Michael Dell Pledges $6.25 Billion to Boost Children’s Investment Accounts Under Trump Initiative 
U.S. Expected to Expand Travel Ban to More Than 30 Countries 
Pentagon Probe Finds Hegseth’s Use of Signal Risked Exposing Sensitive Yemen Strike Details 
Maduro Confirms “Respectful” Call With Trump, Signals Openness to Diplomatic Dialogue 
Trump and Lula Discuss Trade, Sanctions, and Security in “Productive” Phone Call 
UN General Assembly Demands Russia Return Ukrainian Children Amid Ongoing Conflict 
Taiwan Signals Openness to Renew Ties with Honduras as Election Unfolds 
IMF Deputy Dan Katz Visits China as Key Economic Review Nears 
Trump Claims He Will Void Biden Documents Signed with Autopen 
Hong Kong Faces Low Turnout in “Patriots-Only” Election Amid Public Grief After Deadly Fire 
Israel Receives Body of Deceased Hostage as Rafah Crossing Reopening Hinges on Final Returns 
UN Chief Says Gaza Operation “Fundamentally Wrong” as Concerns Over War Crimes Grow 
California Launches Portal for Reporting Alleged Misconduct by Federal Immigration Agents 
China’s Expanding Maritime Military Presence Alarms Taiwan and Japan 
Taiwan Opposition Criticizes Plan to Block Chinese App Rednote Over Security Concerns 
Honduras Election Turmoil Deepens as Nasralla Alleges Fraud in Tight Presidential Race 
Cuba Reaffirms Anti-Drug Cooperation as Tensions Rise in the Caribbean 
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the Ukrainian people would continue to endure despite continued Russian strikes across the country’s energy infrastructure. Zelenskyy’s remarks come amidst the war already reaching 10 months.
On Saturday, Zelenskyy delivered a defiant message to the Ukrainian people, especially to those who celebrate Christmas at this time, as most Ukrainians are Orthodox Christians and celebrate the holiday in early January. Zelenskyy’s remarks come on the day that marks 10 months since Russia invaded back in February.
Zelenskyy said that Ukraine would remain standing despite the continued attacks by Russia on the country, killing tens of thousands and displacing millions of others. Zelenskyy said that while the price of freedom is high, slavery costs even more.
“We endured at the beginning of the war – we withstood attacks, threats, nuclear blackmail, terror, missile strikes. We will endure this winter because we know what we are fighting for,” said Zelenskyy in his remarks.
“Even in complete darkness, we will find each other to hug each other tightly. And if there is no heat, we will embrace each other for a long time to warm one another,” said Zelenskyy. “We will smile and be happy, as always. There is one difference – we will not wait for a miracle, since we are creating it ourselves.”
Zelenskyy added that Ukrainian troops were fighting in the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine as others are in exile at home or overseas, having fled from the Russians. Zelenskyy said Ukraine has been fighting Russia for eight years, referring to the annexation of the Crimean peninsula by Russia in 2014.
On Monday, the British defense ministry, in its intelligence update, said that Russian forces have been more focused on building their defensive positions on the front lines in Ukraine since October. The ministry noted that the efforts to build defensive positions have even gone beyond Russia’s doctrinal guidelines.
The ministry said that Russia also faces a shortage in “surveillance assets” and “trained personnel” to monitor large new minefields that are set up, as minefields only become an “effective obstacle” for trained personnel if “covered by observation and fire.”
