5 d. ago Trump once condemned Qatar. How things have changed | Mohamad Bazzi

The country’s charm offensive and global mediator role – as well as a $400m plane – reveal a complicated relationshipOn his tour of the Middle East last week, Donald Trump was treated like royalty by the leaders of the wealthiest countries in the Arab world. The US president was feted in gilded ballrooms, his motorcade was flanked by dozens of men riding white Arabian horses and he was awarded an elaborate gold medal necklace. The leaders of Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates went out of their way to show Trump that they respect him more than his predecessor, Joe Biden.While Trump frequently praised Saudi and UAE leaders during his first term, he was highly critical of Qatar, a small emirate that is rich in natural gas but usually overshadowed by its two larger and more powerful neighbors. In June 2017, Trump said Qatar “has historically been a funder of terrorism at a very high level” and he supported a blockade against the country, led by Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Qa...

Politics

6 d. ago Trump news at a glance: Gulf deals in the spotlight as experts warn receipt of overseas gifts ‘unprecedented’

Experts warn the message being sent by the White House is that American foreign policy is for sale. Key US politics stories from Saturday 17 May at a glanceWith Donald Trump’s headline-making tour of the Gulf region now over, focus has now fallen on the deals made during the trip – for US companies, and for the president himself.Former White House lawyers, diplomatic protocol officers and foreign affairs experts have told the Guardian Donald Trump’s receipt of overseas gifts and targeted investments are “unprecedented” as the White House remakes US foreign policy under a pay-for-access code that eclipses past administrations. Continue reading...

Events

7 d. ago UN chief ‘alarmed’ as Israel launches major ground offensive in Gaza – Middle East crisis live

United Nations secretary general António Guterres called on Saturday for a permanent and immediate ceasefire Israel launches major offensive in GazaAn Iraqi political official, speaking to the Associated Press (AP) on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to comment, said that Iran’s al-Quds force commander Esmail Ghaani had paid a visit to Baghdad prior to the Arab League summit and “conveyed messages of support for the Iranian-American negotiations” for a nuclear deal and a demand for the lifting of crippling sanctions on Iran.The Arab League is meeting in Baghdad on Saturday to discuss Gaza and other regional crises, but some leaders are expected to miss the talks that come straight after US president Donald Trump’s Gulf tour. Continue reading...

Events

7 d. ago Israeli strikes kill dozens in Gaza overnight as UN human rights chief warns of ‘ethnic cleansing’ – Middle East crisis live

UN high commissioner for human rights Volker Türk says ‘we must stop the clock on this madness’Israel launches major offensive in GazaAn Iraqi political official, speaking to the Associated Press (AP) on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to comment, said that Iran’s al-Quds force commander Esmail Ghaani had paid a visit to Baghdad prior to the Arab League summit and “conveyed messages of support for the Iranian-American negotiations” for a nuclear deal and a demand for the lifting of crippling sanctions on Iran.The Arab League is meeting in Baghdad on Saturday to discuss Gaza and other regional crises, but some leaders are expected to miss the talks that come straight after US president Donald Trump’s Gulf tour. Continue reading...

Events

7 d. ago US supreme court upholds block on Trump deportations under Alien Enemies Act as judge questions Ábrego García case – live

Justices block Trump administration from deporting Venezuelan migrants; judge frustrated by DoJ’s failure to detail efforts to return wrongly deported manSupreme court blocks Trump bid to resume deportations under 1798 lawAlso on Iran, AFP reports that Trump said earlier that Tehran should make a quick decision on an American proposal for a nuclear deal or “something bad will happen”.Speaking in Abu Dhabi as he finished his Gulf tour, Trump said his administration had handed Iran a proposal for a agreement, adding that “they know they have to move quickly or something bad is going to happen”. Continue reading...

