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Finnish Court Opens War Crimes Trial of Russian Commander in Ukraine Conflict

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Finnish Court Opens War Crimes Trial of Russian Commander in Ukraine Conflict

Finnish prosecutors launched a landmark war crimes trial Thursday against Russian ultranationalist Voislav Torden, former commander of the Rusich sabotage group, for alleged atrocities committed during Ukraine’s 2014 conflict.

The Finnish Prosecutor-General’s Office charged Torden, also known as Yan Petrovsky, with five counts related to his activities in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk and Luhansk regions. Deputy Prosecutor-General Jukka Rappe said the charges involve the deaths of 22 Ukrainian soldiers and injuries to four others.

According to Finnish broadcaster Yle, prosecutors accuse Torden of violating laws of war and committing acts of cruelty against both injured and deceased enemy combatants. A notorious September 2014 incident involved Rusich’s ambush of Ukraine’s Aidar battalion near Shchastya, where group members allegedly mutilated soldiers’ remains.

Torden, born in St. Petersburg in 1987, moved to Oslo in 2004 before joining former Russian paratrooper Aleksandr Milchakov in supporting separatist forces in Donbas. After deportation from Norway to Russia in 2016, he changed his name and entered Finland in 2023 as a family member of his student visa-holding wife.

Finnish authorities arrested Torden at Helsinki Airport in July 2023 as he attempted to board a flight to Nice. While Ukraine sought his extradition, Finland’s Supreme Court denied the request over prison conditions concerns. The United States sanctioned Torden in 2022 for alleged extreme cruelty during combat in the Kharkiv region.

Bitcoin Storms Above $100,000 as Trump 2.0 Fuels Crypto Euphoria

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Bitcoin Storms Above $100,000 as Trump 2.0 Fuels Crypto Euphoria

Bitcoin shattered the $100,000 barrier Thursday, reaching an all-time high of $103,619 as investors embraced President-elect Donald Trump’s dramatic shift toward cryptocurrency and his nomination of crypto-friendly Paul Atkins to lead the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The landmark rally has nearly doubled the total cryptocurrency market value to $3.8 trillion this year, rivaling Apple’s $3.7 trillion market capitalization. Bitcoin alone has surged more than 50% in the four weeks since Trump’s election victory, which also ushered in several pro-crypto lawmakers to Congress.

“We’re witnessing a paradigm shift,” said Mike Novogratz, founder and CEO of Galaxy Digital. “Bitcoin and the entire digital asset ecosystem are on the brink of entering the financial mainstream – this momentum is fuelled by institutional adoption, advancements in tokenisation and payments, and a clearer regulatory path.”

Trump, who previously dismissed cryptocurrency as a scam, has emerged as a champion of digital assets, promising to make the United States the “crypto capital of the planet” and build a national bitcoin stockpile. His nomination of former SEC commissioner Atkins, who co-chairs the Token Alliance and works with the Chamber of Digital Commerce, has further energized the market.

Institutional investment has driven much of the surge, with more than $4 billion flowing into U.S.-listed bitcoin exchange-traded funds since the election. “Roughly 3% of the total supply of bitcoins that will ever exist have been purchased in 2024 by institutional money,” noted Geoff Kendrick, global head of digital assets research at Standard Chartered.

The rally marks a dramatic turnaround from bitcoin’s sub-$16,000 price in 2022 following the FTX exchange collapse. Crypto-related stocks have soared alongside bitcoin, with miner MARA Holdings and exchange operator Coinbase each gaining about 65% in November.

Syrian Rebel Chief Warns Iraq Against Militia Intervention

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Syrian Rebel Chief Warns Iraq Against Militia Intervention

Syria’s top rebel commander Abu Mohammed al-Golani issued a direct appeal Thursday to Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, urging him to prevent Iran-aligned Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) from entering the Syrian conflict.

“We urge and hope Iraqi politicians, first and foremost Mohammed Shia al-Sudani… do their duty to prevent the Iraqi Hashd al-Shaabi’s intervention in what is happening in Syria,” Golani said in a video statement, using the Arabic name for the PMF.

The warning comes after Reuters reported hundreds of Iraqi militia fighters had already crossed into Syria to support government forces following rebels’ capture of Aleppo last week. The PMF, which includes multiple Iran-backed factions, previously fought in Syria to help President Bashar al-Assad reclaim territory lost to rebels early in the civil war.

While PMF officials deny current deployment in Syria and say they would only enter under leadership orders, Golani sought to reassure Iraq that the Syrian conflict would not spill across their border. He emphasized rebels’ desire for strategic economic and political relations with Baghdad after Assad’s removal.

NYC Police Hunt Killer of UnitedHealth Executive After Targeted Attack

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NYC Police Hunt Killer of UnitedHealth Executive After Targeted Attack

New York City police intensified their search Thursday for a masked gunman who fatally shot UnitedHealth executive Brian Thompson outside a Midtown Manhattan hotel, in what authorities described as a calculated assassination.

