First Thing: China trip winds down but Trump-Xi Iran accord remains elusive
activities near several Ukraine nuclear sites](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/may/15/ukraine-war-briefing-putin-escalating-war-not-seeking-an-end-merz) that posed significant safety risks.
- **What do Russia’s renewed heavy attacks tell us?** Friedrich Merz, the German chancellor, said on Thursday that Russia’s heavy