Hello, you're listening to the free edition of the world in brief from The Economist.

As a reminder, if you subscribe to The Economist, you'll get access to a deeper look at the day ahead, updated three times a day.

If you're already an economist subscriber, visit

economist.com slash espresso or visit our espresso app to start listening. Here's today's

free edition.

This is the World in Brief from The Economist.

Our top stories.

Cash Patel, head of the FBI, gave details about the suspect in the shooting of two National

Guard members near the White House.

The suspect is a 29-year-old Afghan man

who had worked with the CIA in Afghanistan.

He was shot by another guard member and is in hospital.

In response to the attack,

America's government stopped processing immigration requests from Afghans.

The two National Guard members are in critical condition.

Vladimir Putin said American proposals to end the Ukraine war could inform, quote, future

agreements. At a summit in Kyrgyzstan, Russia's president also rubbished suggestions that

Steve Wickhuff, Donald Trump's envoy, was showing Russia favor. In a call leaked this week,

Mr. Wickhuff appeared to advise a Russian negotiator on how Mr Putin should deal with Mr. Trump.

Mr. Wickhoff will meet Mr. Putin in Moscow next week.

Britain's government watered down a plan to shield workers from unfair dismissal from their first day on the job.

Instead, the Labour government proposed stronger protections after six months down from two years currently.

...