Today's News Digest
US envoys say Russian President Putin has agreed to European negotiators joining the next round of Ukraine peace talks, as the talks widen beyond the Russia-Ukraine-US format.
World
Ukraine Peace Talks Set to Widen to Europe
After US-mediated talks in Abu Dhabi produced an agreement on a Russia-Ukraine prisoner exchange, US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner met Putin in Moscow. Putin agreed to European negotiators joining the next round, and the envoys were scheduled to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Ireland.
Israeli Strike Hits Gaza's Nasser Hospital
An Israeli strike on Nasser Hospital, the largest hospital in southern Gaza, killed six Palestinians according to the health ministry, with witnesses saying a missile hit a building housing surgical wards and intensive care units. Al Jazeera reports this is the seventh time Israel has targeted the hospital in an air strike.
Winter Floods Deepen Crisis for Gaza Families
Winter storms have flooded tents and caused deadly landslides among thousands of Palestinians living in shelters in Gaza. Aid groups are calling on Israel to allow shelters into the territory, while families report high prices and difficulty keeping children warm.
Indonesia's Vice President Resigns Over Credentials
Indonesian Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka resigned amid questions about his eligibility and academic credentials. The Constitutional Court and the Supreme Court ruled last month that documents he submitted about his overseas education did not meet election requirements.
Iran Extends Repression to Diaspora Dissidents
Iranian authorities are seizing the assets of people who left the country, targeting dissidents and journalists abroad. Reporting describes this as an extension of the government's repressive apparatus beyond its borders.
Ebola Response Hampered by Missing Funds and Unpaid Staff
Charity Doctors Without Borders (MSF) warns that millions of Ebola response dollars are unaccounted for while medical staff go unpaid, lack proper training, and face shortages of essential supplies as the virus continues to spread.
Leaders Gather at COP31 Climate Summit
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham addressed delegates at the COP31 UN climate summit in Antalya, Turkey, saying the climate consensus is 'gone' while pledging a 'new era of leadership'.
Business & Technology
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang Resigns Amid FBI Investigation
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has resigned while the FBI investigates, and the company's board holds urgent talks about its future. The New York Times reports that U.S. officials say a woman Huang had an affair with is a Chinese spy, drawing attention to the role of intimate relationships in espionage.
Google and Partners Launch Gemini Smartglasses
Google, Samsung, Gentle Monster and Warby Parker have debuted the first Gemini-powered smartglasses, starting at $395. Google is emphasizing privacy as a key selling point.
Ukraine Opens Battlefield Video Archive for AI Weapons Training
The Ukrainian government has opened a collection of five million battlefield videos to defense companies at home and abroad. The footage is intended to help train artificial intelligence systems for weapons.
Science & Health
Synthetic Testosterone Meant for Cows Nearly Kills Man
A man who secretly used synthetic testosterone intended for cattle nearly destroyed his heart. Doctors warn that such life-threatening cases are becoming more common.
Five New Miniature Frog Species Found in Eastern Himalayas
Scientists have identified five new miniature frog species in the eastern Himalayas. Researchers say the frogs evolved as the mountains rose and the Asian monsoon took shape.
Exoplanet Appears to Stop Transiting Its Star
Astronomers report an exoplanet that seems to have stopped passing in front of its host star, an event known as transiting. The observation is puzzling because the planet's transits had previously been detected.
Culture
Caine Prize Winner Cleared of Using AI
Zimbabwean author Simbarashe Kundizeza has been cleared of using AI to write his prize-winning short story, The Blue Fighter. After a month-long investigation, the Caine Prize for African Writing concluded the entry was human-written.
Notable quotes
human-written — Caine Prize for African Writing