Nov 12, 2026, 06:30 AM UTC

Following the conclusion of US-brokered talks in Abu Dhabi, American negotiators Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff traveled to Moscow on Thursday for discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The meeting aims to debrief the Kremlin on the Abu Dhabi sessions, where Ukraine and Russia agreed to a new prisoner exchange. The US representatives also plan to consult with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy while pushing for European governments to name a joint representative for future peace talks.

Meanwhile, severe fighting and infrastructure damage persist in Ukraine. Massive Russian attacks have severed electricity to roughly 600,000 residents in eastern regions, while energy operators in Kyiv warned of impending rolling blackouts across the capital.

Sources: Der Spiegel, Der Standard, FAZ, ORF, Tagesschau

The US military disabled the bulk carrier M/V Huda in an airstrike after it repeatedly ignored warnings and breached an American blockade to reach an Iranian port in the Gulf of Oman, according to US Central Command.

Concurrently, Iranian state media reported that two oil tankers caught fire in the Strait of Hormuz after entering restricted areas and striking sea mines. These incidents follow earlier reports of maritime explosions in the region over recent days.

Political friction remains high despite US President Donald Trump asserting that military operations against Iran are "effectively over"—a claim Tehran dismissed as "fake news." Meanwhile, Washington has offered financial rewards for information regarding Iran's nuclear program, and German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius urged European leaders to decide promptly on participating in a naval protection mission.

Sources: Der Spiegel, Der Standard, FAZ, ORF, Tagesschau

Russian air strikes targeting Ukraine's power grid have left over 850,000 consumers without electricity across the Dnipropetrovsk and Kharkiv regions. Ukrainian grid operators implemented emergency blackouts and scheduled power cuts to maintain network stability ahead of the winter season.

In response, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported successful precision strikes against Russian positions in occupied areas of Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia. The targeted sites included ammunition storage facilities, logistical centers, and a specialized satellite communications jamming system.

Amid the escalation on the ground, international diplomatic attention remains focused on prospective peace negotiations in Abu Dhabi, accompanied by public assurances from U.S. President-elect Donald Trump that the war will soon conclude.

Sources: Adevărul, HotNews, Moldova1, TV8, Ziarul de Gardă.

U.S. intelligence agencies and Nvidia's board of directors are continuing inquiries into potential Chinese espionage targets involving Chief Executive Officer Jensen Huang. The investigation centers on an extramarital affair between Huang and Alice Huang, a former executive at Singapore-based firm Megaspeed, which U.S. officials suspect of maintaining links to Chinese intelligence services.

Huang admitted the infidelity to employees without explicitly naming the partner. U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed FBI involvement, remarking that Huang appeared surprised by the espionage allegations and denied knowing about any foreign intelligence connection. While Nvidia’s preliminary findings show no evidence of compromised corporate data or classified federal information, market uncertainty surrounding the national security implications has contributed to a decline in company stock.

Sources: Hospodářské noviny, Money, Rzeczpospolita, Seznam Zprávy, TVP info.

Severe winter weather has inundated temporary refugee encampments throughout the Gaza Strip, intensifying humanitarian concerns for hundreds of thousands of displaced residents. Heavy rainfall and strong winds flooded roughly 70,000 tents across central and southern areas, including Nuseirat, Khan Younis, and Deir al-Balah.

Local health authorities and international relief agencies warn that up to one million displaced individuals now lack adequate shelter. The inundations have heightened risks of hypothermia, waterborne diseases, and infrastructure collapse. Palestinian officials renewed calls for global intervention to press Israel into allowing unrestricted access for winter supplies, fuel, and vital emergency aid into the enclave.

Sources: ANSA, Corriere della Sera, France24, La Repubblica, Tagesschau.