Putin says he hopes to meet with Trump as the WH presses for a Ukraine peace deal

ISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistan’s government says it has arrested four militants over their alleged involvement in a deadly suicide bombing outside a district court in the capital. Friday’s announcement is a breakthrough in an investigation launched after the attack killed 12 people and wounded 28 others Tuesday. The government says the men were Pakistani Taliban members. They were detained in a joint operation by the Intelligence Bureau and the Counter-Terrorism Department. The government alleges one of the suspects handled the suicide bomber. The arrests came a day after Pakistan’s interior minister said Afghan nationals carried out suicide bombings in Islamabad and northwest Pakistan earlier this week.

Russian drone and missile attack on Kyiv kills 6 people and injures at least 35

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russia has launched a major missile and drone attack on Kyiv, killing six people and wounding at least 35, including a pregnant woman. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Friday’s assault targeted high-rise apartment blocks and was intended to harm civilians. The attack, which also hit Odesa and Kharkiv, is the biggest on Kyiv in almost three weeks. Ukraine used American-made Patriot air defense systems to shoot down 14 missiles. In response, Ukraine has launched its own drones and missiles against Russian targets. Moscow officials deny targeting civilian areas, claiming they hit military facilities.

Israel returns 15 Palestinian bodies to Gaza, where displaced families endure winter rains

KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza (AP) — Israel has returned the bodies of 15 Palestinians to Gaza, according to officials at Nasser hospital in Khan Younis. The move is part of a U.S.-brokered ceasefire agreement and follows the return of the body of an Israeli hostage, Meny Godard, by militants. Since the ceasefire began on Oct. 10, Israel has received the remains of 25 hostages, with three still in Gaza. For each hostage body returned, Israel releases 15 Palestinian bodies. Meanwhile, the U.N.’s human rights chief has condemned recent attacks by Israeli settlers against Palestinians in the West Bank, urging an end to the violence.

Chinese astronauts return from space station after delay blamed on space debris damage

BEIJING (AP) — Three Chinese astronauts have returned from their nation’s space station after a nine-day delay. The delay was caused by tiny cracks in their return capsule, likely from being hit by space debris. The crew left their Shenzhou-20 spacecraft in orbit and used the newly arrived Shenzhou-21 to come back. The Shenzhou-21 spacecraft had brought the replacement crew to the space station. Their 204-day stay in space was the longest for any astronaut at China’s space station. China’s space program has made steady progress since 2003, launching the space station and exploring Mars with a robotic rover.