President Joe Biden plans to host Sweden’s prime minister at the White House on Wednesday in a show of solidarity as the United States presses for the Nordic nation’s entry into NATO, a week before the alliance's summit. Biden and Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson will “review our growing security cooperation and reaffirm their view that Sweden should join NATO as soon as possible,” the White House said a statement announcing the meeting. The leaders also will discuss the war in Ukraine and matters involving China. Sweden and neighbor Finland ended their longstanding policy of military nonalignment after Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. Both applied for NATO membership, seeking protection under the organization’s security umbrella. Finland, which shares a more than 800-mile or 1,300-kilometer border with Russia, joined NATO in April. But Sweden, which has avoided military alliances for more than 200 years, has seen its ascension delayed by Turkey and Hungary; NATO requires the unanimous approval of all members to expand. NATO had hoped the road to Sweden’s membership would be smoothed out before the alliance’s summit July 11-12 in Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania. Sweden’s entry would be a symbolically powerful moment and the latest indication of how Russia’s war is driving countries to join the alliance. Those hopes have dimmed. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has resisted, with his government accusing Sweden of being too lenient toward groups that it says pose a security threat, including militant Kurdish organizations and people associated with a 2016 coup attempt in Turkey. Last week, he condemned Sweden over a Quran-burning protest. Swedish police allowed the protest outside a mosque in central Stockholm, citing freedom of speech after a court overturned a ban on a similar Quran-burning. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said he would gather senior officials from Turkey, Sweden and Finland on Thursday to try to overcome Turkey’s objections. Hungary also has yet to ratify Sweden’s bid. Hungarian lawmakers said a long-delayed parliamentary vote on that would not happen until the autumn legislative session. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s government has alleged that Swedish politicians have told “blatant lies” about the condition of Hungary's democracy. High-ranking Hungarian officials have said they support Sweden’s membership bid while also making vague demands from Stockholm as conditions for approval. Read More Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide

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A pensioner arrested after a British schoolgirl was shot dead in France had allegedly been in a dispute with the neighbouring family for years. Details of the build-up to Saturday’s attack emerged following the killing of the 11-year-old - who has been named as Solenne Thornton by French authorities. Her parents were also shot during while enjoying a family barbecue in the French hamlet of Saint-Herbot. The victim’s father Adrien Thornton is in critical condition and her mother Rachel was also wounded. Solenne’s sister Celeste watched in horror as her older sibling was shot while playing on swings, before the eight-year-old ran from the scene screaming: “My sister is dead, my sister is dead.” French police launched an investigation for the murder of a child under 15, and two attempted murders. A 71-year-old Dutchman, who has not been named, is in custody along with his wife after both were arrested by firearms officers. Have you been affected by this story? If so email tara.cobham@independent.co.uk Officers from the GIGN – the Gendarme National Intervention Group – arrived to support local police during the fatal incident. “The shooter locked himself in his home after the shooting so there was a brief siege,” a source said. “After some negotiation, the suspect gave himself up without a struggle, and he was arrested, alongside his wife. He had retired to Saint-Herbot around six years ago.” Marguerite Bleuzen, Mayor of Plonévez-du-Faou, revealed there had been ‘some trouble with a neighbour dispute’ between the two families since at least 2020, while locals claimed the pensioner had previously threatened the family with a .22 rifle the same year. “That’s what the dispute three years ago was all about – police were called because he was threatening the family with his rifle,” one unnamed resident said. “The two families were always arguing, and the rifle escalated matters, but nobody ever believed that he would use it.” The weapon was a licensed hunting rifle, and no effort was made to confiscate it by the police, or council officials. The Dutchman - whose wife was said to be a “pleasant neighbour who said hello to people” - was described as “gruff and withdrawn”, regularly complaining about the family cutting down trees to make way for children’s play equipment, including swings. “He was also regularly upset about the noise the family made, even though it didn’t bother anyone else – it was mainly just kids having a nice time,” a resident said. Following an official intervention three years ago, there had been “no emergency”, but Ms Bleuzen was aware that arguments continued to simmer. “I intervened with my deputies when we were elected,” she said. “There was a problem with the land around their properties, and with noise pollution – it started from there. “I think they all had a little trouble getting on with each other.” Ms Bleuzen added: “The family was well known and liked. There is a village fête every year and they always came. “It’s incomprehensible to have shot a child. No one can understand how that could have happened.” All of the Thorntons were in the garden of their property when shots were fired at around 9pm on Saturday. They had lived in the property – a converted sawmill close to the local Catholic Church – for around five years. Mr Thornton was well known around the hamlet and surrounding countryside for helping out with DIY tasks, while Mrs Thornton was a home help. Solenne was believed to be a pupil at Jean Jaurès College, in the town of Huelgoat. Quimper prosecutor Carine Halley said: “An investigation has been opened into the murder of a minor under 15, and two attempted murders.” She said she believed the Thorntons were originally from the Manchester area. The UK Foreign Office said it aware of the shooting and “offering consulate assistance”. Read More Watchdog: Nuclear states modernize their weapons, Chinese arsenal is growing Paris street submerged by water as heavy rain hits French capital From GPS-guided bombs to electronic warfare, Russia improves its weaponry in Ukraine France shooting – latest: British girl killed during barbecue in Brittany as father fights for life British girl, 11, shot dead as she played on swings in family home in France Man accused of knife attack on four children in Annecy held on attempted murder charges

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