47 h. ago Former UK Middle East minister accused of breaching transparency rules in Bahrain advisory role

Conservative Lord Tariq Ahmad denies contact while in office with King Hamad Global Center for Peaceful CoexistenceA former UK Middle East minister has been accused of breaching transparency rules over a paid advisory role with an influential Bahraini centre that has links to the Gulf state’s government.The Conservative peer Tariq Ahmad, who denies wrongdoing, was cleared by a watchdog to take up his role as a paid adviser to the King Hamad Global Center for Peaceful Coexistence (KHC). Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago Indirect talks over Gaza ceasefire continue as Netanyahu arrives in Washington

Israeli minister says meeting with Trump will focus on ‘a new Middle East’ with 60-day pause discussed in DohaMiddle East crisis – live updatesIndirect talks between Israel and Hamas over a ceasefire and hostage deal in Gaza continued for a second day on Monday, hours before a meeting in Washington between Benjamin Netanyahu and Donald Trump.Avi Dichter, an Israeli minister and member of Netanyahu’s security cabinet, said he expected Trump’s meeting with the Israeli prime minister would go beyond Gaza to include the possibility of normalising ties with Lebanon, Syria and Saudi Arabia – an ambitious project that is central to the US president’s policy in the Middle East. Continue reading...

Events

2 w. ago Starmer: Foreign affairs delayed me dealing with welfare rebellion

He said he was ‘heavily focused’ on what was happening with Nato and the Middle East all weekend.

Economics

3 w. ago Labour STILL can't bring themselves to back Donald Trump's strikes after Iran retaliated by launching missile barrage at US airbase in Qatar

As Tehran launched revenge attacks on US bases in the Middle East, the Prime Minister was last night accused of a 'lack of moral clarity' as he refused to take sides in the deepening conflict.

Events

3 w. ago Swinney ‘concerned’ about UK being drawn into Middle East conflict

The First Minister urged the international community to draw ‘back from the brink’.

Events

3 w. ago In the wake of Trump’s strikes on Iran, what are Keir Starmer’s options?

The prime minister has repeatedly called for calm in the Middle East. But in the wake of Trump’s strikes on Iran, what are Starmer’s options? Kate Devlin and Millie Cooke explain

Politics

3 w. ago EU foreign ministers meet to discuss Ukraine, Russia and worsening crisis in Middle East – Europe live

Foreign affairs council discusses Ukraine after another night of heavy Russian attacks as Volodymyr Zelenskyy visits UKGerman foreign minister Johann Wadephul said today’s meeting was kicking off “a crucial week for security in Europe and the world,” with talks to be continued at the Nato and the EU summits later this week.He says European negotiators told Iran last Friday in Geneva that “a real prerequisite for resolving the conflict is that Iran is willing to negotiate directly with the US.” Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Middle East crisis live: Ministers from Europe and Iran to hold talks; UN warns of ‘man

Ministers from UK, France and Germany will meet Abbas Araqchi after White House says Trump will ‘make a decision on whether to attack Iran within two weeks’Trump sets deadline of two weeks to decide if US will join Israel’s war on IranLiving in Iran: how have you been affected by the recent conflict?Living in Israel: how have you been affected by the recent conflict?The French foreign minister Jean-Noël Barrot has spoken to the US secretary of state Marco Rubio ahead of a meeting in Geneva between foreign ministers from the UK, France and Germany and their Iranian counterpart Abbas Araqchi.The Geneva meeting is aimed at creating a pathway back to diplomacy over Iran’s nuclear programme. Continue reading...

Events

3 w. ago Trump sets deadline of two weeks to decide if US will join Israel’s war on Iran

US president leaves window for negotiation after Israeli defence minister openly embraces regime change Middle East crisis – live updatesDonald Trump has set a two-week deadline to decide whether the US will join Israel’s war with Iran, allowing time to seek a negotiated end to the conflict, the White House has said.The decision to leave a window for diplomacy came after Israel’s defence minister openly embraced regime change in Tehran as a war aim. Continue reading...

Politics

4 w. ago Starmer warns of ‘real risk’ in Middle East as Trump mulls bombing Iran

The Prime Minister pushed for de-escalation amid signs that the US president could join Israel’s military action against Iran.

Events