There are no official statistics surrounding suicide among Ukrainian soldiers, but they are thought to count in the hundreds.

Nike posted more weakness in China and its Converse brand, sending shares down and offsetting higher-than-expected revenue in the latest quarter. Direct-to-consumer sales missed expectations, while Converse plunged 30% in the fiscal second quarter ended Nov. 30. Revenue rose 1% to $12.4 billion, above the average of analyst estimates. The results show that while Nike is making clear progress, investors are clamoring more and want answers for other areas of the business that are lagging. The company has yet to issue longer-term guidance, indicating it’s still getting a grip on operations as it looks to rebuild ties with retailers and sharpen its focus on key sports and cities. Bloomberg Intelligence Senior Analyst for E-Commerce and Athleisure Poonam Goyal joins Bloomberg Businessweek Daily to discuss. She speaks with Carol Massar and Tim Stenovec. (Source: Bloomberg)

TikTok's China-based parent company ByteDance must sever ties with TikTok or lose access to U.S. app stores and web-hosting services

Rep. Randy Fine (R-Fla.) told Axios on Wednesday that he is "actively considering" forcing a vote to expel Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) from Congress. Why it matters: The House has struggled this year to curb the use of tools like expulsion, censure and impeachment by renegade members as a cudgel against their political adversaries. • Some members have even floated raising the threshold for censure — a rebuke that is supposed to carry significant weight but has been watered down by its growing use in recent years.• Fine's effort would almost certainly fail because expulsion requires a two-thirds vote in the House. If all Republicans vote to expel Omar, roughly 85 Democrats would need to join them. Driving the news: Fine, in an interview on Capitol Hill, pointed to a fundraising email from Omar's campaign suggesting he be expelled for saying Muslims should be "destroyed." • "I won't send out fundraising emails calling for her expulsion. If I'm going to do that, you will see me bring the piece of paper. And I am actively considering that," he said.• Fine pointed to unproven allegations — long denied by Omar — that she married her brother and what he called her "general embrace of Muslim terror" as the impetus for his potential effort.• "I don't think she should be a citizen, let alone a member of Congress," he added. The other side: "I don't think anybody takes that man serious," Omar told Axios in a brief interview at the Capitol. • "I don't think he takes himself serious, so nobody should worry about anything he says," she added.• Omar has already faced an unsuccessful Republican censure effort this year after being booted from the Foreign Affairs Committee in 2023 for her criticism of Israel. Between the lines: Since entering Congress earlier this year, Fine has garnered a reputation for his unflagging support of Israel and a series of unapologetically Islamophobic remarks. • Fine, who is Jewish, has advocated the mass expulsion of American Muslims, called for Gaza to be "nuked" in the same fashion as Hiroshima and defended intentionally starving Palestinians.• This has put him at stark odds with Omar, a Somali-American Muslim and staunch critic of Israel who has repeatedly clashed with Fine.

President Donald Trump's administration has announced a massive package of arms sales to Taiwan valued at more than $10 billion that includes medium-range missiles, howitzers and drones, drawing an angry response from China. FRANCE 24's Monte Francis speaks with Rex Li, Professor of International Relations at King's College London.

Why the TikTok star and disability advocate wants the world to rethink what it means to be disabled.

Overseas holdings of US Treasuries dipped in October as China sold down some of its stockpile while countries including Japan and the UK saw increases on the month.

The European Union on Thursday imposed sanctions on 41 more ships in Russia's shadow fleet, taking the total of designated vessels to almost 600. The EU has imposed 19 packages of sanctions against Russia so far, but Moscow has managed to adapt to most measures and is still selling millions of barrels of oil to India and China, albeit at discounts to global prices.

The International Criminal Court slammed a "flagrant attack" on its independence on Thursday after the United States imposed sanctions on two more judges over their role in investigating Israeli officials for possible war crimes in Gaza. Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who faces an ICC arrest warrant, praised Washington for its "strong action" against the court.

As discussions on the use of frozen Russian assets for Ukraine continue at the EU summit in Brussels, Ukrainian MP Lisa Yasko tells FRANCE 24 that 'this evening, this night may show us whether Europe is capable of being a real leader or fear of Russia will win' adding that 'this is a decision not only about giving frozen assets for Ukraine, this is a decision about international order'.

Some brand it 'the most crucial EU summit' since the financial crisis of 2008. A last chance to stave off bankruptcy for a Ukraine government that might run out of money by the end of spring.

