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Wednesday, July 22, 2026

France's Environment Minister Resigns In Protest Over Harmful Pesticides

Edited by: Rob Turner French Minister of Ecological Transition Monique Barbut announced Wednesday that she would "submit her resignation today" to President Emmanuel Macron in protest to the reintroduction of harmful pesticides. However, Macron did not accept her resignation, and Barbut will stay in her post due to the "urgency to address the consequences of climate change," her team said in comments carried by the AFP news agency. <h2>What Barbut Said About Her Resignation</h2> In a post on LinkedIn, Barbut wrote that "contrary to the commitments that had been made to me, the government prevented any debate on the removal of this measure," adding that there had been "one environmental setback too many," since was appointed last October. ALSO READ | <a href="'Iran%20Not%20Serious%20About%20Talks':%20Marco%20Rubio%20Warns%20Tehran%20Of%20Consequences%20https://news.abplive.com/news/world/marco-rubio-iran-not-serious-talks-strait-hormuz-international-waterway-1857994">'Iran Not Serious About Talks': Marco Rubio Warns Tehran Of Consequences</a> "Politics is not my world, and if this is what politics is about, it definitely never will be," said the former head of WWF France and the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD). <h2>What Is In France's Pesticide Bill?</h2> Barbut's statement comes just after lawmakers appoved a bill that will allow the pesticides acetamiprid and flupyradifurone to come back into use. They have been banned in France since 2018 and 2019, respectively. Scientists say that the chemicals are dangerous to human health and are harmful to the bee populations that make agriculture possible in the first place. ALSO READ | <a href="'Iran%20Not%20Serious%20About%20Talks':%20Marco%20Rubio%20Warns%20Tehran%20Of%20Consequences%20https://news.abplive.com/news/world/marco-rubio-iran-not-serious-talks-strait-hormuz-international-waterway-1857994">Pakistan: 6 Children Dead, 94 Infected In HIV Outbreak At Karachi Hospital</a> Proponents of the bill argued that France's beet, apple, and hazlenut farmers need the pesticides to compete against their EU counterparts. The substances are not banned in the EU but some member states limit their use. Disclaimer: This report first appeared on Deutsche Welle, and has been republished on ABP Live as part of a special arrangement. Apart from the headline, no changes have been made in the report by ABP Live. for DW

source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/monique-barbut-protest-harmful-pesticides-acetamiprid-flupyradifurone-france-1858019

China Steps Up Coast Guard Around Taiwan, New Tensions Raise Blockade Fears

Taipei: Taiwan has reported a sharp increase in the presence of Chinese coast guard and research vessels around the island, prompting authorities to prepare drills simulating possible Chinese escalations off Taiwan's Pacific coast, Taipei Times reported. According to Taipei Times, Taiwan's Coast Guard Administration (CGA) recorded 55 Chinese government vessel sightings in June, including coast guard and research ships, compared with 30 sightings in May and 25 during the same period last year. The figures exclude vessels operating near Taiwan-controlled islands close to the Chinese mainland. The increase, reported by Taipei Times, highlights Beijing's growing use of its coast guard to reinforce its territorial claims over Taiwan. While the Chinese military maintains an almost daily presence around the island, Taiwanese officials say China is increasingly relying on coast guard operations as part of what Taipei describes as "lawfare" -- using legal and administrative measures to strengthen its claims. Speaking to Taipei Times on condition of anonymity, a senior CGA official said Taiwan is preparing for the possibility that China could attempt to disrupt or blockade the island's Pacific supply routes in the event of a future conflict. The official said Taiwan has conducted both tabletop exercises and live drills with its navy to safeguard critical maritime lifelines. The report also said that Taiwanese officials believe several Chinese coast guard vessels have been converted from former naval destroyers and repainted for coast guard operations, giving them greater endurance and military capability than conventional law enforcement ships. Officials added that Chinese vessels frequently operate in pairs just outside Taiwan's economic waters in the Pacific, stretching the capacity of Taiwan's coast guard. According to Taipei Times, Taiwanese authorities also accused Chinese coast guard vessels of broadcasting radio messages to commercial ships requesting port entry and exit information in an apparent attempt to pressure merchant traffic. Taiwan has instructed vessels to ignore such communications and continue normal navigation. A senior Taiwanese official told Taipei Times that Beijing's actions are aimed at altering the regional status quo despite having no legal jurisdiction in the area, describing the campaign as an effort to create new facts on the ground through sustained maritime pressure.  (Disclaimer: This report has been published as part of the auto-generated syndicate wire feed. Apart from the headline, no editing has been done in the copy by ABP Live.)

