External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar participated in the informal Gymnich meeting alongside European Union Foreign Ministers, where he discussed opportunities for cooperation and strengthening ties with the EU. In a post on X, Jaishankar said the discussions focused on practical collaborations and shared interests in an increasingly multipolar world order.

He wrote, “Great to be in Limassol to join the informal #Gymnich meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Ministers. Our partnership with the EU and the region continues to deepen across a wide range of domains. Discussed opportunities, practical collaborations and our shared interests in the emerging multipolar order.”

During his visit to Cyprus, Jaishankar held meetings with the Foreign Ministers of France, Poland, Romania, the Netherlands, Slovakia, and Estonia, as well as the European Commissioner for the Mediterranean. Jaishankar attended the Informal Meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Ministers at the invitation of EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas and Cyprus Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos. The Gymnich meeting, organised under Cyprus’ Presidency of the Council of the European Union, was co-chaired by Kombos and Kallas, with discussions centred on current regional and global developments.

Earlier, Jaishankar met Kaja Kallas and reviewed bilateral relations while also exchanging views on the evolving situation in West Asia. EU Ambassador to India Herve Delphin highlighted the meeting on X, saying it reflected the strong and growing relationship between India and the European Union.

The External Affairs Minister also met Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, with whom he discussed the ongoing Ukraine conflict and bilateral cooperation. Sharing details on X, Jaishankar described the interaction as useful and said both sides exchanged perspectives on the conflict. He met Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud to discuss developments in West Asia. Jaishankar appreciated the Saudi minister’s insights and assessment of the changing regional situation.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from X/@DrSJaishankar.

During his three-day official visit to Canada, Piyush Goyal visited the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir and attended a community reception organised by the Consulate General of India. In a post on X, Goyal said he prayed for peace, prosperity, and the well-being of everyone. He described the temple as a representation of spirituality, harmony, service, and shared values, adding that it reflects the strong cultural and people-to-people connections that continue to deepen ties between India and Canada.

At the community event, Goyal highlighted India’s rapid economic progress under the leadership of Narendra Modi. He spoke about the growing opportunities in trade, investment, innovation, and people-to-people engagement through the proposed India-Canada Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). He also praised the Indian diaspora for acting as a strong bridge between the two countries through contributions in business, technology, academia, innovation, and community leadership while preserving Indian cultural values abroad.

Goyal paid homage at the Kanishka Memorial in memory of the victims of Air India Flight 182 bombing and met their family members. Calling it one of the deadliest acts of terrorism in aviation history, he said India and Canada are working together to ensure such incidents are never repeated. Goyal’s visit to Canada from May 25 to 27 comes as New Delhi and Ottawa intensify discussions on the proposed CEPA, which is seen as crucial for revitalising bilateral economic ties. During the trip, he met Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, Foreign Minister Anita Anand, Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Heath MacDonald, and International Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu, among others.

He also interacted with leading Canadian business figures to explore investment opportunities and strengthen bilateral economic cooperation. Discussions mainly focused on financial services, infrastructure, sustainable agriculture, and critical minerals processing, while underlining the importance of stronger trade, investment, and technology partnerships between the two nations.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from X/@PiyushGoyal.

India, Australia, Japan, and the United States on Tuesday launched the Quad Critical Minerals Initiative Framework, committing to mobilise up to USD 20 billion in government and private sector funding to build secure and resilient critical minerals supply chains across the Indo-Pacific. The announcement followed the Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, where the four countries agreed on the framework aimed at strengthening critical mineral supply chains that are vital for advanced technologies, economic development, and industrial resilience.

According to a statement from India’s Ministry of External Affairs, the initiative seeks to leverage coordinated investments and economic policy measures to promote diversified, transparent, and reliable critical mineral markets while ensuring steady supplies essential for regional economic growth and security. The framework outlines cooperation in three major areas: investment and project development, regulatory coordination, and recycling and recovery of critical minerals.

