Putin offers minimal support to Tehran, seeks mediator role
Asked about his "mistakes" after a quarter-century in power, the Kremlin leader did not elaborate further, even after two hours of discussion with a dozen editors-in-chief, for an interview that started more than six hours behind schedule. On both Ukraine and Iran, he mainly presented his own version of events, alternating criticism of Europeans with praise for Donald Trump. "He is a businessman who calculates everything," Putin said, noting that he had spoken with Trump by phone five times since January 20, the date of the US president's inauguration. "And that also applies to his approach toward Russia..."
Four days after his most recent phone call with Trump, on Saturday, June 14, one day after Israeli strikes on Iran, Putin refused to answer directly when asked about threats from Washington and Israel to assassinate Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. "I don't even want to discuss such a possibility. I don't want to," he replied curtly. "We observe that today, in Iran, despite the complexity of the country's internal political processes, there is a consolidation of society around its political leaders," he insisted instead.
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France 24
an hour ago
- France 24
Europe hopes for 'no surprises' as US weighs force withdrawals
Washington is currently conducting a review of its military deployments worldwide -- set to be unveiled in coming months -- and the expectation is it will lead to drawdowns in Europe. That prospect is fraying the nerves of US allies, especially as fears swirl that Russia could look to attack a NATO country within the next few years if the war in Ukraine dies down. However, the alliance is basking in Trump's newfound goodwill following its June summit in The Hague, and his officials are making encouraging noises that Europe will not be left in the lurch. "We've agreed to no surprises and no gaps in the strategic framework of Europe," said Matthew Whitaker, US ambassador to NATO, adding he expected the review to come out in "late summer, early fall". "I have daily conversations with our allies about the process," he said. While successive US governments have mulled scaling back in Europe to focus more on China, Trump has insisted more forcefully than his predecessors that the continent should handle its own defence. "There's every reason to expect a withdrawal from Europe," said Marta Mucznik from the International Crisis Group. "The question is not whether it's going to happen, but how fast." When Trump returned to office in January many felt he was about to blow a hole in the seven-decade-old alliance. But the vibe in NATO circles is now far more upbeat than those desperate days. "There's a sanguine mood, a lot of guesswork, but the early signals are quite positive," one senior European diplomat told AFP, talking as others on condition of anonymity. "Certainly no panic or doom and gloom." 'Inevitable' The Pentagon says there are nearly 85,000 US military personnel in Europe -- a number that has fluctuated between 75,000 and 105,000 since Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine. "I think it is inevitable that they pull out some of their forces," a second European diplomat told AFP. "But I don't expect this to be like a dramatic overhaul. I think it's going to be gradual. I think it's going to be based on consultations." Trump's first target is likely to be the troops left over from a surge ordered by his predecessor Joe Biden after Moscow's tanks rolled into Ukraine. Officials say relocating the rump of that 20,000-strong deployment would not hurt NATO's deterrence too much -- but alarm bells would ring if Trump looked to cut too deep into personnel numbers or close key bases. The issue is not just troop numbers -- the US has capabilities such as air defences, long-range missiles and satellite surveillance that allies would struggle to replace in the short-term. "The kinds of defence investments by Europe that are being made coming out of The Hague summit may only be felt in real capability terms over many years," said Ian Lesser from the German Marshall Fund think tank. "So the question of timing really does matter." 'Inopportune moment' Washington's desire to pull back from Europe may be tempered by Trump now taking a tougher line with Russia -- and Moscow's reluctance to bow to his demands to end the Ukraine war. "It seems an inopportune moment to send signals of weakness and reductions in the American security presence in Europe," Lesser said. He also pointed to Trump's struggles during his first term to pull troops out of Germany -- the potential bill for relocating them along with political resistance in Washington scuppering the plan. While European diplomats are feeling more confident than before about the troop review, they admit nothing can be certain with the mercurial US president. Other issues such as Washington's trade negotiations with the EU could rock transatlantic ties in the meantime and upend the good vibes. "It seems positive for now," said a third European diplomat. "But what if we are all wrong and a force decrease will start in 2026. To be honest, there isn't much to go on at this stage." © 2025 AFP
LeMonde
an hour ago
- LeMonde
Israel begins daily 'tactical' pause in Gaza to allow 'minimal' food aid
