Global Crises Mount: Ukraine Losses, Gaza Babies, Nigeria Massacre

Ukraine War: Zelensky Announces 55,000 Soldiers Killed; US Seeks to Counter China's Mineral Dominance

Kyiv, Ukraine - President Volodymyr Zelensky announced Wednesday that 55,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been killed in the ongoing war with Russia, according to an interview with France 2 TV. Zelensky also noted that a significant number of people are officially considered missing. While both Ukraine and Russia have released estimates of each other's losses, they have been hesitant to disclose their own casualty figures. The BBC has confirmed the names of almost 160,000 people killed fighting.

Meanwhile, in Washington D.C., the United States is attempting to counter China's dominance in the critical minerals industry. On Wednesday, the State Department hosted the first Critical Minerals Ministerial event, attended by countries and organizations including the UK, the European Union, Japan, India, South Korea, Australia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, according to the BBC. Delegates discussed the availability of and access to minerals crucial for manufacturing smartphones, weapons, and other technologies. The US is launching an effort to form a trade zone for these critical minerals.