Friday, 3 July 2026 16:30 By Daniel Maher Ursula von der Leyen has been in Cork with her team of European Commissioners to meet the Irish Cabinet Suspending the EU’s trade agreement with Israel is up to individual member states, according to the President of the European Commission. Ursula von der Leyen has been in…
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi held separate meetings with foreign leaders and delegations in Tehran on Friday on the sidelines of funeral ceremonies for slain former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, according to separate statements from Iran’s presidency, Foreign Ministry and parliament speaker’s office. Pezeshkian met with…
Brussels – Is the European Union turning a blind eye to Israel? According to the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, the main responsibility lies with the Council, among the Member States. “Ten months ago, we proposed suspending the trade preferences provided for in the EU-Israel Association Agreement. This would have a significant…
The temporary closure and severe disruption of the Strait of Hormuz during the 2026 Gulf conflict has triggered one of the most consequential trade shocks in recent years. As the world’s most strategically important energy corridor, Hormuz normally carries nearly 20% of global oil consumption along with substantial volumes of liquefied natural gas (LNG), particularly…
What is the business community meant to make of the latest Israel-Lebanon framework deal? Do we just write it off as Iran wants, or do we prepare to do business with Lebanon? The Lebanese economy is service-oriented, but it isn’t in good shape. The World Bank Group, European Union, and United Nations launched a Reform,…
BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 3. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Chairman of Turkmenistan’s Halk Maslahaty (Parliament) Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov held talks in Tehran. This was reported in a post published on July 3 on the Iranian government’s official X account. “Pezeshkian called bilateral ties a model of brotherhood and good neighborliness, stressing the need to accelerate joint…
A minister in Turkey has spoken of one day “ruling” Jerusalem. Israeli officials have warned darkly that Turkey is “the new Iran”. Listen to the volleys of invective flying in both directions, and you might think that two of the Middle East’s pivotal powers are heading for conflict. Israel’s prime minister and Turkey’s president often…
The Indian Navy warship INS Trikand successfully stopped a piracy attack on the cargo vessel MV Golden Arsenal in the Gulf of Aden. This incident highlights ongoing security risks in critical maritime trade lanes often used for Indian energy and goods imports. Such security challenges can impact shipping insurance costs and supply chain stability for…
Military command issues threat a day after Qatari mediators hailed ‘positive progress’ in indirect US-Iranian talks. Published On 3 Jul 20263 Jul 2026 Iran’s military command has threatened ships that attempt to cross the Strait of Hormuz using unapproved routes with a “forceful response,” casting new doubt over trade flows in the critical conduit for…
Representatives of the Lebanese and Syrian military commands participated for the first time in a meeting held as part of the “Regional Dialogue on Strategic Partnership,” organized by U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) in collaboration with regional allies. The conference took place in Manama, the capital of Bahrain. Representatives from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, Bahrain,…
