Democrats Question Intelligence Chief’s Role in FBI Georgia Election Raid 
Trump’s Iraq Envoy Mark Savaya Ousted Amid U.S.-Iraq Tensions Over Iran Influence 
Israel Intensifies Gaza Airstrikes Amid Ceasefire Tensions 
Kevin Warsh’s Fed Nomination Raises Questions Over Corporate Ties and U.S.–South Korea Trade Tensions 
U.S. Approves Over $6.5 Billion in Military Sales to Israel Across Three Defense Contracts 
Trump Nominates Brett Matsumoto as Next Bureau of Labor Statistics Commissioner 
Venezuela Proposes Amnesty Law and Plans to Transform Helicoide Prison 
U.S. Government Faces Brief Shutdown as Congress Delays Funding Deal 
Trump Family Files $10 Billion Lawsuit Over IRS Tax Disclosure 
Zelenskiy Awaits U.S. Details as Ukraine Prepares for Possible Peace Talks Next Week 
U.S. and El Salvador Sign Landmark Critical Minerals Agreement to Boost Investment and Trade 
Trump Orders DHS to Avoid Protests in Democratic Cities Unless Federal Assets Are Threatened 
Putin Envoy Kirill Dmitriev to Visit Miami for Talks With Trump Administration Officials 
Syria-Kurdish Ceasefire Marks Historic Step Toward National Unity 
Keir Starmer Urges Prince Andrew to Testify in U.S. Epstein Investigation 
Pierre Poilievre Retains Conservative Leadership After Election Defeat in Canada 
Christian Menefee Wins Texas Special Election, Narrowing GOP House Majority 
Latvia announced that it would not provide entry to Russians this week following Vladimir Putin’s order for Russian reserve troops to mobilize. Finland has also considered taking measures to prevent Russians from fleeing Moscow’s mobilization.
Latvian foreign minister Edgars Rinkevics said the country would not be issuing any type of visas to Russians trying to flee from Moscow’s mobilization efforts. Finland’s defense minister also said it was monitoring the situation and that there were grounds for tightening the country’s visa policy for Russians.
“Putin announced ‘partial’ mobilization and annexation of parts of Ukraine. We must not give in to his blackmail and support Ukraine as much as we can. Russia is as dangerous to Europe and the world’s peace today as Nazi Germany was in the last century,” tweeted Rinkevics.
“Regarding Finland’s surroundings, I can say that the military situation is stable and calm,” said Finnish defense minister Antti Kaikkonen. “Our defense forces are well prepared and the situation is closely monitored.”
The measure by Latvia shortly follows the televised remarks by Putin Wednesday, with the Russian leader announcing a partial mobilization of its reserve troops. Around 300,000 reserve troops are expected to be mobilized to serve in Ukraine.
Putin’s order came a day after he expressed support for the urgent referendum calls by Russian-held Ukrainian territories, which would be the first step to annexing a larger portion of Ukraine by Moscow after Russia annexed Crimea in 2014. The West has dismissed the referendum votes.
Shortly after Putin’s order, prices for international flights out of Russia skyrocketed and are selling out amidst fears that some men that are of age to fight would not be allowed to leave the country.
Russian defense minister Sergei Shoigu said the mobilization would be limited to those who have experience as professional soldiers and that conscripted men and students would not be called.
Data from popular flight-booking site Aviasales found that direct flights from Moscow to Istanbul in Turkey and from Moscow to Yerevan in Armenia – two countries that allow Russians to enter without a visa – were sold out Wednesday. Flights from Russia to the European Union were closed off following the invasion.
