25 h. ago Israel has chosen military occupation over a ceasefire in Gaza. Where does this end? | Sanam Vakil

The latest escalation and attempts to dismantle the Palestinian leadership are utterly at odds with peace negotiationsSanam Vakil is a senior research fellow in the Middle East and North Africa programme at Chatham HouseAgainst the pleas and protests of hostage families desperate to secure the release of their loved ones, the Israeli government is moving ahead with the military occupation of the Gaza Strip. On 2 April, the defence minister, Israel Katz, announced plans to seize large areas of Gaza with the aim of eliminating Hamas’s remaining infrastructure and establishing new security zones that will split Gaza in two. This escalation, which began in mid-March with intensified airstrikes, is intended to encourage a mass exodus of the local population, and has led to substantial civilian casualties. Despite the international outcry over more than 50,000 deaths, 110,000 civilian injuries and significant displacement of Palestinians, the Israeli government rationalises and justifies ...

Events

42 h. ago No escape for UK as Trump targets ‘foreign cheaters’ in new global trade war

Keir Starmer urges ‘calm’ as Donald Trump reveals that UK companies face a 10 per cent tariff from 0500 GMT

Events

46 h. ago Hostage families urge Keir Starmer to take ‘bold steps’ in helping to end war

Two British families of Israeli hostages have written to the Prime Minister asking for ‘diplomacy’ and ‘bold steps’ to help end the war in Gaza.

Events

57 h. ago Stephen Gallacher helps spread golf's health benefit at Edinburgh congress

Third International Congress on Golf and Health involves delegates from over 20 countries

Politics

58 h. ago Israel announces plan to seize ‘large areas’ in Gaza – latest updates

Defence minister Israel Katz says large areas of the territory will be seized and added to the security zones of IsraelAirstrikes continued on Gaza on Wednesday morning after the Israeli defense minister announced that Israel intended to expand its war. In a statement, Israel Katz said the offensive was “expanding to crush and clean the area of terrorists and terrorist infrastructure and capture large areas that will be added to the security zones of the state of Israel.”The move has been condemned by the Hostages Families Forum, who said it appeared that Benjamin Netanyahu’s government were making the return of 59 hostages still held in Gaza by Hamas “a secondary task” that had been “pushed to the bottom of the priority list.”I wish success to the IDF soldiers who are fighting bravely and powerfully in Gaza for the return of the kidnapped and the defeat of Hamas. The goal of Operation “Strength and Sword” is first and foremost to increase pressure for the release of all the hostage...

Politics

5 d. ago Arsenal: Josh Kroenke explains Andrea Berta appointment and trophy target

Berta backed to help Gunners ‘take next steps’ following appointment as new sporting director

Events

5 d. ago Keir Starmer urged to get tough with Trump as US tariff threat looms

PM told to be as robust as Canada with the US president as the UK stages last-ditch talks to strike trade dealKeir Starmer should fight back strongly against Donald Trump if he imposes punitive tariffs on British exports, senior UK and EU diplomats said on Saturday night, amid heightened fears that the US president could trigger a global trade war with devastating effects on the UK economy.British government officials in London and Washington are working frantically this weekend to try to persuade Trump not to slap duties on more key UK industries on what he is calling “liberation day” on Wednesday. The US president has already announced plans for 25% levies on imports of cars, steel and aluminium to the US. Continue reading...

Politics

8 d. ago Putin is 'playing games' on Ukraine peace, says Keir Starmer as PM urges Trump not to lift sanctions

Emmanuel Macron says a Franco-British team will travel to Ukraine to help Kyiv bolster its military

Politics

1 week ago Hibs duo help Australia take huge step towards World Cup as Celtic trio involved in key qualifiers

Socceroos have destiny in their own hands after victory in China

Events

1 week ago Remainers unite! MPs lash out at 'unmitigated disaster' of Brexit and urge Starmer to get closer with 'reset' in Commons debate over petition to rejoin the EU

They urged Sir Keir Starmer to get Britain back into a much closer relationship with Brussels under his planned 'reset', with some setting their sights on rejoining.

