 &amp; Nasdaq hit</a>

In the biggest fall in its history, the &nbsp;Dow Jones Industrial Average fell nearly 1,600 points at one point as Wall Street experienced a bloodbath on Monday. The Dow&#39;s gains for 2018 were erased in a matter of hours as 4.6 per cent was wiped off the value of America&#39;s 30 largest companies to finish at as it closed at 24,345.75 ending down 1,175.21 points down.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/special-screening-of-padmaavat-for-high-court-judge-over-fir-against-bhansali-31922">Special screening of &#39;</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/special-screening-of-padmaavat-for-high-court-judge-over-fir-against-bhansali-31922">Padmaavat</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/special-screening-of-padmaavat-for-high-court-judge-over-fir-against-bhansali-31922">&#39; for high court judge over FIR against Bhansali</a>

The film &quot;Padmaavat&quot; was specially screened for a Rajasthan high court judge who will today decide on a plea for quashing a police complaint against the film&#39;s director and actors after watching the film. The special screening of the Sanjay Leela Bhansali-directed period film started at 8 pm and was over by 10.40 pm, after which Justice Sandeep Mehta, accompanied by four members of his staff, left the multiplex. The only viewers of the film were Justice Mehta, his reader and two other staff members.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/watch-girl-from-swedennow-a-sanskrit-teacher-in-india-31928">Watch: Meet Swedish girl who sings and speaks in Sanskrit</a>

Ananda Himani, who hails from Gothenburg, Sweden, is a holistic wellness motivator and a Sanskrit teacher. She has been living in India for a few years now and did her graduation from Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi in Performing Arts, Hindustani classical and then went on to study at the Samskrita Bharti.&nbsp;

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/soon-bags-heavier-than-15-kg-to-be-barred-at-20-delhi-metro-stations-31926">Soon, bags heavier than 15-kg to be barred at 20 Delhi Metro stations</a>

It may not be a smooth transit for Delhi metro commuters heading to the railway stations/airport with a big baggage, as DMRC has restricted the weight of the luggage to 15kg. Travellers using the Delhi Metro from select stations have been barred from carrying large bags, with authorities restricting the luggage size in view of security considerations, officials said.

Maldives emergency: Special operations unit enter Supreme Court, arrest Chief Justice Abdullah Saeed The US today condemned the Maldives government declaring that it stands with the people of Maldives and urged the government and military to "respect the rule of law". Media reports said Chief Justice Abdullah Saeed, judge Ali Hameed and judicial service administrator Hassan Saeed who were in the premises were arrested. Wall Street crash: Dow Jones plunges to historic low, S&P 500 & Nasdaq hit In the biggest fall in its history, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell nearly 1,600 points at one point as Wall Street experienced a bloodbath on Monday. The Dow's gains for 2018 were erased in a matter of hours as 4.6 per cent was wiped off the value of America's 30 largest companies to finish at as it closed at 24,345.75 ending down 1,175.21 points down. Special screening of 'Padmaavat' for high court judge over FIR against Bhansali The film "Padmaavat" was specially screened for a Rajasthan high court judge who will today decide on a plea for quashing a police complaint against the film's director and actors after watching the film. The special screening of the Sanjay Leela Bhansali-directed period film started at 8 pm and was over by 10.40 pm, after which Justice Sandeep Mehta, accompanied by four members of his staff, left the multiplex. The only viewers of the film were Justice Mehta, his reader and two other staff members. Watch: Meet Swedish girl who sings and speaks in Sanskrit Ananda Himani, who hails from Gothenburg, Sweden, is a holistic wellness motivator and a Sanskrit teacher. She has been living in India for a few years now and did her graduation from Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi in Performing Arts, Hindustani classical and then went on to study at the Samskrita Bharti. Soon, bags heavier than 15-kg to be barred at 20 Delhi Metro stations It may not be a smooth transit for Delhi metro commuters heading to the railway stations/airport with a big baggage, as DMRC has restricted the weight of the luggage to 15kg. Travellers using the Delhi Metro from select stations have been barred from carrying large bags, with authorities restricting the luggage size in view of security considerations, officials said.

WION Morning News Brief, February 6, 2018

&quot;Who says Sanskrit is not a spoken Language?&quot; External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj tweeted on Monday night with a video of a Swedish girl singing and speaking in Sanskrit.&nbsp;

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Who says Sanskrit is not a spoken language ? <a href="https://t.co/sGDy31X0Yw">https://t.co/sGDy31X0Yw</a>
&mdash; Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) <a href="https://twitter.com/SushmaSwaraj/status/960557665641414656?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 5, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Ananda Himani, who hails from Gothenburg, Sweden, is a holistic wellness motivator and a Sanskrit teacher.&nbsp;

She has been living in India for a few years now and&nbsp;did her graduation from Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi in Performing Arts, Hindustani classical and then went on to study at the Samskrita Bharti.&nbsp;

In the video shared by Swaraj on her Twitter handle, Himani can be seen singing in Sanskrit and on top of that - the whole interview is in the Sanskrit language. Her fluency in the language certainly goes to show that she has been learning the language for a long time.&nbsp;&nbsp;

She says that she has always had a passion for singing since she was in school. Later, she had an encounter with a woman who took her to a meditation camp which left her mesmerised - and this where she heard her first Sanskrit word - &quot;Om.&quot;

She went on to talk about how the camp had a massive impact on her life and the how she started believing in the chants she learnt which drove her to learn Sanskrit.&nbsp;

She came to India when she was 19 and went to Bangalore to study Sankskrit for six months, this was when her journey began. She travelled numerous places - Uttarkashi, Nepal, and recently attended the World Book Fair 2018 in Delhi.

&nbsp;

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Uttarkashi district. (Facebook)
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Himani is also a registered nurse at the Centric Care in Sweden where she would often take sessions and teach Sanskrit to her fellow colleagues bit by bit.&nbsp;

Finally, she talks about her fondness towards the country, its people. She says &quot;Sanskrit is not just a language. It&#39;s a lifestyle&quot; .

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Ananda Himani, who hails from Gothenburg, Sweden, is a holistic wellness motivator and a Sanskrit teacher

"Who says Sanskrit is not a spoken Language?" External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj tweeted on Monday night with a video of a Swedish girl singing and speaking in Sanskrit. Who says Sanskrit is not a spoken language ? https://t.co/sGDy31X0Yw — Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) February 5, 2018 × Ananda Himani, who hails from Gothenburg, Sweden, is a holistic wellness motivator and a Sanskrit teacher. She has been living in India for a few years now and did her graduation from Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi in Performing Arts, Hindustani classical and then went on to study at the Samskrita Bharti. In the video shared by Swaraj on her Twitter handle, Himani can be seen singing in Sanskrit and on top of that - the whole interview is in the Sanskrit language. Her fluency in the language certainly goes to show that she has been learning the language for a long time. She says that she has always had a passion for singing since she was in school. Later, she had an encounter with a woman who took her to a meditation camp which left her mesmerised - and this where she heard her first Sanskrit word - "Om." She went on to talk about how the camp had a massive impact on her life and the how she started believing in the chants she learnt which drove her to learn Sanskrit. She came to India when she was 19 and went to Bangalore to study Sankskrit for six months, this was when her journey began. She travelled numerous places - Uttarkashi, Nepal, and recently attended the World Book Fair 2018 in Delhi. Uttarkashi district. (Facebook) × Himani is also a registered nurse at the Centric Care in Sweden where she would often take sessions and teach Sanskrit to her fellow colleagues bit by bit. Finally, she talks about her fondness towards the country, its people. She says "Sanskrit is not just a language. It's a lifestyle" . ×

Watch: Meet Swedish girl who sings and speaks in Sanskrit

United Nations Security Council ministers will meet on Dec. 15 to discuss North Korea&#39;s nuclear and missiles programs and the body will also meet separately this month to discuss human rights abuses in the North Asian country, an annual meeting that its ally China has tried to prevent for the past three years.

Japan&#39;s UN&nbsp;Ambassador Koro Bessho, president of the 15-member council for December, said several ministers were confirmed to attend the Dec. 15 meeting. He also said the meeting on human rights in North Korea could be held on Dec. 11.

China has unsuccessfully tried to stop three previous human rights meetings by calling a procedural vote. A minimum of nine votes are needed to win such a vote and China, Russia, the United States, Britain and France cannot wield their vetoes.

This year&#39;s meeting has the backing of nine members - the United States, France, Britain, Italy, Japan, Senegal, Sweden, Ukraine and Uruguay.

Last year, the United States angered North Korea by blacklisting its leader Kim Jong Un for human rights abuses.

A landmark 2014 UN&nbsp;report on North Korean human rights concluded that North Korean security chiefs - and possibly Kim himself - should face justice for overseeing a state-controlled system of Nazi-style atrocities.

Michael Kirby, chairman of the UN&nbsp;Commission of Inquiry that drew up the report, said at the time that the crimes the team had catalogued were reminiscent of those committed by the Nazis during World War Two. &quot;Some of them are strikingly similar,&quot; he told Reuters.

North Korea has repeatedly rejected accusations of human rights abuses and blames sanctions for a dire humanitarian situation. Pyongyang has been under UN&nbsp;sanctions since 2006 over its ballistic missiles and nuclear programs.

&quot;Despite persistent sanctions and pressure by the US&nbsp;and other hostile forces, my government concentrates all its efforts on improving people&#39;s livelihood and providing them with a better future,&quot; the North Korean Permanent Mission to the United Nations said in a statement on Nov. 14.

United Nations Security Council ministers will meet on Dec. 15 to discuss North Korea's nuclear and missiles programs and the body will also meet separately this month to discuss human rights abuses in the North Asian country, an annual meeting that its ally China has tried to prevent for the past three years

United Nations Security Council ministers will meet on Dec. 15 to discuss North Korea's nuclear and missiles programs and the body will also meet separately this month to discuss human rights abuses in the North Asian country, an annual meeting that its ally China has tried to prevent for the past three years. Japan's UN Ambassador Koro Bessho, president of the 15-member council for December, said several ministers were confirmed to attend the Dec. 15 meeting. He also said the meeting on human rights in North Korea could be held on Dec. 11. China has unsuccessfully tried to stop three previous human rights meetings by calling a procedural vote. A minimum of nine votes are needed to win such a vote and China, Russia, the United States, Britain and France cannot wield their vetoes. This year's meeting has the backing of nine members - the United States, France, Britain, Italy, Japan, Senegal, Sweden, Ukraine and Uruguay. Last year, the United States angered North Korea by blacklisting its leader Kim Jong Un for human rights abuses. A landmark 2014 UN report on North Korean human rights concluded that North Korean security chiefs - and possibly Kim himself - should face justice for overseeing a state-controlled system of Nazi-style atrocities. Michael Kirby, chairman of the UN Commission of Inquiry that drew up the report, said at the time that the crimes the team had catalogued were reminiscent of those committed by the Nazis during World War Two. "Some of them are strikingly similar," he told Reuters. North Korea has repeatedly rejected accusations of human rights abuses and blames sanctions for a dire humanitarian situation. Pyongyang has been under UN sanctions since 2006 over its ballistic missiles and nuclear programs. "Despite persistent sanctions and pressure by the US and other hostile forces, my government concentrates all its efforts on improving people's livelihood and providing them with a better future," the North Korean Permanent Mission to the United Nations said in a statement on Nov. 14.

UN council to meet in December on North Korea rights abuses, nuclear programme

After <a href="http://www.wionews.com/sports/italy-fail-to-qualify-for-next-world-cup-buffon-quits-24137">qualifying for the next World Cup by defeating Italy </a>with a 1-0 aggregate score on Tuesday, Swedish fans are&nbsp;guessing whether retired goalscorer Zlatan Ibrahimovic will return for the finals in Russia.

This was Sweden&#39;s first winning campaign ever since Zlatan Ibrahimovic left. &nbsp;

Just a few moments after Sweden&#39;s win, Zlatan posted a picture on social media with the caption &#39;We are Zweden&#39;, which got over a million likes on Instagram.

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We are Zweden <a href="https://t.co/rDXzRImev4">pic.twitter.com/rDXzRImev4</a>
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Since the post, speculation is rife on social media whether Ibrahimovic just dropped a hint of a possible return to the team.&nbsp;

However, coach Janne Andersson did not seem very enthusiastic about the idea.

&quot;This is incredible. The player has just stopped to play one-and-a-half years ago and we are still here talking about him,&quot; Sweden coach&nbsp;Andersson told reporters when asked if Ibrahimovic was set to return.

&quot;Zlatan is, as I expressed it, our greatest player of all time, a fantastic athlete in every way, but he has chosen not to take part,&quot; he told a news conference in Milan on Tuesday.

&quot;These guys who did take part and have performed fantastically. It&#39;s sad to sit and talk about someone who hasn&#39;t been here. I have a gang that has done fantastic, we can talk about them instead.&quot;

The 36-year-old retired from the national team after a disappointing group stage exit at Euro 2016, ending an international career that saw him score 62 goals, many of them spectacular, in 116 matches for his country.

Sweden had just secured a 1-0 aggregate victory over Italy with a squad short on big names, a team that snatched second place in European qualifying Group A from the Dutch and beaten France at home before knocking out Italy, all without Zlatan.

After qualifying for the next World Cup by defeating Italy with a 1-0 aggregate score on Tuesday, Swedish fans are guessing whether retired goalscorer Zlatan Ibrahimovic will return for the finals in Russia. This was Sweden's first winning campaign ever since Zlatan Ibrahimovic left. Just a few moments after Sweden's win, Zlatan posted a picture on social media with the caption 'We are Zweden', which got over a million likes on Instagram. We are Zweden pic.twitter.com/rDXzRImev4 — Zlatan Ibrahimovic (@Ibra_official) November 13, 2017 × Since the post, speculation is rife on social media whether Ibrahimovic just dropped a hint of a possible return to the team. However, coach Janne Andersson did not seem very enthusiastic about the idea. "This is incredible. The player has just stopped to play one-and-a-half years ago and we are still here talking about him," Sweden coach Andersson told reporters when asked if Ibrahimovic was set to return. "Zlatan is, as I expressed it, our greatest player of all time, a fantastic athlete in every way, but he has chosen not to take part," he told a news conference in Milan on Tuesday. "These guys who did take part and have performed fantastically. It's sad to sit and talk about someone who hasn't been here. I have a gang that has done fantastic, we can talk about them instead." The 36-year-old retired from the national team after a disappointing group stage exit at Euro 2016, ending an international career that saw him score 62 goals, many of them spectacular, in 116 matches for his country.

