Diplomatic Shifts and Health Concerns: U.S.-Russia Talks in Saudi Arabia, Canada Investigates Toronto Plane Crash, and Pope Francis Battles Pneumonia

Good Morning,

The US and Russia held high-level talks in Saudi Arabia to explore ending the war in Ukraine and improving diplomatic and economic ties, Canadian investigators are analyzing the black boxes from a Delta regional jet that crashed and flipped upside down while landing in Toronto, and Pope Francis remains hospitalized in Rome with pneumonia in both lungs, complicating his respiratory infection. Despite the serious condition, the Vatican reports he is in good spirits, eating breakfast, and continuing light work from his hospital room.

Top Stories

● Russia and US agree to work toward ending Ukraine war in a remarkable diplomatic shift (AP)

● Investigators recover black boxes for further analysis into Toronto plane crash (Reuters)

● The pope slept peacefully, had breakfast after diagnosis of pneumonia in both lungs, Vatican says (AP)

● European stocks are outperforming their U.S. counterparts — but for how long? (CNBC)

● Hamas offers to release all captives for end to Israel’s war on Gaza (AJ)

United States and Canada

● Justice Department and New York City mayor face judge’s scrutiny in bid to dismiss criminal charges (AP)

● Federal prosecutor blames Trump administration pressure for resignation (AJ)

● Jury acquits rapper A$AP Rocky in Hollywood gun assault case (Reuters)

● US judge will not block Elon Musk from firing federal workers, accessing data (Reuters)

● U.S. pauses immigration applications for certain migrants welcomed under Biden (CBS News)

● Kennedy Relatives Say DOGE Cuts Forced Temporary Closure of J.F.K. Library (NYT)

Latin America

● Brazil's ex-President Bolsonaro charged in alleged coup plot (Reuters)

● ELN rebels launch 3-day armed strike in Colombia’s northwest as violence in rural areas escalates (AP)

● Honduras to continue extradition treaty with US (Reuters)

● China promises Latin America 'trustworthy' ties as Trump lays out demands (Reuters)

Africa

● South Africa: Shock after killing of openly gay Muslim imam (AN)

● UN rights office accuses M23 of summarily executing children in DRC (AN)

● Attacks by Sudanese RSF paramilitaries leave hundreds dead in White Nile State (AP)

● Uganda discharges all eight Ebola patients, health minister says (Reuters)

● Burundi troops withdraw in eastern Congo as M23 rebels expand reach, sources say (Reuters)

● UN chief says Sudan humanitarian situation 'extremely worrying' (AN)

Middle East

● Israel’s West Bank crackdown triggers a wave of displacement unseen in decades (AP)

● Florida hate crimes unit probes shooting of two Israelis thought to be Palestinian (Reuters)

● Turkish business group defends itself after investigation starts for critical remarks (Reuters)

● Hamas to release six Israeli captives, hand over four bodies this week (AJ)

● Greece detains over 100 migrants as officials link a surge in arrivals to Mideast wars (AP)

● China supports all Ukraine peace efforts, Gaza is not a 'bargaining chip', says Wang (Reuters)

Indo-Pacific

● Australia’s PM denies double standard after alleged attacks on Muslim women (AJ)

● Man who attacked Japan’s ex-Prime Minister Kishida is convicted and sentenced to 10 years in prison (AP)

● Gunmen kill seven bus passengers in southwest Pakistan (Reuters)

● US condemns 'dangerous' manoeuvres by Chinese navy in South China Sea (Reuters)

Europe

●  Zelenskyy demands Ukraine involvement after US-Russia talks on war (AJ)

● Polish border guards find cocaine worth $15 million on Baltic seabed (Reuters)

● Migrant groups say racist attacks increase in German city after deadly Christmas market violence (AP)

● Exclusive: EU antitrust chief says Trump has upended Europe-US relations (Reuters)

● Polish president says US assures him it won’t reduce troop levels as he revives ‘Fort Trump’ idea (AP)

● Polish prosecutors probe an exhibition of Russian armor from Ukraine that contained live explosives (AP)

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