Senators overwhelmingly back Finland and Sweden’s accession, while shooting down an amendment seeking to limit NATO’s war powers The US Senate has voted overwhelmingly to ratify Sweden and Finland’s membership of NATO, another step toward expanding the US-led military bloc after its 30 members formally committed to the move.

The EU’s largest economy has struggled amid the continuing recession, economists say Business sentiment in Germany has worsened for the first time since August, with the country likely facing a longer recession contrary to the expectations of analysts, a survey showed this week.

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