'We are Zweden': Ibrahimovic's post after Sweden's victory over Italy

The road to Russia is definitely not easy this time. Earlier, it was Argentina, which was struggling to qualify but somehow made it to Russia.

This time it was Italy. Poor performance in the whole season created a fuss in the end where they couldn&#39;t score against Sweden. Eventually, were ousted from the FIFA World Cup 2018. The Azzurri, four-time winners of football&#39;s most important trophy, will miss their first World Cup since 1958.

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Italy players dejected after failing to qualify for the 2018 World Cup (AFP)
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You might lose your heart in Italy but Italy losing in qualifiers is heartbreaking.

Daniel Pagani, a war correspondent with WION and an Italian, said, &quot;For Italians, it is a &#39;national tragedy&#39;. Losing to a mediocre side like Sweden is certainly heartbreaking. Every Italian is fond of the game they not only celebrate it but live with it. In Italy, people watch football with friends and family and cherish the memories forever&quot;.

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<h5>FIFA 2018 seems incomplete without Italy but Sweden certainly deserves to enter the world cup as their performance was brilliant in both the legs.</h5>
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FIFA 2018 seems incomplete without Italy but Sweden certainly deserves to enter the World Cup as their performance was brilliant in both the legs. In&nbsp;yesterday&#39;s game, they had 24 per cent possession and only 4 goal attempts, but still, they were able to hold Italian side. Italy underplayed not only in yesterday&#39;s game but throughout the season and now joins fellow big guns such as Chile and the Netherlands in missing out on Russia 2018.

Johan Castell, WION correspondent and a Swede, said, &quot;Sweden won! But we are not going to watch the World Cup (because Italy did not qualify). To beat a country whose national game is football is exponentially amazing. In Sweden, every football spectator will become a critic during a football match, so this moment is beyond magical to all Swedish. It seems Sweden is onto setting a new tradition of beating Italy in every 60 years and not letting them enter the World Cup&quot;.

Italy, with a very poor tactics, failed to reach next year&#39;s World Cup. If Italian team plays the way they did against Sweden then it is a better option to avoid playing in the World Cup. Even with 75 per cent ball possession and 27 goal attempts, they could not score a goal and let the Scandinavians sail through to the qualifiers with an aggregate of 0-1.

What went wrong

In the situation of &quot;do and die&quot; attack&nbsp;was the only option left for Italy but players like Lorenzo Insigne with 6 goals and 5 assists in the season spends 90 minutes on the bench. Even, Andrea Belotti and Stephan El Shaarawy were on the bench when the match started.

Daniele De Rossi snapped on the bench and vented his anger on a staff and also on the coach after the decision was taken to send him on as a substitute rather than Lorenzo Insigne. Later, Italy coach Gian Piero Ventura apologised for World Cup failure.

Digvijay Singh Deo, WION sports editor, who grew up supporting Italy was in distress to see the current schema of Italian Football Federation. He said, &quot;Italy used to be a trendsetter for the football fraternity but its ouster raises question&nbsp;on other important aspects. It&#39;s not about yesterday&#39;s game but there is a continuous decline in the quality in terms of players and management. Where are the players? Apart from Buffon, there is no one else to name. Italy as a team has tailed off from being the best to good&quot;.

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<h5>After the match Gianluigi Buffon and Daniele De Rossi announced retirement. This was maybe the last chance for Buffon to appear in the world cup.</h5>
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Argentina also struggled to enter the World Cup but their star player Lionel Messi played his heart out when it was needed the most. But is there anyone in Italy who is like Messi? Where are the great players in Italy? Why did Italy stop producing legends?

After the match Gianluigi Buffon and Daniele De Rossi announced retirement. This was maybe the last chance for Buffon to appear in the World Cup but he lost it. Though he performed exceptionally well in the game as well the season. His tearful exit seems like the end of an era.

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After the match Gianluigi Buffon and Daniele De Rossi announced retirement. (AFP)
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On Buffon&#39;s retirement,&nbsp;Daniele Pagani&nbsp;said, &quot;Players like Buffon doesn&#39;t need to prove anything to the world but his retirement on a sad note is heart-rending, it&#39;s like Virat Kohli retires after losing against Kenya&quot;.

Collectively many things are responsible for Italy&#39;s ouster, for instance, it hasn&#39;t been able to collect itself from the tragic 3-0 defeat at the Bernabeu against Spain in September not just that it&#39;s also about their continuous decline in their game quality since 2008.

Italian Football Federation now have enough time to think that what went wrong. Whether it was coach Ventura&#39;s mistake or the whole system is somewhere to be blamed for the devastating and heartbreaking ouster of Italy.

Italy failed to reach FIFA world cup 2018. Who is to blame?

The road to Russia is definitely not easy this time. Earlier, it was Argentina, which was struggling to qualify but somehow made it to Russia. This time it was Italy. Poor performance in the whole season created a fuss in the end where they couldn't score against Sweden. Eventually, were ousted from the FIFA World Cup 2018. The Azzurri, four-time winners of football's most important trophy, will miss their first World Cup since 1958. Italy players dejected after failing to qualify for the 2018 World Cup (AFP) × You might lose your heart in Italy but Italy losing in qualifiers is heartbreaking. Daniel Pagani, a war correspondent with WION and an Italian, said, "For Italians, it is a 'national tragedy'. Losing to a mediocre side like Sweden is certainly heartbreaking. Every Italian is fond of the game they not only celebrate it but live with it. In Italy, people watch football with friends and family and cherish the memories forever". FIFA 2018 seems incomplete without Italy but Sweden certainly deserves to enter the world cup as their performance was brilliant in both the legs. × FIFA 2018 seems incomplete without Italy but Sweden certainly deserves to enter the World Cup as their performance was brilliant in both the legs. In yesterday's game, they had 24 per cent possession and only 4 goal attempts, but still, they were able to hold Italian side. Italy underplayed not only in yesterday's game but throughout the season and now joins fellow big guns such as Chile and the Netherlands in missing out on Russia 2018. Johan Castell, WION correspondent and a Swede, said, "Sweden won! But we are not going to watch the World Cup (because Italy did not qualify). To beat a country whose national game is football is exponentially amazing. In Sweden, every football spectator will become a critic during a football match, so this moment is beyond magical to all Swedish. It seems Sweden is onto setting a new tradition of beating Italy in every 60 years and not letting them enter the World Cup". Italy, with a very poor tactics, failed to reach next year's World Cup. If Italian team plays the way they did against Sweden then it is a better option to avoid playing in the World Cup. Even with 75 per cent ball possession and 27 goal attempts, they could not score a goal and let the Scandinavians sail through to the qualifiers with an aggregate of 0-1. What went wrong In the situation of "do and die" attack was the only option left for Italy but players like Lorenzo Insigne with 6 goals and 5 assists in the season spends 90 minutes on the bench. Even, Andrea Belotti and Stephan El Shaarawy were on the bench when the match started. Daniele De Rossi snapped on the bench and vented his anger on a staff and also on the coach after the decision was taken to send him on as a substitute rather than Lorenzo Insigne. Later, Italy coach Gian Piero Ventura apologised for World Cup failure. Digvijay Singh Deo, WION sports editor, who grew up supporting Italy was in distress to see the current schema of Italian Football Federation. He said, "Italy used to be a trendsetter for the football fraternity but its ouster raises question on other important aspects. It's not about yesterday's game but there is a continuous decline in the quality in terms of players and management. Where are the players? Apart from Buffon, there is no one else to name. Italy as a team has tailed off from being the best to good". After the match Gianluigi Buffon and Daniele De Rossi announced retirement. This was maybe the last chance for Buffon to appear in the world cup. × Argentina also struggled to enter the World Cup but their star player Lionel Messi played his heart out when it was needed the most. But is there anyone in Italy who is like Messi? Where are the great players in Italy? Why did Italy stop producing legends? After the match Gianluigi Buffon and Daniele De Rossi announced retirement. This was maybe the last chance for Buffon to appear in the World Cup but he lost it. Though he performed exceptionally well in the game as well the season. His tearful exit seems like the end of an era. After the match Gianluigi Buffon and Daniele De Rossi announced retirement. (AFP) × On Buffon's retirement, Daniele Pagani said, "Players like Buffon doesn't need to prove anything to the world but his retirement on a sad note is heart-rending, it's like Virat Kohli retires after losing against Kenya". Collectively many things are responsible for Italy's ouster, for instance, it hasn't been able to collect itself from the tragic 3-0 defeat at the Bernabeu against Spain in September not just that it's also about their continuous decline in their game quality since 2008. Italian Football Federation now have enough time to think that what went wrong. Whether it was coach Ventura's mistake or the whole system is somewhere to be blamed for the devastating and heartbreaking ouster of Italy.

Italy's ouster from football World Cup: What went wrong?

Sweden are taking nothing for granted as they head to Milan for the second leg of their World Cup playoff against Italy on Monday after Jan Andersson&#39;s players took a 1-0 lead in the tie.

Jakob Johansson&#39;s deflected second-half strike gave Sweden a precious win in a physical first leg on Friday, and their task now is to remain focussed in the return match at the San Siro.

&quot;It&#39;s not a normal qualifier where, when the game is over, you can celebrate the three points. We&#39;re only halfway through this double-header,&quot; midfielder Sebastian Larsson told Reuters.

&quot;We&#39;re fully aware of the task ahead of us, going to Italy with a slender 1-0 lead. To keep a clean sheet was obviously something we really wanted and we&#39;re pleased with that. We re-focus and go again.&quot;

Larsson and his team mates put in an enormous defensive effort to snuff out Italy&#39;s attack, and the midfielder was limping at the end. He says, however, there is no risk of him missing the return.

Larsson, who has played 95 times for his country, but never appeared at a World Cup finals, believes staying grounded will be crucial to Sweden reaching the tournament finals in Russia next year.

&quot;We&#39;re going to stay humble and do everything we can to progress,&quot; he said.

Sweden captain Andreas Granqvist says the Italians will have to be careful about how they approach Monday&#39;s decisive game.

&quot;I don&#39;t think Italy are a team that is just going to attack, because then they know that we will create chances and maybe score a goal in Italy, and then they needs to score three,&quot; he said.

&quot;But of course, they play at home and they will have to be a little bit more attacking.&quot;

Granqvist, who spent two years at Italian club Genoa, laughed when asked about Italy&#39;s complaints about the physical nature of Friday&#39;s clash.

&quot;It&#39;s fantastic,&quot; he said. &quot;As a defender, you have to be really tough, but in a good way. I think the referee kept it good -- of course there were some situations they were angry about, but this is football.&quot;

'It's not a normal qualifier where, when the game is over, you can celebrate the three points. We're only halfway through this double-header,' midfielder Sebastian Larsson said

Sweden are taking nothing for granted as they head to Milan for the second leg of their World Cup playoff against Italy on Monday after Jan Andersson's players took a 1-0 lead in the tie. Jakob Johansson's deflected second-half strike gave Sweden a precious win in a physical first leg on Friday, and their task now is to remain focussed in the return match at the San Siro. "It's not a normal qualifier where, when the game is over, you can celebrate the three points. We're only halfway through this double-header," midfielder Sebastian Larsson told Reuters. "We're fully aware of the task ahead of us, going to Italy with a slender 1-0 lead. To keep a clean sheet was obviously something we really wanted and we're pleased with that. We re-focus and go again." Larsson and his team mates put in an enormous defensive effort to snuff out Italy's attack, and the midfielder was limping at the end. He says, however, there is no risk of him missing the return. Larsson, who has played 95 times for his country, but never appeared at a World Cup finals, believes staying grounded will be crucial to Sweden reaching the tournament finals in Russia next year. "We're going to stay humble and do everything we can to progress," he said. Sweden captain Andreas Granqvist says the Italians will have to be careful about how they approach Monday's decisive game. "I don't think Italy are a team that is just going to attack, because then they know that we will create chances and maybe score a goal in Italy, and then they needs to score three," he said. "But of course, they play at home and they will have to be a little bit more attacking." Granqvist, who spent two years at Italian club Genoa, laughed when asked about Italy's complaints about the physical nature of Friday's clash. "It's fantastic," he said. "As a defender, you have to be really tough, but in a good way. I think the referee kept it good -- of course there were some situations they were angry about, but this is football."

Football World Cup play-offs: 'Humble' Sweden taking nothing for granted against Italy

Beleaguered Italy coach Gian Piero Ventura said his team would try to qualify for the World Cup by &ldquo;playing football&rdquo; after their ill-tempered playoff first leg against Sweden.

The 69-year-old Ventura - the oldest-ever coach in Italy&rsquo;s history -- said it would take him months to listen to all the advice he had received as he bids to overturn Friday&#39;s 1-0 first leg defeat in Stockholm.

That loss left Italy in danger of missing the World Cup for the first time in 60 years and the tension ahead of Monday&#39;s return at the San Siro is palpable.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/football/humble-sweden-taking-nothing-for-granted-against-italy-24104" target="_blank">Also read:&nbsp;&#39;Humble&#39; Sweden taking nothing for granted against Italy</a>

Italy complained of rough play by Sweden in the first leg, including a challenge which left Leonardo Bonucci with a broken nose, while Sweden were unhappy at their rivals&#39; alleged gamesmanship.

Italy has said that defender Bonucci will play on Monday with a face mask.

&quot;We are Italy and, if we qualify, I would like to be able to say that we did it by playing football,&quot; Ventura told reporters. &quot;I don&#39;t know what sort of game it will be but I hope it will be played in the correct spirit.&quot;

Ventura&#39;s tactics and team selection have been the subject of heated debate.

He ditched his preferred 4-2-4 formation for a 3-5-2 in Friday&#39;s match and Italians are eager to see what he will come up with on Monday and who will replace suspended midfielder Marco Verratti.

&quot;I&#39;ve received so much advice in the last few days that, if I tried to listen to it all, it would take months,&quot; said Ventura.

