 Finnish President Sauli Nynisto confirms that talks between Finland and Turkey on NATO membership have begun, but he says reaching an agreement at a planned NATO meeting this month may be difficult. Ukrainian military officials say heavy fighting is continuing in the city of Siviro-Donetsk, as Russian forces try to push further into the Luhansk area. In Britain, railway workers begin a three-day strike after last-minute negotiations between the Union and train companies failed. And in southern China, heavy rains cause major flooding and landslides in three southern provinces.