U.S. official George Santos is embroiled in a scandal involving a series of lies about his background, including false claims about his education and employment history with Citigroup and Goldman Sachs. He admitted to embellishing his resume and is also facing allegations of check fraud in Brazil. The Republican Party has remained silent on the matter, while defeated Democratic candidate Robert Zimmerman is calling for the Department of Justice to investigate, hinting at the possibility of a re-election.

Xavier Tytelman is closely observing the northeast front around Svatove, where Ukrainians are consistently pushing to liberate the Luhansk region. In the south, Zaporijia region is seeing increased Ukrainian strikes, possibly indicating preparation for an upcoming offensive. The Russians are fortifying positions in anticipation of new attacks. In southeast, the Dniepr River is now a barrier for Ukrainians, while Russians bombard liberated territories, with recent casualties in Kherson. Despite constant Ukrainian harassment of Russian positions, the Russian offensive in Bakhmut is characterized by futile suicide operations leading to heavy losses. General Nicolas Richoux notes the last Russian successes were in June, and the current offensive relies on poorly led and trained conscripts against strong Ukrainian resistance. Bakhmut, though heavily damaged, is not encircled, and its fall could represent a Pyrrhic victory for Russia. To compensate for ground impotence, Russia continues deep bombardments of Ukrainian civilian and energy infrastructure, causing terror and attrition. Over a million residents in Odessa were left without power, with local operators unable to repair the damage.

Social media is flooded with images and videos of accelerated marriage procedures in Russia, as mobilized soldiers can bypass the one-month waiting period. These marriages are driven by practical reasons: only registered spouses are allowed hospital visits if injured or compensated in case of death. Independent Russian media Media zona, based in Latvia, reports that approximately 492,000 people, mostly men, were mobilized between September 21 and mid-October, surpassing the 300,000 figure announced by President Putin. Questions arise about the training, equipment, and fate of these recruits, with some already captured or killed in Ukraine by early October.

Russian President Vladimir Putin delivered a lengthy speech justifying the annexation of Ukrainian territories as an act of self-defense against a 'fascist' Ukraine and a West dominated by the LGBTQI+ lobby, while promising to defend these territories with all available means. Ukrainian intelligence has acknowledged a very high risk of tactical nuclear weapons use. Meanwhile, Putin's approval rating has dropped from 83% to 77%, the first decline since the February 24 invasion, amid chaotic partial mobilization and successful Ukrainian counterattacks, including the strategic encirclement of Lyman and the siege of a large part of the Kherson region.

A minority of the world's countries, representing less than 20% of the global population, have imposed sanctions on Russia following its widespread invasion of Ukraine. These sanctions vary in severity and have not prevented Russia from exporting hydrocarbons to countries like China, India, and Turkey, nor from purchasing drones from Iran and heavy artillery from North Korea. The multipolar world hinders the coherence of Western-led sanctions, with Russian companies relocating to places like Bishkek to continue operations under different legal regimes. The use of cryptocurrencies and black markets pose risks of circumventing financial restrictions. Despite these challenges, the countries sanctioning Russia represent over 60% of global wealth, limiting Russia's economic options. The economic weight of the opposing bloc and the complexity of avoiding sanctions lead to cautious behavior among countries and companies. Recent diplomatic interactions, including at the Samarkand summit and the UN General Assembly, indicate concerns from India and China about the war in Ukraine and emphasize the importance of respecting sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Ukraine remains resilient six months into the conflict with Russia, which is seen as a broader civilizational confrontation by the Kremlin against Western values and unity. The European Union's decision to impose sanctions without military intervention is deemed wise to avoid direct conflict with Russia and NATO. Western assistance has been crucial in preventing Ukraine's defeat but is not enough for a victory. The article stresses the importance of continued support to ensure Ukrainians enter peace negotiations in the strongest possible position, for their freedom and ours.

Ranil Wickremesinghe, the new president of Sri Lanka, has declared a state of emergency to restore order following mass protests that led to the fall of the Rajapaksa clan. Protester and engineer Nuzly Hameem views Wickremesinghe as another potential dictator, while union leader and businessman Basantha Samarasinghe calls for systemic change and the dissolution of Parliament, which he believes lacks public mandate. The EU delegation in Colombo has expressed concern over the crackdown on protests, which does not seem conducive to resolving the ongoing political and economic crises. Sri Lanka is currently facing a severe economic crisis, with a shortage of foreign currency, a debt of 51 billion euros, and months of power outages, food, fuel, and medicine shortages.

Franco Albrecht, a 33-year-old Bundeswehr lieutenant and father of three, led a double life by registering as a Syrian refugee under a false identity and even received refugee aid. In 2017, he was caught trying to retrieve a Nazi-era pistol at Vienna airport, which exposed his dual identity. Investigators linked him to plans for attacks against political figures such as former Minister of Justice Heiko Maas, former Vice President of the Bundestag Claudia Roth, and a Jewish human rights activist, whom he blamed for the 'decomposition of the German nation'.

Ukraine's Ministry of Agriculture accuses Russia of stealing 600,000 tonnes of wheat from occupied territories, facilitated by Turkey. Satellite images from Maxar Technologies and ship tracking by Marine Traffic indicate that the wheat could only come from these areas. The situation has raised political attention and strained Ukrainian-Turkish relations, with cargos from Crimea also directly supplying Syria, where Putin supports the Assad regime.

The article discusses the importance of granting Ukraine candidate status in the European Union, emphasizing the moral boost it would provide to Ukrainians fighting for a European future. It outlines the legal anchoring and necessary reforms, such as anti-corruption measures, that would follow a positive decision. The Ukrainian government has made progress against corruption and oligarchs since 2019, with new laws and the imprisonment of notable figures like Viktor Medvetchouk. The article also touches on the potential for Ukraine to join a 'European political community' proposed by Emmanuel Macron, but stresses that EU membership remains the priority. The support of the Belgian government is acknowledged, particularly for freezing Russian assets, but the article calls for more decisive action against Russian interests to ensure victory in the war.

Mikhail Khodaryonok, a former Russian colonel with a prestigious military career, has publicly expressed opinions that contradict the Kremlin's official narrative. He warned against underestimating the Ukrainians' animosity towards Russia before the invasion and has been allowed to voice his dissent on Russian media, raising questions about the motives behind this tolerance.

Martial law was implemented in Kharkiv and other regions of Ukraine on November 28, following the capture of three Ukrainian naval ships by Russian border guards. Despite the state of emergency, daily life in Kharkiv remains largely unchanged, with no curfews or military patrols. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko warns of the risk of Russian ground intervention and emphasizes the utility of martial law for national defense. The law allows for rapid military mobilization and increased maritime control, yet it is seen by some as a political maneuver ahead of the 2019 presidential elections, where Poroshenko is not favored to win. The international response to the situation has been muted, with little support for new sanctions against Moscow.

The article discusses Ukraine's imposition of martial law in certain regions following a Russian military attack on Ukrainian navy ships in the Black Sea. Despite the government's declaration, life in Kharkiv remains unchanged, and the practical effects of martial law seem minimal, with training for reserve soldiers and a ban on Russian males aged 16 to 60 entering Ukraine. Critics argue that the move is more of an election tactic by President Petro Poroshenko than a strategic necessity. The Ukrainian navy remains weak, especially after the annexation of Crimea, and the international community's response to the conflict has been limited to expressions of concern, with no substantial support. The author, Sébastien Gobert, suggests that the martial law will not significantly alter the situation in Ukraine.