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       The US Justice Department and eight states are suing Google alleging that the tech giant is harming competition by monopolising online advertising.

       The department's suit accuses Google of unlawfully controlling the way ads are served online by excluding competitors.

       This includes its 2008 acquisition of DoubleClick, a dominant ad server, and subsequent rollout of technology that locks in the split-second bidding process for ads that get served on web pages.

       The government also says Google’s plan to assert dominance has been to “neutralise or eliminate” rivals through acquisitions and to force advertisers to use its products by making it difficult to use competitors’ products.

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       As a minimum, the lawsuit is aimed at making Google split off its advertising business - its ad manager suite and ad exchange - as well as “any additional structural relief as needed to cure any anticompetitive harm."

       Representatives for Alphabet Inc., Google’s parent company, said the suit “doubles down on a flawed argument that would slow innovation, raise advertising fees, and make it harder for thousands of small businesses and publishers to grow.”

       This is the latest legal action taken against Google by either the US Justice Department or local state governments.

       In October 2020, the Trump administration and eleven state attorney generals sued Google for violating antitrust laws, alleging anticompetitive practices in the search and search advertising markets.

       The states taking part in this latest suit include California, Virginia, Connecticut, Colorado, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island and Tennessee.

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       Finland's president is calling for a pause on trilateral talks with Turkey over its NATO bid together with Sweden.

       "About the NATO membership, we have to take it calmly and we have to wait for the elections in Turkey to take place," president Sauli Niinisto said. Turkey's parliamentary elections are not due until mid-June 2023.

       It follows the Finnish Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto who on Tuesday hinted that Helsinki was thinking about joining the military alliance without Sweden.

       Haavisto said that both Nordic nations joining NATO together was "absolutely the number one option," but that "we have to be ready to evaluate the situation."

       He was later asked to clarify on his comments at a hastily prepared press conference. Haavisto conceded that he had been “imprecise”, adding that Helsinki was merely planning for every potential outcome that might unfold in the application process – including a solo push forward in its own NATO bid.

       The stance also follows Turkey's move to stall Sweden's bid, in an angry reaction to an anti-Turkey protest that took place in Stockholm. The protest sparked outrage in Turkey after a Danish extremist burned a copy of the Quran outside the Turkish Embassy in the Swedish capital.

       The latest hold-up raises doubts about the two Nordic nations becoming NATO members together.

       Finland suggests it may consider joining NATO without Sweden 'Kremlin would love it': Finland wants to join NATO with Sweden but could go solo

       Sweden calls for a return to the drawing table

       In a bid to cool tensions with Ankara, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson says that he wants to re-establish "dialogue" with Turkey.

       “I want to urge for calm in this process because I want to return to functioning talks on the issues where we agreed that we have made progress. Sweden and Finland and Turkey have a trilateral agreement and it is going well. It is obvious that we do not think alike on all issues. We have different legislation in our countries,” Kristersson says.

       Kristersson continues: “I think, as someone said, I would have two thoughts in my head: we are fully committed to Swedish freedom of expression and we are very keen to complete NATO membership together with Finland.”

       Both Sweden and Finland launched their bid to join NATO when Russia invaded Ukraine nearly a year ago.

       Turkey however has refused to approve their bid until the two countries take steps, including joining Turkey's fight against banned Kurdish militants.

       Watch the video in the player above.

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       International reluctance to ramp up tank and military supplies appears to be eroding. According to reports, it is now believed the Biden administration is willing to make a U-turn and approve sending M1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine.

       The White House on Tuesday however refused to confirm such reports.

       Asked about it at the White House briefing, press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said she didn't "have anything to share." But she underscored that the Pentagon "never ruled out tanks."

       "I just want to make that very clear. I think what my colleagues at the DOD (Department of Defence) have said in the past, well very recently, is that there's there were always challenges with tanks, but not going to preview anything," she said.

       Pentagon press secretary Gen. Pat Ryder added that they “had nothing to announce today in terms of the M1s”, but added that “we continue to have a very robust dialogue with Ukraine and our international allies and partners to focus on what their immediate battle-term battlefield needs are now in the near term.”

       Not a 'magic bullet': military experts weigh in on how western tanks could help Ukraine’s defence

       Germany also to give green light to send tanks

       The US announcement is expected in coordination with an announcement by Germany that it will approve Poland's request to transfer German-made Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine, according to one official.

       The report which broke by Der Spiegel in Germany, says Berlin is planning to supply at least 14 Leopard 2 A6 tanks.

       Germany has been reluctant to make a move so far, saying that it would not supply western tanks to Ukraine with any agreement with Kyiv’s main allies, particularly the United States.

       Earlier this week, Germany's Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said her government wouldn't "stand in the way" if Poland were to give Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine without its authorisation.

       Poland had been urging Germany to make a decision regarding the supply of the highly-sophisticated armoured vehicles – a point echoed and amplified by Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

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       "It is not about five, or ten, or fifteen tanks. The need is greater. We are doing what is necessary every day to fill the deficit. I thank everyone who supports us in this. However, discussions must end with decisions. Decisions on strengthening our defence against terrorists," Zelenskyy says.

       Kyiv expects the fighting to intensify and says these tanks would provide more protection and mobility.

       Watch our Euronews report in the video player above.