News Briefs

Secretary of State Marco Rubio hailed “tremendous” progress during talks between American, Ukrainian, and European delegations yesterday. President Donald Trump, whose 28-point peace plan has been criticized for favoring Russia, had accused Ukraine of being ungrateful for his efforts to end the nearly four-year war. A joint statement between the United States and Ukraine said they had developed an “updated and refined” peace framework. Talks are expected to continue today.

As Russia hits energy grid, Ukraine tries to avoid a cold, dark winter

Several airlines canceled flights after the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration warned pilots to use caution due to security issues and increased military activity. Washington is reportedly preparing for a new phase of operations in Venezuela, with rumors circulating about possible plans to overthrow President Nicolás Maduro. The Pentagon announced that America’s top officer, Gen. Dan Caine, will be in Puerto Rico today to thank troops deployed to the region.

How 1973 US-backed coup in Chile sways views on Venezuela today

Officials suspected he was going to flee from house arrest to avoid a 27-year prison sentence. The former leader was sentenced earlier this year for plotting a coup in the aftermath of his 2022 reelection loss, a verdict that reinforced Brazil’s deep political divisions. Both Mr. Bolsonaro and U.S. President Donald Trump have called the trial a “witch hunt.” Over the weekend, the Supreme Court said Mr. Bolsonaro’s ankle monitor was damaged – something the Associated Press confirmed via a custody report, including testimony by Mr. Bolsonaro saying he used a soldering iron to try to open the tracking device “out of curiosity.” He was expected to start serving his sentence in the coming weeks, after his appeals were exhausted.

What Bolsonaro coup verdict means for Brazilian trust

The Christian Association of Nigeria said they have returned to their families, while more than 250 children and 12 teachers remain missing. Friday’s kidnapping at a Catholic school in Niger state was one of the largest that Nigeria has seen and came days after gunmen abducted 25 schoolgirls in a neighboring state. “I urge you all to continue in your prayers for the rescue and safe return of the remaining victims,” said the Rev. Bulus Dauwa Yohanna.

Sandra Ramos, who works for the National Parks Conservation Association, created two online forms, one for national park rangers in need, and one for those wanting to support rangers during the holiday season. In the first three days, over 500 people had signed up to send a Thanksgiving package, winter care kit, or both. She thanked all who participated for their “generosity and abundance of spirit.”

Israel has struck Lebanon’s capital for the first time since June, saying it killed Hezbollah’s chief of staff and warning the Iran-backed militant group not to rearm and rebuild. Sunday's strike in Beirut was launched almost a year after a ceasefire ended the latest Israel-Hezbollah war. Hezbollah did not comment on Israel's claim of killing Haytham Tabtabai but said the strike threatened an escalation of attacks. It came days before Pope Leo XIV is scheduled to visit Lebanon. Lebanon’s Health Ministry said five people were killed and 25 wounded. Israeli airstrikes over southern Lebanon have intensified while it pressures Lebanon to disarm Hezbollah.

United Nations climate talks in Brazil have reached a subdued agreement to deliver more money to countries hit hardest by climate change to help them adapt to the wrath of extreme weather. But Saturday's agreement doesn’t include an explicit detailed map to phase out fossil fuels or strengthen inadequate emissions cutting plans. The Brazilian presidency said they’d eventually come up with a road map to get away from fossil fuels working with hard-line Colombia, but it won’t have the same force as something approved at the United Nations conference called COP30.

Climate money is flowing around the globe. Sometimes, corruption makes it disappear.

Israel's military says it launched airstrikes against Hamas militants in Gaza, testing the ceasefire that began on October 10. Health officials in Gaza report at least 14 people killed and 45 wounded, including children. Strikes have occurred during the ceasefire after reported attacks against Israeli forces. One strike targeted a vehicle, killing seven and wounding 18 in Gaza City. Another strike near Al-Awda Hospital killed three and wounded 11. Israel's military says it launched attacks after an "armed terrorist" crossed into an Israeli-held area and shot at troops in southern Gaza. No soldiers were hurt.

