In a major shakeup on Thursday, Feb. 8, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy fired his top general after nearly two years of the country’s war with Russia. In a post on X, Zelenksyy thanked Gen. Valerii Zaluzhnyi for his service but said, “The time for… a renewal is now.” Zelenskyy has appointed Col. Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyi, the…

President Biden fires back after a special counsel report questions his memory. And Russian President Vladimir Putin is asked about releasing a Wall Street Journal reporter detained in his country. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Friday, Feb. 9, 2024. Biden defends memory after special counsel report on classified documents “My memory…

The British warship HMS Diamond is returning home after playing an integral role in Operation Prosperity Guardian. The Royal Navy already has another ship in the Red Sea to take its place. The U.K.’s Ministry of Defence said the Diamond joined the operation in December, and since then has maintained a near constant presence in…

A Microsoft analysis warns Iranian threats have been lurking online and within tech infrastructure, targeting Israel and its allies more frequently since the beginning of the Israel-Hamas war. Microsoft’s Threat Analysis Center flagged those threats as Iranian cyber attacks and influence operations, concluding that Iran’s cyber capabilities pose a threat to the 2024 U.S. presidential…

Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 prompted outrage in countries around the world. In Poland, a NATO nation that shares a border with Ukraine, it also prompted fear and anxiety. President Biden has reaffirmed the U.S. commitment and obligation to defend “every inch of NATO territory” with the combined might of all U.S.…

Former Fox News host Tucker Carlson announced in a video on the social media platform “X” he will interview Russian president Vladimir Putin. The New York Times is now reporting that the Kremlin confirmed that the interview has happened. “We are in Moscow tonight, we are here to interview the president of Russia, Vladimir Putin,”…

House Republicans fail to impeach the Homeland Security secretary and pass an Israel aid bill. And voters in Nevada send a message as a winner of the state’s GOP primary is declared. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2024. House GOP fails to impeach Mayorkas, pass Israel funding bill…

Russia is on the verge of capturing its first Ukrainian settlement in eight months. Avdiivka, in eastern Ukraine, is home to some of the war’s fiercest fighting and is seen as crucial territory by both Kiev and Moscow. Before the war broke out, around 32,000 people lived in Avdiivka. Now, fewer than a thousand people…

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s largest exercise since the Cold War is underway, with more than 90,000 troops participating. These defensive exercises are based on fictitious scenarios referencing Article 5, or the principle that an attack on one NATO member is an attack on all of NATO. The Steadfast Defender 2024 exercise has been on…

As China, North Korea and Russia adopt increasingly aggressive positions globally, some East Asian nations are gaining greater strategic significance for the United States. Confronting these security challenges, the U.S. has actively urged Japan to address historical disputes with its neighbor, South Korea. At the same time, the U.S. is working to improve cooperation among…