International

More than 20 dead and a hundred injured in several missile attacks against residential areas of Odessa and Sumi

At least 11 people have died and 89 others were injured in the Ukrainian city of Sumi by the impact of a Russian missile against a residential building last night, local authorities reported on social networks.

The Ukrainian first lady, Olena Zelenska, has condemned the attack and explained that among the fatalities are two children.

“It is an attack not only against Ukrainians but against the very concept of humanity. And against all those who believe that the enemy can be stopped with concessions instead of by force,” Zelenska wrote on her social network account X.

According to Ukrainian emergency services, there are eleven minors among the injured.

Sumi is located next to the border with Russia and is regularly attacked by Kremlin forces.

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At least 10 dead in another missile attack against Odessa

A few hours after the daylight attack on Sumi, at least 10 people died, including seven policemen and a health worker, in a Russian missile attack against a residential area of the city.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has condemned this attack against Odessa on his social networks.

“Russian terrorists hit with a ballistic missile against Odessa, against a residential area,” Zelenski wrote on his Telegram channel.

According to the Ukrainian president, the missile has fallen into a park and has caused damage to a residential building, a university and an administrative building.

Zelenski added that it is not “an accidental attack” and described the bombing as “exemplary.”

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Zelenski: Russia is only interested in war

“After the calls and meetings with Putin, after all these words in the media about his supposed ‘renunciation’ of the attacks, Russia shows what it is really interested in: only in the war,” Zelenski said in reference to the calls that the US president-elect, Donald Trump, and the German Chancellor, Olaf Scholz, would have had in recent days with the Russian president.

Zelenski asked the leaders participating in Brazil at the G20 summit to “listen” to the message sent by Putin’s attack.

Monday’s attacks follow a day, Sunday, in which Russia launched 120 missiles and 90 drones against several regions of Ukraine.

This massive combined attack in which hypersonic missiles and other types were used was directed against Ukrainian electrical infrastructure.

The destruction caused has forced the authorities to reschedule power cuts throughout the country.

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International

Florida judge sets 2027 trial in Trump’s $10 billion lawsuit against BBC

A federal judge in Florida has scheduled February 2027 for the trial in the lawsuit filed by U.S. President Donald Trump against the BBC, in which he is seeking $10 billion in damages for defamation.

Trump accuses the British broadcaster of airing a misleading edit of a speech he delivered on January 6, 2021, which, he says, made it appear that he explicitly urged his supporters to attack the U.S. Capitol in Washington.

The president filed the suit in December in federal court in Florida, alleging defamation and violations of a law governing business practices when the program was broadcast ahead of the 2024 election.

Trump is seeking $5 billion in damages for each of the two claims.

Lawyers for the BBC unsuccessfully asked the court to dismiss the case, arguing that Trump had not suffered a “legally recognizable harm,” since the investigative program Panorama, which included the edited footage, aired outside the United States.

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International

Head-of-state diplomacy key to guiding China–U.S. ties, Beijing says

Head-of-state diplomacy plays an irreplaceable strategic guiding role in China–United States relations, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said on Thursday during a regular press briefing, when asked about high-level exchanges between the two sides.

Lin added that in a recent phone call, U.S. President Donald Trump once again expressed his intention to visit China in April, while Chinese President Xi Jinping reiterated his invitation.

Both sides remain in communication regarding the matter, the spokesperson said.

Lin noted that the essence of China–U.S. economic and trade ties lies in mutual benefit and win-win outcomes.

“Both parties should work together to implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, injecting greater certainty and stability into China–U.S. economic and trade cooperation, as well as into the global economy,” he said.

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International

Trump administration to end special immigration operation in Minnesota

The administration of Donald Trump is bringing to a close its special operation targeting illegal immigration in the northern state of Minnesota, border czar Tom Homan announced Thursday, following weeks of unrest and the fatal shootings of two activists by federal agents.

Thousands of federal officers had been deployed to Minnesota in December to carry out large-scale raids against undocumented immigrants.

The operations triggered strong reactions from residents and advocacy groups, leading to daily confrontations and the deaths of two people who were shot by federal agents.

“I proposed, and President Trump agreed, that this special operation should end in Minnesota,” Homan said during a press conference in the state capital, Minneapolis.

“A significant drawdown began this week and will continue into next week,” he added.

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Homan indicated that similar enforcement efforts could be launched in other cities.

“Next week we will redeploy the agents currently here back to their home stations or to other parts of the country where they are needed. But we will continue to enforce immigration laws,” he said.