Israeli Airstrike Kills Three in Central Gaza Despite Ceasefire 
Trump Urges Gasoline Retailers to Cut Prices to $2.50 Per Gallon, Warns of Legal Action 
Andy Burnham Sets Out Vision to Decentralize Britain as Labour Leadership Race Begins 
Mexico, U.S. Launch Sterile Fly Facility to Combat New World Screwworm Outbreak 
US Strikes Iran Again After Strait of Hormuz Tanker Attack Escalates Ceasefire Tensions 
Russian Attacks Kill Four in Ukraine as Zaporizhzhia and Kharkiv Come Under Fire 
Serbia President Aleksandar Vucic to Resign, Calls Early Elections After Months of Protests 
Russia Intensifies Assault on Kostiantynivka as Ukraine’s Donetsk Defense Faces Mounting Pressure 
Taiwan Coast Guard Officer Finds Strength in Faith as China Increases Pressure in Taiwan Strait 
Iran Launches Drone Attack on Bahrain After U.S. Strikes, Strait of Hormuz Tensions Escalate 
Sheinbaum Says No One Is Above the Law After Abuse Video of Ex-Pemex Chief Emerges 
Despite its best efforts, Iran won’t be able to toll the Strait of Hormuz. Here’s why 
Trump Signs Memorandum Backing Americans’ Right to Repair Their Own Vehicles 
Australia Plans Higher Fines for Social Media Firms Failing to Block Underage Users 
Trump Suspends Some Morocco Fertilizer Tariffs to Ease U.S. Supply Shortage 
Supreme Court Backs Lisa Cook, Defends Federal Reserve Independence Against Trump Firing Attempt 
Maria Corina Machado Vows Return to Venezuela After Earthquakes Despite Obstacles 
The United States has accused Russia of trying to “freeze” Ukraine into submission as the war moves toward its ninth month. The accusations come amidst Moscow’s push to move thousands of civilians out of the partially occupied Kherson region.
Following a meeting of the G7 foreign ministers in Germany Friday last week, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that as Russian President Vladimir Putin has failed to succeed on the battlefield, he has turned to try and “freeze” Ukraine into submission. On the same day of the G7 meeting, US National Security adviser Jake Sullivan traveled to Kyiv to reaffirm Washington’s support for Ukraine.
This comes amidst advances by Ukrainian troops on the ground, while Russia has repeatedly bombarded the country’s infrastructure with missiles and drones. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Thursday that Russia’s assault on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure has left around 4.5 million people without power.
During Sullivan’s visit to Kyiv, he told a news conference that Ukraine is in need of air defense at this time amidst the barrage of missiles and explosive drones sent by Russia.
On the ground, Ukrainian forces are gearing up for an offensive in the southern territory to reclaim occupied areas. Moscow moved forward with moving civilians out of the partially-occupied territory of Kherson, and the Russian army said that around 5,000 residents were being evacuated from the region. Russia has already been urging civilians to leave Kherson since mid-October, pledging to turn its main city into a fortress.
Kyiv said the so-called evacuations of civilians by Moscow were like the Soviet-era “deportations” of its people.
Chinese President Xi Jinping, in what might be an indirect comment to Russia and the West, called on nations to prevent the threats or use of nuclear weapons in Europe and in Asia, during his meeting with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Beijing Friday last week.
“The international community should…jointly oppose the use or threats to use nuclear weapons, advocate that nuclear wars must not be used and nuclear wars must not be fought, in order to prevent a nuclear crisis in Eurasia,” said Xi.
