Trump's Iran deal brings Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf into the open as a key negotiator
Iran's parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf has emerged as one of the most visible figures on the Iranian side of the deal reached this week with the United States over the war. The agreement, announced after more than 100 days of conflict, has drawn attention to a politician who until recently was largely known outside Iran's power circles for his long career in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and his later rise through the state system. His appearance in the negotiations has also highlighted the shifting balance inside Iran's leadership as it tries to manage the war and its political... [Continue Reading]
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India tells UN Pakistan is occupying territory and calls Indus Water Treaty outdated
India has accused Pakistan of illegal occupation and support for terrorism during a right of reply at the United Nations, in a sharp exchange that also saw New Delhi describe the Indus Water Treaty as outdated. The remarks were delivered during an Interactive Dialogue on the UN High Commissioner's annual report, where India used its response to restate its position on Jammu and Kashmir. The intervention adds to a long-running diplomatic dispute between the two nuclear-armed neighbours, this time played out on the UN stage.First Secretary Anupama Singh, speaking for India's Permanent Mission to the UN, called Pakistan a "living... [Continue Reading]
EU leaders back stronger trade defences amid Chinese export surge
EU leaders have agreed to strengthen the bloc's trade defences in response to a surge of Chinese exports, while also calling for continued constructive dialogue with Beijing. The decision was taken during talks in Brussels and reflects growing concern in the European Union about industrial vulnerability and supply-chain dependence. Leaders said the bloc must be better equipped to defend its interests and reduce risk.The move comes as the EU's goods trade deficit reached about 360 billion euros last year, underlining the scale of the imbalance with China. According to an EU official, leaders asked the European Commission to continue engaging... [Continue Reading]
French riot police authorised to use water cannon in UK-funded Calais migration operation
French riot police deployed in northern France under a £660m deal with the UK have been authorised to use water cannon against asylum seekers and people smugglers, according to people familiar with the operation. The deployment is aimed at stopping small boat launches from beaches near Calais and is being carried out by specialist units including a 50-officer riot squad. The move comes as the summer period typically brings renewed pressure on the Channel crossing route.Informed sources said officers from the Compagnies Républicaines de Sécurité, known as the CRS, may request water cannon, CS gas and batons as part of... [Continue Reading]
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Macron says G7, including US, aligned on Ukraine support at summit in Canada
Emmanuel Macron has said the G7, including the United States, now recognises Ukraine's territorial integrity and shares a commitment to increasing pressure on Russia. Speaking at the summit in Évian-les-Bains, the French president described what he called a "very deep change" in Washington's approach to the war. He said the leaders present understood that Vladimir Putin was not interested in peace.Macron said Donald Trump, like the other G7 leaders, had acknowledged that there was no serious willingness on Russia's part to discuss peace. He described the shift as a "re-synchronisation" of positions and a "very profound shift and remobilisation of... [Continue Reading]
G7 closes in France with united pressure on Russia over Ukraine
French President Emmanuel Macron said the G7 summit in Évian-les-Bains had ended as a success, describing the three-day meeting as a moment of unity and real cooperation among the leaders. He said the group had agreed that Russia had shown no serious willingness to make peace in Ukraine. Macron also said the G7 was remobilising to increase pressure on Moscow.The remarks came as the summit closed on Wednesday after discussions that also covered the Middle East and artificial intelligence. Macron said the talks had moved beyond months of disagreements and fragmentation, and he framed the outcome as a sign that... [Continue Reading]
G7 summit in Evian turns to AI and social media security on final day
On the final day of the G7 summit in Evian-les-Bains, leaders are set to focus on the security risks posed by artificial intelligence and social media. The discussions come as the three-day meeting draws to a close, with French President Emmanuel Macron due to host US President Donald Trump for dinner at the Palace of Versailles after the summit. Final statements are also expected on the Middle East and Ukraine, adding to an already crowded agenda.The technology session is expected to bring together senior figures from the AI sector, including Sam Altman of OpenAI, Dario Amodei of Anthropic and Arthur... [Continue Reading]
Modi and Trump meet briefly at G7 summit in France ahead of bilateral talks
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump met briefly on Tuesday at the G7 leaders' summit in Evian, in eastern France. It was their first face-to-face encounter since their meeting at the White House in February 2025. A structured bilateral meeting was scheduled for Wednesday on the sidelines of the summit.The encounter comes as India and the United States try to repair ties that were strained in 2025. The supplied material says the strain followed Trump's claims of mediation between India and Pakistan after Operation Sindoor, as well as Washington's decision to impose heavy tariffs on Delhi. The... [Continue Reading]
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Trump arrives at G7 in France touting Iran deal and signalling push on Ukraine and Lebanon
President Donald Trump arrived at the Group of Seven summit in Evian-les-Bains, France, on Monday touting a preliminary deal to end the Iran war and signalling that he wants to help end hostilities in Ukraine and Lebanon. He met French President Emmanuel Macron soon after arriving, using the summit to present the agreement with Iran as a major diplomatic success. The visit comes as G7 partners weigh the immediate implications of the deal alongside wider concerns about Washington's approach to allies and global security.Trump said the Iran agreement would bring "a lot of success to the world" and argued that... [Continue Reading]
EU still lacks unanimity to sanction Itamar Ben-Gvir as trade measures are discussed
The European Union has still not reached unanimity on proposals to sanction Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, according to the bloc's foreign policy chief. Kaja Kallas said after talks with EU foreign ministers that "many" member states had backed economic restrictions, but that no consensus had been reached. The issue remains under discussion as some capitals also push for possible trade measures linked to goods from illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank.Kallas said unanimity is required for EU sanctions on an individual, which means the proposal cannot move forward without full agreement. She did not name the countries... [Continue Reading]
UK and Japan agree £18bn investment deal in London talks
The UK and Japan have agreed an £18bn investment package during talks in London between Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Japan's leader Sanae Takaichi. The announcement was made after the two sides met business leaders at Downing Street on Sunday. It covers infrastructure, financial services, offshore wind, nuclear technology and research cooperation.Downing Street said Japanese firms will spend more than £9bn on UK infrastructure and financial services, with up to £9bn also earmarked for UK offshore wind. Officials said the package could create tens of thousands of jobs, although it was not immediately clear how much of the total... [Continue Reading]


