Trump’s Inflation Claims Clash With Voters’ Cost-of-Living Reality 
Netanyahu to Meet Trump in Washington as Iran Nuclear Talks Intensify 
TrumpRx Website Launches to Offer Discounted Prescription Drugs for Cash-Paying Americans 
Trump Signs “America First Arms Transfer Strategy” to Prioritize U.S. Weapons Sales 
Iran–U.S. Nuclear Talks in Oman Face Major Hurdles Amid Rising Regional Tensions 
Trump Says “Very Good Talks” Underway on Russia-Ukraine War as Peace Efforts Continue 
TrumpRx.gov Highlights GLP-1 Drug Discounts but Offers Limited Savings for Most Americans 
Norway Opens Corruption Probe Into Former PM and Nobel Committee Chair Thorbjoern Jagland Over Epstein Links 
Trump Backs Nexstar–Tegna Merger Amid Shifting U.S. Media Landscape 
U.S. to Begin Paying UN Dues as Financial Crisis Spurs Push for Reforms 
India–U.S. Interim Trade Pact Cuts Auto Tariffs but Leaves Tesla Out 
Jack Lang Resigns as Head of Arab World Institute Amid Epstein Controversy 
U.S. Lawmakers to Review Unredacted Jeffrey Epstein DOJ Files Starting Monday 
Trump Allegedly Sought Airport, Penn Station Renaming in Exchange for Hudson River Tunnel Funding 
New York Legalizes Medical Aid in Dying for Terminally Ill Patients 
US Pushes Ukraine-Russia Peace Talks Before Summer Amid Escalating Attacks 
A commission in the Turkish parliament has reportedly voted to approve the legislation that would ratify Finland’s membership in the NATO alliance. This follows the announcement made by Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan that Ankara would approve Helsinki’s bid to join NATO.
The Turkish parliament’s foreign affairs commission on Thursday reportedly approved the legislation that would ratify Finland’s NATO bid, according to state media outlet TRT Haber. This would make Finland one step closer to formally joining the military alliance. The legislation is still up for a full vote by the general assembly and is expected to vote on ratification by mid-April ahead of its recess and the country’s parliamentary and presidential elections that will take place in May.
The approval by the panel follows the announcement Erdogan made last week during the visit of Finnish President Sauli Niinisto that Ankara would begin the ratification of Helsinki’s application to join the NATO alliance. Despite giving the green light to Finland, Erdogan had yet to announce Ankara’s approval to ratify Sweden’s bid.
Both Finland and Sweden broke their long-running military non-alignment stances in applying to join the NATO alliance last year as a result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. However, Turkey has raised objections to the applications of the two Nordic countries, especially Sweden. Ankara claims that Stockholm has not done enough in cracking down on groups Turkey deems as terrorists that are based in Sweden.
Turkey is considered the holdout in the 30-member alliance due to its objections to Sweden. The ruling party of Hungary, the only other NATO country that has yet to formally ratify the applications but has recently signaled delays in the ratification process, has previously said it will approve both countries’ bids to join the alliance.
On the same day, Niinisto signed the legislation that officially allowed Finland to join NATO during a ceremony. The signing of the legislation this week follows the Finnish parliament’s passage of the legislation that incorporated the NATO alliance’s founding treaties back on March 1.
The United States has previously urged the swift approval and ratification of both Finland and Sweden’s bids to join the alliance.