source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/taiwan-china-coast-guard-vessels-maritime-pressure-territorial-claims-1858013

Tuesday, July 21, 2026

Trump Approves Landmark US-Saudi Nuclear Deal, Opening Door To Uranium Enrichment In Kingdom

US President Donald Trump has approved a wide-ranging nuclear cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia that could eventually allow the Gulf nation to enrich uranium for civilian nuclear energy, according to two people familiar with the matter. The individuals, who requested anonymity as the agreement has not yet been formally announced, said an official declaration could be made as early as Wednesday. While the final details are still being worked out, the proposed arrangement would mark one of the most significant steps in nuclear cooperation between Washington and Riyadh in decades. <h3>US-Saudi Nuclear Cooperation Enters New Phase</h3> The proposed agreement would remain in force for 30 years and is expected to create major opportunities for American companies in Saudi Arabia's emerging nuclear energy sector. As part of the arrangement under discussion, the United States and Saudi Arabia would jointly conduct a feasibility study to assess the construction of a uranium enrichment facility within the kingdom, as per reports on AP. Riyadh has long sought the ability to enrich uranium domestically as it expands its civilian nuclear programme. Before the agreement can be implemented, it must undergo review by the US Congress, where lawmakers are expected to closely examine its security implications. Critics are likely to argue that permitting uranium enrichment in Saudi Arabia could encourage a regional nuclear race and increase proliferation risks in the Middle East. <iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vG6F1Sed70U?si=S0tgHhr9JktFEnXN" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> ALSO READ: <a title="Trump Promises Lebanon 'Respect' As President Joseph Aoun Visits White House" href="https://ift.tt/hApJVRG" target="_self">Trump Promises Lebanon 'Respect' As President Joseph Aoun Visits White House</a> <h3>Inspection Questions May Draw International Scrutiny</h3> Saudi Arabia is a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which oversees the peaceful use of nuclear technology while ensuring that civilian programmes are not diverted for military purposes. However, according to one of the sources, the proposed agreement would not include the IAEA's Additional Protocol, an enhanced safeguards measure that allows inspectors broader access to verify nuclear activities. The absence of this provision could become a key point of concern for non-proliferation experts. The expected announcement also comes amid heightened regional tensions, with the United States and Israel continuing military operations against Iran, citing concerns over Tehran's nuclear programme. Iran, for its part, has consistently maintained that its uranium enrichment activities are intended solely for peaceful purposes. Neither the White House nor Saudi authorities had responded to requests for comment at the time of publication. The Wall Street Journal first reported the development. ALSO READ: <a title="Pakistan Under Attack Again? Militants Blow Up Government School In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa" href="https://ift.tt/yDTHd9A" target="_self">Pakistan Under Attack Again? Militants Blow Up Government School In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa</a> <h3>Long-Running Talks Revived Amid Regional Tensions</h3> Negotiations on nuclear cooperation between Washington and Riyadh have continued across multiple US administrations. Both Donald Trump and former President Joe Biden explored similar agreements aimed at expanding Saudi Arabia's civilian nuclear capabilities. Even so, experts have repeatedly warned that domestic uranium enrichment, while not equivalent to building a nuclear weapon, represents an important technological milestone that could eventually support a weapons programme if political circumstances change. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has previously stated that the kingdom would consider pursuing a nuclear weapon if Iran were to acquire one. The issue has gained additional attention following recent geopolitical developments. Saudi Arabia and Pakistan signed a mutual defence agreement after an Israeli strike targeting Hamas officials in Qatar. Following that agreement, Pakistan's defence minister said his country's nuclear arsenal "will be made available" to Saudi Arabia if necessary, remarks widely viewed as directed towards Israel, which is widely believed to possess the Middle East's only nuclear weapons. Energy Secretary Chris Wright also visited Saudi Arabia last year before Trump's own trip to the kingdom, holding discussions with Saudi officials on expanding the country's commercial nuclear energy ambitions.

source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/us-saudi-nuclear-deal-trump-approves-landmark-move-opening-door-to-uranium-enrichment-in-kingdom-1857867

