What to know about Sweden’s bumpy road toward NATO membership

JAN 24, 2024 @ 1845 GMT | FILE – From left: Norway’s Defense Minister Bjorn Arild Gram, Latvia’s Janis Garisons, Finland’s Antti Kaikkonen, Denmark’s Morten Bodskov, Sweden’s Peter Hultqvist, Estoina’s Hanno Pevkur, Iceland’s Hannes Heimisson (ambassador) and Lithuania’s Zilvinas Tomkus (Vice Minister of National Defence) attend a news conference in connection with a Nordic-Baltic Defence Ministers meeting at the P 18 regiment at Tofta on the Island of Gotland, Sweden, Sept. 2, 2022. (TT News Agency via AP, File)

STOCKHOLM, Sweden (AP) — Sweden’s bid to join NATO — held up for almost two years — cleared its next-to-last hurdle when Turkey’s parliament gave its go-ahead to let the Nordic country into the alliance.

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US, British militaries launch new round of joint strikes against multiple Houthi sites in Yemen

JAN 23, 2024 @ 1800 GMT | In this image provided by the UK Ministry of Defence, a Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4 takes off to carry out air strikes against Houthi military targets in Yemen, from RAF Akrotiri, Cyprus, Monday, Jan. 22, 2024. The U.S. and British militaries bombed eight locations used by the Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen on Monday night, the second time the two allies have conducted coordinated retaliatory strikes on an array of the rebels’ missile-launching capabilities. (Ministry of Defence via AP)

WASHINGTON, United States (AP) — The U.S. and British militaries bombed multiple targets in eight locations used by the Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen on Monday night, the second time the two allies have conducted coordinated retaliatory strikes on an array of the rebels’ missile-launching capabilities.

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Russia clashes with US and Ukraine supporters, ruling out any peace plan backed by Kyiv and the West

JAN 23, 2024 @ 2145 GMT | Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov gestures while speaking at his annual news conference in Moscow, Russia, on Thursday, Jan. 18, 2024. (AP Photo)

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Russia’s foreign minister clashed with the United States and Ukraine’s supporters at a U.N. meeting Monday where Moscow ruled out any peace plan backed by Kyiv and the West, and China warned that further global chaos could impact the slowing global economy.

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The Non-Aligned Movement calls Israel’s war in Gaza illegal and condemns attacks on Palestinians

JAN 21, 2024 @ 2130 GMT | Heads of States and members of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), pose for a photo at Speke resort convention centre in Kampala, Uganda Friday, Jan. 19, 2024. The President of the United Nations General Assembly Denis Francis and African Union Commission Chairman Moussa Faki Mahamat have called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. (AP Photo)

KAMPALA, Uganda (AP) — Heads of states of the Non-Aligned Movement Saturday called Israel’s military campaign in the Gaza Strip “illegal” and strongly condemned indiscriminate attacks against Palestinian civilians, civilian infrastructure and the forced displacement of the Palestinian population.

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African leaders criticize Israel’s military campaign in Gaza and call for an immediate cease-fire

JAN 19, 2024 @ 2145 GMT | Dennis Francis, president of the U.N. General Assembly, speaks during the 19th summit of Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) in Kampala, Uganda, Jan. 19, 2024. President of the UN General Assembly Dennis Francis and African Union Commission Chairman Moussa Faki Mahamat called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. (AP Photo)

KAMPALA, Uganda (AP) — African leaders on Friday criticized Israel for its military campaign in Gaza and called for an end to the fighting that continues take its toll on mostly civilians.

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Japan became the fifth country to reach the moon after its spacecraft landed on the lunar surface

JAN 19, 2024 @ 2100 GMT | FILE – A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, with a payload including two lunar rovers from Japan and the United Arab Emirates, lifts off from Launch Complex 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Cape Canaveral, Fla., on Dec. 11, 2022. But later in April 2023, the spacecraft from a Japanese company apparently crashed while attempting to land on the moon. Japan now hopes to make the world’s first “pinpoint landing” on the moon early Saturday, Jan. 20, 2024, joining a modern push for lunar contact with roots in the Cold War-era space race between the United States and the Soviet Union. (AP Photo)

TOKYO, Japan (AP) — Japan became the fifth country in history to reach the moon when its spacecraft landed on the lunar surface early Saturday, officials said. But an issue with the power supply means that the mission could be in jeopardy.

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China and Ireland seek stronger ties during Chinese Premier Li Qiang’s visit

JAN 17, 2024 @ 2045 GMT | Chinese Premier Li Qiang, right, is greeted by Ireland’s Prime Minister Leo Varadkar at Farmleigh House, during a visit to Dublin, Ireland, Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024. Chinese Premier Li Qiang is visiting for talks on China’s relations with the European Union and other global and bilateral issues. (AP Photo)

LONDON, United Kingdom (AP) — Ireland’s prime minister extended a warm welcome to visiting Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Wednesday, saying his country wanted a “strong and constructive relationship” with China despite not agreeing on some issues.

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