House Oversight Democrats released a new batch of photos of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and his former associates on Thursday, with photos referencing Lolita, a book about the sexual exploitation of a young girl. Why it matters: The new photo drop comes just a day before the public is expected to get the Justice Department's full archive of Epstein documents, which could reignite questions about President Trump's former connections to the disgraced financier. What's inside: Some of the photos are of a woman with likely handwritten phrases from the Vladimir Nabokov novel Lolita all over her body. • "Lo-lee-ta: the tip of the tongue taking a trip," reads one below a woman's collarbone and above her chest. "She was Lo, plain Lo, in the morning, standing four feet ten in one sock," a message on a foot says. "She was Lola in slacks," reads another. "She was Dolly at school," a message on her neck reads. • Nothing in the pictures indicate where the photos were taken or who is in them.• The Democrats released 64 photos in total, which include heavily redacted passports from Ukraine, Czech Republic and Russia, plus a prescription for the urinary tract infection medication Phenazopyridine.• Bill Gates is also in some of the photos, as is Google co-founder Sergey Brin and academic Noam Chomsky. Worth noting: None of the pictures suggest that any of the people in the photos have committed any crimes or show explicit abuse of the women pictured. Go deeper: Jeffrey Epstein pictured with Trump, Clinton in new photos released by Dems

Russian President Vladimir Putin called European leaders ‘piglets’ trying to take revenge on Russia.

Traders are betting that what once looked like a potential bidding war for Warner Bros. Discovery Inc. is turning into a one horse race, with Netflix Inc. winning out over Paramount Skydance Corp.

A U.S. official says a Kremlin envoy will travel to Florida to discuss a U.S.-proposed plan to end the war in Ukraine.

President Trump's Truth Social announcement of a blockade around Venezuela has left international law experts scrambling to assess how it would be implemented and if it constitutes an act of war The big picture: A traditional naval blockade involves military forces cutting off access to a coast, a move recognized under international law as an act of war. • The president specified he wanted only to halt U.S.-sanctioned tankers, leaving unclear if he intended a military blockade or simply more aggressive law enforcement.• International law professors, think tankers and economic scholars say that while many unknowns remain, it marks a sharp escalation in Trump's squeeze on Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro. Between the lines: On Truth Social, Trump declared a "TOTAL AND COMPLETE BLOCKADE OF ALL SANCTIONED OIL TANKERS going into, and out of, Venezuela" on Tuesday, claiming the country owes the U.S. "Oil, Land, and other Assets." • Stephen Miller, Trump's deputy chief of staff, echoed Trump in a Wednesday X post, writing that Caracas' "tyrannical expropriation was the largest recorded theft of American wealth and property."• Ryan Goodman, an NYU School of Law professor and co-editor-in-chief at Just Security, told Axios, "There is no legal justification for a military blockade based on the grievances President Trump listed." Yes, but: Under international law, a blockade is a military operation that prevents vessels — enemy and neutral — from accessing ports or coastlines. • A blockade is "different than merely claiming the right to interdict vessels suspected of being under sanction," Dylan Williams of the Center for International Policy tells Axios.• It comes down to implementation: If executed as an actual blockade, it "would be an act of war under international law," Williams says. Zoom out: The confusion underscores the complications that arise when a president announces critical foreign policy decisions via social media rather than through formal diplomatic channels. Catch up quick: The U.S. seized the "Skipper" earlier this month using a standard seizure warrant. That oil tanker was considered "stateless" (flying a false flag) and had a history of carrying Iranian oil, giving the U.S. grounds to act. • The New York Times reported Wednesday that Maduro ordered his navy to escort non-sanctioned ships carrying petroleum products toward Asia, elevating fears of a confrontation with U.S. forces. "Stolen" assets? Reality check: David Goldwyn, the president of consulting firm Goldwyn Global Strategies and a former State Department official, tells Axios "there's no historical basis for claiming that Venezuela's natural resources ever belonged to the United States." • Venezuela was ordered to pay billions over charges of expropriation by an international arbitration court. Those claims are now in the debt collection stage, he says.• "There's not only no basis for the U.S. to invade or blockade Venezuela to collect on those debts ... but the broader claim ... is just specious on its face," he adds. What lawmakers and experts say Trump's blockade means Friction point: Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-Texas) wrote Tuesday that a "naval blockade is unquestionably an act of war." • Rep. Adam Smith (Wash.), the top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, seconded that on MS NOW. Friction point: The U.S. "loses credibility if statements like these are made but never followed through," Goodman writes to Axios. "And maintaining credibility is important in achieving all sorts of U.S. foreign policy goals." Goldwyn says he took the post itself "with a grain of salt" and is awaiting further clarification from the State and Treasury Departments. • The Pentagon directed questions to the White House. The White House, Treasury Department and the State Department did not comment. Experts say while Trump has framed the Caribbean operation as drug enforcement, increasingly, it appears regime change is a goal. • "If the principal goal of Operation Southern Spear is to protect Americans from illicit fentanyl, it's hard to see how this escalation with Venezuela does anything but distract from that objective," Goodman writes.• White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles told Vanity Fair that Trump "wants to keep on blowing boats up until Maduro cries uncle." What we're watching: The Venezuelan government slammed the blockade in a statement as an "extravagant threat" and a "grave violation of international law." Go deeper: "Quite a buffet": U.S. ready to seize more tankers with Venezuelan oil