&quot;I know that&#39;s how it works when you are coach of the national team although I didn&#39;t expect it to be quite like this.&rdquo;

&quot;I can assure you that coaches listen to advice and analyse it, but it is us who decide.&quot; Goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon said the team were in a state of &quot;high tension&quot;.

&quot;It&#39;s an important match for us and our history,&quot; said the 39-year-old. &quot;It&#39;s important for football in our country that we qualify for the World Cup.&quot;

&quot;I am approaching this like the eve of an important event. I&#39;m tense, but it&#39;s the right amount of tension.&quot;

To read more:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/football/could-italy-miss-first-football-world-cup-in-60-years-23877" target="_blank">Could Italy miss first Football World Cup in 60 years?</a>

Italy coach Gian Piero Ventura wants Italy to qualify by 'playing football'

Beleaguered Italy coach Gian Piero Ventura said his team would try to qualify for the World Cup by “playing football” after their ill-tempered playoff first leg against Sweden. The 69-year-old Ventura - the oldest-ever coach in Italy’s history -- said it would take him months to listen to all the advice he had received as he bids to overturn Friday's 1-0 first leg defeat in Stockholm. That loss left Italy in danger of missing the World Cup for the first time in 60 years and the tension ahead of Monday's return at the San Siro is palpable. Also read: 'Humble' Sweden taking nothing for granted against Italy Italy complained of rough play by Sweden in the first leg, including a challenge which left Leonardo Bonucci with a broken nose, while Sweden were unhappy at their rivals' alleged gamesmanship. Italy has said that defender Bonucci will play on Monday with a face mask. "We are Italy and, if we qualify, I would like to be able to say that we did it by playing football," Ventura told reporters. "I don't know what sort of game it will be but I hope it will be played in the correct spirit." Ventura's tactics and team selection have been the subject of heated debate. He ditched his preferred 4-2-4 formation for a 3-5-2 in Friday's match and Italians are eager to see what he will come up with on Monday and who will replace suspended midfielder Marco Verratti. "I've received so much advice in the last few days that, if I tried to listen to it all, it would take months," said Ventura. "I know that's how it works when you are coach of the national team although I didn't expect it to be quite like this.” "I can assure you that coaches listen to advice and analyse it, but it is us who decide." Goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon said the team were in a state of "high tension". "It's an important match for us and our history," said the 39-year-old. "It's important for football in our country that we qualify for the World Cup." "I am approaching this like the eve of an important event. I'm tense, but it's the right amount of tension." To read more: Could Italy miss first Football World Cup in 60 years?

One last chance for Italy to qualify for Football World Cup

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Lebanon`s powerful Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah on Friday accused Saudi Arabia of detaining prime minister Saad Hariri and of asking the Shiite movement`s arch-foe Israel to launch strikes.&nbsp;Hariri`s sudden resignation on November 4 in a statement made from Riyadh took the Lebanese political class by surprise and has sparked international concern.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/us-goalkeeper-accuses-former-fifa-president-of-sexual-harassment-23954" target="_blank">He grabbed my ass: US goalkeeper accuses Sepp Blatter of sexual assault</a>

Hope Solo, the 36-year-old US goalkeeper has accused former FIFA president Sepp Blatter of&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/actress-portia-de-rossi-accuses-steven-seagal-of-sexual-harassment-23862" target="_blank">sexual harassment</a>. In an interview with Portugal newspaper Expresso, Solo said that Sepp had grabbed her ass.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/football/world-cup-playoff-sweden-beat-toothless-italy-with-1-0-23955" target="_blank">Football World Cup play-offs: Sweden beat </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/football/world-cup-playoff-sweden-beat-toothless-italy-with-1-0-23955" target="_blank">lacklustre</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/football/world-cup-playoff-sweden-beat-toothless-italy-with-1-0-23955" target="_blank"> Italy</a>

A second-half goal by Sweden substitute Jakob Johansson was enough to beat Italy 1-0 and put his side in the driving seat after their World Cup playoff first leg on a chilly night.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/comedian-louis-ck-admits-sexual-misconduct-entertainment-outlets-cut-ties-23950" target="_blank">&#39;These stories are true,&#39; says comedian Louis CK</a>

US&nbsp;comedian Louis C.K. on Friday admitted to&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/actress-portia-de-rossi-accuses-steven-seagal-of-sexual-harassment-23862" target="_blank">sexual misconduct allegations made against him&nbsp;</a>by several women, and television and film companies moved quickly to sever ties. &quot;These stories are true,&quot; C.K. said in a statement.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/heres-what-got-cheaper-after-revised-gst-rates-23947" target="_blank">Revised GST rates: Complete list</a>

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In the biggest GST rearrangement till date, tax rates on over 200 items were cut down&nbsp;to provide relief to consumers and businesses&nbsp;on Friday.&nbsp;Giving a major reprieve to the common man, the GST Council came up with&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/preview/article/23931">a number of new measures.&nbsp;</a>Maximum pruning was done in the 28% slab which will now be applied to only 50 items from 228 earlier. Many of the items and services which were previously under the 28% bracket will now attract a tax of 18% only.&nbsp; 
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Saudi Arabia holding Lebanon PM, inciting Israel to strike country: Hezbollah Lebanon`s powerful Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah on Friday accused Saudi Arabia of detaining prime minister Saad Hariri and of asking the Shiite movement`s arch-foe Israel to launch strikes. Hariri`s sudden resignation on November 4 in a statement made from Riyadh took the Lebanese political class by surprise and has sparked international concern. He grabbed my ass: US goalkeeper accuses Sepp Blatter of sexual assault Hope Solo, the 36-year-old US goalkeeper has accused former FIFA president Sepp Blatter of sexual harassment. In an interview with Portugal newspaper Expresso, Solo said that Sepp had grabbed her ass. Football World Cup play-offs: Sweden beat lacklustre Italy A second-half goal by Sweden substitute Jakob Johansson was enough to beat Italy 1-0 and put his side in the driving seat after their World Cup playoff first leg on a chilly night. 'These stories are true,' says comedian Louis CK US comedian Louis C.K. on Friday admitted to sexual misconduct allegations made against him by several women, and television and film companies moved quickly to sever ties. "These stories are true," C.K. said in a statement. Revised GST rates: Complete list In the biggest GST rearrangement till date, tax rates on over 200 items were cut down to provide relief to consumers and businesses on Friday. Giving a major reprieve to the common man, the GST Council came up with a number of new measures. Maximum pruning was done in the 28% slab which will now be applied to only 50 items from 228 earlier. Many of the items and services which were previously under the 28% bracket will now attract a tax of 18% only.

WION Morning news brief, November 11, 2017: 5 stories

The last time Italy did not go to the World Cup was in 1958.&nbsp;

A 2-1 defeat to Northern Ireland had done them in that time, which is why Italy heaved a sigh of relief when they found they would not have to play Northern Ireland in the play-offs for the 2018 World Cup.&nbsp;

Italy will instead be playing Sweden. The first of their play-off games is early Saturday morning (1.15 am India time).&nbsp;

But that name too could fill fans of the Azzuri with dread.&nbsp;

Sweden had hosted the 1958 World Cup -- the one the Italians missed out on.&nbsp;

Not that the Italians -- who are famous for getting themselves into difficult situations -- are showing outward signs of worry, as yet.&nbsp;

&quot;We are not taking into consideration the idea of not going to the World Cup,&quot; the BBC reported coach Giampiero Ventura as saying.&nbsp;

News reports however have hinted that Ventura has been out of his depth.

And that he has not been able to fill former coach Antonio Conte&#39;s shoes.&nbsp;

This Italy team, the reports said, has been poor but Conte -- who they said was the star of the team, rather than one of the players -- made them bigger than the sum of their parts.&nbsp;

Italy meanwhile have arrived in Sweden for the first game of their two-legged World Cup play-off against Sweden with doubts about the fitness of striker Simone Zaza, Reuters reported.&nbsp;

Zaza, Reuters said, has a knee injury which is likely to keep him out of Saturday&#39;s match.

&quot;We&#39;ll see how it goes. Zaza has a little problem, if he can&#39;t play tomorrow he can play on Monday,&quot; Ventura said.&nbsp;

The last time Italy did not go to the World Cup was in 1958

The last time Italy did not go to the World Cup was in 1958. A 2-1 defeat to Northern Ireland had done them in that time, which is why Italy heaved a sigh of relief when they found they would not have to play Northern Ireland in the play-offs for the 2018 World Cup. Italy will instead be playing Sweden. The first of their play-off games is early Saturday morning (1.15 am India time). But that name too could fill fans of the Azzuri with dread. Sweden had hosted the 1958 World Cup -- the one the Italians missed out on. Not that the Italians -- who are famous for getting themselves into difficult situations -- are showing outward signs of worry, as yet. "We are not taking into consideration the idea of not going to the World Cup," the BBC reported coach Giampiero Ventura as saying. News reports however have hinted that Ventura has been out of his depth. And that he has not been able to fill former coach Antonio Conte's shoes. This Italy team, the reports said, has been poor but Conte -- who they said was the star of the team, rather than one of the players -- made them bigger than the sum of their parts. Italy meanwhile have arrived in Sweden for the first game of their two-legged World Cup play-off against Sweden with doubts about the fitness of striker Simone Zaza, Reuters reported. Zaza, Reuters said, has a knee injury which is likely to keep him out of Saturday's match. "We'll see how it goes. Zaza has a little problem, if he can't play tomorrow he can play on Monday," Ventura said.

Could Italy miss first Football World Cup in 60 years??

A sudden interruption took place in Sweden&#39;s&nbsp;morning radio station&nbsp;when a few hackers took over and played the Islamic State propaganda tune.&nbsp;

Mix Megapol, one of Sweden&#39;s most popular radio stations was hacked by ISIS propaganda after unknown assailants hijacked it on Friday for about 30 minutes, Reuters reported.&nbsp;

Thousands of listeners in southern Sweden&nbsp;heard the song &#39;For the sake of Allah&#39;, which is used by ISIS to recruit foreign fighters, for about 30 minutes on repeat, according to Daily Mail.&nbsp;

&ldquo;Somebody interrupted with our frequency through a pirate transmitter,&rdquo; Jakob Gravestam, Marketing Director at Bauer Media Group, which owns Mix Megapol, said, Reuters reported.

&ldquo;We will report the incident to police and to the National Post and Telecom Agency.&rdquo;

The song, with male voices singing in English, featured lyrics with the words: &ldquo;For the sake of Allah we will march to gates of the paradise where our maidens await. We are men who love death just as you love your life, we are soldiers who fight in the day and the night.&rdquo;

Around 300 people have left Sweden to fight for ISIS in West Asia, according to Swedish Security Service.

The hosts of popular morning show ?Anders & Gry with Friends? did not notice the problem until listeners called in and asked what was going on.

A sudden interruption took place in Sweden's morning radio station when a few hackers took over and played the Islamic State propaganda tune. Mix Megapol, one of Sweden's most popular radio stations was hacked by ISIS propaganda after unknown assailants hijacked it on Friday for about 30 minutes, Reuters reported. Thousands of listeners in southern Sweden heard the song 'For the sake of Allah', which is used by ISIS to recruit foreign fighters, for about 30 minutes on repeat, according to Daily Mail. “Somebody interrupted with our frequency through a pirate transmitter,” Jakob Gravestam, Marketing Director at Bauer Media Group, which owns Mix Megapol, said, Reuters reported. “We will report the incident to police and to the National Post and Telecom Agency.” The song, with male voices singing in English, featured lyrics with the words: “For the sake of Allah we will march to gates of the paradise where our maidens await. We are men who love death just as you love your life, we are soldiers who fight in the day and the night.” Around 300 people have left Sweden to fight for ISIS in West Asia, according to Swedish Security Service.

Hackers play ISIS propaganda tune on Swedish radio station

A campaign group seeking a global ban on nuclear arms won the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday, given the award by a Nobel Committee that cited the spread of weapons to North Korea and said the risk was growing of nuclear war.

The award to the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) was unexpected, particularly in a year when the architects of the 2015 nuclear deal between world powers and Iran had been seen as favourites for achieving the sort of diplomatic breakthrough that has won the prize in the past.

Supporters described the award as a potential breakthrough for a global movement that has fought to ban nuclear arms from the day the first atomic bomb was dropped on the Japanese city of Hiroshima in August 1945.

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ICAN&#39;s Executive Director Beatrice Fihn told Reuters the group was elated. &quot;This. Is. Surreal.&quot; she later tweeted.

Asked if she had a message for North Korea&#39;s Kim Jong-Un, who has tested nuclear arms in defiance of global pressure, and President Donald Trump, who has threatened to &quot;totally destroy&quot; North Korea to protect the United States and its allies, Fihn said both leaders need to know that the weapons are illegal.

&quot;Nuclear weapons are illegal. Threatening to use nuclear weapons is illegal. Having nuclear weapons, possessing nuclear weapons, developing nuclear weapons, is illegal, and they need to stop,&quot; she told Reuters.

Two days before her group won the prize, Fihn had tweeted that Trump was &quot;a moron&quot;. She told Reuters she had written this in jest, in the context of news reports that U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson had used the same word to describe his boss. But she said Trump&#39;s impulsive character illustrated the importance of banning nuclear arms for all countries.

&quot;A man you can bait with a tweet seems to be taking irrational decisions very quickly and not listening to expertise, it just puts a spotlight on what do nuclear weapons really mean. There are no right hands for the wrong weapons,&quot; she said.

ICAN describes itself as a coalition of grassroots non-government groups in more than 100 nations. It began in Australia and was officially launched in Vienna in 2007.

In her speech announcing the prize, Berit Reiss-Andersen, the leader of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, said the risk that nuclear weapons might be used was now &quot;greater than it has been for a long time&quot;.

&quot;Some states are modernising their nuclear arsenals, and there is a real danger that more countries will try to procure nuclear weapons, as exemplified by North Korea.&quot;

The award was hailed by anti-nuclear campaigners around the world. &quot;Now more than ever we need a world without nuclear weapons,&quot; United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres tweeted.

Mikiso Iwasa, an 88-year-old Hiroshima survivor, told Reuters the prize would help push the movement forward.

&quot;It is wonderful we have this Nobel Peace-Prize winning movement. All of us need to join forces, think hard and walk forward together to turn this momentum into something even bigger,&quot; he said.

