23 h. ago Gaza truce talks stall as 28 Palestinians killed in Israeli airstrikes overnight

Sources say the talks are faltering over the extent of Israeli forces' withdrawal from the Palestinian enclave

Events

4 d. ago Threat of Trump tariffs ‘puts businesses at risk of going bust’

Bank of England says further rise in trade taxes could weaken demand, increase costs and make banks less willing to provide loansBusiness live – latest updatesThe looming threat of much higher tariffs amid Donald Trump’s trade war could lead to a fresh wave of companies going bust and cause financial losses for banks, the Bank of England has warned.The Bank’s financial policy committee said a rise in trade levies would compound existing vulnerabilities, with the risks to global growth and inflation having grownas a result of the president’s ever-changing border tax rates and an escalating conflict in the Middle East. Continue reading...

Events

6 d. ago A glimmer of hope in Gaza? Inside the fragile ceasefire push as Trump hosts Netanyahu

After months of deadlock, talks resume this week over Trump’s 60-day ceasefire proposal – with Netanyahu in Washington, Bel Trew examines whether this time is any different

Politics

7 d. ago Israel continues airstrikes on Gaza after Hamas says it is ready for ceasefire talks

Hopes that pause to the killing may be agreed were boosted despite 24 Palestinians being killed including 10 seeking aidIsrael has continued to launch waves of airstrikes in Gaza, hours after Hamas said it was ready to start talks “immediately” on a US-sponsored proposal for a 60-day ceasefire.The announcement by the militant Islamist organisation increased hopes that a deal may be done within days to pause the killing in Gaza and possibly end the near 21-month conflict. Continue reading...

Events

1 week ago Ryanair forced to cancel 800 flights in another blow for Brits' holidays

Ryanair is among those to have cancelled and rerouted flights amid the conflict between Israel and Iran, as well as continued attacks in Gaza

Politics

1 week ago Israel launches waves of Gaza airstrikes after new displacement orders

Scores of Palestinians reported killed as senior Netanyahu adviser due to arrive in Washington for ceasefire talks Middle East crisis – live updatesIsrael ramped up its offensive in Gaza on Monday, with new displacement orders sending tens of thousands of people fleeing the north of the devastated territory and waves of airstrikes killing about 60 Palestinians, according to local officials and medical staff.The violence in Gaza came as a senior adviser to Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel’s prime minister, was due to arrive in Washington for talks on a new ceasefire, a day after Donald Trump called in a social media post for a deal to end the 20-month war and free 50 hostages held by Hamas. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago Trump says he is ‘not offering Iran anything’ as country says US must rule out airstrikes before talks resume – Middle East crisis live

Iranian deputy foreign minister says it has been told US wants to talk but president says he is not speaking to them and repeats claim that its nuclear facilities have been ‘obliterated’France, Germany and the UK have condemned “threats” against the head of the UN nuclear watchdog, Rafael Grossi, after Iran rejected its request to visit nuclear facilities bombed by Israel and the US.Tehran has accused Grossi, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), of “betrayal of his duties” for not condemning the attacks on Iran’s nuclear sites, and Iranian lawmakers this week voted to suspend cooperation with the agency.France, Germany and the United Kingdom condemn threats against the director general of the IAEA Rafael Grossi and reiterate our full support to the agency.We call on Iranian authorities to refrain from any steps to cease cooperation with the IAEA. Continue reading...

Events

1 week ago Rod Stewart tells Glastonbury it is "rightly so" people are talking about Middle East but doesn't address Kneecap jibe

Rod Stewart, 80, performed the teatime slot on the Pyramid Stage on Sunday evening but did not address a jibe directed at him from Irish rappers Kneecap yesterday.

Events

2 w. ago Israeli strikes kill dozens in Gaza as Qatar calls for peace talks – Middle East crisis live

At least 49 people were killed across Gaza by Israeli strikes, health staff sayEmirates extended its cancellation of flights to and from Iran’s capital Tehran until July 5 due to the “regional situation“, it said in a statement on Saturday, Reuters reports.The Dubai-based airline said it will recommence operations to Baghdad on 1 July and Basra on 2 July. Continue reading...

Events

2 w. ago How to talk to your kids about Middle East wars in Gaza, Iran and Israel

Youngsters can grow fearful in times of conflict, even if they are not directly involved. Here's five top tips on how to discuss the difficult subject of war with them

Politics

2 w. ago UK oil and gas industry welcomes talk of ceasefire in Middle East

The chief executive of Offshore Energies UK said there has already been a drop in oil prices.

Events

2 w. ago Cyprus travel: Simon Calder explains as Foreign Office safety advice issued

The Independent travel correspondent Simon Calder offers his advice on whether it is safe to travel to Cyprus as the Iran-Israel conflict continues.

Politics

2 w. ago British nationals evacuated from Israel as Iran conflict continues

David Lammy also confirmed that one British national in Israel had been injured during Iranian missile attacks and had been offered consular support.

Politics

2 w. ago Lammy says Middle East needs ‘diplomatic solution’ after US talks

The comments came in the hours after calls between UK and US leaders.

Politics

2 w. ago Iran says US ‘must receive a response’ after Trump’s strikes on nuclear sites

Pentagon claims major damage inflicted, world leaders call for restraint and Israel continues to strike Iranian targetsMiddle East crisis – latest updatesIran has warned the US to brace for retaliation after Donald Trump’s administration joined Israel in its war against Tehran, tearing up his isolationist foreign policy and launching the most consequential intervention in a conflict in a generation.Almost a day after US strikes targeting three key Iranian nuclear sites, Iran’s president, Masoud Pezeshkian, told France’s Emmanuel Macron: “The Americans must receive a response to their aggression,” signalling a potential Iranian reprisal that could drag the US into a new, protracted conflict in the Middle East. Continue reading...

Events

3 w. ago Middle East situation ‘perilous’, says Lammy amid calls for more talks

David Lammy flew from Washington to Geneva on Friday to meet Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi.

Politics

3 w. ago Lammy urges Iran and US to keep talking as Middle East conflict continues

The Foreign Secretary met his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi in Geneva on Friday alongside foreign ministers from France and Germany.

Events

3 w. ago Children suffered record levels of violence in conflict zones in 2024, UN report shows

Surge in violations to more than 40,000 – the highest since records began in 1996 – must serve as a ‘wake-up call’A record number of children were subjected to acts of violence in conflict zones in 2024, with the number of incidents recorded rising by 25%, according to a UN report.The UN security council’s annual report on children and armed conflict found 22,495 children in 2024 were killed, wounded, denied humanitarian support or recruited for conflict. Continue reading...

Events

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 Baba Vanga's chilling WW3 prediction as conflict between Iran and Israel escalates

As the ongoing conflict between Iran and Israel continues, believers in the psychic realm have picked up on chilling prediction for 2025 made by famed mystic Baba Vanga, many years ago

Politics