FINLAND

Turkey’s president has reaffirmed that Turkey won’t allow Sweden to join the NATO military alliance as long as it permits protests desecrating Islam’s holy book

Turkey's president has reaffirmed that Turkey won’t allow Sweden to join the NATO military alliance as long as it permits protests desecrating Islam’s holy book.

Erdogan, angry at Sweden's government for a number of reasons, is poised to make or break both countries' NATO accession plans.

Turkey’s foreign minister says his country could greenlight Finland’s membership in NATO before that of Sweden, if the military alliance and the Nordic countries agree to it

The president said he would not support Sweden's bid until it extradited dozens of "terrorists".

Turkey’s president has suggested his country might approve Finland’s application for NATO membership before taking any action on Sweden’s.

Turkey's president has suggested his country might approve Finland's application for NATO membership before taking any action on Sweden's, while the Turkish government issued a travel warning for European countries due to anti-Turkish demonstrations and what it described as Islamophobia. The travel warning published late Saturday followed demonstrations last weekend outside the Turkish Embassy in Sweden, where an anti-Islam activist burned the Quran and pro-Kurdish groups protested against Turkey. The events stiffened Turkey's refusal so far to ratify Sweden's NATO bid.

When NATO invited Sweden and Finland into the military alliance in June, its leaders hailed a “historic decision” that showed their collective determination to face down Russian aggression in Ukraine. But the expansion plan has gone nowhere, with Turkey refusing to allow Sweden to join unless it does more to crack down on groups outlawed in Turkey, including the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, the PKK. As the dispute drags on, it’s complicating efforts to present a united front against Moscow.

In blocking membership for Sweden and Finland, Turkey’s leader is putting his political self-interest over the alliance’s security.

Finland’s top diplomat appears to have suggested that the country may have to join NATO without Sweden, after Turkey’s president cast doubt on expansion of the military alliance

Sweden and Finland have worked to try and improve their relations with Turkey, but recent events have thrown fresh wrenches into any hopes for progress.

France's president details plans for a seven-year budget of €413bn to transform its armed forces.

Ankara has been one of the most steadfast members of the alliance for seven decades, but it doesn’t want to force the alliance to make a tough choice.

The Biden administration says it's time for Turkey to ratify Finland and Sweden's applications to join NATO.

The Biden administration said Thursday it’s time for Turkey to ratify Finland and Sweden’s applications to join NATO, bluntly saying that holdout members of the alliance should quickly approve their memberships. The State Department said Secretary of State Antony Blinken had affirmed resolute support for Finland and Sweden in phone calls with their foreign ministers and said the U.S. places great importance on “remaining allies quickly ratifying their accession.”

The Finnish embassy in London allows diplomats to relax while they wrestle with international issues.

A senior Turkish official says Sweden and Finland are unlikely to be able to join NATO before June.

They will look to punch their tickets to their Gold Medal Game in very similar-looking semifinals on Saturday. In the first 14 tournaments, they have made it to the Gold Medal Game each time, winning gold eight times. ETStream: ESPN+Unlike their run to the gold medal last summer, Canada looks dominant heading into the semifinals. Canada is trying to make it to the championship game for the 14th time in their history at the U18s. Suomi has never made it to the Gold Medal Game in the history of the Under-18s.

Here is what reliable sources say is supporting Finnish (and more generally, Nordic) contentment.

Scientists studied 1,000 dogs from 13 different breeds to determine how they measured up in 10 different intelligence tests.

This year’s edition of the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship has been anything but ordinary. Watch the World Juniors on FuboTV (Free Trial) and ESPN+SWEDEN vs. FINLANDWhen: Monday, January 2Where: Avenier Centre (Moncton, N.B.) SWITZERLAND vs. CZECHIACzechia stunned everyone when they took down the Canadians, 5-2, on the opening day of the World Juniors. SLOVAKIA vs. CANADAAnother year, another World Juniors where Canada is expected to win gold. Watch the World Juniors on FuboTV (Free Trial) and ESPN+Check out the WJC schedule and results here

Turkey’s foreign minister has called the refusal of Sweden’s top court to extradite a man wanted by Turkey a “very negative development,” as Ankara continues to delay Sweden and Finland’s membership in NATO

Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the United States is confident that Finland and Sweden will be approved soon for membership in NATO despite ratification delays in allies Turkey and Hungary.

