Trump Endorses Japan’s Sanae Takaichi Ahead of Crucial Election Amid Market and China Tensions 
UAE Plans Temporary Housing Complex for Displaced Palestinians in Southern Gaza 
U.S. Sanctions on Russia Could Expand as Ukraine Peace Talks Continue, Says Treasury Secretary Bessent 
South Korea Assures U.S. on Trade Deal Commitments Amid Tariff Concerns 
New York Legalizes Medical Aid in Dying for Terminally Ill Patients 
China Warns US Arms Sales to Taiwan Could Disrupt Trump’s Planned Visit 
Marco Rubio Steps Down as Acting U.S. Archivist Amid Federal Law Limits 
Pentagon Ends Military Education Programs With Harvard University 
Trump Allegedly Sought Airport, Penn Station Renaming in Exchange for Hudson River Tunnel Funding 
Ohio Man Indicted for Alleged Threat Against Vice President JD Vance, Faces Additional Federal Charges 
Ukraine-Russia Talks Yield Major POW Swap as U.S. Pushes for Path to Peace 
Trump Says “Very Good Talks” Underway on Russia-Ukraine War as Peace Efforts Continue 
U.S. to Begin Paying UN Dues as Financial Crisis Spurs Push for Reforms 
Newly Released DOJ Epstein Files Expose High-Profile Connections Across Politics and Business 
Missouri Judge Dismisses Lawsuit Challenging Starbucks’ Diversity and Inclusion Policies 
Trump Signs “America First Arms Transfer Strategy” to Prioritize U.S. Weapons Sales 
Russia’s war on Ukraine has escalated into fighting in the area of the nuclear facility in Zaporizhzhia. As inspectors from the United Nations nuclear watchdog arrive in Ukraine, Kyiv accused Russia of trying to sabotage the inspection by shelling the area.
Ukrainian presidential chief of staff Andriy Yermak said Russia is trying to sabotage the inspection by the International Atomic Energy Agency of the Russian-held Zaporizhzhia nuclear facility. Yermak added that Russia has shelled the area again during the visit.
“The Russians have shelled Enerhodar and the territory of Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant,” Yermak said on the Telegram messaging platform. Yermak went on to accuse Russia of acting like a “terrorist state.”
“It is Russia that is responsible for everything happening at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant and in Enerhodar,” said Yermak on the messaging platform. “They want to wreck the IAEA mission’s visit.”
The nuclear facility was occupied by Russian forces back in March, but is still connected to Ukraine’s electricity grid and operated by employees of Ukraine’s state nuclear firm Energoatom. The facility has come under shelling in recent months, with Russia and Ukraine trading accusations.
Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak said on Twitter that Russian forces were conducting “demonstrative strikes” in Enerhodar to frame Ukraine. Podolyak added that this was an indication of Moscow’s real motives in the inspection.
The UN mission was to assess potential risks from the ongoing conflict in the area. The organization has previously called for the nuclear facility to be a demilitarized zone.
The United States Justice Department announced Wednesday that it has obtained a warrant to seize a $45 million aircraft owned by the Russian energy company PJSC Lukoil. The aircraft is believed to be in Russia at the moment. The warrant was granted by the US District Court for the Southern District of Texas.
The Boeing 737-7EM aircraft flew in and out of Russia, violating the US Commerce Department’s sanctions. The aircraft last flew into the United States in 2019.
Lukoil has been subject to sanctions by the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control since 2014. The US recently imposed export controls and license requirements sanctions on Russia following its invasion of Ukraine in February.
