News compact: Defense Minister Pistorius in Ukraine

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has arrived in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv for political talks. The SPD politician said he wanted to learn about the situation in Ukraine . He also plans to consult with government representatives about further military aid for the country under attack by Russia . Before his trip, Pistorius made it clear that Germany and its allies must support Ukraine so that it can defend itself and put itself in a position where Russia is willing to engage in serious negotiations.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of pursuing more far-reaching plans for conquest than officially known.

"Russian military plans are aimed at Odessa - and then at the borders with Moldova and Romania," Zelenskyy said at a meeting with heads of state and government from southeastern Europe in the southern Ukrainian port city of Odessa on the Black Sea.

US withdraws personnel from the Middle East

Amid tensions with Iran, the US is reducing its embassy staff in Iraq , a government official in Washington confirmed. This is due to concerns that the Islamic Republic's leadership in Tehran could order retaliatory strikes against US bases in the region in the event of an Israeli attack on Iran. US personnel have also reportedly been withdrawn from Kuwait and Bahrain .

US personnel are being recalled "because it could be a dangerous place," US President Donald Trump told reporters with reference to the region. Iran cannot have nuclear weapons, "we will not allow that," Trump added. Washington and Tehran have been negotiating ways toward a new nuclear agreement with Iran since April.

Rare earths: Trump announces agreement with China

According to President Donald Trump, China and the United States have reached an agreement on the controversial issue of rare earths . During two days of negotiations in London on Monday and Tuesday, the People's Republic pledged to supply rare earth metals, Trump stated on his online service Truth Social. In return, the United States has agreed, among other things, not to exclude Chinese students from American universities. Formal approval from him and Chinese President Xi Jinping is still pending, the US President further stated.

Chinese government officials were more reserved, describing the exchange as fundamentally constructive.

138 million children have to work regularly

According to the United Nations, nearly 138 million children and young people worldwide are affected by child labor. This has serious consequences for their education and further development, according to a report published in Geneva by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF ) and the International Labor Organization (ILO). Around 54 million of them even engage in some form of child labor that endangers their health and safety.

According to the data, agriculture remains the largest sector for child labor, accounting for 61 percent of all cases. This is followed by services such as domestic work and selling goods in markets, as well as work in industry and mining. According to UNICEF, child labor is particularly prevalent in sub-Saharan African countries, where 87 million children are affected.

Poland's Prime Minister Tusk wins vote of confidence

Poland's center-left government won a vote of confidence in parliament called by Prime Minister Donald Tusk . Ten days after the pro-European government's defeat in the presidential election, 243 members of parliament expressed confidence in the cabinet. 210 of the 453 parliamentarians present in the Sejm, the lower house of parliament, voted against. Tusk wanted the vote of confidence to demonstrate the unity and determination of his coalition of conservative, liberal, and left-wing parties.

At the beginning of June, nationalist and political newcomer Karol Nawrocki narrowly won the presidential election. He is supported by Poland's largest opposition party, the national-conservative PiS, which called on Tusk to resign.

Only one fifth of all forest trees in Germany are healthy

Despite a rainy summer, the condition of German forests barely improved last year. The number of healthy trees increased by only one percentage point compared to 2023, to 21 percent, according to the new Forest Condition Report. The proportion of damaged forest trees, which already exhibit a high level of crown defoliation, remained at 36 percent, the same as the previous year. The proportion of trees with a warning level decreased by one percentage point, to 43 percent.

According to the report, more than 9,800 trees in Germany were examined. The tree species examined were primarily spruce, pine, beech, and oak.

Mourning for Beach Boys legend Brian Wilson

Brian Wilson, musician and co-founder of the successful US band The Beach Boys, has died at the age of 82. His family and management announced the death. The Californian band made music history with their surf songs as one of the most successful pop and rock bands of the 1960s and early 1970s.

Wilson was the creative mind behind the Beach Boys, penning nearly all of their hits and producing numerous albums. Many of his songs became classics, including "Fun Fun Fun," "Good Vibrations," "Little Deuce Coupe," "Help Me Rhonda," and "Surfin' USA." With "Pet Sounds," Wilson's 1966 release is considered by many critics to be perhaps the best pop album of the 20th century.

se/ch (dpa, afp, rtr, ap, kna, epd)

This article was created at 9:00 a.m. (CEST) and will not be updated further.