Ankara is holding up expansion of the Western alliance, and the Biden administration may have to step in to get the deal done.

Mevlut Cavusoglu has declared Finland must lift the arms embargo on Turkey to join NATO. Cavusoglu made the comments when he met with Finland’s Defense Minister Antti Kaikkonen.

Turkey’s foreign minister says Finland must publicly declare that it’s lifting an arms embargo on Turkey to win Ankara’s approval for its membership into NATO

Turkey has welcomed Sweden’s extradition of a convicted member of an outlawed militant group, calling it a “start” that shows Stockholm’s sincerity in assuaging Turkey’s security concerns

Turkey’s foreign minister says Sweden and Finland have made some progress in meeting Turkey’s security concerns but still need to undertake “concrete steps” to win Ankara’s approval for their NATO membership bids

Finland’s leader says it must give more weapons and support to Ukraine to ensure it wins its war against Russia

Finland’s leader says it must give more weapons and support to Ukraine to ensure it wins its war against Russia.

Finland's leader says it must give more weapons and support to Ukraine to ensure it wins its war against Russia. Prime Minister Sanna Marin made the comments Wednesday in Auckland on the first-ever visit by a Finnish prime minister to New Zealand and Australia. Among the aims of the visit are improving diplomatic relations and trade ties.

The boss of European digital insurance startup Wefox decried how tech companies have laid off workers en masse.

After reducing headcount by about 10%, CEO Sebastian Siemiatkowski said Klarna will return to profitability on a monthly basis by summer 2023.

Sequoia Capital partner Doug Leone warned today's economic downturn was "more difficult and more challenging" than recessions in 2000 and 2008.

World Cup champion champion Mikaela Shiffrin of the United States has claimed the season-opening women’s World Cup race for her 48th slalom victory.

If Russia’s invasion of Ukraine was supposed to weaken NATO and stop its eastward expansion -- one rationalization offered by President Vladimir Putin -- it seems to have backfired. Rather than exploit tensions within the alliance, Russia’s war seemingly strengthened it, with Finland and Sweden, two close neighbors of Russia, seeking to join. The countries that make up NATO have not fired a shot as part of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. But the alliance came close to being pulled in when a Russian

If Russia’s invasion of Ukraine was supposed to weaken NATO and stop its eastward expansion -- one rationalization offered by President Vladimir Putin -- it seems to have backfired. Rather than exploit tensions within the alliance, Russia’s war seemingly strengthened it, with Finland and Sweden, two close neighbors of Russia, seeking to join. The countries that make up NATO have not fired a shot as part of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. But the alliance faces a new test now that Russian missiles w

If Russia’s invasion of Ukraine was supposed to weaken NATO and stop its eastward expansion -- one rationalization offered by President Vladimir Putin -- it seems to have backfired. Rather than exploit tensions within the alliance, Russia’s war seemingly strengthened it, with Finland and Sweden, two close neighbors of Russia, seeking to join. The countries that make up NATO have not fired a shot as part of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. But the alliance faces a new test now that Russian missiles w

Sweden’s new prime minister, Ulf Kristersson, is meeting Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in a bid to clinch Turkish approval for his country’s bid to join NATO

A top Turkish official says Sweden has “many steps to take” before winning Turkey's approval for its NATO membership bid.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg is urging Turkey to set aside its reservations over Finland and Sweden joining the military alliance.

You might associate the northern lights with Finland, Norway and Sweden, but you can see this stunning celestial show much closer to home.

Fighting around Ukraine’s nuclear power installations and Russia’s threats to use nuclear weapons have reawakened nuclear fears in Europe.

Finland’s prime minister says she was convinced that there is a “wide support” within the Parliament to build a fence on the Nordic country’s border with Russia as proposed by the Finnish border guard officials.

