Pope Leo has arrived in France for a four-day visit.

During the trip, he will meet President Macron, visit Notre-Dame Cathedral and Lourdes, deliver a major speech on AI at UNESCO, and discuss Europe’s future in Metz.

More than one million people are expected to attend events during the trip.

Leo was welcomed by Macron at Orly Airport near Paris, while church bells rang across France to mark his arrival.

Italy’s government has approved new school rules banning burqas and niqabs in classrooms and limiting the number of students with poor Italian language skills to 30% per class.

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said the measures aim to improve integration and prevent “ghetto classes.”

The decree also allows fines of up to €1,000 for schools that fail to follow the new limits. Hijabs remain allowed.

Argentina’s poverty rate rose to 32.3% in the first half of 2026, up from 28.2%, putting pressure on President Milei ahead of the 2027 election.

The Catholic University of Argentina estimates poverty could rise to 35% by the end of 2026.

While Milei’s austerity policies have sharply reduced inflation and stabilized public finances, cuts to subsidies and weak wage growth are putting pressure on households.

Milei’s government says it will maintain its austerity program, arguing fiscal discipline is needed for long-term growth.

Source: Reuters

Austrian FM Beate Meinl-Reisinger:

After years of bloodshed and suffering, it is obvious no one can bomb their way to peace.

We want a prosperous and safe Israel. But the same applies to the Palestinians and to Israel’s neighbors.

Israelis and Palestinians deserve to live side by side in peace and security with a credible path to a two-state solution.

Any unilateral actions, including continued settlement expansions in the West Bank, only perpetuate the conflict and must be rejected.

Gulf states are divided over efforts to restart U.S.-Iran talks. Saudi Arabia and the UAE are urging the Trump administration to maintain economic pressure and sanctions on Tehran, while Qatar is pushing for negotiations, including a proposed seven-day pause in fighting to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

Saudi Arabia argues Iran should face more pressure before any deal, citing attacks on Gulf shipping and Houthi actions in Yemen. Qatar and Oman support a phased reopening of Hormuz and a diplomatic solution.

Source: WSJ

Finland and Sweden scrambled fighter jets together for the first time to identify Russian military aircraft in international airspace over the Gulf of Finland.

Finnish F/A-18 Hornets and Swedish JAS 39 Gripens intercepted Russian transport aircraft and warplanes as part of deeper defense cooperation between the two NATO members.

Source: Bloomberg

The U.S. Army Reserve is reviewing whether it can provide logistics, engineering, medical and military police units to U.S. Southern Command within 90–120 days.

The request is part of contingency planning for possible action against Cuba, though no deployment orders have been issued.

Source: CBS News

Russian state news agency RIA Novosti published and later deleted an article threatening Lithuania with a “short” war and possible nuclear strikes.

The article, titled “Russia faces another special military operation. It will be very short,” discussed scenarios of missile attacks on Lithuania.

The author, Alexander Nosovich, argued that Russia could use missiles with nuclear warheads instead of ground forces, claiming that a conflict in the Baltics would be quick due to geography.

RIA Novosti removed the article several hours after publication, later stating that it did not reflect the editorial line, editorial policy, or state policy of Russia.

The White House is adjusting its approach as Republicans face pressure ahead of the midterm elections.

Trump has allowed some Republicans to criticize his policies without attacking him personally, a shift from his usual demand for loyalty.

Campaigns are reportedly coordinating with the White House before taking different positions.

Source: POLITICO

Chinese intelligence support has helped Iran improve its ability to target U.S. ships and military bases in the Middle East, according to U.S. intelligence assessments.

Satellite imagery and geospatial data from Chinese groups helped Iran carry out a precise July strike on a U.S. base in Jordan that killed three American service members, officials said.

The data has also improved Iran’s ability to track ships in the Strait of Hormuz and increase the effectiveness of drone and missile attacks.

U.S. officials say the extent of China’s involvement remains unclear, including whether Beijing directly ordered the support or merely allowed it. Russia has also provided assistance, while Iran’s battlefield experience has further improved its capabilities.

Source: CNN

The EU has urged Britain to raise tariffs on Chinese cars and align more closely with EU trade policy to avoid barriers on British exports.

Brussels said a customs union could help resolve tariff differences and prevent Chinese companies from bypassing EU tariffs by routing goods through the UK.

Source: FT

Pope Leo XIV:

The justice, wisdom and sense of humanity demand that we stop the arms race. They demand the parallel and simultaneous reduction of the existing arms in various countries.

The prohibition of atomic weapons and human disarmament must be achieved through common agreement and accompanied by effective controls.

Pope Leo XIV:

There is an increasingly widespread mistaken belief that possessing nuclear weapons is a guarantee of security, which fuels a new and difficult-to-control arms race.

Yet peace is not a balance of power and is built every day through dialogue and justice.

Pope Leo XIV:

There exists today the temptation to expect science to provide a solution and consolation for all our sufferings.

The risk is often falling into illusion. When science and technology are not enlightened by conscience, they can propose immediate solutions that seem to respond to the desires and needs of men and women, but which in reality can seriously lead them away from the good to which they deeply aspire.

I sometimes observe with concern the current developments in societies that risk turning science and technology into a profitable enterprise, encouraging genetic manipulation, surrogacy, organ purchasing and the offering of programmed death.

Let us not forget that mutual respect and the protection of the life of every human person are the responsibility of each and everyone, beginning with a conversion of intelligence and heart, and requiring a real and selfless commitment toward our brothers and sisters.

Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi:

Regarding the situation in the Middle East, I pointed out that achieving early stabilization of the situation across the region, as well as securing free and safe navigation in the Strait of Hormuz without any additional costs, is extremely important.

On that basis, President Erdogan expressed agreement with Japan’s position, and we agreed that both countries would work closely together.

Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi:

Japan has consistently contributed to international peace and prosperity as a peace-loving nation, and this policy will not change in the future.

Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi:

I called for international solidarity toward a world without nuclear weapons, and urged the complete denuclearization of North Korea and an early resolution of the abduction issue.

Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi:

Japan believes that the U.S.-China relationship becoming one that contributes to stability for Japan and the international community is important.

Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on India:

Japan and India are special strategic global partners that share a strategic direction.

We will build a mutually complementary relationship by making use of each other’s strengths in areas such as security, including economic security, the economy, investment, innovation and human exchanges.

Turkish President Erdogan on Israel:

Recently, a misguided narrative aimed at portraying Türkiye as a new source of threat has been fueled in Israel. We consider this rhetoric to be linked to Israel’s domestic political dynamics and the electoral climate.

Türkiye has no hostility toward the Israeli people or toward any other society.

What we oppose are policies that we consider contrary to international law and steps that deepen instability in our region.

Source: Newsweek