EU holds first Brussels talks with Taliban since 2021
The European Union and Taliban officials held talks in Brussels on Tuesday on consular services and the situation of Afghans whose asylum applications...
Iran’s parliament on Wednesday ratified a 20-year strategic cooperation agreement with Russia, a move that signals deeper military and economic alignment between the two countries.
The deal, originally signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on January 17, was previously approved by Russia’s parliament in April. While the agreement stops short of including a mutual defense clause, it outlines cooperation on military-technical development, joint exercises, and coordination against shared security threats.
Iran and Russia have grown closer since the start of the Ukraine war in 2022. Western governments have accused Tehran of supplying drones and missiles for Russian use in Ukraine—claims Iran denies.
Beyond defense, the agreement also includes plans to expand economic collaboration. It promotes direct cooperation between Iranian and Russian banks and encourages the use of national currencies in trade. The move comes amid ongoing sanctions on both economies by the US and its allies.
Last week, a free trade agreement between Iran and the Russia-led Eurasian Economic Union also came into effect, further reducing tariffs and opening the door to greater commercial exchange.
Tehran has agreed to let the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) recommence inspections of its nuclear programme, U.S. Vice President JD Vance has said. The U.S. and Iran have settled on a 60-day roadmap aimed at reaching a final deal, according to mediators Qatar and Pakistan.
A Ukrainian strike has damaged a school building in a Russian-controlled area of Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia region, according to local authorities cited by the TASS news agency. No injuries were reported in the incident.
Israel's defence minister said on Wednesday Israeli troops will not withdraw from southern Lebanon, highlighting a hurdle to Iran-U.S. peace talks, as the top U.S. diplomat tours the Middle East to win over allies sceptical about a proposed deal.
U.S. President Donald Trump said that Iran had agreed to nuclear inspections into "infinity, despite Tehran's denials, and that unfrozen Iranian assets would be used to buy humanitarian supplies from the United States.
Authorities in France are reporting that about 20 people have died over the weekend while swimming in unsupervised areas of rivers, lakes and coastal waters as they tried to escape the heatwave.
The European Union and Taliban officials held talks in Brussels on Tuesday on consular services and the situation of Afghans whose asylum applications have been rejected in Europe.
China’s anti-corruption authorities have launched an investigation into Bian Zhigang, a senior defence and space official, over suspected serious violations of discipline and law, officials said on Wednesday.
Alibaba, one of the world's largest technology and e-commerce companies, has sued the U.S. Pentagon after being added to a blacklist of firms it claims support China's military, escalating a dispute with potentially significant consequences for the company.
The head of the United Nations nuclear watchdog has said inspections in Iran will resume in the near future following an interim peace agreement between Tehran and Washington. However, Iranian officials insist access to key facilities remains contingent on a final deal and the lifting of sanctions.
Pakistan and Russia have agreed to deepen counterterrorism cooperation amid continuing concerns over militant threats emanating from Afghanistan, underlining growing alignment between the two countries on regional security.
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