Labour leaders at Volkswagen have reaffirmed their opposition to factory closures in Germany, insisting that agreements reached with unions in 2024 must be respected despite growing pressure on the company to reduce excess production capacity.

Chinese electric vehicle giant BYD Co Ltd is in talks with Stellantis NV and other European automakers over the possible takeover of underused production facilities in Europe.

Britain on Tuesday announced sanctions against 35 people and entities it said were involved in recruiting vulnerable migrants to fight for Russia in its war in Ukraine and produce drones for use in the conflict

China has successfully completed the construction of more than 30,000 basic smart factories, over 1,200 advanced smart factories, and over 230 world-class smart factories across the country.