CSIS says the delivery gap in THAAD ground-based interceptors comes after the Army used scores to help defend Israel during the June 2025 Israel-Iran conflict.

Ukraine has agreed with the holders of its warrants to convert the economic growth-linked securities into bonds, pushing through a restructuring to help shore up its war-torn finances.

Representatives from Israel and Lebanon, as well as US, French, UN officials to meet for second meeting on ceasefire.

Natural gas agreement worth approximately $35bn comes amid frayed relations over Israel's genocidal war in Gaza.

Foreign ministers from the G7 on December 17 condemned the prosecution of Hong Kong journalist and media entrepreneur Jimmy Lai, who was found guilty of collusion with foreign forces this week. His son, Sebastien Lai, told FRANCE 24 that his father is being persecuted by the Chinese authorities because he ran the famous pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily, adding that the trial produced 'more than 100 pages of nothing'. Sebastian Lai's presence was also an opportunity to discuss the complicated relationship between Hong Kong and China.

Ghana has sent a military contingent to assist with reconstruction and relief efforts in hurricane-hit Jamaica, following the destruction caused by Hurricane Melissa over a month ago. This marks the third time this year that Ghana has extended support to nations in crisis, after previously providing humanitarian aid to Jamaica, Sudan, Gaza, and Cuba, as FRANCE 24's correspondent Justice Baidoo explains.

Cuba devalued the peso on Thursday as the Caribbean nation tries to stabilize an economy upended by US sanctions, a crackdown on regional allies and the collapse of key sources of revenue.

A top US commander called the launch a "significant milestone" in delivering cheap drones to American forces.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was in Brussels for a key European Union summit, where EU leaders faced a critical decision on the use of frozen Russian assets. Zelensky urged the bloc to release the funds to support Ukraine, warning that without this financial assistance, the country risks a catastrophic economic and military situation amid its ongoing conflict with Russia. FRANCE 24’s journalists Doug Herbert and Dave Keating have this analysis.

With few medical supplies, doctors are turning to 3D printers powered by solar energy to treat some injuries in Gaza.

"All the [US] weapon systems [sold to Taiwan] … are defensive in nature."

Beijing did not take the announcement well, saying the offer of the arms package “grossly violates the one-China principle,” undermines stability in the region and “sends a gravely wrong signal to ‘Taiwan independence’ separatists forces.”

The proposal centres on whether the EU can use about $246bn in Russian central bank frozen assets.

White House envoy Steve Witkoff will meet Friday in Miami with senior officials from Qatar, Egypt and Turkey to discuss the next phase of the agreement for ending the war in Gaza, according to a White House official and two additional sources with direct knowledge. Why it matters: The U.S. and the three other mediating countries feel that both Israel and Hamas are slow-walking the implementation of the second phase of the deal and are interested in maintaining the current status quo, the sources said. • This is the highest-level meeting between the mediators in the U.S. since the deal was signed in October.• The meeting is aimed at agreeing on next steps for pressing both Israel and Hamas to implement their commitments.• The officials meeting with Witkoff will include Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman al-Thani, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty, the sources said. Breaking it down: According to the Gaza peace agreement, Hamas needs to agree to leave power in Gaza, agree to the deployment of an International Stabilization Force (ISF) and start the process of disarming and decommissioning its tunnels and military infrastructure. • Israel needs to reopen the Rafah crossing between Egypt and Gaza in both directions and start moving to the second phase of the deal, which includes further withdrawal by the Israel Defense Forces, deployment of the ISF, and the formation of a Palestinian technocratic government in Gaza. • Meanwhile, the White House is trying to conclude its plans for establishing the Trump-led Gaza Board of Peace, deploying the ISF, and announcing the Palestinian technocratic government. President Trump wants to make those announcements in January. Behind the scenes: Over the weekend, the White House sent a stern private message to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stressing that the killing of a top Hamas military commander over the weekend constituted a violation of the ceasefire. • The angry message came amid growing frustration inside the Trump administration over what U.S. officials see as short-sighted Israeli policies regarding the next phase of the Gaza deal.• President Trump told Netanyahu in a recent phone call that he needs to be a "better partner" on Gaza. Netanyahu is expected to meet Trump in Mar-a-Lago on December 29. Split screen: Witkoff is also heavily involved in Ukraine diplomacy, and is expected to host meetings in Miami in the coming days with officials from Kyiv and Moscow.