Nuclear tensions

The prize seeks to bolster the case for disarmament amid nuclear tensions between Washington and Pyongyang, as well as uncertainty over the fate of the 2015 deal between Iran and major powers to limit Tehran&#39;s nuclear programme.

The prize-giving committee made no mention of Iran in its award citation. It raised eyebrows with its decision to award the prize to an international campaign group with a relatively low profile, rather than recognise the Iran deal, a complex agreement hammered out over years of high-stakes diplomacy.

&quot;Norwegian Nobel Committee has its own ways, but the nuclear agreement with Iran achieved something real and would have deserved a prize,&quot; tweeted Carl Bildt, a former Swedish prime minister who has held top posts as an international diplomat.

The Iran accord, which Trump has repeatedly called &quot;the worst deal ever negotiated&quot;, is seen as under particular threat this week. A senior administration official said on Thursday Trump is expected to &quot;decertify&quot; the pact, a step which could allow Congress to restore sanctions on Iran.

The committee may have been reluctant to reward the Iranian government for its role in the nuclear deal because the only Iranian winner so far, 2003 laureate Shirin Ebadi, a lawyer and human rights campaigner, is forced to live in exile.

&quot;I think the committee has thought about the human rights situation in Iran. It would have been difficult to explain the prize even though it has a favourable view of the Iran deal,&quot; Asle Sveen, a historian of the Nobel Peace Prize, told Reuters.

The Norwegian Nobel Committee denied that giving the prize to an anti-nuclear group was intended either as a rebuke to Trump, or as a snub to the architects of the Iran nuclear deal.

&quot;The Iran treaty is a positive development, a disarmament development that is positive, but the reason we mentioned North Korea (in our statement) is a reference to the threat that people actually feel,&quot; Reiss-Andersen told Reuters. &quot;Iran has not voiced recent threats to use nuclear weapons.&quot;

ICAN has campaigned for a U.N. Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, which was adopted by 122 nations in July this year.

That agreement is not signed by -- and would not apply to -- any of the states that already have nuclear arms, which include the five U.N. Security Council permanent members, the United States, Russia, China, Britain and France, as well as India, Pakistan and North Korea. Israel is also widely assumed to have nuclear weapons, although it neither confirms nor denies it.

Major allies of the declared nuclear powers also oppose the new treaty. Nevertheless, campaigners see it as a framework that would make it easier for countries that have nuclear arms to work towards eliminating them.

NATO member Norway congratulated ICAN but said it would not sign the treaty to ban nuclear weapons. The Nobel Peace Prize is awarded by a committee appointed by the Norwegian parliament.

&quot;Norway will not support proposals in the UN that would weaken NATO&#39;s role as a defence alliance,&quot; Prime Minister Erna Solberg said.

Nuclear-armed nations, including the United States and Russia, back the U.N.&#39;s 1968 nuclear non-proliferation treaty which sets limits on the spread of atomic weapons and has a long-term goal of nuclear disarmament.

&quot;There is a strong logic in this peace prize,&quot; said Dan Smith, director of the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute &quot;It&#39;s all about encouraging governments to do what they have promised to do in the non-proliferation treaty.&quot;

The Nobel committee said the prize was awarded to ICAN for its 'work to draw attention to the catastrophic humanitarian consequences of any use of nuclear weapons'?

A campaign group seeking a global ban on nuclear arms won the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday, given the award by a Nobel Committee that cited the spread of weapons to North Korea and said the risk was growing of nuclear war. The award to the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) was unexpected, particularly in a year when the architects of the 2015 nuclear deal between world powers and Iran had been seen as favourites for achieving the sort of diplomatic breakthrough that has won the prize in the past. Supporters described the award as a potential breakthrough for a global movement that has fought to ban nuclear arms from the day the first atomic bomb was dropped on the Japanese city of Hiroshima in August 1945. BREAKING NEWS The 2017 Nobel Peace Prize is awarded to the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) @nuclearban #NobelPrize pic.twitter.com/I5PUiQfFzs — The Nobel Prize (@NobelPrize) October 6, 2017 × Watch the very moment the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize is announced! #NobelPrize pic.twitter.com/H0AtcRU7tn — The Nobel Prize (@NobelPrize) October 6, 2017 × ICAN's Executive Director Beatrice Fihn told Reuters the group was elated. "This. Is. Surreal." she later tweeted. Asked if she had a message for North Korea's Kim Jong-Un, who has tested nuclear arms in defiance of global pressure, and President Donald Trump, who has threatened to "totally destroy" North Korea to protect the United States and its allies, Fihn said both leaders need to know that the weapons are illegal. "Nuclear weapons are illegal. Threatening to use nuclear weapons is illegal. Having nuclear weapons, possessing nuclear weapons, developing nuclear weapons, is illegal, and they need to stop," she told Reuters. Two days before her group won the prize, Fihn had tweeted that Trump was "a moron". She told Reuters she had written this in jest, in the context of news reports that U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson had used the same word to describe his boss. But she said Trump's impulsive character illustrated the importance of banning nuclear arms for all countries. "A man you can bait with a tweet seems to be taking irrational decisions very quickly and not listening to expertise, it just puts a spotlight on what do nuclear weapons really mean. There are no right hands for the wrong weapons," she said. ICAN describes itself as a coalition of grassroots non-government groups in more than 100 nations. It began in Australia and was officially launched in Vienna in 2007. In her speech announcing the prize, Berit Reiss-Andersen, the leader of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, said the risk that nuclear weapons might be used was now "greater than it has been for a long time". "Some states are modernising their nuclear arsenals, and there is a real danger that more countries will try to procure nuclear weapons, as exemplified by North Korea." The award was hailed by anti-nuclear campaigners around the world. "Now more than ever we need a world without nuclear weapons," United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres tweeted. Mikiso Iwasa, an 88-year-old Hiroshima survivor, told Reuters the prize would help push the movement forward. "It is wonderful we have this Nobel Peace-Prize winning movement. All of us need to join forces, think hard and walk forward together to turn this momentum into something even bigger," he said. Nuclear tensions The prize seeks to bolster the case for disarmament amid nuclear tensions between Washington and Pyongyang, as well as uncertainty over the fate of the 2015 deal between Iran and major powers to limit Tehran's nuclear programme. The prize-giving committee made no mention of Iran in its award citation. It raised eyebrows with its decision to award the prize to an international campaign group with a relatively low profile, rather than recognise the Iran deal, a complex agreement hammered out over years of high-stakes diplomacy. "Norwegian Nobel Committee has its own ways, but the nuclear agreement with Iran achieved something real and would have deserved a prize," tweeted Carl Bildt, a former Swedish prime minister who has held top posts as an international diplomat. The Iran accord, which Trump has repeatedly called "the worst deal ever negotiated", is seen as under particular threat this week. A senior administration official said on Thursday Trump is expected to "decertify" the pact, a step which could allow Congress to restore sanctions on Iran. The committee may have been reluctant to reward the Iranian government for its role in the nuclear deal because the only Iranian winner so far, 2003 laureate Shirin Ebadi, a lawyer and human rights campaigner, is forced to live in exile. "I think the committee has thought about the human rights situation in Iran. It would have been difficult to explain the prize even though it has a favourable view of the Iran deal," Asle Sveen, a historian of the Nobel Peace Prize, told Reuters. The Norwegian Nobel Committee denied that giving the prize to an anti-nuclear group was intended either as a rebuke to Trump, or as a snub to the architects of the Iran nuclear deal. "The Iran treaty is a positive development, a disarmament development that is positive, but the reason we mentioned North Korea (in our statement) is a reference to the threat that people actually feel," Reiss-Andersen told Reuters. "Iran has not voiced recent threats to use nuclear weapons." ICAN has campaigned for a U.N. Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, which was adopted by 122 nations in July this year. That agreement is not signed by -- and would not apply to -- any of the states that already have nuclear arms, which include the five U.N. Security Council permanent members, the United States, Russia, China, Britain and France, as well as India, Pakistan and North Korea. Israel is also widely assumed to have nuclear weapons, although it neither confirms nor denies it. Major allies of the declared nuclear powers also oppose the new treaty. Nevertheless, campaigners see it as a framework that would make it easier for countries that have nuclear arms to work towards eliminating them. NATO member Norway congratulated ICAN but said it would not sign the treaty to ban nuclear weapons. The Nobel Peace Prize is awarded by a committee appointed by the Norwegian parliament. "Norway will not support proposals in the UN that would weaken NATO's role as a defence alliance," Prime Minister Erna Solberg said. Nuclear-armed nations, including the United States and Russia, back the U.N.'s 1968 nuclear non-proliferation treaty which sets limits on the spread of atomic weapons and has a long-term goal of nuclear disarmament. "There is a strong logic in this peace prize," said Dan Smith, director of the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute "It's all about encouraging governments to do what they have promised to do in the non-proliferation treaty."

Nobel Peace Prize awarded to International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons

Sweden&#39;s anti-immigration Sweden Democrat&nbsp;party&nbsp;on Wednesday tabled a parliamentary&nbsp;vote&nbsp;of no confidence in Prime Minister Stefan Lofven, demanding his resignation in the aftermath of a scandal over leaks of sensitive material.

Lofven is almost certain to ride out the&nbsp;vote, which will take place on Sept. 15 at the earliest, as the main, centre-right&nbsp;opposition&nbsp;bloc has said it will not give its support.

But it will damage his standing just a year before the general election and ratchet up pressure on him to get rid of Defence Minister Peter Hultqvist, who has also been targeted by the Sweden Democrats over the IT scandal.

&quot;The Prime Minister has talked about a breakdown, but he has not talked about the breakdown within his own government,&quot; Parliament member Paula Bieler said.

If the Sweden Democrats&#39; attempt to unseat Lofven fails, they will&nbsp;call&nbsp;for a no-confidence motion in Hultqvist. The centre-right Alliance bloc has also said it will table a motion of no-confidence in Hultqvist.

If Hultqvist is forced to resign, he would be the third minister to fall victim to the IT scandal.

No-confidence motions are rare in&nbsp;Swedish&nbsp;politics. Since 1980, only seven have taken place and none one has succeeded.

Lofven is almost certain to ride out the?vote, which will take place on Sept. 15 at the earliest, as the main, centre-right?opposition?bloc has said it will not give its support.

Sweden's anti-immigration Sweden Democrat party on Wednesday tabled a parliamentary vote of no confidence in Prime Minister Stefan Lofven, demanding his resignation in the aftermath of a scandal over leaks of sensitive material. Lofven is almost certain to ride out the vote, which will take place on Sept. 15 at the earliest, as the main, centre-right opposition bloc has said it will not give its support. But it will damage his standing just a year before the general election and ratchet up pressure on him to get rid of Defence Minister Peter Hultqvist, who has also been targeted by the Sweden Democrats over the IT scandal. "The Prime Minister has talked about a breakdown, but he has not talked about the breakdown within his own government," Parliament member Paula Bieler said. If the Sweden Democrats' attempt to unseat Lofven fails, they will call for a no-confidence motion in Hultqvist. The centre-right Alliance bloc has also said it will table a motion of no-confidence in Hultqvist. If Hultqvist is forced to resign, he would be the third minister to fall victim to the IT scandal. No-confidence motions are rare in Swedish politics. Since 1980, only seven have taken place and none one has succeeded.

Swedish PM Stefan Lofven to face no-confidence vote

Rakhmat Akilov, an Uzbek, who allegedly rammed a truck into a department store in central Sweden which killed four people has confessed his crime, his lawyer said.

Rakhmat Akilov hijacked a beer truck and drove it into the Ahlens department store on Friday afternoon in Stockholm&#39;s busy shopping street.&nbsp;The attack resulted in two Swedes, a British man and a Belgian woman being killed and left fifteen injured. Eight people still remain in hospital.

Akilov&nbsp;appeared in court today and was asked by the judge early on to remove the sweater from his head but he made no comment at the start of the hearing. His lawyer, Johan Eriksson, told the court that his client had admitted the crime. The judge then ordered the hearing to proceed behind closed doors.

His lawyer later&nbsp;revealed that Akilov has described his motives to authorities, but the judge had ordered the lawyer not to discuss details of the case in public.

&quot;He has not just confessed. He has provided information, he is answering questions,&quot;

Police have said it could take up to a year to complete the initial investigation into the attack.

Authorities say Akilov has expressed sympathies with extremist organisations. Security services have said that he had figured in intelligence reports but they had not viewed him as a militant threat.

A Facebook page appearing to belong to him showed he was following a group called &quot;Friends of Libya and Syria&quot;, dedicated to exposing &quot;terrorism of the imperialistic financial capitals&quot; of the United States, Britain and Arab &quot;dictatorships&quot;.

(WION with Reuters input)

Akilov's lawyer said that he has described his motives behind the truck attack

Rakhmat Akilov, an Uzbek, who allegedly rammed a truck into a department store in central Sweden which killed four people has confessed his crime, his lawyer said. Rakhmat Akilov hijacked a beer truck and drove it into the Ahlens department store on Friday afternoon in Stockholm's busy shopping street. The attack resulted in two Swedes, a British man and a Belgian woman being killed and left fifteen injured. Eight people still remain in hospital. Akilov appeared in court today and was asked by the judge early on to remove the sweater from his head but he made no comment at the start of the hearing. His lawyer, Johan Eriksson, told the court that his client had admitted the crime. The judge then ordered the hearing to proceed behind closed doors. His lawyer later revealed that Akilov has described his motives to authorities, but the judge had ordered the lawyer not to discuss details of the case in public. "He has not just confessed. He has provided information, he is answering questions," Police have said it could take up to a year to complete the initial investigation into the attack. Authorities say Akilov has expressed sympathies with extremist organisations. Security services have said that he had figured in intelligence reports but they had not viewed him as a militant threat. A Facebook page appearing to belong to him showed he was following a group called "Friends of Libya and Syria", dedicated to exposing "terrorism of the imperialistic financial capitals" of the United States, Britain and Arab "dictatorships". (WION with Reuters input)

Stockholm attack: Rakhmat Akilov has confessed, says lawyer

Swedish police have found a suspect device in the truck that slammed into a crowd in central Stockholm, killing four people and injuring 15, authorities said on Saturday.

