US Shoots Down Iranian Drone; Russia Attacks Ukraine Energy; Trump Seeks Damages from Harvard; Disney Names New CEO

Middle East Tensions

• 🎯 The U.S. Military reported shooting down an Iranian drone in the Arabian Sea that was approaching a U.S. aircraft carrier with unclear intent.
• ⚠️ Hours later, Iranian forces allegedly harassed a U.S. flag merchant vessel in the Strait of Hormuz.
• 💬 This comes as Iran's president called for fair negotiations with the U.S., a shift in tone following weeks of heightened tensions.

Russia-Ukraine Conflict

• ⚡ Russia renewed attacks on Ukrainian energy targets overnight with drones and missiles, causing heating outages in Kyiv.
• ❄️ The attacks occurred as Kyiv experiences one of its coldest winters in years.
• 🗓️ Both countries differ on the timeline for a pause in attacks on energy infrastructure, with Ukraine expecting the pause to expire Friday and the U.S. insisting it ended Sunday.

Rafah Crossing Reopens

• 🏥 More Palestinians gathered at the Rafah crossing on day two of its reopening, with ambulances seen evacuating patients from Gaza to Egypt.
• 🏠 Palestinians who had previously fled Gaza also returned home through the crossing.
• ❓ The exact number of people traveling in either direction is unclear.

Legal and Corporate News

• ⚖️ President Trump is seeking $1 billion in damages from Harvard University over alleged antisemitism on campus, doubling the previous amount sought.
• 📰 Trump denied reports that he was backing away from a demand for cash payment from Harvard.
• 🏢 Disney named Josh D’Amaro, head of its theme parks, as its new CEO, replacing Bob Iger.
• 📉 Disney shares ended slightly lower following the announcement, amidst broader stock market declines.