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IAEA Urges Iran to Re-Engage as Western Powers Push for Nuclear Resolution

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International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief Rafael Grossi on Monday urged Iran to “re-engage” with the U.N. watchdog so inspections can resume at nuclear sites bombed by the U.S. and Israel a year ago. Iran has yet to inform the agency about the fate of those damaged facilities or the highly enriched uranium—including material close to weapons-grade—stored there. While some basic monitoring continues at the Bushehr power plant, Grossi revealed that the broader channel of communication with Tehran is essentially broken due to safety concerns and escalating regional hostilities.

Concurrently, the United States, alongside Britain, France, and Germany, is driving a draft resolution at the IAEA’s 35-nation Board of Governors. The resolution demands that Iran provide precise information regarding the bombed sites and its enriched uranium stockpiles “without delay.” While expected to pass, diplomats warn that the measure could heavily complicate sensitive, ongoing negotiations between Washington and Tehran aimed at extending a fragile ceasefire and discussing the future of Iran’s nuclear program.

Iran’s mission to the IAEA strongly condemned the Western pressure, arguing on social media that the board is being weaponized to absolve the perpetrators of the 2025 airstrikes. Tehran warned that coercion and confrontation will only undermine diplomatic prospects, a stance that historically signals a potential escalation of its nuclear activities. The diplomatic friction unfolds amid fresh military exchanges between Israel and Iran, despite U.S. President Donald Trump’s demands for an immediate halt to the strikes.

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Far-Right General Roberto Vannacci Launches Party, Challenging Italian PM Meloni

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Former general Roberto Vannacci has created a significant political headache for Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni with the rapid rise of his new far-right party, Futuro Nazionale. Launched just four months after Vannacci broke away from Meloni’s coalition ally, the League party, the movement has already attracted nearly 100,000 paying members and is polling at 4.6%. Accusing Meloni’s government of becoming a “fearful right” that has softened on Brussels, crime, and immigration, Vannacci’s rapid ascent presents Meloni with a difficult dilemma ahead of next year’s tight election: alliance with a radical element or risking a fractured right-wing vote.

Vannacci, a 57-year-old former paratrooper and ex-defence attaché to Russia, initially shot to prominence by publishing a controversial book disparaging LGBTQ+ individuals, migrants, and feminists. Though suspended from active military service for bringing the army into disrepute, he was embraced by League leader Matteo Salvini, using that momentum to win a seat in the European Parliament in 2024. Now running his own anti-EU, pro-Russia movement, Vannacci is successfully siphoning support away from Salvini’s League, forcing mainstream right-wing leaders to consider adopting more radical stances to prevent being completely outmanoeuvred.

While no ruling coalition parties have officially proposed an alliance, Vannacci’s rise threatens to undermine Meloni’s efforts to recast her Brothers of Italy party as a mainstream, credible conservative force in Brussels and Washington. Futuro Nazionale has already poached eight lawmakers from government ranks and explicitly opposes unconditional financial and military aid to Ukraine. Mainstream coalition partners, such as Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani’s Forza Italia, remain deeply uncomfortable with Vannacci’s radical alignment with groups like Germany’s AfD, yet the rising poll numbers may eventually force a compromise to keep the centre-left out of power.

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Pope Leo XIV Warns Spanish Parliament of ‘Profound’ Global Crisis

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In a historic and wide-ranging address to Spain’s parliament, Pope Leo XIV warned that escalating conflicts, deep political polarization, and a disregard for human rights have plunged the world into a profound spiritual and cultural crisis. Speaking amid renewed hostilities between Israel and Iran, the pontiff strongly condemned rising European military spending—calling it a “betrayal of diplomacy”—and urged global leaders to prioritize authentic peace over weapons. He also demanded rigorous ethical vigilance regarding the use of artificial intelligence in warfare.

Turning to humanitarian and domestic issues, the Pope fiercely advocated for migrants, stating that a lack of global aid challenges the “ethical foundation of the international order” ahead of his upcoming visit to the Canary Islands. While praising efforts to support the vulnerable, Leo balanced his address by defending the Church’s traditional seal of confession against government interference. However, he simultaneously ordered Spanish bishops to listen to clerical abuse survivors and provide reparations, addressing a legacy of abuse that has impacted hundreds of thousands in the country.

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Spain Tourism Hits Record Highs as Middle East Travel Disruptions Boost Arrivals

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Tourism in Spain has surged to record levels, with foreign arrivals reaching about 97 million in 2025 and expectations of hitting 100 million in 2026. Popular destinations like Benidorm have fully rebounded after the pandemic, with visitor numbers far exceeding local populations during peak seasons. Industry leaders say part of the recent boost comes from global instability, as some travelers avoid Middle Eastern and eastern Mediterranean destinations in favor of Spain.

Experts note that geopolitical tensions and conflicts in the Middle East have redirected tourist flows, making Spain a perceived safer alternative to places like Turkey, Egypt, and Dubai. While Spain benefits from this shift, destinations such as Dubai have reportedly seen sharp declines in passenger and booking numbers. Tourism already contributes around 13% of Spain’s GDP, making the sector crucial to its economic growth.

However, the boom has intensified domestic tensions over over-tourism. Cities like Barcelona are facing protests from residents concerned about rising rents, housing shortages, congestion, and environmental pressure, often linked to short-term rentals. Authorities have begun tightening regulations on Airbnb-style accommodation and increasing tourist taxes, but industry leaders warn that balancing growth with livability remains a major challenge.