Thompson, 50, CEO of UnitedHealth’s insurance unit, was shot from behind Wednesday morning near the Hilton on Sixth Avenue, where the company was holding its annual investor conference. Security footage showed the assailant had been lying in wait before the attack.

“This does not appear to be a random act of violence,” Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch told reporters. “Every indication is that this was a premeditated, pre-planned, targeted attack.”

Police released surveillance photos of the suspect, who wore a hooded sweatshirt and balaclava, showing him raising a handgun at Thompson and later fleeing on an electric bike into Central Park. Additional images captured partial views of the suspect’s face in a cafe.

Investigators reported finding shell casings at the scene with the words “deny,” “defend” and “depose” carved into them, according to multiple media reports that Reuters has not independently verified.

Thompson’s wife Paulette told NBC News he had received job-related threats, though she didn’t specify their nature. “Brian was an incredibly loving, generous, talented man who truly lived life to the fullest and touched so many lives,” she said in a later statement.

The killing occurred hours before New York’s annual Rockefeller Center Christmas tree lighting ceremony, which proceeded under heightened security just blocks from the shooting scene.

Israeli Strikes Hit Gaza Tent Camp, Killing at Least 21 Displaced Palestinians

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Israeli Strikes Hit Gaza Tent Camp, Killing at Least 21 Displaced Palestinians

Israeli airstrikes hit a tent camp for displaced Palestinians in southern Gaza Wednesday, killing at least 21 people and igniting fires that tore through the makeshift shelters, according to hospital officials, in the latest attack on an area previously designated as a humanitarian safe zone.

Dr. Atif al-Hout, director of Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, reported at least 28 wounded in the Muwasi camp strike. An Associated Press journalist at the hospital counted at least 15 bodies, noting the difficulty in determining an exact count due to dismemberment and severe burns. The morgue received victims including an infant, whose blackened hand and face were visible beneath a blanket.

“It was like doomsday,” said survivor Iman Jumaa, fighting tears as she described losing her father, brothers, and their children in the attack.

The Israeli military said it targeted senior Hamas militants “involved in terrorist activities” in the area, claiming secondary explosions indicated the presence of weapons. The military provided no additional details about the specific targets.

The strike was one of several deadly attacks across Gaza Wednesday. In central Gaza’s Nuseirat refugee camp, Al-Awda Hospital reported two deaths and 38 injuries from a separate strike on a residential block.

The violence continues as humanitarian conditions deteriorate, particularly in northern Gaza where experts warn of potential famine. The Biden administration has pledged to pursue ceasefire negotiations following the recent Israel-Hezbollah truce in Lebanon, while President-elect Donald Trump has demanded Hamas release remaining hostages before his January inauguration.

Gaza’s Health Ministry reports over 44,500 Palestinians killed since the war began, following Hamas’ October 7 attack that killed 1,200 people in Israel and took 250 hostages.

Macron to Address Nation Following Historic Government Collapse

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Macron to Address Nation Following Historic Government Collapse

President Emmanuel Macron will address the French nation Thursday evening, following a historic no-confidence vote that ousted Prime Minister Michel Barnier and left France facing its most severe political crisis in decades.

Barnier formally resigned Thursday morning at the Elysée Palace after the National Assembly passed the no-confidence motion with 331 votes, ending his tenure as France’s shortest-serving prime minister in modern history after just three months.

“I recommend he decide rapidly on a new prime minister,” National Assembly President Yaël Braun-Pivet urged on France Inter radio. “There must not be any political hesitation. We need a leader who can speak to everyone and work to pass a new budget bill.”

The crisis has energized opposition leaders, with far-left France Unbowed leader Manuel Bompard calling for Macron’s resignation on BFM TV. National Rally leader Marine Le Pen warned of mounting pressure on the president, though Macron has dismissed resignation calls, stating, “I was elected to serve until 2027, and I will fulfill that mandate.”

The political turmoil has raised economic concerns, with Moody’s warning that the government’s collapse “reduces the likelihood of consolidating public finances.” Analysts fear France’s debt could reach 7% of GDP next year without reforms, while rising interest rates could further strain public finances.

Constitutional constraints prevent new legislative elections until July, potentially creating an extended period of political gridlock as Macron seeks to form a new government capable of working with a divided parliament.

Medellin Cartel Leader Freed from U.S. Prison After 25-Year Term

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Medellin Cartel Leader Freed from U.S. Prison After 25-Year Term

Fabio Ochoa Vasquez, a legendary figure from Colombia’s Medellin cocaine cartel, was released Tuesday from U.S. federal prison after serving 25 years of a 30-year sentence, prison records show.

Ochoa, 67, amassed a fortune with his brothers during cocaine’s surge into the U.S. market in the late 1970s and early 1980s, achieving such wealth that Forbes Magazine listed them among its billionaires in 1987. Operating from Miami, he managed a distribution center for the cartel then led by Pablo Escobar.

