U.S. Judge Blocks Deportation of British Anti-Disinformation Campaigner Imran Ahmed Amid Free Speech Dispute 
Kosovo Heads to Early Parliamentary Election Amid Prolonged Political Deadlock 
Mark Carney Reaffirms Canada’s Support for Ukraine as Peace Talks With Russia Gain Momentum 
Canada Announces $2.5 Billion Economic Aid Package to Support Ukraine’s Financial Stability 
Myanmar Election 2025 Faces Global Scrutiny Amid Civil War and Political Repression 
Christmas Eve Jazz Concert Canceled After Kennedy Center Renaming to Include Trump 
Bolsonaro Endorses Son Flavio for Brazil’s 2026 Presidential Election From Hospital 
Israel Recognizes Somaliland as Independent State, Sparking Regional and Global Reactions 
Japan Approves Record ¥122.3 Trillion Budget as Takaichi Seeks Fiscal Balance 
Lebanon Cabinet Approves Financial Gap Law to Tackle Ongoing Economic Crisis 
Zelenskiy to Meet Trump in Florida as Ukraine-U.S. Peace Framework Nears Completion 
FBI to Permanently Close Hoover Building, Relocate Headquarters to Reagan Building 
Kim Jong Un Oversees Missile Test Amid Rising Korean Peninsula Tensions 
White House East Wing Ballroom Plans Face Scrutiny Ahead of January Hearing 
Zelenskiy and Trump Meet in Florida as Ukraine Peace Talks Face Major Hurdles 
Democratic Governors Urge Trump Administration to Lift Halt on East Coast Offshore Wind Projects 
California Drops Lawsuit Over Federal Funding Cuts to High-Speed Rail Project 
The head of the Russian Wagner mercenary group and ally of Russian leader Vladimir Putin extended amnesty to a batch of convicts who fought on the ground in Ukraine. This follows video footage released by Russian media showing the first set of convicts that were granted amnesty.
In video footage released by the Ria Novosti news outlet, Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin is seen telling what would be the first batch of convicts that served in the war for six months that they are being granted amnesty.
“You’ve worked through your contract. You worked honorably, with dignity,” Prigozhin was seen telling the convicts, saying that they should expect to be treated “with the highest respect” in Russian society after serving for six months in the war effort.
“Don’t drink a lot, don’t use drugs, don’t rape women, do not get up to no good,” said Prigozhin.
The video footage was released after Zambia criticized Russia when a Zambian student who was serving a prison sentence in Russia was killed on the front lines in Ukraine after being granted amnesty for their service. The mercenary group is originally made up of hardened members of the Russian military and fought in Mali, the Central African Republic, Libya, and Syria, as well as Ukraine.
Prior to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the Wagner mercenary group – funded by Prigozhhin, an oligarch also known as “Putin’s chef” – kept a low profile. However, mercenaries of the group have since taken on a more public persona since the war began in February last year.
Meanwhile, Ukraine is set to receive more armored combat vehicles from the West but stopped short of providing the heavier armored tanks Ukraine has requested. French President Emmanuel Macron told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that France would be sending light AMX-10 RC armored combat vehicles following a call between the two leaders.
Hours after the announcement from Paris, US President Joe Biden said the United States was also considering sending Bradley Fighting Vehicles to Ukraine. This would be in addition to the 2,000 vehicles the Pentagon has provided Ukraine, including 477 Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicles and over 1,200 Humvees.