&quot;We have found a device in the vehicle that doesn&#39;t belong there ... A technical examination is ongoing, we can&#39;t go into what it is right now ... whether it&#39;s a bomb or a flammable device,&quot; police chief Dan Eliasson told reporters. 
 
Flags flew at half-mast across Stockholm on Saturday as the city slowly returned to normal a day after the&nbsp;truck attack, as police said they had the suspected driver in custody.

A stolen beer truck ploughed into a crowd of people at the corner of the bustling Ahlens department store and the Drottninggatan pedestrian street on Friday afternoon, above ground from Stockholm&#39;s central subway station.

Fifteen people were injured, nine of whom remained in hospital on Saturday.

It was the third terror attack in Europe in two weeks, coming on the heels of assaults in London and St. Petersburg, although there has been no immediate claim of responsibility.

Previous attacks using vehicles have occurred in London, Berlin and the southern French city of Nice, all of them claimed by the so-called Islamic State (IS).

&quot;Terror hits the heart of the city,&quot; Sweden&#39;s biggest broadsheet Dagens Nyheter headlined its front page above a picture of the truck with its front end smashed into the store.&nbsp;

Prime Minister Stefan Lofven said he had strengthened the country&#39;s border controls, as flags flew at half-mast at parliament, the royal palace, the government offices, and City Hall.

&quot;Terrorists want us to be afraid, want us to change our behaviour, want us to not live our lives normally, but that is what we&#39;re going to do. So terrorists can never defeat Sweden, never,&quot; Lofven said.

City streets were empty early Saturday, slowly filling as the day wore on as things began to return to normal -- apart from a heavy police presence, a rare scene in this normally tranquil country.

A swelling crowd milled by the security barrier erected around the scene, many placing flowers on the ground or in the security fence.&nbsp;

Sweden&#39;s Crown Princess Victoria, 39, was one of those laying down a bouquet, wiping tears from her cheek.

&quot;I feel an incredible sadness, an emptiness,&quot; she told reporters.

But, she said, &quot;society has demonstrated enormous strength and we stand together against this.&quot;

Suspected driver in custody 
 
Swedish police said a man arrested on &quot;suspicion of a terrorist crime&quot; was probably the truck driver.

&quot;We suspect that the man who was arrested is the perpetrator,&quot; Stockholm police spokesman Lars Bystrom told AFP.&nbsp;

The man was arrested &quot;on suspicion of a terrorist crime through murder,&quot; Karin Rosander, spokeswoman at the Swedish Prosecution Authority, said.

The man was detained on Friday in Marsta, a suburb north of Stockholm. According to several media outlets, he is a 39-year-old of Uzbek origin and an IS supporter.

Prosecutors did not disclose his identity, but police said his appearance &quot;matched the description&quot; of a photo they released of a suspect wearing a dark hoodie and military green jacket.

Intelligence agency Sapo said meanwhile it was hunting for &quot;possible accomplices or networks that may have been involved in the attack.&quot;

&nbsp;&#39;Terrifying&#39; 
 
Witnesses described scenes of terror and panic on Friday.

&quot;A massive truck starts driving ... and mangles everything and just drives over exactly everything,&quot; eyewitness Rikard Gauffin told AFP.

&quot;It was so terrible and there were bodies lying everywhere... it was really terrifying,&quot; he added.

Passerby Hasan Sidi told Aftonbladet he saw two elderly women lying on the ground.&nbsp;

He said people at the scene urged him to help one of the women who was &quot;bleeding to death&quot;.&nbsp;

&quot;One of them died... I don&#39;t know if the other one made it,&quot; Sidi said.

The truck was towed away in the early hours of Saturday.

&nbsp;&#39;It was expected&#39; 
 
An attack on Stockholm was just a matter of time, the head of the Centre for Asymmetric Threat Studies at the Swedish National Defence College, Magnus Ranstorp, told AFP.

&quot;It was pretty expected, the police and intelligence agency have practised for this several times the past year... We just didn&#39;t know when it was going to happen,&quot; he said.

Friday&#39;s attack was the latest in a string of assaults with vehicles in Europe.

The deadliest came last year in France on the July 14 Bastille Day national holiday, when a man rammed a truck into a crowd in the Mediterranean resort of Nice, killing 86 people.

In December, a man hijacked a truck and slammed into shoppers at a Christmas market in Berlin, killing 12 people.

In London last month, Khalid Masood, a 52-year-old convert to Islam, killed five people when he drove a car at high speed into pedestrians before launching a frenzied knife attack on a policeman guarding parliament.

In 2014, IS called for attacks on citizens of Western countries and gave instructions on how they could be carried out without military equipment, using rocks or knives, or by running people over in vehicles.

Friday&#39;s attack was the second terror attack in Stockholm.&nbsp;

In December 2010, a suicide bomber blew himself up, also on the Drottninggatan pedestrian street, lightly injuring several passersby. 
 
(AFP)

The man was arrested 'on suspicion of a terrorist crime through murder', a Swedish Prosecution Authority official said

Swedish police have found a suspect device in the truck that slammed into a crowd in central Stockholm, killing four people and injuring 15, authorities said on Saturday. "We have found a device in the vehicle that doesn't belong there ... A technical examination is ongoing, we can't go into what it is right now ... whether it's a bomb or a flammable device," police chief Dan Eliasson told reporters. Flags flew at half-mast across Stockholm on Saturday as the city slowly returned to normal a day after the truck attack, as police said they had the suspected driver in custody. A stolen beer truck ploughed into a crowd of people at the corner of the bustling Ahlens department store and the Drottninggatan pedestrian street on Friday afternoon, above ground from Stockholm's central subway station. Fifteen people were injured, nine of whom remained in hospital on Saturday. It was the third terror attack in Europe in two weeks, coming on the heels of assaults in London and St. Petersburg, although there has been no immediate claim of responsibility. Previous attacks using vehicles have occurred in London, Berlin and the southern French city of Nice, all of them claimed by the so-called Islamic State (IS). "Terror hits the heart of the city," Sweden's biggest broadsheet Dagens Nyheter headlined its front page above a picture of the truck with its front end smashed into the store. Prime Minister Stefan Lofven said he had strengthened the country's border controls, as flags flew at half-mast at parliament, the royal palace, the government offices, and City Hall. "Terrorists want us to be afraid, want us to change our behaviour, want us to not live our lives normally, but that is what we're going to do. So terrorists can never defeat Sweden, never," Lofven said. City streets were empty early Saturday, slowly filling as the day wore on as things began to return to normal -- apart from a heavy police presence, a rare scene in this normally tranquil country. A swelling crowd milled by the security barrier erected around the scene, many placing flowers on the ground or in the security fence. Sweden's Crown Princess Victoria, 39, was one of those laying down a bouquet, wiping tears from her cheek. "I feel an incredible sadness, an emptiness," she told reporters. But, she said, "society has demonstrated enormous strength and we stand together against this." Suspected driver in custody Swedish police said a man arrested on "suspicion of a terrorist crime" was probably the truck driver. "We suspect that the man who was arrested is the perpetrator," Stockholm police spokesman Lars Bystrom told AFP. The man was arrested "on suspicion of a terrorist crime through murder," Karin Rosander, spokeswoman at the Swedish Prosecution Authority, said. The man was detained on Friday in Marsta, a suburb north of Stockholm. According to several media outlets, he is a 39-year-old of Uzbek origin and an IS supporter. Prosecutors did not disclose his identity, but police said his appearance "matched the description" of a photo they released of a suspect wearing a dark hoodie and military green jacket. Intelligence agency Sapo said meanwhile it was hunting for "possible accomplices or networks that may have been involved in the attack." 'Terrifying' Witnesses described scenes of terror and panic on Friday. "A massive truck starts driving ... and mangles everything and just drives over exactly everything," eyewitness Rikard Gauffin told AFP. "It was so terrible and there were bodies lying everywhere... it was really terrifying," he added. Passerby Hasan Sidi told Aftonbladet he saw two elderly women lying on the ground. He said people at the scene urged him to help one of the women who was "bleeding to death". "One of them died... I don't know if the other one made it," Sidi said. The truck was towed away in the early hours of Saturday. 'It was expected' An attack on Stockholm was just a matter of time, the head of the Centre for Asymmetric Threat Studies at the Swedish National Defence College, Magnus Ranstorp, told AFP. "It was pretty expected, the police and intelligence agency have practised for this several times the past year... We just didn't know when it was going to happen," he said. Friday's attack was the latest in a string of assaults with vehicles in Europe. The deadliest came last year in France on the July 14 Bastille Day national holiday, when a man rammed a truck into a crowd in the Mediterranean resort of Nice, killing 86 people. In December, a man hijacked a truck and slammed into shoppers at a Christmas market in Berlin, killing 12 people. In London last month, Khalid Masood, a 52-year-old convert to Islam, killed five people when he drove a car at high speed into pedestrians before launching a frenzied knife attack on a policeman guarding parliament. In 2014, IS called for attacks on citizens of Western countries and gave instructions on how they could be carried out without military equipment, using rocks or knives, or by running people over in vehicles. Friday's attack was the second terror attack in Stockholm. In December 2010, a suicide bomber blew himself up, also on the Drottninggatan pedestrian street, lightly injuring several passersby. (AFP)

Sweden: Uzbek origin man arrested in truck attack, suspect device found

Swedes should take a one-hour paid break from work to go home and have sex with their partners, a local councillor suggested in a proposal Tuesday aimed at improving people&#39;s personal relationships.

&quot;There are studies that show sex is healthy,&quot; Per-Erik Muskos, a 42-year-old city councillor for the northern town of Overtornea, told AFP after presenting the motion.

He said couples were not spending enough time with each other in today&#39;s society.

&quot;It&#39;s about having better relationships,&quot; he said.&nbsp;

He noted there was no way to verify that employees do not use their hour for other purposes than spending time with their partners or spouses.

&quot;You can&#39;t guarantee that a worker doesn&#39;t go out for a walk instead,&quot; Muskos said, adding that employers needed to trust their employees.

Muskos said he &quot;saw no reason&quot; why the motion wouldn&#39;t pass.&nbsp;

Late last year, Piergiovanni Alleva, a regional councillor for the Emilia Romagna region of northern Italy, recommended that the working week be reduced from 40 to 32 hours.

After the Finns and the French, Swedish full-time employees worked the least in Europe with only 1,685 hours on average in 2015, according to a study by economic research institute Coe-Rexecode.&nbsp;

Brits worked an average of 1,900 hours and Germans 1,847 hours in 2015.

(AFP)

Per-Erik Muskos said Swedes should take a one-hour paid break from work to go home and have sex with their partners

Swedes should take a one-hour paid break from work to go home and have sex with their partners, a local councillor suggested in a proposal Tuesday aimed at improving people's personal relationships. "There are studies that show sex is healthy," Per-Erik Muskos, a 42-year-old city councillor for the northern town of Overtornea, told AFP after presenting the motion. He said couples were not spending enough time with each other in today's society. "It's about having better relationships," he said. He noted there was no way to verify that employees do not use their hour for other purposes than spending time with their partners or spouses. "You can't guarantee that a worker doesn't go out for a walk instead," Muskos said, adding that employers needed to trust their employees. Muskos said he "saw no reason" why the motion wouldn't pass. Late last year, Piergiovanni Alleva, a regional councillor for the Emilia Romagna region of northern Italy, recommended that the working week be reduced from 40 to 32 hours. After the Finns and the French, Swedish full-time employees worked the least in Europe with only 1,685 hours on average in 2015, according to a study by economic research institute Coe-Rexecode. Brits worked an average of 1,900 hours and Germans 1,847 hours in 2015. (AFP)

Swedish town councillor proposes sex breaks on work time

Three young men suspected of gang raping a woman in Sweden and livestreaming the attack on Facebook have been detained, police said, urging social media users on Monday to turn over the footage.

The suspects, aged 18, 20 and 24, were arrested early Sunday in an apartment in Uppsala, 70 kilometres (45 miles) north of Stockholm, in the presence of their 30-year-old victim after members of a Facebook group saw the attack streamed live and alerted police.

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<h5>The suspects, aged 18, 20 and 24, were arrested early Sunday in an apartment in Uppsala in the presence of their 30-year-old victim</h5>
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The closed Facebook group has 60,000 members.

Josefine Lundgren, 21, was one of the first to call authorities.

She told daily Expressen that the 24-year-old suspect, a repeat offender considered by police to be the main attacker, &quot;tore the clothes off&quot; his victim before raping her.

The attacker also &quot;had apparently filmed everything and took pictures that he put on (messaging site) Snapchat,&quot; she said.

At a press conference on Monday, investigators appealed to social media users who had images of the attack to turn them over to police.

&quot;We have some picture and video material. But we don&#39;t have any images showing the attack itself,&quot; Uppsala deputy chief prosecutor Magnus Berggren said.

The film has been removed from Facebook but it has been circulated on the internet. Swedish media have published excerpts of the footage, showing at least one of the suspects holding a revolver.

According to Berggren, other charges could be pressed against the suspects in addition to one of aggravated rape, for having streamed the attack.

In an email to AFP, a press spokesman for Facebook in the Nordic countries denounced &quot;a hideous crime&quot;.

&quot;Our teams work around the clock to review content that is being reported by users&quot; and Facebook cooperates systematically with police in criminal investigations, he said.