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Intesa Launches €30.6 Billion Bid for Monte dei Paschi

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Italy’s largest lender, Intesa Sanpaolo, has launched an unsolicited €30.6 billion ($35 billion) cash-and-share offer to acquire rival bank Monte dei Paschi di Siena (MPS), marking a new phase of consolidation in the country’s banking sector. The proposed deal offers MPS shareholders a 12.5% premium over the bank’s closing share price on Friday.

To address potential competition concerns, Intesa said it has reached an agreement with insurer Unipol to divest 635 MPS branches and the historic MPS brand if the takeover succeeds. The move mirrors a strategy Intesa used during its acquisition of UBI Banca in 2020, which helped it secure a dominant position in the Italian banking market.

If completed, the merger would create the eurozone’s second-largest banking group by market value after Santander, with a combined capitalization of €126 billion. The transaction would also intensify competition for key financial assets in Italy, including insurer Generali, while accelerating the ongoing consolidation trend among the country’s leading banks.

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Italy Cuts Growth Forecast, Sees Economy Expanding 0.7% Through 2027

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Italy’s national statistics bureau ISTAT has slightly lowered its economic growth forecast for 2026, projecting gross domestic product (GDP) growth of 0.7%, down from the 0.8% estimate issued in December. The agency also expects the economy to expand by 0.7% in 2027, supported by stronger-than-expected performance in the first quarter, when GDP rose 0.3% from the previous three months.

Despite the downgrade, ISTAT’s outlook remains somewhat more optimistic than forecasts from the European Commission, IMF, OECD and the Bank of Italy, all of which expect growth between 0.5% and 0.6% over the next two years. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government also revised its projections lower in April, citing rising energy costs and ongoing tensions in the Middle East.

ISTAT warned that geopolitical uncertainty continues to pose risks to the economy, particularly developments related to the conflict in the Middle East. The statistics bureau also improved its labour market outlook, forecasting an average unemployment rate of 5.5% this year and in 2027, lower than its previous estimate of 6.1%. Italy’s economy grew 0.5% in 2025, marking a third consecutive year of growth below 1%.

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Norway’s Crown Princess Awaits Urgent Lung Transplant

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Norway’s Crown Princess Mette-Marit has been placed on the national waiting list for a lung transplant after her health condition worsened, the royal household announced on Friday. The 52-year-old royal, who was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis in 2018, is suffering from a chronic lung disease that causes scarring of the lungs and reduces the body’s ability to absorb oxygen.

According to Oslo University Hospital, the progression of the disease has become serious enough that a transplant is now required as soon as possible. Crown Prince Haakon recently cut short an official visit to Japan to return home, while their daughter, Princess Ingrid Alexandra, also travelled back to Norway from Australia following the latest health developments.

The royal family has postponed celebrations marking the couple’s 25th wedding anniversary, which had been scheduled for August. Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere praised Mette-Marit for openly discussing her illness over the years, saying her transparency has helped raise awareness for others living with similar health challenges.

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German Carmakers Face Mounting Pressure Amid Global Auto Industry Shift

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German automakers are losing momentum as global rivals gain ground, according to a new EY analysis. While major automotive groups worldwide posted a 2% increase in first-quarter revenue, German manufacturers recorded a 4% decline, reflecting growing challenges in key international markets.

Industry experts point to a combination of factors behind the downturn, including trade tariffs, geopolitical tensions, weakening demand in the United States and China, and the rapid pace of technological change. German carmakers are also grappling with high software development costs, excess production capacity, and a slower-than-expected transition to electric vehicles.

The outlook remains challenging as rising fuel prices and inflation, fueled in part by geopolitical uncertainty, threaten consumer demand across Europe. EY warned that the sector’s structural transformation is far from over, with 2026 likely to remain a difficult year for Germany’s automotive industry.

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French Billionaire Defends Conservative Push Ahead of Election

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French billionaire Pierre-Edouard Sterin used his first appearance before lawmakers to openly defend his efforts to promote free-market and conservative ideas in France ahead of the 2027 presidential election. Appearing before a Senate inquiry into political financing, Sterin described his project as a long-term campaign to influence public debate and support right-wing policies.

Sterin denied any wrongdoing and said his organisation, Pericles, operates within the law. The Senate investigation is examining whether the billionaire’s network of charities, think tanks, and advocacy groups complies with political finance regulations. He said the objective is to expand the influence of conservative economic and social ideas across France.

The entrepreneur also reiterated his hardline views on immigration, supporting the deportation of foreign criminals, undocumented migrants, and long-term unemployed migrants. Sterin, who moved to Belgium in 2012 during former President François Hollande’s administration, said lower taxes abroad allowed him to devote more money to charitable projects in France.

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Bayeux Tapestry Set for Historic Return to Britain After 950 Years

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The 950-year-old Bayeux Tapestry is set to make a rare journey from France to London next month, where it will be displayed at the British Museum for nine months. French officials say extensive preparations have ensured the fragile artwork can travel safely, using a specially designed double-crate system with shock absorbers to protect it during transit.

The tapestry, which tells the story of the Norman conquest of England in 1066, will travel by road and through the Channel Tunnel under strict security measures. Conservation experts conducted multiple test runs and reported that the transport system reduces vibrations by up to 96%, making the journey as safe as possible for the historic embroidery.

Despite concerns from some art specialists about potential risks, French authorities remain confident in the plan. The loan, announced by French President Emmanuel Macron in 2025, is intended to strengthen ties between France and the UK. In exchange, Britain will send several historic treasures, including the Lewis Chessmen and Sutton Hoo artefacts, for exhibition in Normandy.

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