Heatwave in Greece: Major wildfire forces evacuations in several villages
23/07/2025
Ukraine delegation in Istanbul for talks with Russia
23/07/2025
Ukraine curbs anti-corruption agencies, sparking rare protests
23/07/2025
Heatwave hits water, electricity supplies across much of Iran
23/07/2025
Kremlin expects 'difficult' talks with Ukraine in Istanbul
23/07/2025
Will Dati's corruption trial jeopardize her Paris mayoral ambitions?
23/07/2025
Ukraine's Zelensky tries to limit backlash over law curbing anti-graft agencies
23/07/2025
ICJ: World's top court to hand down watershed climate opinion
23/07/2025
More than 100 aid groups warn 'mass starvation' spreading across Gaza
23/07/2025
France: Culture minister Rachida Dati to be tried on corruption charges
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France 24
4 hours ago
- France 24
Macron moves to limit visas for Algerian diplomats as deportation row escalates
Macron on Wednesday asked his government to tighten visa requirements on Algerian diplomats as a dispute about the deportation of Algerian nationals escalates. In a letter to his Prime Minister François Bayrou, which was seen by Reuters, Macron said the growing difficulties that France is encountering in terms of migration and security with Algeria required a tougher stance against the former French colony. Macron requested that Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot officially notify Algeria of the suspension of a 2013 agreement that exempted diplomatic and official passport holders from visa requirements. He also requested that France's interior minister ask countries in the Schengen zone – which allow passport-free travel between their borders – to help France apply the tighter visa policy, notably by consulting France for the issuance of short-stay visas for the Algerian officials in question and the passports covered by the 2013 agreement. "France must be strong and command respect. It can only receive this from its partners if it shows them the respect it demands from them. This basic rule also applies to Algeria," Macron said. Ties between Paris and Algiers have deteriorated since France in July 2024 recognised Morocco 's sovereignty over the disputed territory of Western Sahara, which Rabat wants the international community to recognise as Moroccan. Tensions increased after Algeria detained Franco-Algerian author Boualem Sansal in November and came to a head in February this year when an Algerian citizen whom France had long tried unsuccessfully to repatriate was arrested as the suspect in a knife attack in the city of Mulhouse that killed one person and injured three. French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau has repeatedly called for the review of Franco-Algerian migration and visa arrangements following the Algerian authorities' refusal to take back its citizens who have been ordered to leave France under the "OQTF" (obligation to leave French territory) deportation regime.
LeMonde
5 hours ago
- LeMonde
Trump says Putin-Witkoff talks 'highly productive' but sanctions still due
President Donald Trump on Wednesday, August 6 hailed talks between his envoy and Russian President Vladimir Putin on Ukraine as "highly productive," but US officials said sanctions would still be imposed on Moscow's trading partners. Trump, who had boasted he could end the conflict within 24 hours of taking office, has given Russia until Friday to make progress towards peace or face new penalties. US envoy Steve Witkoff met with Putin for what the Kremlin said were "constructive" talks two days ahead of the US deadline for Russia. Trump said on his Truth Social platform that "great progress was made" during the meeting – but minutes later a senior US official said that "secondary sanctions" were still expected to be implemented on Friday. Three rounds of Russia-Ukraine talks in Istanbul have failed to make headway on a ceasefire, with the two sides far apart in their demands. Russia has escalated drone and missile attacks against its pro-Western neighbor to a record high and accelerated its advance on the ground. "A quite useful and constructive conversation took place," Putin's aide Yuri Ushakov told journalists, including AFP, after the three-hour meeting. Putin and Witkoff exchanged "signals" on their positions, Ushakov said, without elaborating. The Kremlin released a video of Putin shaking hands with Witkoff at the start of the meeting. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said later on Wednesday that he had spoken by phone with Trump after Witkoff visited Moscow. "European leaders were on the call, and I am grateful to each of them for their support," he added on social media, without saying which leaders took part in the call. Sanctions threat The White House has not officially outlined what action it would take against Russia, but Trump has previously threatened to impose "secondary tariffs" targeting Russia's key trade partners, such as China and India. On Wednesday, Trump ordered steeper tariffs on Indian goods over New Delhi's continued purchase of Russian oil. The move would aim to stifle Russian exports, but would risk significant international disruption. Trump said on Tuesday that he would await the outcome of the Moscow talks before ordering any economic sanctions. "We're going to see what happens," he told reporters. "We'll make that determination at that time." Without explicitly naming Trump, the Kremlin on Tuesday slammed "threats" to hike tariffs on Russia's trading partners as "illegitimate."
Euronews
7 hours ago
- Euronews
Trump cranks up India tariffs to 50% in an attempt to pressure Russia
President Donald Trump on Wednesday hit India with an extra 25% tariff over its Russian oil deals, bringing total US tariffs on the ally to a steep 50%. Currently, Brazil is the only other country to face a 50% import tax on all its products across the board. This does not include the steel, aluminium and copper tariffs, also at 50%, levied on every single country in the world apart from the UK. The tariffs would go into effect 21 days after the signing of the order, meaning that both India and Russia could still have time to negotiate with the administration on a more favourable deal. Trump's moves could scramble the economic trajectory of India, a major Asian economy, which until recently was seen as an alternative to China by US companies looking to relocate their manufacturing. China, which also buys oil from Russia, is currently experiencing a stay on the full tariff measure — currently all Chinese products face a 30% levy — as it negotiates more favourable tariff measures with the US administration. Trump had previewed for reporters on Tuesday that the tariffs would be coming, saying the US had a meeting with Russia on Wednesday as the Trump administration tries to end Moscow's all-out war in Ukraine. 'We're going to see what happens," Trump said about his tariff plans. "We'll make that determination at that time.' The Indian government on Wednesday called the additional tariffs 'unfortunate". 'We reiterate that these actions are unfair, unjustified and unreasonable,' Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a statement, adding that India would take all actions necessary to protect its interests. Jaiswal said India has already made its stance clear that the country's imports were based on market factors and were part of an overall objective of ensuring energy security for its 1.4 billion people. Ajay Srivastava, a former Indian trade official, said the latest tariff places the country among the most heavily taxed US trading partners and far above rivals such as China, Vietnam and Bangladesh. India is widely regarded as an ally, with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi having visited the US in February of this year. 'The tariffs are expected to make Indian goods far costlier with the potential to cut exports by around 40%-50% to the US,' he said. Srivastava said Trump's decision was 'hypocritical' because China bought more Russian oil than India did last year. 'Washington avoids targeting Beijing because of China's leverage over critical minerals which are vital for US defence and technology,' he said. Coming to terms with the deficit In 2024, the US ran a $45.8 billion or €52.5 billion trade deficit in goods with India, meaning America imported more from India than it exported, according to the US Census Bureau. US consumers and businesses buy pharmaceutical drugs, precious stones, textiles and apparel from India, among other products. India has not supported the Ukraine-related sanctions by the US and its allies on Moscow even as its leaders maintain that they want peace. Ostensibly, the steep tariff is a means to deprive the Kremlin of revenue to fund its ongoing war in Ukraine, forcing Trump's goal of bringing the Russian government to the negotiating table and possibly agreeing to a ceasefire followed by long-term peace in Ukraine. But oil prices have fallen, with a barrel trading on Wednesday morning at $65.84 or €75.53, up by 1% on the day new tariffs were announced.
