Welcome again to World Temporary, the place we’re taking a look at France and Britain’s migration and nuclear weapons offers, U.S. tariff threats in opposition to Brazil, and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s go to to Asia.
Anglo-French Offers
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron unveiled a joint migration deal on Thursday that’s aimed toward decreasing the circulation of migrants throughout the English Channel, which divides France and the UK. The announcement got here on the finish of Macron’s three-day journey to Britain, which additionally included high-level discussions on protection and vitality.
Welcome again to World Temporary, the place we’re taking a look at France and Britain’s migration and nuclear weapons offers, U.S. tariff threats in opposition to Brazil, and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s go to to Asia.
Anglo-French Offers
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron unveiled a joint migration deal on Thursday that’s aimed toward decreasing the circulation of migrants throughout the English Channel, which divides France and the UK. The announcement got here on the finish of Macron’s three-day journey to Britain, which additionally included high-level discussions on protection and vitality.
Beneath the settlement, the 2 nations will launch a pilot “one in, one out” scheme wherein Britain will be capable to deport to France migrants who arrive illegally by boat, in change for accepting an equal variety of migrants from France who may need stronger circumstances for asylum in the UK. Nevertheless, it stays unclear when the settlement shall be carried out, as it’s topic to authorized scrutiny by the European Fee and EU member states.
Small boat crossings have develop into a political flash level in Britain, which not too long ago witnessed a surge in reputation for the far-right, anti-immigration Reform U.Ok. get together throughout native elections. In 2024, round 37,000 folks crossed into the UK in small boats through the English Channel, and arrivals elevated additional within the first half of 2025.
“There isn’t a silver bullet right here, however with a united effort, new techniques and a brand new stage of intent, we are able to lastly flip the tables,” Starmer informed reporters. Nevertheless, the deal has drawn criticism from the opposition Conservative Occasion, which known as it a “weak and ineffective gimmick,” in addition to from assist teams, which say it ignores the foundation causes of migration. A lawmaker from Starmer’s personal Labour Occasion additionally mentioned he was “skeptical that that is the reply.”
Macron and Starmer additionally signed new protection cooperation agreements in response to what Macron described as a “markedly extra threatening surroundings” in Europe amid the fourth yr of Russia’s warfare in opposition to Ukraine. Among the many agreements is a pledge to coordinate using the 2 nations’ nuclear arsenals within the occasion of a critical assault on the continent, a dedication to enhance bilateral nuclear analysis cooperation, and a deal to collectively develop a brand new cruise missile and superior anti-drone weapons.
The agreements sign a brand new chapter of post-Brexit Anglo-French cooperation, they usually come as the US—below President Donald Trump—has pushed Europe to do extra to shoulder the burden of defending the continent. In a speech in entrance of British lawmakers on Tuesday, Macron known as on London and Paris to defend the worldwide order. “The UK and France should as soon as once more present the world that our alliance could make all of the distinction,” he mentioned.
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What We’re Following
Commerce warfare. Commerce tensions between the US and Brazil sharply escalated this week after Trump introduced plans to cost a 50 % tariff on Brazilian items beginning Aug. 1. It’s not simply Brazil that would face harder measures, both; Trump despatched a raft of letters to different world leaders this week with new tariff ranges, though not one of the others are as excessive as 50 %.
The steeper tariff seems to be not less than partly motivated by Trump’s help for former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, a longtime Trump ally who’s on trial in Brazil on allegations of constructing a coup try. Trump cited Bolsonaro’s trial in his tariff announcement, calling it a “Witch Hunt that ought to finish IMMEDIATELY!”
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has vowed to reciprocate the measures and mentioned in a assertion on X that his predecessor’s judicial proceedings “are usually not topic to any interference or threats that would compromise the independence of nationwide establishments.” He added, “Brazil is a sovereign nation with unbiased establishments and won’t settle for any type of tutelage.”
“Frank dialog.” U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met together with his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, in Malaysia on Thursday, on the sidelines of a overseas ministers’ convention of the Affiliation of Southeast Asian Nations. Afterward, Rubio mentioned he used the assembly with Lavrov—which he known as a “frank dialog”—to voice U.S. frustrations with stalled peace talks within the Russia-Ukraine warfare.
“Look, the president’s been fairly clear,” Rubio informed reporters afterward. “He’s disenchanted and annoyed that there’s not been extra flexibility on the Russian aspect to result in an finish to this battle.”
Russia fired a whole bunch of drones at Ukraine on Wednesday in an assault that Ukrainian officers mentioned was of report scale, coming simply days after Trump promised to renew arms deliveries to Ukraine. The White Home had beforehand mentioned that the Pentagon would halt a few of these shipments in an announcement that shocked Kyiv, Ukraine’s European allies, and a few Republican lawmakers.
Lethal toll. An Israeli strike in Gaza on Thursday killed 16 civilians—together with 10 kids and two girls—at a well being clinic within the metropolis of Deir al-Balah. In accordance with Undertaking Hope, the U.S.-based assist group that runs the clinic, the victims have been ready exterior for the ability to open to obtain remedy for malnutrition, an infection, and power sickness.
The Israel Protection Forces (IDF) mentioned it was focusing on and struck a Hamas operative who was concerned within the Oct. 7, 2023, assault on Israel, including that it was “conscious of reviews concerning a variety of injured people within the space” and would overview the strike. “The IDF regrets any hurt to uninvolved people and operates to attenuate hurt as a lot as attainable,” the navy mentioned in a press release.
The strike comes because the dying toll in Gaza has surpassed 57,000 folks for the reason that warfare first erupted on Oct. 7, 2023, in response to the Gaza Well being Ministry. “It is a blatant violation of worldwide humanitarian regulation, and a stark reminder that nobody and no place is protected in Gaza, at the same time as ceasefire talks proceed,” Undertaking Hope President Rabih Torbay mentioned in a assertion on X.
Odds and Ends
1000’s of followers have flocked to Thailand’s Khao Kheow Open Zoo to have a good time Moo Deng’s first birthday. The lovable pygmy hippopotamus, who turned an web sensation final yr, was greeted by as many as 12,000 guests from all over the world as of Thursday afternoon, the zoo director informed The Related Press. Forward of the four-day birthday celebration, which started Thursday, the zoo held a web-based public sale of Moo Deng-themed gadgets in an effort to lift funds for the ability’s greater than 2,000 animals. It additionally auctioned off the privilege of sponsoring the beloved icon’s cake—which reportedly went for about $3,000.
