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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is expected to visit the White House as early as tomorrow to finalize and sign an economic deal that grants the US access to revenues from Ukraine's natural resources while helping Ukraine rebuild its war-torn economy.
Ukraine is home to roughly 5% of the world's critical raw materials—which include about 17 elements essential to a wide range of products, including medical equipment, military applications, and consumer technology such as cellphones and electric vehicles. However, an estimated 40% of Ukraine’s mineral resources are inaccessible because of Russian-occupied regions. Analysts say the US seeks to reduce its dependence on China, the world's largest producer of rare earth minerals, which controls roughly 75% of the global supply. See a breakdown of Ukraine's mineral resources here.
The preliminary agreement between the US and Ukraine currently does not include explicit security guarantees for Ukraine, which Kyiv has sought in negotiations. The deal follows earlier drafts that were rejected due to insufficient security guarantees and a US demand for $500B in mineral profits. |
A new study released yesterday by the Pew Research Center shows the decline of Christianity in the US has slowed and may have stabilized. The survey of 36,908 Americans, conducted in 2023 and 2024, found that almost 85% of US adults believe in God or a universal spirit, with 62% identifying as Christian—40% as Protestant and 19% as Catholic.
The news comes after years of steady decline, with previous studies showing 78% of US adults identified as Christian in 2007 and 71% in 2014. The study also found that 29% of Americans are religiously unaffiliated, including atheists, agnostics, and those identifying as "nothing in particular."
Significant age gaps persist, with only 46% of adults younger than 25 identifying as Christian, compared to 80% of those older than 74. Non-Christian religious groups make up 7.1% of the population, up from 4.7% in 2007. See the data here. |
Ceasefire Phase Nears End |
Tens of thousands of Israelis lined the funeral route yesterday for 32-year-old Shiri Bibas and her two young sons, whose bodies were recently returned as part of the ceasefire. The trio were abducted Oct. 7, 2023, amid Hamas' coordinated cross-border attack and were later killed in captivity. Husband and father Yarden was released alive earlier this month.
The funeral came as the sides agreed to an exchange of roughly 600 Palestinians and four Israelis last night. The ceasefire's first, 42-day phase is set to expire Saturday, which has seen 33 Israelis and nearly 2,000 Palestinians released, as well as the return of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians to their destroyed homes in Gaza. Humanitarian agencies estimate roughly 60% of structures in Gaza are destroyed, including 92% of residences and more than half of all hospitals. Three Palestinian infants reportedly died this week amid a regional cold snap.
Separately, President Donald Trump shared an AI-generated video on social media late Tuesday depicting the Gaza Strip redeveloped by the president, a controversial plan he has touted in recent weeks. |
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