Trump: Agreement soon complete – could be signed in Europe this weekend

Donald Trump is hopeful that a new agreement between the US and Iran could be signed as early as this weekend, the president says, according to Bloomberg. He says the process could be completed in Europe, but does not mention any specific country.

– We should be done in the coming days.

Iran has not officially said that the parties have reached an agreement, but reports in several media outlets claim that a breakthrough has been made on a number of key issues. The proposal would include negotiations on Iran's nuclear energy program while there is a 60-day ceasefire, and the Strait of Hormuz would be reopened.

Political situation in the UK
New blow for Starmer – another minister resigns

Another British minister resigns in protest against Prime Minister Keir Starmer's defense priorities, writes Sky News.

In a letter to Starmer, Al Carns, the Minister for the Armed Forces, writes that the investments are insufficient given the “unstable and dangerous” world situation. He also criticizes the Labour government broadly and claims that “the state apparatus has been allowed to decay”.

“Decisions that should take days take months.”

Earlier on Thursday, Defense Secretary John Healey resigned for the same reason. 

The political situation in Peru
Fujimori receives 50.002 percent of the support – Sanchez 49.998

The Peruvian presidential election remains extremely close. Conservative Keiko Fujimori, daughter of former President Alberto Fujimori, has regained the lead after more than 98 percent of the votes have been counted.

She currently has 50.002 percent of the votes and her competitor, leftist candidate Roberto Sanchez, has 49.998 percent. In total, only around 650 of the 18 million votes counted separate the candidates.

Both Fujimori and Sanchez have urged the population to be patient during the vote count. On Wednesday, however, Sanchez tightened his tone somewhat and opened up the possibility that international observers may need to

The problems with mass tourism
Beach in Italy bans parasols – upsetting visitors

On the Italian beach Punta Molentis in Villasimius, it is now forbidden to use parasols, writes The Guardian.

But the decision has met with a lot of criticism. Several beachgoers believe that there is a risk of both skin cancer and sunstroke with the new rules, and are calling for a boycott.

The Villasimius municipality believes that the stricter rules have been introduced to preserve the area, which had to be closed for a long time after a major forest fire last summer.

Italy generally has major problems with overcrowded beaches, and many have chosen to reduce the number of sun loungers or raise prices. At the same time, criticism has been raised after more and more beaches have been privatized. 

Driver drove into Dutch school class – three dead

Two children and an adult have died after a driver drove into a school class on a cycling trip, reports De Telegraaf.

Four more children are said to be seriously injured.

It is unclear what led to the driver driving into the group. The police have launched an investigation and one person has been arrested.

Deadly drone attacks in Sudan

The strategically located city of El-Obeid in Sudan has been subjected to new deadly drone attacks during the night to Thursday.

At least 15 people have been killed and several others seriously injured, according to representatives of a hospital in the city.

The Sudanese human rights group Emergency Lawyers has information about a total of 23 deaths. The attacks are attributed to the paramilitary RSF and are said to have targeted residential areas, a funeral ceremony and a food truck.

El-Obeid, the capital of the North Kordofan region, is an important junction between the capital Khartoum and the Darfur region. The city was retaken by the Sudanese military in February and has since been partially besieged by the RSF.

The civil war is now in its fourth year. Tens of thousands have been killed and an estimated eleven million have been forced to flee.