The Israeli military on Sunday, July 27, began limited pauses in fighting in three populated areas of Gaza for 10 hours a day, part of measures including airdrops as concerns grow over surging hunger and as Israel faces criticism over its conduct in the 21-month war. The military said the "tactical pause" from 10 am to 8 pm in Gaza City, Deir al-Balah and Muwasi, all with large populations, would increase humanitarian aid entering the territory. United Nations humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher welcomed Israel's decision to support a "one-week scale-up of aid" and said "some movement restrictions appear to have been eased." But he said action needs to be sustained, vast and fast. "Whichever path we choose, we will have to continue to allow the entry of minimal humanitarian supplies," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said. Images of emaciated children have fanned criticism of Israel, including by allies who call for the war's end. Israel has restricted aid to Gaza's population of over 2 million because it says Hamas siphons it off to bolster its rule, without providing evidence. Much of the population, squeezed into ever-smaller patches of land, now relies on aid. As the military had warned, combat operations continued otherwise. Health officials in Gaza said Israeli strikes killed at least 41 Palestinians from late Saturday into Sunday, including 26 seeking aid. "I came to get flour for my children because they have not tasted flour for more than a week," said Sabreen Hassona, as other Palestinians trudged along a dusty road carrying sacks of food from the Zikim crossing. But aid came slowly for others, if at all. "We saw the planes, but we didn't see what they dropped," Samira Yahya said in Zawaida in central Gaza. "They said trucks would pass, but we didn't see the trucks." Some people feared going out and having a box of aid fall on their children, Ahmed al-Sumairi said. 'Every delay is measured by another funeral' Israel's military said 28 aid packages containing food were airdropped, and said it would put in place secure routes for aid delivery. It said the steps were made in coordination with the UN and other humanitarian groups. The UN World Food Program said it had enough food in, or on its way, to feed all of Gaza for nearly three months. It has said nearly half a million people were enduring famine-like conditions. Antoine Renard, WFP's country director for the occupied Palestinian territories, said around 80 WFP trucks entered Gaza, while another over 130 trucks arrived via Jordan, Ashdod and Egypt. He said other aid was moving through the Kerem Shalom and Zikim crossings. He stressed it was not enough to counter the "current starvation." Gaza saw 63 malnutrition-related deaths in July, including 24 children underage 5, the World Health Organization said. Dr. Muneer al-Boursh, Gaza Health Ministry's director-general, called for a flood of medical supplies to treat child malnutrition. "This [humanitarian] truce will mean nothing if it doesn't turn into a real opportunity to save lives," he said. "Every delay is measured by another funeral." 'Alternative options' to talks. Ceasefire efforts appeared to be in doubt. Israel and the US recalled negotiating teams from Qatar on Thursday, blaming Hamas, and Israel said it was considering "alternative options" to talks. Partner service Learn French with Gymglish Thanks to a daily lesson, an original story and a personalized correction, in 15 minutes per day. Try for free Israel says it is prepared to end the war if Hamas surrenders, disarms and goes into exile, something the group has refused. Khalil al-Hayya, head of Hamas' negotiating delegation, said the group had displayed "maximum flexibility." Senior Hamas official Mahmoud Merdawi said Israel's change of approach on the humanitarian crisis amounted to an acknowledgment of Palestinians starving in Gaza, and asserted that it was meant to improve Israel's international standing and not save lives. After ending the latest ceasefire in March, Israel cut off the entry of food, medicine, fuel and other supplies to Gaza for 2 ½ months, saying it aimed to pressure Hamas to release hostages. Fifty of them remain in Gaza, over half of them believed to be dead. Under international pressure, Israel slightly eased the blockade in May. Since then, the average of 69 trucks a day has been far below the 500 to 600 trucks the UN says are needed. The UN says it has been unable to distribute much aid because hungry crowds and gangs take most of it from trucks. In an attempt to divert aid delivery from UN control, Israel has backed the US-registered Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which in May opened four distribution centers. More than 1,000 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces since May while trying to get food, mostly near those sites, the UN human rights office says. Israel asserts the UN system allows Hamas to steal aid. The UN denies it. "Gaza is not a remote island. The infrastructure and resources exist to prevent starvation; we just need safe, sustained access," Mercy Corps' vice president of global policy and advocacy, Kate Phillips-Barrasso, said in a statement. Awda Hospital in Nuseirat said Israeli forces killed at least 13 people, including four children and a woman, and wounded 101 as they headed toward a GHF aid distribution site in central Gaza. Israel's military said it fired warning shots to prevent a "gathering of suspects" from approaching, hundreds of meters from the site before opening hours. GHF said there were no incidents at or near its sites. Thirteen others were killed seeking aid elsewhere, including northwestern Gaza City, where over 50 people were wounded, and near the Zikim crossing where over 90 were wounded, hospital officials and medics said. US President Donald Trump on Sunday called the images of emaciated and malnourished children in Gaza "terrible."