Under the initiative, the Quad partners plan to mobilise up to USD 20 billion through existing and new government and private sector efforts focused on mining, processing, and recycling. This includes identifying strategic projects linked to Quad countries, supporting critical mineral ventures, and exploring new methods to attract private investment and reinforce supply chains across the region.

The countries also aim to improve the regulatory environment for critical mineral development in line with their domestic laws by exchanging best practices on licensing, permitting, and regulatory procedures, including ways to streamline approvals. They will additionally cooperate on technology development, geological mapping, and resource assessment.

The statement added that the Quad members will examine coordinated responses to non-market policies and unfair trade practices, including the possibility of high-standard marketplaces and pricing mechanisms. The partners further intend to strengthen the recovery and recycling of critical minerals from e-waste and scrap materials by encouraging investment in recycling technologies, collection systems, and recovery infrastructure in collaboration with the private sector. The Quad countries will promote innovation in e-waste recycling and explore ways to simplify export and import procedures for relevant waste and scrap materials, while remaining consistent with domestic regulations and international obligations.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from ANI.

Washington: Former US President Donald Trump has indicated that Iran could “perhaps” be considered for future inclusion in the Abraham Accords, a remark that has triggered fresh discussion over the evolving geopolitical landscape in West Asia. The statement comes amid ongoing conversations around regional stability and the expansion of normalization efforts that originally began during Trump’s presidency in 2020.

The Abraham Accords currently establish diplomatic normalization between Israel and several Arab nations, including the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco, and Sudan. The framework has been widely seen as one of the most significant diplomatic shifts in the region in recent decades. Trump’s latest comment, however, appears to extend the conceptual boundaries of the agreement. By suggesting that Iran “may one day” be part of such a framework, he has introduced a speculative but attention-grabbing possibility into an already complex geopolitical equation.

While the remark is not being treated as an official policy announcement, it comes at a time when West Asia continues to experience shifting alliances, intermittent conflict, and renewed diplomatic engagement among several regional and global powers. Iran, which has long maintained a firm opposition to normalization with Israel, remains outside the current scope of the Abraham Accords and has consistently rejected participation in such arrangements. Given this longstanding position, analysts view the idea as highly unlikely in the near term.

Still, the suggestion has drawn attention because it reflects a broader narrative of potential long-term realignment in the region, where economic cooperation, security concerns, and diplomatic pressure could gradually reshape traditional rivalries. Trump’s remarks remain speculative, but they add another layer to the ongoing global conversation about the future of Middle East diplomacy and whether long-standing divisions can eventually give way to broader regional engagement.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from Hindusstan Times.

On Saturday, Donald Trump stated that negotiations with Tehran were progressing positively and that a deal to end the conflict was largely in place. Just a day later, the United States carried out strikes in southern Iran. By Thursday, Trump had shared a draft peace proposal for the Iran conflict with allied nations. As the future of a US-Iran agreement remains uncertain, Jonathan Freedland speaks with Ali Vaez of the International Crisis Group to explore why Trump has repeatedly shifted his approach to ending the war.

Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from The Guardian.

An Ebola outbreak has been reported in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda, with around 400 confirmed cases and over 100 deaths. To understand its possible origin, containment measures, and why it is especially concerning, Ian Sample speaks with clinical epidemiologist Daniela Manno from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from The Guardian.

On the eve of Donald Trump’s visit to Beijing, hosts Reged Ahmad and Jonathan Yerushalmy explore how the US president’s stance on relations with Xi Jinping has evolved since his first presidential campaign, and what both leaders are likely hoping to gain from the meeting. The discussion also highlights the group of technology CEOs accompanying Trump, including Elon Musk of Tesla and Apple chief Tim Cook, and explains why trade issues are expected to dominate the agenda. The segment examines how Trump’s ballroom project escalated to an estimated billion-dollar cost and questions who is ultimately expected to fund it.

Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from The Guardian.

Jonathan Freedland talks with law professor and author Leah Litman about the recent rulings of the conservative-majority Supreme Court, upcoming cases, and the debate over whether the court is now being seen more as a political body than a purely judicial one.

Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from The Guardian.