US and China swap three prisoners each in exchange

Bbc,

Three Americans detained in China were released in exchange for three Chinese prisoners in the US, after the Biden administration negotiated a prisoner swap.

Mark Swidan, Kai Li, and John Leung are on their way back to the US, a spokesperson for the National Security Council (NSC) said in a statement on Wednesday.

“Soon they will return and be reunited with their families for the first time in many years,” the statement said.

The exchange was reportedly months in the making, and included the release of three Chinese citizens in US custody, Chinese authorities confirmed on Wednesday.

Power cut to more than a million homes in Ukraine after major Russian attack on energy facilities

CNN,

 More than a million households were left without power in Ukraine after a widespread Russian aerial attack targeted critical energy infrastructure facilities, authorities in the country said Thursday.

 This is Russia’s 11th large-scale assault on Ukraine’s energy supplies this year alone, according to the energy ministry in Kyiv, a strategy which has caused nationwide rolling blackouts. Bombardments have intensified in recent months, leaving Ukraine in a precarious position as the war grinds into its third winter.

Trump claims a win on immigration after a call with Mexico’s president. But she suggests no change

Ap news,

President-elect Donald Trump declared a win on stopping illegal immigration through Mexico on Wednesday after talking with that country’s leader. But Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum suggested Mexico was already doing its part and had no interest in closing its borders.

The two spoke just days after Trump threatened to impose sweeping new tariffs on Canada and Mexico as part of his effort to crack down on illegal immigration and drugs.

Trump said Sheinbaum “agreed to stop Migration through Mexico.” Sheinbaum indicated separately on social media that she told Trump that Mexico is already “taking care of” migrant caravans, calling it an “excellent conversation.”

Operation Chokepoint 2.0: Crypto Founders Silenced by ‘Secret’ Debanking?

Decrypt,

Operation Chokepoint originates from an Obama-era program that cut off financial services to industries deemed controversial or high-risk.

What happens when over 30 tech founders lose access to banking services without warning? According to Marc Andreessen, this is no accident—it’s a government conspiracy.

Andreessen, co-founder of venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz, claims the Biden administration is using financial exclusion as a weapon in what he terms “Operation Chokepoint 2.0.”