Events

8 d. ago Republican fiscal hardliners block key vote for Trump’s ‘big, beautiful bill’ – live

In a major setback for Trump’s sweeping tax agenda, five Republicans stood in the way of passing the bill from advancing toward a full House vote next weekAlso on Iran, AFP reports that Trump said earlier that Tehran should make a quick decision on an American proposal for a nuclear deal or “something bad will happen”.Speaking in Abu Dhabi as he finished his Gulf tour, Trump said his administration had handed Iran a proposal for a agreement, adding that “they know they have to move quickly or something bad is going to happen”. Continue reading...

Politics

8 d. ago ‘This dried out prune of a rocker’: Donald Trump attacks Bruce Springsteen after musician’s fiery speeches

Springsteen had told Manchester crowd that Trump was ‘unfit’ and ‘treasonous’, leading to angry outburst from the presidentDonald Trump has angrily insulted Bruce Springsteen after the veteran musician said Trump was heading a “corrupt, incompetent and treasonous administration”.Springsteen made a series of vehement speeches on stage in Manchester as he kicked off his latest tour, arguing that Trump was “an unfit president” heading up “a rogue government”. He said that in the US, “the richest men are taking satisfaction in abandoning the world’s poorest children to sickness and death they’re taking sadistic pleasure in the pain they inflict on loyal American workers They are abandoning our great allies and siding with dictators against those struggling for their freedom.” Continue reading...

Politics

8 d. ago What Donald Trump did this week should terrify Benjamin Netanyahu. This is why | Jonathan Freedland

The president’s Middle East tour made one thing clear – he will betray his one-time ally in a heartbeat. He is already doing it It’s come to something when the Palestinians’ best hope for relief rests on a man who dreams of emptying Gaza of its people and turning the place into a beach resort. And yet the clearest, and perhaps only, way out of the current agony lies with Donald Trump – and his growing impatience with an ever-more isolated Israel.If this were any of Trump’s predecessors, you would be hailing the past week as confirmation of a radical, even epochal shift in US foreign policy. But because it’s Trump, you can’t be sure it’s not a passing whim that will be undone in another equally drastic shift a matter of weeks, or even hours, from now.Jonathan Freedland is a Guardian columnist Continue reading...

Politics

8 d. ago Trump claims ‘8647’ photo from former FBI director James Comey was call to assassinate him – US politics live

US president claims ‘a child would know’ what that slogan means as US Secret Service investigates now-deleted photo of seashells posted on InstagramAlso on Iran, AFP reports that Trump said earlier that Tehran should make a quick decision on an American proposal for a nuclear deal or “something bad will happen”.Speaking in Abu Dhabi as he finished his Gulf tour, Trump said his administration had handed Iran a proposal for a agreement, adding that “they know they have to move quickly or something bad is going to happen”. Continue reading...

Politics

8 d. ago UEFA release unprecedented Gianni Infantino statement after controversial Donald Trump trip

Gianni Infantino angered those present at the annual FIFA Congress in Asuncion, Paraguay on Thursday after arriving late following a trip around the Gulf states with Donald Trump

Politics

8 d. ago Trump says people in Gaza are starving and US will take care of situation

Intense Israeli airstrikes continue to hit Gaza as US president completes final day of Gulf tour in Abu DhabiMiddle East crisis – live updatesDonald Trump has said people are starving in Gaza and the US would have the situation in the territory “taken care of”. Gaza has suffered a further wave of intense Israeli airstrikes overnight.On the final day of his Gulf tour, the US president told reporters in Abu Dhabi: “We’re looking at Gaza. And we’re going to get that taken care of. A lot of people are starving.” Continue reading...

Politics

8 d. ago Live updates: Trump wraps up Mideast tour, meet business leaders, visit interfaith place of worship

President Donald Trump wraps up a Mideast tour in the United Arab Emirates with a breakfast for business leaders and a visit to an interfaith place of worship named for the Abraham Accords he negotiated

Politics

8 d. ago Uefa accuses Infantino of pursuing ‘private interests’ on Trump’s Gulf tour

Fifa boss arrives late at congress from US president’s tripEurope delegates walk out in protest at schedule changesUefa has accused the Fifa president, Gianni Infantino, of pursuing “private political interests” ahead of his responsibilities to football. The shock intervention from European football’s governing body came after several national delegates walked out on the annual Fifa congress earlier on Thursday.The delegates, who included the president of Uefa, Alexander Ceferin, and the chair of the Football Association, Debbie Hewitt, did so in protest at alterations to the meeting’s schedule, caused by Infantino arriving late to proceedings after accompanying Donald Trump on a tour of Gulf states. Continue reading...

