Thousands Protest in Brazil Against Efforts to Reduce Jair Bolsonaro’s Prison Sentence 
Global Leaders Condemn Deadly Antisemitic Shooting at Sydney’s Bondi Beach During Hanukkah 
Colombia’s Clan del Golfo Peace Talks Signal Mandatory Prison Sentences for Top Leaders 
Ukraine’s NATO Concession Unlikely to Shift Peace Talks, Experts Say 
Syria Arrests Five Suspects After Deadly Attack on U.S. and Syrian Troops in Palmyra 
Judge Orders Return of Seized Evidence in Comey-Related Case, DOJ May Seek New Warrant 
Air Force One Delivery Delayed to 2028 as Boeing Faces Rising Costs 
Belarus Frees Opposition Leaders Maria Kalesnikava and Viktar Babaryka in U.S.-Brokered Deal 
Russian Drone Attack Hits Turkish Cargo Ship Carrying Sunflower Oil to Egypt, Ukraine Says 
California, 18 States Sue to Block Trump’s $100,000 H-1B Visa Fee 
Korea Zinc Plans $6.78 Billion U.S. Smelter Investment With Government Partnership 
Israeli Airstrike in Gaza Targets Senior Hamas Commander Amid Ceasefire Tensions 
Special Prosecutor Alleges Yoon Suk Yeol Sought North Korea Provocation to Justify Martial Law 
International Stabilization Force for Gaza Nears Deployment as U.S.-Led Planning Advances 
Belarus Frees 123 Political Prisoners in U.S.-Brokered Deal Over Sanctions 
Trump Signals Two Final Candidates for Fed Chair, Calls for Presidential Input on Interest Rates 
Hong Kong Democratic Party Disbands After Member Vote Amid Security Crackdown 
Tensions between Ukraine and Russia escalated over the weekend as Russian forces launched devastating airstrikes on Kharkiv, killing four civilians and injuring over 60. Ukraine denied Russian claims that it indefinitely postponed planned prisoner swaps, accusing Moscow of spreading disinformation and "playing dirty games."
Kremlin aide Vladimir Medinsky alleged Ukraine halted exchanges agreed upon during Istanbul peace talks, including returning the remains of 12,000 fallen soldiers. Ukrainian official Andriy Kovalenko refuted this on Telegram, asserting Russia was distorting facts and should return to good-faith negotiations.
Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov described the latest attacks as the most intense since the start of the full-scale war. Russian drones and missiles struck residential areas, schools, and infrastructure, reducing buildings to rubble. Governor Oleh Syniehubov warned more victims may still be trapped under debris after a facility was hit by 40 drones and multiple bombs.
Meanwhile, Ukraine downed a Russian Su-35 fighter jet and claimed to have destroyed three Iskander missile systems. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy highlighted recent strikes on Russian logistics and airfields as crucial for Ukraine’s defense efforts.
Russia's Defence Ministry said it targeted military sites with high-precision weapons, hitting all intended objectives. It also reported shooting down 36 Ukrainian drones across several regions, including Moscow, where two civilians were injured.
Air traffic at Moscow's Domodedovo, Sheremetyevo, and Zhukovsky airports was briefly halted due to drone threats but later resumed. A senior German official revealed a recent Ukrainian drone strike may have damaged 10% of Russia’s strategic bomber fleet, disrupting operations.
As both sides trade accusations and escalate military operations, hopes for progress in prisoner exchanges and peace talks appear increasingly uncertain.
