Solstice-aligned 5,000-year-old monument ‘once in a lifetime find’, say archaeologists

• G7 leaders met in Évian-les-Bains, France, to address critical global issues including war, AI governance, and the realignment of international supply chains. • U.S. President Donald Trump announced a deal to end the conflict with Iran just before the summit, focusing discussions on Middle East stability and reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

• President Donald Trump displayed a more positive attitude toward his allies during the G7 summit at a French Alpine resort. • The shift in tone was driven by support from fellow world leaders regarding Trump's tentative agreement with Iran to end the war.

• Finland employs a "whole of society" approach to national security, a strategy developed over a century of preparing for potential Russian aggression. • The Finnish model integrates civilian readiness, military planning, and government coordination to ensure the entire population can withstand and respond to an invasion.

• G7 leaders have expressed support for a tentative agreement brokered by U.S. President Donald Trump to end the conflict with Iran. • The deal focuses on extending the current ceasefire and reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a critical maritime chokepoint shuttered by Iran since the conflict began in February.

• India is exploring strategies to leverage its intellectual heritage, research, and innovation to establish itself as a global leader in the 21st century. • The initiative focuses on the "geopolitics of knowledge," aiming to position India as a civilization that produces world-class ideas and knowledge systems.

• G7 leaders have called for a comprehensive overhaul of the international development cooperation system to move away from traditional aid models. • The proposed reforms focus on creating "mutually beneficial partnerships" designed to strengthen the economic sovereignty of partner nations and reduce long-term dependency on foreign aid.

• G7 leaders are meeting in France amidst concerns that tensions between the U.S. and Iran are negatively impacting the economies of member nations. • The group's global influence is declining, with its share of global GDP dropping from 60.5% at its inception to 44.1%, according to the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

• President Zelenskyy has expressed concerns that peace negotiations between the United States and Russia could exclude Ukraine, potentially leading to a resolution that ignores Kyiv's interests. • The Ukrainian government is specifically seeking firm security guarantees to prevent future aggression and ensure long-term stability.

• Leaders from Brazil, India, and Kenya met with G7 representatives in Evian to discuss international cooperation and development. • The G7 is utilizing these meetings to present a new narrative on development aid as a strategic move to counter China's expanding economic influence.

• Diplomats and analysts are questioning the continued relevance of the G7 ahead of its annual summit in Évian-les-Bains, suggesting the forum has lost influence in the era of Donald Trump. • Critics, including Bloomberg’s Europe editor Flavia Krause-Jackson, note that the G7 was excluded from U.S.-Israeli war planning regarding Iran.

• The Pentagon has renamed the Indo-Pacific Command shortly before the G7 Summit, sparking concerns regarding the stability of India-US relations and future trade ties. • Pentagon officials claim the renaming is a primarily administrative move designed to restore historical military traditions rather than a strategic shift.

MPs who sponsor lobbyists’ entry to halls of power will also be listed online under new transparency rulesPolitical lobbyists with unfettered access to the halls of Parliament House – and the MPs who sponsor their passes – will soon be publicly identified in an online register, under a major shake-up of the pass system.Under the new rules, two MPs will need to sign for a lobbyist to register for a pass, with the primary sponsor responsible for their behaviour. It will also introduce fees for lobbyist and commercial passes. Continue reading...