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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has called on allies to increase pressure on Russia after a major airstrike hit Ukraine’s energy and transport infrastructure, injuring four railway workers. Over 500 drones and dozens of missiles targeted 14 sites, highlighting Russia’s ongoing attacks, according to Reuters.

Zelenskiy described the strikes as “demonstrative” and said stronger measures are needed to weaken Russia’s war economy. He plans to discuss support with allies in Denmark and France.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said European security guarantees for Ukraine, including continued military support, could be clarified at an upcoming summit, contingent on US backing. Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said peace requires recognition of “new territorial realities” and Ukraine’s neutral status, Reuters reported.

The escalating attacks underline Ukraine’s urgent need for strengthened international defense and diplomatic support.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is visiting Mexico and Ecuador to advance President Donald Trump’s priorities on combating illegal immigration, drug trafficking, and countering China’s influence in Latin America. This is Rubio’s first trip to Mexico since taking office, Reuters reported.

The visit follows a recent US military operation targeting a Venezuelan drug vessel and comes amid strained US-Mexico relations. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has criticized US immigration raids and rejected unilateral military actions, though both countries are collaborating on a new security agreement.

Washington has increased surveillance of Mexican cartels and labeled some as terrorist organizations. Rubio’s talks aim to strengthen security cooperation, manage migration, curb illicit drug flows, address US-Mexico trade tensions, and ensure Mexico is not a route for Chinese goods avoiding US tariffs. Discussions are also expected to cover USMCA reforms to reinforce bilateral cooperation, according to Reuters.

OpenAI will roll out parental controls for ChatGPT within a month, aiming to help families manage teen use safely. Parents can link accounts, restrict features like chat history and memory, set age-appropriate response rules, and receive alerts if their child shows signs of distress, Al Jazeera reported.

The announcement comes amid criticism after a California couple sued the company, blaming ChatGPT for their 16-year-old son’s suicide. Experts warn AI can be risky for vulnerable users, noting chatbots often handle high-risk mental health queries inconsistently.

Psychiatrist Hamilton Morrin welcomed the controls but said broader safeguards and collaboration with clinicians are needed to make AI safer for young users.

China showcased its biggest military parade to date, rolling out long-range nuclear missiles, hypersonic weapons, drones, and air-defense lasers in a display meant to project strength and deter rivals.

The show of force was aimed at multiple audiences—the US and its allies, regional powers like India and Russia, and potential arms buyers—underscoring Beijing’s growing military reach and its resolve over issues such as Taiwan, according to Reuters.

Analysts noted, however, that while the parade highlighted China’s ambitions, some of the advanced systems may still be in testing rather than fully deployed.

Russia has pledged to support China in its push to surpass the United States as the world’s largest producer of nuclear power, Rosatom chief Alexei Likhachev said on state television after talks in Beijing, according to Reuters.

US currently leads with nearly 97 gigawatts (GW) of nuclear capacity, while China operates about 53.2 GW but is rapidly expanding its reactor network. Likhachev said Beijing aims to exceed 100 GW to overtake Washington, and Moscow is already contributing to that goal.

Russia has helped construct four nuclear reactors in China and is building four more. Likhachev noted China’s growing demand for uranium and nuclear fuel, adding it will likely rely on Russian technology to develop advanced closed fuel cycle reactors, Reuters reported.

At least 30 people have died and more than 354,000 have been affected by floods in Punjab, India, after days of heavy rain. All 23 districts have been declared flood-hit as rivers and reservoirs approach dangerous levels, according to BBC.

About 20,000 people have been evacuated, with relief camps providing shelter and aid. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann called it the state’s worst flooding since 1988 and appealed for national support.

The disaster has submerged over 148,000 hectares of farmland, threatening the livelihoods of millions in Punjab, India’s “food basket.” Rescue efforts are underway with the help of disaster teams, the army, navy and air force.

Heavy monsoon rains, intensified by westerly disturbances, are driving the floods, which have also hit parts of northern India and Pakistan’s Punjab province, where nearly two million people are affected, BBC reported.

South Korea’s National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik briefly shook hands with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on Wednesday during a military parade in Beijing marking Japan’s World War Two surrender, Reuters reported.

Woo, representing Seoul at the event, has joined President Lee Jae Myung in urging renewed dialogue between the two Koreas, though Pyongyang has rejected recent overtures.

During his trip, Woo also met Russian President Vladimir Putin, who asked if he should convey a message to Kim. Woo replied that fostering peace on the Korean Peninsula remained vital despite strained relations. According to Reuters, several South Korean lawmakers accompanied him on the visit.

Australia is set to pass a law making it easier to deport non-citizens to third countries, drawing sharp criticism from rights groups who liken it to US policies under President Trump, Reuters reported.

The legislation removes procedural fairness in deportations, limiting court appeals. It follows a new resettlement deal with Nauru, where hundreds of people denied refugee visas over criminal records will be sent. Australia has pledged A$400m in an endowment fund and A$70m annually to support the scheme.

Critics warn the law could endanger refugees by denying healthcare and oversight, and potentially affect far more than the 350 non-citizens released after a 2023 High Court ruling. Independent lawmakers condemned the move as using Nauru, a tiny island nation reliant on foreign aid, as a “dumping ground”, according to Reuters.