France 24
an hour ago
- France 24
Most markets rise, euro boosted after EU strikes US trade deal
News of the deal, announced by Donald Trump and European Commission head Ursula von der Leyen on Sunday, followed US agreements last week, including with Japan, and comes ahead of a new round of China-US talks. Investors were also gearing up for a busy week of data, central bank decisions and earnings from some of the world's biggest companies. Trump and von der Leyen announced at his golf resort in Scotland that a baseline tariff of 15 percent would be levied on EU exports to the United States. "We've reached a deal. It's a good deal for everybody. This is probably the biggest deal ever reached in any capacity," Trump said, adding that the levies would apply across the board, including for Europe's crucial automobile sector, pharmaceuticals and semiconductors. Brussels also agreed to purchase "$750 billion worth of energy" from the United States, as well as make $600 billion in additional investments. "It's a good deal," von der Leyen said. "It will bring stability. It will bring predictability. That's very important for our businesses on both sides of the Atlantic." The news boosted the euro, which jumped to $1.1779 from Friday's close of $1.1749. And equities built on their recent rally, fanned by relief that countries were reaching deals with Washington. Hong Kong led winners, jumping around one percent, with Shanghai, Sydney, Seoul, Wellington, Taipei and Jakarta also up, along with European and US futures. Tokyo fell for a second day, having soared about five percent on Wednesday and Thursday in reaction to Japan's US deal. Singapore and Seoul were also lower. The broad gains came after another record day for the S&P 500 and Nasdaq on Wall Street. "The news flow from both the extension with China and the agreement with the EU is clearly market-friendly, and should put further upside potential into the euro... and should also put renewed upside into EU equities," said Chris Weston at Pepperstone. Traders are gearing up for a packed week, with a delegation including US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent holding fresh trade talks with a Chinese team headed by Vice Premier He Lifeng in Stockholm. While both countries in April imposed tariffs on each other's products that reached triple-digit levels, US duties this year have temporarily been lowered to 30 percent and China's countermeasures slashed to 10 percent. The 90-day truce, instituted after talks in Geneva in May, is set to expire on August 12. Also on the agenda are earnings from tech titans Amazon, Apple, Meta Microsoft, as well as data on US economic growth and jobs. The Federal Reserve's latest policy meeting is expected to conclude with officials standing pat on interest rates, though investors are keen to see what their views are on the outlook for the rest of the year in light of Trump's tariffs and recent trade deals. The Bank of Japan is also forecast to hold off on any big moves on borrowing costs. Key figures at around 0230 GMT Tokyo - Nikkei 225: DOWN 0.7 percent at 41,148.07 (break) Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: UP 1.0 percent at 25,631.28 Shanghai - Composite: UP 0.3 percent at 3,602.97 Dollar/yen: UP at 147.74 yen from 147.68 yen on Friday Euro/dollar: UP at $1.1755 from $1.1738 Pound/dollar: UP at $1.3436 from $1.3431 Euro/pound: UP at 87.48 pence from 87.40 pence West Texas Intermediate: UP 0.5 percent at $65.48 per barrel © 2025 AFP