(AFP)

The attack was streamed on a closed Facebook group with about 60,000 members

Three young men suspected of gang raping a woman in Sweden and livestreaming the attack on Facebook have been detained, police said, urging social media users on Monday to turn over the footage. The suspects, aged 18, 20 and 24, were arrested early Sunday in an apartment in Uppsala, 70 kilometres (45 miles) north of Stockholm, in the presence of their 30-year-old victim after members of a Facebook group saw the attack streamed live and alerted police. The suspects, aged 18, 20 and 24, were arrested early Sunday in an apartment in Uppsala in the presence of their 30-year-old victim × The closed Facebook group has 60,000 members. Josefine Lundgren, 21, was one of the first to call authorities. She told daily Expressen that the 24-year-old suspect, a repeat offender considered by police to be the main attacker, "tore the clothes off" his victim before raping her. The attacker also "had apparently filmed everything and took pictures that he put on (messaging site) Snapchat," she said. At a press conference on Monday, investigators appealed to social media users who had images of the attack to turn them over to police. "We have some picture and video material. But we don't have any images showing the attack itself," Uppsala deputy chief prosecutor Magnus Berggren said. The film has been removed from Facebook but it has been circulated on the internet. Swedish media have published excerpts of the footage, showing at least one of the suspects holding a revolver. According to Berggren, other charges could be pressed against the suspects in addition to one of aggravated rape, for having streamed the attack. In an email to AFP, a press spokesman for Facebook in the Nordic countries denounced "a hideous crime". "Our teams work around the clock to review content that is being reported by users" and Facebook cooperates systematically with police in criminal investigations, he said. (AFP)

Sweden: Gang rape streamed live on Facebook, 3 arrested

In a series of retaliatory measure against Russia over vote meddling, the&nbsp;United States on Thursday imposed sanctions on two top Russian intelligence agencies, expelled 35 agents, and ordered the shutting down of two Russian compounds on US soil.

&quot;I have ordered a number of actions in response to the Russian government&#39;s aggressive harassment of US officials and cyber operations aimed at the US election,&quot; Obama said.

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<h5>These actions follow repeated private and public warnings that we have issued to the Russian government, and are a necessary and appropriate response to efforts to harm US interests,&#39; said Obama</h5>
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&quot;These actions follow repeated private and public warnings that we have issued to the Russian government, and are a necessary and appropriate response to efforts to harm US interests in violation of established international norms of behaviour.&quot;

Obama imposed sanctions against Russia&#39;s FSB and GRU intelligence agencies and ordered the closing down of two Russian compounds that the US says are used &quot;for intelligence-related purposes&quot;. The 35 intelligence operative -- based at the Russian embassy in Washington and the consulate in San Francisco -- have been declared &quot;persona non grata&quot; and ordered to leave the country within 72 hours.

US officials also moved to close two Russian compounds in New York and Maryland.

The latter facility, a summer house a short drive from the US capital, was once featured in a Washington lifestyle magazine and was described as a stately home surrounded by lush gardens on the banks of the Chester River.&nbsp;

The US government said it is now used &quot;for intelligence-related purposes&quot;.

&quot;All Americans should be alarmed by Russia&#39;s actions,&quot; Obama said.&nbsp;

&quot;Moreover, our diplomats have experienced an unacceptable level of harassment in Moscow by Russian security services and police over the last year. Such activities have consequences.&quot;

The US intelligence community all agree that Russia interfered in US elections to put Trump in the White House. They also believe in Russian hand in the hacking and release of Democratic Party and Clinton staff emails.

People tied to a Russian disinformation campaign that US intelligence officials say targeted Clinton&#39;s campaign may also be named under the plans, according to CNN.

Republican Lindsey Graham said in an interview on Dec. 27 that 99 per cent of US senators believe Russia interfered in the US presidential elections.

Washington accuses the Russian military&#39;s Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU) of hacking information with the intent to interfere with the US election -- and says the Federal Security Service (FSB) helped, AFP reported.

Four individual GRU officers including agency chief Igor Valentinovich Korobov and three other entities will face sanctions.

AFP reported that the US Treasury slapped sanctions on two individuals, Evgeniy Mikhailovich Bogachev and Aleksey Alekseyevich Belan, for &quot;involvement in malicious cyber-enabled activities.&quot;

The sanctions will freeze their assets in the US and block business with US companies.

Obama said that the government will continue to take actions,&#39;some of which will not be publicised&#39;.

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&quot;These actions are not the sum total of our response to Russia&#39;s aggressive activities. We will continue to take a variety of actions at a time and place of our choosing, some of which will not be publicised,&quot; Obama said.

&quot;The United States and friends and allies around the world must work together to oppose Russia&#39;s efforts to undermine established international norms of behavior and interfere with democratic governance.&quot;

Trump denied any links with Russia and said,&quot;I think we ought to get on with our lives,&quot; on Wednesday.

The White House had warned Russia to stop cyber-meddling pre-elections, The Washington Post reported.

And about a week before the election, Washington sent a message to Moscow using a special crisis communication channel for the first time, asking it to stop targeting state voter registration and election systems, according to AFP.

Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Moscow will respond to any &quot;hostile steps&quot; from Washington.

(With inputs from agencies)

Prosecutors said they have now received a transcript of an interview conducted with Assange

In a series of retaliatory measure against Russia over vote meddling, the United States on Thursday imposed sanctions on two top Russian intelligence agencies, expelled 35 agents, and ordered the shutting down of two Russian compounds on US soil. "I have ordered a number of actions in response to the Russian government's aggressive harassment of US officials and cyber operations aimed at the US election," Obama said. These actions follow repeated private and public warnings that we have issued to the Russian government, and are a necessary and appropriate response to efforts to harm US interests,' said Obama × "These actions follow repeated private and public warnings that we have issued to the Russian government, and are a necessary and appropriate response to efforts to harm US interests in violation of established international norms of behaviour." Obama imposed sanctions against Russia's FSB and GRU intelligence agencies and ordered the closing down of two Russian compounds that the US says are used "for intelligence-related purposes". The 35 intelligence operative -- based at the Russian embassy in Washington and the consulate in San Francisco -- have been declared "persona non grata" and ordered to leave the country within 72 hours. US officials also moved to close two Russian compounds in New York and Maryland. The latter facility, a summer house a short drive from the US capital, was once featured in a Washington lifestyle magazine and was described as a stately home surrounded by lush gardens on the banks of the Chester River. The US government said it is now used "for intelligence-related purposes". "All Americans should be alarmed by Russia's actions," Obama said. "Moreover, our diplomats have experienced an unacceptable level of harassment in Moscow by Russian security services and police over the last year. Such activities have consequences." The US intelligence community all agree that Russia interfered in US elections to put Trump in the White House. They also believe in Russian hand in the hacking and release of Democratic Party and Clinton staff emails. People tied to a Russian disinformation campaign that US intelligence officials say targeted Clinton's campaign may also be named under the plans, according to CNN. Republican Lindsey Graham said in an interview on Dec. 27 that 99 per cent of US senators believe Russia interfered in the US presidential elections. Washington accuses the Russian military's Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU) of hacking information with the intent to interfere with the US election -- and says the Federal Security Service (FSB) helped, AFP reported. Four individual GRU officers including agency chief Igor Valentinovich Korobov and three other entities will face sanctions. AFP reported that the US Treasury slapped sanctions on two individuals, Evgeniy Mikhailovich Bogachev and Aleksey Alekseyevich Belan, for "involvement in malicious cyber-enabled activities." The sanctions will freeze their assets in the US and block business with US companies. Obama said that the government will continue to take actions,'some of which will not be publicised'. Obama said that the government will continue to take actions, 'some of which will not be publicised' × "These actions are not the sum total of our response to Russia's aggressive activities. We will continue to take a variety of actions at a time and place of our choosing, some of which will not be publicised," Obama said. "The United States and friends and allies around the world must work together to oppose Russia's efforts to undermine established international norms of behavior and interfere with democratic governance." Trump denied any links with Russia and said,"I think we ought to get on with our lives," on Wednesday. The White House had warned Russia to stop cyber-meddling pre-elections, The Washington Post reported. And about a week before the election, Washington sent a message to Moscow using a special crisis communication channel for the first time, asking it to stop targeting state voter registration and election systems, according to AFP. Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Moscow will respond to any "hostile steps" from Washington. (With inputs from agencies)

Sweden will not decide for several weeks on Assange inquiry

Hope Solo, the US women&#39;s football goalkeeper, was banned for six months from international football following her &quot;bunch of cowards&quot; comment at the Rio Olympics. 
 
The comment was directed at the (defensive-minded) Swedish football team, who beat the United States 4-3 on penalty kicks after their quarter-final match ended 1-1. 
 
&quot;The comments by Hope Solo after the match against Sweden during the 2016&nbsp;Olympics were unacceptable and do not meet the standard of conduct we&nbsp;require from our national team players,&quot; US Soccer President Sunil Gulati said&nbsp;in a statement. 
 
&quot;Taking into consideration the past incidents involving Hope, as well as the&nbsp;private conversations we&#39;ve had requiring her to conduct herself in a manner&nbsp;befitting a US national team member, US Soccer determined this is the&nbsp;appropriate disciplinary action,&quot; it stated. 
 
Solo, who was previously suspended for 30 days in 2015,&nbsp;will start her suspension immediately. 
 
The 35-year-old also made news in January last year over a domestic violence case&nbsp;that was dismissed after she pleaded not guilty. 
 
Solo has been a part of US Olympic gold medal-winning teams in 2008 and 2012. 
 
&quot;For 17 years, I dedicated my life to the US women&#39;s national team and did the&nbsp;job of a pro athlete the only way I knew how - with passion, tenacity, an&nbsp;unrelenting commitment to be the best goalkeeper in the world, not just for my&nbsp;country, but to elevate the sport for the next generation of female athletes. In&nbsp;those commitments, I have never wavered,&quot; she said. 
 
&quot;I think we played a bunch of cowards. The best team did not win today,&quot; Solo&nbsp;had said after the match against Sweden in Brasilia on August 12. 
 
(WION with inputs from agencies)

Solo had made the comment at the Rio Olympics after Sweden beat USA

Hope Solo, the US women's football goalkeeper, was banned for six months from international football following her "bunch of cowards" comment at the Rio Olympics. The comment was directed at the (defensive-minded) Swedish football team, who beat the United States 4-3 on penalty kicks after their quarter-final match ended 1-1. "The comments by Hope Solo after the match against Sweden during the 2016 Olympics were unacceptable and do not meet the standard of conduct we require from our national team players," US Soccer President Sunil Gulati said in a statement. "Taking into consideration the past incidents involving Hope, as well as the private conversations we've had requiring her to conduct herself in a manner befitting a US national team member, US Soccer determined this is the appropriate disciplinary action," it stated. Solo, who was previously suspended for 30 days in 2015, will start her suspension immediately. The 35-year-old also made news in January last year over a domestic violence case that was dismissed after she pleaded not guilty. Solo has been a part of US Olympic gold medal-winning teams in 2008 and 2012. "For 17 years, I dedicated my life to the US women's national team and did the job of a pro athlete the only way I knew how - with passion, tenacity, an unrelenting commitment to be the best goalkeeper in the world, not just for my country, but to elevate the sport for the next generation of female athletes. In those commitments, I have never wavered," she said. "I think we played a bunch of cowards. The best team did not win today," Solo had said after the match against Sweden in Brasilia on August 12. (WION with inputs from agencies)

US goalkeeper Solo slapped with six-month ban over 'bunch of cowards' comment

Sweden&#39;s youngest ever cabinet minister, who came to the country as a refugee from Bosnia, announced her resignation today after being caught driving under the influence of alcohol. 
 
Aida Hadzialic, 29, minister for secondary and adult education, revealed that she had been stopped by police in the southern city of Malmo and tests showed she had an alcohol level of 0.2 grammes per litre of blood -- just the level considered an offence in Sweden. 
 
&quot;That was the biggest mistake of my life... I will take responsibility. I announce my intention to resign from my ministerial post,&quot; an emotional Hadzialic told a press conference at government headquarters in Stockholm. 
 
&quot;I understand that a lot of people are disappointed in me. And I am angry with myself, and certainly I deeply regret it,&quot; added the young politician seen as the future of the Social Democrat party. 
 
Hadzialic was born in Bosnia and immigrated to Sweden at the age of five, in 1992, with her parents fleeing the war in the Balkans. She became involved in the Social Democrats youth movement in high school and went on to be elected a municipal councillor at age 23. Then in 2014 at 27 she became the youngest ever government minister in Sweden&#39;s history. 
 
She is not the only politician to have to dropped out since Sweden&#39;s political left returned to power two years ago. Deputy premier and environment minister Asa Romson from the Green party resigned in May after a series of gaffes, the last being to describe the 2001 terrorist attacks in the United States as &quot;the accidents of September 11&quot;. 
 
Housing minister Mehmet Kaplan, of Turkish origin, had to step down in April after comparing Israelis to the Nazis, and Mona Sahlin, the national coordinator for protecting democracy against violent extremism, was forced to resign in May after media revealed that she had made false income declarations for her bodyguard to help him obtain bank loans. 
 
(AFP)

'That was the biggest mistake of my life. I will take responsibility,' said 29-year-old Aida Hadzialic

Sweden's youngest ever cabinet minister, who came to the country as a refugee from Bosnia, announced her resignation today after being caught driving under the influence of alcohol. Aida Hadzialic, 29, minister for secondary and adult education, revealed that she had been stopped by police in the southern city of Malmo and tests showed she had an alcohol level of 0.2 grammes per litre of blood -- just the level considered an offence in Sweden. "That was the biggest mistake of my life... I will take responsibility. I announce my intention to resign from my ministerial post," an emotional Hadzialic told a press conference at government headquarters in Stockholm. "I understand that a lot of people are disappointed in me. And I am angry with myself, and certainly I deeply regret it," added the young politician seen as the future of the Social Democrat party. Hadzialic was born in Bosnia and immigrated to Sweden at the age of five, in 1992, with her parents fleeing the war in the Balkans. She became involved in the Social Democrats youth movement in high school and went on to be elected a municipal councillor at age 23. Then in 2014 at 27 she became the youngest ever government minister in Sweden's history. She is not the only politician to have to dropped out since Sweden's political left returned to power two years ago. Deputy premier and environment minister Asa Romson from the Green party resigned in May after a series of gaffes, the last being to describe the 2001 terrorist attacks in the United States as "the accidents of September 11". Housing minister Mehmet Kaplan, of Turkish origin, had to step down in April after comparing Israelis to the Nazis, and Mona Sahlin, the national coordinator for protecting democracy against violent extremism, was forced to resign in May after media revealed that she had made false income declarations for her bodyguard to help him obtain bank loans. (AFP)

Sweden's youngest ever cabinet minister Hadzialic resigns over drunk driving incident

Barcelona thumped English Premier League champions Leicester City 4-2 in a pre-season friendly in Sweden on Wednesday but Claudio Ranieri&#39;s side was given hope by a second-half brace from new boy Ahmed Musa. 
 
Lionel Messi&#39;s sumptuous pass set up the first of Munir El Haddadi&#39;s two first-half goals while Luis Suarez netted in between as the Spanish champions exposed the Foxes&#39; defence. 
 
