On Friday, Emmanuel Macron, Friedrich Merz, and UK Labour leader Keir Starmer met aboard a train traveling from Poland to Ukraine, presenting a unified diplomatic front ahead of their scheduled visit to Kyiv on Saturday. Their presence comes amid growing international calls for Russia to agree to a ceasefire and enter negotiations. A video from inside the train has drawn attention online—not for its political symbolism, but due to a moment where a small white object is briefly visible on the table before Macron quickly moves it out of view. Some on social media have speculated that the object resembled a small bag of cocaine, especially as Merz is seen holding a small spoon. However, such speculation is unsupported. The object could plausibly be something mundane, such as a crumpled tissue or a piece of packaging, which in the context of a moving train and under artificial lighting, might easily be misinterpreted. Macron’s quick movement may reflect nothing more than a desire to clear the table during filming. Without concrete evidence, assigning sinister meaning risks distorting the real focus of the meeting: a coordinated effort to support Ukraine and press for peace.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney delivered a victory speech after his Liberal Party won the federal election, warning against US President Donald Trump’s intentions. Carney claimed that Trump is trying to break Canada so that America can own it, stating "President Trump is trying to break us so that America can own us." Despite this, Carney promised to meet with Trump and vowed to "win this trade war with America."

Hong Kong has released four pro-democracy lawmakers who completed their jail terms, including Claudia Mo, Kwok Ka-ki, Jeremy Tam, and Gary Fan. The four were among dozens of leaders jailed under the National Security Law (NSL) for participating in an unofficial primary to choose opposition candidates for local elections. They had pleaded guilty and received sentences ranging from four years and two months to five years in prison. Their release came after they served a portion of their sentence, with authorities considering time already spent in custody when calculating their sentence.

The African Caribbean Achievement Project (ACAP) has been awarded £3m to transform its building into an arts and culture centre. The grant, partly funded by Bradford Council, will provide space for music, dance, visual arts, and drama. ACAP hopes the revamped facility will boost footfall and "put our culture on the map". Councillor Sarah Ferriby and Dan Bates from Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture praised the funding, saying it will have huge benefits for current users and attract new visitors.