First indicted in the U.S. for alleged involvement in the 1986 killing of DEA informant Barry Seal – whose story inspired the 2017 film “American Made” – Ochoa was initially arrested in Colombia in 1990 under a program promising protection from U.S. extradition. At the time, he appeared on the U.S. “Dozen Most Wanted” Colombian drug lords list.

Following a 2001 extradition to face Miami drug trafficking charges, Ochoa became the only one among more than 40 defendants to go to trial rather than cooperate with prosecutors, resulting in his lengthy sentence.

“He won’t be retiring a poor man, that’s for sure,” said Richard Gregorie, retired Assistant U.S. Attorney who helped convict Ochoa, noting authorities never recovered all the family’s drug proceeds. Ochoa’s attorney, Richard Klugh, declined comment on the release.

Syrian Insurgents Claim Entry into Strategic City of Hama

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Syrian Insurgents Claim Entry into Strategic City of Hama

Syrian opposition forces claimed Thursday they have penetrated parts of Hama, a crucial government stronghold, following three days of intense fighting that comes on the heels of their stunning capture of Aleppo last week.

While Syrian state media acknowledged fierce clashes on Hama’s eastern outskirts, they denied insurgents had breached the city limits. Hama’s fall would represent another major setback for President Bashar Assad, who has maintained control of the strategic central city throughout Syria’s conflict since 2011.

The offensive is spearheaded by the jihadi group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army. “Our forces are taking positions inside the city of Hama,” claimed Major Hassan Abdul-Ghani on the insurgents’ Military Operations Department Telegram channel.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported opposition fighters have entered the Sawaaeq and Zahiriyeh neighborhoods in northwest Hama, with forces also positioning near the Kazo district. “If Hama falls, it means that the beginning of the regime’s fall has started,” Observatory chief Rami Abdurrahman told The Associated Press.

Hama’s strategic significance stems from its position connecting Syria’s center, north, east, and west, lying about 200 kilometers north of Damascus. The city carries historical weight from the 1982 massacre when security forces under Assad’s father killed thousands to suppress a Muslim Brotherhood uprising.

The renewed fighting has displaced tens of thousands since November 27, as Assad’s traditional backers remain preoccupied with other conflicts.

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Athletic Club Stuns Real Madrid, 2-1, Denting Title Hopes

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Athletic Club Stuns Real Madrid, 2-1, Denting Title Hopes

Real Madrid stumbled in their pursuit of La Liga leaders Barcelona, falling 2-1 to Athletic Club Wednesday night after Kylian Mbappe missed a crucial penalty and Federico Valverde’s late error proved costly.

The defeat at San Mames left Madrid four points behind Barcelona, though with a game in hand, following a match that turned on several key moments. Athletic Club broke the deadlock shortly after halftime when Thibaut Courtois parried a cross into Alex Berenguer, whose deflected shot found its way into the net.

Mbappe’s struggles from the penalty spot continued as he missed his second spot kick in three games, though Jude Bellingham appeared to rescue a point when he calmly converted the rebound from Mbappe’s saved effort. However, Athletic Club immediately responded when Gorka Guruzeta dispossessed Valverde and raced through to score the winner.

The champions created little in a first half marked only by Mbappe having a goal disallowed for offside. Madrid’s injury-depleted defense held firm until the break but couldn’t maintain their resistance against Athletic Club’s sustained pressure in the second period.

Bellingham continued his impressive scoring form with his equalizer, but it wasn’t enough to prevent Madrid from suffering a setback in their title defense.

Arsenal Defeats Manchester United 2-0 on Set-Piece Prowess

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Arsenal Defeats Manchester United 2-0 on Set-Piece Prowess

Arsenal demonstrated their set-piece superiority Sunday, scoring twice from corners to defeat Manchester United as visiting manager Ruben Amorim suffered his first loss in English football.

Defenders Jurrien Timber and William Saliba provided the goals that helped Arsenal close the gap on league leaders Liverpool to seven points. The victory, Arsenal’s 500th match at Emirates Stadium, marked their third consecutive league win and extended their unbeaten run to five matches.

The breakthrough came in the 54th minute when Declan Rice’s corner found Timber at the near post, who headed home. Saliba sealed the win later when Thomas Partey’s header from a Bukayo Saka corner deflected off the French defender past United goalkeeper Andre Onana.

The goals highlighted Arsenal’s set-piece prowess under manager Mikel Arteta – they’ve now scored 22 times from corners since last season, leading all Premier League teams. United, despite practicing defensive set-pieces during warm-ups, conceded multiple corner goals in a league match for the first time since January 2014.

“We’re back to looking like title contenders,” Arteta said, noting the impact of Martin Odegaard’s return coinciding with their unbeaten streak.

Amorim, who took charge of United on November 11, had warned of an impending “storm” before the match. Despite organizing his side well in the first half, United’s resistance crumbled against Arsenal’s relentless set-piece assault, though they did see £62m defender Leny Yoro make his competitive debut.

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