From U.S. missiles attacking Russia to the G20 Summit: Stories you may have missed

Ukraine uses U.S.-made weapons to attack targets in Russia

For the first time, the United States has allowed Ukraine to use U.S.-made weapons to attack areas within Russia.

According to NPR, an anonymous U.S. official reported that Ukraine fired seven U.S.-made Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) into Russia. A weapons depot near the Russian city of Karachev was hit by these missiles, while two of the ATACMS were intercepted by Russia.

This attack comes two days after the Biden administration lifted restrictions on the use of Western weaponry to target inside Russia.

In response to this change in policy, NBC News reports that Russian President Vladimir Putin lowered the threshold for his country’s use of nuclear weapons.

According to CNN, this change means that Russia will consider any action by a non-nuclear country, with the participation of a nuclear country, a joint attack on their country.

This doctrinal change is the latest in a slew of threats that Putin has directed at Western involvement in the war with Ukraine, which has now lasted over 1000 days.

World leaders meet in Brazil for the 2024 G20 Summit

The leaders of the world’s 20 leading economies met in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil on Nov. 18 and 19.

Among the leaders of China, India, Canada, the United States and other countries, there was one leader noticeably absent.

Russian President Vladimir Putin did not attend the meeting in Brazil, according to ABC News, due to a warrant by the International Criminal Court that requires member states to arrest him. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov attended in his place.

On the first day of meetings, the world leaders agreed to a joint statement calling for action against world hunger, increased aid for Gaza, an end to the war in Ukraine and other goals, according to US News.

President Joe Biden, in particular, called on world leaders to end the conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza, according to Fox News.

ABC News reports that Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva opened the second day of meetings to encourage the other leaders to help slow global warming and reduce harmful emissions.

“We have to do more and better,” Lula said, according to Reuters, remarking on the world’s increased temperature and the frequency of natural disasters, “There is no time to lose.”