Politics

8 d. ago Uefa accuses Infantino of pursuing ‘private interests’ on Trump’s tour

Fifa president arrives late at congress after Gulf tripEurope delegates walk out in protest at schedule changesUefa has accused the Fifa ­president, Gianni Infantino, of pursuing ­“private political interests” ahead of his responsibilities to football. The shock intervention from European football’s governing body came after several national delegates walked out on the annual Fifa congress earlier on Thursday.The delegates, who included the president of Uefa, Aleksander Ceferin, and the chair of the Football Association, Debbie Hewitt, did so in protest at alterations to the meeting’s schedule, caused by Infantino arriving late to proceedings after accompanying Donald Trump on a tour of Gulf states. Continue reading...

Politics

9 d. ago Uefa accuses Gianni Infantino of putting ‘private political interests’ before game after Saudi trip with Donald Trump

Fifa president Gianni Infantino was delayed arriving at the body’s annual Congress after joining US President Trump on his tour of the Middle East

Politics

9 d. ago FA chair joins protest against Gianni Infantino’s late arrival to Fifa Congress after Saudi trip with Donald Trump

Fifa president Gianni Infantino was delayed arriving at the annual meeting after joining US President Trump on his tour of the Middle East

Politics

9 d. ago Delegates walk out of Fifa congress after Infantino arrives late from Trump trip

FA chair among those to walk out of annual meetingInfantino arrived late after Donald Trump tripRepresentatives from several European Fifa member associations walked out of the governing body’s annual congress in Paraguay in protest of president Gianni Infantino’s late arrival to the proceedings on Thursday. Infantino had been in the Middle East this week along with Donald Trump visiting leaders from Saudi Arabia and Qatar, and arrived in Paraguay hours late for a scheduled 10.30am start time to his organization’s annual meeting.The departing members included eight European members of the Fifa Council – the main decision-making body that sets the agenda for the wider congress. Uefa’s representatives on the Council to have walked out include Uefa president Alexander Čeferin and Football Association chair Debbie Hewitt. Other delegates to have left proceedings in protest include Norway Football Federation president Lise Klaveness, who called Infantino’s late arrival “disappointing” an...

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9 d. ago Gianni Infantino delays start of Fifa Congress by arriving late from Donald Trump tour

Infantino joined Trump on his state visits to Saudi Arabia and Qatar this week

Politics

9 d. ago Trump’s Middle East tour tells us he has forgotten about Gaza, much to Netanyahu’s delight | Yossi Mekelberg

As thousands of IDF soldiers prepare to occupy the strip, the president is silent. Israel’s ultra-right could want nothing moreAs Donald Trump hops from one Gulf capital to another, signs some eye-catching deals, meets the new Syrian president and even supposedly makes progress on the Iran nuclear issue, it looks like the war in Gaza has been pushed on to the sidelines of US diplomacy. While there were negotiations involving the Americans this week in Qatar over the release of hostages, Israel also saw fit to conduct a devastating assassination attempt on Hamas’s leader, Mohammed Sinwar, followed by intensive airstrikes across the strip. While Sinwar’s fate has not yet been confirmed, it is telling that this all took place while the US president was in the region: it reveals how unserious the Israeli government is about ending the war.The truth is that if the war is resumed in earnest, it will be unsurprising because, earlier this month, the Israeli security cabinet unanimously appr...

Politics

9 d. ago MIKEY SMITH: 10 deeply weird Donald Trump moments in 24 hours as he brands generals 'f******g losers'

Donald Trump is wrapping up his three day 'corruption 2025' tour of the Middle East - coming home with a bunch of deals on the table, but also a $400m grift jet that even Qatar apparently didn't want

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