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.