World News: UK's Lammy and Chinese counterpart Wang Yi hold talks on contentious issues

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On Thursday, UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, marking the revival of the UK-China Strategic Dialogue after a seven-year halt.

The talks in London encompassed bilateral economic cooperation, international security, and areas of contention. Lammy emphasized the importance of addressing issues where the UK and China "do not always see eye to eye," stressing the UK's concerns in some areas.

Key points included China's support for Russia amid the ongoing Ukraine conflict, human rights issues in Hong Kong, and the situation in Xinjiang.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer also attended the meeting of two foreign ministers, highlighting the UK's dedication to establishing a consistent and respectful bilateral relationship.

In the German city of Munich, a driver drove a car into a crowd leaving at least 30 people injured.

On Thursday local time, a white Mini Cooper plowed into a crowd at a trade union rally near Munich's central train station. The driver, a 24-year-old Afghan asylum seeker, was arrested. The incident injured 30 people, including children, and several victims sustained serious injuries. Authorities believe the act was deliberate, though the exact motive is still being investigated. The suspect had a history of minor offenses, and his asylum application had been rejected in 2020. Yet, deportation was deferred due to safety concerns in Afghanistan.

In Panama, President Jose Raul Mulino said Thursday, that the country received its first U.S. deportation flight the previous day, carrying 119 migrants from various nationalities, including China, Pakistan, and Afghanistan.

The initiative follows an agreement with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, designating Panama as a transit point for deported individuals.

The migrants will be temporarily housed in a shelter in Panama's Darien region before being repatriated to their home countries.

Two more flights are planned, totaling approximately 360 deportees.

Sports industry news site Sportico released its list of the highest-paid athletes in 2024 on Thursday, with Portuguese football player Cristiano Ronaldo on top for the second consecutive year, with 260 million U.S. dollars earned.

Stephen Curry, Tyson Fury, Lionel Messi, and LeBron James completed the top 5. The top 100 athletes collectively earned 6.2 billion dollars, marking a 14% increase from the previous year. Notably, no female athletes made the top 100 list, with the highest-earning woman being tennis star Coco Gauff,

with total earnings of 30.4 million dollars. Choi Chi-hee, Arirang News.