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Germany has urged France to increase defence spending as debates continue over Europe’s military self-sufficiency, while Ukrainian officials travel to Geneva for another round of US-brokered peace talks with Russia amid ongoing strikes.

This, as Iran’s foreign minister has also arrived in Geneva for new nuclear negotiations with Washington as tensions persist.

More below ⤵️

Top 5 Stories

1️⃣🇩🇪🇫🇷 Germany urges France to boost defence spending: Germany’s foreign minister called on France to increase military spending to support European self-sufficiency, citing slow progress toward Nato’s 5% target and wider concerns about US commitment. Talks over Germany potentially joining France’s nuclear umbrella have exposed divisions in Berlin while officials stress continued reliance on Nato deterrence.

2️⃣🇺🇦🇷🇺🇺🇸 Ukraine heads to Geneva for third peace talks: Ukrainian officials are travelling to Switzerland for another round of US-brokered negotiations with Russia after earlier meetings failed to produce a breakthrough, with both sides holding firm on key territorial and security demands. At the same time, Kyiv and Moscow are escalating military pressure with drone strikes and reported Russian territorial advances.

3️⃣🇮🇷🇺🇸 Iran foreign minister arrives for nuclear talks as tensions rise: Tehran’s top diplomat said he aims to secure a fair deal in new negotiations with Washington, which officials say may be difficult despite openness to diplomacy and ongoing technical discussions with the IAEA. Talks are unfolding alongside US military deployments and IRGC drills, with disputes over enrichment, missiles, and inspections unresolved.

4️⃣🇮🇱🇱🇧 Israeli strike near Lebanon-Syria border kills four: Lebanese authorities said an Israeli air strike hit a vehicle and killed at least four people, while Israel said it targeted Palestinian Islamic Jihad members. The incident comes despite a ceasefire with Hezbollah, with Lebanon reporting repeated violations and the UN citing civilian casualties since the truce.

5️⃣🇮🇱🇮🇷 Netanyahu demands Iran end enrichment in any deal: Israel’s prime minister said a future agreement must require Tehran to remove all enriched uranium, halt enrichment, and curb its missile programme ahead of new US-Iran talks. Iranian officials signalled willingness to consider some nuclear compromises if sanctions are discussed but maintain zero enrichment is a red line.

Major Story

🇺🇸🇵🇸 Board pledges Gaza rebuild

Members of President Donald Trump’s newly formed Board of Peace have pledged $5 billion for Gaza reconstruction and promised thousands of personnel for stabilisation and policing, with the commitments set to be formally announced at the group’s first meeting in Washington. Trump said the meeting will take place at the US Institute of Peace, recently renamed in his honour, while details of which countries are contributing funds or troops have not been disclosed. 

Indonesia’s military said up to 8,000 troops could be ready by June for a potential humanitarian and peace mission, marking the first specific personnel commitment mentioned. International estimates from the United Nations, World Bank and European Union place the cost of rebuilding Gaza at about $70 billion following more than two years of conflict and a ceasefire agreement that calls for an armed stabilisation force to help disarm Hamas. It remains unclear how many of the board’s more than 20 members will attend the meeting, and some allies have declined to join amid concerns it could rival the United Nations’ role.

Other News

1️⃣🇺🇸🇭🇺 Rubio backs Orbán ahead of election challenge: Marco Rubio delivered a message of support from Donald Trump to Viktor Orbán during a visit to Budapest, highlighting close ties and a past sanctions exemption linked to their relationship. Orbán, trailing in polls, accused Ukraine of election interference but said he would accept the result if defeated, with a potential Trump visit still uncertain.

2️⃣🇵🇰 Imran Khan aide claims medical care concerns in jail: A spokesman said the jailed former prime minister has not received adequate treatment and that his personal doctor cannot examine him despite reported vision loss, while officials say prison doctors assessed him and found improvement. Details remain disputed, with court-ordered evaluations, family access issues, and protests by supporters continuing.

3️⃣🇷🇺🇪🇺 Wagner-linked networks accused of recruiting Europeans: Western intelligence officials say Russia is using figures tied to the Wagner network to recruit vulnerable Europeans for sabotage operations across NATO countries, though Moscow denies involvement. The claims follow expulsions of Russian diplomats and reports that proxy networks provide deniability.

4️⃣🇮🇱🇵🇸 Israeli strikes in Gaza kill at least 11, officials say: Palestinian rescue and health officials reported fatalities from strikes on a tent encampment and another location, while Israel said it targeted militants in response to ceasefire violations. Both sides continue to accuse each other of breaches as preparations for the ceasefire’s next phase and reconstruction plans proceed.

5️⃣🇫🇷 Epstein-linked probe widens with Paris raid: French police searched the Arab World Institute as part of an investigation into former minister Jack Lang and his daughter over suspected tax fraud laundering tied to an offshore company linked to Jeffrey Epstein, with both denying wrongdoing. Prosecutors have also opened additional inquiries involving other French nationals, with details and outcomes still unclear.

6️⃣🇭🇷🇭🇺🇸🇰 Croatia refuses to transport Russian oil to neighbours: Zagreb rejected a request from Hungary and Slovakia to use the Adria pipeline after flows via Ukraine were disrupted, saying it would act within EU and US sanctions rules and not risk supply security. The halt followed attacks on the Druzhba pipeline and competing claims over responsibility, with energy dependence and political tensions unresolved.

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