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German prosecutors stated on Wednesday that three Ukrainian nationals had been arrested in connection with a suspected sabotage plot aimed against Russian-linked transit networks. The arrests took place in Cologne and Konstanz, Germany, as well as in the canton of Thurgau, Switzerland.

The suspects are accused of planning arson and explosive assaults in Germany on behalf of others suspected of working for Russian state officials. Authorities also claim the organization intended to send explosive devices from Germany to Ukraine, designed to detonate during transit, as reported by Firstpost.

The case is being investigated as a foreign intelligence operation designed to disrupt German infrastructure. The suspect apprehended in Switzerland is expected to be extradited to Germany for additional legal proceedings.

Russian President Vladimir Putin will not attend proposed peace talks in Istanbul with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, the Kremlin said on Wednesday. This practically puts a stop to the chance of the two leaders meeting in person for the first time since the conflict began.

Instead, Russia will be represented by Vladimir Medinsky, Putin's personal advisor who previously conducted negotiations with Ukraine in 2022, Firstpost reported.

Zelensky had earlier expressed willingness to travel to Istanbul if Putin agreed to join. “If Putin does not arrive and plays games, it is final proof that he does not want to end the war,” he said on Tuesday.

There had been speculation that US President Donald Trump, currently visiting the Middle East, might also participate in the talks, according to the Firstpost.

The US administration has withdrawn $450m in subsidies to Harvard University in response to Harvard President Alan Garber's criticism of alleged government overreach. This comes on top of the $2.2bn in federal funding that were halted last month.

Harvard, according to the administration's Joint Task Force to Combat Antisemitism, has failed to confront antisemitism and racial prejudice. It has also threatened to suspend the university's tax-exempt status and access to international student programs, as reported by Xinhua.

Harvard has rejected the demands, which include governance reforms and policy adjustments, and is now suing the government. The dispute is part of a larger federal assault on university diversity policies and campus antisemitism.

Twenty US states, including California, New York, and Rhode Island, have filed lawsuits against the Trump administration, contesting federal policy linking money to immigration enforcement. The lawsuits, filed in the District of Rhode Island, target the Departments of Transportation, Homeland Security, FEMA, and the Coast Guard, Xinhua reported.

The states claim that the federal government is improperly forcing them to enforce immigration rules by threatening to withhold emergency and transportation funds, which violates constitutional restrictions and state autonomy.

The lawsuits mention a letter from Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy dated April 24 and an executive order issued by President Trump on April 28. Duffy stated that no funds had been withheld and accused the states of violating federal laws, according to Xinhua.

Chinese-made aircraft are ready to promote competition and reduce prices in global aviation, according to International Air Transport Association (IATA) chief Willie Walsh on Tuesday.

Walsh commended Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, Ltd.'s (COMAC) modern, efficient jets as viable alternatives to existing fleets during a conference in Nairobi, emphasizing that they largely fly in China and neighboring countries with Chinese certification, according to Xinhua.

The IATA Ground Handling Conference gathered global airline leaders to discuss strategies to boost the aviation ecosystem.

Yemen's Houthi troops fired a ballistic missile at Israel's Ben Gurion Airport early Wednesday, marking the second such attempt in 24 hours. According to Xinhua, the missile was intercepted at 7:41 a.m., triggering alerts and sirens in central Israel and Jerusalem.

A similar missile was intercepted on Tuesday night. Houthi spokesperson Yahya Sarea stated that the bombings are intended to put pressure on Israel to halt its military actions in Gaza, and threatened to continue the strikes.

Separately, three rockets were launched from Gaza into southern Israel Tuesday night. Two were intercepted, and one landed in open ground. A woman was injured while traveling to a shelter, Xinhua reported.

Despite a May 6 cease-fire agreement with the United States, the Houthis have shot approximately 30 missiles and dozens of drones at Israel since March 18, according to Israeli media.

US President Donald Trump met with Syria's interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa in Riyadh, pushing him to normalize relations with Israel and sign the Abraham Accords. The meeting occurred just after the United States eased sanctions against Syria, which Trump called as a step toward giving the country "a chance at greatness."

Trump underlined Syria's need to expel foreign terrorist groups while also playing a crucial role in regional trade. He also spoke at the Gulf Cooperation Council summit, stating that he wants to negotiate an agreement with Iran as long as it stops supporting terrorism, according to BBC.

The visit is part of Trump's four-day Middle East tour, which aims to strengthen diplomatic connections and regional stability. He is now headed to Qatar for a state dinner following talks with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and other Gulf leaders.

Syrians took to the streets to celebrate after US President Donald Trump announced the lifting of sanctions on Syria during a speech in Riyadh.

The Syrian foreign ministry welcomed the decision as a "pivotal turning point," describing it as an opportunity for national recovery and reconstruction following years of conflict, as stated by Al Jazeera.

In Damascus, people gathered in Umayyad Square, waving flags and playing music.

Mazloum Abdi, the chairman of the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces, expressed hope that the decision will promote stability and a better future for all Syrians, Al Jazeera reported.