Trump says U.S., Iran close to deal, signing expected within days
U.S. President Donald Trump said Thursday that the United States had "just made a great settlement of the war with Iran," with an agreement expected to be signed "over the next few days."
Trump told reporters at the White House that he expected a signing ceremony, attended by Vice President JD Vance, to be held in Europe over the weekend.
He said the documents were in "final shape" and that the deal would be completed "pretty quickly."
Asked if Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei had agreed to the deal, Trump said: "I understand the answer is yes."
Trump, Netanyahu discuss Iran negotiations over phone
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. President Donald Trump discussed the memorandum of understanding (MoU) being formed with Iran to enter negotiations during a phone call on Thursday evening, read a statement by Netanyahu's office.
According to the statement, while Israel is not a party to the MoU, Netanyahu thanked Trump for his commitment that the final agreement at the end of the negotiations would include removing Iran's enriched material, dismantling its enrichment facilities, limiting its missile production, and ending its support for its regional "terrorist proxies."
Earlier on Thursday, Trump said he had canceled scheduled strikes and bombings against Iran on Thursday evening, citing progress in ongoing negotiations. He also told reporters at the White House on Thursday night that the United States "just made a great settlement of the war with Iran" and an agreement between the two sides should get done in the next few days and might be signed in Europe.
British defence secretary resigns over military spending dispute
British Defence Secretary John Healey resigned on Thursday over a disagreement about defense spending, saying the government had failed to commit sufficient resources at a time of rising security threats.
In a letter to British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Healey said the proposed Defence Investment Plan fell "well short" of the country's needs. "You have been unable, and the Treasury has been unwilling, to commit the resources that the nation needs to defend the country," he wrote.
Healey said assessments of the additional investment needed by the armed forces and its cost had been completed in January, but the government had not provided the necessary funding commitments.
World Bank lowers 2026 global growth forecast to 2.5 pct
The World Bank on Thursday lowered its global growth forecast to 2.5 percent for 2026, down from 2.9 percent in 2025, marking the lowest rate since late 2019.
The bank's semi-annual Global Economic Prospects report cited higher energy prices, steeper inflation and increased borrowing costs amid the Middle East conflict for the growth cut.
Downside risks are significant, the report warned. Global growth could further slow to 2.1 percent if the energy disruptions lasted longer and oil prices averaged 115 U.S. dollars per barrel this year, driving inflation to 4.4 percent; or worsen to 1.3 percent if the energy shock affected financial markets.
Lula says to contradict U.S. tariffs with Brazil's record drop in deforestation
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Thursday hailed the latest official figures showing a significant drop in deforestation rates in the Amazon rainforest and Cerrado savanna, and said he would use it to counter proposed U.S. tariffs targeting environmental damage.
Lula said he will submit the data to the Office of the United States Trade Representative, which has threatened a new 25-percent tariff on Brazilian exports, in part due to a purported increase in deforestation.
He said he was not looking to confront U.S. President Donald Trump, but rather to maintain a dialogue.
"We do not want fights. We want respect, equality, civility, trade and development for both countries," Lula said.■
