Escalating Tensions in Red Sea and Global Conflicts

China has rejected Germany's claim that it targeted a German military plane with a laser fired from a Chinese warship during a European Union-led operation in the Red Sea. Germany accused China of attempting to disrupt the operation and endangering its personnel, while China denied the allegations, stating that its account of the incident was 'totally inconsistent with the facts known by the Chinese side'. The incident has deepened a diplomatic spat between the two countries, with the German foreign ministry summoning the Chinese ambassador and the EU summoning China's envoy.

The Houthi rebels in Yemen have attacked two cargo ships in the Red Sea, killing and kidnapping crew members. The attacks have raised concerns about the safety of the vital maritime trade route and may signal the start of a new campaign by the Iran-backed rebels. The European Union naval force has recovered six castaway crew members, and the U.S. Embassy in Yemen has called for the immediate release of kidnapped crew members.

Houthi rebels released a video showing an attack on a commercial ship, 'Magic Seas', in the Red Sea, marking their first attack on a commercial vessel this year. The article also touches on various other global news stories, including Trump's comments on Putin, a kitesurfer crossing the Taiwan Strait, and protests in Kenya.

Russia launched a massive drone attack on Ukraine, killing at least one person, hours after US President Donald Trump pledged more military support for Kyiv and criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin over peace talks. The attack came as tensions between Russia and the US escalated, with Trump previously threatening to "bomb the sh*t out of Moscow" in retaliation for Russian aggression. The article also touches on other global news, including protests in Kenya, a state visit by French President Emmanuel Macron to the UK, and a volcanic eruption in Indonesia.

At least four people were killed and many crew members kidnapped after Houthi rebels sank the cargo ship Eternity C in the Red Sea. The ship was attacked with drones and rocket-propelled grenades over two days, resulting in its sinking on Wednesday. The fate of 15 crew members remains unknown, while six were rescued after spending over a day in the sea. The Houthi rebels claimed to have rescued some crew members and taken them to a safe location, but the US embassy in Yemen accused them of kidnapping survivors. The incident is part of a larger conflict involving Houthi rebels, Israel, and Iran, with the rebels having attacked over 100 ships since November 2023 in solidarity with Palestinians.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has hinted at a possible meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on the sidelines of an ASEAN meeting in Malaysia. The meeting would be the first in-person encounter between the two diplomats since Rubio took office in January. The discussion is expected to touch on the contentious trade dispute between the US and China, as well as China's support for Russia in the Ukraine war. Rubio, known for his hawkish stance on China, has been sanctioned twice by Beijing.