India, North Macedonia discuss UN reforms, direct connectivity: official

Skopje (North Macedonia), Jul 21 (PTI): India and North Macedonia on Tuesday discussed reforms of the United Nations, direct connectivity, and ways to boost trade and tourism, among others, according to a top Indian diplomat. Briefing media persons on President Droupadi Murmu's ongoing visit here, Secretary (West) in the Ministry of External Affairs Sibi George said all aspects of bilateral relations were discussed, and the two sides underscored the need to identify new areas of cooperation to further strengthen ties. He said Murmu's visit marks a historic milestone in India-North Macedonia relations as it is the first-ever bilateral visit by an Indian President to the landlocked southeast European nation. The visit reaffirms India's commitment to strengthening its partnership with North Macedonia and reflects its broader engagement with Europe, George said. Earlier in the day, Murmu held bilateral talks with her counterpart, President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova, at the Presidential Palace (Villa Vodno). “They identified areas such as digital technology, healthcare and pharmaceuticals, automotive, agriculture and agro-products, new technologies including AI as priority areas for cooperation,” George said. The two sides also discussed reforms of the United Nations, he said. “North Macedonia and India work together in the multilateral fora, cooperate with each other, and also it supports India's permanent membership in a reformed UN Security Council,” George said. The diplomat said there was also a request for direct connectivity between India and North Macedonia. "It is on our wish list. We will see how we can take it forward," he said. The two countries renewed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in the health sector for another five years to enhance collaboration through joint initiatives and technology development, including healthcare facilities, George said. North Macedonia has supported India in the fight against terrorism and strongly condemned the 2025 Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir, he said. Murmu also met Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski, who hosted a working lunch in her honour. "The state visit of the President reaffirms our shared commitment to building a forward-looking and mutually beneficial partnership that contributes to the prosperity of our two countries," George said. Murmu is on a two-day visit to North Macedonia from Tuesday as part of the second leg of her three-nation tour of Europe. She concluded her visit to Moldova on Monday and will travel to Romania on Thursday in the last stretch of her tour. PTI AKV SCY SCY(This story is published as part of the auto-generated syndicate wire feed. No editing has been done in the headline or the body by ABP Live.)

source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/india-north-macedonia-discuss-un-reforms-direct-connectivity-official-1857844