Nigerian winger Musa, signed from CSKA Moscow, came out with all guns blazing as one of seven second-half changes for Leicester to score after a lightning 50-yard solo run and shot on 47 minutes. 
 
He then won and converted a penalty after 66 minutes. 
 
But with the scores at 3-2 Barcelona then sealed the International Champions Cup tournament match with a late winner from Rafa Mujica. 
 
The English side who shocked the football world with their fairytale run to the Premier League title last season were beaten 4-0 last weekend by Paris Saint-Germain. 
 
(AFP)

Messi's grand pass resulted in the first of the two first-half goals, second of which was secured by Luis Suarez

Barcelona thumped English Premier League champions Leicester City 4-2 in a pre-season friendly in Sweden on Wednesday but Claudio Ranieri's side was given hope by a second-half brace from new boy Ahmed Musa. Lionel Messi's sumptuous pass set up the first of Munir El Haddadi's two first-half goals while Luis Suarez netted in between as the Spanish champions exposed the Foxes' defence. Nigerian winger Musa, signed from CSKA Moscow, came out with all guns blazing as one of seven second-half changes for Leicester to score after a lightning 50-yard solo run and shot on 47 minutes. He then won and converted a penalty after 66 minutes. But with the scores at 3-2 Barcelona then sealed the International Champions Cup tournament match with a late winner from Rafa Mujica. The English side who shocked the football world with their fairytale run to the Premier League title last season were beaten 4-0 last weekend by Paris Saint-Germain. (AFP)

Barcelona take over Leicester at 4-2 in Sweden

A late goal by Premier League target Radja Nainggolan earned Belgium a last-16 berth with a 1-0 win over Sweden ending superstar Zlatan Ibrahimovic&#39;s international career with a defeat. 
 
The Roma midfielder, reportedly wanted by Chelsea, controlled a cross from Eden Hazard outside the area and powered it into the net in the 82nd minute. 
 
After a poor display against Italy in their group opener, Belgium now take on Hungary in Toulouse on June 26 with the momentum of two wins behind them. 
 
&quot;We have got better since the Italy game, kept two clean sheets in a row,&quot; said Marc Wilmots, Belgium&#39;s coach. 
 
&quot;It will be a complicated game, we watched the last minutes of their game against Portugal, Hungary leave 200 per cent on the field,&quot; said Belgium skipper Eden Hazard who was awarded man-of-the-match. 
 
There was to be no salvation for Sweden, nor one more game for Ibrahimovic. 
 
He battled to the end, almost snatching a late equaliser with a half volley on the turn, but the dying minutes were instead marked by the Belgian fans raucously chanting &quot;Bye Bye Ibrahimovic!&quot; 
 
&quot;It&#39;s heavy, it&#39;s disappointing, but at the same time I enjoyed it, we got the possibility to play at &nbsp;the Euros, and represent Sweden,&quot; said Ibrahimovic. 
 
&quot;At the same time I am proud, this was my last game in the national team, I have many fantastic memories.&quot; 
 
Sweden coach Erik Hamren said Ibrahimovic was a &quot;unique&quot; talent that cannot be replaced. 
 
&quot;I hope we can find another player, not a Zlatan as I don&#39;t think in a small country like Sweden you can find someone like that, he&#39;s really unique,&quot; said Hamren. 
 
Sweden finished bottom of the group and will look back with regret on a flat performance in their opener against Ireland. 
 
&quot;Our two last games were not bad, but we couldn&#39;t finish our chances in either,&quot; added Hamren. &quot;Against Ireland we weren&#39;t very good, maybe in attack we could have been better against Italy. But I can&#39;t ask more from my players, I&#39;m proud of them, even though we lost the game,&quot; he said. 
 
Facing elimination if defeated, both teams pushed forward to attack which produced a pulsating first half hour in balmy Nice. 
 
Chances came thick and fast, Sweden almost grabbing a dream start three minutes in when a goalmouth half-volley by Marcus Berg, in for John Giudetti as strike partner to Ibrahimovic, was batted out by Thibaut Courtois. 
 
Belgium launched regular raids with Kevin De Bruyne through the middle and Hazard, roving from wing to wing, at the heart of the danger. 
 
Midway through the half, a backheel from Hazard let the Man City star fire a shot straight at the Isaksson. 
 
At the other end, Ibrahimovic had little joy, bar the occasional half-chance snapshot or attempt at a spectacular volley. 
 
But none came to anything on an ultimately frustrating night for the Swedish legend who announced his international retirement after Euro 2016 on Tuesday. 
 
It was Belgium who nearly entered the break in front, when Meurier headed an inch-perfect De Bruyne cross just wide of Andreas Isaksson&#39;s post. 
 
As the clock ran down in the second half the temperature began rising again as Belgium wasted a host of chances to kill of Swedish hopes. 
 
Isaksson dived at full length to keep out a De Bruyne drive before a powerful Romelu Lukaku break was foiled by Isakksson who spread his body well to block the shot. 
 
A minute later, an identical run by the Everton striker, this time with a neat finish, was ruled offside. 
 
Time was running out on Ibrahimovic when he went close with a free-kick turned away by Courtois with a quarter hour to go before De Bruyne cleared off the line. 
 
But Nainggolan secured a richly-talented Belgian side&#39;s place on the favourable half of the draw with a rasping drive into the far corner. 
 
(AFP)

Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who scored 62 goals in 116 international matches, ends his international career in defeat as Sweden fails to qualify

A late goal by Premier League target Radja Nainggolan earned Belgium a last-16 berth with a 1-0 win over Sweden ending superstar Zlatan Ibrahimovic's international career with a defeat. The Roma midfielder, reportedly wanted by Chelsea, controlled a cross from Eden Hazard outside the area and powered it into the net in the 82nd minute. After a poor display against Italy in their group opener, Belgium now take on Hungary in Toulouse on June 26 with the momentum of two wins behind them. "We have got better since the Italy game, kept two clean sheets in a row," said Marc Wilmots, Belgium's coach. "It will be a complicated game, we watched the last minutes of their game against Portugal, Hungary leave 200 per cent on the field," said Belgium skipper Eden Hazard who was awarded man-of-the-match. There was to be no salvation for Sweden, nor one more game for Ibrahimovic. He battled to the end, almost snatching a late equaliser with a half volley on the turn, but the dying minutes were instead marked by the Belgian fans raucously chanting "Bye Bye Ibrahimovic!" "It's heavy, it's disappointing, but at the same time I enjoyed it, we got the possibility to play at the Euros, and represent Sweden," said Ibrahimovic. "At the same time I am proud, this was my last game in the national team, I have many fantastic memories." Sweden coach Erik Hamren said Ibrahimovic was a "unique" talent that cannot be replaced. "I hope we can find another player, not a Zlatan as I don't think in a small country like Sweden you can find someone like that, he's really unique," said Hamren. Sweden finished bottom of the group and will look back with regret on a flat performance in their opener against Ireland. "Our two last games were not bad, but we couldn't finish our chances in either," added Hamren. "Against Ireland we weren't very good, maybe in attack we could have been better against Italy. But I can't ask more from my players, I'm proud of them, even though we lost the game," he said. Facing elimination if defeated, both teams pushed forward to attack which produced a pulsating first half hour in balmy Nice. Chances came thick and fast, Sweden almost grabbing a dream start three minutes in when a goalmouth half-volley by Marcus Berg, in for John Giudetti as strike partner to Ibrahimovic, was batted out by Thibaut Courtois. Belgium launched regular raids with Kevin De Bruyne through the middle and Hazard, roving from wing to wing, at the heart of the danger. Midway through the half, a backheel from Hazard let the Man City star fire a shot straight at the Isaksson. At the other end, Ibrahimovic had little joy, bar the occasional half-chance snapshot or attempt at a spectacular volley. But none came to anything on an ultimately frustrating night for the Swedish legend who announced his international retirement after Euro 2016 on Tuesday. It was Belgium who nearly entered the break in front, when Meurier headed an inch-perfect De Bruyne cross just wide of Andreas Isaksson's post. As the clock ran down in the second half the temperature began rising again as Belgium wasted a host of chances to kill of Swedish hopes. Isaksson dived at full length to keep out a De Bruyne drive before a powerful Romelu Lukaku break was foiled by Isakksson who spread his body well to block the shot. A minute later, an identical run by the Everton striker, this time with a neat finish, was ruled offside. Time was running out on Ibrahimovic when he went close with a free-kick turned away by Courtois with a quarter hour to go before De Bruyne cleared off the line. But Nainggolan secured a richly-talented Belgian side's place on the favourable half of the draw with a rasping drive into the far corner. (AFP)

Belgium seal last-16 berth with 1-0 win over Sweden,  Ibrahimovic bows out

<div style="text-align: justify;">Italy&nbsp;moved into the knockout stages of Euro 2016 and continued to defy their doubters as Eder scored two minutes from fulltime to secure a 1-0 win over a shot-shy and unadventurous Sweden on Friday. 
Eder ended a great run by firing home to move&nbsp;Italy&nbsp;clear at the top of Group E on six points after two matches following their 2-0 victory over Belgium in their opening encounter. 
The result left Sweden in an uncomfortable position with one point after two games ahead of their final group clash against Belgium next week. 
Sweden were well organised at the back but toothless in attack, with their danger man Zlatan Ibrahimovic looking a shadow of his brilliant best and hardly creating a chance. 
Italy, who came into the tournament with questions surrounding the strength of their squad, but surprised many with their superb performance against a highly-fancied Belgium side, relied on their trademark, tight defence against the Swedes. 
They rarely threatened up front, however, until Marco Parolo hit the crossbar with a header shortly before Eder netted the winner. 
&quot;It was a difficult game,&quot;&nbsp;Italy&nbsp;coach Antonio Conte told Rai Sport. &quot;We struggled in the first half. 
&quot;The boys did well to ride the storm and hurt Sweden when we needed to.&quot; 
Italy&nbsp;had been praised for their unity and work rate in their opening win over Belgium, but appeared to have no answer to Sweden&#39;s organised rearguard until Eder&#39;s late intervention. 
Sweden coach Erik Hamren had criticised their lack of attacking vitality following their opening 1-1 draw with Ireland, and while there was an improvement in their overall performance, Ibrahimovic once again failed to provide a cutting edge and live up to his billing. 
&quot;We were much better than the Italians for periods, but we didn&rsquo;t create really dangerous chances,&quot; Sweden midfielder Albin Ekdal told Swedish broadcaster SVT. 
Sweden are still without a shot on target at the tournament, although Martin Olsson proved a menacing threat down the left, sending an effort just over the bar on 18 minutes having set the tone with an early cross that prompted a nervous clearance from Giorgio Chiellini. 
Olsson&#39;s frequent forays left space for Antonio Candreva, but Andreas Isaksson and Erik Johansson combined to clear his testing deliveries, while Ibrahimovic flashed a close-range header wide towards the end of the first half. 
Having masterminded victory over the Belgians, Conte&#39;s tactics were completely neutralised during the opening 45 minutes in Toulouse and his side appeared unsettled as a result. 
&quot;At halftime Conte told us we were too slow and he was right,&quot; Parolo told Rai Sport. 
&quot;We changed the tempo after the break and we deserved our victory.&quot; 
Conte introduced Simone Zaza in the 60th minute and he had a decisive role in the winner, heading a Chiellini throw in into the path of Eder. 
The forward then cut in from the left -- evading Andreas Granqvist&#39;s attempted tackle -- and sent a curling right-footed shot round Isaksson to take&nbsp;Italy&nbsp;through. 
(Reuters)</div>

Eder scored two minutes from full time to secure the win against Sweden

Italy moved into the knockout stages of Euro 2016 and continued to defy their doubters as Eder scored two minutes from fulltime to secure a 1-0 win over a shot-shy and unadventurous Sweden on Friday. Eder ended a great run by firing home to move Italy clear at the top of Group E on six points after two matches following their 2-0 victory over Belgium in their opening encounter. The result left Sweden in an uncomfortable position with one point after two games ahead of their final group clash against Belgium next week. Sweden were well organised at the back but toothless in attack, with their danger man Zlatan Ibrahimovic looking a shadow of his brilliant best and hardly creating a chance. Italy, who came into the tournament with questions surrounding the strength of their squad, but surprised many with their superb performance against a highly-fancied Belgium side, relied on their trademark, tight defence against the Swedes. They rarely threatened up front, however, until Marco Parolo hit the crossbar with a header shortly before Eder netted the winner. "It was a difficult game," Italy coach Antonio Conte told Rai Sport. "We struggled in the first half. "The boys did well to ride the storm and hurt Sweden when we needed to." Italy had been praised for their unity and work rate in their opening win over Belgium, but appeared to have no answer to Sweden's organised rearguard until Eder's late intervention. Sweden coach Erik Hamren had criticised their lack of attacking vitality following their opening 1-1 draw with Ireland, and while there was an improvement in their overall performance, Ibrahimovic once again failed to provide a cutting edge and live up to his billing. "We were much better than the Italians for periods, but we didn’t create really dangerous chances," Sweden midfielder Albin Ekdal told Swedish broadcaster SVT. Sweden are still without a shot on target at the tournament, although Martin Olsson proved a menacing threat down the left, sending an effort just over the bar on 18 minutes having set the tone with an early cross that prompted a nervous clearance from Giorgio Chiellini. Olsson's frequent forays left space for Antonio Candreva, but Andreas Isaksson and Erik Johansson combined to clear his testing deliveries, while Ibrahimovic flashed a close-range header wide towards the end of the first half. Having masterminded victory over the Belgians, Conte's tactics were completely neutralised during the opening 45 minutes in Toulouse and his side appeared unsettled as a result. "At halftime Conte told us we were too slow and he was right," Parolo told Rai Sport. "We changed the tempo after the break and we deserved our victory." Conte introduced Simone Zaza in the 60th minute and he had a decisive role in the winner, heading a Chiellini throw in into the path of Eder. The forward then cut in from the left -- evading Andreas Granqvist's attempted tackle -- and sent a curling right-footed shot round Isaksson to take Italy through. (Reuters)

Late goal allows Italy to enter knockout stages of Euro 2016

Italy are wary of the threat that Sweden captain Zlatan Ibrahimovic poses, but they can win Friday&#39;s Euro 2016 match in the same way they defeated Belgium, said midfielder Daniele De Rossi. 
 
