Russia launched a large-scale attack against Ukraine on Friday morning, resulting in the death of at least 22 people and the destruction of an apartment building in Uman. Ukraine's air force was able to intercept 11 of the cruise missiles and two drones, but tensions between the two countries have been raised. The United Nations Security Council is expected to hold an emergency meeting to discuss the situation and the international community is urging both sides to de-escalate the violence.
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Brittney Griner, WNBA star and Olympic athlete, announced Thursday that she will no longer play basketball overseas during the WNBA offseason, citing the disparity in pay between the leagues and her recent detainment in Russia on drug-related charges. Griner, speaking to reporters for the first time since her return to the U.S., got emotional while discussing her experience and the importance of standing up for what is right.
Prince Harry's lawsuit against the publisher of London's tabloids has brought the royal family's relationship with the media into the spotlight just days before the coronation of King Charles III. The publisher, NGN, has already paid out millions to settle phone-hacking cases, and the last coronation of a British monarch was also marred by a similar scandal. The royal family is hoping that the coronation of King Charles III will be remembered for its grandeur and pageantry, and is confident that it will be a success.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a call with Chinese President Xi Jinping to discuss the potential for Russia to use nuclear power plants as a form of blackmail. Xi Jinping pledged to send a “special representative” to Ukraine for talks about a “political settlement” and warned that “there is no winner in a nuclear war.” China has expressed a desire to become a neutral peace broker in the conflict, though the United States and others have questioned its impartiality.
China and Russia have both taken steps to end the conflict in Ukraine, with China sending an envoy to discuss a possible "political settlement" and Russia praising a framework proposed by China and Brazil. Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov have both expressed their support for a peaceful resolution to the conflict, which has been ongoing since 2014. It is hoped that the Chinese envoy's visit will help to bring an end to the conflict.
Sudan is facing a period of chaos and uncertainty as violence between two sides has left more than 500 people dead. On Wednesday, the Sudanese Armed Forces announced that former dictator Omar al-Bashir was being held in a military-run hospital, though his whereabouts remain unknown. The International Criminal Court has accused al-Bashir of genocide and other war crimes, and Ahmed Haroun, a former high-ranking Sudanese official wanted for war crimes, has also been released from prison.
Singapore executed Tangaraju Suppiah, 46, on Wednesday for abetting the trafficking of 1 kilogram of cannabis, despite his family's pleas for clemency and activists protesting the weak evidence against him. The death penalty is a mandatory sentence for anyone found guilty of trafficking more than 500 grams of cannabis in Singapore, and the execution has sparked outrage among activists and human rights groups who argue that it is an inhumane punishment. The Singapore government has defended its use of capital punishment, saying it is necessary to deter drug trafficking and other serious crimes.
On Wednesday, President Joe Biden and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol will sign the "Washington Declaration," a new agreement to strengthen the U.S. commitment to defend South Korea against nuclear threats from North Korea. The agreement will include plans for U.S. nuclear-armed submarines to dock in South Korea for the first time in more than 40 years, as well as a greater role for South Korea in any response to a potential nuclear attack. The agreement is intended to signal Washington's commitment to deter North Korea from carrying out an attack on its neighbor.