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Sweden has finally been accepted into the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), which makes up most of Europe and North America. Numerous European countries have chosen not to join NATO due to various reasons, such as an obligation to stay neutral (Austria, Ireland, Switzerland, etc.) or close ties to Russia (Belarus, Armenia, etc.). Some countries have positive relations with Russia and still remain in NATO, such as Hungary or Turkey, and this has proved as a hurdle for recent countries to obtain membership. To be allowed into NATO, countries must satisfy a checklist of items, which include principles such as upholding democracy and having firm military control over the country. Then, to formally be allowed into the organization, all current members must give permission. Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Finland and Sweden became concerned over a potential invasion and applied to join NATO, the latter of which has remained neutral for hundreds of years. Most member countries swiftly approved, but Hungary and Turkey held out over recent concerns. However, in March of 2023, both countries approved Finland's application, extending NATO's border with Russia and eliminating their fears of invasion. Turkey later approved Sweden's application in January 2024 after they implemented some new rules against terrorism. Hungary was then the last country left to approve the application, and they finally made Sweden the 32nd member country with an approval this week. This is a huge step forward for both Finland and Sweden, as NATO's Article 5 -- an attack on a member country is an attack on the entire organization -- ensures that Russia keeps away from their land.
Fact of the Day: The most shoplifted food in the world is cheese-- 4% of the world's cheese is stolen.
Quote of the Day: I don’t know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everybody. (Bill Cosby)
Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Retinue (noun)- A retinue is a group of helpers, supporters, or followers.
In a Sentence: The venue relies on a retinue of workers to carry out large events.
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