Finland’s prime minister said Tuesday she was convinced that there is a “wide support” within the Parliament to build a fence on the Nordic country’s border with Russia as proposed by the Finnish border guard officials. “It is a question of securing proper surveillance of Finland’s (eastern) border in the future,” Prime Minister Sanna Marin told reporters at the legislature before a meeting with parliamentary groups on the border fence issue. The Finnish Border Guard had earlier suggested covering parts of the 1,340-kilometer (830-mile) border Finland shares with Russia, the longest of any European Union member, to help in preventing possible large-scale and illegal migration — a concern that has grown in Helsinki amid Russia's war in Ukraine.

The men "held a two-man referendum on annexing the parking spot for Ukraine" and got to work. The city of Turku decided not to correct it.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Thursday his country has a different view towards Sweden and Finland and suggested the Nordic countries should join NATO separately.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says there is a difference in the approaches of Sweden and Finland to meeting Turkey’s security demands for them to join NATO

Europe is concerned about absorbing more immigrants, but trying to stop the exodus will only help Putin and hurt the West.

The Finnish-Russia border has been closed to Russians with tourist visas, curtailing one of the last easily accessible routes to Europe for Russians trying to flee a military mobilization

Firms behind innovative fibres says they can make fashion a more sustainable business.

New public buildings in Finland have to incorporate more wood, which is leading builders to innovate.

Netflix announced that it will be opening an internal game studio in Finland as the streaming giant tries to boost its gaming audience.

The human rights group OVD-Info said that more than 2,300 Russians have been arrested during protests over Putin's mobilization order this week.

Finland became the latest European nation to close its borders to Russia's as thousands attempt to flee following Putin's order to send more conscripts to Ukraine.

Finland became the latest European nation to close its borders to Russia's as thousands attempt to flee following Putin's order to send more conscripts to Ukraine.

The Nashville Predators are set to hire former goalie Pekka Rinne as a special alumni adviser following his retirement from the NHL in 2021.

Art works by the American actor and Australian musician are featured in an exhibition of sculptures and ceramics. Both acknowledged being excited and nervous about presenting their art in public.

For a versatile side dish, watch how Martha cooks plain white rice to fluffy perfection . A touch of butter and salt makes all the difference in her foolproof rice recipe. This family-friendly side dish in this video can be ready in a quick 16 minutes, so it’s never too late to serve it with almost any meal.

Hollywood's Brad Pitt and Australian musician Nick Cave have debuted as artists in an exhibition in Finland that displays sculptures and ceramics created by the movie star and the singer-songwriter. The Sara Hilden Art Museum, located in the southern Finnish city of Tampere, was initially scheduled to exhibit solely the wide variety of works by British artist Thomas Houseago — known for his sculptures — but he reportedly persuaded the museum include works by his friends Pitt and Cave. “Cave and Pitt are already renowned in their respective fields of music and cinema, but this is the first time ever they have exhibited their artwork — pieces which were created during the course of an ongoing dialogue with Houseago,” the Finnish museum said.

Starting Thursday, Finland will only permit Russians to apply for tourist visas once a week and in just four Russian cities.

European Union countries have agreed on the need to make it harder for Russian citizens to enter the 27-nation bloc.

European Union nations are divided over whether to slap a broad visa ban on Russian citizens over the war in Ukraine.

Chase Elliott has won the NASCAR Cup pole at Watkins Glen International, edging Hendrick Motorsports teammate Kyle Larson for the top spot.

The Champions League is staying on CBS in the United States for six more years.

President Joe Biden formally welcomed Finland and Sweden joining the NATO alliance Tuesday as he signed the instruments of ratification that delivered the U.S.’s formal backing of the Nordic nations entering the mutual defense pact.

Estonia and Finland want European countries to stop issuing tourist visas to Russians amid the war in Ukraine.

U.S. Senators delivered an overwhelming bipartisan vote ratifying NATO membership for Finland and Sweden.

