Finnish and Nato flags flutter at the courtyard of the Foreign Ministry in Helsinki, Finland, Tuesday, April 4, 2023.

Finland joins NATO

Full Episode

Finnish and Nato flags flutter at the courtyard of the Foreign Ministry in Helsinki, Finland, April 4, 2023. Finland is poised to join NATO in a historic realignment brought on by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. But the head of the military alliance said it would not send more troops to the Nordic country unless it asked for help. 

Antti H'm'l'inen/Lehtikuva/AP

In a quick ceremony in Brussels, Finland was officially accepted into the North Atlantic Treaty Organization as its 31st member. The Kremlin aired its grievances against the alliance, claiming that troops would be deployed to the area along Russia’s border with Finland. And, starting this month, the Japanese government is offering a new incentive to get families in densely populated Tokyo to move out to less populated areas: 1 million yen — about $7,600 — per child. Also, the US military is facing a recruitment crisis. The Army missed its target by 25% during the past fiscal year. Other branches of the military are also seeing a drop in recruiting. Plus, a call for bell ringers for Britain’s coronation.

In This Episode

Finland joins NATO, reshaping the bloc’s borders
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Trump’s arraignment has ‘serious implications’ for good governance in Africa
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Japan to pay Tokyo families to move out of the city
US-Mexico border heavily surveilled
US Army recruits in assumed position, wearing black t-shirts that have "ARMY" written across in bold yellow letters
The US military faces challenges on the homefront as recruitment shortages continue
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Congressional committee meeting with Disney on company’s relationship with China
The Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center has amplified its social emotional learning curriculum for preschoolers facing pandemic-related challenges.
Chinatown preschool helps families name pandemic-related feelings
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US Inflation Reduction Act spurs moves from EU and Canada
UK seeks 8,000 more bell ringers for May coronation