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

WASHINGTON (AP) — Sweden has formally joined NATO as the 32nd member of the transatlantic military alliance, ending decades of post-World War II neutrality and centuries of broader non-alignment. Sweden’s membership comes as concerns about Russian aggression in Europe have spiked following Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken presided at a Washington ceremony Thursday when the “instrument of accession” for Sweden to join NATO was deposited at the State Department.

287 students abducted by gunmen in the latest school attack in Nigeria’s northwest

ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — A school headteacher in northwestern Nigeria says gunmen who attacked the school abducted 287 students as they were about to start classes. It marks the second mass abduction in the West African nation in less than a week. Locals told The Associated Press the assailants surrounded the government-owned school in Kaduna State’s Kuriga town on Thursday morning just as the pupils were about to start the school day. Dozens of armed groups in the northwest and central regions target villagers and travelers for huge ransoms.

6 dead after mass stabbing at Ottawa home

TORONTO (AP) — Canadian police say a 19-year-old student from Sri Lanka is accused of stabbing and killing six people he lived with, including four children from a Sri Lankan family. Ottawa police chief Eric Stubbs says a “edged weapon” or “knife like object” was used by the 19-year-old suspect. Stubbs says the deceased are Sri Lankan nationals who recently came to Canada. They include a 35-year-old mother, a 7-year-old son, a 4-year-old daughter, a 2-year-old daughter and a 2/12-month baby girl as well as a 40-year-old acquaintance of the family.

Haiti extends a state of emergency and nighttime curfew

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — Haiti’s government says it is extending a state of emergency and nighttime curfew to try and curb violent gang attacks that have paralyzed the capital of Port-au-Prince in a fierce political battle for power. An initial three-day curfew was announced over the weekend, but gangs have continued to attack police stations and other state institutions at night as Haiti’s National Police struggles to contain the violence with limited staff and resources. with limited staff and resources.