News

Finland to officially join NATO

Published

3 years ago

April 4, 2023

The nation will become the 31st member state to be a part of the alliance

Finland will officially become NATO’s 31st member state on Tuesday, marking the completion of a swift journey into the military alliance following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The Nordic country has an 1,300-kilometre border with Russia, meaning NATO’s frontier with Russia will roughly double in length.

Finland had applied to join NATO alongside its neighbour Sweden as Russia’s offensive in Ukraine intensified.

The last hurdle to membership was removed last week when Turkey’s parliament voted to ratify Helsinki’s application even as it kept Sweden’s bid on hold.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg hailed the move as “historic” at a press conference in Brussels.

“We should not leave the impression they made that Sweden is left alone. No, Sweden is very much inside NATO, integrated into military, civilian structures.

“(NATO) allies are ready to act, and it’s inconceivable that there were going to be any threats or military attacks against Sweden without NATO reacting, and even more so with Finland as a full member.”

Turkey and Hungary continue to hold up Sweden’s membership.

In response to the news of Finland’s accession, Moscow vowed to beef up its forces in border regions.

News

Iran live updates: Trump claims Khamenei dead as Iran insists he remains in command

Published

22 hours ago

March 1, 2026

Ahron Young

What’s happening in the Middle East?

President Donald Trump says Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has been killed.
Trump describes the moment as the greatest opportunity for the Iranian people to “take back their country”.
Iran insists its leader is “firmly commanding the field”.
Israel and the U.S. have carried out strikes on Iran.
Impacts have been reported in Israel and across Gulf states as Iran launches retaliatory attacks.
The escalation has sparked fear and panic, with civilians fleeing major cities.

News

U.S. and Israel strike Iran as missiles hit Gulf bases and oil surges

U.S. and Israel launch major military operation against Iran; tensions rise as conflict escalates, impacting global markets.

Published

22 hours ago

March 1, 2026

Ahron Young

U.S. and Israel launch major military operation against Iran; tensions rise as conflict escalates, impacting global markets.

The United States and Israel have launched a sweeping military operation against Iran, striking leadership targets and more than 500 military sites in what President Trump has dubbed Operation Epic Fury.

Explosions have rocked Tehran, with civilians fleeing the capital as U.S. sea and air assets carry out sustained attacks. Washington says the mission is designed to prevent a nuclear armed Iran and has even called on Iranians to rise up against the regime.

Iran has retaliated with a barrage of missiles and drones targeting Israel and U.S. bases across the region, including in Qatar, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain. While many projectiles were intercepted, a U.S. base in Bahrain sustained damage.

Gulf states long seen as stable hubs for global business are now directly in the firing line, raising fears of a wider regional war.

Oil prices are climbing and tankers are diverting from the Strait of Hormuz as markets react to the escalating conflict. U.S. aircraft carriers, advanced fighter jets and missile destroyers remain in position, signalling more strikes could follow.

With global leaders scrambling diplomatically, the world is watching to see whether this spirals further or shifts back to negotiations.

News

Iran warns ships to avoid Strait of Hormuz

Iran warns ships to avoid Strait of Hormuz amid rising tensions and military buildup in the region

Published

24 hours ago

March 1, 2026

Ahron Young

Iran warns ships to avoid Strait of Hormuz amid rising tensions and military buildup in the region

In Short:
– Iran’s Guard Corps advises ships to avoid the Strait of Hormuz due to rising tensions.
– Tankers have diverted to Qatar and UAE amidst concerns over safety and potential Iranian threats.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has instructed ships to avoid the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial shipping lane linking to the Persian Gulf. About a hundred merchant vessels transit the strait daily, according to the U.S.Tensions have escalated recently as the U.S. increased military presence in the region and Iran issued threats. Western nations are concerned about Iran potentially laying sea mines to disrupt commercial traffic. Currently, no evidence suggests Iran has mined the strait.

Ships have been repeatedly warned against entering the strait, as stated by crews in the area and the European Union’s naval command, Aspides. On Saturday, dozens of tankers diverted, with some seeking refuge in Qatar and the United Arab Emirates while others opted to steer clear of the region, as reported by oil brokers and shipowners.

Shipping Concerns

Tensions continue to impact shipping operations as carriers remain cautious in the Gulf region.

Tanker crews reported hearing explosions near Iran’s Kharg Island, which is vital for the country’s oil exports, as it handles 90% of its crude oil shipments.