Hong Kong Democratic Party Disbands After Member Vote Amid Security Crackdown 
Tunisia Protests Grow as Opposition Unites Against President Kais Saied’s Rule 
U.S. Special Forces Intercept Ship Carrying Military Components Bound for Iran 
Global Leaders Condemn Deadly Antisemitic Shooting at Sydney’s Bondi Beach During Hanukkah 
Air Force One Delivery Delayed to 2028 as Boeing Faces Rising Costs 
Trump Signals Two Final Candidates for Fed Chair, Calls for Presidential Input on Interest Rates 
Preservation Group Sues Trump Administration to Halt $300 Million White House Ballroom Project 
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 
Belarus Frees 123 Political Prisoners in U.S.-Brokered Deal Over Sanctions 
Belarus Frees Opposition Leaders Maria Kalesnikava and Viktar Babaryka in U.S.-Brokered Deal 
Ukraine’s NATO Concession Unlikely to Shift Peace Talks, Experts Say 
Colombia’s Clan del Golfo Peace Talks Signal Mandatory Prison Sentences for Top Leaders 
Thousands Protest in Brazil Against Efforts to Reduce Jair Bolsonaro’s Prison Sentence 
Syria Arrests Five Suspects After Deadly Attack on U.S. and Syrian Troops in Palmyra 
U.S. Soldiers Killed in ISIS Attack in Palmyra, Syria During Counterterrorism Mission 
U.S. Lifts Sanctions on Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Amid Shift in Brazil Relations 
Russia continues its assault on Ukraine as Moscow seeks to take control of several parts of Ukraine. UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy recently discussed the possibility of providing Ukraine’s armed forces with long-range weapons.
A spokesperson for Johnson’s office said Thursday that Johnson and Zelenskyy discussed potentially sending long-range weapons for Ukraine’s armed forces. Certain regions of Ukraine remain bombarded with Russian rockets, trapping civilians in the midst of evacuation efforts.
“The leaders discussed developments on the battlefield and the Ukrainian armed forces’ requirements, including the provision of longer-range weaponry to prevent the bombardment of civilians,” said the spokesperson.
The call between the two leaders came two days after Johnson delivered a virtual address to Ukraine’s lawmakers, praising the country’s continued efforts to resist Russia. The British leader described the country’s efforts in the war as “Ukraine’s finest hour,” referencing a phrase made by Winston Churchill during World War II.
“This is Ukraine’s finest hour that will be remembered and recounted for generations to come,” said Johnson, who added that Ukraine’s resistance has refuted the myth that Russian dictator Vladimir Putin’s forces were invincible. Johnson said that Putin was “sowing the seeds of catastrophe for himself and for his country” in his war with Ukraine.
Many countries sought to punish Russia by imposing severe sanctions, including the seizure of assets owned by Russian oligarchs who benefited from Putin’s regime or have ties to the Russian leader. One recent capture was of a yacht belonging to oligarch Suleiman Kerimov by Fijian authorities at the request of the US, according to the Justice Department.
The seizure of the yacht was announced Thursday and marks the latest move by Washington and its allies to increase the pressure on Moscow. A court in Fiji ruled Thursday that the US could seize Kerimov’s super-yacht weeks after Fijian law enforcement impounded the yacht.
“The Justice Department will be relentless in our efforts to hold accountable those who facilitate the death and destruction we are witnessing in Ukraine,” said DOJ Attorney General Merrick Garland in a statement.
Kerimov was designated by the US Treasury Department as belonging to a group of oligarchs who benefited from the Russian government “through corruption” and “malign activity,” said the DOJ.