Israel’s heavy-handed raids, arrests in Syria dim hopes for new era

European leaders are set to meet in South Africa to discuss alternatives to a U.S. plan to end Russia's war in Ukraine as a top Ukrainian delegation prepared for direct talks with Washington. The plan, seen as favoring Moscow, has sparked concern in Kyiv and European capitals. It suggests Ukraine hand over territory to Russia and reduce its army, which Kyiv opposes. Ukrainian envoys are set to meet U.S. representatives in Switzerland for talks. European leaders warn against rushing a peace deal, emphasizing their stake in Ukraine's fight as they prepared to meet on the sidelines of a Group of 20 summit in Johannesburg on Saturday.

After strong-arming a ceasefire in Gaza, Trump tries to do it again in Ukraine

A once-loyal supporter of President Donald Trump, she said she will leave Congress in January, saying in a posted video that she had “always been despised in Washington, D.C., and just never fit in.” Representative Greene’s resignation followed a public fallout with Mr. Trump in recent months, as the congresswoman criticized him for his stance on files related to Jeffrey Epstein, along with foreign policy and health care. Mr. Trump branded her a “traitor” and said he would endorse a challenger against her when she ran for reelection next year.

The plans would expand drilling off Florida, California, and Alaska despite bipartisan opposition. The United States plans includes up to 34 new offshore leases by 2031 – the most aggressive schedule in decades. Intended to prepare for future energy needs, the plan faces uphill battles in both the Sunshine State and the Golden State amid environmental concerns. The sites in Alaska may be too remote to exploit.

Make Oil Great Again? Even California drills as global climate action stalls.

It includes controversial land concessions and an American security guarantee. Sanctions would be lifted from Russia, which could rejoin the G8 group of countries. Ukraine would be barred from joining NATO. While some critics have said the proposal favors Russia, officials stressed that the draft is still “in flux” and will evolve.

In the fields and in the streets, Ukrainians fight to stay motivated

Democratic lawmakers made a video reminding U.S. service members they can “refuse illegal orders,” saying troops have expressed concern about the legality of strikes on alleged drug smugglers. President Donald Trump said on social media that the video, made by six members of Congress who have served in the military or the CIA, was “seditious behavior” that could be punished by death or prison. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters the president does not want to execute lawmakers.

Boat strikes off Venezuela mark shift in 54-year US war on drugs

A clash over the Group of 20 gathering of major world economies in Johannesburg continued on the eve of the event, as the Trump administration walked back a pledge to boycott. It will now send a low-level delegation to Sunday’s closing ceremony, where Pretoria will hand off the G20 presidency to Washington. But the U.S. will not participate in talks, which will foreground issues facing the developing world, such as climate change and ballooning sovereign debt.

South Africa aspired to be a nonracial democracy. Can it revive that goal?

The long-running event has grown in recent years to feed 11,000 people in and around Etowah County, in northeast Alabama. Rising costs and high demand mean it won’t take place this year. “We outgrew our britches,” an organizer said. Local community groups and churches are offering free Thanksgiving meals to fill the gap.

Blackbirds, blackcaps, and chaffinches are some of the insect-eating bird populations that have made a comeback, four years after the European Union banned certain pesticides. One researcher told The Guardian he was “surprised you could already see recovery.”

The James Webb Space Telescope was built in part to locate these long-sought but elusive “Population III” stars. Scientists say the unconfirmed find, more than 13 billion light-years away, is the “closest we are yet.”

In with a bang: The James Webb Space Telescope after one year

Both President Donald Trump and New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani confirmed Wednesday that they planned to meet in Washington. The meeting comes after Mr. Mamdani won the mayoral contest earlier this month, besting independent candidate and former Gov. Andrew Cuomo as well as Republican candidate Curtis Silwa. Mr. Trump criticized Mr. Mamdani throughout his campaign, calling the self-proclaimed democratic socialist a communist and threatening to withhold federal funds from the city if Mr. Mamdani was elected. In a statement, Mr. Mamdani’s spokesperson said the two planned to discuss “public safety, economic security and the affordability agenda.”

In Zohran Mamdani’s campaign, democratic socialists find their voice