Sydney Bondi Beach Terror Attack Kills 16, Sparks Gun Law and Security Debate 
Lukashenko Says Maduro Welcome in Belarus Amid Rising U.S.-Venezuela Tensions 
Hong Kong Democratic Party Disbands After Member Vote Amid Security Crackdown 
European Leaders Launch International Claims Commission to Compensate Ukraine for War Damage 
Special Prosecutor Alleges Yoon Suk Yeol Sought North Korea Provocation to Justify Martial Law 
Trump Taps Former DHS Official Troy Edgar for U.S. Ambassador Role in El Salvador 
Pakistan’s Army Chief Faces Gaza Troop Dilemma Amid US Pressure 
Jimmy Lai Convicted Under Hong Kong National Security Law in Landmark Case 
Ukraine Claims First-Ever Underwater Drone Strike on Russian Missile Submarine 
Ukraine’s NATO Concession Unlikely to Shift Peace Talks, Experts Say 
Korea Zinc Plans $6.78 Billion U.S. Smelter Investment With Government Partnership 
Taiwan Political Standoff Deepens as President Lai Urges Parliament to Withdraw Disputed Laws 
Trump Orders Blockade of Sanctioned Oil Tankers, Raising Venezuela Tensions and Oil Prices 
Lukashenko Urges Swift Ukraine Peace Deal, Backs Trump’s Push for Rapid Resolution 
U.S. Suspends UK Technology Deal Amid Trade Disputes Under Trump Administration 
Syria Arrests Five Suspects After Deadly Attack on U.S. and Syrian Troops in Palmyra 
Zelenskiy Signals Willingness to Drop NATO Bid as Ukraine, U.S. Hold Crucial Peace Talks in Berlin 
The European Union said that it was sanctioning eight Russians who have links to the poisoning of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny. The new sanctions targeted Russia’s security forces and Russian chemical weapons experts.
The bloc issued a statement Monday announcing that it will be sanctioning eight Russians connected to the poisoning of opposition politician Alexei Navalny. Navalny was poisoned with a Novichok-type nerve agent during a campaign trip in Siberia back in 2020, according to an assessment by European medical institutions. The Kremlin has denied involvement in Navalny’s poisoning.
The sanctions by the EU targeted high-ranking members of the Russian FSB intelligence service as well as chemical weapons experts. The sanctions include travel bans and asset freezes.
“As concerns the Navalny case, the new listings include operatives and high-ranking officials of the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) and Russian chemical weapons experts,” said the statement.
Navalny, a long-time vocal critic of Vladimir Putin, was arrested in Russia at the beginning of 2021 after receiving medical treatment in Germany. Navalny is currently serving an 11-12-year prison sentence on charges of fraud, contempt of court, and parole violations. Navalny dismissed the charges he says were attempts to silence him.
Back in October, Navalny said Russian authorities are opening a new case against him on charges of promoting terrorism and extremism, which would double his current prison sentence.
“I am a genius of the underworld. Professor Moriarty is no match for me,” tweeted Navalny. “You all thought I had been isolated in prison for two years, but it turns out I was actively committing crimes. Luckily, the Investigative Committee was vigilant and didn’t miss a thing.”
Navalny said his lawyers have estimated that the opposition leader may face a prison sentence of around 30 years. Navalny’s spokeswoman Kira Yarmysh said the new case was related to a Youtube channel called “Popular Politics” that was set up by Navalny’s allies after he was already in prison for a year.
The Kremlin has sought to clamp down on domestic opposition following its invasion of Ukraine back in February. Navalny has also condemned the war, ripped into Putin during a court appearance and described the invasion as “stupid” and “built on lies.”