Events

1 week ago Debt: 13 expert management and consolidation loan tips for help with bad credit on Debt Awareness Week 2025

Experts share their practical steps to help you take control of your finances 💰

Economics

1 week ago Unions urgently call for all WASPI women to receive ‘fair compensation’ for State Pension age changes

Labour-backing union bosses have written to Sir Keir Starmer urging him to reconsider the decision not to compensate 1950s-born women.

Politics

1 week ago Ed Sheeran writes urgent open letter to Keir Starmer for music education funding: ‘The time to act is now’

British singer-songwriter is joined by fellow stars Harry Styles, Stormzy, Robert Plant and Eric Clapton in calling on Keir Starmer to provide a £250m music education package

Politics

1 week ago Israel strikes southern Lebanon and Gaza amid calls for halt to ‘endless war’

One killed and seven wounded in attack as freed hostages and families of those still held in Gaza urge end to fightingIsrael carried out a strike in Tyre, south Lebanon, on Saturday, killing one and wounding seven people and endangering the shaky truce that ended a year-long conflict against Hezbollah, as 40 survivors of Hamas captivity called on the Israeli government to halt the “endless war”.The strike on a building came after Israel carried out dozens of airstrikes in Lebanon on Saturday, its most intense aerial assault on the country in four months. In total, six people were killed, including a child, and 28 injured, according to Lebanon’s health ministry. Continue reading...

Events

1 week ago Luxury brands in UK warn copyright plan puts £125billion growth in danger

Britain's £81billion luxury goods industry has attacked Labour's plan to overhaul copyright law to let AI developers use material without paying as a 'damaging proposal'.

Economics

1 week ago Trump is abandoning democracy and freedom. That creates an opening for Europe – and Britain | Jonathan Freedland

Whether it’s sweeping up disgruntled US scientists or rejoining the EU, a bold Starmer must capitalise on Trump’s extremismThanks to Donald Trump, a vacancy is opening up in the international jobs market. For decades, if not centuries, and always imperfectly, the US offered itself to the world as the guarantor of democracy and the land of the free. Now that it’s pivoting away from that job description, there’s an opportunity for someone else to step in.The evidence that the US is moving, even galloping, away from basic notions of democracy and freedom is piling up. Just because the changes have happened so fast doesn’t make them any less fundamental. We now have a US administration that blithely ignores court rulings, whose officials say out loud “I don’t care what the judges think”. In a matter of weeks, it has become an open question whether the US remains a society governed by the rule of law.On 30 April, join Jonathan Freedland, Kim Darroch, Devika Bhat and Leslie Vinjamuri as t...

Politics

2 w. ago Adolescence star Stephen Graham's stepdad who 'protected' star speaks out for first time

The stepdad who Stephen Graham has credited with helping him 'see who I am' has spoken out about the actor's rise to fame and explained how proud his mother would have been of him

Politics

2 w. ago Revealed: The hero stepfather who Stephen Graham credits with protecting him from racist bullies and helping him accept his mixed race identity

Mike Fazakerley, the stepfather Adolescence star Graham adores - and calls simply 'pops' - has spoken for the first time about his pride and the profound bond they share.

Politics

2 w. ago Lord Sugar: Starmer should ‘get down on bended knee and beg’ to get back into EU

Lord Alan Sugar has urged Keir Starmer to ‘get down on bended knee and beg’ the EU to let Britain rejoin, in order to save the economy.

Politics

2 w. ago The Guardian view on Israel breaking the ceasefire: destroying hope along with lives | Editorial

Benjamin Netanyahu is kept in place by an endless war, at a terrible cost to Palestinians and hostagesIn shattering the two-month ceasefire that had brought a fragile peace and relief to Gaza, Israel has also smashed the faint hopes that a resolution might just remain within reach. This was one of the deadliest days since the early months of the conflict, sparked by the lethal Hamas raid of 7 October 2023. Israel says it was attacking “terror targets”, but health authorities in Gaza say that 174 children and 89 women were among the more than 400 dead. Evacuation orders issued by the military suggest that a renewed ground offensive may be on its way for traumatised and repeatedly displaced Palestinians. Families of the remaining Israeli hostages are terrified and angry too, attacking the government for choosing to give up on them.Horror is piling upon horror. Tens of thousands of Palestinians have been killed since the war began, and the numbers grew even during the ceasefire, many d...

Politics