Sam Altman Criticizes ICE Enforcement as Corporate Leaders Call for De-Escalation 
Los Angeles Mayor Says White House Must Reassure Fans Ahead of FIFA World Cup 
UK Politicians Call for Full Competition Review of Netflix’s Warner Bros Discovery Deal 
California Governor Gavin Newsom Launches Review Into Alleged TikTok Content Suppression After U.S. Ownership Deal 
Starmer’s China Visit Signals New Era in UK–China Economic Relations 
South Korea Industry Minister Heads to Washington Amid U.S. Tariff Hike Concerns 
Kim Jong Un Signals Expanded Nuclear Plans Ahead of Workers’ Party Congress 
U.S. Returns Seized Oil Tanker to Venezuela in Rare Policy Move 
Trump Weighs Military Options as Iran Tensions Rise 
EU-India Trade Deal Offers European Carmakers a New Opening in India’s Competitive Auto Market 
U.S., Denmark and Greenland Begin Talks to Ease Tensions Over Arctic Security 
Mark Carney Walks Back Davos Remarks After Call With Donald Trump, Says U.S. Treasury Secretary 
Trump Warns Minneapolis Mayor as Immigration Raids Continue Amid Rising Tensions 
U.S. Links Security Guarantees to Ukraine Peace Deal Talks With Russia 
Trump Claims Breakthrough in Syria Talks After Call With President al-Sharaa 
ICE Blocked From Entering Ecuador Consulate in Minneapolis During Immigration Operation 
U.S. and Taiwan Strengthen AI, Semiconductor, and Drone Cooperation at High-Level Economic Talks 
The lawmakers of Ukraine’s governing party drafted legislation that would boost transparency in the country’s defense procurement. The legislation comes amidst a corruption scandal surrounding an army food contract.
The lawmakers of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s Servant of the People Party drafted legislation to boost transparency in defense procurement. Zelenskyy had sought to take a tougher stance against graft when the defense ministry faced accusations from a local media outlet that it was overspending on food. The ministry has denied such allegations.
Anastasia Radina, a member of the governing party who also chairs the parliamentary committee for anti-corruption matters, said the bill would require that the prices paid for products and services for the army be made public on the country’s procurement website. Arms purchases, however, will not be required to do so under the new legislation.
“We are obliged to ensure a level of transparency in procurement for the army, under which such scandals simply will not arise. Can it be done in a way that does not expose customers and suppliers to additional risks? Yes,” said Radina.
The legislation has been sent to parliament for debate and would require three votes to pass before Zelenskyy signs the bill into law.
Ukrainian security council head Oleksiy Danylov said the country’s defense spending went up to 32.5 percent of its GDP since Russia’s invasion in February last year.
On Wednesday, Zelenskyy urged a senior United Nations official to help find a way to resolve the forced deportation of thousands of Ukrainians into Russia, usually in remote areas thousands of kilometers away from Ukraine since Russia invaded last year. Moscow has denied the allegations of criminal mistreatment, saying the deportations were evacuations.
“The discussion focused above all on our people that the occupiers have deported to Russia, said Zelenskyy in his nightly video address, referring to his talks with UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi earlier in the day.
“These are adults, these are our children. A mechanism is needed to protect and bring back people and to bring to account all those who are guilty of deportations. I am certain the UN institutions can show leadership in resolving this issue,” said Zelenskyy.
