Pakistan has announced it will recommend US President Donald Trump for the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize for mediating a ceasefire after the latest round of fighting between the country and India.

In a statement released on Saturday, Islamabad said Trump demonstrated "stellar statesmanship" and "deescalated a rapidly deteriorating situation." It also said Trump ultimately secured a ceasefire and averted "a broader conflict between the two nuclear states that would have had catastrophic consequences for millions of people."

Trump has shown strong interest in getting a Nobel Peace Prize since his first term in office. Some observers say Islamabad's move comes as its aims to boost its relations with Washington.

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Russian President Vladimir Putin held talks with China's Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang on June 20 in Saint Petersburg.

Putin told Xuexiang that he "will gladly accept the invitation" of President Xi Jinping to visit China for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit, and WWII commemorations between August 31 - September 3. He also met the Secretary General of Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, to whom he expressed his hope of oil demand remaining on a "high level".

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Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed a willingness to advance technical cooperation with friendly countries in military fields such as the joint development of weapons. Putin spoke at a plenary session of an international economic forum in St. Petersburg on Friday.

He said Russia's defense industry has gained good momentum, with companies in the sector increasing their output multiple times and developing new types of weapons and military equipment. He went on to say that Russia intends to promote military-technical cooperation with friendly countries, adding this would involve joint development, training and the creation of turnkey enterprises and production facilities.

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Russia and Ukraine carried out another prisoner swap on Friday, said the Russian defense ministry.

In accordance with the Russian-Ukrainian agreements on June 2 in Istanbul, a group of Russian military personnel was returned from the territory controlled by Ukraine on June 20, the ministry said, not giving the number of released prisoners. "In return, a group of prisoners of war of the Armed Forces of Ukraine was transferred," it added.

Meanwhile, Ukraine's Coordinating Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War said that the returned captives include sergeants and soldiers from the Ukrainian Navy, Land Forces, Territorial Defense, Airborne Forces and other units.

During their latest round of talks in Türkiye's Istanbul, Russia and Ukraine agreed on an "all-for-all" exchange involving seriously ill and wounded prisoners, as well as soldiers under the age of 25.

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The Iranian foreign minister met with top European diplomats in Geneva on Friday in a bid to ease the conflict between Iran and Israel.

After the meeting, the Europeans issued a statement saying they support continuing the discussions, and welcomed US efforts to seek a "negotiated solution." Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met with his counterparts from Britain, France and Germany, as well as EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, at a hotel in the city.

After the talks, Kallas said they agreed to discuss nuclear and broader issues. The Iranian foreign minister said, "Iran is ready to consider diplomacy once again and once aggression is stopped." He also stressed that he made clear that "Iran's defense capabilities are not negotiable."

This comes after the White House said Thursday that US President Donald Trump has set a two-week timeline to decide on whether the US will join the conflict.

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Italian Prime Minister Georgia Meloni and European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen welcomed guests in Rome for a summit aimed at boosting African economies, in a bid to curb illegal migration to the EU.

Meloni has prioritized cutting irregular immigration and launched a 5.5-billion-euro plan targeting 14 countries including Ethiopia, Ivory Coast and Senegal to support industries from energy to health care. Meloni's plan aims to strengthen trade relations between Italy and African nations in the energy sector particularly.

Romanian President Nicusor Dan on Friday appointed Senate President Ilie Bolojan as the country's new prime minister, following weeks of coalition negotiations among major political parties.

According to local media, the new cabinet will be formed through a coalition between the National Liberal Party (PNL), the Social Democratic Party (PSD), the Save Romania Union (USR), and the Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania (UDMR).

Ilie Bolojan is a senior member of the PNL and former interim party president. He previously served as mayor of Oradea and president of the Bihor County Council. He was elected Senate President in December 2024 and served as Romania's interim president earlier this year following Klaus Iohannis's resignation.

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Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has held talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, showing his willingness to step up ties with Moscow. The two leaders met on Thursday in St. Petersburg, where an international economic forum is underway.

Putin began the meeting by saying Russia's relations with Indonesia are developing steadily. He said there are good prospects in various areas of cooperation, including agriculture, space, energy and military technology. In response, Prabowo thanked Russia for having helped Indonesia to become a full member of the BRICS group of emerging economies this year.

He said relations continue to improve, adding that there have been many advances in various fields, and the economy is improving. Jakarta has shown interest in deepening cooperation with Russia in many areas. The two countries held their first joint naval drills last year.

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The White House has quoted US President Donald Trump as saying he will decide within two weeks whether to take military action on Iran, while leaving the door open to negotiations.

Trump has hinted at the possibility of US military intervention in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran, saying, "I may do it, I may not do it."

In response to a reporter's question, Leavitt confirmed that correspondence between the Trump administration and the Iranian government is ongoing. She added, "If there's a chance for diplomacy, the president is always going to grab it, but he's not afraid to use strength as well."

The White House says Trump plans to hold daily National Security Council meetings through the weekend as he weighs future responses to the Iranian situation.

Ref : NHK

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot’s called for restraint, deescalation and a halt to the strikes on both sides during a press conference in Paris, on Thursday, the seventh day of the escalating conflict between Iran and Israel. Barrot reiterates France's commitment to diplomacy, reviving nuclear negotiations with Iran, and advancing a two-state solution for peace in the Middle East.

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