Syria Arrests Five Suspects After Deadly Attack on U.S. and Syrian Troops in Palmyra 
U.S. Offers NATO-Style Security Guarantees to Ukraine as Peace Talks Show Progress 
Pakistan’s Army Chief Faces Gaza Troop Dilemma Amid US Pressure 
Jimmy Lai Convicted Under Hong Kong National Security Law in Landmark Case 
Korea Zinc Plans $6.78 Billion U.S. Smelter Investment With Government Partnership 
Trump’s Rob Reiner Remarks Spark Bipartisan Outrage After Tragic Deaths 
Zelenskiy Signals Willingness to Drop NATO Bid as Ukraine, U.S. Hold Crucial Peace Talks in Berlin 
Taiwan Political Standoff Deepens as President Lai Urges Parliament to Withdraw Disputed Laws 
U.S. and Mexico Reach New Agreement to Tackle Tijuana River Sewage Crisis 
Trump Sues BBC for Defamation Over Edited Capitol Riot Speech Clip 
U.S. Suspends UK Technology Deal Amid Trade Disputes Under Trump Administration 
Special Prosecutor Alleges Yoon Suk Yeol Sought North Korea Provocation to Justify Martial Law 
Lukashenko Urges Swift Ukraine Peace Deal, Backs Trump’s Push for Rapid Resolution 
Hong Kong Democratic Party Disbands After Member Vote Amid Security Crackdown 
Sydney Bondi Beach Terror Attack Kills 16, Sparks Gun Law and Security Debate 
Trump Administration Moves to Keep TransAlta Coal Plant Running Amid Rising AI Power Demand 
European Leaders Tie Ukraine Territorial Decisions to Strong Security Guarantees 
Amidst the continued bombardment by Russian forces in Ukraine, Ukrainian forces are also making gains in the war that is in its fifth month. The United Kingdom’s defense ministry said Ukrainian forces are gaining momentum in their counteroffensive in the occupied Kherson.
The UK’s defense ministry said Thursday that Ukrainian forces are gaining momentum in their counteroffensive in the Russian-occupied Kherson area in southern Ukraine. Kherson was captured by Russian forces not long after the invasion on February 24.
The British military also said Russia’s 49th Army which is stationed on the west bank of the Dnipro river, appears to be very vulnerable, citing that Kherson is virtually isolated from other Russian-occupied territories in Ukraine.
“Ukrainian forces have highly likely established a bridgehead south of the Ingulets river, which forms the northern boundary of Russian-occupied Kherson,” said the defense ministry in its regular intelligence bulletin on Twitter.
Ukrainian troops have ramped up their counterattack to reclaim the southern territories occupied by Russia through bombing and isolating Russian forces in the areas that are difficult to resupply. However, Kyiv said there were indications that Moscow was redeploying its troops to defend their captured territories.
Kyiv said it has retaken some small settlements on the northern edge following the gains made in recent weeks in its efforts to drive out Russian forces, ahead of what Ukraine says is its major counterattack to reclaim the south.
Ukrainian troops used the West-provided long-range missile systems to damage three bridges across the Dnipro river, making it difficult for Russian forces to replenish supplies on the western bank.
A Ukrainian strike Wednesday on the Antonivsky bridge led to its closure to traffic. This forced Russia to open a ferry service, the routes of which would change for security purposes.
Ukrainian National Security and Defense Council secretary Oleksiy Danilov said on Twitter that Russia has “the maximum number of troops” in the direction of Kherson but did not disclose any further details.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s adviser Oleksiy Arestovych said Moscow was carrying out a “massive redeployment” of forces from the eastern region to the south, indicating a strategic shift to defense.
