Cuba Reaffirms Anti-Drug Cooperation as Tensions Rise in the Caribbean 
Michael Dell Pledges $6.25 Billion to Boost Children’s Investment Accounts Under Trump Initiative 
Trump and Lula Discuss Trade, Sanctions, and Security in “Productive” Phone Call 
Trump’s Name Appears on U.S. Institute of Peace Ahead of Rwanda–Congo Deal Signing 
U.S. Justice Department Orders Intensified Probe Into Antifa and Domestic Extremist Groups 
Maduro Confirms “Respectful” Call With Trump, Signals Openness to Diplomatic Dialogue 
Trump Administration Halts Immigration, Green Card, and Citizenship Processing for 19 Countries 
Drones Spotted Near Zelenskiy’s Flight Path in Ireland Trigger Security Alert 
California Launches Portal for Reporting Alleged Misconduct by Federal Immigration Agents 
New Orleans Immigration Crackdown Sparks Fear as Federal Arrests Intensify 
China’s Expanding Maritime Military Presence Alarms Taiwan and Japan 
Trump Administration Tightens H-1B Visa Vetting With New Focus on Free Speech and Censorship 
Australia and Japan Strengthen Defence Cooperation Amid Rising Regional Tensions 
China Urged to Prioritize Economy Over Territorial Ambitions, Says Taiwan’s President Lai 
Trump Claims He Will Void Biden Documents Signed with Autopen 
U.S. Expected to Expand Travel Ban to More Than 30 Countries 
UN General Assembly Demands Russia Return Ukrainian Children Amid Ongoing Conflict 
Russian leader Vladimir Putin ordered a partial mobilization of the country’s reserve troops to fight in Ukraine in response to Kyiv’s advances in the eastern territories. Moscow appears to experience more setbacks as thousands of men who were called were deemed unfit for duty.
Several thousand Russians reported for enlistment in a span of 10 days but were deemed ineligible to serve, according to Khabarovsk regional governor Mikhail Degtyarev in eastern Russia. This marks the latest setback Russia has faced since Putin ordered a partial mobilization of 300,000 to fight in Ukraine.
“About half of them we returned home as they did not meet the selection criteria for entering the military service,” said Degtyarev in a video post on the Telegram messaging platform. Degtyarev added that the military commissar in the Khabarovsk region was dismissed, but his dismissal did not affect the mobilization efforts.
Amidst efforts to mobilize, there is growing criticism of the war within Russia as around 2,000 people were arrested and detained by security forces at anti-war protests that erupted again following the order of the partial mobilization.
Independent news outlets reported that some of those arrested were brought to the military enlistment offices. Russian officials who are usually in lockstep with Putin also expressed criticism over the move to mobilize in a rare show of dissent.
The chair of Russia’s upper House, the Federation Council, Valentina Matviyenko, was among those who criticized the order, saying that the mistakes made in sending the enlistment papers were “absolutely unacceptable.”
Amidst setbacks in Russia among its troops, Ukrainian forces continued their advances in their reclaiming of territories in the southern and eastern regions. Ukrainian troops made their biggest advance this week when they pushed across Russian lines Monday to move toward the Dnieper River, compromising Russian supply lines in their counter-attack.
Ukraine has already destroyed the main bridges in the area that forced Russian troops to use makeshift crossings. While Kyiv did not disclose more details, Russian sources acknowledged the advances Ukrainian forces were making, saying that troops moved forward dozens of kilometers along the west bank of the river, reclaiming villages on the way.
