Israel Receives Body of Deceased Hostage as Rafah Crossing Reopening Hinges on Final Returns 
Taiwan Opposition Criticizes Plan to Block Chinese App Rednote Over Security Concerns 
UN Chief Says Gaza Operation “Fundamentally Wrong” as Concerns Over War Crimes Grow 
U.S. Defense Chief Pete Hegseth Defends Controversial Second Strike on Suspected Drug-Smuggling Vessel 
Pentagon Probe Finds Hegseth’s Use of Signal Risked Exposing Sensitive Yemen Strike Details 
Trump Administration Tightens H-1B Visa Vetting With New Focus on Free Speech and Censorship 
New Orleans Immigration Crackdown Sparks Fear as Federal Arrests Intensify 
UN General Assembly Demands Russia Return Ukrainian Children Amid Ongoing Conflict 
California Launches Portal for Reporting Alleged Misconduct by Federal Immigration Agents 
Taiwan Signals Openness to Renew Ties with Honduras as Election Unfolds 
Honduras Election Turmoil Intensifies as Nasralla Blames Trump for Shift in Results 
Australia Progresses AUKUS Review as U.S. Affirms Strong Support 
Hong Kong Faces Low Turnout in “Patriots-Only” Election Amid Public Grief After Deadly Fire 
Trump and Lula Discuss Trade, Sanctions, and Security in “Productive” Phone Call 
Honduras Election Turmoil Deepens as Nasralla Alleges Fraud in Tight Presidential Race 
Trump Claims He Will Void Biden Documents Signed with Autopen 
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told visiting NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg that it was time for Ukraine to become part of the NATO alliance. Zelenskyy also called for more arms as Ukrainian forces are holding defenses.
In a joint news conference following talks with Stoltenberg on Thursday, Zelenskyy said that the upcoming NATO summit in July was “historic” and that he was invited to attend. Zelenskyy added that it was also time that Ukraine be invited to join the alliance as most NATO countries support Kyiv and that even most Ukrainians are in favor of their country joining the military bloc.
“There is no objective barrier to the political decision to invite Ukraine into the alliance and now, when most people in NATO countries and the majority of Ukrainians support NATO accession, is the time for corresponding actions,” said Zelenskyy.
With NATO countries having provided Ukraine with weapons, Zelenskyy said more was needed. Zelenskyy said that the delays in receiving weapons would only cause more deaths.
Stoltenberg said Ukraine’s place is in NATO and that the alliance will continue supporting Ukraine for as long as it takes. Stoltenberg said Ukraine’s membership and security guarantees would be on the agenda at the upcoming July summit. Kyiv last year announced a bid to fast-track its membership into NATO following Moscow’s claim to have annexed four territories of Ukraine.
Stoltenberg’s visit to Ukraine, the first since Russia’s invasion in February last year, comes ahead of the meeting of the alliance’s defense officials in the Ramstein air base in Germany. The defense officials are expected to discuss new supplies for Ukraine.
On the same day, Ukraine’s security service said a group of Ukrainian servicemen was accused of treason after they attempted to seize a Russian plane back in July after its pilot said it would defect. The servicemen made the attempt without coordinating with the proper Ukrainian authorities.
According to the SBU, the servicemen revealed details about the location of Ukrainian air force personnel and aircraft that made it possible for Russia to carry out a missile strike in the Kanatove airfield in central Ukraine. The strike killed a Ukrainian commander, injured 17 others and destroyed two fighter jets, among other damage inflicted.
