World leaders gathered in France with diplomacy suddenly reorganized around a fragile U.S.-Iran peace deal, the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, renewed Russian strikes on Ukraine, and the question of whether major powers can turn a headline ceasefire into durable stability.
Markets rallied and oil fell on hopes that energy routes will normalize, but the broader agenda remains crowded: Ukraine is asking for air defences, the UN is urging restraint across the Middle East, Sudan’s civil war is worsening, and governments are wrestling with technology, trade, and security at once.
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The G7 summit opened in France with President Donald Trump joining leaders from Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United Kingdom after announcing a U.S.-Iran agreement that he says can end the war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz. The meeting is also being shaped by Ukraine’s urgent push for more air defences and Western pressure on Russia.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he offered to meet Vladimir Putin at the G7 summit, but that Moscow showed no willingness to engage. His appeal comes after Russian attacks damaged a historic Kyiv monastery and intensified calls for more air defence systems.
UN human rights chief Volker Türk welcomed the announced U.S.-Iran peace deal, calling for maximum restraint and quick, good-faith implementation. The agreement includes a ceasefire, the reopening of Hormuz, and a framework for further negotiations, but regional tensions remain high.
Europe’s STOXX 600 reached a record high as investors reacted to the preliminary U.S.-Iran peace deal and the prospect of renewed navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. Brent crude fell sharply, while travel, leisure, autos and banks helped lead a broader market rally.
The UN human rights office warned that drone strikes have killed more than 1,000 civilians in Sudan in the first five months of 2026. The figure underscores the expanding brutality of a war that has devastated hospitals, markets, communities and aid systems.
Sudan’s war is drawing renewed alarm after the UN said drone strikes have killed more than 1,000 civilians this year.
The U.S.-Iran ceasefire and Hormuz reopening are now the central test of regional diplomacy and energy security.
Britain announced plans to ban social media use for under-16s, intensifying the global debate over children and online platforms.
Peru’s presidential result remains unsettled as authorities review contested ballots after an exceptionally close initial count.