The French finance minister says he pressed Chinese leaders to open their markets wider to foreign companies

Russia’s air defence units have shot down two Ukrainian drones flying over Belgorod and Oryol oblasts as Kyiv increases the pace of its counteroffensive against Moscow’s invasion. The drone attacks come as Ukraine overtook two key villages recently and has stepped up counter attacks on Russia. Drone and missile attacks deep inside Russia and on Russia-controlled territory have shot up drastically in recent months, with the Russian defence ministry blaming the “Kyiv regime” for what it calls “terrorist attacks”. While Ukraine has seldom responded to accusations of attacks, it has expressed satisfaction at the destruction of Russian military infrastructure and critical military sites. The drones were shot down at 10.30pm and 11.45pm local time on Tuesday night, the Russian defence ministry said in two separate posts on its Telegram channel on Wednesday. No immediate damage or casualties in the overnight attacks has been reported by the officials of both regions. It said “an attempt by the Kyiv regime to carry out a terrorist attack by an aircraft-type UAV on objects on the territory of the Russian Federation was stopped”. Kyiv has maintained that destroying Russian military infrastructure far away from the war’s frontlines targets Moscow’s war efforts while aiding Kyiv’s own efforts to reclaim land Russia has occupied. Belgorod, roughly 40km away from the Ukrainian border, has witnessed a wave of attacks in the last two months, with the most seen this month. In return, Russia has continued its campaign of air strikes and shelling across Ukraine. The regional governor of Belgorod, Vyacheslav Gladkov, confirmed attacks every day on the territory, stating either unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) dropping ammunition payloads in the region or being shot down by Russia’s active air defences heavily concentrated in the bordering city. A day earlier, Russia claimed its air defences shot down two unspecified aerial targets over Belgorod. The governor said initial reports indicated some damage to power lines but no casualties. Last month, three people were killed in a drone attack in Belgorod after another drone had targeted central Moscow. Read More Zelensky urges Trump to ‘not waste time’ and share proposal on ending Russian invasion of Ukraine Ukraine-Russia war – live: Putin ‘weaponising’ food as troops target cargo ship in Black Sea Ukraine ‘has one month to hold knife to Crimea’s throat’ and force Putin into peace talks Zelensky says ‘Russian society has raised a second Hitler’ in attack on Putin

The deposition in the civil lawsuit against retired NFL quarterback Brett Favre in connection with Mississippi’s welfare scandal has been pushed back at the request of the athlete’s attorneys

More than 66,000 people have been arrested since a state of exception was introduced a year ago.

The yen fell to the weakest against the euro since 2008 on Thursday, extending losses after tame US

UFC veteran Matt Brown shared his insights on the upcoming MMA rematch between Jake Paul and Nate Diaz during an episode of ‘The Fighter and The Writer’

'Such great lessons. Thanks again Rebecca for giving clarity to big ideas'

Five former Memphis police officers who were criminally charged for beating Tyre Nichols during an arrest that led to his death are now facing federal civil rights charges. An indictment lists three separate counts against the men, including the use of excessive force and failure to intervene, deliberate indifference, and witness tampering. Now-former officers Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, Emmitt Martin, Desmond Mills Jr and Justin Smith are also facing state criminal charges – including second-degree murder, aggravated assault and aggravated kidnapping – after officer-worn body camera and surveillance footage from January captured officers yelling conflicting commands at the 29-year-old Black man, firing a Taser at him, and beating him while he was pinned to the ground. Nichols died in hospital three days later. Assistant US Attorney General Kristen Clarke with the US Department of Justice Civil Rights Division and US Attorney Kevin G Ritz will announce the indictment at a press briefing on Tuesday afternoon. This is a developing story

Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh will accept a three-game suspension from the Big Ten and conference will end its investigation into a sign-stealing scheme as part of an agreement to resolve the school’s lawsuit against the league

By Steve Holland and Humeyra Pamuk WASHINGTON Jens Stoltenberg is expected to be asked to remain as NATO

A person tweeted on X that Tristan Tate carried out his charitable endeavors only in Muslim countries

RFK Jr made a number of disproven claims on Joe Rogan’s podcast which brought his anti-vax stance back to the forefront