U.S. President Joe Biden held separate calls (WaPo) with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and other Eastern European leaders in an effort to ease tensions due to Russia’s troop buildup on its border with Ukraine. Biden assured Zelensky of U.S. support (RFE/RL) for Ukraine. 

The Associated Press reported that in order to implement a 2015 peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine, the United States would press Ukraine to formally cede some autonomy in part of its eastern Donbas region, which is currently controlled by Russia-backed separatists. Russian President Vladimir Putin said yesterday (AFP) that the fighting between pro-Russia separatists and the Ukrainian army “looks like genocide.” Biden said earlier this week that he hopes to soon announce the start of formal talks with Russia and several North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) allies.

People will receive booster doses (Bloomberg) three months after their second dose instead of the originally planned six. The country has been recording more than seven thousand new cases per day, its highest level of the pandemic.

China/UK: China and the United Kingdom (UK) agreed to resume (SCMP) an annual economic dialogue that had been suspended for two years. It will take place next year.

The group, officially known as Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, announced an end (Dawn) to the monthlong cease-fire, accusing Pakistan’s government of failing to honor commitments made in talks. 

Bangladesh: Authorities demolished around one thousand shops (AFP) belonging to Rohingya refugees in several camps in Cox’s Bazar, a Bangladeshi official said. He called the shops “illegal” and said they would be replaced with shelters for refugees.

Officials from the U.S. Department of Defense met with (Reuters) Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz in Washington yesterday. Pentagon officials declined to comment on a Reuters report that said the officials would discuss possible joint military exercises for a scenario in which nuclear diplomacy with Iran failed.

CFR’s Ray Takeyh assesses the latest talks on resurrecting the Iran nuclear deal.

Iraq/Turkey: Turkish forces carried out an air attack (Al Jazeera) after fighters belonging to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) reportedly killed at least three Turkish soldiers in northern Iraq, Turkey’s defense ministry said. Ankara considers the PKK a terrorist group.

Former Justice Minister Reckya Madougou, who had aimed to become Benin’s first female presidential candidate for a major party, appeared in court today (WaPo) on terrorism charges. A judge on the case fled the country and called the charges “entirely politically motivated.”

Kenya: Opposition leader Raila Odinga, who challenged the results of three previous elections he participated in, will run for president a fifth time (Reuters). President Uhuru Kenyatta, a former foe of Odinga, backed him.

Assange, who founded Wikileaks, said he would appeal the ruling. The UK home secretary will make the final decision (CBS/AP) on whether to extradite Assange.

This Backgrounder explains the extradition process.

Now only fourteen countries recognize Taiwan (MercoPress) as a sovereign state.

This Backgrounder unpacks why China-Taiwan relations are so tense.

Mexico: A truck carrying migrants overturned (NYT) in southern Mexico, killing at least fifty-four people. Most of the victims appeared to be migrants from Central American countries.

The new legislation applies to people (CNN) who have lived in the city for more than thirty days and are legal permanent residents in the United States.