US and French leaders state commitment to protect ‘Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity’

National Reconnaissance Office says Falcon 9 took off at 12:27 pm local time from Vandenberg Air Force base in California

Body also calls for release of Nobel prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, former president Win Myint

Storm did not pass directly over island as feared, PM says

Heatwaves account for 91% of deaths, with one killing 80,000 people in 2003

PM announces five-step plan to ease restrictions, reopen borders

Moscow condemns move as ‘destructive’, says it would make compromise harder

Nightclubs will stay shut until end-March, however, says Prime Minister Sanna Marin

Cash-strapped nation is facing rolling blackouts, with households also struggling to source cooking gas, kerosene

Face masks outdoors no longer mandatory as part of relaxation of measures

Nato leaders intensify diplomatic efforts as Russian president leaves room for further talks

Next year, France’s capital intends to ban all gasoline cars made before January 2006, all diesel cars before 2011

Healthcare system ‘coping’, says federal health regulator head Anna Popova