EU Ministers Split as Support Grows for Ban on Trade With Israeli West Bank Settlements 
Iran's Supreme Leader Vows Revenge as Trump Threatens Massive U.S. Military Response 
Minnesota Wildfires Spread as Governor Tim Walz Deploys National Guard 
Venezuela Appoints Felix Plasencia to Lead Foreign Relations and Trade 
Trump Recommends Darline Graham for Interim South Carolina Senate Seat 
Republican Senator Lindsey Graham Dies at 71, Leaving South Carolina Senate Seat Vacant 
Western Allies Push for More Air Defenses for Ukraine at Paris Summit 
Israeli Strikes Kill Six in Gaza as Ceasefire Talks Continue in Cairo 
Iran Says It Closes Strait of Hormuz After Warning Shot at Vessel 
UK Sanctions 24 Russian-Linked Targets Over Cyberattacks and Election Interference 
HHS Watchdog Reports $5.56 Billion in Healthcare Fraud Recoveries as Enforcement Actions Decline 
Iranian Missile Strike on UAE Oil Tankers Kills Indian Crew Member in Strait of Hormuz 
Trump Administration Bars U.S. Travelers From Congo Flights Amid Ebola Outbreak 
Ann Widdecombe Murder: Police Arrest Second Suspect, Rule Out Terrorism Motive 
Brazil Court Bars Flavio Bolsonaro From Visiting Jair Bolsonaro Ahead of Election 
Iraq PM Visits Washington as U.S. Oil, Gas Deals Take Center Stage 
Russia continues to wage war on Ukraine, focusing its offensive on the southern and eastern territories that already have pro-Russian separatists. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that the ongoing fighting in the Donbas region is “extremely difficult.”
Russia launched its new offensive by bombarding the eastern region of Donbas as Moscow looks to seize the territory that makes up Luhansk and Donetsk as Moscow claims the area through pro-Russia separatists.
Zelenskyy said that what is happening in the Donbas region is “extremely difficult.”
Should Russia capture the twin cities of Severodonetsk and Lysychansk close to the Siyverskyi Donets river, it would give Moscow control of Luhansk. However, because the focus is on one small city, it would leave the door open for counterstrikes from Ukraine.
Kyiv said Ukrainian troops have pushed back on Russian forces in Andriyivka, Lozove, and Bilohorka, which are villages on the southern bank of the Inhulets river that make up the border of the Ukrainian province of Kherson, where Moscow is trying to take control.
Zelenskyy said Russian forces bombarded the northeastern area of Kharkiv ag/ain Monday, including the border area of Sumy that was hit from within Russia.
While Russian forces have bombarded Severodonetsk to ruins, Ukrainian forces effectively stalled Moscow’s offensive across the Donbas region.
Luhansk governor Serhiy Gaidai said Russian troops advanced into the southeastern and northeastern parts of Severodonetsk but were driven out of the southern village of Toshivka, which could derail Moscow’s push to surround the area. Gaidai said Russian troops “use the same tactics over and over again” until they breakthrough.
In a report by Al Jazeera, Lithuanians crowdfunded $5.4 million to purchase an advanced military drone for Ukraine in a show of solidarity as Kyiv continues to push back against Moscow.
In three and a half days, Lithuanians raised beyond its target of five million euros or $5.4 million to purchase a Byraktar TB2 unmanned aerial vehicle from Turkey.
“In just 3.5 days, people of Lithuania raised 5 million euros to buy Byraktar drone for Ukraine in a crowdfunding initiative,” the Lithuanian government shared on Twitter.
Lithuanian TV broadcaster Laisves TV, who launched the fundraiser, said it would transfer the funds to the country’s defense ministry to buy the drone and the needed ammunition.
