Ukraine War: Russian drone strikes killed at least two people in Ukraine, as Zelensky pushes for face-to-face talks with Putin while fighting continues and leaders meet in London to pressure Moscow. Ukraine Tech: Ukraine’s “The Sun” drone and a fortified “kill zone” are designed to blunt Russian advances and disrupt logistics. Russia-Ukraine Escalation: New reporting highlights Russia’s sustained mass drone and missile barrages hitting cities and civilians across recent weeks. EU Regulation: The EU unveiled a 22-step roadmap to phase out animal testing in chemical safety assessments, aiming to modernize approvals without lowering standards. China-DPRK Diplomacy: Xi Jinping is set for a rare summit with Kim Jong Un, with North Korea signaling denuclearization is off the table and projecting confidence ahead of the visit. China Energy Innovation: China says it has achieved a breakthrough in low-carbon hydrogen–coal co-combustion, enabling high hydrogen co-firing ratios and major emissions cuts. Armenia Vote: Armenians began voting in a parliamentary election testing PM Nikol Pashinyan’s Westward tilt amid pressure and warnings from Russia. South Africa Migration: Despite repatriation plans and rising tensions, international agencies say foreign nationals are not fleeing South Africa in large numbers. AI & Industry: Shenzhen’s Longgang district is pitching itself as an “AI Power District,” while China reports strong growth in services trade and pushes deeper tech cooperation. Sports: India won the U-18 Asia Cup hockey title, beating Japan 4-1, with Ashish Tani Purni scoring a hat-trick.