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee has given easy bipartisan approval to admitting Finland and Sweden into NATO.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says his country can still “freeze” Sweden and Finland’s membership in NATO unless the two countries take steps that meet Ankara’s security demands.

Finland’s Parliament has passed amended legislation on border security that allows for the closure of crossing points with Russia.

The 30 NATO allies have signed off on the protocols needed for Sweden and Finland to become members.

Just two days after agreeing to lift deal-breaking objections to Sweden and Finland’s NATO accession, Turkey’s leader has threatened that Ankara could still block the process if the two countries fail to fully meet his expectations.

Turkey has agreed to lift its opposition to Sweden and Finland joining NATO, a breakthrough in an impasse clouding a leaders’ summit in Madrid amid Europe’s worst security crisis in decades triggered by the war in Ukraine.

Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson says Tuesday’s deal with Turkey on her country’s and Finland’s membership of NATO will bring “more security” to the alliance.

NATO defense ministers are discussing ways to bolster forces and deterrence along the military alliance’s eastern borders to dissuade Russia from planning further aggression.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has met with Finland’s prime minister and spoken to Turkey’s president as he seeks to overcome Turkish resistance to Finland and Sweden joining the alliance.

Turkey’s president has highlighted the activities of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party as part of his country’s objections to Sweden and Finland joining NATO.

Sakari Manninen scored on a power play at 6:42 of 3-on-3 overtime and Finland beat Canada 4-3 on Sunday for its fourth world hockey championship title.

Defenseman Miro Heiskanen had a goal and two assists and Finland beat the United States 4-3 on Saturday to set up its third straight world hockey championship final against Canada.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken says he's confident Turkey’s objections to Finland and Sweden joining NATO can be overcome swiftly.

Drake Batherson scored on a power play 43 seconds into overtime to give Canada a 4-3 comeback victory over Sweden on Thursday night in the world hockey quarterfinals.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has discussed his objections to Sweden and Finland joining NATO with the two Nordic countries’ leaders.

Russia has halted natural gas exports to neighboring Finland.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg says he is ”confident that we will come to a quick decision to welcome both Sweden and Finland to join the NATO family” despite Turkey’s opposition.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Wednesday he's in “intense contacts” with Russia and other countries to stop escalating global hunger exacerbated by the war in Ukraine by allowing the export of grain stored in Ukrainian ports and ensuring Russian food and fertilizers have unrestricted access to world markets.

The military administration for the region that includes Melitopol has reported more actions of resistance against the Russian troops who have occupied the southern city since early in the war.

NATO diplomats say national envoys have failed to reach a consensus about whether to start membership talks with Finland and Sweden.

The United States is struggling to get clarity from Turkey over the severity of its opposition to Finland and Sweden joining NATO.

President Joe Biden will host leaders of Sweden and Finland at the White House for a meeting Thursday as the two nations seek to join NATO in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Sweden and Finland have pushed ahead with their bids to join NATO even as Turkey insists it won’t let the previously nonaligned Nordic countries into the alliance because of their alleged support for Kurdish militants.

Ukraine’s human rights ombudsman says the Russian military is holding more than 3,000 civilians from Mariupol at another former penal colony near Olenivka in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine.

Finland and Sweden say they want to join NATO in response to Russia’s war on Ukraine.

Luke Hughes scored with 1:57 left in overtime to complete the United States’ comeback from two goals behind to edge Austria 3-2 at the ice hockey world championship.

Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell says Finland and Sweden would be “important additions” to NATO.

With Finland and Sweden taking steps to join NATO, the list of “neutral” countries in Europe appears poised to shrink.

Finland’s government has declared a “new era” is underway as it inches closer to seeking NATO membership.

Host Finland rallied to beat Latvia 2-1 for a second victory in two games at the ice hockey world championship.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned his Finnish counterpart that relations between the two neighbors could be “negatively affected” if Finland follows through with plans to apply for NATO membership.

Pierre-Luc Dubois scored twice and led defending champion Canada to a 5-3 victory over Germany in their opening game at the world ice hockey championship in Helsinki.