The presidents of Ecuador, Ivory Coast, Kenya and Somalia will join many Western heads of state and government and other leaders at a conference this weekend aimed to plot out first steps toward peace in Ukraine – with Russia notably absent.

Apulia

Russian forces have invaded Ukraine from land, air and sea with strikes causing widespread damage. Global leaders have condemned the move and imposed sanctions.

Ukraine Invasion

World leaders convene at Ukraine peace summit without Russia

A summit focused on peace in Ukraine is being attended by numerous global leaders, including the presidents of Ecuador, Ivory Coast, Kenya, and Somalia, as well as Western heads of state and government. The Russian president, Vladimir Putin, has stipulated that Russia’s participation in peace would require Ukraine to withdraw from four provinces and abandon its NATO aspirations. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has rejected these demands.

The discussions among world leaders involved in the summit, including US Vice President Kamala Harris and French President Emmanuel Macron, come on the heels of a G7 meeting where a $50 billion loan for Kyiv was agreed upon. Russian and Chinese absence highlights a divide in international positions on resolving the conflict in Ukraine.



World leaders gather at Ukraine peace summit, Russia absent

On the second and final day of the G7 summit, a summit which saw leaders agree a $50 billion loan for Kyiv, using interest on frozen Russian assets, over in Moscow, the Russian president laid out his conditions for ending the war. Vladimir Putin said that Russia would only end the conflict if Kyiv handed over four provinces claimed by Moscow and gave up its aspirations to join NATO. The conditions are very simple. Ukrainian troops must be completely withdrawn from the Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics, the Kherson and Zaporizhia regions. As soon as Kyiv declares that it is ready for such a decision and begins the actual withdrawal of troops from these regions, as well as officially notifies that they abandon plans to join NATO, in order to cease fire and begin negotiations will immediately follow from our side. Demands that Volodymyr Zelensky, who also signed a 10-year bilateral security deal with Joe Biden at the G7 summit, was quick to reject. You cannot trust such messages. Putin is following the same path. Today he's talking about four regions, before it was Crimea and Donbass. I'd like to remind you of the time when it all started in 2014, when Russian occupation started, there was talk about Crimea and Donbass. Today he's talking about four regions he calls Ukrainian lands Russian territory. Putin's comments come a day before a peace summit for Ukraine and Switzerland, which will be attended by dozens of world leaders, including US Vice President Kamala Harris, French President Emmanuel Macron, and the leaders of Germany, Britain, Italy, Canada and Japan. Russia has not been invited, and China has refused to attend as the talks do not meet its expectations, which include Russia's participation.

Ukraine has appointed a new prime minister, 39-year-old Yulia Svyrydenko, as part of a sweeping government reshuffle announced by President Volodymyr Zelenkskyy. This marks the most significant political shift since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022.

Kyiv

Yulia Svyrydenko takes charge as Ukraine's new prime minister

Former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro, currently on trial at the Supreme Court, has been ordered to wear an electronic ankle monitor. Bolsonaro is accused of leading an alleged attempt to stage a coup to overturn the 2022 election.

Rio de Janeiro

Brazil's Bolsonaro ordered to wear ankle monitor

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Los Angeles

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The UK's Labour Party has passed a landmark electoral reform, aligning with Scotland and Wales in lowering the voting age from 18 to 16. The change fulfills a key promise by the ruling party but garnered criticism from the Conservative Party.

London

UK lowers voting age from 18 to 16 in historic electoral reform

The U.S. House of Representatives approved a rescissions package to slash $9 billion in foreign aid and public broadcasting funding, sending the bill to President Donald Trump's desk.

Washington

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Trump orders release of Epstein-related grand jury transcripts

The European Union has agreed to impose a new round of sanctions against Russia, targeting the country's energy and financial sectors in a bid to tighten the screws on the Kremlin's war machine and force a temporary ceasefire in Ukraine.

Moscow

EU imposes new sanctions on Russia's oil and banks

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Trump denies writing crude letter to Jeffrey Epstein

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Jerusalem

Middle East Conflict

Netanyahu apologizes for deadly strike on Catholic church in Gaza

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A Tennessee judge on Thursday set Kilmar Abrego Garcia's criminal trial date for January 27, 2026. Abrego Garcia is facing human smuggling charges. CBS News justice correspondent Scott MacFarlane reports.

Tennessee

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White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Thursday that President Trump has been diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency.

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Ahmedabad

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Damascus

World reacts to Israeli attacks on Syria’s Damascus

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz makes his first state visit to the United Kingdom to sign a historic defence cooperation treaty—the first of its kind between Germany and Britain since the Second World War. The agreement includes plans for joint defence efforts, boosting economic collaboration, and tackling illegal migration.

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Donald Trump says American-made weapons bought by NATO are being shipped to Ukraine. Trump's also threatening sanctions, saying his aim is to force Putin to negotiate an end to the war. But with Ukraine under nightly attack, there’s scepticism over whether he'll achieve anything.

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Syria condemns Israel for fatal strikes on several government buildings in Damascus. The escalation threatens to disrupt new U.S.-brokered security talks between Israel and Syria, with both sides expressing concerns over stability in the region.

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Mexico City

Global Tariffs

Mexico plans to strengthen trade with Canada

Former President Barack Obama joined his wife, former first lady Michelle Obama, on her latest podcast episode with her brother Craig Robinson to address divorce rumors.

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Israel struck Syrian military targets as well as central Damascus on Wednesday (July 16) as it continued its campaign to protect Druze minority communities in southern Syria.

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Tel Aviv-Yafo

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At least 20 Palestinians were killed on Wednesday (July 16) at an aid distribution site run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, in what the U.S.-backed group said was a crowd surge instigated by armed agitators. This video contains graphic images.

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Police in Los Angeles have arrested a 22-year-old suspect in the double homicide of American Idol executive Robin Kaye and her husband, Thomas Deluca. The couple, both 70 years old, was found shot to death in their home earlier this week.

Encino

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Hollywood

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The United Torah Judaism party has decided to quit Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's ruling coalition over its failure to secure military service exemptions. Members of the ultra-orthodox community have been exempted from enlisting in the army since 1948.

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Ukraine Invasion