Trump Promises Lebanon 'Respect' As President Joseph Aoun Visits White House

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday said Lebanon had suffered for decades and pledged that the United States would support the country going forward during a meeting with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun at the White House. During their Oval Office meeting, Trump said Lebanon would receive the respect it deserved. "It's been a very badly treated place and country, and we're going to have it properly treated, and treated with the respect that it deserves," Trump said. <h2>High-Stakes Meeting At The White House</h2> According to a Reuters report, Aoun's visit was aimed at presenting a plan to disarm the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah and secure Israel's withdrawal from southern Lebanon. Aoun, who served as commander of Lebanon's US-backed army before being elected president last year, is the first Lebanese head of state to visit the White House in nearly 20 years. Tuesday's meeting marked his first face-to-face talks with Trump. The meeting comes as Israeli troops continue to occupy parts of southern Lebanon, hundreds of thousands of Lebanese remain displaced following Israeli strikes, and Hezbollah has rejected both direct talks between Lebanon and Israel and government efforts to disarm the group. <h2>Lebanon Pushes For Israeli Withdrawal</h2> Aoun arrived in Washington over the weekend and met US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Sunday. During the meeting, he said Israel should begin withdrawing from southern Lebanon in line with the US-brokered June 26 agreement between Lebanon and Israel. The agreement aims to disarm Hezbollah, facilitate a phased Israeli troop withdrawal and lay the groundwork for peaceful relations between the two countries. Hours before Aoun met Trump, Lebanese army troops began taking control of areas vacated by Israeli forces in southern Lebanon, marking the first test of the agreement. <iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FZtcP8zrrg4?si=F52xJtOgOZlGWFJ2" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> A Lebanese official said Aoun believes only Trump has the leverage to persuade Israel to withdraw its troops and help Lebanon restore its sovereignty. The official also said Aoun planned to present Trump with a written proposal outlining how Hezbollah's weapons arsenal could be decommissioned. ALSO READ: <a href="https://news.abplive.com/news/world/kremlin-responds-after-four-indians-killed-in-russian-strike-in-touch-with-india-1857811">Kremlin Responds After Four Indians Killed In Russian Strike; Says In Touch With India</a> <h2>A Presidency Shaped By Regional Conflict</h2> Joseph Aoun, 62, became Lebanon's president shortly before Trump began his second term in office. The United States welcomed his election. A Maronite Christian, Aoun was elected under Lebanon's sectarian power-sharing system, which requires the president to be a Maronite Christian, the prime minister to be a Sunni Muslim and the speaker of parliament to be a Shi'ite Muslim. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> WATCH: Lebanese President Joseph Aoun urges <a href="https://ift.tt/tbhvBTX> to continue supporting the <a href="https://ift.tt/A89pI0Q>, warning that without US backing the country could face renewed instability similar to the chaos of the 1970s <a href="https://t.co/FqtTA2IXFY">https://t.co/FqtTA2IXFY</a> <a href="https://t.co/a5IubwQxnY">pic.twitter.com/a5IubwQxnY</a> — Arab News (@arabnews) <a href="https://ift.tt/dY293Ik 21, 2026</a></blockquote> <script src="https://ift.tt/4yaMcVx" async="" charset="utf-8"></script> A career soldier, Aoun was wounded twice during his military service and still carries a shrapnel wound. His election followed a major shift in Lebanon's political landscape after Israel's 2024 offensive against Hezbollah and the fall of Hezbollah's Syrian ally, President Bashar al-Assad, developments that weakened the group's influence over the Lebanese state. At his swearing-in ceremony, Aoun pledged to uphold "the state's right to a monopoly on arms." <h2>Hezbollah Disarmament Remains Central Challenge</h2> The first year of Aoun's presidency focused on government efforts to secure Hezbollah's disarmament. The Iran-backed group, founded by Iran's Revolutionary Guards in 1982, has fought multiple wars with Israel. Lebanese troops were deployed in southern Lebanon to collect Hezbollah weapons caches under the ceasefire that followed the 2024 war, without opposition from the weakened group. However, early in Aoun's second year in office, fighting resumed after Hezbollah launched attacks on Israel on March 2 in support of Iran during the conflict involving the United States and Israel. According to Lebanon's health ministry, the conflict has killed more than 4,300 people, including nearly 800 children, women and medics. The ministry's figures do not distinguish between civilians and combatants, while Hezbollah has not released casualty figures for its fighters. <h2>Calls For Dialogue With Israel</h2> After the latest conflict began, Aoun called for direct talks with Israel, marking a significant shift for Lebanon, which has faced repeated Israeli invasions since 1978. The move resulted in the highest-level face-to-face contacts between the two countries in decades. His position drew strong criticism from Hezbollah and its supporters. Aoun has continued to criticise Hezbollah for initiating the war, saying Lebanon was being destroyed for the sake of Iran. However, he has not agreed to Trump's request that he hold a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. ALSO READ: <a href="https://news.abplive.com/news/world/andrew-tate-tristan-tate-to-fight-extradition-to-uk-says-lawyer-1857762">Andrew, Tristan Tate To Fight UK Extradition As Lawyer Calls Case A 'Political Witch Hunt'</a>

source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/trump-promises-lebanon-respect-as-president-joseph-aoun-visits-white-house-1857836

Monday, July 20, 2026

President Murmu arrives in North Macedonia; first visit by any Indian head of state

Skopje (North Macedonia), Jul 21 (PTI): President Droupadi Murmu arrived here on a two-day state visit, as part of her three-nation tour of European countries aimed at boosting ties.She is the first Indian President to visit North Macedonia.During the second leg of her visit to this landlocked country in southeastern Europe, beginning from Tuesday, Murmu will hold bilateral talks with her counterpart Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova.She will also meet Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski, Speaker of the Assembly Afrim Gashi and address the Parliament here.Murmu is scheduled to address the India-North Macedonia Business Forum as well.Both sides have a keen interest in deepening economic ties in priority sectors such as agriculture, pharmaceuticals, science and technology, Information Technology, and IT-enabled Services.President Murmu will also visit Memorial of Mother Teresa. Mother Teresa was born on August 26, 1910 in Skopje— the modern day capital of North Macedonia. She lived in Skopje until 1928, when she left to join the Sisters of Loreto in Ireland before eventually moving to India.Built in 2009, this museum sits on Macedonia Street in the heart of Skopje. It stands on the exact site of the former Sacred Heart of Jesus Roman Catholic Church, where she was baptised the day after her birth.Mother Teresa was awarded Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian honour, in 1980.North Macedonia, which shares land borders with Greece to the south, Albania to the west, Bulgaria to the east, Kosovo to the northwest and Serbia to the north, covers an area of 25,713 square kilometres.The Indian community in North Macedonia is very small. Most of them are engaged in the IT sector, teaching at universities or working as executives in multinational companies.In the final leg of her tour, Murmu will visit Romania from July 23 to 25 at the invitation of President Nicusor Dan. It will be the first visit by an Indian president to Romania in more than three decades.The state visit to the three nations reflects the importance India attaches to strengthening its bilateral ties with these countries, along with New Delhi's engagement with the wider Eastern European region.One of the most important focus of the visit is on 3Ts - trade, technology and tourism, Secretary (West) in the Ministry of External Affairs Sibi George has said. PTI AKV MNK MNK(This story is published as part of the auto-generated syndicate wire feed. No editing has been done in the headline or the body by ABP Live.)

