The anniversary comes as the now 32-nation alliance weighs a plan to provide more predictable longer-term military support to Ukraine. Plagued by ammunition shortages, Ukraine this week lowered the military conscription age from 27 to 25 in an effort to replenish its depleted ranks and appealed for additional air defenses to counter Russian ballistic missile attacks.

“I didn’t want to spoil the birthday party for NATO, but I felt compelled to deliver a sobering message on behalf of Ukrainians about the state of Russian air attacks on my country, destroying our energy system, our economy, killing civilians,” said Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, who attended a meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council.

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After a massive earthquake killed nine and injured over 1,000 people early Wednesday, rescuers in Taiwan were combing through the rubble to find scores of people missing or trapped, while experts say a slew of aftershocks could make the search and rescue even more dangerous.

Taiwan's National Fire Agency said at least 1,050 people were injured when the earthquake, measured as 7.2 magnitude by Taiwan officials and 7.4 by the U.S. Geological Survey, struck near the east coast city of Hualien at about 8 a.m. local time. Hualien is a popular tourist destination 100 miles south of Taipei, where buildings swayed and some damage was reported. A series of aftershocks followed, reaching up to 6.4 magnitude.

Some buildings tumbled or were leaning precariously while scores of people were trapped inside the damaged structures. Around two dozen of almost 50 hotel workers on their way to a resort in Taroko National Park had been located.

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