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Meloni Slams Trump for ‘Totally Invented’ G7 Photo Claim as Diplomatic Rift Deepens

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Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has fiercely accused U.S. President Donald Trump of fabricating a story after he claimed she “begged” him for a photograph at the recent G7 summit in France. Trump told Italy’s La7 TV channel that Meloni desperately wanted a picture with him and that he only complied because he “felt sorry for her.” Meloni expressed her astonishment at the remarks, stating they were “completely made up” and firmly declaring that neither she nor Italy ever begs. She further chided the U.S. President for showing “far greater indulgence” toward the enemies of the West than toward long-standing international allies.

The public verbal dispute has triggered an immediate and severe diplomatic backlash from Rome, signaling a sharp deterioration in ties between the two right-wing leaders. Underscoring the Italian government’s fury, Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani announced the immediate cancellation of his scheduled official visit to the United States next week, labeling Trump’s comments “serious and offensive” to the entire nation of Italy. This abrupt fallout comes just days after the G7 summit in Evian-les-Bains, where video footage of the two leaders conversing cordially on a sofa suggested they had stabilized a relationship previously strained by disagreements over the ongoing conflict with Iran.

The rhetoric from Meloni’s inner circle has reached unprecedented levels of hostility for the usually close allies. Giovanbattista Fazzolari, undersecretary to the prime minister’s office, released a scathing statement accusing Trump of “wrecking the historic relations between the United States and Europe” through either intent or ineptitude. The current hostility marks a dramatic shift for Meloni, who was notably the only European leader to attend Trump’s inauguration in 2025, but whose relationship with the administration has crumbled following public disagreements over the papacy and the geopolitical handling of the West Asia conflict.

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French Police Issue Last-Minute Ban on Iranian Opposition Rally in Paris

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French authorities have issued a last-minute ban on a massive rally planned by the Paris-based National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), which was scheduled to take place on Saturday, June 20. The Paris Police Prefecture justified the decision by citing a “particularly tense national and international context,” warning that a serious risk of violent clashes between opposing activist factions could disrupt public order. The NCRI, the political arm of the People’s Mujahideen Organisation of Iran, vehemently rejected the police’s reasoning as “bogus,” noting that organizers had coordinated legally with law enforcement for two months and that their previous rallies—including one in February 2025—had concluded entirely without incident.

The sudden cancellation occurred just hours after a diplomatic phone call between French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot and his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araqchi, regarding efforts to end the regional Iran war. While the NCRI alleged that the ban was a political concession to Tehran, France’s foreign ministry swiftly rejected the claim, stating that the Iranian minister never requested the cancellation or mentioned the protest. Simultaneously, French officials allowed other potentially controversial events to proceed, including a Sunday concert featuring Israeli artists for the Paris music festival, despite anticipated opposition from pro-Palestinian groups.

Tehran has long demanded crackdowns on the NCRI’s activities across Western capitals, regularly condemning the group through state media. This marks the second time in recent years that French police have attempted to block the group’s high-profile gatherings, which routinely attract thousands of expatriates alongside prominent former U.S. and European officials; a similar ban in 2023 was ultimately overturned by a French court. In tandem with the security measures, Foreign Minister Barrot emphasized that France distinguishes between the Iranian regime and its people, announcing a new state platform to support exiled Iranian artists independently of political considerations.

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Moscow Residents Report ‘Oil Rain’ as Kyiv Launches Largest-Ever Drone Barrage Against Russian Capital

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A massive Ukrainian air assault involving nearly 200 drones targeted the Russian capital, triggering a major fire at the Kapotnya oil refinery and prompting Moscow residents to report a fine, oily “black rain” coating their clothes and vehicles. The unprecedented strike, described as Kyiv’s largest drone offensive since the start of the full-scale war, wounded at least 17 people in the wider Moscow region, set ablaze a nearby shopping center, and forced the temporary closure of the city’s four major airports. While municipal authorities denied the existence of toxic fallout, the city’s official Telegram channels paradoxically warned vulnerable residents, the elderly, and families with children to urgently evacuate the affected southeastern districts and keep all windows tightly sealed.

