Ukraine, trade and investment are expected to dominate Chinese leader Xi Jinping's first trip to Europe in five years, which starts in France on Monday. Last year, on a visit to Beijing, French President Emmanuel Macron courted controversy by saying France would not necessarily always align with the U.S. in foreign policy, an apparent reference to U.S. support for the self-governing republic of Taiwan, which China claims as its own territory. Xi's stop in France will be followed by visits to Hungary and Serbia, both of which are seen as China-friendly and close to Russia.

Jill Biden has honored her fellow educators by hosting the 2024 national and state teachers of the year at a swanky White House dinner to recognize their commitment to their students and to excellence in the classroom. The first lady said Thursday night that teaching isn't just a job, it's a calling. She herself has taught for more than 30 years. She currently teaches English and writing at a community college in Northern Virginia. The teachers of the year are chosen by an independent organization and typically are recognized at an annual White House ceremony. But Jill Biden put a new spin on the annual appearance by hosting them for dinner instead.

Hamas said Thursday that it will send a delegation to Cairo as soon as possible to keep working on cease-fire talks, in response to Egypt’s latest proposal. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has been back in the Mideast this week in a renewed push for a cease-fire deal. New estimates from the United Nations show that if the Israel-Hamas war stopped today, it would still take until 2040 to rebuild all the homes that have been destroyed in nearly seven months of Israel’s bombardment and ground offensives. The war has driven around 80% of Gaza’s population of 2.3 million from their homes. The death toll in Gaza is more than 34,500 Palestinians, and the territory’s entire population has been driven into a humanitarian catastrophe.

The number of people arrested in connection with protests on college campuses against the Israel-Hamas war has now topped 2,000. The Associated Press has tallied arrests at 35 schools since a tent encampment began at Columbia University on April 17. Some of the campus protests popping up over the last two weeks have led to agreements with administrators to consider the protesters demands. At Fordham, Northwestern, Minnesota and Brown, students will be able to make their case to university leaders about divesting from Israel. More frequently, demonstrators have been arrested after refusing to disperse or vandalizing property.

A U.S. official says Russia has moved some troops onto an airbase in Niger where a small number of U.S. forces remain after most American troops left the base in the nation’s capital. Russian trainers arrived in Niger about three weeks ago. It wasn't clear then where they were housed. The West African nation has ordered all U.S. troops out of the country. The Pentagon has said they will depart but hasn't provided a precise timeline. A U.S. official says Russian troops are on the other side of the base in the capital, Niamey, and not close to U.S. forces. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss troop movements.