Russian invasion

The world's response
Increased security around Hungary's power plants - accuses Ukraine of disruption plans

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán accuses Ukraine of planning disruptions to his country's energy infrastructure. He says this in a Facebook video, citing intelligence information, but without presenting any evidence, writes AP.

Military forces are being sent to increase security around power plants and other facilities, Orbán says in the post.

Hungary and Slovakia accuse Ukraine of being behind a disruption in the Druzhba pipeline that carries Russian oil to them through the country.

- The Ukrainian president simply seems to think that he can do as he wants, but he is very, very wrong, says Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico according to Reuters.

According to Ukraine, the pipeline was damaged in a Russian attack and will take time to repair.

Hungary has vetoed new EU sanctions and threatened to block an EU loan to Ukraine. Orbán has promised to continue blocking the Union's measures until Russian oil flows again, according to AP.

Negotiations
ISW: Russia may be planning a "false flag" operation with nuclear weapons in Ukraine

The Kremlin may be planning a false flag operation with nuclear weapons in Ukraine. The Washington-based think tank Institute for the Study of War (ISW) writes in an analysis, several media outlets report. The analysis comes after Russia's unsubstantiated claims that Ukraine has nuclear weapons.

Russia is looking for ways to distract attention from its shortcomings on the battlefield, according to the analysis. "The Kremlin may be planning to blame Ukraine for a radiological incident created by Russia in Ukraine," writes ISW.

Russia could cause an incident "intentionally or unintentionally" and then accuse Ukraine of using nuclear weapons, writes Euronews. 

Brazilian politician murder

Brazil's Supreme Court convicts political brothers of political murder

Brazil's Supreme Court convicts a pair of brothers of having planned and ordered the murder of human rights activist and left-wing politician Marielle Franco and her driver in 2018. This is reported by CNN Brasil.

Domingos Brazão ran for mayor of Rio de Janeiro in 2000 for President Jair Bolsonaro's PL party. He passed through several other parties and worked in the state audit before being arrested in March 2024. His brother Chiquinho Brazão has also been active in several parties.

A civilian police officer was acquitted of aggravated manslaughter, but was convicted of accepting bribes to obstruct criminal investigations, according to G1 Globo.

High Court judge: “Stopped woman who went against the interests of white, rich militiamen”

Human rights activist and left-wing politician Marielle Franco was murdered because she stood in the way of the political and economic power of the Brazão brothers – but also to deter others. This is what High Court judge Alexandre de Moraes says after the verdict against the brothers.

– The murder must be seen not only as an attack on an elected official, but also within the framework of organized crime and violence against women. A woman was stopped who went against the interests of white, rich militiamen, says de Moraes according to G1 Globo.

The convicted brothers have been deeply involved in money laundering and Rio de Janeiro’s illegal militias. Several of the High Court judges emphasize that they did not expect to be held accountable for the murder. 

 

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TOP NEWS

EU-China relations
Merz meets Xi in Beijing – expected to talk about Ukraine

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz will begin talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping during his visit to Beijing, according to state-run Chinese channel CCTV.

“I am willing to work with the Chancellor to continue to take Germany-China strategic partnership to new levels together,” Xi told Merz during the meeting.

Merz is expected to urge Xi, among other things, to put pressure on close ally Russia to end the war in Ukraine, AFP reports. Industry leaders have also urged Merz to discuss the export of rare earth metals and trade conditions between the countries.

Before the meeting with Xi, Merz met with entrepreneurs, and said, among other things, that his government encourages Chinese companies to invest in Germany.

Russian invasion  The world's response
First Ukrainian drones are built on British soil

Ukraine has started drone production in a factory on British soil for the first time. Reuters reports.

“Ukraine is fighting a war under constant rocket fire, destruction of our infrastructure and threats to our industry. That is why it makes sense to produce in the UK,” writes Ukraine’s ambassador to the country Valery Zaluzhny on Telegram.

Ukraine can produce over 50 percent more military equipment than the country’s army needs, according to Reuters. The plan is now to start exporting to strengthen the country’s economy.

Ukraine signed new agreements on defense production with Finland, Denmark and Latvia on Tuesday, writes President Volodymyr Zelensky on

Political situation in the UK
Man with axe arrested in mosque in Manchester

A man has been arrested in the British city of Manchester after he entered a mosque during Ramadan prayers. This is reported by Sky News.

The man was stopped by the mosque’s volunteer guards who thought he was acting suspiciously and suspected an axe in his bag, writes the BBC. In addition to the axe, it turned out that he was carrying a knife and several other weapons, according to the police. Another man who was with him has not been arrested.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer thanked the mosque volunteers and the police in a post on X.

"We continue to act so that all communities can live without fear," he wrote. 

Political situation in Myanmar
At least 17 dead in airstrikes by Myanmar's military junta

An airstrike on a village in Rakhine state in western Myanmar has killed at least 17 people, the armed opposition group Arakan Army said, according to AFP.

Three children were reportedly killed in the attack. At least 15 were reported injured.

- Some people ran away from the scene and houses were still on fire when we arrived, said Pyae Phyo Naing, chairman of the civilian volunteer association Ponnagyun Youths Association.

Thousands of civilians have been killed by the junta since the military coup in 2021, according to human rights organizations Fortify Rights and Amnesty International.