France's Macron visits China for talks with Xi Jinping

The European Commission is advancing a plan to utilize frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine amid ongoing conflict, as President Ursula von der Leyen addresses the media following a commission meeting. This initiative aims to provide financial assistance to Ukraine's efforts against Russia, despite the Kremlin's assertion that President Putin did not reject a U.S. peace plan but found certain aspects unacceptable.

Francis Fukuyama, a prominent political scientist and author of 'The End of History and The Last Man', expressed his disappointment regarding the election of Donald Trump as U.S. President, labeling it as the most surprising and disappointing event in decades. Fukuyama criticized Trump for exhibiting authoritarian tendencies and for attempting to negotiate a controversial deal with Russia concerning Ukraine.

Production has been halted at a Chinese factory that manufactures sex dolls with a childlike appearance, following Shein's announcement of a global ban on such products. This decision has drawn significant attention due to the controversial nature of these items, which have raised ethical concerns worldwide.

The European Commission has announced a proposal to fund Ukraine through a loan backed by frozen Russian assets, a move that has sparked significant debate within the EU. This initiative aims to address Ukraine's budget shortfall amid ongoing conflict, with an alternative option for an EU loan based on common borrowing introduced to appease concerns from Belgium, which holds a substantial portion of these assets.

Russian President Vladimir Putin met with U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff in Moscow to discuss the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, characterizing the talks as 'constructive' while acknowledging that significant work remains to achieve peace. During the meeting, Putin accused Kyiv’s European allies of undermining U.S.-led efforts to resolve the war.

The European Union has introduced a €3 billion strategy aimed at reducing its reliance on China for critical raw materials, particularly rare earth metals. This initiative, known as the ReSourceEU program, is designed to diversify and de-risk supply chains amid increasing geopolitical tensions and supply vulnerabilities exacerbated by China's control over these essential resources.

Oil prices have risen as market traders express concerns over the low likelihood of a peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine in the near future. This sentiment reflects ongoing geopolitical tensions and uncertainty surrounding the conflict, which continues to impact global oil supply dynamics.

Pope Leo has emphasized the critical role of European nations, particularly Italy, in mediating peace talks aimed at resolving the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, amidst stalled negotiations between Russia and the US. The pontiff's remarks come as tensions escalate, with Russian President Vladimir Putin accusing Europe of obstructing peace efforts.