6 h. ago Israel’s president to visit London next Thursday for expected talks with ministers

Exclusive: Isaac Herzog will make trip just weeks before UK is planning to recognise statehood of PalestineIsrael’s president will visit London next Thursday just weeks before the UK is expected to recognise the state of Palestine at the UN general assembly, the Guardian understands.Two sources have confirmed Isaac Herzog is expected to meet UK ministers and senior political figures – the first time a senior Israeli leader has been in Britain since the foreign secretary, David Lammy, met his Israeli counterpart, Gideon Sa’ar, on an unannounced visit in the spring. Continue reading...

Politics

27 h. ago Budget compromise needed if PM ousted, says French finance minister

Éric Lombard says he hopes François Bayrou will survive vote and dismisses talk of looming debt crisisThe French finance minister, Éric Lombard, has said the government would have to compromise on plans to cut the budget deficit if the prime minister, François Bayrou, is toppled in a confidence vote next week.Lombard told the Financial Times that fresh negotiations would require the government to make concessions to the left to reduce the size of the fiscal package if the government falls. Continue reading...

Politics

39 h. ago Sánchez: Europe’s response to war in Gaza has been a ‘failure’

Spanish prime minister says double standards over Gaza and Ukraine threaten to undermine the west’s global standing‘You need solidarity and consistency’: Pedro Sánchez on the EU, Trump and fighting the far right Europe and the west’s double standards over the wars in Ukraine and Gaza threaten to undermine its global standing, the Spanish prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, has warned, describing the response to Israel’s assault on the Palestinian territory as one of the darkest episodes of international relations in the 21st century.In an interview with the Guardian before talks with UK prime minister, Keir Starmer, in London on Wednesday, the socialist leader also said the US under Donald Trump was trying to end the post-second world war, rules-based global order it had originally created. Continue reading...

Events

39 h. ago Pedro Sánchez: Europe’s response to war in Gaza has been a failure

Spanish prime minister says double standards over Gaza and Ukraine threaten to undermine west’s global standing‘You need solidarity and consistency’: Pedro Sánchez on the EU, Trump and fighting the far right Europe and the west’s double standards over the wars in Ukraine and Gaza threaten to undermine its global standing, the Spanish prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, has warned, describing the response to Israel’s assault on the Palestinian territory as one of the darkest episodes of international relations in the 21st century.In an interview with the Guardian before talks with UK prime minister, Keir Starmer, in London on Wednesday, the socialist leader also said the US under Donald Trump was trying to end the post-second world war, rules-based global order it had originally created. Continue reading...

Events

5 d. ago Revealed: What Tony Blair and President Trump spoke about during White House meeting on Gaza

The former Prime Minister held talks on the Middle East process with the US President and his son-in-law Jared Kushner , with whom he has worked with for months, on August 27.

Politics

7 d. ago Sir Tony Blair has briefed Donald Trump on how to rebuild Gaza 'when the war ends in the next four months'

The former Prime Minister held talks on the Middle East peace process with the US President and his son-in-law Jared Kushner at the White House.

Politics

8 d. ago Accusations of treason over EU food and drink deal are ‘nonsense’, minister says

The EU relations minister said detailed talks on a pact with the bloc are due to start in the autumn.

Politics

9 d. ago Fiery protests in Israel pictured amid demands for hostage release deal

Protesters in Israel were seen blocking highways and burning tires as they demanded Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his security cabinet commit to meaningful ceasefire talks

Economics

2 w. ago Putin's top diplomat warns of 'road to nowhere' in Ukraine security talks

Russia’s foreign minister has warned against talks about Ukraine’s security without Russia at the table

Events

2 w. ago Ukraine live updates: Trump and European leaders press Putin to agree to Zelenskyy meeting

US president says arrangements being made for bilateral meeting between Putin and Zelenskyy and that US will help guarantee Ukraine’s security if a deal is reachedFull report: Trump arranging Zelenskyy-Putin meeting as European leaders push for US security guaranteesSketch: All smoke and no fire as Zelenskky emerges unbruised after Trump meetBritish prime minister Keir Starmer has described the talks at the White House as “good and constructive” and said they produced “real progress”.Speaking after the summit, Starmer said: “There was a real sense of unity between the European leaders that were there and President Trump and President Zelenskyy.”The other material outcome was the agreement that there will now be a bilateral agreement between President Putin and President Zelenskyy, that was after a phone call between President Trump and President Putin during the course of this afternoon, followed by a trilateral that will add in Trump.That is a recognition of the principle that on s...

Politics

2 w. ago Minister ‘hugely disappointed’ as talks to agree UN plastics treaty fail

Emma Hardy said she is however ‘extremely proud’ of how UK negotiators worked tirelessly to seek an ambitious deal.

Politics

3 w. ago Major inheritance tax change talks as Sky News host grills minister on plan

Chancellor Rachel Reeves is reportedly exploring changes to inheritance tax - such as tightening the rules around gifting - as she battles to plug a hole in the public finances

Politics

3 w. ago Marles insists Australia ‘not supplying weapons to Israel’ but critics argue ‘parts of weapons are weapons’

Acting prime minister decries ‘misinformation’ regarding arms exports while Greens claim ‘hollow talking points aren’t washing with the public’Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe federal government won’t follow Germany and introduce new export restrictions to pressure Israel, with the defence minister, Richard Marles, insisting no weapons are being sent from Australia to aid the killing in Gaza.Marles, the acting prime minister, said on Sunday that Australia was not exporting any weapons for use by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), a claim rejected by human rights campaigners and the Greens. Continue reading...

Politics

4 w. ago Fears for Palestinians and hostages as Netanyahu plans full Gaza occupation

Israeli prime minister to hold cabinet talks on occupation despite pleas from aid agencies and by families of hostagesMiddle East crisis – live updatesThe Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has convened a security cabinet expected to be held on Thursday evening to discuss the full occupation of the Gaza Strip, which aid agencies have warned would lead to countless more Palestinian deaths and further mass displacement.The families of the roughly 20 remaining living hostages have called for Israelis to protest against the government and a decision they fear would endanger the lives of their loved ones. Continue reading...

Events

4 w. ago Small business owners, brace yourselves: the cavalry isn’t coming

While ministers talk of “unleashing Britain’s entrepreneurial spirit,” small firms face a harsher reality.

Politics

4 w. ago Sixty years after the Voting Rights Act, our voices are being eroded | Al Sharpton

The 1965 law, a rare and profound act of consensus, has been hollowed out. We cannot forget the power Dr King saw in the right to voteIn a moment when we should be celebrating one of the most important pieces of legislation in American history, we are in fact at a worse place as a nation than when it was passed. Those of us fighting to protect the right to vote find ourselves against a movement that doesn’t want to take us back to 1965. They want to create an America that more closely resembles the one of 1865.Sixty years ago, in a rare and profound act of consensus, Congress passed a law to end the centuries-old rigging of American democracy. Yet today the system is as rigged as ever, with the battered Voting Rights Act on life support.Rev Al Sharpton is an American Baptist minister, civil rights activist and radio talkshow host Continue reading...

Politics