source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/president-murmu-arrives-in-north-macedonia-first-visit-by-any-indian-head-of-state-1857625

President Murmu concludes Moldova visit; pitches India as investment destination

Chisinau (Moldova), Jul 20 (PTI): President Droupadi Murmu on Monday concluded her historic state visit to Moldova, during which discussions were held on several bilateral matters, including boosting trade and investment, and reforms of the UN Security Council. Murmu, the first Indian head of state to visit the eastern European country, was accompanied by a high-level business delegation from India. Addressing the India-Moldova Business Forum, the president highlighted the vast potential for collaboration in sectors such as digital technologies, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, fintech, and digital public infrastructure. Other key sectors include infrastructure development, renewable energy, advanced manufacturing, agriculture, food processing, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, healthcare, and logistics. “India also offers good business opportunities for Moldovan companies for trade and investment. We remain committed to fostering a transparent, predictable and investor-friendly business environment. I invite Moldovan businesses to come and explore India,” Murmu said. She also encouraged Indian companies to explore investment opportunities in Moldova. The two countries also discussed reforms of multilateral organisations, including the UN Security Council, and cooperation in the fight against terrorism, among other key areas. As a special gesture of friendship, Murmu presented a bust of Mahatma Gandhi to Moldovan President Maia Sandu. As part of her day-long visit, the president laid a wreath at the Monument of Stefan cel Mare si Sfant (Stephen the Great), paying tribute to one of Moldova's most revered national figures. Murmu also met Igor Grosu, Speaker of the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova, and interacted with members of the India-Moldova Parliamentary Friendship Group. These engagements highlighted the important role of parliamentary diplomacy in deepening mutual understanding, strengthening institutional linkages and bringing the two democratic societies closer together, Secretary (West) in the Ministry of External Affairs Sibi George said. Later, Murmu and Sandu jointly addressed the India-Moldova Business Forum, which brought together leading business representatives from both countries to explore fresh opportunities in trade, investment, innovation and technology. George said one of the most important focuses of the visit was on 3Ts -- trade, technology and tourism. He also said India and Moldova had finalised a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in higher education, which is expected to be signed shortly. The state visit reaffirmed the shared resolve of India and Moldova to build a stronger, broader and more substantive partnership, George said. Rooted in democratic values, mutual respect and a common aspiration for peace and prosperity, India-Moldova relations are poised to enter a new era of closer engagement and enduring friendship, he added. Later in the evening, President Murmu interacted with members of the Indian community and Friends of India. The community welcomed the president with warmth and enthusiasm, the Rashtrapati Bhavan said in a social media post. She also attended a banquet hosted in her honour by President Sandu before leaving for North Macedonia on the second leg of her three-nation visit. Murmu's visit to North Macedonia will also be the first by an Indian President to the landlocked southeast European country. In the final leg of her tour, she will travel to Romania from July 23 to 25 at the invitation of Romanian President Nicusor Dan. Union Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Nimuben Jayantibhai Bambhaniya, Rajya Sabha member Dinesh Sharma and Lok Sabha member Vijay Baghel are part of the official delegation accompanying President Murmu. PTI AKV SCY SCY(This story is published as part of the auto-generated syndicate wire feed. No editing has been done in the headline or the body by ABP Live.)

source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/president-murmu-concludes-moldova-visit-pitches-india-as-investment-destination-1857623