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After talks in Geneva on a U.S. peace plan for Ukraine, Kyiv said Washington now 鈥渉ears鈥� its reservations. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said there is a 鈥渟olid basis for moving forward,鈥� but German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said he doubts an agreement can be reached by the U.S. deadline tomorrow.聽Moscow meanwhile launched a large-scale attack on Kyiv with missiles and drones early this morning.

President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping聽spoke by phone Monday, a month after聽meeting聽in person in South Korea. Mr. Xi said Taiwan鈥檚 鈥渞eturn鈥� to mainland China is an 鈥渋ntegral part鈥� of the postwar international order. Washington remains opposed to China using force to take control of the island, whose聽independence聽is contested. Nevertheless, Mr. Trump called the relationship 鈥渆xtremely strong鈥� and said he accepted an invitation to visit Beijing in the spring.聽

The Pentagon is investigating Sen. Mark Kelly聽for posting a video with six other lawmakers reminding U.S. troops that they can refuse illegal orders. The review, announced in a social media post Monday, fueled concerns that the Trump administration is using the Pentagon to intimidate critics. A retired Navy officer, Senator Kelly could be recalled to active duty and prosecuted, the Pentagon indicated. The Arizona Democrat said in a statement that members of Congress will not be 鈥渟ilenced by bullies.鈥�

A federal judge dismissed the prosecutions of former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James on Monday, ruling that the prosecutor who brought the charges, Lindsey Halligan, had been appointed unlawfully. The government is likely to appeal and could refile charges against both defendants within six months.

Israel鈥檚 military chief-of-staff informed several top military commanders they were being fired for failing to prevent the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas attack and protect their fellow citizens once the surprise assault began. It follows a recent cease-fire that halted the Gaza War. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu鈥檚 government is under public pressure to establish a state commission of inquiry into the deadliest day in Israeli history.聽

The Venezuelan Cartel de los Soles,聽allegedly led by authoritarian President Nicol谩s Maduro, was designated a foreign terrorist organization by the U.S. The label gives military agencies and law enforcement broader powers to target the cartel and those associated with it. It鈥檚 the latest move in a pressure campaign against Mr. Maduro. The U.S. has carried out recent military聽strikes聽on Venezuelan boats officials allege are carrying drugs in international waters.聽

Malaysia approved a ban on social media for those under age 16 starting next year. A similar law will go into effect on Dec. 10 in Australia. Lawmakers in Denmark are planning a ban for children under age 15. Proponents argue these laws protect young people from harmful content online. Critics say requiring official ID for age verification would undermine privacy. Tech companies could face major fines for not preventing children from holding accounts.

鈥� Our staff writers around the world

Upholding public trust has long been a central tenet of American democracy. But ethical norms have fallen under President Donald Trump even as the net worth of him and his family has grown. The White House denies conflicts of interest. Ethics experts disagree.

Making peace between Israel and Hamas was never going to be easy, but the process appears to have stalled after only two months. Can it go forward if Hamas refuses to disarm?

Artificial intelligence is showing up more and more in Americans鈥� daily lives, raising questions about who should regulate it, and whether the focus should be on unleashing innovation or protecting the people who use AI.

Ending its dependency on Russian gas has been a goal for Europe since Moscow first launched its mass invasion of Ukraine. While progress has been made, the bloc is still impeded by both energy needs and foot-dragging member states.

During times of difficulty and change, the familiar comforts of food and family are often a universal balm. When our essayist and her family immigrated to San Francisco from Taiwan in the 1970s, a trusty old wok carried the flavors of home.

This week, top leaders of Africa and Europe gathered in Angola in an attempt to answer this question: Can ethical business practices win out in the global race to extract Africa鈥檚 vast mineral resources?

The moral tone for the summit was set last month by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. In a speech, she said Europe seeks critical materials for its China-challenged industries but 鈥渘ot just for Europe鈥檚 needs 鈥� but with local processing and added value [in Africa].鈥�

In other words, can European mining companies help Africa process its raw minerals into consumer and industrial goods while also boosting local jobs and local skills?

For some countries in Europe, that would mean a shift away from how it often treats former colonies. As President Faustin-Archange Touad茅ra of the Central African Republic put it in September, 鈥淭he era of Africa鈥檚 dependence is over.鈥� He called for 鈥渟overeignty, not subordination; partnership, not exploitation.鈥�

With the global contest for 鈥済reen minerals鈥� picking up speed, the dynamics for Africa are in its favor. 鈥淓conomic exchanges for a long time happened in a colonial relationship, but I believe that with the overall shift in global geopolitics, we now have a relationship that is more on an equal footing, less paternalistic,鈥� Pascal Saint-Amans, a professor at the University of Lausanne in Switzerland, told Radio France Internationale.

A good example 鈥� and the reason for the summit being held in Angola 鈥� is a rail project, funded by the EU and the United States, that would speed up transportation from Africa鈥檚 mineral heartland in Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo to Angola鈥檚 Atlantic coast. If the European Union and its African partners can show mutual benefits from building the Lobito Corridor, as the project is called, it would be a model for all of Africa and its external partners.

鈥淭ogether, Africa and Europe can lead the way,鈥� Ms. von der Leyen and European Council President Ant贸nio Costa said in a statement. The two blocs can shape 鈥渁 fairer, greener, and more secure world based on shared values and mutual respect.鈥�

Much still needs to be done to achieve such goals. 鈥淚nvestment must move from PowerPoint to the factory floor,鈥� Ikemesit Effiong of the Nigeria-based consultancy SBM Intelligence told Agence France-Presse. Yet the EU has at least embraced a role as an ethical partner, aiming to lift resource-rich countries as much as it lifts itself.