The catastrophic bombardment caused massive explosions at the refinery—marking its third strike this month—with verified footage capturing the dramatic moment an oil silo roof was blown dozens of meters into the air. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky explicitly framed the operation as direct retaliation for a recent devastating Russian attack on Kyiv that desecrated the historic Pechersk Lavra monastery, warning, “If Ukraine burns, your Moscow will burn too.” In response, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov threatened immediate, mass-scale military reprisals, while Russia’s defense ministry claimed to have intercepted nearly 1,000 drones and four cruise missiles across the country over a 24-hour window, including an attack in the Rostov region that left one person dead.

The sophisticated multi-wave assault bypassed extensive anti-air networks by utilizing hundreds of reconnaissance decoy drones to exhaust local defenses before the primary explosive payloads struck. The scale of the breach has raised serious domestic questions regarding the defense capabilities protecting Russia’s most critical infrastructure, shattering the illusion of safety for ordinary Muscovites living 500 kilometers from the border. As the war of attrition intensifies, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha addressed the panic on social media, telling bewildered Moscow residents that the strikes are the direct consequence of their state’s ongoing aggression and urging them to demand an end to the conflict from Vladimir Putin.

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Parents of Serbian Mass School Shooter Sentenced to Long Prison Terms After Belgrade Retrial

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In a landmark retrial in Belgrade, a Serbian court has sentenced the parents of a teenage boy who shot and killed nine children and a security guard at the Vladislav Ribnikar elementary school in May 2023. The father, Vladimir Kecmanović, was sentenced to 14 years and six months in prison for public safety offenses, including failing to secure his weapons and training his son to handle firearms. The mother, Miljana Kecmanović, received a prison term of two years and 11 months for the neglect and abuse of a minor. Because the shooter was only 13 years old at the time of the massacre, he remains under the age of criminal responsibility and is currently being held in a psychiatric facility.

The tragic 2023 shooting, during which the boy fired 66 bullets in just over two minutes, stunned Serbia—a nation where mass shootings were historically rare and school gun violence was entirely unheard of. The disaster, which was followed just days later by another separate drive-by mass killing near Belgrade, sparked massive national protests and prompted the Serbian government to implement a sweeping gun amnesty alongside significantly stricter firearm regulations. Legal representatives for the victims’ families described the protracted legal process as a long and exhausting fight for justice that has deeply impacted the entire country.

This latest ruling follows a November 2025 decision by the Belgrade Court of Appeal to overturn the initial 2024 verdicts due to unclear and contradictory reasoning, which forced the retrial that began in January. Despite the new sentences, the legal battle is set to continue as both the prosecution and defense teams have already lodged appeals against the jail terms. Defense attorneys argued that the state failed to provide definitive expert testimony proving neglect, while the chief prosecutor maintained that holding the parents accountable is vital for how Serbian society heals from one of the most tragic events in its peacetime history.

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Europe’s Refugee Population Stabilises After Years of Rapid Growth

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Europe’s refugee and asylum-seeker population remained largely unchanged in 2025, marking the end of more than a decade of steady growth, according to a new migration report. The total number of refugees and asylum seekers across the European Union and Britain stood at 9.59 million, nearly identical to the 9.58 million recorded in 2024.

The report highlighted a continued decline in asylum applications, which dropped to 770,000 in 2025 from 1.01 million in 2024 and 1.1 million in 2023. Researchers said the slowdown signals the end of the rapid increases seen in recent years, particularly following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

While Germany and Italy recorded declines in refugee and asylum-seeker populations, France, Spain and Britain saw increases. The report also noted a sharp fall in asylum applications from Syrians after the collapse of the Assad regime, while applications from Venezuelans rose significantly. Ukrainians continue to make up nearly half of all refugees and asylum seekers in the EU and Britain.

