Iran-Israel War Escalates: Long-Range Missiles, Nuclear Site Strikes, and Global Energy Crisis 
Brazil's Haddad Leaves Finance Ministry to Run for São Paulo Governor 
Ukraine-U.S. Peace Talks Resume in Florida Amid Ongoing Russia-Ukraine War 
Palestinian Activist Leqaa Kordia Released from U.S. Immigration Detention After Judge's Order 
TSA Absences Surge During Government Shutdown as ICE Agents Prepare Airport Deployment 
Ukraine-U.S. Peace Talks Continue in Florida as Zelenskiy Pushes for Diplomatic Progress 
Ukraine-U.S. Peace Talks in Florida Target Ceasefire Framework and Defense Cooperation 
U.S. Officials Express Optimism Over New CDC Director Selection Amid Vaccine Policy Turmoil 
Trump Signals End of U.S. Military Campaign Against Iran as Markets Rally 
Federal Judge Blocks Pentagon's Restrictive Press Access Policy 
Trump White House Unveils National AI Policy Framework for Congress 
S&P 500 Rebounds After Netanyahu's Statements on Iran's Military Setbacks 
Taiwan Strengthens Deterrence Amid Ongoing Chinese Military Threat 
Cuba Rejects U.S. Demands to Remove President Diaz-Canel Amid Ongoing Negotiations 
Australian PM Albanese Heckled at Sydney Mosque During Eid al-Fitr Prayers 
Trump Issues 48-Hour Ultimatum to Iran Over Strait of Hormuz, Threatens Power Grid Strikes 
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy blasted former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder for saying that Russia wanted a “negotiated” solution to its war. Zelenskyy called Schroeder’s comments “disgusting.”
In his late-night video address, Zelenskyy blasted Schroeder, who is also known as a friend of Russian dictator Vladimir Putin, for saying that Moscow wants a “negotiated solution” to the war that has continued for five months. At the time, Schroeder also said that there was a possibility for a ceasefire.
“It is simply disgusting when former leaders of major states with European values work for Russia, which is at war against these values,” said Zelenskyy.
Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak also dismissed Schroeder’s comments, calling the former German chancellor a “voice of the Russian royal court.”
Podolyak also said any negotiated peace agreement with Russia would be contingent on a ceasefire and the complete withdrawal of Russian forces from Ukraine.
Meanwhile, three ships are set to leave Ukraine carrying 58,041 tons of corn Friday, under the deal between the two countries, Turkey, and the United Nations to unblock Ukrainian exports in the Black Sea.
The first vessel carrying Ukrainian grain was authorized to leave the port of Odesa Monday bound for Lebanon. The Joint Coordination Center in Istanbul, which oversees the exports, said two ships would be leaving from Chornomorsk, and one ship would be leaving from Odesa on Friday.
From Chornomorsk, the Polarnet would be bound for Karasu in Turkey with 12,000 metric tons of corn and the Rojen will be taking 13,041 tons of corn bound for Teesport in the United Kingdom. The ship leaving Odesa, the Navistar, will be bound for Ringaskiddy in Ireland with 33,000 tons of corn.
Despite being under pressure, Ukrainian forces were also recently making gains as a result of using weapons provided by the West. However, Ukrainian General Oleksiy Hromov said Thursday that Russia may launch an offensive in Kherson in southern Ukraine to regain its momentum and has been building up its forces.
Russia has occupied parts of southern Ukraine since the beginning of the war, but Kyiv has vowed to launch a counter-attack using West-provided weapons to strike Russian supply lines and ammunition dumps.