Pope Leo XIV appointed Bishop Ronald Hicks as New York's new archbishop to replace Cardinal Timothy Dolan, a friend to President Trump in a Catholic Church that has grown increasingly critical of the president. Why it matters: Hicks' selection marks a decisive shift away from Dolan's culture-war conservatism for an archdioceses that serves more than 2.5 million Catholics. • Dolan appeared often on Fox News, prayed at Trump's inaugurations and leaned into high-profile cultural friction. Hicks, a Spanish-speaking pastor with a missionary background, represents a lower key pastoral model that aligns the nation's most visible archdiocese with Rome. Driving the news: Hicks, 58, has served as the bishop of the Diocese of Joliet in Illinois. He told Vatican News his "desire is to be a pastor with a shepherd's heart," nodding to the late Pope Francis. • Both Hicks and Pope Leo grew up in Chicago's south suburbs and worked as missionaries in Latin America: Leo in Peru, Hicks in El Salvador, directing a program for orphaned and abandoned children.• Dolan's resignation was accepted after he reached the Church's mandatory retirement age of 75. Between the lines: The choice sets the groundwork for a more unifying style of leadership and a preservation of Francis' reforms. • Dolan, who often made media appearances and led prayers at Trump's inaugurations, urged Catholics to be more involved politically. But Hicks, per the New York Times, has largely avoided speaking out about politics.• However, he did back the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops' "special message" lamenting immigration policy in the U.S. and defending "God-given human dignity." What he's saying: Hicks shared in a statement that the USCCB letter "affirms our solidarity with all our brothers and sisters as it expresses our concerns, opposition, and hopes with clarity and conviction." • He continued, "It is grounded in the Church's enduring commitment to the Catholic social teaching of human dignity and a call for meaningful immigration reform." Go deeper: Pope Leo cautions Trump on fracturing U.S.-Europe alliance

European officials are trying to convince a handful of EU member countries to back controversial plans for providing more financial support to Ukraine.

Iran’s currency depreciated to record lows against the dollar this week as multiple challenges including oil sanctions, regional tensions and spiraling inflation plague the economy.

In a village, Nelia and Oleksandr offer land to people fleeing Kharkiv but rural life brings demands not all can meet.

Arrests made at protests supporting imprisoned Palestine Action hunger strikers, as Gaza death toll surpasses 70,000.

Qatar’s Prime Minister held talks with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington.

The Israeli army has launched a series of strikes on southern and eastern Lebanon, saying it targeted Hezbollah sites.

“[Venezuela] is a country that's already reeling from an economic collapse.”

AFC have sanctioned India's Mohun Bagan for refusing to visit Iran for their Asian Champions League match in September.

The strategy runs counter to voters’ support of NATO and Europe, the retired Air Force brigadier general argues on this episode of The Congressional Roundup.

Former British soldier Hayden Davies, labelled a mercenary by Russia, will be sent to a maximum-security prison.

The UK sanctioned oil trading tycoon Murtaza Lakhani, part of a new package targeting Russia over its war against Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in an address on Wednesday that Russia is preparing "the coming year as a year of war," despite ongoing peace talks.

Germany will increase federal debt sales by a fifth next year to a record €512 billion ($601 billion) to fund a spending splurge aimed at fixing its crumbling infrastructure and modernizing its armed forces. Ven Ram from Bloomberg MLIV describes it as a "game changer". Also discussed on the show: Micron's bumper quarter and outlook suggests the AI boom is continuing despite a wider rotation away from some of the tech darlings; EU leaders try to agree a deal to use frozen Russian assets to assist Ukraine; and Warner Bros. Discovery, the parent of HBO and CNN, advises its shareholders to reject a hostile takeover bid by Paramount Skydance in favor of its original agreement with streaming giant Netflix. Today's guests: Katharine Neiss, PGIM Fixed Income, Chief European Economist; Richard Madden, DC Advisory, European Executive Chairman; John Studzinski, PIMCO Vice Chairman. (Source: Bloomberg)

From leading US trade negotiations with China and charting a course for the world’s biggest bond market to calming investors spooked by President Donald Trump’s most aggressive economic announcements, it’s been a busy 2025 for Scott Bessent.

Blackouts hit Khartoum and Port Sudan as intensifying drone warfare cripples infrastructure and kills civilians.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced 'the largest gas deal in Israel's history' with Egypt.

