Canada Signals Delay in US Tariff Deal as Talks Shift to USMCA Review 
Republicans Raise National Security Concerns Over Intel’s Testing of China-Linked Chipmaking Tools 
U.S. and China Push for Ceasefire as Thailand–Cambodia Border Clashes Escalate 
Venezuela Seeks UN Security Council Meeting Over U.S. Oil Tanker Blockade 
U.S. Initiates $11.1 Billion Arms Sale to Taiwan Amid Rising China Tensions 
EU Delays Mercosur Free Trade Agreement Signing Amid Ukraine War Funding Talks 
U.S. Senators Move Toward Deal to Strengthen Military Helicopter Safety Rules 
U.S.-Russia Talks in Miami Raise Hopes for Potential Ukraine War Deal 
Fernando Haddad Confirms He Will Not Run for Office in 2025, Signals Possible Exit as Brazil’s Finance Minister 
Trump Administration Plans Major Increase in Denaturalization Cases for Naturalized U.S. Citizens 
Trump Administration Reviews Nvidia H200 Chip Sales to China, Marking Major Shift in U.S. AI Export Policy 
Dan Bongino to Step Down as FBI Deputy Director After Brief, Controversial Tenure 
Union-Aligned Investors Question Amazon, Walmart and Alphabet on Trump Immigration Policies 
Federal Appeals Court Allows Trump’s National Guard Deployment in Washington, D.C. to Continue 
UN Warns Gaza Humanitarian Aid at Risk as Israel Registration Rules Threaten NGO Operations 
Trump Announces $1,776 Cash Bonus for U.S. Military Personnel Ahead of Christmas 
Trump Administration Proposes Sweeping Limits on Gender-Affirming Care for Children 
Russia continues to wage war on Ukraine for the fourth month since the invasion in February, creating blockades in the Black Sea to disrupt exports. This week, in a victory for Ukraine, Russian forces withdrew from the outpost of Snake Island in the Black Sea.
Kyiv secured a major victory this week when Russian forces left the Black Sea outpost of Snake Island Thursday. Moscow claimed that the withdrawal was a gesture of goodwill to show that it does not intend to obstruct the attempts of the United Nations to open a humanitarian corridor that would allow Ukrainian grains to be shipped.
Ukraine said it drove Russian forces out after an artillery and missile assault overnight.
“KABOOM! No Russian troops on the Snake Island anymore. Our Armed Forces did a great job,” tweeted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s chief of staff, Andriy Yermak.
Despite gains on Snake Island and the Black Sea, the Ukrainian city of Lysychansk in the eastern province of Luhansk is facing challenges from the offensive of Russian forces in the area.
Russian artillery continued to attack Ukrainian forces from different directions as the Russian military was also approaching from different sides, according to regional governor Serhiy Gaidai on Ukrainian television.
Gaidai said residents in the area are advised to stay in underground shelters for safety.
Zelenskyy mentioned the progress on Snake Island and the situation in the Donbas region that make up Luhansk and Donetsk and is occupied by pro-Russian separatists in his nightly address.
Zelenskyy said that while retaking control of Snake Island in the Black Sea was significant. It does not mean that security is ensured, suggesting that Russian forces may still return.
Zelenskyy said that in the fighting in the Luhansk and Donetsk regions, Moscow had brought all of its reserves to attack.
Despite withdrawing from Snake Island, Russian forces bombarded the port city of Odesa Friday. 17 were killed when a rocket hit an apartment building while injuring dozens, according to Ukrainian authorities.
Russia has doubled down on its missile strikes in recent weeks, making use of Soviet-era missiles for more than half of its attacks as the forces on the ground are focused on Donbas in eastern Ukraine.
