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A summit between China and the European Union (EU) has kicked off in Beijing on Thursday, with leaders set to discuss issues ranging from trade conflict to the war in Ukraine, BBC reported.

Expectations have been tempered however by uncertainty over global trade, politics and the attendance of Chinese President Xi Jinping, after he had earlier reportedly declined a visit to Brussels, where the summit was originally to be held. 

China confirmed this week that Xi would meet European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and European Council president Antonio Costa in Beijing.

Optimism had surrounded EU-China relations at the start of the year, with hopes that a Donald Trump presidency in the US would bring the two economic powerhouses closer, according to BBC.

India and Israel have agreed to develop an institutional framework to deepen defense cooperation, following talks in New Delhi between Defense Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh and Israeli Defense Ministry DG Major General (Res) Amir Baram, according to Firstpost.

Both sides reviewed ongoing collaborations and condemned recent terror attacks. Israel reaffirmed support for India’s fight against terrorism, while India condemned the October 2023 attacks on Israel and called for the release of hostages.

The visit marks a key step in advancing the strategic partnership, Firstpost reported.

The US Justice Department has informed President Donald Trump that his name appears in documents related to Jeffrey Epstein, CNN reported. Attorney General Pam Bondi briefed Trump in May, noting the references were based on unverified hearsay.

Officials stressed that many public figures are named in the records and that inclusion alone does not suggest wrongdoing. Bondi confirmed no credible “client list” or evidence contradicting Epstein’s suicide was found.

The White House dismissed the report as “fake news,” and officials said the documents offered no new information about Trump’s past social ties with Epstein, according to CNN.

Russia and Ukraine held a third round of peace talks on Wednesday at Istanbul’s Ciragan Palace, agreeing on a major prisoner exchange but failing to reach common ground on a ceasefire.

Ukrainian negotiator Rustem Umerov reiterated the call for a full and unconditional ceasefire, stressing the need to halt attacks on civilians and infrastructure. Russia’s Vladimir Medinsky confirmed the exchange of 1,200 prisoners each and proposed short ceasefires to evacuate the wounded and retrieve fallen soldiers, according to Xinhua.

Ukraine also suggested a presidential meeting involving Vladimir Putin, Volodymyr Zelensky, and possibly US President Donald Trump and Turkish President Russia, Ukraine hold third round of peace talks in Istanbul Russia dismissed the idea as premature.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan urged both sides to pursue a ceasefire and end the conflict, which continues despite earlier rounds yielding limited progress, Xinhua reported.