Summary:

Hamas has begun releasing Israeli hostages in Gaza as part of a ceasefire agreement, with six hostages set to be freed in the first phase

The release follows controversy over the identification of the body of Israeli hostage Shiri Bibas, whose remains were returned by Hamas

Israel is expected to release 602 Palestinians from its prisons as part of the exchange, with tensions rising over the misidentification of bodies and the potential for further conflict

DeepSeek's release of a competitive simulated reasoning model has disrupted the AI world, prompting global investors to recognize China's AI capabilities

The company's move to make underlying code more accessible through open-source releases indicates a shift in China's tech sector, potentially ending restrictions on the nation's broader tech scene

DeepSeek's actions have sparked global competition in AI, with Chinese companies like Baidu and Xiaomi seeing stock surges and increased investment in AI and cloud computing

UnitedHealth Group stock plummeted by almost 9% following news of a Department of Justice probe into its Medicare billing practices

The investigation is looking into whether the company recorded diagnoses that led to extra payments for its Medicare Advantage plans, causing concerns among investors

This is the latest setback for UnitedHealth, which has faced other challenges recently, including the fatal shooting of a top executive and ongoing antitrust probes

President Zelensky is expected to sign a minerals agreement with the United States as part of efforts to end the war with Russia

The deal is seen as a way for the U.S. to recoup billions in military aid provided to Ukraine during the conflict

There are tensions between the two leaders, with President Trump criticizing Zelensky and urging Ukraine to sign the deal

China's navy conducted live-fire drills in international waters off the coast of Australia, prompting concerns and disruptions to commercial air traffic in the region

Australian and New Zealand defense forces have been monitoring the Chinese navy vessels involved in the drills, with Australia seeking more information from China about the lack of prior notice for the exercises

The drills come amid tensions between China and Australia, with previous incidents of unsafe and unprofessional interactions, including a recent encounter in the South China Sea

Russia's Battlegroup North inflicted up to 50 casualties on Ukrainian troops in the Kharkov area

Ukrainian army’s losses in the frontline area over the past 24 hours amounted to 50 personnel, two motor vehicles, and three field artillery guns

Battlegroup North units delivered strikes on manpower and equipment of Ukrainian army’s mechanized brigade, an infantry mechanized brigade, and a territorial defense brigade near specific communities