US president held ‘productive’ call with Russia’s Vladimir Putin ahead of meeting

Foreign minister Sergei Lavrov says Europe is main obstacle to peace

Progressive Catholics, including some in Vatican, felt church had allied too closely with Republican party

French film star who inspired debate over the role of women and sex appeal in gender politics

Despite record spending on military, the frontline country has invested little in civilian protection

Fast-track visa processing services revoked

Lebanon is cracking down on traffickers who enjoyed impunity for decades. But the roots of their illicit empires run deep

Demographers warn new births to hit lowest level since records began in 1899 as population crisis deepens

First, tech companies usurped the meaning of ‘friends’ and ‘connection’ — now they are coming for ‘companionship’

Volunteering has declined along with religion — it needs a revival

UK lender is latest major bank to retreat from sector in pivot towards lucrative corporate clients

Rate of increase in output expected to slow despite Berlin’s fiscal push, FT survey finds

Exploration falls to lowest level since oil and gas were discovered in UK basin 60 years ago

Jakarta and its sprawling environs’ 42mn inhabitants are now the most populous conurbation, according to the UN

Tariff deals with the US have bought time but investment momentum is elsewhere

Ukrainian president meets Canadian PM and holds call with European leaders before travelling to US

Crisis has laid bare the increasingly fraught relations between Riyadh and Abu Dhabi

Tireless dynamism has been fetishised by the likes of Donald Trump and Sanae Takaichi

In spite of efforts to bring it into the mainstream, the cryptocurrency remains one step removed from money

Rome and Madrid rewarded by investors for cutting deficits, while France and Germany look to borrow more

Companies including Marriott and Hilton push to improve perks and get more direct bookings

Sponsorships and collaborations soar even as industry slowdown spurs renewed focus on wealthiest customers

Explosion occurred during Friday prayers at Imam Ali bin Abi Talib mosque in Homs

Move would improve living standards, says TUC head Paul Nowak