Finland and Sweden one step closer to NATO membership as Turkey agrees

Published

4 years ago

June 29, 2022

Finland and Sweden are one step closer to NATO membership after Turkey officially agrees to support their nominations

Turkey has officially agreed to support Finland and Sweden’s NATO membership applications, paving the way for the two Nordic nations to join the strategic alliance.

Lifting its veto, Turkey has now ended a weeks-long debate which has tested Western unity over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Finland’s President says the breakthrough comes after the three nations signed a joint memorandum to extend support against threats to each other’s security.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg says the memorandum addresses Turkey’s concerns.

FILE PHOTO: NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg speaks during a news conference on the eve of a NATO summit, amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, in Brussels, Belgium March 23, 2022. REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes/File Photo

“I am pleased to announce that we now have an agreement that paves the way for Finland and Sweden to join NATO,” he told reporters at the NATO summit in Madrid.

“Turkey, Finland and Sweden have signed a memorandum that addresses Turkey’s concerns, including around arms exports and the fight against terrorism,”
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg

This all happened just hours before a NATO summit began in Madrid, with leaders hoping to display unity in the face of Russian aggression.

Finland and Sweden’s application to join the nuclear-armed alliance is the biggest shift in European security in decades.

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed the leaders of the G7 nations on Monday, pressing them for more heavy weaponry and help to end the war before winter sets in.

It comes as Russia defaults on debt for the first time in a century.

Australia shuts millions of teen social media accounts

Australia’s social media ban leads to 4.7 million teen account closures, prompting debate over online safety and freedom.

Published

20 hours ago

January 16, 2026

Harvey Vargas

Australia’s social media ban leads to 4.7 million teen account closures, prompting debate over online safety and freedom.

Nearly five million social media accounts belonging to Australian teenagers have been closed since the nation’s social media ban began in December. Platforms such as Instagram and TikTok were responsible for removing around 4.7 million accounts held by minors, according to the eSafety Commissioner.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described the figures as encouraging, highlighting the government’s commitment to protecting children online. The new law holds social media companies accountable, with fines imposed on platforms that fail to prevent underage accounts from being created or maintained.

Despite these measures, some teenagers have reportedly bypassed the restrictions by falsifying their ages or using parental information. The debate continues over the effectiveness of these regulations and the balance between safety and online freedom.

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#AustraliaNews #SocialMediaBan #TeenSafety #eSafety #Instagram #TikTok #OnlineProtection #TechLaw

News

Iran protests and the global fight for freedom

Protests in Iran escalate as citizens demand women’s rights; Rabbi Cooper discusses global solidarity and advocacy efforts.

Published

2 days ago

January 15, 2026

Harvey Vargas

Protests in Iran escalate as citizens demand women’s rights; Rabbi Cooper discusses global solidarity and advocacy efforts.

Amid escalating protests in Iran, citizens are risking everything to demand women’s rights and basic freedoms. The world watches as these demonstrations grow, with many hoping for meaningful change in the face of a brutal regime.

We speak with Rabbi Abraham Cooper from the Simon Wiesenthal Center about the advocacy work supporting Iranian voices and the historical context of defending human rights. He explains the vital role of international solidarity and how governments and communities can respond.

From the human cost on the ground to the influence of the Iranian diaspora in Los Angeles, this interview sheds light on the stakes, the movement, and why public attention is critical.

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#IranProtests #HumanRights #WomensRights #FreedomMovement #IranNews #SimonWiesenthal #TickerNews #GlobalSolidarity

News

Greenland and Denmark signal security divide with the United States

Greenland, Denmark assert Arctic island not for sale, emphasizing cooperation with the US on their own terms.

Published

2 days ago

January 15, 2026

Harvey Vargas

Greenland, Denmark assert Arctic island not for sale, emphasizing cooperation with the US on their own terms.

Greenland and Denmark have used high-level talks in Washington, D.C. to firmly restate that the Arctic island is not for sale, pushing back against long-standing US interest in the strategically vital territory.

Foreign ministers from both Greenland and Denmark acknowledged that major disagreements remain following discussions with US officials, despite what they described as constructive engagement on shared priorities.

Greenland’s government made clear it is open to closer cooperation with Washington, but only on its own terms, rejecting any suggestion of ownership or control.

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#Greenland #Denmark #UnitedStates #Geopolitics #ArcticPolitics #WorldNews #Security #Ticker