California Launches Portal for Reporting Alleged Misconduct by Federal Immigration Agents 
U.S. Defense Chief Pete Hegseth Defends Controversial Second Strike on Suspected Drug-Smuggling Vessel 
U.S. Expected to Expand Travel Ban to More Than 30 Countries 
U.S. Justice Department Orders Intensified Probe Into Antifa and Domestic Extremist Groups 
UN Chief Says Gaza Operation “Fundamentally Wrong” as Concerns Over War Crimes Grow 
UN General Assembly Demands Russia Return Ukrainian Children Amid Ongoing Conflict 
Pentagon Probe Finds Hegseth’s Use of Signal Risked Exposing Sensitive Yemen Strike Details 
New Orleans Immigration Crackdown Sparks Fear as Federal Arrests Intensify 
Trump and Lula Discuss Trade, Sanctions, and Security in “Productive” Phone Call 
Honduras Election Turmoil Deepens as Nasralla Alleges Fraud in Tight Presidential Race 
Michael Dell Pledges $6.25 Billion to Boost Children’s Investment Accounts Under Trump Initiative 
Taiwan Signals Openness to Renew Ties with Honduras as Election Unfolds 
Israel Receives Body of Deceased Hostage as Rafah Crossing Reopening Hinges on Final Returns 
Australia and Japan Strengthen Defence Cooperation Amid Rising Regional Tensions 
China Urged to Prioritize Economy Over Territorial Ambitions, Says Taiwan’s President Lai 
China’s Expanding Maritime Military Presence Alarms Taiwan and Japan 
U.S.-Russia Talks Leave Ukraine Peace Efforts Uncertain 
Russia has continued to bombard Ukraine’s energy infrastructure as the war reaches its 10th month. Russian forces have sought to target the reclaimed territory of Kherson in the south by increasing its attacks as well as in the east.
The Ukrainian military said on Wednesday that Russian forces ramped up their artillery and mortar attacks on the southern Ukrainian territory of Kherson this week. The increased attacks come amidst pressure on the frontlines in eastern Ukraine. The General Staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces, in its morning report, said that Russian forces fired 33 rockets from multiple rocket launchers at civilian targets in Kherson.
Fighting has also remained heavy in the Ukrainian-controlled city of Bakhmut in the eastern region of Donetsk. Heavy fighting was also taking place in the Svatove and Kremmina areas of Luhansk as Ukrainian forces were trying to break through Russian defensive lines. Officials also reported air raid sirens, but there were no reports of missile strikes and officials signaled the all-clear later on.
Previously, Ukrainian foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba told the Associated Press that the Ukrainian government is proposing holding a summit for peace to end the war. Kuleba said the peace summit should be held at the United Nations, with Secretary-General Antonio Guterres serving as the mediator. However, Kuleba said Russia should face a war crimes tribunal to be held accountable before talks take place.
Kuleba also said that other countries should feel free to engage directly with Russia, citing the grain deal that Turkey helped broker. Ukraine’s top diplomat also said that he was “absolutely satisfied” with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s visit to the United States last week and that Washington proposed a plan to fast-track the training for the Patriot missile system to less than six months as training usually takes up to a year.
A spokesperson for the UN reiterated that Guterres would only mediate if both sides wanted him to mediate.
It remains to be seen whether progress may be made for peace, as Kuleba’s comments follow the warning by Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov that Ukraine should either surrender the territories Moscow claims to annex or the Russian military will decide their fate.
