The once-elegant city of Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine has become the main battlefield in the with Russia. We hear why much is riding on the fight to control Bakhmut. And COVID-19 infections in China are spiking — jumping from very few cases to tens of thousands per day — and China’s government says that's OK. After years of “all-out war” on the virus, officials suddenly insist it’s actually not much worse than the flu. Also, the UN Biodiversity Conference, or COP15, concluded with a deal to mitigate wildlife extinctions, in part, by setting aside more land and sea for preservation than ever before. Plus, to kick off the Hanukkah season, we hear diverse stories from the Old City, Jerusalem.

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The Dutch government is set to apologize for its role in 250 years of slavery, with a court in the Netherlands clearing the way to hold an official ceremony to mark the decision next week. And, following the US-Africa Leaders Summit in Washington, DC, Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud paid a visit to Minneapolis, Minnesota, the home of the US’ largest Somali diaspora community. Also, negotiators are in Montreal, Canada, to try and halt the steep decline in biodiversity, but many activists worry that it could lead to Indigenous people being kicked off their ancestral lands. Plus, Cuba has authorized women to compete in boxing for the first time since former President Fidel Castro's revolution.

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The United States is poised to approve sending its most advanced ground-based air defense system to Ukraine, responding to the country’s repeated requests to help defend it against Russian missile and drone attacks. And, the United Kingdom is currently facing a number of labor strikes across different sectors. We hear how this is affecting the British economy, especially around the holidays. Also, NASA's new Surface Water and Ocean Topography satellite will map the Earth's water in minute detail, providing valuable and incontrovertible information to communities who are trying to manage climate change. Plus, a new type of owl has been found on the island of Príncipe — and now it’s endangered.

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Trump's pandemic border restriction — Title 42 — is set to expire next week. Thousands of migrants have traveled to the US-Mexico border, mostly to seek asylum. And, on Wednesday, a Turkish court sentenced the mayor of Istanbul to two years for using the term "fool" to describe election officials. The mayor, Ekrem Imamoğlu, is a political rival of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Also on Wednesday, a lawsuit in Kenya was launched against the American social media giant Facebook. Ethiopian petitioners, along with a Kenyan legal organization, are arguing that the platform is putting profits over human rights by fueling hate and violence. Plus, New Zealand places a lifetime ban on cigarette sales.

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As the US-Africa Leaders Summit opens in Washington, DC, US Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield talks about the challenges that US officials face in trying to deepen ties with African nations, while countering the expanding roles of Beijing and Moscow across the continent. And, this month, the Udi people are celebrating 100 years since they established a home in the Republic of Georgia. Their unique culture is seeing a revival in interest, although the language is in danger of dying out. Also, South African lawmakers voted against accepting a committee report that would have led to impeachment proceedings against President Cyril Ramaphosa. The report said that the president held undeclared foreign currency at his farm in 2020. Plus, today, the oldest member of the K-pop supergroup BTS became the first of the bandmates to enter military boot camp.

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The man alleged to have transported the bomb that brought down Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland, in 1988 that killed 270 people, is now in US custody. And, Canadian hospitals are struggling to cope with a recent surge in respiratory viruses, with children’s hospitals being especially hard-hit. Also, nurses in Northern Ireland walked off the job today, with more strikes planned in the UK throughout the rest of the month. Plus, a pair of dogs that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un gave South Korean president Moon Jae-in four years ago are now at a zoo in South Korea after a dispute over who should pay to care for them.

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The UK, Japan and Italy are partnering together to build a sixth-generation fighter jet, set to be ready by 2035 and complete with the latest weapons. And, the Nobel Banquet for the awards ceremony is back in person this weekend for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic began. Also, the vaccine alliance Gavi plans to stop distributing the COVID-19 vaccine to middle income countries. Plus, Congress has passed the Big Cat Public Safety Act, which will prohibit Americans from keeping tigers, lions and other big cats as pets.

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Russia has freed WNBA basketball star Brittney Griner in a prisoner swap. In exchange, the US released convicted Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout. And, the Iranian government has executed protester Mohsen Shekariput. State media said he was sentenced to death for “waging war against God” and attacking Iranian guards during a protest in September. Also, the US is plotting to return to the massive Subic Bay Naval Base and the Philippines, its current owner, is keen to let the US return. Plus, Russia and Ukraine battle over Crimea’s soccer prowess.

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German police conducted raids all across the country on Wednesday, making arrests, and attempting to dismantle a plot aimed at overthrowing the government. And, 50 years ago, the Apollo 17 Saturn V moon rocket crew took what would become one of the most iconic images from space: a photo of planet Earth — “the blue marble.” Former astronaut Mae Jemison reflects on it. Also, Peru's Congress has vowed to impeach President Pedro Castillo just hours after he announced he would dissolve the body. Plus, Taiwanese citizens react to the tumultuous protests in China over the strict “zero-COVID” policy that led to extensive lockdowns. 

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For the second straight day, Ukrainian missiles are landing deep inside Russia. It's a sign that Kyiv is willing to risk widening the war that has raged since February. And, officials in Democratic Republic of Congo say 270 people have been killed in a massacre in the eastern parts of the country. They blame the armed group M23, which they say is being backed by Rwanda. Also, Indonesia's parliament has overhauled the nation's criminal code, replacing colonial-era laws. The new code introduces repressive measures including criminalizing extramarital sex outside of marriage. Plus, Morocco fans react to FIFA victory against Spain. 

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