The 34-year-old Ibrahimovic, who has scored 62 goals for Sweden, failed to make an impact in his team&#39;s 1-1 draw with Ireland. 
 
De Rossi compared the former Paris St Germain striker to Dutch great Marco van Basten. 
 
&quot;Maybe they have less talent than Belgium so they will probably wait in their half and try to play counterattack with long balls,&quot; De Rossi told reporters in France. 
 
&quot;Ibrahimovic is the best forward since the time of Van Basten, except for Ronaldo, but they are different players. 
 
&quot;We are a little bit scared of his power and his talent but we can beat them the same way that we can beat Belgium with organisation and by working hard on the training pitch.&quot; 
 
Italy, who began their campaign with a 2-0 win over Belgium to top Group E, face Ireland in their final group stage match. 
 
(Reuters)

The 34-year-old Ibrahimovic, who has scored 62 goals for Sweden, failed to make an impact in his team's 1-1 draw with Ireland

Italy are wary of the threat that Sweden captain Zlatan Ibrahimovic poses, but they can win Friday's Euro 2016 match in the same way they defeated Belgium, said midfielder Daniele De Rossi. The 34-year-old Ibrahimovic, who has scored 62 goals for Sweden, failed to make an impact in his team's 1-1 draw with Ireland. De Rossi compared the former Paris St Germain striker to Dutch great Marco van Basten. "Maybe they have less talent than Belgium so they will probably wait in their half and try to play counterattack with long balls," De Rossi told reporters in France. "Ibrahimovic is the best forward since the time of Van Basten, except for Ronaldo, but they are different players. "We are a little bit scared of his power and his talent but we can beat them the same way that we can beat Belgium with organisation and by working hard on the training pitch." Italy, who began their campaign with a 2-0 win over Belgium to top Group E, face Ireland in their final group stage match. (Reuters)

Italy can overcome Ibrahimovic threat to beat Sweden - De Rossi

Mobile telecom gear maker Ericsson forecast a third consecutive year of comparable sales declines on Tuesday, saying it would step up cost cuts in the face of deteriorating market conditions after its results fell short of market expectations. 
 
With demand stagnating in developed markets where the newest networks have mostly already been built, Ericsson is now feeling an additional pinch from lower spending in countries such as Russia, Brazil, the Middle East and Nigeria, hit by weaker currencies and low oil prices. 
 
&quot;This has become even more pronounced during the second quarter, so it has impacted the investment levels at the operators, and that hits the mobile broadband market,&quot; stated Ericsson Chief Financial Officer Jan Frykhammar. 
 
&quot;So that is the most important trend.&quot; 
 
For the past couple of years, Ericsson has been forced to cut its outlook for market growth, weighed down by sluggish demand for its core mobile network base stations. It also has a weaker position than rivals Nokia and Huawei in faster growing areas such IP-based communication. 
 
To offset the shrinking market for mobile infrastructure, Ericsson is investing in new areas to grow sales, such as IP- and cloud-based communication, but so far these are not growing fast enough to compensate. 
 
Like-for-like sales dropped by 7 percent in the quarter, the seventh in a row of declining underlying sales, though CEO Hans Vestberg told a conference call it didn&#39;t appear that Ericsson was losing market share. In 2015, group sales fell 5 percent on a comparable basis after declining 2 percent in 2014. 
 
&quot;The current sales trends and business mix are expected to prevail for the second half of the year,&quot; Ericsson said in a statement. 
 
Cost reduction plan could have far-reaching affects 
 
Operating profit was 2.8 billion Swedish crowns ($327 million) compared with 3.6 billion a year-ago, weighed down by its networks divisions and below a mean forecast of 3.0 billion crowns. 
 
Ericsson said it would roughly double cuts in operating expenses to adapt to a weaker market, meaning annual savings of some 10 billion Swedish crowns from the second half of 2017 compared to 2014, adding that a previously announced cost savings programme was going according to plan. 
 
Ericsson&#39;s beaten-down shares, which dropped 15 percent in a single day in April after weak results, slipped 1 percent to 63.70 crowns. 
 
&quot;While Ericsson seems to be more serious now about its cost reduction efforts, it seems to be chasing a bit of a moving target,&quot; Liberum said in a note to clients. 
 
&quot;The cost reduction plan is expected to show some results which should lead to higher operating margins, though the extent is difficult to predict.&quot; 
 
Ericsson did not say how planned cost cuts would affect jobs but said almost 4,000 employees had left during the quarter though an acquisition had contributed to a net increase in staff. Ericsson employed 116,507 people by June 30, versus 115,300 by the end of the first quarter. 
 
(Reuters) 
&nbsp;

Ericsson feels the pinch of weakening currencies and low oil prices, cost reduction plan could affect more jobs

Mobile telecom gear maker Ericsson forecast a third consecutive year of comparable sales declines on Tuesday, saying it would step up cost cuts in the face of deteriorating market conditions after its results fell short of market expectations. With demand stagnating in developed markets where the newest networks have mostly already been built, Ericsson is now feeling an additional pinch from lower spending in countries such as Russia, Brazil, the Middle East and Nigeria, hit by weaker currencies and low oil prices. "This has become even more pronounced during the second quarter, so it has impacted the investment levels at the operators, and that hits the mobile broadband market," stated Ericsson Chief Financial Officer Jan Frykhammar. "So that is the most important trend." For the past couple of years, Ericsson has been forced to cut its outlook for market growth, weighed down by sluggish demand for its core mobile network base stations. It also has a weaker position than rivals Nokia and Huawei in faster growing areas such IP-based communication. To offset the shrinking market for mobile infrastructure, Ericsson is investing in new areas to grow sales, such as IP- and cloud-based communication, but so far these are not growing fast enough to compensate. Like-for-like sales dropped by 7 percent in the quarter, the seventh in a row of declining underlying sales, though CEO Hans Vestberg told a conference call it didn't appear that Ericsson was losing market share. In 2015, group sales fell 5 percent on a comparable basis after declining 2 percent in 2014. "The current sales trends and business mix are expected to prevail for the second half of the year," Ericsson said in a statement. Cost reduction plan could have far-reaching affects Operating profit was 2.8 billion Swedish crowns ($327 million) compared with 3.6 billion a year-ago, weighed down by its networks divisions and below a mean forecast of 3.0 billion crowns. Ericsson said it would roughly double cuts in operating expenses to adapt to a weaker market, meaning annual savings of some 10 billion Swedish crowns from the second half of 2017 compared to 2014, adding that a previously announced cost savings programme was going according to plan. Ericsson's beaten-down shares, which dropped 15 percent in a single day in April after weak results, slipped 1 percent to 63.70 crowns. "While Ericsson seems to be more serious now about its cost reduction efforts, it seems to be chasing a bit of a moving target," Liberum said in a note to clients. "The cost reduction plan is expected to show some results which should lead to higher operating margins, though the extent is difficult to predict." Ericsson did not say how planned cost cuts would affect jobs but said almost 4,000 employees had left during the quarter though an acquisition had contributed to a net increase in staff. Ericsson employed 116,507 people by June 30, versus 115,300 by the end of the first quarter. (Reuters)

Stagnating sales forces Ericsson to cut costs further

Britain&#39;s vote to leave the European Union fired up populist eurosceptic parties across the continent on Friday, giving fresh voice to their calls to leave the bloc or its Euro currency. 
 
Right-wing and anti-immigrant parties in the Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden and France demanded referendums on membership of the union, while Italy&#39;s 5-Star movement said it would to pursue its own proposal for a vote on the euro. 
 
Geert Wilders, leader of the Dutch anti-immigrant PVV party, said he would make a Dutch referendum on EU membership a central theme of his campaign to become prime minister in next year&#39;s parliamentary election. 
 
&quot;I congratulate the British people for beating the political elite in both London and Brussels and I think we can do the same,&quot; Wilders told Reuters. &quot;We should have a referendum about a &#39;Nexit&#39; as soon as possible.&quot; 
 
On Thursday, Britons voted to leave the 28-nation EU, forcing the resignation of Prime Minister David Cameron and dealing the biggest blow to the European project of greater unity since World War II. 
 
&quot;There is no future any more (for the EU),&quot; Wilders said. 
 
France&#39;s far-right National Front party also called for a French referendum on European Union membership, cheering a Brexit vote it hopes can boost its eurosceptic agenda. 
 
Party leader Marine Le Pen celebrated the result by displaying the British flag on her Twitter page. 
 
&quot;Victory for freedom!&quot; she said. &quot;We now need to hold the same referendum in France and in (other) EU countries.&quot; Her deputy, Florian Philippot said: &quot;Our turn now #Brexit #Frexit.&quot; 
 
Le Pen said last month that if she won next year&#39;s French presidential election she would immediately start negotiations on a series of sovereignty issues including the single currency. If those failed, she would ask voters to back leaving the EU. 
 
She is the front-runner among likely candidates ahead of the vote, although polls see her losing the run-off. 
 
Analysts and a few front-runner officials and allies have said its protectionist, anti-euro policy was partly to blame for holding the party back in the past. But the Brexit vote could help it overcome this, Ifop pollster&#39;s analyst Frederic Dabi said. 
 
OUR TURN 
 
The populist anti-immigration Danish People&#39;s Party (DF), an ally of Denmark&#39;s right-leaning government, also called for a referendum on membership of the European Union. 
 
&quot;I believe that the Danes obviously should have a referendum on whether we want to follow Britain or keep things the way we have it now,&quot; DF party leader Kristian Thulesen Dahl said. 
 
The DF is not in government but is one of three parties supporting the one-party administration. Its call for a popular vote was echoed by the head of the left-wing Red-Green Alliance. 
 
Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen rejected the calls, but acknowledged that the British vote raised the possibility of a &quot;slimmer EU&quot;. 
 
In Sweden, the anti-immigration party the Sweden Democrats, which has the support of around 17 per cent of voters according to a poll last month, said it would step up pressure for change. 
 
&quot;We demand that Sweden immediately starts to renegotiate the (EU) deals we have made and that the Swedish people will be able to speak up about a future EU-membership in a referendum,&quot; party leader Jimme Akesson said. 
 
Italy&#39;s second most popular party, the opposition 5-Star Movement described the Brexit vote as a lesson in democracy and promised to pursue its own proposal for an Italian referendum on the euro. 
 
The party, considered a genuine contender for government at the next general election, wants Italy to hold a &quot;consultative&quot; or non-binding referendum on whether to remain in the euro zone. 
 
&quot;Whether you like it or not the British people have chosen,&quot; said lower house deputy Alessandro Di Battista, a member of 5-Star&#39;s leadership committee. 
 
The right-wing Northern League, a member of Italy&#39;s opposition centre-right, was more outspoken. &quot;Thank you Great Britain, next it is our turn,&quot; party leader Matteo Salvini said. 
 
(Reuters)

Dutch, Swedish and French right-wing parties demand independent referendums following Britain's exit from the European Union

Britain's vote to leave the European Union fired up populist eurosceptic parties across the continent on Friday, giving fresh voice to their calls to leave the bloc or its Euro currency. Right-wing and anti-immigrant parties in the Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden and France demanded referendums on membership of the union, while Italy's 5-Star movement said it would to pursue its own proposal for a vote on the euro. Geert Wilders, leader of the Dutch anti-immigrant PVV party, said he would make a Dutch referendum on EU membership a central theme of his campaign to become prime minister in next year's parliamentary election. "I congratulate the British people for beating the political elite in both London and Brussels and I think we can do the same," Wilders told Reuters. "We should have a referendum about a 'Nexit' as soon as possible." On Thursday, Britons voted to leave the 28-nation EU, forcing the resignation of Prime Minister David Cameron and dealing the biggest blow to the European project of greater unity since World War II. "There is no future any more (for the EU)," Wilders said. France's far-right National Front party also called for a French referendum on European Union membership, cheering a Brexit vote it hopes can boost its eurosceptic agenda. Party leader Marine Le Pen celebrated the result by displaying the British flag on her Twitter page. "Victory for freedom!" she said. "We now need to hold the same referendum in France and in (other) EU countries." Her deputy, Florian Philippot said: "Our turn now #Brexit #Frexit." Le Pen said last month that if she won next year's French presidential election she would immediately start negotiations on a series of sovereignty issues including the single currency. If those failed, she would ask voters to back leaving the EU. She is the front-runner among likely candidates ahead of the vote, although polls see her losing the run-off. Analysts and a few front-runner officials and allies have said its protectionist, anti-euro policy was partly to blame for holding the party back in the past. But the Brexit vote could help it overcome this, Ifop pollster's analyst Frederic Dabi said. OUR TURN The populist anti-immigration Danish People's Party (DF), an ally of Denmark's right-leaning government, also called for a referendum on membership of the European Union. "I believe that the Danes obviously should have a referendum on whether we want to follow Britain or keep things the way we have it now," DF party leader Kristian Thulesen Dahl said. The DF is not in government but is one of three parties supporting the one-party administration. Its call for a popular vote was echoed by the head of the left-wing Red-Green Alliance. Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen rejected the calls, but acknowledged that the British vote raised the possibility of a "slimmer EU". In Sweden, the anti-immigration party the Sweden Democrats, which has the support of around 17 per cent of voters according to a poll last month, said it would step up pressure for change. "We demand that Sweden immediately starts to renegotiate the (EU) deals we have made and that the Swedish people will be able to speak up about a future EU-membership in a referendum," party leader Jimme Akesson said. Italy's second most popular party, the opposition 5-Star Movement described the Brexit vote as a lesson in democracy and promised to pursue its own proposal for an Italian referendum on the euro. The party, considered a genuine contender for government at the next general election, wants Italy to hold a "consultative" or non-binding referendum on whether to remain in the euro zone. "Whether you like it or not the British people have chosen," said lower house deputy Alessandro Di Battista, a member of 5-Star's leadership committee. The right-wing Northern League, a member of Italy's opposition centre-right, was more outspoken. "Thank you Great Britain, next it is our turn," party leader Matteo Salvini said. (Reuters)

Nexit, Frexit or Italeave? British vote fires up EU's 'Outers'

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