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Germany Sends Naval Ships Ahead of Possible Hormuz Mine-Clearing Mission

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Germany has deployed two naval vessels, the minesweeper Fulda and support ship Mosel, toward the Red Sea as preparations begin for a potential international mission to secure the Strait of Hormuz. The move comes after the recent U.S.-Iran peace agreement, with concerns remaining over mines that could threaten shipping routes and energy supplies.

German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said any minesweeping operation would require approval from Iran and Oman and would depend on progress in diplomatic talks. Germany is also sending underwater drones, mine divers, and vessel protection teams to support potential de-mining efforts.

France and the UK are advocating for a multinational naval mission, while shipping and insurance industry leaders warn that mine threats continue to hinder the full resumption of maritime trade. Industry experts say establishing safe, mine-free routes will be essential before shipping traffic can return to normal levels.

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Wildfire Disrupts Spain Rail Network Ahead of Heatwave

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A wildfire in northeastern Spain disrupted high-speed rail services between Madrid and Barcelona on Thursday after flames broke out near a railway section in Catalonia. Authorities temporarily suspended train operations in the affected area to allow firefighters to tackle the blaze safely.

The disruption comes as Spain prepares for its first major heatwave of the summer. Weather officials have warned that temperatures will rise significantly over the weekend, with several inland regions expected to experience highs above 40°C and some areas potentially reaching 42°C early next week.

Forecasters also cautioned that wildfire risks will increase due to dry conditions and limited rainfall. The warning follows last year’s record-breaking heatwave across Spain and Portugal, which contributed to severe forest fires and highlighted growing concerns over the impact of climate change on extreme weather events.

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New Far-Right Party Surpasses Italy’s League in Polls

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Italy’s emerging far-right party, Futuro Nazionale, has overtaken the League for the first time in a national opinion poll. The movement, led by former army general Roberto Vannacci, secured 5.9% support, narrowly ahead of the League’s 5.8%, continuing a steady rise since its launch earlier this year.

Founded in February after Vannacci and several lawmakers split from the League, Futuro Nazionale aims to become the dominant force on Italy’s far right. Its growing popularity has added a new dynamic to the country’s political landscape and is drawing attention ahead of next year’s national election.

The party’s rise is creating challenges for Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and her ruling coalition. While Meloni’s Brothers of Italy remains the country’s most popular party with 27.8% support, questions remain over whether an alliance with Vannacci could emerge as Italy’s right-wing parties compete for influence.

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Irish Parliament Backs Removal of Abortion Waiting Period

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Ireland’s lower house of parliament, the Dáil, has voted in favour of legislation to remove the mandatory three-day waiting period for abortions. The Sinn Féin-backed bill passed by 86 votes to 70 and will now move to the health committee for further examination.

Under current law, women seeking an abortion up to 12 weeks into pregnancy must wait three days between an initial GP consultation and the procedure. Supporters of the bill argue that the waiting period creates an unnecessary barrier to healthcare, while opponents say it provides important time for consideration.

The vote revealed differing views across political parties, with several government members voting against the proposal despite senior leaders supporting it. Advocates have welcomed the move as a significant step in expanding reproductive healthcare, while campaigners continue to push for additional reforms recommended in previous reviews of Ireland’s abortion laws.

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Lee, Trump Discuss Korea Peace at G7 Summit

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South Korean President Lee Jae-myung said he made significant progress on discussions about peace on the Korean Peninsula during a lengthy conversation with U.S. President Donald Trump at the G7 Summit in France. Lee described their 90-minute dinner discussion as productive, focusing on regional security and South Korea-U.S. relations.

Following the talks, Trump gifted Lee the pen he had used to sign documents at the summit, a gesture Lee said mirrored an earlier meeting where Trump received one of his pens. Trump also repeatedly suggested a future golf outing with Lee and First Lady Kim Hea Kyung, with the South Korean leader joking that he may now need to prepare for the game.

The two leaders also discussed cooperation in areas such as shipbuilding and reaffirmed the importance of trilateral collaboration between South Korea, the United States, and Japan. During the summit, Lee urged Trump to take a leading role in pursuing a peaceful resolution to tensions with North Korea, while Trump reportedly praised Lee as a “strong leader.”

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