China’s Expanding Maritime Military Presence Alarms Taiwan and Japan 
IMF Deputy Dan Katz Visits China as Key Economic Review Nears 
UN Chief Says Gaza Operation “Fundamentally Wrong” as Concerns Over War Crimes Grow 
Australia and Japan Strengthen Defence Cooperation Amid Rising Regional Tensions 
Trump Administration Halts Immigration, Green Card, and Citizenship Processing for 19 Countries 
Cuba Reaffirms Anti-Drug Cooperation as Tensions Rise in the Caribbean 
Drones Spotted Near Zelenskiy’s Flight Path in Ireland Trigger Security Alert 
U.S.-Russia Talks Leave Ukraine Peace Efforts Uncertain 
U.S. Expected to Expand Travel Ban to More Than 30 Countries 
China Urged to Prioritize Economy Over Territorial Ambitions, Says Taiwan’s President Lai 
Trump’s Name Appears on U.S. Institute of Peace Ahead of Rwanda–Congo Deal Signing 
Pentagon Probe Finds Hegseth’s Use of Signal Risked Exposing Sensitive Yemen Strike Details 
UN General Assembly Demands Russia Return Ukrainian Children Amid Ongoing Conflict 
Trump Claims He Will Void Biden Documents Signed with Autopen 
Taiwan Signals Openness to Renew Ties with Honduras as Election Unfolds 
Maduro Confirms “Respectful” Call With Trump, Signals Openness to Diplomatic Dialogue 
New Orleans Immigration Crackdown Sparks Fear as Federal Arrests Intensify 
Vladimir Putin’s order to partially mobilize Russia’s reserve troops led to an exodus of Russians trying to escape from getting the call. The European Union said its members need to issue joint positions on Russians trying to enter their countries.
The EU’s executive branch said Thursday that the members need to issue joint positions when it comes to Russians trying to enter. However, the European Commission said that the member countries would need to assess the requests on a case-to-case basis with consideration for fundamental rights and asylum procedure legislation.
The European Commission’s spokesperson Peter Stano cited in a news briefing that half a million Russians left the country since the invasion of Ukraine back in February in the reports of Russians trying to leave following Putin’s announcement of a partial mobilization of reserve troops Wednesday.
“There have been protests in a number of cities across Russia. This is showing that the Russians are voting with their feet,” said Stano.
“We as the European Union, in principle we stand in solidarity with the Russian citizens who have the courage and bravery to show their opposition to what the regime is doing, especially when it comes to this illegal war in Ukraine,” Stano added.
According to another EU spokesperson, the requests for entry by Russians at EU borders would be addressed in accordance with EU law, including compliance with fundamental rights and the legislation implemented for asylum procedures. Another spokesperson said the bloc must have a joint stance on the matter of a large number of Russians possibly looking to enter the EU.
Three of the bloc’s leaders have urged calm over Putin’s threat of using nuclear weapons in its war with Ukraine.
Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said Putin’s threat of nuclear weapons is an indication that the Russian leader is panicking, noting that the threat has already been used before. Belgian Prime Minister Alexander de Croo echoed Rutte’s comments, urging a calm response that would support Ukraine but not provoke Russia.
The European Council President Charles Michel said the bloc will not be scared off from continuing to support Ukraine. The European Commission has described Putin’s threat as “reckless” and must stop.