The continued Israeli bombardment has drawn sharp criticism from the UN, which has recorded dozens of civilian deaths.

Eman Abu al-Khair mourns as cold weather kills her newborn, exposing harsh realities faced by displaced families.

Despite Trump claim of ceasefire, no end on horizon to latest round of conflict recently reignited by border skirmish.

China has secured at least 7 million tons of US soybeans after heavy buying in the past two weeks, passing the halfway mark toward meeting its 12-million ton purchase agreement with the Trump administration, according to people familiar with the deals.

US President Donald Trump said the Gaza truce brought peace to the Middle East “for the first time in 3,000 years."

Visiting US, prime minister calls for urgent move to second phase as winter storms worsen humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

Zelenskyy urges EU leaders to unlock Russian assets to show Moscow its desire to continue war next year is ‘pointless’.

G7 governments call on Hong Kong authorities to 'end such prosecutions', release pro-democracy media tycoon immediately.

US chip bans are supercharging China's homegrown AI champions.

Russia disclosed several new figures on Wednesday, including how much it's specifically spent on the war and how many soldiers it hired in 2025.

Italy, Belgium and Austria worry about Russia moving against their companies

The US Senate has confirmed billionaire private astronaut Jared Isaacman as NASA administrator, installing a strong advocate of Mars missions to lead the space agency as it faces deep budget cuts and intensifying competition with China to return humans to the Moon.

Tariffs on imports from China have hit US toy and game companies hard, with Hasbro estimating a $60M impact on net profit in 2025. On Bloomberg Chief Future Officer, CFO/COO Gina Goetter tells Matt Miller how the company has been diversifying its manufacturing base to counteract these headwinds. (Source: Bloomberg)

India aims to be an additional manufacturing hub for companies wanting to expand production beyond China.

These are the key developments from day 1,393 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.

China Vanke Co. is meeting Thursday with holders of a bond it’s trying to delay paying, with only four days until a grace period ends that could trigger a once-unthinkable default.

The BBC goes to a secret Ukrainian factory, where they are manufacturing new long-range missiles.

Oil extended gains after bouncing off a four-and-a-half-year low, as investors weighed geopolitical risks from Venezuela to Russia against a still-bearish supply outlook.

The US Congress has voted to permanently repeal sweeping sanctions imposed on Syria under former leader Bashar al-Assad, clearing the way for foreign investment and marking a significant shift in Washington’s policy towards the war-ravaged country following the rise of a new government.

China is issuing a greater proportion of longer-maturity sovereign debt to secure financing, but the increase in supply risks pushing up yields and weighing on already-weakening demand.

The yuan’s recent strength is doing little to boost Chinese stocks as mounting concerns over economic weakness and rising valuations sap sentiment toward equities.

The roof of a war-damaged family home collapses during winter storm in Gaza City’s Shati refugee camp.

A new filing says Paramount offered pay and a job to WBD CEO David Zaslav, and gives other takeaways from the bidding war.

The move comes amid a wider Greek defense buildup, including discussions of an “Achilles’ Shield” air defense system, that could reportedly include other Israeli platforms.

UK government warns Roman Abramovich of last chance to give Chelsea sale proceeds to victims of Russia's war in Ukraine.

One of the tankers, Skipper, was seized by American forces in the Caribbean last week in a sharp escalation by the Trump administration.

The votes follow a monthslong military campaign against alleged drug smuggling boats in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean.

Oil rose from a four-and-a-half-year low after the US signaled tougher measures against Russia to spur a peace deal in Ukraine after declaring a blockade of Venezuelan oil exports. Gold rose, approaching record levels, as investors looked ahead to US inflation data and monitored escalating tensions in Venezuela. Silver climbed to a fresh peak, and platinum jumped to the highest since 2008. Bloomberg's Mike McGlone joins to discuss the outlook for commodities going into 2026. (Source: Bloomberg)

Doug McMillon, Walmart's CEO, shared his annual reading list, with 11 books that cover a broad range of topics in business and beyond.

Raiffeisen Bank International AG Chief Executive Officer Johann Strobl is resigning, leaving it to his successor to solve the headache created by the Austrian bank’s Russian unit.

Fears are growing in Latin America over a US military build-up in the Caribbean, as Washington expands airstrikes.

Heavy rain and strong winds are causing buildings weakened by Israeli bombardment to collapse across Gaza.

Paramount Skydance's David Ellison texted Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav during the bidding war. Here's why Zaslav ignored it.

The last production unit of the W88 Alt 370, an upgraded version of the legacy W88 used on Ohio-class ballistic missile submarines, has rolled off the line.