U.S.-Russia Talks Leave Ukraine Peace Efforts Uncertain 
UN General Assembly Demands Russia Return Ukrainian Children Amid Ongoing Conflict 
China’s Expanding Maritime Military Presence Alarms Taiwan and Japan 
Hong Kong Faces Low Turnout in “Patriots-Only” Election Amid Public Grief After Deadly Fire 
U.S. Justice Department Orders Intensified Probe Into Antifa and Domestic Extremist Groups 
Honduras Election Turmoil Intensifies as Nasralla Blames Trump for Shift in Results 
Australia and Japan Strengthen Defence Cooperation Amid Rising Regional Tensions 
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 
New Orleans Immigration Crackdown Sparks Fear as Federal Arrests Intensify 
Trump Claims He Will Void Biden Documents Signed with Autopen 
China Urged to Prioritize Economy Over Territorial Ambitions, Says Taiwan’s President Lai 
Israel Receives Body of Deceased Hostage as Rafah Crossing Reopening Hinges on Final Returns 
Maduro Confirms “Respectful” Call With Trump, Signals Openness to Diplomatic Dialogue 
IMF Deputy Dan Katz Visits China as Key Economic Review Nears 
U.S. Repatriation Flight Carrying 266 Venezuelan Migrants Lands in Caracas 
California Launches Portal for Reporting Alleged Misconduct by Federal Immigration Agents 
Ukraine has continued to ask for more military assistance as it continues to resist Russia in a war that has lasted nearly two months so far. US President Joe Biden said that the country would be sending more artillery to Ukraine, following his call with allies this week.
Biden told reporters Tuesday that the US will be sending more military assistance to Ukraine, following his call with allies discussing the invasion that is moving into its second month. White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki earlier told reporters traveling with the US leader to New Hampshire that Washington will continue to provide more military assistance and ammunition to help Ukraine.
The US and many other countries have already imposed several sets of sanctions on Russia following its unprovoked attack on Ukraine. Following the reports of atrocities being committed by Russian forces in Ukraine, Biden has already accused Russian dictator Vladimir Putin of committing war crimes and, more recently, of committing genocide in Ukraine.
In other related news, the Biden administration is launching a new review on student loans, as announced by the Education Department Tuesday.
The department says that the new review aims to correct a previous error that saw 3.6 million student loan borrowers denied credit for loan forgiveness. The new review is expected to cancel the student loan debts of around 40,000 borrowers in the country.
“Student loans were never meant to be a life sentence but it’s certainly felt that way for borrowers locked out of debt relief they’re eligible for,” said Education Secretary Miguel Cardona in a statement.
“Today the Department of Education will begin to remedy years of administrative failures that effectively denied the promise of loan forgiveness to certain borrowers enrolled in [income-driven repayment] plans.”
The new review also seeks to end the practice of “forbearance steering,” where student loan companies encourage borrowers to enter forbearance programs rather than an income-driven repayment plan, even when such a plan could have led to a borrower paying $0 per month.
The Education Department said it would count forbearances of over 12 consecutive months or 36 cumulative months as payments that count for eligibility for student loan forgiveness.
